A protest erupted at the Charlotte Maxeke Academic Hospital in Johannesburg on Thursday (yesterday), leading to patients being turn away.
A hospital staffer said that rubbish had been strewn across the corridors of the hospital.
Another source‚ who asked not to be named‚ said: "We presume it is related to performance evaluations which [used to] lead to the awarding of bonuses. But now‚ there is no money for bonuses."
Some staff members were reportedly held up in the wards and in the basement of the hospital. "There is no harm to the patients inside‚" the source said‚ adding that they had medics who were attending to them.
Patients arriving at the facility were‚ however‚ not being allowed to enter the hospital.
The gates to the facility were locked as protesters scattered debris and small fires were started near the entrance.
Department of health spokesman Lesemang Matuka referred all questions to the facility's CEO‚ Gladys Bogoshi. She was‚ however‚ said to be in an emergency meeting with the police on how to best handle the situation.
In April‚ medical waste and rubbish were also scattered all over the hospital's floors by workers‚ including nurses and support staff such as cleaners and porters. At the time‚ their union said they were dissatisfied with the hospital's non-payment of performance bonuses.
Earlier this month‚ the hospital's spokesperson Lungiswa Mvumvu said that management has not paid workers performance bonuses for the past two financial years.
"Their grievance is the non-payment of their performance bonuses‚ which affects all Gauteng health departments‚ not just Charlotte Maxeke. They have not been paid these bonuses for the last two financial years‚" Mvumvu was quoted as saying. The provincial health department had been approached to resolve the matter.