WATCH: Nurses take to the streets
Hundreds of young nurses marched to the South African Nursing Council's offices in Pretoria on Monday.
The nurses, led by the Young Nurses Indaba, said they were demanding economic liberation, professional and academic recognition, improved working conditions and the restoration of the image of their profession.
The Young Nursing Indaba called on the Nursing Council to effectively champion their issues, saying that the working conditions in hospitals were poor and that patients were complaining.
"The anger that they are harbouring is because of the department, it's because of the South African Nursing Council. They need to divert that energy to the right people," Indaba spokesperson Lerato Gova said.
The Indaba also criticised Cosatu affiliated unions Denosa and Nehawu in the health sector of being too busy campaigning for the ANC instead of addressing their issues.
#YoungNursingIndaba Marching in the streets of Pretoria. @JacaNews pic.twitter.com/lmLdLlquvf
— Samkele maseko (@samkelemaseko) February 15, 2016
#YoungNursingIndaba March to South African Nursing Council @JacaNews pic.twitter.com/xxAJaHB6T5
— Samkele maseko (@samkelemaseko) February 15, 2016
#YoungNursingIndaba Marching in the streets of Pretoria to the South African Nursing Council offices. pic.twitter.com/xV5zBiJbOw
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 15, 2016
#YoungNursingIndaba Gova: We want to change the nursing profession. "We are the back bone of the sector".
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 15, 2016
#YoungNursingIndaba have gathered at Church Square in Pretoria for their march. @JacaNews pic.twitter.com/8PKJNg7Wbp
— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) February 15, 2016
Edited by Suné du Toit