We’ve got the latest news stories and headlines in South Africa on Friday, 21 January.
This was ‘the toughest year’ for learners, but the Class of 2021 didn’t let the circumstances disrupt them – and their matric pass rate is HIGHER than last year’s.
Minister Motshekga confirmed the the official matric pass rate now stands at 76.4% – up 0.2% from 2020.
The South African government has officially declared a national disaster after heavy rains across the country resulted in fatalities, flooding and widespread destruction.
A notice in the Government Gazette has been published, allowing the basis for financial and humanitarian assistance from the state.
Furthermore, this is an additional and separate state of the disaster from the one already in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, the temperature is rising in both the Northern and Western Capes this week – and an extreme heat warning has been issued for the second weekend in a row. The SA Weather Service is warning of potentially fatal outcomes for some, due to the intensity of these conditions.
Temperatures are set to exceed 40C in the Western Cape, on both Friday AND Saturday. Although it’s expected to be a little cooler near the coastal regions, Cape Town is still heading for highs of 35C.
TODAY’S LATEST NEWS IN SOUTH AFRICA, Friday 21 January
It’s official: The 2021 matric pass rate is HIGHER than last year’s
Well done, kids! Even the Education Minister herself says this was ‘the toughest year’ for learners, but the Class of 2021 didn’t let the circumstances disrupt them – and their matric pass rate is HIGHER than last year’s.
Minister Motshekga confirmed the official matric pass rate now stands at 76.4% – up 0.2% from 2020.
The Class of 2020 was the first school cohort to be impacted by the pandemic. The matric pass rate then fell to 76.2% last year, 5% down from the year before. This decline can be placed squarely at the feet of the pandemic, and the associated lockdowns and school closures that came with it.
This year’s matriculants are the only ones who had to go through Grade 11 and Grade 12 with COVID restrictions in place. These crucial years were cruelly derailed, robbing many learners of the chance to excel. But the overall pass rate for 2021 can be considered a triumph, now.
This latest matric pass rate still shows us that there were thousands of resilient kids out there, who were determined to succeed no matter what. As we saw on Wednesday, the IEB pass rate increased slightly, and those privileged enough to continue their education with minimal disruption can now look forward to a brighter future.
Click here to read more about the results.
SA’s 2nd State of Disaster declared in response to widespread flooding
The South African government has officially declared a national disaster after heavy rains across the country resulted in fatalities, flooding and widespread destruction.
A notice in the Government Gazette has been published, allowing the basis for financial and humanitarian assistance from the state. Furthermore, this is an additional and separate state of disaster from the one already in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Head of the National Disaster Management Centre Dr Mmaphaka Tau signed off on the declaration. Tau opted to declare a state of disaster after ‘assessing the magnitude and severity of the severe weather events occurring in parts of the Republic that resulted in the loss of life and damage to property, infrastructure and the environment caused by flooding, strong winds, sinkholes (and) landslides’.
Click here to read more about the notice.
Extreme heat warning for SA: These 12 districts are on high alert
The temperature is rising in both the Northern and Western Capes this week – and an extreme heat warning has been issued for the second weekend in a row. The SA Weather Service is warning of potentially fatal outcomes for some, due to the intensity of these conditions.
Temperatures are set to exceed 40C in the Western Cape, on both Friday AND Saturday. Although it’s expected to be a little cooler near the coastal regions, Cape Town is still heading for highs of 35C.
These hot, humid conditions have got Cape Town in a chokehold at the moment, and after a wet start to the summer, the sunshine has been relentless since the turn of the year.
Click here to read more about the heat warning.
WATCH: Sinkhole claims vehicle as Gauteng endures extreme weather
The Gauteng province has been hit with continued extreme weather conditions with disruptive rain causing widespread devastation. Reports of flooding, sinkholes and even an earthquake in the region have surfaced this week alone.
Reports surfaced online of a sinkhole in Kempton Park with a video of the incident revealing that what appears to be a white Nissan being damaged. The incident took place on the Stephanus and Beukes roads.
Furthermore the South African Weather Service has explained that the unusually heavy rainfall is expected to continue for the remainder of the season and even into autumn. The SAWS said on Wednesday that the phenomenon is known as La Niña.
The disruptive rain has resulted in the Vaal Dam being over 110% full with the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal experiencing flooding. Commenting on the situation the Department of Cooperative Governance has confirmed 82 fatalities across South Africa this season.
Click here to read more.
School controversy: Limpopo teacher suspended for alleged ‘K-word’ rant
Students at a school in Limpopo have been protesting vehemently this week, after one of their teachers allegedly used the K-word to belittle some learners. It’s understood that the educator has now been suspended, pending a disciplinary hearing at the Hoerskool Nylstroom.
Several learners had taken to social media, asking the EFF to intervene at the school. The teacher in question is also accused of using racist language on previous occasions, with some pupils claiming that he called them ‘baboons’.
This whole ugly incident sparked a wave of dissent at Hoerskool Nylstroom, as scores of children stormed out of class and made their own banners to further highlight their grievances.
Click here to read more.
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