Dept of Education encourages teachers to seek employment abroad amid job cuts

Recently, the Western Cape Education Department (WCED) announced plans to cut over 2400 teaching positions in the province due to budget constraints.

This decision has sparked significant backlash from both the education sector and the broader community, as it is expected to have a ripple effect on various other sectors.

The job cuts will take effect on 1 January 2025.

Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the Department of Basic Education, clarifies that there will be no retrenchments for permanent staff; they will retain their positions.

However, contract-based teachers face uncertainty regarding their employment.

Mhlanga emphasises that all decisions will be made with the children's best interests in mind to ensure the continued delivery of quality education.

"There's always a surplus when it comes to teacher supply."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson – Department of Basic Education

In addition to budget constraints, Mhlanga explains that the core issue is the imbalance between the number of available teaching positions and the number of teachers in South Africa.

He adds that the Department of Basic Education supports and even encourages teachers seeking opportunities abroad.

"It's an opportunity for them to change their lives."

- Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson – Department of Basic Education

ALSO IN THE MIDDAY REPORT:

Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane returns to Parliament

Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane returned to Parliament today to address MPs, just days after defending a controversial loan from a VBS Mutual Bank associate.

Simelane appeared before a committee on Friday to clarify details about a R500,000 loan received from Gundo Wealth Solutions, a firm linked to the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

Today's session with the justice committee included Shamila Batohi and representatives from the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), who discussed issues related to accessing the Zondo commission database.

"They want unhindered access to get hold of this information that they need to successfully prosecute all of these state capture-related criminal cases."

- Babalo Ndenze, EWN Reporter

Zizi Kodwa's corruption case postponed to 3 October

The case against former Sports, Arts, and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa and his co-accused, former Enterprise Outsourcing Holdings (EOH) Executive Jehan Mackay, has been adjourned to 3 October.

The delay follows an administrative mix-up involving his co-accused, Jehan Mackay. 

A decision from the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) on Mackay's request to have the charges against him dropped was anticipated today. 

However, it was revealed in court that the NDPP never received Mackay's application.

The two are facing charges in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court for alleged violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act and the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The charges stem from allegations that Kodwa received over R1.7 million in kickbacks in return for awarding government tenders.

"This has obviously resulted in some frustration, especially from the side of Zizi Kodwa."

- Thabiso Goba, EWN Reporter

Limpopo farm double murder: Accused return to court for bail application review

The brother of one of the women whose remains were found on a farm in Limpopo expressed profound distress over the possibility of the accused being granted bail.

The bodies of 34-year-old Kudzai Ndlovu and 47-year-old Mariah Makgatho were discovered in a pigsty on the farm in August, where they had decomposed.

It is believed that Ndlovu and Makgatho were trespassing while searching for allegedly discarded food when they were killed.

Three individuals have been arrested and charged with their murders, as well as the attempted murder of Ndlovu’s partner, Mabutho Ncube, who was also shot but survived.

The accused made their third appearance in the Mankweng Magistrates Court today, where a bail application for two of them was expected to be reviewed.

The bail application has since been postponed.

"It's been postponed until the 2 October and it's going to be heard in the Polokwane Regional Court."

- Bernadette Wicks, EWN Reporter

EFF calls for Ad-Hoc Committee to probe Pension Funds Act non-compliance

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have urged National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza to form an Ad-Hoc Committee to probe non-compliance with Section 13A of the Pension Funds Act by private security firms and local municipalities.

The situation is critically urgent due to the recently enacted two-pot system, which permits retirement fund access without requiring members to resign or withdraw their entire pension. 

If the Financial Sector Conduct Authority's (FSCA) reports are accurate, millions of employees may face difficulties accessing portions of their pensions through this system because employers have failed to make the necessary contributions, warns Sinawo Tambo, EFF MP.

"What the two-pot system has revealed is that employers have been deducting money from their salaries on a monthly basis, but not paying that money over, meaning there's a large-scale heist or looting that has occurred."

- Sinawo Tambo, EFF MP

National Parks Week kicks off

South African National Parks Week kicked off this week, offering all citizens a unique chance to explore their local National Parks free of charge.

This annual event takes place during the second week of September and aims to foster pride in the country's natural, cultural, and historical heritage as safeguarded by the national parks system.

Below are the specific dates for each park:

• |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park: 9 to 15 September
• Addo Elephant National Park: 9 to 13 September
• Agulhas National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Augrabies Falls National Park: 9 to 13 September
• Bontebok National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Camdeboo National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Garden Route National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Golden Gate Highlands National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Karoo National Park: 9 to 15 September 
• Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: 9 to 15 September 
• Kruger National Park: 9 to 13 September
• Mapungubwe National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Marakele National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Mokala National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Mountain Zebra National Park: 9 to 15 September
• Table Mountain National Park: 9 to 15 September (Note: Free access does not include Boulders Beach or the Table Mountain Cableway)
• Tankwa Karoo National Park: 9 to 15 September
• West Coast National Park: 9 to 13 September

"Tourism is one of the biggest employment creators in the economy and we want to maintain that."

- Isaac Phaahla, Spokesperson – SANParks

Australia to enact minimum age on social media sites

Australia will impose a ban on children using social media, with a proposed minimum age limit potentially set as high as 16, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced.

He emphasised the goal of redirecting kids from their devices to "the footy fields."

Federal legislation to restrict children's access to social media will be introduced later this year. 

Albanese characterised the impact of these platforms on young people as a "scourge."

While the exact minimum age for accessing sites like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok has not yet been determined, it is expected to be between 14 and 16 years.

An age verification trial will be conducted in the coming months prior to the legislation's introduction by the end of the year, according to Albanese.

"It's going to be interesting to see in a country like Australia, where there are more Western values, whether something like this will stick." 

- Jan Vermeulen, Editor – MyBroadband

Scroll up to the audio player to listen to the interviews.