Of the estimated 3,000 civil servants who engaged in the historic 2011 strike, 2,934 were dismissed but eventually, 2,378 were re-employed on new contracts while 556 were not. Over 90% of the dismissed were employees in the health sector. BOFEPUSU has said an undisclosed number of health workers, mostly nurses and doctors found employment in neighbouring countries, especially Namibia. Motshegwa said they are helping the dismissed workers who have not found jobs economically and socially. "They are still our members and we are helping them socially to inspire and motivate them. They lost their employment through a true course. They are martyrs who helped to expose a cruel system," he said. "We need each other in future. We must soldier on because the enemy is advancing," he added.
He said BOFEPUSU has helped some cadres like cleaners to establish small companies to sustain themselves.The small companies have been hired to clean union offices. "We also help some with scholarships to further their studies," Motshegwa said. He said they intend to engage local and international unions and civil society for support. The intention is to train some of the dismissed ESEs as full time shop stewards of the federation. The ESE case is similar to the famous 450 employees dismissed by Debswana some years back. On August 6, 2004 the Industrial Court interdicted a threatened illegal strike at Debswana Mines. Regardless of the decision, the Debswana workers commenced the strike on the evening of 22-23 August 2004. After approximately 13 days, the strike ended. Debswana dismissed about 450 essential service employees, a decision upheld by the Court of Appeal.
