commsStudio – Page 16

Press Rel 8/2017

FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	SANC Annual Practicing Fees due by 31 December 2017
	31 October 2017

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) would like to remind nursing practitioners to pay their annual practicing fees for 2018 by no later than 31 December 2017. Upon full payment being received into the bank account of the SANC, the SANC issues Annual Practicing Certificates (APCs) to individual nurse practitioners who have paid their fees on time. The SANC will remove the names of practitioners who have not paid their full registration fees timeously in terms of the Nursing Act, 2005 on 1 January 2018.

Unlike other professionals, nursing practitioners are afforded the opportunity to make full payment for their APCs during a 6-month period, commencing from 1 July every year. The APC fees for 2018 were published in the Government Gazette in June 2017 and were communicated by way of circulars, SMS messages to nursing practitioners as well as letters sent to employers.

Says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, Registrar and CEO of the SANC: “Practitioners can pay their annual fees at any First National Bank (FNB) branch in the country. In addition, the SANC is again undertaking several outreach programmes from July to December 2017 in all nine provinces where practitioners can pay and receive their certificates immediately. To date 72 273 practitioners out of 283 589 have paid their annual fees for 2018.”

The SANC normal annual practicing fees have been kept affordable as per previous years, and for 2018 are:

Registered Nurses and Midwives	R630.00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R380.00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R270.00

Persons who are over 60 and 64 years of age on 1 January 2018 receive a 25% and 50% reduction respectively e.g. persons over 64 years of age pay the following fees:

Registered Nurses and Midwives	R310.00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R190.00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R130.00

The restoration fees however, which are penalties for late payment, are regulated under the Regulations Regarding Fees and Fines Payable to the South African Nursing Council, Regulation R.170 as promulgated on 8 March 2013. These fees are thus higher than the annual practicing fees. It should be noted that if nursing practitioners pay their annual fees within the 6-month allocated time as described above and payment is received into the bank account of the SANC by 31 December 2017, that the practitioners would avoid having to pay a restoration fee.

In addition, payment prior to the deadline enables the SANC to mail the practitioner’s certificate (APC) earlier and not during the Christmas period which is the busiest time of the year for the South African Post Office.

“The SANC has made an eRegister available to employers that serves as sufficient proof for an employer to verify that nurse practitioners are registered for the relevant year should they not have received their physical APC on time. Using this service would make it unnecessary for nurses to travel to pick up the physical APC from the SANC offices in Pretoria. The eRegister is available on the SANC website at www.sanc.co.za/eRegister.htm,” says Ms Mchunu.

ENDS

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council
E-mail : [email protected]
Website: www.sanc.co.za

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on email: [email protected]

Circular 5/2017

29 September 2017

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Department of Health
	Nursing Education Institutions
	All Stakeholders

Appointment: Registrar and CEO of the South African Nursing Council

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms Sizo Mchunu as the Registrar and CEO of the South African Nursing Council, by the Honorable Minister of Health Dr A. Motsoaledi MP, in terms of Section 18(1) and (3) of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No. 33 of 2005) with effect from 01 October 2017.

Ms Mchunu brings a wealth of knowledge accumulated and demonstrated through her 37 years in the professional nursing. She has worked as a clinical nurse and lectured at both undergraduate and post-basic levels at a College of Nursing as well as a University for a combined period of 18 years.

She has also gained vast knowledge and experience in the regulatory environment, and has been responsible for senior and strategic leadership at the SANC as Deputy Registrar as well as being appointed and seconded as an Acting Registrar in 2009 and 2016 respectively.

Prior to this appointment, Ms Mchunu was appointed as Director Nursing Practice and later Nursing Education within the Office of the Government Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer at the National Department of Health.

A seasoned educator, Ms Mchunu has extensive knowledge of the Higher Education landscape. She has served, upon appointment by the Minister of Higher Education and Training, as a member of the Interim and later substantive Council of the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.

The South African Nursing Council welcomes Ms Mchunu and wishes her every success as together it strives to achieve the level of service to the public as envisaged in the Nursing Act, 2005.

(Signed)

Prof BR Bhengu
Chairperson

News 7/2017

26 September 2017

TO:	All SANC Clients
FROM:	Ms SA Mchunu Acting Registrar and CEO

SANC OFFICES CLOSED ON 27 SEPTEMBER 2017

Please note that the Council offices will be closed for business on Wednesday, 27 September 2017 because of the likelihood of disruption of services due to the COSATU National mass strike action.

The Council offices will re-open for business at 08:00 on Thursday, 28 September 2017.

Your cooperation is highly appreciated and any inconvenience is regretted.

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

News 6/2017

TO:	All Stakeholders
FROM:	Ms SA Mchunu Acting Registrar and CEO

ISSUING OF 2018 ANNUAL PRACTISING CERTIFICATES

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) is pleased to inform all nurse practitioners that technical challenges which affected the issuing of 2018 Annual Practicing Certificates (APCs) have now been resolved.

Nurse practitioners can pay at FNB or SANC premises. SANC is in the process of posting the APCs for those who paid through the bank.

The banking details are as follows:
NAME OF BANK : FIRST NATIONAL BANK
BUSINESS TRADING NAME : SA NURSING COUNCIL
ACCOUNT NUMBER : 514 211 86 193
BRANCH CODE : 253145
REFERENCE : SANC REFERENCE NUMBER FOLLOWED BY ANLFEES

SANC apologises for the inconvenience caused and wishes to thank all for the patience.

News 5/2017

2017

TO:	All Stakeholders
FROM:	Ms SA Mchunu Acting Registrar and CEO

DELAY IN ISSUING OF 2018 ANNUAL PRACTISING CERTIFICATES

Please note that South African Nursing Council (SANC) is experiencing technical challenges which led to the delay in issuing of 2018 Annual Practicing Certificates (APCs).

SANC is aware of the implications of the said delay on nurse practitioners, hence this matter is receiving utmost intervention. It is anticipated that the challenge will be resolved within reasonable time.

Nurse practitioners are advised to pay at FNB for now and APCs will be posted at a later stage.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Press Rel 7/2017

FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	SANC organises provincial outreach to nurses in nine provinces
DATE:	31 August 2017

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) will be conducting provincial outreach visits to nurses in nine provinces, starting on 4 September 2017.

Says Ms Sizeni Mchunu, Acting Registrar of the SANC: “The purpose of the Provincial Roadshow is to offer limited walk-in services such as payment of annual fees, selling of distinguishing devices, providing information related to the SANC, etc. During the 2016 Roadshow, 42 620 receipts were issued across nine provinces, indicating that the profession is embracing this initiative.”

The services that will be offered during the roadshow include:

PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES OTHER SERVICES

•	Nurses are requested to provide the SANC officials with their SANC reference numbers rather than ID numbers for the processing of annual fees payments.
•	There is no limitation for the number of people you can pay for. However, one must ensure that the daily limit is increased with their respective banks.
•	The SANC further request nurses to avoid using more than one bank card for payments because that delays the process. It would be appreciated / better if they deposit the money into one person’s account to save time.
•	If a person has paid at the bank already, the outreach staff cannot print their Annual Practising Certificates (APCs) as these will be sent to the nurses through the post. They will only be processing payments done on the day of the outreach.
•	Restorations cannot be processed immediately and any payment received for restoration will only be processed by the SANC head office after the visit. Proof of payment in the form of a white receipt will be provided and the original Annual Practising Certificate will follow later.

SELLING OF DISTINGUISHING DEVICES

•	The quantity of distinguishing devices will be limited to ONE pair per person. Nurses are also requested to bring their original green identity books/smart cards for verification.
•	If a nurse is buying on behalf of his or her colleague, he/she must also bring his/her original green identity book.
•	If a nurse is buying on behalf of his or her colleague, the distinguishing devices form must be completed, on both sides, and signed by the owner. Please note that if the form is incorrectly completed, the request WILL NOT be processed.
•	The owner must attach the certified copy of his or her ID and the quantity will be limited to one pair only if buying for someone else.
•	If a person has ordered the distinguishing devices through the bank, Outreach staff cannot issue that order, it will be sent through the post.

The provincial outreach plan for 2017 is published below – be sure to diarise the dates!

PROVINCES	Kwa Zulu- Natal	North West	Eastern Cape	Northern Cape	Western Cape	Free State	Limpopo	Mpumalanga	Gauteng
WEEK 1	04 – 08 Sept	11 – 15 Sept	27 – 29 Sept	9-13 Oct	16 – 20 Oct	23 -27 Oct	08 – 10 Nov	13 – 17 Nov	27-29 Nov
WEEK 2	18 -22 Sept	N/A	2 – 6 Oct	N/A	30 Oct – 01 Nov	N/A	20 – 24 Nov	N/A	04 – 08 Dec

Says Ms Mchunu: “Unlike other professionals, nursing practitioners have six (6) months to pay their annual fee (i.e. from 1 July to 31 December every year). The SANC would like to remind nurses that their annual fee is due by 31 December. Failure to meet this deadline will mean that nurses will have to pay a restoration fee.

The SANC has full understanding of the challenges facing its members on a national basis, and therefore has made an eRegister available to employers,” Ms Mchunu reiterated. “The eRegister is sufficient proof for an employer to check if all nursing practitioners are registered for the relevant year.”

ENDS

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Acting Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council
E-mail : [email protected]
Website: www.sanc.co.za

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on email: [email protected]

Press Rel 6/2017

FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	Court rules in favour of the Nursing Council on DENOSA’s application re the Examinations
DATE:	3 July 2017

In a landmark decision for the South African Nursing Council (SANC), Judge J Fabricius made a ruling on Friday 30 June 2017 in agreement with Circular 2 of 2017, issued by the SANC that the May 2017 examinations are nullified and new examination papers are set. New dates would remain as 19 and 21 July 2017, in line with his earlier ruling in a case between Hospersa and the SANC on 26 June 2017, which the SANC won.

Moving the dates to July provides the students with more time to prepare for the examinations, which the SANC fully supports. It is in the interest of the public at large to ensure that the training institutions produce qualified nurses who passed the examinations on their own strength, and will therefore have the necessary knowledge to serve the public of South Africa.

The nullification was on the basis of evidence that there was indeed a security breach with examinations for the Bridging Course for Enrolled Nurses leading to registration as a general nurse/ psychiatric nurse: Government Notice No. R.683 of 14 April 1989 (as amended).

DENOSA and other parties brought an urgent application that this Circular should be declared unlawful and therefore set aside. The application was dismissed with cost. As the Judge aptly put it: “if dishonesty becomes a norm the whole fabric of society will tear apart, and the rule of law will only remain a dream”.

Says Ms Sizo Mchunu, Acting Registrar of the SANC: “We are very appreciative and in full support of Honourable Fabricius’ ruling. We are dismayed about the leaking of the examination papers, especially in the light of the extra steps we have taken to ensure confidentiality. One can only wonder about the agenda of the people who leak the examination papers, as compromising the integrity of an examination and writing it on the basis of having had the paper beforehand, does not test the candidate’s capabilities to become a competent nurse practitioner, but exposes the country’s citizens to unsafe care.

We empathize with the students who are not involved in receiving leaked papers, as they are the ones who are adversely affected by this. We are shocked that persons who aspire to be Registered Nurses and certain high level constituencies are pro-examination fraud, resisting the SANC‘s efforts to mitigate this corrupt act and are encouraging Learner Nurses that it is acceptable to pass unjustly. By implication, the public’s health and safety will be jeopardized as a result.”

The Nursing Act requires proper qualifications and competency to practice nursing, in the interests of the public. Judge Fabricius took into account both the fact that the dishonesty was widespread, and the SANC’s statutory obligations to ensure the integrity of the examination process.

“We sit with a shortage of Professional Nurses in the country, and actions like this completely undermine all efforts by the SANC, the Department of Health and all concerned citizens to deliver qualified practitioners in the best interest of the public.
It needs to be understood that the SANC will not compromise its commitment to set and uphold standards of nursing practice in this country,” says Ms Mchunu.

The investigation into the leak continues.

ENDS

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Acting Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council
E-mail : [email protected]
Website: www.sanc.co.za
Tel : 012 426-9542

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel. (012) 426-9542 or email: [email protected]

Circular 4/2017

30 June 2017

TO:	National Department of Health
	Provincial Department of Health
	Nursing Education Institutions
	All Stakeholders

Annual Fees for 2018

This circular serves as affirmation of the South African Nursing Council’s fees and fines as stipulated on the government gazette published on 23 June 2017.

1. ANNUAL FEES FOR 2018

1.1 Normal Annual Fees

The annual fees for the calendar year 2018 for the different categories of practitioners are given in the following table.

Category	Annual Fee for 2018
Registered Nurses and Midwives	R630.00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R380.00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R270.00

1.2 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 table below:

1.2.1 Age 60 to 64 Years on 1 January 2018 (25% reduction)

Category	Annual Fee for 2018
Registered Nurses and Midwives	R470.00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R290.00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R190.00

1.2.2 Over 64 years of Age on 1 January 2018 (50% reduction)

Category	Annual Fee for 2018
Registered Nurses and Midwives	R310.00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R190.00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R130.00

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 2018 must be received by SANC on or before 31 December 2017.

The amounts in the tables above all include 14% VAT.

2. RESTORATION FEES FOR 2018

The restoration fees for the different categories applicable from 1 January 2018 are shown in the following table.

Category	Normal Restoration Fee	Reduced Restoration Fee
Registered Nurses and Midwives	R1880.00	R130,00
Enrolled Nurses and Midwives	R1160.00	R130,00
Enrolled Nursing Auxiliaries	R790.00	R130,00

Note:

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.

3. CLOSING DATE FOR PAYMENT OF ANNUAL FEES

Please note that for the calendar year 2018, the closing date for the payment of Annual Fees is 31 December 2017. You are therefore urged to pay as soon as possible in order to avoid the last minute rush.

4. OTHER FEES

Please note that other fees will be applicable with effect from 1 January 2018.

(Signed)

Ms L Matras
Chief Financial Officer
For Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

News 4/2017

27 June 2017

TO:	All SANC Clients
FROM:	Ms SA Mchunu Acting Registrar and CEO

SANC OFFICES CLOSED ON 28 JUNE 2017

Please note that the Council offices will be closed for business on Wednesday, 28 June 2017 because of the likelihood of disruption of services.

The Council offices will reopen for business at 08:00 on Thursday, 29 June 2017

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

Yours sincerely

(Signed)

Ms SA Mchunu
Acting Registrar and CEO
South African Nursing Council

Press Rel 4/2017

FOR ATTENTION:	News Editors
SUBJECT:	DENOSA unauthorised access to South African Nursing Council
DATE:	26 June 2017

The South African Nursing Council (SANC) confirms that the Democratic Organization of Nurses in South Africa (DENOSA) accessed the premises of the SANC on Friday 23 June 2017 without authorization, legal permission or an appointment for any meeting. It is with dismay that we can confirm that fires were set, property was damaged and staff members were intimidated.

It is consequently understood that DENOSA was there to demand that the Council’s Acting Registrar unduly addresses a matter regarding the SANC cancelling examinations, which DENOSA itself has handed over to its attorneys to handle.

The only constituency that the SANC had a scheduled meeting with on the day in question and who therefore was legally present in the SANC building, was the Student Command of the Economic Freedom Front (EFFSC) to address student challenges as per their written request.

The situation with the DENOSA members was diffused by the police who were called to curb the violence, prevent further damage to property and to protect the SANC staff whose safety is the SANC’s responsibility and is not taken lightly.

The SANC, as regulatory body for the nursing profession and in line with its approved policy that has previously been implemented without delay or any challenges at all in this regard, cancelled the May 2017 examinations following an investigation into allegations and then confirming that the four examination question papers for the Bridging Course had leaked. Such cancellation ensures that all students who write the same examination pass fairly and credibly so that the public has confidence that they are safe and competent nurse practitioners. It also ensures that students who did not have access to the leaked paper are not prejudiced by an unfair advantage of competing with students who copied it.

New examination dates were set to avoid a long waiting period that would jeopardize progression of first year students into second year, and second year students from finishing the course and going into service.

The SANC affirms that the students will not pay any fees for this examination to the SANC, as is the norm. Any information making reference to payment for this examination is not coming from the South African Nursing Council, untrue and misleading.

The investigations into the leakage continue in order for the necessary legal action against the perpetrators to be instituted as soon as the investigations have been completed.

ENDS

Issued by:

Mrs. Adri van Eeden
Senior Manager: Marketing and Communications
South African Nursing Council
E-mail : [email protected]
Website: www.sanc.co.za
Tel : 012 426-9542

Official Spokesperson and person to be quoted:

Ms S Mchunu
Acting Registrar and CEO: SA Nursing Council

For more information or to arrange for an interview with the Spokesperson, please contact Mrs. Adri van Eeden on Tel. (012) 426-9542 or email: [email protected]