By Marc Daalder

Copyright newsroom

Analysis: Health Minister Simeon Brown knew going into his address at the nurses’ union AGM that it would be tough ground, but his reception on Wednesday was ultimately ice cold.

Despite insisting afterwards he’d had “a very warm welcome”, the awkwardness and tension in the air were almost tangible as two dozen nurses began an impromptu protest, turning their backs on the minister. When his address ended with not a person in the room of a couple hundred people daring to clap their hands, the silence stretched on for long, painful seconds.