Staff Reporter

Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Professor Blade Nzimande has blasted the Senate of Stellenbosch University for voting against a motion on ‘Genocide and Destruction of Scholarship and Education in Gaza.’

In its text, the draft motion calls for among others, “an immediate ceasefire and the cessation of attacks on civilians in Gaza and Israel, the passage of humanitarian aid, the return of all captives including the safe return of hostages captured by Hamas.”

The draft motion also calls for “the condemnation of the destruction of the education sector in Gaza and the massive scale of killing of teachers and university staff in the current war and further expressed concern and opposition to any attempts to curtail academic freedom by labeling criticism of Israel or Zionist policies as antisemitism.”

The Senate rejected this progressive draft motion by a vote of 101 against 80, with 18 abstentions.

“This decision by the Senate is both insensitive, blatantly racist and fails to appreciate that, at stake here, is a matter of fundamental human rights- the genocide and mass murder of Palestinians,” said Nzimande.

Nzimande added that the barbarism and racism of Israel has virtually been condemned by most of humanity, including the United Nations General Assembly.

Close to 100 Palestinian professors have been killed, over 12 universities have been destroyed in Gaza (virtually destroying the entire university system in Gaza), and hospitals attacked with murdered patients buried in mass graves.

Last week, the Israeli Cabinet closed Al Jazeera and banned its broadcasting to the Israeli population. “Therefore, the decision by the Senate amounts to a monumental betrayal of the sacrifices of academics like David Webster and Rick Turner, without whose sacrifice we would not have defeated the evil system of apartheid. This decision is, therefore, profoundly shameful and takes us back to the darkest days of apartheid,” the Minister said.

“Whilst I respect university autonomy and academic freedom, the Senate must be made to understand that there is no autonomy from racism, genocide, apartheid, and violation of fundamental human rights,” charged Nzimande. 

Labeling the decision repugnant, Nzimande said the Senate of Stellenbosch University has essentially legitimised the mass murder and dispossession of the oppressed people of Palestine, including that of fellow academics.

“I call on all progressive members of Council, alumni, the workers, and the student leadership at Stellenbosch University to condemn this morally bankrupt and profoundly racist decision by the Senate.”

The Minister urged all South Africa’s universities to make their voices heard in the global campaign of solidarity with the people of Palestine and condemnation of the crimes of the Zionist regime in Israel.

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Johnathan Paoli

MEC for Education in Gauteng Matome Chiloane has expressed his shock over the recent peak in learner suicides at Eqinisweni secondary school in Ivory Park.

Speaking on Monday evening, the Education MEC said the loss of lives, especially among the youth, remained a growing concern for the department and that a psycho-social support unit has been dispatched to the school to assist with counselling.

“It is indeed heart-wrenching to witness the loss of young lives. We extend our deepest condolences to the families affected by their passing,” Chiloane said.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona confirmed that four pupils – three girls and one boy – allegedly consumed poison and died shortly after being transported to hospital between 26 April and 5 May. The pupils were in Grades 10 and Matric.

Chiloane praised the work done by the department in conjunction with the South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG) in light of the rise in suicides.

“It should be noted that our partnership with SADAG has yielded positive results in Tsakane, where we previously had a similar slew of unfortunate learner suicides. As such, the department commits to continuing with this partnership and conduct learner mental health roadshows to affected schools,” Chiloane said.

In an unrelated incident, a woman teacher from Thuto-Lore Secondary School in Sharpeville was allegedly found dead on Saturday, at Dlomo Dam, near her residence.

“This raises serious concerns around the safety of female educators in the community. We plead with law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in apprehending the suspects, and we also convey our sincerest condolences to the school and bereaved family,” Chiloane said.

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Inside Education Reporter

The Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande has congratulated the General Secretary of SADTU, Dr Mugwena Maluleke on attaining his PhD from Nelson Mandela University.

“As an educationalist, Dr Maluleke’s commitment to education sets a positive example for both the young people and workers of our country. His commitment to self-development underscores the importance of improving your knowledge levels as a leader in society. By attaining his PhD, Dr Maluleke is contributing to the drive to make educational achievement a norm in our communities,” the Minister said.

Most importantly, Nzimande said South Africa must increase the number of PhDs in society so that “we truly become the kind of knowledge society that will transform our society for the primary benefit of the workers and the poor, with innovation at the centre of our developmental trajectory”.

“It is my hope that Dr Maluleke’s personal milestone will inspire more of our young people and workers to follow in his footsteps,” he said.

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Inside Education Reporter

THE Deputy Minister of Basic Education, Dr Reginah Mhaule handed over a donation of ICT Equipment from Cell C with Member of Parliament, Hon. DL Moela and Cell C Executive, Joshua Moela.

The handover took place on 2 May 2024 at Shabalala Secondary School in Hazyview, Mpumalanga.

The schooling community from 12 schools under the WhiteHazy 1 and 2 circuits gathered at Shabalala Secondary School to receive the donation. 

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Minister Dr Mhaule, lauded Cell C for the donation, saying: “It’s imperative for government to work with partners to make sure schools are resourced with ICTs to assist teachers and learners be part of the digital transformation era.”

MP Desmond Lawrence Moela was on hand to assist Lehlomo Joshua Moela and Deputy Minister to hand over the laptops to representatives of the various schools receiving the donation. Learners were also gifted with sports kits, storybooks, dignity packs and school bags. 

DM Mhaule also took the opportunity to recognise long-serving teachers, awarding them with certificates for their outstanding contribution to the nation.

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Staff Reporter

Acknowledging the important contribution of science, technology and innovation (STI) in addressing societal concerns, the South African government continues to make significant investments in STI.

The Acting Director-General of Science and Innovation, Mr Daan du Toit, emphasised the government’s stance at a roundtable on STI policy perspectives during a recent workshop.

The workshop was held at the South African Embassy in Brussels alongside the 4th AERAP Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum. AERAP, the Africa-Europe Radio Astronomy Platform, has a strong relationship with the South African Department of Science and Innovation.

The Africa-Europe Science Collaboration Forum, highlighted the critical role of science and digital innovation in defining European Union (EU) policies towards Africa, and of placing African scientific leadership at the centre of these policies.

The forum encouraged deeper interaction with policymakers and the strengthening of linkages between African stakeholders and their European counterparts through strategic science and innovation partnerships.

At the roundtable, Du Toit reiterated some of the key aspects of the STI Decadal Plan, which serves as an implementation plan for the 2019 STI White Paper, stating that the plan represents a significant step towards unlocking South Africa’s innovation potential.

“Over the years, we have found common ground in our policy dialogue with the European Commission,” said Du Toit.

For instance, both Europe and South Africa are confronted with what South Africa calls the innovation chasm and Europe calls the innovation paradox – the gap between success in the basic sciences and the translation of that success into products and services with socio-economic benefits.

“So, we are introducing a wide variety of policy interventions to unlock and address the regulatory and other restrictions that limit South Africa’s potential to innovate … we have a lot of interest in how Europe is using public procurement as a tool for advancing innovation,” Du Toit added.

Du Toit considers that, for South Africa to fully harness the immense potential of STI, an inclusive, whole-of-society approach is needed, rather than the scientific community, the government and business pursuing separate goals.

Looking at the larger pan-African picture, Du Toit stated that intra-African mobility was required before success could be achieved. There is very little intra-African mobility, and it is concerning that so few South African students pursue postgraduate studies in other African countries.

“We know that the success of the European research area has been built on, among other things, European mobility, which is facilitated by the Erasmus+ Mobility Programme and other such programmes,” stated Du Toit. “Africa needs similar programmes.”

Greater intra-African trade and economic partnerships are also needed if the continent is to develop its African trade and investment agenda.

The continent’s investment in research and innovation is low, so African governments need to increase their investment in national, regional (particularly in regional economic communities) and continental programmes.

South Africa believes that the fundamental socio-economic issues it faces, such as climate change, food insecurity, disease, and inequality, demand a global response.

Du Toit believes that Africa and the EU, with their long record of successful collaboration, can overcome these challenges together.

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Staff Reporter

What do a Springbok Rugby player and a local music star have in common? Both graduated recently from the University of the Western Cape.

Former Springbok and current Cape Town Deputy Mayor Eddie Andrews graduated with his Bachelor of Administration Honours and Voice SA Season 2 winner and acclaimed singer-songwriter Craig Lucas graduated with his Masters in Development Studies.

For Lucas, this was just another milestone in the academic journey that he wished to pursue. Lucas’s thesis is The Capability to Aspire: A Case Study of Youth Aspirations in Bonteheuwel.

While celebrating his Masters, Lucas said he is keen to start his PhD as soon as possible.

Andrews’s graduation was the culmination of an academic journey that started on the Cape Flats. He now wants to inspire others from historically disadvantaged backgrounds to study further.

Andrews is also considering returning to UWC to continue his studies. The former rugby player wants to pursue a Master’s Degree.

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Sports Correspondent

At first, he cared mostly for sports – now it’s human rights. UP diversity and inclusion specialist Tumelo “Duke” Rasebopye has graduated with a master’s specialising in leadership and gender equality.

Tumelo “Duke” Rasebopye might not have started his tertiary education as a model student, but he has certainly come full circle.

Rasebopye, who was promoted to the position of diversity and inclusion specialist at the University of Pretoria’s (UP) Transformation Office in January, graduated on 25 April 2024 with a master’s in Development Practice, and reckons he will continue with a PhD.

Yet when he finished school, he didn’t qualify to study towards a degree at university.

Without the required bachelor’s pass, formerly known as a matric exemption, it took Rasebopye two years before he was accepted at UP.

First he did a certificate in management principles and another in business basics at Varsity College and the University of South Africa (Unisa). Then, using those qualifications to leverage entrance into a degree, he registered for law at Unisa.

When he was accepted at UP for the following year – and initially being told that he wouldn’t get any credits for his studies – he decided it didn’t make financial sense to continue. Plus, it was 2010, and the FIFA World Cup was taking place in South Africa, and Rasebopye was more than happy to devote himself to that.

A sports lover, Rasebopye says it was his interest in sport that resulted in his poor matric marks in the first place. At school, he did cross-country, soccer, cricket, middle-distance athletics and “whatever sport there was”.

By the time he applied himself to his studies, it was too late.

“I also think that varsity wasn’t a real aspiration until I wanted it,” he says. Then FOMO (fear of missing out) made him decide it might be a good idea.

UP was his first choice. Although home was technically Johannesburg, he went to high school at Hatfield Christian School in Pretoria. Also, his sister, Bontle, works at the University of Witwatersrand and he didn’t want him to crowd her space. More than that, however, he is enamoured with the capital city.

“I just love Pretoria,” he says. “It’s truly a fantastic place to be. In every way. The people are among the best in this country – definitely among the top tier on the continent.”

Yet after almost not making it into university, from the moment he stepped onto campus, he made activism his priority. While not neglecting his studies – he graduated with a BSocSci in Industrial Sociology and Labour Studies in record time, doing well enough to do honours in Development Studies, and now master’s – he soon became involved with what was then the Centre for the Study of AIDS, now the Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender (CSA&G).

A conversation in one of his first lectures sparked his interest.

“I was in a politics class, and one of my colleagues said she was volunteering at the centre, where they do training and capacitation,” Rasebopye says.

He recalls attending a relative’s funeral, where there was “a bit of a hush”, he says, about the cause of death, later speculated to be an HIV/AIDS-related illness.

So he asked his friend to show him where the centre was, which she did straight after class. “And I got involved from there,” he says.

Rasebopye chose to become an HIV testing peer counselor, a volunteer position he

fulfilled for seven years.

“It segued into being asked to assist in curating a student leadership and advocacy programme,” he explains. “I jumped on that opportunity. And the programme I was later project managing, the Just Leaders project, is still going today. That’s how I grew into my stride.”

By 2015, he was Chairperson of the South African Students’ Congress and a member of UP’s Student Representative Council. An active leader of the #FeesMustFall student movement, he was quoted extensively in a UP master’s thesis as one of five “high-profile students” who were all outspoken student leaders during the movement from around the country. It was a pivotal time.

Rasebopye’s Facebook profile page shows a photo of protesting students, some sitting on the roof of the Student Centre. He still remembers the day, 23 October 2015, they went to the Union Buildings as part of the #FeesMustFall protest.

“Tear gas and rubber bullets started flying,” he recalls. “It was unwarranted and caused one to consider how we think about developing ethical leadership because, on that particular day, there was a lot that was not ethical”.

Leadership is a hot topic for Rasebopye. His master’s thesis, supervised by Dr Yolande Steenkamp, looked at the pursuit between leadership and achieving gender equality within the higher education sector, in alignment with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The topic, as well as his job, shows how his activism has matured and morphed with his studies, and progressed into full-time work at UP.

But at heart, nothing has changed. Rasebopye is still a walking symbol of transformation and human rights, as shown by the #SpeakOutUP T-shirt and “Are we safe?” cap he is wearing on the day of our interview, two university campaigns he has been involved in.

And his advocacy continues. He’s been asked to join the steering committee of the National Youth Coalition, which promotes the development of ethical and transformative youth leaders. And he is the National Chairperson of the Gender Practitioners’ Community of Practice in all 26 public South African universities.

He has strong views on transformation. While many might see it as changing the racial profile of, say, a sports team, he explains why it is so much more.

“We often confuse access and inclusion. We tend to think that if we get people into the room or onto a team, then we are doing transformation work. But it can easily become a box-ticking exercise.

“It doesn’t necessarily mean that when someone enters the space, they’ll be respected, affirmed or acknowledged, or that they will be embraced and integrated into the day-to-day interactions within the organisation. That’s what we mean by inclusivity.”

He adds that he is “invested in the university” and regularly envisions it as a transformed institution. “So it’s quite a blessing that I do the work that I do, at this institution that I’ve poured so much into.”

One thing that has lapsed is his active participation in sport, and his coaching, which saw his soccer team in Brooklyn winning the regional league. Now it’s working out at home, the occasional seven-a-side football game with friends, and a lot of hiking, which is “a great way to catch up with friends, especially when we all have busy schedules”, he says.

But he says that motorbike riding is the most fun and adventurous thing he does.

“The transport part is secondary—the primary part is the excitement and joy of being able to travel somewhere on a full tank and see new places. Roads that I’ve traveled by car many times are always different when I travel on a bike.

“It’s the smells and the temperatures shifting at different points. It’s a great way to explore and experience life.”

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Johnathan Paoli

THE Eastern Cape Transport Department has warned scholar transport operators that the planned shutdown in the province on Thursday, for non-payment of services for the past four months – would not be a protected strike and the strikers will face criminal charges.

Schools in East London have temporarily closed down in anticipation of the strike, with classes expected to resume on Friday.

The spokesperson for the Department Unathi Binqose said on Wednesday that the shutdown would not only disadvantage learners, but also infringe upon others’ right of movement.

“It will also negatively impact scores of taxi operators, the overwhelming majority of whom depend on the taxi rank, have private contracts with parents to ferry learners or have contracts with companies to ferry their workers,” Binqose said.

Binqose refuted claims that there was an unavailability of funds, and blamed the delay in payments on technical challenges that the department was currently facing.

Furthermore, Binqose said part of the delay was due to the boycotting of the signing of contracts by some operators at the beginning of this year, and challenges relating to tax among some operators.

Binqose said the Department’s Deputy Director-General, Lomex Sisilana, had met the taxi bosses on Wednesday to try and resolve the matter, and was working to clear the backlog of unprocessed invoices by May 15.

“To date, a sizable percentage of legitimate invoices have already been settled, while outstanding and legitimate invoices will be paid during the course of the month,” he said.

On Tuesday a group of irate taxi operators protested outside the provincial transport department’s supply chain offices in West Bank, East London, demanding their payments be paid with interest. Afterwards, the group convened at the Cambridge Community Hall where the decision to go on a strike was taken.

However, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) in the province has distanced itself from the scholar transport operators’ planned shutdown.

SANTACO Chair Bishop Yolelo said while the council remained concerned over the delay in payment, it would continue providing services to commuters with the assistance of law enforcement agencies.

“Whilst we acknowledge the existing challenges surrounding overall government regulation and support of our industry, we believe there should be more cordial avenues, pursued to ensure that harm isn’t caused as concerns are being registered,” Yolelo said.

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