Nyakallo Tefu

The Western Cape Department of Education has come under fire following its decision to go it alone by launching an R18 million feeding school programme in the province during the national lockdown period.

Bongiwe Mbinqo-Gigaba, chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education, said she was concerned that the provincial department of education MEC Debbie Schafer, as well as the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, are continuing with the feeding school programme despite the President Cyril Ramaphosa having declared a national lockdown.

Mbinqo-Gigaba said members of the public in the Western Cape have raised concerns regarding social distancing in the province.  

Mbinqo-Gigaba said many people questioned Schafer’s decision to go ahead with the school feeding scheme even after Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga made it clear that the department will not be able to continue with the feeding programme as this will contravene social distancing rules put in place by Ramaphosa.

“I will write to Minister Motshekga requesting further information about this deviation of the agreed plan regarding the NSNP, and as well as requesting information on how people can be allowed to enter school premises during a national lockdown, risking exposing many to the virus,” said Mbinqo-Gigaba.

“As a caring nation that understands the plight of the poor, we have the greatest of empathy with those less fortunate. But at the same time, the health of our nation is also at stake and therefore assisting families in need, as part of the comprehensive country’s plan, is now not the responsibility of the education department.”

The special school feeding programme in the Western Cape is running from April 8 until April 20.

Schafer said the department is working with service providers to ensure that children who normally qualify for the national school feeding programme received their meals during the lockdown.

“The National School Nutrition Programme feeds about 483,000 of our poorer learners. We need to get to as many learners as possible in this very difficult time,” said Schafer.  

Soon after the national lockdown was announced, Motshekga handed over the school nutrition functions to Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.

Charles Molele

President Cyril Ramaphosa has placed Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams on special leave for two months – one month of which will be unpaid, after she violated government’s lockdown regulations.

The suspension of Ndabeni-Abrahams follows a wave of backlash on social media after pictures of her enjoying a family lunch at the stylishly luxurious and expensive home of former Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister, Mduduzi Manana, surfaced on Instagram while the entire country observed stringent lockdown regulations, including social distancing.

Presidency spokesperson Khusela Diko said Minister in the Presidency Jackson Mthembu will be acting in Ndabeni-Abrahams’s position. 

This is one of the clearest signals that Ramaphosa, who has been cautious to maintain the complex balance between contending ANC factions since succeeding former President Jacob Zuma, has taken a decision to act firm against errant Cabinet ministers and corrupt government officials.

Diko said Ramaphosa summoned the Communications Minister to the Union Buildings on Tuesday 07 April where he expressed his disapproval of the Minister’s actions, which he said undermined the requirement that all citizens stay at home and save South Africa from the spread of the coronavirus.

He also reprimanded Ndabeni-Abrahams and instructed her to deliver a public apology to the nation following her indiscretions.

“The nation-wide lockdown calls for absolute compliance on the part of all South Africans. Members of the National Executive carry a special responsibility in setting an example to South Africans, who are having to make great sacrifices,” said Ramaphosa.

“None of us – not least a member of the National Executive – should undermine our national effort to save lives in this very serious situation. I am satisfied that Minister Ndabeni-Abrahams appreciates the seriousness of what she has done and that no-one is above the law.”

Manana explained on Tuesday that Ndabeni-Abrahams was not at his home for a social visit and was there to collect PP equipment as she was in Fourways and sought the equipment to distribute to learners who needed it.

“On her arrival, my family was having lunch and I courteously invited her to join us. She then collected the material and headed to her next assignment. She took the first batch for the Fourways students and indicated that the next visit will be tomorrow (April 8) at the Menlyn site which our team will be delivering,” said Manana.

“In hindsight, it was irresponsible to post a picture without a clear context and thereby creating the impression that it was a social lunch. For this I profusely apologise.” 

The Gauteng Department of Health has introduced a smart and easy-to-use icon to its patient engagement Mpilo-Healthcare mobile App in a desperate attempt to curb the spread of coronavirus in the province.

The latest feature on the mobile App is aimed to assist health workers to trace people who have tested positive for COVID-19.

It is also aimed at creating awareness about the virus.

The feature can also assist App users to do self-screening by completing a simple questionnaire from the Department of Health.

Department spokesperson Kwara Kekana said Mpilo was linked to the department’s digital platforms, ensuring that users have access to credible and verified information on COVID-19

“Among the many offerings of the Mpilo App is a geo-location feature that allows users to find health facilities closest to them. This has proven quite helpful especially during emergencies,” said Kekana in a statement.  

“Furthermore, Mpilo has an ambulance hailing facility allowing users to call an ambulance from the phone and track the ambulance’s movement, whilst at the same time allowing our emergency medical services team to have access to the user’s location.”

The Mpilo-Healthcare App, which was launched last year by MEC of Health Dr Bandile Masuku, can be downloaded on Android and IOS enabled phones.

(Compiled by Inside Education staff)

Nyakallo Tefu

The South African Democratic Teachers Union (SADTU) has demanded that government conduct screenings of over 10 million learners and teachers for COVID-19 before the schools re-open in South Africa. 

In an interview with Inside Education on Monday, SADTU general secretary, Mugwena Maluleke said the teachers union would meet top education officials this week to table its demands that teachers and learners be screened to prevent possible COVID-19 infections. 

“This will mean schools do not re-open until all the screenings of teachers and learners are complete. One way to conduct these mass screenings is by separating learners by grades and for them to come in on different days for screenings so they are not a danger to one another”, said Maluleke. 

SADTU’s call for mass screening of teachers and learners could mean a further delay of the re-opening of schools, which was expected soon after the lockdown comes to an end on April 16.

The screening of over 10 million learners and 400 000 teachers could prove difficult, given the shortage of screening equipments in the country. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa announced at the weekend that government has deployed 10 000 field workers to conduct screenings in townships and rural areas across the country as SA enters the critical phase of the lockdown.

Already there are fears that the outcome of the screening process could prompt government to extend the lockdown by two to four weeks as the number of infections are expected to soar. 

By Monday, the number of COVID-19 related infections stood at 1686 while the number of deaths increased to 12.

Inside Education reported last week that the department was contemplating postponing the matric supplementary exams scheduled for June to December, a move that could result in a logistical and financial nightmare for government.

High placed sources within the Department of Basic Education told Inside Education last week that a number of high-level teams met to find alternative solution should schools not open on April 17. 

“There are teams that are working behind closed doors. There’s a team that is looking at the curriculum. There is a team that is looking at examinations and within the examination there is a team that is focusing on marking. There is a team focusing on what will the implications for marking be. There is also a team that is looking at the implications for human resources”, said the source.

The 200 000-strong teacher union is also demanding that government consider reducing the teacher-to-learner ratio of 35.2 learners to one teacher in primary school and 27.7 learners to one teacher in secondary schools, must be halved to ensure social distancing among learners.

“Teachers must have enough space in their classrooms so they can walk at least 50-55 centimeter in between the children”, said Maluleke. 

Maluleke said the deadly pandemic would definitely change the way learners used to relate.

“Children love being around each other, playing, holding hands and hugging, now we need to make sure this doesn’t happen, for their safety”, said Maluleke. 

National Professional Teachers Organization of South Africa’s (NAPTOSA) executive director, Basil Manuel said most parents were concerned about sending their children back to school at the end of the 21-day lockdown, in the absence of concrete safety measures by the government. 

“The government has not communicated any measures that will be put in place should schools re-open after the lockdown that will ensure the safety of learners”, said Manuel.

Nyakallo Tefu

While the country has been on lockdown criminals have been having   a field day with, 13 cases of burglaries and one rape reported across the country. 

Gauteng and the Western Cape have reported six cases of burglaries each since President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the 21-day lockdown two weeks ago. 

On Monday, an administration block at Amogelang Secondary School in Soshanguve was set alight, destroying files, photo copy machines, computers, printer and other items.

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi has condemned the criminal actions that occurred in several schools across the province during the lockdown.

“These incidents are indicative of a trend to take advantage of school holidays to rob schools”, said Lesufi. 

“We will never get tired to appeal to anyone who might have information on this unfortunate act to share same with the police. It is disappointing that, yet another school has been destroyed by fire”, said Lesufi. 

Lesufi also condemned the rape of the 14-year-old Aurora Girls High School learner who was brutally murdered after she was repeatedly raped in Dobsonville, Soweto.

“How do people sleep after committing such a barbaric, and cruel act. Indeed, this is saddening beyond comprehension. We would like to send our sincere condolences to the family and the school community. We are shattered and really feel their pain during this time of grief” said Lesufi.

It is alleged that the grade 9 learner went to a local shop on April 2 2020 in Dobsonville, and on her return home she realized that she forgot some items, she then went back to the shop and she didn’t return home.

Siphiwe Sibeko was found on 3 April 2020 raped and brutally murdered in a bush at eMndeni Extension, Soweto. 

Western Cape Education Department’s communications director Brounagh Hammond said the increase in the number of vandalism in the country occurred because the department does not have enough budget to tighten security in all schools.

“If you put ten security guards at one school you know criminals could hit the next school down the road where we haven’t put security. To put security guards at all schools across the province, we do not have the budget for that”, said Hammond.

Equal Education’s representative Tarryn Cooper-Bell says described the criminal incidents at schools during the lock down as deplorable. 

“These incidents highlight the necessity of the Department of Basic Education to have a clear plan in place that speaks to the protection of school infrastructure”. 

“It is unacceptable that criminal elements and individuals are destroying schools and taking advantage of vulnerable children”, said Cooper-Bell.

National education spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the department could not comment as the incidents happened in only two provinces.