Category: Education

Eighteen young South Africans from disadvantaged backgrounds are packing their bags for Havana, selected to study medicine in Cuba through the Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro Medical Training Programme. The Gauteng Department of Health, which backs the cohort, calls it a major investment in the country’s future healthcare leaders.

The scale of the competition tells its own story of ambition. Some 2 480 young people from across Gauteng applied for a place. Of those, about 740 met the requirements and 91 were shortlisted before the final 18 were chosen.

Chosen for excellence and heart

Selection was about far more than marks. Candidates came from households earning R350 000 a year or less, with priority given to learners from Quintile 1 to 3 schools, so that the programme keeps opening doors for young people who would otherwise face financial barriers to studying medicine.

The process included home visits, interviews and background evaluations, weighing academic performance alongside each candidate’s socioeconomic circumstances and, in the department’s words, their “potential to contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector”.

“Successful candidates demonstrated a strong commitment to returning to serve the country and applying the knowledge and skills acquired through the programme to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in areas where shortages of healthcare professionals remain a challenge,” the department explained.

A pipeline that is already delivering

The new recruits follow a well-trodden path. Since the programme began, 463 students have graduated through it and are now serving in Gauteng’s public healthcare facilities. The department says many are already making a significant impact, and it is confident the new cohort will continue that legacy of service and excellence.

The Cuban medical curriculum places a strong emphasis on primary health care, prevention and health promotion, which aligns closely with South Africa’s own health priorities. Graduates return home with expertise that strengthens community-based services and supports efforts to reduce the burden of disease through preventative care.

Building tomorrow’s health system

On their return, the 18 will join Gauteng’s growing pool of medical practitioners, improving access to quality healthcare, particularly in underserved and rural communities. Their training will also support the strengthening of primary health care services and the future rollout of the National Health Insurance, helping to build a more equitable system for all.

“The programme empowers talented students from disadvantaged backgrounds to become medical doctors while equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to serve the people of South Africa,” the department said.

For 18 families across Gauteng, it is the start of an extraordinary journey, and for the province’s clinics and hospitals, the promise of 18 more doctors committed to coming home. The story was first reported by SAnews.gov.za.

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A new generation of property professionals is being built in Mpumalanga. Government has launched the Real Estate Learnership Programme in Middelburg, a skills-development initiative designed to open the doors of South Africa’s property industry to young people from historically disadvantaged communities.

The programme equips participants with the knowledge, skills and competencies they need to operate effectively in the real estate sector, while creating employment and building a pipeline of competent, work-ready property practitioners.

A True Team Effort

The learnership is a collaborative initiative bringing together public and private sector institutions, including the Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport, the Services Sector Education and Training Authority (Services SETA) and the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA).

Speaking at the launch, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane said meaningful transformation of South Africa’s property sector cannot happen if young people remain outside the industry’s economic opportunities.

“Transformation is not simply about changing who occupies positions in the property sector. It is about changing who has access to the opportunities that create those positions in the first place,” Simelane said.

While the property industry represents billions of rand in economic value, the Minister noted that access to it has long been concentrated in too few hands. Programmes like this one, she said, are how that changes, with the PPRA at the centre, working together with its partners.

Beyond the Classroom

What sets the programme apart is that it takes young people beyond theoretical training and into the actual workplace. Support also continues after training ends: the PPRA is expected to offer post-training and small business support, including structural and business incubation assistance to help emerging Black-owned and youth-owned property enterprises get off the ground.

Simelane referenced Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu’s 2026 State of the Province Address, which called for young people to be placed at the centre of economic initiatives and equipped with the skills the labour market needs.

“This launch reinforces the Premier’s well-captured statement. It is another testament that government working together can confront the scourge of the alarming youth unemployment with a collective agency,” the Minister said.

Going National

Mpumalanga is the second province to welcome the programme, following its first rollout in KwaZulu-Natal in March, and government intends to expand the initiative across the country. A Memorandum of Understanding between the PPRA, the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and the Services SETA will drive transformation in the provincial property sector.

The Minister was clear that government’s commitment to youth, women and people with disabilities goes beyond commemorative months. It is an ongoing effort to create an enabling environment for them to develop their skills and participate meaningfully in the economy.

For the young people of Middelburg and beyond, that means something concrete: a foot in the door of an industry that builds wealth, and the training and support to walk confidently through it.

Source: SAnews.gov.za

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South Africa’s skills revolution has found its think-tank. Academics, researchers, policymakers, industry experts and TVET practitioners from across the country, the region and the world gathered at Coastlands Umhlanga in Durban on Friday for the inaugural Post-School Education and Training (PSET) Research Conference — a first-of-its-kind platform dedicated to building the workforce of tomorrow.

Held under the theme “Future-Ready Occupational Training and Transformative Skills for Entrepreneurship and Employability: Innovations Shaping South Africa’s Workforce of Tomorrow”, the conference explored innovative approaches to occupational training that promote decent work and strengthen the link between education and sustainable employment.

From counting challenges to creating solutions

Opening the conference, Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube called for research with real-world impact — work that helps young people move from qualifications to meaningful participation in the economy.

The gathering, she said, is anchored in the department’s 2026/27 Annual Performance Plan and flows directly from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s declaration of a National Skills Revolution in the 2026 State of the Nation Address.

That reform agenda is built on five priorities: integrating post-school education and training into a single coordinated system; expanding equitable access for young people; improving quality and learning outcomes; strengthening the system’s responsiveness to the economy; and reinforcing governance and public confidence in institutions.

Graduates who create jobs, not just find them

One idea stood out above the rest: graduate enterprise.

“The more ambitious target is graduate enterprise — TVET and university graduates who go on to create jobs, not simply find them,” Dube-Ncube said.

She pointed to Work Integrated Learning, artisan development and the Sector Education and Training Authorities as key mechanisms for equipping young people with both technical skills and the confidence and market knowledge to build sustainable enterprises of their own.

Learning from the world, building for Mzansi

The Deputy Minister encouraged the sector to draw lessons from leading international models while crafting solutions suited to South African conditions. She highlighted Germany’s dual vocational training system, where apprentices split their time between classrooms and workplaces with industry helping shape the curriculum, alongside Singapore’s SkillsFuture initiative and Rwanda’s Dual TVET model as examples of powerful cooperation between government, employers and training institutions.

With its inaugural edition now in the books, the PSET Research Conference has planted a flag: South Africa’s education researchers, colleges and industry partners are pulling in the same direction — towards a future-ready generation of artisans, innovators and entrepreneurs.

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Nearly 3 000 aspiring teachers are set to receive their bursary allowances after the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) paid R222.7 million to six universities for the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme.

The payment of R222 688 894, which benefits 2 927 students, was confirmed during Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training Yusuf Cassim’s meeting with senior NSFAS officials and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme team in Cape Town on Thursday, the Ministry said in a statement at the weekend.

Six campuses, thousands of futures

The latest batch of payments went to the Central University of Technology, North-West University, the University of Fort Hare, the University of Limpopo, the University of Pretoria and the University of South Africa. The institutions are now responsible for processing and paying the respective allowances to their students.

“These payments must now reach students without delay so they can focus on their studies,” Deputy Minister Cassim said. “I appreciate the work being done by the NSFAS and the Funza Lushaka Bursary Programme teams to expedite this process.”

A R1.3 billion investment in the classroom

The Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme is a multi-year financial support programme funded by the Department of Basic Education to support students pursuing teaching qualifications at participating universities, with NSFAS acting as the disbursement agency. It is one of South Africa’s most important talent pipelines, turning promising school-leavers into the qualified teachers the country’s classrooms need.

For the current academic year, 23 universities have been allocated R1.3 billion under the programme. The allocation is comprehensive, covering:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Meals and learning materials
• A living allowance

And the momentum is continuing. For August, claims totalling R295 988 585 for a further 3 095 students have already been uploaded for processing, with those payments due to flow in September through the normal processes.

Smarter systems on the way

To make the process even smoother for students, NSFAS has proposed a joint workshop with stakeholders, scheduled for November 2026, ahead of the next academic year. The workshop will focus on eliminating manual processes through automation, establishing effective communication channels with students, and improving alignment and payment timelines.

The Deputy Minister has also directed NSFAS to write to all institutions to confirm that Funza Lushaka bursary recipients will receive their allowances without interruption, keeping the pressure on so that every future teacher can keep their eyes on the prize: the front of a South African classroom. The story was first reported by SAnews.

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South Africa’s colleges are getting a bold new mission: turn classrooms into launchpads for careers. Minister of Higher Education and Training Buti Manamela says government has placed a skills revolution at the centre of its plans, and the wheels are already turning, SAnews reports.

In January 2026, 24 new occupational qualifications were introduced at Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, designed hand-in-hand with industry to give learners practical, workplace-relevant skills that improve employability and support economic growth.

Learning That Leads to Earning

Manamela says the reforms respond to a clear need to align education and training with the demands of a changing economy, through expanded occupational qualifications, stronger TVET colleges, a modernised qualifications framework and a dual system that combines classroom learning with workplace experience.

For millions of young people, access to education and skills development represents a pathway to dignity, economic participation and a better future, the Minister said.

The progress runs deep: to date, 948 occupational qualifications and part-qualifications have been registered on the National Qualifications Framework, creating a strong foundation for career-focused learning pathways. The department is working with the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations, SAQA, SETAs, colleges and employers to ensure quality assurance, workplace learning opportunities and funding are all in place.

TVET Colleges Take Centre Stage

President Cyril Ramaphosa has handed the department a clear skills revolution mandate, and Manamela says TVET colleges are at its heart because of their centrality to economic growth and industrialisation. A comprehensive Turnaround Strategy for TVET colleges is expected later this year, shaped by consultations with colleges, industry and organised labour, and covering infrastructure, lecturer development, student support and workplace partnerships.

From Activism to Action

For Manamela, a former student leader who once served as Deputy President of the South African Students Congress, the mission is personal.

The issues we raised then – access to education, equality, dignity, opportunity and social justice – remain central to the work I do today as Minister, he said.

As the country honours the courage of the youth of 1976, half a century on, the plan to honour their legacy is refreshingly practical: qualifications that lead to jobs, colleges that power industries, and doors of learning open wider than ever.

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South Africa has just celebrated its first-ever National Science Month – and the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf) has a simple message for the nation: don’t let the curiosity end with July.

“Science has the power to transform lives, spark curiosity, and create solutions to society’s greatest challenges,” ASSAf communication officer Henriette Wagener told SAnews.

From a week to a whole month

National Science Month grew out of National Science Week, observed since 2000, and its expansion to a full month reflects government’s recognition of the increasingly important role science, technology and innovation play in tackling complex national and global challenges.

Behind the celebration stands an institution with a proud pedigree. ASSAf, the country’s official national academy of science, was inaugurated in 1996 by former President Nelson Mandela and exists to use science for the benefit of society. It mobilises South Africa’s leading scholars across all fields to provide independent, evidence-based advice, promote excellence, support scholarly publishing and connect South African science to the world.

A generation hungry for discovery

The appetite among young South Africans is real. Wagener says young people are showing strong interest in fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, robotics, health sciences, biotechnology, environmental science, climate change, engineering, space science and renewable energy – the very frontiers where global science is advancing fastest.

She also encourages citizens not to fear new technologies like AI, which can help with learning, translation, research, administration, healthcare, agriculture, business and public services when used thoughtfully and ethically.

Building tomorrow’s scientists today

Wagener highlights the importance of strengthening the school-to-university pipeline, especially in mathematics, science and digital skills, so that more young South Africans can turn curiosity into careers. With world-class scientists, strong institutions and globally respected capabilities already in place, the foundations are solid.

The message from the Academy is an invitation to every household: visit a science centre, ask questions, tinker, read and wonder. National Science Month may be over, but in a country whose scientists gave the world the first heart transplant and are helping build the world’s biggest radio telescope, the spirit of discovery belongs to every month of the year.

Source: SAnews.gov.za

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Being good with money is not a talent reserved for accountants or the wealthy. It is a life skill every South African can learn, and as government highlights in a new focus on financial literacy, a few simple habits can transform a household’s fortunes.

In an article published by SAnews this week, writer David Jacobs makes the case that financial literacy is “not a luxury or a skill reserved for those with high incomes; it is an essential life skill from which every citizen can benefit.”

Money Smarts Start With the Basics

Being financially smart, the piece argues, is about more than earning an income. It is about understanding how to manage the money we have, making informed decisions about spending and borrowing, planning for unexpected expenses and knowing when and where to seek help.

The good news is that the building blocks are within everyone’s reach:

• Keep track of monthly income and expenses so you always know where your money goes.
• Review costs regularly and cancel unused subscriptions.
• Learn to distinguish between needs and wants before spending.
• Use credit responsibly and plan for future expenses.
• Talk to creditors early to arrange manageable payment plans and stay in control.

While these actions may appear small, they help households gain greater control over their finances and build stronger habits over time, and those habits compound just like savings do.

An Empowerment Tool for Every Household

Financial literacy, the article notes, should be seen “not simply as an educational concept, but as a practical tool for empowerment.” The more financially capable citizens become, the better equipped they are to manage their money, make responsible decisions, protect their livelihoods and prepare confidently for the future.

That message lands at the right moment. With living costs demanding careful planning from many families, the households that budget, save and plan are the ones best placed to turn today’s discipline into tomorrow’s opportunity.

A Team Effort

Individuals are not expected to do it alone. Government, regulators, financial institutions and civil society all have a role to play in ensuring people have access to reliable information, appropriate support and the tools to make informed choices.

Government has also committed to tackling the bigger picture through sound policy choices, inclusive growth and structural reforms, so that personal money smarts are matched by an economy that creates opportunity.

The takeaway for Mzansi is a hopeful one: financial wellbeing is built one payday at a time, and every household can start today, with nothing more than a pen, a budget and a plan.

Read the original article at SAnews.

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First Lady Dr Tshepo Motsepe has put South Africa’s youngest citizens at the heart of the regional agenda, calling on Southern African nations to work together to give every child access to quality early learning.

Dr Motsepe was speaking at a spousal luncheon she hosted for First Ladies from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries on the margins of the 46th SADC Summit in Durban on Monday, where she made a heartfelt case for investing in young children as the foundation of the region’s long-term social and economic success.

“Early Childhood Development is not simply a social investment; it is one of the most powerful foundations for human development, economic growth, and social cohesion,” she told her guests.

Building on real progress

South Africa has made encouraging strides in expanding access to early learning opportunities, and the recognition of Early Childhood Development (ECD) as a national priority in the National Development Plan 2030 gives the country a strong platform for collaborative action. Dr Motsepe praised the Department of Basic Education for its work in transforming and growing the ECD sector, particularly efforts to improve quality, registration, funding and access.

She was clear-eyed about the road ahead, noting that approximately 3.5 million young children in South Africa are not yet in early learning programmes, and framed this as a call to action for families, communities and government to work together so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

“As leaders and advocates, we understand that the future of our region depends on the opportunities we create for our youngest citizens today,” she said, adding that quality early childhood development should be seen as “not a privilege, but a right”.

A region united behind its children

Welcoming the First Ladies to South Africa and KwaZulu-Natal, Dr Motsepe said their presence reflected the strength of regional solidarity and a shared commitment to improving the lives of women and children across Southern Africa.

She highlighted the many hands already at work: civil society organisations supporting children, families and practitioners in communities; local government structures and private sector partners creating enabling environments; and a growing regional network of leaders determined to act together.

“This collective effort demonstrates what is possible when we unite around a common purpose: ensuring that every child, regardless of where they are born or the circumstances of their family, has access to quality care, protection, nutrition, and early learning,” she said.

Spotlight on a homegrown champion

The luncheon also shone a light on the Early Care Foundation, a South African non-profit that has worked for more than 35 years to strengthen early learning, with a focus on training, mentoring and capacity-building for ECD principals and practitioners in underserved communities.

Dr Motsepe expressed hope that the gathering would deepen partnerships across the region, encourage the sharing of knowledge and best practices, and inspire greater action for young children throughout SADC.

“Together, let us reaffirm our commitment to giving every child the strongest possible start in life,” she said.

The story was first reported by SAnews.gov.za.

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South Africa’s next generation of economists has just been handed a golden opportunity. The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) has opened applications for its external bursary programme, inviting talented students who will begin their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2027 academic year to apply before the closing date of Wednesday, 30 September 2026.

The programme is aimed squarely at opening doors for young people who might otherwise never afford a university education. “The SARB, as part of addressing the severe shortage of skills in South Africa, provides scholarships and bursaries to students in relevant fields of study who are from disadvantaged backgrounds,” the central bank said in its call for applications, reported by SAnews.

Backing the Economists of Tomorrow

The bursaries are offered by the SARB’s Economic Research Department in collaboration with the SARB Academy, and cover studies in economics, economics and econometrics, economics and mathematical statistics, and economic science. Several external scholarships and bursaries are made available every year as part of the bank’s corporate social investment work and its External Bursary Scheme.

For a country working hard to grow its pool of home-grown financial expertise, initiatives like this one do double duty: they change the life of an individual student, and they strengthen the national skills base that keeps South Africa’s economy well managed.

Who Can Apply

To be considered, applicants must meet a clear set of requirements:

• Provisional acceptance into an undergraduate degree in the field of economics;
• An average pass mark of 70% in their current year of study, with a strong command of English and Mathematics (70% and above);
• Be younger than 30 years of age; and
• Be in financial need — unable to attend university without a bursary.

Applicants must submit their examination results, proof of acceptance at a recognised institution, and any other supporting documents, and should quote the promo code SARBERD27 in their applications. Applications can be emailed to sarbbursary@ttibursaries.co.za or submitted online, and shortlisted candidates will be invited to interviews. Successful applicants will sign a bursary agreement with the SARB.

A Ladder Worth Climbing

The Reserve Bank has long invested in financial literacy and skills development, and its bursary scheme is one of the most practical expressions of that commitment. For a matriculant with strong marks, a passion for numbers and a dream of shaping economic policy, the message is simple: the application window is open, and the country’s central bank is looking for you.

Prospective students are encouraged to apply well before the 30 September deadline and to share the opportunity with learners, teachers and school counsellors across the country.

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When Charlotte Mannya Maxeke graduated in the United States in 1901 as the first Black South African woman to earn a university degree, she broke a barrier that had seemed unbreakable. A century and a quarter later, her legacy is still paying fees, closing registration gaps and keeping young South African women in lecture halls.

The Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Trust Fund provides financial assistance to young women pursuing higher education, with a particular focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The fund steps in precisely where so many promising academic careers stall: covering financial shortfalls, outstanding fees and registration gaps that could otherwise force students to drop out just short of the finish line.

“This year marks the 125th anniversary of Mama Charlotte Maxeke’s graduation from university. We want to ensure that her legacy continues through this education fund. We want to ensure that women continue to thrive, because women contribute in unique ways,” said Dr Zanele Matsane, ambassador for the Charlotte Mannya-Maxeke Institute and a lecturer in Construction Management and Quantity Surveying at the University of Johannesburg.

More than money: networks that open doors

Matsane was speaking at the inaugural International Portraits of Power exhibition in Pretoria, hosted by the institute in partnership with The Presidency and participating diplomatic missions. Launched this week as part of legacy projects commemorating the 155th anniversary of Maxeke’s birth, the exhibition features portraits endorsed by 15 embassies representing countries across Africa, Europe, Asia, the Americas and Oceania — and doubles as a mentorship platform connecting international women leaders, diplomats, artists and students.

“Education is about networks. It is about understanding multiple disciplines, cultures and history. When we knock and ask to be invited into those positions of power, please keep those doors open for us as well,” Matsane told the diplomats present.

Attorney Khonzi Zondi, co-founder and managing director of Joncto & Zondi Inc. and a fellow ambassador for the foundation, said creating opportunities for young women is essential to building a more equitable future.

“We are products of the opportunities that were given to us and the paths that were paved by others. Through Mam Charlotte, we see the importance of education; it opens doors, opportunities and networks. I would not be an attorney without education,” Zondi said.

A fitting Women’s Month story

The initiative lands in the middle of a Women’s Month observed under the theme “Empowered Women Empower the Nation”, as South Africa also marks 70 years since the historic 1956 Women’s March to the Union Buildings. From one graduation gown in 1901 to bursaries, mentorship and portraits in Pretoria in 2026, Maxeke’s example keeps proving the point she made with her own life: educate a woman, and a nation moves forward.

Facts and quotes sourced from SAnews.gov.za, the South African government news agency.

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