Latest news with #CathyDlamini
The Citizen
17-07-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga education department targets 90% matric pass rate for 2025
The Mpumalanga Department of Education's (DoE) Winter Vacation Classes for Grade 12 learners are currently under way. These sessions began on Monday, July 7 and will run until Friday, July 18. A total of 23034 learners are attending the programme, all from schools that achieved below an 80% pass rate in the 2024 National Senior Certificate examinations. According to former MEC for education, Cathy Dlamini, the Winter Classes form a key part of the department's intervention strategy. 'We aim to provide targeted academic support, close learning gaps, and help learners prepare for improved performance in their final exams,' said Dlamini. The department has appointed experienced, high-performing teachers with proven track records to facilitate the sessions. Their expertise is expected to accelerate academic recovery and expose learners to effective teaching strategies. ALSO READ: Business seminar uplifts youth in Pienaar To support attendance, the DoE is providing daily meals and scholar transport to qualifying learners for the duration of the programme. Officials from the department visited Lekazi Central Secondary School on the opening day to monitor the start of the programme. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga education department ready for 2025 winter classes 'Our goal is clear – to raise the provincial matric pass rate to 90%. To achieve this, we urge parents, guardians and the broader school community to support and encourage the learners to attend these classes consistently,' said Dlamini. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
eNCA
15-07-2025
- Business
- eNCA
Axe falls on several MECs in Mpumalanga
JOHANNESBURG - Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has reshuffled his provincial executive. Cathy Dlamini and Makhosazane Masilela have been fired from their positions as Education and Economic Development and Tourism MECs, respectively. Head of Department for Sports, Culture and Recreation, Godfrey Ntombela, has also been axed. Lindi Masina and Jesta Sidell have been appointed the new MECs for Education and Economic Development, respectively. Dlamini was embroiled in a laptop tender scandal when the provincial education department spent over R2-million for 22 new machines.
The Citizen
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mpumalanga premier Mandla Ndlovu fires Cathy Dlamini in Cabinet reshuffle
The premier said his decision to make changes aligns with his duties to act in the best interest of good governance. Cathy Dlamini (Mayor of Mbombela at the time) during the 2013 Afcon Trophy Tour at Riverside Mall on 8 December 2012 in Nelspruit, South Africa. Picture: Manus van Dyk / Gallo Images Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has fired the MEC for education, Cathy Dlamini, and the MEC for economic development and tourism, Makhosazane Masilela. Ndlovu reshuffled his Cabinet on Tuesday, stating that his decision to make changes aligns with his duty to act in the best interest of good governance. Reshuffle In a press briefing, Ndlovu said they made several assessments in all departments and realised they needed to make 'certain changes aimed at strengthening the work of government to address service delivery and a number of challenges confronting the province'. 'I have also made the following changes to the executive council. Lindi Masina replaces Cathy Dlamini as education MEC, Jester Sidell replaces Makhosazane Masilela as economic development and tourism MEC. 'Khethiwe Moeketsi swaps departments with Nompumelelo Hlophe as agriculture MEC while Hlophe is now social development MEC,' Ndlovu said. ALSO READ: Wasteful expenditure? This is what a R91 000 laptop gets you [VIDEO] Sport Ndlovu said the decision comes following assessments of the various departments. He said Masina's duties will commence at the start of the new term, with key objectives including increasing the matric pass rate for the 2025 academic year. Ndlovu also reshuffled the sports portfolio. 'I wish to communicate that a decision has been taken to terminate the employment contract of the head of department (HOD) for culture, sports and recreation, Mr Godfrey Ntombela, with immediate effect. 'This has not been an easy decision. However, after a thorough process of engagement, assessments, and consideration of all the facts at hand, we have reached this conclusion,' Ndlovu said. Laptop saga In May, a probe by Ndlovu's office revealed irregularities in Dlamini's department's procurement of 22 laptops worth more than R2 million. All the Mpumalanga education department officials, including Dlamini, face disciplinary action for the irregular procurement. The Department of Education purchased 22 laptops and a printer for R2 million, which means each laptop cost more than R91 482.50, well above the market price. Flawed process Based on the information gathered, the interviews conducted, and the supporting documentation, the provincial government concluded that officials had materially flawed the procurement process. The investigation revealed that departmental officials irregularly specified a particular brand and locality for laptop procurement, limiting supplier responses. They accepted non-compliant laptops with varied specifications without a proper process and failed to negotiate a lower price, resulting in overpayment. Ndlovu said department officials acted dishonestly by investigating a matter in which they were implicated, hiding their involvement, providing false information, and misleading senior leaders, including the MEC, by providing inaccurate information. The service provider also acted in a grossly dishonest manner when attempting to conceal its failure to comply with the agreed-upon specifications. ALSO READ: 13 killed, scores injured in Mpumalanga and KZN accidents
The Citizen
12-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
MP Department of Education slated for R22 million annual school rent
The Mpumalanga education department has failed to build a facility for deaf learners for over a decade. The Mpumalanga department of education has been lambasted for paying rent of R22 million a year to a private school that accommodates pupils with disabilities, instead of building a facility that was promised 14 years ago. This has angered education experts and the association representing disabled people who want the matter to be investigated. Mpumalanga education MEC Cathy Dlamini confirmed during a recent education portfolio committee meeting that her department was paying Bukhosibetfu Private Boarding School in Nkomazi local municipality R22 million a year to teach and accommodate 253 deaf pupils. 'It does not make sense' Disabled People South Africa provincial chair Oupa Zitha accused the department of not taking the needs of pupils with disabilities seriously. 'The special school that they are delaying to build would have cost them only R15 million,' said Zitha. 'It does not make any sense for them to pay rent of R22 million, but failing to build the school.' He said officials come with excuses when asked why the project is delayed. 'They told us they have not yet identified a site to build on,' said Zitha. ALSO READ: Gauteng government splashes R2.9 million on near-empty office used mainly for photocopies, says DA Lack of commitment? Education expert Hendrick Makaneta said it was weird the government had been struggling to build a school for 14 years, yet it had been spending so much money on rent. Makaneta said the department's failure indicates a lack of commitment to address the needs of pupils with disabilities. 'Spending such a significant amount on rent does not make sense because it could have been redirected towards building and maintaining public facilities that cater to pupils with special needs,' he said. Call for action to be taken National Association of School Governing Bodies secretary-general Matakanya Matakanya said action should be taken against the negligent officials. 'We condemn this behaviour. This amount of money is supposed to help curriculum delivery. This failure needs to be investigated so that it can be established what has caused the delay,' said Matakanya. Department justifies rent Mpumalanga department of education spokesperson Jasper Zwane did not give specific answers on why the building of the school has been delayed. ALSO READ: KZN Education slams student violence at Lakehaven Secondary School [VIDEO] Instead, he justified his department's action of renting the facility. 'The department has ensured all 253 deaf pupils are accommodated in an environment conducive to quality education,' said Zwane. 'This initiative cannot be regarded as wasteful expenditure, as it directly supports the fulfilment of the pupils' constitutional right to basic education. 'Plans are being fast-tracked' 'Recognising the urgency and importance of a sustainable solution, the department has taken decisive action. One such measure involves the repurposing of Shongwe Boarding School to provide immediate support for these pupils. 'In addition, plans are being fast-tracked for the construction of a dedicated school for deaf and blind pupils in the Emalahleni local municipality. The planning and design phase for this new facility is at an advanced stage.' South African Human Rights Commission provincial manager Eric Mokonyama said: 'After several engagements about the promised school, we have received a commitment from the Office of the Premier that the construction of the facility will start in the 2025-26 financial year. 'We are working on receiving their plans so we can monitor implementation.' NOW READ: KZN education opens criminal case over teacher job scam
The Herald
10-06-2025
- The Herald
Exams delayed after thieves steal equipment from school
'As we speak now, I'm seated with the school governing body to find a solution for the examinations to continue as planned. We are using other printers which were not stolen, but they are very slow, which will delay us. 'It's sad that some older people decide to steal something that belongs to their children, so we are asking anyone for help,' she said. Mpumalanga education MEC Cathy Dlamini called for anyone with information to contact the police. 'This [theft] is a big concern as we regard schools as something that belongs to the community and needs its protection at all costs, as it involves the future of their children.' Dlamini said the theft of equipment undermines the department's efforts to ensure that schools are adequately resourced and hinders the ability of schools to effectively conduct learning and teaching. 'The department urges communities to refrain from purchasing stolen goods and to report individuals suspected of engaging in the sale of stolen items,' she said. The school has a security guard and he is said to have rushed to the nearby KaMhlushwa police station to report the burglary, but by then the thieves had already escaped.
