17 September 2014

Delay on Postage from South African Nursing Council (SANC)

Purpose

To inform nurse practitioners about the delay of postage from South African Nursing Council due to unprotected industrial action by South African Post Office’s casual and part time employees.

Background

The South African Post Office (SAPO) embarked on unprotected industrial action which has extended to three weeks.  Due to this, the South African Nursing Council (SANC) would like to sensitise nurse practitioners and other relevant stakeholders of the huge delays and backlogs caused on the postage of correspondences from SANC.

Though SAPO has contingency plans and precautionary measures in place, the impact might still have negative consequences. You will be kept abreast with further developments in this regard.

We apologise for the inconvenience caused.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

31 July 2014

1.     Closing Date for Payment of Annual Fees
2.     Annual Fees for 2015
3.     Restoration Fees for 2015

PURPOSE OF THE CIRCULAR

The purpose of this circular is to:

	Inform nurses of the closing date for the payments of annual fees for the calendar year 2015
	Inform nurses of the increased Annual Fees due for the calendar year 2015
	Inform nurses of the increased Restoration Fees applicable from 1 January 2015.

1.     CLOSING DATE FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES

Please note that the closing date for the payment of Annual Fees is 31 December annually, however for calendar year 2015 ONLY, the closing date has changed to 31 January 2015. You are therefore urged to pay as soon as possible in order to avoid the last minute rush. The annual fees for calendar year 2015 have been increased based on the Consumer Price Index of 5.8 %.

2.     ANNUAL FEES FOR 2015

2.1   Normal Annual Fees

The Annual Fees for the calendar year 2015 for the different categories of practitioners are given in the following table:

2.2   Reductions in Annual Fees for Age 60 and Over

The Council has resolved to introduce reduced fees for nurses 60 years of age and over as per the tables below:

2.2.1   60 to 64 Years of Age on 1 January 2015 (25% reduction)

2.2.2   Over 64 years of Age on 1 January 2015 (50% reduction)

NB:  To qualify for the discount amounts, a practitioner may be required to submit a certified copy of his/her identity document in order to confirm his/her age.

Notes:

	The Annual Fees for 2015 must be paid by 31 January 2015
	Please pay as soon as possible to avoid the last minute rush
	The amounts in the tables above all include 14% VAT.

3.     RESTORATION FEES FOR 2014

The Restoration Fees for the different categories applicable from 1 February 2015 are shown in the following table:

Notes:

	The increased fees apply to restorations that are EFFECTIVE from a date after 31 January 2015 – no matter when the fee is paid.  In other words, if you meet all the requirements for restoration after 31 January 2015 OR if you request restoration with effect from a date after 31 January 2015.
	The reduced Restoration Fee will only apply if your name was removed from the Register at your own request – this must be confirmed with the Council before paying the reduced amount.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

Notes:

1. A copy of Board Notice 86 of 2014 was attached to the circular
2. You will also qualify for the reduced restoration fee if you are 60 years of age or older on 1 January 2015.

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

28 July 2014

Accreditation of Nursing Education Programmes and Nursing Education Institutions by the South African Nursing Council

It has come to the attention of the South African Nursing Council (SANC) that there are certain associations/organizations that are informing the Nursing Education Institutions that any institution can offer Nursing Education Programs without being accredited by SANC.

Kindly take note that this is misleading and the information provided by such associations/ organizations either through letters or on their websites is incorrect.  We kindly refer you to the provisions of the National Health Act No. 61 of 2003 and Nursing Act No. 33 of 2005 in this regard.  The South African Nursing Council is the statutory body established by the Nursing Act to regulate all matters regarding Nursing Education and Training as well as practice.

Your attention is specifically drawn to Section 32 of the Nursing Act (Registration of learners), Section 38 (Qualifications prescribed for registration) as well as Section 42 (Education and training) where it is clear that no person can enroll to study towards becoming a nurse practitioner and no institution may provide any such education and training without being accredited by the South African Nursing Council.  Contravention of these sections constitutes criminal offences for which a fine or imprisonment for a period of up to two years or both such fine and such imprisonment may be ordered by the court of law.

Your attention is further drawn to Section 31 of the Nursing Act (Registration as prerequisite to practice) where it is clear that no person may practise nursing in South Africa if not registered with the South African Nursing Council.  Contravention of this section is a criminal offence for which a fine or imprisonment for a twelve month period or both such fine and such imprisonment can be ordered by the court of law.  We urge you to take the matters addressed above seriously and be advised that SANC in its quest to protect the Public will not hesitate to act against any contravention of the Nursing Act.

Furthermore, persons who study at institutions not accredited and registered with the South African Nursing Council will not be able to register with the South African Nursing Council to enable them to practise nursing.  They will also not be eligible to practise nursing outside the boarders of South Africa as the Nursing Councils of other countries first obtain proof of registration from the South African Nursing Council before they allow any practitioner to practise nursing in their country.

We trust that you find this in order.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

25 June 2014

Change of the Date for Practitioners to Start Paying for the Annual Practising Certificates for the Year 2015 from the 1^st of July to the 1^st of August 2014

The South African Nursing Council would like to inform all practitioners and employers that the date for practitioners to start paying for the Annual Practising Certificate for the calendar year 2015 has changed from the 1^st of July 2014 to the 1^st of August 2014.  Also note that the final date in which practitioners will be able to pay for their Annual Practising Certificate for 2015 without attracting a penalty has also changed to the 31^st of January 2015.

As a result, the Annual Practising Certificates shall only be available from the 1^st of August 2014 and not from the 1^st of July 2014.  Nurse practitioners who wish to pay their 2015 Annual Fees and to collect their Annual Practising Certificates in person at SANC Offices are advised to plan to do so from the 1^st of August 2014 and not before that date.

However, payments into SANC bank account and electronic payments can be done as soon as the fees are published in the Government Gazette (these will be published simultaneously on SANC website and Facebook Page) and the Annual Practising Certificates will be printed and posted immediately after the 1^st of August 2014.

Please assist the Council by informing your employees and colleagues of these changes.

You are welcome to contact SANC call centre on 012 420 1000 for further enquiries on this matter.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

24 June 2014

Payment of South African Nursing Council Prescribed Fees at the First National Bank Automated Teller Machine (ATM)

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) would like to encourage nurse practitioners to make use of the ATM ADVANCE machines at First National Bank branches, to deposit cash for the payment of any fees prescribed by the South African Nursing Council.

The benefits accruing from this method of payment are as follows:

	No more standing in branch teller queues
	Deposits can be made after business hours
	Reference numbers can be inserted when making deposits
	This method of payment can be used even if you are not a First National Bank (FNB) client
	It is quick, easy and secured

To make this process beneficial to everyone, SANC will also ensure that any prescribed fees are rounded off to eliminate any inconvenience.

First National Bank (FNB) has implemented new requirements when making payments into the South African Nursing Council’s reference deposit account.  Nurse practitioners must provide a 15 character payment reference consisting of their 8 digit SANC REFERENCE NUMBER followed by a 7 CAPITAL LETTER payment type code

A list of payment codes provided below will assist SANC in detecting payments easily from our account so that deposits can be speedily processed.

CODES TO BE USED BY INDIVIDUALS

CODES TO BE USED BY INSTITUTIONS

Please Note:  To expedite the processing of transactions for payments made by direct deposits, nurse practitioners are requested to fax or email the proof of payment and the prescribed SANC forms such as restoration forms, distinguishing devices forms, registration forms etc. to the contact details as provided on the forms.

Thank you for your co-operation.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

5 June 2014

Requirements regarding deferments of candidates to write South African Nursing Council scheduled examinations

The Examinations Section is inundated with late applications to defer candidates from one scheduled examination to the following examination – where candidates do not meet the requirements for either theory or clinical assessments.  Such late applications for deferment have huge financial and logistical implications, as capturing of data is closed by then and the materials for the examinations have already been printed and packaged.  This results in SANC incurring a fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

It is also evident (from the number of such candidates who present themselves at the examination centre) that deferred candidates are not informed in advance about the decision to defer their entry into the examination.

Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) are reminded of the following provisions in Examination Regulations published by Government Notice No. R.7 of 8 January 1983 (as amended):

“5.(2)  The person in charge of a nursing school shall notify the Council immediately, giving reasons, if a candidate becomes ineligible for admission to an examination subsequent to the submitting of an application for an admission to an examination.”

“7.(1)  A candidate who is absent from an examination on the actual day or days of the examination for a reason acceptable to the Council may apply for admission to the next examination without the payment of the examination fee prescribed by regulation 16(a) or (b).

(2)  In the case of an absence referred to in subregulation (1) proof acceptable to the Council of the reason for the absence shall be submitted to the Council within 21 days of the date of the examination from which the candidate was absent.”

“16.  Subject to the provisions of –

(a)  regulation 7, an examination fee per paper for basic courses shall be payable to the Council on application for admission to the examination;

(b)  regulation 7, an examination fee per paper for post-basic courses shall be payable to the Council on application for admission to the examination; 

(c)  regulation 4(2), an application submitted later than the date referred to in regulation 4(1), shall be accepted only on payment of a late entry fee, which shall be payable in addition to the fees prescribed by paragraph (a) or (b);

(d)  regulation 7, a candidate shall forfeit examination fees to the Council if any application is cancelled or if a candidate is absent from an examination or a portion of an examination;”

In order to prevent future problems associated with late deferments, the Council will adhere strictly to the measures described below.

1. Notices of deferment (in terms of 5.(2) of the Examination Regulations) will only be accepted by the Council if received before the date on which preparations for the dispatching of exam materials commences – that is 35 days prior to the date of the first (or only) examination to be written in a particular week
2. Any notice for deferment received after the date mentioned in 1. (above) will be treated as a case of cancellation and the candidate shall forfeit the examination fees in terms of 16.(d) of the Examination Regulations
3. Entry into Council Examinations shall not be used by NEIs as a measure to address the NEIs’ own administrative issues with a candidate (such as non-payment of tuition fees). Any such administrative issues shall be dealt with in terms of the NEIs policies for addressing such issues.

Thank you for your cooperation.

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani. Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

5 May 2014

URGENT NOTICE

Cancellation of the South African Nursing Council (SANC) Examination Question Papers for Final Enrolment as a Nurse (R.2175) for the following electives: General, Community, Psychiatric and Nursing Care of the Aged to be written on 12 May 2014

It has come to our attention that the courier vehicle which was transporting SANC examination papers for the Final Enrolment as a Nurse (R.2175) for the following electives: General, Community, Psychiatric and the Nursing Care of the Aged to some Nursing Education Institutions (NEI’s) was hijacked.  These examinations were scheduled to be written on 12 May 2014. You are therefore informed that all the original examination papers referred to above are nullified and must not be distributed to candidates on 12 May 2014.  (These papers are printed on WHITE paper.)

NB:  For those NEI’s that have received their examination boxes earlier from the courier, the Main Invigilators should take out from the previously sent examination boxes only the following examination materials: answer books, attendance lists, claim forms and Courier waybills for sending back the examination material to SANC.  The new boxes with different examination papers are being couriered to your NEIs.  White cable ties have been used on these boxes, to distinguish them from the ones previously dispatched to your NEI’s dated 12 May 2014.  The replacement papers are printed on peach coloured paper.

Main Invigilators will receive two (2) security codes via SMS on 12 May 2014 to open the examination boxes in order to retrieve the contents.

Kindly communicate with the following personnel in Assessments Section in case of problems encountered on the day (12 May 2014) of the examination:

Thank you for your cooperation.

(Signed)

Mr. T. Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

11 April 2014

South African Nursing Council – Easter Holidays Closure : 17 – 22 April 2014

Please be informed that the South African Nursing Council (SANC) offices will be closing at 13:00 on 17 April 2014 in preparation for Easter holidays and re – opening on 22 April 2014 at 08:00.

Kindly inform all persons in your institutions so that they are aware in advance of the dates the Council will be closed.

We wish you safe Easter holidays.

Sincerely,

(Signed)

Mr. Tendani Mabuda 
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

© 2004 - 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer

04 April 2014

NON PAYMENT OF ANNUAL RENEWAL FEES BY NURSING PRACTITIONERS

We refer to the above.

It has come to the attention of the South African Nursing Council that there are nursing practitioners who are employed and do not pay their annual renewal fees in terms of the Nursing Act 33 of 2005 in order to be able to practice.

This letter serves as a formal notice to draw the attention of all employers of nursing practitioners to the relevant provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005 Section 31 (Registration as prerequisite to practise) which reads as follows:

“31. (1) Subject to the provisions of section 37, no person may practise as a practitioner unless he or she is registered to practise in at least one of the following categories:

(a) Professional nurse;
(b) midwife;
(c) staff nurse;
(d) auxiliary nurse; or
(e) auxiliary midwife.

(2) The Minister, after consultation with the Council, may by notice in the Gazette create such other categories of persons to be registered to practise nursing as he or she considers necessary in the public interest.

(3) An employer must not employ or retain in employment a person to perform the functions pertaining to the profession of nursing, other than a person who holds the necessary qualification and who is registered under subsection (1) or (2).

(4) No person may use as a title any of the categories contemplated in subsection (1) or (2) unless he or she is registered as such in terms of this section.”

Kindly take note of the provisions in Section 31(11) of the Nursing Act that reads as follows:

“A person who contravenes subsection (1), (3) or (4) [as emphasized above] is guilty of an offence and on conviction liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding 12 months or to both a fine and such imprisonment.”

In light of the above we urge all employers to ensure that their nursing practitioners provide them with their Annual Practising Certificates as proof of registration. Should any person be discovered by the South African Nursing Council to be employed without registration, the necessary criminal procedure steps will follow against both such practitioner and his/her employer.

We trust that you find this in order.

Kind regards,

(Signed)

MR. T. MABUDA 
REGISTRAR AND CEO
SOUTH AFRICAN NURSING COUNCIL

© 2004 – 2020 South African Nursing Council (Under the provisions of the Nursing Act, 2005)

Disclaimer