Johannesburg – At least 940 nurses are graduating this week from the Gauteng College of Nursing (GCON).
Announcing the achievement, the Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH)said the graduation ceremonies were taking place over 2 to 4 September 2025, at the Bonalesedi Nursing Campus and Ga-Rankuwa Campus.
This year’s cohort includes graduates from multiple programmes, including:
- 493 students completed the Diploma in Nursing (R.171)
- 137 earned an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (R1497) and
- 310 graduated from Postgraduate Diploma Programmes (R635), which encompass specialties such as Primary Care Nursing, Child Nursing, Adult Critical Care Nursing, and Midwifery
The GDoH said it was committed to ensuring that all R.171 nurses were registered with the South African Nursing Council.
The department said 396 nursing graduates have already been successfully registered and are ready to serve in the health care sector.
“GCON has come a long way on this incredible journey of producing highly trained and competent nurses,” said MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.
“From an initial intake of 200 candidates in the Diploma in Nursing (R.171), we have seen that number grow to 550 in 2022.
“This growth reflects our commitment to increasing the number of skilled professionals entering the healthcare sector.”
The MEC added: “I congratulate all the graduates and encourage them to carry forward the values they have learned and serve with compassion, integrity, and a commitment to excellence”.
The department said that since attaining its accreditation in November 2019, GCON has been at the forefront of nursing education, ensuring that competent and well-trained nurses are entering the healthcare sector.
With six accredited campuses, the college has successfully implemented programmes aligned with the Higher Education Qualifications Sub Framework and the National Qualifications Framework, reinforcing the importance of quality education in the nursing profession.
