NURSING students at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College are boycotting classes demanding that three senior officials be removed
About 2,500 students went on strike on Monday.
They vowed yesterday that they would not go back to classes until three department heads are replaced.
Student Representative Council deputy president Litha Nyoka said: "This college has an abnormally high failure rate, and many students had their courses terminated unfairly without their knowledge.
"Students are also victimised when they voice their concerns.
"This college forces students to work on public holidays without any remuneration, and now they are refusing about 300 students permission to write exams because they did not work on public holidays."
Nyoka said of the 420 second-year students, only 180 passed, 220 failed while the remaining students were either expelled or had their courses terminated.
A fourth-year student said he started his first year with 330 students in class, but the numbers have since dwindled so much that he finds himself sitting in a class of 170 students.
The rest have fallen off after suffering the "injustices" meted out by the three HODs.
"Some students only found out that they have been expelled when they went to the bank to check their stipends," said Nyoka.
He said health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe's office had been given a memorandum in June and students are disappointed that there is no response forthcoming.
"There are students who were not registered with the South African Nursing Council for their exams, and they got flimsy excuses like their files went missing."
- Chairperson of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) Student Movement Simphiwe Gada said he supported the action taken by students.
He said similar protest action would also take place at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.
He said at Charlotte Maxeke, eight students stay in a room meant for one.
At Helen Joseph, there is no running water in the students residence while students are denied accommodation at Rahima Moosa.
Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa and Denosa representatives said they were behind the students' action, and that the strike will continue until the three HODs are removed.
The college has about 12 HODs, and student nurses receive a stipend of R6,300.
Health department spokesperson Simon Zwane did not return Sowetan's calls or reply to SMSes sent to him on what the department's position was on the demands made by the students.
Trainee nurses go on strike
NURSING students at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College are boycotting classes demanding that three senior officials be removed
About 2,500 students went on strike on Monday.
They vowed yesterday that they would not go back to classes until three department heads are replaced.
Student Representative Council deputy president Litha Nyoka said: "This college has an abnormally high failure rate, and many students had their courses terminated unfairly without their knowledge.
"Students are also victimised when they voice their concerns.
"This college forces students to work on public holidays without any remuneration, and now they are refusing about 300 students permission to write exams because they did not work on public holidays."
Nyoka said of the 420 second-year students, only 180 passed, 220 failed while the remaining students were either expelled or had their courses terminated.
A fourth-year student said he started his first year with 330 students in class, but the numbers have since dwindled so much that he finds himself sitting in a class of 170 students.
The rest have fallen off after suffering the "injustices" meted out by the three HODs.
"Some students only found out that they have been expelled when they went to the bank to check their stipends," said Nyoka.
He said health MEC Ntombi Mekgwe's office had been given a memorandum in June and students are disappointed that there is no response forthcoming.
"There are students who were not registered with the South African Nursing Council for their exams, and they got flimsy excuses like their files went missing."
He said similar protest action would also take place at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital.
He said at Charlotte Maxeke, eight students stay in a room meant for one.
At Helen Joseph, there is no running water in the students residence while students are denied accommodation at Rahima Moosa.
Health and Other Service Personnel Trade Union of South Africa and Denosa representatives said they were behind the students' action, and that the strike will continue until the three HODs are removed.
The college has about 12 HODs, and student nurses receive a stipend of R6,300.
Health department spokesperson Simon Zwane did not return Sowetan's calls or reply to SMSes sent to him on what the department's position was on the demands made by the students.
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