Work halted on nursing student accommodation

contractor to ensure compliance.”

Robertson added that no property was damaged during the protest.

“However, no work was conducted on Friday. This is the first phase of the provision of accommodation for nursing students. This contract is for the construction of a facility to accommodate 350 students and the value is R161 million.”

She stated that 96 workers were employed on site.

Nursing student representative, Thabiso Molusi, pointed out that the nursing accommodation was situated a far distance from Kimberley Hospital and the nursing college.

“However, they informed us that there was no other available land identified for nursing accommodation,” said Molusi.

He added that by the time the project was completed it would not be big enough to accommodate all the nursing students. “There will be an intake of 130 new students in 2018.”

Molusi indicated that the nursing students that resided at the JP Hugo Hostel and Artistia accommodation had been moved on August 31, as per an eviction notice.

“The Department of Health is accommodating them in various guest houses. The students are very happy and grateful regarding the temporary accommodation arrangements. The service is excellent and the environment is conducive to studying. They should be allowed to stay at the guest houses until the nursing accommodation is completed. The students are writing exams in August and it is very disruptive for them to be relocated every time.”

He was also concerned about the expenses of accommodating students at guest houses, in light of cost containment measures at the department.