8 December 2024- The heartfelt condolences messages continue to pour in after the death of a marker, Blessing Mthethwa. It is alleged that Mthethwa passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning following an epileptic attack.
She served as an educator at the Hotazel Combined School and was on duty at one of our marking centres in Kimberley.
The Northern Cape MEC for Education, Abraham Vosloo said his department mourns the untimely passing of Mthethwa. Vosloo said the department notified the school and her family immediately and offered the necessary support.
“We have also activated our psycho-social support services to the school and her colleagues for counselling sessions. We convey our most heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, as well as her colleagues in the education sector.
“According to our information, Mthethwa has served her school and the community at large with distinction and her contribution to the education system will be sorely missed,” he said.
Picture: Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina
By REGINALD KANYANE
8 December 2024- The Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina will on 9 December 2024, return to Ngobi village in Moretele, to fulfil a commitment she had made by handing over a completed house to a family that lives with a child with disabilities.
On 17 November 2024, Majodina had visited the family of Kgomotso Motlhajwa (18), who is wheelchair-bound and handed over a wheelchair friendly Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilet, which was part of a Sanitation Project Hand-Over to the Moretele Local Municipality to mark World Toilet Day in the area.
Majodina spokesperson, Cornelius Monama said, upon witnessing the living conditions of the family, the Minister pleaded with the contractor responsible for the Rural Sanitation Project to donate and erect a house for the family of four as their current structure was not fit for habitation.
Monama further said the house has been built in the same yard as the toilet and will officially be handed over to the Motlhajwa family. He added that during the World Toilet Day celebration, Majodina handed over the Rural Sanitation Project, which was funded by the Department of Water and Sanitation through its Water Services Infrastructure Grant (WSIG) and implemented by Moretele Local Municipality.
“The project comprised of 1865 Ventilated Improved Pit (VIP) toilets to the local communities, particularly in Phedile village of ward 1, Selepe, Transectie, Ngobi, Jumbo, Dipetlelwane villages of ward 6, Swartboom, Mmoti, Makgabetloane, Rabosula and Norokie villages of ward 7.,” added Monama.
8 December 2024- The SPAR Proteas will begin their final assignment of the year in Swakopmund, Namibia on Monday as they take on the best of the continent at the Africa Netball Cup. The South Africans have been drawn in Pool 1 for the December 9-14 tournament alongside the team they recently just beat 3-0 in a home series, Malawi, as well as Zambia and Kenya.
Pool 2 contains world number six Uganda, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.
The SPAR Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk said playing against African sides is by no means an easy task. Van Dyk said Uganda have become one of the powerhouses on the continent in recent years and we predict that her side is likely to meet the She Cranes in the Africa Netball Cup final next Saturday.
“We are very aware of Uganda, we respect them as a team and they’ve done brilliantly,” she said before the team’s departure.
“It’s a team that you beat once and the next time they come back with a vengeance and we are very aware of that… We are making sure to do our homework,” she said.
Van Dyk further said the last time the two nations met was at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town last year, where the SPAR Proteas beat Uganda. She added that She Cranes then bounced back to defeat the home side later in the tournament to secure 5th place.
Captain Khanyisa Chawane believes that’s unlikely to happen again.
“I think it’s more mental than anything because of what they’ve done. You can really fall into a hole of thinking that it’s quite difficult. But it’s not a team to fear,” she said.
“It’s a team that we’ve beaten before and yes, they may have the confidence that they’ve done it before, but they don’t know the type of team that we are now and we take confidence in that, especially in how strong our team are and how we’ve grown from the World Cup until now,” she said.
Chawane said she is looking forward to going out there and giving them something different that they don’t expect.
Meanwhile, the SPAR Proteas vice-captain, Karla Pretorious believes the Africa Netball Cup will provide her side with valuable experience of playing teams on the continent, who have a completely different style to the likes of the top four teams in the world, Australia, England, New Zealand, and Jamaica.
“That African style of athleticism and the fact that they never stop, which is very unique to us African players, is something that’s always been a challenge. But we’re fully aware of it. It’s about how we do our homework and execute the game plan,” she said.
8 December 2024- The North West Department of Education said it is pleased to announce yet another win. This comes after the department took part in the 2024/25 National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Best Schools and Districts Awards held at Modjadji Primary School in Ga-Selwane village, Phalaborwa, Limpopo on Friday.
The North West MEC for Education, Viola Motsumi said the programme was launched in 2009/10 to honour excellence, innovation, and the commitment of districts and schools in effectively implementing the NSNP programme in the country. Motsumi said the North West province obtained three awards out of five categories it was nominated for.
“The Uitschot Primary School from Ottosdal Farms, obtained the second position in best performing farm school in NSNP best practice awards and walked away with the prize money of R40 000. Tholo Primary School in Uitkyk, near Madikwe, obtained the second position in the category of Grade 5 LandScape Milk Parlour and received a certificate and Laminator.
“A learner from the school received a uniform voucher worth R1000. Tshwara-O- Dire Primary from Mogwase received a certificate and a learner from the same school received a school uniform voucher worth R500,” she said.
Motsumi further said Bojanala District was a finalist in the Best Performing District category and walked away with a certificate, while Onkabetse Thuto Secondary School in Setlagole village, was a finalist in the category for Best Performing NSNP Best Practice in the country and received a certificate.
Motsumi added that this recognition highlights the department’s outstanding efforts in promoting the well-being of learners through the NSNP, which plays a crucial role in ensuring that learners receive nutritious meals to support their academic performance and overall health.
“We extend her heartfelt congratulations to all the top achievers, and finalists as well as the rest of the school community that contributed towards this success. On behalf of the department, I wish to congratulate all the winners.
“To the finalists, I urge you not to despair. I am truly proud of the entire team that represented us in Limpopo province. In particular, I am thankful to the food handlers, volunteers, School Governing Bodies (SGB) and the entire team education behind every child fed, and towards this success,” said Motsumi.
She said it has now become a norm that whenever the province competes nationally, they can confidently expect excellent results. Motsumi stressed that these prestigious awards reflect the department’s ongoing dedication to providing healthy and nutritious meals to learners, which is integral to their academic performance.
“These top awards are a clear indication that as a department, we take serious precautions when it comes to the food of learners at school. We know that when learners eat a healthy meal, they are bound to perform well in their studies.
“This recognition not only celebrates the hard work of the department, but also underscores the importance of holistic learner development, combining nutrition with educational excellence,” she said.
Picture: Minister of Department of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube
By REGINALD KANYANE
8 December 2024- The Democratic Alliance (DA) said it rejects any attempt by a faction of the ANC to influence the Republic of South Africa present, Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Minister of Department of Basic Education (DBE), Siviwe Gwarube, or any other DA minister, for doing their jobs.
The DA leader, John Steenhuisen said doing so would signal an end to the Government of National Unity (GNU). Steenhuisen said this amid misinformation around the consultation process which has been taking place since Ramaphosa signed the BELA Act into law nearly 3 months ago, withholding clauses 4 and 5, to allow for further consultation from concerned parties.
“These consultations are ongoing through the clearing house mechanism within the GNU. During this time, Gwarube has met with members from solidarity, and the Presidency, at NEDLAC after a dispute was lodged by the union.
“This process is entirely separate from the consultation process, and conflating the two is misleading, and factually incorrect. This was a mandatory process in terms of the law, to prevent strike action arising out of the dispute,” he said.
Steenhuisen further said the outcome of this engagement was a settlement, signed by the Minister of Basic Education, the presidency, and the union. He added that the fact that the presidency has now distanced itself from this legislated process, which they were party to, is as disgraceful, as it is confusing.
“As leader of the DA, I would like to make this point loud and clear. We support the process followed by the minister, as she was fulfilling her legally obligated responsibilities, and respect the outcome of the negotiations at NEDLAC.
“We have been clear since the outset. We are in government to bring about positive change, including inclusive economic growth, and jobs, and at all times, we are guided by the rule of law, and the Constitution of South Africa. Anything to the contrary will not be tolerated,” said Steenhuisen.
The Guardian 