She was speaking during the celebration of International Nurses Day at Grootvlei Prison in Bloemfontein in recognition of the nurses.

She says through this difficult and challenging times, nurses stood their test and excelled in making sure that they deliver better and quality services to the inmates at various hospitals across the two provinces.

These challenges include harassment, safety and security threats against them, mostly perpetrated by the inmate. She also took a moment to highlight what she regards as challenges faced by nurses in these facilities.

Earlier the departmental spokesperson for the department, Puleng Mokhoane, told OFM News that about 110 nurses across the Northern Cape and Free State are today attending the event.

She said the nurses would sometimes fall victim to being taken hostage by prisoners to make demands.

The nurses were earlier locked in a private session with senior departmental officials to lay bare their concerns and possible solutions.

OFM News