SOUTH Africa are the first women’s team through to the semi-finals of hockey’s Africa Cup of Nations in Accra following a 6-0 win against Namibia.

The defending champions now have two wins from two games and Tarryn Glasby has three goals for the tournament after a brace against the Namibians.

Nomnikelo Veto, Lillian du Plessis, Tehan Fourie and Stephanie Botha also scored.

Zimbabwe beat Uganda 5-0 in the other Pool A match, with Natalie Terblanche scoring two goals.

Nigeria picked up their first win of the tournament against Zambia, winning 2-1 thanks to Esther Billo’s goal four minutes from time.

Kenya’s women have arrived in the Ghanaian capital, but not in time to fulfil today’s fixture against the hosts, who were given a 5-0 walkover win.

In the men’s tournament, Kenya enjoyed a far better day.

Its job done as second half goals from Lombard, Veto and Fourie completed a 6-0 win over the Namibians. pic.twitter.com/6lIeXu5wHG

— SA Hockey (@SA_Hockey) January 18, 2022

Having arrived in time to play Namibia, they duly won 4-1 and are therefore already through to the semi-finals.

So too are Egypt, who squeezed past the hosts 1-0 to win Pool B.

Ahmed Elganaini scored the crucial goal in the 55th minute. 

Nigeria thrashed Uganda in the other Pool B match and only a heavy defeat against Ghana can stop them advancing.

South Africa are the defending men’s and women’s champions and action continues tomorrow.

InsideTheGames.com

CYRIL RAMAPHOSA|

AS the country strives to recover from the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeing science and innovation playing a far more prominent role both in our efforts to overcome the disease and rebuild our economy.

Last week I attended the launch of a state-of-the-art vaccine manufacturing campus in Cape Town. The facility forms part of a multi-million rand investment by the multinational technology company NANTWorks, which is headed by South African born scientist Dr Patrick Soon-Shiong.

South Africa already has advanced pharmaceutical manufacturing capabilities in companies like Aspen Pharmacare, Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines and Biovac Institute, which is a public-private initiative.

These projects will greatly aid South Africa in our quest to become a hub of scientific innovation, research and development, especially in vaccine manufacturing for COVID-19, cancer, tuberculosis and other future pandemics.

Thousands of miles away, in Cape Canaveral in the United States, the aerospace company SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket successfully launched three SA-made nanosatellites into space.

The satellites form part of a project to detect, identify and monitor shipping vessels along our coastline.

These are just some of the projects that demonstrate how science and technology have a key role to play in our economic recovery, in attracting greater levels of investment, and in contributing to skills, knowledge and technology transfer to capacitate our country’s workforce.

We are therefore prioritising investment in science, technology and innovation to revitalise and modernise existing industries, as well as to create new sources of growth and stimulate industrialisation. There is huge potential in agriculture, mining, energy and manufacturing, among others.

This is an area where, as government, we have been pursuing several collaborative partnerships with the private sector and academia to broaden the frontiers of scientific endeavour.

We have, for example, undertaken projects around hydrogen, energy storage and renewable energy.

We have supported emerging farmers through the Agricultural Bio-Innovation Partnership Programme. Government also has funding partnerships with a number of South African universities in the field of nanotechnology development.

We are looking far into space by enhancing the capabilities of the South African Square Kilometre Array radio telescope project and supporting a number of new discoveries using the MeerKAT telescope.

At the same time we are using science to support and guide municipalities to plan for and assess the risks of climate change.

We are looking at how to harness new technologies for development, such as using 3D printing to build houses.

To build on our successes and forge ahead with our transformation to a truly digital economy and society, we rely on a combination of technical skill and intellectual enterprise.

Visiting the Biomedical Research Institute at the University of Stellenbosch last week, for which our government has invested R300 million, it was not so much the impressive laboratories that inspired awe, but rather the human skills and capabilities that had enabled such innovative research.

We need solid investment in skills development in these different industries, and a firm commitment to increase the number of students studying science, if we are to promote scientific excellence and its attendant economic benefits.

We will therefore continue to support initiatives such as the Grassroots Innovation Programme of the Department of Science and Innovation, which provides support to local innovators to develop their concepts, create prototypes and commercialise their ideas.

There is also the Imvelisi Enviropreneurs Programme that has boot-camps and business mentoring for innovators in the green economy, and a host of other incubation initiatives being piloted on campuses across the country in areas such as deep learning, artificial intelligence and data science.

As we strive to harness science, technology and innovation in the cause of economic growth, we must provide all the necessary support to innovators and become a country that nurtures great ideas.

As we have demonstrated during the course of this pandemic, South Africa is more than capable of holding its own in the international scientific community.

Through the combination of our established scientific infrastructure and expertise, new investment in research and development and support to budding innovators, we will and are  able to propel our country into the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

And most importantly, we will be able to more effectively use technology to grow our economy, create jobs and improve people’s lives.

* From the desk of the President

VICKY ABRAHAM|

GAUTENG Department of Education (GDE) MEC Panyaza Lesufi, has praised the Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, for her bravery and effortless fight to ensure that all learners across the country continue with traditional schooling despite the Covid-19 pandemic that has claimed 93 846 lives in the country.

South Africa is among the countries that are hard-hit by Covid-19, with 3.57 million cases.

Addressing guests and top Gauteng learners who have excelled despite the pandemic, Lesufi also took a swipe at the former leader of the Democratic Alliance (DA), Mmusi Maimane for fighting tirelessly that learners in Gauteng should not resume face-to-face schooling to avoid infection. 

“When others felt that these children that you are honouring should stay at home and do one thing, to play and not to come to school, our Minister stood firm, went to cabinet and government and declared that our children are better off inside the classroom, not at home,” said Lesufi during the 2021 announcement of matric results celebration yesterday at Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.

Out of 127 353 Gauteng learners who wrote their 2021 matric exams, 55 773 of them passed with a bachelor’s degree, 34 132 with a diploma and 15 438 with a certificate.

The Gauteng province is rated second achiever in terms of the pass rate across the country with 82.8%, running behind the Free State that scooped 85.6%.

Lesufi believes the competition between his region and Free State is a healthy one and prays that soon they will take the crown from them. 

“I want to take this opportunity to thank our Minister of Basic Education Mme Angie Motshekga for that brave stunt. If it was not for our Minister, we would not celebrate the victories of these children.” 

In reference to Maimane without mentioning his name, Lesufi said in Kasi lingo, “If it was about this Umjita (township lingo for a guy) our children would be at home doing something that is commonly known, Sigita S’bekaneni (loitering) and not being at school”.  

He said the GDE’s mandate is to ensure that every child is given an equal opportunity to succeed. 

“Ours (mandate) is clear. It is to use education as an enabler to defeat poverty, inequality and unemployment. It is to open all the doors of learning and culture.”

He said yesterday’s celebration was to “honour all our learners from all racial groupings and communities in our province. We do so, proudly that when others told us to close schools, we said we are influenced by science and science indicated there was no need to close schools and today we are celebrating learners that went to school”.

* Inside Education

STAFF REPORTER|

POLICE are currently investigating a case of murder after a high school deputy principal was shot dead on Friday night in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni.

It is reported that the shooting occurred whilst the deputy principal was driving out of the school gates. 

Three gunmen approached her vehicle and allegedly shot the principal 3 times. 

She subsequently got out of her car trying to escape the gunmen but the principal fell. 

The gunmen fired twice while she was on the ground and fled without taking anything from he

Police are appealing to anyone who might have information that can help in the investigation or assist apprehend the suspects to please call the nearest police station or crime stop on 08600 10111.

Information can also be given anonymously via MySAPS App that can be downloaded from any smartphone.

At this stage, police could not confirm the motive behind the shooting.

“The motive for the murder cannot be confirmed at this stage. Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects were three and driving in a white vehicle,” said Gauteng SAPS spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo.

Gauteng Education MEC, Panyaza Lesufi said the incident occurred in the afternoon when the 50-year-old woman was driving out of the school gate.

“Three gunmen suddenly appeared and allegedly shot her three times through the passenger window. Subsequently, she got out of her car trying to evade the hailstorm of bullets, but she fell just beside the car,” he said.

“One of the gunmen allegedly shot her twice while she was on the ground, and they fled the scene without taking anything from her,” he said.

* Inside Education

WENDY MOTHATA|

THE overall top National Senior Certificate (NSC) learner for matric class 2021, Ulrich le Roux from Paarl Boys’ High School in said that he is happy with the results he achieved.

This comes after a year of learning under difficult COVID-19 circumstances.

Le Roux, who plans to study actuarial sciences at Stellenbosch University, said that being an overall top achiever was unexpected.

However, he said he is excited and looking forward to this year’s studies.

“I must say, it was quite unexpected, but I’m very happy with what I achieved and I’m looking forward to this year’s studies and years to come,” he said.

On Thursday, le Roux was one of the learners who were attending a breakfast session with Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga at Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg.

Later that evening, le Roux was honoured with a standing ovation from his fellow peers and some of the dignitaries that attended the announcing of the matric results.

On Thursday, Motshekga announced the pass rate for the 2021 cohort was 76.4%. This is an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the 2020 matric pass rate (76.2%).

The total number of candidates, who registered for the 2021 NSC exams was 897 163.

In her speech, Motshekga said, “You are top pupils produced by the class of 2021. You are the epitome of success. Don’t forget that you are the best of the best that the country has produced.”

The minister further said that the class of 2021was the most affected by the COVID-19.

 “The Class of 2021 was the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic because they had to endure two consecutive years of harsh exposure to the unrelenting Covid-19 pandemic,” said Motshekga.

* Inside Education

THE DA says the country’s 2021 matric results are not a true reflection of the number of students who are failed by the country’s education system.

On Thursday, Basic Education minister Angie Motshekga announced the pass rate for the 2021 cohort was 76.4%. This is an increase of 0.2 percentage points compared to the 2020 matric pass rate (76.2%).

However, the DA said the ‘real’ matric pass rate is 51.4%, as the official results do not take into consideration the high dropout rate. This year, the dropout rate of learners between grade 10 to 12 is 32.7% (341,403 learners), the party said.

Calculations excluding IEB matrics in the grade 10 cohort put the ‘real’ pass rate slightly higher at 53%.

The two provinces with the lowest dropout rates are Mpumalanga, with a dropout rate of 25.5% and the Western Cape, with a dropout rate of 29.7%. The province with the highest learner dropouts is the Northern Cape with 44.7% of learners that were enrolled in grade 10 in 2019 (10 297 learners).

“We know that 897,163 learners wrote the examination, but the grade 10 enrolment in 2019 was 1,045,424. This means that at least 148,261 learners dropped out of the system and did not complete matric. The actual figure is much higher if we consider the students who wrote the examination but failed.

“The DA believes this is due to stringent lockdown regulations implemented by the Department. For these reasons, the DA is compiling court papers to bring an urgent interdict to direct schools to open fully. This policy is irrational and unjustifiable.”

The DA said South Africa’s education system is facing a crisis when considering the learner dropout rates in the statistics.

Covid regulations for schools have only made matters worse, and it is clear by the results that the Minister should scrap the rotational timetable with immediate effect, it said.

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has commended the Matric Class of 2021 on the success achieved by this cohort of learners, educators and parents.

The department of basic education announced on Thursday that the 2021 National Senior Certificate pass rate is 76,4%, with 256 000 learners eligible for university entrance.

“We applaud the multiple successes and improvements recorded by learners during the second year of challenges presented by COVID-19,” said Ramaphosa.

“Equally commendable is the support given to learners by educators and parents who made sacrifices of their own and placed the interests of learners ahead of their own concerns.”

Ramaphosa added: “This is a moment for celebration for learners who have passed and a moment for other learners to return to their desks and make another effort to advance their education and improve their quality of life into the future. Our Second Chance programme is another route to success.”

Ramaphosa also called on all learners to celebrate responsibly and safely within the COVID-19 health protocols.

Inside Education

THE Department of Basic Education (DBE) has announced the matric results for the 2021 cohort, with the group achieving a pass rate of 76.4%. 

According to Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, this is a slight increase of 0.2% compared to the 2020 matric pass rate.

In 2020, the matric class of 2020 achieved a 76.2% pass rate.

The total number of candidates, who registered for the 2021 NSC exams was 897 163.

A total number of 733 198 were registered full-time and 163 965 candidates registered part-time.

Announcing the results, the minister said she is pleased with the results despite all the challenges the learners faced.

“The NSC pass rates have consistently been going up from 60% in 2009, to above 70% in recent years.

The Class of 2021 must be commended for maintaining this trend, despite the astronomical challenges they faced,” she said.

The pass rate represents a record of 537 687 candidates, who passed the 2021 NSC examinations, an improvement of 21.9% passes from 2020.

The number of candidates qualifying for admission to Bachelor studies at universities is 256 031, an improvement of 21.4% from 2020. 

The number of candidates, who passed with a Diploma is 177 572 an improvement of 17.8% from 2020.

The number of candidates, who passed with Higher Certificates is 103 122.

Motshekga said that the 2021 academic year, will be remembered as the year that, not only presented major health challenges but as the second year in which the entire world was held to ransom by the novel COVID-19 pandemic.

 “As at this stage, the Class of 2021, was the most affected by the CVOD-19 pandemic, as they had to endure two consecutive years of harsh exposure to the unrelenting COVID-19 pandemic.  Government, with its Basic Education Departments and its strategic partners, worked tirelessly to strike a balance between saving lives and saving the 2021 academic year,” she said.

The Free State is the leading province at 85.7%, an improvement of 0.6% from 2020.

Gauteng achieved at 82.8%, a 1.0% decline from 2020. Western Cape achieved 81.2%, an improvement of 1.3% from 2020.

The worst performing province is Limpopo, which achieved 66.7%, a 1.5% decline from 2020.

Motshekga further thanked the parents and the teachers for the work that they do.

“In celebrating the great achievements of the Class of 2021, we must thank the principals, teachers, support staff, and parents for the work they continue to do.  Schools are at the coalface of Basic Education delivery.  What you do at the school level, is what matters the most.  The future of our learners, and the prosperity of our nation, is in your hands.  We applaud you for the great work you continue to do daily,” she added.

The minister said that those who wish to improve their results should enroll for the Second Chance Matric Programme. 

Registration into the Programme, is already open, and will close on 15 February 2022. 

* Inside Education

THE Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga has commended the matric class of 2021 for their hard work amid COVID-19 challenges.

Motshekga was speaking at the breakfast session held at the Houghton Hotel in Johannesburg on Thursday.

The purpose of the breakfast session was to honour the 2021 matric top achievers from public schools.

More than 800 000 learners wrote the 2021 National Senior Certificate examinations in 2021.

Motshekga and the Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule congratulated each top learner for their commendable performance in the exams.

The minister said that it’s not easy to be a top leaner in the largest public examinations in the region

This day provides us with an opportunity to celebrate excellence

“The class of 2021 is literally and figuratively a class of its own. It is the only class so far that has studied for two consecutive years under the state of disaster to mitigate COVID-19. And you have made it, you survived and now you are amongst the top learners in the country,” she said.

Motshekga used the opportunity to thank teachers and principals of schools for their support. 

Motshekga further urged learners to continue working hard and move South Africa forward.

“You couldn’t be here if you were an ordinary child. You carry the future of this country, you carry the hopes and aspirations of this country. You have really done well for yourselves,” she said.

She further said that the class of 2021 is the epitome that success comes at a price.

The minister is expected to announce the results of the matric class 2021 this evening.

* Inside Education