Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

DENOSA to lead nurses to a march to South African Nursing Council and National Department of Health offices in Pretoria on 22 February 2017  

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) will lead nurses from all over South Africa to the national march to the South African Nursing Council (SANC)’s only office as well as to the National Department of Health’s Head Office in Pretoria on Wednesday 22 February 2017 from 09h00 to 16h00 to demand better working conditions for nurses in the country’s health facilities and opening of provincial SANC offices by the Council among many others.

The march, which will see more than 5000 nurses, will gather at Old Putco Depot in Marabastad in Pretoria, and move to the National Department of Health offices via Struuben Street before moving to SANC offices via Madiba Street.

In great part, the march will also give a rare opportunity to some nurses who could not afford to come to SANC to pay their restoration fees. But we are disappointed to learn that SANC has decided to close offices for operation on the day whereas the National Department of Health offices will operate as normal. This goes to show further that SANC is slowly found wanting and lacks both administrative and political will when it comes to giving attention to the needs of nurses of South Africa. This march is protected, and as such for it to be orderly is non-negotiable. We see no reason for the closure of their offices other than the continuing inconveniencing of nurses. Unless the Council does not trust its own nurses.    

Key among the demands to the National Department of Health are the following:

• Addressing the severe shortage of nurses and non-absorption of community service nurses at the time when there are high vacancy rates in facilities;

• Continuous professional development opportunities for nurses in facilities as a result gross shortages of nurses;

• The need for the Department to accept that nurses in its casualty, clinics, CHCs and MDR-TB sections should get Danger Allowance;

• The need for the Department to accept that all categories of nurses who work in areas classified as rural areas to get Rural Allowance;

• The appointment of Chief Nursing Officers in provinces;

• Structural adjustment in the Department where the role of Chief Nursing Officer in the country reports directly to the Director-General;

• Supply of basic tools of trade in facilities;

• Safety of health workers and patients as a result of poor and outsourced security;

Key among the demands to the South Africa Nursing Council (SANC) are the following:

• Opening of provincial offices urgently; 

• Opening of the registration period for payment of annual fees throughout the year, and not only from July to December of each year;

• Proper consultation by SANC to employers and other stakeholders to make use of the online system at SANC to check if nurses have paid their annual practice licence;

• Flexibility of SANC and opening to engagements and not always too defensive even to stakeholders; 

Members of the media are cordially invited to attend the march and report. For more information and to RSVP, contact Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager on 079 875 2663 or email sibongisenid@denosa.org.za

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Issued by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)

For more information, contact:

Sibongiseni Delihlazo, DENOSA Communications Manager