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The Citizen
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Rabie Ridge model struts toward her dreams
With her heart set on impact and her eyes on the crown, Sibonakaliso Biyela (19) is claiming her place as a role model, a warrior, and a true Qhawekazi. From a young age, this Rabie Ridge aspiring model was captivated by the elegance of the runway. 'I've always been passionate about modelling. Watching Bianca Malatsjie sparked something in me. I knew then that pageantry was where I wanted to be.' Read more: Modern model with a mission Now, a student at Unisa, studying teaching, and a finalist for Miss Qhawekazi South Africa, Biyela balances her academic path with a growing presence in the pageant world. Although finances have sometimes been tight, her family's support has never wavered. '[My family] has always had my back – helping me rehearse, brainstorming strategies, and pushing me forward when I needed it most.' This sense of community and care has shaped her mission. Entering Miss Qhawekazi, a pageant that celebrates strong, compassionate, and community-minded women, felt like a natural step. 'I was inspired to enter because it's not just about beauty; it's about being a heroine in your own right. 'As someone who has survived bullying, I've seen how much harm it can cause. Now, I use my voice to encourage young people to embrace who they are. 'Being kind doesn't cost anything. Everyone has something they're going through. Let us uplift and support each other.' Looking to the future, Biyela dreams of working with top agencies, walking global runways, and continuing to empower through her story. 'I see myself entering bigger pageants, using my voice and presence to make a difference, and reminding girls that they can succeed without losing who they are.' To vote for Sibonakaliso Biyela SMS: MQSA SBONA to 40439 before July 31. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration!
IOL News
5 days ago
- IOL News
South Africa's future is at stake as children's education is neglected
Learners in an overcrowded classroom interact with their teacher. In South Africa, the plight of educators is widely understated. From overcrowded classrooms, to under-resourced schools, to various forms of violence and abuses, the role of teaching is significantly harder than meets the eye. Image: Zanele Zulu / Independent Newspapers AT A recent Unisa event in Cape Town, a primary school teacher recounted the heartbreaking story of Shane (not real name) — an eight-year-old boy from a single-parent home that was ravaged by drug addiction — who was deemed a 'troublemaker' at school. Like his older brother in the past year, little Shane would be gunned down in a gang crossfire while walking home from school. A mere two months ago, the nation was shaken by the brutal murder of 11-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek, who was found lying half-naked and unconscious on the staircase of his apartment complex. Also, just a year ago, eight-year-old Louqman Boonzaier's arm was completely shattered after he was shot while playing outside his home in Lotus River, Cape Town. These stories are the makings of a horror film. And what is truly deplorable is that these harrowing stories are not unique. Across South Africa, from Tembisa to Tokai, Venda to Valhalla, there is a rampant crisis in our educational institutions. And this crisis continues to spread to high school, tertiary, and beyond. This is but a microcosm of the state of education and the experiences of educators in our country. Some weeks ago, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi revealed that since January 2025, 155 children under the age of five have died in South African public health facilities, with moderate or severe acute malnutrition as an underlying condition. This does not even consider the countless children who lose their lives to gang violence, various abuses, freak accidents, child trafficking, and blatant neglect. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The vulnerability of children in our society is dangerously escalating. The adverse effects of our society on children are most evident in schools. Educators, who spend a significant amount of time with children, witness firsthand what neglect, abuse and unstable home environments do to young minds. In South Africa, there are a plethora of social challenges that directly impact education. Crime, poverty, gangsterism, and general lawlessness mean that schools have become too unsafe to consistently govern masses of children and cater for their welfare. In South Africa, the plight of educators is widely understated. From overcrowded classrooms, to under-resourced schools, to various forms of violence and abuses, the role of teaching is significantly harder than meets the eye. There is also a lack of regard and collaboration with teachers, from an institutional and a communal level. In instances where teachers are abused, slapped or stabbed, it is frighteningly underreported. Conversely, the abuse of students is spotlighted and swiftly disciplined. Many educators across our society face deplorable treatment and live in fear for their own lives. What all this underscores is a profound lack of protections for educators in our society. Furthermore, any challenges that occur with students are often directly attributed to the teacher. Many a time, parents struggle to address their children's misdeeds and difficulties, and will blame the teacher for these. In fact, across our society, there are deplorably neglectful guardians and parents, yet they are often the boldest in condemning educators. From poor academic performance to teaching styles, to disagreements over the curriculum, and more, the educators bear the brunt of the problem. Furthermore, the Department of Basic Education, which is supposed to be the key governing body of schools and educators, does very little to address these challenges, not only faced by learners but also by educators. School governing bodies and administrative divisions that are supposed to, first and foremost, protect the occupants of the schools, do very little to mitigate the challenges faced by the post-apartheid schooling system. It is also blatantly evident that the transitioning government of 1994 did not meaningfully advance education in our society. They continue to seriously undermine the role of education in addressing the harrowing remnants of colonialism and apartheid in modernity. Education is intersectional; it is directly linked to the bulk of our societal ills. From crime, to poor health, substance abuse, mental illnesses, poverty, and beyond, the issues we face predominantly derive from a lack of meaningful education in our society. Meaningful education is not only confined to our classrooms; it is embedded throughout our society. It is the responsibilities, values and morals that are upheld in our society that shape children's identities in their formative years. And it is not only the individual values, but the collective morality of a community that truly influences the lives of children. Our post-apartheid system of governance does not reflect one that puts education at the forefront. The rate of violence among schoolchildren is appalling, and it is certainly not confined to the schoolyard — it spills over into the streets, communities, and homes. These are the realities of educators. They emerge from higher education training, straight into the teaching environment, and they are expected to do much more than just teach. Educators are essentially playing a critical role in shaping learners' development academically, socially, emotionally, and beyond. There are numerous responses that have been provided in addressing challenges around our nation's education system. Overcrowding can be easily resolved by segmenting students into smaller, manageable groups and scheduling their classes accordingly. Countless students, trainers and experts are willing to drive forward sports, arts and culture in our schools. Sports, arts and culture are a major component of social cohesion and cultural identity. It is a key gateway to furthering one's skills and education. From music to debating to cultural exchanges, these are vital elements of education themselves. It is, therefore, devastating that many schools across our society do not even bother to instil sports, arts, or culture into their school system. It is deeply unfortunate that, in our current society, the value of sports, arts and culture remains completely sidelined. This ultimately begs the question: Why is there such rampant undermining of the value of sports, arts and culture in our education systems? Furthermore, why is there seemingly no effort to drive collaboration between the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and the Department of Basic Education? More importantly, why on earth is there no collaboration between the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education? The answer, in my view, is the blatant lack of effort, coupled with inadequate commitment and minimal engagement. This issue creates a ripple effect in the rest of our society, and most importantly, the education of our youth. Across our government departments, there is an unspeakable amount of nonchalance and arrogance. Our leadership bodies are riddled with money-grubbing, pompous, corrupt individuals who only care to line their own pockets, while hordes of vulnerable children are left to navigate broken systems, crumbling schools, and communities stripped of opportunity and dignity. Promises of reform are often tossed about during election seasons like confetti, only to be forgotten the moment power is secured. Meanwhile, the needs of the most defenceless — those without votes, wealth, or voices — are brushed aside in favour of backroom deals and self-serving agendas. South Africa's children are collateral damage in a political game. This grotesque imbalance isn't just negligence; it is moral failure dressed in expensive suits. It is calculated lies. It is tyranny masked as public service. For far too long, our society has been a victim of negligence at the highest levels of leadership. This perpetually apathetic approach to education will certainly be our greatest downfall. We are standing by and watching the disintegration of our education systems and the collapse of societal values. We are at a crossroads in our society, one where educators are needed now more than ever. The systemic neglect of children is a national emergency and needs to be immediately addressed. Neglect is a choice. We cannot afford to pay the price for the wrong choices when our democracy is still so young. Our legacy will be defined by how we protect those who cannot protect themselves, and truly, a nation is only as strong as how it treats its most vulnerable. Justice begins at the roots — and children are the roots of our society. If we fail our children, we fail our future. * Tswelopele Makoe is a gender and social justice activist and editor at Global South Media Network. She is a researcher, columnist, and an Andrew W Mellon scholar at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice, UWC. The views expressed are her own. ** The views expressed here do not reflect those of the Sunday Independent, IOL, or Independent Media. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- The Citizen
Metro urged to ditch outdated security solutions as cable theft cripples Fountains area
East residents and civic organisations are raising concerns over the metro's plans to allocate over R230-million in security guard contracts to protect assets. According to AfriForum, this is an outdated method that will drain public funds without effectively protecting assets. Ward 56 councillor Shaun Wilkinson, whose ward has been battling persistent power outages caused by cable theft, said the time has come for the metro to embrace smarter, more cost-effective solutions. He added that his residents are constantly affected by infrastructure vandalism and theft, yet the metro remains committed to deploying guards. 'Metro guards are often under-equipped and unable to stop organised criminal syndicates,' Wilkinson said. 'We need to move beyond symbolic security measures and embrace systems that provide real-time monitoring and faster responses.' Wilkinson said vandalism near the Unisa and Tuks perimeters has a ripple effect, disrupting water and electricity supply, research activities and even the academic reputation of institutions in Pretoria. He added that current guards, especially those deployed at tourist attractions and power stations, are ill-prepared for the scale of organised theft. 'Even if patrollers are stationed, they are not backed by high-visibility surveillance or rapid response teams. That makes them a deterrent in name only.' Groenkloof residents are currently contributing money out of their own pockets to buy and install cameras in the area. This comes after the area has faced back-to-back power outages due to cable theft. Resident Francois Geringer said it would be great if they could get the metro's help. 'The stolen cables cost more than installing cameras to safeguard the cables.' AfriForum has launched its own initiatives to protect vulnerable sites and argues that the metro's reliance on traditional guarding contracts is fiscally irresponsible and ineffective in curbing theft. The organisation's Greater Pretoria North district co-ordinator, Llewellynn Hemmens, said modern technology could achieve far more at a fraction of the cost. Hemmens said their organisation obtained quotations to secure three substations for under R100 000 using camera systems and smart monitoring tools. 'We are already installing cameras at the first substation as part of a community project, but despite letters and discussions, the metro has shown little co-operation.' According to Hemmens, AfriForum has offered assistance free of charge or at minimal cost, but their proposals were met with silence while the city pursued 'inflated' guarding contracts. 'This is a clear sign of poor management and a lack of political will,' he said. 'Taxpayers are footing the bill, but the infrastructure remains exposed.' AfriForum has urged the city to halt new guarding contracts, audit current infrastructure vulnerabilities, and collaborate with civil society on scalable, cost-efficient security solutions. 'The tools exist to turn this around, but the metro needs to act decisively and responsibly,' Hemmens said. The metro was approached for comment, but had not responded in time for printing. ALSO READ: Planned march today in Mamelodi Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Educated for leadership and engulfed by scandal, Minister Nkabane faces her sternest test
Calls have intensified for President Ramaphosa to dismiss Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane, whose recent appointments and conduct have sparked widespread public and political outrage. Nobuhle Nkabane, who was appointed as minister of higher education in July 2024, was once seen as an emerging leader with a seemingly impeccable record marked by extensive academic achievements and a steady rise in the public service. She was expected to bring renewed energy and reform to a critical portfolio. However, less than a year into her tenure, that optimism has been overshadowed by controversy. Allegations of corruption, misleading Parliament and making politically loaded appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) have sparked public outrage and legal and parliamentary scrutiny. Following the abrupt dismissal of Deputy Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Andrew Whitfield, the Democratic Alliance (DA) publicly called for the immediate removal of Nkabane. We take a closer look at Nkabane and the path that led her to the influential role she holds today. From rural roots to academic heights Nkabane's academic journey began in KwaZulu-Natal, where she attended Ibisi Primary School in Umzimkhulu and matriculated at Task Force High School. In 2001, she earned a Diploma in Business Administration from Durban University of Technology, according to her LinkedIn profile. From 2007 to 2009, she completed a Diploma in Youth Development at the University of South Africa (Unisa). From 2010 to 2014 she pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities at Unisa, focusing on government, administration and development. Her postgraduate studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal include a Bachelor of Administration, Honours (2015, cum laude), a Master of Administration in Public Administration (2016), and a PhD in Public Administration (2019). Alongside these, Nkabane completed several professional and executive programmes: a Compliance Management Programme at the University of Cape Town (2016–2017), Executive Development (NQF Level 7) at Stellenbosch Business School (2017), and participated in the African American European Summer School in Nancy, France. She expanded her qualifications with a postgraduate Diploma in Labour Law from the University of the Western Cape (2020), and in March 2025 obtained a Master of Science in International Business Administration from SOAS University of London. Currently, she is studying for a Master of Management in Energy Leadership at Wits Business School. Nkabane's ascent Nkabane's early career included roles as a personal assistant at Umzimkhulu Local Municipality and as a youth coordinator at Sisonke District Municipality. According to the South African Government website, her political journey began with leadership positions in the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) and the ANC Women's League across branch, regional, and provincial levels in KwaZulu-Natal. As a leader in the ANCYL Sisonke Region, she played a key role in the successful campaign to rename Sisonke District Municipality to Harry Gwala District Municipality, honouring the anti-apartheid stalwart. She was elected as a member of Parliament in 2019 and served on several portfolio committees, including Human Settlements, Water and Sanitation, Employment and Labour, and Sports, Arts and Culture. She was also a member of the committee that evaluated the Public Protector's fitness for office. In 2022, she joined the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) and was appointed convenor of NEC deployees in Mpumalanga. In August 2021, Ramaphosa appointed her deputy minister of mineral resources and energy, a role she held until June 2024. On 3 July 2024, she was sworn in as minister of higher education in the Government of National Unity. Nkabane's promise to reform higher education The Higher Education Ministry had been beset by systemic failures and public distrust. Nkabane promised a decisive shift in how the sector, particularly the troubled National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), would be managed. The scheme was placed under administration in April 2024 after serious mismanagement and failure to deliver student allowances. In her maiden budget speech in Parliament on 16 July 2024, Nkabane pledged a full overhaul of the fund, promising to root out corruption. She also vowed to engage directly with student formations to better understand their daily struggles in accessing higher education. Another item high on her agenda was the accommodation crisis plaguing students. In February, Nkabane said that after consulting with landlords and student representatives, she had found common ground and was inspired by the voices of students. She also focused on the Setas, key to upskilling South Africa's youth. Her department allocated R333-million to support Seta programmes aiming to build a skilled and capable workforce to support inclusive growth. Strategic appointments to rebuild trust To steady the NSFAS ship, Nkabane appointed Waseem Carrim as its acting CEO, with a mandate to restore integrity and operational efficiency. She also reconstituted the NSFAS board. Carrim, a former National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) CEO, has since outlined ambitious plans to tackle governance failures and financial mismanagement at the agency. Another key appointment was Asanda Luwaca, chairperson of the NYDA, who was appointed as chairperson of the National Skills Authority on 7 May. These moves reflected Nkabane's focus on appointing young, capable leaders to steer the sector towards reform. Despite these bold commitments, many of the minister's promises have yet to materialise. Issues around student allowances, poor accommodation and delayed payments to landlords persist. Student protests have continued at university and TVET college campuses over the NSFAS's failure to disburse funds timeously. There have been reports of squalid living conditions, overcrowding and exploitative rents. Landlords have claimed the NSFAS failed to pay them for months. Earlier this year, more than 80 students at UCT lived in campus offices without proper facilities, while Wits students went on a hunger strike in protest at being excluded from registration because of historical debt. The Seta scandal: A growing storm However, the biggest crisis of her short tenure has stemmed from the Setas that she sought to empower. Opposition parties and civil society slammed a leaked list of 21 Seta board chairpersons, exposed by Daily Maverick, for including politically connected figures like Buyambo Mantashe and former KZN premier Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Critics accused Nkabane of nepotism, and in an open letter to Ramaphosa, DA MP Karabo Khakhau called for her dismissal. Nkabane rescinded the appointments, but the political fallout was significant. She established an independent panel to assist her in making appointments to the NSFAS and other entities. The Portfolio Committee on Higher Education demanded the names of the panellists, and Nkabane revealed five names: Advocate Terry Motau SC; Asisipho Solani; Nelisiwe Semane; Rhulani Ngwenya; and Mabuza Ngubane. However, Motau denied ever chairing the independent panel, contradicting Nkabane's claims. Nkabane later apologised for naming him. The other panellists she listed have held departmental roles for more than six months, according to their LinkedIn profiles, raising doubts about the panel's independence. On 30 June, the DA opened a criminal case against her for allegedly lying about the appointment process of ANC cadres to Seta boards, specifically disputing her claim that an independent panel chaired by Motau oversaw the appointments — a claim Motau denied. The following day, 1 July, the DA — a member of the coalition government — publicly opposed the Department of Higher Education and Training's budget vote in the National Council of Provinces, calling for Nkabane's removal due to the allegations against her. Throughout early July, the DA and opposition parties continued to reject her budget proposals amid ongoing concerns about corruption and trustworthiness, while Nkabane defended the department's R142-billion budget. She is expected to appear before the higher education portfolio committee, alongside her panel and deputy ministers Buti Manamela and Mimmy Gondwe, to answer allegations of misleading Parliament. On 23 June, TimesLIVE reported that the chair of the higher education portfolio committee, Tebogo Letsie, suggested that Nkabane might have breached section 17 of the Powers, Privileges and Immunities Act, which criminalises knowingly giving false information to Parliament, further intensifying calls for her accountability. Sasco president Alungile Kamtshe, who was at the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters on Sunday to address the state of the department, NSFAS and the Setas, said Nkabane had to be removed as minister. He said the issues faced by students were a result of Nkabane not delivering services to them. Daily Maverick sent questions to Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on whether Ramaphosa had met with Nkabane to chart a way forward. No response had been received by the time of publication. However, the secretary-general of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, said during a press briefing that Nkabane had had no intention of misleading Parliament over the Seta appointment process and the naming of Motau. 'We reject the Democratic Alliance's opportunistic laying of criminal charges against the minister,' said Mbalula. 'The DA's conduct is not grounded in legal principle but in performative politics… The minister has decided to restart the process afresh, in full compliance with legal provisions, and without the influence of the prior panel. We invite broader sectoral participation, including business, labour, and student organisations, in the spirit of cooperative governance, a process we fully support as the African National Congress.' For a minister who came in with promises to listen, clean up and restore dignity to the education sector, Nkabane now finds herself on the defensive. With her credibility under scrutiny, and trust from students, MPs and the public in question, her future as higher education minister hangs in the balance. DM
Mail & Guardian
30-06-2025
- Health
- Mail & Guardian
Y2 NRF-rated young scholar pursues cutting-edge research to benefit society
Dr Muthumuni Managa, Unisa Senior Lecturer As a young academic with limitless potential, Unisa's Dr Muthumuni Managa is making a mark in the scientific community to benefit society through ensuring access to safe and healthy drinking water, propelled by research. Dr Muthumuni Managa, a senior lecturer at the Institute for Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability (iNanoWS) in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (CSET) at Unisa, and an emerging Y2 National Research Foundation-rated researcher, who is powerfully driven to become a prominent scholar, motivated by a vision of a society that has access to safe and healthy drinking water. Managa is making a mark in the scientific community as a young academic with limitless potential. She has produced numerous high-quality publications (63) in renowned journals and boasts an h-index of 21 (Google Scholar), demonstrating the excellent quality of her work and research abilities. Managa has always aspired to play a more active role in shaping the South African scientific research landscape by being a leader in her area of research interest, and she has achieved this by pursuing novel research and being willing to take risks and explore comprehensive topics. 'I would also like South Africa to continuously be recognised internationally for cutting-edge research,' says Managa. Her research interests in water purification aim to improve South Africans' lives, thus playing a critical role in benefiting and contributing to society. Born and raised in Ha-Rabali, a rural village in Venda, Limpopo, Managa initially attended schools without science laboratories. However, this did not deter her from pursuing a career in the sciences with significant societal impact. Subsequently, she attended a model C school with state-of-the-art laboratories. 'These two worlds gave me a holistic view of what privilege entails, more so, a firm grasp on the true dichotomy between ability and opportunity, or equality and equity,' she reflects. Cost-effective, eco-friendly water disinfection methods Managa's current research is on proposed cost-effective, eco-friendly, and highly effective water disinfection methods against antimicrobial-resistant microbes. She adds, 'A recent strategy I adopted is to employ antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) instead of the present disinfection techniques. Acquiring pure water free of pathogens is a matter of concern that calls for new, effective, low-cost water disinfection techniques.' 'In most rural areas,' continues Managa, 'water is stored in buckets or water tanks, which can result in formation of biofilms,' therefore, she says that this specific project she is involved in includes carrying out community sensitisation and training of the villagers, particularly women, in basic water purification and storage techniques. 'My research interest will help me to continue to play a critical role in designing systems that will benefit our society,' she explains. En route to effecting change Managa's research work and zest for improved water quality have given her numerous opportunities. She has received support from Unisa through various research and innovation support programmes. These include the Women in Research (WIR) programme, the Innovation Support Programme (ISP) and VisionKeepers Programme (VKP). 'With the support that Unisa gives to young academics , nothing is stopping you from achieving your goals and reaching international stages with your research,' says Managa. The last three years have been filled with many highlights and achievements for Managa. She is part of the TWAS-UNESCO Associateship Scheme, an international programme that supports regular visits by researchers from developing countries to centres of excellence in the Global South. Managa is the 2024 recipient of the University of Michigan African Presidential Scholarship (UMAPS), which supports the development of the next generation of African scholars by integrating them into international academic networks. In addition, Managa is a fellow of the 9th edition of the Science by Women programme promoted by Women for Africa Foundation. Science by Women aims to promote African women's leadership in scientific research and technology transfer to address key challenges facing Africa in areas such as health, agriculture, food security, water, energy and climate change. In 2024, she supervised her first Master of Science degree student to graduation, with more students scheduled to graduate in 2025. A future professor in the making, Managa is currently participating in Phase 2 of the Future Professors Programme (FPP), managed by the University of Johannesburg, on behalf of the Department of Higher Education and Training. The programme is designed to prepare South Africa's most promising early- and mid-career academics for advancement to the rank of professorship. Concluding her message, Managa advises: 'As young South Africans, we need to create opportunities for ourselves, and for others; therefore, it is crucial that we work hard in driving the knowledge base of this country through cutting-edge research that will significantly impact our country. Nothing is impossible when you put your mind to it.'
