Address by Deputy President David Mabuza at the handing over of appointment letters to newly-recruited nurses and social workers, Free State Province

Master of Ceremonies, 
Deputy Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla,
Premier Sisi Ntombela and MECs in attendance,  
The Director-General of the Province and Heads of Departments,
Social workers and nurses, 
Ladies and Gentlemen

We are honoured to join you today as we congratulate the appointment of this cohort of newly-recruited nurses and social workers. 

It is now an accepted reality that the Covid-19 pandemic, is an unprecedented game-changer. Life as we knew it, before the global advent of the coronavirus in 2019, will never be the same. 

We have indeed entered a new world order. 

The advent of Covid-19, underscored the importance of social work and the nursing professions. 

We are now compelled, by circumstances, to measure the worth of a profession not mainly by the amount of personal wealth it can generate for an individual, but primarily by that profession’s overall contribution to the general welfare to society. 

Covid-19 has put a spotlight on healthcare and social workers who are in the frontline of the fight against the pandemic. 

It has underscored their immeasurable contribution to saving lives and safeguarding our citizens and communities, more so for the most vulnerable of our population. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

This is a reason why the World Health Organisation, has designated 2020 as the “International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife”.  

This is to honour healthcare frontline workers who are, inarguably, the first and last line of defence in our collective fight, as humanity, to battle and eventually conquer the coronavirus pandemic and all other major health threats we face as a nation. 

As government, we recognise and champion the importance of social workers and nurses who should widely be respected by all, revered for their sacrifices, and cherished for their vanguard protection of our lives.  

This is the reason we commend this group of social workers and nurses for choosing this vocation as a chosen career path. We congratulate you, especially since the World Health Organization informs us that, this year alone, there is an estimated shortage of 9 million nurses. 

As the Presidency and the National Coronavirus Command Council, we pay tribute to you, as we ramp up our efforts to recruit, train and release more healthcare workers to respond adequately to the Covid-19 and all other epidemics. 

As our new healthcare and social service workers, you have become our country’s role models and this instils in us a sense of great pride that indeed we are making the necessary strides to building a healthy nation.     

Honourable Premier,

We join you in congratulating the 533 nurses and 92 social workers that have been appointed to date in this Province. It is our collective hope that these professionals, will assist the Free State province in its efforts of combatting and conquering Covid-19 and other health risks. 

Ladies and gentlemen, 

It is my privilege to hand over employment letters to this group of newly recruited professionals. 

Honourable Premier, we are faced with an unprecedented global health crisis. 

The appointment of these nurses and social workers will bolster our collective fight against this virus. 

With these professionals as part of our army, we will continue to profile the good work and innovative approaches being applied across many sectors to stem the tide of new infections and protecting lives. 

As government, we stand united with you and are committed to work together in the interest of all our communities especially the vulnerable. 

This is our call and we cannot fail! 

I thank you.