ALI MPHAKI
THE Chris Hani-Baragwanath Academic Hospital’s nursing college was closed down yesterday until further notice after four days of class boycotts by about 2 500 students.
Gauteng MEC for Health Ntombi Mekgwe said in a statement that they had decided to close the college “for the safety of patients” in the hospital.
But instead of dampening the spirits of the toyi-toying students, the message about the closure of the college only served to strengthen their resolve to intensify their class boycott.
The students were adamant that they would only go back to class once three senior officials at the college have been removed.
The chairman of the Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) Student Movement, Simphiwe Gada, said now that the college was closed, there were concerns that management may order the students out of their residence on the hospital premises.
“We warn that should they decide to close the students’ residence, we will revolt with more force,” said Gada.
The students have been boycotting classes since Monday and have been gathering outside the college daily, toyi-toying and singing freedom songs.
Among their grievances are:
l The abnormally high failure rate at the college
l Being forced to work on public holidays
l The unexplained expulsion of students
l Victimisation of students who raise complaints.
Gada said students at the Bara college have for the past six years been complaining about the three senior officials and nothing has been done about it.
“Students have been sending delegation after delegation to meet with the college’s management, but they have failed to investigate the allegations. The action which the students have embarked upon is merely a demonstration of their frustrations. Nothing short of their demands being met will see them back to class,” said Gada.
Denosa organiser Sipho Qankase said they were encouraged by the messages of support they had received from other nursing colleges in Gauteng. He said the problem at Bara nursing college was common to all nursing colleges in the province.
“Once more the Health Department has shown how arrogant and unprofessional they are in dealing with our grievances. They do not know who are they dealing with. Let’s show them,” Qankase said to loud shouts of “Amandla” from the protesting students.
The president of the students’ representative council, Patrick Lekala, urged the students to convene outside the college this morning to continue with their class boycott. “We are not on strike, but simply boycotting classes. The struggle continues,” he said.
Lekala added that their class boycott did not in any way affect the smooth running of the hospital as the college was situated far away from the wards.
“And anyway, we only go to the wards to do practical work. Our boycotting of classes does not affect patients. It is disingenuous of the MEC to say she is closing down the college because of the safety of patients,” said Lekala.
Health Department spokesman Simon Zwane said negotiations were ongoing between the department and students.
“We are engaging with them with a view of finding a way forward. As for the three senior officials they want removed, it is only fair to have the three answer to the allegations before we can act. Mind you, they have a right to answer to the allegations. Also important is for the students to back up their allegations with evidence,” said Zwane.