GQEBERHA - The Eastern Cape Health Department says it is dealing with an unprotected and unlawful strike currently underway at Dora Nginza Hospital in Gqeberha.
The strike is being blamed for shocking videos circulating on social media, showing patients seen unattended, some lying on the floor.
There are even claims of a dead body in a ward.
The footage was taken on Thursday by a man visiting his loved one at the health facility.
Eastern Cape Health Department spokesperson Siyanda Manana said the workers are overwhelmed.
READ: Shocking images emerge of alleged patient neglect at Dora Nginza Hospital
"There is a Motherwell community health centre that is not operational right now because of security reasons, now you have a volume a higher volume of work for the nursing staff as well as the clinical staff at Dora Nginza," he said.
"That is what is alleged, and also the need for them to work from 16 hours to 33 hours, and we are then saying that it's 16 hours.
"There must be proof to say that you know everybody has been able to work that 16 hours."
Dora Nginza is the same hospital where videos of pregnant women lying on the floor went viral last year.