By: Matshidiso Selebeleng

A quiet crisis is unfolding at the University of Free State School of Nursing, with about 50 postgraduate students trapped and stuck with “fake” qualifications. The class of 2023 Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing and the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing at the UFS nursing school, who attended a yearlong programme with the hopes and aspirations of improving their lives and careers have turned into a nightmare as their qualifications are not valid to be registered by the South African Nursing Council. After graduating the students received the shock of their lives when SANC declined to register their qualifications saying that their diplomas are invalid. SANC is the official body responsible for setting and maintaining high standards for nursing education and practice across South Africa, if not registered, nurses may not practice. Their dreams were shattered when they received an email from the school on 13 December 2023 stating that there is a delay in the registration process due to pending matters with SANC concerning their status as learners. According to SON, the OHN and PHC programmes were only registered by the Higher Education and South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before commencement. A professional nurse in private sector and one of the Nursing students, Karabo Tlhatlogi explained that in 2022 the UFS advertised then post graduate diploma programmes in Primary Care Nursing, Occupational Health and Nursing Education. He says these programmes were listed on the SANC website as accredited offerings, but at onstage during the registration of their studies were they informed that the programme was not fully accredit ed. “This lack of transparency denied us the right to make informed decisions about our education and professional futures. “Despite numerous attempts to engage with the school of nursing, our concerns have been met with silence, delay and inadequate responses. While oath to empower herself and upgrade her salary, as her current salary is not enough. xxx. Picture: Supplied er students from other cohorts have been registered and employed, our applications remain unresolved. Journal news is in possession of all the letters that were sent to students about the matter since 2023, and the message is that the nursing school is still trying to resolve the matter. The first letter dated 13 December 2023 from Programme Director Dr LJ Magakwe “ …There may be some delays with the registration of your additional qualification at SANC due to challenges that were experienced during your registration and as learners….” The second letter dated 02 May 2024 from nursing school head Dr Jeanette Sebaeng “…..The two programmes commenced on conditional accreditation…” Third letter dated 10 October 2024 from Seabeng “….No formal feedback has been received yet….” Fourth letter dated 20 March 2025 from Seabeng “…SANC only accredited this qualification in the cause of 2023, meaning this qualification was not registered by SANC at the time UFS registered students in this programme at the start of 2023…” The same letter was sent again in November 2024 by Seabeng The final letter dated 19 September 2025 from UFS spokesperson Lacea Loader “….UFS received feedback from appeals panel of SANC….we will inform you soon of our response to the feed back from the appeals panel….” These students have expressed their frustration saying that they feel betrayed by the University for giving them a qualification that they cannot use, and it has become a nightmare. Tlhatlogi says this has been a stressful and depressing experience. He says he has invested money, time an effort to do his postgraduate on Occupational Health and now 18 months later he is unable to be a specialist in his nursing career. “We have been fighting this matter, but we are not getting a clear message. All we are getting from then university is that they are in talks with SANC. “When we contacted SANC, they say that the issue is not within SANC’s scope to resolve and directed the matter back to the university, which added further confusion and concern to us. “Eighteen months after completing our qualification, we remain unregistered with SANC, leaving us professionally stranded. Tlhatlogi says he has missed four opportunities as a nursing specialist, but he cannot get the promo t ion because his qualification is not recognised. Samantha Drury from the Eastern Cape studied a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing. She said that she enrolled in this qualification “I am stagnant in a facility that I do not want to work in because I had an agreement with HR that I would take a transfer to a closer facility after graduating, because they had a vacant post which needed this Primary Care Nursing qualification, now 18 months later, I’m stuck in this facility as a general nurse,” she said. “I spend triple the petrol I used to because I had an injury on duty after being assaulted by a patient, thus we had the agreement with my HR department that I’d move to one of the two facilities next to my home because my sight was reduced after the injury. She says going to work is a nightmare and that she is on depression medication because of this whole situation. “I have never felt so betrayed in my life. I was handed over to attorneys for fees of a qualification that is invalid. “I will never recommend anyone to go to UFS, to think this was one of the reputable universities” Another occupational health student, Azola Nyamfu says she is tired and emotional. She says that this year alone, she had three offers from three occupational health clinics but was turned down after disclosing that she didn’t have SANC documents. Due to frustration, the group even approached the UFS Law Department in June 2024 with requests for assistance in resolving the matter, but no effective support or resolution was offered. Journal News approached Loader about this matter and she explained that the university is committed to finding an amicable solution. “The university is engaging relevant stakeholders, including the South African Nursing Council (SANC), and will liaise with the students imminently regarding the professional registration of their Postgraduate Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing and the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing, which they completed in 2023. “The UFS recognises that this has been a lengthy process and remains committed to finding an amicable solution, said Loader.