On the 2nd of March 2023, Community members in Diepkloof, Soweto embarked on a peaceful march to the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital led by Mbali Radebe. The community is complaining that locals from Diepkloof are not getting employment opportunities at the Hospital.
They have been engaging with the Hospital management for many months, without success. They cite that people from Soweto are overlooked when it comes to employment at the Hospital.
The Department of Health officials and Baragwanath’s management met with a group of community leaders to discuss ways of absorbing local residents into the Baragwanath’s employment.
Some of the issues raised at the meeting with the Baragwanath officials were:
- Diepkloof residents not getting employed when there are positions available at the hospital.
- Lack of transparency in the employment processes at the hospital.
- Hospitals are understaffed and patients are not receiving adequate attention when visiting the hospital.
Mbali Radebe (27) is a young activist in Diepkloof who is passionate about community development and social issues. She has led many successful campaigns in Soweto, advocating for the inclusion of local residents when employment opportunities are available in all the institutions that are based in Soweto.
Radebe has been at the forefront in ensuring that the grievances of the community are heard and answered.
“The outcomes of the first meeting were sad and not satisfying, because the provincial committee was the one denying the rights of the people to be hired at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital.
Saying they have nothing to offer and will never assist so the community must see for itself, but the
great part is that the C.E.O of the hospital was on our side as he was saying the community must be hired too”, says Radebe.
“After so many meetings we had with the management, I finally received a call from them telling me I should come with the residents and they must bring along their C. V’s, also hoping that Diepkloof people will be hired’’. She said in an interview with Loxion Express after the meeting with the officials.
Radebe is popular among the residents of Diepkloof, her passion of standing up and fighting for the youth and the unemployed residents to be included in the employment opportunities and projects in Soweto has made her a trusted leader amongst the locals in Diepkloof.
The community applauded Radebe for standing and fighting for them saying she will forever be their “hero”