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No learners’ religious beliefs were infringed on by Roosevelt High School

Today, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng had a fruitful engagement with the School Governing Body (SGB) of Roosevelt High School, about a letter that was issued to parents last week regarding detention that will take place on a Friday from 1 pm to 4 pm.

The SGB explained that the letter which stated that any Muslim learner issued with detention must attend as this takes priority over Mosque was sent out in error.

This was corrected by the principal on Sunday when he was made aware of the contents of the letter and another letter was issued to parents and guardians. Muslim learners who need to attend detention may first go to Mosque and then return to the school to complete their detention.

The SGB further explained that a decision was taken to have detention on a Friday as they wanted to clamp down on uniform infringements.

Furthermore, Muslim learners who attend Mosque for Friday prayers are allowed to leave the school premises at 12:20 pm, to allow them sufficient time to get to Mosque.

The DA is pleased that an amicable solution has been found and that no Muslim learner will be denied their right to practice their religion.

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Food security at risk as Gauteng farmers dealt a double blow with the outbreak of African Swine Fever

Gauteng farmers have been dealt a double whammy this year as they need to deal with the disastrous impact of loadshedding and the devastating effect of African Swine Fever (ASF).

ASF is not to be confused with Swine flu, and residents do not need to be alarmed because this is not an animal-to-human transmissible disease.

ASF is caused by a devastating haemorrhagic virus.

The latest ASF has been discovered on a very large piggery in Gauteng. Wherever the virus is found, all pigs in the piggery must be slaughtered, as there is no cure for ASF. All surrounding farms have been put in quarantine, including farms in the North West and the Free State, where ASF has also been discovered.

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Gauteng has engaged with the South African Pork Producers Organisation (SAPPO) regarding the current outbreak of ASF in the province.

SAPPO has assured the DA that there is no need for the public to panic as this outbreak is not the same as Swine Flu and cannot be transmitted to humans.

SAPPO also assists in providing personal protective equipment (PPE) resources for animal health personnel, disinfectants, equipment to prepare disposal sites, and ASF awareness material.

Due to the high unemployment rate in our country and the lack of food security, pigs have become an easy source of food as they eat anything, live anywhere, and provide a good source of income. Unfortunately, this has created another easy way for the virus to flourish as the pigs travel across borders.

The DA urges residents not to purchase pigs from friends or auctions from local farmers that the provincial authorities have not sanctioned, as this is how the virus spreads from infected pigs.

 

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Gauteng residents were once again left without water due to Rand Water’s incompetence

Gauteng residents once again have limited access to water due to Rand Water’s ineptitude.

The continued loadshedding is negatively impacting Rand Water’s ability to supply our reservoirs in the province with water.

Municipalities are also severely affected by this as it means that there is not sufficient time between the scheduled blackouts for the reservoirs to fill up.

It is extremely worrying that during a heatwave, our residents do not have access to a reliable supply of water.

It is high time that Rand Water gets its house in order so that some of the pressure can be taken off municipalities.

Furthermore, we demand that Rand Water must communicate timeously to the residents of Gauteng through their municipalities about the planned water outages due to the maintenance of water infrastructure. They should also provide updates on reservoir levels per municipality so that they are aware of the severity of the issue and find ways to mitigate it.

In order to find a solution to the current problem with the supply of water in the province, Rand Water should urgently convene a meeting with all the municipalities in the province.

Loadshedding has been ongoing since September 2022 and a solution to ensuring that Rand Water and municipalities can supply water to our residents is urgently needed.

Last year, I wrote a letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Premier of Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi, requesting that an inter-governmental task be established to find a solution to loadshedding and the water crisis in the province.

To date, the only entity that has come back to me about our complaint regarding the water crisis is the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). During our engagement with the SAHRC last year, they indicated that they would be looking into our complaint.

We will be sending a request to the SAHRC for a meeting so that we can be updated on the progress made in our complaint.

The DA urges all our residents in the province to adhere to the current water restrictions in place while we are engaging with different stakeholders in finding a permanent solution to the issue.

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36 000 patients waiting for surgery in Gauteng Hospitals

An astounding 36 237 patients are on the waiting lists for operations in Gauteng public hospitals, with a waiting period of five years for some types of surgery.

This is revealed by Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko in a written reply to my questions in the Gauteng Legislature.

Chris Hani Baragwanath has the largest waiting list – 10 900 patients in total, including 1777 patients who will wait 4 years and five months for hip and knee replacements.

Other hospitals with long waiting lists for surgery include the following:

• George Mukhari Hospital – 5979 patients
• Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Hospital – 3132 patients
• Sebokeng Hospital – 2977 patients
• Mamelodi Hospital – 2570 patients
• Steve Biko Hospital – 1921 patients
• Thelle Mogoerane Hospital – 1070 patients
• Tembisa Hospital – 1023 patients
• Pholosong Hospital- 832 patients
• Tambo Memorial Hospital – 804 patients
• Leratong Hospital – 733 patients
• Far East Rand Hospital – 708 patients
• Kalafong Hospital – 584 patients

The largest backlogs are in cataract surgery, with more than 10 000 patients who will wait up to two years at the Steve Biko and George Mukhari hospitals, but six months or less at the Tembisa, Kalafong, Pholosong and Mamelodi hospitals.

The worst waiting times are for hip and knee replacements, which will mostly take from two to five years although some hospitals do them in less than a year.

Nkomo-Ralehoko says the Covid-19 pandemic drastically increased the surgery backlog as elective procedures were halted.

Other factors identified include:

1. Delays in the procurement of specialised machinery
2. Delayed renovations of operating theatres
3. Mass exodus of skilled staff to overseas countries and to the private health sector
4. The number of foreign nationals
5. Delays in the filling of critical posts.

Load-shedding has also adversely impacted surgery, and linen shortages often cause operations to be cancelled.

Some hospitals have done well with surgery marathons in reducing the backlogs e.g. Kalafong hospital eliminated their cataract backlog by doing 151 cataract surgeries in October last year.

It’s a vast human tragedy that so many people suffer in pain while waiting for surgery. While Covid was a setback, the huge backlogs are largely due to years of incompetence and corruption.

Premier Panyaza Lesufi should recognise it as a provincial crisis that requires a plan with adequate resources to relieve the medical misery of so many people.

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DA to assess the state of learning and teaching in Bronkhorstspruit schools

Today, 31 January 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL and the DA Constituency Head for Bronkhorstspruit, Crezane Bosch MPL, will conduct oversight inspections at the following schools: Rafano Primary School, Mkhambi Primary School, Mahlenga High School, RJ Sekgolela School, and Zithobeni Secondary School.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to assess the state of learning and teaching at these schools and ascertain whether these schools have all the much-needed resources to ensure quality learning and teaching.

Refano Primary School has now been closed down due to severe ablution infrastructure issues and all its learners have been moved to Mkhambi Primary School. We will assess how these two schools are progressing and the challenges that they are facing.

The DA will assess if all schools have all the learning resources such as furniture, stationery, adequate classrooms, and teachers.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

The details of the oversight inspections are as follows:

Oversight one:

Venue: Rafano Primary School, l

Address: 20 Vaal Plaas Kwalappie Str, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 09:00-09:30

 

Oversight inspection two

Venue: Mkhambi Primary School,

Address: 186 Sokhulumi, Sokhulumi Village, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 09:30-10:00

 

Oversight inspection three

Venue: Mahlenga High School, 111,

Address: Sokhulumi Village, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 10:00-10:30

 

Oversight inspection four

Venue: RJ Sekgolela School, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 10:30-11:00

 

Oversight inspection five

Venue:Zithobeni Secondary Schools,3567 Mashego Street, Zithobeni Ext3, Bronkhorstspruit, 1024.

Time:11:00-11:30

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DA to engage with Roosevelt High about learners being deprived of religious rights

Today, Tuesday, 31 January 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL, will conduct an oversight inspection at Roosevelt High School.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to ascertain why the school has issued a letter stating that any Muslim learner that has been issued with detention, must attend detention instead of attending Friday prayers (Jummah) at the Mosque on Fridays, as detention takes priority over Muslim’s Friday prayers.

We believe that every learner should respect and adhere to the school code of conduct, but we also believe that the code of conduct should not infringe on learners’ religious rights.

The DA will engage with the school management and the School Governing Body (SGB) to establish a suitable time for these particular learners to attend detention without them missing Friday prayers (Jummah) at Mosque.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for photos and interviews.

Details of the oversight inspection are as follows:

Date: 31 January 2023

Venue: Roosevelt High School

Address: 1 Thibault Street, Franklin Roosevelt Park, Randburg

Time: 09:00-10:00

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DA to assess the state of learning and teaching in Bronkhorstspruit schools

On  Tuesday, 31 January 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Gauteng Shadow MEC for Education, Khume Ramulifho MPL and the DA Constituency Head for Bronkhorstspruit, Crezane Bosch MPL, will conduct oversight inspections at the following schools: Rafano Primary School, Mkhambi Primary School, Mahlenga High School, RJ Sekgolela School, and Zithobeni Secondary School.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to assess the state of learning and teaching at these schools and ascertain whether these schools have all the much-needed resources to ensure quality learning and teaching.

Refano Primary School has now been closed down due to severe ablution infrastructure issues and all its learners have been moved to Mkhambi Primary School. We will assess how these two schools are progressing and the challenges that they are facing.

The DA will assess if all schools have all the learning resources such as furniture, stationery, adequate classrooms, and teachers.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for interviews and photographs.

The details of the oversight inspections are as follows:

Oversight one:

Venue: Rafano Primary School, l,

Address: 20 Vaal Plaas Kwalappie Str, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 09:00-09:30

Oversight inspection two

Venue: Mkhambi Primary School,

Address: 186 Sokhulumi, Sokhulumi Village, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 09:30-10:00

Oversight inspection three

Venue: Mahlenga High School, 111,

Address: Sokhulumi Village, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 10:00-10:30

Oversight inspection four

Venue: RJ Sekgolela School, Bronkhorstspruit.

Time: 10:30-11:00

Oversight inspection five

Venue:Zithobeni Secondary Schools,3567 Mashego Street, Zithobeni Ext3, Bronkhorstspruit, 1024.

Time:11:00-11:30

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GDE must end rotational learning and provide mobile classrooms to improve learners’ performance at Simunye Secondary School

The quality of teaching and learning at Simunye Secondary School is severely impacted due to the shortage of classrooms and the continuous rotational learning system.

The DA is concerned that this school is still on rotational learning while it was declared that all learners must attend school full-time. This means that learners at this school are missing much-needed learning time.

The school’s grade 12 class of 2022 was the worst-performing school in the province, with a 48% pass rate.

The school infrastructure is in a terrible state, there are 20 dilapidated mobile classrooms, collapsing ablution facilities and six toilets are not functioning.

The school has a capacity of 1452 learners and only grades 11 and 12 are attending school on a full-time basis. Other grades are still on a rotational learning system because there is no proper infrastructure in place.

We have been informed that the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) had promised to deliver 15 mobile classrooms, but to date, it has not yet happened.

The only solution to improve academic performance at Simunye Secondary School so that it can compete with other well-performing schools is to provide additional mobile classrooms to ensure a conducive learning and teaching environment.

The DA will continue to put pressure on the department to speed up the process of providing 15 mobile classrooms to end the rotational learning system at this school.

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DA to engage with Roosevelt High about learners being deprived of religious rights

Tomorrow, Tuesday, 31 January 2023, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson for Education, Sergio Isa Dos Santos MPL, will conduct an oversight inspection at Roosevelt High School.

The purpose of the oversight inspection is to ascertain why the school has issued a letter stating that any Muslim learner that has been issued with detention, must attend detention instead of attending Friday prayers (Jummah) at the Mosque on Fridays, as detention takes priority over Muslim’s Friday prayers.

We believe that every learner should respect and adhere to the school code of conduct, but we also believe that the code of conduct should not infringe on learners’ religious rights.

The DA will engage with the school management and the School Governing Body (SGB) to establish a suitable time for these particular learners to attend detention without them missing Friday prayers (Jummah) at Mosque.

Members of the media are invited and there will be an opportunity for photos and interviews.

Details of the oversight inspection are as follows:

Date: 31 January 2023

Venue: Roosevelt High School

Address: 1 Thibault Street, Franklin Roosevelt Park, Randburg

Time: 09:00-10:00

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DA to hand over Kokosi residents’ memorandum of grievances to COGTA to ensure power to the people

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has received a memorandum of grievances from the concerned residents of Kokosi township about electricity load reduction that we will hand over to the Gauteng MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA), Mzi Khumalo and seek his urgent intervention to solve the issue.

Around 3000 residents marched to Fochville Civic Center on Thursday to hand over a memorandum however, there was no one from the MEC’s office and the Merafong Local Municipality to receive their memorandum. We were reliably informed that the MEC’s office and the Merafong Local Municipality could not come to receive the memorandum because the organisers of the march were not granted permission to march.

While we urge residents to abide by the law by following the proper channels to apply for marches, as it is within their right to protest, we believe that both the MEC’s office and the Merafong municipality should have been much more responsive and authentic in their handling of the situation.

This is because the residents are raising burning issues that are affecting them daily. We intervened when there was no one to attend to these legitimate concerns to avoid the protest becoming potentially chaotic and violent. The business community on the protest march route were warned early, allowing them to take precautions.

The residents are complaining that there was no proper engagement with them with regards to electricity load reduction. Service delivery is being interrupted due to electricity load reduction, and residents and businesses are paying for electricity but still not having adequate access.

Service delivery has collapsed in Merafong, and residents are suffering. This has been made worse with the implementation of electricity load reduction.

The DA will engage with MEC Khumalo to ascertain whether they have plans in place to resolve the electricity issue in Merafong. The DA Councillors will also engage the Merafong Mayor and the City Manager to ascertain how they intend to resolve the issue.

We also urge residents of Merafong to remain calm while we are engaging both the MEC, and the Merafong Municipality and we will provide feedback. The DA is currently working on alternative solutions by engaging different stakeholders across the municipality.

The DA would like to thank all stakeholders including the Public Order Police, NGO’s, private security firms and the residents of Fochville, for their outstanding collaboration during this event. We also wish to thank Kokosi residents who took part in the protest for maintaining good discipline.