The 2013 Ocean Lava Triathlon is upon us and is growing at a tremendous pace, the entrants have doubled from 2012. The setting of the event is on the island of Lanzarote, which is synonymous with the word, TRIATHLON. Kenneth Gasque Events is behind the organising of this event and the man Kenneth Gasque is [...]Ocean Lava 2013 tomorrow is a post from: Time-to-Tri


more [url=http://www.time-to-tri.com/pre-event/ocean-lava-2013-tomorrowTriathlon news ...[/url]

Public Enterprises Minister Malusi Gigaba has officially launched the intake of a 1000 additional learner artisans at Transnet.

The learner artisans will be trained at six Transnet Engineering (TE) facilities across the country. This is in collaboration with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

“Transnet commenced a programme to oversee the optimisation of state owned companies’ (SOC) training facilities by enrolling additional artisans. This will address the shortage of scarce and critical skills needed in support of the New Growth Path,” said Gigaba at the launch on Thursday.

In the Department of Public Enterprises’ (DPE) 2013 budget vote, the minister committed SOCs to take in young people from across the country for training in several scarce and critical skills such as artisans, and technicians.

To implement the plan as part of the National Skills Development Strategy of the country, DHET Minister Blade Nzimande -- as custodian of the National Skills Fund (NSF) -- agreed with Gigaba that the NSF allocated resources to Transnet to ensure that additional learners are trained at its six facilities across the country.

The NSF allocated R175 million to Transnet Engineering to train an additional 1 000 learners over the next three years.

Gigaba encouraged SOCs to ensure that beyond providing skills and training to young people, they must provide enterprise development so that learners have the requisite skills and employment opportunities in order to form youth owned cooperatives and SMMEs. This will help in creating jobs not only for themselves but for fellow youth in the country.

In addition, Gigaba urged the private sector to play the critical role of ensuring that the additional artisans being trained by Transnet are absorbed into employment opportunities in the broader mainstream economy.

At the launch at Transnet’s School of Engineering in Salt River, Cape Town, Transnet signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three Further Education and Training Institutions (FET) in the Western Cape. This is in line with the government prescribed National Skills Accord, where SOCs and the private sector form partnerships with FET institutions to develop scares skills in the country.

The MoUs were signed with the False Bay, Northlink and West Coast FET colleges.

Additionally Transnet committed to open the School of Engineering facilities in Salt River to learners and educators of the three FET colleges, where the SOC will provide learners with trade tests and opportunities for practical exposure. – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Basic Education has urged matrics writing their first Maths paper today to go over the entire paper first before starting and ensure there is enough time at the end to go back and check their answers.

“Try as much as possible to leave time for yourself at the end, to allow you to go back over your answers, to check, correct and complete them,” said the department.

A total of 330 789 fulltime candidates and 27 382 part time candidates are registered to write the Mathematical Literacy examination while 245 663 full time learners and 66 888 part-time candidates are registered to write Maths.

As the first week of National Senior Certificate exams draw to a close today, there have been minimal disruptions.

The Class of 2013 has already written two English papers, Accounting and Afrikaans, among others, this week.

On Thursday, 464 997 full time candidates wrote the English First Additional Language paper, while 111 432 sat for the English Home Language paper. Nine sat for the English Second Additional Language paper.

The department said there were only disruptions in the East Rand in Gauteng due to train delays.

“According to reports from the provinces the only disruptions were in Gauteng where some learners from eight high schools in the East Rand were slightly affected by train delays.

“Learners however were not compromised as they were afforded the necessary time to conclude their examinations.”

High schools affected by the train delays included Birchleigh High School, Norkem Park High School, Rhodesfield High School, Panorama High School, Zizwe High School in Elandfontein, Kempton Park High School, Germiston South High School and Status institute School.

Matrics will write their second Maths and Maths Literacy papers on Tuesday. – SAnews.gov.za

Educating the youth, especially women, is important in the fight against poverty, says Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Gill Marcus.

“There can be no investment more important than to invest in the education of young people,” said Marcus on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Ruth First Jeppe High School for Girls Memorial Trust event, the governor said given that the odds remained heavily stacked against women, investment in their education could make a significant difference.

“Investment in the education of young women makes a real difference to the individual, the family and society, as educating the girl child is a sure way to break the cycle of poverty and the skills shortage that is spoken about so often.

“Public education of the highest (quality) for all children is critical for democracy to flourish and was integral to the liberation struggle as a lack of education is the greatest exclusion there can be,” she said.

She congratulated the young women who have won scholarships to study at the school. She also congratulated the school through the Ruth First Jeppe Trust on setting an example of how communities can come together to provide education for all, not just the privileged few.

“We need many more of these initiatives so that the ugly shadow of our apartheid history is eliminated from the lives and opportunities of our children.”

She described Ruth First as not only an activist, academic and a mother, but as someone who had the courage to stand up for what was right.

“These values include non-racialism and non-sexism, a sense of justice and fairness that puts the interests of the poor and ordinary people ahead of self-interest; the commitment and courage to not only stand for what is right, but also to stand against what is wrong,” said Marcus. – SAnews.gov.za

Lonmin mine has donated 50 hectares of land, consisting of serviced stands, to be used for housing in the greater Marikana area.

The land was donated to the Department of Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison of the North West province and the Rustenburg Local Municipality.

This landmark agreement between the public and private sector heralds the development of new integrated human settlements comprising a range of high- and low-density residential housing, together with all associated municipal services.

These settlements will support the development of a vibrant, sustainable and dignified lifestyle for the people living in the Marikana area. Development of the land is scheduled to commence before 30 June 2014.

Human Settlements Minister Connie September said: “This deal will help address the critical shortage of appropriate and affordable accommodation in the area and fulfil our core constitutional mandate of delivering adequate housing and basic services to communities living within the Greater Rustenburg municipal area.”

Lonmin Chief Executive Ben Magara said: “We believe that this is an important step in the journey of contributing to the well-being of our communities and Lonmin’s employees in particular.

“This donation forms part of our commitment to support the Presidential Initiative to improve living conditions in Rustenburg, and we look forward to working closely with our partners and other stakeholders.”

In addition and outside of this donation, Lonmin will contribute at least R500 million over the next five years towards employee accommodation and community bulk services.

MEC for Human Settlements, Public Safety and Liaison, Nono Maloyi, welcomed Lonmin’s donation of land.

“This will support the government’s human settlement initiatives, and assist the North West province to address the need for shelter and related services within the Greater Marikana area.” – SAnews.gov.za

The Department of Basic Education has commended learners and examination administrators for assisting to ensure an incident free start to the 2013 National Senior Certificate (NSC) Examinations.

The first day of the 2013 NSC Examination went off without a hitch on Monday, as learners sat and wrote their first English Paper 1 -- in Home Language, First Additional Language and Second Additional Language -- in the morning session.

In the afternoon session, learners sat for their Music Paper 1 Theory.

“With a total of 576 490 full time and 130 646 part time candidates registered for the NSC Examinations, a seamless start to the administration of the 2013 examinations, leaves the department confident of yet another year free of incident.

“I am happy to announce that reports coming in from all provinces indicate a good start, free of incidents or irregularities,” said department spokesperson, Panyaza Lesufi.

This morning will see learners sitting for a three hour Accounting Paper. In the afternoon they will sit for IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, Siswati and isiNdebele Home Language and First Additional Language. – SAnews.gov.za

North West Premier Thandi Modise has called for an independent investigation into the accident in which one mineworker was killed and three others injured at Lonmin’s Marikana platinum mine on Saturday.

“In conveying our condolences to the family of the mineworker who lost his life in the accident and wishing those injured a speedy recovery, we wish to acknowledge the mine’s commitment to investigate the incident, but insist that an independent investigation by the Department of Mineral Resources will be more credible to assure us that there was no negligence or failure on its part to adhere to set occupational health and safety standards,” said Modise.

She said although Lonmin’s safety results have been impressive over the past few years -- having recorded the lowest industry fatality frequency rate compared to its peers in the platinum industry -- every incident presented an opportunity to “learn and implement corrective action to mitigate the reoccurrence of such incidents because one death of a miner on duty is a death too many”. - SAnews.gov.za

Just under 900 multi-sport enthusiasts gathered at the picturesque Breeland Cellar on Sunday, 27 October 2013 to test their skill at the action packed Slanghoek Triathlon presented by Vital Health Foods.Â* Participants could choose between a Junior Triathlon, a Short MTB Triathlon, a Long MTB Triathlon and a Road Bike Triathlon. Bradley Weiss took top [...]Slanghoek Triathlon, a dream come true is a post from: Time-to-Tri


more [url=http://www.time-to-tri.com/south-africa/slanghoek-triathlon-a-dream-come-trueTriathlon news ...[/url]

Just over 4000 trail runners and outdoor enthusiasts gathered at Lievland Wine Estate and Wiesenhof Legacy Park (just outside of Stellenbosch) on Saturday, 19 October 2013 and Sunday, 20 October 2013 to be part of the action at the much anticipated New Balance IMPI Challenge. Combining trail running with an adventure style obstacle course, the [...]Record Field at Cape IMPI is a post from: Time-to-Run South Africa


more Running South Africa ...

A record field of close to 18 500 participants will line up outside the Cape Town Stadium on Sunday 13 October to take part in this year’s OUTsurance… Time-to-Run – Pre-event Gun Run 2013 this weekend is a post from: Time-to-Run South AfricaGun Run 2013 this weekend is a post from: Time-to-Run South Africa


more Running South Africa ...