DENOSA Student Movement media statement following its last meeting for the year 

14 December 2016

DENOSA Student Movement held its third and last two-day meeting for the year at DENOSA Head Office this past weekend. Robust debates ensued with the view of advancing the plight of students within the nursing profession and health in general. The discussions also reflected on the many student unrests all over the country that occurred in 2016.

On Community Service for student nurses

The Student Movement noted the online application system implemented by national Department of Health as a centralised application process for all community service nurses. We are closely monitoring the online application system and hoping that it will spell the end to our problems regarding community service.  We remain concerned with the fact that the employer is not willing to absorb post community service nurses. We will continue with campaigns against the exploitation of nurses. 

On Funding Model

We have noted with concern the issue of funding model for student nurses in the country. It is a concern that even Gauteng Department of Health is intending to introduce the bursary system for 2017. We have given a diagnosis as to why the bursary system is not assisting student nurses. The diagnosis is that in all provinces that are using the bursary system as a funding model, there are strikes each year relating directly to the bursary system. 

We will continue to fight the employer in ensuring that the PERSAL system is implemented, which gives students monthly stipend to cover costs for transport to institutions where they do clinical practicals at. We will explore alternative options to combat a fight against the bursary system.

On the Chief Nursing Officer

DENOSA Student Movement has noted the lack of action from the office of the country’s Chief Nursing Officer. We are of a firm belief that she is failing the nursing profession. We continue to see many wrong things being implemented within the nursing fraternity which are detrimental to the profession and she continues to turn a blind eye on our issues. We are progressively losing confidence in her in executing her duties as Chief Nursing Officer. We want to appeal to her that she must turn things and start to work. We call for the Chief Nursing Officer office to be fully staffed, and that provinces also appoint their chief nursing officers so that there is better coordination of nursing matters between provinces and national through the office of the chief nursing officer. 

On Student Accommodation

The meeting deliberated on the appalling and inhumane living conditions of student residences across the country. In some provinces we find that 5 to10 students are sharing one room, and some live in mobile containers with limited sanitation. There is poor maintenance and sanitation of students’ residence. We call on government to ensure that there is improvement in our place of stay. 

On Bogus Nursing Colleges

We would like to inform the community on the emergence of colleges which offer programmes that are advertised as nursing programmes. We would like the public to check with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) on whether the colleges which they are intending to join are registered with SANC or not. People are masquerading as nurse tutors while they are in a business of making and robbing money off poor people. We would like to warn those who will be looking for colleges to study at next year to be extremely careful and ensure the institutions they registered with are accredited by SANC and that the programmes are also accredited. 

On 20 Year Celebrations

We were celebrating 20 years of DENOSA’s existence on 5 December at the Union Buildings. The event was a success. As DENOSA Student Movement, we firmly believe that we are the future of DENOSA and shall ensure that the organisation gets to see another 20 years of existence. We are the first line of defence of DENOSA and will ensure that the organisation grows. We will do this by embarking on a massive recruitment campaign next year at nursing institutions throughout the country. 

On the passing of El Commandate Fidel Castro

DENOSA Student Movement is saddened by the passing of cde Fidel Castro, who died on 25 November 2016. We believe that cde Fidel Castro has multiplied in us and his ideals will live forever. We can affirm that history will absolve him as he said “You can judge me but it’s not important; the history will justify me.’’ We are Fidel Castro and Fidel Castro is us.   

On the passing of Sfiso Ncwane

We are saddened by the loss of Sfiso Ncwane, which is a huge loss to the South African music industry and society as a whole. We would like to convey a message of support to the family of Sfiso Ncwane and his friends and fans. 

On Public Services International Young Workers of South Africa

DENOSA Student Movement is pleased with the steady progress within PSI Young Workers of South Africa. We believe that the growth of PSI can only be attained through active participation of PSI affiliates. As DENOSA Student Movement, we will ensure that we will contribute positively to the growth of PSI Young Workers within borders of South Africa and beyond. The problems of Young Workers in our respective workplaces can only be resolved by Young Workers.

Issued by Sibongiseni Delihlazo, Communications Manager, DENOSA National Student Movement, 14 December 2016