29 April 2025
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) proudly announces its commemoration of International Nurses Day (IND) on Monday, 12 May 2025, with the main national celebration to be held at Grey’s Tertiary Hospital in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, from 09:00.
Observed globally and championed by the International Council of Nurses (ICN), International Nurses Day honours the legacy of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing, and celebrates the indispensable role of nurses in advancing global health. As an affiliate of the ICN, DENOSA stands in full solidarity with nurses across the globe, acknowledging their contributions and advocating for their recognition, protection, and support.
This year’s theme, “Our Nurses. Our Future. Caring for Nurses Strengthens Economies,” builds on the 2024 focus, “The Economic Power of Care”, which highlighted how investing in the nursing profession yields measurable economic and societal benefits. In 2025, the spotlight turns to the health, wellbeing, and sustainability of the nursing workforce itself—recognising that without a healthy nursing population, resilient health systems and thriving economies are impossible.
This message is especially urgent in South Africa, where nurses continue to form the backbone of the healthcare system, despite operating under increasingly strained conditions. South African nurses are central to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being, which is inextricably linked to other goals such as No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Quality Education, and Gender Equality.
Yet, the nursing profession is facing severe systemic challenges. South Africa is experiencing a critical shortage of nurses, particularly in bedside roles, which has resulted in mounting pressure on those who remain. Compounding this is the failure to revise the Occupation-Specific Dispensation (OSD) policy—initially a successful retention tool implemented in 2007 – which has now become outdated and insufficient in providing competitive benefits.
Additionally, poor workforce planning continues to leave newly qualified nurses without clear integration pathways into the public health system, despite the escalating demand for healthcare services. At the same time, nurses face high levels of burnout and declining mental health, due to long hours, unsafe working conditions, and a lack of institutional support. These challenges are not only affecting the wellbeing of nurses but are actively undermining South Africa’s ability to reach its public health goals and achieve universal health coverage.
To ensure a sustainable future for nursing and public healthcare in South Africa, DENOSA calls on government leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders to act decisively by:
1. Overhauling provincial human resource systems to ensure effective deployment and retention of nurses;
2. Revising and modernising the OSD policy to reflect present-day economic and professional realities;
3. Establishing structured pathways for student nurses to enter the workforce upon qualification;
4. Implementing retention strategies that improve work-life balance and mental health support;
5. Creating safe, well-resourced, and dignified working environments across all healthcare facilities.
As we approach International Nurses Day 2025, DENOSA urges South Africa to move beyond symbolic appreciation and towards tangible reforms that will empower nurses to lead, care, and contribute meaningfully to the country’s development agenda.
DENOSA invites all nurses, members of the media, and our healthcare allies, to join us at Grey’s Tertiary Hospital in Kwazulu Natal (Pietermaritzburg) on the 12th of May, and in the provinces across the country as we stand united in recognising our nurses and advocating for a healthcare system that truly supports them. Details of these provincial observances will be announced in the coming weeks.
End of Statement
Issued by:
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA)
For media inquiries, contact:
Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni on 
072-535-1577
(Communications Manager and National Spokesperson)
