Gauteng Welcomes Over 900 New Nurses
The Gauteng College of Nursing (GCON) marked a significant milestone recently as 940 skilled nursing graduates celebrated the completion of their various nursing programmes during graduation ceremonies held from September 2 to 4, 2025.
The ceremonies took place at two key locations: the Bonalesedi Nursing Campus and Ga-Rankuwa Campus, bringing together families, faculty, and healthcare leaders to honor the achievements of this year’s graduating class.
The diverse cohort represents multiple specialized nursing programmes. The largest group consists of 493 students who completed the Diploma in Nursing (R.171), while 137 graduates earned an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (R1497). Additionally, 310 students graduated from Postgraduate Diploma Programmes (R635), which include specialized fields such as Primary Care Nursing, Child Nursing, Adult Critical Care Nursing, and Midwifery.
Registration Progress Shows Strong Results
The Gauteng Department of Health has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring graduates can immediately contribute to the healthcare sector. Of the R.171 nursing graduates, 396 have already been successfully registered with the South African Nursing Council and are prepared to begin their healthcare careers.
Health and Wellness MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko highlighted the college’s remarkable growth trajectory during the celebration.
“GCON has come a long way on this incredible journey of producing highly trained and competent nurses. 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,” said MEC Nkomo-Ralehoko.
The MEC also offered words of encouragement to the new graduates: “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.”
Educational Excellence and Accreditation
GCON has established itself as a leader in nursing education since obtaining its accreditation in November 2019. The institution operates six accredited campuses and has successfully implemented programmes that align with both the Higher Education Qualifications Sub Framework (HEQSF) and the National Qualifications Framework (NQF).
This alignment ensures that graduates receive education that meets national standards while reinforcing the critical importance of quality training in the nursing profession. The college’s growth from a modest beginning to graduating nearly 1,000 professionals annually demonstrates the increasing demand for skilled healthcare workers in Gauteng province.
The graduation represents not only individual achievement but also a significant contribution to addressing healthcare workforce needs in the region, as these newly qualified professionals prepare to serve communities across Gauteng and beyond.