Health and Wellness
With reference to the Western Cape College of Nursing (WCCN):
- (a) What curricula are currently offered at this college and (b) how do these programmes and qualifications align with the healthcare workforce needs of the province;
- (a) what budget has been allocated to this college over the Medium-term Expenditure Framework period and (b) how is this funding distributed on campuses and in programmes;
- (a) what support mechanisms are in place to assist students and (b) how many students have accessed these services;
- (a) what partnerships exist between this college and healthcare facilities for clinical training and (b) how many students are placed annually at clinical training sites;
- (a) how does this college contribute to addressing the shortage of nurses in the province and (b) what targets have been set for increasing the number of qualified nurses over the next five years?
(1)(a) The Western Cape College of Nursing currently offers the following curricula: Higher Certificate in Nursing, Diploma in Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing, and postgraduate programmes.
WCCN enrolled students in the Higher Certificate programme leading to registration as an Auxiliary Nurse, the Diploma in Nursing leading to registration as a General Nurse, the Bachelor of Nursing leading to registration as a Professional Nurse and Midwife as well as the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery.
WCCN is also accredited for seven Postgraduate Diploma programmes:
1. Critical Care Nursing (Adult)
2. Emergency Nursing
3. Primary Care Nursing
4. Mental Health Nursing
5. Midwifery
6. Perioperative Nursing
7. Orthopaedics Nursing
The College is awaiting accreditation for the Postgraduate Diploma in Forensic Nursing
(1)(b) These programmes are aligned to the healthcare workforce needs of the province in that they build the pipeline across nursing categories, from auxiliary and general nursing through to professional nursing, midwifery and postgraduate specialisation.
There are however shortages in speciality nursing such as primary care, peri-operative nursing and emergency care, and general nurses with midwifery. These shortages are not linked to inadequate training, but rather due to factors which include of national/international migration and the concentration of vacant posts in rural areas where professional nurses are either unwilling or unable to relocate.
Employment vacancies in other sectors e.g. private hospitals, old age homes, and stepdown facilities NGOs are unknown.
(2)(a)
| TOTAL 26/27 | TOTAL 27/28 | TOTAL 28/29 |
WCCN Allocation | 139 663 000 | 145 835 000 | 151 106 000 |
(2)(b) The WCCN is treated as a single entity, and the funds are managed as such. There are no specific campus allocations.
(3)(a) Support mechanisms available to students include academic support, access to teaching and learning guidance, clinical supervision and mentorship during practical training, and wellness or employee health and wellness-type support where appropriate. Students may also be assisted through counselling, referral, and other support processes available within the training environment and broader provincial platform.
(3)(b) Information on the number of students who accessed these services is not readily available in consolidated form.
(4)(a) The Western Cape College of Nursing works in partnership with public health facilities across the provincial platform to provide clinical training and work-integrated learning opportunities for students. These partnerships include primary health care services, district hospitals, and higher levels of care, enabling students to gain practical experience across a range of service settings.
(4)(b) Students are placed annually at accredited clinical training sites across the Western Cape as part of their required practical training. Placement volumes vary by programme, year of study, and available accredited clinical learning opportunities.
The enrolment numbers from 2024 academic year of 2 595 nursing students have increased to a total of 3384 in 2026 (undergraduate and postgraduate nursing programmes). These students are placed for Work Integrated Learning across accredited health facilities in the province using the Provincial Coordinated Clinical Placement System.
(5)(a) The College contributes to addressing the shortage of nurses in the province by training nurses for entry into the public health system across a range of categories, including auxiliary nurses, general nurses, professional nurses, and midwives, while also creating a pathway into postgraduate and specialist nursing fields. In this way, the College supports both immediate service delivery needs and the longer-term sustainability of the nursing workforce.
(5)(b) Over the next five years, the focus is on strengthening the nursing pipeline through continued training, improved clinical placement planning, and alignment between training output and service needs in the province, particularly in areas where scarce and specialist skills are required.
