Weekend Argus Saturday Saturday, July 25, 2020

CRIME Escape: How they did it Second break-out at Malmesbury Prison since lockdown SHANICE NAIDOO, NATHAN ADAMS AND ASANDA SOKANYILE AYANDA NDAMANE African News Agency (ANA) THE midday exercise routine took a dramatic turn at the Malmesbury Prison when 69 prisoners staged a daring prison break. The group, awaiting trial, overpowered guards, locked three of them in a cell and escaped through the main entrance at midday yesterday. A search by police, sniffer dogs and private security resulted in the capture of 63 of the men and, late last night, helicopters scoured the Swartland town for the six remaining escapees. Yesterday’s incident was the second escape from the prison since the start of the Covid-19 lockdown. The men had been charged with crimes ranging from common assault, robbery with aggravating…

DEBATE Rolling over school year may be ‘fiasco’ KEAGAN MITCHELL AND SIYABONGA MKHWANAZI IS THIS the beginning of the end of the academic year? Experts and education bodies are debating whether pupils will return to class this year following President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement to close schools for four weeks from July 27 to August 24. Stellenbosch University’s Professor Jonathan Jansen said the academic year is basically over by the end of August as schools prepare for their exams. “Rolling over the academic year into the next is going to be an organisational nightmare as new entrants wait to access the system. They should have passed everyone on the existing policy of automatic promotion except for the matrics, for whom the exam could have been shifted to January 2021 and therefore…

E-LEARNING E Cape MEC addresses critics of deal BONGANI HANS EASTERN Cape Education MEC Fundile Gade has accused critics of the multimillion-rand e-learning equipment deal of being driven by political motives. Gade yesterday held a press briefing to address the allegations levelled against the contract, which the department entered into with Sizwe Africa IT Group in partnership with cellphone giant MTN earlier this year. According to the department, the 55 000 tablets worth R538 million to be leased over a period of three years were sourced to assist mostly rural Grade 12 pupils to continue with learning during the Covid-19 lock-down and beyond. Gade said it was problematic to politicise procurement processes. “When people choose to engage in politics they must just say so and do not conflate with the…

COVID-19 School mourns loss of ‘humble teacher’ SHANICE NAIDOO shanice.naidoo@inl.co.za BRENDAN MAGAAR African News Agency (ANA) The problem started when schools openedJuwa Dimamande Sadtu FLOWERS, notes from students and staff as well as pictures filled the foyer of Queen’s Park High School yesterday. Covid-19 claimed the life of their beloved teacher, Dereck John Dreyer. In honour of the fallen educator, the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) held a drive-through memorial. For 20 minutes they sang and rejoiced in his name while maintaining social distancing. A staff member at the school said he would be sorely missed. She added it all happened so fast. “We were told on June 26 he was hospitalised at Rondebosch Medical Centre. He went straight into ICU but we heard he was okay. By the…

EDUCATION Four-week closure ‘not in interests of pupils’ – MEC Grade 12 pupils will have a one-week break and return on August 3. Grade 7 pupils have a two-week break and return on August 10. In response to Ramaphosa not mentioning anything on private schools, Curro spokesperson Mari Lategan said: “Curro can confirm that independent schools are unaffected by this decision. All schools within the independent education provider’s stable will, therefore, remain open and learning will continue as per the calendar communicated to parents earlier this term.” Western Cape Education MEC Debbie Schäfer said she was in favour of a two-week break of schools. “But a four-week closure is against the interests of pupils, and is not based on the medical evidence currently available,” she said. The MEC’s spokesperson, Kerry…

ALLEGATIONS Protector investigates NSFAS Complaints of nepotism and victimisation BULELWA PAYI bulelwa.payi@inl.co.za THE PUBLIC Protector’s office is investigating allegations of nepotism, victimisation and purging of certain staff at the National Students Financial Aid (NSFAS). This comes after MP and leader of the United Democratic Front, Bantu Holomisa, lodged a complaint with the public protector over the alleged “capturing” of the administration of the student financial body. Spokesperson for the Public Protector Oupa Segwale confirmed that the complaint had been assigned to the Good Governance and Integrity branch for investigation. Segwale said it was still early days in the investigation. Holomisa wrote to advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane requesting a probe into the “serious” allegations after he was approached by NSFAS employees. “There are allegations of nepotism, victimisation and purging of staff, racism,…