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Last Update: June 24, 2001 |
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Hire black teachers, schools told In a radical moved aimed at deracialising the education system, the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has warned former Model C schools to employ at least 50 percent black teachers by 2005 as part of its equity plan. In a draft document in the possession of The Star, the department said that in the long term it expected schools and GDE offices to have 75 percent blacks, 9 percent coloureds, 3 percent Indians and 50 percent women in their "management echelons in line with the demographics of the country". In terms of the drastic plan - schools have until the end of this week to respond - district officials' performances would be measured by their success in promoting equity. Model C schools are public schools which were established exclusively for whites under the former Transvaal Education Department, now incorporated into the GDE. Of the 553 former Model C schools in Gauteng, only one has a staff complement which is almost all black, according to the GDE. A senior department official, who requested anonymity, said most black teachers employed at former Model C schools were degraded to "mere translators or interpreters". "They are appointed only when the schools are in need of, for instance, a third language non-examinable isiZulu teacher," he said. Between 80 percent and 100 percent of the pupils at 101 of these schools are black, and 59 schools have 60 percent to 79 percent black learners. A Unesco study released earlier this year said the influx of black pupils to former Model C schools has led to white parents moving their children to private schools. "However," said the GDE, "there are certain glaring inadequacies in these schools. Learners, mainly black, are almost exclusively taught by white teachers. The culture and environment of ex-Model C schools (do) not promote transformation in line with the new democratic dispensation that promotes multiculturalism and positive appreciation of indigenous African and disempowered cultures." The department said that as a result of "the snail-paced transformation" at these schools, the GDE would from August take over powers of appointing teachers from School Governing Bodies (SGBs). "The shortlisting process will be centralised and done by the department's district offices," said Takalani Nwedamutswu, GDE's senior manager of human resource development. The move has triggered a row between the department and the Federation of School Governing Bodies of South Africa (Fedsas), representing mainly former Model C schools. "We will certainly oppose centralisation of shortlisting," said Dr Paul Colditz, chairperson of Fedsas. The department argues that school governing bodies have abused their powers of shortlisting teachers to exclude black educators. "We will act as required by the Employment of Educators Act and Employment Equity Act to implement gender and racial representivity," Nwedamutswu said. But Colditz said he was not aware of any discrimination at his member schools. The South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu) has commended the department for the move. "We need any strategy to intervene. Most SGBs use any trick in the book to bar township teachers and ensure that their schools remain lily-white. If the department has to introduce quotas, so be it," said Thulas Nxesi, Sadtu secretary-general. Dave Balt, Gauteng spokesperson of the National Professional Teachers Organisation of South Africa, said his union welcomed the plan to address racial and gender representivity but "there must be thorough consultation with the unions". Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ]  Kytie Koekblik ColumnKytie Koekblik Washington D.C. - Dis een van daai oomblikke. Dis Sondag-aand en ek is in Amerika. Ek het myself al the way down memory lane geneem vanaand deur na die fotos en videos van my onlangse trippie huis toe te kyk. Obviously voel ek nie goed nie. Vroeer vandag het ek die ma en pa gebel, en oor die foon met hulle vasgesit. Sommer oor niks nie, net omdat ek geweet het as ek met hulle nice is, gaan ek begin tjank. So dan baklei ek maar, want ek weet as my ma eers gaan se, ons is lief vir jou en jy is nooit alleen nie, ons bid vir jou my kind, dan gaan die groot orkaan losbars hier binne in my. Ek is alleen, baklei ek sommer met haar vir niks nie, net omdat ek my probeer tough hou. Ek gaan deur my foonlys van kontakte in die VSA en ek wonder wie ek kan bel, want wie gaan verstaan hoekom ek vandag net n skoolkind wil wees wat nie hoef te worry oor die volgende salaris en werksdruk en die pas van die lewe in die hoofstede van die wereld nie. Dis een van daai dae wat amerika te groot voel. Wat op die aarde maak ek hier, bla-bla, ons ken almal die ou storie. Jy dink aan die kleur van Blouberg se water op n reendag en jy dink aan die miskombers oor Tafelberg en dit is HOE JY VOEL. Nie eers die feit dat Suid-Afrika vir die Franse gister pakgegee het, gaan jou laat beter voel nie. Dis dalk nie eers Suid-Afrika wat ek mis nie, dalk is dit net die supportstructures. Die ware vriende en die bloed wat dikker is as water, of so iets. Ek veg nou al vir twee weke vreeslik dapper held daarteen, die homesickness. Want om huis toe te gaan is om weer afhanklik te word, en om hier te wees is om stoksielalleen te moet survive in suburbs met blink karre en waar ons almal net aan tyd en geld en pressure dink. So nie eers my dikke pak fotos van Tafelberg laat my beter voel nie, al waaraan ek kan dink is aan mense wat kontinente ver weg is en my klein hondjies in hulle bed en aan daai simpele dik brief wat my so laat skrik het hierdie week: Ek is een van die1,5% belastingbetalers in die grote en magtige Amerika wat ge-audit is. Nou kyk, vir iemand wat nog nooit n tjekboek of n kredietkaart besit het - of iemand wat nog nooit belasting betaal het nie - is die gedagte aan die Internal Revenue Service wat jou wil audit, n vreeslike bangmaak gedagte. Ek is een van die vreeslike klein vissies, en om watter rede op die aarde iemand nou wil weet hoeveel geld ek maandeliks in die blackhole inbetaal, dit gaan my verstand te bowe. My Baas dog ek jok toe die brief by die kantoor opdaag en se, jy word ge-audit en jy beter jou kwitansies en the works voorle aan ons en n afspraak maak binne vyftien dae. My accountant - want ek het 'n accountant - se 'n worst case scenario is dat ek moet geld inbetaal. Ek dink, dinge soos audits en visas maak die lewe heeltemals te gekompliseerd, dalk sou dit beter wees om n citizen in my eie land te wees waar ek nie heeldag en aldag soos die een of ander freak foreigner gaan voel wat n oortreding begaan nie. Waar ek in n demokrasie is en waar ek taxation met representation kry. In elk geval, ek probeer nog om te veg teen hierdie gevoel van verlammende vrees vir Blou Maandae en lyste van dinge wat ek moet doen en werksdruk en bangheid en n dosis homesickness wat daarmee saam gaan, maar vanaand is ek besig om daardie kompetisie met myself te verloor. My eternal optimisme is besig om te dissolve soos daai mis op Tafelberg, ek dink ek moet maar gaan slaap en hoop dat more n beter dag gaan wees vol vriendelike mense en goeie nuus en mooiweer. Dis dan al vir die week, op so n Sondag-blues noot se ek goeienag... Kytie K. Kytie Koekblik would like you to respond to her tongue-in-cheek running commentary on suburban life in America in this editorial. Fresh off the boat, she is ready to explore and experiment with American bath plugs and to drive on the other side of the road. You can contact her here. © RSA-Overseas & Matheson Communications [ Top ] Police hunt for Piketberg's 'Rambo' Police dog and helicopter units, local policemen and a commando of army reservists are combing the mountains near Piketberg for the Swartland's own Rambo, known to locals as "Piet Skiet". Pieter Davids, 43, is a bandit who has become almost mythical and phantom-like to residents of the area - but the crimes he allegedly perpetrates are very real. For the past six months Piet Skiet has been wanted for a series of offences including two rapes, murder, attempted murder, arson and theft. He apparently survives in the unforgiving terrain of the Piket Bo Berg mountains near the town. Locals say he only comes down to continue his reign of terror. He is said to have started his cat-and-mouse game with the police nearly 22 years ago and there have been allegations linking him to many criminal incidents since this time. In the fertile citrus and apple-growing valley below Piet's mountain hideout, 19 farmers are praying that they are not on his alleged hitlist. After earlier interviews with the Cape Times, they called to say they did not want to be mentioned by name in any story about "Piet Skiet". And judging by accounts from community members and the police about how the Swartland Rambo operates, they cannot be blamed. Police say Piet's most brazen crime to date began with a telephone call to them to say he would kill a friend of his for leaking information about his mountain hideout. A week later, in March this year, Nicky Claasen was gunned down outside his girlfriend's home. Piet apparently fled the scene in view of witnesses, and left behind a hitlist of other people he said he wanted to hunt down. Police intelligence sources say Piet's love for the veld and guns was fostered from when he was very young. He is a loner. He has been married but has been separated from his wife and children for many years. Contrary to folklore, Piet has no military training and police cannot explain his mastery of making his own zip-guns. His alleged crimes, the inability of the police to catch him and the rumours among the townsfolk of his escapades have turned him into a scare story Piketbergers tell their children if they are naughty. Another "incident" which the locals relate with glee happened recently. They say a policeman was lying on his stomach on the roof of a minibus with his rifle cocked while covering a search party, when Piet radioed him on his walkie talkie with a warning that was short and to the point: "Klim af of ek skiet jou vrek." (Get down or I'll shoot you dead). The policeman dropped from the roof "like a sack of potatoes", they say. If Piet's story was a Rambo movie, that episode would be part two: He was first arrested over two decades ago for a shooting and burglary spree, spent a few years in jail and then returned to Piketberg. Johan Koegelenberg, who was one of the young policemen who hunted Piet down in 1976, is back on the case. Superintendent Koegelenberg is one of the co-ordinators of a task team looking for Piet's hideout. Their search has been a hard one. The rugged terrain of Piket Bo Berg mountain rolls on for thousands of hectares, and there are many caves which offer shelter. Koegelenberg said the major problem for police was that the community was not helping them in tracking down Piet. "There are people who support him and there are people who are just too scared to talk. Piet has been known to come down from his hiding place and approach people in their homes to give him food and lodging. His warning is always: 'If you talk I'll kill you'," he said. There is a R20 000 reward but locals told the Cape Times: "R20 000 is too little money to risk our lives." According to one farmer there are negotiations with provincial MEC for community safety Hennie Bester to boost the reward for information leading to Piet's capture. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] Boks improve & square series South Africa denied France a chance of creating history, defeating them 20-15 in the second Test played at the Absa Stadium in Durban on Saturday. The French have yet to defeat the Boks in successive matches and were denied their slice of history on the back of a gutsy, yet error-ridden performance by the home team. The series was squared at 1-1 but the French could have stolen the series had flyhalf Gerald Merceron slotted a late drop-goal or penalty after South Africa edged into a 17-15 lead. The Boks trailed by 14-15 at the break after a poor first half marred by ill-discipline and fundamental errors. The hosts camped in French territory for almost the entire second half but could not convert pressure into points. Bok flyhalf Butch James had a nightmare game with the boot, missing three easy penalties in the second period, forcing captain Andre Vos to spurn four goalable attempts in favour of kicks for touch. Time and again the Boks threw themselves at the French line but fierce defence by the visitors, coupled with Springboks' handling errors, kept the scoreboard dormant for 30 minutes after the break. South Africa finally broke the stubborn French resistance with a James penalty 12 minutes from time, but leading 17-15 then had to endure two nervous moments as the French attacked. First Merceron missed a difficult long-range drop, before pulling his penalty attempt wide. South Africa then lost their only real source of possession in the lineout when Albert van den Berg was stretchered off with what looks like a serious injury. James finally made sure of the win with a last gasp penalty, finishing with five out of nine attempts at goal and a match tally of 15 points. South Africa sounded their physical intentions from the onset and were rewarded for their aggressive start with a long-range James penalty in the second minute, when the French were penalised for playing the ball on the ground. But then the strong-arm tactics turned against the Boks when James was penalised - and warned - for not using his arms in the tackle. First test hero Merceron pushed his attempt wide but the flyhalf had another chance in the ninth minute - this time from in front of the poles - and the scores were level at 3-3. South Africa continued with their physical start with Andrews penalised for punching with the hosts on attack. Two minutes later the volatile 70 test veteran was justifiably yellow carded for dirty play, and sent to cool down for 10 minutes. With a man down the Boks still remained positive and a good move from a clever lineout option set up an easy James penalty but five minutes later Merceron again levelled the scores with a penalty. James was then lucky not to be red-carded following a horrific stiff arm on French right-wing David Bory, who had hacked the ball ahead. James was again spoken to by referee Chris White of England but somehow escaped punishment, apart from the subsequent penalty and three more points for Merceron, handing the Tricolours the lead for the first time in the match South Africa then put together their best passage of play with flank Corne Krige going over in the corner after latching onto a Thinus Delport pass. James missed the conversion but the Boks led 11-9. That lead was short-lived as Merceron added another penalty following a dangerous tackle by Albert van den Berg on French fullback Jeanjean Nicolas. Andrews had just come back to the fore but the Boks were again a man short when centre De Wet Barry was unluckily yellow-carded for a late tackle with replays suggesting he was just following through. Percy Montgomery in the meantime came off the bench for a bloodied Robbie Fleck, courtesy of a rucking by his own flanker, Rassie Erasmus. Merceron continued his golden series with a smartly-taken drop-goal but James narrowed the gap to 15-14 shortly before the break with a penalty. Points: SA: Tries: Corne Krige Conversions: Penalties: Butch James (5) France: Tries: Conversions: Penalties: Gerald Merceron (4) Dropgoals: Gerald Merceron Teams: South Africa: Thinus Delport, Breyton Paulse, Robbie Fleck, De Wet Barry, Dean Hall, Butch James, Joost van der Westhuizen, Andre Vos (c), Corne Krige, Rassie Erasmus, Albert van den Berg, Mark Andrews, Willie Meyer, John Smit, Ollie le Roux. Replacements: Neil de Kock, Percy Montgomery, Conrad Jantjes, Ettiene Fynn, Rob Kempson, Johan Ackermann, Bob Skinstad. France: Jeanjean Nicolas, David Bory, Jauzion Yannick, Stephane Glas, Christophe Dominici, Gerald Merceron, Fabien Galthie (c), Patrick Tabacco, Olivier Magne, Sebastien Chabal, Olivier Brouzet, David Auradou, Pieter de Villiers, Raphael Ibanez, Jean Jacques Crenca. Replacements: Olivier Azam, Christian Califano, Lionel Nallett, Elvis Vermuelen, Pierre Mignoni, David Skrela, Pepito Elhorga. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ]  Nels' KitchenRagel Nel Ragel Nel Washington D.C. - It may be summer time in the States, but my living definitely ain't easy. To blame for my distress are two tiny patches of land making up the front and back yard of my Baltimore abode. I say "land", because in its current state it can hardly be called a garden. But of course, it has loads of potential. And that's exactly why I'm too guilt-ridden to leave it alone. The rented rowhouse with its red brick façade (circa 1950) also needs all the help it can get. Make no mistake, it had a garden once, long ago. The evidence of it is still faintly visible beneath the weeds surrounding the trees. The two Cedars in the front are the only trees in the entire street. I still don't know if this is something to be proud of or not, because they too have seen better days. They are facing an uncertain future, and Mr. and Mrs. Landlord have been in constant debate over whether they should be chopped off or not. For the time being, they remain standing and I use them as a convenient excuse not to fall in with the garden gnome tradition going on in the rest of the street. What the neighbours lack in greens, they've made up for with bright (mostly pink), plastic garden "accessories". The result is front yards bedecked in an amusing array of frogs, chubby-cheeked gnomes, dwarves, pink flamingoes, flags-for-every-occasion-and-season, and even the odd plastic flower fan with leaves that happily spin around in the breeze. You get the picture… At first I thought it was merely part of Baltimore's blue-collar way of life, but now I'm starting to suspect that the neighbours are plotting together and using the gnomes in a desperate attempt to send me a message: "Limited edition trees or not, do something to your garden!" The dilemma is that my fingers aren't even the faintest shade of green. In fact, I'm notorious for letting the toughest cactus shrivel up and die. Forget anything that needs water on a regular basis… I hardly glance at a flower and it wilts. It's not intentional, honestly! I love flora as much as anyone and long for a lush little garden with a gurgling fountain, fragrant flowers and herbs and a wrought iron bench where I can stretch out to sip my morning coffee while being serenaded by the birds. It is with this beautiful and very ambitious illusion in mind that I set out to destroy the stubborn weeds. It's not long before the situation turns into a full-fledged war and I realize that there are indeed some plant life (if you can define a weed as such) that even I am unable to kill… In fact, I started finding it much easier to pull out my hair in frustration. A tad more painful and a lot less productive, yes, but at least something came out when I pulled. But I'm South African. And we're tough (right?). So I flatly refuse to give up. The current result is a few Daisies that made a miraculous appearance by sprouting through the barrier of weeds where I vaguely remember scattering some seeds a few weeks ago. As if THAT isn't enough to almost make me drop dead with surprise: all six of them actually flowered! Adding an unexpected but very welcome splash of colour to an otherwise rather drab looking yard. And it was good timing too, because I was rapidly running out of hair to pull. The weeds… well… they are a different story. Let's just say they are still there. But only because I've given myself some time off to rethink my strategy. To be honest, I'm also so smug about having actual flowers in the garden that I don't care about the weeds too much right now. There is just one problem though: the flowers are in the back yard, which is far more secluded and private than the front. Therefore none of the neighbours can share in my feat! I don't know if it's merely my imagination, but it feels as if the garden gnomes are slowly closing in on me… The literal moral of this story, fellow immigrants, is that the grass (or in this case, the weeds) is not necessarily greener in America. But if you are very lucky, you can indeed reap what you sow. © RSA-Overseas [ Top ] Right wing lashes out at school names plan The Freedom Front has reacted angrily to Education Minister Kader Asmal's announcement this week that schools which bear the names of apartheid leaders will be renamed. FF education spokesperson Pieter Mulder said school names were a highly emotional issue and could be a source of bitterness among Afrikaners should Asmal forge ahead with his plan. Several schools, Asmal said, still had names that reflected the apartheid period. Mulder said: "Renaming a few schools is not going to solve the education problem." But Asmal's spokesperson, Molatwane Likhethe, said the ministry was unapologetic on the issue. ANC provincial education spokesperson Yousuf Gabru, however, warned that it should be a process of consultation with learners and parents. "I think the opportunity should be used to explain to learners the history of apartheid," he said. In Pretoria, the principal of John Vorster Technical High School, Johan Wagenaar, said they have been thinking of a name change for a long time. "(But) it must be organised properly and not forced upon us," Wagenaar said. Another Pretoria school pondering a name change is Hendrik Verwoerd High School. "(To) change the name has severe financial implications and we hope the minister will help with that," principal Hennie du Toit said. Thanks to IOL.co.za [ Top ] |
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