President Ramaphosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa has indicated that the R350 Social Relief of Distress Grant may be extended beyond March next year. The president was speaking during a virtual address to Cosatu's three day Central Committee gathering. 

President Ramaphosa announced on Sunday evening that under Level 4 lockdown, Universities will have no contact classes. This is only one of the many restrictions in place under Adjusted Level 4.

University of Cape Town (UCT) executives and President Cyril Ramaphosa have released statements on where they stand on the conflict between Palestine and Israel. Both UCT and the President have given their insight on what could bring about a solution.

The Easter weekend is days away and Government has had to make some changes to the lockdown restrictions, which includes an alcohol ban. Fears of a third wave are now emerging.

South Africa is scheduled to sit down for a family meeting tonight as the President will be addressing the nation. This address comes after Ramaphosa held meetings with the National Coronavirus Command Council.

The Gauteng High Court recently ruled that the decision to limit first-time entrants into Unisa, taken by the university and Minister of Higher Education Science and Technology Blade Nzimande, should be set aside. The university has now said it will study this judgement given by the court. 

"We will not abandon our students. We will fund their education because it is their right." These were the words of President Cyril Ramaphosa when he addressed the National House of Traditional Leaders in parliament. He was speaking on a day that student protests in Johannesburg spread across the country, with calls for a national campus shutdown if the government did not meet student demands. 

South Africa's Former Public Protector, Thuli Madonsela, has given her response to Unisa accepting fewer students in 2021. She is now calling for government to reverse this decision. Minister Nzimande spoke more on his decision during a briefing on Monday.

President Ramaphosa has said that government is aiming to roll out the new Coding and Robotics Curriculum for schools. This is being done so that preparation can be done for the Fourth (and Fifth) Industrial Revolution.

President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed that government has invested in student housing and will build further accommodation spaces for student. Student accommodation has been a major issue in the higher education sector for years.

The UIF TERS Scheme provided by the South African government has now come to an end after the applications for the last period closed on 31 December 2020. Many wonder why there has not been an extension due to the extended alert Level 3 lockdown. 

After President Cyril Ramaphosa extended the adjusted alert Level 3 lockdown, the Democratic Alliance has called on the government to extend the UIF TERS Scheme. 

Following all the buzz around the R350 grant offered by SASSA which comes to an end this month, many calls have come for government to introduce a Basic Income Grant. Well, President Ramaphosa has now addressed it.

International Relations and Cooperation Minister Naledi Pandor urges South Africans to be alert and take caution when travelling internationally over this festive season as countries overseas are entering the second wave of the pandemic and lockdowns may ensue. 

Now that President Ramaphosa has extended the National State of Disaster to 31 January 2021, it begs the question, will the Unemployment Insurance Fund be extending the Covid-19 TERS fund as well? Well, here's what we know.

Yesterday was the first day of Final exams for Matrics after a very strange year. The 2020 academic year was full of surprises for everyone and Matrics have had to adjust quickly to it all. So how did the exams go while we're in this pandemic?

Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, told the public that right now, she is not too worried about the Matric pass rate. Matrics started their final exams yesterday after having a bump filled 2020 academic year. Although students are stressed, they are excited as well. 

The Western Cape Education Department was left out when it came to being notified about the latest Matric exam changes. WCED will now hold further engagements with the Department but has also made decisions on how they will operate.

The Department of Basic Education has previously been concerned when it comes to the enrolment and pass rates in gateway subjects. Now that the time has come for learners to embark on their Final Matric exams, Government will be focussing on how Matrics perform in these subjects closely.

The Department of Basic Education announced that they have decided to allow Matrics who test positive for the coronavirus to partake in the 2020 final Matric exams. Matrics officially start writing their National Senior Certificate today and will end on 15 December.