-
Chief Technocrat at FEDUSA, Joseph Mashigo says the increase has had a negative impact on the cost of living for most employees.
Trade Union, Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) says it is opposed to the consecutive increases to the medical aid membership contribution for government employees.
FEDUSA and various other unions represented in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council including the South African Police Union (SAPU) are expected to march to the Government’s Employees Medical Scheme’s head office in Pretoria, on Saturday.
[COMING UP] FEDUSA trade unions represented in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council, together with the SAPU are expected to lead a protest march TODAY to the offices of the Government’s Employees Medical Scheme’s head office in Pretoria. #sabcnews #WeekendView pic.twitter.com/FiTGgb2pC1
— SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) February 21, 2026
The protest is against the recent implementation of a membership contribution increase of 9.5% for the current financial year.
[ON AIR] FEDUSA-affiliated unions in the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council (PSCBC) have rejected the 9.8% contribution increase implemented by the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS), describing it as a “blatant departure” from the scheme’s founding mandate to… pic.twitter.com/rYzWs6k0i0
— SAfmRadio 📻 (@SAfmRadio) February 18, 2026
Chief Technocrat at FEDUSA, Joseph Mashigo says the increase has had a negative impact on the cost of living for most employees.
“From 2025 which was a 13.4% increase, when you combine that with 2026 – we are now talking of an accumulative increase of around 23%. Some have experienced increases of well over R 2000 a month in their contribution. For you to have an increase just on medical aid, not counting the high food price costs that people to, the escalating electricity and fuel costs, now they have to pay more for medical aid, which is an essential need, they’re struggling to afford,” says Mashigo.
He says that they are going to be fighting at all fronts.
“We are planning to meet with the minister of finance as well as with the minister of health. We have also embarked on a process at the National Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) level, to apply for a section 77 protest. So this is a warning shot, what will be happening today is just the first of many other actions that are taking place. At the same time also we are consulting our lawyers to look at what other legal grounds can we use to challenge GEMS, in the courts,” he adds.
RELATED VIDEO | 2025 GEMS Symposium under way
