Deputy President Paul Mashatile has highlighted the role of education in community development, praising the Vincent Tshabalala Education Trust (VTET) for remaining a beacon of hope in Johannesburg’s Alexandra community and beyond.

Mashatile was addressing the annual VTET Bursary Awards at San Kopano, recognising outstanding academic achievements and stressing that education assists in bridging gaps and creating opportunities for future leaders.

The trust, named after the late struggle hero, Congress of South African Students chair and founder of the Alexandra Youth Congress who was killed in 1985, has provided financial aid and academic support to deserving students for over two decades.

Mashatile said that as the country commemorated 40 years since his passing, the trust continued to honour his vision of education as a transformative tool for youth empowerment.

“Comrade Vincent had a deep appreciation for education and a strong desire to see all young people acquire an education of the highest possible standard. He believed that education is the greatest equaliser,” he said.

The deputy president lauded the Class of 2024 for achieving a historic 87.3% matric pass rate, highlighting continued progress in dismantling apartheid-era inequalities.

This year, 52 students will receive bursaries, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 663, comprising 348 female and 263 male recipients.

The trust has also awarded prizes to 810 Grade 10 and 11 learners, encouraging them to excel in their studies and strive for further opportunities.

Mashatile underscored the importance of partnerships in sustaining the trust’s initiatives.

The VTET School Sports Festival, launched in collaboration with soccer legends Sibusiso “Cosmos” Zwane and Maimane Phiri, has provided a platform for 17 schools to showcase their talent.

The festival saw Minerva Secondary School, Tshabala’s former school, emerge victorious in both netball and boys’ soccer.

Additionally, the trust’s career guidance workshops, featuring over 40 professionals from various industries, have guided more than 1200 Grade 12 learners, equipping them with essential knowledge for their future endeavours.

The VTET Leadership Development Programme, facilitated in partnership with Upward Bound, has empowered 180 young leaders.

Collaborations with St Stithians College, Connect Hub and the African Youth Literature Institute have further enhanced mentorship and literacy initiatives in Alexandra schools.

The trust also hosted its inaugural breakfast seminar, where education experts, including Vaal University of Technology Chancellor, Zweli Mntambo discussed the role of education in economic and social sustainability.

Beyond secondary education, the trust has partnered with the Nelson Mandela Foundation to promote literacy through the “Making Reading Fun” initiative in five primary schools.

Additionally, the Lumohawk Foundation has provided eye screenings for nearly 6000 children, supplying 189 with corrective glasses.

The trust has also distributed dignity packs and groceries to vulnerable families, reinforcing its commitment to holistic community support.

Despite the country’s impressive matric pass rate, Mashatile expressed concern over the declining student retention rate, which stands at 64.5%.

He called for collective action to combat school dropouts driven by teenage pregnancy, substance abuse financial hardship and academic struggles.

Mashatile congratulated the bursary recipients and encouraged them to pursue their aspirations with determination.

“This annual bursary award is not only a testament to your achievements, but also a symbol of our shared conviction that you have the potential to accomplish greater things in the future,” he said.

The deputy president implored the recipients to set ambitious goals for themselves and strive to achieve greater heights.

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The North West education department is ready for the new year on paper only, with a severe lack of resources at many schools, according to the Democratic Alliance in the province.

DA members of the provincial legislature conducted a school readiness oversight assessment in the province.

At the schools it visited, it found that all learner and teacher support materials had been delivered. 

“However, we have noted major concerns specifically with school infrastructure, safety, security, problems with the national school nutrition programme, overcrowding of classrooms, lack of internet connectivity, non-existent science and computer laboratories and unsuitable ablution facilities,” said DA provincial education spokesperson CJ Steyl.

Major problems were also identified with the roll-out of the Grade R function.

Many schools are now offering Grade R due to new education legislation, however, some of them do not have the appropriate facilities to accommodate the special needs required for these learners aged between aged 4-5.

At Geysdorp Secondary School in Geysdorp, classes were badly overcrowded. One Grade 8 class recorded 80 learners, while another had almost 100 learners. Pupils sat three at a desk, and where desks were broken, many were required to stand.

Classes were filled up to the blackboard, leaving no space for adequate interactive teaching.

There were also dilapidated and unsuitable ablution facilities. While new facilities have been built, they have not been connected. Exacerbating matters was that the quality of the new facilities is unsuitable for a school with more than 900 learners.

There was unhygienic storage of food alongside stationery, and an unsuitable and unhygienic food preparation area.

At Kelebogile Primary School in Doornlaagte, the principal was not there the day the DA visited as he had to travel to Mahikeng to attend to the school’s broken network router. The school does not have any connectivity to support learning and teaching.

Issues included dysfunctional ablution facilities, a library with no books, and there were 42 learners in the Grade R class, while the number should not exceed 25.

At Moshoette Primary School in Khunwana Village, two posts for teacher departmental heads remain vacant for sciences and foundation phase.

One class block’s foundation was giving way, there was a severe shortage of desks and chairs, and unsuitable ablution facilities. Learners have to make use of inadequate facilities, while newly built toilets were far from the school, without adequate water supply, and were locked. 

Grade R facilities are housed in a temporary structure, without suitable ablution facilities for minors. The playground is also unsafe and unsuitable.

“While all the teachers and principals we engaged were committed to educating learners, they struggle with a severe lack of resources. We commend these dedicated teachers for their commitment to shaping young minds,” Steyl.

“The DA will engage the provincial department of education on a plan to address the concerns we have identified, specifically to limit overcrowding by providing mobile classrooms and upgrading facilities.”

He said that more importantly, schools must have internet connectivity to support teaching and learning to pupils for a world that was moving to a knowledge-based economy.

“There is little use in attracting learners to the sciences on paper but fail to provide the necessary laboratories to conduct the experiments necessary for learning. This is a focus area the provincial department of education must give attention too,” Steyl said.

The party will also demand that the department revisit the implementation of the school nutrition programme.

Maize meal, milk, samp and beans may stem hunger, but young bodies needed nutrition, and required fruit, vegetables and adequate protein varieties to support brain function and adequate growth, the party said.

It would also demand that the food preparation facilities were brought up to standard to improve hygiene and ventilation. Currently, the facilities visited posed a health risk to learners, as food handlers did not have the necessary soap, disinfectant, ventilation, PPEs and hand sanitiser to ensure compliance with food safety preparation codes.

At the end of 2023, the SA Human Rights Commission issued a report detailing the dire situation at North West schools.

Although the investigation focused on infrastructure challenges that had been identified in a few schools in the province, it became apparent during the probe that infrastructure challenges at schools in the North West remain endemic, manifesting along racial and socio-economic lines.

The identified infrastructure challenges ranged from blown-off roofs to collapsed ceilings, cracked walls, cracked floors, broken windows, asbestos in school structures, inadequate parameter fencing, and inadequate access to water and sanitation. Overcrowded classrooms were also highlighted as a major concern for qualitative outcomes in the education system.

In the report, the department cited several reasons for the state of affairs, including an influx of foreign nationals into the province, an inadequate budget and a lack of preventative maintenance.

“While the commission finds in its report that the first two cited reasons do not fully explain the existence of the identified challenges, the lack of preventative maintenance, as well as the absence of an effective system to report and monitor infrastructure challenges, was a significant factor leading to non-prioritisation of these matters. The lack of an effective system to report and monitor infrastructure challenges, also impedes infrastructure planning and budget management,” the report reads.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa has mandated the Special Investigating Unit to probe allegations of procurement irregularities and maladministration involving contracts at the Vaal University of Technology (VUT).

Signed under Proclamation 217 of 2024, this authorisation empowers the SIU to scrutinise the VUT’s procurement and contracting processes, with a focus on two significant contracts awarded in 2018. They were for the refurbishment of student residences and campus security services.

The investigation is expected to assess whether these contracts were awarded in a manner consistent with the principles of fairness, transparency, competitiveness and cost-effectiveness, as mandated by the Public Finance Management Act and National Treasury guidelines.

The SIU will also evaluate whether VUT officials complied with legislative procedures, including procurement regulations and standards set by the Treasury, as well as recommend corrective actions or seek legal recourse to recover public funds that may have been misused.

Reports indicate that payments made for the refurbishment work may have exceeded the original project scope, with potential evidence of inflated costs or overpayment.

The campus security contract was outsourced. Allegations of inflated fees, inadequate service delivery and possible favouritism have emerged.

In 2020, security company Kya Guards contested the awarding of this contract to PhiriPhiri Security Services, claiming that VUT had unfairly favoured PhiriPhiri over other bidders.

Kya Guards took the matter to the Johannesburg High Court, challenging VUT’s decision and in December 2020, Judge Thina Siwendu issued an order prohibiting VUT from proceeding with the contract until the case’s full merits were assessed.

Kya Guards argued that it was the preferred bidder and that PhiriPhiri’s selection contravened the university’s supply chain policies.

According to Kya’s CEO, Lance Maphosa, a whistleblower informed them of potential improprieties in the evaluation process, which allegedly favoured PhiriPhiri.

In response, VUT denied any wrongdoing, with legal representative Daniel Fouché defending the university’s position, stating that all procurement procedures had been followed correctly.

PhiriPhiri’s lawyer, Dirk Kotze, also denied any irregularities in the tender’s award, asserting that the process complied with legal standards.

If the SIU uncovers instances of fraud, corruption or other improper conduct, it has the authority to institute civil proceedings in either the High Court or a Special Tribunal; as well as seek restitution for any financial losses.

This probe comes as the university struggles with broader governance and financial challenges.

Following years of financial instability and declining income, VUT was placed under administration in 2019, with a succession of vice-chancellors attempting to stabilise the institution.

The most recent VC, Stephen Ndlovu, appointed in February 2024, has initiated efforts to address financial mismanagement, delayed infrastructure projects and governance issues.

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South Africa’s Technical Vocational Education and Training colleges are facing significant difficulties in implementing the Post-Provisioning Norms framework, including staff placements, according to the Higher Education and Training Department. 

These challenges, which were highlighted during a presentation by the department to the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training on Wednesday, revolved around budget constraints, staff placements and compliance with recruitment processes.

The TVET PPN policy supports the implementation of Section 20 of the Continuing Education and Training Act, which authorises the minister to establish posts within a structure, with remuneration aligned to the department’s budget and strategy.

However, full implementation of the PPN for TVET colleges could not be achieved in 2021/22 due to incomplete or delayed submission of necessary information by the colleges. 

This further caused delays in finalising verification processes and transferring staff to the public service’s payroll.

According to the department, in the 2021/22 financial year, only 24 of the 50 colleges were able to process the PPNs, with the remaining 26 colleges scheduled for processing from 1 April 2022.

Despite progress in some areas, Rhulani Ngwenya, who is the department’s deputy director-general for corporate management, said that many institutions were grappling with financial shortfalls and delays, impacting their ability to fully implement the PPNs.

One of the key issues flagged in the presentation was budgetary constraints, with several colleges warning of potential overspending if the PPNs were fully implemented. 

Ngwenya cited Buffalo City College in East London as an example, saying it would require an additional R12 million.

“If they had proceeded and implemented to the end, they would have had to overspend on the budget,” Ngwenya noted. 

She said other colleges such as King Hintsa College in Butterworth in the Eastern Cape, also reported difficulties due to disagreements over staff placements, leaving some employees unmatched with positions and still on the payroll.

In addition to financial challenges, Ngwenya pointed to inefficiencies in the staff matching and placement process, with concerns over whether employees were placed in roles that aligned with their skills and experience. 

The department has identified key vacant positions, including three principal positions in Community Education and Training (CET) colleges in Limpopo, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, as well as eight vacancies in TVET colleges.

Ngwenya said that to address these gaps, a recruitment plan was underway, prioritising 92 positions, with dedicated advertisements for college principals, deputy principals and campus managers.

The department aimed to fill these vacancies by January 2025.

“We could have done better in terms of the management of systems of internal control,” a report from the department presented to the committee said.

It recommended further budget reprioritisation and a review of placement procedures to address the remaining challenges.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie expressed frustration with the department’s presentations, saying that the vacancies dated as far back as the 2020/21 financial year.

Letsie said the presentations failed to provide satisfactory explanations why there had been a delay in filling the positions.

He emphasised that simply stating “we could have done better” was insufficient.

Letsie criticised the lack of accountability, noting that there was no evidence of consequence management against those responsible for the vacancies. 

The chairperson also highlighted concerns about individuals being placed in positions that they were unqualified for due to inadequate internal controls.

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One of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube’s priorities is eradicating pit toilets in schools, which continue to be a hazard and claim the lives of pupils

Gwarube told the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) that around 4000 pit toilets have been identified nationally, with just over 200 remaining as of now.

She emphasised the government’s commitment to clearing this backlog by March 2025, and reiterated that no child should be subjected to unsafe sanitation conditions.

“Eradicating pit toilets is one of my top priorities. We have completed 527 projects aimed at replacing inappropriate toilets, with another 581 projects are in progress,” Gwarube said.

The minister acknowledged that while new toilets had been built, some remained unsealed, posing ongoing safety risks.

She was speaking during the NCOP’s social cluster question and answer session on Tuesday.

On budget cuts in basic education, Gwarube pointed to the broader economic context, which included substantial debt servicing and a history of corruption draining resources.

She made it clear that while education remained a critical area of focus, the constraints on funding were severe.

“Each province has immense power over how they allocate their budgets. We can recommend, but the final decisions rest with them,” she explained.

Gwarube reassured the NCOP that no teachers would be retrenched despite the ongoing budget cuts, but acknowledged that provinces might opt not to fill certain posts.

The minister also addressed concerns regarding underperforming infrastructure projects and the role of implementing agents, expressing frustration over repeat offenders who failed to meet contractual obligations.

“We are adopting a zero-tolerance approach to shoddy work,” she asserted, indicating plans to blacklist non-compliant providers.

Gwarube confirmed that an independent audit of school sanitation facilities would be undertaken to ensure transparency and accountability.

The government aims to create a real-time data system to monitor progress effectively.

Looking ahead, Gwarube expressed a strong commitment to collaboration with provincial education departments, stressing that while she could not instruct provinces, she was actively working to facilitate improved outcomes.

“It’s essential that provinces use their allocated funds effectively, particularly for infrastructure development,” she noted.

As the minister concluded her address, she reaffirmed her dedication to improving the educational landscape in the country, underscoring that the challenges faced were dynamic and required ongoing vigilance and adaptability.

The session highlighted the urgent need for reform and a commitment from the department to address both infrastructural and systemic challenges, ensuring that the rights of every learner to safe and dignified education were upheld.

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