Table 1.

Timeline of key events 1994–2013: new Nursing Qualifications Framework (see text for abbreviations).

Year	General Health/Nursing Sector	Nursing Qualification Framework	Educational Sector
1978	Nursing Act no. 50
1985		4 year comprehensive course introduced (R425)
1995			SAQA Act no. 58 establishes NQF with 8 bands
1997	White Paper for the Transformation of the Health System		White Paper for the Transformation of Higher Education Higher Education Act no. 101
1998			Further Education and Training Act no. 98
1999	Rationalisation (closing) of nursing colleges National Summit on Nursing, Kopanong
2000	Pick report on Human Resources for Health
2001		Nursing SGB established	General and Further Education and Training Quality Assurance Act no. 58
2003	National Health Act no. 61	Nursing SGB releases draft NQF qualifications for public comment
2004		Nursing SGB finalises qualifications for registration on NQF
2005	Nursing Act no. 33
2006	New DDG appointed for Human Resources in NDOH Human Resources Strategic Framework		Further Education and Training Colleges Act no. 16
2007	Sections of Nursing Act promulgated but awaiting required Regulations	SANC revises qualifications for registration on NQF	Review of SAQA and NQF completed New Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) with 10 bands to be implemented by 1 January 2009
2008	Nursing Strategy		National Qualifications Framework Act no. 67
2009	New Minister of Health, Dr Motsoaledi, appointed	SANC sets deadline of 30 June 2010 for phasing out of legacy qualifications
2010	New Director-General, Ms Matsoso, appointed	Nursing education stakeholders develop proposals for HEQF qualifications Legacy qualifications extended to 30 June 2012 NDOH commissions independent audit of all training institutions but report not released
2011	Nursing Summit and Compact, April Revised Human Resources for Health Plan, October Ministerial Task Team on nurse education and training established Acting Chief Nurse appointed in NDoH. Official post advertised	Qualifications framework debated at Nursing Summit Legacy qualifications extended to 30 June 2013 Draft Regulations released for public comment on 14 Dec 2011
2012		Legacy qualifications extended to 30 June 2015
2013		SANC task team finalised new qualifications to be submitted to SAQA 8 March: New qualification Regulations gazetted Strategic Plan for Nursing Education, Training and Practice released New programmes to be submitted by 30 Nov for accreditation by CHE and SANC