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DENOSA Limpopo condemns burning of classrooms at Sekhukhune Nursing Campus
Media statement
Monday, 21 September 2015
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Limpopo condemns in the strongest terms the burning of classrooms and students’ residence at Sekhukhune Nursing Campus at Glen Cowie Village due to what is called service delivery protest by community members last week.
We acknowledge that the country’s constitution allows citizens to protest or march, but that does not explicitly say protesters are condoned for vandalising of public and private properties.
The Community of Glen Cowrie set alight the classrooms and the students residence because they are not happy with the selection criteria used by Limpopo Nursing College for admission of applicants in the institution. The Community members allege that the campus admits learners from other districts and local learners are overlooked.
DENOSA Limpopo wants to state categorically that the selection criteria for learners’ intake are open, fair and transparent. The process of selecting applicants is centralised at Limpopo Nursing College at the Provincial level and all applicants are afforded equal opportunity during this process.
The community need to understand that Limpopo is a multicultural province established through integration of three homelands which is the former Lebowa, Venda and Gazankulu. The Province has three dominant languages which are Pedi,Tshivenda and Tsonga.
Limpopo Nursing College recruits learners from fall five districts in the province and allocate them in all its five campuses. Fortunately, others are allocated outside their districts which give them opportunity to learn other cultures within the province. There are learners from Sekhukhune District in Vhembe, Waterberg, Mopani and Capricorn Districts.
The learners and educators are seriously affected by the incident as they are doing final preparations for their final examination which will be starting on the 28th of September 2015. Some educators lost almost everything including clothes, furniture and books.
We want to applaud the Department of Health and SAPS for their speedy response to the incident as both learners and educators were taken to a safe place and provided with psychosocial support from Social workers and Psychologists.
DENOSA Limpopo would like to call on community members to refrain from violence and allow these learners space to prepare for their examination without any fear.
We also make an appeal to SAPS to strengthen security around Sekhukhune Nursing Campus.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in Limpopo
For more information, contact:
Jacob Molepo, DENOSA Provincial Organiser
Mobile: 082 410 5567
Tel: 015 297 5033
Website: www.denosa.org.za
Facebook: DENOSA National Page
Twitter: @DENOSAORG
