Category: Education

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has condemned the torching of classrooms and vandalism that took place at Ndengetho High School in KwaNdengezi, Durban.

According to the school’s report, learners were reacting to the search and seizure operation conducted by the South African Police Service (SAPS) last week Thursday, which led to cell phones, weapons and drugs being confiscated.

“According to the school’s code of conduct, learners are not allowed to take cell phones into the school premises, hence cell phones were also confiscated by the police,” KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC, Mbali Frazer, said.

Frazer commended the work of the police, noting that it forms part of the agreement signed by the department with SAPS.

She said SAPS and the department have a protocol agreement signed more than 10 years ago, which is implemented by provinces, and search and seizures in schools form part of crime prevention and awareness campaigns, which happen on a regular basis.

“Members of SAPS, who conduct search and seizures in schools, are acting in line with the agreement, which is aimed at eradicating crime in schools. In terms of the agreement, every school is linked to a police station, and at the moment, 18 000 schools in the country are directly assigned a police station to ensure that all schools are crime free zones.

“We applaud the work of the police and we are encouraged to see that our agreement with SAPS is bearing fruit, as there are many other schools where such operations by SAPS are taking place,” Frazer said.

Frazer also reminded school management teams, working with school governing bodies, to ensure that the schools codes of conduct are adhered to at all times to ensure school functionality, as it provides the basis for quality teaching and learning.

Source: South African Government News Agency

The City of Cape Town’s Environmental Management Department is hosting a Heritage Month Education Programme for school learners, educators, City staff, community members, and partner organisations in September and early October. Read more below:

The theme of this year’s Heritage Month Education Programme is ‘Heritage and Climate’ in line with the City’s contributions to the conservation and improvement of environment and heritage resources. The theme is a reminder to all, to address our past, consider our present, and think about the impact of climate change on our cultural and natural heritage sites.

The programme’s overall theme echoes the theme that the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) assigned to this year’s World Heritage Day that was celebrated globally on 18 April 2022.

The programme will see over 1 900 participants contribute to the education initiative aimed at recognising and promoting the City’s wealth of heritage. The participants will include school teachers, learners, educators, students, community members, staff, and presenters.

A number of associated programmes will be offered and various sites will be visited as part of the programme. The sites include Langa, Athlone, Green Point Park, Groot Constantia Wine Estate, Lwandle, Simon’s Town, Bracken, and the Wolfgat and Blaauwberg Nature Reserves.

The full programme with liaison details can be found here: https://bit.ly/3cENWUl

‘Cape Town has a rich heritage and the educational programmes will go a long way in getting people to know their heritage. Knowing our heritage serves as a guidepost as it shows the connection between the past and the future. Knowledge also creates a sense of belonging and pride. I encourage residents and especially schools to please take advantage of this opportunity,’ said the City’s Deputy Mayor and Mayoral Committee Member for Spatial Planning, Alderman Eddie Andrews.

Source: City Of Cape Town

Section 63 Intervention Supply Chain Management Workshop aimed to empower local suppliers in Sedibeng District Municipality

The Executive Mayor of Emfuleni Local Municipality, Councillor Sipho Radebe has emphasised that it is important for local businesses to prioritize managing their supply chain knowledge with care and precision. By doing so, they can better secure long-term relationships with Department and Rand Water, as well as maintain a healthy cash flow which can keep their businesses running.

The Executive Mayor was speaking at a Section 63 Supply Chain Management Workshop on Thursday 01 September 2022, at the Lord’s Signature Hotel, Vereeniging.

Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) Gauteng Provincial Head, Mr Justice Maluleke, Rand Water, Sedibeng District Municipality MMC Transport and Infrastructure, Cllr. Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, and Emfuleni Local Municipality MMC for Basic Services, Cllr Vincent Jones attended the workshop.

The purpose of the workshop was to capacitate local businesses and SMME’s within the Sedibeng District Municipality with Supply Chain Management processes and give the local business an opportunity to engage with DWS and Rand Water as an implementing agent of Section 63 Intervention in Emfuleni on supply chain enquiries.

This workshop follows the stakeholder meeting held earlier this month, where Deputy Minister Mahlobo indicated that contractors that are appointed by the Department and Rand Water must indicate how the 30% of the of the contract value will benefit local businesses and the people of Sebokeng.

“Today is an important day for our local businesses and the stakeholders of the Section 63 intervention. When President Ramaphosa visited Sedibeng on the 12 August 2022 to cement the One Plan Programme under the District Development Model, we welcomed the sentiments that were expressed by local suppliers. Therefore, we are looking forward to witness more SMME’s exploiting this golden opportunity to climb the ladder from the lowest grading of 1 to the highest possible grades”, Radebe said.

Radebe also acknowledged that there are countless local enterprises who have raised a concern about the exclusion from projects that are implemented within the Vaal. The supply chain workshop today was meant to provide and share information on the intricacies of how to package a successful bid as local companies.

“We appreciate the presence of the Department and Rand Water to assist the municipality to resolve our challenges, particularly the sewer spillage in people’s homes”, he said.

DWS Gauteng Provincial Head, Mr Justice Maluleke extended his gratitude to all local businesses who attended the workshop. He said that it is important to understand the SCM processes because these processes are an essential part of the project.

“The major problem today is that we have 44 pump stations within Emfuleni Local Municipality that are critical and not working. Moreover, we have 4 wastewater treatment works with different functionalities but face one common challenge of being less capacitated to treat the sewer that they are designed to treat. Therefore, they all need to be upgraded”, Maluleke added.

Maluleke said; “the department is responding to the call, which was made by the local suppliers, where they indicated that they want to be part of the project and partner with the department in resolving the sewer challenge in Emfuleni. Hence, we are having this engagement to inform all business people about the opportunities in the project”.

He pleaded with the local suppliers that the project must continue and avoid stoppages.

Emmanuel Nzilo, from Rand Water Supply Chain Personnel, during his SCM presentation indicated that all suppliers that are awarded work in Rand Water must be registered in the National Treasury Central Supplier Database.

“It is Rand Water’s policy to conduct business in a manner that encourages good supplier relations within an environment that promotes competition and is in compliance with all legal and regulatory provisions”, he said.

One of the local suppliers indicated that it is important for Rand Water and the project to create opportunities for small businesses and the criteria should also accommodate local business, so they benefit from the project.

For more information, contact Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson for the Department of Water and Sanitation on 082 874 2942

Source: Government of South Africa

The City’s Water and Sanitation Department will be conducting zero pressure tests on the main water supply to the Zwaanswyk area in Tokai. This work will result in the disruption of water supply to this area on Monday, 5 September 2022, from 21:00 until 04:00 on Tuesday, 6 September 2022.

Zero-pressure testing is part of the installation process for pressure management technology. Tests are done to see if there are any unmapped inflows that need to be taken into account before smart pressure reducing valves are installed.

Residents are kindly advised to store water in clean, sealed containers for use during this period and to ensure that their taps are closed to avoid water loss and/or damage when the supply is restored.

This work forms part of the City’s Water Demand Management Strategy. Managing water pressure more effectively reduces the possibility of pipe bursts and water wastage.

The City sincerely regrets any inconvenience caused.

Source: City Of Cape Town

A new Human Rights Watch report says that in nearly one-third of African countries, teenage girls who become pregnant face “significant legal and policy barriers” to continuing their formal education.

Human Rights Watch said Tuesday it examined more than 100 laws and policies concerning education, gender equity, and reproductive health, that are detrimental to the education of teenage mothers.

Adi Radhakrishnan works with the rights group’s children rights division. He says some African laws have pushed young mothers out of school.

“It’s shocking to understand how governments are undermining girls’ education and effectively closing the door on girls’ futures… These are students who are denied their basic rights to education for reasons that have nothing to do with their desire or their ability to learn and they are not supported by their government,” Radhakrishnan said.

Researchers found that at least 10 African countries have no legal means or measures to protect adolescent girls’ education when they are pregnant and become mothers.

Several countries, including Sudan, impose punishments on teenage girls who have sexual relationships outside marriage. For those girls, going to school while pregnant raises suspicion and exposes them to possible criminal prosecution.

Hannibal Uwaifo is the head of the African Bar Association. He says cultural norms are mostly to blame for young mothers not continuing with their education.

“The issues have to do with families, society, and the community. I don’t think there are any specific laws that bars people going back to school,” Uwaifo said. “I think we need to deliberately encourage African girls to return back to school. We need to actively and deliberately campaign that this teenage pregnancy doesn’t mean they should give up schooling or give up formal education otherwise, if there are any laws which are in place saying a teenage mother cannot go back to school, we would like to know about them and work on them.”

On the positive side, Radhakrishnan says 38 countries in Africa have laws that protect the education of pregnant and young mothers.

“Far more countries have positive frameworks than countries lack them or have discriminatory measures. We have seen students excluded because teachers do not know whether the positive law exists, or parents don’t know there are great lessons to be learned … countries across Africa draw positive practices from their neighbors and develop useful guidelines that make sure that all girls — regardless of pregnancy or motherhood status — all girls are able to access education in Africa,” Radhakrishnan said.

Human Rights Watch urges authorities in countries that lack such laws to create legal frameworks that affirm girls’ right to education. The advocacy group also encourages countries that already have laws and policies to fully implement them so young mothers — and their children — can benefit.

Source: Voice of America

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, will be attending a three-day G20 Education Ministers’ Meeting 2022 to take place in Bali, Indonesia.

The meeting, which is scheduled to take place from 31 August to 2 September 2022, is convened by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.

The meeting will be held under this year’s G20 Education Working Group (EdWG) theme, “Recover, Reimagine, and Rebuild Stronger”.

The G20 is a strategic multilateral platform connecting the world’s major developed and emerging economies, and holds a strategic role in securing future global economic growth and prosperity.

Together, the G20 members represent more than 80% of the world gross domestic product (GDP), 75% of international trade and 60% of the world population.

Starting in 1999 as a meeting for the Finance Ministers and central bank governors, the G20 has evolved into a yearly summit involving Heads of State and Government.

In addition, the Sherpa meetings (in charge of carrying out negotiations and building consensus among leaders), working groups and special events are also organised throughout the year.

On 31 August, the high officials representing various countries will have the chance to meet in the Fourth G20 EdWG Meeting to finalise the Education Ministers’ Declaration and the G20 Education Report 2022.

“On 1 September, the meeting will adopt these two deliverables and the Ministers will have the opportunity to share their perspectives on this year’s G20 EdWG theme. Minister Nzimande will share publicly the South African perspective on the theme during the proceedings of the conference,” the department said in a statement.

Nzimande will be accompanied by Higher Education and Training Director General, Nkosinathi Sishi.

The members of the G20 include Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. Spain is also invited as a permanent guest.

Each year, the Presidency invites guest countries which take full part in the G20 exercise. Several international and regional organisations also participate, granting the forum an even broader representation.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Minister, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, has not dictated to the City of Johannesburg on what municipal rates rebate should be given to independent schools.

In a statement, the department said this could not have happened, as this is a prerogative reserved for Council.

Recent media reports purport that the City’s municipal property rates tariff increases emanate from a direct instruction by the Minister.

CoGTA spokesperson, Lungi Mtshali, said: “The Minster of CoGTA is not authorised to determine the… rate a municipality may levy on categories of rateable properties. The Minister has never interfered with the functions of the City of Johannesburg on what rebate, if any, it should give to independent schools, as this is a prerogative solely reserved for Council.”

Mtshali said the issue of setting rates is not based on the category of the property in question, but on the actual rate tariff a municipal council determines, and whether a municipality deems it appropriate to grant relief measures in terms of section 15 of the Municipal Property Rates Act.

“Section 8 of the Municipal Property Rates Act requires a municipality to determine a property category for purposes of levying rates. Section 8(2) lists mandatory property categories that a municipality must determine, provided such property category exists within the municipal jurisdiction.

“Such mandatory property categories include business and commercial properties, properties owned by an organ of State and used for public service purposes, and properties owned by public benefit organisations and used for specified public benefit activities,” he said.

Section 8(3) states that “in addition to the categories of rateable property determined in terms of subsection (2), a municipality may determine additional categories of rateable property, including vacant land: Provided that, with the exception of vacant land, the determination of such property categories does not circumvent the categories of rateable property that must be determined in terms of subsection (2).”

Mtshali said it is important to contextualise the fact that the City had seven years, since 2015, within which to ensure that its categories of rateable properties are in line with section 8 of the Act.

Section 14 (1) of the Municipal Property Rates Act states that “A rate is levied by a municipality by resolution passed by the municipal council with a supporting vote of a majority of its members.”

Section 14(2)(b) requires the municipal council resolution to “(iii) reflect the cent amount in the Rand rate for each category of property.”

Section 15(1) of the Municipal Property Rates Act states that “A municipality may in terms of criteria set out in its rates policy- (b) grant to a specific category of owners of properties, or to the owners of a specific category of properties, a rebate on or a reduction in the rates payable in respect of their properties.”

Reading sections 8, 14 and 15 of the Municipal Property Rates Act together makes it clear that the authority to set municipal property rates is not with the Minister of CoGTA but is with a municipal council.

Mtshali reiterated that the Minister does not set the municipal property rates tariffs nor does the Minister determine whether a specific category of owners of properties are worthy of being granted a rebate or reduction in the rates payable in respect of their properties.

“These powers are vested in the council of a municipality, and in this regard, the City of Johannesburg has, in its own right, determined that the schools in question do not fall within the category of ‘properties owned by public benefit organisations and used for specified public benefit activities’ must only be granted only 25% rebate,” he said.

Should the City have wanted other schools to pay rates similar to that of “properties owned by public benefit organisations and used for specified public benefit activities,” Mtshali said it should have granted them higher rebates, for example, 75% or higher to bring some equalisation.

Only the city, he said, can explain why it decided to grant a rebate of just 25%, resulting in schools that are not public benefit organisations facing higher municipal property rates increases.

He confirmed that Dlamini Zuma did receive an application from the City regarding a number of categories and sub-categories of rateable properties.

“The City had seven years within which to ensure that its categories of rateable properties are in line with section 8 of the Act,” Mtshali said.

In terms the Act, the Minister is authorised to approve the determination of sub-categories of rateable properties by municipalities provided these do not circumvent or undercut the categories of rateable properties that each municipality must determine.

“To that end, the Minister responded to the City on its proposed sub-categories of rateable properties,” he said.

‘Educational’ was included in the City’s submission because the City needed advice on how to categorise the properties therein.

Mtshali said the Minister informed the municipality to consider including the properties categorised as ‘educational’ in the public service purpose properties category. The category consists of preschools, primary and secondary schools, further education and training colleges. The City was also advised to categorise the institutions in the public benefit organisation (PBO) properties category.

“It is important to restate that the Minister did not give instructions to the City on the cent in the Rand rate that the City should levy on these properties, in keeping with the principles of the separation of powers,” said Mtshali.

Source: South African Government News Agency