Thohoyandou - Thousands of schoolchildren in Limpopo will have access to practical science lessons following the handover of laboratory kits to 30 schools in the Vhembe region.

Representatives from the Telkom Foundation handed over the kits during a function held at the Life Science Centre of the University of Venda in Thohoyandou.

“Maths and science opens doors of learning and some of the world's most lucrative and rewarding jobs are rooted in science and maths. Astronomy, food science, geography and sound engineering all require a qualification in science,” said Telkom Foundation project manager Judy Poo.

Poo said careers in maths and science help South Africa compete with the best in the world.

"The process of developing a workforce starts in our schools and that is why educating South Africa’s children is vitally important," she said.

The manager applauded the joint venture between Telkom Foundation and the University of Venda through which deep rural schools in the Vhembe region were identified for the project.

“Students study with our bursaries; learners discover the power of the internet with our equipment and our network while teachers sharpen their skills by participating in our programmes.

"MyLab Chemistry & Science Kits put the necessary apparatus at the disposal of teachers, and allow them to do the practical work in maths and sciences, which are scarce resources,” added Poo.

Albert Mabasa, a teacher from Shingwedzi Secondary School near Malamulele, said he was happy to receive the mobile lab on behalf of his school.

"Our learners eagerly need best equipment to be able to produce best results in maths and sciences and the donation of kits will help deep rural learners in this regard," said Mabasa.

"We promise the Telkom Foundation that with the kits we hope to improve matric results in rural schools across the Vhembe region." – SAnews.gov.za

The second edition of the Spur Silvermine Mountain XL set off in one of the Cape’s finest nature reserves, the Silvermine Nature Reserve on Saturday morning. Spot on the South African Trail Running Team The race represented a chance to gain valuable points towards a spot on the South African Trail Running Team that would [...]Scintillating running at Silvermine is a post from: Trail Running South Africa


read more South Africa Trail Running news

Kempton Park – Trade and Industry Minister, Dr Rob Davies, says the private sector should join government’s move towards buying locally produced goods to stimulate domestic economic growth. Proudly South African Buy Local Summit Speaking at the third annual Proudly South African Buy Local Summit on Monday, Davies said creating jobs and addressing poverty required [...]Private sector urged to buy local is a post from: South Africa Business

The post Private sector urged to buy local appeared first on South Africa Business.


more Business South Africa ...

The Limpopo Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has urged traditional surgeons to submit their applications to conduct initiation schools before Friday, 28 February.

Departmental spokesperson Motupa Selomo said initiation schools in Limpopo will commence from 20 June to 18 July this year.

According to Selomo, after the February 28 closing date, the House of Traditional Leaders will conduct a workshop for all senior traditional leaders who qualify for initiation school permits.

The purpose of the workshop is to brief and prepare the initiation schools stakeholders on precautionary measures to be followed in order to have a smooth process during the initiation period.

The workshop is scheduled for 18 March 2014 at a venue yet to be announced.

“We also call upon parents to verify the legitimacy of initiation schools they intend to send their children to with their respective traditional authorities.

“There will be zero tolerance for people who want to take chances by running initiation schools without permits,” he said.

Required documents to accompany applications include:

A letter from the traditional council of the area at which the initiation schools will take place, supporting the application;
A certificate of fitness of the traditional surgeon issued by a medical doctor;
An environmental report compiled by an environmental practitioner for the area at which the initiation school will take place;
A copy of proclamation and/or title deed confirming authority and/or jurisdiction over the area at which the initiation school is to be conducted; and
An undertaking signed by a senior traditional leader regarding acceptance of accountability for the initiation school.

Selomo said no person shall hold an initiation school without a valid permit issued to him/her in terms of Section 2 (1) of the Northern Province Circumcision Schools Act No. 6 of 1996.

No traditional surgeon or any other person is allowed to perform rituals in an initiation school without a certificate of fitness issued for that purpose by a registered medical practitioner authorised by the Premier or authorised officer to do so in terms of Section 3 (1) of Initiation Schools Regulations of 2003.

No traditional nurse or any other person is allowed to look after initiates in an initiation school without a certificate of attendance of training referred to in regulation 5, provided that the prohibition shall become effective on the day immediately after the conclusion of the training concerned in terms on Section 4(1) of Initiation Schools Regulations of 2003.

Initiates below the age of 12 cannot be admitted to an initiation school in terms of Section 7(1) of Initiation Schools Regulations of 2003.

No initiate shall be admitted to an initiation school more than five days after the commencement of the school in terms of Section 7(3) of Initiation Schools Regulations of 2003.

No one is allowed to abduct another for the purpose of taking the abducted person to an initiation school in terms of Section 9(1) of Initiation Schools Regulations of 2003.

“In an effort to prevent the unnecessary loss of lives, we request parents to send their children to the initiation schools that will be approved after 28 February,” Selomo said. – SAnews.gov.za

Luxury hotel and spa, The Metropole in Llandrindod Wells, will host charity cycle ride participants on St. David’s Day. Staff from the Welsh...

read more GlobalBuzz Charity News ...

Rustenburg – Teaching and learning at Keledi Middle School in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg, will become more exciting with the donation of 26 laptops to the school.The donation from Telkom forms part of the School Connectivity programme, which aims to contribute to the improvement of education...

Full Story on Education portal ...

The Daily Telegraph has become the Official Consumer Media Partner of The Sports Technology Awards.Â* The Awards, which were launched in October 2013, have been established to recognize and celebrate all aspects of technology in sport, including mechanics, electronics, telephony, nutrition, software, hardware and apparel. Rebecca Hopkins, Director of The Sports Technology Awards, explained: ‘Sport [...]Media Partner Of The Sports Technology Awards is a post from: Time-4-Sport


more Sports News ...

The Department of Higher Education and Training has officially launched a White Paper on Post School Education and Training, which sets out strategies to expand on the current delivery of education and training in South Africa for the period up to 2030. The paper sets out a broad policy for expanding post-school provision to improve [...]Higher Education White Paper is a post from: Teach-the-Brain

The post Higher Education White Paper appeared first on Teach-the-Brain.


read more South Africa Education news ...

Efforts by the South Africa Social Security Agency (SASSA) to clamp down on social grant fraud are yielding positive results, with the agency saving R150 million per annum.

Presenting the agency’s 2012/13 Annual Report to the National Council of Provinces’ select committee on social services on Thursday, SASSA CEO Virginia Petersen said since the implementation of the project to re-register listed beneficiaries, SASSA has received requests for voluntary cancellation of over 150 000 social grants -- leading to a saving of R150 million per annum. The number has since increased to 299 837 to date.

The project, which aims to ensure that the correct recipients received grants, involved the mass collection of data of existing and new beneficiaries, children receiving grants and procurators.

The information collected from beneficiaries includes 10 fingerprints, voice biometrics and documentation to allow for Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) registration. The biometric system allows for monthly authentication of recipients of grants, ensuring that the right person is receiving the grant.

18.9 million successfully re-registered

“A total of 18.9 million people were successfully re-registered onto the new system by end of the financial year. The number has since increased to 20.7 million. The re-registration resulted in life certification of all beneficiaries, children and procurators,” Petersen said.

She told the committee that in managing fraud, the focus of SASSA has shifted from beneficiaries to its own staff members, who collude with beneficiaries and other organs of State, including crime syndicates, to defraud the system.

“The target was to investigate 50% of fraud cases identified; 78% of fraud cases were investigated and 98% of suspicious grants were verified for validity.

“Efforts to clamp down on corruption in specific regions resulted in arrests and convictions of 10 current agency officials, three former agency officials and 15 agents/touts. Fifty-two SASSA officials were suspended from duty, 25 dismissed and seven resigned prior to the completion of their disciplinary cases. The monetary value related to cases finalised amounts to R59.4 million,” Petersen said.

Other successes, she said, include the arrest of 50 individuals in the Mahlabathini area within the Ulundi District, who were found to be in possession of 127 unregistered SASSA cards, three CPS registration machines and R47 000 in cash. Five of these suspects remain in custody.

Petersen said that money lending also became a focus, with 29 individuals arrested and 1 008 agency cards and R 82 156.00 cash confiscated.

10 million biometric payment cards issued

Ten million SASSA biometric payment cards are being issued to social grants recipients, which allows beneficiaries an option to use the SASSA card to access their grants at several payment gateways including ATMs, pay point station or retail point of sale.

“The introduction of the current payment system has broad positive benefits to both SASSA and beneficiaries and to a large extent, the South African economy. The current payment system has absorbed the previously unbanked beneficiaries and incorporated them into the banking community.

“Beneficiaries have also used the increased payment channels to access their social grants within seven calendar days of the month. It [payment system] significantly reduced the costs for transacting, from an average of R30 to R16.44 per transaction. Through this system, for the first time, SASSA has automated intelligence on all payment activities,” Petersen told the committee.

Community outreach programme

Through the Integrated Community Registration Outreach Programme (ICROP), a total of 61 110 beneficiaries in 430 poverty wards had access to social assistance during the period under review. This exceeded the target of 60 000 beneficiaries.

The ICROP was established to improve access to and equity in services to beneficiaries in rural and semi-rural areas. Petersen attributed its success to partnerships with key stakeholders, such as government departments, non-governmental organisations, faith-based organisations, traditional leaders and ward councillors.

Currently, SASSA is paying approximately 16 million social grant benefits monthly to approximately 9.5 million recipients.

However, Petersen acknowledged that the implementation of fraud management strategy is among the challenges facing SASSA.

“SASSA had to close-out some offices due to the number of officials that were implicated in fraudulent activities.” – SAnews.gov.za

Giyani - One person has died of rabies in Limpopo this week, bringing the total number of rabies-related deaths to four in the last 10 months.

Provincial Health spokesperson Adele van der Linde said the recent death was reported in Malamulele near Giyani.

“The department once again issues a warning to residents of Limpopo, but especially in the Vhembe and Mopani districts, to immediately seek help when bitten or scratched by a domestic or wild animal that is suspected of being rabid,” said Van der Linde.

She said the average incidence of human rabies in Limpopo was three deaths per financial year, mostly in the Vhembe district.

Van der Linde said a series of training sessions were held at all health institutions in Vhembe last year to focus on case management and the prevention of human rabies.

Annual road shows were also held in Vhembe and Mopani district in September last year, which was World Rabies Month.

"Our main challenge remains the issue of ignorance. People do not seek medical attention soon enough,” Van der Linde said.

“People are bitten or scratched by their own animals but don’t see the need to go to a health facility for treatment."

She said rabies was a re-emerging disease in South Africa, particularly in densely populated rural areas, but that infected people can survive if they are treated in time.

"If a person comes into contact with a rabid animal, whether it be a bite or a scratch, they should seek immediate medical attention. There is an effective, safe vaccine against rabies,” she said.

She stressed that domestic pets must be vaccinated against rabies regularly.
The Department of Agriculture is currently vaccinating pets free of charge in communities across the province.

“Dogs and cats should be vaccinated at three months of age, with a booster at nine months, and then every three years afterwards. In high risk areas, annual revaccination is recommended," she said.

She said stray animals, animals that are behaving strangely or that appear sick must be avoided.

Once the rabies virus has entered the body, it goes to the brain where the virus multiplies, causing brain dysfunction and ultimately death.

The disease is spread from animal to animal, and occasionally from animals to humans. – SAnews.gov.za