R25-Million and Six Years Later, Soweto Centre Still Needs Millions to Be Completed
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Court Limits Fishing to Protect African Penguins
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Public comments sought on repeal of Construction Regulations
Public comments sought on repeal of Construction Regulations
The Department of Employment and Labour has invited public comments on the newly published Draft Construction Regulations 2025, which aims to enhance Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) in the construction sector.
In a statement on Wednesday, the department said the proposed regulations are set to replace the 2014 Construction Regulations, and are open for written submissions from stakeholders, including industry professionals and the public.
“A comprehensive copy of the Draft Construction Regulations is available on the website https://www.gov.za for comment.
“The draft construction regulations were promulgated on 12 March 2025 for public comments. The Department of Employment and Labour did identify the need to revise the current construction regulations to ensure more stringent requirements are placed upon the client, designer and contractors to prevent construction related incidents,” the department said.
Key changes to the current construction regulations include:
- Revision of existing definitions.
- Addition of new definitions.
- Redefining the scope of construction work.
- Introduction of construction health and safety manager appointment.
- Acceptance of electronic health and safety files.
These regulations are applicable to all persons involved in construction work for the duration of the project life cycle; and owners of structures for the future lifetime of the structures. The regulations, however, exclude the construction work carried out in relation to a single storey dwelling for a client who intends to reside in such dwelling upon completion thereof.
“In terms of OHS, interested persons who wish to comment on the draft regulations are invited to do so in writing within 90 days from the date of publication of this notice (12 March 2025). The closing date of submission is 12 June 2025,” the department said.
The department stated that anyone who contravenes or fails to comply with any provision of regulations will be guilty of an offence and upon conviction, may face a fine or imprisonment of up to 12 months.
In the case of a continuous offence, an additional fine of R200 per day, or one day of imprisonment per day of non-compliance may be imposed, with a maximum additional imprisonment period of 90 days.
All representations and comments must be sent by hand to the Director-General of the Department of Employment and Labour for the attention: Hilton Ganesen. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 03/13/2025 - 10:14
91 views
Dolphins Stun Titans to Reach 1 Day Cup Final
DURBAN: Keshav Maharaj and Tristan Luus shared six wickets as the Hollywoodbets Dolphins stunned the in-form Momentum Multiply Titans to reach...
President pays tribute to Athol Fugard
President pays tribute to Athol Fugard
President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to world-renowned actor, novelist and playwright Athol Fugard who passed away on Sunday in Stellenbosch.
Fugard was widely known as one of South Africa’s greatest playwrights – writing plays which dealt with the Apartheid government’s injustices and working with artists across the racial divide during South Africa’s darkest parts of history.
“Beyond the impressive body of work that he has left behind, Athol Fugard will be remembered for being an outlier amongst the millions of white South Africans who blithely turned a blind eye to the injustices being perpetrated in their name,” President Ramaphosa said.
Fugard’s most well-known work include the plays No Good Friday, The Blood Knot, Master Harold and the Boys, and Sizwe Bansi is Dead.
His book, Tsotsi, was also the inspiration behind the 2005 Oscar winning movie of the same title.
In 1985, Time magazine honoured Fugard as the “greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world”.
“As a country we are grateful that we were able to honour the legendary Athol Fugard during his lifetime with the National Order of Ikhamanga in Silver.
“The Fugard Theatre in District Six in Cape Town stands as a fitting tribute to a man whose life and works have left an indelible footprint, and that will continue to inspire generations of creative professionals for time to come,” President Ramaphosa added. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Mon, 03/10/2025 - 08:01
327 views
Elon Musk Is Trying to Do Business in Lesotho, the Country Donald Trump Says “Nobody Has Ever Heard Of”
And Starlink is not the only US company investing in the kingdom
SAPS addresses queries on new police trainee recruitment
SAPS addresses queries on new police trainee recruitment
The South African Police Service (SAPS) has responded to queries on new police trainee recruitment for 2024/2025.
This follows a number of enquiries regarding the finalisation of the 2024/2025 recruitment and selection process.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the South African Police Service said the arrival of trainees at various SAPS academies, commenced last week Monday, with 3 359 trainees currently undergoing training.
A second group of successful candidates will be notified in writing to report for training.
The SAPS also confirmed that the remaining 2 186 trainees will commence training before the end of February 2025.
“Due to the high number of trainees, the SAPS has adopted a staggered approach to accommodate their arrival at SAPS academies nationwide. The SAPS advises all applicants who have undergone the recruitment and selection process to remain patient as they await further communication," SAPS said.
Earlier this month, SAPS said it has successfully trained and deployed over 20 000 new constables in various units across the country in the past three years, as it aiming to boost policing efforts and enhance public safety.
Providing an update on the SAPS Nationwide Safer Festive Season Operations during a media briefing in Pretoria, on Sunday, National Commissioner for the South African Police Service, General Sehlahle Fannie Masemola, highlighted in mid-December last year, 2 699 newly trained constables joined the ranks.
Masemola said the police officers joined the service during a significantly busy period for the SAPS, and contributed to the crime combatting operations aimed at ensuring the safety and security of communities, holidaymakers, and tourists alike.
“We were able to heighten police visibility and boost our crime combatting efforts at areas identified as hotspots across the country, including malls, beaches and along our country’s key strategic routes,” Masemola said.
During the festive season, the police arrested 244 951 people for various crimes, including among others, murder, rape, assault, illegal possession of firearms, drug dealing, driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and entering the country illegally.
The SAPS safer festive season operations commenced on 11 October 2024 and ended on Friday, 31 January 2025. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Thu, 02/13/2025 - 12:42
15 views
South African Book at Centre of Raid on Jerusalem Bookshop
Educational Bookshop, opened in 1984, is the best-known bookstore in occupied East Jerusalem
Youth called to seize job opportunities through Presidential initiatives
Youth called to seize job opportunities through Presidential initiatives
The Deputy Minister in the Presidency, Nonceba Mhlauli, has urged young people to take advantage of job opportunities available through government initiatives aimed at tackling youth unemployment.
Mhlauli made this call during a site visit to Afrika Tikkun Services in Salt River, Cape Town, on Tuesday.
Afrika Tikkun Services is an organisation that is part of the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative (PYEI), through the Jobs Boost Programme.
Jobs Boost is a R300 million pay-for-performance model being piloted in South Africa. It is an outcomes fund that works with implementing partners to secure sustainable, quality jobs for unemployed, excluded youth.
The programme is the largest youth employment outcomes fund in the world, and a major innovation in the South African government’s effort to confront the chronic youth unemployment problem. Jobs Boost was initiated by the Presidency, as part of the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention.
Mhlauli’s visit at Afrika Tikkun Service, aimed to assess the progress and impact of the initiative on young participants. She expressed satisfaction with the program’s implementation, particularly its focus on ensuring young people's transition into sustainable employment.
“This morning, we are at Afrika Tikkun, which is one of the partners through the Jobs Boost Program, which is part of the Presidential Employment Youth Intervention. We came to assess the progress of this particular program, as well as the impact on young people,” she said.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the facility offers a structured approach to preparing young people for the job market, including a recruitment phase, job readiness training, and eventual job placement.
The Deputy Minister was particularly pleased to learn that the first cohort of participants has already been successfully placed in jobs.
“The facility is really, quite inspiring. We interacted with young people who are part of various phases of the program, including from recruitment phase, where they are taken into the program and the various levels, including job readiness programs as well, where you get them ready for job placement. And one of the reports we also received is that the first cohort has already been placed,” Mhlauli said.
The Deputy Minister highlighted that the young people are not just being trained, they are being placed in sustainable jobs for a period of at least six months.
“When we speak as government about addressing youth unemployment, we are speaking not just about training young people, but also speaking about how we get those young people into sustainable jobs for a period of a minimum of six months.
“So far, we are quite happy with this cohort, and one of the things that we have discussed with the team is that they will come back and discuss with the management of the facility on areas that they believe can be improved, as we go forward and upscale into the next cohort, going forward into 2026,” the Deputy Minister said.
Mhlauli also commended the enthusiasm of the participants and noted the high number of young women benefiting from the program. She added that this is encouraging as it addresses the gender disparities in youth unemployment.
“There's much excitement, much enthusiasm from the young people, and we are very happy to see that most of them actually are young women. In particular, most of the classes are filled with young women, which shows that we are also not just looking at youth unemployment, but particularly the unemployment rate of young women, which are obviously most adversely affected by the crises of unemployment.
“All in all, we are quite happy about the progress we have seen, and obviously the impact that is quite visible in the lives of young people,” she said.
Encouraging broader participation, she urged young people to explore opportunities on the SAYouth.mobi platform, a zero-rated government website that provides information on employment, training, CV writing, and business planning.
“We call on young people to make use of these opportunities, and the quickest way to do that is to go onto the SAYouth.mobi website. It is a zero-rated website where you'll find all of the information about the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative, as well as other initiatives such as the YES Program.
“It is one of the platforms that government has created for young people to be able to access these opportunities. So, we really do encourage young people to go onto that website its zero-rated meaning that you don't need any data to get onto the website,” the Deputy Minister said.
The Chief Operating Officer at Afrika Tikkun, Marian Claite, also reflected on the significance of the visit, emphasising the collaborative efforts between Afrika Tikkun and the Presidency.
“Today we met with the Deputy Minister Mhlauli from the President's office, and it was to discuss one of our projects that we are working on called Job Boost. And it was a very constructive conversation that we had. We discussed from the enrolment of our candidates to the training of our candidates, and where we are because we are now at the placement phase.
“We discussed our challenges and the collaboration of the relationship, how it would look as this was a pilot, how it would look next year, and what complexion we would like it to take,” she said.
Claite added that they have given some suggestions on their side on what they would like to see included in the program, as well as what is working well for them.
“At the end of the day, I think it is our mandate, and it's all of our wish that all 1,375 candidates that Afrika Tikkun Services has been tasked with training will be placed in meaningful employment opportunities,” Claite said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 02/04/2025 - 22:11
236 views
Top KZN Official Could Face Criminal Charges After Tenders Probe
Provincial supply chain management director Musa Zondi was fired earlier this month
Matric results queries should be directed to SACAI, says Umalusi
Matric results queries should be directed to SACAI, says Umalusi
Umalusi has advised learners and parents to direct their queries regarding the assessment outcomes of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exam to the South African Comprehensive Assessment Institute (SACAI).
These queries include concerns relating to the costs of and timeliness for viewing, re-marking or re-checking of examination scripts, re-writing of examinations and other NSC exam-related processes.
Umalusi is the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education and Training in South Africa. It is responsible for ensuring that educational institutions, qualifications, and assessment processes within its scope meet acceptable quality standards.
SACAI is a private assessment body that operates under its own policies, which have built-in mechanisms for complaints to be lodged whenever a learner or parent is dissatisfied with assessment outcomes or procedural aspects of the outcomes.
Following the approval for the release of results, Umalusi has been receiving a number of queries from learners and parents regarding the assessment outcomes of the 2024 SACAI NSC examinations.
The queries are mainly about the discrepancies between the final marks and the marks achieved by the learners during the year.
“The approval decision was arrived at after careful consideration of the evidence presented at the time. Such evidence was gathered by various role players at different stages of Umalusi’s quality assurance cycle,” Umalusi said on Monday.
Umalusi has reiterated that the 2024 NSC exam, administered by the SACAI, was subjected to the following quality assurance processes:
• External moderation of question papers and site-based assessments or school based assessment (SBA) to ensure the maintenance of standards of assessment.
• Audit of the system to conduct, administer and manage the examinations to determine the readiness of the whole system.
• Monitoring of the writing of the examinations across sampled examination centres to determine the credibility of the examinations.
• Participation in marking guidelines standardisation meetings in selected subjects to ensure that the marking process is accurate and reliable.
• Verification of quality of marking in sampled subjects to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Standardisation of examination marks to ensure comparability and consistency in learner performance across years.
“The abovementioned quality assurance processes were applied consistently across all the 24 subjects linked to the NSC examination administered and managed by the SACAI,” Umalusi said.
The principles are available on the website of Umalusi, as is the case with the other Umalusi quality assurance processes that are used in conjunction with standardisation principles.
For detailed information about the process of standardisation of SBA and external examination marks, the public can refer to the Umalusi presentation:
https://www.umalusi.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Standardisation-ofResults_Explained.pdf.
“Since the NSC is assessed by three assessment bodies, namely the SACAI, IEB and Department of Basic Education (DBE), learners and parents are advised to make an informed decision in terms of which assessment body to register with for the NSC examinations.
“Concerning accreditation status of the SACAI, this body was granted full accreditation status by Umalusi with effect from 1 October 2022 to assess the General Education and Training Certificate: Adult Basic Education and Training (GETC: ABET) and NSC examinations.
“The rationale behind accreditation of private education and training institutions and private assessment bodies is to ensure that they have the capacity to deliver and assess qualifications registered on the GFETQSF and are doing so to the expected standards and quality,” Umalusi said. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/27/2025 - 11:05
230 views
SASSA Is Making Progress Against Fraud, Study Shows
But there are likely many fraudulent grant applications made years ago that still receive money
Judge Sent Collage of Sex Positions to Secretary
Judicial Conduct Tribunal into complaint of sexual harassment against Judge President Selby Mbenenge resumes Monday
Empowering public service through Open Distance eLearning
Empowering public service through Open Distance eLearning
By Fran Greyling
The need for continuous professional development is more important than ever. With the increasing demand for flexible, cost-effective, and scalable learning opportunities, Open Distance eLearning (ODeL) has emerged as a transformative solution.
One institution leading the charge in this space is the National School of Government (NSG), offering a suite of 20 ODeL courses tailored for public servants. These courses are carefully curated to address the evolving learning and development needs of public sector employees and are expanded annually.
A flexible, cost-effective, and scalable solution
ODeL is a flexible delivery model that ensures learning can be accessed by individuals regardless of location or time constraints. This flexibility is particularly beneficial to officials who often manage busy schedules and numerous responsibilities. Through ODeL, they can engage with course materials at their own pace, on their own terms, without the need for travel or time away from their duties.
Moreover, the scalability of the ODeL model is a significant advantage. By offering online courses, the NSG can reach a large audience, expanding its reach to public officials across various levels of government.
In addition to its flexibility and scalability, ODeL is a cost-effective learning model. Traditional in-person training programmes can be expensive, not only in terms of course fees but also when accounting for travel, accommodation, and other associated costs. By offering most of its ODeL courses for free, the NSG is making a significant contribution to the development of public sector employees, ensuring that cost does not become a barrier to learning. This commitment to providing free courses aligns with the School’s mission to promote capable and professional public service.
Supporting national goals and professionalisation
The NSG’s ODeL initiative plays a role in implementing the National Framework for the Professionalisation of the Public Sector, which is a key aspect of South Africa’s strategy for enhancing the quality and effectiveness of its public service. The framework is structured around several pillars.
Pillar 2 focuses on, among others, reorienting the public service to meet the demands of citizens and government. An online Reorientation course reminds public servants of their obligations and equips them with the tools to navigate everyday challenges.
Pillar 4 is dedicated to ensuring continuous professional development for public sector employees. ODeL is an effective vehicle for achieving this goal. By offering a broad range of courses that focus on critical knowledge, skills, and values, the NSG is facilitating ongoing learning and development for public servants. Our free courses are designed to improve performance in the workplace. The courses include an introduction to core management competencies such as strategic planning, leading change, project management, financial management, and human resource management. Additional courses focus on promoting ethical behaviour and fostering anti-discrimination awareness. The Know and Live Our Constitution course addresses constitutional obligations, providing a foundation for other courses that focus on the responsible and accountable use of government resources. ODeL also supports performance improvement by offering courses that develop practical skills, such as professional writing.
A catalyst for online learning and development
The COVID-19 pandemic, though a challenge for many industries, proved to be a catalyst for the uptake of ODeL. As in-person learning became impractical due to health restrictions, institutions and organisations turned to online learning as a viable alternative. Public servants embraced the flexibility and accessibility offered by ODeL platforms, allowing them to continue their professional development during a time of uncertainty.
Since the onset of the pandemic, more than 250,000 ODeL opportunities have been created for public officials. These opportunities span all spheres of government and across all provinces in the country. This wide-reaching impact highlights the strong demand for accessible learning and development programmes and the success of ODeL in meeting this need. The high levels of participation and completion are strong indicators that ODeL is addressing genuine learning needs.
Easy access
The process for enrolling in these courses is straightforward. Public servants can easily access the NSG’s website, browse the available courses, register, and begin their learning journey. The platform is designed to be user-friendly, providing officials with just-in-time learning opportunities.
The ODeL courses currently on offer are the following:
- Championing Anti-discrimination in the Public Service
- Ethics for Internal Auditors
- Ethics in the Public Service
- Financial Management Delegations of Authority
- Generally Recognised Accounting Practice
- Introduction to Financial Management and Budgeting
- Introduction to Leading Change
- Introduction to Policy Formulation and Implementation
- Introduction to Project Management
- Introduction to Strategic Human Resource Management
- Introduction to Strategic Planning and Management
- Know and Live our Constitution
- Managing Performance in the Public Service
- Municipal Standard Chart of Accounts
- Nyukela (Pre-entry into the Public Service)
- Operations Management Framework
- Policy and Procedure on Incapacity Leave and Ill-Health Retirement
- Public Service Reorientation
- Writing for Government: Advanced Writing Skills
- Writing for Government: Basic Writing Skills
Looking ahead
As the world of public service continues to evolve, the role of ODeL in supporting professional growth and development is becoming increasingly important. The future of learning and development is undoubtedly shifting towards online platforms, and initiatives like ODeL offer new opportunities for growth and learning. Public servants across the country now have greater access to flexible and relevant learning opportunities, helping to enhance their skills and contribute to a more effective public service.
More information is available on the NSG website on www.gov.za or email elearning@thensg.gov.za and for bookings contactcentre@thensg.gov.za.
*Dr Fran Greyling is the Chief Director responsible for eLearning at the National School of Government.
Janine
Wed, 01/15/2025 - 08:46
189 views
Eastern Cape celebrates improved Matric results
Eastern Cape celebrates improved Matric results
The Eastern Cape’s Class of 2024 has set a new record, boosting the province’s overall pass rate by an impressive 3.56 percentage points.
This year’s matriculants achieved an 84.9% pass rate, a notable improvement from 81.4% in 2023.
Over the term, this represents a shift from the 76.5% in 2019 to 84.9% in 2024, representing a 4.17% shift over the term. The Eastern Cape has produced a total of 352 524 passes over the term from 2020 to 2024.
This was announced by the provincial education department on Tuesday led by Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade, together with Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, at the International Convention Centre in East London.
“The Class of 2024 represents a watershed period in the learner performance trajectory of the Eastern Cape, characterised by unprecedented improvements in average pass, bachelor passes, subjects pass marks, as well as performance by examination centers.
“The year 2024 is also marked by improved quality of school-based assessments (SBA) submitted to Umalusi for resulting. The emphasis on quality SBA has paid off handsomely again in 2024,” the MEC said.
The number of Bachelor passes increased by 6.1 % from 39.6% in 2023 to 45.7% in 2024. In real terms it means 45 662 of the 99 739 learners obtained a Bachelor pass.
“Equally improving is the number of distinctions over the last 5 years, moving from 29 064 in 2020 to 35 640 in 2024. Year on year improvements have equally scaled up from 4.2% in 2023 to 5% in 2024. This is evident in the quality of passes in each subject written in 2024,” MEC Gade said.
The MEC also announced that subject performance, across the spectrum, has improved in 2024. Of the 56 subjects that were written, 30 subjects have shown an upward trajectory, and only 14 subjects dropped by low margins.
High enrolment subjects, with no less than 10 000 learners for the specific subject, exhibited commendable improvements, with Mathematics, Physics and History showing unprecedented upward trajectories.
District performance also took a new turn in 2024, with 11 districts performing above 80%, with only one district remaining at the upper 70%. Six more districts, compared to 2023, have joined the 80% benchmark.
The top five performing districts in 2024 are: Chris Hani East being number one at 88.5%, a 4.5% improvement from 84% in 2023, Amathole East is number two at 87.8%, a 5.4% improvement from 82.4% in 2023, Alfred Nzo West is number three at 86.9%, a 2.1% improvement from 84.2% in 2023, Nelson Mandela is number four at 86.7%% a 3.6% improvement from 83.1% and Nzo East is number five at 85.9%, a 0.8% improvement from 85.1% in 2023.
The MEC mentioned the tragic incident where five candidates were raped while preparing for examinations. Despite the tragedy, the candidates insisted on writing the exams and all obtained Bachelor passes.
“The unfortunate incident was that of five candidates’ gang- raped while preparing for their examinations in OR Tambo. However, these kids insisted on writing despite their demise, and I am happy to report that they all obtained Bachelor passes and have joined us for the ceremony,” he said.
Minister lauds the EC for its performance
Minister Gwarube lauded the province, adding that no province in the country scored below 84%.
She said this was a result of years of investment and hard work by previous leaders.
“This province has come a very long way over the years, to get to the point where it is. It's also incredibly encouraging to know that in South Africa today, in 2024 there is not a single province that has scored less than 84% of the pass mark in the country.
“And that is not something that happens overnight, that is years and years in the making… it takes investment into the system.
“It's incredibly important for us to pay tribute to those Ministers and MECs who've come before us, who have essentially planted the seed before we arrived, to say this is the direction in which we need to go and now finally, we are able to see and reap the benefits of their hard work over the years,” Gwarube said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Tue, 01/14/2025 - 15:30
48 views
Class of 2024 achieves historic pass rate
Class of 2024 achieves historic pass rate
The Matric Class of 2024 has achieved an overall pass rate of 87.3%, making it the highest matric pass rate in the history of South Africa.
“I am proud to announce that in 2024, 615 429 learners passed the National Senior Certificate (NSC) – more than any other time in our history. South Africa’s national pass rate for the 2024 National Senior Certificate has therefore increased from 82.9% in 2023 to 87.3%,” Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube said on Monday.
Addressing the announcement of the 2024 NSC results in Johannesburg, Gwarube said this was the highest matric pass rate in the history of the country and should be a moment of great pride and celebration for all.
Nearly half of the learners who wrote the NSC examinations received a Bachelor pass.
Bachelor passes
According to the Minister, 47.8% of candidates qualified for admission to Bachelor studies, which is a significant improvement from last year’s 40.9% and represents the highest number of Bachelor passes in recent history.
“This is a 6.9% increase from last year. In 2014, we produced 150 752 Bachelor passes. In just a decade this number has more than doubled in 2024 to 337 158 Bachelor passes.
“It is also encouraging to see that some of our provinces with the highest numbers of learners are achieving high numbers of Bachelor passes.
“In 2024, I am pleased to announce that KwaZulu Natal achieved the highest number of Bachelor passes with 84 470, followed by Gauteng with 66 979 and the Eastern Cape with 45 662,” the Minister said.
Approximately 67% of the Bachelor passes achieved in 2024 came from Quintile 1 to 3 schools, which are typically found in poorer communities.
“This percentage represents an increase from 2023. This means that poorer communities are producing more and more candidates who can go on to become doctors, engineers, accountants and scientists,” she said.
Distinctions
The Class of 2024 achieved an impressive number of 319 651 distinctions.
“This represents a significant increase of over 65 000 distinctions from last year. Some of these increases were seen in key subjects, including Mathematics. I am pleased to report that every province increased the number of distinctions achieved in 2023.
“KwaZulu Natal was once more the top performing province in terms of the percentage of candidates obtaining distinctions, with 10.8% distinction potential achieved.
“Coming in second with 6.3% of distinction potential achieved was the Western Cape, followed by Gauteng with 5.3%. Notable progress was made by Mpumalanga and Limpopo in this regard where we saw this percentage increase by over 1% in 2024 when compared to the results for 2023,” Gwarube explained.
Every province improved on its performance from 2023, and every province achieved above 84%.
Mathematics and Physical Sciences
In 2024, 69.1% of learners passed Mathematics, which is an increase from 63.5% in 2023.
However, in Physical Sciences, while 75.6% of learners passed, this was a decrease from 76.2% in 2023.
“While the number and percentage of learners achieving distinctions in Mathematics increased in 2024 from 2023, the number and percentage of learners achieving distinctions in Physical Sciences has dropped.
“The improvement in performance in Mathematics is encouraging. However, the decreasing participation rates in these key subjects, and the decrease in performance in Physical Sciences, highlight the urgent need to improve foundational literacy and numeracy to ensure that our schooling system produces learners who are confident and capable enough to choose and excel in Maths and Science subjects throughout their schooling career,” the Minister said.
Improvements
In 2024, more high schools achieved a pass rate in the NSC examinations of between 80% and 100% than in 2023.
“In 2023, the number of high schools achieving this was 4 493 and in 2024 this number increased to 5 387 representing 77.7% of our high schools. Also important to note is that the number of underperforming schools has decreased,” the Minister said.
Approximately 97% of learners enrolled for Grade 12 in 2024 ultimately wrote the NSC exams in 2024.
“In 2024, we saw the number of full-time candidates writing the National Senior Certificate examinations increase from 691 160 in 2023 to 705 291 in 2024.
“We also saw the number of learners with special education needs who wrote the National Senior Certificate examinations increase from 5 288 in 2023 to 6 470 in 2024.
“Furthermore, we saw 556 726 learners who are beneficiaries of social grants writing the National Senior Certificate exams in 2024 – 12 938 more than in 2023,” the Minister said.
She said the 2024 National Senior Certificate results for 2024 show that the schooling system was maturing, but that there was still much work to be done to improve the quality of education outcomes.
READ | Class of 2024 commended for their resilience
Earlier in the day, the Minister together with mobile network provider, MTN hosted a Ministerial Breakfast in honour of 39 matric top achievers. - SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Mon, 01/13/2025 - 20:10
30 views
Determination pays off for top achievers
Determination pays off for top achievers
Despite coming from a financially poor background, without parental support, matric learner Thobeka Langa has proven that determination and hard work can change your outcomes.
Aged 17, Thobeka from Rustenburg, North West, was among the country's 2024 matric top achievers, who were honoured by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube during a Ministerial Breakfast held in Randburg, Johannesburg, on Monday.
The 39 top achievers were honoured ahead of the announcement of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results, which takes place later today.
Speaking to SAnews on the sidelines of the event, Thobeka admitted that she was not expecting to be among the top achievers, especially after a challenging Physics exam.
“It has been a really rough journey, and after writing that Physics Paper, I really thought that all my chances of coming here were shattered, but God had other plans,” said an elated Thobeka.
Thobeka, who is a social grant beneficiary, will be studying Chemical Engineering at the University of Pretoria. She said her dream is to be among those who make an impact in the world.
She emphasised the importance of education as a means of opening up doors to a brighter future.
“As SASSA [South African Social Security Agency] grant beneficiaries, we are often undermined. Having grown up without both parents, I really thought that I would not become anything, but here I am now.
“This is confirmation, clarification, fulfilment, and coming to an end of a marathon. After completing my studies, I will be a qualified engineer, probably specialising somewhere. Maybe I will still be in South Africa or abroad. Who knows?” an optimistic Thobeka said.
Another top achiever, Nqubeko Bekwa from Emzamweni High School in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, said he could not believe that he was among the top students.
The 19-year-old, who will be pursuing his Actuarial Science studies at the University of Cape Town, maintained that in life, there are no miracles, but “one must push hard, have a vision and be disciplined” in order to see positive results.
“You must work hard, even though you feel tired and sleepy. I could not sleep at night because I wanted to be here, and once you change your mind set, everything just happens without any struggle,” Bekwa said.
According to the Department of Social Development, out of 882 336 registered learners who sat for the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams, 697 502 are social grant beneficiaries, representing 79% of registered learners.
“Out of this number, 1 068 of the learners were children who were in conflict with the law during their schooling years,” the department said in a statement.
Gwarube and Deputy Minister Dr Reginah Mhaule will announce the NSC results for the class of 2024 in Johannesburg at 6pm. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Mon, 01/13/2025 - 13:29
122 views
Basic Education Committee Chairperson Concerned About Court Matters Regarding Publishing of Matric Results
The Portfolio Committee on Basic Education Chairperson, Ms Joy Maimela, today expressed her deep concern about the court action regarding the publication of the 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) results. She said uncertainty may lead to increased levels of anxiety amongst learners as they await the outcome of the final examinations.
Ms Maimela appealed to all the parties – the Information Regulator (IR) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE) – to put the learners' interests and well-being first. “These learners are probably almost as stressed now whilst awaiting the announcement of the results on Monday as they were when writing the NSC examinations. We appeal to all to not add to heightened stress levels. The back and forth can lead to added anxiety for these candidates.”
The Chairperson's comments follow an application for an urgent interdict by the Information Regulator against the department to prevent the publishing of matric results in newspapers as has been traditionally the case. The Regulator's application followed an enforcement notice it served on the department in November, in which the Regulator found that publishing the results in this manner was in breach of the conditions for the lawful processing of personal information under the Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. The Regulator ordered the department to provide an undertaking that it would not publish the 2024 results in newspapers within 31 days and turned to the courts after it failed to do so. The court found the matter was not urgent and struck it from the roll with costs.
“We are on the eve of the announcement of results. Let us rather focus on all our learners' emotional and psychological well-being and support them as best as we can,” said Ms Maimela.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Republic of South Africa: The Parliament.
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Minister commends “smooth and credible” matric exams
Minister commends "smooth and credible" matric exams
Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube has expressed her gratitude to the people involved in the delivery of successful 2024 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.
Gwarube commended the teachers, officials, parents and all stakeholders for ensuring smooth and credible matric examinations, which commenced on 21 October with the English Language paper.
“Your dedication and hard work have been instrumental in ensuring a smooth and credible examination process. Together, we are building an education system that upholds the values of fairness, integrity, and excellence,” Gwarube said.
Briefing the media on Wednesday, ahead of the official conclusion of the exams on Thursday, Gwarube said despite some challenges, the overall administration of the exams has been smooth, with minimal irregularities, “thanks to the collective efforts of our dedicated educators, administrators, and learners themselves”.
Gwarube said the administration of the exams highlighted both triumphs and areas for improvement.
She said stringent monitoring ensured a fair process, with high-risk examination centres closely supervised, with a minimum of 70% of centres monitored during each session.
“This robust system helped us maintain the integrity of the exams, even in the face of external disruptions,” Gwarube said.
Challenges included protest actions in some parts of the country, including Jan Kempdorp, Gert Sibande, and Limpopo, as well as inclement weather in the Eastern Cape and Mpumalanga, which disrupted the exams for several learners.
A total of 319 learners in Eastern Cape were unable to write due to flooding. However, the Minister assured contingency plans were in place to allow the learners to rewrite their exams.
“We must acknowledge the violent incidents that overshadowed the exam period in parts of the country. In the Eastern Cape, five learners were gang raped while preparing for their exams at a local house. Just weeks later, another female learner was gang raped on 13 November also in the Eastern Cape.
“These heinous acts are a tragic reminder of the dangers that many learners face, especially young girls. As we observe the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, let these incidents serve as a rallying call to all South Africans to stand against such barbaric acts.
“Schools and communities must be places of safety, not spaces of fear, violence and abuse,” Gwarube said.
She urged matriculants to celebrate the end of exams responsibly and refrain from alcohol abuse.
“I urge matriculants to refrain from alcohol abuse during "pens down" events or matric rage parties. These moments should be a celebration of achievement, not a risk to life and safety,” Gwarube said.
Over 180 marking centres set up across the country
With the conclusion of the writing of the exams, the Minister said the focus will now shift to the marking process.
The department has set up 181 marking centres across the country, all of which have been audited and deemed ready.
“All marking centres will open on 27 November 2024 with the entire process involving over 50 000 markers. To ensure consistency and fairness, the department has already conducted 60 of the 164 planned Marking Standardisation Meetings (MSMs), during which marking guidelines are reviewed and finalised.
“This rigorous process will help us deliver accurate and reliable results, which are expected to be released on 13 January 2025, with provincial education departments releasing on 14 January 2025,” the Minister announced.
Gwarube noted that significant emphasis has been placed on food safety at marking centres, with online workshops on food handling protocols currently being conducted for Examination Managers, Marking Centre Managers and School Principals, to prevent any contamination.
She said that ensuring a clean and continuous water supply and adequate hydration in high-temperature areas was integral to the department’s preparations.
“These measures tie into a broader campaign on food safety across schools. Following recent incidents involving food-borne illnesses linked to agricultural-grade pesticides such as organophosphates, the Director-General has issued a circular to all schools advising against the use and storage of such chemicals on school premises.
“We have also advised school principals to only allow onto school premises vendors and/or food items bought from vendors who are compliant with applicable laws. This heightened awareness and regulation aims to protect learners and staff from preventable health hazards,” the Minister said. – SAnews.gov.za
GabiK
Wed, 11/27/2024 - 14:33
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