By Lebone Rodah Mosima 

eThekwini municipality has opened applications for its 2026 Durban Fashion Fair (DFF) mentorship programme, inviting local emerging designers to apply before its March deadline.  

Councillor Thembo Ntuli, chairperson of the city’s Economic Development and Planning Committee, has urged emerging designers to take part in the programme.

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Ntuli said that about 120 emerging designers have participated in the mentorship programme over the past five years, with more than R1.25 million raised to support 45 rising designers.

“Funding from eThekwini Municipality and the Hollywood Foundation provided equipment, strengthening businesses and helping scale operations for sustainable growth and impact across the industry,” he said.

Former mentees have said the programme helped them grow their businesses.

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Sduduzo Nkwanyana, a 2023 DFF mentee, said the programme launched his brand and raised his profile.

“I now have my own studio and factory,” Nkwanyana said.

“I work with established clothing lines and produce school uniforms. This growth has enabled me to create employment opportunities for others.”

Another 2023 mentee, Noxolo Ngcobo, who now runs a studio in Springfield and an online store, said the programme helped her build skills and a sustainable business.

“All my achievements are a result of the 10-month mentorship. I will forever be grateful to have been selected,” she said.

The municipality said the programme aims to support aspiring designers through structured skills development, mentorship and market access, including platforms such as the DFF emporium, pop-up markets and fashion shows.

“Participants gain technical expertise, business tools, and networking opportunities, helping them connect with local and international buyers to grow sustainable brands and create jobs,” the municipality said.

Applications for the 2026 DFF mentorship programme close on 6 March 6 at 3pm.

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Applicants must submit a short biography of themselves or their fashion business, a motivational letter, storyboard, residential letter and proof of qualifications, the municipality said.

Applications must be hand-delivered to the city’s Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises Development Division under the Economic Development Directorate, 7th Floor, Embassy Building, 199 Anton Lembede Street.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Lebone Rodah Mosima 

Education minister Siviwe Gwarube has said her department had “radically turned the education system on its head” to prioritise early learning, literacy, and numeracy.

Gwarube was speaking in the National Assembly in response to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address, which he delivered last week.

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“The president has correctly placed growth and jobs at the centre of the national agenda [in his address], but no country can grow without an education system that works,” she said.AL

Gwarube said her focus since taking office had been improving foundational literacy and numeracy, adding that stronger basics would allow more pupils to take “gateway subjects” that respond to the needs of the country’s economy.

A major emphasis of her speech was early childhood development (ECD), where she said the government had surpassed its targets for registering centres under the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive.

“Last year, we set an ambitious target through the Bana Pele Mass Registration Drive to register 10 000 ECD centres by 31 December 2025,” she said. “We reached that target by September and closed the year with over 13 000 registered centres.”

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Gwarube said the expansion had widened access to nutrition and early learning for young children. “This means over 1.3 million children have access to good nutrition, foundational learning and safe places,” she said.

She said the government had allocated “R10 billion over the next three years to support ECD, increasing the subsidy to R24 per child per day,” and that “in 2025 we added 150 000 children to gain access to this subsidy”.

“South Africa is not a poor country. Our children cannot die of hunger,” Gwarube said. “That is why we are including school nutrition at ECD centres.”

“In addition, we have established the nearly R500 million Outcomes-Based Fund to create over 100 000 new ECD spaces across three of our rural provinces: KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, and Limpopo — the largest Early Childhood Care and Education fund of its kind, globally,” she said.

Gwarube said fiscal pressure remained a constraint, but that provinces would be required to protect frontline learning.

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“[T]remendous progress is being made even in the harshest fiscal constraints,” she said. “Each province is required to produce financial recovery plans to protect the classroom from budgetary pressures.”

“If we get the basics right — reading, writing, counting, safe schools, supported teachers, and accountable governance — we will build the human capital that makes growth possible and restores dignity to millions of our people. We will not stop until we get it right.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela

Apex Education Group has officially unveiled a newly completed high school campus on Koelenhof Road, adjacent to Kayamandi, in Stellenbosch.  

Group CEO Jana du Plooy said the Stellenbosch campus first opened its doors in 2024 in a temporary facility while construction of the permanent building was underway.

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“We then moved across to the building in January 2025 when the first phase of construction was done. Now the whole building is complete. That was one of the things we could celebrate,” she said.

“We currently have 500 learners from Grade 8 to Grade 10 on campus and will grow a grade every year. The full high school will accommodate 1,000 learners, with 200 pupils in every grade,” du Plooy said.

Apex Education Group, a non-profit organisation, started with its first campus in Eersterivier in 2018. Its mission is to provide quality, affordable education to children across South Africa and to contribute sustainable solutions to the country’s educational challenges.

The organisation has also formally introduced its 10-year expansion strategy, Vision 10/10/10, which aims to establish 10 schools and create 10,000 affordable school places by 2034.

Speaking to Inside Education, Apex Stellenbosch school administrator Cindy Lombard highlighted the range of extracurricular activities currently offered.

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“We have extracurricular activities such as robotics and coding. Specialists come in and give our scholars the necessary guidance to fulfil those activities. We also participate in maths, English and geography olympiads. We are still in the process of building our sporting programme, which we hope to implement fully this year or next year,” Lombard said.

She confirmed that the current Grade 10 learners will form the school’s first matric class in 2028.

“Our existing Grade 10s will be matrics in 2028, and our current Grade 5s will be in Grade 7 for the 2028 academic year. Each year we extend the grades. We accept new Grade 4 and new Grade 8 learners annually, and admissions will open in March or April,” she said.

Lombard said Kayamandi was identified as an area in urgent need of quality education.

“Kayamandi is not fully equipped to accommodate the growing number of learners who need access to quality schooling. That is why we decided to open here in Stellenbosch. We have also opened in Vineland in the urban area, where there is high demand. There, we currently have at least 100 Grade 8 learners and just under 50 Grade 1 learners,” she said.

The Stellenbosch branch currently employs about 25 teachers.

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Apex has also confirmed plans to break ground on a new campus in Pinelands, where the school is expected to accommodate 1,720 learners once completed.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Johnathan Paoli

Author and indigenous languages activist Mashudu Ravele on Thursday challenged young South Africans to treat recognition not as a ceremonial milestone, but as a responsibility to act decisively in their communities, as the 100 South African Shining Stars for 2025 were unveiled.

Delivering the keynote address in North Riding, Ravele said the initiative was grounded in the values of Nelson Mandela and aimed to spotlight real, measurable impact instead of status, education or wealth.

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“When I look at you, I see leaders and the people who will talk for us tomorrow. You are not nominated because of position or titles, but because of the difference you are making in your communities,” she said.

Ravele hails from the Vhembe District in Limpopo, writes and publishes in Tshivenda, and is the author of two award-winning books that are used in the education sector.

Born and raised in Mbilwi Sibasa township, she holds a diploma in journalism and is currently studying communication science at the University of South Africa.

Her poetry collection Tshisima Tsha Dora (2020) and novel Ndi Vhudza Nnyi? (2022) have earned critical recognition, including a nomination for Best Tshivenda Book.

“The power of youth in action is not a slogan. It’s a call to action. When young people act, they do not wait for permission. They create new pathways, new industries and new movements,” Ravele said. 

She said the stories represented by previous Shining Stars since the programme’s launch in 2018 were “stories of courage”, demonstrating that youth empowerment was “practical and lived every day”.

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Ravele said the awards signalled an investment in South Africa’s future, particularly as the country marks 30 years since the adoption of the Constitution and looks ahead to upcoming local government elections.

“You are not just recipients of recognition. You are custodians of Mandela’s dream. Greatness is not measured in titles, but in impact,” she said.

She urged stakeholders to continue backing young people, stressing that investing in youth was “not optional, but the only path to success”, and encouraged the award recipients to see the moment as the beginning of a broader movement rather than an end point.

Delivering the welcoming address, Inside Education Foundation chairperson Matuma Letsoalo congratulated the 100 honourees selected from over 800 nominations nationwide.

“It gives us immense pleasure as the foundation to present the 100 South African Shining Stars for 2026. You are trailblazers and thinkers of the future,” he said.

Letsoalo reflected on the inspiration he drew from working with young people.

“One of the good things about interacting with young people is that it reminds those of us of a time when we were young. When I was your age, I was not thinking about the amazing things you are doing to change the world,” he said.

He said the Shining Stars initiative celebrated youth from all nine provinces who were making a positive impact in their own lives and in their communities, describing them as “thinkers, doers, athletes and activists” who served as role models to their peers.

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Letsoalo placed strong emphasis on the role of young people in sustaining democracy, particularly as South Africa reflects on three decades of constitutional rule.

“As South Africa celebrates 30 years of the adoption of the Constitution and prepares for the upcoming local government elections, you serve as a reminder that young people are central to a thriving democracy,” he said.

Letsoalo highlighted youth unemployment as one of the country’s most pressing challenges, pointing out that four out of 10 young people were without work, with many classified as not in employment, education or training.

Several Shining Star awardees were already responding to this crisis by facilitating skills training, establishing small businesses and supporting entrepreneurship within their communities, he said.

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“As young ambassadors, you take your cue from Theodore Roosevelt: do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

Letsoalo cited alumni success stories to illustrate the programme’s long-term impact, including Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, now the national spokesperson of the South African Police Service, who was recognised as a Shining Star in 2022.

“We are quite good at spotting potential,” Letsoalo said.

He concluded by praising the awardees as problem-solvers who often step in where government or markets fall short, from education and healthcare to environmental work, legal services, civic education and climate mitigation initiatives.

INSIDE EDUCATION

Inside Education Reporter

Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) Chief Executive Maphefo Anno-Frempong explains why the board took a decision to halt the initial awarding of Discretionary Grant contracts valued at more than R380 million.

The initial discretionary grant window was withdrawn following the discovery of widespread discrepancies.

Three executives have since been suspended pending the outcome of the forensic investigation.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Charmaine Ndlela

The City of Tshwane has launched its Youth Development Orientation Programme across its five regions, aiming to link pupils and students with career guidance and education support.

Run by the Youth Development Unit in the Community and Social Development Services Department, the programme forms part of Tshwane’s back-to-school campaign.

It will conclude on 27 March.

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The initiative is being delivered through a series of career expos hosted with Nzalo Careers, Letsema Youth Development Centre, city departments and external stakeholders.

“The programme specifically targets the matric class of 2025, newly registered university and TVET college students, and learners in Grades 10 and 12,” said MMC for Community and Social Development Services, Palesa Modise.

She added that the programme would address challenges faced by the youth.

“It aims to address post-matric challenges such as access to higher education institutions, financial aid, skills development opportunities, and entrepreneurship support, while promoting inclusivity across race, gender, geographic location, and disability.”

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“The city encourages young people, parents, educators, and community stakeholders to participate actively, reaffirming its belief that education remains a powerful tool in shaping the future of Tshwane’s youth and the broader community,” Modise said.

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Thapelo Molefe

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has said that government will soon unveil measures to ensure students with historic debt can complete their studies, as South Africa’s post-school education system grapples with a critical shortage of nearly 200,000 student beds.

Speaking during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate in Parliament on Tuesday, Manamela said his department is working with student organisations, vice-chancellors and college principals to address the financial exclusion of students unable to register due to outstanding fees.

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“Within a short space of time, we will announce measures to ensure that students with historic debt are accommodated so that they are not financially excluded from completing their studies,” the minister told the National Assembly.

The announcement comes as student protests over accommodation erupted at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), the University of Cape Town, and Durban University of Technology.

Manamela revealed he left the SONA chamber immediately after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s address last week to personally intervene in the CPUT protests.

“On the evening of the State of the Nation Address, I left this Chamber not to rush to television studios or issue press statements, but to meet students from CPUT who were protesting outside Parliament about the quality of their accommodation. They were anxious, angry, exhausted, and uncertain,” he said.

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Working with police, student leaders and university management, the minister said the last of those students would be moved to improved accommodation within days.

Defending government’s hands-on approach, Manamela stated: “So when some ask, ‘Where is government?’ the answer is simple: sometimes government is not on social media…sometimes government is in the corridor at midnight, fixing problems.”

The minister acknowledged: “Student accommodation remains one of the most urgent challenges in the post-school system. We face a shortfall of close to 200,000 beds.”

Manamela said government would not rely solely on traditional infrastructure development to address the crisis.

“We will not resolve this challenge through bricks and mortar alone,” he said, outlining plans for digital expansion through the National Online Learning System alongside physical infrastructure.

However, he cautioned that quality improvements are needed at the University of South Africa (UNISA), which serves more than 350,000 students.

“Digital and distance expansion must enhance learning outcomes, not merely inflate enrolment numbers,” Manamela said.

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He said active discussions are underway with the Finance Minister on university funding sustainability, infrastructure planning, and accelerating work on new specialised universities, including a University of Science and Technology.

His department is also engaging Public Works and Infrastructure to release state land and unlock blended financing models for constructing new universities and TVET colleges.

“This is not abstract ambition. This is not sophistry. It is coordinated state action,” he said.

Addressing 3.4 million young people not in education, employment or training (NEETs), Manamela outlined plans to position Community Education and Training (CET) and TVET colleges as primary institutions serving this cohort.

“CET colleges, through the National Senior Certificate for Adults, will provide young people with life skills, digital, financial and functional literacy as well as modular vocational skills such as bricklaying, motor mechanics, welding, cooking, sewing and related trades, linking them to work opportunities or further study,” he said.

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Manamela welcomed the restoration of the 40% mandatory grant to employers and announced forthcoming consultations on reforming Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs).

He demanded new accountability standards from SETAs.

“We no longer want PowerPoint presentations, we want evidence. If you say you trained young people, tell us how many, where, at what cost, and how many are now employed.”

The minister cited the CATHSSETA-McDonald’s partnership, where approximately 5,000 young people were trained and absorbed into employment, as a model to be scaled up.

Manamela said TVET colleges must focus on “occupational trades leading to employment, modern workshops in partnership with industry, quality lecturers, and effective workplace-integrated learning.”

“We will mobilise all resources, partnerships and energy towards full implementation of the dual-system, already demonstrated through Centres of Specialisation. We will present further detail during the Department’s Budget Vote,” he stated.

In closing, the minister emphasised government’s focus on delivery over debate.

“Planning is not paralysis, and shouting is not governance. Some believe that if they shout their sophistry loudly enough, reality will surrender. But they blame you for believing in boring things: plans, budgets, engineers, timelines, and students actually sleeping in beds,” he said.

“Some are interested in noise. We are interested in progress. Let me tell you, before I drop the mic, that some ears in this house are too small for complexity, for patience and for work, but governing a country, unlike playing tennis, requires all three. The debate may be yours. The action is ours.”

INSIDE EDUCATION

By Akani Nkuna

Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela has appointed veteran academic Dr Robert Nkuna as administrator of the College of Cape Town to help stabilise the institution.

“The appointment is time-bound and will endure for a period not exceeding two years, or until a duly constituted Council is established. The Administrator will assume the governance functions of Council and will focus on implementing key recommendations arising from oversight and audit processes, and safeguarding teaching, learning and student wellbeing,” said Matshepo Seedat, DHET spokesperson, in a statement on Wednesday.

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Nkuna’s appointment follows a year of escalating dysfunction at the TVET college.

In September, the department set up a Stabilisation and Governance Support Team (SGST) to intervene in governance and management disputes, including a breakdown in relations between the principal, council and senior management.

Also cited were labour-relations tensions and concerns about the impact on teaching, learning and student welfare.

The SGST’s final report, received by the minister this month, found governance failures and serious weaknesses in financial controls. It recommended corrective action, while a separate GPSSBC arbitration ruling found principal Mhangarai Muswaba guilty on multiple misconduct charges, including irregular appointments, procurement breaches and bullying. He was dismissed on 13 February.  

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“The minister emphasises that this intervention is corrective and restorative in nature, undertaken in the best interests of students, staff and the broader public,” Seedat said.

INSIDE EDUCATION  

By Lebone Rodah Mosima 

The Santa Shoebox Project is calling for volunteers to help deliver gifts to vulnerable children as it marks its 20th anniversary.

The award-winning charity has delivered more than 1.35 million Santa Shoeboxes to underprivileged and socially vulnerable children over the past two decades, each containing eight specified items of treats, essentials and other goodies. Sponsorship and Regional Manager for the project in Gauteng, Margie Kostelac, said they are specifically seeking volunteers to join from all provinces.

“The work is a lot of fun and very fulfilling — our long-time volunteers have many beautiful stories to tell,” Kostelac said.

The organisation said that every year, people from all over South Africa volunteer as Santa’s helpers and offer a few hours of their time to ensure that more than 75 000 children experience the magic, joy, and dignity it provides.

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Its website portal opens for corporate pledges on 1 August and for individual pledges on 1 September, with volunteers in each region collecting the packed, decorated, and labelled boxes on specific dates.

Boxes undergo quality checks and are then liaised with schools, Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres, and other registered beneficiaries in communities to arrange the handovers of personalised boxes.

CEO of the Santa Shoebox Project, Deb Zelezniak, said the support of volunteers, donors, and sponsors countrywide over the past two decades had created countless moments of joy.

“Giving to a child might seem like a small act of generosity to the giver, but it can make a big difference to a child’s life, and many children treasure their letters and gifts into adulthood,” Zelezniak said.

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Beyond gifting, the Santa Shoebox Project also channels financial donations from companies and individuals to upgrade and build ECD centres, train teachers, and install reading corners in under-resourced ECD centres.

INSIDE EDUCATION