By Johnathan Paoli

A “strategic reorientation” of South Africa’s schooling system that places quality foundational learning and teacher development at its core is critical, according to Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube.

Speaking at the G20 Basic Education National Indaba in Cape Town on Monday, Gwarube said the sector had a responsibility to tackle entrenched inequalities and prepare learners for a rapidly changing world.

“Early childhood care and education is not an optional extra. It is the foundation on which everything else rests. We are building an education system for all the Lindiwes and Siphos of our country. Regardless of where they come from, they must both get access to quality education,” Gwarube declared.

The two-day indaba held under the theme “Taking the G20 to the People – Advancing Quality Foundational Learning through ECCE and Education Professional Development”, brought together ministers, MECs, education unions, learners, civil society and international partners.

It consolidated months of provincial dialogues and will shape South Africa’s contribution to the G20 Education Working Group meeting in October.

Gwarube used her keynote address to highlight the human cost of unequal access to early childhood education. She again told the contrasting stories of two ten-year-olds: one thriving thanks to early exposure to structured learning, the other struggling because he only encountered books in Grade 1.

“These stories are a reminder that if we want to transform the future, we must start at the very beginning with the foundations of learning,” she said.

The minister also addressed the fiscal pressures facing provincial education departments, announcing financial recovery plans to address “ghost teachers” and “ghost learners” draining resources.

She said the newly established National Education and Training Council would advise on resourcing models, reducing teacher admin and strengthening support for schools offering foundation phase learning.

“This is not an end point. It is a convergence, a moment to listen, reflect and move forward with clarity and determination,” Gwarube told delegates.

Western Cape education MEC David Maynier welcomed delegates with a balance of pride and caution.

While noting that the province leads in maths and science and is building schools faster than others, he admitted there was severe pressure regarding school admissions and fiscal constraints.

“Education is an economic imperative. If we don’t get education right, we will not get South Africa right. That’s why we must look outward, learning from countries like Brazil, Japan, and Finland, and scaling what works,” Maynier said.

Basic Education Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule outlined South Africa’s three G20 education priorities: foundational learning with a focus on early childhood care, professional development of teachers and mutual recognition of qualifications.

She stressed that South Africa’s leadership on the global stage must be grounded in its communities.

National Education Collaboration Trust CEO Godwin Khosa pushed for holistic support, including learner wellness, teacher development and technology integration.

“The resounding message from across nine provinces is clear: to optimise learning, we must focus on comprehensive support and innovation,” he said.

Chief Director at Foundations for Learning, Kulula Manona, emphasised the need for a strong early childhood care and education (ECCE) ecosystem that involved families.

“Parents are the first teachers of children,” he said, stressing South Africa’s four-pronged strategy of expanding access, improving quality, ensuring resourcing and professionalising the workforce.

SmartStart CEO Grace Mathlape cautioned that while the sector had made progress, “blind spots” in infrastructure, nutrition and support for early learning operators still undermined access.

“Even when we talk about new access, we don’t have a system in place right now,” she warned.

SmartStart currently runs 15,000 programmes reaching 170,000 children weekly.

From an infrastructure standpoint, Development Bank of Southern Africa Group Executive Chuene Ramphele pledged continued support, calling education “a strategic enabler and catalyst”.

He urged stronger collaboration within the government and with the private sector, warning that investor confidence depended on institutional efficiency.

Ramphele pressed for climate-linked financing tools to build resilience in schools.

In a notable departure from traditional summits, learners were invited to contribute directly.

Gwarube stressed that this was not symbolic, saying that too often young people were spoken to, but not listened to.

As South Africa steers the G20 Education Working Group, the minister reminded delegates that reforms must be rooted in both community realities and global lessons.

Video by Kgalalelo Setlhare Mogapi.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

University and national women sport veterans have urged young athletes to embrace opportunities, complete their studies and believe in their dreams to inspire the future generation to lead.

The University of Johannesburg (UJ) recently marked Women’s Month and its 20th anniversary with a dialogue celebrating women’s resilience, leadership and empowerment in sport.

Opening the conversation, UJ Sport Senior Director Nomsa Mahlangu called for collective accountability and mentorship.

“Today we celebrate each other; we drink from each other’s cup,” she said, underscoring the importance of women supporting one another as they climb leadership ladders.

Mahlangu said established professionals must serve as guides and sources of hope for the next generation of leaders, ensuring that the gains made in women’s participation in sport were not lost, but multiplied.

The event, titled: “Breaking Barriers: A 20-Year Journey of Women in Sports,” was hosted in collaboration with the Soweto Library and Information Centre and brought together influential female voices who have carved a path in South African and international sport.

The panel discussion included UJ alumna and South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) first vice president Lwandile Simelane, former Banyana Banyana captain and football analyst Amanda Dlamini, and former SPAR Proteas netball captain Bongiwe Msomi.

They were joined by UJ coaches, managers and student athletes, creating a space where experiences and strategies for empowering women in sport were candidly shared.

Dlamini, who grew up playing street football in rural KwaZulu-Natal before captaining the national women’s team, reflected on how sport and education worked together to build her confidence.

“Football has helped me grow as a leader, and school added a confidence boost for me to be able to express and articulate myself better,” she said.

Her story highlighted both triumph and challenge.

While she credited football for instilling leadership qualities, she also pointed to the societal obstacles that limited young girls’ opportunities in sport.

These included a lack of resources, entrenched gender stereotypes and unequal support compared to male counterparts. She urged student athletes to remain resilient and to use education as a tool to strengthen their influence both on and off the field.

For Simelane, her journey from humble beginnings to the executive boardrooms of South African sport, illustrates the value of perseverance and service.

“I started by washing team kits, organising events and carrying boxes. Those experiences shape people to serve better,” she said.

Simelane emphasised the importance of volunteering and committing to tasks that may seem menial, but ultimately built discipline and resilience.

She appealed to aspiring leaders to embrace the learning process and let hard work pave the way to higher office.

Adding to the discussion, Msomi highlighted the vital role mentorship played in shaping successful athletes and administrators.

“Just like men, women require guidance to develop in sport and any other industry,” she said, noting that talent alone could not sustain a career.

She urged student athletes to prioritise their studies.

“Academic wisdom combined with talent gives you credibility and opportunity. Please give young women the opportunities to learn and be in the positions that you occupy when you retire.”

Msomi credited her former coach, Norma Plummer, for mentoring her not only on the netball court but also in life, demonstrating the profound influence that dedicated mentors had on young women athletes.

The panellists stressed that while progress has been made, women continued to face structural barriers, from underfunding to underrepresentation in leadership.

Yet, through mentorship, education, resilience and solidarity, these challenges could be overcome.

As UJ celebrates two decades of existence, the discussion serves as a reminder that women’s voices in sport were vital for equality and shaping the future of leadership in South Africa.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Almost R280,000 has been raised for students from Goldfields Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College at a fundraising dinner in Welkom in the Free State.

Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe, who spoke at the event, said the donations were more than just financial support. They were a tangible vote of confidence in the potential of the students and a signal of the community’s belief in the transformative power of education.

The money would help boost the advancement of technical and vocational education, the deputy minister said.

She stressed the importance of collaboration between TVET colleges and businesses, noting that partnerships of this nature ensured that graduates were equipped with skills that were both relevant and in demand.

“I’m pleased to have played a role in helping the TVET college secure funds and support. Every effort we make, regardless of size, has the potential to drive meaningful change. I want to thank all the businesses and individual donors, however, our biggest thank you goes to Standard Bank for contributing a lion’s share of R200,000,” she said.

Gondwe said the initiative reflected growing recognition of the crucial role TVET colleges played in South Africa’s national skills agenda.

With industry support, these institutions were better positioned to produce work-ready graduates who could contribute meaningfully to the economy.

The gala dinner attracted around 20 businesses and organisations from mining, retail, finance and other industries, as well as individual entrepreneurs and academics.

Together, they pledged a total of R278 250, demonstrating both community solidarity and confidence in the college’s mission.

Other notable donations included R20,000 each from Absa and Nomnga Properties, R15,000 from Tailormade Trading and R5000 each from the Khatatso Nkeane Foundation and Coltech.

In addition, a combined R13,250 was contributed by individuals, reflecting strong personal investment in the future of the region’s youth.

Gondwe also led by example, personally contributing R2000 towards the fundraising drive.

She said that TVET colleges could not work in isolation. They needed to collaborate with industry to ensure that students left institutions with the skills needed to meet the demands of the modern economy.

Her comments echo the government’s broader emphasis on aligning education with labour market needs, a priority outlined in the department’s National Skills Development Strategy.

The college’s principal, Francis Mahlangu, expressed his gratitude to the minister and the donors.

“We value the leadership provided by deputy minister Gondwe; her presence at the gala dinner strengthened our resolve to continue transforming the TVET landscape in accordance with the national skills agenda,” he said.

Mahlangu said funds raised would go directly into developing infrastructure and expanding skills programmes, ensuring students benefited from improved resources and opportunities.

With government funding often constrained, partnerships with business and community stakeholders are important to help sustain innovation, improve infrastructure and create practical learning opportunities for students.

The deputy minister praised the college, stressing that by securing buy-in from both large corporations and smaller enterprises, it had demonstrated how localised efforts could yield tangible results that contributed to the national agenda.

Gondwe called for a continuation in nurturing such partnerships to help find innovative ways of resourcing colleges.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

The role of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa’s higher education sector remains a contested space, but institutions are beginning to acknowledge its transformative potential.

Speaking at Eduvos’s conference on transforming education through AI, IT programme convener Stewart Coetzee said there was still no clear policy direction on whether to restrict or embrace AI tools in classrooms.

“The hot topic is assessment. How do we test now that active learning took place? On the one hand, do we completely stop students from using AI, or do we let them use AI? To be honest, I still don’t know where I stand on that,” Coetzee said.

Despite the uncertainty, Coetzee said that AI should not be seen as a replacement for lecturers or students but as an enabler to support learning. 

He noted that AI tools like custom ChatGPT, transcription bots and assessment platforms had already demonstrated their ability to improve teaching outcomes.

“AI is completely changing the way we do things. Students often misuse it to do the work for them, but if used with integrity, it can transform the way we teach and assess,” he said.

Among the technologies discussed was Otto.ai, a bot that can join meetings, transcribe discussions and generate summaries with speaker identification. Other tools, such as NotebookLM and Notion, can turn class notes into podcasts and mind maps, offering students multiple ways of engaging with material.

AI is also being tested in assessments.

Coetzee pointed to platforms like PlusPoint AI, which can convert PowerPoint slides into live quizzes, and Gradescope, which uses AI to mark handwritten tests and provide detailed, personalised feedback.

“Imagine saving hours of marking by allowing AI to handle it while lecturers focus on quality control,” he explained.

“AI can even generate rubrics and highlight specific mistakes, giving students paragraph-level feedback per question, something most lecturers simply don’t have time to do.”

He argued that rather than fearing AI, educators should embrace it as a collaborative tool. 

“I don’t make five different lesson plans for one lecture based on individual learning styles, but AI can. It doesn’t replace me, but it helps,” Coetzee said.

Still, he acknowledged the challenges of ensuring integrity in student use of AI and the limitations of detection tools, which were increasingly unable to differentiate between human and machine-generated work.

In closing, Coetzee urged institutions to rethink rigid teaching and evaluation models in the age of AI. 

“We cannot expect AI to fit into the way we have always been teaching, assessing and evaluating students. It has disrupted education, and the question now is whether we adapt or resist?”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has moved to clarify the process surrounding his controversial appointment of administrators to three troubled Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), following growing concerns from Parliament and sector stakeholders.

The minister’s clarification, issued in a formal media statement on Friday night, sought to address these concerns directly.

“Our priority is to stabilise governance in these SETAs, protect public funds and strengthen confidence in the skills development system. By involving the Public Service Commission (PSC) in this process, we are adding an extra layer of integrity to ensure that the focus remains on delivering skills for South Africa’s youth and workers,” Manamela said.

Earlier this week, Manamela placed the Services SETA, the Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) and the Local Government SETA under administration.

Acting in terms of Section 15(1) of the Skills Development Act, the minister dissolved appointed administrators to take over leadership functions, citing the need to restore governance and accountability in the bodies responsible for managing billions in public funds earmarked for skills training.

Since then, questions have mounted over whether the appointments were appropriate and whether the process followed the necessary standards of transparency and accountability.

Manamela emphasised that due process had been followed before confirming any of the appointments.

He detailed three critical steps in the vetting process: identifying candidates with the required qualifications and experience; conducting due diligence, including reviewing public allegations and controversies linked to candidates; and giving candidates the opportunity to respond to these issues directly.

The minister said that only after the department was satisfied that the appointees could carry out the mandate of stabilising the SETAs, were the appointments confirmed. This demonstrated that the process was not arbitrary and that scrutiny of the administrators’ past records had been factored into decision-making.

Acknowledging ongoing public scepticism, Manamela announced an additional safeguard. The PSC will now conduct independent fit-and-proper assessments and conflict of interest vetting of all three appointees.

The PSC is a constitutional body mandated to promote fair, professional and accountable public administration.

According to the minister, all three administrators have agreed to subject themselves to the PSC’s scrutiny and to accept the outcomes of the process.

Beyond the vetting process, Manamela also outlined immediate performance expectations for the new administrators.

Each of the three SETAs under administration has been directed to publish a 90-day stabilisation plan.

These plans must include clear, measurable indicators and will serve as roadmaps for restoring governance stability, addressing financial risks and ensuring accountability.

Importantly, these stabilisation plans will not be confined to internal reporting.

The minister has instructed that they be made available to Parliament, stakeholders and the public for monitoring.

This, he said, would allow for full transparency around progress and create an additional layer of oversight over how the SETAs were managed during the administration period.

Manamela framed these measures as part of a broader effort to restore confidence in the country’s skills development system.

The Democratic Alliance has welcomed Manamela’s decision to hand over his controversial appointments to the PSC for investigation, but insisted that Parliament must still urgently hold him accountable.

DA spokesperson Karabo Khakhau described Manamela’s referral of the issue to the PSC as “a huge admission of scandal”, adding that the DA would submit terms of reference to the PSC to ensure its investigation was not narrowly confined.

“Manamela has handed over his own appointees to the Public Service Commission as the public scrutiny has heightened and pressure on him is mounting. Manamela is making a huge admission of scandal, by bringing in the Public Service Commission,” Khakhau said.

The party is calling for the probe to include possible party-political links, cadre deployment practices and findings from past forensic reports into SETA mismanagement.

Over the years, the SETAs have been plagued by repeated scandals involving procurement irregularities, maladministration and wasteful expenditure.

The minister expressed his trust that these steps would address public concerns, reinforce oversight and ensure that SETAs were able to deliver effectively on their critical mandate.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

A total of 738,445 Grade 1 and Grade 8 applications were recorded by the Gauteng education department’s online admissions system as of Thursday, MEC Matome Chiloane said.

A total of 315,865 applications were for Grade 1 and 422,580 for Grade 8.

School placement is set to start on 16 October 2025. 

Chiloane told reporters on Friday that during this period, the department would start sending placement offers to parents and guardians with complete applications via SMS.

“Parents with complete applications are advised to patiently await placement offers,” he said. 

He said the department had identified high-pressure areas where schools received an overwhelming number of applicants, exceeding their capacity. 

Approximately 277 primary schools and 221 secondary schools have registered more applications than available capacity. 

The primary schools with highest applications include Laerskool Akasia in the Tshwane with 1304 applications and 250 capacity, and Palmridge Primary School in Ekurhuleni with 1172 applications and space for 200 learners.

Secondary schools include Hoërskool Langehoven in Tshwane with 3122 applications and 310 capacity, and Alberton High School in Ekurhuleni with 2590 applications and 200 capacity.

“In such cases, applicants will be transferred to the next closest school with available space,” Chiloane said. 

To address infrastructure needs, the department has implemented various strategies, including providing self-built classrooms and mobile classrooms, and establishing new satellite schools.

A total of 786 mobile classrooms has been delivered to 223 schools across 15 districts.

The department said it was constructing 18 new schools, with 10 being entirely new and 8 serving as replacement schools.

“The construction of 12 of 18 new schools have commenced and estimated time of completion is in 2026,” it said.

Meanwhile, parents have been reminded to submit certified copies of documents to schools or upload them online by noon on 9 September 2025. 

Chiloane said that so far, 97,719 incomplete applications have been recorded.

“[A total] of 20,265 registered parent details only, 30,547 registered parent and learner details only, and 46,907 registered parent and learner details with incomplete applications,” he said.

Chiloane urged parents to apply online without delay. The application period closes on 29 August 2025 at midnight.

Video By: Kgalalelo Setlhare Mogapi

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has called on government, business and civil society to join forces in protecting and strengthening the National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP), describing it as one of the country’s most precious assets and a vital lifeline for millions of learners.

Speaking at the 3rd annual Oceana CEO-CSI engagement at Oceana Maritime Academy at the Hout Bay Harbour, Gwarube urged stakeholders to treat school nutrition as a “national compact” that demanded accountability, transparency and sustainable partnerships.

“As we gather under the banner of corporate social investment, I want to call on all of us to treat the NSNP as a national compact. A compact that says no child should go hungry. No child should be poisoned by negligence or greed. No child should be left behind because we failed to protect the most basic right, the right to food,” Gwarube said.

The event, held under the theme “Feeding Futures: Food Security for Children in South Africa”, brought together government, corporate leaders and civil society organisations including the Peninsula School Feeding Association (PSFA).

Oceana, which is one of the country’s largest fishing companies, hosted the engagement as part of its corporate social investment (CSI) programme.

Gwarube highlighted the link between early childhood development, nutrition and long-term educational outcomes.

Drawing on the story of two children, Sipho and Lindiwe, she illustrated how unequal access to resources in the early years led to divergent life trajectories.

The minister emphasised that the differences between them were opportunity instead of intelligence or potential, noting that while Sipho had access to quality early learning, Lindiwe entered Grade 1 already three years behind her peers.

“This story reminds us that if we fail to secure strong foundations in early childhood and nutrition, our ambitions for excellence at higher levels of learning will never materialise,” Gwarube said.

Launched in 1994, the NSNP has grown into one of Africa’s largest feeding schemes, providing daily meals to about 9.7 million learners across South Africa.

Gwarube stressed that the programme was more than just a meal.

“For millions of children, it is the difference between being able to concentrate and dropping out. We have evidence that absenteeism has decreased in schools because learners know they will receive a meal. Nutrition is the difference between dignity and despair, between opportunity and exclusion,” she said.

However, the minister also acknowledged the programme’s vulnerabilities.

Cases of expired or contaminated food deliveries, tender manipulation and profiteering by suppliers have undermined trust and placed children at risk.

The minister argued that safeguarding the NSNP required partnerships that went beyond financial contributions.

She commended Oceana for training thousands of food handlers in schools, ensuring that food safety and hygiene standards were upheld.

Gwarube said that accountability must be upheld at every level—from government officials and suppliers to schools and communities.

Parents, NGOs and business partners should also serve as watchdogs to ensure quality and transparency.

The minister challenged corporate South Africa to think beyond short-term CSI projects and invest in long-term, system-wide partnerships that built resilience in the school nutrition value chain.

“How do we ensure that local communities benefit, that small-scale farmers, fishermen, and food producers are part of the solution? How do we innovate in food distribution, storage, and monitoring so that we prevent waste and extend reach?” she asked.

She also linked nutrition to broader societal challenges, including climate resilience, sustainable food systems and job creation for young people.

The engagement showcased the role of organisations such as the PSFA, which has decades of experience in feeding children in disadvantaged communities.

Oceana, meanwhile, has positioned itself as both a food producer and a partner in ensuring that food safety knowledge reaches schools.

Oceana CEO Neville Brink reaffirmed the company’s commitment to CSI initiatives that go beyond philanthropy, focusing instead on practical interventions that strengthen communities.

“We believe that food security is central to education and that no child should face the burden of learning on an empty stomach,” Brink said.

Gwarube framed the NSNP as a test of South Africa’s collective will to prioritise children’s wellbeing over corruption and self-interest.

“It tests whether we can protect our children from the worst instincts of corruption. It tests whether the government and business can act together for the public good. If we pass this test, the dividends will be extraordinary: better learning outcomes, better health, greater dignity, and greater trust,” she said.

The minister stressed that feeding children was not only a moral responsibility, but also an investment in South Africa’s future.

She described the challenge now being in sustaining momentum, expanding partnerships and ensuring that no child was left behind due to hunger or negligence.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Education committee chairpersons in Parliament have condemned Operation Dudula’s threats to disrupt schools in 2026 over the presence of foreign learners, warning such actions violate children’s constitutional rights.

Speaking during a joint social services cluster briefing, Select Committee on Education chairperson Makhi Feni said the threats were “unacceptable” and undermined the rule of law. 

“South Africa is a constitutional democracy, not a banana republic. No organisation has the right to threaten disruptions that would harm our children’s education,” he said.

Feni stressed that undocumented children should not be automatically treated as illegal, noting that many lacked documents due to lost paperwork or delays at Home Affairs.

He warned that the organisation’s group’s approach could easily harm legitimate South African children and reiterated that Parliament would not tolerate any violation of children’s rights.

“How do you even begin to identify a child who is undocumented?” Feni asked. 

“An undocumented child is not automatically an illegal child. To adopt a blanket approach of destruction is dangerous. Civil society organisations should protect rights, not trample on them.”

He further cautioned that while Parliament was open to engagement with civil society groups, law enforcement would intervene if organisations attempted to disrupt schooling. 

“We are willing to talk, but if there is no cooperation, decisive action will be taken. No one will be allowed to deny children their education,” he said

Portfolio Committee on Basic Education chairperson Joy Maimela used the same platform to raise concerns about the slow rollout of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act regulations. 

She criticised the Department of Basic Education for releasing only two of the eight regulations, missing its June deadline.

“The piecemeal release of regulations creates confusion and delays implementation. Some of the terminology reintroduced through regulations was already rejected during public consultations, and we cannot accept backdoor tactics by the executive,” Maimela reiterated.

She highlighted specific issues with admission policies and “feeder zones” that could reinforce local segregation, contrary to the Act’s intent of inclusivity. 

The committee has called for a full review of the regulations and immediate release of the remaining six.

Maimela also raised concern about infrastructure and teacher readiness for the compulsory introduction of Grade R, citing shortages of classrooms, materials and adequately qualified teachers. 

Government has allocated R100 million for infrastructure and R10 billion for teacher capacitation in the 2025/26 financial year, but MPs warn progress remains too slow.

On school safety, both committees expressed alarm over rising incidents of bullying and violence, including viral videos of learners assaulting peers and teachers.

The chairperson further criticised weaknesses in school governance, saying many School Governing Bodies (SGBs) lacked the capacity to manage maintenance budgets or enforce codes of conduct. 

“You go to a school, classes are broken, doors are broken and yet there is a budget allocated. But the SGB does not have capacity to utilise that budget, so the school deteriorates further,” she said.

She argued for stronger training programmes for SGBs, particularly to help them address safety and discipline, insisting that corporal punishment could not return as a solution.

“We must find new mechanisms to instil discipline and create a culture of respect between learners and teachers,” Maimela added.

On school safety, Maimela pointed to shocking incidents including the suicide of a learner in Limpopo after bullying, and the stabbing of a pupil in Gauteng. She said such cases underscored the urgency of effective safety programmes and warned that existing police-school partnerships were often ineffective. 

“We were told there is a cop attached to each school, but in reality, some only visit once every six months. That has no real impact,” she said.

The committee has demanded more robust cooperation between schools, police and communities to ensure results-driven interventions.

Maimela also drew attention to overcrowding in Western Cape schools, citing oversight visits that found up to 80 learners crammed into technical classrooms.

“It is unworkable. Teachers cannot teach effectively under such conditions, and learners are denied the attention they need,” she said, urging the department to consider temporary classrooms as a short-term solution.

She warned that inequalities were being perpetuated by current funding models, with township schools starved of resources while former model-C schools enjoy low learner-teacher ratios.

On Grade R, Maimela said while most provinces had long implemented the reception year, the Western Cape lagged behind, creating placement backlogs. 

She stressed that Grade R practitioners must be fully qualified and remunerated as teachers, and urged the department to continue capacitating those already in the system.

The chairperson has welcomed the Education Labour Relations Council’s (ELRC) teacher headcount initiative, saying it would “open up space” for new teachers to be employed by removing ghost posts.

On both the Dudula threats and departmental shortcomings, the committees were united in warning that South Africa cannot afford to gamble with the education of its children. 

“Every learner in this country, South African or foreign, has the right to learn in a safe environment. That is non-negotiable,” said Maimela.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng

A robot called IRIS, which can master all subjects from Grade R to tertiary level in all 11 official languages, has been launched in Durban. 

The robot is the brainchild of Thandoh Gumede, who is the founder of BSG Technologies and a former teacher. She hails from KwaMnqobokazi in Hluhluwe, KwaZulu-Natal.

Gumede said she developed IRIS after experiencing challenges while teaching maths and Physical Science at a local school.

It is equipped with software and a keyboard. It utilises deep machine learning, responds to prompts using voice commands and has a special feature of being multilingual, unlike other AI tools. 

The launch was officiated by Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina in collaboration with the provincial education department.

Gina said in a statement that the project aimed to bridge educational gaps, particularly in maths, science and technology, and inspire learners to become familiar with technology.

During the launch, IRIS was put to test by answering complex questions from learners, including Suhani Singh from Reddam House Ballito. 

She asked the robot to explain the depreciation method in accounting.

Much to the amusement of the audience, IRIS not only explained but illustrated the method through examples. 

During the launch, IRIS left the audience in awe with its impressive capabilities. 

“The launch was incredible, I’m very impressed with IRIS,” Singh said.

Gumede has won several international awards and was crowned Miss Tech Universe 2024-2025 in Thailand. 

“Here at home, Ms Gumede is already taking South Africa by storm and is fondly called ‘Mamaka IRIS’,” Gina said. 

The minister said women must lead in shaping the future of science, innovation and fields like AI.

“These are the skills that will drive tomorrow’s economy, and they require contributions from both men and women,” she said. 

Meanwhile, Gumede stressed the need for partnerships to introduce IRIS to every classroom in South Africa by the end of October this year. 

“IRIS does not belong to me. It belongs to every one of us in South Africa, and that is the reason we need partnerships to be able to do that,” she said. 

Gumede also quashed fears that AI would replace teachers.

“Rather, IRIS will enhance learning and teaching in South Africa, and help to close the educational gaps in the country, particularly in maths, science and technology. We are in the process of furnishing our office spaces and manufacturing plant with all the necessary equipment needed to scale up production,” she said.

Mbongiseni Mazibuko, who is the deputy director-general for curriculum management and delivery at the KwaZulu-Natal education department, emphasised the need to equip teachers with AI skills. 

“Technology is not here to replace teachers, but rather innovations like IRIS will be part and parcel of the future of teaching and learning. We need to make our teachers ready for these technologies, and as a department, we embrace IRIS,” he said.

Gina encouraged the women and youth to take advantage of the department’s funding instruments, such as the Women in Technology and Innovation and the Technology Innovation Agency’s Grassroots Innovation Programme.  

INSIDE POLITICS

By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has appointed administrators to three SETAs, a move which has been criticised by the Democratic Alliance that is now demanding their removal.

Manamela appointed Matjie Lehlogonolo Alfred Masoga as administrator of the Services SETA, Dithabe Oupa Nkoane as administrator of the Construction Education & Training Authority, and Zukile Christopher Mvalo as administrator of the Local Government Sector Education and Training Authority.

“This intervention follows serious and entrenched governance failures in these entities, including procurement irregularities, lapses in oversight and broad instability, which threaten their ability to deliver on their mandate to advance skills development,” read a statement issued by the department.

However, the Democratic Alliance has taken issue with the appointees.

DA national spokesperson Karabo Khakhau said the party had written an urgent letter to Manamela demanding that he withdraw the appointments and replaced them with independent, non-political figures.

The DA cited past controversies involving the administrators.

Nkoane, who was a former Emfuleni municipal manager, was implicated in a forensic report detailing the mismanagement of R872 million in the municipality. 

Masoga, who was a former Limpopo MEC and deputy speaker, was named in a forensic report for allegedly backdating a R4.4 million communications contract while serving as CEO of the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone.

Mvalo, who was currently the deputy director-general for skills development in the department, has overseen all SETAs since 2017. The DA party argues that under his watch, SETAs have remained unstable.

Manamela said the administrators had a clear mandate to restore integrity, enforce consequence management where necessary, and ensure that learners and workers were not prejudiced by institutional weaknesses.

The department described Masoga as a “seasoned public leader” with experience in economic development and strategic management, Nkoane as a veteran administrator with more than two decades of experience in governance and infrastructure, and Mvalo as a senior executive with legal expertise and extensive skills development oversight.

“This decision marks the first step in stabilising SETA governance. We cannot allow governance failures to erode the public’s confidence in our skills development system,” Manamela said.

The mandate of the administrators includes restoring financial integrity in line with the Public Finance Management Act, ensuring continuity of learner and employer support programmes, and overseeing the reconstitution of new SETA boards.

INSIDE EDUCATION