Johannesburg - The Labour Court in Johannesburg has ordered protesting student nurses at the Chris Hani Baragwanath Nursing College in Soweto to return to class, the Gauteng health department said on Tuesday.
“The interdict states that students should with immediate effect stop the week-long illegal protest that has been happening at the college,” said health department spokesman, Simon Zwane.
He said the department obtained the interdict several days ago but only presented it to students on Tuesday.
The students were demanding the removal of three heads of their department (HODs) at the college.
The health department said this was the second time in two years that the students had called for the heads to be axed.
Zwane said in 2011 the students failed to produce proof that would warrant the removal of the unwanted heads.
“The HODs obtained an arbitration award compelling the department to allow them to return to their teaching posts at the college,” said Zwane.
The SABC reported that the protesting students claimed to have been victimised and intimidated by the heads of department.
They were demanding intervention from Gauteng health MEC Hope Papo.
The health department reported that it was in communication with the student representatives and stakeholders of the college to resolve the matter. - Sapa