Latest news with #Bohlokong
The Herald
22-07-2025
- The Herald
Two men jailed for brutal vigilante attack on alleged drug dealer
Free State police confiscated an assortment of dangerous weapons from a vigilante mob that murdered an alleged drug dealer in January 2023: pangas, daggers, knives, garden shears, a hoe, scissors, a screwdriver, axe and petrol bombs. 'The incident unfolded when the Bloemfontein public order policing team was deployed to Bethlehem for crowd management duties after reports of community members confronting alleged drug dealers in the Bohlokong area,' said police spokesperson Sgt Mahlomola Kareli. 'One of the houses targeted was that of the alleged drug lord in the community.' Two female police officers intervened when a large crowd started stabbing a 37-year-old man with pangas and knives. The victim died at the scene. Two men were arrested: Joseph Tshabalala, 44, also known as 'Toki', and Ernest Semela, 25, also known as 'Bikkie'. Seventeen more suspects were rounded up, including a women, with an assortment of weapons and petrol bombs. ' After a two-year investigation and trial, the two primary suspects, Joseph 'Toki' Tshabalala and Ernest 'Bikkie' Semela, pleaded guilty to murder. They were each sentenced to 15 years' imprisonment for murder,' said Kareli. 'The case against 17 other suspects was withdrawn.' TimesLIVE
News24
16-05-2025
- News24
Entertained or equipped? Are our children ready for the digital future?
Getty A striking, yet amusing comparison often pops up on social media. It portrays South African children filling their timelines with the latest dance challenges and viral memes, while their peers in countries like China are busy building robots and writing algorithms. At face value, this seems like a harmless comparison. But beneath the humour lies a serious question about how we are preparing our youth for a future dominated by technology. As we join the global community in observing the World Telecommunication Information Society Day this weekend (May 17), we are presented with a valuable opportunity to reflect on our progress. It is also a moment to sharpen our focus on practical, inclusive digital solutions. READ: What exactly is AI, and how does it work? In the context of the humorous social-media comparison, this reflection is especially vital, as the global economy is rapidly being reshaped by artificial intelligence, robotics, and data science. Those who master these tools will shape the future. Are we, as a country, preparing our youth to be innovators in the digital economy? Are we driving our youth towards ensuring that they are active creators of platforms and technology itself? The lesser-known truth, absent from social media trends, is that our country is not standing still. We are creating opportunities for learners like Mpho Majola, a Grade 11 pupil from Tiisetsang High School in Bohlokong township, Free State, to become coders, innovators, or future technopreneurs. Majola, along with more than 900 pupils from Phuthaditjhaba in the Free State, as well as Mpumalanga Province's Qhubulwazi Combined School in the town of Volksrust and Methula Secondary School in Mpuluzi village, last month completed the Telkom Foundation's three-year Coding and Robotics Programme. The technopreneurship module is a dynamic, hands-on course that empowers learners not just to use technology, but to innovate with it. Working in teams, they rotate through industry roles such as developer, designer, and project manager. The course culminates in the creation of a functional prototype, which teams pitch to a panel of 'investors' in a simulated entrepreneurial setting. At Morutwa Secondary School outside Polokwane, the Telkom Foundation and the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies launched a new ICT Lab, on 16 May, featuring 40 new workstations, 10 laptops, and new-generation digital connectivity – a direct intervention to support digital upskilling for school learners. Beyond the classroom, as South Africa continues to face high unemployment, the expanding gig economy, and an escalating need for digital expertise, more people are turning to online platforms to equip themselves for the future world of work. This growing demand is driving the expansion of digital learning hubs like TelkomLearn, which attracted more than 4 000 users in the first quarter of this year alone. Its accessibility, through no-cost courses and user-friendly design, makes it a compelling choice for those seeking critical digital skills. What differentiates TelkomLearn is its robust network of partnerships with top global tech giants such as Google, IBM, HP, Alibaba Cloud, and Duke Corporate Education. These alliances provide access to nearly 100 globally accredited courses, ensuring the training they receive is both current and competitive on an international scale. In parallel, the Telkom FutureMakers Programme continues to support digital entrepreneurship. A shining example is Netcampus, which has grown through this initiative into a leading provider of cutting-edge digital skills training. Today, Netcampus serves enterprise customers across multiple sectors, offering training in Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as cloud computing, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. The Microsoft initiative, launching on 19 May, will offer free training to 100 000 South Africans, excluding residents of Gauteng and the Western Cape. The focus is on unemployed youth in rural and township areas. To participate, register on the Netcampus website. One such initiative is a collaboration with the Gauteng Provincial government's project to train 7 500 youth on cybersecurity. Netcampus also forms part of Microsoft's initiative aimed at exposing over one million people to artificial intelligence technologies. Although South Africa lags behind developed nations such as China, Europe, and the US, we are in a relatively fortunate position compared to many of our developing peers. With 72% of the population having internet access, the country benefits from detailed policy frameworks, including the Implementation Plan for the Digital and Future Skills Strategy and the recently adopted Digital Economy Masterplan. These are supported by active coordination mechanisms between key stakeholders, the government, the private sector, and donors, through initiatives such as the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. As further proof that South Africa is not standing still, coding and robotics are being introduced in both private and public schools' curriculum. Still, we cannot afford complacency. Urgent action is needed to close gaps in basic digital literacy. Many citizens lack the foundational digital skills required for everyday life. What is needed now is urgency, alignment, and a shared national commitment to digital empowerment. This is not just about catching up; it's about redefining our place in the global digital landscape. To do so, we must invest not only in infrastructure and curricula, but in a mindset that values innovation, problem-solving, and a future-oriented approach to learning. Our youth are talented, creative, and capable of great things. But they need the tools, the opportunities, and the vision to turn potential into progress. This way, we can show that there's nothing wrong with learning to operate a drone while enjoying the latest Amapiano dance tune.
