Media statement
Tuesday, 09 July 2019
Calling on unabsorbed post-community service nurses to contact DENOSA office urgently
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) in KwaZulu-Natal has been talking with the Department of Health in the province regarding the non-absorption of the more than 250 post-community service nurses who are sitting at home while their services are desperately needed in health facilities.
Out of 260 post-community service nurses who completed their community service in December last year, 200 were absorbed during the course of this year, and 60 had not been absorbed. This number was added by 200 more nurses who completed their community service in June this year, as they too are sitting at home as the department failed to employ them. Subsequent to this, the Department issued a circular releasing nurses who wish to find employment elsewhere from the obligation of serving the department for the period equal to the one spent by the nurses while studying.
DENOSA raised serious objections to this circular as it applies a blanket approach to all affected nurses as if they all want to find their work elsewhere. There are nurses who want the department to honour its side of the contract – to employ them after completion of their studies. DENOSA met with the MEC on 2 July regarding this matter and the dire situation in health facilities caused by severe shortage of staff.
The follow-up meeting on the issue of post-community service nurses will be held this Friday between DENOSA and Human Resource Department as well as Dr Mthembu who is responsoble for colleges, to find a way of getting the nurses employed, and to amending the circular so that it can be flexible and give serve both those who wish to find work outside the department on their own to apply to do so from the department while the Department is in the process of employing them as well as acknowledge those who still want to remain in the employ of the department in the province as per the spirit of their agreement.
DENOSA would like to urge all the affected nurses to contact the DENOSA Provincial Secretary in KwaZulu-Natal, Mandla Shabangu on 072 151 5874 or 031 305 1417.
“We are in talks with the neighbouring provinces with the view of finding employment for these nurses if the department is wasting their time. We wish to submit names and CVs of the willing nurses to our DENOSA colleagues in Northern Cape before this Friday, for submission to the office of the MEC in Northern Cape,” says Mandla Shabangu.
End
Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa in KwaZulu-Natal
For more information, contact:
Mandla Shabangu, DENOSA Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 072 151 5874
Tel: 031 305 1417