A memorial service for the 14 learners killed in Monday’s Vanderbijlpark crash will be held at 11am on Friday at Sebokeng Hall, ahead of a joint funeral service on Sunday at Saul Tsotetsi Sports Ground in Sebokeng.

The learners died on Monday when the minibus taxi they were travelling in collided with a truck. Twelve learners died at the scene, while two succumbed to their injuries on Thursday morning.

On Wednesday, the Department of Education released the names of the deceased learners, who were pupils from several schools across the Vaal area:

Hoërskool Vanderbijlpark

• Bokamoso Mokhobo (Grade 8)
• Sibongile Madonsela (Grade 10)
• Thato Moetji (Grade 12)
• Sagwadi Mathe (Grade 12)

Vaal High School

• Leano Moiloa (Grade 8)

El-Shaddai Christian School

• Pheello Motaung (Grade 11)
• Puleng Maphalla (Grade 11)
• Naledi Motsapi (Grade 10)
• Bohlale Lekekela (Grade 1)

Vanderbijlpark

• Buhle Radebe (Grade 11)

Primary schools

• Lesego Sefatsa (Grade 2), Oakwood Primary School
• Letlotlo Katlego Makwe (Grade 2), Vaal Triangle Primary School
• Ofentse Jayden Vinger (Grade 1), Oliver Lodge Primary School
• Lindokuhle Mabaso (Grade 5), Noordhoek Primary School

The driver of the scholar transport taxi, 22-year-old Ayanda Dludla, appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. Dludla has been charged with 14 counts of murder, three counts of attempted murder, and charges including reckless and negligent driving, among other charges.

Investigations are ongoing.

Dludla remains in custody and is expected back in court on 5 March.

INSIDE EDUCATION

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Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube visited Rocklands Primary School and Laerskool Blyvooruitsig in Carletonville, Gauteng Province, yesterday accompanied by Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane.

The two schools have been in the news lately after a private scholar transport minibus was involved in a tragic accident in the Kokosi-Wedela area in Merafong on 10 July 2024, claiming the lives of the 12 learners and the driver of the vehicle from the schools. Seven other learners were also rushed to a medical facility for urgent medical attention.

“The loss of loved ones is never easy; the loss is markedly acute when it is our children that we have to bury. We offer our heartfelt sympathies to the parents of the children; we will keep you in our thoughts and prayers, hoping that healing and grace locate you. We also wish the learners who were hurt in the accident a full and speedy recovery,” said Minister Gwarube.

The accident occurred when their scholar transport was reportedly rear-ended by a bakkie, causing it to overturn and catch fire. Police are currently investigating the details surrounding the accident.

Today, Chiloane will attend a memorial service for the learners at Grace Bible Church, 128 Kaolin Street, Carletonville.

Last week in Parliament, Khomotjo Maimela, the Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Education, led colleagues in observing a moment of silence for the learners who passed away due to a scholar transport accident in Carletonville.

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THE National Department of Sport, Arts and Culture in collaboration with the Limpopo Provincial Department of Sport, Arts and Culture hosted a Social Cohesion Community Dialogue on Active Citizenry, Healing, Nation Building and Reconciliation. 

The community dialogue took place at the Thulamela Library Auditorium, in Vhembe, Limpopo on 15 December 20024. 

This year’s dialogue was hosted under the theme, “Promoting active and responsible citizenry, reconciliation, and unity in a healing society.” 

The purpose of the dialogue was to discuss the role of society in promoting healing, reconciliation, and tolerance. 

This platform will also provide the community of Thulamela with the opportunity to highlight the challenges that are negatively impacting on the fostering of social cohesion and social justice. 

All community members of Thulamela, especially the youth, are invited to participate as active and responsible citizens. Most importantly, this dialogue also served as a build-up activity towards the national reconciliation day commemoration which took place on the 16th of December at the Thohoyandou Stadium, in Vhembe.

The panelists and audience engaged robustly in various ways in which individual community members can actively contribute towards the strengthening of unity and social cohesion in a healing nation.  

INSIDE EDUCATION 

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The North-West University (NWU) has bestowed an honorary doctorate on Prof Herman Hubert van der Spuy for his exceptional contributions that have helped shape the South African musical landscape.

Prof Van der Spuy’s influence and contributions as an adjudicator, examiner and adviser at music institutions throughout South Africa earned him this recognition on 26 October.

“This honorary doctorate came very unexpectedly, and I consider it the biggest recognition in my career. I have always wanted to complete another doctorate, and when this came, I felt fulfilled. I have worked with students from various universities throughout my career, including with many talented master’s degree and doctoral students from the NWU, and this makes it even more special,” says Prof Van der Spuy.

Throughout his career, Prof Van der Spuy has made outstanding contributions in the field of music, and he has had an enormous influence through his expertise and involvement. His experience in examining different instruments and voices has made him a particularly versatile examiner with profound knowledge and insight.

He has contributed significantly to developing talented young South African musicians, as exemplified by his work as a former director of Unisa’s Directorate Music. 

His leadership is credited with helping to build Unisa’s graded music exam system to the point where it was able to hold approximately 10,000 certificate examinations and 800 licentiate examinations.

Through initiatives such as the Hubert van der Spuy National Music Competition, which carries his name, South African children of all backgrounds have had opportunities to showcase their musical abilities.

His involvement in music extends to having been the former editor of Musicus, the journal of Unisa’s Directorate Music, an adjudicator of music competitions and an external examiner and adviser to several university music departments in the country. This includes the NWU’s School of Music.

Prof Van der Spuy has been an honorary member of the South African Society of Music Teachers since 2003, after serving as president for four terms.

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A study conducted among advanced cancer patients in Soweto has found that most patients who received palliative care and are at the end of life have spiritual needs beyond regular prayers from spiritual leaders. 

Furthermore, patients who received religious or spiritual care had less physical pain, used less morphine and had higher odds of dying where they wished than those who did not. 

The study involving 233 participants was conducted by a team of local and international experts led by Wits researchers. 

Lead researcher Dr Mpho Ratshikana-Moloko from the Centre for Palliative Care in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University says that previous research has shown that religion and spirituality are important to most patients facing life-threatening illnesses. However, this study probed further. 

Using the African Palliative Care Association Palliative Outcome Scale, the research confirmed previous international findings that nearly 98% of the participants had a religious or spiritual need.

The most common spiritual need expressed by patients in Soweto was “seeking a closer connection with their God” and “forgiveness for sins”, says Ratshikana-Moloko. 

This finding is significant because it calls on faith leaders to provide relevant support that responds to the needs of patients. This research-led intervention empowers leaders to move beyond prayer, explains Ratshikana-Moloko.

“This is the first study to assess the spiritual and religious needs, and religious and spirituality care provided to advanced cancer patients who received palliative care in Soweto,” says Ratshikana-Moloko.

Since the study was concluded in 2018, Wits University has developed a course in Spiritual and Chaplaincy in Palliative Care. The first cohort of faith leaders from all religious backgrounds was completed in September 2023. 

Palliative Care to increase

Palliative care is one of the key pillars in illness management among terminally ill patients who are judged by a specialist physician as unlikely to benefit from curative-intent therapy. Often, patients are unlikely to survive beyond six months. 

The South African National Policy Framework and Strategy for Palliative Care (2017–2022) incorporates spirituality into health care. However, palliative care services in South and Southern Africa and elsewhere rarely address these needs, despite available policies, guidelines and evidence.

“We must implement what we know. Integrating spiritual care within the clinical care setting is recommended,” Ratshikana-Moloko. 

South Africa faces a heavy burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases. One in six deaths globally is due to cancer, and cancer diagnoses are expected to increase by 70% in the next two decades, especially in low- and middle-income countries.

“Failure to identify and address the religious and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients may increase distress and suffering,” Ratshikana-Moloko.

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To boost rugby at the school, former Springbok rugby fly half and media personality Naas Botha has been appointed Director of Rugby at Hoërskool Eldoraigne. 

The former Blue Bulls great started work last week to inspire youngsters and unearth new talent. 

A familiar face on local television as a commentator, Botha once coached Tukkies to Varsity Cup success. He also managed the junior Springboks. 

Botha brings rich rugby knowledge and more than four decades of experience to Hoërskool Eldoraigne.

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THE Limpopo Education MEC Mavhungu Lerule-Ramakhanya has dispatched social workers to the Mpirwabirwa Secondary School in Mokopane following the death of a Grade 12 learner.

Spokesperson Mike Maringa said the team will offer psycho-social support to the pupils and staff at the school after a fight during a school camp resulted in the death of Willem Ngoepe.

Lerule-Ramakhanya has since sent a message of condolences to the Ngoepe family following the sudden death of their son.

Maringa said Ngoepe died on Friday after he was allegedly hit on the head with an object by another learner at the matric school camp in the school premises.

“The incident happened at Mpirwabirwa Secondary School on Thursday evening and the learner succumbed to injuries the following day,” he said.

The matter has been reported to police.

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In continuing to remember Uyinene Mrwetyana and many others who lost their lives due to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), the University of Cape Town (UCT) will gather in support of a unity walk organised by the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation on Saturday, 26 August 2023.

One of UCT’s bleakest moments was when first-year student Uyinene Mrwetyana went to the post office in Claremont to pick up a parcel and was brutally raped and murdered by a male post office worker on 24 August 2019.

UCT will join the unity walk to commemorate and celebrate the life of Uyinene, a beacon of hope and inspiration whose tragic passing shook campus and forever changed lives of family and friends.

Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Transformation, Student Affairs and Social Responsiveness, Professor Elelwani Ramugondo, said: “The month of August is not only for the country to celebrate women. During this month, we are also reminded of – and we intensify our efforts in – confronting sexual and gender-based violence.

“As a university, we put every effort toward creating an environment on and around campus where students and colleagues can feel safe, against the background of SGBV as a broader societal scourge.”

The walk theme is “United Against GBVF (gender-based violence and femicide)”.

Ramugondo added: “Beyond commemorating Uyinene’s life, the walk will show support for everyone affected by SGBV as we stand as a unified community with students and staff from the Western Cape in the commitment to eradicate SGBV.”

The walk will start at Roscommon Residence at 09:00 and proceed to Clareinch Post Office.

Ramugondo remembered Uyinene as a young student whose life was characterised by determination, intelligence and a passion for positive change.

“As a student at UCT, she demonstrated exceptional academic prowess, an unwavering commitment to her studies, and an infectious enthusiasm for life. Her vibrant spirit, warm heart and compassionate nature made her a beloved member of our campus family. To honour her legacy, UCT created the Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship in the Faculty of Humanities.

“Let us remember Uyinene as not just a victim of violence but as a champion for humanity, equality and justice. Let her life inspire us to strive for a society where everyone feels safe, valued and heard,” said Ramugondo.

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Nelson Mandela University has launched a multi-year global Giving Campaign, to raise R30 million to support four projects, based on empowerment and social redress.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sibongile Muthwa is leading the campaign with the endorsement of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, whose Mandela Month theme for 2023 is “Climate change and food security”.

Prof Muthwa explained that funds raised would go towards projects that address student hunger, bursaries, support a greenhouse project and empower sustainable community food kitchens.

“We are launching this fundraising drive in the build-up to international Mandela Day on 18 July. It is an opportunity to pay tribute to Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s most beloved statesman and global icon, someone who became the world’s moral compass.”

Prof Muthwa said the story of how Mandela, a young man born in a remote rural village, became one of the greatest statesmen of the 20th century was one of overcoming hardship and never losing sight of hope.

“It is a story that inspires generations of young people the world over.

“We are seeking your help to provide opportunities for thousands of young people who, because of their social circumstances, are faced with hardship and adversity.

“Who knows? With your assistance we could be nurturing the next generation of Nelson Mandelas.”

The new campaign is over and above the University’s day-to-day fundraising initiatives, which range from raising funds for postgraduate bursaries, to capital projects such as new buildings and laboratory equipment.

Globally, student numbers at universities have significantly increased. This has also been the case in South Africa.

However, government subsidies to universities in South Africa have been declining in real terms, made worse by, among other factors, rising inflation and the effects of COVID-19.

“This is why all universities need to raise third stream income. It helps to maintain high quality education, as well as broaden the net to accommodate academically deserving students who cannot fund their studies,” said Prof Muthwa.

She appealed to all stakeholders to donate any amount to the campaign, “as every cent counts”.

The campaign will benefit four projects aimed at helping students and the broader community: deal with financial exclusion challenges, student hunger, provision of community kitchens and a greenhouse project tackling unemployment by supporting a group of technical and vocational education and training college graduates with a greenhouse and community food systems project, using environmentally sustainable technologies.

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THE Universities Alliance South Africa (UASA) representing students and staff across South African universities is preparing to file a lawsuit against several public universities over their mandatory vaccine policies.

The alliance has demanded that institutions of higher learning must abandon their vaccine mandate policies by the end of business day on Tuesday or face legal action.

The UASA said that the COVID-19 mandatory vaccine policy must be declared unconstitutional as it violates the rights to human dignity, bodily integrity, education and labour relations.

The Stephen G May attorneys released a statement on behalf of UASA. The Alliance said that it is against the mandatory vaccine policies implemented by numerous institutions, “it is irrational, medically justified and in any event wholly outdated.”

The Stephen G May attorneys act on behalf of UASA, which comprises students, parents and staff from universities throughout the Republic of South Africa, as well as for the African Christian Democratic Party.

“Our clients, both of whom act in terms of section 38 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa in the interests of their members and others (“affected persons”) to defend the constitutional rights of affected persons at universities through various means, including, if it cannot be avoided, through litigation,” the attorneys said.

UASA said that the vaccine mandate policies deny university students and staff their right to choose, “which is an affront to their dignity.”

UASA, has engaged in a consultative process with several universities. 

During the processes, UASA identified critical legal, procedural, and scientific shortcomings. 

“From these consultative attempts, it would be readily apparent that our clients’ stance … [is] a grave reservation about the present mandates, which rob those people affected by them of, inter alia, their right to choose, which itself is an affront to their dignity,” said UASA.
The statement indicated that if the South African tertiary institutions fail to meet the demands the matter will be headed to the constitutional court.

“Both our clients expected that universities in SA, having taken months in many instances to formulate their mandates under the now historical Delta variant, would have followed the evidence closely and the effect of the Omicron variant, more especially given that these Covid-19 vaccine mandates constitute drastic and unprecedented measures which encroach on a raft of human rights, not least of which are the rights to human dignity, bodily integrity, education and fair labour relations.”

UASA believes that vaccine mandates constitute forced experimentation.

“Requiring staff, students and other stakeholders to receive into their bodies experimental COVID-19 vaccines that are not historically tested and acceptable attenuated vaccines. And requiring individuals to present proof of vaccination by COVID-19 vaccine to access university campuses and to continue with studies and work, alternatively to be subjected to discriminatory constraints.”

Meanwhile, the University of Cape Town’s Vaccine Mandate Panel will on Wednesday hold a meeting to draft UCT vaccine Mandate Policy. The university has encouraged students to participate in the session to make their voices heard.

 Earlier last week, the University of Johannesburg students embarked on a protest against vaccine mandate policies at the Auckland Park campus.

The students have until the end of March to get fully vaccinated, the UJ vaccine policy requires staff and students to be fully vaccinated to gain access to the facilities.

The Wits University Student Representative Council (SRC) president Cebolenkosi Khumalo said that they are rejecting the vaccine mandate policies.
Khumalo said that the vaccine mandate violates the rights of the students and staff who do not want to vaccinate.

–Inside Education

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Teachers are set to be vaccinated within the next few weeks.

Inside Education has seen a letter by the Head of Health in KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Sandile Tshabalala, addressed to the Head of Education Enock Nzama asking that he makes departmental coordinators available for planning meetings today. 

Inside Education has confirmed the authenticity of the letter from two independent sources. 

In the letter written on Thursday titled: Vaccination of educators, Tshabalala said the national department of education has confirmed that the J&J vaccines would be made available in the next week and that “ most of which should be used for educators”

“The target group is basic education (all staff members of primary and secondary schools). It is expected that the dedicated vaccination sites for educators will be ready by Wednesday, 9th June 2021, and the vaccination period will be for two week,”  reads the letter.

Inside Education also understands that teacher unions are meeting with the Department of Basic Education today and the agenda is teacher vaccination. 

Inside Education reported on Tuesday that teacher unions had written to the national departments of health and education asking that teachers be prioritised for vaccination this month. 

READ: Teacher unions push to have teachers vaccinated in June

The teacher union leaders that spoke to Inside Education said ideally they wanted their members to be vaccinated before 26 July when all primary school learners and learners in special education needs schools are expected back in class daily. 

Basil Manuel, Naptosa Executive Director said, at the time, teachers must also be regarded as frontline workers because they come  into contact with large groups of people compared to the police, for example. 

While General Secretary of Sadtu, Mugwena Maluleke, also told Inside Education on Tuesday that a delay in vaccinating teachers may lead to education of learners being disrupted. 

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Last week, at the school’s annual fund-raising golf day at the Pretoria Country Club, parents held a peaceful protest against the racism experienced by their children at the school as well as the lack of diversity and the slow pace of transformation.

Parents and learners also gathered at the school this morning. They handed a memorandum against racism and the lack of transformation at the school to the school management and to Lesufi.

Parents also called on the school’s principal to resign for what they say is his failure to ensure an anti-discriminatory and non-racial environment at the school.

Learners at the school shared their traumatic experiences on video. Some said their teachers told them that black people come from apes.

Others said they have been referred to as “bloody k*ffirs”.

The learners also said they are not allowed to speak their mother tongues at the school and their natural hair is often called messy and dirty.

Singo Ravele, a learner at the school, shared how racism at the school has affected her.

Singo shared her first and most vivid memory when she was only in the fourth grade.

I was so happy to he accepted into the school, she said.

“And as a child I began to imagine a fairy-tale for myself. And that didn’t happen. Very soon that dream died,” said the girl.

“It died when a community that I loved did not love me back.

“And although I managed to find friends,” she said and began to cry, covering her face with her hand.

At this point, another girl walked to Singo at the podium holding the placard: “Racists must leave Cornwall Hill College”. The words “racists” and “leave” boldened and highlighted in red. The girl stood at Singo’s side, silent.

Singo’s father walked to her at the podium and held her.

Other learners screamed words of encouragement and began to clap.

“… and although I managed to find friends,” Singo said, her voice breaking, “I didn’t manage to escape the discrimination.”

“And that is not a dream at all. It is a nightmare,” she said.

This is not the first time that Cornwall Hill College is In the news because of racism.

Former Cornwall Hill College learner Kholofelo Mashitisho said, “I went to Cornwall Hill College, I am so glad these kids are doing what we were scared to do. I am proud.”

She added that at the high school, “you raise your voice, you get expelled”.

Another former pupil and head boy said: “I stand and fully support the class of 2021 calling out racism and standing up for a fully inclusive CHC (sic). Why has the school’s leadership ignored such accounts of racism for so long? Racists are not welcome, they must leave,” he said.

Addressing parents, media and learners this morning, Gauteng education MEC said: “I am worried about time, we committed that we will conclude this session by 07:30 so that we can demonstrate to those that think we are not human beings that we can adhere to time as well.

Lesufi said they, “these people”, may have oppressed our grandparents and succeeded. They may have oppressed our parents and succeeded, but they will not oppress our children and our children’s children, said Lesufi.

“It ends here, and it stops here,” said Lesufi.

He said his discussion with the school leadership was clear in that the school management had to go back to the negotiating table and make it clear everyone is very welcome in the school.

This was met with applause.

He added that the school management must stop “with the obsession with the hair of our children”.

In his address, Lesufi declared “racism ends here and goes no further”. The MEC made commitments that the school will have teachers that represent everyone.

He said all the policies will be reviewed so that they become accommodative.

The South African Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago, also took part in the morning protest.

Kganyago said his protest was done in his capacity as a parent and not as the SARB governor.

Kganyago held a placard with the words: “We stand by our children. No to racism”.

Kganyago ‘s daughter is a learner at the school.

He said there is systemic racism at Cornwall Hill College.

“The number of black learners has never been more than 25%. Secondly, the school has 66 educators and five of them are black and three of those black educators are concentrated in the Sepedi department,” Kganyago said.

Learners at the school also said there were incidents of racism including being separated at the tuckshop lines based on race. White learners would have their own line, while black learners had their own line.

Lesufi said that no one was out for revenge for what had happened in the past but he was pleading for inclusivity.

“We will have teachers that represent all of us and all the policies will be reviewed, so I urge you to protect this school. But in protecting this school, we must not protect the wrong things. Even those that hate non-racialism, this is the future and no one can stop it,” Lesufi said.

Singo penned three testimonies into the addendum that was later handed to Lesufi and the school’s management.

Singo said her first and very vivid memory of racism happened when she was only in the fourth grade. She said she was  happily on my way to break when a teacher stopped her.

“She had this big frown that swallowed me whole.

“She looked me dead in the eyes and said, ‘Your hair’s unpresentable, it is messy and it’s not the Cornwall way.’ She also proceeded to tell me that I would look better if I chemically straightened my hair.

“When I got older, I became angry. I was stripped from my African identity. And that was one time, one moment, one person,” she said.

Leon Kunneke, Executive Principal at Cornwall Hill College said the school was aware at the peaceful protest action around diversity and transformation of the school. He said the school acknowledges the parents’ pleas and recognise the importance of active and inclusive engagement.

He said the school’s board is unequivocally committed to transformation.

“Matters relating to diversity are being revisited,” he said.

“They include hair policy, anti-discriminatory policy and a framework where matters of concern raised by pupils, past and present, could be addressed,” said Kunneke.

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The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NFSAS) has broken its silence on the death of eThekwini TVET College student, Yonwabo Manyanya.

According to media reports Manyanya died of hunger and fatigue at the age of 26 after NSFAS failed to pay her allowance and tuition fees and she was evicted from her college residence.

She allegedly died of hunger and fatigue after spending three days sleeping outside campus.

NSFAS has denied allegations that it delayed the eThekwini student’s payment.

“There are allegations in the public domain that NSFAS has delayed paying allowances to cover the cost of accommodation time and that Manyanya subsequently suffered from fatigue and hunger as a consequence of this delay. These allegations are factually incorrect, based on information we have, and that the college has,” said NSFAS.

NSFAS said for funding to continue, a student is required to meet the NSFAS progression requirements.

Sibongile Mncwabe, Chief Corporate Services Officer said while Manyanya was a NSFAS funded student in 2020, for the 2021 academic year her funding had not been confirmed.

“The information on NSFAS record is that Ms Manyanya had not met the progression criteria at the time of her passing. She is part of a group of students whose progression status was continuously being queried with the college.  

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family and to defame NSFAS. This misleading, unfortunate and opportunistic approach is viewed in contempt by NSFAS and individuals spreading this inaccurate communication should be ashamed,” said Mncwabe.

The delays in NSFAS funding have caused much outrage across institutions of higher education.

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family and to defame NSFAS. This misleading, unfortunate and opportunistic approach is viewed in contempt by NSFAS and individuals spreading this inaccurate communication should be ashamed,” said Mncwabe.

Mncwabe said the financial aid, together with eThekwini TVET College, shared communication with the Department of Higher Education and Training explaining Manyanya’s funding status.

“The facts of the communication clear NSFAS of any connection to this tragic incident. It is unfortunate that this tragic incident is being used inaccurately and unfairly in an insensitive manner to the family to defame NSFAS,” added Mncwabe.

Manyanya was studying towards a diploma in electrical and infrastructure construction at eThekwini TVET College.

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SIU said it has been granted a preservation order to the value of R40.7 million by the Special Tribunal to freeze bank accounts and assets belonging to 14 service providers that were contracted by Gauteng Education to decontaminate schools to the tune of R431 million.

SIU Spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the investigation by SIU revealed that the Gauteng Education Department did not follow due process in the procurement of services to decontaminate schools during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The SIU approached the Special Tribunal for preservation order to freeze accounts with the sum of R6 million and assets with an estimated value of over R4.7 million belonging to seven companies, five individuals and two family trusts.

“Some of the names of companies who were appointed to decontaminate schools were supplied to the provincial education department via WhatsApp by the department’s own officials,” said Kganyago.

Adding that the majority of the companies whose assets have now been frozen were not only unaccredited but were not even based in the province.

Kganyago said the order includes assets such as two Mercedes Benz V Class, Landrover, Range Rover Sport, Haval H6 and Toyota Avanza.

He added that the collaboration with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) was very effective.

“The FIC assisted – and based on the information presented by the investigating team, issued intervention directions to place a hold on R30 million of the funds received from the Education Department,” said Kganyago.

He added that the action was pursued after seven service providers started withdrawing the funds received from the department.

“A portion of the funds were transferred to multiple beneficiaries who have, in turn, disposed of them,” he said.

Between June and August 2020, the Gauteng Department of Education spent more than R431-million on sanitising schools.

The money was paid to hundreds of companies, many of which appeared to have no expertise or prior involvement in the cleaning industry.

At the time, departmental spokesperson Steve Mabona said the large expense could be justified in that it was necessary to allay fears of teachers, unions, SGBs and parents.

Kganyago said the procurement process followed by GDE was “haphazard, unfair and littered with procurement irregularities”.

He said the department obtained a deviation under Treasury regulations to conduct the procurement process without inviting competitive bids.

“The department did so on the basis that emergency procurement was warranted, given the urgent and pressing need to appoint service providers to decontaminate schools exposed to Covid-19,” said Kganyago.

Adding that the Treasury expressly stated that the request for the deviation appoint accredited service providers from the Central Supplier Database.

However, this was not done. The SIU investigation revealed that the department failed to comply with the express requirement of the deviation.

Kganyago said the vast majority of service providers that were appointed,173 out of 280, were not accredited and were not on the CSD.

“On this basis alone, the SIU will argue before the Special Tribunal that the procurement process was unlawful and falls to be reviewed and set aside,” he said.

Adding that the investigation also revealed that the procurement process was not cost-effective.

“The service providers were not paid per square meter of the area cleaned. Rather, a senior official in the department appears to have arbitrarily decided to offer a fee of R250 000 to R270 000 for the decontamination of primary schools; R250 000 to R290 000 for secondary schools; and R250 000 to R300 000 for district offices.

“The fees bear no relation to the work done by service providers or the cost of material used. The selection and appointment of suppliers was done in a haphazard, unfair and inequitable manner,” said Kganyago.

The order prohibits Fikile Mpofana Pty Ltd, Insimu Projects Pty Ltd, Insimu Consulting Pty Ltd, Insimu Medical Group, Mangaliso Pty Ltd, Lisondalo Pty Ltd, Zenaldo Consulting Pty Ltd, Sigwile Bright Mhlongo, Fikile Eugenia Mpofana, Lindokuhle Bridget Mkhize, Njabulo Mabaso, Richard Mweli, Shuphula Family Trust, and Madangu Family Trust from dealing with the funds held in the bank accounts and assets.

Kganyago said the SIU would in the next month launch review proceedings in the Special Tribunal, and also seek an order against the service providers to pay back all profits as consequence of their appointment.

He added that evidence pointing to criminal conduct will be referred to the National Prosecuting Authority, as well as the Hawks in the South African Police Service for further action.

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This comes after one of the screeners at the educator’s school tested positive for Covid-19.

The teacher said they were told to come back to school only two days after the incident even though the screener had been in contact with everyone at the school.

“On Monday the school had to close down because one of the screeners tested positive. The shocking part is that they only gave the schools two days to fumigate and do everything.

“My main concern is how are they allowing us to come back after two days when that lady was in contact with everyone at school,” said the teacher who cannot be named for fear of victimisation.

Just yesterday, Free State Education MEC Tate Makgoe reported that a learner from Lephola Secondary School in Thabong, Welkom has died from Covid-19 complications.

Makgoe said the school was closed on Wednesday following the incident and will re-open on Monday.

The MEC said eight learners have also tested positive for the virus and eight more are awaiting the results.

One learner succumbed to the Covid 19 related complications, said Makgoe.

The Free State province has been hard hit by the pandemic.

Covid-19 numbers have in recent weeks been rising in the Free State, leading some to fear that the province might be at the beginning of a third wave of infections.

Questions are also being asked about the ability of the healthcare system to cope with a potential third wave and its ability to rapidly roll out vaccines.

According to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), at a provincial level, the Free State province is currently experiencing a third wave. As of Thursday, 102 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported with four deaths Eastern Cape, six in the Free State, 24 in Gauteng, four KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo five, Mpumalanga four, North West 45, Northern Cape 0 and Western Cape nine which brings the total deaths in the country to 56 077.

NICD said in the past week, the Northern Cape Province reported the highest weekly incidence risk at 170.3 cases per 100 000 persons. This is followed by the Free State Province with 83.2 cases per 100 000 persons and the North West Province at 41.4 cases per 100 000 persons.

The Free State teacher said, “We are at risk but we were told we are going to have to come back with a stringent plan in terms of how we are going to have to make up for the time lost.”

“This is when we realised that these people are saying no to our request to stay for a week at home and self isolate. We may as well go back to school after those two days,” said the educator.

The educator added: “Sometimes the sad reality is that as much as Covid-19 is killing people, we are being requested to be at school and apply all these rules. In the end, they don’t really care.”

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Yonwabo Manyanya died of hunger and fatigue at the age of 26.

It is alleged that after NSFAS failed to pay her allowance and tuition fees, Manyanya was evicted from her college residence. She allegedly died of hunger and fatigue after spending three days sleeping outside campus.

Manyanya was studying towards a diploma in electrical and infrastructure construction at eThekwini TVET College

The delays in NSFAS funding have caused much outrage across institutions of higher education.

Earlier this month students from the University of South Africa (Unisa) took to twitter this weekend stating that they have not received their NSFAS allowances.

One student said he has been surviving just on water alone. Another said they cannot afford to pay for transport and are forced to walk about 30 minutes to an hour to reach university campus ground. Another said they do not have money to buy data to access coursework material placed online.

In an interview, Unisa Vice-Chancellor Puleng LenkaBula said I truly regretted the situation currently faced by her students saying that NSFAS payments were a structural issue out of the university’s hands.

“Our challenges and complexities derive from the centralisation of NSFAS.

“We depend on NSFAS sending information and also transferring funding  to students that are registered with Unisa.  So even to confirm whether a student is registered or not, we have to engage with NSFAS,” said LenkaBula.

On Monday, Inside Education reported that NSFAS board chairperson, Ernest Khosa, said the funding scheme’s student-centred model is one of the reasons for delays in funding decisions including appeals processing and disbursements.

Khosa said because of the student-centred model, the time it takes for appeals processing, disbursements, weak queries resolution mechanism, policy issues such as the N+ 2 rule, absentee parents, postgraduate funding, and student accommodation takes longer than it should.

The NSFAS board chairperson said the funding scheme’s organisational structure is not aligned to the student-centred model.

NSFAS CEO Andile Nongogo said NSFAS is continuing to receive registration data from institutions to process which will allow the funding scheme to be able to make more payments for students.

“The processing and disbursement of allowances to institutions to ensure that students do not sleep hungry has already commenced.

“However, we are aware of some delays in payments as a result of system integration challenges and delayed registration data that needs to be submitted by institutions,” said Nongogo.

Some students have taken to social media to demand answers and voice their concerns.

One student said they think NSFAS is overwhelmed and need better administration of student funding. “For started we need to get SETAs that administer student bursaries out of NSFAS otherwise the problem will persist.”

“The one thing we do not speak of is the poor administration and communication between NSFAS and institutions of higher learning. It is all just messy. We deserve better,” said the student.

Student leader Mthobisi Magudulela said there were many students at the TVET college who had been evicted from their dwellings and had resorted to camping outside the campus hoping for assistance.

Magudulela said the student leadership at the college has received reports of students committing suicide because of the anxiety arising from financial exclusion.

“The tragic death of Yonwabo highlights the neglect and harsh realities faced by poor students at eThekwini college. Her death should not go unpunished. NSFAS, together with the management of the college, must be held to account,” said Magudulela.

He added that for weeks now students have been sleeping outside the campus and some are squatting with friends because landlords have evicted them for non-payment.

The post Student dies of hunger and fatigue while waiting for NSFAS allowance appeared first on Inside Education..

The fake news poster comes after calls made by unions in the country to shut down schools following the acceleration of Covid-19 infection rates across schools in South Africa.

This also follows the department’s decision to immediately suspend all contact sport at schools last week.

DBE Spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the national department was aware of a manipulated image doing rounds purporting to be an announcement from DBE Minister Angie Motshekga.

Mhlanga said the department wished to dismiss the poster and image as fake news.

“We continue to urge members of the public to be vigilant and verify sources of information they read before sharing it on social media.

“This kind of malicious content is created with the express intent to cause confusion and mislead the public,” said Mhlanga.

Mhlanga added that the department will use credible media platforms to communicate should there be developments in the sector.

The Educators’ Union of South Africa (EUSA) last week called for the immediate shutdown of all South African schools.

EUSA said this is because some provinces are experiencing the beginnings of the third wave coronavirus outbreak. The union said public schools still lacked PPEs and this was the cause of the increased cases of infected learners and teachers.

Scelo Bhengu, EUSA President, said with Gauteng, Free State and the Eastern Cape having declared that they have reached a third wave, it is inevitable the whole country will be in third wave soon.

Bhengu said Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, the North West and the Western Cape have been reported to also be experiencing sustained increases over the last few weeks.

“Schools are central to the contribution of the resurgence as safety protocols are being ignored mostly by principals,” said Bhengu.

South Africa is seeing a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.

Last week the Council of Education Ministers took a decision to suspend all contact sports in schools with immediate effect. DBE spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the cancellation of contact sports comes after provinces such as Gauteng, North West and the Free State saw a rise in Covid-19 cases among learners. 

“It is evident that despite following the protocols as guided by the directions on extramural activities and standard operating procedure on the prevention, containment and management of Covid-19 in schools, contact sports events still contribute to the spread of Covid-19,” said Mhlanga.

Cabinet is set to meet on Wednesday to discuss recommendations from the national coronavirus command centre on how to address the virus threat.

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The Democratic Alliance (DA) has condemned the behaviour of the School Governing Bodies (SGB) at Moses Kotane and Julius Sebolai Primary Schools in Braamfischer, Soweto for disrupting learning this week. 

On Monday, there were reports that the two schools governing bodies were picketing outside the schools and prohibiting learners from entering the schools’ premises.

Khume Ramulifho, DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education said the newly elected SGB wants power to control the school finances and so, they decided to picket and disrupt learning and teaching at the school. 

The school governing bodies were recently appointed in schools across the country, in what was deemed the largest public elections after national, provincial, and local elections. This is because more than five million people usually cast their votes for the SGBs.

Basil Manuel, executive manager the National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa said schools SBGs should not think they are school managers.

“The SGB is in charge of governance and we must make it very clear that there is a clear distinction between the governance of the school and the management of the school,” said Manuel. 

“The governing body cannot disrupt schooling. They in fact have the exact opposite mandate and their mandate must be to ensure that schooling happens,” he added.

The DA called on the Gauteng Education Department to intervene on the issue with both schools. 

Ramulufho said the DA spoke to the head of department at Gauteng education who said they would send their district team to intervene. Adding that the SGB needs to find better ways to solve issues and not disrupt teaching and learning at school. 

“The SGB is the voice of the parents, if they are unhappy with things, they need to draw the attention of management to the issue but can’t act without having involved the education department and principal,” said Manuel. 

Ramulifho said learners cannot afford to lose days as they are on a rotational basis which means they do not attend class every day. 

“We need to ensure that we protect the time afforded to learners at school, parents can contact the department for other issues,” said Ramulifho. 

The post SGBs condemned for disruptive behaviour at schools appeared first on Inside Education..

The Department of education in Limpopo has welcomed the resignation of the 50-year-old teacher accused of raping an 18-year-old from Mbilwi Secondary school. 

The 50-year-old was arrested after a case was opened against him, accusing him of raping the learner back in 2018.

He allegedly raped her at a lodge in Louis Trichardt and at his home at Ha-Makhuvha village outside Thohoyandou. 

“The resignation was accepted and processed accordingly, he has since been removed from our system,” said Limpopo education department spokesperson, Tidimalo Chuene. 

 The accused is still in custody for the alleged offence and it is being reported that he raped the learner repeatedly. 

“As indicated earlier, we deem accusations against him serious and worrying. As parents we leave our children in the care of educators to build and nurture them into responsible adults,” said Chuene.

The accused is expected to apply for bail in the Thohoyandou Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. 

“The idea of one taking advantage of children in this alleged manner is disturbing, we hope justice prevails in this case,” said Chuene.

The post 50-year-old Limpopo teacher accused of rape has resigned appeared first on Inside Education..

The court case to fight the eradication of pit toilets in Limpopo schools, originally set to be heard by the High Court of South Africa Limpopo Division on Monday has been postponed.

Dr Faranaaz Veriava, head of education rights programme at Section27 said the organisation is “extremely disappointed” that this matter is not heard in court as planned.

Veriava said the case was set to be heard before Judge Muller by the Registrar, however, the judge was not available on that date.

She said Section27 will be asking for a date at the soonest possible opportunity for this matter to be heard.

She added that the organisation is waiting to receive an alternative court hearing date from the High Court in Polokwane.

“Given the seriousness of the matter, and because learners’ rights and lives are at stake, we are requesting a preferential date. We will communicate the new dates and details with media in due course,” said Veriava.

In 2018 the court ordered the Department of Basic Education and the Limpopo Department of Education to file plans to eradicate pit toilets and provide the court with an updated audit of sanitation needs at schools in the province.

“We are saying that ‘plans’ made to eradicate pit toilets at schools in the province are not good enough. These plans are not reasonable in terms of the law and claim that pit toilets can only be eradicated from all Limpopo schools by the end of 2030. This is unconstitutional,” said Veriava.

 Adding that the organisation is requesting that the court order education authorities file a new, consolidated plan about how they will urgently replace all pit toilets at schools in the province and replace them with appropriate sanitation.

We are also calling for better oversight and monitoring of delivery, she added.

“Unless a more comprehensive, urgent and coherent plan is implemented, thousands of learners will be at risk of dying or being injured at schools with unsafe toilets for the next decade,” she said.

The order to eradicate pit toilets in the province was handed down after Michael Komape died after he fell into a pit toilet.

Veriava said it has been seven years since Michael died and three years since the structural interdict was handed down requiring that the department of basic education develop a plan for the eradication of pit toilets in Limpopo.

“The ongoing violation of the rights of poor learners because of unsafe and undignified toilets must be remedied,” she said.

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