Latest news with #DHET
TimesLIVE
3 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Mandela Day is for giving back — not just for 67 minutes
In 1970 Robert Greenleaf released an essay entitled, 'The Servant as a Leader'. Greenleaf could hardly have expected to start a revolution in the then fledgling leadership discipline. Of particular interest and intrigue was that Greenleaf had used what ought to have been contradictory terms, namely 'servant' and 'leader' to describe a type of leader. In a nutshell, he argued that the best leaders were those who saw their main task as serving those they had been tasked to lead. This was contrary to the dominant idea at the time that those who lead should lord it over those in their charge. As we this month commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day, or Mandela Day as many of us call it, we are once again reminded of the importance of leaders who place their followers first in the quest to transform the institutions they lead. Former president Mandela may have never described himself in the terms articulated by Greenleaf. Still, it is commonly understood that Mandela personified what it means to dedicate one's life to serving one's people. In fact, in his first public address after being released from prison in 1990, he said: 'I stand here before you not as a prophet but as a humble servant of you, the people.' The number 67 was chosen to reflect the number of years former President Mandela spent in public life and includes the years he was imprisoned as well as his tenure as South Africa's first democratically elected president. It was for this attitude that the UN in 2009 declared Madiba's birthday, July 18, as Nelson Mandela International Day and encouraged everyone to dedicate at least 67 minutes of their time and lives to helping those who needed a hand, and to do so without expecting anything in return. The number 67 was chosen to reflect the number of years former President Mandela spent in public life and includes the years he was imprisoned as well as his tenure as South Africa's first democratically elected president. As has been tradition for the last 15 years, many South African individuals and organisations will identify and choose an institution they can dedicate their 67 minutes of service to, and this is to be strongly encouraged. This year's Mandela Day Theme, 'It is still in our hands to combat poverty and inequality', is consistent with the three priorities of the government of national unity (GNU). The education sector, especially the higher education and training sector, is well placed to play an active role in combating poverty and inequality. Mandela himself reminded us that 'education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world'. As someone with executive oversight over the department of higher education and training (DHET) as well as its entities, I see this potential to change the world every day. Education is never an end but rather a means to an end, which is to meaningfully integrate the educated person into the economy and improve their lives and those of their loved ones. I am also acutely aware of the challenges the sector faces. Some of the challenges are systemic in nature and will not be overcome overnight. These include the gaps in funding for tuition and for the provision of adequate bed space for students. We also have the real challenge that some of our Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) being more likely to make news for poor governance and unethical behaviour than for having the positive impact in combating poverty and inequality. The two reports released by the commission for gender equality (CGE) last year further highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment and GBV in the post-school education and training (PSET) system. While all the above-mentioned are equally urgent, if I were to single out another area of our PSET system that needs more urgent attention than others, it would be the Community Education and Training (CET) colleges. These are offshoots of the former Adult Basic Education and Training (Abet) centres. CET students best embody what Madiba said about education having the potential to change the world. Yet they remain what I often refer to as the 'stepchild of the stepchild' of the higher education sector. They receive about 2% of the DHET total budget to share across 200 community learning centres and their nearly 1,600 satellite centres where teaching and learning take place. What is more concerning is that bulk of their annual funding goes to salaries, leaving very little for other needs such as infrastructure. Many CET colleges are hosted in schools owned by the department of basic education because they do not have facilities of their own. This is itself a disincentive for some individuals who do not want to be seen studying in facilities designed for younger children. Another challenge for students attending CETs is that, unlike their counterparts in the PSET system, they do not receive any aid from the National Student Financial Assistance Scheme (NSFAS). Consequently, food insecurity is high and students often choose to forego classes if this clashes with an opportunity to earn a day's wage that can keep hunger at bay. Where food insecurity is high, there tends to be a shortage of hygiene products. This is why I have decided to give my 67 minutes to one of these colleges in Kariega, Eastern Cape that so urgently need our support. That said, we cannot afford to throw our hands up in despair. It will be unMandela-like to do so. Madiba's life is an example of never giving up to the challenges of the day, no matter how insurmountable they might be. As he famously said, 'it always seems impossible until it's done'. The PSET system desperately needs servant leaders. We need men and women who properly appreciate that the education enterprise cannot succeed unless there is collaboration with all areas of society, including the private sector. For it to be done, the PSET sector needs partners. We need leaders like Mandela in local government institutions, traditional leadership authorities, business and non-governmental organisations to each identify how they too can serve in the effort to combat poverty and inequality. Equally, we need leaders within the sector who have the foresight and are open to partnerships and deliberately seek these out to enhance what their own organisations can offer to their stakeholders and to society at large. With more than 100 entities under the DHET ambit and tens of thousands of students in our various institutions of higher education, it can be said with the utmost humility that the sector is too big to fail. On the flipside, the sector's success will have an impact in every home, workplace and in our economy. With our service, we can ensure that we are the side of making the sector succeed.
News24
14-07-2025
- Business
- News24
Young energy experts help power South Africa's green future
Mahlatsi Moleya Seventy-five students, over 60% of them women, have graduated as certified Energy Performance Certificate Practitioners in Mpumalanga. The training is part of South Africa's Just Energy Transition, supported by the UNDP, DHET, EWSETA, and GIZ. With youth unemployment at 45.5% (Stats SA), this programme offers practical skills and a real chance to work in the green economy. Seventy-five students in Mpumalanga have completed the Energy Performance Certificate Practitioners Programme, equipping them with skills to improve energy efficiency in buildings. More than 60% of the graduates are women, challenging outdated ideas about who belongs in technical fields. For 26-year-old Thandeka Mahlangu, this achievement 'was a turning point'. She said: Before this, I had no clear path. Now I can contribute to something bigger, making our buildings smarter and our communities stronger. Mahlatsi Moleya The programme forms part of the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Just Energy Transition efforts, supported by the department of higher education and training, the Energy and Water Sector Education and Training Authority, as well as Germany's main agency for international development cooperation, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit. The programme, which is six months long, has ensured that graduates are now qualified to audit and improve building energy use – a crucial skill as buildings account for nearly 30% of the country's electricity consumption, according to the department of mineral resources and energy. 'This is not just a course; it is a pathway,' said UNDP's Phumla Hlathi. Young people are not only part of the solution, but they are also leading it. Phumla Hlathi With youth unemployment at 45.5%, according to Stats SA, this initiative offers young people a real chance to participate in the green economy and reshape South Africa's energy future. Show Comments ()
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Youth of SA call for structural reform and applauds Minister Nkabane's bold leadership
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane. Image: Facebook Young people of South Africa wish to reaffirm their commitment to the transformation of the post-school education and training sector, and in doing so, acknowledges the crucial and courageous role being played by Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane. At a time when the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) stands at a crossroads, it is essential to assess the path forward in the context of its troubled past. Since its inception, DHET has been plagued by deep-rooted institutional dysfunction. From the collapse of governance at multiple Sector Education and Training Authorities (SETAs), to repeated scandals involving looting and maladministration at National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS). The department has too often failed to live up to its constitutional obligations. Previous administrations allowed entrenched corruption and patronage networks to flourish within NSFAS, National Skills Fund (NSF) and SETAs, undermining their core mandate of education, skills development, innovation and youth empowerment. Not too long ago R5 billion disappeared from the National Skills Fund and no one has been arrested. These are the type of organised criminal syndicates in the department Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is up against. It is against this backdrop that Minister Nkabane, one of the youngest members of the 7th Administration's Cabinet, assumed leadership. Rather than continuing with business as usual, she has dared to confront the very syndicates that have long captured key institutions in the sector. Her efforts to restore accountability, prioritise students, and reorient the sector toward its developmental role have made her a target of fierce resistance from those with vested interests in maintaining the status quo. Minister Nkabane's bold steps - including her nationwide institutional visits to prevent financial exclusion, the historic 46% increase in NSFAS living allowances for TVET students, and the decentralisation of NSFAS operations to improve direct student service - reflect a shift from reactive leadership to proactive transformation. This is supported by the new NSFAS board which has publicly stated that it will fully cooperate with Special Investigations Unit to terminate the corrupt 'R2.5 million' per month, five year lease agreement for NSFAS head office in Cape Town. This coincide with the NSFAS board having stated at the portfolio committee that it is conducting a legal review of the corrupt student accommodation 'solution' providers which bleeds NSFAS R1.3 billion, according to News24. This signals a new error of clean governance and zero tolerance to corruption. These interventions are not only progressive, they are disruptive to the corrupt networks that have treated the department and its entities as a feeding trough. The backlash she is now facing, which includes smear campaigns and political sabotage, must be understood within this context. It is not simply political opposition, but it is a calculated attempt by organised networks within the department and affiliated bodies to protect illicit gains and undermine reform. Her determination to disrupt the capture of NSFAS, NSF and SETAs has placed her in direct confrontation with powerful interests who are now fighting back. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As the youth of South Africa, we do not offer blind allegiance to any leader. Our support for Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is rooted in evidence, action, and a vision for a post-school education system that serves the youth and the economy of South Africa. Her leadership marks a decisive break from the inertia and complacency that have long defined the DHET. We call on all stakeholders—students, academics, labour, civil society, and government to support the long-overdue reform of the higher education and training system. The resistance Minister Nkabane faces is a symptom of progress. Transformation, by its nature, unsettles those who benefit from dysfunction. We must not allow sabotage, fear, or vested interests to derail this new trajectory. It is time to turn the page on corruption, and recommit the DHET to its core mandate: empowering young South Africans with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they deserve. Lwazi Ntombela is the vice-president and head of business at the South African Youth Economic Council. Image: Supplied Lwazi Ntombela is the vice president of the South African Youth Economic Council *** The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of Independent Media or IOL. BUSINESS REPORT
IOL News
30-06-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
NSFAS Crisis to Board Scandals: 5 reasons SASCO wants Nkabane out
SASCO demands Minister Nobuhle Nkabane's removal, citing NSFAS delays, governance failures, and poor leadership driving education into crisis. They accuse DHET of serving capital over student transformation. Sasco cited multiple failures under Nkabane's leadership, including severe delays in NSFAS disbursements, flawed board appointments, chronic underfunding of institutions, and the growing commodification of education. "It is the direct result of poor governance by the Department of Higher Education and Training and the opportunistic, malicious, and poor bourgeoisie agenda by the university and college management.'' Kamatshe said the crisis facing students today is not incidental. As previously reported by IOL, Nkabane has faced criticism following allegations of corruption and for allegedly misleading Parliament about the illegal appointment of the SETA board, including false details about the appointment process and panel composition. Speaking at the ANC's Luthuli House on Sunday, Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe said, 'We contend that DHET, led by Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, within the government of national unity, has consistently failed to deliver on its most basic responsibilities.' The South African Students Congress (SASCO) has called for the immediate removal of Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane , accusing her and the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) of catastrophic governance failures that are driving the higher education sector into crisis. Sasco accused the Nkabane and her department of gross negligence, illegal conduct, and structural violence that disproportionately harms black, poor, and working-class students. 'We are left with no choice but to take a drastic stance in defence of the education sector that has been built through the blood, sweat and tears of the students and the public servants for over the centuries.'' Here are the five main reasons SASCO believes Minister Nkabane must go: 1. Illegal Appointment of the NSFAS Board SASCO asserts that the current NSFAS board was illegally appointed, violating Section 5 of the NSFAS Act of 1999, which mandates that three out of thirteen board members must be nominated by national student organisations. The absence of these student-nominated representatives, SASCO argues, renders the board illegitimate and its decisions null. 'The Minister has failed in her duty relating to the appointment of the NSFAS this extent, we declare that that board is illegal,'' said Kamtshe. SASCO plans to take legal action to compel the Minister to comply with the law. 2. Delays in NSFAS Allowances & Student Exclusion SASCO slammed the catastrophic delays in NSFAS disbursements, saying that thousands of students are still without their allowances midway through the academic year. Many are reportedly homeless, sleeping in libraries, toilets, or on the streets, while institutions issue exclusion letters. 'This is not just bureaucratic incompetence. It is structural violence. Institutions are merciless and have been dishing out exclusion letters to add insult to injury.' They demand the immediate payment of all allowances by the end of the current recess, and an end to financial, academic, and accommodation-based exclusions,particularly targeting vulnerable first-year students. 3. Mishandling of SETA Board SASCO alleges the appointment of Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) boards and Community Higher Education Planning Committees (CHPCs) was riddled with secrecy, misrepresentation, and possible dishonesty to Parliament. 'The Minister may have lied to the Portfolio Committee. The process shows a pure disregard for the citizens of this country.' They warned that the delay in appointments has created a vacuum, giving executives unchecked power due to the absence of board oversight. SASCO demands that the process to appoint new boards to be restarted immediately and be completed by August 1. 4. Negligence Over Student Housing & the Death of Sisonke The tragic death of Sisonke, a student at Walter Sisulu University, is central to SASCO's call for accountability. SASCO accuses the Minister's office of spreading misinformation, claiming Sisonke was not a student, only for the claim to be proven false. 'The officials that publicly lied, continue to earn their salaries. The death of Sisonke was in vain.' SASCO demands justice for Sisonke, and calls for NSFAS to accredit institutionally owned residences, especially in historically disadvantaged universities where students live in unsafe and inhumane conditions.
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
From survivor to leader: Youth empowered through Higher Health programme
Kwa-Thema – Higher Health, in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), hosted the 2025 Youth Day event at Ekurhuleni East TVET College. More than a thousand students from TVET colleges, community colleges, and universities filled the campus hall. Most attended to receive their completion certificates for the groundbreaking Higher Health Civic and Soft Skills NQF Level 5 QCTO qualification. Thembeka Zulu, one of the graduates, commended the programme for equipping her with the skills to pull herself out of a dark place. 'My parents were unemployed. I worked at Pick n Pay after school just to make ends meet for my family of six. You can imagine my excitement and relief when I met someone who could take care of me for a change. 'I thought he was my Prince Charming, the man who would save my life — only to discover that he would make my life a living hell,' she explained. Zulu said the relationship quickly turned abusive. She stayed, however, because her partner supported her and her family financially. Despite this, she managed to pass matric, and lobola was paid for her. 'I love studying, but that opportunity was also taken away from me,' she added. During the relationship, she became severely depressed and was eventually admitted to a psychiatric ward for 21 days. Zulu said she ultimately found the strength to apply to South West Gauteng College, where she enrolled in the higher health programme. The National Higher Health Civic Education and Soft Skills Programme was designed to address the personal and social challenges facing youth. Modules cover topics such as civic engagement, peer education, gender diversity and equality, mental health, disability, communicable diseases, and substance abuse. The co-curricular programme runs independently of the academic curriculum. 'Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am not just a survivor of GBV. I am someone who is healing, growing, and reclaiming her power. There was a time when I lived in silence, carrying the weight of something that was never mine to bear. But I've come to understand that my voice matters. My story matters,' she said. Minister of Higher Education Dr Nobuhle Nkabane noted that research shows 85% of job success is attributed to soft skills, underlining the importance of fostering civic education and soft skills among young people. 'Youth unemployment in South Africa remains one of the highest in the world, especially among black women in rural communities. So, our interventions must go deeper to address the challenges faced by those in rural areas,' she said. Nkabane added that solutions are coming not only from government but from the youth themselves. 'This pioneering initiative is the first of its kind in Africa, developed in collaboration with UNESCO and aligned with the 17 sustainable development goals. 'It stands as a beacon of empowerment for the youth, preparing them to be agents of positive change in their communities and broader society,' she said. To participate in the programme, one must: • Be a registered student, lecturer, or staff member at any PSET institution • Have a working email address • Be able to access the internet At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
