Latest news with #ModelC
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Minister Gwarube warns non-compliance with Bela Act will lead to legal consequences
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube says she was working flat out to make sure the regulations for the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act were published in June Image: Supplied Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube has warned that those that will not comply with controversial Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act will face the full might of the law. Gwarube, who has yet to gazette the Bela Act's regulations, said there was a legislative framework on how the department's districts and schools should implement the new law. 'This piece of legislation is now the law of the Republic of South Africa. Anybody who does not comply with the law will face the consequence of not complying with the law,' she said. Gwarube made the comment during the question-and answer-session in the National Assembly when she was asked by EFF MP Mandla Shikwambane how she planned to address potential resistance for former Model C and Afrikaans-medium schools to use the admission and language policy to systematically exclude black pupils. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading She said the department could not change attitudes by legislation. 'We cannot legislate to change attitudes. Legislation for education accommodates all children from all backgrounds and language. Anybody who does not comply with this piece of legislation will find themselves on the wrong side of the law.' Gwarube stated that it was not for the department to worry about non-compliance. 'It is up to the courts, and if schools do not comply with the law, they will face the consequences. I am not anxious about it because, ultimately, we got a legislative framework the district and schools will know how to implement and people will know exactly what needs to be done and if they don't, they will face consequences of breaking the law,' she said. Gwarube noted that she was often asked when she will implement the Bela Act, which was passed last year, and three-month period allowed for consultation around two clauses related to issues of admission and language. 'As a constitutionalist, I approach implementation of Bela Act with respect for rule of law, transparency, and responsibility entrusted to the office.' She stated that the Bela Act was proclaimed on December 24 and was now operational. 'The only process left for us to do as the department is to develop regulations. The development of regulations does not delay the implementation of the law because the law is in force. 'This has nothing to do with me and my preferences. I am busy working flat out to make sure all of you will have an opportunity to comment on the regulation that will be published in June.' Gwarube said the department will train district officials to guide schools on implementation of the new legal framework. 'We will be assisting schools and the principals to implement it well. The guiding principle are the 13.5 million learners. 'I am not nervous and I am not anxious. I think we have strong legal guidance, hence it will have regulations attached to it,' said Gwarube She spoke against using Bela Act as political football. 'We need to move on. We need to protect our learners and schools.' Gwarube noted that the politics around Bela Act was not a pre-occupation among school governing bodies, parents, and children. 'The political choice around this piece of legislation only exist in the political circles. People on the ground want their children to learn. They want them to learn in safe environment and it our responsibility as department to make sure that we provide good quality education for them to thrive.' Gwarube was asked whether schools were moving towards dual-language and about assistance offered for them to start implementing dual language. She said the provision for dual-language schools has been in existence before the Bela Act was enacted, and that school governing bodies make a decision when they were ready to become dual-language and put the necessary processes into action. 'This process has been ongoing before the new reality. Provinces sit with this kind of work all the time. Schools come to provincial departments asking to be dual-language medium all the time,' Gwarube said.
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.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Foxconn to launch first in-house EV for North America, Nikkei reports
Foxconn is readying its first passenger electric vehicle designed in-house for the North American market with an expected launch this year via an unspecified automaker, Nikkei Asia's Hideaki Ryugen reports, citing the company. The electronics giant, which designs and produces EVs for automakers on a contract basis, will bring its Model C SUV, currently supplied to a Taiwanese automaker, to North America with different specifications. Discover outperforming stocks and invest smarter with Top Smart Score Stocks. Filter, analyze, and streamline your search for investment opportunities using Tipranks' Stock Screener. Published first on TheFly – the ultimate source for real-time, market-moving breaking financial news. Try Now>> See today's best-performing stocks on TipRanks >> Read More on HNHPF: Disclaimer & DisclosureReport an Issue Hon Hai Expands with Acquisition of Sharp Fukuyama Laser Hon Hai Precision Industry Sells Equity in Shenzhen Hengdrive for Strategic Gains Hon Hai Precision Industry Expands Through Strategic Subsidiary Acquisitions AI Daily: Nvidia to make AI supercomputers in U.S. Nvidia to manufacture American-made AI supercomputers in U.S. for first time Sign in to access your portfolio
Nikkei Asia
23-04-2025
- Automotive
- Nikkei Asia
Foxconn to debut first in-house EV for North America this year
TAIPEI -- Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn is preparing its first passenger electric vehicle designed in-house for the North American market, the company announced Wednesday, with a planned launch this year through an unspecified automaker. Foxconn designs and manufactures EVs for automakers on a contract basis. The company will bring its Model C sport utility vehicle, which it currently supplies to a major Taiwanese automaker, to North America with different specifications. No client automakers were named.
