Advice and events

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is calling on learners in Grades 4 to 11 to enter a competition aimed at raising awareness of South Africa’s bid to host the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project. Laptops, printers, digital cameras and organised tours to their nearest astronomy observatory are up for grabs.

Africa and Australia-New Zealand are the only two bidders in the running to host this international telescope, which will be used to collect radio waves from space. The SKA will be a mega radio telescope, consisting of about 3 000 dish-shaped antennae spread over an area of over 3 000 kilometres. If Africa wins the bid, the core of the telescope will be constructed in Carnarvon in the Karoo region of the Northern Cape, with outlying telescope stations in other parts of South Africa as well as in Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mauritius, Namibia and Zambia.

Entry forms for the competition can be downloaded from the websites of the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA) at http://www.saasta.ac.za/; South African SKA Project Office (SASPO) at http://www.ska.ac.za/ and Department of Science and Technology at www.dst.gov.za.

Entries marked “MeerKAT-SKA Schools Competition” may be posted to PO Box 1758, Pretoria, 0001, or delivered to SAASTA, Didacta Building, 211 Skinner Street, Pretoria. The competition closes on 31 March 2012. For more information about the competition, contact Anacletta Koloko at anacletta@saasta.ac.za or 012 392 9338, or visit www.saasta.ac.za, www.ska.ac.za or www.dst.gov.za.

Advice and events

South Africa observes Human Rights Day on 21 March. The month of March has been designated as Human Rights Month in honour and commemoration of those heroes and heroines who laid a foundation during the liberation struggle for a rights-based, democratic and a just society.

What are human rights?

Human rights are the foundation of our democracy. Our Constitution and all our laws are based on human rights. These rights are listed in the Bill of Rights, Chapter 2 of the Constitution, the country’s highest law.

South Africa’s Constitution was approved by the Constitutional Court on 4 December 1996 and took effect on 4 February 1997. It is widely considered one of the most progressive in the world and enjoys high acclaim internationally.

The Constitution was adopted to heal the divisions of the past and to establish a society based on democratic values, social justice and fundamental human rights.

Equal treatment

The Constitution recognises the dignity and rights of every human being. This means no matter who you are, you are entitled to just and equal treatment in South Africa.

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) is the national institution dedicated to promoting respect for, observance of, and the protection of human rights for everyone without fear or favour. It also promotes a culture of human rights among all South Africans.

Your rights

According to our Constitution, every South African has the right to

• life
• equality
• dignity
• freedom and security of the person
• privacy
• freedom of religion, beliefs and opinion
• freedom of expression and association
• citizenship
• freedom of movement and residence
• freedom of trade, occupation, profession and labour relations
• the right to property, housing, health care, food, water and social security
• education
• language and culture
• access to information and access to courts.

If anyone ignores or abuses any of these rights, it is called a violation your human rights.

How can the SAHRC help you?

The SAHRC has been established to inform and advise you about your rights, and to help protect those rights.

For more information, visit the SAHRC website at www.sahrc.org.za/home/ or call SAHRC Head Office on: 011 877 3600

Advice and events

The City of Johannesburg will celebrate National Library Week in style this year with an extensively upgraded city library. After more than two years of renovations, the Johannesburg Library will open its doors just in time for National Library Week from 17 to 24 March.

The city, with the assistance of a donation from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, injected R68 million into the revamp. The library, which first opened its doors in 1935, now boasts 212 public access computers and wi-fi areas, a theatre, a music section, and upgraded electrical and air-conditioning systems, as well as a reading lounge. "We believe libraries are one of the key drivers of programmes that address the development of reading, literacy and information skills from early childhood through old age," said Johannesburg Mayor, Parks Tau.

Written by Gabi Khumalo

North West is South Africa's best when it comes to emergency rescue service training.

Before 2001, the North West province did not have a provincial college for Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS). The province’s Department of Health had to rely on costly private colleges for EMRS training.

Now, 11 years later, North West not only has its own EMRS college; it has become one of the best EMRS colleges in South Africa.

Since its founding, the Orkney-based college has expanded considerably. It now offers a variety of courses in emergency medical services and related health fields, while in the past it only offered a four-week basic ambulance assistant course.

Accredited

Over the last five years, the college has become the only one in South Africa accredited to present all 12 rescue courses. It currently has 801 students.

The rescue practitioner qualification consists of vehicle rescue, as well as fire search and rescue courses.  In addition, the college also offers aviation rescue, industrial rescue, structural collapse rescue, trench rescue and wilderness search and rescue courses.

Those who have completed all 12 modules of the rescue courses qualify to be called advanced rescue practitioners.   

Last year, at a national competition, two teams from the college won the titles for being the best high-angle team in the country and for the third best vehicle rescue team respectively. 

The college also sent a 10-man team to assist the earthquake victims in Haiti, where it rescued a woman who was trapped under rubble for more than seven days.

First

In April 2007, the college started the emergency care technician (ECT) course with 27 students. They were first to offer this course in South Africa.

In 2006, the North West Province had no operational paramedics. The province now has 90 ambulances and 30 response vehicles, which respond to public health emergencies.

The ECT course was developed to increase the number of paramedics in the country to maximise the response during the 2010 FIFA World Cup,” EMRS College principal Rudi Mankveld said.

The ECT course, which forms the core of the college’s courses, is presented to in-service staff and school leavers. Learners completing the course register as advanced life support paramedics. 

“The entry requirements for the ECT programme are a matric certificate, a valid driver’s licence and residency in the province for school leavers. Selection criteria include a literacy and numeracy test followed by a physical fitness test,” Mankveld explained.

From 1 500 trained ECTs in the country, 77 are employed by the provincial Department of Health, while 10 have just graduated and are being deployed.

For more information, call EMRS College on: 018 473 0324

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi and BuaNews

Legitimate beneficiaries of government grants need not panic with the planned re-registration drive, said Social Development Minister Bathabile Dlamini.

Through the re-registration drive for more than 15 million recipients of social grants, government aims to make sure that the social protection safety net in the form of grants is paid to the right people.

As from March, the Department’s grant payment institution, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) will begin an intensive drive to re-register all recipients of government grants.

No costs

Government hopes to eliminate the continued fraudulent payment of grants to people who are not entitled to receive them. SASSA will do the re-registration at its pension pay-out points across the country and no costs will be borne by the recipients of grants having to visit SASSA offices.

SASSA currently pays different monthly grants to more than 15 million beneficiaries and more than 10 million of these are for child-support grants.

Government is very aware that there has been some confusion among grant beneficiaries about the re-registration of beneficiaries. This is why they want to allay any concerns or fears that beneficiaries might have, said Minister Dlamini.

Automation

The department is in process of introducing automation in the payment of grants. The automation process will see the use of biometric identification such as finger and palm prints as well as a voice recognition system.

The re-registration process does not mean beneficiaries have to apply for grants again; it only means they have to verify their identification details to eliminate fraud and corruption.

Chief Executive Officer of SASSA Virginia Peterson said the agency had embarked on the re-registration drive to verify the true identities of all recipients. This will help government to save millions of rands, as it will eliminate fraudulent payment of grants to people who were not  entitled to receive them.

The SASSA CEO said almost 700 000 beneficiaries who had their grants reviewed recently had not yet been in touch with the agency to restore their grants. She said there was a possibility that some of these were defrauding the system and feared that they had been exposed.

Two phases

The process of re-registration will be completed in two phases, with the first phase starting on 1 March and ending in May.

“During this period, particularly from 1 April 2012, beneficiaries should continue to collect their grants at their respective pay points including banks. New beneficiaries will be enrolled on to the new biometric-based payment system as from 1 March 2012 at SASSA local offices upon application,” Peterson explained.

During the second phase - from 1 June to 31 December - existing eligible beneficiaries, including those receiving their grants through banks and the South African Post Office’s Postbank and children, will be enrolled on the new biometric-based payment system at SASSA pay points, local offices and designated sites.

Documents

SASSA is to conduct home visits during this period to accommodate beneficiaries over 75 years of age and bedridden beneficiaries at their homes or institutions such as hospitals.

With the new system, beneficiaries will be issued with a SASSA-branded smart card which they can use anywhere in the country. The system will allow the right person to be paid the right amount and be enrolled within close proximity of the communities where they live.”

Dlamini reminded beneficiaries to bring their identity documents (IDs) and existing SASSA-branded cards, when re-registering. She warned that no one would be re-registered without these documents.

Child support grant

Beneficiaries of the child support grant must bring their babies, along with their birth certificates. Fingerprints will be taken of the child to verify his or her identity.

The re-registration of child-support grant beneficiaries would be done during school holidays to avoid disrupting the teaching and learning process, said Minister Dlamini.

The Social Development Minister warned that apart from the child’s birth certificate and fingerprints, there were no other ways of verifying the child’s identity.

The department will work with the Department of Home Affairs to check and confirm that the child belongs to the mother using details entered into the unabridged birth certificate. This shows the details of the mother and the father of the child and their ID numbers.

About R15 million was set aside for the entire process to re-registering beneficiaries, which included the upgrading of the call centres.

An extensive information campaign will be run by SASSA to educate and mobilise beneficiaries, community members and organisations about the new system. All beneficiaries with Sekulula cards are urged to call SASSA Hotlineat the number written below.

For more information, call the SASSA call centre: 0800 601011

Written by BuaNews

"It is very worrying that a high number of our children die before their fifth birthday. Sadly, many of these deaths are caused by diseases that are vaccine-preventable," said Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. He was announcing the department's catch-up immunisation drive, which runs until the end of May.

It is estimated that more than a million children under the age of five die from pneumococcal disease every year. To help reduce child mortality, the Department of Health urges parents and caregivers to take their children to be immunised against pneumococcal diseases.

The department, in collaboration with the private sector, started a four-month immunisation campaign called the “PCV13 Catch-Up Drive”.  It is aimed at providing children under the age of five with an additional dose of the PCV13 pneumococcal vaccine until the end of May.

What is pneumococcal disease?

Pneumococcal disease describes a group of illnesses caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, also known as pneumococcus.

Streptococcus pneumoniae can cause meningitis (infection of the lining of the brain), pneumonia (infection of the lung), bacteraemia (blood infection), sinusitis, as well as otitis media (infection of the middle ear).

Target groups

The additional dose of PCV13 vaccine will be provided to the targeted children in two groups.

• The first group includes children between the ages of 18 months and 36 months.
• The second group includes children with underlying medical conditions, including those infected with HIV, cardiac conditions, those who are on cytotoxic medication and those with no spleen and other similar conditions.

Protection for many

The pneumococcal vaccine provides protection not only for the targeted children, but also for many others who are not vaccinated. Through reducing carriage of the bacterium in the blood, it protects the elderly, adults with heart and immune-compromising conditions and those who are HIV infected.

Dr Motsoaledi expressed the importance of children to be immunised as part of dealing with the high infant and child mortality in our country.

The department therefore encourages all parents and caregivers to take their children to facilities to be vaccinated and ensure that they are up to date with their immunisation.

For more information, call the Department of Health: 012 395 8000, or visit your nearest clinic.

Written by Samona Murugan

Your unused items may help to make life more comfortable for terminally ill patients at the Sungardens Hospice in Pretoria. The hospice invites the public to ‘share the care’ by donating goods and buying items at the hospice shops to raise funds.

All funds raised through the hospice shops go towards providing quality comforting care to patients living with terminal illnesses such as cancer and HIV/AIDS. The funds are also used to support families dealing with the loss of a loved one, and to care for orphans and vulnerable children in the Mamelodi area east of Pretoria.

The hospice also provides home-based care for approximately 500 patients and has a well-equipped in-patient unit that provides short-term medical care.

Sungardens Hospice and Sungardens Mamelodi Hospice services are completely free of charge and no patient is ever turned away.

The shops are the biggest source of financial flow for the hospice; the more goods donated to the hospice, the more they sell and the more money they make to continue providing quality service to those in need.

What it offers

If you can’t find what you’re looking for in any other shop, the Sungardens Hospice shops will most probably have it.

Book lovers can lose themselves in the bookshop among the huge variety of quality second-hand books and magazines at very reasonable prices. Shoppers can also browse around the arts and crafts shop for items such as art, hats, paintings, wool, bags, musical instruments and much more, while the hospice ‘boutique’ sells good-quality, second-hand clothing, including specials for as little as R5 an item.

If you’re looking for old records, CDs, antiques, toys, furniture, exercise equipment, soccer balls and golf clubs, the famous Aladdin’s Cave is the place to visit.

At the White Elephant Store, you will find a variety of second-hand electrical goods including television sets, DVD players, video machines, cameras and computers, as well as fridges, microwave ovens, dishwashers and other kitchen appliances.

Fundraising

In 2011, half of the hospice funds was raised by the charity shops and the other half through fundraising initiatives.

The shops are run by staff members and 36 volunteers from all walks of life. Students from tertiary institutions also lend a helping hand. They love the book store where they can buy reasonably priced study books, said hospice marketing manager, Paul Kirby.

In addition to the charity shops, the hospice also has a beading project, which received foreign funding. Members of the project receive money to buy beads and make jewellery to sell.

The shops are situated on the corner of General Louis Botha and Lynnwood Roads in Lynnwood Glen, Pretoria and are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 to 16:00 and on Saturdays from 8:30 to 13:00. They are closed on Sundays and public holidays.

There are hospice shops in most South African cities. So, if you live in another province and want to make a difference by donating goods, contact the hospice closest to you for more information.

For more information about the Sungardens Hospice, call: 012 348 1934/71

Democracy begins at home, with the school governing body elections in March that will give parents the chance to be part of the leadership at learning institutions

There are more than 24 000 public schools in South Africa, each with a democratically elected School Governing Body (SGB). By participating in the SGB elections in March, parents have the chance to be part of government’s drive to improve learning outcomes and to bring about quality education in our schools. This is your chance as a parent or member of the community to make a difference to our schools.

What is a school governing body?

SGBs are accountable to the school community and are tasked with ensuring that the school runs smoothly and efficiently. As such, SGBs are vital in:

• improving the quality of education
• ensuring good governance
• ensuring that schools serve the interests of the community and meet expectations of parents
• assisting in spreading the cost of education across users and society and combatting racism, sexism and all other forms of discrimination and intolerance.

What does the SGB do?

SGBs play a key role in developing policies relating to issues such as language, religious instruction, school fees and a code of conduct for learners.

They have to ensure that policies:

• allow all children to enter the schooling system
• promote values of non-racialism and equality between boys and girls in school
• help communities to respect and tolerate all religions and cultures
• encourage children to speak a range of indigenous languages
• respect children’s rights and promote non-violent ways of solving problems.

Why should parents get involved in SGBs?

It is every parent’s responsibility to take an interest and have their say in the running of their children’s school to ensure that the school provides the best possible quality of education to all its learners.

Experience has shown that schools where many parents are involved, are often the best performing schools, both academically and socially.

Don’t stand back! Get involved in your child’s schooling and make a difference …

It is your duty as a parent or member of the community to serve in any way you can. Your reward is improved education for our children to give them a better future and contribute towards the strengthening of South African society.

When do elections for SGBs take place?

According to the South African Schools Act, SGBs have to be elected every three years. The next elections are scheduled to take place throughout the month of March 2012. 

Who serve on the SGB?

A school’s SGB is made up of the most important stakeholders.  They include:

• parents or guardians of learners at the school
• educators
• learners in Grade 8 or higher
• members of staff who are not educators
• school principals, who are automatic members of the SGB by virtue of their position
• co-opted members.

The term of office is one year for learners and no more than three years for all other members.

Who is eligible to serve on a school’s SGB?

A person will not be eligible to be a member of the SGB if he or she:

• is mentally ill and has been declared as such by a competent court
• is an unrehabilitated insolvent
• has been convicted of an offence and sentenced to imprisonment without the option of a fine for a period exceeding six months, or has not yet served his or her full period of imprisonment
• no longer falls within the category of members that he or she represented at the time of the election.

Can members of the community who are not parents become members of an SGB?

Yes! The SGB may co-opt members with expertise in areas that may benefit the SGB and the school. Any member of the community who can offer particular skills, creativity, a passion and commitment to quality education, may be co-opted.

The SGB may need someone with fund-raising, marketing or computer skills or even an ex-pupil who is now runs a successful business in the community. It is important to note that co-opted members have no voting rights, but can make a meaningful contribution to their local school.

What is the size of the SGB?

The number of parent members must be one more than the combined total of the other members of a SGB who have voting rights.

Each province has prepared a schedule determining the number of members in each component of the SGB, based on this criterion and on the learner enrolment of the school. This schedule is part of the provincial regulations.

What office bearers must be elected within the SGB?

Office-bearers must include a chairperson, a treasurer and a secretary. These appointments must be made at a registration meeting to be held within 14 days of the election of the SGB. Only a parent member may serve as chairperson of the SGB.

What is an SGB’s term of office?

With the exception of learner members, an SGB member’s term may not exceed three years.

For learner members and office bearers, the term of office is one year. Office bearers may stand for re-election once that one-year term has expired.

How does the election procedure work?

The school’s electoral officer should issue notices of the nomination process and the nomination and election meeting. These notices must contain the date, time and place of the meeting. Notices must be distributed at least 21 days before the meeting. A hard copy of these notices must be handed to every learner at least 14 days before the meeting to give to their parents.

How do I nominate a candidate for the SGB?

A candidate may only be nominated and seconded by a person belonging to the same SGB membership category. A nomination form, completed by the nominator, candidate and seconder must be handed to the electoral officer not more than seven days and not less than 24 hours before the election meeting.

How do I cast my vote?

Voting takes place on ballot papers. Each ballot paper should have the school stamp on it or some other distinguishing feature to prevent tampering.

People who have the right to vote must record their vote secretly and deposit it into the ballot box. Voters may ask for guidance from electoral officers.

What happens next?

After votes are counted, each elected SGB member must be informed of their election in writing. The school principal must convene the first meeting of the SGB within 14 days of the election so that office bearers may be elected. Once they have been elected, the principal must inform the district manager in writing of persons who have been elected.

Remember:

The SGB and whoever serves on it is accountable to the members of the school community. It must call meetings to inform parents and to ensure that any decisions around fee increases or other important education decisions are democratically supported by the majority of parents.

Once elected, the members of the SGB can arrange meetings at a time that is convenient to both working and non-working parents. 

Let your voice be heard

You can make your voice heard by offering to stand for the elections as a possible SGB member or by nominating the best candidates for the SGB elections and making sure that you vote on election day.

As a member of the community who is passionate about education and South Africa’s future, make your voice heard.

For more information or if you have any enquiries, contact your child's school principal or the district office. You can also contact the Department of Basic Education: 012 357 4277.

A school with an effective school governing body (SGB) is far more likely to achieve success than one with limited involvement from parents and the community.

This was the message from Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga as her department launched the 2012 SGB elections – due in March.

Minister Motshekga said there were roughly eight million parents or guardians who were eligible to vote in these elections and that they should take their responsibility seriously.

“After the national elections, SGB elections is the most important voting process in this country. This means there are about eight million adults who can unleash their energies to get the education system to succeed. Not even the department could match this sort of energy. It is therefore important that parents get involved!” the Minister said.

School excellence

Newly-elected SGBs will continue to promote school excellence, ensuring that schools run smoothly and efficiently and that they serve the best interests of communities and the expectations of parents. Elections for school SGBs take place every three years.

Minister Motshekga said research showed that learner achievement was dependent on the level of support and active involvement of parents and members of the community.

Accountability

Deputy Minister of Basic Education Enver Surty said SGBs also had an important role to play in ensuring accountability at schools.

“There are some underperforming SGBs and there are a number of reasons for this. Often the issue of developing capacity of SGBs is ignored and we are looking into how we can improve this,” he added.

Written by *Nozipho Dlamini

Despite being the smallest in size, Gauteng is South Africa’a most populated province.

With more than 11,3 million residents, Gauteng is also the economic hub of South Africa and the continent. As such, the province attracts people from all over Africa in search of better lives, placing severe strain on its resources, including schools.

Take pride

To ease the pressure and overcrowding, 13 new schools were ready for occupation when the first school term started in January. A total of 36 new schools will have opened by March this year.

Department of Education spokesperson Charles Phahlane said half of these had already opened in January, 11 would open in February and seven in March. New schools include Diepsloot Secondary, Sakhisizwe Secondary and Sikhulisile Primary.

Phalane urged learners and communities to take pride in their new schools and to help keep them in prime condition.

Science and Maths

In the past year, the department also delivered 1 682 mobile classrooms to ease overcrowding. Phahlane noted that most of these schools came fully furnished with computer and science laboratories. This is in line with government’s goal to improve learner performance in Science and Maths.

The Emasondosondo Mobile Science Laboratory launched in 2010 has proved that better facilities help to improve performance. The laboratory, which is a project of Sci-Bono and the Gauteng Department of Education, reaches 25 000 high school learners in the province.

“While the results of the project differ from school to school, some of the participating schools have shown an improvement of up to 25 per cent in Science results,” Phahlane said.

*Nozipho Dlamini works for the Gauteng Department of Education

Written by Gabi Khumalo

Despite the challenges facing education, the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has managed to scoop two Public Sector Excellence Awards recently.

The department clinched awards in both Leadership and Community Engagement in the category Top Government Department.

Launched in 2009 by the Brand Leadership Academy, the awards recognise marketing excellence and service delivery leadership in government, government agencies, parastatals and non-government organisations. It includes reputation management, communication effectiveness, marketing, service excellence and leadership.

“It’s about recognising that we’ve got major challenges in this country, but at the same time having the vision and the confidence to say that we can do something about it,” said Basic Education Director-General Bobby Soobrayan.

“What is needed in the department is for each individual to recognise that they have a role to play in improving education.”

The awards confirmed that despite the difficulty of working in a sector with so many challenges, there were people outside recognising the contribution they were making, Soobrayan added.

The performance of learners in Mathematics and Physical Science must be improved to generate a skilled workforce.

This will boost economic development and address socio-economic challenges, said Gauteng Finance MEC Mandla Nkomfe.

Addressing learners at the Dan Kutumela Secondary School in Zithobeni near Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng, Nkomfe also handed out school uniforms to learners from poor families. The visit formed part of the Gauteng provincial government’s Back-to-School Campaign, which included inspection of schools and interaction with learners and parents on the first day of the new school year.

Nkomfe encouraged learners to study Maths and Science to address the shortage of engineers, doctors, scientists and economists. He said Maths and Science could assist learners to study towards these professions and to contribute towards South Africa’s economic growth. “As a province we are here to help you,” he said, urging learners to ask for help from their teachers and principals.

The MEC also visited Hlolisisa and Sihluziwe primary schools where he interacted with teachers and members of the school governing bodies, and planted trees

Addressing the wider community during a radio broadcast on Kangala community radio, Nkomfe urged teachers and parents to work closely with government to improve the public education system.

For more information call the Gauteng Department of Education on: 011 355 0000

Written by Sekgabo Kedijang

Situated 5 km from Ladybrand in the Manyatseng area, you will find a vibrant Agricultural Co-operative. From humble beginnings, a group of dedicated women who were farming vegetables in a small yard grew their project into a successful co-operative.

When the Mantsopa Agricultural Primary Co-operative was founded in 2001, their primary focus was using the hydroponics system of planting vegetables in sawdust as opposed to soil.

The trust's mission is to keep running an efficient and successful co-operative by growing good quality vegetables, generating enough income for its members and creating jobs for people of the Manyatseng community.

Funding

From 2005 to 2010, the co-operative received funding from the Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme (CSAP), the National Youth Development Agency and MTN.

The funds received over the years enabled members of the co-operative to buy equipment that made their day to day operations easier and more efficient.

Office furniture donated by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development contributed towards finalising the implementation of the co-operative.

Land

The local municipality gave the Mantsopa Co-operative four hectares of land. This enabled them to move away from small-scale farming, as the demand for providing their markets with vegetables was rising. This also helped them to be on par with their competitors.

They are currently using 6 x 10 m x 30 tunnels and 1 x 10 m shade net to produce a variety of vegetables.

The members of the trust have received training from the Agricultural Research Council, MTN and the Department of Agriculture for various skills.

Future plans

With their newly acquired skills they hope to empower members of their community by sharing their knowledge and helping them to become better farmers, which will develop their skills and make them more employable.

 “We hope to expand our co-operative by selling chickens and eggs and we plan to start an atchaar market. We are currently making vegetable atchaar, but would like to grow our output,” said Maria Nkhokhe, chairperson of the Mantsopa agricultural Co-operative.

“Having started the co-operative with my own funds in 2001, I am really proud of what we have achieved and the dedication of all the members.”

For more information, contact Maria Nkhoke, chairperson of the Mantsopa Agri Co-operative: 083 753 1648

Written by Department of Rural Development

Youth from South Africa's rural areas have a great opportunity to develop their skills and serve their communities through government's National Rural Youth Service Corps (NARYSEC).

The high unemployment rate and lack of skills among rural youth has prompted government, through the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, to start the NARYSEC Programme.

The programme invites rural youth between the ages of 18 and 35 to enrol for training in various skills. This will equip them with theoretical and practical knowledge to create employment for themselves and other people in their communities.

Candidates who have completed their two-year training are expected to give back to their communities by helping develop and empower other community members.

Who can join the NARYSEC programme?

• Four youths including a person with a disablity from each of the 3 300 rural wards in South Africa will be chosen.
• Candidates must be between the ages of 18 and 35.
• Candidates must have a minimum qualification of a Grade 10 cetificate.

Life skills

Puleng Buthelezi from Sicelo in Meyerton was unemployed when community development workers told her about the NARYSEC programme.

She went for an interview and was chosen to join the programme. After completing a training course in life skills, she  had to go back to her community and apply her skills to benefit the people.

Puleng, who is now completing a course in construction at a FET college, said the life skills she obtained previously had given her more confidence and will help her to pursue a career in the male dominated building industry.

Benefits for community

“The training I’m getting at the college will last me a lifetime. I now have many construction-related skills, such brick-laying and cement mixing,” she said.

“My community has already started benefitting from my skills; they call us to help them with many community projects. On Mandela Day, for example, we helped old people start food gardens.”

Puleng plans to use her construction skills to also help build RDP houses for her community.

Department of Rural Development and Land Reform: 012 312 9319

Written by Samona Murugan

More than 500 Groutville families can look forward to enjoying the benefits of solar water heaters soon. Thanks to the iLanga Life Project, more than R685 000 was raised to help provide low-income households with safe and convenient warm water from solar water heaters.

iLanga Life is a COP17 Legacy Project which initially aimed to raise money for 200 solar water heaters for the Groutville community in rural KwaZulu-Natal. However, enough was raised for 510 heaters.

On the first day of COP17 held in Durban at the end of last year, the Economic Development Department (EDD), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Eskom launched a challenge fund through the iLanga Life Project.

Financial contributions were received from 11 corporations, six trade unions and about 175 individuals. Contributions ranged from R5 to R100 000.

Green economy

Minister of Economic Development Ebrahim Patel said the project not only intended to bring hot running water to communities, but also to raise awareness about climate change, demonstrate the benefits of solar water heating to South Africans and create jobs in the manufacture and installation of the solar water units.

Speaking at the announcement of the pledges collected from delegates, businesses and the general public, the Minister said the money would also contribute to government’s New Growth Path goals to expand the green economy and create new job opportunities.

Healthier option

Welcome Mdabe, iLembe District Mayor, expressed his gratitude for the money raised by the iLanga Life Project.

He said the 510 solar water heaters would have huge benefits for Groutville residents. “In addition to being a healthier option, it would also make a difference to climate change in the long term.”

For residents, the solar water heaters mean they won’t have to heat water by burning wood and coal, which can cause diseases such as pneumonia and asthma. Collecting and burning wood also damages the environment as it leads to deforestation and air pollution.

iLembe District Municipality and Enterprise iLembe are working together in carrying out the project in Groutville.

For more information or to make a contribution, visit iLanga Life’s website www.ilangalife.co.za. All contributions will go towards the provision and installation of solar water heaters in low-income communities. Or Contact the iLembe District Municipality on: 032 437 9300

Written by *Melitah Madiba

They used to live below the bread line, surviving on menial jobs, but today they are proud entrepreneurs manufacturing school uniforms for learners from underprivileged families. Their flourishing project is like a golden thread that benefits more than 250 learners from six schools in the area.

Mentloana Sewing Project from Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria is a five-member women co-operative appointed by the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development to manufacture school uniforms.

Their breakthrough into the business arena was made possible by the Gauteng provincial government’s commitment to prioritising women’s access to economic opportunities.

Creating jobs

“We were racing against time to ensure we meet our target, so that when schools opened, we are ready with the uniforms,” said Caroline Tlowana. The project was founded by Tlowana and Pauline Meno in 2008.

Before, Tlowana and Meno had to make ends meet by sewing for a few people in their community. But their fate changed when one day they came across a social development print advert looking for co-operatives to produce school uniforms.

“We immediately applied and a few weeks later we were very surprised to get a call that we have been appointed.” Meno recalled. She said they started sewing for four schools, and because of the quality of the work they produced, the department increased the number to six. “We are very pleased with the addition of two more schools, as it has created jobs for three more people,” Tlowana said.

For Khethiwe Ngoma, the project did not only help her put bread on the table, but also equipped her with business skills. “When I first joined the project, I had no idea how co-operatives and the business world operated. I have since learned a lot and my sewing and time management skills have improved,” Ngoma said.

Lifeline

Members say they have received continuous training and have regular meetings with the department officials. “These meetings and trainings are very useful to us because that is where we discuss our challenges, do conflict management and share ideas on how to improve our business,” Evelyn Setshedi explained.

“We are really grateful to the department for giving us a lifeline. Had it not been for them, we would still be living from hand to mouth,” Setshedi added.

Setshedi encouraged other women to attend community meetings regularly and to participate in women’s forums as “they are good places to find information”. “By sitting at home and not participating in community meetings or imbizos, people miss many opportunities that might have been beneficial to them,” Setshedi said.

This eager and determined group now aims to spread their wings and apply to the department to produce linen for government hospitals.

*Melitah Madiba works for the Gauteng Provincial Government

Written by Francis Hweshe

Policing should not just be a career but a special calling, said Deputy Police Minister Makhotso Sotyu.

At the recent National Police Day celebrations in the Western Cape, Deputy Minister Sotyo, as the keynote speaker, saluted South Africa's men and women in blue for their courageous work in keeping South Africa safe.

Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, Western Cape Commissioner Arno Lamoer and provincial Community Safety MEC Dan Plato were among the special guests who joined the Deputy Minister in marking this year's National Police Day.

Heroes and heroines

Hundreds of police officers gathered at Athlone Stadium outside Cape Town where Sotyu paid tribute to these heroes and heroines for their hard work in fighting crime and making South Africa a safer place.
"Thank you very much for what you are doing for the nation," she said.

The Deputy Minister also thanked the police for their role in securing recent high-profile events such as the COP17 climate change talks in Durban, and the ANC centenary celebrations in Mangaung in the Free State.

She encouraged young people to join the service, but emphasised that they should be dedicated to this calling and not join the service only because they were desperate for jobs.

First Police Day

National Police Day was first celebrated in South Africa on 27 January 2005 when the South African Police (SAPS) celebrated its 10th anniversary.

The day signifies the date and anniversary of the establishment of the SAPS and gives recognition to the service rendered by the police. It also honours those who have paid with their lives to keep South Africa safe.

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

In April, the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD) will be transformed into a new structure with more powers and stronger teeth.

Come April, the ICD will be known as the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) and will report directly to the Police Ministry. Like the ICD, the new police watchdog body, will investigate incidents of criminality and misconduct by members of the SAPS and the eight Metropolitan Police Services.

The transformation follows new legislation giving the new IPID more powers to fight police misconduct.

Report immediately

ICD Executive Director Francois Beukman said the IPID placed the onus on station commanders and police to notify the directorate immediately of matters that needed to be investigated. This differed from the past when the police would take their time before reporting matters that needed to be investigated by the directorate, he explained.

Act and respond

In terms of the new IPID legislation, police officers who fail to report incidents to the directorate will be guilty of an offence. They will be liable for a fine and may also face imprisonment.

"The IPID legislation also obligates SAPS management to act and respond to the IPID's disciplinary recommendations. Police management is currently reluctant to carry out the ICD's recommendations once the investigation of alleged criminality or misconduct has been concluded by the ICD," said Beukman.

Key focus

The key focus of the IPID investigations include deaths in police custody or as a result of police action, complaints relating to the discharge of an official firearm by a police officer, rape by a police officer and complaints of torture or assault against police officers.

The IPID will also investigate incidents of corruption and other serious crimes involving police officers. It will, however, not investigate incidents of service delivery complaints from members of the public, as this will now be dealt with by police management.

For more information on the IPID, call: 012 399 0000

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Police have scored major successes against pirated and counterfeit goods in recent months. This follows a nationwide campaign to stamp out the increasing incidents of pirated goods such as digital versatile discs (DVDs) and counterfeit cigarettes.

Police have scored major successes against pirated and counterfeit goods in recent months. This follows a nationwide campaign to stamp out the increasing incidents of pirated goods such as digital versatile discs (DVDs) and counterfeit cigarettes.

In mid-January, members of the South African Police Service, the Johannesburg Metro Police Department, inspectors from the Customs Section of the South African Revenue Service and members of the South African National Defence Force netted almost 4 000 fake DVDs and compact discs (CDs) during a stop and search operations in central Johannesburg.

Copyright

In addition, police in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and KwaZulu-Natal also arrested suspects found with counterfeit cigarettes.

In addition, the police arrested suspects found with equipment to write DVDs and CDs to produce fake music and movies The suspects were charged with copyright infringement.

Police are warning members of the public that not only the people who unlawfully copy and sell DVDs and CDs containing material protected in terms of the Copyright Act are guilty of an offence, but those who buy these counterfeit products are also guilty and may face prosecution.

Forged documents

In November last year, detectives from OR Tambo International Airport arrested two Chinese nationals in Edenvale, Gauteng after they were found with forged documents which included foreign passports, University of South Africa degrees, as well as stolen government equipment in the form of Home Affairs stamps.

To report incidents of crime, call CRIME STOP: 08600 10111

"Invest in yourselves" was the message from Education MEC Barbara Creecy to 1 703 top matriculants who received bursaries for further study. The bursaries, totalling R120 million, were awarded by the Gauteng Provincial Government to top performing learners from impoverished, under-performing and no-paying schools in Gauteng.

Speaking at the bursary hand-over ceremony in Johannesburg, the MEC said these learners who were sometimes referred to as the "lost generation" had travelled a very hard road to reach success. They gave up their Saturdays, dared the cold winter and dedicated their attention to their studies.

"In this world, only one person can ever change you and that is yourself. Invest in yourself," she advised.

Special skills

Speaking at the same event, Premier Nomvula Mokonyane expressed her delight that 1 200 of the recipients were girls.

Praising the recipients for their hard work and dedication, Mokonyane said the Gauteng Provincial Government wanted to drive a knowledge-based economy that demanded special skills and capacity.

She added that the financial support they were receiving came with a package aimed at instilling discipline. "The Academy will not pay for failed subjects or for those who failed completely and require re-registration. Bursars are expected to do community service from their second year of study in any government institution as approved by the academy."

Run with it

Relating her success story as a bursary beneficiary, Zanele Mabena, who is now a third-year student in BA International Studies at the University of Pretoria, advised fellow learners to set aside at least three or four years of their lives and concentrate on their studies.

"It is doable. Take this wonderful opportunity and run with it like Caster Semenya on the tracks. Do not take this for granted. Four years is all it takes," she said.

For more information, call the Gauteng Department of Education on: 011 355 0000

Bursaries awarded to 146 full-time students this year will go a long way towards improving health services in Gauteng. The Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development awarded the bursaries for studies in health sciences at various tertiary institutions.

Bursaries were awarded in health disciplines where skills are critically scarce, such as Medicine, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Clinical Medical Practice and Medical Orthotics and Prosthetics.

The bursary programme targets candidates from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who have performed well academically. It is in line with the Gauteng provincial government's strategic priority to promote quality education and skills development.

Cuba

In addition to these bursaries, 30 medical students supported by the bursary fund started with studies in Cuba in September last year. This year, 25 students will be selected to take up studies in Cuba.

The department allocates an estimated R30 million annually to fund full-time and part-time studies for students who excel academically, prioritising young people from poor backgrounds.

On completion of their studies, graduates are required to enter into a contractual agreement to serve at a Gauteng health facility for the same number of years that was paid for by the department.

Motivation

"The awarding of bursaries has contributed significantly to the department as most of the bursary recipients are currently serving at Gauteng health facilities. This contributes towards our goal of addressing the shortage of health professionals. With additional funding the department could increase the amount of financial assistance offered to young people," said Aubrey Ditshego, Bursar at the Gauteng Department of Health and Social Development.

He said this initiative also provided motivation to other youth from impoverished communities to apply for bursaries.

Applications for 2013 bursaries will be open from September to October 2012. For more information, call Gauteng Bursaries and Financial Aid: 011 298 2331/2332/2457, or call the call the Gauteng Department of Education on: 011 355 0000

Implats bursaries are open to all candidates meeting the minimum criteria of a university exemption pass and a minimum C Symbol in Mathematics, English and Science.

Our bursary cover:

Should you be awarded an implats bursary, you will be required to work for the company for the full period of the bursary and undertake vacation work at the end of each year.

Implats offers bursaries in the following fields:

What we are looking for are people who

• Registration and tuition fees for the duration of the course
• Residence fees
• Cash allowance
• Personal computer allowance from 2nd year of study
• Engineering: mining , chemical, mechanical & electrical (heavy current)
• Chemistry to honours level with a second major in either physics or mathe-metics
• Geology to honours level with second major in one of the following: Chemistry, Geophysics, Earth Science, Mathematical Statistics
• Survey (Mining) * Accounting BCom * Human Resources BCom.
• are able to work under pressure
• have leadership potential, combined with the ability to work in a team
• have good problem solving abilities
• are tenacious
• have common sense
• are able to make decisions and think logically
• are self-motivated, and have good communication skills.

How to apply for bursary

If you meet the minimum criteria and you would like to apply, please fill in the application form obtainable from the website www.implats.co.za.

Note: Applications for next year should be submitted via post on or before 31 March 2012. Reviews will take place in May 2012 and successful applications will be informed accordingly. Please attach all supporting documentation (certified) when submitting the application as requested.

Please post application to:
THE TRAINING MANAGER: BURSARIES,
PO BOX 5683
RUSTENBURG, 0300

For more information contact Kefiloe Seome & Boitumelo Ramosepele on 014 569 0088 or boitumelo.ramosepele@implats.co.za

Ilembe District Municipality has five dynamic new entrepreneurs who are eager to make their dreams a reality.

As winners of the Ilembe Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism’s (ICCIT) Entrepreneur competition, the young entrepreneurs won a share of R220 000 in seed capital donated by African Bank and Enterprise Ilembe. In addition, they won a year’s membership at the chamber and a year of business mentoring from a chamber mentor.

Each contestant was required to pitch for the least amount of money required to get their businesses up and running. The competition reached boiling point this month when their mentors groomed and grilled them on the nuts and bolts of business.

They had to present their business plans to a panel of four judges and a live audience in an Idols-style event held at Ballito’s Pumpkin Theatre at the end of last year. The judges were Dube Tradeport’s Mel Clark, Enterprise Ilembe’s Kanyi Gasa, African Bank’s Tami Sokutu and Jane Wiltshire from Valbridge Trust.

Dynamic mentorship programme

The competition was run by ICCIT’s Dynamic Mentorship Programme, launched in July this year. Contesants were paired with a chamber mentor with a proven business or commercial background.

ICCIT CEO Trenley Tilbrook said the competition aimed to source budding entrepreneurs from the community and help them make their dreams a reality through the chamber’s mentorship programme and funding. “Not only have we done this successfully, but we have also managed to inspire others to enter next year,” he said.

The winners were Celia Tabb from the Zula Zula North Coast Meander Development, Kyle Wetherill and Josh Chaplin from Charlie’s Chilli Chicken, Lindiwe Mbonambi from Kalula Parcel Storage Facility, Vincent Makhosonke from the Best of The Best Dec Photos and Njabulo Zondi from the Mystery Shopper Business Survey.

Nomovla Majola and Tenjiwe Mhluli from Edu-Tainment Puppet Manufacture received a judges prize of R10 000 for most innovative idea and Nothando Sibisi and Vicki Millican from Bee Possitive received a R10 000 audience prize.

Celia Tabb
Idea: North Coast Meander

Celia Tabb was born in Hwange, Zimbabwe, and grew up with a great love for the outdoors. Showing a talent for art, she wasencouraged to do a degeree in Fine Arts at Rhodes University in Grahamstown. Since graduating in 1989, she has worked in several sectors, including tourism and printing, as well as and in some rural environments. Encouraging the development and skills of the locals, she realised her passion in life was helping people. In 2008, she decided to call the North Coast her home.

“Since being in Ballito, I have started my own business called The Fusion, a graphic design and marketing company.” Celiahas also been involved with local skills development programmes. Celia loves working and playing on the North Coast and she wants to make sure everyone who lives or visits the area gets thechance to experience what it offers. Celia was voted the contestant with the  most popular idea.

A cash prize from African Bank enabled Celia to launch a promotional publication, the North Coast Meander. Following the launch on 6 December 2011 at King Shaka International Airport, 25 000 copies of the first publication were distributed in December. Celia is currently doing advertising for the second publication.

Celia is still in contact with her mentors, Sue Hall, Charles Alcock, Cobus Oelofse and Micky Duncan whose support and advice has been invaluable to her.

Mickey Duncan is thrilled with Celia’s progress since the finals of the competition. He believes that with her enthusiasm and business sense, she is heading for more success with her business.

Kyle Wetherill and Josh Chaplin
Idea: Pre-prepared chicken/fast foods

“We have a lot in common; a love of the beach and anything to do with the ocean, from surfing or hitting shores to just chilling on the beach with mates and a beer or two. We love music, play guitar and jam almost every day together. We are passionate about our town and honestly feel there is no place in this world like Ballito.”

Things are going well with Kyle and Josh who have already set up meetings with retailers with the intention of supplying them with their products.

 

Lindiwe Mbonambi
Idea: Parcel Storage Facility

29-year-old Lindiwe is the eldest of three children. She enjoys reading travelling and problem solving. She has a BA degree in Communication Science from the University of Zululand and a BA (Hons) in Brand Leadership from Vega.

Lindiwe has sourced shelving for her venture and is in the process of registering the name of the business. She has also secured the premises from which the business will be run.

“Starting a new business is always a challenge, however, the competition has made the transition smoother,” said Lindiwe who can’t wait to get her business up and running.

Njabulo Zondi
Idea: Mystery shopper

“I love hanging out with friends and watching sports but I always put God and my family first,” said Njabulo Zond. He is passionate about business and wants to promote young entrepreneurs and new talent.

“Things are definitely looking up,” he says since he has secured his first client and will be taking on their four branches as the mystery shopper. He is set to meet with another large retail store which wants him to visit five of their outlets in the coming year.

With his prize money of R11 818, Njabulo has bought a laptop and is in the process buying a desk, chair and printer. He will work from his parents’ garage until he grows his business.

In his free time, he loves listening to music and his favourite food is pasta dishes, especially lasagne and traditional home-cooked meals.

Vincent Makhosonke
Idea: Video/Photography Functions

Vincent Makhosonke was born at La Mercy between Tongaat and Umhlanga. In 2001, he bought his first camera and took photos at school and during weekends. Later he decided to study through Unisa while still pursuing his passion for  photography. He started to take on paying functions like Umemulo, which involves traditional cultures.

His business, Best of the Best Dec Photo and Filming, which was registered in 2009, covers all events that require photography and video graphics.

Thanks to the prize money, Vincent is the proud owner of new state of the art photographic equipment, which includes a full high definition camera. He recently also bought a computer for editing his video and photographic material.

He was recently featured in the North Coast Courier and plans to market himself through the newspaper in future.

“I still have get a well-paying photographic job, but I hope this will change once I market Myself,” said Vincent.

He plans to work with another photographer on school projects and has recently visited six schools that have shown an interest in using their services.

Vincent is currently working as a school teacher.

For more information contact the iLembe chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism on: 087 727 8630

A skills revolution is taking place in the transport section as students in the Eastern Cape are reaching for the skies through bursaries in civil aviation.

As part of government's drive to transform the civil aviation industry, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport in partnership with Air Traffic Navigation Services (ATNS) is looking for students to be trained as air traffic controllers.

"This initiative is part of the department's transport sector skills revolution campaign, designed to produce the scarce skills required by this critical sector of the province's economy," said Transport Department spokesperson Ncedo Kumbaca on Tuesday.

Who qualifies

To qualify students need to have passed Grade 12 with the following:

Students who meet the above requirements must register at their nearest Department of Transport office. They must be able to produce certified copies of their matric certificates/results and their identity documents.

Registered students will be notified about the date and venue for briefing and assessment.

• Mathematics (not maths literacy) Level 4/ D (HG)/ C (SG)
• English Level 4/ D (HG)/ C (SG)

Great opportunity

Seventeen-year-old Thembelihle Ndatyana from Mdantsane outside East London, completed matric last year and was going to take a gap year as he was unable to study further due to a lack of funds.

He said the department's offer was a great opportunity for him and others who couldn't enter into tertiary education this year. "I'm really excited about this opportunity because my parents didn't have the money to send me to university. I'm on my way now to submit my documents to the department."

More than 300 young people in the Eastern Cape have already benefited from the department's bursaries. They include 134 women and 115 students who are doing their National Diploma in Civil Engineering.

Highly skilled people

This initiative is in line with government's commitment to the International Civil Aviation Organisation's 2011/12 campaign to take civil aviation to more disadvantaged communities. It is also in line with government's priority of ensuring the safety of African skies through developing and retaining highly skilled personnel in the aviation industry.

"As a province, we appreciate any partnership that seeks to reposition the transport sector in line with the development priorities of government, including the building of a skills and human resources base," said Transport MEC Thandiswa Marawu.

"We are looking forward to a day when the shortage of air traffic controllers and pilots will be a challenge of the past and to see more young Africans, especially girls, not only serving refreshments in aeroplanes, but being active participants in this industry."

As part of its contribution to the transformation of the transport sector, the Eastern Cape Department of Transport has also awarded 29 bursaries to deserving youth of the province to study Aeronautical Engineering (2), Civil Engineering (15), Mechanical Engineering (10) and Maritime Engineering (2). The value of bursaries awarded is R 65 000 per learner.

For more information, call the Eastern Cape Department of Transport on 043 604 7400

Armed with a university degree, young 30-year-old Itumeleng Mokoena was confident that her three years of study would finally pay off with a lucrative job. But her high hopes and dreams were short lived when six months after graduating she still found herself walking up and down the streets of Johannesburg in search of the elusive pot of gold.

But her luck changed when one day, while submitting many of her job applications at the Gauteng Shared Services Centre, she came across an advert that the Gauteng Office of the Premier was looking for interns.

After receiving many rejection letters before, she was not hopeful but decided to give it a shot.

To her amazement, she was called for an interview and a few weeks later she found herself walking down the corridors at the office of Gauteng's number one citizen.

Mokoena said that the one-year programme opened doors for her as she is now employed permanently at the national Department of Water Affairs.

"You can imagine my joy and relief at being afforded an opportunity to acquire the much-needed skills and experience. Through the internship I was able to put into practice what I had learned at university," says Mokoena.

Experience

"As a province, we believe that it is important to provide experiential learning to unemployed graduates in order to enhance their chances of being successfully employed," said Head of Communications for the Gauteng Provincial Government Matlakala Motloung.

"We also give these young graduates an opportunity to prove themselves, gain experience and increase their chances of being absorbed into the public service."

Presidency

Another inspirational story is that of 30-year-old Sydwell Mabasa, who also started as an intern and now works permanently at the Presidency. Mabasa said the internship was a great experience which helped him understand how his acquired skills fitted into the world out there.

"I found out about the internship from a security officer at a government department, where I was doing one of my regular visits to check if they were looking for interns. This method of application was tiring, but healthy, since it encouraged me to walk a lot," said Mabasa with a smile.

"I had learned that it was not enough to simply depend on newspaper adverts, as the money to buy a newspaper meant great sacrifices and more strain on my already compromised pocket." He said the internship has helped him to be where he is now, because, as a new graduate, he was not fully equipped to survive in the corporate world without experience.

Opportunities for further study

National certificate (Vocational)

The FET College sector is a result of the merger of the former 152 technical colleges into 50 FET Colleges with multi-campus sites.
These campuses are distributed throughout South Africa and serve rural, peri-urban and urban communities. The geographic distribution provides opportunities for communities to access skills development courses.

The Department of Higher Education and Training introduced the National Certificate (Vocational) at public Further Education and Training (FET) in 2007. The NC(V) offers programmes of study in a variety of vocational fields.

FET Colleges have become first choice institutions for further learning for many young people as the programmes directly respond to the priority skills demands of the South African economy. The FET
Colleges further offer theory and practical learning. After completion of the 3rd year qualification, there are many exit options for young people to choose.

The National Certificate (Vocational) is offered at Levels 2, 3 and 4 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The practical component of the study may be offered in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment. Students have the opportunity to experience work environment during the period of study.

The national certificate (Vocational) programmes

A relevant modern qualification offered by FET Colleges

The Structure and Rules of Combinations of subjects for NC(V).
The structure and combination of subjects is applicable at every level of study of the qualification, i.e. Levels 2 to 4.

Subjects

3 compulsory subjects:

• First additional: This must be one of the official languages in South Africa an should be offered as a language of teaching and learing:
• Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy;
• Life Orientation.

4 vocational subjects:

These are subjects approved from the sub-field organisation of the NQF.

Sub-field Programmes offered in the qualification

These are 14 programmes. The subject combinations in each of the programmes provide a high degree of specialisation for a particular programme. It is important to note that of the 4 compulsory vocational subjects, the 4th subject may be chosen from any field to provide the student with high levels of specialisation.

National certificate (Vocational) programmes

There are currently 14 National Certificate (Vocational) programmes on offer. More programmes and subjects will be developed in the future. The NC(V) programmes are the following:

• Management
• 2. Marketing
• Information Technology & Computer Science
• Finance, Economics and Accounting
• Office Administration
• Electrical Infrastructure Construction
• Civil Engineering and Building Construction
• Engineering and Related Design
• Primary Agriculture
• Hospitality
• Tourism
• Safety in Society
• Mechatronics
• Education and Development

Entrance requirements to NC(V) programmes

For entry into the National Certificate (Vocational) at NQF Level 2, you require:

• A year end school report for Grades 11 or 12 certificate; or
• An NQF Level 1 qualification; or
• An approved bridging programme designed for the specific purpose to access NQF Level 2; or
• A Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) assessment to meet the basic requirements for access to NQF Level 2
• Grade 9 and 10 will be considered only on exceptional cases.

What are exit opportunities at FET colleges?

Students will have the following options:

• Access workplace opportunities in a work environment or sector relevant to his/her vocational specialisation (such as a bank/insurance company after doing the Financial, Economics &Accounting programme).
• Access the workplace with the occupational specialization he/she might have opted for through the 4th subject option (such as motor mechanics after opting for Automotive Repair & Maintenance)
• Progress into higher education
• Pursue further training at the same/horizontal level
• Self-employment.

DoE FET colleges bursary scheme

In order to facilitate access to the National Certificate (Vocational) qualification, the Department of Higher Education and Training has made bursaries available. The National Student Financial Aid Scheme administers the bursaries on behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training.

Who may apply for the DoE FET college bursary scheme?

You are eligible to apply for a bursary if you are:

• A South African citizen.
• Enrolled or intending to enrol for the NC(V) programmes at any of the 50 public FET colleges in South Africa.
• In need of financial assistance.
• Able to demonstrate potential for academic success.

Where can a student apply for a bursary?

A student can apply for a bursary at any of the 50 public FET Collgest.

When you enrol for NC(V) programmes at the college, you may apply for a bursary.

Detailed information on FET College NC(V) programmes, qualifications and contact details of colleges are available on the Department's website. The address is http://www.education.gov.za

Any questions on public and private FET Colleges may be directed to the Call Centre for the Department of Higher Education and Training listed below.

Call Centre Number: 012 312 5878 or
Fax: 012 323 8817/ 9838

Eastern Cape

• Buffalo City FET College, East London 043 704 9201
• East Cape Midlands FET College, Uitenhage 041 995 2000
• Ikhala FET College, Queenstown 047 873 8843
• Ingwe FET College, Mt Frere 039 255 1204/ 0346
• King Hintsa FET College, Butterworth 047 491 3722
• King Sabata Dalindyebo FET College, Umtata 047 536 0923/4
• Lovedale FET College, King Williams Town 043 642 1331
• Port Elizabeth FET College, Port Elizabeth 041 585 7771

Free State

• Flavius Mareka FET College, Sasolburg 016 976 0815/ 0829
• Goldfields FET College, Welkom 057 392 1027
• Maluti FET College, Witsieshoek 058 713 3048/ 6100
• Motheo FET College, Bloemfontein 051 406 9300

Gauteng

• Central Johannesburg FET College, Parktown 011 484 1388
• Ekurhuleni East FET College, Springs 011 736 4400
• Ekurhuleni West FET College, Germiston 011 323 1600
• Sedibeng FET College, Vereeniging 016 422 6645
• South West FET College, Florida 011 984 1260
• Tshwane North FET College, Pretoria 012 323 8623
• Tshwane South FET College, Centurion 012 660 8581
• Western FET College, Randfontein 011 693 3608

Mpumalanga

• Ehlanzeni FET College ,Nelspruit 013 752 7105
• Gert Sibande FET College, Standerton 017 712 9040/ 1458/ 1459
• Nkangala FET College, Witbank 013 690 1430/ 3824

Limpopo

• Capricorn FET College, Polokwane 015 297 8367/ 8389
• Lephalale FET College, Lephalale 014 763 2252/ 1014
• Letaba FET College, Tzaneen 015 307 5440
• Mopani South East FET College, Phalaborwa 015 781 5721/ 5
• Sekhukhune FET College, Groblersdal 013 269 0278
• Vhembe FET College,Makhado 015 963 3156
• Waterberg FET College, Mokopane 015 491 8581

KwaZulu-Natal

• Coastal FET College, Amanzimtoti 031 905 7000/ 2595
• Elangeni FET College, Pinetown 031 716 6700
• Esayidi FET College, Port Shepstone 039 684 0110
• Majuba FET College, Newcastle 034 326 4888
• Mnambithi FET College, Ladysmith 036 638 3800
• Mthashana FET College, Vryheid 034 980 1010
• Thekwini FET College, Asherville 031 250 8400
• Umfolozi FET College, Richards Bay 035 902 9503
• Umgungundlovu FET College, Pietermaritzburg 033 341 2100

North West

• Orbit FET College, Rustenburg 014 592 7014
• Taletso FET College, Mmabatho 018 384 2346/ 7/ 9
• Vuselela FET College, Klerksdorp 018 406 7800

Northern Cape

• Northern Cape Rural FET College, Upington 054 331 3836
• Northern Cape Urban FET College, Kimberley 053 839 2000/ 2061

Western Cape

• Boland FET College, Stellenbosch 021 886 7111/ 2
• College of Cape Town FET College, Cape Town 021 404 6700/ 8
• False Bay FET College, Westlake 021 701 1919
• Northlink FET College, Parow 021 930 9000
• South Cape FET College, George 044 884 0359
• West Coast FET College, Malmesbury 022 482 1143/ 79/ 95

Namibian-born Nadia Lubowski, is passionate about her work as a teacher. She completed a diploma in Early Childhood Development Diploma at the College of Cape Town and won the best student award. "I am extremely fortunate to have an aunt who really believed in me and paid for my studies at the FET college," she said. This opportunity has opened many doors for Nadia and helped her to realise her life passion.

"I was given a book as a prize and remember vividly one of my favourite lecturers saying, "I picked the book especially for you, because I know you will enjoy this type of thing". It was a book on play therapy and I still have it today and every time I see the book on my bookshelf or read something from it, I remember my days at the college." My lecturer's comment set a very fundamental thought process in motion.

Nadia enrolled for a Bachelor of Primary Education degree with UNISA, but they received lectures at the College of Cape Town. She graduated in early 2006. "While I completed my degree, I embarked on a process that sparked off the biggest passion which I live today: I went to a small school in Sea Point to do my in-service training" Nadia explained.

"Here I noticed how some children in the classes were unable to speak English. Not only did they struggle to speak English, they also struggled to understand what the teacher was teaching and therefore could not understand the instruction that was being given. I made plans about how I was going to remedy this problem as soon as I had finished my degree."

Why am I a teacher?

At the beginning of 2005, Nadia went to Australia for three months to research ideas and methods on how to teach children effectively. She compiled a basic teacher training course that she offered at Child Welfare over a three-month period. The intention of the course was to provide teachers with a self-development and introspection opportunity regarding the question "Why am I a teacher?", Nadia explained.

I had felt so strongly during my in-service training months that it is the teacher's responsibility to engage with learners in a way that makes school a place that children want to attend. After completing completed her degree, Nadia was eventually offered a position as principal at a small pre-school in Philippi, a small township on the outskirts of Cape Town, where she had to train and develop staff in Early Childhood Development and engage with the community and families of the children in a way that would make a real difference for the children.

"The school was a very happy place. In the three years of teaching there we had many of the children graduate to Grade 1 and 2, and every afternoon the children returned to the school. The need in the community is immeasurable, and teachers approached me daily to assist them in developing their schools in the way we had ours," Nadia said.

Educational trust

Nadia completed an honours degree in Education at the University of Cape Town and is working towards a Masters degree. In 2007, she started a non-profit organisation, the Anton Lubowski Educational Trust, with the vision of transforming South Africa through education, in collaboration with other organisations.

"Anton Lubowski, my father, was a political activist in the 1980s, and he was assassinated in front of our home in 1989. He truly believed that education was the only way that we would transform Southern Africa. Since his murder has never been solved, the best way to honour what he stood for, and gave his life for, is to keep his legacy alive by giving children the best-quality education any child could ever wish for, Nadia said.

They are now working in partnership with the Department of Social Development, Matchbox, Roots and Wings Trust, Children's' Campaign Trust and many others to begin the social change that South Africa needs.

Written by Tlabo Sehata

When Meshack Fhumulani Nemudzivhadi landed at then Johannesburg Technical College after matriculating at Tshinanga Secondary School in Venda, his aim was to improve his matric results so he could be able to meet the required marks to go study medicine.

Little did Nemudzivhadi know that getting career guidance while at the college would make him develop a passion for electrical engineering.

Nemudzivhadi studied further and in 2Tlabo Sehata002 completed NQF6 in Electrical Engineering, Heavy Current. At the time of his graduation, the institution was renamed Central Johannesburg College for Further Education and Training (FET).

Leadership opportunity

After completing his studies, Nemudzivhadi got a four-year learnership opportunity at Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority (MERSETA) that exposed him to the world of Air Conditioning and Refrigeration.

Upon completion, he had already been working for Carrier Service at Jet Park in Ekurhuleni as a Maintenance Technician.

Gauteng News caught up with the 34-year-old at his workplace and upon arrival, we found him hard at work fixing refrigerated delivery trucks.

"I love my job very much. I do this daily to ensure these trucks function well before they load food so you can go to supermarkets and buy fresh stuff.

"My FET and learnership qualifications have opened opportunities for me and coupled with what I am learning at work, I believe that at this stage I can start my own company," Nemudzivhadi said.

Put in extra effort

Nemudzivhadi was quick to dispel the perception that employers look down upon candidates with FET education.

"That is not true. It depends on how individuals want to shape up their own future. You just have to believe in yourself and make sure that when you are given an opportunity, you perform to the best of your abilities and put in an extra effort.

"If I want to earn more money it would be up to me to enrol for part-time studies to upgrade my qualifications," Nemudzivhadi said.

Nemudzivhadi's advice to matriculants from disadvantaged backgrounds and those without good results is that they should consider studying at FETs.

"I encourage learners not to take FET colleges for granted. Unlike conventional universities, FETs are affordable and there are a number of bursaries made available by government and private companies because there's a shortage of technical skills out there.

"There are also opportunities to upgrade and improve on your Maths and Science while there in case your matric results were not too good. FETs are good because they really give every student attention to make sure they become the best," he said.

State of the Nation Address special

The focus of President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on 9 February 2012 was on infrastructure development and how this would grow the economy and create jobs. 

The SoNA is made annually by the President at the Opening of Parliament. In this important speech, the President tells the country what government plans to do in the year ahead.

The President announced that South Africa would spend billions of rands over the coming years on new infrastructure, namely building rail, road and economic links in five regions in the country; the building of new universities; and refurbishing hospitals.

“For the year 2012 and beyond, we invite the nation to join government in a massive infrastructure development drive,” said the President. It is expected that this investment will grow the country’s economy, and create skills and job opportunities.

The infrastructure plan will be driven and overseen by the Presidential Infrastructure Coordinating Council (PICC). The PICC, which was established in September 2011, is made up of ministers, premiers and metro mayors and is led by the President and the Deputy President.

The key projects mentioned by the President  include, among others:

• developing and integrating rail, road and water infrastructure, centred around two main areas in Limpopo: the Waterberg in the Western part of the province and Steelpoort in the eastern part
• improving the movement of goods and economic integration through a Durban-Free State-Gauteng logistics and industrial corridor
• the expansion of the Iron Ore Export channel from 60  million tons a year to 82  million tons a year
• developing a new major south-eastern node that will improve the industrial and agricultural development and export capacity of the Eastern Cape region, and expand the province’s economic and logistics linkages with the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal
• expanding the roll-out of water, roads, rail and electricity infrastructure
• 10 priority roads will be upgraded
• the expansion of the iron-ore rail line between Sishen in Northern Cape and Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, which will create large numbers of jobs in both provinces.

“The work done last year indicates that if we continue to grow reasonably well, we will begin to write a new story about South Africa – the story of how, working together, we drove back unemployment and reduced economic inequality and poverty,” said the President.

State of the Nation Address

The President announced Transnet's Market Demand Strategy, which entails an investment over the next seven years of R300 billion in capital projects. The strategy will not only create more jobs, but will also position South Africa as a regional transhipment hub for sub-Saharan Africa and deliver on the New Partnership for Africa's Development's (Nepad) regional integration agenda. A total of R200 billion is allocated to rail projects and the majority of the balance to projects in the ports. Among the list of planned projects is the expansion of the Iron Ore Export Channel from 60 million tons a year to 82 million tons a year.

Infrastructre plans for the country

Mpumalanga/Northern Cape

Building new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape. A total of R300 million has been allocated for the preparatory work.

North West

Expansion of the roll-out of water, roads, rail and electricity infrastructure in the North West. Ten priority roads will be upgraded.

Limpopo/Mpumalanga

The development and integration of rail, road and water infrastructure centred around two main areas in Limpopo: the Waterberg in the western part of the province and Steelpoort in the east. These efforts are intended to unlock the enormous mineral belt of coal, platinum, palladium, chrome and other minerals, to facilitate increased mining and stepped-up beneficiation of minerals. There will expansion of rail transport in Mpumalanga, connecting coalfields to power stations. This will enable a shift from road to rail in the transportation of coal. The eastern parts of the North West will also benefit from the greater focus on infrastructure connected to mining and mineral beneficiation.

Western Cape/Northern Cape

Expansion of the iron-ore rail line between Sishen in the Northern Cape and Saldanha Bay in the Western Cape, which will create jobs in both provinces. The iron-ore capacity on the transport side will increase capacity to 100 million tons a year, which will allow for the expansion of iron-ore mining over the next decade to feed the developing world's growing investment in infrastructure and industrial activities.

Eastern Cape

Development of a major new south-eastern node that will improve the industrial and agricultural development and export capacity of the Eastern Cape region, and expand the province's economic and logistics linkages with the Northern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal.

State of the Nation Address

• 146 – the number of countries with which South Africa has diplomatic relations.
• 365 000 people were employed during 2011 – the country’s best performance since the recession of 2008.
• Unemployment came down from 25% to 23,9%.
• Update on the Job Fund: over 2 500 applications were received and project allocations of over R1 billion have been committed.
• R1,5 billion has been approved so far for 60 companies to promote job creation. This forms part of the R10 million set aside by the Industrial Development Corperation for job creation. 
• Seven projects with an investment value of R8,4 billion were approved following an announcement of incentives worth R20 billion under Section 12 (i) of the Income Tax Act, designed to support new industrial projects and manufacturing.
• R200 billion is allocated to rail projects and the majority of balance to projects in the ports. Some of the projects include:
  • the expansion of the Iron Ore Export Channel  from 60 million tons a year to 100 million tons a year the improvements to the Durban-Gauteng Rail corridor and the phased development of a new 16-million-tons-a-year manganese export channel through the Port of Ngqura in Nelson Mandela Bay.
• R300 million – allocated for preparatory work towards building new universities in Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.
• Eight – the number of African countries South Africa has partnered with in its bid to host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope.
• 220 000 – the number of solar water heaters that has been installed nationwide as part of government’s green initiatives. Government’s target is one million solar geysers by 2014/15.
• R248 million is to be invested over the next two years to deal with acid mine drainage in the Witwatersrand.
• Grade R enrolment doubled from 300 000 in 2003 to 705 000 in 2011.
• 14 000 learners were placed in workplace learning opportunities over the past year, and over 11 000 artisans have completed their trade tests.
• Eight million – the number of learners who attend no-fee schools.
• Some R200 million was used to assist 25 000 students to pay off their debts to institutions of higher learning. 
• 2% – the target set for all government departments to employ disabled persons.
• 5% – the number of serious crimes reported compared to the same period in 2010/11.

State of the Nation Address

In addition to the huge investments in infrastructure, government will also continue to ensure that all of its five priorities – job creation, education and skills, healthcare, rural development, and the fight against crime and corruption – are focused on to further improve the quality of life of all South Africans.

Growing infrastructure and creating jobs

The Market Demand Strategy of Transnet will:

• create more jobs in the South African economy, as well as increase localisation and Black Economic Empowerment (BEE)
• position South Africa as a regional trans-shipment hub for sub-Saharan Africa and deliver on Nepad’s regional integration agenda.

Agriculture
To expand agricultural production, government aims to build a dam in the former Transkei area of the Eastern Cape, using the Umzimvubu River as the source.

Energy
Government aims to install one million solar geysers nationwide by 2014/15. To date, 220 000 have been installed. 

Labour
Government is amending the Broad-Based BEE Act, 2003 (Act 53 of 2003). The amendments will:

• establish a statuary commission that will deal with non-compliance
• criminalise fronting and other forms of misrepresentation.

The Nation Economic Development and Labour Council (Nedlac) Process on the Atypical Forms of Employment and Labour Broking has now been completed – this is part of efforts to root out all forms of abusive practices in labour broking.

Other emergent economic sectors and employment issues

• South Africa is waiting to hear whether we will win the bid to host the Square Kilometre Array radio telescope. The winning bid is expected to be announced this year.
• Business and communities remain concerned about high electricity costs. To address this concern, the President has requested Eskom to find ways to ensure that price increases are reduced over the next few years. The President also called for proposals in this regard for his consideration.

Did you know?
Government aims to create more than 1,5 million job opportunities in the next two years through its Expanded Public Works Programme.

Boosting education

Basic education

• Efforts will be made to produce more teachers who can teach Mathematics, Science and African languages.
• The President has called on teachers to be in school, in class, on time and teaching for at least seven hours a day.
• Government has set a clear target of 100% coverage for Grade R by 2014. The progress so far is the doubling of    Grade R enrolment, from 300 000 learners in 2003 to 705 000 in 2011.
• To fight poverty and keep learners in school, more than eight million learners benefit from the Government’s school-feeding scheme.
• National government will continue to intervene in the Eastern Cape to assist the Department of Education to improve the delivery of education.
• According to the General Household Survey (2010), just over 120 000 children between the ages of seven and 15 are out of school. Grade 10 drop-outs appear to be a problem, particularly in the rural and farm areas of the Western Cape. National government will work closely with the Western Cape Provincial Government to trace these children and provide support to them.

Higher Education (HE)

• The Government has exceeded its targets with regard to HE. Close to 14 000 pupils were placed in workplace learning opportunities over the past year, and more than 11 000 artisans have completed their trade tests.
• The number of students who register and study with Further Education and Training institutions has also increased.
• To expand access to tertiary education as per government’s announcement last year, R200 million was used to assist 25 000 students to pay off their debts to institutions of higher learning.

Sports and recreation

• The national women’s soccer team Banyana Banyana has qualified for the London Olympics for the first time.
• South Africa has been given the honour to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.

Interesting fact
Government's National Strategy for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education will be implemented from 2012. It is aimed at improving the pass rate and the quality of Mathematics and Physical Science.

Social protection

Quality of water
An amount of R248 million is to be invested over the next two years to deal with the issue of acid mine drainage in the Witwatersrand.

Rural development and land reform
The year 2013 will mark the centenary of the Natives Land Act, 1913 (Act 27 of 1913), which took away 87% of the land from the African people. The Government has only distributed 8% of the 30% target of land redistribution by 2014. A new policy framework, the Green Paper on Land Reform, has been introduced to address the issue of slow land redistribution in the country and help move towards the 2014 target.

Housing delivery
In 2010, government announced the R1-billion Guarantee Fund to promote access to loans. This fund will be operational from April, and will be managed by the National Housing Finance Corporation.
From April, people earning between R3 500 and R15 000 will be able to obtain a subsidy of up to R83 000 from their provincial governments.

Women empowerment
The Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Bill aims to promote compliance in both the Government and private sector and provide for sanction in the case of non-compliance.

Strengthening governance

This year, government will work closely with various provinces to improve governance, systems and administration. These include Gauteng (health service delivery), the Free State (transport and roads) and Limpopo (financial administration in five departments, including Provincial Treasury).

Government will table the National Traditional Affairs Bill, which provides for the recognition of the Khoi-San communities, their leadership and structure.

Social cohesion

• As part of promoting social cohesion, government undertook and is continuing with many heritage projects:
• Museums and centres to be unveiled will include the 1980 Matola Raid  Museum in Maputo, the Ncome    Museum in KwaZulu-Natal, Phase Two of the Freedom Park Museum and the Steve Biko Heritage Centre in Ginsberg in King Williamstown.
• Additional projects include the launch of the Dube Trade Port and unveiling the statue of John Dube at King Shaka International Airport, and renaming the King House presidential residence in Durban after Dr Dube.
• In 2013, the Union Buildings will mark 100 years of existence. Planning to mark the centenary will start this financial year.

Interesting fact
The Recapitalisation and Development Programme was introduced to resuscitate land-reform projects. To date, 769 farms are being recapitalised by being provided with agricultural infrastructure, with 234

Fighting crime

Fighting crime
Government is continuing to implement programmes to make South Africans feel safe and be safe. Statistics show that there has been a 5% decline in the number of reported serious crimes, compared to the same period in 2010/11.

Fighting fraud and corruption
Government will continue to improve the performance of the State in various ways, including the fight against corruption. To further improve security, the Department of Home Affairs signed a memorandum of understanding with the banking industry to roll out the Online Fingerprint Verification System in all participating banks to assist in fraud prevention and detection.

Consolidating the African agenda

• South Africa’s infrastructure work extends beyond its borders, as it champions the North-South Road and Rail Corridor, which is part of the African Union’s (AU) Nepad Presidential Infrastructure Championing Initiative.
• The final outcome of 17th Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP17) was historic, ranking with the 1997 conference where the Kyoto Protocol was adopted.
• Building on the success of COP17, South Africa will participate in the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil, which will mark the 10th anniversary of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

State of the Nation Address

Creating decent work

Government declared 2011 as the Year of Job Creation. Despite the difficult economic climate, the effort to create jobs continued in the public and private sectors.

These include large-scale developments such as electricity plants, rail and road upgrades and water management that will sustain between 50 000 and 100 000 jobs in construction up to 2015.
Other initiatives that government put in place included:

• a R9-billion Jobs Fund to encourage new initiatives both inside and outside of government
• establishing more  than  300  cooperatives under the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme
• 521 831 work opportunities were created by the end of October 2011 through the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)
• job opportunities for over 80 000 people under the Community Work Programme
• 15 132 jobs created under the LandCare, Forestry Operations, Micro-Agricultural Financial Institutions of South Africa, Working for Fisheries and Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programmes
• a further 83 791 job opportunities created in all nine provinces across 63 municipalities in 480 wards between April and September 2011
• 600 EPWP jobs created through the Square Kilometre Array project. 

A number of agreements that commit government and various sectors to taking the country forward together were concluded. These included:

• deepening partnership with Nedlac
• a Skills Accord committing business and the State to enrol at least 30 000 artisan trainees over the next 12 months in training programmes
• a Green Economy Accord between government and economic sectors, paving the way for new economic activity and jobs linked to our efforts to make South Africa more responsive to climate change
• a Basic Education Accord in terms of which government, business and labour will work together to improve learning and teaching
• a Local Procurement Accord committing social partners to work together to increase local procurement; the procurement regulations giving effect to this accord came into effect on 7 December 2011.

Compared to a year ago, employment increased by 343 000 (2,6%), according to the Labour Force Survey for July to September 2011 (Quarter 3).

Improving the performance of the state

Government introduced performance monitoring and evaluation to keep track of progress and to identify and deal with areas where delivery is not taking place.

President Zuma undertook five hands-on monitoring visits to Limpopo, the Eastern Cape and the Free State.

Teams from the Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Department in The Presidency were sent to areas such as Balfour, Bekkersdal, Umzimkhulu and others to assess and promote service delivery.

The Presidency and the offices of the premiers are jointly implementing a programme of monitoring front-line service delivery. The results of this programme will be regularly presented to Cabinet.
Government also continued to improve the National Population Register to record population statistics accurately, so that it can plan to meet the needs of the country’s citizens.

Another achievement was the finalisation of the draft National Development Plan: Vision for 2030, which the National Planning Commission in The Presidency has released for public comment. The plan directly addresses the elimination of poverty and the reduction of inequality.

14 million households were visited as part of the 10-year Census undertaken in 2011. The aim of the census was to provide information such as the size, nature, characteristics and geographic location of South Africa's population.

In 2011, the Online Fingerprint Verification System was implemented, which saw the department signing a memorandum of understanding with the banking industry, through the South African Banking Risk Information Centre, to roll out the system in all participating banks. This system will enable banks to verify details of their clients through the Home Affairs National Identification System.

Growing infrastructure

In 2010/11, the City of Johannesburg spent over R1,6 billion on the Bus Rapid Transport system. Cape Town spent over R70 million and Nelson Mandela Bay around R300 million.

The Gautrain is improving the lives of hundreds of people with the route to Tshwane that became operational in July 2011.

Nine regional bulk water systems were constructed in Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape, benefiting 744 000 people.

Strengthening cooperative governance

Cooperation with provincial administrations improved due to regular meetings between the President, premiers and local government representatives in the President’s Coordinating Council.

The various spheres of government are working closely together to strengthen the performance of certain departments in the provinces. Some examples of these efforts include:

• a relationship with the Government of the Eastern Cape to revitalise education
• in Gauteng, work is underway with the Provincial Government to improve the administration of health
• focusing on the governance of roads and transport in the Free State
• working with the Limpopo Provincial Government to improve the running of a number of departments, including the Provincial Treasury.

Fighting crime and corruption

Government continues to roll out victim support rooms (VSRs) to support victims of violent crime, especially in cases of sexual offences, child abuse and domestic violence. The number of VSRs increased from 806 to 900 across the country.

Government has taken firm steps to build anti-corruption capacity in the Public Service through the creation of the:

• Public Service Anti-Corruption Unit
• Multi-Agency Working Group
• National Anti-Corruption Hotline. 

The Anti-Corruption Task Team is investigating 45 corruption-related priority cases against 151 accused people. 

More than 20 proclamations have been issued by President Zuma, authorising the Special Investigating Unit to conduct investigations. Most of these focus on procurement-related irregularities, which is a priority for government.

Government has established the Commission of Inquiry into the Strategic Defence Procurement Packages, known commonly as the “Arms Deal”. 

In fighting crime and corruption government's achievements in 2011 included, among other things:
-- Serious crimes dropped by 5,75% in 2011/12, compared to the same period in 2010/11. There were 149 659 arrests.
-- Contact crimes decreased by 9,65% in 2011/12, compared to the same period in 2010/11. There were 54 919 arrests.
-- The detection rate for contact crime increased from 53,46% to 56,99% and for trio crimes (vehicle hijacking, house robbery and business robbery) from 14,77% to 16,2% in 2010/11.

Improving healthcare

More than eight million people were screened for tuberculosis (TB) and, between April 2010 and June 2011, more than 300 000 people were placed on preventive treatment to stop the activation of TB.
In December 2011, government also launched the new National Strategic Plan to Fight HIV, Sexually Transmitted Infections and TB from 2012 to 2016.

Fighting HIV/AIDS
-- 13 million people agreed to be tested for HIV through the HIV Counselling and Testing Campaign
-- 2 948 public health facilities are now treating patients on antiretroviral treatment (ART)
-- 1,6 million patients had started ART by September 2011
All public health facilities in South Africa now offer services to pregnant women, which include HIV testing. A big achievement is the 50% reduction in the transmission of HIV from mothers to children between 2008 and 2010.

Rural development and land reform

One of the biggest success stories has been the piloting of the revitalisation of small rural towns. Two pilot projects are underway at Prince Albert Hamlet, Witzenburg Municipality in the Western Cape; and Dysselsdorp, in the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality in the Eastern Cape.

Government launched the National Rural Youth Service Corp in Dysselsdorp. Over 7&nb000 young people from rural communities are participating in the programme, which includes training in disaster management, construction and information management.

Boosting education

Some of the highlights include:

• reaching 8,6 million learners with the School Nutrition Programme
• printing and delivering a total of 24 million Grade 1 – 6 (Book 1 and 2) Language and Mathematics workbooks  to 18 854 public primary schools in nine provinces
• providing around 2 700 learners with supplementary tuition in Mathematics, Physical Science and English during the 2010 academic year
• the number of registered Early Childhood Development (ECD) sites increased to more than 19 000, and the number of children benefiting from ECD services to more than 790 000
• in 2010, 210 592 students were supported in Further Education and Training college and university programmes through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, amounting to R3,678 billion.

Providing social support

Social grants remain the cornerstone of the fight against poverty affecting children and older persons. These now reach more than 15 million individuals, compared to 2,7 million in 1994.

The Child-Support Grant was extended to children aged 16 and 17, which increased the number of children benefiting from the grant to more than 10,5 million.

In providing social support government's achievements in 2011 included the following:
-- 2 176 human settlement projects were approved.
-- 341 316 houses were completed.
-- 154 461 serviced sites were delivered.
-- Over 32 000 serviced sites were completed as part of the Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme.
-- Over 5 000 rental housing units were completed in 2011 as part of the drive towards accelerated delivery of housing opportunities.
-- 64 453 electricity connections were achieved in 2011/12.
-- 449 082 people were supplied with basic water supply between April and December 2011. By the end of the financial year, this number will have increase to 598 776 people.

Human settlements

The Informal Settlements Upgrading Programme has provided services in 52 383 sites.

From 2009 to June 2011, over 81 000 housing loans were granted, to the value of over R385 million, by the Rural Housing Loan Fund.

Building a better Africa and a better world

The African Agenda remained the key policy focus in 2011, with South Africa currently serving a two-year term on the AU Peace and Security Council.

 In August 2011, South Africa assumed the chairpersonship of the Southern African Development Community Organ on Politics, Defence and Security.

The world witnessed the birth of a brand new state, South Sudan, in which South Africa played a part. The country is currently involved in various peacekeeping operations.

A key challenge during 2011 was the situation around Libya. South Africa was principled and consistent in its efforts to help secure a resolution of the situation in that country, despite the unfortunate developments around the misuse of the United Nations’ (UN) Resolution of 1973 which was meant to protect civilians. We will continue to work within the AU towards a solution in Libya.

South Africa participated in the UN and is a non-permanent member of the Security Council (UNSC) in 2011 and 2012.

President Jacob Zuma was the UNSC President in January 2012, which saw the adoption of Resolution 2033 that provides for closer cooperation between the UN and the AU.

The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (Nepad) turned 10 years old in 2011. South Africa has played and will continue to play a leading role in developing and supporting Nepad. 

 The country hosted the fifth India, Brazil and South Africa (IBSA) Summit in October 2011. The IBSA trilateral development initiative aims to increase trade volumes between the three countries to US$25 billion by 2015. 

South Africa became a member of the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) trading bloc in 2011, an international group of some of the world’s leading emerging economies.

Developing sport

On the sporting front, the netball, rugby and cricket teams participated in international tournaments. They flew our flag high even if they did not win.

 Sport and Recreation South Africa hosted the National Sport and Recreation Indaba from 21 to 22 November 2011 to maximise the potential benefits of sport and recreation and to improve sports development in the country in a seamless and well-coordinated system.

The newly launched Integrated School Sport Framework will give children early exposure to diverse healthy physical activity.

State of the Nation Address

Jenny Bester

It was good to hear the President throw rhetoric to the wind for the first time and concentrate on health, basic education, infrastructure, information and communications technologies and regional integration. We have a huge poor population who wish to hear of a short-term alleviation to their misery. It must be desperately difficult to support a family in these times.

Government has at last had the courage to put poverty alleviation and job creation as the secondary problem, rather than the primary one. The topics covered are more relevant than the generalities of job creation and poverty alleviation which remain, at present, insurmountable global problems. It is a bad time to focus on health when administrative problems beset government hospitals. We have considerable expertise but maladministration dodges supply and prevents hospitals from performing at their best. The injection of billions of rands does little to allay fears when a lack of administration and accountability continues. Money allocated must be spent honestly and wisely, and this is the Government's responsibly.

As far as education is concerned, it is heart-warmingly remarkable that some of the poorest schools with the most dedicated staff achieve marvels and should receive accolades by the thousands!! However, the majority of schools are beset by ill-attendance.No book can cure this.

As far as infrastructure is concerned, I can only hope that the environmental issues that are raised are properly investigated. Future generations will depend on efficient use of both land and water. There is not a person in South Africa that will not praise any initiative, be it the supply of water and electricity or an efficient rail system. I would ask, Mr President, that land-reform initiatives should be carefully monitored before more implementation. Much reclaimed land now lies waste and large-scale commercial farming is vital to supply an increasingly large urban population.

Lastly, because I am a woman, I have this to say. Rape is a horrendous problem but it is a social issue, rather than a political one. Let the sociologists deal with it while you Mr President, rule the country. Please don’t write legislation that insists that women must have a place in government or business. Believe me, given a good education, her determination alone will allow her to rise in the ranks.

I welcomed your new approach but have only one reservation. With such a small tax base, I wonder where the money will come from. I am no financier, but billions of rands must be acquired and managed without corruption managing to get its finger into the pie. But, thank you for an address that gives us all hope; may you manage to implement it.

Nicholas Francis

The President and government as a whole are trying to alleviate the high unemployment rate, but there are still thousands of youth who are unemployed. What does this say about our country? Does it have anything to do with low pass rates at universities?

Most youths are unemployed because they may have the qualifications, but they lack the proper skills. This needs to be addressed, and only then can government make a dent in improving the unemployment rate.

Ianessa Harman

President Jacob Zuma in his speech said that R10 billion was to be set aside by the Industrial Development Corporation for job creation and to date about R1,5 billion was approved for 60 companies to promote job creation. Where are the people who gain from these jobs?

Not one person I know has found a job through any one of these initiatives. Have these jobs been verified or are they just numbers and rands added up to make the State of the Nation Address sound great?

Daniel Harman

The basic education system is failing, not only because of learner problems, but because teachers do not show up on time for school; they take extended periods of leave and simply are absent. This disrupts student focus and in turn also effects the grades and end-results of learners. It is time we stop blaming government and ensure that the teachers who teach at our schools are there to do their jobs.

Elize Alves

As a citizen of South Africa, I would to like comment on the following issue raised at the State of the Nation Address by our honourable President Jacob Zuma. Previously, it was an issue that the citizen who use to earn R3000 or more were not entitled to get a RDP house while they could not qualify for a house bond either.

Fortunately, our government has gone some way to address the problem by subsidising them with R83 000, to enable them to obtain housing finance from an accredited bank.

Shireen Khan

The President spoke about people who do not qualify for houses and who also do not qualify for bank home loans because they do not earn enough. Yes, I do believe it is a challenge, but a person who earns more than someone who needs an RDP house is not poor. Government should pay more attention to build more homes for the poor.

Maggie Lebipi

With regard to funds being spent within government, each year billions of rands are allocated to various departments, but we keep hearing about corruption among government officials. What guarantee do we as tax payers have that government is cracking down on corrupt officials? It is not enough to suspend or fire them, the money should be paid back to government, as it is not their money, it belongs to the taxpayers of this country.

Emilene Rangayah

Health has been upgraded, and the roll-out of the National Health Insurance scheme (NHI) is well underway. However, how can we ensure that the scheme will uphold and work well, if government cannot ensure service-delivery at public hospitals now? What is going to be changed to ensure service delivery of the NHI?

We need officials who are accountable to deliver services to patients. Civil servants need to realise that they are employed to serve the people and the public, so they should do just that, serve.

Mzwandile Ringane

Unlike the last time the President was able to speak or address people at a personal level, he drew closer by reading letters from normal South Africans and giving solutions. Even though he did not commit himself to a lot of issues like the mine issue and provinces, he made sure we know he knows about it and is looking into the matter.

He finally addressed the issue of houses for the working class; at least the Government will not only take from us but we will have something to gain as well.

Siyamthanda Kopeshe

Mr President applauded the teacher’s unions for their cooperation while the Eastern Cape Teacher’s Union proposed a go-slow not so long ago. I like the constant drive towards job creation, skills development and the massive infrastructure investment. The building of new universities in Mpumalanga and Northern Cape is definitely going to boost the economy of those two provinces.

State of the Nation Address

 

 

 

 

Give us a piece of your mind

Winning letter - Never try to buy stolen goods

Never try to buy stolen goods from criminals, especially if they are going to steal it for you and then promise to sell it to you at half price. Don’t fall for their stories and don’t give them your money, as you will regret what you had done when it’s too late. If you want something, do not buy it or make deals with criminals and strangers, because within 30 minutes your money will be gone and the criminal will also be gone with nothing left for you.

You cannot report the incident even if you have proof to go to the police; you are the one who will get into trouble since you were going to buy the stolen goods. This means you are also a criminal. So even though you lost a lot of money, you’ll just have to let it go. While initially you thought you were a clever, you found out the hard way that you made a stupid mistake. So be careful, buying stolen goods is a crime and crime does not pay.

- Khamadi Joseph, Allanridge, Free State.

 

Stay one step ahead

We are always told about the scarcity of employment, but is it really true? Government departments are always mandated to create jobs in their sector and thousands of jobs are created annually. I often hear youth complaining about the lack of employment, but the real problem lies amongst us. The fact is, we as the youth don't read enough or use government facilities regularly to access information.

We also don't volunteer enough and gain some experience or open businesses to boost our economy and be closer to opportunities offered by government. I would like to encourage our youth to start reading because readers are winners. If we always stay one step ahead and know important information then the future is filled with so many possibilities.

– Andries Lebone, Botshabelo, Free State

 

Keep our environment clean

Let's educate people about keeping our environment clean. People from our communities are throwing rubbish everywhere; they also burn grass and trees; they make water from the rivers and dirty by throwing rubbish inside them. I'm concerned about living organisms inside the water, because they die from suffocating, as there is plastic in the water. Many people are getting diseases from rubbish and allergies from smoke.

We must plant trees and sustain them instead of burning them.

Everyday I collect rubbish around my yard and put them in a drum instead of burning them. We must all participate towards making our environment clean and safe.

- Matlala Moraba, Mashashane, Limpopo

 

Use land productively

The culture of growing our own food in rural areas is highly ignored and deeply despised. Where are we heading? The land provides food for people to live, but most refrain from using this golden opportunity at their disposal.

We tend to believe that we will always be spoon fed by someone else. Our ancestors did manual farming, while we have machines, but we still do nothing. Let us go back to the drawing board and make the best use of our land to provide for ourselves.

– Masemola, Marishane, Limpopo

 

 

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If any of the information published in Vuk'uzenzele has helped you in any way to improve your life, we would like to hear from you. Don't forget to include your telephone or cellphone number and address.

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Presidential Hotline

Since its launch in September 2009, the Presidential Hotline continues to make a difference in the lives of many callers. By December 31 last year, 5 607 complaints had been successfully resolved out of the 120 306 calls logged. This translates into almost 80 per cent of all calls to the Presidential Hotline being resolved.

John Vermaak from KwaZulu-Natal breathed a huge sigh of relief after the Presidential Hotline had helped to solve his problem. A delay in clearing imports at the Durban harbour prompted this manufacturer of car parts to turn to the hotline for help.

A delay of more than two weeks at the Durban harbour to clear some of the imported raw materials used to manufacture car parts, resulted in a loss of income and productivity for Vermaak’s company, Auto Component Manufacturing.

Several enquiries and follow-up calls to the South African Revenue Service’s Customs Section revealed that no one seemed to know the reason for the delay and that nothing had been done to improve the situation.

Thoroughly frustrated, Vermaak decided to turn to the Presidential Hotline as a last resort. Hotline staff contacted the Customs Section and to Vermaak’s great relief, all the imports for Auto Component Manufacturing were cleared within a short time.

Money in his pocket

A student from Zithobeni near Bronkhorstspruit in Gauteng was overjoyed when efforts by Presidential Hotline staff paid off with some money in his pocket.

Phasha Matjhiga turned to the Presidential Hotline when after many enquiries he didn’t receive money due to him from a government department. Although he had been promised a stipend when he started his learnership at the department in August 2010, he didn’t receive anything.

Soon after Presidential Hotline staff contacted the department, Matjhiga received his stipend back-dated to August 2010.

More than just chicken feed

When Ntombizodwa Sodiyazi, an emerging farmer from the Metsweding District Municipality in Gauteng, decided to expand her farming business in 2007, she approached the Gauteng Department of Agriculture for assistance. They promised that she would get funding in 2008, which she never received.

After many follow-up calls and enquiries, Sodiyazi called the Presidential Hotline for help. Hotline staff approached the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform, which led to the Metsweding District Municipality donating R117 000 worth of chicken feed. The Gauteng Department of Agriculture and Rural Development also assisted with 1 000 chickens, chicken feed, medication and disinfectants.

Sodiyazi had previously received support from the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform with a layer chicken structure that could hold 30 000 chickens which produced eggs every second day.

KwaZulu-Natal residents will be pleased to know that their Premier’s Hotline is up and running; the number is 0800 KZN KZN (596 596)

Written by Clement Moaga

Presidential Hotline

A "dire need" for residents to have contact with their provincial government has led the Gauteng Provincial Government to launch its own Premier's Hotline last month.

Gauteng residents can now take up issues directly with their provincial government through the recently launched Premier's Hotline. The idea behind the hotline was informed by statistics from the Presidential Hotline, which showed that the majority of calls logged nation-wide came from Gauteng.

This meant that Gauteng residents were in dire need of direct contact with their government at provincial level, said Premier Nomvula Mokonyane, adding that this platform would enable residents to "escalate matters easily".

Service delivery

Speaking at the launch of the hotline in Soweto, Mokonyane said the hotline would focus on improving service delivery by providing accurate, reliable and timeous information to the residents of Gauteng on all services rendered by government.

Residents will also be encouraged to send opinions and recommendations, which will be used to improve service delivery. Mokonyane described the launch of the hotline as one of the milestones in government’s efforts to improve communication with Gauteng residents.

She assured residents that the hotline was not aimed at replacing the provincial government’s outreach programmes, but at enhancing contact with the people.

Test period

After a trial launch of the provincial hotline in March last year to test the system, 95 000 calls were handled. Issues ranged from housing, electricity cut-off and installation, the billing system in municipalities, fraud and corruption, among others.

The premier said 70 per cent of the calls logged were resolved at provincial level, while 30 per cent were resolved at departmental and municipal level.

With 70 trained call centre agents, residents will be able to get a response within 72 hours.  The call centre will operate between 7 am and 10 pm.

Mokonyane urged residents to provide detailed information for consistency and improving response time.

Call the Gauteng Premier’s Hotline on 0860 428 8364

Written by Mduduzi Tshabangu

Know your Minister

The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, Jeff Radebe, has been a member of the national executive committee and national working committee of the ANC since 1991. In addition he is also a member of the SACP Central Committee and head of the ANC Policy Unit. Radebe also sat on the board of directors 2010 FIFA World Cup.

In 1976, Radebe joined the ANC, while he was still a student. In 1977 the ANC sent him to Mozambique, and soon thereafter to Tanzania, where he worked as a journalist for a radio station in Dar es Salaam. After an unsuccessful secret mission by the ANC, Radebe was arrested in 1986. He was convicted under the Terrorism Act and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on Robben Island. After a successful 12-day hunger strike, Radebe was released from prison in 1990.

At the dawn of the new democracy, Radebe served as Minister of Public Works under President Nelson Mandela. Under President Thabo Mbeki, he served as Minister of Public Enterprises and of Transport. It was in this capacity that he was a key force in the Arrive Alive campaign.

Radebe holds a BJur degree from the University of Zululand and an LLM in International Law from Leipzig University. He has also studied at the Lenin International School in Moscow.

Written by Irene Naidoo

Know your Minister

With 240 small claims courts throughout the country, South Africans have a quick and cost effective way to resolve their disputes.

While there are small claims courts in all of the provinces, the Department of Justice plans to establish one small claims court in each of South Africa's 387 magisterial districts. "We still have to establish 147," said Department of Justice spokesman Tlali Tlali.

There are currently 35 small claims courts in the Eastern Cape, 33 in the Free State, 26 in Gauteng, 30 in KwaZulu-Natal, 27 in Limpopo, 26 in Mpumalanga, 19 in the Northern Cape, 18 in North West and 26 in the Western Cape.

Quickly and cheaply

Small claims courts usually deal with disputes such as money lent between individuals, claims over movable and immovable property, property occupation, promissory notes and credit agreements.

In small claims courts, claims are resolved quickly and cheaply. Those involved conduct their own cases without legal representation but legal assistants and clerks at the courts assist free of charge.

Claims can be lodged against individuals and companies, but not against the State.

Small claims courts have to hear civil matters involving amounts not more than R12 000.

The department, in partnership with the Swiss government, has over the past couple of years revitalised small claims courts throughout the country.

New courts

A number of inactive courts have been revived and new courts also established.

From April 2010 to March 2011, 26 small claims courts were established and a further 16 since April 2011.

Just like other courts, small claims courts are affected by jurisdiction. "This means that any party wishing to approach the court must go to the court in the area where the cause of action arose. In other words they must go to a magistrate's court or a small claims court in the areas where their legal disputes arose," Tlali explained.

For more information contact the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development on: 012 315 1111

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Know your Minister

All victims of human rights violations who were declared eligible for reparation during the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) can claim their once-off payment of R30 000. 

The TRC identified 21 769 people as victims of human-rights violations. Of the total identified victims, 16 837 applied for reparations. By May 2010, 15 956 beneficiaries had been paid once-off grants of R30 000 as a final reparation.

President’s Fund

There were 881 outstanding beneficiaries. Of these, 219 were deceased and the President’s Fund was attempting to establish their rightful next of kin. Government continues to search for the remaining beneficiaries.

The President’s Fund was established in accordance with the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act and regulations outlined by the President.

The fund is located within the Office of the Chief Financial Officer in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. The department has experienced difficulties tracing some of the beneficiaries because of incorrect or changed addresses, or in some cases where the victims had died.

According to the regulations the payment of the final reparation is limited to people who appeared before or made statements to the TRC and were declared eligible for reparations.

Next of kin

It is important to note that as this process has been concluded, no new applications will be considered.

In instances where the listed beneficiary has died, the rightful next-of-kin should apply for payment. They should, however, be aware that their relationship would have to be verified to avoid unlawful payments.

The TRC was dissolved in March 2002 by a proclamation in the Government Gazette. The TRC made recommendations to government in respect of reparations to victims and measures to prevent the future violation of human rights and abuses.

Four categories of recommendations were approved by government in June 2003 for implementation.

• Final reparations: the provision of a once-off individual grant of R30 000 to individual TRC-identified victims.
• Symbols and monuments: Academic and formal records of history, cultural and art forms, as well as erecting symbols and monuments to exalt the freedom struggle, including new geographic and place names.
• Medical benefits and other forms of social assistance: Education assistance, provision of housing and other forms of social assistance to address the needs of TRC-identified victims
• Community rehabilitation: Rehabilitating whole communities that were subject to intense acts of violence and destruction and which are still in distress.

How to claim

To claim, beneficiaries must visit a regional office of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development with their identity documents and proof of their banking details. If the listed beneficiary has died, their rightful next-of-kin can claim, but must show their identity documents and the beneficiary’s death certificate.

Once the rightful next-of-kin has been confirmed, payment can be made. Where more than one person qualifies as the rightful next-of-kin, the money is divided between them.

Beneficiaries may forward their claim through the post or send a fax, but must attach certified documents. Payments are deposited electronically into beneficiaries’ bank accounts.

For more information, call the regional office For more information, call the regional office of the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development in your province
• Eastern Cape 043 702 7000
• Free State 051 407 1800
• Gauteng 011 332 9000
• KwaZulu-Natal 031 372 3006/7
• Limpopo 015 297 2000
• Mpumalanga 013 752 8393
• Northern Cape 053 839 0000
• North West 018 397 7000
• Western Cape 021 462 5471
 

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Youth matters

For many South Africans, the mere mention of the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) conjures up a picture of a reckless band of young people who shot into fame with the events that overshadowed the 17th World Festival of Youth in December in 2010.

The NYDA hosted the youth event on behalf of South Africa. Despite its relative success, the festival was dogged by allegations of disorganisation, accommodation problems for some delegates and complaints of some delegates not getting food.

It took the two people at the helm of the NYDA to dispute some of the allegations. They were the NYDA Chairperson Andlile Lungisa and the Agency’s CEO Steven Ngubeni.

Youth development

The NYDA was formed in 2009 following the dissolution of the former Umsobomvu Youth Fund and the National Youth Commission. Its purpose is to advance youth development through guidance and support to initiatives across sectors of society and spheres of government.

Lungisa is the Executive Chairperson of the NYDA’s seven-member Board charged with the responsibility of overseeing the overall functioning of the NYDA.

He is responsible for ensuring that the Board retains effective control of the NYDA and for the implementation of the agency’s objectives as defined in the NYDA Act 54 of 2008.

This work includes monitoring the implementation of the agency’s programmes; making sure that the NYDA carries out its five-year plan and ensuring that annual reports are submitted on time to the Auditor General.

Passion

As recognition for his experience in youth development, in 2010 President Jacob Zuma appointed Lungisa to serve in the 19-member Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) Council of South Africa aimed to advice government on black economic empowerment and review progress in achieving black economic empowerment.

He is as passionate about the development of the South African youth as he is about that of the youth of the continent. This became evident following his election into the Pan African Youth Union (PYU) as its Vice-President in 2008, a position he served with diligence representing the interests and aspiration of the youth of the Continent in Continental structures including the African Union. His sterling work as the Vice-President led to his election as the President of the PYU at its 3rd Congress held in Khartoum in Sudan in December 2011, a position he is holding for the next three years.

Opportunities

NYDA CEO Steven Ngubeni is equally passionate about youth matters. He has been at the helm of the NYDA since November 2009. Ngubeni reports to the Board of Directors and is in charge of the total management of the NYDA.

Under Ngubeni’s leadership the NYDA is refocusing its funding on micro businesses in peri-urban and rural enterprises to ensure that the creation of direct and sustainable jobs is accelerated where it is most needed.

This year, the NYDA will launch an initiative called Ithubalentsha Micro Enterprise Programme. Ithubalentsha is an IsiZulu word meaning “An Opportunity for the Youth”.  The overall objective of the programme is to improve access to quality and sustainable enterprise development products and services for the youth between the ages of 18 and 35, particularly those in peri-urban and rural areas.

Under Ngubeni’s watch, the NYDA has increased its network to 144 access points across all provinces. Through these access points young aspiring and established entrepreneurs can access loans ranging from R1 000 to 5 million.

Youth matters

The Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) have joined forces to support young South Africans who dream of careers in the arts, culture and heritage sector.

The partnership aims to improve the employability of youth in this sector through the Trendsetter Initiative.

The initiative, which falls under government’s National Youth Service Programme, provides youth with meaningful and accredited skills and activities. It incorporates voluntary activities which contribute to personal, community and national development.

The Trendsetter Initiative is a 12-month apprenticeship and trade skills programme that includes the following:

• Recruitment and selection: Young people will be recruited and selected for training through community arts centres.
• Induction and basic training: This will include orientation and training in fields such as performing arts (theatre, music and storytelling), basic training in visual arts and visual literacy, basic training in heritage and promotion of national symbols.
• Programme implementation: The trained young people, who will be called Trendsetters, will be in a position to assist other young people who are ready to improve and grow in the arts, culture and heritage sector. Each Trendsetter will recruit and mentor 15 other young people through platforms such as face-to-face interaction, workshops and community arts and culture events.
• Advanced training (personal development): This will focus on personal development and life skills for Trendsetters, including, financial management, project management, presentation skills and how to develop a winning CV.
• Exit opportunities: The NYDA/DAC partnership will facilitate employment and other opportunities for the Trendsetters through its alliance with the public and private sector, as well as international bodies.

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Youth matters

The excitement of experiencing French culture, cuisine, couture and chic awaits a group of 10 young volunteers between the ages of 18 and 25 from the Western Cape. They left for France in late January as part of the National Youth Development Agency’s (NYDA) French Exchange Programme.

Through the French NGO CEMEA, the volunteers will be involved in social work and non-formal education, as well as cultural and after-school activities for youth development.

They will stay in the Burgundy region of France, which has an existing relationship with the Western Cape.

To help the volunteers adapt in France, the NYDA provided French language instruction and preparatory workshops. This was done with the support of the French Embassy and Alliance Française, an NGO that promotes French language and culture in foreign countries.

“I cannot even begin to explain my excitement,” said 21-year old Amanda Centane from Langa in Cape Town. Centane is one of the volunteers and mother of a two-year old boy, Lunam who will stay with his grandmother during her absence. “I picture myself landing in a foreign country and being exposed to a brand new world of knowledge, excitement and, of course, style!”

Centane said she would really miss her family, but participating in the French Exchange Programme was simply an opportunity she could not turn down.

Commitment

LoveLife CEO Grace Matlhape thanked the volunteers for their ongoing commitment.

Addressing the group before their departure, Matlhape said, “What is really to be celebrated here today is the boldness and resolve of the 10 young leaders who have committed six months of their lives to building the communities of a foreign country the same way they have done at home.”

As part of the exchange programme, a group of French volunteers will also have the opportunity to experience African culture. They will arrive in South Africa in July this year where they will be involved in non-formal education programmes and HIV and AIDS prevention.

For more information contact NYDA on: 0860 096 884

Written by Irene Naidoo

International relations

South Africa's Home Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma will once again contest the position of chairperson on the African Union (AU) Commission in July after an earlier unsuccessful attempt.

In January, Dlamini Zuma competed for the position with Jean Ping of Gabon. Ping was serving as chairperson and his four-year term was to end this year.

After three rounds of voting at the AU Summit in Addis Abba, Ethiopia, none of the two candidates managed to clinch the required two-thirds of votes to take up the position.

According to the AU’s rule, the chairperson must get a majority of two thirds of votes from members with the right to vote, that is, member states that are not under sanction. If not, a following round is imposed automatically.

Malawi

Dlamini Zuma withdrew from the race after three rounds, but Ping, who dared a fourth round, could not win it, making him ineligible to run again next time.

The Commission decided to suspend the election and a new chairperson is expected to be elected at the next AU Summit.
Kenya’s Erastus Mwencha is the caretaker chairperson until the next round of voting set for Malawi in July.

Dlamini Zuma has the support of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

The SADC Extra-Ordinary Inter State Politics and Diplomacy Committee (ISPDC) said that Dlamini Zuma would contest the position again in July.

SADC

“SADC remains committed and united to its candidate for the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Hon. Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa,” the Committee said.

The ISPDC said that the region remained committed to the threshold of two thirds majority of the election of the members of the AU Commission in accordance with the procedural rules of the Assembly of the Union.

“SADC urges the AU Assembly to conclude the electoral process for the AUC Chairperson as a matter of urgency.”

Written by BuaNews

International relations

Infrastructure development between South Africa and Qatar is set to intensify in the future. This emerged after a meeting between President Jacob Zuma and Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani in Doha.

President Zuma stopped over in Qatar while en-route to the World Economic Forum, which took place in Davos, Switzerland. The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including concrete projects that the two countries can engage in as part of implementing South Africa's New Growth Path.

Ministerial delegation

The two countries also undertook to intensify cooperation in other economic sectors. It was agreed that a ministerial delegation from South Africa would visit Qatar to follow up on issues raised and to ensure that no time would be wasted in implementing the decisions of the two heads of state.

The South African government is seeking cooperation with Qatar in areas such as water, energy, construction, agriculture and general infrastructure development. The two countries already maintain a strong bilateral relationship and have strong cooperation in petrochemicals.

One of South Africa's largest investments in the Middle East, Sasol's joint venture gas-to-liquid facility, is located in Qatar. Qatar is currently the seventh largest supplier of crude oil to South Africa, but bilateral trade and investment have not reached their full potential.

Libya

The two leaders also discussed the situation in Libya at length. They agreed that the African Union and the Arab League should work together to assist the National Transitional Council and the people of Libya to normalise the situation in their country.

Written by BuaNews

International relations

South Africa and the United Kingdom (UK) are looking to increase economic and trade ties by focusing on exporting high-value-added goods to Britain, the Minister of International Relations and Co-operation Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said.

Following a bi-lateral meeting with UK foreign secretary William Hague, Nkoana-Mashabane said trade had improved between the two countries last year after declining 37 per cent from 2008 to 2009, amid the global financial crisis.

In the first 10 months of last year, South African exports to the UK had increased 10,7 per cent while UK imports were up 30,6 per cent.

Tourism

Last year, the two countries agreed at a bi-lateral forum to double trade between the two nations by 2015.

While the UK remains South Africa’s top source of overseas tourist arrivals, with 453 000 arrivals in 2010, the country is also providing support to set up a Free Trade Area in Africa and providing development assistance through its Department for International Development.

Trade between the two countries increased 77 per cent between 2001 and 2008, growing from R42 billion to R74,5 billion.

Global player

Nkoana-Mashabane said there were more than 300 UK companies operating in South Africa and several South African ones in the UK, pointing out that the South African government wanted to encourage UK companies to invest in South Africa.

Hague said South Africa was a “truly global player” across a range of issues, including non-proliferation, climate change and conflict resolution.

Hague and Nkoana-Mashabane also discussed several African and Middle East issues, including the conference on Somalia held in London and said South Africa had a key role to play in tackling piracy in the Mozambican channel.

Hague said Britain was in favour of permanent representation for Africa at the UN Security Council.

Sports

Young girls who dream of wearing the Banyana Banyana jersey to represent their country overseas, now have a special role model to look up to.

Refiloe Jane, winner of the Gauteng 2009 Future Players soccer identification programme has been selected to the squad that will compete at the 2012 London Olympics.

The Future Players soccer identification programme is a competition organised annually by the Gauteng Provincial Government. This year, it  was held in conjunction with the inaugural edition of the internationally acclaimed Future Champions Gauteng Under-17 tournament.

Refiloe is the captain of the Mamelodi Sundowns women’s team and is one of 26 players called into camp by coach Joseph Mkhonza in preparation for the Olympics in July.

Talent

Congratulating Refiloe on her achievement, Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Lebogang Maile, said her elevation to Banyana Banyana is proof of the talent in the province and the effectiveness of the Future Players Gauteng soccer identification programme.

“Gauteng is a hotbed of football talent and the challenge for us is to unearth these gems and help them get exposure in the game,” Maile said. 

“This programme has done that for Refiloe and I am quite sure there will be many more like her in the coming years,”

Kickstart

Refiloe started her journey as a Grade 11 pupil at Emshukantambo Secondary School in Pimville, Soweto.

“Winning the Future Players Gauteng soccer identification programme really kickstarted my career; it gave me so much confidence to believe that I can play for a top local side and even internationally,” she said. 

“After joining Mamelodi Sundowns in late 2010, I put my head down and said to myself that I am going to give everything I have to try and make it into the Banyana Banyana squad,” she said, adding that she was grateful that her hard work has paid off as she now has a chance to establish herself in the squad.

For more information contact the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation on: 011 355 2500

Written by Adziliwi Nematandani, Gauteng Province

Sports

South African cities are ready to battle it out in a bid to serve as hosts for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournament. Although the tournament requires only four venues, 11 cities are hoping to be hosts.

Libya was originally chosen to host the event, but pulled out owing to political turmoil in that country. The Confederation of African Football (Caf) then granted South Africa the opportunity to host the event four years earlier than planned and the South African Football Association (Safa) invited South African cities to bid.

Bidding cities

The bidding cities are Cape Town, Nelspruit, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, Tshwane, Mangaung, eThekwini, Rustenburg, Polokwane, Nelson Mandela Bay and Buffalo City.

Considering that seven of these candidates will have to fall by the wayside, it is not going to be easy for the bidders. Ideally, Safa would like to spread the matches around the country in order for fans to enjoy all parts of the country.

Interested cities won’t be bidding for the semi-final and final games since that will be selected based on the Caf and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) internal selection criteria. Safa President Kirsten Nematandani said the main criteria for choosing the venues will be the host city’s capacity which includes tourism infrastructure, bulk services and availability of match and training venues.

Unique flavour

“The host cities give the tournament its unique flavour and serve as the primary selling point for both the country and Caf,” said Nematandani. All cities and venues will be given an equal bidding opportunity regardless of whether they hosted the World Cup or not, he added.

“Each host city is a self-contained delivery mechanism for the conduct of a successful tournament and we depend on them to ensure South Africa continues to be seen as a perfect host for big events,” added Nematandani.

Other than the specific requirements of Caf, Safa intends to use all the elements of the 2010 Fifa World Cup since it serves as the current benchmark for big event organisation. These elements include the service of the volunteers.

“The volunteers are the bedrock on which successful big events are based and we intend to use a variation of the system used during the 2010 Fifa World Cup, given that it is a proven system for our country,” Nematandani said.

Written by Mbulelo Baloyi

Sports

The Department of Basic Education and the Department of Sport and Recreation recently realised their combined dream to reintroduce physical education and sport in schools.

As part of the School Sport Programme, physical education and sport was officially reintroduced in schools on Wednesday 15 February under the theme ‘Magnificent Woensdag’. Woensdag is Afrikaans for Wednesday and the idea is to bring back the tradition of Wednesdays being a sports day in schools.  This will be used to drive the roll-out of a nation-wide schools sport programme.

Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula said the plan acknowledged that sport and physical activity could benefit education. The department’s National Sport and Recreational Plan recognise school sport as one of the three pillars underpinning an active nation.

The other two pillars are recreation and campaigns promoting mass participation in sport and recreational activities.

Access to sport

Minister Mbalula said the Magnificent Woensdag campaign committed the Department of Sport and Recreation to increase access to sport, recreation and physical education in every school in South Africa.

“South Africa will never be the same again with the launch of Magnificent Woensdag,” he said, adding that learners should start playing sport at the age of six, as it was too late when they were in their early 20s.

"South Africa will never be the same again with the launch of Magnificent Woensdag." – Minister Fikile Mbalula

Bridge imbalances

Minister Mbalula said with the School Sport Programme, the Department of Basic Education in cooperation with the Department of Sports and Recreation hoped to bridge the present imbalances that existed between former Model C schools and those in the townships.

Participation in at least one sport was compulsory for children attending former Model C schools, while this was not the case in township schools.

At the launch of the programme, Minister Mbalula also introduced the Ministerial School Sport Kick, a programme which guides the delivery of sports in all schools, using Magnificent Woensdag as the vehicle for implementing it.

A total of 32 000 schools are participating in the School Sport Programme countrywide. The programme focuses on three activities: physical education, top school leagues and youth Olympics.

Rooting out corruption

Other priorities for the Department of Sport and Recreation for this year include rooting out corruption in all sporting codes. The Minister said the perception or incidents of alleged corruption were having a negative effect on sport as it made potential sponsors shy away.

In addition, said Minister Mbalula, there has to be transformation in all sporting codes by the end of the year. To this end, the department will introduce transformation score cards and a transformation commission to monitor progress in sport.

For more information contact the Department of Sport and Recreation South Africa on: 012 304 5000