Lindiwe Sisulu – praag.org

‘Absent teachers beware’

Minister Lindiwe Sisulu yesterday called on the Public Service Commission to increase the number of unannounced inspections of public schools and other education facilities.

The Public Service minister said she was worried about the statistics from the Human Sciences Research Council on the rate of absenteeism of teachers.

Sisulu was speaking in Cape Town at a conference to celebrate the Public Service Commission’s 100th anniversary.

But the SA Democratic Teachers’ Union said it would oppose the unannounced visits , saying there were “deep-seated reasons” for teachers’ absenteeism.

Last month, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga revealed that, in just the first three months of this year, 21000 teachers applied for incapacity leave and retirement on health grounds.

A 2010 HSRC study found that, on any given school day, between 10% and 12% of public school teachers were not in class.

Sadtu general secretary Mugwena Maluleke said teachers were “overloaded” and were not getting any assistance from the Basic Education Department.

“They are not being assisted in terms of the curriculum, and annual national assessments are straitjacketing our teachers.

“We will oppose these inspections. We should [address] the causes of absenteeism and not the symptoms,” said Maluleke.

Sisulu said the frequency of unannounced inspections should also be increased at government health facilities.

“The waiting time at our hospitals is completely unacceptable . [as] is the attitude of nurses.”

She said that the five Limpopo government departments placed under national administration by President Jacob Zuma in December 2011 following the exposure of financial irregularities were on the road to recovery.

The province’s treasury, and its departments of education, health, public works and transport, were placed under administration.

“We’re glad to say that we have completed 47 charge sheets, fast-tracked disciplinary processes [and] removed all ghost workers from the [government payroll] system, and we are hoping that, by the time the premier makes an announcement, we will be ready to [withdraw] most of our forces from Limpopo. We believe that Limpopo is now on the road to recovery.” – timeslive.co.za

Mandela children quarrelling over grave site

Newspapers in Gauteng reported on Wednesday that former president Nelson Mandela’s grandson Mandla Mandela stormed out of a family meeting in Qunu, in the Eastern Cape, after a disagreement.

Three sources told The Star the family was torn between Mandla Mandela –who wants Mandela buried at his birthplace in Mvezo — and the rest, who felt that his wish to be buried next to his children should be respected.

The Star reported that a Mandela family meeting held in Qunu on Tuesday was to discuss a “significant” family matter.

The meeting was attended by the family, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa and Public Service and Administration Minister Lindiwe Sisulu.

The Times reported that a group of elders planned to fly to Gauteng to assess the critically ill Mandela and decide what to do.

It reported that the meeting on Tuesday had focused on Mandela’s health, and on the moving of the family graves from Qunu to Mvezo in 2011. The graves were moved by Mandla Mandela.

The Times reported that the family wanted the graves of three of Mandela’s children — sons Makgatho and Thembekile and daughter Makaziwe — to be in Qunu.

The newspaper reported that it understood that a fuming Mandla Mandela, who moved the graves without consulting the family, stormed out of the meeting.

Mandla Mandela could not be reached for comment. – Sapa

ANC to continue intervening in Swaziland

The ANC resolved that it will continue to be in solidarity with the people struggling in Swaziland, international relations committee member Lindiwe Zulu said on Thursday.

“We support the democratisation of Swaziland,” Zulu told reporters at the ANC’s national policy conference in Midrand, Johannesburg.

This was an outcome of the ANC’s policy discussions on international relations.

Zulu said the conference resolved that it had to “push forward” for the unbanning of political parties in Swaziland.

She said the South African government was still waiting for Swaziland to sign a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in relation to a loan.

“The MOU… calls for the democratisation and unbanning of political parties,” she said.

“Swaziland has agreed to sign the MOU without removing conditions.”

South Africa would only lend Swaziland the money if it agreed to the conditions.”

The ANC would work with its alliance partner, the Congress of SA Trade Unions, on helping Swaziland.

Zulu said the ANC also acknowledged that it had a relationship with Zanu-PF in Zimbabwe and said it would continue to have a relationship with the country.

However, it said it would remain neutral when it came to dealing with Zimbabwe’s different political parties.

Zulu said the ANC would continue to support Palestine and called for an increased boycott on Israeli products.

Economic diplomacy was also discussed.

“We must ensure our economy grows, not just in South Africa but in all SADC countries,” she said.

On the International Criminal Court (ICC), Zulu said the ANC felt the court had to stop only looking at African countries.

“We not against the ICC but the ANC says there must be a balance,” said Zulu.

The ANC also continued to support countries such as Madagascar, Sudan, South Sudan and Somalia, but it would not send troops to Somalia. – SAPA