Latest news with #EasternCapeDepartmentofEducation
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- General
- Daily Maverick
Bay teachers stand out at Education MEC's Excellence Awards
Several outstanding educators from Nelson Mandela Bay were celebrated at the annual Excellence Awards Ceremony last Friday night, shining a spotlight on their dedication and impact in shaping the future of pupils. Educators from Nelson Mandela Bay shone brightly this past weekend, taking home top honours at the MEC for Education Fundile Gade's annual Excellence Awards. The ceremony celebrated the province's finest teachers, whose dedication often goes beyond the classroom. In his address, Gade acknowledged the harsh realities many educators face, including challenging working conditions and personal risks. 'Some have fallen precisely because of their commitment to have evening studies, and then they don't come home,' he said. Gade also praised the province's school governing bodies for their steadfast support and 'zeal for stability', stressing that their efforts do not go unnoticed. Ray Tywakadi, Deputy Director-General of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, confirmed that winners were chosen not only for their dedication, but for exceptional performance nationally. 'So they are also the cream of the crop in South Africa,' he said. He said the department had also incorporated e-learning and excellence in innovation in their decision. The Nelson Mandela Bay award winners are:
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Health
- Eyewitness News
Eastern Cape teacher accused of beating learner with a hosepipe
The Eastern Cape Department of Education has issued a stern warning to teachers against using corporal punishment to discipline learners. This comes as a teacher from Zamokuhle Junior Secondary School in Matatiele is due back in court later this month, accused of beating a 12-year-old learner with a hosepipe. The learner's mother, who asked that we not name her or her son, told GroundUp that her child returned from school with dark bruises on his buttocks on 19 May. According to the learner, on the day of the incident, he and three other learners were washing their dishes after lunch, after the bell had rung for them to return to classes. He said a male teacher approached them and instructed them to follow him to the staff room to 'punish them' for being late to class. 'He took the hosepipe and hit my classmate three times on his hand. The second classmate was beaten three times on the bum. The third classmate was also beaten on bums seven times,' said the learner. 'I stopped counting at eight while he was beating me. I started feeling numb, I didn't cry anymore,' he said. The learner said he returned to class and was in pain for the rest of the day. 'I wanted to go home but I didn't want to get in trouble again. The pain was unbearable, I was crying but trying to be strong at the same time,' he said. His mother said she went to the school to report the matter, but she was snubbed by the other teachers. She then decided to open a case at the police station. The teacher has since apologised. 'To be honest I now feel sorry for him, I don't want him to lose his job,' said the mother. When GroundUp contacted the school for comment, we were told by the person who answered the call that the teacher had resigned. National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Luxolo Tyali said the teacher faces charges relating to corporal punishment at the Maluti Magistrates Court. His next court appearance will be on 25 June. Eastern Cape Department of Education spokesperson Vuyiseka Mboxela warned that corporal punishment is against the Constitution and the department's policies. She said she had asked the school for more details. Equal Education Law Centre Attorney Ebrahiem Daniels said though it is illegal, corporal punishment continues in schools. He said the organisation gets reports of corporal punishment from across the country. Daniels said there is a lack of training and support for teachers about other forms of discipline. 'Without the tools to manage classrooms constructively, some teachers continue to resort to physical punishment. Research consistently shows that corporal punishment is not only ineffective but also harmful. 'It is linked to increased aggression, anti-social behaviour, and long-term emotional harm. Rather than correcting behaviour, it reinforces the idea that violence is an acceptable way to solve problems,' said Daniels. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
The South African
6 days ago
- Health
- The South African
Death penalty for ultra-violent crimes against our children?
It's Child Protection Week. Let's talk about the death penalty. Or at least talk about holding an emergency referendum on whether South Africa should reinstate capital punishment for – if nothing else – hardcore violent and violating crimes against our children, including kidnapping and trafficking. Child Protection Week is happening at a time when the world's spotlight is once again upon us (as if we hadn't had enough by now) for all the wrong reasons – including the growing rampant scourge of violence and abuse against children (and women) in this country. In just the past month South Africa has been snowed by a spate of unspeakable violent crimes against women and children, reigniting that ancient, divisive, incendiary argument and public debate on capital punishment. And many by now are asking the big overdue question: Is it time to bring back the death penalty? Here are just a few headlines and cases of violent crimes against children in SA that have surfaced, shocked and enraged the nation – and the world – over the past few weeks alone. Last Thursday, 29 May, the Western Cape High Court sentenced Racquel 'Kelly' Smith and her two co-accused, boyfriend Jacquin 'Boeta' Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn to life imprisonment and ten additional years for kidnapping and trafficking Smith's 6-year-old daughter, Joslin. The sentencing comes after, on 2 May this year, the court found Smith guilty of selling Joslin to a sangoma (traditional healer) for R20,000 who was interested in the child's striking green eyes and fair complexion. (Ponder on that…) Joslin Smith is still missing. Of course, if by now Joslin has been (insert worst-case scenario here) Kelly Smith and her co-accused are complicit and culpable in that too. The country was still reeling from the disappearance and hunt for Joslyn when the case of Cwecwe emerged and enraged the nation. On 14 October 2024, seven-year-old 'Cwecwe' was (initially) reportedly raped at her school, Bergview College, in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, while she was waiting for her transport. Thousands of citizens and dozens of celebrities came out in support of the child. 'Justice for Cwecwe' was trending. Unfortunately, the investigation was bungled when the police authorities falsely accused the principal of the school of the crime – which led to the school being deregistered by the Eastern Cape Department of Education before an investigation was completed. AfriForum advocate Gerrie Nel, who is representing the principal of Bergview College, believed the child was raped at a party, not at the school. What's further enraged the country is the fact that the investigation into Cwecwe's case has been dropped by the National Prosecuting Authority, due to 'lack of evidence'. The NPA's announcement on 17 May that no one will be prosecuted for Cwecwe's case has been met with sharp criticism and protests from activists and the public. On the 13 May, eleven-year-old Jayden-Lee Meek went missing after he failed to return home from school. The child's scholar driver assured the family that Jayden was dropped off at the gates of his complex in Fleurhof, Johannesburg while his mother was working from home. Yet, he never made it inside. The following morning, a resident discovered his lifeless, bruised and partially undressed body on a staircase in the complex, just metres from his home. On Saturday 17 May, a large group of angry residents and community members marched to the Florida police station and handed over a memorandum of demands to officials, calling for justice and greater accountability. SAPS Gauteng has said that its investigation into Jayden-Lee's murder is at an advanced stage, though no arrests have been made. Jayden-Lee Meek was laid to rest at Westpark Cemetery on Saturday 24 May 2025. Last Saturday, 31 May, 14-year-old grade 8 pupil Likhona Fose went missing from her home in Braamfischerville, Johannesburg where she lived with her grandmother. The next day, her mutilated body was discovered by a passerby in the veld at Durban Deep, Roodepoort. Gauteng MEC Matome Chiloane dispatched trauma counsellors to Ikusasalethu, the secondary school Likhona attended. The MEC said police are 'still investigating the circumstances surrounding this brutal incident' and extended sincerest condolences to the family and the school community. On Monday, 2 June, a 50-year-old sangoma and 32-year-old mother appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate's Court facing charges of premeditated murder and human trafficking of the mother's two-year-old baby, Kutlwano Shalaba. 'It is alleged that on 10 November 2024, the mother of the child (Kuneuwe Shalaba) took the child to the sangoma (Sebokoana Khounyana) and requested him to kill her child because she was not happy with the gender of the baby and was tired of hiding it from her family,' according to police. Shalaba reportedly poisoned her child to death, the two then buried her body in a shallow grave in Waterpan. The case against a 29-year-old man accused of raping and impregnating an 11-year-old girl resumed last month on 22 May in the Boksburg Magistrate's Court, drawing renewed attention to a harrowing ordeal that allegedly spanned several years. The young victim, now four months pregnant, was reportedly assaulted by the accused in December of last year. However, court proceedings revealed that the abuse may have started when the girl was just five years old, meaning the alleged crimes persisted for nearly six years before being reported. The accused is known to the victim's family, with the assaults allegedly taking place during visits to his home. DNA tests are yet to determine whether the suspect is indeed the perpetrator. A shocking incident rocked Cape Town last month where a parolee, who served time for rape, has been arrested for allegedly kidnapping and raping a nine-year-old girl in Hanover Park. On 20 May 2025, the child was found in the suspect's house, during a frantic search by the community, where she is believed to have spent at least five hours. The accused is alleged to have lured the girl as she walked to her Madrasa (Islamic school) by offering her R20 to buy him milk and return the item to his house. The suspect was sentenced to 25 years in jail for rape and indecent assault in 2008 but was placed on parole in November 2024. The appalling incident has sparked fury among locals, who are demanding answers from authorities as to why a known predator was allowed back on their streets. Heard enough…? Because, plenty more where that came from. That's just tip of the insidious iceberg, folks. And that's just the kids. In an article in IOL yesterday, 2 June, responding to the murders of Likhona Fose and adult victim Olerato Mongale, Jonisayi Maromo wrote; 'South Africa is a dangerous place for women and girls'. Duh, ya think! He quoted the secretary-general of civil rights group #NotInMyName, Themba Masango, who said: 'The murders of Olerato and Likhona are yet another painful reminder that South Africa remains one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a woman (or child). How many more must die before we collectively say: Enough is enough?' Responding to the conviction of Kelly Smith in an interview with SABC News , Refilwe Mokoena (child safety and protection manager) from the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund said: 'From our perspective, justice has been served, the perpetrators have been held accountable. But children are still so vulnerable in our society and we need further preventative efforts to protect them.' The interviewer then asked: 'Can we really say that justice has been served in this regard when it comes to child safety?' 'A strong message has been sent that crimes against children will not go unpunished. But there are so many incidents similar to Joslin's that don't receive this level of national visibility. For every Joslin, there are millions of others we don't even get to know about,' Mokoena answered. (Did you catch that? She said…'millions'. If she's right, if she's not grossly exaggerating…then we have a BIG fu****? problem, don'tcha think?) 'Children basically are not safe in our country,' Mokoena added. Security analyst Neil de Beer takes a slightly more radical position on how the Smith trial should've ended. In an interview with BizNews TV , former MK agent and security advisor to Nelson Mandela, De Beer (who was also peripherally involved in the police manhunt for Joslin) told journo, Chris Steyn: 'What those people did to that child…if I was a judge I would unequivocally sentence them to hang.' Visibly quivering with rage, De Beer's eyes reddened as he teared and choked up when he said: 'A child. A beautiful little girl…was sold. You took that little girl's life, you should pay for it with your life.' 'But in this country, you don't serve life,' he said. 'In this country, if you murder, you are out in 12. You are out in eight.' 'I'm telling you, if you had a referendum on Monday, to bring back the death penalty, you're going to get an 80% majority.' De Beer's not the only public figure calling for a return to capital punishment. Over the years, leader of the Patriotic Alliance (PA), Gayton McKenzie, has repeatedly called for the return of the death penalty to deal with the high level of violent crime in the country. Back in June 2023, during an interview on The Black Pen podcast, McKenzie said: 'The state must have the right to kill. People argue that the death penalty is not a deterrent. I was a criminal, and I am telling you the death penalty is a deterrent.' He said that having been a gangster, he had learnt that taking out the leader of the gang was enough to stop gang wars. On 17 May this year, McKenzie, who also serves as minister of Sport, Arts and Culture in the Government of National Unity (GNU), reiterated his position on the death penalty during the launch of the PA's municipal election campaign at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Addressing a crowd of thousands of supporters with a fiery, impassioned speech, McKenzie emphasised the need for harsher punishments to combat the rising crime rates in South Africa. 'Let us bring back the death penalty. If you kill, we must kill you,' he said. In an interview with CNN's Larry King in September 2009, Judge Judy Sheindlin was asked about her thoughts on the application of the death penalty. 'In a clear-cut case, where there is no issue as to whether or not, this was the perpetrator of this atrocity…I believe in my soul that it should be an option,' Sheindlin said. Then King asked the judge: 'Could you sentence someone to death?' She paused, before replying: 'Yes, I could. If…there was no question in my mind that this was the perpetrator…' King interjected: 'You could send him to his death?' Sheindlin nodded confidently and said: 'I could say…'Arrivederci' [Italian for 'Goodbye'].' 'There are certain people who – despite our best efforts and all of God's good work – are wired wrong. You gotta either kill 'em or put 'em away…so that they can't ever hurt anyone else,' she added. Must say, when it comes to hardcore violent crimes against our kids? I'm kinda leaning towards De Beer, McKenzie and Judge Judy on this one. Maybe it is time for a long-overdue, urgent, national referendum on capital punishment for violent crimes against minors? Never mind the special task force investigating 'offensive' social media posts and misgendering online, let's get our priorities straight… In my perfect world, the kids would be a sacred and untouchable red line. A world where our women and children could walk down the street, in the middle of the night – bu**-naked if they so choose – and no one will harm them. Because no one would dare. If we can unite the whole nation so easily behind a football or rugby tournament, why can't we unite the country behind this one simple idea: protect the children, at all costs. Whatever threatens the kids…must be eliminated. And maybe reinstating capital punishment is the only way to end the scourge of violence against minors in this country and restore some sense of safety, security and normalcy in our society, where, as Roger Waters once dreamed… 'Everyone has recourse to the law… and no one kills the children anymore.' Let us know by leaving a comment below or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
Daily Maverick
14-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Alcohol ban at Eastern Cape schools threatens institutions' revenue streams, say opponents
A new alcohol ban enforced by the Eastern Cape Department of Education is putting an end to long-standing fundraising traditions at public schools in the province. When Dale College, one of the Eastern Cape's oldest boys' schools, was forced to move its 164th annual reunion off-campus, it wasn't because of a lack of school spirit but rather a sweeping new alcohol ban. A recent directive from the Eastern Cape Department of Education has outlawed the sale and consumption of alcohol on all public school premises in the province, a move that has upended long-standing fundraising traditions at numerous former Model C institutions. For years, at least 38 Quintile 5 schools have had permanent licensed establishments which could sell alcohol during sports days, alumni reunions and parent gatherings. The schools insist that these occasional, tightly controlled alcohol sales were not about indulgence but about providing a crucial revenue stream for maintenance, bursaries and school development. No more exceptions In a circular issued in March, the head of the Eastern Cape Department of Education, Sharon Maasdorp, announced an outright ban on the sale of alcohol on public school premises. The circular said the department had been 'inundated with requests' from schools seeking support for liquor licence applications, a practice that the department now considered unlawful and inconsistent with its core mandate. The circular revealed that some schools had, for years, held permanent liquor licences, often granted through consent from school governing bodies (SGBs) or principals. Maasdorp said that such consent was invalid without explicit approval from the provincial MEC for education. 'Any application for a business to engage in the sale of liquor from school premises will not be approved,' said the circular. 'The sale of liquor is prohibited from school premises. This prohibition applies to both permanent and event liquor licence holders.' South African law is unambiguous when it comes to alcohol in schools. The Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act explicitly bans alcohol sales at educational institutions, reinforcing earlier provisions in the South African Schools Act, which prohibit the possession, sale or consumption of liquor on school grounds or at school activities with very limited, tightly controlled exceptions. These exceptions require formal application, approval by the SGB and consultation with the provincial head of department. The circular declared all schools in the province to be alcohol-free zones, a move the department said was aligned with the national strategy to combat alcohol and drug use among learners. The department also cited changes in liquor law enforcement as part of the rationale. The updated Eastern Cape Liquor Act, effective 1 March 2025, prohibits alcohol outlets within 500m of schools and other public institutions. Schools were specifically instructed to object to any new licence applications near their grounds and told to cancel existing ones. Not about booze, but budgets, say parents and schools The blanket prohibition on alcohol sales at schools, including during private, after-hours fundraising events, has been criticised. Several schools argue that such events are not about promoting alcohol, but about plugging funding gaps left by the department, particularly for basic maintenance, infrastructure upgrades, equipment and learner support. A parent from one of the affected schools, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that critics may not fully understand how these events operate. The parent said that at many former Model C and private schools, alcohol had been sold strictly to adults, usually parents attending reunions, sports days or other school functions as part of controlled, long-standing fundraising efforts. 'This has been happening for more than 20 years. It's nothing like a bar or nightclub, and children are never allowed to purchase alcohol. If you're unfamiliar with how these events work, I'd encourage you to visit one of these schools and see for yourself,' she said. 'I've attended one of these luncheons, and it's not a bar. It's never caused problems, and that's why you've never heard any complaints before. I'll continue to support the fundraising initiative, even if they have to sell vouchers at a nearby venue. The money goes to infrastructure, sports teams, bursaries or maintenance — even sporting tours. It goes a long way and it makes a real difference to the school.' The parent raised concerns about the wider implications of the ban, questioning how it would affect major cultural events held on or near school grounds. She pointed to the Makhanda National Arts Festival, where the beer tent has long been a central attraction and with the festival already shrinking due to declining support, further restrictions could undermine its viability. Many schools depend on such festivals for much-needed income, particularly from hiring out school facilities during holidays, she said. In another example, this year's Kirkwood Festival was forced to relocate, resulting in a financial loss for the host, Kirkwood High School, which had benefited from the event being held on its grounds during the break. Another parent, from another affected school, pointed out that many people were missing the bigger picture, saying that schools often hired out their facilities after hours to raise funds for essential maintenance and operational costs. He said the issue wasn't about parents drinking on school grounds, but about schools losing a reliable way to bridge the growing funding gap left by the state. 'We can all agree that South Africa has a well-documented alcohol abuse problem, but this ban does nothing to address that or the root causes. Schools with a liquor licence are not selling tequila to 14-year-olds or encouraging irresponsible drinking. They do not want to create a drinking nest but just need extra funds for the school,' he said. According to the Daily Dispatch, more than 10 schools in the Eastern Cape have come together to challenge the education department's ban on alcohol sales on school premises, arguing that the ban has caused them substantial financial losses. Alumni fundraising takes a hit Phiwe Ndinisa of the Old Dalian Union (ODU) explained that in the mid-1990s, alumni from Dale College built a dedicated clubhouse complete with a bar as a gathering place for old boys. The liquor licence, he noted, was always registered in the name of the ODU, not the school itself, which creates confusion under the new rules. 'For the first time in our history, we had to host our reunion off-site, away from the very venue that was built for it,' he said. The ban led to a significant drop in attendance and revenue, as the union struggled to find suitable venues and faced increased costs for this year's reunion. While Ndinisa could not provide exact revenue figures, he said that most of the funds raised during these events went back into supporting the school, with the remainder used to maintain the ODU office. He said the intention was never to operate a bar for profit, but rather to create a space for connection, especially as more than 90% of alumni no longer lived in Qonce. Ndinisa highlighted the practical challenges of implementing the ban, including the lack of prior consultation and understanding. 'There's a school where across the road there is a tavern that is operating and no one is saying anything, so it feels like this ban is beating the wrong people, because that tavern, whatever money is generated, goes to the business owner and not the school,' he said. Education department and liquor board unite Eastern Cape Liquor Board spokesperson Mgwebi Msiya confirmed that 38 schools across the province had been affected by the ban. He explained that in the past, the board had granted liquor licences based on recommendations from SGBs, which were considered the schools' official accounting authorities. Msiya said the board fully supported the Department of Education's decision. Eastern Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade has framed the alcohol ban as a matter of principle, with South Africa's drinking culture being a growing concern. The country has the highest per capita rate of alcohol consumption in Africa. He clarified that during his tenure as MEC, he has never approved a single request for a school to sell alcohol. 'It happened by default. I am correcting that now, to ensure we create an environment that is conducive for learners,' he said.
