By Lungile Ntimba 

The Gauteng education department has instructed all schools to suspend the sale of food within and around school premises until further notice.

This follows the death of at least eight learners and hundreds of others being admitted to hospital in the province due to suspected food poisoning after buying snacks from vendors.

“The department is deeply concerned by how these incidents have led to both loss of life and illness among learners,” department spokesperson Steve Mabona said on Friday.

“In response, we are implementing immediate measures to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our learners.,

Mabona said schools and school governing bodies (SGBs) have been instructed to closely monitor and regulate vendors, tuckshops and other outlets that sell food to learners.

He said in a statement that only food of “nutritional value” could be sold within or near school premises, and expired or repackaged food items could not be sold.

Mabona emphasised that any individual or business selling food to learners must comply with Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, which governed the safety and acceptability of food.

“All food vendors and traders must obtain a certificate of acceptability by contacting their local health department’s environmental health division before selling any food to learners,” he said.

He added that food stalls would have to be inspected and approved before they could operate.

“SGBs are responsible for ensuring vendors’ compliance with these regulations, which include verification that all food items are properly barcoded and sourced from reputable suppliers,” he said.

The department has instructed all schools to rigorously enforce these guidelines.

“Instances of non-compliance must be reported immediately to both the district office and the department of health.”

Education MEC Matome Chiloane has advised schools and SGBs to issue a circular to parents, encouraging them to prepare meals at home instead of providing lunch money.

This was until the relevant authorities issued updated guidelines for food vendors.

“… additionally, schools are encouraged to engage community organisations, education stakeholders, and small business associations to foster collaborative efforts aimed at preventing further incidents of foodborne illness,” said Chiloane.

By Simon Nare

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is rubbing her hands with glee as South Africa counts down to officially taking over the presidency of the G20 summit.

It will automatically allow her to simultaneously take over the G20 education working group.

Gwarube has described this as historic, and has vowed to place the country at the centre of global education in the coming year.

South Africa is set to take over of the presidency of the intergovernmental forum of countries from 1 December.

The minister, who was updating reporters in Cape Town on the matric exams, could not hide her excitement on the prospect of hosting the group on education.

She said South Africa would focus on educational professionals for solidarity, equality and sustainable development.

“Each of these areas is critical not only for South Africa, but for developing nations around the world, as we all prepare our learners for the challenges and opportunities of an AI-powered future.

“Our presidency will emphasise the importance of preparing our young people with the skills needed for the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence, large language models, robotics and other emerging technologies.

“In an era defined by rapid technological change, it is essential that education systems adapt and evolve to equip learners with relevant, future-ready skills,” she enthused.

The minister said through the G20 platform the country aimed to foster greater international cooperation, allowing the country to share best practices, resources and innovations that supported that goal.

She added that the innovation reflected the countries commitment to advance education in a way that supported economic growth, social equity and a future-ready workforce.

These priorities, she said, included quality foundational learning, mutual recognition of qualifications across borders and the development of educational professionals equipped to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.

Among the key goals of the presidency would be to advocate for an inclusive and equitable approach to education that reflected the diverse needs of all learners, said Gwarube.

To be prioritised would be the voices and perspectives of developing nations, ensuring that the G20 Education Agenda aligned with the aspirations of learners worldwide.

She believes that by addressing the challenges faced by resource-constrained regions, the world could create an educational framework that left no learner behind.

“We believe that every young person deserves the chance to succeed in a world that increasingly relies on digital and technological proficiency. As a country, we are committed to advancing education that is not only accessible but transformative – education that empowers individuals, supports communities and drives sustainable development,” the minister said.

“By taking on this role, we are not only supporting South African learners but contributing to a global movement that prioritises the growth, safety, and wellbeing of all children,” she said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The Gauteng government has issued an urgent call to parents, guardians and community members to be vigilant about the food their children consume, particularly from local spaza shops and vendors near schools.

This follows a wave of food-borne illnesses that have led to several fatalities and hospitalisations across the province.

At a special executive council meeting on Wednesday, members discussed the alarming rise in cases of food poisoning, particularly among children, taking swift action to address the situation and warning parents to closely monitor what their children ate, especially items purchased from informal outlets.

This call to action comes in the wake of the tragic deaths of two children in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni. They are believed to have consumed snacks from a spaza shop that may have been contaminated.

Acting premier Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, accompanied by finance and economic Development MEC Lebogang Maile, visited the grieving families in Katlehong earlier this week, expressing their condolences and reaffirming the government’s commitment to tackling the crisis.

“Parents must encourage their children not to buy these snacks. They are not only unhealthy but can be harmful to their health,” Diale-Tlabela said.

She appealed to homeowners and property owners who leased out spaces to spaza shops to take responsibility for ensuring that only safe, hygienic products were sold on their premises.

Maile condemned the ongoing threats posed by unsafe food products and the lack of regulation in informal markets.

“We are committed to ensuring that no child in this province is harmed by unsafe food. We will not stop fighting to bring order to the spaza shop industry,” he said.

In addition, the provincial education committee has called on the education department to enhance strict food safety measures across schools in the province.

Committee chair Moipone Mhlongo insisted that the sale of food in schools should be temporarily suspended until allegations were confirmed.

“We call on the Department of Education to implement a registration process for all food vendors in schools to ensure strict compliance with food safety regulations,” Mhlongo said.

The provincial government is intensifying efforts to promote food safety and hygiene practices among local vendors and consumers, and reaching out to spaza shops and informal vendors to ensure they comply with the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics and Disinfectants Act, and food labelling regulations.

The government is also urging communities to educate children about food safety and the risks of consuming unregulated products.

“We must all take proactive steps to ensure that the food consumed by our children is safe,” Diale-Tlabela said.

The government urged the public to seek immediate medical attention if they exhibited symptoms of food poisoning, including vomiting, fever, chest pains and body aches.

The acting premier said that government officials were working to ensure compliance with food safety standards and emphasised the importance of proper food storage, clean cooking environments and maintaining good hygiene practices.

Residents were encouraged to report any illegal activities related to the sale, trade, or use of dangerous chemicals to the nearest police station.

“The safety of our children is paramount. We will continue to engage with communities to ensure that every person involved in food production and distribution understands their responsibility and complies with the law,” said Diale-Tlabela.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Simon Nare

Aside from a few glitches, some of them beyond human control, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has announced well-managed National Senior Certificate exams that entered their 12th day on Wednesday.

While updating the nation on the progress of the exams, Gwarube said the halfway mark had now been passed, and system has been showing strength and resilience in ensuring the integrity of the exams.

So far, she announced that:

104 of the 181 question papers have been written, which represented 58% of exams

Five schools in the Jan Kemdorp area were affected by a taxi strike, but all candidates from the schools were able to write their exams.

There was protest action in Limpopo and with the help of SAPS matric candidates were escorted to the school and were able to write.

KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, Limpopo and Mpumalanga faced disruptions caused by inclement weather. The department activated contingency plans and learners were able to write and complete their papers.

There were power outages in some areas and back-up generators were relied on for learners to complete their exam papers.

A learner could not finish their paper as they were arrested inside the exam venue as a suspect in an armed robbery case.

Cellphones and crib notes were found and confiscated from a very small number of learners and they are being investigated.

Two imposter candidates were detected and arrested for attempting to take an exam.

Gwarube also addressed the rape for matric learners in Mqhekezweni in the Eastern Cape. The matriculants had had sought accommodation in a house next to the writing centre.

She said they were receiving counselling so that they could finish writing the exams.

“The department has prioritised psychosocial support for the affected learners, ensuring that they have access to counselling and trauma care services. Our priority is to support them in their recovery; giving them the space and assistance they need to heal,” she said.

Overall, the minister was delighted that the system was holding up, and that the writing was progressing well.

She said the department had taken comprehensive measures to safeguard the integrity of the exams to ensure that every learner received a fair, consistent and supportive experience.

The department was focused on maintaining the exams integrity while responding proactively to any operational challenges, including weather disruptions.

“We are steadfast in our support of learners affected by tragic incidents, and will continue to provide them with the psychosocial support they need.

“Furthermore, we are addressing food safety with the utmost urgency and are implementing regulations to ban hazardous pesticides from school premises to protect our children,” she added.

She said the exam operation system had been designed to pre-empt and resolve challenges quickly and effectively. This ranged from the distribution of exam papers to the management of security and supervision.

“We are leveraging technology to maintain real-time oversight, which enables us to detect any irregularities and address them before they can substantially impact the examination process,” she said.

“We recognise that the final leg of exams is crucial, and we are committed to providing every learner with the opportunity to complete their exams without unnecessary obstacles.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Edwin Naidu

Deputy Minister Higher Education and Training, Mimmy Gondwe hosted a Skills and Jobs Summit at the University of Johannesburg earlier on Wednesday to find solutions tackling South Africa’s youth unemployment crisis.

“This is a social and political time bomb”, Gondwe said in her address, adding that the economy was neither inclusive or created jobs, which resulted in soaring levels of poverty and the high cost of living.

“The good thing is that we have it in our hands to defuse this ticking time bomb. For me, that is why we are here today. To collectively find ways of defusing this ticking time bomb,” she said.

One of the ways of doing this, she said, was through education and skills development.

A 2019 report by the National Skills Authority indicated that despite efforts to improve the impact of SETAs, there were still significant gaps in skills development, with many learners who had completed training programmes struggling to find employment.

The deputy minister said youth unemployment currently stood at around 45%, meaning that nearly half of the young people in the country could work and wanted to do so, but could not find work.

“This summit must further answer the question of what are we going to do, as a collective, to ensure that we meet the priorities of the current seventh administration, which are to drive inclusive growth and job creation, to reduce poverty and tackle the high cost of living, and to build a capable and ethical developmental state,” she said.

“Everything we do as the department and as a key role player in the sector must touch on all these priorities. I am possibly restating the obvious when I say: we are all in this together. The success of this summit will be everyone’s success,” she added.  

Hosted by the university’s Johannesburg Business School, Gondwe told the meeting that youth unemployment was a significant problem in South Africa, and she raised concerns about the skills mismatch, with graduates from training programmes struggling to find employment.  

She said the Skills and Jobs Summit was part of a vision to bring the higher education sector and business into one room to engage on the very critical issue of youth unemployment and skills development.

“We are gathered here this morning in the understanding that all of us, whether as business or members of the Post School Education and Training (PSET) sector, we have the common responsibility of being the villagers helping to raise the young of our village.

“Each of us comes to the table with different skill sets, resources and influence. What we must not undermine is that while we may not bring the same amount of whatever resource is at our disposal, what we bring to the table is worthy and necessary,” the Deputy Minister said.

Currently, the overall unemployment rate in South Africa is high, reaching 33.5% in the second quarter of 2024.  

The Deputy Minister noted that poverty and low education levels contributed to the high unemployment rates, while women and people with disabilities faced even higher unemployment rates, with the latter approaching 100% in rural areas.  

Gondwe warned that there was an urgent need to address these issues to prevent social unrest and create a more inclusive and prosperous society.  

She challenged delegates to ensure that at the end of the summit, they pledge on how each of them, given their different areas of activity, would help ensure that opportunities for identified skills that are needed and demanded by this economy.

One of the attendees, Jacques Basson, committed to work with the department to develop a call centre with the potential to create 1000 white-collar jobs within a year. 

“Basson has further placed before us ideas on how the agricultural sector can help train young people in the use of biometric technology and another how we can turn farm workers into farmers owning their farms.

These are the kinds of pledges and commitments that I am asking for from the business community,” Gondwe said.

For her, success would resemble access to the economy either as an employer or an entrepreneur, therefore, the higher education sector must create a skilled workforce and a cohort of young people who were able to either find work or create work for themselves and others.

“It is no longer good enough for the PSET sector to measure itself by the number of enrolments or the number of certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded. The sector is now compelled to measure itself on whether the young people who emerge from it, can be absorbed into the economy either as employees or entrepreneurs,” she reiterated.

This would mean that the sector would have contributed to pushing back against the high levels of unemployment and poverty, especially amongst the youth.

“We need both short-term and long-term interventions. We must identify what it is that we can do today as we prepare for what can be done in the long term to ensure that the country’s economy thrives and grows.”

Challenging delegates to move on from old ways, she said: “We are here to invest in the future of our youth, which is investing in the future of our country. We cannot do this without being fully intentional and deliberate.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Amy Musgrave

Government officials in Gauteng and the Congress of SA Trade Unions have condemned a protest organised by pro-Afrikaans organisations against the new education law, saying that they are ignoring systematic inequalities that must change.

Thousands of people led by the Democratic Alliance, Freedom Front Plus, the Solidarity Movement and AfriForum demanded in Pretoria on Tuesday that two clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act not be enforced.

The legislation has ignited intense controversy, mainly on clauses concerning single-medium schools, language policies and admission requirements.

At the heart of the debate is the Act’s aim to promote inclusivity and accessibility in education, particularly for historically disadvantaged communities.

Its detractors believe the law sounds the death knell for Afrikaans schools and the Afrikaans culture. The clauses are yet to be implemented as they are being discussed by the Government of National Unity’s conflict resolution committee.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned that if a consensus is not reached in three months, the clauses will be enacted.

The crowd was entertained by various singers, including Steve Hofmeyr, who has been called out on many occasions for using racist slurs and accusing Black people of being the architects of apartheid.

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi, who has been opposed to Ramaphosa not signing the clauses into law, has taken to X, saying that the demonstration was not about the schooling system.

“This is not about education, but those who hate use with a passion! The choice of the orange colour and the artist exposed them big time!”

He went on further to call on Ramaphosa to implement the Act in its entirety.

While orange is in the old South African flag, it is also the colour of AfriForum and Solidarity.

Education MEC Matome Chiloane said the DA’s opposition to the law was a thinly veiled attempt to maintain the status quo of exclusion.

“Their argument for ‘mother-tongue education’ conveniently ignores the systematic inequalities that have historically marginalised our Black learners,” he said on X.

“This is not just about language; it’s about ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has the right to an equitable education. We will not be deterred by their selfless agenda.”

Cosatu has also demanded that the president immediately promulgated the Act in its current form, as it contained several progressive and long-overdue provisions.

“Whilst Cosatu acknowledges every citizen’s constitutional right to protest, we strongly condemn the individuals in the crowd who saw the march as an opportunity to display old apartheid era flags,” said Cosatu spokeswoman Zanele Sabela.

“The federation calls on the (SA) Human Rights Commission to launch an investigation and hold the responsible individuals accountable particularly as the DA, AfriForum and Solidariteit (Solidarity) have been adamant that their protest against the BELA Act is not about race.”

She said these organisations were creating a storm in a teacup because as the Act currently stood, it provided school governing bodies with the power to draft their school’s admissions and language policies.

“However, the head of the provincial education department has final approval to ensure the policies are not subject to abuse. We have witnessed far too many children chased out of school because they wore their hair in dreadlocks or had hair extensions put in,” Sabela said in a statement.

The legislation affirmed all mother-tongue languages and afforded room for inclusivity and diversity, and its implementation would not spell the end of Afrikaans.

“In fact, affording space for dual-medium instruction where necessary, will ensure that 80% of South African society is not discriminated against,” she said.

Meanwhile, the ANC’s study group on basic education in Parliament has also called on Ramaphosa to promulgate all sections of the Act, accusing protesters on Tuesday night of “disinformation” for claiming that it infringed on rights to be taught in one’s mother tongue.

It agreed with Cosatu that there was no centralisation of power and that the law was not removing all power from SGBs.

“We must be clear that when these ethno-nationalist parties speak of marching for the protection of indigenous languages, it very simply means that they are marching for the protection of the Afrikaans language only and white privilege,” said Tshepo Louw, whip of the ANC study group.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

The select committee on education, sciences and the creative industries has welcomed the Education Department’s recent report into allegations of racism at the Pretoria High School for Girls (PHSG).

Committee chair Makhi Feni said the report was an indication of the ongoing and rampant racism in white schools as well as elements standing in the way of integration and transformation.

Feni called on school governing bodies as well as principals to accept the multiracial and diverse nature of the country and assist Black learners in the transformation project.

“This outcome gives not only the PHSG, but all former white schools an opportunity to reflect on how they are integrating Black South African learners into what they perceive to be their spaces,” he said.

This follows the school making headlines in recent months for racism, including a whites-only WhatsApp group, bullying of Black learners and white educators refusing to greet their Black colleagues.

The chair said these types of schools should not remain enclaves of aspirant racists, and called for initiatives that facilitate racial integration.

“Conservatism on outdated race politics will not help this country prosper, but diversity will. South Africa still needs to heal, and we will not tire of raising these matters until our children live, work, and play together with no regard whatsoever to race and background,” Feni said.

He said the report indicated that the previous school-commissioned report was merely an attempt at whitewashing and called on the department to assist the school in creating programmes that could address the legacies of racism at these institutions.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

In what is being labelled as the largest protest of Afrikaans movements since 1994, 41 language, education and cultural organisations will demonstrate against the controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act in defence of public Afrikaans-medium schools.

Between 5000 and 10,000 people are expected to participate, according to Kallie Kriel, who is the CEO of civil rights group AfriForum, which is one of the organisers of the protest.

“The Bela battle is the biggest battle since the establishment of this organisation,” Kriel told Inside Education.

The march will commence at 9am on Tuesday morning at the Voortrekker Monument and proceed to Freedom Park, where a memorandum will be handed over to a number of Cabinet members, including Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie and Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald.

The Act has sparked outrage primarily due to its provisions regarding single-medium schools, language and admission policies.

Critics, including Afrikaanse Taalraad chairperson Hendrik Theys, argue that its implementation threatens the viability of Afrikaans as a medium of instruction, potentially leading to the “murdering of a language”.

Kriel reiterated these concerns, highlighting fears that the legislation would effectively anglicise Afrikaans schools within a few years.

Solidarity Movement chairperson Flip Buys framed the protest as a fight for the future of Afrikaans education.

“People have to walk a few kilometres to prevent our children from having to fly away thousands of kilometres,” he said.

The sentiment was echoed by other leaders, including Heindrich Wyngaard from the Cape Forum, who warned that the Act could lead to “language confusion” and negatively impact educational standards, particularly within the Coloured community.

The organisers said their aim was to send a clear message to the Government of National Unity that the “offensive” sections of the Act must not be enforced.

Buys said that the protest would bolster ongoing negotiations with political parties to amend the legislation.

He said the memorandum would articulate the collective demands of the Afrikaans community, including restoring the authority of governing bodies over schools and promoting quality mother-tongue education across all language groups.

Participants in the demonstration were united in their stance that any attack on Afrikaans education was a direct threat to their cultural identity and educational rights, Buys said.

He said organisers hoped that the significant turnout would illustrate the resolve of Afrikaans speakers and their supporters to protect their language and educational rights.

And, that the march was not only a demonstration of dissent against the legislation, but also a broader assertion of the importance of mother-tongue education in South Africa’s diverse linguistic landscape.

The GNU’s clearing house mechanism met last week to discuss the contentious clauses. A small committee of political leaders has been formed to deal with the issue.

It must give a report back next week.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba 

The University of Pretoria (UP) recently signed a partnership agreement with Wuhan Polytechnic University and the Hubei University of Technology in China to enhance global innovation.

This partnership aims to advance joint research and development initiatives and enhance cooperation on innovation between China and Africa, underscoring UP’s commitment to global academic and technological progress.

Prof. Themba Mosia, who is a vice-principal at UP, hosted a meeting with delegates and representatives from the Department of Science and Technology in Hubei Province and partner universities. 

It focused on potential collaborative activities, formalising partnerships and strengthening existing programmes between the countries and their higher education institutions.

A memorandum of cooperation was signed to advance scientific research between the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at the Hubei and the School of Engineering at UP’s faculty of engineering, built environment and information technology (EBIT).

Mosia emphasised that these agreements would not only enhance China-Africa innovation partnerships, but also to strengthen international ties between the Hubei Province and the University of Pretoria.

“In South Africa, UP is a leader in international networks and collaborations, reflecting our serious commitment to these partnerships. We believe our partners share this dedication, as evidenced by our nearly two decades of collaboration. 

“On behalf of the EBIT faculty, we are deeply grateful for this partnership and the joint projects aimed at addressing global challenges. These collaborations hold great promise, particularly in advancing critical fields such as renewable energy and power grid safety technologies,” Mosia said.

Zhang Xiaoxing, who is the Dean of the School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Hubei, highlighted that collaboration would tackle global challenges and drive innovation, making a meaningful impact on societies across the globe.

While Wuhan Polytechnic University president Dong Shijie expressed his honour to be part of this collaboration with UP.

“Wuhan Polytechnic University has established relationships across Europe, America, Australia and Southeast Asia, making the University of Pretoria our first collaboration point on the African continent. Before visiting South Africa, I thoroughly researched UP’s collaborations, particularly in the engineering field, and I am impressed by its contributions, position and development,” he added.

“While our strengths in agriculture and food production are notable, I believe our other faculties are also well suited for collaboration with UP’s departments. 

“We recognise that for research-focused universities, international collaboration is essential. It is crucial for our students and staff to engage globally and work together on research and innovation,” he said.

INSIDE EDUCATION