The Kimberley Prospector

The Young Nurses Indaba Trade Union has condemned an urgent interim interdict that was obtained against protesting student nurses on Friday as a ’colossal waste of money’.

THE YOUNG Nurses Indaba Trade Union (YNITU) has condemned an urgent interim interdict that was obtained against protesting student nurses from Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College in Kimberley on Friday as a “colossal waste of money”.

YNITU general secretary Lerato Mthunzi said that protest action only took place on Wednesday this week.

“All protest action was called off at the close of business on August 24 after management and union representatives met to discuss ways of resolving the grievances. It was agreed that students would return to classes on Monday, August 29 in the lecture rooms at Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe Hospital,” said Mthunzi.

“There is nothing to interdict, the application makes no sense. We were of the opinion that progress was being made towards mending relations and building a way forward, only to be slapped with an interdict on August 26. The interdict applies to student nurses, college staff, the YNITU and the student representative council. We have opposed the interdict.”

Mthunzi believed that the money that was used for the “wasted” legal costs should have instead been directed towards purchasing textbooks and other essential items for students.

“It goes to show that the cash-strapped department is not managing its finances effectively. The lawyers defending the Department of Health brought the application on the pretence that the strike action was still ongoing.”

Mthunzi added that the principal of Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College would submit a report on the autonomy of the college as well as the accreditation of the college with the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

She stated that while long-term goals still needed to be discussed, they had reached an agreement with the Department of Health regarding the immediate actions that needed to take place.

“The Premier’s Office has also intervened and everyone has already agreed on the way forward. Therefore rushing to court was a wasted exercise. Students who were staying at residences that were not satisfactory have been moved to more suitable accommodation.”

The union is calling for the immediate closure of Henrietta Stockdale Nursing College (HSNC) due to infrastructural challenges and safety concerns.

Mthunzi said that a new building would have to be built to accommodate nursing students in the future.

Northern Cape Department of Health spokesperson Lebogang Majaha said that following extensive engagements with the college management, nursing students and organised labour this past week, the department would convene a media briefing this coming week to provide an update on recent developments, agreements reached with all parties involved and progress thereof.

The Department of Health was represented in court by Magoma Attorneys.

Parties will return to the Northern Cape High Court on September 2.

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