IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) is pleased to announce that it will hold its 9th National Congress from the 25th to the 28th of March, 2025, at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg, Johannesburg. Held under the theme “Promoting Organisational Growth Through Innovative Practices towards Resilient Quality Healthcare and Effective Member Servicing,” this four-day Congress is expected to have approximately 700 delegates from all nine provinces of South Africa. Delegates will include nursing professionals and DENOSA members who will convene to deliberate on the future of the nursing profession and the organisation’s strategy for advancing quality healthcare.
The Congress is also expecting the attendance of high-level dignitaries, including the President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa; Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), Fikile Mbalula; Minister of Health – Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi. as well as the leadership of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the South African Communist Party (SACP), Public Services International (PSI), international guests, and other key allies of DENOSA.
Accountability and Organisational Reports
As DENOSA’s highest decision-making gathering, the 9th National Congress will review and account for all activities undertaken since the last Congress in 2019. Comprehensive reports will be presented on the organisation’s activities and programs over the past term, the work of its various structures and departments, developments and challenges in each province, as well as the state of DENOSA’s finances. This process ensures transparency and accountability to members, allowing Congress delegates to assess progress and adopt resolutions that will guide the organisation’s direction for the next term. The Congress will also evaluate how previous resolutions have been implemented and identify areas for organisational growth and improvement in line with the Congress theme.
Critical Issues on the Agenda (2019–2025)
Beyond internal organisational matters, DENOSA’s 9th National Congress will focus on several emerging critical issues affecting its members and the broader healthcare sector since the last Congress in 2019. Key issues slated for discussion include:
- Implementation of the National Health Insurance (NHI): A key highlight of the Congress will be a comprehensive discussion on the implementation of South Africa’s National Health Insurance (NHI). As this significant policy shifts closer to complete execution, DENOSA will reflect on how the NHI can improve access to healthcare, ensure equitable distribution of resources, and secure better working conditions for nurses. The Congress will engage on the role of nurses in the NHI rollout and how DENOSA can strategically position itself to advocate for fair employment practices and optimal integration of nursing professionals into the new system.
- Post-COVID-19 Healthcare Landscape: The healthcare sector has undergone significant changes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Delegates will reflect on how healthcare services have evolved post-pandemic – from the adoption of innovative practices like telehealth and virtual care to an increased emphasis on proactive and preventive healthcare measures. The pandemic exposed long-standing weaknesses in our health system, prompting reforms to build more resilient, quality healthcare for all. Congress will evaluate these changes, including lessons learned in emergency preparedness and the drive towards a stronger National Health Insurance (NHI) framework aimed at equitable access.
- Nurses’ Wages and Working Conditions: DENOSA members have voiced growing concerns over unsatisfactory wages and difficult working conditions in recent years. The Congress will address issues such as salary disparities and stalled wage negotiations, which have led to disputes with employers and government. Delegates will also discuss the impact of chronic staff shortages, high workloads, and safety risks in the workplace – factors that contribute to stressful and sometimes unsafe environments for nursing professionals. Inadequate equipment and poor facilities remain a challenge in many healthcare institutions; reports have highlighted instances of faulty or insufficient medical equipment and dilapidated infrastructure in hospitals and clinics. Improving nurse staffing levels, securing adequate supplies and equipment, and ensuring fair compensation will be central to the discussions on how to better retain nurses and strengthen the profession.
- Global Healthcare Policy Shifts: International developments since 2019 have also impacted healthcare in South Africa. In particular, the Congress will consider the implications of policy shifts under the United States Republican government of President Donald Trump on global health initiatives and how these ripple out to countries like South Africa. During President Trump’s tenure, the U.S. retreated from specific multilateral health commitments – for example, temporarily freezing funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) at the height of the COVID-19 crisis. There were also funding cuts to crucial global health programs (such as HIV/AIDS interventions), with the U.S. having been responsible for a significant share of international health funding prior to these cuts. Delegates will examine how reductions in international support and collaboration affected South Africa’s health system – from pandemic response coordination to funding for disease control programs and programs such as the PEPFAR (USAID) – and discuss strategies for resilience in the face of these global policy changes.
- Mental Health and Wellness of Healthcare Professionals: The pandemic placed immense psychological strain on healthcare workers, exposing the urgent need to improve mental health support services. DENOSA’s Congress will address strategies to improve mental wellness programs for nurses, expand counselling services, and introduce workplace policies that address burnout and emotional fatigue.
- Nursing Education and Professional Development: As healthcare evolves, so must nursing education. The Congress will assess current training curricula, focusing on skills development, leadership training, and ongoing professional education. Emphasis will be placed on equipping nurses to adapt to new technologies and innovative healthcare delivery methods.
Strengthening Nursing for a Resilient Future
DENOSA’s 9th National Congress comes at a pivotal time for the nursing profession and healthcare in South Africa. By interrogating the challenges of the past five years and embracing the Congress theme of innovative practice and resilient, quality healthcare, delegates will chart a path forward for both the organisation and its members. The Congress aims to emerge with concrete resolutions to improve member servicing and to influence healthcare policy for the better.
By bringing together hundreds of nursing professionals and stakeholders, the Congress will foster collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and unity within the profession. It will reaffirm DENOSA’s commitment to advocating for nurses’ rights and wellbeing while also championing improvements in patient care and public health. The outcomes of the 9th National Congress – including any new policies, campaigns and leadership election outcomes – will be communicated publicly after the event, as DENOSA continues to work towards a stronger nursing cadre and a healthier South Africa for all.
DENOSA extends an invitation to all media houses to cover this significant event. We encourage journalists to attend and report on the discussions and resolutions that will shape the future of nursing in South Africa.
For media accreditation and further media-related information, kindly contact:
Sonia Mabunda-Kaziboni
Communications Manager/Spokesperson
072-535-1577
DENOSA
