South Africa could not afford another day without doctors at work, he told strikers at the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine on Thursday afternoon.

If doctors went back to work, the SA Medical Association (Sama) and the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu) would try to get fired doctors reinstated.

On Monday the KwaZulu-Natal health department fired close to 300 doctors after they defied a labour court order instructing them to return to work.

Dlamini told doctors a task team would be formed to look at reinstating fired doctors and other issues affecting them.

Cosatu and Sama representatives were expected to meet on Thursday night with KwaZulu-Natal premier Dr Zweli Mkhize and Health MEC Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo.

Sapa

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