Nigel Retired Nurses is a new group of professionals residing mainly in Nigel and its surrounding suburbs, including Dunnottar, Alra Park, and Heidelberg.
“The group is in its formation stage, with 21 active members. More nurses are joining, and we are confident the number will increase annually as nurses retire under South Africa’s current retirement policies,” said retired nurse and co-founder of the Nigel Retired Nurses Group, Flo Tlagae.
“Most of the retired nurses are still physically, mentally, and generally well. Some are employed by the private sector, development partners with overseas donors, and pharmaceutical companies, or they find work in other countries.
“Others become small business entrepreneurs, while some stay at home due to the country’s employment challenges,” Tlagae added.
According to Tlagae, these nurses have different levels of qualifications across various nursing categories, which can be used to develop the community- especially for those who wish to pursue nursing careers but face financial constraints.
“We are affiliated with the South African Nursing Council, the Democratic Nursing Organisation (DENOSA), and the South African Society of Occupational Health Nurses.
“We will also register with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission as a group once membership increases and we meet the requirements to practice as a registered body,” Tlagae said.
She added the objective of the group is to share their knowledge and also use their professional experience to benefit the surrounding communities.
Tlagae said the group’s long-term goals include opening a care centre for the destitute, offering affordable nursing training with a focus on youth, and assisting with job placement after training.
The group also aims to act as a nursing agency, connecting trainees with relevant employment opportunities in the province.
She also envisions the group supporting healthcare services in Nigel and surrounding areas, while empowering the community through health awareness programmes in partnership with relevant focus groups.
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On May 23, the group decided to honour Florence Nightingale’s birthday and agreed that May would be celebrated as Nurses Month.
“We had a march to our venue, accompanied by the local Duduza Drum Majorettes. This drew much of the community, serving as both a motivator for youth and a way to highlight the importance of nursing as a profession. It was a healthy walk,” Tlagae said.
The programme started at 10:30 with the Tshwaranang Elderly Day Care Choir from Duduza. According to Tlagae, the group reminded them that they were retired but not tired – a source of motivation for all retired nurses.
Fina Setshedi from DENOSA emphasised to the group as to what benefits they qualify for as members in good standing.
Letta Mvelase, a registered nurse at the Duduza Elderly Care Centre, also gave a brief talk on how the elderly centre operates.
Eva Seobi, the motivational speaker for the day, left the group with food for thought, reminding them of their pledge and the meaning of service. She spoke on the group’s theme for the day: ‘Once a Nurse, Always a Nurse.’
She advised the retired nurses to continue serving the community, including local clinics, offering assistance where possible.
All nurses present recited the nurse’s pledge of service, holding candles in a ceremony led by Sellina Mntambo.
“While we recited the pledge, we remembered all the heroes who succumbed to Covid-19 and other illnesses in the line of duty.
“We also honoured those professionals who passed away – whether on duty or not – who dedicated their lives to serving the community,” Tlagae said.
The celebration continued with entertainment and dancing to the song Jerusalema. For more information about the group, contact Sellina Mntambo on 072 291 7775, Joyce Mkhwane on 078 129 0384, Flo Tlagae on 082 978 3338 or Nomsa Mthombeni on 078 349 1363.
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