By Charmaine Ndlela

The number of schools damaged by severe storms in the North West has risen to 60, with the provincial Department of Education assessing the damage and putting emergency measures in place to minimise disruption to teaching and learning.

Strong winds swept through parts of the province between Friday, 4 September, and Saturday, 5 September, damaging school roofs, destroying mobile classrooms and affecting other infrastructure.

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The department initially reported damage at more than 20 schools following the storms, but further assessments and reports from affected schools have since increased the number to 60.

The latest damage comes as the department is still dealing with the aftermath of fires that recently affected three schools.

North West Education MEC Desbo Mohono said the department was concerned about the extent of the destruction but was focused on ensuring that learners did not lose valuable teaching time, particularly as the academic year enters its final term.

“We are deeply concerned by the extent of the damage caused by these destructive winds, particularly because our department is already dealing with the impact of recent school fires,” Mohono said.

“However, our focus now is on finding practical solutions that will ensure that our learners do not lose valuable teaching and learning time.”

The department said it was working towards having affected schools repaired by the beginning of the fourth term, depending on the extent and nature of the damage.

Where classrooms or mobile classrooms have been completely destroyed and cannot be used, learners will temporarily be accommodated at nearby schools while repairs are undertaken.

Schools that remain operational but have lost classroom space may introduce platooning, allowing different groups of learners to use the same classrooms during separate shifts.

Under the arrangement, one group could attend classes from 07:45 to 12:00, while another uses the classrooms from about 13:00 to 16:15.

The department said arrangements would be determined according to the circumstances at each school and monitored by school management, district officials and departmental officials.

Grade 12 learners have been prioritised as they enter a critical period of preparation for the National Senior Certificate examinations.

Mohono said the department understood the importance of ensuring that their academic programmes were not disrupted.

“I want to particularly assure our Grade 12 learners, educators and parents that we understand the importance of this period in the academic calendar. Their learning programme must continue, and we will put the necessary measures in place to support them as they prepare for their final examinations,” she said.

The department said it was working with infrastructure and disaster management teams to assess the damage, prioritise urgent interventions and accelerate repairs.

Initial assessments showed damage across all four education districts.

In the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, affected schools include Thuto ke Matla Secondary School in Groot Marico, Setilo Secondary School in Mareetsane Village, Refentse Primary School and Serite Early Learning Centre in Ga-Khunwana Village.

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In the Dr Kenneth Kaunda District, damage was reported at Pudulogo Primary School in Ikageng, Maitemogelo Secondary School in Wolmaransstad, Noordwal Primary School in Orkney, Tshedimosetso Secondary School in Jouberton, Toevlug Primary School in Ventersdorp, Sentlhaga Primary School in Wolmaransstad, Laerskool Saamtrek in Klerksdorp, Promosa Primary and Secondary School in Potchefstroom, Boitshoko Secondary School in Ikageng, Gatelapele Secondary School and Tigane Primary School in Tigane Township.

In the Bojanala District, affected schools include SG Ntuane Primary School in Tlhatlhaganyane Village, Rantlaka Primary School in Phalane Village, Nonceba Primary School in Welverdiend near Madikwe and Motshabaesi Primary School in Obakeng Village near Madikwe.

In the Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati District, affected schools include Kokomeng Primary School in Kokomeng Village, Walter Letsie Secondary School in Manthe near Taung, Raditshipi Primary School, Thapama Secondary School, Choseng Secondary School and Reabetswe Secondary School.

The department said the list of affected schools could increase as assessments continue.

The damage ranges from roof damage to destroyed mobile classrooms and other infrastructure, with officials assessing each school to determine the appropriate intervention.

The department said it remained committed to ensuring that learners continued attending classes while infrastructure repairs were carried out.

It said it would continue monitoring affected schools and provide updates as further assessments were completed and interventions implemented. 

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Staff Reporter

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has asked doctors trained in the province who are working abroad or elsewhere in South Africa to return home and help strengthen the health system.

“I never imagined that there would be a time when a doctor would be on the street saying, ‘We want jobs,’” Ntuli said, while delivering the keynote address at the UKZN Medical School Class of 2006 20-Year Graduation Anniversary Gala Dinner & Symposium at The Capital Zimbali Hotel in Ballito.

He said he was proud that KwaZulu-Natal had moved to address the unemployment of doctors, but acknowledged that financial and “systemic constraints” continued to limit the province’s ability to employ health professionals.

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He said the provincial government was investing in primary healthcare and expanding the health workforce as part of “a strategic shift toward a more proactive and resilient health infrastructure”, aimed at easing pressure on tertiary hospitals.

He praised the class of 2006 for using its 20-year reunion to raise money for current medical students, saying the gesture would help ensure KwaZulu-Natal “continues to produce future doctors who will heal the nation” and contribute to “a brighter future for the province and the country”.

Addressing the alumni, Ntuli said their contribution extended beyond treating patients in hospitals.

“Really, your commitment extends far beyond the clinical walls of hospitals. It permeates the very communities you serve, shaping the quality of life for countless individuals and families who rely on your expertise and compassion,” he said.

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Ntuli also warned of the emotional burden carried by medical professionals, saying the pressures of their work were often overlooked.

“The weight of the stethoscope, the late shifts, and the emotional toll of witnessing both profound recovery and devastating loss can quietly accumulate, creating a quiet, persistent burden that often goes unacknowledged.”

He described a “paradox” in which those who heal others “often find it most difficult to extend that same grace to their own weary spirits”.

Ntuli called self-care a “fundamental necessity” for sustaining empathy and quality healthcare and linked the experiences of the class of 2006 to the historical and economic pressures on South Africa’s health system.

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He said the graduates had entered medicine during “a time of profound transition”, as KwaZulu-Natal faced the combined pressure of chronic diseases and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

“The healthcare system was stretched to its absolute limits, grappling with the dual burden of chronic disease management and the urgent and unrelenting demand for primary healthcare services,” he said.

Ntuli said doctors, nurses and community health workers had become “the bedrock of a society in flux, holding together the fragile infrastructure of public health with little more than their own unwavering dedication.”

He said the achievements of UKZN medical graduates were a “testament” to the university’s impact on society, with alumni influencing public policy as well as clinical care.

“Their contributions extend far beyond the clinical setting, living a narrative of transformation that resonates in the corridors of policymaking, where their expertise informs strategies that address the most pressing challenges of the time,” he said.

Ntuli also placed the class of 2006 within the history of apartheid-era exclusion and restrictions imposed on black doctors seeking to train and practise medicine.

“They had entered a profession that was only open to black people in the 1940s,” Ntuli said, adding that the class “could not afford to dishonour those who, although they had been admitted to medical schools, could not finish their degrees because they were not allowed to practise in white wards.”

Turning to more recent pressures on health workers, Ntuli said the COVID-19 pandemic had exposed “hidden vulnerabilities” in the medical profession.

“While others retreated to the safety of their homes, you were thrust into the epicentre of the storm,” he said.

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“The isolation of the pandemic did not merely separate you from your loved ones; it also severed a vital, unspoken connection you had with your patients, transforming the bedside experience into a sterile, impersonal barrier of plastic shields and muffled voices.”

Ntuli said the class of 2006’s decision to use its milestone anniversary to support current medical students demonstrated an enduring commitment to the profession and to the communities its members serve.

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By Thapelo Molefe

The South African Democratic Teachers’ Union (SADTU) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to sanction Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube over her decision to keep the new Foundation Phase textbook catalogue suspended for the 2027 school year.

The union’s call follows a growing dispute between Gwarube and the department’s Director-General, Mathanzima Mweli, over the National Catalogue for Foundation Phase Learning and Teaching Support Materials for Grades 1 to 3.

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Gwarube announced last week that the suspension would remain in place while the department sought legal advice on the findings of an independent investigation. Mweli, however, subsequently said that the new catalogue had been given a “green light”.

The Department of Basic Education said the investigation had identified material areas of non-compliance, governance weaknesses and potential risks relating to procurement and financial management. The existing catalogue will remain available to provinces and schools for procurement for the 2027 school year while the new catalogue undergoes legal scrutiny.

SADTU said Gwarube’s decision was unjustified, adding that investigations into the procurement process had found no evidence of wrongdoing.

“The current dispute concerning the National Catalogue for Foundation Phase Learning and Teaching Support Materials (Grades 1-3) raises issues that go far beyond procurement,” SADTU said.

The union accused Gwarube of deliberately delaying implementation of the new catalogue to allow established publishers to continue benefiting from the existing system.

SADTU specifically named Via Afrika, Maskew Miller and Naspers, which owns News24, alleging that Gwarube’s actions were designed to protect the commercial interests of legacy publishers at the expense of transformation and fair competition.

“Her strategy from the beginning has been to delay the implementation of the new catalogue so that these incumbents can continue to benefit perpetually from the outdated catalogue,” SADTU said.

The union also accused Gwarube — a senior member of the Democratic Alliance — of political interference and alleged an improper relationship between the minister’s office, the DA and News24.

“This interference is facilitated through a deeply troubling and convoluted relationship between the Ministry, the Democratic Alliance (DA), and News24, owned by Naspers,” SADTU said.

“The Minister is using News24 as a channel to communicate with the sector, bypassing established departmental protocols,” the union said.

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It further claimed that access given to News24 journalist Prega Govender to the ministry “suggests a coordinated campaign to discredit the legitimate administrative process”.

SADTU also pointed to News24’s earlier reporting on the textbook catalogue.

“It is worth recalling that News24 was the very platform that broke the story about a company with no history of publishing being given the bulk of the tender,” the union said.

The union also alleged that Gwarube’s former chief of staff now works for Naspers and said this created a conflict of interest.

“A key indicator of this cronyism is the revolving door between the Minister’s office and Naspers,” SADTU said.

“This proximity creates an undeniable conflict of interest,” the union said.

“The Minister is using the media to shut down departmental officials and undermine their legally mandated functions, effectively using News24 as a tool to advance a narrow political and commercial agenda,” SADTU said.

SADTU also targeted Michael Walters.

“Furthermore, the Minister is attempting to govern through a pseudo-DG, Mr. Michael Walters of the DA, who acts as her political proxy and special adviser in administrative matters,” SADTU said.

“This is an unacceptable violation of the separation of powers between the executive authority and the administration.”

The union’s statement comes after DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis called on Ramaphosa to intervene and either act himself or give Gwarube the authority to hold Mweli accountable, including suspending him if warranted.

SADTU rejected Hill-Lewis’s intervention, saying it was part of an attempt to portray the Director-General as incompetent or corrupt because he was not appointed by the DA minister.

“The call by DA’s Geordin Hill-Lewis to President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend the Director General of Basic Education for giving the green light for the new Foundation Phase Textbook catalogue comes as no surprise,” SADTU said.

“It is part of an agenda to portray the Director General as incompetent or corrupt simply because he was not appointed by the minister from DA.”

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Hill-Lewis, however, defended Gwarube and said the minister was confronting governance and procurement concerns while trying to ensure learners had textbooks for 2027.

“Minister Gwarube is doing exactly what South Africans should expect from a responsible Minister, confronting serious governance and procurement concerns, protecting public money, and making sure that millions of children still have the textbooks they need when schools open in 2027,” Hill-Lewis said.

He said that a minister could not be held accountable by Parliament and the public for a department while lacking the authority to manage it.

“What cannot be tolerated is a situation in which a Director-General simply carries on regardless after serious problems have been uncovered and the responsible Minister has acted to address them,” Hill-Lewis said.

Gwarube has instructed the department to continue with legal verification and rectification of the new catalogue, with the State Attorney obtaining advice from Senior Counsel on the legal implications of the investigation’s findings.

The minister has said the decision is intended to protect the 2027 academic year while ensuring schools have access to approved learning materials.

“My first responsibility is to protect our learners and ensure that schools are ready for the 2027 academic year. I will not allow uncertainty around a procurement process to become uncertainty in our classrooms,” Gwarube said.

SADTU said the dispute had become part of wider ideological battles over transformation, economic inclusion, language policy, the implementation of the BELA Act and the role of public institutions in advancing substantive equality.

“SADTU will not stand by while political interests and the interests of multinational corporations are prioritised at the expense of smaller companies with quality materials, educators and, importantly, learners,” the union said.

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By Charmaine Ndlela 

Three University of Johannesburg (UJ) researchers have been recognised at the 2026 National Research Foundation (NRF) Awards, with Professor John Maina receiving his fourth A-rating and two emerging scholars honoured for research excellence.

The awards ceremony was held at the Boardwalk Hotel and Casino in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, under the theme “Building an Inclusive, Impactful and Transformed Research Future”.

The theme reflects the NRF’s Vision 2030 and its five strategic pillars of Transformation, Innovation, Sustainability, Excellence and Impact.

Among this year’s UJ recipients were Maina and PhD researcher Anathi Msobo from the Faculty of Science, as well as Digital Media Design lecturer Nthabiseng Mabale, who is pursuing a PhD in Media Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand.

Maina, a researcher in UJ’s Department of Zoology, received his fourth NRF A-rating.

An A-rating is awarded to researchers recognised by their peers as leading international scholars in their fields, based on the quality and impact of their recent research. Each rating is valid for six years.

Maina’s work focuses on respiratory systems in animals and how they have evolved and adapted. He studies how different species exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide across aquatic and terrestrial environments.

His research uses technologies including three-dimensional computer reconstructions, micro-computed tomography scanning, microscopic cell imaging and detailed physical measurements.

More recently, he has been investigating the use of bird lungs and fish gills as bioindicators of environmental pollution. He is also studying ostrich eggshell structures and the development of the chorioallantoic membrane, which enables an embryo to exchange gases while developing inside the egg.

The work could help identify structural factors contributing to poor ostrich egg hatchability, with potential benefits for South Africa’s ostrich farming industry.

Mabale, a lecturer in UJ’s Department of Multimedia, received a Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers.

She is pursuing a PhD in Media Studies at Wits University titled Fortification of Self-Reliance and Independence of Black South African Women in Informal Businesses.

Her research examines how digital tools can support women traders operating in Johannesburg’s Kwa Mai-Mai community.

She works with the traders as co-creators of knowledge, documenting their experiences, business practices and challenges while exploring ways digital technologies can strengthen economic self-reliance.

The research is funded through the NRF-FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Black Academics Advancement Programme, which supports Black academics pursuing doctoral qualifications.

Msobo, a PhD researcher in UJ’s Department of Biochemistry, also received a Research Excellence Award for Next Generation Researchers.

Her NRF-funded work investigates antiviral compounds in South African medicinal plants, including natural compounds with the potential to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease, a protein the virus relies on to replicate.

She combines artificial intelligence, computational science, advanced chemistry and laboratory testing to accelerate the identification of potentially useful compounds.

The approach could contribute to antiviral drug discovery and pandemic preparedness while building expertise in biotechnology, metabolomics and computational drug discovery.

Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Professor Blade Nzimande raised concerns about the concentration of research funding and infrastructure at historically stronger institutions.

According to Nzimande, about 63% of NRF funding goes to the 10 universities with the highest research outputs, while 83% of South African Research Chairs Initiative Chairs are hosted at top-output universities.

He said efforts were being made to broaden participation at historically disadvantaged institutions, universities of technology and newer universities.

Earlier this year, 41 new SARChI Chairs were awarded specifically to these institutions. The NRF has also begun implementing its University Programmes and Collaborations initiative to strengthen research and human-capital capacity at historically disadvantaged institutions.

“The issue is crucial not for posterity, but for practical reasons: to ensure our country, with its scarce resource base, makes full use of its institutional resources to reach deeper and wider into every corner of South Africa and unleash its full potential,” Nzimande said.

The 2026 NRF Awards also included Lifetime Achievement Awards for Professor Jonathan Jansen of Stellenbosch University’s Department of Education and Professor Helen Rees of the University of the Witwatersrand’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

UJ Vice-Chancellor and Principal Professor Letlhokwa George Mpedi said the awards reflected the university’s growing research profile.

“The NRF Awards represent a wonderful and prestigious recognition for any scholar; it is something to treasure. UJ has over the years shown a stronger performance in these prestigious awards, and this year is not different,” Mpedi said.

UJ Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation Professor Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya said the recipients reflected the work being done by established and emerging scholars at the university.

“The awards show the quality of the research, not only for its own sake but for societal impact and sustainability. As a university, we are immensely proud of the achievements and of the work of our scholars, and we hope the awards will inspire more students,” she said.

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By Lebone Rodah Mosima

Durban University of Technology (DUT) has finalised the allocation of a R1.15 million Motsepe Foundation donation to students burdened by historical debt, months after the funding was provided to the university’s Student Representative Council.

DUT said the contribution was made at the beginning of the year and was aimed at providing financial relief to students facing outstanding historical fees.

“The payment process for students identified through DUT’s Financial Aid processes has now been finalised, marking an important milestone in the initiative and providing support to students affected by historical debt,” the university said.

“The donation was received by representatives of the DUT SRC, with the funding directed towards assisting students identified as beneficiaries through the relevant processes,” it said.

“This contribution will make a meaningful difference to students who have been carrying historical debt. As the SRC, we recognise the responsibility that comes with managing this support and remain committed to ensuring that the initiative reaches the students it is intended to assist,” said SRC Finance Officer Thalente Mteshane.

Mteshane, who serves as SRC Finance Officer for the 2025 to 2027 term, said partnerships such as the one with the Motsepe Foundation were important in addressing challenges faced by students.

“Financial challenges can place significant pressure on students and can affect their ability to focus on their studies. Support such as this provides much-needed relief and gives students an opportunity to continue working towards completing their qualifications,” he said.

The R1.15 million contribution follows a R1.1 million donation made by the Motsepe Foundation to the DUT SRC in 2024.

That funding was allocated to initiatives supporting students with historical debt, food security, gender-based violence, mental health and peace building.

The Foundation has also previously provided funding to assist DUT students with registration.

“For students, historical debt can present significant challenges, particularly where outstanding fees affect their ability to progress or complete their academic journey. The latest intervention therefore provides important support to students identified through the University’s Financial Aid processes.”

DUT said the initiative also demonstrated the value of partnerships between universities, student leadership and external organisations.

“DUT appreciates the Motsepe Foundation for its continued support of the University’s students and its commitment to initiatives that contribute towards student success.”

“The partnership demonstrates the value of collaboration between higher education institutions, student leadership structures and external stakeholders in addressing challenges that can affect students’ ability to succeed.”

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