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The Sowetan newspaper recently carried a front page headlined ‘Unplugged’, listing many small businesses around the country that have been crippled by the electricity crisis. The closure of these businesses shows some of the devastating impact of persistent load shedding on people’s livelihoods and on their dreams for a better life.

South Africans who are interested in upgrading their grade 12 results, taking part in the Second Chance programme, or would like to get good marks in their matric year have an opportunity to be part of the WOZA matric programme.

National Education Collaboration Trust (NECT) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) joined forces and launched the Remote Digital Learning programme (RDL).

Eskom is looking at the possibility of implementing Stages 2 and 3 of load shedding over the next two years to give power stations room to address maintenance issues and ensure predictability of power for South Africans.

This was according to Eskom Board Chairperson Mpho Makwana who recently spoke during a virtual media briefing on the power utility’s system challenges and a presentation of the power utility’s turnaround plan .

Amid the gloom of her employment contract lapsing as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in the county and globally in 2020, Busisiwe Sithole saw a gap in a market to establish her now growing business - Miss Pick Up Deliveries.

The Department of Health says additional COVID-19 vaccine booster doses are now available for eligible citizens at all active vaccination sites across the country.

“This is in line with the announcement by Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, earlier this month that government has been inundated with requests from fully vaccinated members of the public, especially the most vulnerable groups, seeking to maintain and enhance their protection against current and evolving COVID-19 variants,” the department said in a statement on Monday.

Teen Suicide Prevention Week runs from 14 – 21 February and highlights awareness around teen depression and suicide, especially with the increased stressors such as matric results outcome.

During this time, SADAG focuses on creating awareness that teen depression and suicide are particularly high risk in South African teens.

SADAG encourages parents, teachers, and family members to know the warning signs of depression and suicide which include;

Mnqobi Duphelezi (17) from Mtubatuba, KwaZulu-Natal has beat the odds and managed to get five distinctions in his matric year.

From the age of 15, Duphelezi moved out of home to stay by himself so that he could be close to a better school called Nondumiso High situated in Hlambanyathi which is about 61 kilometres from his hometown.

 “There were no nearby high schools in my village, so I decided to move closer to Nondumiso High School by renting a room in Hlambanyathi so that I could study at night and attend morning classes,” says Duphelezi.