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Premier lauds 2014 matrics He also appealed to learners who did not succeed to rewrite their exams

Gauteng Premier David Makhura

Johannesburg - Gauteng Premier David Makhura has praised the class of 2014, who recorded a 75.8% matric pass rate.

In his congratulatory message on Tuesday, the Premier had a special word of commendation for the matrics of Gauteng, who achieved an 84.7% pass rate, the highest provincial performance in the country.

The Premier said he was pleased with the good leadership demonstrated by the Department of Basic Education.

The province now has its sights set on achieving a 100% matric pass rate in the future, Premier Makhura said.

“I am happy but I don’t want to say that 84.7% represents our standard.

We want to get to 100%, which means that every year we must step up our efforts,” the Premier said.

He said the achievement affirmed

the United Nations’ decision to bestow the provincial Department of Education with the UN Public Service Award last year.

The 84.7% pass rate was achieved after 99 478 learners sat for the 2014 final matric exams. Premier Makhura said while this achievement is a drop from the 87% achieved by the class of 2013, it is a good baseline for the province to start from, as this was the first time the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS) was tested at matric level. The CAPS curriculum was phased in during 2012 in grade 10, 2013 in grade 11 and 2014 in grade 12.

Premier Makhura attributed the improved quality of matric passes this year to the Secondary School Intervention Programme (SSIP), which is an intervention programme aimed at

improving the quality of education in underperforming schools in Gauteng.

He urged parents to do their part in supporting their children. “We can assure you that as government we will do our part. Parents do your part, educators do your part and learners must also do their part,” he said.

He also appealed to learners who did not succeed to go back and rewrite their exams. “This is not the end of the world. You must handle defeat with dignity. Take this time to pause and reflect on where you need to improve and go back to the drawing board,” he said.

Makhura made a commitment that the provincial government will continue to work with underperforming districts and schools in ensuring that Gauteng remains the leading province in education. SAnews.gov.za

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Gauteng scores Do not highest in matric give up Staff Reporter news@inner-city-gazette.co.za

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Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi

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Published by Inner-City Gazette 149 Pritchard Street, Johannesburg 2000 Tel : 011 023 - 7588 011 024 - 8210 011 402 - 1977 Fax : 086 609 8601 Email : info@inner-city-gazette.co.za Website : www.inner-city-gazette.co.za

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8 - 15 January 2015

n Monday Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga announced that 2014 matriculants had achieved a 75.8 percent pass nationally, and Gauteng scored the highest with 84.7 percent, followed by the North West with 84.6 percent.

The Department of Basic Education had hosted the first matric learners to have written the Curriculum and Assessment Policy Statement (CAPS)-aligned final examinations for the National Senior Certificate.

Minister Motshekga said CAPS is the strengthening of the National Curriculum Statement.

“It specifies what should be taught, which topics should be covered per subject, grade, and per quarter of the school calendar year. It also provides guidelines on how assess-

ment must be carried out, including adding more content to some subject such as Mathematics and Business Studies. In some instances certain aspects were replaced by others.

Out of things the older generation has only learned in university, these learners are already learning in matric.”

Gauteng Education MEC Panyaza Lesufi said the pass rate is 2.5 per cent lower than last year. “This is however the first benchmark, after South Africans complained about the quality of matric, and we have strengthened that quality, which makes these learners the best in the history of this country.”

He added that he is focused on ‘getting rid of the chalkboard’ in the classroom. “On January 14 seven schools will be going live with learners using tablets and teachers with laptops in classrooms,” he said.

minister Education Minister urges unsuccessful matrics to try writing matric again More Matshediso

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asic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has encouraged Grade 12 learners who did not pass matric in 2014 not to abandon their Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga studies and work on rewriting.

The minister said all was not lost (CAPS) throughout the education sysand that they should explore various tem. available options. She urged them to “CAPS is the strengthening of the Naseek advice from their schools on what tional Curriculum Statement and clearly is best for them. “It is only with an ac- specifies what should be taught, which ceptable level of education that we topics should be covered per subject, can break the chains of poverty. The grade, and per quarter of the school calcountry needs you to succeed endar year. It also provides guidelines so that we can build a pros- on how assessments must be carried perous nation. You can only out, including adding more content to transform the future if you some subject such Mathematics and have the knowledge that will Business Studies,” said the Minister. allow you to take your place The Minister said the education sector in society,” she said. is on the right path of addressing qualThe class of 2014 recorded ity and efficiency. “It is encouraging a pass of 75.8%, down from that some of these learners that were 78.2% in 2013. Motshekga progressed have attained a NSC pass said the decrease in the pass and some obtained Bachelor’s passes,” rate was expected in light of Minister Motshekga said. the policy changes that afShe said it would be unwise to blame fected the teaching and learn- the underperformance in some subjects ing of the class of 2014. on these learners. “The phenomenon of She said 2014 was a water- learners who have not met promotion shed as it marked the comple- requirements is not unique to South Aftion of the implementation rica, as it happens in countries like Finof the Curriculum and As- land, Sweden, Denmark, Japan, Korea sessment Policy Statement and United Kingdom. SAnews

Fordsburg heist men held Staff Reporter news@inner-city-gazette.co.za

Inner-City Gazette subscribes to the South African Press Code that prescribes news that is truthful, accurate, fair and balanced. If we don’t live up to the standards set in the Code, please contact the Public Advocate in the Press Council at 011 484 3612/8, fax: 011 484 3619.

Website: www.presscouncil.org.za.

On Wednesday Joburg Central police arrested two suspects for business robbery and possession of an unlicensed firearm at Dragon City in Fordsburg, Communications Officer Warrant Officer Xoli Mbele says.

He says three suspects allegedly entered the clothing shop, produced firearms and tied up a 66-year-old female and three colleagues with cable ties.

“They took an undisclosed amount of money and fled. Community members alerted the police and two of the suspects were arrested and the third is still at large with the money and a firearm.

A firearm with live ammunition and no serial number was recovered from the men,” Warrant Officer Mbele says.

He adds that police also arrested two men for robbery at corner Harrison and Bree streets on Sunday.

“The suspects blocked her way and threatened to stab her. They took her cellphone and fled. She then alerted a police patrol and they were arrested, and her cellphone recovered,” he said.

In the same period police arrested a 28-year-old man for sexual assault at Park Station Hotel in Wanderers Street.

“The suspect allegedly sexually assaulted a 27-year-old man at Dorough House. The victim was enjoying drinks with friends when a suspect asked him to accompany him to the toilet. It is alleged that at the toilet the suspect demanded to have sex with the victim and he refused. The suspect grabbed his private parts until the victim used a bottle to defend himself,” he said.

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News Briefs from around SA Businesses lose millions in power outage

PSC spokesperson Macks Lesufi

Dept refutes theft reports

Polokwane - The Limpopo Health Department has denied a report of apparent theft of medicine at the Musina hospital and other health centres in the Vhembe district.

The spokesperson of the Public Service Commission Macks Lesufi says patients have continued to receive medication on time. “There are no such challenges in terms of equipment and theft of medicine in Lephalale and Musina hospitals. Our facilities are receiving medication as scheduled and patients do the same. If there is any theft that would be picked up by our depot which dispatches medicine and equipment at Lephalale hospital.” SABC News

Bloemfontein - Factories in Tshiame, Harrismith, continue to lose millions of rands following the burning of a power sub-station in December.

Electricity has still not been restored to the area, and residents blame the municipality for the delay. About 2 800 households have been left in darkness and factories employing hundreds have cut down production, or shut down.

The Ebenhaezer school jersey factory employing 270 people has cut down production by 50% after it bought generators to keep going, according to Managing Member Almarie Jonker.

The municipality had promised temporary measures by the end of December; now Mayor Vusimuzi Tshabalala says they must wait till the end of the week. He blames the Christmas season for failure of suppliers to deliver.

Local police say they have been dispersing demonstrating residents since Monday morning when they poured out to the streets saying they are tired of empty promises.

Safety MEC Willies Mchunu

MEC Refiloe Mtsweni (left) with community members.

Municipalities wait for payment Mbombela - Mpumalanga municipalities are still waiting for the settlement of outstanding debts from provincial and national departments believed to amount to more than R210 million.

The money accumulated through outstanding payments from previous years for electricity, water and rates.

Mpumalanga provincial government departments are set to have paid about R44 million of the outstanding debt by the end of the second quarter of the current financial

year. Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC, Refiloe Mtsweni says her department has intervened to assist those departments to pay their outstanding debts.

“It has been accumulating over years, which is a problem, but now we are trying to manage it quite effectively and so far we have seen that it is starting to decrease.”

Mtsweni adds that it has been difficult for departments to pay their bills effectively as some municipalities only provided figures without invoices.

SABC News

Residents destroy alleged baby snatcher’s home Cape Town - Residents of the Nkanini informal settlement in the Harare section of Khayelitsha have torn down the house of the woman accused of snatching a newborn baby from the Groote Schuur Hospital on New Year’s Day. This emerged in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court on Monday where Ntombekhaya Mgqaza, 35, appeared in connection with Nomveliso Sem-Sem clutches her son the kidnapping of Baxolile Sem-Sem, who was snatched from beside his mother when as she leaves the court on Monday.

he was just 12 days old. Baxolile has since been reunited with his mother Nomveliso Sem-Sem. Sem-Sem, a mother of four, was asleep when Baxolile was taken in the early hours of the morning. He was traced to the Nkanini informal settlement on Friday and was back to his mother by the weekend.

Mgqaza was arrested on Friday and is charged with kidnapping a minor. On Monday she asked to be represented by a legal aid attorney and wants to apply for bail. Prosecu-

tor Dail Andrews asked for a postponement to compile a full bail profile.Andrews said according to the bail information received, Mgqaza gave the investigating officer a false address, and was considered a flight risk.

“The address she stayed at has been broken down by the community and she operates under two surnames,” Andrews said.

The court heard that Mgqaza had no previous convictions or pending court cases.

The matter was postponed to February 13.

Farm killing shocks MEC Durban - KwaZulu-Natal community safety MEC Willies Mchunu says the murder of a 69-year-old Estcourt farmer in his home on Monday is shocking.

“Such incidents should be strongly condemned. I am assured that police are working around the clock to ensure that those who are responsible for this coldblooded murder are brought to book as soon as possible.”

He said the farmer, Stick Green, was shot in the stomach by a group of men who attacked him on Monday morning.

“The suspects are alleged to have stolen Green’s bakkie, cellphone, laptop and other valuables before fleeing the scene,” said Mchunu.

He expressed condolences to Green’s relatives, colleagues and friends. Mchunu was concerned that incidents like these would undermine food security and business confidence in the province.

“Once again, we urge all members of the provincial farming community, including farm workers to work together to ensure safety and security in this important sector of our economy,” he said. IOL News

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8 - 15 January 2015

Some of the residents who attended the park cleaning event.

Kensington residents clean neglected park Own Correspondent

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group of I love Kensington Association (Ilka) members and some volunteers recently braved the scorching summer heat to clean the Fotheringham park.

Ilka chairperson Lornette Joseph said the initiative was aimed at cleaning up the park, following complaints from the area’s residents.

“We appreciate community Staff Reporter news@inner-city-gazette.co.za

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involvement because we host the clean up once a month.

The community needs to get involved because it is their park, they need to take ownership; if you see a bottle, pick it up. We need all residents to be active, don’t just dump rubbish anywhere,” she said.

Joseph also called upon Malvern and Kensington residents to participate in the clean-up days. She was disappointed with the low turnout

but thanked the Malvern residents who came to the cleanup, her team and the Kensington residents for dedicating their time in the initiative.

Among the residents who participated in the park cleanup campaign were Cynthia Piercy, Bernadette Wentzel, Lornette Joseph, Chris Lie Green, Fraser Thabethe, Peter Mulligana, Richard Francis and Robert Piercy, who appear in the picture shown above.

Huge drug bust in Berea

n Tuesday the Hawks police unit arrested five men in connection with a large amount of drugs that were found in their

flat in Berea. The Hawks’ spokesperson Captain Paul Ramaloko said the men were arrested during an operation at the Highrise apartment building on Tuesday.

“Our team found 1kg of heroin

and 500g of cocaine rocks with a street value of R375 000,” Captain Ramaloko explained.

He added that police are investigating the men being part of a drugs syndicate in the area.

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How to choose student accommodation ‘A student’s living environment plays as large a role in the success of their education as their learning environment does, this is where they learn to manage their time, relationships and commitment to their studies without supervision’ Thuli Lamani For those students who will be far from home, finding suitable student accommodation is just as important as making sure you have all the reading material. A student’s living environment plays as large a role in the success of their tertiary education as their learning environment does, as this is where they learn to manage their time, their relationships, and their commitment to their studies without the supervision of their parents.

Tips for choosing accommodation One of the top items on that list is finding ac-

commodation for students, once they have been accepted to study at an institution far from home.

The universities and FET colleges do not have enough accommodation on campus for all their students, and it falls on students, and their parents, to find a suitable spot for them to live and study for the duration of their tertiary education.

“The student lifestyle is multi-faceted, and accommodation should offer all the facilities that students need in what is, for many, their first experience of living away from home,” says Craig McMurray, CEO of Respublica, one of the country’s leading providers of student accommodation. “A student’s living environment plays as large a role in the success of their tertiary education as their learning environment does, as this is where they learn to manage their time, relationships and commitment to studies without the supervision of parents. It is vital for the success of their studies that they live in a secure environment that affords them the privacy and quiet they need to study, as well as the social and infrastructural support they need to survive away from home. This

includes everything from social environments and activities to the convenience of access to laundromats, food and other services like WiFi and on site gyms for exercise.”

Choosing accommodation is about so much more than finding the cheapest possible spot within striking distance of the student’s lectures.

1. Even though universities and FET colleges don’t own enough accommodation for all their students, they do accredit independent residence operators who offer suitable accommodation to supplement campus residences. If you are engaging with a student accommodation landlord, check that they are accredited by the institution you’re engaging with, to be sure that rentals are fair, the accommodation is suitable, and that you are dealAFHCO’s Bridgeport apartment building in Braamfontein. ing with a reputable landlord.

Make sure your chosen facility has common ar2. Safety and security: Students should feel as safe when they are in their accom- eas where students can relax and socialise – while modation as they do when they’re at home – so being confident that they’re doing so in safety. check that the facility that you’re considering has Operators like Respublica are now going as far as suitable security, both to protect the student’s be- offering comprehensive residence life programs.

These provide students with a strong sense of longings, and to protect their person too.

3. Pricing vs value: Shop around for the best deal community and support through co-curricular – but also consider that the cheapest option may and residence education programs and activities not necessarily be the best. Make sure you have to enhance their experience at university. considered all the potential costs as there are of- 7. Healthy body, healthy mind: Choose a facilten hidden expenses not included in the basic fee ity that offers catering for residents – even if it is (utilities, wifi, laundry, residence life activities just for one balanced meal each day, with the stuetc) that cause costs to escalate. Fully fitted ac- dent being responsible for their other meals while commodation ensures parents and students don’t on campus. First prize is a facility that includes a need to invest in appliances, desks, cupboards or gym or other exercise options too. beds. If you’re investing so much in your child’s 8. Top technology: Gone are the days where stueducation, it makes sense to make sure that they dents could complete assignments by spending live in an environment in which they have the hours in the library. The internet age has made privacy, security, and ideal conditions in which more information more accessible, and your student should have ready and easy access to the to keep their end of the deal: to study.

4. Keep it close: Look for accommodation that online world. Does your chosen facility offer is close to campus, or at the very least, that is WiFi and broadband access? A ‘yes’ answer to close to public transport that offers easy access to this question is no longer a nice-to-have, but is classes. Research the city, as there are increasing- rather an essential.

“Keeping this checklist close while you’re shoply greater options to choose from – for example in Johannesburg, students can travel by taxi, the ping around for accommodation will mean that Rea Vaya bus system, or the Metro Bus system, your student will be living in a safe, secure and nurturing environment that will make it easier as well as the Gautrain or metered taxi services.

5. Creature comforts: It’s the creature comforts for them to achieve the most out of student life. that make it easier to stay in and study, and the With so much being invested in tuition fees, it accommodation should include the basics such makes sense to make sure that students are livas beds, built in cupboards, lockers for valuables ing in an environment where they don’t have to and a desk, all of which should be in good repair. worry about security, laundry, infrastructure, or Reputable operators, like Respublica, provide how they’re going to get to classes.

“Students who have to worry about these basics fully serviced apartments with fully fitted rooms are often the ones who drop out of studies, adand kitchens that are also cleaned weekly.

6. Living the lifestyle: Being a student is about versely impacting their lives, in some cases irreso much more than just studying – it’s about versibly, and the lives of parents and sometimes building relationships and debating the mean- wider communities who have made huge sacriing of life until strange hours of the morning. fices to pay for their tuition,” McMurray adds.

8 - 15 January 2015

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SA boxing champion Ali Funeka

SA has six of the world’s best boxers Ron Jackson

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ix South African boxers began the new year as ‘world’ champions, with Hekkie Budler holding two titles. At the end of 2014, Ali Funeka held the IBO welterweight title, Lusanda Komanisi was the IBO’s featherweight champion and Zolani Tete and Lwandile Siyatha wore the IBF and IBO junior bantamweight crowns.

Moruti Mthalane was the IBO flyweight champion and Budler held the WBA and IBO minimumweight titles. That the six South Africans boasted five IBO titles to go with one IBF and one WBA belt does not look particularly impressive, if one considers that the IBO did not have champions in seven of the 17 divisions. All those vacant belts suggest that the IBO are not among the leading sanctioning bodies in boxing.

Funeka is in good company. The other welterweight champions are Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Wladimir Klitschko, who unified four of the five heavyweight titles, is nearest to a universally acknowledged champion. Sergey Kovalev is a triple champion.

Leading bodies are the World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Council and the International Boxing Organisation. They all brand their title holders as world boxing champions.

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Bafana coach Shakes Mashaba has set to emulate the 1996 Bafana side that won the African Cup of Nations.

Bafana to win Afcon Bafana Bafana supporters hope the team brings the trophy home.

Bafana coach aims at winning the Africa Cup of Nations

Soccer Correspondent

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afana Bafana coach Ephraim ‘Shakes’ Mashaba has reiterated his desire to return from Equatorial Guinea with the Africa Cup of Nations trophy.

South Africa has been paired in a daunting Group C, alongside Africa’s top-ranked side Algeria and continental powerhouses Ghana and Senegal, in the finals taking place from January 17 to February 8.

However, Mashaba insists his men are out to emulate the ‘Class of 96’,

who delivered Bafana’s sole Afcon title on home soil.

“We are going to compete. We are not there just to add numbers. We have felt your support; the players we have are of the best quality,” Mashaba said.

Regarding their final local training session, he said: “Our session was more about pushing the players in extreme heat. They’re confident.”

Bafana have scheduled a warm-up match against Cameroon on Saturday in Libreville. They hope to play another practice game against Gabon

before opening their Afcon campaign against Algeria in Mongomo on 19 January.

Safa president Danny Jordaan praised Shakes Mashaba for instilling a winning mentality in Bafana Bafana, while Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula urged the team to make the country proud at Afcon.

“2015 promises to be a very challenging year for us,” Jordaan said.

“We currently have three teams in camp. I can’t remember the last time this happened in South Africa.

Equatorial Guinea is not the end of

the road; it is the beginning of the road. We are in a group where only the best are.”

Jordaan added: “Previously we used to fight for draws in away matches.

Shakes has changed that thinking.”

Mbalula said: “The players have come of age. This is a special moment for South Africa. We’re going to Afcon as competitors.

“You have restored the pride and glory of the nation. If you win Afcon, it will be a glorious moment. Go there and make South Africa proud.

Our flag and national anthem will be restored among those nations.”

South Africa winger Thuso Phala insists the team are not the underdogs in their Africa Cup of Nations group, despite being paired with continental giants Algeria, Ghana and Senegal.

“Bearing in mind that we qualified with a match to go, I don’t think we can be seen as underdogs,” Phala said. “Going to the tournament most countries will be more prepared for us because perhaps they have been watching our tapes during the qualifiers, so I don’t think we are underdogs. But if the other countries want to see us as underdogs it will be to their disadvantage, if you think about it with the players we have we booked our place in Equatorial Guinea with a game remaining but they still had to wait for the last match to qualify. That said, I see us as one of the favourites in our group.”

Phala, who scored his first international goal in the 1-0 recent friendly defeat of Zambia, added: “The most difficult part is to qualify for the knockout stages, but once you are through it’s anybody’s game. Last time we lost on penalties and it could have gone either way. This time we must work on qualifying for the next round and we could go all the way.”