Day: January 22, 2024

Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has praised the Grade 12 students, who benefit from Social Development services and have successfully completed the 2023 National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams.

Of the 897 775 Grade 12 learners who wrote their NSC, 543 786 full-time learners were social grant beneficiaries, with 62 out of 110 social grant beneficiaries amongst the top performing learners in different categories, as awarded by the Department of Basic Education (DBE).

According to the department, social grant beneficiaries formed the largest number of learners who wrote their 2023 National Senior Certificate and 441 871 learners passed the NSC examinations which is an overall pass rate of 82.9%.

About 202 156 received a Bachelor’s pass, which gains them access to institutions of higher learning, with 160 326 distinctions.

The Minister said that the child support grant formed the biggest grant type received by these learners, with the majority of them from KwaZulu-Natal, the second-best performing p
rovince after Free State.

The South African Constitution, through the Child Justice Act, also obligates the state to provide care and support services to children in conflict with the law, including educational opportunities.

According to the data from the Departments of Basic Education and Social Development, 1 630 children in conflict with the law registered for the 2023 NSC.

‘Providing educational opportunities for children in conflict with the law is a key element of rehabilitating and re-integrating them back into society. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (the CRC), which South Africa ratified in 1995, recognises the importance of education for children in conflict with the law,’ Zulu said.

The Minister detailed that the Social Development sector has been integrating the social protection administrative data system to ensure better coordination of services and tracking of health and educational outcomes for beneficiaries of various government services aimed at tackling child a
nd adult poverty.

She asserted that the linking and sharing of administrative data systems within the social cluster departments – Social Development, SASSA, Department of Basic Education, and NSFAS – ensure information is shared on the academic performance of social grant beneficiaries.

‘One such success story of the benefits of linking and sharing of data systems was the agreement between Social Development and NSFAS on the exemption of social grants beneficiaries from the means test, a decision that has significantly bridged the higher education gap as it opened the doors of learning for many, regardless of their socioeconomic background,’ the Minister said.

Zulu emphasised that education has the power to break the cycle of poverty and transform lives. By accessing education opportunities at institutions of higher learning, she said, many social grants beneficiaries have succeeded in creating a better future for themselves and their families, thus breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty and ineq
uality.

‘The benefits of social grants extend beyond individual beneficiaries to broader society. Our government’s pro-poor policies such as our social assistance programme, no-fee schools, school nutrition, school uniforms, free health care including sanitary dignity packs have made significant impact over the past 30 years in reducing poverty by bridging the education gap for learners from impoverished backgrounds. We will continue to build on the success of these impactful interventions that have lifted many of our people out of poverty,” Zulu said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Deputy President Paul Mashatile will on Tuesday welcome His Royal Highness Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, on a courtesy call at the OR Tambo Official Residence in Pretoria.

The Duke of Edinburgh is on a working visit to South Africa on 22 and 23 January 2024.

According to the Deputy President’s Office, the visit follows the successful State Visit that President Cyril Ramaphosa undertook to the United Kingdom in 2022 at the invitation of King Charles III.

‘The visit also indicates the strong bilateral relationship that the United Kingdom and South Africa share,’ a statement from the Deputy President’s Office read.

During his visit, His Royal Highness will meet stakeholders from WWF South Africa, Endangered Wildlife Trust, GreenMatterZA, TRAFFIC, International Union for Conservation of Nature, Birdlife, and Conservation South Africa.

Prince Edward will also meet the Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Minister, Barbara Creecy, for a tour of the Pretoria National Botanical Garden.

He will be accomp
anied on the tour by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) CEO, Shonisani Munzhedi.

This comes after President Ramaphosa visited the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew, in November 2022, and will mark the long-term collaboration between Kew and SANBI to ensure the survival of South Africa’s rich plant diversity.

Prince Edward is also expected to engage with Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande at a dinner marking the deep partnership between South Africa and the United Kingdom in the field of science and innovation.

In addition, the Duke of Edinburgh will meet the awardees of the President’s Awards, the international arm of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, of which President Ramaphosa is a patron.

‘Both countries share a strong commitment to youth empowerment,’ the statement said.

During the courtesy call, Deputy President Mashatile will also hold discussions with the Duke and his delegation on key areas of importance in the bilateral relationship between South Afric
a and the United Kingdom.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KORHOGO: Namibia’s senior national men’s football team had a disappointing match day two in the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, losing 0-4 against South Africa.

Their Group F match was played at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.

South Africa, who were at the bottom of the group after losing their opening match 2-0 against Mali, wasted no time in finding their opening goal of the match. They found the net in the 12th minute through a penalty kick by Percy Tau, who converted the spot kick with ease.

Temba Zwane then doubled their score with a well-executed shot just 25 minutes into the game. Before the half-time break, Zwane scored his brace after intercepting a Deon Hotto pass and dazzling through the Namibian defence.

The score was 3-0 at halftime.

The Namibian team made two changes at halftime, replacing Petrus Shitembi and Peter Shalulie with Betuel Mazeu and Ngero Katua. With two changes, the Brave Warriors won a bit of possession, but they found it hard to get the ball on
target in the second half compared to the chances created in the first half.

South Africa once again caught them on a counter and added a fourth goal in the 75th minute through Thapelo Maseko.

Namibia, now in third place, is level on three points with second-placed South Africa. Mali leads the group with four points, while Tunisia is bottom with a single point.

In an interview with the media after the game, Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin admitted that his team did not have their best game, but said he remains positive about their chances of making it through to the next round.

‘We did create chances, which shows character and content. The way these guys played shows that they still have fighting spirit. With the right mindset, we can go back and fight for a spot in the round of 16,’ said Benjamin.

Namibia will play their last group game against Mali in San Pedro on 24 January 2024.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The South African delegation to the World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting has returned back to SA, having driven home the message that the country remains a “top destination for growth and investment’.

This is according to a media statement released by National Treasury on Monday.

Team South Africa’s delegation was led by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and comprised the Ministers of Trade, Industry and Competition, Ebrahim Patel; Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande; Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele, and Health, Dr Joe Phaahla.

Godongwana said the message to investors, civil society, businesses and governments is that despite the many challenges it faces, South Africa is making progress.

‘We took the opportunity of the WEF Davos gathering to remind our partners around the world that South Africa has made tremendous progress in the past 30 years since we achieved democracy.

‘Yes, we face a number of obstacles to achieving policy that balances fiscal s
ustainability, growth-accelerating reforms, and targeted spending on social services and infrastructure. However, we are forging ahead and making good progress,’ he said.

According to National Treasury, the annual meeting – held last week in Davos, Switzerland – offered an opportunity for South Africa to engage world leaders on a number of issues.

‘[It] offered South Africa’s policymakers a genuine and rare opportunity to speak directly with a cross spectrum of stakeholders in global affairs, exchanging views on how to weather the rise in geopolitical and economic tensions that are shaping today’s world.

‘Climate, technology, trade and multilateral cooperation were high on the agenda, as was South Africa’s upcoming presidency of the G20 in 2025.

‘In addition to its participation in the G20, the country is playing a key part in the expansion of the BRICS group, as well as the deepening of intercontinental economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area,’ the department said.

Source:
South African Government News Agency

The North West Premier Kaobitsa Bushy Maape is out of the country until 31 January 2024, following advice and referral by his doctor to seek further medical treatment in Thailand.

During his absence, the MEC for Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs, Nono Maloyi, will act as Premier.

Maloyi has since been sworn in by the Judge President of the North West Division, Ronald Hendricks.

‘Lastly, the Office of the Premier wishes to confirm that a formal notification of Premier Maape’s travel has been sent to both the President and the Speaker of the North West provincial legislature,’ the statement read.

Maape resumed his duties in November after he fell ill following minor orthopaedic surgery in June 2023.

‘He was subsequently advised by his medical team to take a rest while receiving medical attention,’ the Premier’s Office said at that time.

Source: South African Government News Agency

Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Zizi Kodwa has congratulated mixed martial artist, Dricus du Plessis, for winning the United Fighting Championship (UFC) Middleweight title.

Du Plessis made history on Sunday as South Africa’s first UFC champion when he defeated American Sean Strickland.

‘Du Plessis has flown the South African flag high with his performances in the UFC. I congratulate him on the remarkable achievement of being the first South African to be crowned UFC Champion.

‘It has been particularly special to see South Africans unite in their diversity to support their own, as Du Plessis made history. This once again shows the power of South Africans when uniting and supporting their own. Let us carry this spirit, as South Africans continue to make history on global platforms in sport, arts and culture,’ Kodwa said.

Source: South African Government News Agency

KORHOGO: Namibia’s senior national men’s football team had a disappointing match day two in the 2023 Ivory Coast Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, losing 0-4 against South Africa.

Their Group F match was played at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Korhogo.

South Africa, who were at the bottom of the group after losing their opening match 2-0 against Mali, wasted no time in finding their opening goal of the match. They found the net in the 12th minute through a penalty kick by Percy Tau, who converted the spot kick with ease.

Temba Zwane then doubled their score with a well-executed shot just 25 minutes into the game. Before the half-time break, Zwane scored his brace after intercepting a Deon Hotto pass and dazzling through the Namibian defence.

The score was 3-0 at halftime.

The Namibian team made two changes at halftime, replacing Petrus Shitembi and Peter Shalulie with Betuel Mazeu and Ngero Katua. With two changes, the Brave Warriors won a bit of possession, but they found it hard to get the ball on
target in the second half compared to the chances created in the first half.

South Africa once again caught them on a counter and added a fourth goal in the 75th minute through Thapelo Maseko.

Namibia, now in third place, is level on three points with second-placed South Africa. Mali leads the group with four points, while Tunisia is bottom with a single point.

In an interview with the media after the game, Brave Warriors coach Collin Benjamin admitted that his team did not have their best game, but said he remains positive about their chances of making it through to the next round.

‘We did create chances, which shows character and content. The way these guys played shows that they still have fighting spirit. With the right mindset, we can go back and fight for a spot in the round of 16,’ said Benjamin.

Namibia will play their last group game against Mali in San Pedro on 24 January 2024.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency