INLSA
793Professional nurses at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic hospital celebrated nurses day by renewing they pledges with lit candles. 170512Picture: Boxer Ngwenya
The SA Nursing Council has shut down a KwaZulu-Natal nursing college and launched an investigation into its principal after she allegedly hired unqualified lecturers, misled students and “stole their money” and failed to comply with the council’s regulations.
This has left about 200 students displaced, demanding their money back and desperate to complete their studies.
The registrar and nursing council CEO, Tendani Mabuda, confirmed yesterday that the SANC shut down Masizakhe Nursing College in Madadeni, Newcastle, after a lengthy investigation.
Mabuda said the principal, Thembi Gumede, had applied to open a nursing college and was given “guidelines to comply with”.
He said the college facilities were inspected and in 2003, Gumede was allowed to launch the facility.
Years later, the council received complaints from students who had paid their money but were not able to write exams as Gumede had not registered them.
“The council received a lot of complaints from students who were wrongly under the impression of being registered with us. The principal had failed to register them since 2010,” he said.
The college was eligible to take in only 100 students over two-years. Masizakhe had more than 290 students.
“She (Gumede) did not register the students with us because she knew she would be caught.
“Instead, she took their money and misled them.”
Mabuda said investigations revealed that the principal had also employed unqualified people to teach at the college.
He added that the principal should enrol the displaced students at other colleges.
“We do not know where that money has gone. She committed fraud and misled them. She needs to help them.”
Thembela Kunene, 20, of Newcastle told The Mercury yesterday that he had paid R15 600 last year to register for his first year. He paid a further R110 to register for exams.
“Gumede said there were too many us of to write the exams. She wanted to pay me back R7 000 but I refused. I spent a year paying for transport and rent. I wasted a year of my life, I want all that money back.”
Like the other students interviewed, he had not opened a case against her because “If she goes to jail, how will I get my money back?”.
Mabuda said if the council found Gumede guilty, she would be charged ‘‘through our professional conduct policies”.
Gumede could not be reached for comment.
