Union Nehawu expressed shock on Wednesday at the announcement of a partnership between the public and private sectors to help improve the health system.

"The union is deeply worried at the fervour with which government is pursuing and committing itself to the use of public-private partnerships in the health sector, which we are totally opposed to," the National Education, Health and Allied Workers Union said in a statement.

Clandestine project'

Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced in his budget speech that the government would be engaging in public-private partnerships in the health sector, beginning with a flagship project at Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital in Soweto. The minister said a feasibility study of the project was complete.

"The union is to shocked to hear about this clandestine flagship project as we were never informed about it as stakeholders."

"Despicable profiteering"

Nehawu called such partnerships "despicable profiteering" and said it had its own plan for improving public hospitals.

"Nehawu has undertaken a widely supported and credible study on the transformation of the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital, on the basis of which we made some important policy proposals for the transformation of our hospital system. Yet, the project has since been stalled in favour of the introduction of [public-private partnerships]."

The union accused Gordhan of sending "mixed messages" by implementing partnerships while also promising a National Health Insurance plan.