South Africa: KwaZulu-Natal Education embarks on employee verification programme
This process has been necessitated by instances where delays in the administrative termination of employees—due to retirement, resignation, or death—have resulted in continued salary payments long after the individuals have exited the Department.
Upon identifying these discrepancies, the Department engaged the Provincial Treasury to assist with the necessary IT infrastructure to facilitate this large-scale verification exercise and to ensure the quality and integrity of the process.
The initiative, initially launched by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, has since been adopted as a national programme by the National Department of Basic Education. It will be implemented across the country under the leadership of the Education Labour Relations Council (ELRC), commencing with KwaZulu-Natal.
The Department welcomes the support of the National Department of Basic Education, as this approach will help standardize processes across the education sector. The outcomes of the verification will guide future policy decisions and preventative measures.
'We are confident that the verification process will enhance transparency, accountability, and good governance,' said the MEC for Education, Mr. Sipho Hlomuka. He also called for the full cooperation of all Department employees to ensure the success of the initiative. Details of the verification process will be communicated in due course.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South African Government.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Arabian Business
4 hours ago
- Arabian Business
UAE GCSE results 2025: Record grades and 100% pass rates across top schools
UAE schools have reported outstanding GCSE results for 2025, with students across schools including Horizon International School, the Repton Family of Schools, Aldar Education academies, and Kent College Dubai celebrating record achievements. The results highlight not only exceptional academic performance but also the strong teaching, student resilience, and community support underpinning the country's leading schools. Students in selected private schools in the country will pursue Horizon International School (HIS) Horizon International School reported strong progress, with 92 per cent of students achieving grades 9–4/A–C*, and 32 per cent securing top grades 9–8/A. Value-added scores also stood out: +1.5 in English, +0.8 in Maths, and +1.6 in Geography. Principal Stephen Quinn said: 'We are incredibly proud of what our students have accomplished, not only in terms of grades but also in the personal growth they've demonstrated throughout their academic year.' Repton family of schools At Repton Abu Dhabi, 85 per cent of students achieved grades 9–6 (A–B)* and *48 per cent secured top grades 9–8 (A)**, an increase from last year. Repton Al Barsha saw 73 per cent at grades 9–6, with particularly strong results in Maths, Biology, and French. Repton Dubai continued its 16-year tradition of excellence, with a 100 per cent pass rate and all students moving into Sixth Form. Steven Lupton, Principal of Repton Abu Dhabi, said: 'These results highlight the ambition, resilience and determination of our students.' Chandini Misra, Principal of Repton Al Barsha, added: 'We're proud to see our students continuing to reach new heights and set strong foundations for future success.' Michael Bloy, Principal of Repton Dubai, commented: 'It's fantastic to see such a consistent level of performance across our student body.' Bateen World Academy Part of the Aldar Education network, Bateen World Academy reported that 31 per cent of grades were 9–8, with 47 per cent achieving 9–7 and 88 per cent at 9–4. Principal Neal Dilk said: 'We are incredibly proud of all our students for their outstanding GCSE results. Their hard work and dedication have truly paid off.' Aldar Education CEO Sahar Cooper added: 'These results reflect rigorous academic standards and diverse opportunities that empower our learners to excel in all areas.' Yasmina British Academy Yasmina achieved strong outcomes across both GCSE and BTEC, with 13 per cent of grades at 9, 27 per cent at 8–9, and 43 per cent at 7–9. In total, 85 per cent of entries passed at grades 4–9. Principal Jennie Kellett said: 'Out of over 1,000 entries, an incredible 266 grades were awarded at a grade 8 or 9. Today's results are a testament to their commitment and the support of our teachers, families, and wider school community.' CEO Sahar Cooper praised the cohort of 1,000 students for their resilience and ambition, calling the results 'an impressive milestone.' Mamoura British Academy Mamoura students also excelled, with 46 per cent of entries at grades 9–7 (A–A)* and an overall pass rate of 76 per cent, up from 61 per cent in 2024. Strong results were seen across STEM and humanities, with every student in Design Technology achieving grade 7 or above. Acting Principal Susan Adshead said: 'Though our cohort may be small, they have demonstrated that dedication and perseverance can lead to outstanding success.' CEO Sahar Cooper noted: 'Mamoura has demonstrated consistent and impressive progress year over year, reinforcing its position as one of Abu Dhabi's leading British curriculum schools.' Kent College Dubai Kent College achieved a 100 per cent pass rate in its I/GCSEs, with 43 per cent of entries graded 9–7 (A–A)* and *90 per cent graded 9–4 (A–C)**. Of the 548 exam entries, 12 per cent were awarded grade 9 and 26 per cent secured 9–8. Principal Tim Hollis said: 'These results are a true testament to the hard work and commitment of our students, supported by the dedication of their teachers.' CEO Sahar Cooper added: 'Our students continue to inspire us as they set new academic benchmarks every day.' Celebrating UAE-wide excellence The results across Horizon, Repton, Aldar Education academies, and Kent College Dubai showcase the UAE's growing reputation for academic excellence. With multiple schools reporting record achievements and rising percentages of top grades, students are securing pathways to leading universities worldwide. GCSE 2025 Results – UAE Schools at a Glance School Pass Rate Top Grades (9–7 / A*–A) Highest Grades (9–8 / A*) Notable Highlights Horizon International School 92 per cent (9–4 / A*–C) 46 per cent 32 per cent Value-added: +1.5 (English), +1.6 (Geography) Repton Abu Dhabi 98 per cent 66 per cent 48 per cent Biology & Physics: 100 per cent grades 6–9 Repton Al Barsha 97 per cent 55 per cent 38 per cent Maths: 64 per cent grades 8–9 Repton Dubai 100 per cent 55 per cent 37 per cent 100 per cent progression to Sixth Form Bateen World Academy 88 per cent (9–4 / A*–C) 47 per cent 31 per cent Rated Outstanding by ADEK Yasmina British Academy 85 per cent (9–4 / A*–C) 43 per cent 27 per cent 266 entries awarded grades 8–9 Mamoura British Academy 76 per cent (9–4 / A*–C) 46 per cent 25 per cent Strong results in STEM & humanities Kent College Dubai 100 per cent 43 per cent 26 per cent 12 per cent of entries grade 9, 548 entries total
Zawya
6 hours ago
- Zawya
Zimbabwe's Lithium Boom Gains Pace with New Projects, Partnerships
Zimbabwe – Africa's top lithium producer and among the world's leading suppliers – is accelerating sector growth in 2025 through new partnerships, major project milestones and rising investment inflows. Against this backdrop, African Mining Week (AMW) 2025 – Africa's premier platform for mining stakeholders – will connect global lithium market players with investment-ready opportunities in Zimbabwe, while unpacking strategies to scale beneficiation and integrate the country into global supply chains. High-level discussions will feature Winston Chitando, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, alongside representatives from the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe. Export Growth Signals Momentum The country's production and export capacity is expanding rapidly. In the first half of 2025, Zimbabwe increased lithium exports by 30%, shipping 586,197 metric tons of spodumene concentrate compared to 451,824 metric tons in the same period of 2024 – underscoring its emergence as a critical supplier to global EV and battery markets. This trajectory strengthens Zimbabwe's position in global supply chains while highlighting the strategic importance of downstream investment and value addition within Africa. Beneficiation Efforts Gain Traction Zimbabwe is equally advancing local beneficiation to capture greater value from its resources. In July 2025, state-owned Verify Engineering successfully piloted a domestically manufactured lithium-ion battery, marking a step toward value addition and industrialization. A government ban on exports of lithium concentrates – set for 2027 – is already spurring construction of new facilities, including Kuvimba House's 600,000-metric-ton-per-year concentrator, Sinomine Resources' $500 million lithium sulphate plant at Bikita and Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt's 50,000-ton-per-year lithium sulphate facility. Rising Investment Flows The sector is attracting both established players and new entrants. In January 2025, Premier African Minerals secured £4.7 million to advance its Zulu Lithium Project, while since 2021, Chinese firms including Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt, Sinomine, Chengxin Lithium Group, Yahua Group and Tsingshan have invested over $1.4 billion in Zimbabwe's lithium value chain. Additional exploration is being advanced by companies from the UK, Canada, China, Australia, and Ireland, reinforcing Zimbabwe's position as a global lithium hotspot. This wave of capital not only diversifies Zimbabwe's investor base but also signals growing competition among global markets to secure reliable access to the country's strategic minerals. As AMW 2025 spotlights the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa, Zimbabwe's lithium sector will stand out as one of the continent's fastest-growing and most strategic investment frontiers. African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@ Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital&Power.
The National
8 hours ago
- The National
Turkish power barge arrives off Iraq to ease electricity crisis
A Turkish power barge arrived at Iraq 's Umm Qasr port on Thursday and is expected to start generating electricity in about a week as part of the government's plan to alleviate the severe shortfall facing the country this summer. "The first Turkish ship to produce electricity arrived today at Umm Qasr Port with a capacity of 125 megawatts," Minister of Electricity Ziad Ali Fadel told the Iraqi News Agency. The barge "will be fully docked within seven days after the pipelines and fuel are delivered, so that it will officially enter service within the same period and contribute to supporting the national system", INA quoted him as saying. The Turkish company Karpowership said on Wednesday that it had signed a contract with Iraq's Ministry of Electricity to supply power from two vessels to be moored off the southern province of Basra. Mr Fadel said the second vessel would arrive at the port "in a month, with the same production capacity, as part of a government contract to equip the electrical power system with more than 250MW per day". He said the government had decided on "purchasing energy through barges to enhance the production of the electricity system and reduce dependence on imported fuel". "These barges will contribute to adding 600MW to the national grid, and they operate on local fuel," he added. Iraq suffered near nationwide blackouts last week after temperatures as high as 50°C pushed up demand for air conditioning, the latest episode in a mounting electricity crisis caused by a lack of infrastructure investment, intensifying heat waves and disruptions to gas imports from its neighbour Iran. Karpowership said the power barges sent to Iraq would operate for an initial 71-day period, 'playing a critical role in stabilising the national grid and meeting demand'. The company has a fleet of floating power stations that it leases to countries that need electricity but do not have the time or means to build enough permanent onshore capacity. It currently has vessels in countries including Ghana, Gabon and Brazil, according to its website.
