GAUTENG Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has encouraged nurses to perform their work diligently despite poor working conditions

GAUTENG Premier Nomvula Mokonyane has encouraged nurses to perform their work diligently despite poor working conditions.

Mokonyane was addressing the first South African Nurses Conference organised by the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa in Sandton yesterday.

Currently, there are on average 383 nurses for every 100,000 people in the country. Mokonyane said nurses need to choose between working in public health facilities and moonlighting.

"Our concern is that this practice results in nurses not giving their best when on duty in public health facilities," she said.

Nurse Phindi Phiri said: "Working conditions are very bad, we are short-staffed and overworked, which makes it difficult to give full attention to our patients.

"The shortage of equipment is also a big problem especially in rural areas."