The Gauteng health system is getting a major boost as it celebrates International Nurses Day today. Officials shared that more than 2 100 new nursing graduates have finished their training over the last four years to help care for people across the province.
Spokesperson for the Gauteng Department of Health, Steve Mabona said these new nurses come from the Gauteng College of Nursing (GCON). He said the institution has been working hard to train more staff to meet the growing needs of local communities and improve the quality of care in public
hospitals.
“Over the past four years (2023 – 2026), GCON has produced more than 2 100 nursing graduates across its campuses,” he said. Mabona said this growth shows that the province is serious about fixing staff shortages in the medical field. “In 2023, GCON graduated 142 students from its Diploma in Nursing programme. This number increased to 299 graduates in 2024. By 2025, the institution recorded 922 graduates across diploma, advanced diploma and postgraduate nursing programmes, followed by a further 813 graduates in 2026,” he said.
He said many of these new professionals are already serving in public clinics and hospitals throughout Gauteng. Paying tribute to nurses, Gauteng MEC for Health and Wellness, Faith Mazibuko said nurses remain central to the functioning of the healthcare system and continue to serve communities with dedication and professionalism under often demanding conditions.
“Nurses are the heartbeat of the public healthcare system. Their dedication, resilience and compassion remain critical to the delivery of quality healthcare services across our communities. We therefore call on communities to continue supporting, respecting and protecting nurses and healthcare workers,” she said. The MEC also sent a strong message to the public about how nurses are treated. She said that any form of bullying, threats, or attacks against healthcare workers is wrong and must be stopped.
Mazibuko said it is a time to recognise how important nurses are for making sure everyone can access good healthcare. “Our communities look to nurses for treatment, comfort, dignity and hope during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. I therefore encourage all graduates to serve with humility, professionalism and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others,” she said
International Nurses Day is held every year on May 12, the day honors the memory of Florence Nightingale, who was a pioneer of modern nursing and recognise the contribution nurses make toward ensuring access to quality healthcare services worldwide.
