Boksburg Edition
A FRESH APPROACH TO LOCAL NEWS 25 January 2022
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Matric Results: Announced Pass Rate Vs ‘Real’ Pass Rate
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Leigh Matthews’ Parents Contest Killer Donovan Moodley’s Request For Parole
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, the DA said the pass rate for that cohort was 44.1%, significantly lower than the 76.2% declared by Motshekga at the time. 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 Vaccinated Do Not Have More Rights Than Others No one is forced to get vaccinated. The misinformation surrounding mandatory vaccination sites must stop. No one is forced to vaccinate, but establishments “reserve the right of admission”, so what does this mean? This means that an establishment can set out rules to be followed by those who want or require access to the site. As an example, a nightclub may require that patrons not wear tracksuits or caps when they visit the site. This does not mean you are banned from wearing these two articles of clothing forever, but just do not wear them when you intend to access the establishment. If you wear a cap and or a tracksuit you will be denied entry to the establishment. Being denied access is just the establishment exercising its right of admission. The mandatory vaccination sites require that you be vaccinated to gain access to them but that does not force you to vaccinate. Remember, you have the right to not be
vaccinated. These sites give you the option to produce a negative Covid-19 test result. The establishment and the individual have rights. The one has the right to not want to be vaccinated and the other the
right to deny you access… it is all about rights and none should trump the other. Those who do not want to be vaccinated for whatever reason should stop acting as if their rights are more important than everyone else’s.
After serving less than 17 years of the life sentence he received for kidnapping and shooting student Leigh Matthews with hollow-point 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 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 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.
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25 January 2022
Matrics Of 2021 Face Tough Reality Of Limited Opportunities For Tertiary Studies “There is a high demand for access to higher education in the country. It creates challenges that not just SMU has to contend with but how to deal with this situation and where do these students go,” With matric results being released from Wednesday morning, many young people are having to make tough decisions about what to do next given the state of the economy and the limited space available at universities and colleges. One such institution, the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, has already received 44,000 applications from prospective students, however, it only has space for about 1,000 people. IEB private schools are releasing last year’s matric results on Wednesday, which will allow them to submit their final marks to tertiary institutions for acceptance. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga is expected to release the national pass rate at government schools on Thursday evening and pupils are expected to receive their individual marks on Friday morning. The country’s top achievers in the matric class of 2021 have now been contacted by the Basic
Education Department and are expected to meet on Wednesday. The names of the top achievers from public schools will be released on Thursday evening when Minister Angie Motshekga announces the overall pass rate. “We are ready to also make sure that the examination results are available at the schools where the candidates go, and they will collect these on Friday,” said the department’s Elijah Mahlanga. Once pupils have their results in their hands the tough decisions start, with very few places available at tertiary institutions. The Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University’s Lusani Netshitomboni said that they’d already been overwhelmed by applications, with 44,000 prospective students vying for a place when only 1,000 were available. “There is a high demand for access to higher education in the country. It creates challenges that not just SMU has to contend with but how to deal with this situation and where do these students go,” Netshitomboni said. With only a few weeks before universities and colleges welcome new students, it remains to be seen how many young people will be left disappointed and how many will have to look abroad for further education.
Inspiring Results From Reddam And Reddford House Matriculants
In a year beset with disruptions, lockdowns and uncertainty, Inspired Education Group’s cohort of 411 matriculants at their seven Reddam House Schools and 116 matriculants at three Reddford House Schools once again met the year’s challenges head on and delivered exceptional results in the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) National Senior Certificate (NSC) exams. Collectively, the Reddam House matriculants achieved 929 distinctions while Reddford House recorded 136 distinctions. Inspired Education Group is a leading global premium schools group operating in Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, educating over 55,000 students across a global network of more
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than 70 schools. Reddam House class of 2021 Reddam House Matric students from Waterfall, Helderfontein and Bedfordview in Gauteng, Durbanville, Constantia and Atlantic Seaboard in the Western Cape, and uMhlanga in KwaZuluNatal showed great optimism, triumphing in the face of unprecedented challenges. The outstanding Reddam House 2021 Matric results affirm students’ resilience during another year of Covid disruptions. Since January 2021, the school has not missed a single day of academic time, with teachers and students pulling out all the stops to ensure online learning took place with as little disruption as possible. Pass rate: 100% A-aggregates: 81 students A- or B-aggregates: 254 students Seven or more distinctions: 24 students Six distinctions: 16 students Five distinctions: 27 students Four distinctions: 33 students Reddford House class of 2021 The Reddford House School group are proud of their Class of 2021 and achievements by the matriculants from the three Reddford House Schools – Northcliff and Blue Hills in Johannesburg and The Hills in Pretoria. Reddford House Schools pride themselves on ensuring that students reach their full potential in the nurturing yet disciplined environment that ensures exceptional academic standards and results. The Reddford House brand has grown exponentially since its 2015 inception. The Reddford House Schools top achievers are Robyn Anderson from Reddford House Northcliff who achieved seven distinctions; Renisha Naidoo from Reddford House Blue Hills who achieved seven distinctions and Ndumiso Mbangeleli from Reddford House The Hills who achieved five distinctions.
25 January 2022
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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.”