Justice Mphetlhe's ruling declared the doctors' actions an unlawful strike, triggered by a press release that called for the suspension of emergency call duties from August 1, 2023. In response, Dr Kefilwe Selema, the president of the union, expressed their disappointment with the government's approach. He also outlined their plans for addressing the ongoing challenges within the country's public health sector. Selema voiced his concern that government's legal actions seemed more geared towards suppressing the doctors' rights rather than seeking swift resolutions to the pressing issues within the public health system.
Nevertheless, BDU affirmed its commitment to abide by the court's decision."Ours is a notable profession anchored on humanitarianism and we urge our members to continue to espouse this core principle which we pride ourselves in. We further note that failure by any person employed under any sector designated as essential service might attract criminal charges and we advise our members to abide by the laws of the country no matter how unjust such may be," he stated. Looking to the future, the union acknowledged that the court's ruling did not provide a definitive resolution to their concerns.
