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Wits SRC shuts down campus

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Wits SRC shuts down campus

Staff Reporter

The University of Witwatersrand (Wits) Student Representative Council (SRC) is disrupting lectures in attempts to shut down the campus after the university backed out on an agreement which stipulates that students owing less that R100 000 should be allowed to register.

Wits SRC shared the tweet below on Sunday voicing their frustrations against Wits management.

On Monday students marched into the different buildings and stop lectures, urging students to either go home or join the protest.

In this video, SRC deputy president Nkateko Muloiwa addresses students and explains the SRC’s decision to take this decision.

 

It was also reported that Wits Protection Services and Private Security arrived at the scene as the protest gathered numbers. Just over 150 people are a part of the protest that is now headed towards Wits West Campus.

However, the university said that claims that an agreement had been reached were not true.

“As per the Council-approved concessions for 2019 below, only students who owe the University R10 000 or less will be allowed to roll over their debt and to register this year,” Vice Chancellor Andrew Crouch said in an email to students.

According to the university, students who owed R10 000 or less from 2018 would be able to roll over the debt and register in 2019.

Crouch also states in the email that students would also be required to sign an acknowledgement of debt and make arrangements with the university to pay it off.

Among other concessions which were approved by the council for the 2019 academic year was that students made an upfront payment of R9 340 towards their fees before enrolment, Crouch said in his email.

“NSFAS students are not required to pay upfront,” Crouch wrote.

Wits University spokesperson Shirona Patel said that representatives of the senior executive team were working with the SRC to resolve their concerns.

“The university respects the rights of students to raise their concerns and has created official channels of communication for these matters to be discussed. It is unacceptable for the academic programme to be disrupted,” said Patel.

Patel said campus protection services were currently analysing video footage and were requesting staff and students to come forward to report incidents of intimidation and make statements.

“All incidents will be investigated and action will be taken, including immediate suspensions where appropriate, in line with the university’s rules, policies and procedures,” she said.

Despite the SRC’s planned shutdown, Patel said academic programmes would continue as planned.

Extra reporting by News 24

Spinach muffins create employment for township youth

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Spinach muffins create employment for township youth

GCIS VUK’UZENZELE 

Youngsters from Lamontville in KwaZulu-Natal are growing a brighter future for their community by producing spinach muffins.

Youth Empowerment RMS director Sphelele Memela (26) said that the five-member co-operative was established in 2013.

“All five of us come from disadvantaged family backgrounds and our parents could not afford to give us the education that we wanted,” he said. However, they were determined to improve their lives and their common dream of being employers instead of employees drove them to establish their own small business.

“Many people in our community want fresh vegetables but they cannot afford to go to shopping complexes all the time just to buy spinach, so we saw a gap in the market and thought we should plant spinach and sell it at an affordable price,” he added.

In 2015, the co-operative received R31 000 in grant funding from the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) and bought staff uniforms, hand tools, seed, compost, weed controller, a small greenhouse and other agricultural equipment. This has helped their business to grow and it has won a number of competitions and awards, thanks to business support given to the members by the NYDA, Business Support and the South African National Apex Cooperative Ltd.

Now their co-operative not only sells spinach to local buyers but also bakes spinach muffins for a retail store and a restaurant in Ballito near Durban. They also supply spinach to the retail store.

“Our company is finalising deals to supply our products to other retails stores around Durban,” Memela said.

He said the co-operative donates 30 percent of its products to disadvantaged residents in Lamontville in order to give back to the community.

He encouraged young people to create jobs for themselves instead of applying for jobs so that they can change their own lives and that of the people around them.

-This article was originally published in the GCIS Vuk’uzenzele.

EFF promises free education, higher social grants and 50% of land owned by women and youth

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EFF promises free education, higher social grants and 50% of land owned by women and youth

Zingisa Mvumvu

Under an EFF government, 50% of the land would be owned by the youth and women while at least half of the country’s mineral resources would benefit locals.

This is if the EFF manifesto for the upcoming general elections, unveiled by party leader Julius Malema in Soshanguve north of Pretoria on Saturday, with a particular focus on land reform and job creation, is anything to go by.

According to the EFF manifesto, themed “our land and jobs now”, a “massive and protected sustainable industrial development” would be rolled out for the next five years to end the misery of the nine million unemployed South Africans should the EFF win the elections.

This is while all land in the republic would be in the custodianship of the state and a land ombudsman would be established to protect the rights of people to land and abuse from state officials and private companies.

As for those paying rent on residential land, they would be history when the red berets had state power since “the EFF government will abolish rentals in all residential land”.

Most of the land would be owned by black people, according to the EFF’s “demographically representative” land ownership policy and manifesto promise, while any ownership of land by foreign nationals would be abolished.

“We cannot postpone the land question. We cannot postpone the jobs question. We are hungry now and we must eat now,” said Malema.

“The EFF government will distribute a minimum of 50% of land to be controlled by women and the youth and women will get tribal land, married or not.

“The EFF will establish a people’s land council to manage and redistribute land to all those who need it for residential and productive purposes.”

On jobs and the economy, the EFF manifesto promises the establishment of 37 “economic zones” in all provinces across the country. Companies who invest in these economic zones “will be exempted from paying tax” provided they commit to creating at least 2,000 jobs.

The EFF also promises to prioritise domestic production and trade to bolster small businesses.

“The EFF government will amend the PMFA and MFMA to compel national government, provincial and state-owned entities to procure 80% of all goods from local producers and 50% from producers of which 50% is owned and controlled by women and youth,” reads the manifesto.

The businesses will not be allowed to sell whatever they so please, says the EFF, because “the EFF government will impose a quota of 60% on all shops to sell locally produced goods and products”.

The EFF also promised to clamp down on corruption by introducing legislation that imposes a minimum of a 20 years’ prison sentence on those who steal from the public purse.

“Anyone who steals from government, that person is stealing from the poor. We will start with Jacob Zuma to set an example and we will follow with Gwede Mantashe, then Nomvula Mokonyane and all of them one by one. They are all going to jail, including Cyril Ramaphosa who got R500,000 from Bosasa and that fat cat called Angelo Agrizzi,” said Malema.

On social services, Malema told the crowd at Giant Stadium that under an EFF government education would be free and compulsory and all would be forcefully taken to school until the level of an undergraduate qualification.

“You can insult us when we forcefully take you to school but you will thank us when you graduate,” said Malema.

He added that they would build early childhood development centres and schools in all wards across the country, with a paperless policy as technology would be the order of the day.

Malema also highlighted the collapse of public healthcare in the country, saying the situation was so bad “going to a public health facility was equal to going to a mortuary”.

Said Malema: “We need more doctors. One ward, one doctor. One ward, one ambulance. Vote for the EFF to strengthen public healthcare.”

Malema said they would build specialised hospitals for conditions such as tuberculosis, cancer and sugar diabetes.

According to the EFF leader, the construction of proper houses would also guarantee clean water, electricity and proper sanitation.

While the EFF would increase social grants, Malema added that recipients would also get state-sponsored free electricity.

With regards to banks, the EFF would outlaw the repossession of mortgaged houses by banks from people who have paid at least half the bond and cannot continue “due to socioeconomic circumstances”.

The EFF would also establish a “sovereign wealth fund” identical to that which Libya had under the late dictator Muammar Gaddafi, said Malema.

The EFF would also build a state pharmaceutical company, state mining company and state bank, said Malema.

Hoërskool Driehoek still shut after bridge collapse

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Hoërskool Driehoek still shut after bridge collapse

Penwell  Dlamini

Another pupil has died in hospital following a tragic incident of a walkway bridge collapsing on top of pupils at the Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijlpark last week.

The pupil was in ICU when he succumbed to his injuries on Saturday night. At least four pupils have now been confirmed dead from the tragedy.

“The Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi is saddened by the passing away of another child from the Hoërskool Driehoek tragedy, that occurred on Friday. The fourth child died last night [Saturday], at a local hospital,” said department spokesperson Steve Mabona.

“His condition was worrisome, as he went in and out of theatre on several occasions. Unfortunately, he succumbed to serious injuries. The school leadership will visit the family this morning [yesterday].”

Also read: Pupil dies after Hoërskool Driehook walkway collapse

Pupils were heading towards their classrooms after the morning assembly when the concrete bridge, that connects the administration block and the classrooms, collapsed on them.

The latest victim has been identified as Marnus Nagel. The three other victims who died on the scene are Rayden Olckers, 17, and Marli Carli and Jandre Steyn who are both 13 years old.

Lesufi arrived at the school accompanied by Emfuleni mayor Reverend Gift Moerane, police and other religious leaders to lend support.

Also read: Lesufi shuts down Hoërskool Driehoek following death of pupils

He announced that the school would remain closed until it was declared safe for teaching and learning to resume.

The department said that three pupils had been discharged from hospital while others were still receiving medical attention.

Hoërskool Driehoek was built 45 years ago and currently enrols about 1,060 pupils.

An inquest docket has been opened by the police while the department of labour investigates the integrity of the school’s infrastructure.

The Gauteng department of education said it would appoint its own team of structural engineers to look into the entire structure of the bridge.

Sowetan

PICS: #HoërskoolDriehoek shut down after fatal collapse

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PICS: #HoërskoolDriehoek shut down after fatal collapse

Thembehlile Mkhonza 

The Gauteng Department of Education on Friday said the Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijl Park where a walkway collapsed killing three pupils and injuring more than 20, would be closed immediately for safety reasons.

“There won’t be schooling until further notice,” said Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi.

Lesufi said about 26 pupils suffered injuries, including the girl and two boys who died when the walkway collapsed.

“So far we have managed to identify one deceased learner. The remaining two we are still trying to identify and notify next of kin,” said Lesufi.

He said that counselling would be provided to all learners, parents and officials on the school grounds. Lesufi said an instruction had been issued that no learner would be refused medical assistance just because they did not have medical aid.

“It breaks my heart to see those innocent souls, bodies still lying there,” Lesufi said.

Rescue workers at Hoërskool Driehoek in Vanderbijl Park after a walkway collapsed killing three pupils. Picture: Supplied.

He urged law enforcement agencies to complete their work so that the bodies of the deceased could be released to the families.

He said it was heartbreaking to see learners in tears and every learner would receive counselling.

“On behalf of Gauteng government we send our condolences to the affected families and wish those injured a speedy recovery,” said Lesufi.

“I would like to thank all emergency services and community members who came to assist.”

Picture: Supplied.

The MEC said that some of the surrounding roads would be temporarily closed and asked residents to be understanding.

“We are doing this for our children.”

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) on Friday joined the chorus of mourning for the three pupils who died.

“We further convey our thoughts and prayers to at least 21 pupils who were injured in this incident, and commend the speedy response of EMS personnel,” said Solly Msimanga, the DA’s Gauteng premier candidate. “It is vital that all learners and teachers are afforded counselling.”

Picture: Supplied

He said as a parent, the greatest fear was the idea of burying one’s children. This reality had now befallen the families of the pupils who died in the incident.

“Together, we mourn as a province and nation, and pledge our support to the parents and guardians.”

Msimanga called on Lesufi to investigate the cause of the accident and to ensure the safety of the learners and teachers at the school.

He said he will be visiting the school on Monday to express his sympathies and lend his support to the community during this time of grief.

African News Agency/ANA

UPDATE: Three killed, 23 injured in #HoërskoolDriehoek walkway collapse

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UPDATE: Three killed, 23 injured in #HoërskoolDriehoek walkway collapse

Khanyisile Ngcobo

As Vanderbijlpark residents reel from a deadly structural collapse that occurred at a high school in the area, the Gauteng Department of Education has confirmed that three pupils were killed and 23 others left injured.

The incident occurred on Friday morning at Hoërskool Driehoek when a walkway collapsed apparently as pupils were leaving assembly, leaving several children trapped.

The department and paramedic services all confirmed that three people were killed, with MEC Panyaza Lesufi confirming that 23 sustained various injuries.

“We received information that a walkway connecting the admin block and the classes fell on pupils who were walking to class immediately after assembly.

“We can now officially confirm that 26 pupils were affected. Of the 26 pupils, three are deceased and of the three deceased, two are males and one is a female. So far, we’ve managed to identify one deceased pupil.”

Lesufi explained that of the 23 affected, two were checked and released to their parents while 21 were transported to various hospitals for further treatment.

The MEC confirmed that the school would remain closed until clearance had been received from the relevant departments.

“It’s now a crime scene… the investigators are already there and taken statements,” he said.

The MEC also thanked the various stakeholders for assisting in the wake of the incident.

New regional varsity for modern medicine opens in rural Rwanda

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New regional varsity for modern medicine opens in rural Rwanda

Ivan R. Mugisha

President Paul Kagame Friday launched a modern health science university that will train health professionals from around Africa and Asia.

The University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) is located in Butaro, some 95km north of the capital Kigali.

The institution sits on a 100-hectare land that was given by the Rwandan government.

University of Global Health Equity
The plaque on the inauguration of the University of Global Health Equity in northern Rwanda. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

While details of the cost of construction have not been disclosed, the varsity was set up with funding from Partners in Health, Cummings Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

University of Global Health Equity
A classroom at the University of Global Health Equity in Butaro, northern Rwanda. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

Acknowledging the importance of partnerships, President Kagame said: “We have collaboration on scientific research to measure the impact of health interventions, and continually improve the care that our citizens receive.”

UGHE offers a master’s degree in Science in Global Health Deliver as well as degrees in Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery.

University of Global Health Equity
The University of Global Health Equity in Butaro, northern Rwanda. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

“Our next generation of doctors must understand the systems that drive social determinants of health, have the skills to strategically take initiative, and find solutions to barriers to service delivery,” said Dr Agnes Binagwaho, UGHE’s Vice Chancellor.

Dr Agnes Binagwaho
Dr Agnes Binagwaho, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity speaks during its launch on January 25, 2019 in northern Rwanda. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

Dr Paul Farmer, a co-founder of Partners in Health and a university professor at Harvard Medical School, said UGHE’s location in rural Rwanda was ideal because that is where doctors are most needed.

Dr Paul Farmer
Dr Paul Farmer, a co-founder of Partners in Health and a university professor at Harvard Medical School, speaks during the launch of the University of Global Health Equity on January 25, 2019 in northern Rwanda. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

“It’s no accident that our campus is not in an urban city centre. We want our students to understand what it’s like to deliver care in rural settings, yes, but more importantly to look beyond what they can learn in the classroom and the clinic,” he said at the launch.

University of Global Health Equity
The University of Global Health Equity is located in Butaro, some 95km north of the capital Kigali. PHOTO | URUGWIRO

The university will offer scholarships for the master’s students ranging between $49,000 and $54,000.

 

Campus shutdowns and NSFAS woes mark start of the academic year

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Campus shutdowns and NSFAS woes mark start of the academic year

Precious Mamotingoe Lesupi

 

Google ‘university registration’ and you’ll immediately find photos of young people with backpacks and in classrooms, smiling as they hand over documents to official-looking adults, surrounded by green campuses in a seemingly far away land.

These romanticised images of university and of the registration process for students is a far cry from what thousands of black students in South Africa have to face on an annual basis at the beginning of the academic year.

The greatest fear when it comes to registration season is whether you will actually be accepted to study another year and whether you will get the funds to secure your seat in the lecture hall.

There thousands of students fill out online registration forms and stand in long queues on campuses around the country only to be told that they will not see the inside of a lecture hall that year. Financial exclusion is a scary and sad reality for so many black South African students and knowing you won’t even have the chance to get a degree, that single slip of paper that means so much, that can grow to define the rest of your life, is incredibly disappointing.

After nationwide protests at university campuses in 2015, 2016 and 2017 where students called for fee-free higher education, then President Jacob Zuma announced at the end of his term in 2017 that the state would fund the fees for first-year students coming from households earning less than R350 000 per year. He also said that National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) loans to these students would be converted into grants.

For many students NSFAS is the ticket to that desired degree but even first year students who were granted financial aid in their first year are not guaranteed funding for the remaining years of their degree programme. This year NSFAS approved funding for 300 000 students but rejected 65 000 students, with NSFAS officials claiming that many applications came from households that earned above the income threshold.

“Of the 417 000 applications received, more than 300 000 students have been declared approved, pending registration at public institutions for NSFAS funded qualifications,” NSFAS spokesperson Kagisho Mamabolo told News24.

Registration at the University of South Africa (Unisa) was brought to a halt earlier this month when members of the South African Students Congress shutdown the institution’s campus in Tshwane after demanding financial aid.

According to a report by The Citizen, the South African Students Congress (Sasco) vowed to make tertiary institutions ungovernable if students who can’t pay for registration are turned away at higher institutions.

“We have been very clear – we will make these universities ungovernable if the managers don’t appreciate that free education was announced in this country. They think they are going to turn students away because they do not have money, but that is not going to happen.” said Sasco deputy president Luyanda Tenge.

The Economic Freedom Fighters Students Command (EFFSC) also vowed to take to the streets should government refuse to meet its demand for fee-free registration at universities, according to News 24.

The Bloemfontein campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) was also shut down earlier this month due to issues around outstanding fees, provisional registration and fee increases.

Mamabolo said that some students who applied to NSFAS had been unsuccessful based on information that the organisation received from credit bureaus regarding their household income but students can lodge an appeal by providing the necessary documentation to NSFAS. UFS SRC President, Sonwabile Dwaba, said that students must appeal as soon as appeal applications open.

Students must get the funds they need to study, and being rejected because of finances means more bright futures are on the line.

New Mfuleni primary school site identified for pupils with no classes

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New Mfuleni primary school site identified for pupils with no classes

Okuhle Hlati 

The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) and the City have identified a site for a new primary school to house hundreds of Mfuleni children who are still stuck with no classes.

The children were among thousands of pupils ranging from grades R to 11 cramped into halls, old clinic buildings and churches in the area since the start of the academic year.

Parents say the Tsitsa Primary School hall accommodates foundation phase, with close to 1000 pupils.

The school also helps feed the children.

The church accommodates a Grade 9 class, the clinic building has the Grade 8s and the community hall takes the Grade 10 class.

Community leader and parent Sipho Delana said WCED officials were meeting with the forum to discuss proposals, and hopefully the pupils would be placed by Monday next week.

“There hasn’t been improvement yet. The only new thing is that parents will be meeting with the department officials as caretaker principals will be introduced. We will also be updated on when the pupils can start attending classes as they are left behind academically,” Delana said.

WCED spokesperson Jessica Shelver said, meanwhile, the pupils would platoon with a nearby primary school until a new school was built on the Fairdale site.

“The WCED has planned to build a new primary school on a nearby vacant piece of land, and the City has indicated that they would expedite the application to ensure that pupils have access to the new mobile school as soon as possible.

“We also proposed that the high school pupils will also platoon at this stage until the interim SGB decides on a way forward.

“A 16-classroom school in the Silver Sands area which will accommodate the high school pupils seeking placement is almost complete. The project is 75% complete and has already cost the department over R10million,” Shelver said.

The Department identified Mfuleni, 40km outside Cape Town, as one of the worst areas for overcrowding.

Meanwhile, a new mobile school in Ocean View is expected to relieve some of the pressure at Ukhanyo Primary School in Masiphumelele.

Ukhanyo currently caters for close to 2000 pupils, with 47 teachers. The pupils are mostly from Masiphumelele, with the rest coming from Red Hill, Simon’s Town, Westlake and Capricorn.

It is the only primary school in these areas that offers Xhosa as a first language.

Cape Times

‘Bring it on!’: Lesufi stands firm after Vodacom cease-and-desist order

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‘Bring it on!’: Lesufi stands firm after Vodacom cease-and-desist order

Naledi Shange

Lawyers for Vodacom have served Gauteng education MEC Panyaza Lesufi with a cease-and-desist document‚ warning him to stop commenting on its ongoing battle with “Please Call Me” inventor Nkosana Makate.

Lesufi on Wednesday posted parts of an email he had received from the mobile network provider on his Twitter timeline.

Part of the document called for Lesufi to “desist from making false and defamatory comments of and concerning our client in relation to its litigation with Mr Makate in general and in particular that our client is in wilful breach of the Constitutional Court order or that it is acting in an unfair and morally repugnant manner towards Mr Makate.”

Lesufi was also ordered to stop calling for “inciting the invasion and occupation of the Vodaworld store or any of our clients premises”.

He was given until midday on Wednesday to give a written undertaking to do this.

The company was reacting to Lesufi’s tweet from earlier this month‚ when he challenged Vodacom to pay Makate by the end of January 2019.

“Hi @Vodacom‚ the countdown starts now… Please pay him by 10am‚ 31st January 2019 or face the wrath of the nation. We are the economy and we can shut it down‚” said Lesufi on his Twitter timeline.

His tweet came after the network operator announced that it had reached a settlement agreement with Makate and would pay “reasonable” compensation to him for his call-back service idea.

However‚ Makate rejected Vodacom’s announcement. “This is not true. The offer that they claim to be making me is ridiculous and insulting and we are not accepting it‚” he said at the time.

Responding to Vodacom‚ Lesufi was seemingly unfazed by the legal action taken against him.

“Bring it on @Vodacom! I am NOT easily intimidated. You can’t bully me or silence my support to the weak and vulnerable. This is a democratic country and I have the right to express my views without fear. The apartheid regime detained me without trial. I am not scared!” he wrote on his timeline.

Meanwhile‚ a press invitation circulated on Tuesday said the ANC’s Liliesleaf Farm branch would on Wednesday hold a media briefing with Makate to address the ongoing dispute between him and Vodacom.

“A programme of action will be revealed during the media briefing on Wednesday‚” read the invitation‚ which listed Lesufi among those scheduled to address the briefing.

– TMG Digital.

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