Michael Nkalane
POLICE are investigating a case of arson after disgruntled nursing students at the College of Cape Town’s campus in Crawford set parts of the institution’s building on fire in protest over a Primary Health Care (PHC) course, which they claim was not accredited.
Yesterday a group of PHC students threw stones, vandalised windows, burnt dustbins and set some parts of nursing building on fire.
Police spokesperson Noloyiso Rwexana said: “A case of arson has been opened for investigation after an incident occurred in Kromboom Road in which a building was set alight.”
She said no one had been arrested.
Students Representative Council deputy president Khayalethu Kama said the students had vented their anger at management for taking them for “fools”.
“How can they let us enrol for a non-recognised course? The students are doing the course in the hope that they could become professional nurses and social workers.
“But PHC students who graduated last year are still unemployed.
“It is clear that we are being fooled here,”
Kama said.
Kama said the students had met the chief executive of the SA Nursing Council who confirmed that what they were studying was not an accredited course when they marched to the education department on May 26.
Department of Higher Education spokesperson Khaye Nkwanyana said the PHC was meant for primary healthcare practitioners to assist nurses.
“It is offered in three provinces where a lack of assistants was identified, with the Western Cape being one of those,” said Nkwanyana.
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