Internet Access Is Unequal in South Africa’s Economic Powerhouse: Survey Shows Race and Income Mark the Digital Divide
Access to the internet in South Africa’s economic powerhouse, Gauteng, is marked by inequalities.
Mamelodi
Good Governance Helps Tshwane Rise
In commenting on the draft 2026/27 budget and latest IDP and MTREF reports for the City of Tshwane today in Council, GOOD’s Councillor Sarah Mabotsa, the Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning in the City of Tshwane, has noted how “GOOD governance is helping Tshwane to Rise”.
The post GOOD GOVERNANCE IS HELPING TSHWANE RISE appeared first on For Good.
Tshwane Operating Under a Fully Funded Budget
Speech by Sarah Mabotsa, GOOD City of Tshwane Councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee responsible for Economic Development and Spatial Planning. Note to Editor: This speech was delivered today at the City of Cape Town Council Meeting
The post GOOD WELCOMES PROGRESS OUTLINED IN TSHWANE STATE OF THE CAPITAL ADDRESS appeared first on For Good.
Counting the People Who Sleep on the Streets of Mamelodi
Volunteers help the City of Tshwane gather data on homelessness
Learners Stand on Bus Steps With Doors Open to Get to School
Government-contracted buses are chronically overloaded
Six Mamelodi School Premises Should Have Been Transferred Long Ago
The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) insists that the relevant provisions must be complied with in the transfer of six school premises in Mamelodi from the Tshwane Metro to the Gauteng province. The sites are already used exclusively for educational purposes and it is, therefore, essential that the province assumes ownership of the land. The […]
The post Six Mamelodi school premises should have been transferred long ago appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Tshwane Municipality Fails to Improve Living Conditions at Mamelodi Hostel
Three years ago the City promised to restore electricity and erect a fence. Nothing has been done and the place is deteriorating
Tshwane Is Paying the Price
The DA’s culture of non-payment to suppliers is now well known. The previous DA government simply stopped paying for services. Like its R7 billion Eskom debt, it also failed to pay Rand Water and contractors.
The post TSHWANE IS PAYING THE PRICE FOR THE DA’S FAILURES appeared first on For Good.
Music Icon Vusi “The Voice” Mahlasela Shares His Story on Stage
“When you are on stage, it is like you are in a different world.”
Legal Action Looms Over Mamelodi Magistrates’ Court Construction Fiasco
Construction was due to be finished in 2016
Former Home of Mamelodi Sundowns Turned into a Dump Site
People living near the old Hezekiel Mothibe Pitje Stadium want the City of Tshwane to take action
Tshwane Reduces Water Truck Deliveries to Informal Settlements
Water will now only be supplied on four days of the week
Mamelodi Shack Dwellers Given Stands a Decade Ago Still Live Without Services
Skierlik lacks waste collection, sewage, electricity and potable water
No Progress With Tshwane Housing Projects
The Tshwane Metro’s housing crisis worsened exponentially over the past quarter as no progress was made with construction or infrastructure development in any of the Metro’s 53 housing projects. A report from the Department of Human Settlements reveals that millions have been allocated to housing and infrastructure, yet no houses have been built, no land […]
The post No progress with housing projects in Tshwane Metro appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Eersterust Economic Development Initiative Welcomed
Economic development is crucial for Eersterust, and the Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) welcomes the public meeting recently hosted by the Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Economic Development Committee to discuss the matter. The new chairperson of the Economic Development Committee and Freedom Front Plus MPL, Adv Anton Alberts, organised the meeting as part of the Committee’s […]
The post Eersterust economic development initiative welcomed, but fairness and transparency are vital appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Two People Collapse After Waiting Hours Outside Mamelodi Sassa
Beneficiaries want shorter waiting times and better service from staff at the office
Poor Service Delivery in Tshwane Has to Be Addressed
The impression created by the Tshwane Metro coalition government’s propaganda about their hard work to clean up and resolve service delivery issues stands in stark contrast with the reality on grass-roots level. Large parts of the Metro are plunged into darkness at night due to broken streetlights, motorists must navigate inaccessible roads and visitors are […]
The post Poor service delivery in Tshwane has to be addressed appeared first on Freedom Front Plus.
Tshwane Investigation Into Illegal Suburb Raises Hopes
Leeuwfontein home owners want their neighbourhood to be made a formal part of the city so that they can get water and sanitation
Gautrain looks to adapt to evolving ridership environment
Gautrain looks to adapt to evolving ridership environment
In response to the changing ridership patterns post-COVID-19, the Gautrain is identifying underserved customer groups and their specific needs and will be adapting its products and services to make travel more accessible for a diverse range of passengers.
The pandemic drastically and permanently altered the transit industry. Former frequent commuters continue to work from home in hybrid or remote positions.
“The days of a predictable 9-to-5, Monday through Friday commute are over. Passengers are demanding that we run a frequent service throughout the day and offer dynamic pricing to suit their hybrid work schedules. And with the rising cost of living, cost is increasingly becoming the sole determinant when choosing a mode of transport,” Gautrain Management Agency CEO, Tshepo Kgobe, said on Thursday.
Across the world, rail operators continue to adjust to changing ridership patterns by adapting their service offerings accordingly.
The Gautrain recently commissioned a brand study, which found that the rapid rail link has maintained its brand positioning as a safe, efficient, clean, and convenient service.
However, there is an indication that the brand is perceived as inaccessible to some market segments.
“This presents an opportunity to respond innovatively to changing customer needs, preferences and patterns,” Kgobe said.
In November 2023, the Gautrain kick-started the process to appoint a new delivery partner who will operate, maintain, modernise, innovate, and upgrade the Gautrain system when the current Gautrain concession agreement comes to an end in March 2026.
“A new Public-Private Partnership agreement presents an opportunity to rethink the Gautrain business model, ensuring financial sustainability and operational excellence. Under the new agreement, we will be able to consider a range of fare policies and pricing incentives, introduce products and services that address the needs of a diverse range of passengers, and advance equity in transportation.
“Public transport systems such as the Gautrain should indeed be inclusive, ensuring accessibility and ease of movement for diverse market segments. We are resilient and adaptable, this is an opportune time to rethink, redesign, renew, and build on a highly functional, world-class system,” the CEO said.
Gauteng, South Africa's most populous province, faces significant road congestion due to high traffic volumes and a rapidly growing population, impacting economic activity and daily commutes.
Kgobe said the rapid rail extensions from current Gautrain stations, mostly in the suburbs, to other economic nodes and townships like Soweto and Mamelodi, will significantly increase the customer base, boost ridership, and enable inclusive transport connectivity.
“As part of the diversification strategy, we have already introduced vehicle licensing services at Gautrain stations, and we will be transforming Gautrain stations into hubs for business, retail, and social activities.
“Gauteng, with its diverse attractions, is also an entertainment playground, so we are striving to position the Gautrain as the mobility of choice for large-scale social, sport and lifestyle events, and places of fun and entertainment,” he said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Thu, 03/27/2025 - 13:28
32 views
Government allocates R19.2 billion to upgrade PRASA signalling
Government allocates R19.2 billion to upgrade PRASA signalling
Government has provisionally allocated an additional R19.2 billion over the medium term for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA) critical signalling upgrades.
Tabling the 2025 Budget Speech on Wednesday, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana, said the agency was making steady progress towards rebuilding infrastructure to provide affordable commuter rail services.
“To sustain this progress, we have provisionally allocated an additional R19.2 billion over the medium term for critical signalling upgrades. This will enable commuters from areas like Mamelodi, Kwa-Mashu, Motherwell and Khayelitsha to catch a train every 10 minutes, to get to and from work and significantly reduce the money that low-income households spend on transport.
“The allocation will also allow PRASA to maximise the potential of the 241 new trains delivered through the rolling stock renewal programme,” the Minister said in Parliament.
Despite the progress made, Godongwana said PRASA’s procurement system needed strengthening.
“The management of the entity is already instituting measures to strengthen their procurement weaknesses. This includes getting support from the National Treasury to build capacity and mitigate risks and undertaking live audits for large procurement projects,” the Minister said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 03/12/2025 - 14:53
131 views
My Five-Hour Wait for Treatment at Mamelodi Hospital
Gauteng Health MEC has said Mamelodi Regional Hospital meets National Health Insurance standards, but my experience was not good
CSIR launches app to tackle literacy challenge in children
CSIR launches app to tackle literacy challenge in children
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has launched the Ngiyaqonda! literacy app to assist South African children in reading for comprehension in their home language.
The app utilises curriculum-approved content along with the CSIR’s local language text and speech technologies to generate thousands of sentences for foundation phase learners to engage with.
A recent international study has revealed alarming findings in the South African education sector, indicating that eight out of 10 Grade 4 learners are unable to read for basic meaning in their home language.
“Without this essential skill, South African children are deprived of the opportunity to fulfil their true potential, with the impact being the most devastating for those from disadvantaged communities,” the scientific and technology research organisation said.
The CSIR recognised that many complex factors contribute to this situation, and they believe it is essential to explore a wide range of solutions to address the various dimensions of the crisis.
The CSIR’s Natural Language Processing Research Group has initiated a research and development project called Ngiyaqonda! which means “I understand” in IsiZulu.
The app funded by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture includes artifacts developed in earlier projects sponsored by the South African Centre for Digital Language Resources (SADiLaR).
The main aim is to integrate speech and text technologies into an Android app that guides learners to compose sentences in their home language as well as in English.
“This app provides learners with a dynamic digital learning environment in their home language and English. While children are taught in their home language from Grades 1 to 3, the medium of instruction for most South African learners starting from Grade 4 is English.”
The CSIR explained that students listen to sentences spoken by a computer-generated voice and then compose their own sentences using guidance from a reliable text-generation engine.
“The app also allows learners to read sentences aloud and receive feedback on their fluency and pronunciation based on an automatic speech scoring system developed specifically for children’s voices.”
The app has been piloted with Grade 3 learners who speak IsiZulu in Soweto, Johannesburg, and with Sepedi-speaking Grade 3 learners in Mamelodi, Pretoria, during 2023 and 2024.
“The application harnesses so-called translanguaging principles, such as using translation between the home language and a target language typically English to ensure that learners really understand what they are reading.
“While the application is currently configured to serve foundation phase learners in their literacy journey, it has the potential to be used up to the tertiary level to assist in language learning of the African languages,” said CSIR senior researcher Laurette Marais.
The current project focuses on IsiZulu, Sepedi, English, and Afrikaans, with plans to expand to additional languages in the future.
“While no single solution can be considered a silver bullet, this team of CSIR researchers has made it their mission to use their unique set of skills to bring an innovative solution that could empower all South African children and their hopes for a bright future.” – SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 01/29/2025 - 15:13
98 views
Single Mom Has to Walk 5KM to Buy Drinking Water
The only water tank in this Tshwane informal settlement has been stolen
Woman Collapses in Long Queue at Pretoria Labour Office
Mamelodi residents say the long lines are exacerbated by the six-month closure of their labour office