19 February 2019

SANC’s new logo and slogan

This year marks the celebration of the SANC’s 75th anniversary and befitting this milestone the SANC proudly introduces its new logo and slogan – a new identity that reflects its evolution yet emphasises its mandate. The SANC launched its new logo and slogan on 28 January 2019. The symbolism of the logo is explained below.

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

4 February 2019

Provisions of nursing programmes

1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Circular is to: 

1.1 Update/remind the National Department of Health, Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders about the provisions of the following nursing programmes:

– Bridging course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General/Psychiatric Nurse; 
– Diploma Course in Midwifery for registration as a Midwife.

1.2 Inform the National Department of Health, the Provincial Departments of Health, Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) and other relevant stakeholders of an amended Learner Application form, which should be submitted to the South African Nursing Council (SANC) upon application for registration of learners with the SANC.

2. LEGISLATED DURATION OF THE RELEVANT PROGRAMMES

2.1. Bridging course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General/Psychiatric Nurse  This programme is regulated by the Regulations relating to the minimum requirements for a Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General Nurse or a Psychiatric Nurse (Government Notice Regulation No.683 of 14 April 1989, as amended). In terms of Regulation 6 (1) of these regulations, the duration of this programme shall be two academic years. An “academic year” as defined in these regulations “shall mean a period of at least 44 weeks in any calendar year”.

2.2. Diploma course in Midwifery for registration as a Midwife This programme is regulated by the Regulations relating to the minimum requirements for a Diploma course in Midwifery for registration as a Midwife (Government Notice Regulation No. 254 of 10 March 1978, as amended). In terms of Regulation 4 (1) of these regulations, the duration of the course shall be two years.  This regulation must be read in conjunction with Regulation 7 of these regulations, which deals with exemptions. One such exemption is provided for in Regulation 7 (2), as follows: “A student who is a registered general nurse or a registered psychiatric nurse, is exempted from one (1) year of the prescribed period for the course”.

3. IMPLICATIONS 
Based on the content under point 2 above, the South African Nursing Council would like to remind all Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) that are still offering the above-mentioned programmes of the following:

	3.1 Students are required to undergo the above-mentioned programmes on a full-time basis, as it is practically impossible for any person in employment, especially full-time employment, to achieve all the theoretical and practical requirements of the programmes within the prescribed time frames. The programme shall therefore not be undertaken on a part-time basis.
	3.2 The persons in charge of NEIs, who are responsible for signing the learner application forms, must ensure that employed learners have been granted study leave by their employers and must attach such proof upon submission of the respective learners’ application forms to the SANC, failing which the applications will not be processed. In addition, each learner must declare that he/she is undergoing the programme on a full-time basis.
	3.3 The Learner Application form has been amended to capture the above requirements. The amended form can be accessed under the “Services” link on the home page of the SANC website (www.sanc.co.za) and thereafter by clicking on the “Learners” link on the menu. A sample is attached to this circular as Annexure A, for ease of reference.
	3.4 The persons in charge of NEIs, who are responsible for submission of learner applications to the SANC, should also in their covering letters to the SANC declare that the listed learners are undergoing the programme on a full-time basis.
	3.5 Please note that, should it be discovered that learners followed these full-time programmes while in full-time employment, it would amount to the requirements of the programmes not having been complied with. This would result in the SANC invoking Section 44 (1) (i) of the Nursing Act (Act No, 33 of 2005) which states that “The Council may instruct the Registrar to remove from the register the name of any practitioner whose registration is proved to the satisfaction of the Council to have been made in error or through fraudulent misrepresentation or concealment of material facts or information”.  Consequently, the NEIs involved in such incidents would thereafter be deemed fully responsible for the affected persons and any potential litigation that may ensue.
	3.6 Nursing Education Institutions that were approved by the Council to offer these programmes using a decentralized model, are not exempted from the applicability of these requirements.

4. IMPLEMENTATION DATE
This Circular becomes implementable and valid on the date of issue.

For further information on this Circular, you are advised to contact the Senior Manager: Education and Training, Ms SJ Nxumalo at (012) 420 1022 or at [email protected]

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

4 February 2019

Provisions of nursing programmes

1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this Circular is to: 

– Bridging course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a General/Psychiatric Nurse; 
– Diploma Course in Midwifery for registration as a Midwife.

2. LEGISLATED DURATION OF THE RELEVANT PROGRAMMES

3. IMPLICATIONS 
Based on the content under point 2 above, the South African Nursing Council would like to remind all Nursing Education Institutions (NEIs) that are still offering the above-mentioned programmes of the following:

4. IMPLEMENTATION DATE
This Circular becomes implementable and valid on the date of issue.

For further information on this Circular, you are advised to contact the Senior Manager: Education and Training, Ms SJ Nxumalo at (012) 420 1022 or at [email protected]

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

4 December 2017

SANC offices closed from 11:00 on 22 December 2017

The SANC offices will be closed for the year-end from Friday, 22 December 2017 at 12:00 midday however for operational reasons, the gates will be closed at 11:00 am. The office will reopen on Wednesday, 3 January 2018 at 08:00 am.

Reminder: All annual Fees must be paid on or before 31 December 2017 in order to avoid restoration fees.

The SA Nursing Council would like to wish you and your families well during the festive season. Travel safely.

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

28 November 2017

SANC OFFICES CLOSED FROM 11:00 ON 1 DECEMBER 2017

The SANC offices will be closed due to business operational issues on Friday, 1 December 2017 from 11:00 and reopen on Monday, 4 December 2017 at 08:00 am.

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

10 November 2017

South African Nursing Council Examination Schedule – 2018

Attached is the Examination Schedule for 2018.

Kindly take note of the following requirements applicable to the Council examinations:

1. The closing date for the examinations should be strictly adhered to and no exceptions or allowances will be made to extend these dates.
2. Only registered learners will be eligible for an examination: The Head of the Nursing Education Institution (NEI) must ensure that all learners are registered with the Council within the prescribed period. Foreign applicants apply as individuals though will have to adhere to the prescribed period.
3. Candidates will not be registered for an examination with only an identity number. Council reference numbers are needed in all cases. Please follow up with the Council Registration department first, if learners are not registered for the course before registering candidates for an examination.
4. The Council will only process applications for entry into a Council examination that meet the following requirements:
   
   a) The Examination Application Form is completed in full, accurately and signed by the relevant person/s. The surname and given names must be those appearing in the identity document.
   
   b) All the required documentation to be included.
   
   c) There is proof of payment of prescribed examination fee into the Council’s bank account; such payment must be done by the Nursing Education Institution (NEI) (group payment) and not by learners.
   

   Banking details are as follows:
   
   Name of Bank: First National Bank
   Account number: 51425166282 (Current Account)
   Branch: Corporate Core Banking – Pretoria
   Branch code: 253 – 145
   Reference: NEI S-number followed by the type of fee code ‘EXAMFEE’
   
   The correct reference must appear on all deposits to expedite the processing of your payment. The code ‘EXAMFEE’ must only be used for payment in respect of examination fee. This code must not be used for any other types of payment. Here is an example of what a correct reference will look like for an NEI with S-number S12345:
   
   S12345EXAMFEE
   
   NB: The Head of the NEI must ensure that payment of fees by their Provincial Department or Head Office is made separately for each NEI and for each specific examination.
   Provincial bulk payments without specifications create administrative challenges and cause a delay in processing of the applications.

5. Only those candidates that have been issued an examination timetable/number will be eligible to write a Council examination.
6. All practical MARK SHEETS must be submitted to the Council by Registered mail/courier by the end of the month in which the examination is written. If the PRACTICAL MARK SHEETS in SANC format are not submitted on time, the examination results will be published without the practical marks, hence qualification certificate will not be issued to the affected candidates.
7. The Council requests Invigilators not to enclose the practical mark sheet or any other documents with the Examination package.
8. The Council reserves the right to cancel an examination reflected on the schedule if there are insufficient candidates for such an examination.
9. The Council request the NEI’s to inform all their candidates of the outcome of the examination results once published. No examination results will be given out telephonically by the Council. However, candidates will receive results via text messages (SMS).

NB: Examination fees are non-refundable in accordance with Government Notice No. R.170 of  8 March 2013.

7 November 2017

Possible disruption of services at the SANC offices on 8 November 2017

Please note that although the SANC offices will be open, a possible disruption of services at its office may be experienced due to the national taxi strike and subsequent march to the Union Buildings on Wednesday 8 November. Clients and visitors are advised to assess the situation and put safety first.

Your co-operation is highly appreciated and any inconvenience is regretted.

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

13 October 2017

Sale of Distinguishing Devices

This circular serves to advise nursing practitioners who are attending the SANC Western Cape Outreach event from 16 – 20 October that, due to manufacturing problems experienced by the supplier, the selling of shoulder badges will not be possible at this event. All other distinguishing devices will be available.

As part of our continued commitment to service, the South African Nursing Council will however be taking orders for the shoulder badges at the outreach and these devices will then be delivered to the Western Cape Provincial Department of Health offices in due course. Affected nurse practitioners will be informed once these devices are available.

We would like to offer our sincere apologies for the inconvenience.

(Signed)

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council