News24 reports that the Gauteng Department of Health has obtained an interim court order restraining R171 Diploma in General Nursing final year nursing students from participating in or encouraging, facilitating and promoting any unlawful protests at the Gauteng College of Nursing campuses.
According to the department, last week the final year students disrupted and interfered with the first and second-year’s exams, restricted access to the SG Lorens campus and prevented the free movement of student nurses, employees, lecturers and service providers. "The unlawful protests and activities are due to the students’ demand that their bursary stipend they have been receiving while studying must continue to be paid between June and November 2023, while they wait for their licentiate exam with the SANC (SA Nursing Council), even though they are now done with their studies," the department indicated in a statement. Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba said the department did not have over R8 million to cover the costs of extending the period of the 167 students currently on bursary contracts. The health department said the students’ demand was over and above the fact that their bursary benefits, including monthly allowances, were extended previously as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. The parties will present arguments in court on 27 June on whether a final order should be granted or not.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Ntwaagae Seleka at News24
- Read too, Gauteng health department obtains court order restraining final-year nursing students from protesting, at TimesLIVE
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