The Eastern Cape will not meet the end of October deadline for the procurement of their workbooks and school textbooks, Parliament's committee for basic education was told on Tuesday. "In the Eastern Cape things are running a month behind schedule, but we are monitoring [it]," said Palesa Tyobeka the Basic Education Department's deputy director general for planning. Delivering textbooks on time was a sore point for the department when textbooks were not delivered on time in Limpopo in … [Read more...] about Eastern Cape’s 2016 school readiness in doubt
SA’s Unemployment figures rate rises to 25.5%
South Africa's unemployment rate has increased to 25.5% in the third quarter of 2015, Statistics SA announced on Tuesday. This is up by 0.5 of a percentage point from the second quarter rate of 25%, but is still an improvement from the first quarter rate of 26.4%. The number of unemployed people increased by 188 000 in the third quarter, compared to the second quarter. Of the working-age population of 36.1 million, 15.8 million were employed, 5.4 million were unemployed and 14.9 million … [Read more...] about SA’s Unemployment figures rate rises to 25.5%
The more graduates, the greater your economic growth
If South Africa does not pay sufficient attention to the higher education sector and its cost, it will be doing so at its "very great peril". So said senior research fellow at think-tank Trade Collective and political economist Liepollo Lebohang Pheko, who told News24 on Tuesday that a country's advancement is directly linked to the number of graduates and especially post-graduates its higher education system produced. "I've been saying this for the past couple of weeks. There is a … [Read more...] about The more graduates, the greater your economic growth
Early Christmas Bonus for Lewis Customers
The Lewis Group [JSE:LEW] is refunding R44.1m to a group of its customers for the cost of loss of employment insurance mistakenly sold to them, together with R23m in interest accrued on this amount. According to Johan Enslin, CEO of Lewis Group, the refund follows an extensive internal investigation by Lewis, which was triggered by the National Credit Regular (NCR) bringing to the company's attention three such instances. Lewis Group's share price increased by over 1% to between R63.27 and … [Read more...] about Early Christmas Bonus for Lewis Customers
How Government could cover 0% fee hike
The South African government can redistribute parts of the state fiscus - or possibly defer certain payments - to fund the 0% increase in university fees next year, a political economist said on Tuesday. Senior research fellow at think-tank Trade Collective and political economist Liepollo Lebohang Pheko told News24 that government could redistribute loans going to Eskom or SAA to pay for the reported R2.6bn shortfall in higher education funding due to a freeze in fees. "They can also try … [Read more...] about How Government could cover 0% fee hike
Grahamstown Killings not work of serial killer
Eastern Cape police have quashed rumours of a serial killer in the Grahamstown area, saying there is "no evidence to support this claim". Joza police station officers began investigating an inquest docket, following the discovery of a male's body, aged between 40 and 50, in Joza Extension 6 on Monday. "The body had injuries to the upper body. The owner of the house had no knowledge of how the body got there and who the person was, however later relatives of the victim managed to identify … [Read more...] about Grahamstown Killings not work of serial killer
PE Joburg Passengers in Close Call
The British Airways plane that was stranded at OR Tambo International Airport early Monday afternoon after leaving Port Elizabeth "experienced an unusual vibration which was followed shortly by the collapse of the left landing gear". That's according to Comair, who confirmed in a statement that the incident involving Boeing 737-400, registration ZS-OAA experienced a failure with its landing gear shortly after touching down on the runway. It said the aircraft was on the runway for a short … [Read more...] about PE Joburg Passengers in Close Call
#FeesAreFrozen shortfall could be R3 Billion
The difficulties facing universities were partly due to the ANC government falling victims to its own success, Higher Education Minister Blade Nzimande told broadcaster eNCA on Sunday. "At one level we are victims of our own successes as the ANC government because the university sector has really grown, it has doubled since 1994 and it's now majority black and majority women," he said in an interview. He was asked whether his department was not guilty of contributing to the funding crisis … [Read more...] about #FeesAreFrozen shortfall could be R3 Billion
Rhodes moves students onto campus following attacks
Grahamstown - Foreign students studying at Rhodes University in Grahamstown were being moved to residences on campus on Thursday as a precautionary measure, International Programmes, Projects and Events Officer Allan Magubane confirmed. More than 1 000 students from other countries are registered with the university, with the bulk living in campus residences. Concerns have however been raised over the safety of students living off campus after fears of xenophobic attacks surfaced, with the … [Read more...] about Rhodes moves students onto campus following attacks
No-one allowed in or out at NMMU
https://twitter.com/NathiThina/status/657183541546110976 Port Elizabeth - Students barricaded all entrances to the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) on Thursday afternoon after a tense stand-off between them and Vice Chancellor Derrick Swartz over the venue for a mass meeting to be held over the fee protests. Swartz had agreed to a meeting with the student body earlier in the week, and it was scheduled to take place at the university's Madibaz Stadium at 13:00 on … [Read more...] about No-one allowed in or out at NMMU
Attacks on foreign-owned businesses in Grahamstown
Police have arrested over 80 suspects following the looting of several foreign owned businesses in Grahamstown and Joza. It is feared that the looting was a result of xenophobic sentiments. Police spokesperson Captain Mali Govender said 11 youths were also amongst those arrested. "The suspects face charges of public violence. Sporadic incidents are still being reported and police are closely monitoring the situation and maintaining high visibility." Grahamstown Cluster Commander … [Read more...] about Attacks on foreign-owned businesses in Grahamstown
Should we allow students to incur debt without being able to pay?
Editor: What happens when an experienced unemployed person who has lost his/her job asks a bank for a loan? Despite a history of being able to earn money that person is turned down faster than lightning. What happens when a young unemployed person who has never worked before but wants to start studying at university asks a bank for a loan? Their application is seriously considered and, so long as their parents also sign it is invariably granted. Am I the only one who sees a problem with a … [Read more...] about Should we allow students to incur debt without being able to pay?
‘Foolish men reserve’ to finance Civil Servant salary increases
The Government wage bill represents the biggest budget shock says Jaco Leuvennink. The business-as-usual mini budget and adjustments to the current 2015/2016 budget presented in parliament by Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene on Wednesday will not inspire South Africans. As if to confirm this, the rampant students outside parliament's gates (some even got inside) were only interested in the increases in study fees. While they demanded action at parliament, they did not want to engage with … [Read more...] about ‘Foolish men reserve’ to finance Civil Servant salary increases
Rand falls nearly 2% on back of #NationalShutDown
The student protests which swept across the country was trending worldwide on Twitter as police fired stun grenades at students who had made their way onto Parliament's precinct on Wednesday. #NationalShutDown was number eight on the list of worldwide trends. Universities across the country protested against the proposed tuition fee increases for 2016. Protesting University of Cape Town and Cape Peninsula University of Technology students pushed their way into the Parliamentary … [Read more...] about Rand falls nearly 2% on back of #NationalShutDown
#FeesMustFall is a national crisis say academics
Hundreds of academics who are in solidarity with protesting students across South African institutions have called the situation that has gripped the nation a crisis that government and vice chancellors need to urgently resolve. This is in stark contrast with Higher Education Minister Minister Blade Nzimande's statement that the national protests were not a national crisis. Over 490 local academics have written to Nzimande, Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene and vice chancellors, urging … [Read more...] about #FeesMustFall is a national crisis say academics
