• Submitted by: lena campos
• Education
• 02 / 23 / 2013

---

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says his department does not have money to meet striking students' demands.(SABC)

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has instructed South African medical students who have gone on strike to demand an increase in their monthly stipend in Cuba to return home.

In a letter to the students, the Minister says his department does not have money to meet their demand of an increase in their monthly stipend from $200 to $700. The students currently receive around R1 700 a month for their accommodation, food, transport and tuition paid for by the South African and Cuban governments.

Motsoaledi's spokesperson Joe Maila says the Minister has stressed that the students' demands will not be met.

Maila says: “The minister is extremely disappointed because this programme was developed in order to make sure that South Africa has an opportunity to train doctors more so that they are storming into embassies and doing something that is illegal.”

They must be brought back.
Meanwhile the Eastern Cape Health Department has described as embarrassing the strike by the South African medical students. The students have for the past two weeks abandoned their studies. 

The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that have invested in the Cuba programme.

Source: SABC.co.za