ANC losing support, survey finds

Johannesburg - The ANC has lost 38 wards in local government elections over the last four years, the latest South Africa Survey has shown. Read more ...

School workbooks

Dr Wilmot James' (DA Shadow Minister of Basic Education) recent visit to the printers PaarlMedia has confirmed that these workbooks have not yet reached students, and will, at the earliest, reach all schools by the end of January 2011, almost three weeks into the school year. While schools may well be in possession of textbooks and stationery, it is therefore evident that they have not yet received the Department’s workbooks.

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Matric results

The Democratic Alliance (DA) congratulated those matric students who performed admirably and met their goals in the 2010 final examinations. Rising pass rates across the country are certainly an essential precondition for eliminating poverty, expanding opportunities and enhancing South Africa’s long-term prosperity, said Wilmot James MP, Shadow Minister of Basic Education.

Read more. Go to
http://www.da.org.za/newsroom.htm?action=view-news-item&id=9016

Eastern Cape Education Department projected to overspend billions

The Eastern Cape Department of Education overspent by R624.5 million on compensation of employees at the end of September. It is projected that over expenditure on compensation of employees for the whole financial year will be a staggering R1.952 billion.

A total of R17.372 billion was budgeted for personnel expenditure which represents 76.6% of the total budget for the department of R22.680 billion for the 2010-11 financial year.

One of the main reasons for the over expenditure is due to irregular salary increases given to office based educators (Deputy Chief Education Specialists, Education Development Officers and Senior Education Specialists) in 2009, which has pushed up the average employee cost.

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Behind the façade of noble intentions

The ANC’s annual January 8 statement is a significant marker in the political calendar because it outline’s the governing party’s priorities and programme of action for the year ahead.

Inevitably, the media coverage focused on the glitz and the glamour of the event, the luxury cars, the entertainment, the abundance of alcohol, the gourmet menu -- and then the political promises.

Our job is to go behind the façade, and analyse the content of President Zuma’s keynote speech. Taken at face value, it contains many statements with which the DA can agree.

We agree that South Africa should be guided by the "vision of a non-racial society built on the values of equality and respect for a common humanity".

We agree that "job creation must be the central focus of our economic policies" because jobs are the only sustainable way to beat poverty.

We agree that our public health care system must be "revitalised and improved" which includes "appointing qualified personnel and improving infrastructure".

We agree that there must be a sustained improvement in public education and that "teachers must be in school, in class, on time, teaching for at least seven hours a day".

We agree that "government must provide textbooks and [learning] materials and provide the necessary support".

We agree that loans should be converted to bursaries for deserving tertiary students who succeed in their studies.

We agree that the country needs a strong, diverse and independent media.

We agree that "alcohol and drug abuse are twin scourges that impact negatively on all aspects of South African society" and that there should be a campaign to reduce the impact of this abuse.

We agree with the notion of "steadfast opposition to corruption."

We agree that senior municipal officials should not hold executive leadership positions in political parties.

We agree with the promotion of democracy, peace and stability in Africa.

These are all noble intentions. The problem is that the ANC cannot achieve these goals because of its own inherent contradictions.

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