The Eastern Cape Department of Education has confirmed that 123 schools will be closed in the coming financial year due to dwindling learner numbers, with an additional 300 schools earmarked for closure in the coming years.
The move, already being implemented in some facilities, is part of a broader rationalisation plan to merge under-enrolled schools and redirect resources more effectively.
Eastern Cape Department spokesperson Malibongwe Mtima explained that the closures are driven by shrinking enrolments, which directly affect the allocation of teachers and resources.
“The unviable schools are schools that have got lesser numbers leading to lesser resources. We resource based on learner numbers. Once learner numbers are dwindling, we will not have enough educators, and there’s not going to be enough resources,” Mtima said.
He acknowledged that rural communities would be most affected by the closures, but stressed that the department is working with other government entities to mitigate the impact.
“The rural areas will be impacted. The department has looked into the rationalisation with other officials, including those from the Department of Transport and the Department of Education. These will ensure that schools are merged and transport is provided accordingly,” Mtima said.
The department insists that the closures are necessary to ensure sustainable education delivery in the province.
Mtima said that the initiative is not a unilateral decision but a coordinated effort across government.
“This is a joint effort or venture that the department would look into,” he said.
The Eastern Cape has long struggled with resource constraints and infrastructure challenges in its education system.
Officials argue that consolidating schools will allow for better use of limited resources, while ensuring that learners are transported safely to merged institutions.
As South Africa marks Women’s Month, new data from tech education provider HyperionDev shows women are approaching parity in its student enrolment, even as they remain significantly underrepresented in technical jobs.
Women now make up 49% of HyperionDev’s student body, up from 33.7% in 2022, pointing to growing female participation in technology education.
“We’ve seen a steady increase in female participation over the past few years, and it reflects a positive trend towards greater gender diversity in technology education,” said Simone Botes, Director of Education Operations and Learning Impact at HyperionDev.
However, HyperionDev said women still hold just 23% of technical roles in South Africa, or roughly 56,000 of the country’s 236,000 technology jobs.
According to the latest Commission for Employment Equity data cited by HyperionDev, women make up around 45% of employees in South Africa’s ICT sector, up from 39.5% three years earlier.
Their representation falls to roughly a quarter in core technical positions such as software engineering, infrastructure and cybersecurity.
HyperionDev also cited the 2024 IITPSA ICT Skills Survey, which found that just 13% of South Africa’s STEM graduates are women, compared with a global average of 35%.
This comes against the backdrop of an estimated shortage of more than 100,000 unfilled digital roles across software development, data and IT.
Botes said the challenges faced by female students were often linked to responsibilities outside their studies rather than their ability to learn.
“Where challenges arise for female students, they’re often related to external responsibilities rather than learning ability. Many are balancing careers, caregiving or family commitments alongside their studies.”
“We’ve intentionally designed our learning model – flexible online study, self-paced learning, live mentorship and dedicated student support – so that learners can fit their education around their lives without compromising on quality.”
HyperionDev reported that 88% of its graduates receive a job offer within six months and 86% successfully transition into technology careers, with graduates recording a median salary increase of 178%.
Botes said salary outcomes for male and female graduates were also closely aligned.
“In terms of salary outcomes, we’re pleased to see that they are highly comparable.”
“The average reported starting salary for female graduates is approximately 0.5% higher than for male graduates, indicating strong parity in employment outcomes.”
Dr Anjali Ramburn, Senior Vice President: Commercial at HyperionDev, said employers continued to have a business incentive to broaden the pool of women entering the sector.
“A few years ago, many companies had explicit diversity hiring targets. Today, some organisations have become less vocal about DEI, but the underlying business need hasn’t gone away,” she said.
“When employers look to hire more women in tech, I don’t think it’s about meeting quotas anymore. It’s about expanding an already constrained talent pool and asking: how do we reach capable people we’re currently missing?”
Ramburn said the biggest challenge was no longer simply attracting women into technology education, but ensuring that they were able to enter the workforce, remain in the sector and progress into leadership positions.
“The most significant drop-offs occur during the transition into the first tech job, followed by retention and progression into leadership,” she said.
“The ‘leaky pipeline’ is most pronounced after women enter the workforce rather than at the point of education. It’s one thing to learn to code and land your first job, but it’s another to feel supported, continue growing, and eventually move into leadership. Too many women don’t have mentors, sponsors, or role models who’ve walked the path before them, and that can make the journey feel a lot harder than it needs to be.”
Ramburn said progress should ultimately be measured not only by the number of women entering technology education, but by how many remain in the industry and advance into senior roles.
“Success isn’t just about seeing more women enrol in coding programmes. It’s about seeing more women stay in tech, lead teams, build innovative solutions, and inspire the next generation. That’s when we’ll know we’ve really started to break down the barriers.”
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has published three sets of draft regulations and a related draft notice under the Basic Education Laws Amendment (BELA) Act for public comment as government continues implementing the legislation.
The public has 30 days to submit comments, with the consultation period closing on 5 September at 23:59.
The four implementation instruments deal with the election and functioning of School Governing Bodies (SGBs), additional remuneration for certain state employees, minimum standards for teacher development facilities, and the National Education Information System.
The first instrument, the draft Notice Relating to the Election of Members of Governing Bodies, proposes a common national framework for SGB elections.
It provides for three possible voting methods: a traditional election meeting, voting throughout a designated election day, or secure electronic voting where a school has the necessary capacity and safeguards.
The second instrument, the Draft Regulations on the Prohibition of the Payment of Unauthorised Remuneration or the Giving of Other Financial Benefits or Benefits in Kind to Certain Employees, deals with circumstances in which an SGB seeks to compensate a state-employed educator or another qualifying state employee for genuine additional work.
The proposed regulations make clear that such payments may not be made informally or without oversight.
The third set of regulations proposes minimum norms and standards for Provincial Teacher Development Institutes and District Teacher Development Centres.
According to the department, the measures are intended to ensure teachers across the country have access to functional, safe and inclusive facilities for professional development.
The fourth instrument, the Draft Regulations on the National Education Information System, proposes a national framework for collecting, verifying, storing, protecting and using education information.
The department said reliable information was essential for determining the number of learners and teachers in the system, identifying where classrooms, textbooks, educators and other resources were required, and tracking whether services were reaching schools and communities most in need.
“The BELA Act is law and its implementation is continuing. Our responsibility is to ensure that implementation is lawful, responsible and workable, and that the schools, governing bodies and education officials who must give effect to the law have clear and practical guidance,” Gwarube said.
“Public consultation is an important part of that process. These draft regulations and the related notice will support greater certainty and consistency across the sector, while giving the sector a meaningful opportunity to help improve the proposals before they are finalised.”
The department said that the consultation process does not pause the implementation of the BELA Act, which is already in force.
The Act amends the South African Schools Act of 1996 and the Employment of Educators Act of 1998.
President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the legislation into law on 13 September 2024 after years of parliamentary deliberation and public consultation.
The Act came into operation on 24 December 2024 after Ramaphosa proclaimed the date of publication of the commencement notice in the Government Gazette as the date on which the legislation would take effect.
Among its reforms, the Act makes Grade R attendance compulsory, changes provisions governing admissions and language policies at public schools, further regulates home education, strengthens governance and financial accountability requirements for SGBs, and makes changes affecting the management and conduct of educators.
The legislation also gives provincial heads of department greater authority in relation to learner admissions and allows them, under specified circumstances, to direct public schools to adopt more than one language of instruction. It also requires SGB members to disclose certain financial interests and further regulates additional remuneration paid to state employees by governing bodies.
Admissions and language provisions have been among the most contested parts of the legislation. When Ramaphosa signed the Act in September 2024, implementation of sections 4 and 5 — dealing with admissions and language — was initially delayed for three months to allow further discussions. The Presidency later confirmed that the Act was brought fully into force.
The department said the new instruments were intended to provide additional clarity, consistency and practical support in areas where schools, governing bodies and education departments must give effect to the amended law.
Gwarube encouraged parents, teachers, learners, SGBs, education organisations, unions, faith-based organisations, civil society groups and other interested parties to make submissions.
All comments received will be considered before the regulations are finalised, she said.
The Gauteng Department of Education recorded 22,020 child abuse, learner protection and related cases across its reporting, counselling and investigation systems between 2023 and 2026.
The figures were disclosed by Gauteng Education MEC Lebogang Maile in a written reply to questions in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature about mechanisms available to learners to report abuse and access support services.
According to the department, 18,843 cases were recorded through its 24-hour helpline, 3,022 by the Learner Psycho-Social Support Directorate’s clinical counselling service and 155 were reported to the Special Investigations Directorate (SID).
“The total number of child abuse cases reported over the past ten years is not available. However, a total of 22 020 cases were reported during the period 2023 to 2026,” Maile said in his written response.
The figures cover a range of learner safety, protection and wellbeing concerns within and beyond the school environment.
The department’s records include physical, emotional and sexual abuse, rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, sexual harassment, neglect, bullying, gangsterism, discrimination, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health-related cases.
Among cases recorded by the Learner Psycho-Social Support Directorate’s clinical counselling service were 695 rape cases, 423 sexual assault cases, 74 sexual harassment cases, 398 domestic violence cases, 369 neglect cases, 256 emotional abuse cases and 179 physical abuse cases.
The 24-hour helpline recorded 3,960 emotional abuse cases, 2,006 physical abuse cases, 1,995 deliberate physical neglect cases, 1,936 deliberate emotional neglect cases, 681 harassment cases, 665 involving exposure to domestic violence, 571 involving child starvation, 376 sexual assault or abuse cases and 344 rape cases.
The SID received 155 cases over the reporting period, including 15 corporal punishment cases, seven cases involving educator bullying of learners, two cases of learner assault by educators, three cases of sexual abuse involving educators and four involving principals.
Its caseload also included allegations involving racism, discrimination, gangsterism, learner fights and other serious misconduct.
“The Gauteng Department of Education has established multiple formal mechanisms to enable learners to report incidents of abuse and to access appropriate psycho-social and protective services,” Maile said.
He said 118 social workers had been deployed to schools through a partnership with the Gauteng Department of Social Development to intervene in abuse and child protection cases.
“All schools have established School-Based Support Teams, which serve as the first point of receipt and management of reported cases. Cases received by School-Based Support Teams are referred, where appropriate, to social workers and District-Based Support Teams for further intervention and support,” Maile said.
The department said turnaround times varied according to the complexity of matters and the availability and willingness of witnesses.
The Democratic Alliance said the absence of a standard measure of investigation times made it difficult to assess whether cases were being handled promptly.
DA Gauteng education spokesperson Sergio Isa Dos Santos said the figures highlighted the scale of learner protection concerns in the province and called for stronger case-monitoring systems.
“The department’s failure to provide the average turnaround time for investigations is concerning. This lack of transparency makes it impossible to assess whether allegations of child abuse are being investigated or whether vulnerable learners are receiving the protection they deserve,” he said.
Dos Santos said the party would write to Maile requesting the introduction of a centralised case-tracking system with enforceable investigation deadlines.
“Every parent deserves to know that no matter which school their child attends, reports of abuse will be tracked properly, investigated timeously, and escalated to relevant authorities,” he said.
He said a DA-led Gauteng government would introduce a learner protection system under which every abuse report would receive a reference number and be tracked from start to finish, while urgent cases would be referred to the South African Police Service, social workers and psychologists.
The party also wants stronger vetting of educators and staff and regular training on learner protection.
Maile said learners could already make reports anonymously through toll-free and confidential channels used by the department and its partner organisations.
“Anonymous reporting systems are currently available to learners through the existing toll-free and confidential reporting platforms utilised by the Department and its partner organisations,” Maile said.
Minister of Higher and Training Buti Manamela at the National Launch of the Power X2 Services SETA 20 000 internships. Mahikeng Hotel School.
Photo:Eddie Mtsweni
Launched at the Mahikeng Hotel School in North West on Friday under the theme, “Experience Multiplied. Impact Magnified,” the programme seeks to bridge the gap between education and employment by giving graduates practical workplace experience, mentorship and exposure to industry while creating a pipeline of skilled workers for employers.
Delivering his keynote address, Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela said the success of the initiative would ultimately depend on whether it moves graduates from qualifications into meaningful work.
“The test begins after today, and it is a simple test. Does this programme take a young person who has completed a qualification, place them in real work under proper supervision, and move them into employment or enterprise?” Manamela said.
Manamela said South Africa could no longer treat access to education as the end goal when many qualified young people remained locked out of the labour market because they lacked workplace experience.
Minister of Higher and Training Buti Manamela (left) and Services SETA Administrator Mr Lehlogonolo Masoga (right) at the National Launch of the Power X2 Services SETA 20 000 internships. Photo:Eddie Mtsweni
“A young person can complete a qualification and then spend years being told they lack experience, without anyone explaining how experience is acquired if no employer provides the first opportunity,” he said
He described this gap between education and employment as a barrier the programme was intended to break.
Services SETA has set aside R2.9 billion to place 20,000 university and TVET college graduates into structured workplace-based learning for 24 months.
He said the initiative would mobilise approximately 3,000 employers nationally, including government departments, municipalities, public entities, state-owned companies, private businesses and small enterprises.
An initial cohort of 1,000 placement-ready graduates has also been made available to the Offices of the Premier in all nine provinces
Manamela called on government departments, municipalities, public entities, state-owned companies, corporations and small businesses to open their workplaces to graduates.
He said employers should provide meaningful work, capable mentors and opportunities for young people to gain practical skills.
“Employers cannot remain at the end of the skills pipeline, waiting to receive a finished product. They must become co-producers of skills, helping design programmes, mentoring young people and considering them for available positions,” Manamela said.
He warned that placements should not become a revolving door where young people repeatedly enter publicly funded programmes without progressing into employment.
“A young person must leave with more than a line on a CV,” he said.
Manamela also highlighted the importance of strengthening the TVET sector and ensuring that young people gain both theoretical knowledge and practical workplace experience.
He said South Africa needed skills across a range of sectors, including the digital economy, services, finance and logistics, as well as occupational trades such as plumbing, electrical work, welding, mechanics and technical occupations.
Services SETA Administrator Lehlogonolo Masoga said the programme represented a commitment to ensuring that academic qualifications translated into meaningful careers.
Services SETA Administrator Mr Lehlogonolo Masoga at the National Launch of the Power X2 Services SETA 20 000 internships. Mahikeng Hotel School. Photo:Eddie Mtsweni
“Today marks more than the launch of another programme. It marks our collective commitment to ensuring that a qualification does not become the end of a young person’s journey, but rather the beginning of a meaningful career,” Masoga said.
He said thousands of graduates leave universities and TVET colleges each year but struggle to enter the labour market because they lack practical workplace experience.
“We cannot continue to allow experience to become the barrier that prevents talent from contributing to economic growth,” he said.
Masoga said the “X” in PowerX² represented workplace experience, exposure, excellence, expansion and exchange, while the multiplication symbol represented the impact created when government, employers, institutions and mentors work together.
The programme is open to unemployed graduates holding NQF Level 4 to Level 7 qualifications obtained from public universities or TVET colleges.
Graduates from all fields of study will be considered, with placements matched according to employers’ skills needs.
Beneficiary Bokamoso Shame at the National Launch of the Power X2 Services SETA 20 000 internships. Mahikeng Hotel School. Photo:Eddie Mtsweni
Masoga said the programme’s success would not be measured only by the number of graduates placed, but by the quality of the placements and the number of participants who progress into permanent employment, entrepreneurship or further opportunities.
“Our real measure of success will be the quality of each placement, the strength of employer participation, the development of workplace competencies and, ultimately, the transition of graduates into employment, entrepreneurship or further career opportunities,” he said.
He also urged employers across the public, private and non-profit sectors to participate by opening their workplaces and providing mentorship.
Following the launch, Manamela and Masoga addressed members of the media, where they provided further details on the implementation of the PowerX² programme.
Manamela told the 20,000 graduates who will benefit from the programme to approach their internships as an opportunity to prove themselves to potential employers.
“To the 20,000 graduates watching, treat this as a job because it’s basically an audition for a job. It’s more than an interview,” Manamela said.
He urged graduates to arrive on time, perform their tasks diligently and listen to their mentors.
“You’ve been let into the workplace to experience what it means to be working,” he said.
Manamela said graduates should use the opportunity not only to gain experience but also to identify possibilities for permanent employment, entrepreneurship or further study.
He also challenged companies to change the way they approach workplace learning by opening their workplaces as training spaces.
“What’s one thing you want companies to do differently after today? Well, let’s open up our workplaces as learning spaces,” he said.
He said factories, offices, hotels, kitchens and other places where work takes place could all provide valuable learning environments for young graduates.
During the media address, Manamela acknowledged that the programme was being launched against a backdrop of high graduate unemployment.
He said graduate unemployment remained closely linked to the country’s weak job creation, stressing that graduates should not be blamed for being unable to find work.
“We don’t obviously want to give false hope, but I think what is important is that this is an internship, it’s an intervention facilitating full-time employment,” he said.
“The fact that a graduate is unemployed is not their fault. It’s because the economy has not been producing jobs.”
Manamela said the programme was intended to help accelerate the transition from qualifications to employment by giving graduates experience that could strengthen their position in the labour market.
Manamela acknowledged concerns about what would happen to graduates who complete the 24-month programme but are not offered permanent employment.
He said that even where a graduate was not immediately absorbed, the workplace experience would improve their chances of securing employment when opportunities became available.
“If they’re not absorbed, at least they’ll be exposed, and will stand a better chance when there is employment available,” he said.
He added that the programme had been designed to ensure graduates could be considered for employment opportunities arising within participating workplaces.
Masoga also addressed concerns around the payment of stipends, assuring prospective interns that funding had already been secured.
“The money is available and we have appointed a competent project management team that will assist us in disbursing those funds to ensure every learner receives their stipend on the agreed payment date,” he said.
He said Services SETA had also strengthened its implementation systems before launching the programme.
“We wanted to tighten all the requirements before launching. We’re ready now to deliver smoothly,” Masoga said.
Each intern will also receive a laptop when reporting for duty, which Masoga said would become their property after completion of the 24-month programme.
“Every learner who reports for duty will report with a laptop in hand, which will become their property after completing the programme,” he said.
Masoga said Services SETA would use an electronic dashboard to monitor the programme, including attendance, placements and employment outcomes.
“We have an electronic system that allows us to monitor every learner daily. We’ve done extensive preparation to ensure we don’t repeat the mistakes of the past,” he said.
He also warned graduates to be vigilant against scams and stressed that no applicant should pay anyone to gain access to the programme.
“No applicant should ever pay anyone for access to this programme,” Masoga said.
The programme will ultimately depend on the cooperation of Services SETA, employers and graduates.
“This work we’re doing is a partnership between three parties. It’s ourselves as Services SETA, the employers and the graduates. We have to work together to make sure that this programme is a success,” he said.
Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi said government remains committed to building an inclusive digital economy where every South African, regardless of geography, income or background, has the opportunity to participate meaningfully in the country’s digital future.
Speaking at the official launch of the Eksteenskuil Computer Centre on Thursday, Malatsi said the facility represented far more than the opening of a building filled with computers, but marked the beginning of new possibilities for the community.
“It is an investment in people, in knowledge, and in the belief that where you live should never determine the opportunities available to you,” Malatsi said.
“That commitment becomes real through initiatives such as the one we celebrate today…”
He said many rural communities had for too long found themselves on the wrong side of the digital divide.
While technology had transformed how the world learns, works, communicates and does business, Malatsi said too many South Africans remained excluded because they lacked access to the necessary tools, connectivity or digital skills.
“Today, Eksteenskuil is taking an important step towards changing that reality.
“The establishment of this Computer Centre demonstrates what becomes possible when communities, development partners and government work together with a shared vision.”
Malatsi commended the Eksteenskuil Agricultural Cooperative for its leadership and thanked the Kgodiso Development Fund for investing in the future of the community.
He said the partnership demonstrated that sustainable development was achieved not by one institution working alone, but through collaboration and shared purpose.
“Ladies and gentlemen, digital skills have become essential life skills in the digital economy.
“Whether a young person wants to continue their education, apply for employment, start a business, access government services or pursue a career in agriculture – technology has become part of everyday life.”
He said the computer centre would create opportunities for children needing access to educational resources and young people seeking to develop digital skills.
It would also provide opportunities for unemployed adults and farmers who could benefit from digital tools, online information and access to markets.
For the farming community, Malatsi said technology was increasingly becoming an important tool for improving productivity and building resilient agricultural businesses.
Digital platforms, he said, provided access to weather information, market prices, financial services, training resources and new farming techniques.
“They enable farmers to connect with buyers, suppliers and government support programmes more efficiently than ever before.
“By strengthening digital literacy within this community, we are also strengthening the future sustainability and competitiveness of our agricultural sector.”
He said government remained committed to ensuring rural communities were not left behind in South Africa’s digital transformation.
He said the vision was for every community to have the opportunity to connect, innovate and participate in the digital economy.
“While infrastructure remains important, meaningful digital inclusion requires more than connectivity alone.
“People must also have the confidence and the skills to use technology productively.
“Facilities such as this computer centre play an important role in achieving that goal.”
He said the success of the centre would not be measured by the number of computers inside the building, but by the opportunities it created.
“Its success will be measured by the number of children who discover new opportunities through technology.
“It will be measured by the number of young people who acquire skills that lead to employment.
“It will be measured by the farmers who use digital tools to grow their businesses.
“And it will be measured by the confidence this community gains in participating fully in South Africa’s growing digital economy.”
Addressing young people in Eksteenskuil, Malatsi encouraged them not to be intimidated by technology.
“Do not be intimidated by technology. Instead, be curious; ask questions; learn continuously and make mistakes – because every innovation begins with someone willing to try something new.
“The next software developer, digital entrepreneur, engineer or agricultural innovator could very well come from this community.”
He also urged residents to protect and value the centre so that it could continue serving future generations.
“Finally, I encourage everyone to protect and value this computer centre. This facility belongs to the entire community.
“Look after it. Use it. Fill it with learning, innovation and opportunity for generations to come.”
Malatsi said the launch demonstrated that digital transformation needed to reach every community, including those furthest from major cities.
“Because South Africa’s digital future will only succeed when no community is left behind.”
The Construction Education and Training Authority (CETA) has partnered with the V&A Waterfront on the iconic precinct’s new R24 billion development programme over the next 10 to 15 years.
CETA is the lead partner in a work-based skills and learning programme linked to the V&A Waterfront’s expansion, which will develop an additional 5,500 square metres land over the next decade and a half.
The development is expected to support 120,000 direct and indirect jobs during this period.
Joining CETA in the partnership are the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA), the Culture, Arts, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport Sector Education and Training Authority (CATHSSETA), the Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&R SETA) and the Services SETA.
Speaking at the launch of the programme at the Cape Town tourist destination, Higher Education and Training Minister Buti Manamela praised the partnership, describing the V&A Waterfront development as “more than a construction site”, but rather “a classroom” and training centre where unemployed young people will gain employment while taking pride in “building something for the country”.
Manamela said the partnership underscores the importance of Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) as part of government’s skills development drive.
He said the department aims to secure 100 major employers as Work-Integrated Learning partners by the beginning of next year.
CETA administrator Oupa Nkoane said he hopes the initiative will become a template for similar partnerships in future.
He revealed that CETA is expected to announce a comparable partnership with the Airports Company South Africa (ACSA) later this month.
Nkoane said learners participating in the programme will spend more than half of their training on site rather than in the classroom, providing them with practical workplace experience.
He added that CETA has allocated R320 million over three years to the V&A Waterfront project alone.
The programme also places a strong emphasis on entrepreneurship.
W&R SETA chief executive officer Tom Mkhwanazi said the authority was drawn to the partnership because of the V&A Waterfront’s significant retail component as one of the country’s leading shopping destinations.
Learners placed through the programme are expected to benefit from employment and business opportunities in the retail sector once the development is completed.
National Skills Fund (NSF) chief executive officer Melissa Erra said the fund can help scale successful programmes, expanding them from around 100 beneficiaries to significantly larger numbers when replicated through similar partnerships.
She added that the NSF also supports artisans, electricians and other tradespeople who want to become entrepreneurs by helping them acquire tools and providing entrepreneurship training.
Some of the V&A Waterfront upcoming development include a residential development, boutique hotel and a retirement facility.
Employees of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have opened a theft case against a former board member accused of stealing 10 laptops intended for under-resourced schools in the Eastern Cape.
NSFAS said on Thursday that the former board member, who led the scheme’s delegation during the Eastern Cape Donation Drive in March 2026, allegedly kept the laptops instead of delivering them to the designated schools.
A total of 30 laptops had been earmarked for distribution to six high schools, with each school due to receive five laptops for communal use.
“There were 30 laptops earmarked for distribution to six high schools, with each receiving five laptops for communal use,” NSFAS said.
NSFAS administrator Professor Hlengani Mathebula said he was shocked that a board member of an organisation tasked with supporting financially disadvantaged students was allegedly responsible for such conduct.
“I am pleased that NSFAS employees have decided to pursue justice on behalf of the voiceless learners. Criminality can only thrive when witnesses turn a blind eye to such matters,” Mathebula said.
He said the organisation should be associated only with leaders and employees of integrity, warning that corruption has a devastating impact on young people.
“This act by our colleagues is exemplary. It testifies to the fact that we are turning the corner as an organisation, as employees are reclaiming their organisation from the grubby hands of those who have been manipulating it for their own self-enrichment while our children suffered the indignity wrought by poverty,” he said.
“Children from impoverished backgrounds need all the help they can get from all of us.”
Mathebula said he was appalled that someone in a position of trust had allegedly stolen from children in need.
“It doesn’t get worse than that,” he said.
He expressed confidence that the South African Police Service (SAPS) would investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice for the intended beneficiaries.
South Africa added another medal to its World Athletics U20 Championships haul in Eugene, Oregon, on Friday morning SA time as Marko Ferreira claimed bronze in the men’s 100m final, building on Jaco van Dyk’s shot put bronze from the opening day.
Ferreira, who had won his semifinal in 10.13 seconds on Wednesday, crossed the line in 10.16 to finish third behind American Tate Taylor and Jamaica’s Gary Card.
Taylor produced one of the performances of the championships so far, winning gold in 9.94 seconds, with Card taking silver in 10.05. Ferreira’s podium finish gave South Africa another reason to celebrate after Van Dyk opened the country’s medal account a day earlier.
The championships, which run from 5 to 9 August at Hayward Field at the University of Oregon, have already delivered several impressive performances from South Africa’s 51-member team.
For Van Dyk, Wednesday marked the biggest achievement of his young career.
The 16-year-old booked his place in the men’s shot put final after throwing 19.09 metres during the qualifying round before producing an even better performance under the lights.
Van Dyk launched the shot 19.80m to set a new personal best and secure bronze.
Brazil’s Alessandro Borges won gold with a throw of 20.35m, while South Korea’s Si-hoon Park claimed silver after reaching 20.31m.
Speaking after the competition, Van Dyk said the medal represented months of sacrifice finally paying off.
“It was an amazing feeling fighting back in getting the right distance, all the hard work paying off from January trying to qualify was insane,” he said.
The young thrower also offered simple advice to aspiring athletes.
“Just give your best, anything can happen. You can come first, you can come last, but always give your best,” he said.
South Africa also produced one of the performances of the opening day in the mixed 4x400m relay, where the team twice lowered the national under-20 record within hours.
Ryno Riekert, Zanté van der Merwe, Abelines Schoeman and Isabella Gunter stopped the clock in 3:22.12 during the morning heats, breaking the existing South African junior record and comfortably qualifying for the evening final.
Team management made one change for the medal race, bringing Davida Strong into the line-up in place of Van der Merwe.
The revised quartet of Riekert, Strong, Schoeman and Gunter went even quicker, clocking 3:21.48 to finish sixth and lower the South African U20 record for a second time on the same day.
Riekert said he was happy with the performance, although the demanding conditions made the race physically taxing.
“Ran the first leg, it’s hot and my hammies [hamstrings] are burning, but it felt very good,” he said.
Schoeman said he was impressed by the atmosphere at Hayward Field.
“It was an incredible experience for me, the people are very nice, the track is actually incredible and it was a very nice experience,” he said.
Gunter echoed those sentiments.
“It was an incredible experience, something I have never felt before,” she said.
The United States won the mixed relay in 3:15.31, the fastest U20 performance in history.
South Africa’s field-event athletes also laid down markers on the opening day.
Jan-Hendrik Heymans produced the best throw of the men’s javelin qualifying competition, launching the spear 76.02m to finish more than six metres ahead of the next-best qualifier.
Compatriot Marques Olivier also progressed comfortably after throwing 68.77m to qualify sixth overall, putting both South Africans into Friday night’s final.
Long jumper Ashlynn Norman also advanced from qualifying with a jump of 6.11m. Norman had entered the championships having jumped a season best of 6.46m in Johannesburg in April.
Ferreira had initially emerged as South Africa’s strongest sprint prospect after winning his 100m semifinal in 10.13.
Mukona Manavhela came agonisingly close to joining him in the final, finishing fourth in his semifinal in 10.38 and missing qualification by one hundredth of a second.
Rume Burger narrowly missed out on the women’s 100m final after placing fourth in her semifinal in 11.53, six hundredths outside the qualifying positions.
South Africa’s middle-distance athletes also enjoyed a productive opening day.
Werner Gouws advanced to the men’s 800m semifinals after finishing third in his heat in 1:47.54, while Emile Els also progressed after placing third in his race in 1:51.11.
Carise van Rooyen joined them by taking third in her women’s 800m heat in 2:06.52 to secure a semifinal place.
Distance runner Njabulo Hlatshwayo finished 15th in the men’s 5,000m final in 14:13.90 in his first global championship appearance.
Attention now turns to Friday’s third day of competition, where South Africa has another packed programme and several realistic opportunities to progress deep into the championships.
Heymans and Olivier will be among the country’s headline performers when they contest the men’s javelin final after their strong qualifying performances.
Gouws and Els return for the men’s 800m semifinals, while Van Rooyen contests the women’s 800m semifinals.
Several South Africans will also begin their individual campaigns on Friday.
Marine Grobler and Stephane Hook are entered in the women’s javelin qualification, while Daniel von der Heyden begins the decathlon.
Tumi Ramokgopa and Megan Nieman are entered in the women’s 100m hurdles, Michaela Spocter in the women’s high jump and Jayden Parkin in the men’s 110m hurdles.
Burger and Sarah Reed are entered in the women’s 200m, while Manavhela returns in the men’s 200m after narrowly missing the 100m final.
Tshiamo Motsamai and Levi Fick are due to compete in men’s long jump qualification. The Friday evening session also includes the 800m semifinals and the men’s javelin final.
Another athlete attracting attention in the South African squad is 400m hurdler Matodzi Ndou, who arrived in Eugene after setting a South African U20 record of 48.64 seconds earlier this season.
The performance broke the previous national junior mark of 48.73 held by Sokwakhana Zazini, one of South Africa’s most accomplished junior hurdlers.
Zazini went on to win the men’s 400m hurdles gold medal at the 2018 World U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, clocking 49.42 in the final. Qatar’s Bassem Hemeida won silver in 49.59, while Brazil’s future Olympic and world medallist Alison dos Santos took bronze in 49.78.
South Africa has a strong history in the 400m hurdles, producing athletes including LJ van Zyl, Llewellyn Herbert, Ockert Cilliers, Alwyn Myburgh and Cornel Fredericks at senior international level.
The encouraging start in Oregon has come after the team’s build-up was overshadowed by a public funding dispute between Athletics South Africa and Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie.
ASA maintained before the championships that it had not received its annual government grant by the expected end-of-June deadline, forcing the federation to seek alternative funding and resulting in some athletes’ families contributing towards travel costs.
Acting ASA president John Mathane said the federation had received no departmental funding and had relied on private donors, while ASA covered accommodation costs.
McKenzie disputed the suggestion that his department had jeopardised the team’s participation, saying he had personally approached private companies and secured R4 million after learning there was insufficient funding available to send the team to the United States.
The Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) has committed to paying outstanding bursary allowances owed to 104 students by Friday, while a further 108 beneficiaries will undergo an expedited documentation and verification process next week.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim announced the commitments on Wednesday following an engagement with TETA over delays in student bursary allowances and apprenticeship stipends.
Cassim met TETA officials at the authority’s offices in Randburg on Tuesday after his helpdesk received complaints from students and apprentices who had gone for months without receiving financial support.
Among those affected were students from the Durban University of Technology and apprentices linked to Delen Digital Solutions and Corporate Training.
The Department of Higher Education and Training said the delays had left many beneficiaries struggling to cover basic living expenses while continuing with their studies or training.
Although Cassim acknowledged TETA’s explanation of the operational challenges that contributed to the backlog, he stressed that students and apprentices should not bear the consequences of administrative inefficiencies.
Following the meeting, TETA committed to finalising payments owed to 104 students by Friday, 7 August 2026.
A further 108 beneficiaries whose applications require outstanding documentation will undergo an expedited verification process, which is expected to be completed by Friday, 14 August.
Their payments will be processed once the required documentation has been received and the verification process has been completed.
TETA also committed to developing a new payment model that will make greater use of existing university payment systems in an effort to reduce administrative burdens and improve payment turnaround times.
According to the department, the revised system is expected to be introduced during the next academic year in partnership with higher education institutions.
The Deputy Minister’s helpdesk will also escalate TETA bursary-related complaints directly to the authority to allow for faster intervention and the resolution of student queries.
“Students shouldn’t have to choose between studying and worrying about allowances. Through my engagement with TETA, I have emphasised that these payments must be prioritised and completed urgently,” Cassim said.
He said he would continue to intervene when delays in financial support threatened students’ academic progress.
