Recruitment of just 200 more nurses 'shocking' in face of nationwide crisis

John Maytham is joined by Kwena Manamela, General Secretary of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa.

The announcement that 1,200 more doctors will be recruited for the public health sector, is certainly something to be celebrated.

However, South Africa's largest nursing trade union has raised the alarm about the fact that there will be just 200 more nursing posts.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi cited these numbers during the recent announcement of his Department's plans in line with the budgetary fiscal framework which has been broadly passed by Parliament.

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) said in a statement that the recruitment of a mere 200 more nurses is not only 'shockingly inadequate' but 'downright insulting to the nursing fraternity'.

"This token gesture, coming after repeated calls for urgent and large-scale investment into nursing human resources, is a slap in the face to the thousands of nurses who are already stretched beyond capacity."

Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa

In conversation with John Maytham, DENOSA General Secretary Kwena Manamela says the Health Department is currently operating with a skeleton number of nurses.

"I think that now we are speaking about a shortage of around 30,000 nurses that is forecast, but it might escalate as far as 60,000 in five years to come."

Kwena Manamela, General Secretary - DENOSA

Manamela says the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the fact that the Department is not quite ready for a pandemic, and the union had thought this would open their eyes about the need to recover.

"We haven't recovered - remember that COVID also took some of our colleagues... The government was not able to replace those that have left either through retirement, when they passed away, when they resigned, and so on."

Kwena Manamela, General Secretary - DENOSA

"That gap is opening even wider; that shortage is getting worse."

Kwena Manamela, General Secretary - DENOSA

Recruitment of just 200 more nurses 'shocking' in face of nationwide crisis - DENOSA

The Health Minister has announced 1,200 more posts for doctors in the public healthcare system, but only 200 for nurses.