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Arrests made in connection with fake certificates

Location: News

Arrests made in connection with fake certificates

Over the last six months, police have arrested at least 11 people in relation to the buying and selling of fake certificates.

This according to Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, who was speaking during a media briefing on Monday.

“Since the [National Senior Certificate exams] State of Readiness Media Briefing held on 13 October 2023 during which we, amongst others, informed the public about the safeguards implemented to ensure the authenticity and credibility of Umalusi certificates, eleven suspects have been arrested by the South African Police Service (SAPS) on different dates.

“The first two suspects were arrested in Burgersfort in Limpopo on 27 October, one suspect was arrested in Pretoria in November, the next three were arrested on 20 November, and the last five were nabbed on 13 December 2023 again in Burgersfort, Limpopo,” he said.

Furthermore, a Department of Higher Education and Training official is facing a charge of corruption for issuing a diploma certificate in exchange for cash.

“Police investigations are ongoing and Umalusi will continue to work closely with the law enforcement agencies in whatever way possible to ensure that the scammers or fraudsters are made to face the full might of the law,” Rakometsi said.

He asserted that the education quality assurance body “has got no business with fake certificates” and is mandated to issue authentic certificates to qualifying candidates.

“Fake certificates are issued by scammers or fraudsters who are not employees of Umalusi.

“We advise all employers both in the public and private sectors to consider verifying their current and future employees’ qualifications through the verification agencies whose contact details are available on the website of Umalusi (www.umalusi.org.za).

“On the landing page, you simply click on the Certification & Verification icon,” Rakometsi said. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 14:30

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The Outsourced CFO’s Impact on Business Planning

Location: MyPR

Small business management can feel like a balancing act. From daily operations to bottom-line concerns, it can get intense. This is where business advisory services come in handy. They offer strategic solutions like CFO outsourcing or financial planning services that can enhance your business planning. Solving Financial Issues Small businesses often need help with their …

Read moreThe Outsourced CFO’s Impact on Business Planning

Kamo Mpela, Vigrodeep, Sha Sha And Pabi Copper Set To Perform At The Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Location: Entertainment, MyPR

The award-winning All Africa Festival (AAF), the UAE’s largest celebration of Africa’s rich and diverse cultures in all their vibrant expressions and representations, is set to make a return for its 3rd edition, debuting in the nation’s capital, Abu Dhabi. The festival will take place from 02 – 04 February 2024 and will see the …

Read moreKamo Mpela, Vigrodeep, Sha Sha And Pabi Copper Set To Perform At The Yas Island, Abu Dhabi

Democracy has paved the way for access to education for every

Location: News

Democracy has paved the way for access to education for all

President Cyril Ramaphosa says that as the nation commemorates 30 years of democracy, South Africa has made strides in “advancing access to education” for previously marginalised groups.

He made this assertion in his weekly newsletter to the nation on Monday.

South Africa will celebrate 30 years of democracy this year as the country’s first democratic election was held in April 1994 – marking an end to the racist apartheid regime.

“We must consider just how far we have come from an era where the educational prospects of young black men and women were greatly diminished, and where the inferior education they received was deliberately designed to prepare them to be “hewers of wood and drawers of water”.

“Much has changed. From the results of Census 2022, we can glean insight into the gains we have made as a country in advancing access to education, the most critical area of any nation’s development,” the President said.

Census 2022, according to the Presidency, was the fourth population and housing count in post-apartheid South Africa, with the first conducted in 1996, with subsequent censuses being conducted in 2001 and 2011.

Pressing further on the results of Census 2022, the President added that at least three quarters of youth aged between five and 24 are attending school with the “percentage of people aged 20 and older who have completed secondary education” doubling since the first democratic Census in 1996.

“The first census showed that some 62% of white South Africans had a matric or higher qualification compared to 18% of blacks. Today, 38% of all South Africans have completed secondary education.

“At the time Census 1996 was conducted, 1.5 million South Africans had post-school qualifications. In 2022, this figure stood at approximately 4.6 million. Much of this progress has been made possible by the National Student Financial Aid Scheme, which continues to play an invaluable role in supporting access to higher education,” President Ramaphosa said.

Expanding access to education

He acknowledged that the education sector is facing challenges “as it works to meet the needs of our growing population [and] we are working to overcome them”.

“However, given our country’s history of marginalisation and exclusion, that we have made such substantial progress in expanding access to education over the past three decades is significant.

“In South Africa today, basic and higher education is accessible to the children and grandchildren of farmworkers, mineworkers and domestic workers, many of whom were denied such opportunities in the not-too-distant apartheid past. We will continue to build on our gains in our quest to leave no-one behind.”

Matric results

President Ramaphosa highlighted that matric results over the past few years has recorded the strides that young females are now making.

“In 2022, the matric cohort achieved an 80.1% pass rate, and last year more than a million candidates sat for the exam. More than half of the successful matriculants were female. There are also more women studying at tertiary institutions in South Africa, including in the once male-dominated science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields.

“While the task of ensuring that our economy grows at a scale and pace to absorb graduates and those seeking formal employment is a daunting one, let us not lose sight of how far we have come in this critical developmental indicator.

“We wish the matriculants eagerly awaiting their results later this week good luck. We have no doubt they will make us proud, making it an auspicious start to an auspicious year,” President Ramaphosa concluded. – SAnews.gov.za

 

NeoB
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 10:13

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Activate HIGH-IMPACT Leadership: 5 Tips to Conquer “Busyness” in 2024

Location: MyPR

In a hyper-connected world where ‘blue ticking’ is a serious no-no, red notification signs activate some compulsive finger twitching, and the ping of an email hitting your inbox compels you to drop everything and click “open”, it’s no wonder that for the large part, highly successful leaders are worn out! In observing success, it seems …

Read moreActivate HIGH-IMPACT Leadership: 5 Tips to Conquer “Busyness” in 2024

Introducing the recent Blonde in town: A recent chapter in whisky innovation

Location: MyPR

Johnnie Walker, the world’s number one Scotch whisky, is taking a walk on the bright side with the announcement of its latest addition to the South African market, Johnnie Walker Blonde. This exciting new expression marks a significant milestone in the brand’s journey, as it continues to push the boundaries of whisky craftsmanship. Retailing for …

Read moreIntroducing the recent Blonde in town: A recent chapter in whisky innovation

Prof Lourens Van Staden appointed as NSFAS acting Seat

Location: News

Prof Lourens Van Staden appointed as NSFAS acting Chair

Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Professor Blade Nzimande, has announced the appointment of Professor Lourens Van Staden as acting Chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) with immediate effect. 

This after NSFAS Board Chairperson, Ernest Khosa, voluntarily tabled a notice of 30 days leave of absence for the organisation to deal with allegations against him as contained in the recordings distributed by the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA).

The OUTA is accusing both Khosa and the Minister of defrauding the scheme through kickbacks from service providers.

Van Staden is the former Vice Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT). 

“I have already had a briefing session with him emphasising the importance of NSFAS to prioritise readiness for the beginning of the 2024 academic year. The acting Chairperson will also prioritise the employment of a new CEO and fully implement the Werksmans report that was commissioned by NSFAS,” Nzimande said on Sunday.  

Last year, the NSFAS Board appointed law firm Werksmans Attorneys and advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi to probe claims of irregularities involving a tender awarded to four firms to pay allowances to students. 

The investigation follows allegations against the now-axed NSFAS CEO, Andile Nongogo, relating to his conflict of interest in the appointment of service providers.

According to the findings, Nongogo actively participated in the presentation to the Bid Evaluation Committee (BEC) of proposals by service providers.

The probe also found he violated the public procurement processes of NSFAS, which he was employed to safeguard and uphold and has since been fired. 

Labour court decision and report

In addition, last week, the Board of the NSFAS welcomed the Labour Court’s decision to declare the termination of the contract of employment of Nongogo as lawful and valid.

“The NSFAS Board further welcomes the decision by the Court to dismiss with costs the application by Mr Nongogo to strike out certain paragraphs as contained in the Werksmans Attorney’s report, which implicates him of irregular conduct concerning the appointment of direct payment service providers.

“The decision by the court vindicates the NSFAS Board in terminating Mr Nongogo’s contract of employment following his irregular involvement in the appointment of the direct payment service providers.”

The financial aid scheme said it views the report as a necessary and important measure to push “NSFAS to a much more elevated level of consciousness to fight corruption and the capture of NSFAS by some unscrupulous people masquerading as business people”.

In addition, NSFAS believes that the document also serves as a measure for NSFAS to further strengthen its own internal supply chain management systems and controls.

“Following this groundbreaking judgement, NSFAS will vigorously continue with its legal process towards the termination of contracts of direct payment service providers.”

The implicated firms include Tenet Technologies, Coinvest, eZaga Holdings and Norraco Corporation.

“The termination of the direct payment service providers will be handled with due care not to disrupt the disbursement of the allowances to students in the 2024 academic year.

“NSFAS will now focus all its efforts towards its immediate task of preparation for the seamless beginning of the 2024 academic year.” – SAnews.gov.za

 

Gabisile
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 10:34

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Umalusi approves release of 2023 matric exam results

Location: News

Umalusi approves release of 2023 matric exam results

National education quality assurance body, Umalusi, has approved the release of the November 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.

This was announced by Umalusi council chairperson Professor Yunus Ballim at a media briefing on Monday.

More than 890 000 fulltime and part-time candidates sat for the matric exams administered by the Department of Basic Education (DBE) at the back end of 2023.

“Having studied all the evidence presented, EXCO of Council concluded that the examinations were administered largely in accordance with the regulations pertaining to the conduct, administration and management of the [NSC] examinations.

“EXCO of Council therefore approves the release of the DBE November 2023 [NSC] examination results,” Ballim said.

He added that irregularities that were identified during the writing and marking stages of the examinations “were not systemic and therefore did not compromise the overall credibility and integrity” of the NSC exams administered by the DBE.

“In respect of identified irregularities, the DBE is required to block the results of all candidates implicated in irregularities including the candidates who are implicated in the alleged acts of dishonesty pending the outcome of the DBE investigations and verification by Umalusi.

“Umalusi is concerned about the recurring instances of printing and packaging errors in question papers and the ongoing practice of group copying.

“The DBE is required to address the directors for compliance and improvement highlighted in the quality assurance of assessment report and to submit an improvement plan by the 15th of March 2024,” he said.

The ministerial announcement on the exam results is expected to be made by DBE Minister Angie Motshekga on Thursday (18 January) with the general result release set for the next day (Friday).

Examination challenges

Umalusi CEO, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, laid bare some of the issues that some learners experienced during the examinations.

The challenges were related to printing errors, poor print quality and translation quality.

These include:

  • A printing error affected a question worth three marks in the Physical Sciences Paper 2.
  • In the North West, the same paper was also affected with missing grid lines in a question worth six marks.
  • In Limpopo, major printing errors affected questions (translated in both English and Afrikaans) worth more than 60 marks in civil service, 31 and 14 marks in construction and more than 20 marks in woodworking.
  • Poor translation quality affected two questions worth three marks in the Afrikaans translated version paper of Geography Paper 1.
  • Cultural and political errors in the Mathematical Literacy Paper 1 and Mandarin Paper 1 were also acknowledged.
  • At least 64 candidates who wrote the isiZulu First Additional Language Paper 2 were not informed that new poems and short stories would be introduced for the examinations and therefore the candidates prepared based on outdated set works

“To mitigate the possible impact of the above errors on performance of candidates, the questions concerned were excluded from the marking process and the marks achieved upscaled using conversion tables.

“Not withstanding that, Umalusi urges all role players to put in stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of errors like these. This is because being fair to candidates means, among other things, being able to foresee and address any factor that may result in candidates performing poorly due to no fault of their own,” he said.

Rakometsi emphasised that while group copying incidents are lower, Umalusi remains “seriously concerned about the group copying cases” involving 945 NSC candidates that were detected by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

“These cases are not yet resolved because the numbers are still being verified. Of the total, 763 cases…were detected in KwaZulu-Natal and 164 cases…were detected in Mpumalanga.

“Umalusi is extremely encouraged by the fact that there were no detected cases of paper leakages. No papers were leaked in these examinations and…the examinations have therefore not been compromised in terms of their credibility and integrity,” Rakometsi. – SAnews.gov.za

NeoB
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 12:21

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Gauteng communities urged to nominate Clinic Committee members

Location: News

Gauteng communities urged to nominate Clinic Committee members

The Gauteng Department of Health is urging communities to nominate individuals to serve as Clinic Committee members in more than 370 public clinics in the province.

“Residents of Gauteng have an opportunity to improve the quality of service and patient experience of care at their local clinics by nominating individuals to serve as Clinic Committee members in more than 370 public clinics in the province. Nominations are now open until the end of January 2024,” said the provincial department in a statement on Sunday.

The department further added that Clinic Committees play a vital role in ensuring effectiveness and efficiency in the governance of public clinics through public participation, assisting in addressing health needs of the communities they serve, and ensuring accountability and effective management of the facilities.

“They are  statutory bodies appointed by the MEC for the Health and Wellness in accordance with Section 42 of the National Health Act, No.61 of 2003. Members are appointed for a three-year term, and they may serve for not more than three consecutive terms.

“We would like to urge communities to nominate individuals who will voluntarily conduct oversight in an effort to improve health services and patient experience of care at our clinics. The committee consists of eight members who include five community members, three ex-officio members who may be a local councillor, health representative, and a community development worker,” explained MEC for Health and Wellness, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko.

The criteria to qualify as a Clinic Committee member in Gauteng is that the nominated individual must:

  • Be 18 years of age and older.
  •  Be a South African citizen.
  • Have at least a Matric qualification.
  • Not been certified by a court of Law as being of unsound mind.
  • Not been convicted of a crime without an option of a fine, unless they have received a free pardon or a period of 10 years has lapsed since release from prison and they are certified as fully rehabilitated by the Department of Correctional Services.
  • Reside in the community serviced by the clinic.
  • Have sound knowledge, understanding and involvement in community work.
  • At least have sound knowledge of the health sector.
  • Have skills and/or experience in community development and leadership.

Nominations opened on Sunday, 14 January and will close on Wednesday, 31 January 2024 at 4:30 pm.

Nomination forms are available at clinics across the province or can be downloaded on the Gauteng provincial government website on  www.gauteng.gov.za under the Department of Health/publication page or using this link: https://www.gauteng.gov.za/Departments/CPM-001006/Announcements.

Submissions should be made to the respective local clinic and must include the contact details of the person or organisation making the nomination, the profile or CV of the person being nominated with the contacts of relevant references for the nominee. -SAnews.gov.za

Neo
Mon, 01/15/2024 - 10:44

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How to Boost Your Retail Business in 2024: The Benefits of Attending the Digital Retail Africa Conference

Location: Business

IT News Africa
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The retail industry is undergoing a massive transformation, driven by the internet, customer expectations, and emerging technologies. Retailers need to adapt and innovate to survive and thrive in this new era of digital retail.

If you are a senior IT executive in a major retail company, or a technology service provider who has solutions for retailers, you don't want to miss Digital Retail Africa 2024 (https://apo-opa.co/48O9MMq), the ultimate event for retail and technology innovation in Africa.

Digital Retail Africa 2024, hosted by IT News Africa (https://www.ITNewsAfrica.com/), will take place on 31 January 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Johannesburg. The conference will bring together hundreds of local and international retail industry leaders, service providers, and experts to share insights, best practices, and case studies on how to leverage technology to improve retail performance and customer experience.

The conference will cover a wide range of topics, such as:

  • E-commerce and omnichannel retailing
  • Mobile payments and digital wallets
  • Data analytics and artificial intelligence
  • Customer journey and loyalty
  • Cybersecurity and fraud prevention
  • Future trends and opportunities in retail

You will also have the opportunity to network with peers, partners, and potential customers, and to discover the latest products and services from leading technology vendors and startups in the exhibition area.

Some of the speakers and topics that you can expect to hear from are:

  • Koen den Hollander, Co-founder of Wolfpack, on how to create a seamless omnichannel retail platform
  • Matthew Bernath, Head of Data Ecosystems at ShopriteX, on how to use data to drive retail innovation and personalization
  • Ansgar Pabst, HOD of GMD Omnichannel at Pick n Pay, on how to optimize inventory and supply chain management
  • Munyaradzi Nyikavaranda, Group Executive Head of Digital Analytics and Marketing Technology at MultiChoice Group, on how to leverage digital marketing and analytics to increase customer acquisition and retention
  • Nenzeni Duma, Innovation Executive at FNB South Africa, on how to integrate mobile payments and digital wallets into retail transactions
  • Fionna Ronnie, Head of Customer and Loyalty at TFG (The Foschini Group), on how to build customer loyalty and engagement through rewards and gamification

And many more (https://apo-opa.co/3O344OT)!

Don't miss this chance to learn from the best, network with the brightest, and discover the latest in retail and technology innovation in Africa.

Register now and secure your seat at Digital Retail Africa 2024. Book now (https://apo-opa.co/3Sk9CXC) before tickets run out.

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting (https://apo-opa.co/3TVNtAn) at the conference, please contact us (events@itnewsafrica.com) for more information. We have various packages and options to suit your needs and budget.

We look forward to seeing you at the Digital Retail Africa Conference 2024, the must-attend event for retail and technology enthusiasts in Africa.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of IT News Africa.

Read moreHow to Boost Your Retail Business in 2024: The Benefits of Attending the Digital Retail Africa Conference

Top 5 News Stories from South Africa: Monday, 15 January 2024 – A Nation in Conversation

Location: News

As South Africa wakes up to a fresh Monday, its news landscape pulsates with narratives reflecting the nation’s ongoing dialogue and complexities. From legal battles on the international stage to environmental concerns and human triumphs, here are the top 5 headlines captivating attention today: Moseneke Takes Center Stage in ICJ Case Against Israel: Former Chief …

Read moreTop 5 News Stories from South Africa: Monday, 15 January 2024 – A Nation in Conversation

Top 5 News Stories from Africa: Monday, 15 January 2024 – A Continent in Motion

Location: News

As Monday brings a fresh start to the week, Africa’s news landscape buzzes with stories reflecting the continent’s dynamism and complexity. From political developments to environmental concerns and human triumphs, here are the top 5 headlines captivating attention today: Judge Moseneke Takes Center Stage in South Africa’s Genocide Case Against Israel: Former Chief Justice Dikgang …

Read moreTop 5 News Stories from Africa: Monday, 15 January 2024 – A Continent in Motion

The Afghans Have Arrived

Location: Sport

A commanding victory by Afghanistan was the highlight of day two of the warm-up matches at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2024 in South Africa. The warm-up games had begun on Saturday with rain playing spoilsport in three of the four games. Nepal beat Scotland in the only result of day one, with …

Read moreThe Afghans Have Arrived

Shelley Beach: Search for Missing Man

Location: News

Melody Herrmann, NSRI Shelly Beach duty controller, said: At 12h13, Friday, 12 January, NSRI Shelly Beach duty crew were activated to assist Police Search and Rescue between Sunwich Port and Melville Beach in a search launched for a missing man. It appears that the man, believed to be a local, aged in his late 20’s, …

Read moreShelley Beach: Search for Missing Man

Award-winning international guitarist commissions custom instrument made in South Africa

Location: Entertainment

Casimi guitars, made in Cape Town by a duo with an international reputation as two of the greatest guitar makers of their generation, are highly sought after by collectors – particularly in the USA, Europe and Asia – for the beautiful sound they produce. Creating a mere six instruments a year, Matthew Rice and Matthias …

Read moreAward-winning international guitarist commissions custom instrument made in South Africa

Can SA Shake Off Their Inconsistency?

Location: Sport

With South Africa, the hosts, being joined by 2022 finalists England, the 2016 champions West Indies, and a spirited Scotland side, Group B of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup has the potential to thrill. They begin in Potchefstroom with South Africa taking on West Indies on opening day (19 January) before neighbours Scotland …

Read moreCan SA Shake Off Their Inconsistency?