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TimesLIVE
15 hours ago
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Gauteng ANC leaders call for meaningful youth empowerment
Hundreds of young people gathered at the Hector Pieterson memorial in Orlando West, Soweto on Monday to honour the youth of 1976 who fought for freedom during the Soweto uprising. The event was attended by Gauteng MEC for education, sports, arts, culture and recreation Matome Chiloane, City of Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero and acting Gauteng premier Tasneem Motara. This year's Youth Day theme, "Skills for the changing world – Empowering youth for meaningful economic participation", was reflected in the stories, energy, and talent shared by the youth who participated. The day began with a ceremony at the memorial, where speakers reflected on the historic events of June 16 1976. Morero spoke about the courage shown by schoolchildren who marched with their books, hopes and dreams. "On this day 49 years ago, fearless young people stared down the barrel of apartheid guns. They didn't flinch. They marched for a future where they could learn in their own language, be treated with respect and live free," said Morero. "Some, including Hector Pieterson, never made it home." Morero encouraged today's youth to fight different battle against poverty, unemployment and substance abuse. "Your protest is the pursuit of opportunity. Your uprising is your ambition to build. Young people of today, you've got a bigger task," Morero said. He announced the City of Johannesburg's commitment to youth development through infrastructure and job creation, allocating 30% of the city's R8bn capital budget to youth owned businesses and township economy projects. Chiloane spoke about the bravery of those who fought in 1976 and the ongoing struggle faced by the today's youth. 'Urgent need for adaptable skills': Mashatile on unemployment crisis The unemployment crisis in South Africa is more than just an economic issue but a 'moral emergency', says Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Politics 12 hours ago "The youth of 1976 stood up against injustice and oppression. Their sacrifice was not in vain. Because of them, we can stand here today in our democratic country. Millions of young South Africans can dream freely and speak openly. But the freedom for which the 1976 youth fought is not yet complete," he said. Chiloane emphasised the challenges the youth is facing, including poverty, unemployment and limited access to opportunities. "The classrooms may have changed, the language of instruction may have changed, but the fight for dignity in a future worth fighting for continues," he said. He highlighted the rapid changes in the world, from automation to artificial intelligence, and said young people need more than qualifications, they need adaptability, creativity and resilience. "Many young people find themselves locked out, frustrated by a system that promises more than it delivers." The event showcased the convergence of technology, entrepreneurship and innovation. Chiloane pointed to coding workshops, entrepreneurs pitching ideas to investors, and young people connecting with companies such as Google and TikTok as signs of a hopeful future. Motara recalled the events of June 16 1976. "Today we stand not only on physical ground, but on sacred ground. This place holds echoes of gunshots, chants, courage, and grace. It is with solemn reverence that we gather here, not only to lay flowers, but to renew our responsibility to those whose lives were cut short that day," Motara said. She reflected on the bravery of pupils who marched peacefully against the apartheid regime's decision to enforce Afrikaans as a medium of instruction. "They were rejecting an education system designed to break their spirits and prepare them for lives of servitude," she said. Motara said while SA is a democratic nation, the promises of 1994 remain incomplete. "Millions of young people wake up to poverty, overcrowded schools, unemployment, substance abuse, gender-based violence and crime. Many feel unseen and unheard." She stressed remembrance must be paired with responsibility and action. "We owe the youth not silence or mere symbolism, but sustained commitment to their future. We are expanding access to education, accelerating skills development and growing opportunities through partnerships with the private sector," she said. The acting premier called on all South Africans, parents, educators, spiritual leaders, artists, athletes, business people and civil society to work together in supporting youth. "Young people must not only receive the benefits of freedom but actively shape its needs. Use your voice in your communities, demand accountability, offer solutions and protect our democracy," she urged. A representative of the June 16 1976 Foundation spoke about the importance of unity in commemorating the historic day. 'We cannot move forward unless we know where we come from. The sacrifices and stories of those who fought guide us,' he said. He called for a collective national conversation on how to properly commemorate June 16, stressing the need for unity across political lines and generations. "This important day must be marked with dignity and respect, free from division and discord." After the commemoration, the crowd marched from the memorial to Morris Isaacson High School, where young people showcased their businesses, talents and creativity. Among the stars of the day was 16-year-old entrepreneur Bokgoni Monyane, who started her business at 13 years old with R50 from her tuck shop and jewellery sales. She used her earnings to publish a book aimed at inspiring other young people. "My mom is my manager, like the Kardashians," she said adding, "the economy commands us to be business minded." Another young talent, Nxobile Zondi, spoke about her fashion business, telling TimesLIVE she makes clothes from scratch using a machine and by hand. "They cost from R150 to R250. I'm working alone, but I hope to grow and employ young people from Soweto." Jewellery designer Noxolo Mseleku, who studied in Italy after getting a scholarship from the Mining Qualifications Authority, gave a powerful message to young people about resilience and patience. "Anything is possible. Dream and follow that dream. I'm from rural KwaZulu-Natal and today I run a brand in Joburg and employ three people from my hometown." Mseleku urged government to invest in local manufacturing: "We shouldn't be exporting raw materials. We can create the finished products here. We have the skills, the ideas and the passion." Chiloane reflected on this years Youth Month theme: "This is not only a slogan, it's a mission, a call for action and a challenge to all of us as leaders, parents and society. Are we doing enough?"
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Apply online for 2026 Grade 1 and 8 placements in Gauteng from July 24
Apply online for 2026 Grade 1 and 8 placements in Gauteng from July 24 The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced the 2026 Online Admissions for Grade One and Grade Eight Application Period, which will open on July 24 at 08:00 and close on August 29 at midnight. Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane said it had been 10 years of online admissions. Since its introduction in 2015 in Gauteng, the GDE Online Admissions Application System has successfully assisted hundreds of thousands of parents and guardians in securing a space for their children entering Grade One and Grade Eight at Gauteng public schools. • This system has proven to be much more advanced than the previous manual application approach, which led to thousands of parents and guardians camping outside of certain schools, especially in high-pressure areas, for days when seeking placement. • Accordingly, the system has a 98% placement rate of all complete applications submitted online for 10 consecutive years up to and including the 2025 academic year, when close to 400 000 learners were placed. • For the 2026 academic year, the department intends to continue to ensure that all learners in the Gauteng Province are placed in schools based on reasonable, fair and just admissions criteria. Online admissions system The Online Admissions Application System was created with the intention to achieve the following objectives: • Easy online submission of Grade One and Grade Eight applications by parents and guardians from the comfort of their homes, offices or any one of the Decentralised Admissions Walk-in Centres across the province; • Queue elimination – eliminating the need for parents to wait in long queues at schools during application periods; • Timely placement – all learners are placed within specific timeframes using a sophisticated system; • Capacity-based placement – schools place learners according to their capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards (learners are placed according to the admissions regulations and the school's entry grade capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards); • Efficient management – streamlining of admissions processes across Gauteng; • Provision of accurate statistics for planning and reporting purposes; • Immediate access to data and statistics to facilitate a transparent admissions process; • Centralised database to inform resourcing needs across all functions. The process All parents and guardians in Gauteng with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight in the 2026 Academic year must apply online to be admitted to a Gauteng public school. • All applications for Grade One and Grade Eight learners will be processed through the GDE Online Admissions System only. • Parents and guardians applying for Grade One and Grade Eight must all apply during the application period (July 24 to August 29). • Parents must apply within the application period because schools become full and will not be available for late applications. Parents applying late do not have a wide choice of schools. • Entry grade for 2026 admissions is Grade One. • Parents with children who are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade One (there's no automatic progression to Grade One). • All Grade One applications will be processed and qualified in line with the admissions regulations. • Parents are reminded that the GDE Online Admissions System currently only services applications to Grade One and Grade Eight. • Applications to other grades must be made directly at the school(s) of your choice. 2026 online admissions application period To apply, parents and guardians must first register on: which will go live on July 24 at 08:00 for applications • Parents will not be able to access the system before it goes live on July 24. • All parents are expected to register, as previous login details will no longer be valid. • Only parents with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight seeking space at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 academic year will be able to register and apply online. • Applications will then close on August 29 at midnight. • No new applications will be accepted once the application period has closed. • After registering on the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password), which they will use to access the Online Admissions System to view and manage their application details. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
02-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Online applications for 2026 Gauteng Grade 1 and 8 open on July 24
Online applications for 2026 Gauteng Grade 1 and 8 open on July 24 The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has announced the 2026 Online Admissions for Grade One and Grade Eight Application Period, which will open on July 24 at 08:00 and close on August 29 at midnight. Gauteng MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Matome Chiloane said it had been 10 years of online admissions. Since its introduction in 2015 in Gauteng, the GDE Online Admissions Application System has successfully assisted hundreds of thousands of parents and guardians in securing a space for their children entering Grade One and Grade Eight at Gauteng public schools. • This system has proven to be much more advanced than the previous manual application approach, which led to thousands of parents and guardians camping outside of certain schools, especially in high-pressure areas, for days when seeking placement. • Accordingly, the system has a 98% placement rate of all complete applications submitted online for 10 consecutive years up to and including the 2025 academic year, when close to 400 000 learners were placed. • For the 2026 academic year, the department intends to continue to ensure that all learners in the Gauteng Province are placed in schools based on reasonable, fair and just admissions criteria. Online admissions system The Online Admissions Application System was created with the intention to achieve the following objectives: • Easy online submission of Grade One and Grade Eight applications by parents and guardians from the comfort of their homes, offices or any one of the Decentralised Admissions Walk-in Centres across the province; • Queue elimination – eliminating the need for parents to wait in long queues at schools during application periods; • Timely placement – all learners are placed within specific timeframes using a sophisticated system; • Capacity-based placement – schools place learners according to their capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards (learners are placed according to the admissions regulations and the school's entry grade capacity, adhering to infrastructure norms and standards); • Efficient management – streamlining of admissions processes across Gauteng; • Provision of accurate statistics for planning and reporting purposes; • Immediate access to data and statistics to facilitate a transparent admissions process; • Centralised database to inform resourcing needs across all functions. The process All parents and guardians in Gauteng with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight in the 2026 Academic year must apply online to be admitted to a Gauteng public school. • All applications for Grade One and Grade Eight learners will be processed through the GDE Online Admissions System only. • Parents and guardians applying for Grade One and Grade Eight must all apply during the application period (July 24 to August 29). • Parents must apply within the application period because schools become full and will not be available for late applications. Parents applying late do not have a wide choice of schools. • Entry grade for 2026 admissions is Grade One. • Parents with children who are currently in Grade R must also apply online for their children to be admitted to Grade One (there's no automatic progression to Grade One). • All Grade One applications will be processed and qualified in line with the admissions regulations. • Parents are reminded that the GDE Online Admissions System currently only services applications to Grade One and Grade Eight. • Applications to other grades must be made directly at the school(s) of your choice. 2026 online admissions application period To apply, parents and guardians must first register on: which will go live on July 24 at 08:00 for applications • Parents will not be able to access the system before it goes live on July 24. • All parents are expected to register, as previous login details will no longer be valid. • Only parents with children going to Grade One and/or Grade Eight seeking space at a public school in Gauteng for the 2026 academic year will be able to register and apply online. • Applications will then close on August 29 at midnight. • No new applications will be accepted once the application period has closed. • After registering on the system will prompt parents to create login credentials (username and password), which they will use to access the Online Admissions System to view and manage their application details. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
