12 May 2012

South African Nursing Council – Recognition Awards 2012

MR SIDUMO DLAMINI

 

SUMMARY OF THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF MR SIDUMO DLAMINI TO THE TRANSFORMATION OF NURSING

 

Mr Sidumo Dlamini joined the nursing profession in 1986 as a pupil nurse training for enrolment as a staff nurse at Mosvold Hospital at Ingwavuma North of KZN.  He was one of the first male nurse trainee in the area since there were none in the area at that time.

Having completed training two years later he was employed by Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital in the casualty department.  It is at this hospital at Umlazi, Durban where it all began.

He was in a group of nurses who worked for the transformation of the nursing profession in campaigns for the transformation of the South African Nursing Association, the KwaZulu Nursing Association and the South African Nursing Council.  These struggles waged here and elsewhere in the country resulted to the collapse or transformation of these institutions created by the old system into the SANC as we know it today.

Nurses formed and joined unions of their choice and were no longer forced to be members of SANA and the other bantustant’s associations of nursing.

We called for the transformation of the nursing profession and the development and training of nurses and campaigned against discrimination on the basis of race, colour, creed, sex and religion in the profession.

HE progressed to train as a general nurse and midwife (accoucheur) at the same time championed issues of the nurses integrating those with all the workers in the working class.  Mr Dlamini understood that the life of a professional nurse is very comprehensive and does not end at the bedside of the patient hence a comprehensive approach in addressing nurses and nursing challenges need to be used as nurses are also members of the community.

It is in that context that that he became a shop steward not just for the workers at his workplace but other workplaces too.  And a shop steward not just for his union NEHAWU but all COSATU unions in the country as their President.

Mr Dlamini is also serving at the national collective bargaining platforms as a negotiator on behalf of all the workers in government and he continues to develop the nursing profession at the sectoral bargaining council.

There is yet a lot to be done in the transformation of the profession adding on the work that has happened.  One great achievement of the profession is that nurses can be represented by their shop stewards in the SANC disciplinary processes something that didn’t happen before.

Mr Dlamini is a living example that a nurse can be anything he/she want to be in society, including a union president and even a President of the largest federation in Africa like COSATU.  He is a living example that it is possible to give the service to humanity as best as you can even under very difficult circumstances.  “Neither geographical boundary’s nor limitations can prevent you from reaching the skies”.  It is dedication and sacrifice coupled with working hard and respect of life and humanity.

Today Mr Sidumo Dlamini has 26 years unbroken service in the profession and through self-development and training and he has is indeed an asset to the profession and the entire nation.

Viva “COSATU PRESIDENT”