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IOL News
13 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
WCED accused of spinning infrastructure woes into a success story
The WCED announced an infrastructure rollout to meet growing learner demand, but critics cite teacher cuts and inequality. Image: File THE 19% enrolment growth in public schools between 2015 and 2024 placed pressure on school infrastructure and staffing resources, says the Western Cape Education Department (WCED). To address the demand driven partly by in-migration from other provinces, the WCED said it was ramping up infrastructure investment. Speaking during a meeting of the Provincial Parliament's Standing Committee on Education this week, WCED officials said the province recorded a 2.3% average increase of enrolment in public schools annually. The department currently serves more than 1.3 million learners across 1,887 schools. In response to infrastructure demand, the WCED has launched its Rapid School Build Programme, with a hope to deliver 26 new school projects over the next three years. According to the department, a further 290 new classrooms and 21 Grade R classrooms are also planned for the same period. The department said 59 school maintenance projects are currently under construction for the 2025/26 financial year, with an additional 26 projects in planning. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Leon van Wyk, DA Western Cape spokesperson on education, said the department had maintained discipline in budget allocation despite rising costs. 'From 2022 to 2025, the WCED has kept employee compensation at a sustainable 71% to 72% of its budget — the lowest among major provinces,' said Van Wyk. 'This has allowed us to invest more in critical services like textbooks, learner transport, nutrition programmes, and infrastructure.' Van Wyk contrasted this with other provinces, stating that KwaZulu-Natal had spent over 83% of its education budget on salaries over four consecutive years, leaving less for other education needs. 'To ensure every learner has a seat in a safe, functional classroom, we must continue to prioritise infrastructure spending. It's not optional — it's essential.' However, ANC Western Cape leader of the opposition, Khalid Sayed, said the DA's narrative 'attempts to spin the Western Cape Education Department's infrastructure crisis into a success story'. In a statement, Sayed said: 'The WCED has had more than enough time to plan for the enrollment increase. Instead, what we have seen is delayed school builds, under-resourced township and rural schools, and an overreliance on rapid or modular builds.' Social service and educational organisation, Ilitha Labantu, also raised concerns about staffing reductions. The organisation cited figures from the WCED indicating that 2,407 teacher posts had been cut across the province as of January. These cuts took place in the context of a R3.8 billion projected shortfall in the education budget over the next three years. According to Ilitha Labantu, nearly 70% of the schools affected by the staff reductions were no-fee schools that serve township and vulnerable communities, meaning. Schools in areas such as Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain reported class sizes exceeding 50 learners per teacher. In a statement, Ilitha Labantu said: 'While the department promotes LED lighting, fencing upgrades, and solar installations at some schools, learners in township communities continue to endure unsafe, overcrowded, and dilapidated school infrastructure.' Ilitha Labantu cited recent incidents, including the abduction and rape of a 14-year-old learner in Langa, and the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old learner from Samora Machel while walking to school, as examples of the vulnerability learners face. Both the ANC and Ilitha Labantu called for the WCED to release a detailed breakdown of infrastructure and staffing backlogs by district. CAPE TIMES
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
WCED's infrastructure plans face criticism over teacher cuts and inequality
The WCED announced an infrastructure rollout to meet growing learner demand, but critics cite teacher cuts and inequality. Image: File The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) said it was ramping up infrastructure investment to address growing learner numbers and financial constraints, as enrolment across provincial schools continues to rise. Speaking during a meeting of the Provincial Parliament's Standing Committee on Education this week, WCED officials said enrolment in public schools grew by 19% between 2015 and 2024, with an average annual increase of 2.3%. The department currently serves more than 1.3 million learners across 1,887 schools. According to the WCED, the increase in enrolment has been driven largely by in-migration from other provinces. Department officials said the growth had placed pressure on school infrastructure and staffing resources. Leon van Wyk, DA Western Cape spokesperson on education, said the department had maintained discipline in budget allocation despite rising costs. 'From 2022 to 2025, the WCED has kept employee compensation at a sustainable 71% to 72% of its budget — the lowest among major provinces,' said Van Wyk. 'This has allowed us to invest more in critical services like textbooks, learner transport, nutrition programmes, and infrastructure.' Van Wyk contrasted this with other provinces, stating that KwaZulu-Natal had spent over 83% of its education budget on salaries over four consecutive years, leaving less for other education needs. He said: 'To ensure every learner has a seat in a safe, functional classroom, we must continue to prioritise infrastructure spending. It's not optional — it's essential.' In response to infrastructure demand, the WCED has launched its Rapid School Build Programme, which is expected to deliver 26 new school projects over the next three years. According to the department, a further 290 new classrooms and 21 Grade R classrooms are also planned for the same period. The department said 59 school maintenance projects are currently under construction for the 2025/26 financial year, with an additional 26 projects in planning. Since 2021, the WCED has implemented LED lighting upgrades at 167 schools, installed solar PV systems at 91 schools, and completed fencing improvements at 167 schools. Van Wyk said the department's decisions were based on long-term planning and data, aimed at improving education infrastructure while keeping the system financially sustainable. However, ANC Western Cape leader of the opposition, Khalid Sayed, criticised the department's approach. In a statement, he said the DA's narrative 'attempts to spin the Western Cape Education Department's infrastructure crisis into a success story'. Sayed said: 'The WCED has had more than enough time to plan for the enrolment increase. Instead, what we have seen is delayed school builds, under-resourced township and rural schools, and an overreliance on rapid or modular builds.' He expressed concern over the department's budget focus, saying that the containment of wage costs resulted in fewer teachers and larger class sizes. Social service and educational organisation, Ilitha Labantu, also raised concerns about staffing reductions. The organisation cited figures from the WCED indicating that 2,407 teacher posts had been cut across the province as of January 1, 2025. It said these cuts took place in the context of a R3.8 billion projected shortfall in the education budget over the next three years. According to Ilitha Labantu, nearly 70% of the schools affected by the staff reductions were no-fee schools that serve township and vulnerable communities. The organisation said schools in areas such as Khayelitsha and Mitchells Plain reported class sizes exceeding 50 learners per teacher. In a statement, Ilitha Labantu said: 'While the department promotes LED lighting, fencing upgrades, and solar installations at some schools, learners in township communities continue to endure unsafe, overcrowded, and dilapidated school infrastructure.' The organisation also raised safety concerns. It said school audits and public education monitoring had revealed that more than half of under-resourced schools in the province had experienced vandalism or theft, and only 47% had effective perimeter fencing. Ilitha Labantu cited recent incidents, including the abduction and rape of a 14-year-old learner in Langa, and the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old learner from Samora Machel while walking to school, as examples of the vulnerability learners face. Both the ANC and Ilitha Labantu called for the WCED to release a detailed breakdown of infrastructure and staffing backlogs by district. They also called for increased funding from the Department of Basic Education and the National Treasury to support staffing, infrastructure, and school safety in disadvantaged areas. [email protected]
Hamilton Spectator
03-06-2025
- Health
- Hamilton Spectator
Fourth annual Greater Napanee Pride celebrated with parade, festivities
'Look around,' Greater Napanee Pride Committee Chair Chris Beauchesne told the several hundred people gathered for Napanee's Pride Day 2025. 'This is what community looks like. This is what Pride looks like. This is what showing up looks like.' These upbeat words were greeted with cheers from the crowd. Smiles and rainbows brought cheer to the damp, chilly weather when Greater Napanee officially opened Pride month celebrations in the region. On Saturday, May 31, 2025, the fourth annual Pride celebration began on the stage under the Conservation Park pavilion. The Greater Napanee Pride Committee and a handful of dignitaries opened the day by sharing remarks with an energetic audience. Chief Don Maracle of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte told the traditional Indigenous story of the strawberry. In Mohawk teachings, the strawberry —- ken\'niiohontésha, or 'heart berry' —- holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning, particularly as a woman's medicine. It is a sacred fruit associated with creation, community, and love. Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Member of Parliament (MP) for Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, presented Greater Napanee Pride with a certificate of recognition for their continued dedication. She celebrated Greater Napanee as 'a community where diversity is valued and everyone deserves to live authentically and safely... Discrimination has no place in our communities. Who you are and who you love should never be questioned.' Her provincial counterpart, Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) Ric Bresee, showed his support for the annual celebration from a wheelchair, indicating that he had had an accident about a month ago but is recovering 'quite nicely.' Bresee acknowledged that there are still many places in the world that 'are rolling back the progress that we've made over decades. There are places in the world that are punishing people for being their true selves, for being who they are. We've got to stand against that. Always.' 'Here's the thing: we need Pride now more than ever,' Beauchesne said. 'We are living in a time when 2SLGBTQIA+ rights are being stripped away around the world. Books are being banned. Health care is being denied. Queer and trans people are being targeted just for existing. And we cannot be complacent because it isn't happening in Canada —- because it is. Trans rights were a campaign issue once again, just over a month ago. Hate exists right here in this community, as much as we would love to tell you it doesn't.' 'When we say we want Greater Napanee to be safe for everyone, we mean everyone —- and that includes trans people.' Vice Chair Tiffany Lloyd took up this theme, saying, 'Lately, we've heard a lot of public discourse that claims to be about women's safety. But let's be honest—if you only bring up women's safety when you're talking about who uses a Walmart bathroom, you're not protecting women. You're using women as an excuse to be transphobic.' 'If you really care about women's safety, let's start in the streets. Let's start in our own homes. Let's start in our workplaces… Women and gender-diverse people are most at risk where they live and work, not in public washrooms,' Lloyd continued. 'We will not stand by while fear is weaponized against some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Pride is first and foremost a protest, and that means standing with our trans neighbours, not just when it's easy, but especially when it's not.' 'Today isn't just about glitter and rainbows,' Beauchesne added, 'though we love both.' 'It's about visibility. It's about resistance. It's about making it absolutely, undeniably clear: Canada can not go backward. Napanee can not go backward. Do not become complacent because the work is done. Every flag you raise, every street you march, every voice you lift —- it all matters.' 'So, whether you're here for your first Pride or your 50th —- whether you're out, questioning, or just showing up as an ally —- thank you. You are part of something bigger today,' Beauchesne concluded. 'Let this parade be loud! Let it be proud! Let it be unapologetic! Because when we say we're building a world where everyone is safe, loved, and free, we mean everyone. Happy Pride! Now let's hit the streets and make it count!' With that, a parade along Napanee's picturesque waterfront trail began, with participants passing under a rainbow arch of balloons, then along the Napanee River, up past the Napanee Falls in Springside Park, and through downtown. Smiles, cheering, singing, and dancing accompanied the day's festivities, which included a market in the park, Drag Queen Story Time presented by the Napanee branch of the Lennox and Addington Library, free children's activities, and live music. The festivities were capped off with Pride in the Country, which featured local drag entertainers Rowena Whey, Tyffanie Morgan, Street Meat, and Oktavia, as well as Canada's Drag Race star Juice Boxx. More information about Greater Napanee Pride can be found on the group's website . As the first week of Pride Month got underway, the South East Health Unit issued messaging in support of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, explaining the role the Public Health Unit plays in health equity. 'Pride is both a celebration of the diverse sexualities, genders and gender expressions of individuals that make up our communities, and a movement to increase visibility and awareness of the inequities that impact 2SLGBTQIA+ individuals. The South East Health Unit (SEHU) has an important role to play in advocating for health equity,' the SEHU said. According to the Health Unit, gender identity and sexual orientation are determinants of health that can have a significant impact on the health outcomes of individuals and communities alike. The SEHU said that factors that contribute to health inequities include discrimination and stigmatization, which 'can be worse when other determinants of health' such as race/racism, income, or social status 'intersect with gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.' 'Stigma and discrimination can limit people's access to health care, education, jobs, housing, and social connections, affecting overall health and wellbeing. These challenges can be lessened through social support, understanding, and allyship. Allyship is a process of building trusting relationships through learning, listening, and supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,' the SEHU explained. The local Health Unit said that it aims to increase allyship in a number of ways, including providing inclusive services to gender diverse new parents, supporting individuals of all sexual orientations in its clinics, and 'so much more.' 'As an agency committed to helping our communities to be as healthy as they can be, it is important for the South East Health Unit to be leaders in voicing our support for the 2SLGBTQIA+ community,' said Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO for SEHU, in a statement. 'Discrimination and stigmatization are damaging factors for both mental and physical health, and lead to harmful outcomes for individuals who face these realities. South East Health Unit staff strive to be supportive, inclusive and welcoming to all individuals who access our services.' The local Health Unit said that Public Health staff will participate in several Pride activities throughout the region to 'further demonstrate support,' and invited the community to learn more about sexual orientation and gender identity and expression as they relate to health through its website . Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Western Cape Finance MEC ensures stability with R89. 3 billion budget despite national challenges
Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman delivers the 2025 Budget Speech in the Provincial Parliament. Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman re-tabled the province's R89.3 billion Appropriations Bill after the national government unexpectedly withdrew its budget, including the legally binding Division of Revenue Bill. Addressing the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Baartman clarified that although the process had to be repeated for legal compliance, 'nothing in substance in the Western Cape Appropriations Bill has changed.' The 2025/26 Western Cape Budget still allocates a total of R269.5 billion over the next three years, with more than 80%, or R215.8 billion, dedicated to social services. This includes R101 billion for education, R100 billion for health, R6.4 billion for housing, and R8.4 billion for social protection.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Western Cape Finance Minister re-tables R89. 3 billion Appropriations Bill as national budget faces uncertain future
Western Cape Finance MEC Deidré Baartman delivers the 2025 Budget Speech in the Provincial Parliament. Image: Supplied Western Cape Finance Minister Deidré Baartman re-tabled the province's R89.3 billion Appropriations Bill after the national government unexpectedly withdrew its budget, including the legally binding Division of Revenue Bill. Addressing the Western Cape Provincial Parliament, Baartman clarified that although the process had to be repeated for legal compliance, 'nothing in substance in the Western Cape Appropriations Bill has changed.' The 2025/26 Western Cape Budget still allocates a total of R269.5 billion over the next three years, with more than 80%, or R215.8 billion, dedicated to social services. This includes R101 billion for education, R100 billion for health, R6.4 billion for housing, and R8.4 billion for social protection. In terms of strategic spending, the province is staying the course on its four apex priorities: R43.8 billion to 'Growth for Jobs,' R3.9 billion to safety, R194.9 billion to build an 'Educated, Healthy and Caring Society,' and R23.4 billion to innovation, culture, and governance. 'In light of this,' said Baartman, 'the doors of the Western Cape Government have, and will continue to, remain open.' Despite the chaos at a national level, Baartman assured residents that essential services would remain intact, crediting this stability to provincial fiscal discipline. 'Despite the uncertain fiscal environment, the Western Cape Government can assure this house that we have kept strict protocols in place on cash flow management in the province to ensure service delivery continues uninterrupted,' said Baartman. She also acknowledged the tireless work of officials during this turbulent period. '2025 has really seen us exercise our legal and procedural muscles within the uncertain fiscal space nationally, and I would like to thank the Provincial Treasury team as well as the Legal team in the Department of the Premier for their assistance and guidance throughout this process.' Looking ahead, Baartman expressed hope for a smoother national budget process next year. 'For certainty, fiscal stability and trust, it is my sincere hope that the national budget process for 2026 will flow more effortlessly.' IOL News
