The Department of Health's spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgetwane, told OFM News that the unemployment of nurses is not as a result of imbalances in their budget. Lekgetwane says that they are undergoing cost-cutting measures, however, this excludes the appointment of health professionals as they form part of essential services.

Lekgetwane adds that the province has always struggled with a shortage of nurses and that it takes time to fill these posts. He goes on to say that since 2018, under co-administration, the province was able to advertise close to 3000 positions, with the majority of them being nursing posts. The province continues to gradually fill the posts, says Lekgetwane.  

Problems arise when large numbers of nurses relocate to other provinces, as filling those vacancies becomes a tremendously long process but there is never a time when the refilling of nursing posts is not done, says Lekgetwane. 

They are, however, fast-tracking the employment of nurses but are required to do so while adhering to public service regulations.

He concludes by saying that all the district managers have been given latitude to employ nurses on a contractual basis with the hope of alleviating the pressure caused by the second wave of Covid-19.

OFM News/Shirndré-Lee Simmons