It is a criminal offence to have millions of faulty condoms circulating around Bloemfontein in the Free State, trade union Nehawu said on Thursday.
“South Africa cannot afford to have unreliable condoms when we are starting to see the results in the fight against the scourge of HIV/ Aids,” National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (Nehawu) spokesman Sizwe Pamla said in a statement.
“The recently released zero national strategic plan 2012-2016 cannot succeed if we still experience this lax behaviour.”
He said the union was “horrified” and wanted the department of health and the SA Bureau of Standards to investigate the matter.
On Sunday, the City Press newspaper reported that the Free State health department was recalling over a million condoms delivered for the ANC's centenary celebrations over concerns that they may be sub-standard.
Although they still had to be tested in a laboratory, the department decided to withdraw them, provincial health department spokesman Jabu Mbalula was quoted as saying.
The boxes of Choice government condoms, which bore the SA Bureau of Standards stamp, were delivered to guesthouses, hotels, bars, and restaurants ahead of the ANC's centenary celebrations held from January 06 to 08, 2012. - Sapa