Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Member of Parliament (MP) Sihle Lonzi is championing transformative change in South Africa’s education and employment sectors through the proposed Student Debt Cancellation Bill.


This legislation seeks to address the plight of over 300,000 students who have completed their studies but are unable to graduate or obtain their qualifications due to outstanding student debt.


Lonzi highlighted the harsh reality faced by many South African students:


"Young people in South Africa were promised that the doors of learning would be open to them. They pursued their education and completed their studies, yet they cannot graduate due to their financial circumstances and the burden of student debt."


He further stressed that, despite meeting all academic requirements, these students remain trapped in unemployment and poverty, unable to access job opportunities.


"They are stuck at home, struggling in townships and villages across South Africa, with no hope of securing employment," Lonzi stated, underlining the urgency of the crisis.


The Student Debt Cancellation Bill, introduced by the EFF, seeks to eliminate the financial barriers preventing students from graduating, offering them a chance to build a future free from the constraints of debt.

THE Gauteng Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation in partnership with the Gauteng Department of Education have introduced a new indicator, the schools Wednesday Integrated Programme (WIP) for Sports, Arts and Culture, affectionately referred to as the “Wednesday League”.

The Central Corridor instalment of the Schools Wednesday Integrated Programme Launch took place on Tuesday last week at the Moletsane Sports Complex in Soweto.

The programme consisted of several exciting activities and entertainment such as a live band and a special performance by Yanga Chief as well as a special guest appearance from Lebo “Shugasmakx” Mothibe, best known as the co-founder and star of iconic hip-hop brand Skwatta Kamp.

The event was also graced by some of South Africa’s renowned legends such as Kaizer Chiefs attacking mid-fielder Lebogang Manyama, Ramehlwe Mphahlela, Kaizer Chiefs Defender, Manti Moholo, former Orlando Pirates player as well as Siboniso Pa Gaxa, former Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs Defender, the presence of these amazing soccer stars served as great inspiration for the students who look up to them.

The programme kicks off with an inclusion of arts and culture activities simultaneously implemented in schools and is aimed at establishing a vibrant hype of activities in form of school leagues and festivals championed from all the no-fee-paying schools across the Gauteng province.

The programme will be implemented in 1270 no-fee paying schools in the Gauteng province during the Mid-term period.

381 schools have already benefitted in the initial stages of the programme and 410 schools will be supported in the 2022/23 financial year.

The Arts and Culture unit also has schools that are supported under this programme.

The department said it intends to host an integrated launch at a Provincial scale with subsequent Wednesday League Launch Corridor Roadshows which will kick-start the awareness for the Netball World Cup that will be hosted in South Africa in 2023.

This will also assist the department in rolling out the integrated Sport and Arts and Culture programmes in schools during the 2022/2023 FY and beyond.

​On December 14, 2024, the Paterson Park Multipurpose Centre was abuzz with excitement of the grand finale of the Arts Alive Clash of the Regions Performing Arts Talent Showcase. The highly anticipated event hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in collaboration with City of Joburg, brought together talented performers from various Joburg regions, showcasing the rich cultural diversity and artistic excellence of the communities.

The showcase featured an impressive lineup of acts, including music, dance and theatre performances. The audience was left astonished by the sheer talent display as each region presented its unique flavour and flair.

The event was a testament to the power of arts and culture in bringing people together and fostering community spirit, and has undoubtedly become a highlight of the arts and culture developmental calendar in Joburg.

Below are the performers who topped the list in their respective categories.

Hip-Hop

1. Bheki Bila

2. Karabo Mellowood

3. Thuso Kekana

Kwaito/Amapiano

1. Musa Zunguze

2. Kabelo Molefe

3. Luthando Pupu

Dance

1. Gomora Future Stars

2. The Blaq Spider

3. Inkunzi Ezimdaka

Congratulations to the winners and well done to all the finalists, we look ahead to future editions of this remarkable event which continues to shine as a beacon of artistic excellence and cultural pride for our communities.

​By Staff Reporter

Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, has appealed to all road users in the province to exercise caution and understanding to reduce accidents and fatalities during the festive season.

"The Department is calling for the cooperation of motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians to achieve this goal" pleaded the MEC.

This follows the launch of this year's national road safety campaign themed "Every day without a Road Death – South Africa 2024". It primarily places driver behaviour as the focus of this year's road safety campaign. It is based on four pillars: responsible driving; pedestrian safety; enforcement; and education.

The festive period brings with it increased risks to public safety on the roads due to high traffic volumes as people travel to various destinations within the province and across the country.

"As we enter the 2024 festive season, the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport wishes to remind all public transport operators, commuters and all road users to play their part by being safe, considerate and exercising caution while on the roads".

The MEC further reminded all who will be traveling that "road safety is everyone's responsibility. This is so given the high number of accidents and fatalities recorded in our province especially during this high peak season".

She also made an appeal to all road users – drivers, passengers, cyclists and pedestrians - for mutual respect and strict adherence to all warnings, rules and regulations.

MEC Diale-Tlabela went further and condemned acts of violence across all modes of public transport, discouraging protests, strikes, shutdowns or any actions that will result in disruption of services.

She added the Department was in constant engagement with public transport stakeholders with the intention of finding lasting solutions to challenges facing the sector.

This, she said, was a sincere call for a peaceful festive season as the Department and stakeholders continue with engagements, collaborating and working to find lasting solutions to protect, grow, and improve public transport in Gauteng.

On traffic law enforcement, the MEC cautioned that traffic and law enforcement officials will be out in force throughout the province to ensure reckless and drunk driving is dealt with, and "culprits face the full might of the law".

She urged road users to ensure vehicles are roadworthy – that brakes, lights, tyres, and windscreen wipers, amongst others, are in good condition; cyclists and pedestrians are visible at all times.

The MEC reiterated the call that "road safety is a collective responsibility that requires all of us to play our part in appreciating that the road is a shared space and take responsibility for our actions. Think and drive to stay alive".

The IberCup South Africa 2024 grand finale, held on 16 December at the UJ Football Stadium in Auckland Park, showcased the finest youth football talent in an electrifying celebration of skill and sportsmanship.


IberCup International, the world's biggest youth football tournament, partnered with the Gauteng Provincial Government to host the first South African edition from 12 to 16 December 2024 in Johannesburg.

A special congratulations to the tournament champions: SuperSport United FC, Warriors FC, PSG - Paris Saint-Germain, Clapham High School, AmaTuks Ladies, and Highlands Park FC. Their teamwork, determination, and skill earned them prestigious titles in their respective categories.

One of the standout matches saw Clapham High School deliver a dominant performance against Español, clinching the 2024 IberCup Championship title with a commanding 3–0 victory.

The event was honoured by the presence of Gauteng MEC for Education Matome Chiloane. The City of Johannesburg played a pivotal role in supporting the tournament, underlining its commitment to youth development and sports excellence.

Parents also shared their pride and joy. Suna Nhlazatshe, whose child participated, remarked: "It is incredible to see our children perform at this level. The exposure they are getting is invaluable, and it is heartwarming to see their hard work pay off. Events like this not only build their skills but also their confidence."

The IberCup South Africa 2024 finale was far more than just a competition; it was a celebration of unity, talent, and the bright future of youth football. Congratulations to all the players, coaches, and organisers for creating such a memorable event.

Next week, South Africa will host the second meeting of the Group of 20 Health Working Group (G20 HWG) at the Capital Zimbali Resort in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal. The three-day event, commencing on Wednesday, 26 March 2025, will center around the theme “Accelerating Health Equity, Solidarity, and Universal Coverage.”


The meeting will feature various side events, facilitating bilateral and multilateral discussions on key health issues, including strengthening healthcare systems and ensuring equitable access to health services. Topics of discussion will include financial protection for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and sustaining health financing amid global economic challenges.


Delegates will also focus on investment strategies to advance UHC, narrowing health equity gaps to address non-communicable diseases, and responding to global health financing concerns. Additionally, a co-sponsored event dedicated to eliminating cervical cancer will take place alongside the main meeting.


Attendees will include representatives from G20 member states, invited nations, and international organizations. The G20 comprises 19 countries—Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States—along with two regional entities, the European Union and the African Union.


Minister of Health, Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, will deliver the keynote address at the opening session on 26 March 2025. He will be joined by Deputy Health Minister Dr. Joe Phaahla, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli, and KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC Nomagugu Simelane.