After 28 Years, since the inception of Grade R through, South African School Act (SASA) of 1996. Stipulated the importance of the Early Childhood Development Programme in a new democratic dispensation. Due to ongoing implementation challenges and failures which resulted to constant reviews of the curriculum since 2000 - 2015, which resulted to  the Phasing Out of multiple Grade R qualifications; such as NQF Level 4 & 5, Certificate in Educare, National Diploma in Educare, PGDE, Diploma in Grade R Qualification and other. All of the above is manipulated by the National Development Program (NDP2030), which is an International plan of action, irrelevant to the standards of South Africa and its economy, which seeks to improve the standard of education in a barbaric and inconsiderate manner and processes. Thousands of Grade R Teachers are literally unemployed in South Africa, at least 11900 Strugglers with Diploma in Grade R Qualifications are without jobs and most are embedded with trauma and depression as a result of education and economic inefficiency. SGB educators still earn from R2500 - 5000 for the past 10 years, without proper placement and with no benefits whatsoever. No maternity leave, which means the SGB teachers in question must appoint a teacher for a period of maternity leave and pays the teacher from her own stipend. We have teachers who laboured for 8 to 26 years, teaching our children without UIF and Pension fund contribution. 

Add your name to put public pressure on John Steenhuisen to approach this matter with urgency, it is completely unacceptable that someone like Cabanac can continue to enjoy the perks of a R1,4 million salary when he has been instructed to leave. Additionally, there are far better qualifying candidates who could be given the role.  The government of national unity is entrusted with so much power and responsibility to serve citizens. Beyond that, the last national election results have shown a decline in the democratic process. We have seen greater levels of political apathy from young people. This means that public officials have a greater role to play in restoring public trust and confidence that government does indeed work for everyone.  Public officials should be committed to the values of good governance, transparency, and accountability and to being responsive to citizens' needs. The DA has outright spoken about cadre deployment, which has been a core undertaking of the ANC government and remains largely criticised and credited for the various issues within government.  It is hugely surprising to see the DA taking a similar stance, theirs though largely being recruiting controversial podcasters/YouTubers with regressive views and a controversial history into key positions in government. Just recently, Renaldo Gouws, who has a history of racist remarks, has only just been fired [3] from the DA following an investigation into his long-documented racism, which the DA claims was not aware of.  If the GNU is to work for all of us, such undertakings threaten our democracy and should be dealt with accordingly.  Roman Cabanac has no place being the Chief of Staff within the Department of Agriculture; much like his fellow podbro Gouws, he must go.  References  [1] Agriculture minister Kohan Steenhuisen asks Roman Cabanac to step down by Karyn Maughan for News24. 12 September 2024. https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/agriculture-minister-john-steenhuisen-asks-roman-cabanac-to-step-down-as-chief-of-staff-20240912 [2] Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen has appointed Roman Cabanac, a controversial podcaster and media activist to head his department. Cabanac is the new chief of staff. By Kamogelo Moichela for IOL. 27 August 2024. https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/minister-john-steenhuisen-appoints-polarising-roman-cabanac-as-chief-of-staff-ed43ad03-dec2-4b45-bc1c-c47cf48b4c3b [3] Why did we waste three months?’ Renaldo Gouws questions DA’s disciplinary process after being fired for racism by Hope Ntanzi from the IOL. 23 September 2024. https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/why-did-we-waste-three-months-renaldo-gouws-questions-das-disciplinary-process-after-being-fired-for-racism-83ff1130-6cb6-4e18-8f40-afaf081e13e5

In the face of rising unemployment, many job seekers in our country turn to employment agencies to find opportunities aligned with their qualifications and experience. While these agencies play an essential role in connecting people with potential employers, they often lack adequate data security, exposing jobseekers to threats from scammers and dangerous criminals, including kidnappers and rapists.There has has been circulating allegations on social media about job portals leaking the job seekers informations to unauthorised third parties which in turn send the applicants instant messages inviting them to interviews.These messages often appear unprofessional, containing spelling mistakes, strange abbreviations, unknown phone numbers, and suspicious locations .There is however no clear indication as to whether the information is directly leaked or it is issues related  to poor security measures of the job portals. Our youth, desperate for any employment opportunity, are frequently less cautious about verifying job offers due to their urgent need for work. When receiving interview invites, whether through email or SMS, their excitement often overshadows any concern about the legitimacy of these offers. Jobseekers trust that the platforms and portals they use are safe, making them especially vulnerable. South Africa faces severe issues related to human trafficking, violence, and unemployment. Weak security on employment platforms exacerbates these issues, failing to protect jobseekers and even putting them at risk. The escalating kidnapping rate reflects the crisis; in the 2022/2023 financial year, StatsSA reported 15,343 [1].These statistics do not however reflect the cases related to job seeking ,but a country with such sever kidnapping issues then more regulation enforcement is necessary .In 2021, a 35-year-old mother was invited for a supposed job interview at Tyger Valley Mall, where she was abducted and assaulted by her captors [2] .While in 2022, three jobseekers responding to fake job ads in Tzaneen, Limpopo, were kidnapped, robbed, and stripped [3].Such cases reveal the urgent need for protective measures, as our current system puts individuals at risk of life-altering trauma and harm. The Employment Services Act (ESA) aligns with POPIA by regulating the processing of jobseekers’ personal information. Under the ESA ,Personal data processing by Private Employment Agencies (PEAs) must protect jobseekers’ information and uphold their privacy.Information collected must be relevant to the jobseeker’s qualifications, experience, or other pertinent job-related details.A PEA may only share jobseekers’ information with prospective employers when relevant to job qualifications or as permitted by law.PEAs may disclose information to the Department of Labor or other state organisations when required by legislation [4]. This  regulation underscore the responsibility of employment agencies to handle job seekers' information with the highest standards of confidentiality, limiting data use to protect against unauthorised access and misuse.Therefore the department of labour and employment should ensure that all the job agencies abide by this clause at all times in order to protect job seekers from exploitation and harm. No one expects to face kidnapping, assault, or any form of crime simply by attending a job interview. The use of employment agencies should facilitate jobseekers’ pursuit of work, not leave them vulnerable to exploitation by fraudsters or criminals. References  [1] Concerning increase in kidnappings in South Africa , by Nompilo Kunene of The witness , 16 March 2024 [2] Gugulethu woman kidnapped and raped for four days at fake job interview ,By Mandilakhe Tshwete for IOL ,12 October 2024[3] Desperate job seekers kidnapped, robbed and stripped naked by scammers ,by Iavan Pijoos of News24 ,30 May 2022 [4] Where the results matter:Employment service Act ,by Ali Ncume of Maserumule Corporate Employment Law ,October 2015 Available at : www.masconsulting.co.za

Parents who cannot afford to pay school fees must apply to the SGB for conditional, partial or full exemption from paying school fees. Application forms can be obtained from the SGB through the principal of a school. This is instituted by the Department of Education, and it is completely unacceptable to demand a fee for this process from parents who are already unemployed. To make matters worse, the principal withholds term reports from parents who owe school fees.   Let's work together to put pressure on DBE to intervene and ensure that parents and children who cannot afford to pay school fees are granted exemption forms without having to pay. DBE also has to intervene and ensure the water issue at the school is sorted, let's preserve the dignity of the children.  

The climate crisis is not in the future; it is already here, hitting the most vulnerable: poor countries, forest peoples, river communities, slum dwellers, and rural populations who suffer from floods, droughts, and extreme temperatures. These people, who contributed the least to the problem, are paying the highest price. While the planet collapses, the richest continue to accumulate their fortunes, shielded in their bubbles. This proposal is based on the studies of Esther Duflo and Gabriel Zucman, economists whom the Brazilian government has taken as a reference to move forward in the G20 debate. It is absurd that this hasn’t advanced yet. A 2% wealth tax on 3,000 billionaires could fund much of the climate adaptation for over half of the world's population! The urgency is real, and the G20 will be the perfect stage for this change, with the world's most powerful leaders gathered. But we have little time because negotiations for the final meeting text began on 22 October 2024! That's why we need to be many voices. Together, let’s pressure the 20 global leaders and demand that the climate crisis be addressed in a fair and just way. What is the G20? The G20, also known as The Group Of Twenty, is the premier forum for international economic cooperation comprised of 19 countries ((Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Türkiye, United Kingdom and United States) and two regional bodies: the European Union and the African Union (as of 2023). It plays an important role in shaping and strengthening global architecture and governance on all major international economic issues [1]. Currently, Brazil holds the G20 Presidency. Previously, India held the Presidency from 1 December 2022 to 30 November 2023. On 1 December 2024, South Africa will officially take over the G20 Presidency until November 2025, making it the last country in the Global South to hold the presidency. [1]  https://www.g20.in/en/about-g20/about-g20.html#:~:text=The%20Group%20of%20Twenty%20.

On Sep 1, 2024 the search for a missing boy in Orlando East, Soweto ended after two days when his body was found in an old abandoned power station. Reports by Daily Sun and SABC News say the boy was playing with friends when he fell in [2]. The Municipality  has a clear responsibility to minimise the dangers faced by its residents.  Abandoned buildings should not be so easily accessible. The Municipality must lock these spaces and cover water bodies in the area. We have seen countless cases over the years of people’s lifeless bodies being pulled from streams, rivers, dams and other abandoned or open areas like irrigation canals. Many of these locations are either state-owned property, or the Municipality should make it their priority to safeguard residents where private land-owners refuse or remain negligent. South Africa has a great amount of public facilities that remain either inaccessible, or badly maintained where with enough effort, every South African can be taught how to swim. In the meantime, to keep people safe there needs to be another safety structure put in place.  The Municipality can not continue to foster a culture that neglects the safety of its residents. They must ensure that every space in Power Park that poses a danger is immediately addressed. The cost of the Municipality of Johannesburg’s negligence is the loss of life. The site of this tragedy is an old power station located in a popular tourist area. Visitors enjoy the beauty of our country, but this privilege does not extend to local families. While wealthier children play freely, those from low-income homes live in constant worry about their safety.  This luxury does not extend to the people whose homes appear in the back of these tourists' photos. Their peers from more affluent backgrounds get to run and play freely, children from low income homes and their families are always concerned about where, if not in their homes, people are safe.  Families in these communities are under immense stress to provide for their children while facing challenges like dilapidated buildings and exposed wires. This situation limits children’s opportunities to experience the joys of growing up in South Africa, a country filled with potential. There are fewer and fewer spaces for children to have clean, safe fun, the youth are watching their friends fall to their deaths seeking entertainment. September usually marks the beginning of Springtime and fun in the sun for kids across South Africa. As the new season approaches, children should look forward to playing outside. It is unacceptable that parents cannot allow their kids to enjoy simple freedoms because of the municipality's negligence regarding safety measures, such as barricading and covering hazardous areas like the Power Park Dam. It is unacceptable for figures such as the spokesperson for EMS to place the sole responsibility of ensuring the safety of the city’s residents on their guardians and loved ones [1]. The Municipality has the duty to minimise the role they play in endangering the people by neglecting to close off dangerous buildings. It is also their responsibility to ensure that private property owners are held to the same standard. Lock up the death duplexes, cover the water. The lives of residents in Soweto are worth investing in.  References 1. SABC News. Monique Lewis. 2 September 2024. EMS calls for parental supervision following drowning in Orlando https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/ems-calls-for-parental-supervision-following-drowning-in-orlando/ 2. Daily Sun. Nhlanhla Khomola. 3 September 2024. Boy drowns in abandoned power station!  https://www.snl24.com/dailysun/news/tragic-scene-as-soweto-boy-13-drowns-in-dam-20240903 3. The Citizen. Jarryd Westerdale. 18 October 2024. No swimming allowed: Warning after 13-year-old drowns in irrigation canal https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/drowning-13-irrigation-canal-warning-dws/  4. Envirolutions Consulting. March 2020. BASIC ASSESSMENT PROCESS AND WATER USE LICENCE FOR THE PROPOSED REHABILITATION OF ORLANDO POWER STATION DAM, KLIPSPRUIT, CITY OF JOHANNESBURG, GAUTENG PROVINCE. DRAFT BASIC ASSESSMENT REPORT. 

The importance of showcasing genuine African productions cannot be overstated. These performances offer critical insights into our histories, struggles, and triumphs, fostering a sense of belonging and pride within our community. By prioritizing these works, Joburg Theatre could play a pivotal role in upholding its slogan and nurturing young talent, promoting cultural education, and attracting diverse audiences, ultimately benefiting the broader community economically and socially.  • There a no shows who have made it out of the youth development stage into main stage arena through JCT support & funding • There no festivals on the main stage highlighting new African authentic voices or new festivals uplifting and promoting new playwrights/producers • No capacity for African works to cult main stage other than those directed by the artists director • Lack of opportunities for African professionals to participate in the main stage arena  We call for immediate action to address these issues by advocating for a management team that is committed to inclusivity, transparency, and the promotion of authentic African productions. We urge the theatre's board to consider the long-term benefits of supporting local creators and engaging with our community in meaningful ways. We appreciate your attention to this urgent matter and hope to see proactive steps taken towards creating a more equitable and representative cultural space at Joburg Theatre.

Public services should work for everyone; the planned proposals to launch a premium service allowing people to pay extra to fast-track their document applications [4] should be cancelled. On top of planning to digitize the department, introducing things such as “premium services” should be vehemently rejected having the ability to pay for a public service, such as fast-tracking an application, trumps the idea of what a public service is. No one person should have the right to use money to get “better” service delivery over those without money. The department has to focus on making its services efficient and accessible for everyone.  In a country like ours, where disparities between those with access and those who don't still persist, it is counterproductive to implement measures such as public e-services while the digital divide still persists where only one-third of the country’s population has access to smartphone [5]. In addition to poor IT infrastructure riddled by breakdowns, inefficiencies, and the famous “system is offline,” how will this be mitigated on the digitised platform?  Add your name to the petition to get the Department of Home Affairs to do away with the idea of offering premium services. We all deserve decent service delivery.  References  [1] Home Affairs planning fast-tracked premium service by Jan Vermeulen for MyBroadband. 04 November 2024. https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/568090-home-affairs-planning-fast-tracked-premium-service.html [2] Government must protect legitimate SRD grant applicants, say activists by Marecia Damons for GroundUp. 28 October 2024. https://groundup.org.za/article/government-must-protect-genuine-srd-grant-applicants-say-activists/ [3] UIF looks to updated databases to strengthen payment controls by Simnikiwe Mzekandaba for ITweb. 14 September 2020. https://www.itweb.co.za/article/uif-looks-to-updated-databases-to-strengthen-payment-controls/6GxRKqYJlg6vb3Wj [4] Home Affairs planning fast-tracked premium service by Jan Vermeulen for MyBroadband. 04 November 2024. https://mybroadband.co.za/news/security/568090-home-affairs-planning-fast-tracked-premium-service.html [5] Number of smartphone users in South Africa from 2014 to 2023 (in millions) by Petroc Taylor. 18 January 2023. https://www.statista.com/statistics/488376/forecast-of-smartphone-users-in-south-africa/

Of the approximately 1,000 confirmed cases of listeriosis associated with this outbreak, at least 465 were pregnant women who suffered miscarriages, stillbirths or gave birth to children who contracted listeriosis in their mother’s womb. Most of the children born with listeriosis suffer from developmental delays and face lifetime health complications, including hydrocephalus, which is the build-up of fluid in the brain that leads to severe pain and progressive brain damage. As the majority of these children come from low to middle-income Black families who cannot afford the support required for special needs children, these children are suffering each day without the help that they desperately need. Despite overwhelming evidence, and over six years since the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) linked Tiger Brands to the outbreak, Tiger Brands has failed to take accountability for the harm they caused, prolonging the suffering of their customers, the children born with listeriosis, the mothers who lost children and the families devastated by the outbreak. Tiger Brands insurers, likewise, remain unaccountable. Stalker Hutchison Admiral (SHA Risk Specialists) – owned by one of South Africa’s largest insurers, Santam, a subsidiary of Sanlam – and the QBE Insurance Group continue to delay a settlement. Rather, these insurers are profiting from the funds held to compensate the affected families.  https://youtu.be/-MSoetLWE5U?si=BmtDFKlpf2fdjIPc

Residents of Tshifudi Tshikombele village in Venda Limpopo have reported that over the years, they have been experiencing extreme water scarcity. Ground up, an online newspaper reported that the village has a few water taps; however, these taps only receive water once a month when the water from a local dam is supplied. However, the community shared its concerns over this water supply from the dam, with many claiming that the water from the dam is not safe for consumption. As a result, “ Most residents have been collecting water from a river where they also wash their clothes and send cattle to graze and drink” [1].   Facing uncertainty and not being able to afford water; a local Tshifudi Tshikombele resident has even resorted to digging his own water well in order to access underground water for him and his community. “Tired of sharing water with animals, Dzebu took a pick, shovel, and hammer, and selected a spot where he believed underground water might be found. He spent three months digging the deep hole. Each time using a long rope to climb in and out of the well, with some help from his sister and mother” [2]. Residents from Magangeni village in Elim, another village under the Vhembe district municipality, have also resorted to digging their own water wells. They state that because of water scarcity and being unable to afford water from local vendors that own private boreholes, they resorted to digging a well. This problem has been going on for the past 20 years in most of these communities. “Residents said a borehole drilled by the municipality stopped working after cables and the pump were stolen 20 years ago. Then, four years ago, municipal workers installed new pipes and cables, but the borehole still isn’t functional” [3].  The municipality claims that theft and vandalism of the boreholes are a major problem[4]. They plan to upgrade water systems and repair non-functional boreholes [5]. The Vhembe district municipality is proposing a long-term solution that will take years to implement.  The municipality is not taking people's lives into consideration. The people in the district need clean and usable water now. We demand that the municipality provide water tanks daily to the community. This will help greatly because community members cannot afford to buy water from local vendors; having clean, usable water will prevent waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid. Having water tanks will also reduce the pressure on groundwater sources, which can become overdrawn in water-scarce regions, leading to long-term depletion and environmental degradation. References [1]  Desperate Limpopo man digs well so his village doesn't have to share water with animals. By Thembi Siaga and Elmon Tshikhudo for GroundUp. 20 September 2024.  https://groundup.org.za/article/desperate-limpopo-man-digs-well-so-his-village-doesnt-have-to-share-water-with-animals/ [2] https://groundup.org.za/article/desperate-limpopo-man-digs-well-so-his-village-doesnt-have-to-share-water-with-animals/ [3]https://groundup.org.za/article/women-in-magangeni-village-in-limpopo-dug-a-well-to-access-underground-water-amid-severe-shortages/ [4] Vhembe District Says Vandalism Is Contributing To Water Challenges. By Oratile Kekana for Capricorn FM. 12 September 2024. https://www.capricornfm.co.za/vhembe-district-says-vandalism-is-contributing-to-water-challenges/ [5]https://groundup.org.za/article/women-in-magangeni-village-in-limpopo-dug-a-well-to-access-underground-water-amid-severe-shortages/

The City of Cape Town has released 𝗱𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗕𝘆-𝗹𝗮𝘄 which include provisions around development and land use applicable to ECD centres. As you are aware, an ECD centre must have the necessary land use approval in place to comply with municipal by-laws and become registered as a partial care facility. The land use approval process is overly complicated, long and costly. The Centre for Early Childhood Development has been working the City of Cape Town and the Mayor’s office around local barriers to ECD centre registration and accessing the ECD subsidy. Through this the City of Cape Town has included provisions around development and land use applicable to ECD centres in these draft amendments. The proposed amendments can be found here: https://shorturl.at/vddk7 The memorandum explaining the amendments can be found here: https://shorturl.at/vTiTn There is 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁, and this is our opportunity to have our voices heard! We removed admin penalties for struggling ECD centres; let’s do it for land use approvals.  𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀: Midnight on Friday 25 October 2024 You can submit your comments directly to the City of Cape Town here: https://shorturl.at/xYi1l, but to make things easier CECD has put together our comments (which you can read here: https://shorturl.at/Sy0XO) - which you can simply share by submitting the message on this petition. You can also personalise your comments in the text box, by simply editing the text. Your message will then be sent on to the Land Use Department at the City of Cape Town. By adding your voice, we can positively impact the lives of tens of thousands of young children in the City of Cape Town! We can do this! Let’s remove the unnecessary ECD centre registration barriers until the system supports our young children and the ECD sector!

The Double Standards Pesticides Campaign calls on the South African government to ban all HHPs that have already been banned in the EU. The Campaign is important because tens of thousands of South African farm workers are impacted by exposure to these HHPs as they are often forced to work in vineyards and orchards while pesticides are being sprayed, and without the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE). This has resulted in the health of many farm workers being adversely and irreversibly impacted, affecting their quality of life and ability to work.   South African farm workers and dwellers need your support to exert pressure on Minister Steenhuisen to ban all HHPs already banned in the EU, in order to protect their health and wellbeing.