06 October 2021

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION (POPI) ACT, 2013 (ACT NO 4 OF 2013) 

TO:      NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

             PROVINCIAL DEPARTMENTS OF HEALTH

             NURSING EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

             ALL STAKEHOLDERS

IMPLEMENTATION OF PROTECTION OF PERSONAL INFORMATION (POPI) ACT, 2013 (ACT NO 4 OF 2013)

1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this circular is to inform the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions and other stakeholders about the implementation of the above-mentioned POPI Act, 2013 by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).

2. PROMULGATION OF THE ACT

The POPI Act, 2013 was initially passed in 2013 and has since been implemented in stages. The last of these stages has had a very direct and profound impact on the way in which organizations and people deal with other people’s information.

3. PROCLAMATION FOR IMPLEMENTATION- JULY 2021

As of the 1st of July 2021, Sections 55 to 109, Section 111 and Sections 114 (1), (2) and (3) commenced and on the 30^th of June 2021 Sections 110 and 114 (4) commenced.

4. IMPLEMENTATION BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

The Registrar of the SANC must, in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) keep registers in respect of Nurse practitioners which information includes personal details of Nurses.

In line with the provisions of the POPI Act, 2013 the Registrar is appointed by the Information Regulator as the Information Officer, whose responsibilities flow from the Act.

In order to ensure compliance with these provisions, the SANC is taking the necessary steps to ensure its clients’ Personal Information remains protected. To this end, the SANC will henceforth not disclose any Personal Information in its custody to any third party, unless proper procedure is followed via a fully completed and signed Consent Form (see attached). Only information that has been consented to will then be provided to specifically authorized individuals. This may impact on certain services rendered by the SANC, especially those where a person attempts to solicit services from the SANC on a Nurse’s behalf. This will not affect the processes related to the payment of annual statutory registration fees by Employers on behalf of clients.

We would appreciate it if you could kindly share this information with all persons in your institutions.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Mr. Benjamin Grobler, Senior Manager: Learner Affairs at (012) 420-1074 or on email address: [email protected]

Yours sincerely

Ms S.A. Mchunu

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

5 October 2021

Re-scheduling of the November 2021 examinations

To:         National Department of Health

               Provincial Departments of Health

               Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs)

               All Stakeholders

SUBJECT:  RE-SCHEDULING OF THE NOVEMBER EXAMINATIONS CONDUCTED BY THE SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

1. 
   PURPOSE

The purpose of this Circular is to:

• Inform the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and relevant stakeholders about the amendment of the dates for the South African Nursing Council (SANC) conducted examinations which are due to be written in November 2021.

2. BACKGROUND
   • The Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Minister, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma, has gazetted the 1st November 2021 as the date of local elections. This date coincides with the SANC examinations scheduled for that date.
   • It became prudent to amend the examination dates to accommodate the significant event and afford all concerned the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to vote. Therefore, the examinations that were due to be written in November 2021 will be written as follows:

Final examinations for the course leading to Registration as Midwife- Government Notice No. R254 of 14 February 1975 (as amended)

Final examinations for the course leading to Registration as Psychiatric Nurse- – Government Notice No. R880 of 2 May 1975 (as amended)

3. IMPORTANT TO NOTE

3.1 Kindly ensure that all students are duly informed of the new dates of the examinations.

3.2 None of the other examinations dates for November 2021 are affected by this notice.

4. IMPLEMENTATION DATE

This circular becomes effective and implementable on the date of publication.

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms A. Mnguni, SANC Senior Manager: Learner Affairs at (012) 420 1065 or on email address: [email protected]

Yours sincerely,

 ______________

MS SA MCHUNU                                                                                        

REGISTRAR AND CEO

SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

For further information in respect of this Circular, you are advised to contact Ms A Mnguni, Senior Manager: Learner Affairs, on (012) 420 1065 or by email [email protected]