JHB South Edition
A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS 25 January 2022
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Matric Results: Announced Pass Rate Vs ‘Real’ Pass Rate
Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is pleased with the results of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams for 2021, with the class having achieved a pass rate of 76.4%, up marginally from 76.2% for 2020’s candidates. But the figure isn’t quite accurate, depending on who you ask. Motshekga announced the matric results on Thursday evening, 20 January 2022. The accuracy of the official matric pass rate
has always been challenged, including by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and NGO Equal Education. The DA is yet to give its official reaction to the matric results, but when it does, its “real” national pass rate will likely be much lower than the one announced by the Department of Basic Education. This is because the party uses Grade 10 enrolments as a way to measure what it says is the true pass rate. When the 2020 matric results were announced,
MATRIC RESULTS: ‘REAL’ PASS RATE IS 54% – EQUAL EDUCATION According to Equal Education, the “real” national pass mark from the 2021 matric results is 54%. The NGO also believes using the throughput rate of learners from Grade 2 (to matric) will give a more clearer picture.
Tensions ran high outside the Johannesburg Medium B Correctional Services Centre on Friday morning, where convicted murderer Donovan Moodley will face the parole board.
the outcome,” she said. Van Niekerk said his presentation to the parole board would take about two hours. A large media contingent gathered outside the prison waiting to hear the outcome. “In our experience, the parole decision will not be made today,” said activist Miranda Jordan of Waca, who was involved in opposing parole for child rapist Bob Hewitt. Matthews, a Bond University student, went
Heatwave To Hit Gauteng, Free State Next – Weather Service
the DA said the pass rate for that cohort was 44.1%, significantly lower than the 76.2% declared by Motshekga at the time.
Leigh Matthews’ Parents Contest Killer Donovan Moodley’s Request For Parole After serving less than 17 years of the life sentence he received for kidnapping and shooting student Leigh Matthews with hollowpoint bullets, Moodley is entitled to make his bid for freedom. Leigh’s parents Rob and Sharon Matthews are at the prison and will oppose Moodley’s application. Appearing tense but determined, the couple were united as they entered the prison gates with their lawyer, Peter van Niekerk of Eversheds Sutherland, and activist Luke Lamprecht of Women & Men Against Child Abuse (Waca). “We are ready,” Rob said shortly before being called into the hearing with his wife. An emotional Sharon said she was hoping the parole board would see reason and understand the feelings of the family, who had undergone such pain and loss and would have to accept that Moodley, who caused their pain, could be allowed his freedom. “But we will know better how we feel about things once we have had our say and we know
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missing from the Sandton campus on July 9 2004, a day after she turned 21. Twelve days after a R50,000 ransom was paid, she was found dead in a veld in Walkerville. Her body had been kept in a freezer before being dumped, the trial court concluded. Moodley was arrested by SA supercop Piet Byleveldt. He was sentenced to life in prison in August 2005.
After soaring temperatures across the Western Cape over the weekend, inland residents can expect to see the thermometer climb in their regions later this week. The Western Cape recorded temperatures of 42 and 43 degrees in some parts of the province over the weekend as a heatwave descended, said South African Weather Service forecaster Bransdu Bulo. Temperatures soared from Saturday, driven by a high-pressure system and offshore surface flow. On Monday, the province was still in the grips of a heatwave, with warnings issued for the western parts of Namakwa, the eastern parts of the Garden Route and the Witzenberg municipality. Extremely high fire danger conditions had also been forecast for places in the Central Karoo. The province was expected to start seeing cooler weather from Tuesday. However, the hot weather conditions were likely to shift to the eastern and central areas of the country, said Balu. However, inland residents were not likely to see the scorching hot days experienced on the coast. “We’ll see high temperatures in the eastern and central areas of the country, but they won’t be nearly as hot as recorded in the Western Cape,” said Balu. Maximum temperatures were expected to reach around 35 degrees in parts of Gauteng and the Free State, with the warmer conditions settling in from Wednesday and into the weekend.
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25 January 2022
Matric Results: Top-Performing Districts In The Country
Announcing the NSC 2021 matric results Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga said: “The Class of 2021 must be commended due to the astronomical challenges they faced. The pass rate stands at 76.4 %, an improvement of 0.2%. This includes the results from the progressed learners. This represents a record of
537 687 candidates, who passed the 2021 NSC examinations – an improvement of 21.9% passes from 2020. Without the progressed learners, the overall pass rate stands at 79.8% – just 0.2% below the 80% pass rate.” The 2021 matric is the second cohort to write the November National Senior Certificate (NSC)
examinations during the Covid-19 pandemic. According to Umalusi, the matric class of 2021 was disrupted in their schooling for two years and lost more than 50% of their Grade 11 year due to the pandemic. These are the top-performing district in the country:1st place is Tshwane South from Gauteng with 89.3%; 2nd place is Motheo in the Free State with 87.9%; 3rd place is Fezile Dabi in the Free State, with 87.5%; 4th place is Johannesburg West in Gauteng, with 86.5%;Tied in the 5th place, are Ekurhuleni South in Gauteng and Metro North in the Western Cape, with 86.2%; 7th place is Lejweleputswa in the Free State with 85.6%; 8th place is Xhariep in the Free State, with 85.5%; 9th place is Johannesburg North in Gauteng with 84.9%; 10th place , is Eden and Central Karoo in the Western Cape, with 84.4%; Teachers’ unions reaction The Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysers Unie
(SAOU) congratulates the Grade 12 class of 2021 with their academic performances. “The pass rate of 76.4% for the NSC examination under the auspices of the DBE that exceeds the 76.2% of last year is truly satisfactory in light of the serious disruptions as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021,” said the union. The National Professional Teachers’ Organisation South Africa (Naptosa) says it is pleased with the pass rate of 76.4 % which represents a marginal increase from 2020. “This improved result is remarkable in the context of the difficulties that the class of 2021 faced. Clearly, dedication, resilience, and hard work once again proved to be the elements of success on the part of both the learners and teachers.” Lastly, Equal Education applauded the hard work and time invested by pupils, teachers, parents and schools over the last two years to get to this point.
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25 January 2022
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Matric Results: IEB Pass Rate Shows Slight Increase To 98.39% entry to degree study, compared to 88.41% in 2020 while 7.82% qualified for entry to diploma study, compared to 8.14% in 2020. In addition, 1.37% achieved entry for study at the Higher Certificate level, compared to 1.5% in 2020. The Class of 2021 is the second group of matrics Explaining the impact the pandemic has had on to write their examinations during the Covid-19 the matric 2021 cohort, Oberholzer said Grade pandemic. They are also the worst affected by 11 is spent primarily on ensuring that learners the pandemic as they lost 50% of their Grade have a firm grasp and full understanding of 11 learning time. This is according to Umalusi key concepts and content in their respective – the council which sets and monitors standards subjects of study. She said only the first term for general and further education and training of Grade 12 is often spent on completion of the in South Africa in accordance with the National curriculum while for the rest of the year matrics Qualifications. are exposed to applications of the concepts and Anne Oberholzer, the IEB chief executive said content. the Class of 2021 were the “true victims” of “The journey for Grade 12 candidates of Covid-19. “As with an iceberg, the achievement 2021 was somewhat different with school we see in the class of 2021 hides the depth closures from as early as March 2020 and of the struggle and effort that underpins this then sporadically throughout the year, success. These Grade 12 learners were the true continuing right through their Grade 12 year. victims of Covid-19. The Class of 2021 has had They experienced a disruptive change of an to dig deep mentally and emotionally to find unprecedented nature within a relatively short the strength to face the tremendous challenges space of time,” Oberholzer said. of a radically changed teaching and learning Yesterday, Umalusi Council chairman Professor environment of the last two years. They truly John Volmink confirmed that the IEB NSC deserve the accolades they receive,” she said. examinations had no systemic irregularities and According to the IEB board, 12 857 full- were credible. He said the executive committee time and 968 part-time candidates sat for had approved the release of the IEB results. the IEB National Senior Certificate (NSC) Those who would like to apply for remarking examinations. can do so by Friday, January 28. Results for This is an increase from 2020 when there were remarking will be released on March 15. 12 024 full-time candidates and 1 139 part-time Meanwhile, the closing date for learners who candidates.HRS Matrics 2021-Tame Times.pdf 2 2022/01/24 qualify 10:09 to enrol for the May/June examination Oberholzer said 89.2% of the cohort achieved is March 30. THE Independent Examination Board (IEB) has released its results for Matric 2021 with the pass mark at 98.39% – a fraction up from last year’s mark of 98.06%.
300,000 School Dropouts Due To COVID It is estimated that nearly 300,000 pupils may have dropped out of primary schools across SA over a six-month period during the lockdown. Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga confirmed this in response to questions in the National Assembly by DA MP Nomsa Tarabella-Marchesi. KwaZulu-Natal had the highest number of dropouts at 126,553, followed by the Western Cape with 114,588, Gauteng with 55,571, the Northern Cape with 10,290 and Eastern Cape with 8,153. It’s believed that 5,482 pupils may have dropped out in the Free State and 4,390 in Mpumalanga. The least affected provinces were Limpopo with 800 and North West with only 370. Minister Motshekga said there were several methods used to encourage parents to return their children to schools. “Parents are contacted through WhatsApp groups. On the third day of non-attendance, letters are written to parents. Teachers also make house visits. Non-attendance by learners is discussed at district command council meetings and circuit management centres are encouraged to communicate with municipalities,” she said. “[We] encourage parents to send absent learners to school. Through telephone calls, SMSs, local radio stations and home visits,
dates for returning of respective grades are timeously communicated to parents and learners. A demerit system is used on learners who are absent without valid reasons.” The department, in conjunction with the health department, on November 4 agreed to allow pupils who tested positive for Covid-19 to write the combined 2020 November examinations under specific conditions and safety protocols. “The important part is that parents/guardians of candidates who have tested positive for Covid-19 are obliged to inform the school principal immediately of the positive status of the candidate. This is to ensure that arrangements can be made for the candidate to write the examination at an isolation venue that complies with the health, safety and also regulations relating to a secure examination,” said the minister.
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25 January 2022
Proteas coach charged with ‘gross misconduct’ In a dramatic statement released on Thursday, CSA confirmed that Boucher would meet with Advocate Terry Motau on 26 January “to determine a timetable for the proceedings”.
The Emirates Lions and Cell C Sharks might have seemingly forgone defence in their United Rugby Championship (URC) clash this past Saturday – 11 tries were dotted down in the encounter after all – but, specifically for the Joburgers, it was the “coach-killers” that really cost them the match.
This comes after former national spinner Paul Adams implicated Boucher in a racial incident when the two were teammates, alleging that the former wicket-keeper was part of a group who called him a “brown sh*t”. BOUCHER COULD BE SET TO FACE THE AXE Thursday’s statement also pointed to the fact that the charges against Boucher “could lead to his dismissal”. “The Board remains mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s Constitution and labour legislation. It is now up to the inquiry to determine to which extent the allegations are true and justify the need for further disciplinary steps,” CSA Board Chairperson, Lawson Naidoo, said. CSA further confirmed that a charge sheet, containing both the disciplinary charges against Boucher, as well as his rights, was provided to him on January 17. The full statement reads as follows: Cricket South Africa (CSA) has appointed well respected Senior Counsel Advocate Terry Motau (SC) as chairperson of the disciplinary hearing into allegations of misconduct against Proteas men’s coach, Mark Boucher. It is proposed that the parties will meet with Advocate on 26th January 2022 to determine a timetable for the proceedings. This follows December’s Social Justice and Nation-Building (SJN) report, which made tentative findings regarding allegations of discrimination and racism against various persons, including Mr Boucher. Specifically, during the SJN process, allegations of racism were levelled against Mr Boucher
Small errors cost Lions big time in Sharks URC loss
by his former Proteas teammate, Paul Adams. In releasing his report, the Ombudsman, Advocate Dumisa Ntsebeza SC, indicated that he was not in a position to make “definite findings” and recommended that a further process be undertaken in this regard. In keeping with this approach, the Board was obligated to institute further formal enquiries into CSA employees, suppliers or contractors who are implicated by the SJN report, and this is the first of these processes. “The Board remains mindful of its duty to treat allegations of racism or discrimination with the utmost seriousness and in a manner that ensures fairness and due process in terms of South Africa’s Constitution and labour legislation. It is now up to the inquiry to determine to which extent the allegations are true and justify the need for further disciplinary steps,” explains CSA Board Chairperson, Lawson Naidoo. CSA confirms that a charge sheet, containing
both the disciplinary charges against Mr Boucher, as well as his rights, was provided to him on 17 January. The upcoming inquiry will also consider concerns and allegations that arose following the resignation of former assistant coach, Enoch Nkwe. While Mr Boucher is being charged with gross misconduct, which could lead to his dismissal, CSA emphasises it is important that the independent inquiry first needs to test all allegations before any question of sanction can arise. “CSA emphasises that any implicated party will be given a fair opportunity to be heard so that finality can be achieved,” says Naidoo. Further steps and action by CSA to transform cricket and act on other applicable recommendations in the SJN report, aligned to the Board’s new strategic framework and pillars of access, inclusion and excellence, will be announced in due course.
The most glaring of these errors was of course the last play the Lions made in the match while trailing 40-37, where they squandered a chance to claim victory when they knocked on the ball on attack. Instead of putting pressure on the visitors in the closing moments, the mistake rather saw a reversal - the Sharks making the best of the turnover to score a sixth try in the 80th minute in the corner for a 47-37 triumph. It was not the only moment that would have had Ivan van Rooyen and Co angrily ripping their hair out, while cursing their lack of composure and execution. “We made four big errors,” said Van Rooyen after the loss,” which basically gave them four tries. “One was a line-out overthrow; one a missed tackle and then they went 15m on to score; the other one from the kick-off; and then a turnover and then they scored from there … and then also I just think territorially, we were just not good enough.” “Against the Stormers we were very clinical. Every opportunity that we got, we got points on the board. (Saturday) was a bit different ... we still created a lot of opportunities and we could have gotten points on the board but minor errors gave the Sharks opportunities and they scored from that. “Every time we got points on the board, after the kick off they basically pinned us in our 22 and either got possession there or got a penalty, keeping us in the 22. I don’t think it is major things that we have to sort out, it is small things and at the end of the day it is the small things that make the difference.”