By Johnathan Paoli

In a landmark interdepartmental initiative, the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, and the Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, officially launched and signed the Collaborative Implementation Protocol on School Safety, in an effort to respond decisively to the surge in violent incidents, crime, and insecurity plaguing schools across South Africa.

Following a months-long partnership between the Basic Education department and the South African Police Service (SAPS), the protocol was signed by both ministers in Cape Town.

“This has been months in the making. We didn’t want a knee-jerk or shotgun response. We needed a systemic and coordinated approach that reflects the reality: schools are not insulated from their communities. They are extensions of them,” Gwarube said.

Grounded in community collaboration, policing data, and a shared vision of child-centred safety, the urgency of the intervention is backed by data.

According to SAPS statistics for the 2023/2024 financial year, there were: 28 murders in basic education institutions, nearly half in KwaZulu-Natal; 46% of these involved learner-on-learner violence; two-thirds of reported rapes in schools were perpetrated by learners on fellow learners; and over 11,000 burglaries, including the theft of learning materials and food from nutrition programmes.

“Even one violent incident is one too many. Behind each statistic is a child whose right to safety and education has been violated,” Gwarube said.

The newly signed protocol outlines several critical measures.

In terms of police-school linkages, each school will now be formally linked to a local police station, with a School Safety Committee comprising the principal, a staff safety officer, a school governing body (SGB) member, and a designated SAPS officer.

Schools will implement structured crime prevention programmes to address gender-based violence (GBV), gangsterism, bullying, drug abuse, and the possession of weapons.

SAPS will increase patrols around schools identified as high-risk through national crime statistics, particularly during school start and dismissal times.

In accordance with the law, SAPS officers have been given the authority to conduct search-and-seizure operations where credible threats exist.

In terms of support, victim-friendly rooms and community response forums will be established to support vulnerable learners and survivors of trauma.

The Basic Education department, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, will strengthen background checks against the National Register for Sexual Offences and the Child Protection Register.

A dedicated HR standard operating procedure (SOP) is also being introduced for managing flagged individuals.

In light of community and stakeholder integration; civil society, parents, SGBs, learners, and traditional leaders are considered vital partners in the implementation.

“Safety is a shared responsibility. Neither DBE nor SAPS can do this alone,” Gwarube said.
Mchunu hailed the signing of the protocol as a critical first step in restoring peace and dignity to schools.

“This document must not only live on paper—it must become a real, felt experience for learners, educators, and parents,” Mchunu said.

Describing schools as “sacred spaces like churches”, he expressed outrage at violent trends, including learner-on-learner assaults, gang activity, firearm possession, extortion, and even murder.

“We’ve seen drugs, illegal firearms, and horrifying acts of violence taking place where children are meant to learn and grow. We say: enough is enough,” the minister said.

Mchunu identified Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, and Western Cape as the primary hotspots and promised adaptive policing strategies, rather than a one-size-fits-all model.

He also called on parents to take greater accountability.

“A parent must know whether their child is going to school with a pen or a weapon. Responsibility doesn’t end at the school gate,” Mchunu said.

He further instructed station commanders across the country to maintain regular contact with school principals, share intelligence, and plan weekly interventions collaboratively.

“Schools are as important as malls or banks. They deserve real-time protection,” he said.

Basic Education Deputy Director-General Granville Whittle reaffirmed the department’s commitment to long-term change.

“Our Minister raised concerns about serious crimes reflected in police stats. We’re working closely with General Masemola and his team to strengthen school safety efforts,” Whittle said.

He noted that the Safe Schools Protocol builds on existing frameworks, including the National School Safety Framework and various reporting protocols for sexual abuse, corporal punishment, and cyberbullying.

To ensure the protocol results in action, a detailed Workplan has been developed.

This outlines concrete steps, including joint school safety audits; updating SOPs and safety frameworks; enforcing compliance with laws such as the regulation of liquor outlets near schools; and quarterly reporting to ensure accountability and adaptability.

Gwarube and Mchunu also announced plans to tour provinces to oversee local implementation and promote coordination between school leaders and police stations.

Both ministers acknowledged that school violence reflects deeper social problems including poverty, unemployment, inequality, and family dysfunction.

“We’re expanding Life Orientation to teach values, respect, and especially consent particularly to boys. Education must shape not just minds, but character,” Gwarube said.

The Safe Schools Protocol aligns with the seventh administration’s national priorities for education and is intended to ensure that no child is denied safety, dignity, or the right to learn.

“This protocol is not a silver bullet,” said Gwarube. “But it is a bold and necessary step toward restoring hope, trust, and safety in our schools.”

Mchunu closed with a firm message:

“We are drawing a line in the sand. Violence has no place in our schools. These are centres of learning, nothing else.”

With government, communities, and law enforcement united, the ministers’ hope is that South African schools can once again become places where every child can thrive.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Higher Education and Training Portfolio Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie has laid down the law over governance and systemic threats to the sector, warning that no one is untouchable in the pursuit of accountability.

Speaking at the Social Cluster media briefing in Parliament, Letsie detailed the committee’s firm stance on transparency in the appointment processes of key education institutions, governance failures at the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) and the improper hiring of foreign nationals in academia.

“The dignity of students, the integrity of appointments and the credibility of our higher education system are non-negotiable. We will not be passive observers while systemic issues hurt our people,” he said.

The briefing opened with a sharp focus on the controversial appointments of Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETA) Accounting Authority Chairpersons.

Public concern has been mounting after it was revealed that the so-called “independent panel” responsible for making these appointments included ministerial advisors, and the department’s chief of staff and officials, calling into question the neutrality of the process.

“One of the individuals listed has already publicly denied being part of the panel. This raises fundamental questions about the transparency and integrity of the process,” Letsie said.

The committee resolved that Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane must legally furnish Parliament with the names of the concealed panellists.

Furthermore, all panel members will be asked to submit correspondence, terms of reference, minutes of meetings and remuneration details.

Both the minister and panel members will be called to account before the committee.

“We are not witch-hunting. We are demanding accountability for public processes that determine who leads institutions responsible for the country’s skills pipeline,” Letsie added.

Turning to the troubled state of NSFAS, Letsie described a litany of governance and operational failures, including unpaid accommodation providers, delays in appeal processes and the defunding of students due to administrative technicalities.

“NSFAS has contributed over 5 million graduates to our economy. It is central to addressing poverty, inequality and unemployment. But its current dysfunction is sabotaging those very goals,” he said.

The committee remains alarmed by unresolved appeals dating back to January and delays in funding that led, in one instance, to the burning down of an administration block at Northern Cape Urban TVET College.

“When NSFAS does not pay accommodation providers, many of them small businesses, they cannot service their bonds, municipal debts, or pay for electricity and Wi-Fi. And it’s students who suffer, taking cold showers, studying in the dark and writing exams under appalling conditions,” Letsie said.

The committee also condemned NSFAS for defunding students based on the late submission of registration data by institutions.

“You can’t punish students for institutional failures. That’s a form of systemic exclusion,” he warned.

NSFAS has since begun provincial roadshows, with a team of accommodation, data and disbursement specialists deployed to resolve issues on the ground.

A booking system will soon allow private accommodation providers to schedule sessions with NSFAS teams.

“But we’ve already received word of providers losing properties to the bank due to unpaid fees from last year. NSFAS must act with urgency, no student should be left behind,” Letsie stressed.

The committee chair also addressed the sensitive issue of foreign nationals in academic appointments.

While affirming support for internationalisation, Letsie cited national legislation and the 2019 Policy Framework that mandates foreign hiring not come at the expense of qualified South Africans.

“We are not xenophobic, we support international talent. But we are a country governed by laws. And our laws are clear: institutions must first ensure no qualified South African is available before hiring a foreign national,” he said.

Referring to the Central University of Technology’s recent appointment of a foreign dean over a more qualified South African candidate, Letsie noted that excuses about prioritising internal applicants were unacceptable if the position was advertised externally.

With some universities exceeding the 10% foreign national threshold, reportedly at 14%, the committee is pressuring the department to exercise proper oversight in addressing what he called “a leadership attitude problem”.

“What we heard from the department on 18 June was deeply concerning. They claimed there’s nothing they can do. That’s false. Their job is to uphold national policy,” Letsie said.

The committee urged the department to move beyond workshops and take tangible steps to enforce compliance.

Letsie reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to holding institutions and officials accountable.

The committee is expected to announce the date for the appearance of the minister and panel members regarding the SETA appointments once Parliament finalises its current budget adoption schedule.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Tensions remain high at Walter Sisulu University (WSU), particularly at the Mthatha Campus, as students continue to experience what they describe as systemic neglect, institutional collapse and a failure of justice.

Inside Education reached out to the SA Students Congress’ eastern region deputy chairperson and secretary of the Student Parliament at WSU, Nonkululeko Tyatya, who confirmed that students have not been contacted by the Higher Education and Training Department despite repeated requests for intervention.

“As student leadership, we haven’t been contacted by the department, but we have made submissions to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, and are now waiting on action,” Tyatya said.

At the heart of the unrest is the fatal shooting of student Sisonke Mbolekwa during an April protest, allegedly by residence manager Manelisi Mampane, who was controversially granted R10,000 bail earlier this month.

Amid growing frustration, students, led by Sasco and the Progressive Youth Alliance, are calling for urgent intervention from the department and Parliament to prevent further deterioration of conditions at the institution.

Tyatya confirmed that Sasco has formally requested the department to place WSU under administration, citing collapsing infrastructure, poor student accommodation, mismanagement and the university’s refusal to engage meaningfully with students.

A letter was sent in April to the leadership structures of Sasco, the African National Congress’ Youth League, Young Communist League and the chairperson of the Higher Education Portfolio Committee, outlining a detailed list of grievances and proposals.

It described hostels in disrepair, oppressive campus security policies, poor academic support and political bias by university management.

It also called for an independent investigation into the shooting, reform of residence management and a forensic audit into campus renovation tenders.

Committee chairperson Tebogo Letsie confirmed receiving the students’ submissions.

“We’ve received some emails from students. The committee is planning to engage with the institution in the next term. We haven’t submitted our draft to Parliament as we are awaiting Parliament’s programme first,” said Letsie.

However, the delay in action has left many students disillusioned.

The situation escalated after news that Manelisi Mampane, who was charged with murder, attempted murder and firearm offences was granted bail by the Mthatha Magistrate’s Court.

The decision sparked renewed protests, with students clashing with police and some engaging in acts of vandalism and road blockades.

Videos on social media showed scenes of chaos as police responded with force.

Four students were arrested and now face charges of public violence, property damage and infrastructure destruction.

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana acknowledged the distress caused by the bail decision, but defended the police’s response, saying they have no authority over court rulings.

She condemned the vandalism, saying: “Such conduct diverts critical resources and undermines the pursuit of justice.”

The Sasco letter outlines several additional demands, including the launch of a commission of inquiry into the April shooting, an investigation into procurement irregularities and mismanagement, reinforcement of student rights to protest and organise and reinstatement of policies allowing teacher education students to choose nearby schools for practical training.

The student body maintains that if the current leadership is found complicit in institutional failures, disciplinary and legal action must follow.

“The lives of students, the dignity of learning spaces and the future of rural-based universities are at stake. A better WSU is possible. A responsive WSU is necessary. An accountable WSU is non-negotiable,” the letter reads.

As the university and law enforcement brace for possible further demonstrations, all eyes remain on Parliament and the department, whose responses in the coming weeks may determine both the future of the university and the safety and dignity of its students.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Levy Masiteng 

In a display of community spirit involving schools, NPC Afrika Tikkun and Discovery Vitality’s Give2Move initiative, the first pairs of running shoes have been donated to verified beneficiaries aged between 13 and 30.

The event at the Afrika Tikkun Wings of Life Centre in Diepsloot, Gauteng, has been praised as a great example of what is possible when the public and private sector join forces to bring about change.

Karen Johnson, who heads up strategic programmes and wellness at Discovery Vitality, said the company believed that movement was a powerful catalyst for change.

“The Give2Move initiative is about more than just shoes, it’s about unlocking potential, dignity and opportunity through physical activity.”

The initiative was launched in February in collaboration with Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie. It aims to collect 100,000 pairs of new or gently worn running shoes for disadvantaged communities. 

Discovery has urged South African primary and secondary schools to participate by donating worn running shoes, soccer boots or any other sports footwear between June and 15 August. 

To get schools motivated to join, they said the two schools that collected the most shoes in their category would win R50,000 to support their own wellness and physical activity programmes.

Afrika Tikkun CEO Marc Lubner praised the partnership, saying: “When government, corporates and civil society come together with a shared vision, we unlock real, scalable change.”

Drop-off points are across the country and include Discovery offices, Virgin Active gyms, Sportsmans Warehouse stores and selected parkrun events.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lungile Ntimba

In an effort to get young people working, the Employment and Labour Department has teamed up with the Thekwini TVET College at its Cato Manor Campus to help students register as job seekers on the Employment Services of South Africa (ESSA) platform.

The platform, which is run by the department, helps job seekers find employment and training opportunities. It acts as a bridge between employers and job seekers by facilitating the matching of individuals with available positions.

The department said it would also create opportunities for collaborative engagement sessions, where students could receive career counselling, job-readiness support and access to vacancies posted by participating employers.

“As the department, we will undertake regular registration visits to the college to ensure that young job seekers are registered on the ESSA system. In addition, we will identify students who can be connected with recruiters for placement in specialised training programmes,” department provincial operations acting chief director Nandipa Kahla said in a statement on Monday.

She said the department aimed to expand this initiative to ensure that the skills training provided at institutions of higher learning was aligned with the needs of relevant employers.

The college’s principal, Nkosinathi Mchunu, welcomed the collaboration, saying the college was diversifying and strengthening its academic offering. 

“We are working closely with SETAs to introduce programmes such as Mechatronics and Road Transport Management. This partnership will be instrumental in preparing our students for real world opportunities,” Mchunu said.

Department spokesperson Teboho Thejane said employers and training providers had committed to offering 603 job and skills development opportunities during a jobs fair at the college, which was spearheaded by the department’s Public Employment Services (PES) branch.

He said the department also provided on-site access to various services during the jobs fair, including assistance with ESSA registration for job seekers and employers.

Thejane said the partnership was just one its initiatives bridge the gap between education and employment and equip youth with skills and support needed to enter the labour market.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

With Gauteng online applications opening on Tuesday and private schools already planning for 2026, parents are urged to act now to prepare for the cost of their children’s education.

As the Gauteng department of education (GDE) prepares to open online admissions for Grade 1 and 8 from 24 July to 29 August, financial and education experts are warning parents to start planning early for what they say is often one of the most significant long-term expenses in a household – school fees.

Some private schools have already opened for 2026, making it clear that the education race begins before the first day of Grade 1.

“Once you’ve decided where you want to enrol your child, the next step is to work out how you are going to pay for it. It’s critical to plan ahead,” said Sparks Schools finance manager Natasha Vellieux.

According to the executive head of financial planning at NMG Benefits, Stian de Witt, putting even a small amount of money into a high-interest savings account each month can help ease the financial strain when payments are due.

Experts say that many parents underestimate the cost of schooling most of the time, especially when it comes to additional expenses such as uniforms, stationery, transport and aftercare.

“School expenses go way beyond fees. Save by checking second-hand stores and exchanges, and online marketplaces for discounted supplies and ‘gently worn’ uniforms,” De Witt said.

He also encouraged parents to begin budgeting early and involve their children using a method known as the three piggy banks system.

This method includes saving for emergencies or long-term goals, spending for day-to-day small purchases and giving, which is helping others or donating.

“This system helps children understand the basics of financial discipline, generosity and delayed gratification – skills that are invaluable in the long term,” said De Witt.

Experts outlined five key financial tips for parents preparing for their child’s first year of school. These included starting a budget early, creating a school specific savings plan and choosing schools with transparent and flexible fee structures.

Parents were also encouraged to shop smart for supplies and prioritise education quality over price, as long-term outcomes mattered more than short-term savings.

Vellieux added that more affordable private schooling options were emerging offering high quality education at a lower cost than traditional models.

While affordability was important, parents were encouraged to consider the broader educational value when choosing a school.

“Look for a school that offers data-driven instruction that tracks each scholar’s progress so that teachers can provide personalised and targeted support, and young, energetic teachers whose professional development is taken seriously and who are constantly upskilling themselves in education innovations,” Vellieux said.

A globally competitive curriculum was important.

“Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS) is the basis for most South African schools, but some also incorporate international benchmarks, offering data-driven instruction, evidence-based practices and personalised learning, and a focus on real-world workplace and emotional skills.”

Vellieux added that the 21st century required scholars to possess a mindset and skills for lifelong learning, empowering them to succeed in all aspects of their lives.

“Getting your child ready for Grade 1 is about more than enrolling at the closest school or finding the right uniform. It’s about setting up healthy financial habits to help you consistently pay school fees for the next 12 years.

“By budgeting early and choosing a school that aligns with your financial situation and educational goals, you’re setting your child – and your wallet – up for long-term success,” she said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

MEDIA STATEMENT

The Construction Education Training Authority (CETA) takes note of a story in the Sunday Times (titled Minister Nobuhle Nkabane Seta woes deepen, 22 June 2025) in which CETA’s name is being dragged through the mud using regurgitated, false and malicious claims to which there are previous responses which the Sunday Times did not request or patently ignored.

The story, based on an opinion piece appearing elsewhere in the paper, then proceeds to make tenuous links between unrelated issues, conveniently ignoring facts to construct its narrative.

It is falsehood, a misrepresentation and misleading the public that there has been irregularities or corruption ignored at CETA. The CETA investigated all claims of irregularities to which it has acted in applying consequence management to various officials, including one being quoted by the ST.

What is noticeable is that most of these implicated officials have opted to go to the media and attack the CETA leadership and CEO at various platforms in an attempt to escape disciplinary action

CETA is currently applying a ruling by the Commission for Conciliation Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) handed on the 27th of May 2025, which states that CETA can proceed with a disciplinary hearing against the employee. We doubt if the employee made mention of this fact to the Sunday Times.

The employee sought to halt disciplinary proceedings on the basis that some of the charges emanated from an alleged disclosure made under the Protected Disclosure Act of 2000, thereby disguising themselves as a whistleblower when they were not.  The employee wanted all charges, including those not related to protected disclosure, to be dropped.

The employee faces serious charges, including the violation and breach of Supply Chain Management (SCM) policies which led to CETA incurring irregular expenditure, the violation of contract management policies, alleged leaking of CETA confidential information and bringing the CETA and the CEO name  into disrepute, misrepresentation, fraud and forgery, including that of allegedly forging the CEO’s signature as well as the violation of CETA’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

The disclosures in question were made in August 2019, three months after a forensic investigation report implicating the same official and others was issued to the CETA Board in May 2019. 

The employee had concealed information about irregularities then afterwards claimed whistleblowing on what could have been brought to light years earlier. The official is at the centre of those implicated in the findings by the forensic report.

In its ruling, the CCMA has found that “…the disclosures in their entirety, given the timing in which they were made, were not made sincerely, honestly and in good faith and thus cannot be regarded as protected disclosures to be protected against occupational detriment. The employee must face all charges in the disciplinary hearing and provide her defences accordingly.”

CETA awaits the employee to present themselves to a hearing chaired by an independent chairperson to present her case.

The part of the story that CETA would like to reject with utter contempt and dismay is the repeated claims of tender irregularities and board nomination manipulations, both of which allegedly involve CETA CEO Malusi Shezi.

The most unfortunate part of the story is that the Sunday Times was selective in its request for commentary, enquiring only about nomination claims, and said nothing of the tender irregularities.

The tender irregularities allegation rests on assertions made by a CETA employee who is currently suspended and poses as a ‘whistleblower’.

Had the Sunday Times raised the employee’s name and their claims, CETA would have alerted them to the true facts of the employee’s case.

The Sunday Times proceeds to report that the employee reported her case to several institutions including the Presidency, the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and Training and the Public Protector.

The Sunday Times then proceeds to suggests that none of these institutions did anything about the alleged claims.

Had the Sunday Times contacted the Public Protector, instead of taking their source’s word, they would have been informed, as CETA was, that an investigation on the matter is ongoing.

On the matter of board nomination manipulation, CETA reiterates what it told the Sunday Times. The allegations against the CETA officials are false and malicious. SETA Boards are appointed by the Minister of Higher Education and Training In accordance with section 11(1) and (2) of the Skills Development Act 97 of 1998 with limited input for the SETAS or their CEOs.

The Department of Higher Education and Training has undertaken an investigation into the allegations of board manipulation at CETA and found no evidence of such wrongdoing.

The Minister had instructed the National Skills Authority (NSA) to undertake such; and all parties concerned were contacted and interviewed. The said employee quoted by ST is not a party into such a matter; and no need for investigators to engage her/him.

Save for this to confirm that the said employee and her cahoots are engaged in spreading lies and attacking the institutions of the State. 

CETA notes that the ST failed to follow the Press Code, and did not afford sufficient time for responses, which suggest the ST already had written its story and had a clear agenda to smear and attack the CETA and the Minister.

The report on a vital matter involving a strategic Ministry is blemished by this unfortunate distortion.

It is on public record that the CETA has appeared to Parliamentary Committees including the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) in February 2025, accompanied by the Minister at the same session to account on all the alleged matters. CETA submitted all requested documentation to SCOPA through the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

The CETA also appeared twice at the Portfolio Commitee on Higher Education and Training in the last 12 months, accompanied by the DHET leadership and the representatives of the Minister on those occasions. All those are indicators of oversight played by the Ministry over the SETAs and matters they account on to Parliament.

All these facts were ignored in tarnishing the image of the SETAs at large when accountability is taking place and evidence at this CETA so far indicates that the recent allegations are not supported by credible evidence but mere speculation and smear campaign.

The matters alleged to have taken place in previous periods as covered in the Duja Reports, were already addressed by the institution; including the probity audits before all awarded tenders are concluded. The conclusions from probity audits in the past 24 months shows no instance of non-compliance.

The probity audit firms performing those assignments on each tender awarded are independent and objective, and are registered with the Independent Regulatory Board of Auditors (IRBA).

That is the highest level of assurance and conclusions about processes compliance with Section 217 of the Constitution, Section 51 of the PFMA and the related CETA policies one can rely on in this regard.

CETA would like to place its disappointment on the record and reserves its rights.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Alicia Mmashakana

The University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business (UCT GSB) has collaborated with the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) to implement a career-oriented Digital Boot camp programme.

With Over 300 applicants, 15 transport of them have been selected for an intensive skills development course, designed to address critical capacity gaps in the transport sector.

UCT GSB executive education head Jodie Martin said: “At the UCT GSB, we have a responsibility to make a positive difference. Our partnership with TETA means that we are getting closer to our mission as it enables us to impact industries that are there for ordinary South Africans.

“As a business school, our mandate is to make a positive impact and change the lives of not just our delegates, but their families, the organisations they represent and the economy more broadly.”

The boot camp offered prerequisite-free digital training in data analytics, web development, UX/UI design, and other disciplines relevant to the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

In recent years, UCT GSB has also piloted entrepreneurship boot camps, with 75% of Career Leadership Centre alumni finding employment within 90 days. 

The University said that with TETA’s assistance, its pipeline for producing world-class digital professionals was viable.

TETA CEO Maphefo Anno-Frempong said: “The transport sector is an enabler of economic growth. Without the movement of people and goods, no economy can thrive.”

Mpho Mbadi, a bus supervisor at Bombela Operating Company, which operates and maintains transport systems, including the Gautrain, is one of the selected participants.

“I applied for the programme to empower myself and improve how I view things, how I manage people, how we operate as a business as this has an impact on the transport sector as a whole,” Mbadi said.

To bring these insights to life, the programme includes international study immersions in Shenzhen in China and Mexico City, Mexico, which are two cities tackling transport challenges in unique ways.

While Mexico City tackles challenges are related to high population density and limited resources, Shenzhen leverages advanced technology to manage similar issues in a rapidly urbanising environment, highlighting how solutions can be tailored to different economic and infrastructural contexts.

UCT GSB has integrated technical training with career guidance and industry networking, striving for sustainable success, including support for entrepreneurial ventures.

The two organisations stated that the year-long course was designed to expand opportunities for young people, particularly those who have faced barriers to employment, and to equip them with the skills needed to participate in an increasingly digital economy.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has urged institutions of higher learning across South Africa to integrate Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke’s legacy beyond ceremonial gestures.

“Yes, her name deserves to grace our buildings, but more than that, her values must shape our institutions. Let us embed her legacy in our leadership programmes, our curriculum, and our approach to community development,” said Clarence Tshitereke, Nkabane’s advisor, who delivered a speech on her behalf.

He was speaking during the “Finding the Forgotten Graduate” Lecture hosted at The Innovation Hub in Tshwane, marking the countdown to the 125th anniversary of Maxeke’s groundbreaking university graduation.

The event not only launched the official countdown to the 125th anniversary of Charlotte Maxeke’s graduation but also ignited urgent reflection on justice, historical erasure and access in South African higher education.

Hosted in partnership with the Charlotte Mannya Maxeke Institute (CMMI), the lecture commemorated the legacy of Maxeke, the first Black South African woman to graduate with a university degree, a BSc, from Wilberforce University in Ohio, USA, on 20 June 1901.

“Too often we try to locate Maxeke within regional narratives of the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Johannesburg, but she transcends borders. Her life intersected with giants like Dr W.E.B. du Bois, and her leadership inspired generations long before today’s terms like Pan-Africanism or social justice became academic language,” Tshitereke said.

Framed around the theme of intellectual reclamation, the lecture posed a powerful question to the nation: How do we confront the historical erasure of Black academic excellence and reimagine a higher education landscape rooted in equity, memory and justice?

Tshitereke emphasised that the lecture was not merely ceremonial but a “national act of memory, legacy and renewal.”

The address set the tone for a series of academic and policy events to follow as South Africa commemorates Maxeke’s graduation anniversary as a milestone now tethered to broader conversations around curriculum transformation, institutional legacy and student inclusion.

The event included the unveiling of the Finding the Forgotten Graduate exhibition, a multi-award-winning digital storytelling campaign that resurrects the erased histories of early Black graduates in South Africa.

Developed by a cross-disciplinary team over 20 months, the project has already reached more than 4.5 million people and serves as a catalyst for critical conversations about legacy and belonging in South African universities.

“These were the first doctors, the first poets, the first lawyers, people like Zainunnisa Gool, Harold Cressy and Khayrunnisa Attaullah. Their names do not appear enough in our textbooks. Today, we say: we will not forget,” Tshitereke said.

Key among the initiatives launched was the Girls’ School of Excellence and the AgriCity Integrated Development Initiative, spearheaded by the department and the CMMI.

Tshitereke explained that these projects were not ceremonial, but transformational; adding that they merged education with economic inclusion, environmental justice and youth empowerment in the spirit of Maxeke.

African National Congress treasurer general Gwen Ramokgopa, who represented Maxeke’s home region of Botlokwa, reminded the audience that Maxeke was “a child of many places, but a woman of one vision — upliftment through education”.

The lecture also reminded the audience of Maxeke’s internationalist identity.

The evening featured a moving reading by acclaimed journalist and author Zubeida Jaffer from her biography Being Charlotte.

Other key speakers included Tshwane mayor Nasiphi Moya, who delivered the official welcome address, and mutual financial services company PPS for Professionals’ executive Ayanda Seboni, who outlined the origins of the Forgotten Graduate campaign.

The minister’s advisor also used the occasion to spotlight the growing disjunction between tertiary education and employment, describing graduate unemployment as a national crisis.

“Young people are completing degrees, but many cannot find work. This disconnection between learning and livelihoods demands a response — one aligned with Charlotte Maxeke’s belief that education was a tool for community upliftment,” Tshitereke said.

The evening included a panel discussion moderated by lecture director Musawenkosi Saurombe.

Panellists included vice-chancellors from leading South African universities, as well as creatives, historians, and student leaders.

The discussion centered on the transformation of institutional memory and the urgent need for a higher education system that reflects South Africa’s full historical truth.

Tshitereke issued a call to action to all institutions of higher learning.

“Let every student know that this country’s first Black female graduate was not just a student, she was a Pan-Africanist, a theologian, an activist, and an intellectual long before these words were popularised. Let her be the measure. Let her be the mirror,” he said.

He described the lecture as a national moment of reckoning, remembrance and renewal.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

A fresh wave of grief and fear has gripped Walter Sisulu University (WSU) after the fatal shooting of deputy vice-chancellor for institutional support and development, Sinethemba Mpambane, on Thursday evening.

Mpambane was gunned down execution-style while seated in his vehicle outside the Nkululekweni facility in Mthatha. It is the second fatal shooting on the campus in two months.

Higher Education and Training Minister Nobuhle Nkabane has called for “urgent action to restore peace and security” at the institution.

“The safety and well-being of students and staff must be prioritised at all times. The academic community cannot thrive in an environment characterised by fear and violence. Institutions of higher learning must remain sanctuaries for teaching, learning, and transformation,” Nkabane said on Friday.

Mpambane’s killing follows the death of final-year student Sisonke Mbolekwa, who was fatally shot during a student protest in April.

Residence manager Manelesi Mampane was arrested and charged with murder and attempted murder in connection with that incident and is currently out on bail.

WSU management, along with the department, has confirmed that they are in contact with both victims’ families and are working to provide psychological and logistical support.

Eastern Cape police have launched a high-level investigation into Mpambane’s murder.

Provincial police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana confirmed the victim sustained “multiple gunshot wounds while seated in the driver’s position of his vehicle”.

“The acting provincial commissioner, Major-General Thandiswa Kupiso, has mobilised maximum resources to pursue all leads. Public speculation must be avoided to preserve the integrity of the investigation,” Gantana said.

Student groups have expressed outrage over the ongoing violence.

Nkululeko Tyatya, who is the regional deputy chairperson of the South African Students Congress (SASCO) and secretary of the student parliament at WSU, condemned the latest incident.

“As SASCO we are totally disturbed by the incident. We still haven’t recovered from the previous incidents, and this one makes things worse. We believe in a free and peaceful environment within institutions of higher learning so that students can be able to study in a well conducive environment to ensure that they obtain their qualifications and improve the lives of their families.,” Tyatya said.

Students have long expressed frustrations with the university management over accommodation conditions, poor infrastructure and perceived neglect of student grievances.

The earlier protest that led to Mbolekwa’s death stemmed from these unresolved issues, with many students accusing the administration of failing to act in their best interests.

The chairperson of Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Higher Education, Tebogo Letsie, called for immediate action and stronger campus security.

“We are devastated to learn that another life has been lost so callously. Violence has no place in our institutions of learning. This latest tragedy is deeply concerning and raises serious questions about safety on campus,” Letsie said.

He urged the university’s council and the department to implement tangible measures to protect staff and students, including the strengthening of internal security and rapid response systems.

Nkabane has committed to meeting Vice-Chancellor Professor Rushiella Songca and the chair of the University Council to evaluate and upgrade existing security protocols.

Counselling services have been made available to affected students and staff.

INSIDE EDUCATION