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Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Wednesday deliver the keynote address at the official launch of the Ronnie Mamoepa Foundation at the Freedom Park National Heritage Site in Pretoria. 

The foundation, according to the Deputy President’s Office, was established in honour of the late liberation struggle icon, accomplished public servant and veteran communicator, Ronald “Ronnie” Mamoepa.

The commemoration event will be held under the theme, 'Recommitting the legacy of Ronnie Mamoepa through social activism'. 

The event will commence with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Wall of Names, which is inscribed with the names of heroes and heroines who died fighting for humanity and freedom. 

Mamoepa’s last job at the time of his passing in 2017 was then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesperson. 

The Presidency said this was a role he fulfilled and executed with distinction, humility, dedication and honour.  

The late spokesperson has been described as a consummate professional characterised by integrity, intelligence, humour, kindness, and loyalty. 

The Presidency said he was a dedicated servant of the people who earned his stripes in the youth movement, Parliament and various national departments.

“This griot of communications also served five years of his youth in incarceration in Robben Island.”

The launch of the foundation, the Presidency said, is aimed at highlighting, preserving and promoting the positive legacy of Mamoepa. 

It will also lead community-based initiatives, focusing on addressing the socio-economic challenges facing the country such as poverty, inequality and unemployment.  

The event will be attended by representatives of the Mamoepa family, friends and colleagues, including leaders of the governing party and other political formations, businesses and faith-based organisations.  

Deputy President Mashatile will be accompanied by Cabinet Ministers and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, as well as senior government officials. – SAnews.gov.za
 

Take Note IT, a leading provider of innovative IT solutions, has launched the Cyber Excellence Academy, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 

The academy, which is also supported by the Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICTSETA) aims to revolutionise the cybersecurity landscape by empowering people with advanced skills and knowledge to combat evolving digital threats.

The Cyber Excellence Academy is an intensive training programme designed to equip participants with industry-leading expertise in cybersecurity. 

“By fostering a deep understanding of cybersecurity principles, strategies and best practices, the academy aims to produce a new generation of highly skilled cybersecurity professionals, who can proactively safeguard organisations against ever-evolving cyber threats,” the CSIR said in a statement. 

The collaboration with the esteemed CSIR ensures that the programme aligns with cutting-edge research and development in the field of cybersecurity. 

The CSIR said its extensive experience and expertise in cybersecurity, coupled with Take Note IT’s track record, create a unique and powerful synergy to provide participants with an unparalleled learning experience.

Speaking on the collaboration, CSIR Information and Cybersecurity Manager, Dr Jabu Mtsweni, said this initiative is focusing on the youth, females and the unemployed from the matric level. 

“This we do because we have learned that many of those with matric or higher certificates struggle to either go to varsity or enter the job market, despite the great potential that they have. As such, this programme, in line with the CSIR’s strategic objectives and values, aims to contribute towards skills development and on-the-job training, in collaboration with industry,” he explained. 

Meanwhile, MICTSETA has been identified as a key organisation that is driving skills development and training initiatives in the media, information and communication technology sectors. 

The collaboration ensures that the academy’s programmes adhere to industry standards and address the specific needs of the rapidly evolving cybersecurity industry.

“This academy will play a pivotal role in training the new generation of cyber youth, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to excel in the digital world,” said the CEO of Take Note IT, Mamela Luthuli. 

“By investing in talent development, the company not only ensures its future growth but also fosters employment prospects for individuals seeking careers in the cybersecurity field.” 

It offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers a wide range of cybersecurity domains, including, but not limited to, network security, ethical hacking, digital forensics, risk management and incident response. 

Participants will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, cutting-edge tools and technologies, and world-class instructors who are industry practitioners with deep expertise in their respective domains. – SAnews.gov.za
 

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) says it has initiated a remedial process where students, who are found to have been funded based on incorrect information, are immediately defunded.

NSFAS said this is done to avoid wrongful and illegal allocation of funds to students, who fall outside the prescription of the entity’s policies. 

“The prescriptions of our policies and the law will be implemented firmly and vigorously to avoid a repeat of the more than R5 billion that was allocated incorrectly to students since 2016,” NSFAS said.

The NSFAS decision is in response to the Auditor-General’s findings and a Special Investigation Unit (SIU) investigation, which revealed that more than R5 billion was paid to the students who did not qualify for bursaries.

The SIU draft presentation was presented to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA).

The lead investigator told the committee that 76 institutions, including 40 044 students, did not qualify for bursaries from 2018 to 2021.

However, the scheme has acknowledged that it has received complaints from some students, who were defunded incorrectly, and said “if such cases are true, this is regrettable”.

“A process of verifying these complaints will be immediately initiated and if proven otherwise, remedial action will be taken,” NSFAS said.

During a meeting held with the South African Students Congress (SASCO) leadership this past Sunday, and an engagement with the South African Union of Students (SAUS), NSFAS assured students that its board and management remains committed to a student-centred model, in which the main focus is the creation of an environment for students to engage in academic activities without the inconvenience of lack.

“Where we encounter obstacles related to our systems and capacity, all appropriate efforts will be made to achieve improvements.

"Where needed, engagements will continue to be made with the relevant stakeholders and this will be done with the objective of receiving valuable inputs in improving our service to students and in full observance of our policies and the law,” NSFAS said. 

In carrying out these objectives, NSFAS said it will not be influenced by squabbles amongst service providers, or parties that seek to “grandstand” for reasons other than the interests of the students.

“NSFAS will proceed with implementing new policy decisions in a manner that is firm, legal and within the dictates of her policies,” NSFAS said.

Investigation over excessive charges

Meanwhile, NSFAS said an investigation will be conducted following students’ complaints about excessive charges.

Student leadership has also complained about inaccessibility of service providers, lack of clarity on how to access funds, and allegations of funds not reaching their intended beneficiaries.

“Where the allegations are proven true, appropriate action will be taken,” the scheme said.

NSFAS said the service providers will be instructed to increase their physical presence at institutions of higher learning so that they can respond directly to student queries on direct payments.

“There should be an immediate enhancement of explanations on how students can access their funds to avoid delays in the distribution of allowances, and there will be a three-way meeting between student leaders, NSFAS management and the service providers on 11 July to iron out all relevant matters,” NSFAS said. – SAnews.gov.za 

 

All eight police officers that were involved in the N1 assault case have been suspended in terms of the South African Police Service (SAPS) disciplinary regulations, as of Monday, 10 July 2023.

Last week, Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola announced that the eight members of the South African Police Service have been issued with suspension notices.

The officers were then temporarily removed from their posts pending investigation.

Masemola said no amount of provocation can ever justify or validate what was witnessed in the video clip.

“We generally follow a very stringent process to identify members that should be protecting our principals, so for those members to have conducted themselves in such a manner is quite concerning.

“We pledge to offer our full cooperation to the IPID [Independent Police Investigative Directorate] investigation, at the same time ensuring that our internal processes are not compromised in any manner,” Masemola said.

The police officers involved in the incident are said to be Deputy President Paul Mashatile's protectors. He has condemned the incident in the strongest terms. – SAnews.gov.za