By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The Department of Basic Education (DBE) is launching a national literacy-promotion toolkit aimed at coordinating efforts to encourage reading in homes, schools and communities.

The Department is launching the National Literacy Promotion Toolkit Initiative with the National Education Collaboration Trust and other literacy organisations at a three-day capacity-building workshop at Emperors Palace in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni. The launch started on Tuesday.

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The workshop, held under the theme “From Plans to Implementation: Building a Reading Culture Together”, marked the official rollout of the toolkit following an earlier process in which education officials and literacy partners tested and refined its contents.

The initiative forms part of the South African National Literacy Strategy and Plan for 2024-2030. It is intended to support the strategy’s fourth pillar, which focuses on the involvement of parents and communities in children’s literacy development.

“Reading is more than a skill, it’s the foundation for lifelong learning,” the department said.

The launch comes amid continued concern about South African children’s reading ability.

The DBE’s 2025 Funda Uphumelele National Survey found that 31% of Grade 1 learners reached the expected home-language reading benchmark. About 33% of Grade 2 learners and 31% of Grade 3 learners reached the benchmarks set for their grades.

By Grade 4, only 46% of learners had reached the Grade 3 home-language reading benchmark, underscoring the scale of the foundational learning challenge the toolkit is intended to help address.

The toolkit itself is a planning and implementation framework rather than a standalone intervention. Its success will depend on sustained implementation by provinces, education districts, schools and community partners, as well as access to resources and effective monitoring.

Opening the workshop, DBE Deputy Director-General for Delivery and Support Simone Geyer described the toolkit as a practical instrument for building a sustainable reading culture across the country.

Geyer said literacy development extended beyond the classroom and required the involvement of parents, communities, schools, libraries, civil society organisations and the private sector to ensure children had access to reading opportunities from birth.

“We can’t do it alone, and we can’t do it in a classroom alone. We have to work with everyone,” Geyer said.

“It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that the child is developed right from birth.”

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DBE Director for Reading Dr Nompumelelo Nyathi-Mohohlwane said the initiative was rooted in the national literacy strategy and aimed to promote reading in homes and communities through practical, evidence-informed resources.

“Literacy is a social practice. It’s shaped by culture, by language and daily experiences, and it is important to leverage home languages as a gateway to literacy rather than something to be overcome,” Nyathi-Mohohlwane said.

She introduced District Reading Collectives as the initiative’s implementation structure at district level.

The collectives are expected to bring together government departments, schools, libraries, community organisations, faith-based groups, businesses and literacy partners to coordinate reading-promotion programmes and reduce duplication.

“The toolkit provides a shared national framework for literacy promotion, including guidance on establishing reading clubs, creating print-rich environments, celebrating national literacy events, and supporting initiatives such as the reinstated DBE National Spelling Bee,” she said.

Nyathi-Mohohlwane said the initiative was not intended to be a once-off project, but a sustained programme aimed at embedding literacy promotion in the education system through to 2030.

DBE Chief Director for Foundations for Learning Kulula Manona said literacy development started before children entered formal schooling.

“Literacy begins long before a child enters Grade R or Grade 1. It starts at home, in conversations, songs, stories, play, pictures, and books,” Manona said.

Manona stressed the importance of investing in children’s early years as the foundation for lifelong learning and the development of a lasting reading culture.

She said the toolkit was intended to provide a practical framework through which different organisations and institutions could coordinate their literacy-promotion activities and help children become confident readers.

“Our goal is a child who chooses to read, a caregiver who tells stories, a teacher who inspires a love of books, a community that celebrates literacy, and a society where reading becomes part of everyday life,” she said.

Three flagship literacy programmes are due to be showcased during the workshop: Nal’ibali Reading Clubs and Reading Campaigns, Room to Read’s School Library Development programme and the DBE National Spelling Bee Programme.

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By Charmaine Ndlela 

The KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education has ordered an investigation into job-selling and sex-for-jobs allegations against its spokesperson, Muzi Mahlambi, despite Mahlambi and his wife saying the video containing the claims was recorded four years ago and was not factual.

Head of Department Nkosinathi Ngcobo directed that a full investigation be commissioned through an independent body after the video, which shows Mahlambi arguing with his wife, Metu, circulated widely on social media.

In the footage, Metu alleges that her husband was involved in selling teaching posts and had sexual relationships with educators seeking employment. She also alleges that he avoided publicly addressing claims about the sale of posts because he was implicated in the practice.

Mahlambi is the department’s Head of Communications, while his wife serves as its Umlazi District Director.

In a joint statement issued before the department announced its investigation, the Mahlambis said the footage had been recorded four years ago during a private marital dispute.

They expressed regret that an “intensely emotional moment” had entered the public domain and said many of the allegations and remarks made during the argument were emotional expressions arising from hurt, frustration, and anger rather than factual representations.

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“They should not be taken as an accurate account of our relationship or of either of our characters,” the couple said.

They apologised to members of the public who had been offended or disappointed by the contents of the video.

They said they had since worked through their personal differences through honesty, forgiveness and commitment and remained together and “stronger and more united than before”.

But the department said the seriousness of the allegations required a fair, credible and impartial investigation to determine whether they were true.

“The investigation will be conducted without fear, favour or prejudice, and all relevant evidence will be considered,” the department said.

It urged the public not to draw conclusions before the investigation was completed, saying all parties were entitled to due process.

The department said it would cooperate fully with the independent investigation and act decisively after receiving its findings.

It also appealed to anyone with credible information relevant to the allegations to provide it to the investigating body or the appropriate law enforcement authorities so that the matter could be thoroughly investigated.

The Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal has separately called for an urgent independent forensic investigation into the claims.

DA KZN education spokesperson Sakhile Mngadi said the party was not making a finding of guilt against any individual, but added that the seriousness of the allegations and their potential implications for the department required an immediate independent investigation.

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Mngadi said the allegations, if proven, would represent a betrayal of qualified unemployed educators who had spent years seeking work through recruitment processes they believed were fair and transparent.

The DA said it had written to KwaZulu-Natal Education MEC Sipho Hlomuka requesting a forensic investigation and the preservation and examination of all potential evidence, including the circulating video and any supporting information.

The party said any criminal conduct identified during the investigation should be referred to the Hawks and the National Prosecuting Authority without delay.

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By Levy Masiteng 

South Africa Under-19 claimed a hard-fought 45-run cricket victory over England Under-19 on Monday to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Youth Test series after a thrilling finish to the opening four-day match at the County Ground in Beckenham.

The Junior Proteas held their nerve on the final day as they bowled England out for 340 while defending a target of 386, sealing a memorable victory in the opening match of the series.

JJ Basson was named Player of the Match after producing a decisive bowling performance for South Africa.

The pace bowler claimed a match haul of 10 wickets for 123 runs, including seven wickets for 73 runs in England’s second innings, to halt the hosts’ pursuit of the imposing target.

South Africa laid the foundation for victory through disciplined batting, scoring 295 in their first innings before adding 310 in their second.

England, who made 220 in their first innings, showed resilience during the chase through Caleb Falconer, who scored 102, and contributions from the lower order.

Basson repeatedly struck at crucial moments, dismissing Falconer and later removing James Minto for the ninth wicket before bowling Ali Farooq to end England’s resistance and seal the 45-run victory.

He received valuable support from Bayanda Majola, who took four wickets for 47 runs in England’s first innings, including the wickets of the hosts’ first three batters. Majola also claimed one wicket in the second innings.

The victory gives the Junior Proteas a winning start to the four-day leg of their tour after the teams previously contested a three-match Youth One-Day International series, which England won 2-1.

South Africa Under-19 and England Under-19 will meet in the second and final four-day Youth Test from Friday at the County Ground in Hove.

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Sport Reporter

South Africa’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup ended on Sunday after Bantwana suffered a 3-1 defeat by Kenya in the second leg of their final qualifying tie at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

Kenya advanced 5-1 on aggregate after winning the opening leg 2-0 at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in Pretoria on 4 July.

Bantwana goalkeeper Dakalo Mafumo said she was disappointed to miss the opportunity to represent South Africa at the World Cup for the first time, adding that the team struggled to contain Kenya’s pace and endurance.

“I’m a bit disappointed because I really wanted to qualify and experience what it’s like to play at the World Cup. Their speed and endurance made it difficult for us because they were faster than us. It was a really tough match and, because of our mistakes we got punished,” Mafumo told SABC Sport.

South Africa, needing at least two goals to force their way back into the tie, made an ideal start when captain Katleho Malebana put the visitors ahead after five minutes.

Bantwana took their 1-0 lead into halftime and remained within one goal of levelling the aggregate score, but Kenya took control during the closing stages of the second half.

Gaudencia Maloba equalised in the 71st minute, restoring Kenya’s two-goal aggregate advantage and leaving South Africa with an increasingly difficult task.

Brenda Awuor then converted a late penalty before substitute Elizabeth Opiyo added Kenya’s third goal to complete the hosts’ comeback.

The defeat eliminated Ntombifuthi Khumalo’s side from the qualifiers and denied South Africa a place at the tournament in Morocco.

Despite the disappointment, Mafumo said Bantwana had improved during the campaign and could use the experience to return stronger.

“I think our performance was good and we improved with every game we played. It was just unfortunate that the results didn’t favour us. We played well against Tanzania and unfortunately failed to get past Kenya, but we have taken lessons from this experience and believe we will come back stronger,” Mafumo told SABC Sport.

Kenya, who made their U-17 Women’s World Cup debut in the Dominican Republic in 2024, qualified for the global tournament for a second successive edition.

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By Lebone Rodah Mosima

The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) will confer honorary doctorates on three South African trailblazers in business, medicine and mathematics during its Winter Graduation ceremonies this week.

Wits said 2,282 graduands, including 137 PhD graduates, would be capped during ceremonies that started on Monday and will run to Friday, 17 July.

Dr Reuel Khoza

Business leader and academic Dr Reuel Khoza will receive an honorary doctorate in commerce on Tuesday, in recognition of his contribution to corporate governance, ethical leadership and economic transformation.

“Khoza studied psychology before forging one of South Africa’s most influential business careers, championing ethical leadership, corporate governance, and economic transformation,” the university said.

“One of the architects of the King Codes on Corporate Governance, he has led major institutions including Eskom and Nedbank, shaped leadership thinking across Africa through academia and authorship, and dedicated his career to advancing good governance, African humanism, and social development.”

Khoza has chaired major institutions, including Eskom and Nedbank, and has served the higher education sector as an academic and as chancellor of three universities.

His academic qualifications include undergraduate and honours studies in psychology at the former University of the North, now the University of Limpopo, a master’s degree in marketing from Lancaster University in the United Kingdom and an Engineering Doctorate focused on business leadership from Warwick University.

He is also a Chartered Director and has received several awards and honorary doctorates.

Khoza has written several books, including Attuned Leadership: African Humanism as Compass, published in 2012, and Let Africa Lead: African Transformational Leadership for 21st Century Business, published in 2006. He is also a lyricist and music producer.

Professor Kubedi Patrick Mokhobo

Wits will also honour Professor Kubedi Patrick Mokhobo, a pioneering physician widely recognised as the first Black cardiologist in southern Africa.

Mokhobo will receive an honorary doctorate in medicine on Wednesday.

Born in Potchefstroom on 5 July 1932, Mokhobo qualified as a medical doctor at Wits in 1957 and later became the first black registrar specialising in paediatrics and internal medicine at Baragwanath Hospital.

“During this period, he set up his solo practice in Daveyton, Benoni, and became a founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress. Mokhobo’s influence extended beyond South Africa,” Wits said.

“As the first medical specialist in Swaziland and a founding figure of Lesotho’s medical institutions, he played a significant role in establishing professional bodies, medical journals (including the Lesotho Medical Journal), and congresses that strengthened regional healthcare systems.”

Mokhobo later served as health minister in the former Bophuthatswana, where he introduced community-based healthcare systems, expanded the training of nurses as clinicians and helped decentralise services to reach underserved communities.

In May 2026, he received the Order of the Baobab in Silver for his contribution to medicine, cardiology and community healthcare.

Joseph Albert Mashite Mokoena

Wits will also posthumously award an honorary doctorate in science to mathematician Joseph Albert Mashite Mokoena on Wednesday afternoon.

Mokoena became the first black South African to earn a PhD in mathematics from a South African university when Wits formally conferred the degree in April 1959.

“His PhD thesis and scholarship reflect a profound intellect and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of mathematical inquiry,” Wits said.

Mokoena lectured at the University of Fort Hare and worked at several institutions across Africa and the United Kingdom, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria, Aston University, and the universities of Rhodesia and Zambia.

He also helped develop mathematics curricula while serving as a lecturer for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Wits said his work helped advance academic excellence and inspire generations of students across the continent.

“In recognition of his pioneering achievements, the South African government posthumously awarded him the Order of Ikhamanga in Gold in 2004,” Wits said.

“By conferring an honorary doctorate on Dr Mokoena, who tragically passed away at the age of 49, Wits University celebrates his extraordinary contributions to mathematics, education, and the pursuit of equity in knowledge production.”

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 By Lebone Rodah Mosima

Nearly 36 000 Grade 12 learners in the North West are receiving additional tuition and examination preparation through the provincial education department’s winter camp programme ahead of the 2026 National Senior Certificate examinations.

The North West Department of Education said on Saturday that approximately 35 943 learners were expected to benefit from 131 camps being held across the province during the winter school holidays.

The programme, which began on 26 June and is scheduled to end on 19 July, comprises 117 residential camps and 14 walk-in camps.

“In 117 Residential Camps, candidates reside full-time at the camp to guarantee high discipline, complete focus, and continuous tutoring access,” the department said.

“Learners have been given rules of the camp that they should obey and parents have also signed the commitment thereof.”

The department said it had also established structured daytime intervention points in areas where non-residential access was more practical or preferred.

It said the programme was intended to help struggling learners overcome academic difficulties and improve their prospects of obtaining passing marks in the final examinations.

The camps focus on intensive revision of difficult and high-weighted topics in gateway subjects, including Mathematics, Physical Sciences, Life Sciences and Accounting.

North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi said the camps formed part of the department’s strategy to provide learners with additional academic support and revision.

“The Winter Camps provide learners with intensive academic support, revision sessions, and examination preparation in key subjects to strengthen their readiness for the final matric examinations,” Motsumi said.

“They provide a general revision, and these interventions operate as highly coordinated, syllabus-focused, and targeted academic exercises designed to lift our provincial matric results to greater heights.”

Motsumi said safety had been prioritised at the camps and that a provincial rapid-response team comprising officials from different departmental units had been established to monitor safety concerns.

Security personnel had also been appointed at the camps, according to the department.

“We are pleading with the general community to support learners who are in the camps by giving them a peaceful moment”, Motsumi said.

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By Lebone Rodah Mosima

Global aid for education is projected to decline by as much as 30% between 2023 and 2027, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) warned on Friday in its Global Education Monitoring Report, released at the Transforming Education Summit (TES+4).

UNESCO said the latest research underscores a deepening funding crisis, with education aid expected to fall by 8% in 2024 compared with the previous year. Aid to basic education, including pre-school, primary and lower secondary schooling, is projected to decline by 15%.

UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany said education remains the most powerful investment countries can make, yet it continues to be systematically underfunded.

“UNESCO’s projection of the upcoming decline perpetuates a cycle of underinvestment, inequality and stalled development. Innovative financing mechanisms such as debt-for-education swaps already exist – they just need the political will to be scaled up,” he said.

The report found that low- and lower-middle-income countries have already lost more than a fifth (21%) of the education aid they received in 2023. In countries including Afghanistan, Liberia, Mali and Niger, the reduction exceeded 40%.

UNESCO said education is also receiving a shrinking share of overall development assistance.

“The report also shows that education is falling down the list of priorities, with its share in development assistance falling to 7.5% in 2024 – the lowest level in two decades,” the organisation said.

“In 2025, the world spent in just one and a half days (37 hours) on military expenditure what it allocates to education aid in an entire year.”

UNESCO estimates that low- and lower-middle-income countries face an annual education financing gap of US$97 billion (about R1.59 trillion), with the shortfall continuing to widen.

A new Debt and Education package, released at the TES+4 Summit, found that 113 countries, home to 6.1 billion people, spend more on servicing debt than on education.

“In low-income countries, debt payments are nearly four times higher than education spending, and in 18 of the most heavily indebted countries, they exceed government expenditure on education by a factor of five or more,” UNESCO said.

The organisation said education systems are particularly vulnerable to budget cuts because they account for a large share of public spending and depend heavily on recurring costs such as teachers’ salaries.

UNESCO warned that reducing education spending is ultimately counterproductive because investment in education drives economic growth and government revenue.

To help countries address the funding crisis, UNESCO launched a technical guide on debt-for-education swaps, which allow governments to convert part of their external debt into targeted investments in education.

“UNESCO’s new guide outlines when such a mechanism can be effective and provides practical tools for both debtor and creditor countries,” it said.

The organisation highlighted several examples of successful debt swaps.

In Côte d’Ivoire, a 2023 agreement with France freed up resources to build more than 30 schools in underserved communities, benefiting an estimated 30,000 learners.

In 2024, a €29 million (about R540.5 million) debt swap with Germany helped Egypt improve school feeding programmes, nutrition and access to basic services.

Between 2006 and 2017, a debt swap agreement between Spain and Peru converted US$20 million (about R326 million) of debt into 50 medium-term education projects across eight vulnerable regions, benefiting around 174,000 students, teachers and community members.

UNESCO said the package of recommendations was launched at the Transforming Education Summit+4 as part of efforts to shape the global education agenda beyond 2030.

“The Summit brought together President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, more than 30 education ministers, and representatives from development banks, civil society, youth, academia and the private sector,” the organisation said.

Mohammed said the summit had two key objectives.

“The first is acceleration: five years remain to deliver on Sustainable Development Goal 4 – inclusive, equitable, quality education for all – and the pace of the next five years will decide how much of that promise is kept,” she said.

“The second is direction: today’s discussions will help define the global education agenda beyond 2030. Because 2030 is a milestone, not a finish line, and education will remain the foundation for every Sustainable Development Goal.”

UNESCO said delegates also examined how artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies are reshaping education, with discussions focusing on ensuring AI improves learning outcomes, particularly in developing countries, without undermining human agency.

Climate change, conflict and other crises were also high on the agenda as delegates explored ways to strengthen the resilience of education systems worldwide.

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Staff Reporter

University of KwaZulu-Natal alumnus Dr Sizwe Zungu will run a 161km ultra-marathon in the Eastern Cape to raise R100,000 for financially challenged medical students.

Zungu, a specialist anaesthesiologist, will compete in the Washie 100 Miler from 31 July to 2 August, with donations going towards registration fees for deserving UKZN medical students.

The fundraising campaign, facilitated by the UKZN Foundation, forms part of the 20-year reunion of the university’s MBChB Class of 2006.

The race begins at the Cathcart Country Club in Cathcart and finishes at the Buffs Club in East London. It is the oldest 100-mile road race in Africa and one of South Africa’s most demanding ultra-distance events.

“The Washie 100 Miler is the ultimate endurance test. It is a 26-hour challenge that requires incredible persistence. Along the route, a strong community of volunteers makes enormous sacrifices to support runners. Their dedication fuels the determination needed to reach the finish line,” Zungu said.

He said the campaign was inspired by the people who supported him during his own journey towards becoming a doctor.

“I carry with me the memory of those who helped me, as well as the friends, teachers, mentors and colleagues who have shaped my journey. This campaign is an opportunity to honour their generosity by helping another student realise their dream of becoming a doctor.”

Zungu has called on UKZN alumni, staff, healthcare professionals, medical organisations and corporate partners to contribute towards the fundraising target.

The university said donations would help medical students struggling to secure registration funding remain enrolled and continue their studies.

After completing his MBChB degree at UKZN, Zungu obtained a Diploma in Anaesthetics, a Master of Medicine in Anaesthetics and a Fellowship of the College of Anaesthetists of South Africa.

He worked as a medical officer at Ngwelezane Hospital and Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital before completing registrar training at several UKZN-affiliated teaching hospitals. He now practises as a specialist anaesthesiologist with Dr Edington and Partners in Durban.

“The journey to becoming a specialist was challenging, but deeply worthwhile,” Zungu said.

He began running regularly in 2015 with his brother and a close friend, with the trio forming a WhatsApp group called Dream Chasers to encourage one another to pursue ambitious goals.

Zungu completed his first Comrades Marathon in 2016.

UKZN Foundation Legacy and Endowment Officer Tankiso Mabotha said the initiative showed how former students could support future generations.

“The fundraising campaign is a reminder of the impact alumni can have on future generations of graduates. By supporting students facing financial hardship, the MBChB Class of 2006 will help ensure that talented young medical students can continue their studies and ultimately contribute to South Africa’s healthcare system,” Mabotha said.

Donations can be made through the UKZN Foundation.

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