The Gauteng Department of Health has taken legal action to address the ongoing protests by nursing students across its colleges in the province. Demonstrations have been taking place over contractual agreements, prompting the department to secure a court interdict.
For the past week, students from Gauteng’s nursing colleges have been engaged in protests, highlighting their concerns regarding contractual agreements with the department. However, in response to the demonstrations, the Gauteng Department of Health has obtained a court interdict with the aim of resolving the situation.
Despite the interdict, the protesting students have expressed their determination to continue their protests, planning to resume their activities on Monday. These final year students argue that they are expected to write a board exam in November, while their program concludes this month, raising issues of contract fulfillment.
Specifically, the students are demanding that the department continue to provide stipends until they complete the exam in November. This financial support is seen as essential during their preparation for the board exam.
In response to the ongoing protests, the department has deemed them unlawful, warning that individuals who persist in participating will face criminal charges. To reinforce this stance, the department has already lodged a case of intimidation, crimen injuria, and defamation of character with the South African Police Service at Hillbrow Police Station, according to spokesperson Motalatale Modiba.
The securing of the interdict marks the department’s efforts to restore order and address the concerns raised by the protesting nursing students. By taking legal action, they aim to ensure that the contractual agreements and stipend issues are resolved in an appropriate manner.