TOP OF THE NEWS, 21st Andrews Street, Mpumalanga (2025)

09/04/2025

NKANGALA DISTRICT TO DELIBERATE ON LEARNER PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT

It is the turn for Nkangala District to host the MEC for Education, Ms Cathy Dlamini, as she continues her efforts to enhance the province’s pass rate across all grades.

MEC Dlamini will convene a meeting with the District Management Team and School Principals of Nkangala District tomorrow, Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Greendale Combined School in the Emalahleni Local Municipality, commencing at 09:00.

The primary objective of this meeting is to analyse the 2024 Grade 12 results, identify areas for improvement, and provide the district with direct intervention strategies to address these areas.

The meeting will be conducted in two sessions. The first session will commence at 09:00, during which Ms Dlamini will meet with the District Management Team. She will then meet with the school principals at 12:00.

Nkangala District has demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving an 85.2% pass rate in the 2024 National Senior Certificate Examination results.

In addition to the aforementioned matters, the meeting will address Human Resources Management and Infrastructure Development-related issues.

Greendalers
Mpumalanga Department of Education
Emalahleni Local Municipality
Nkangala District Municipality
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26/03/2025

DEPUTY PRINCIPAL UPGRADE 4-5 PUPILS

MPUMALANGA
Kanyamazane

A deputy principal at a primary school in Mpumalanga is facing serious allegations of sexual abuse involving four Grade 5 pupils, prompting his suspension after months of inaction by education authorities. The alleged abuse, which dates back to December of last year, has left parents outraged and questioning the department's commitment to protecting children.

The school, located in Kanyamazane, approximately 27km east of Mbombela, cannot be named at this stage to avoid potentially identifying the alleged perpetrator before he has been formally charged and has appeared in court.

Despite the principal reportedly alerting the regional education director to the allegations in December, the department's response was slow, leading to a situation where the young victims were allegedly forced to endure the trauma of seeing their alleged abuser at school every day.

The department's spokesperson, Gerald Sambo, confirmed the suspension of the deputy principal, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations. “The deputy principal remains on precautionary suspension and will not return to the school until the disciplinary process has been finalised,” Sambo stated.

Mpumalanga Department of Education
KANYAMAZANE INFORMATION PLATFORM
TOPOFTHENEWS
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26/03/2025

MPUMALANGA

eMALAHLENI

MUNICIPALITY IN CONTAMINATED WATER

The eMalahleni Local Municipality appeared before the eMalahleni Magistrates' Court (26 March 2025) on charges relating to
Contravention of National Environmental Management Act .

The municipality is charged with pollution of water resources, Contravention of Water management Act, failure to comply with the directives and other charges . These crimes were allegedly committed during the period between 2019 March 2025.

Emalahleni Local Municipality
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21/03/2025

DISTURBING RACIAL SLURS CONCERNS EDUCATION

Mpumalanga Department of Education is deeply concerned over a video circulating on social media, which depicts an allegedly racially discriminatory incident at Laerskool Middelburg in the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality.

The said video features an audio recording of an individual, who is likely to be a school administrator or official from the school informing a parent seeking admission for her child for the 2026 school year, that black children are not allowed to attend in that school.

The Department takes this matter very serious and will be reaching out to the parent involved to initiate a thorough investigation into the incident.

The South African Constitution, adopted in 1996, is the supreme law of the Republic. Section 29 guarantees the right to basic education, including adult basic education, and the right to further education, which the state must progressively make available and accessible.

All public schools within the province are open and accessible to all children, regardless of race, colour, or religious belief.

Further details regarding this matter will be made available to the public once the investigation is completed.

*Developing news.

Steve Tshwete Local Municipality
Mpumalanga Department of Education
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19/03/2025

MPUMALANGA PROVINCIAL BUDGET WELCOMED BY NAFCOC

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce & Industries (NAFCOC) in Mpumalanga on Wednesday declared the Provincial Budget tabled by MEC Bonakele Majuba as progressive to address infrastructure delivery as well boost economic growth and job creation.

NAFCOC President, Thamsanqa Gay Mokoena mentioned that the Sixty six billion, two hundred and fourteen million and ninety four thousand (R66 214 094 000) Budget will contribute towards stimulating economic growth and creating employment opportunities in agriculture, tourism, transport and construction sectors.

The entire Mpumalanga must be a construction site for accelerated service delivery that will meaningfully impact our communities, he stressed.

He pointed out that that while organized business will play its part, investment infrastructure development and roll-out of capital projects must be fast tracked as part of a multi-pronged strategy to address unemployment, poverty and inequality.

The skills revolution earmarked to be rolled out through the R65 .5 million allocated to the Mpumalanga Regional Training Trust for collaboration with various SETA's will contribute towards the expansion of the artisan development programme and also impact the tourism & hospitality sectors to add to the number of jobs to be created, suggested Mokoena.

He applauded rural development that is targeting R3,7 billion road infrastructure development to support agriculture to reposition it for the export market and massive investment in education and health.

02/03/2025

MPUMALANGA - Embalenhle- SECUNDA

EDUCATION MEC TO VISIT THOMAS NHLABATHI SCHOOL AND THE BEREAVED FAMILY

The MEC for Education, Ms. Cathy Dlamini, will visit Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary School at Embalenhle Township in Secunda, Govan Mbeki Local Municipality, tomorrow, Monday 03 March 2025.

The MEC's visit follows a tragic incident in which a learner succumbed to injuries sustained after being stabbed by a fellow learner on school premises Thursday afternoon.

The MEC will during this visit receive a detailed report on the circumstances surrounding the incident and offer support to the grieving family during this heartbreaking time.

The Department condemns in the strongest possible terms all forms of violence, bullying, and the trafficking of weapons in schools.
No learner should ever feel threatened or unsafe in a space that is meant for learning and teaching .

Officials from the Inclusive Education and Wellness Section have been deployed to the school as well to provide psychosocial support to those affected by this tragic incident.

The Department further extends its deepest condolences to the family of the late learner.

Mpumalanga Department of Education

28/02/2025

THE DEPARTMENT IS DEEPLY SHOCKED BY THE PASSING OF A GRADE 12 LEARNER AT NHLABATHI SECONDARY SCHOOL

The Department has received with great shock the news of the passing of a Grade 12 Learner from Thomas Nhlabathi Secondary school at Embalehle Township in Secunda, Govan Mbeki Local municipality this afternoon, 27 February 2025.

According to the preliminary report from the school, the deceased succumbed to injuries sustained after he was stabbed by a fellow learner within the school premises.

The department has since requested the school to send a detailed report on the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate incident.

The department will henceforth deploy officials from the Inclusive Education and Wellness section tomorrow morning, 28 February 2025 to render psychosocial services to everyone who is affected by this tragic incident.

The department will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide regular updates.

13/11/2024

KABOKWENI THEMBA THUTHUZELA CARE CENTRE TO BE RELAUNCHED

KABOKWENI_MP

The National Director of Public Prosecutions Adv. Shamila Batohi, will officially re-launch the Kabokweni Themba Thuthuzela Care Centre (TCC) at the Themba Hospital in Mpumalanga. The Themba TCC was officially launched in 2008 operating inside the hospital.

TCCs are one-stop facilities which provide pretrial services: psychosocial, medical and legal services to victims of gender-based violence (GBV) in a victim-centred manner. TCCs are court-directed and have been developed to achieve three main objectives:
• Reducing secondary victimisation.
• Increasing the conviction rate ensuring that cases are court trial ready; and
• Reducing the cycle times of these cases from reporting to finalisation.
Owing to the high levels of GBV in South Africa, and in the ex*****on of its mandate to develop best practices and policies in the reduction of gender-based violence, the SOCA Unit of the NPA, in 2001 introduced the TCC model as one such best practice.

The establishment of the Kabokweni Thuthuzela Care Centre is led by the NPA’s Sexual Offences and Community Affairs Unit (SOCA), in partnership with Vodacom, as a response to the urgent need for an integrated strategy for prevention, response and support for victims of GBV. The number of operational Thuthuzela Care Centres is 66 in South Africa, and this is a phenomenal increase from 55 in 2021. Thuthuzela Care Centres strength lies in the fact that they function as a multi-disciplinary team, consisting of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Department of Health (DOH), South African Police Service (SAPS), and Department of Social Development (DSD) and various NGOs.

The TCC’s integrated approach to gender-based violence (GBV) care is one of respect, comfort, restoring dignity and ensuring justice for children, women and men who are victims of GBV.

The details are as follows:
Date: 13 November 2024
Time: 09h00
Venue: Themba Hospital, 1213 Kabok

12/11/2024

MPUMALANGA FRAUDSTER SENTENCED FOR R2.1MILLION SARS FRAUD AND MONEY LAUNDERING

MPUMALANGA:

Smangaliso Innocent Khoza (40), a director of four companies, was found guilty and sentenced by the Nelspruit Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Friday, 8 November 2024 for Contravening Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Act 121 of 1998-money laundering, contravening the provisions of Sections 235(1)(a) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011 and contravening Section 4(b) read with Sections 1 and 8 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Act 121 of 1998-money laundering.

Accused was sentenced on the charges as follows :

Count 1: One (1) x charge of contravening Section 6(a) of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Act 121 of 1998-money laundering.

Count 1 : Sentenced as follows: R 30 000.00 fine or 60 months imprisonmen, which is suspended for five (5) years on condition that accused not be convicted
on charges of contravening Section 6 of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, Act 121 of 1998- Money laundering committed during the period of suspension.

Count 2 to 6: Five (5) x charges of contravening the provisions of Section 235(1)(a) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011.

Count 2: Sentenced as follows : R 60 000.00 fine or 12 months imprisonment.

A further 18 months imprisonment, which is wholly suspended for a period of five (5) years on condition that accused compensates the complainant, the South
African Revenue Service in the amount of
R 554 085.22.

Count 3: Sentenced as follows: R 100 000.00 fine or 20 months imprisonment.

These counts are taken together for purposes of sentence. A further 3 years imprisonment is wholly suspended for five (5) years on condition that accused not be convicted on charges of contravening the provisions of Section 235 (1)(a) of the Tax Administration Act, Act 28 of 2011, committed during the period of suspension.

Count 4: Sentenced as follows : R 60 000.00 or 12 months imprisonment.

11/11/2024

MEC DLAMINI’S MONITORING OF THE STORM DAMAGED SCHOOLS IN MKHONDO

The MEC for Education, Ms. Cathy Dlamini today visited Mkhondo local municipality to assess storm damaged school buildings following the heavy storm yesterday.

The writing of the examinations progressed very well today as all candidates who had to write their examinations from grade 08 to grade 12 including those who had to write Chemistry paper 2 and Technical Science paper 2 sat for their papers.

MEC Dlamini visited the area to assess the situation and damage caused by the storms.
Four mobile classrooms were damaged and two bricks and mortar classrooms had their roof blown away at Piet Retief Combined School in Mkhondo East circuit.

At Ndlela secondary school the school kitchen and a mobile classroom were damaged.

In Mkhondo West Circuit, Piet Retief Hoerskool had a boys hostel roof blown off, car ports and a laundry also got roofs blown off. There are also trees that fell.

The whole of Piet Retief had no electricity as cables got cut and cables blown off.

“We are comforted by the fact that there were no lives lost and that the storms did not disrupt the writing of the examinations. We are also hopeful that our learners will soldier on and do well in these examinations. I want to appeal to the community to be helpful and assist one another as some learners have their homes damaged,” said MEC Dlamini.

Subsequently, MEC Dlamini will tomorrow, Tuesday, 12 November, visit one of the most damaged school, Piet Retief Combined School to monitor the writing of exams. The candidates at the school will be writing Isizulu paper 2.

The MEC will utilise the visit to motivate learners to do well in the examinations.

TOP OF THE NEWS

29/10/2024

NAFCOC BRANCH REVIVAL AND INTENSIFIED RECRUITMENT DRIVE IN GERT SIBANDE REGION

MPUMALANGA

The National African Federated Chamber of Commerce & Industries (NAFCOC) has adopted a twelve-month programme to revive all its branches and intensify its recruitment drive. The adoption follows a Regional Strategic Planning Session held last Friday in the Gert Sibande Region.

NAFCOC Mpumalanga General Secretary, Sizwe Dlamini who officiated at the session held at Volksrust together with the 3rd Deputy President,Judy Makhubu, says that the region will also monitor branch activities for effective programmes that are aimed at empowering members.

“It has also been tasked to visit all government as well as private sector organisations for opportunities and establish partnership with banks and other private institutions,” he pronounced.

Dlamini alluded that NAFCOC’s membership in the province is excited about investment opportunities that are to unfold from the Strategic Cooperation Agreement (SAC) signed last month with the Shanghai Pudung New Area General Chamber of Commerce (SPNA).

“The recent conclusion of another agreement with Chinese investors for establishment of solar panel assembly workshop in Witbank has given practical expression to Memorandums of Understandings (MoU) on Solar and Pharmaceuticals that were signed in September 2023,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, NAFCOC Mpumalanga has distanced itself from a rumoured National Conference to be held in Durban in December.

Dlamini maintained that the Mpumalanga formation will not participate in divisive initiatives that are undermining the unity of the chamber, its founding values and development agenda.

“To this regard, we wish to advise our members to disregard invitations that are not sanctioned by their legitimate provincial structure through relevant channels and communication platforms. Those that have been misled to submit their details to register must forthwith withdraw their participation,” he urged.TOP OF THE NEWS

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