6 SA medical students quit Cuba
2013-03-08 11:01
Johannesburg - Six South African medical students studying on scholarship in Cuba have returned home following a disagreement
about their allowance, wasting over R2m as a result, it was reported on Friday.
The students were more than halfway through their six-year
training programme, which cost the government R500 000 a student, The New Age
reported.
They decided to quit after going on strike about food and
their monthly allowance of R1 600, which they wanted increased to around R5 600.
Dr Mzulugile Nodikida, who studied in Cuba, could not
understand why the students were complaining about the allowance, as their
accommodation and food was free.
Health department spokesperson Joe Maila said the department
was saddened by the students' decision.
"Money was the main thing that they wanted, and we made
it clear that we were not going to increase their stipend," he said.
"We are extremely disappointed, as we were doing
everything for them. They are unreasonable because the issue of diet was not a
big problem."
Eastern Cape health department spokesperson Sizwe Kupelo
backed the national department's decision.
"They [the students] have embarrassed the country and
contravened the laws of Cuba," said Kupelo.
"Most of these students come from destitute
backgrounds.... The Eastern Cape has a shortage of doctors and we cannot afford
this."
According to the newspaper, the incident is the first of its
kind since the programme began over a decade ago.
- SAPA
