JOHANNESBURG - Gauteng Health said emergency medical services remain operational, despite disciplinary action against 21 officials.
The officials face charges of allegedly leaving their posts before completing their scheduled hours.
Gauteng Health spokesperson Steve Mabona said the state is going according to the law.
"They left their posts because there's an argument that they would have worked 160 hours per month. But we are saying when you look at the Basic Conditions Act, it doesn't say 160 per month. It says a maximum of 45 hours per week. And when we do our calculations, we average it.
"We don't understand why they would act like that. But if you work overtime, that is planned, because we do have a plan overtime, then we pay. But we felt that they need to come and explain why you then abdicate responsibility."