KASI BC AFRICA

NSFAS PAYMENT CHAOS @KASIBC_NEWS  The DA condemns the burning of the offices of the Northern Cape Urban Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) College offices in Kimberley this week by students protesting the delays in receiving their National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) allowances. Students who have been unable to pay rent or study fees due to NSFAS’ failures are being put in an impossible position - but burning and breaking TVET College offices and campuses will never solve the problems NSFAS has created. The DA condemns the destruction of property. The burning of TVET offices will only further hamper the students’ end goal. Their frustration and delays while NSFAS tries to complete their "reconciliation process" - which became necessary after the switch from direct payment partners back to NSFAS - is now boiling over. NSFAS must rapidly complete this process in such a way that causes no suffering to vulnerable students. Payment cannot be withheld a...

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SAVES JOBS OF HIV & AIDS WORKERS IN NPO @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Department of Social Development says there will be no job losses in non-profit organisations dealing with HIV & AIDS programmes despite budget cuts by Treasury. The department has been allocated 332 million rand compared to 440 million it received last financial year, resulting in a shortfall of one hundred and eight million rand (108).  The department indicates that following reductions in the HIV & AIDS Programme, they have had to adjust operations, and these changes will not affect those receiving psycho-social services from orphan and vulnerable children and youth organisations, as well as home and community care-based centres contracted to the department.  This follows advice from Gauteng Social Development MEC Faith Mazibuko that there must be no reduction in the number of NPOs funded in the sector and that there must be no job losses. The department will continue to pa...

HISTORIC GRADUATION OF FIRST OF SANSI YOUTH CADETS @KASIBC_NEWS The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms. Angie Motshekga, will attend the graduation ceremony for the inaugural cohort of the South African National Service Institute (SANSI) on 7 June 2025 at 09:00 at Dunnottar Military Base, Sharondale, Gauteng Province.  This landmark event marks the successful completion of the programme by the first group of youth cadets, who have undergone intensive training focused on discipline, public service, and practical skills. The programme is designed to build a skills to industry pipeline, preparing young people to contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and social development.  SANSI was launched in 2023 under the leadership of the Department of Defence and Military Veterans and the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) as a strategic youth development initiative to tackle unemployment and social exclusion. It forms part of the broader National Youth Service ...

GAUTENG GANGSTERS PARADISE @KASIBC_NEWS    COMMUNITY SAFETY COMMITTEE COMMENDS LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR CRIME REDUCTION, RAISES CONCERNS OVER MULTIPLE MURDERS AND POLICE KILLINGS The Gauteng Provincial Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety commends law enforcement officers across the province for their dedication, resilience, and hard work, which have contributed to a notable reduction in crime during the fourth quarter of the 2024/25 financial year (January – March 2025). According to the latest crime statistics presented to the Committee by Provincial Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Tommy Mthombeni, on Thursday, 5 June 2025, Gauteng recorded a 7.9% decrease (8,393 fewer cases) in the 17 community-reported serious crimes compared to the same period in the previous financial year. This represents a significant step forward in the province’s ongoing efforts to combat crime. The Committee is particularly encouraged by the 10.8% reduction in murder cases, which...

THE GAUTENG PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT BUDGET INCREASED BY R886.6 MILLION @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Provincial Government is re-tabling the 2025/2026 Budget amounting to R172.3 billion. In the previously tabled Budget, tabled on the 18th of March 2025, we presented a provincial budget of R171.5 billion. This translates into an increase of R886.6 million.  These additional resources were made possible through the provincial allocation of unspent funds and revenue over collection from the previous financial year.  Two weeks ago, there were reports circulating in the media stating that the Gauteng Provincial Government had underspent by R1.8 billion, and that these underspent funds would be returned to the National Treasury. On the 12th of May 2025, the Gauteng Provincial Treasury held a media briefing to address the concern that the underspent resources would no longer be available, or that they are lost by the Gauteng Provincial Government.   We communicated that what...

NPO FUNDING PAYMENTS @KASIBC_NEWS  The Gauteng Department of Social Development is ramping up the finalization of signing of SLAs with NPOs. Since the beginning of the current financial year, the Department has issued 1640 SLAs to NPOs, and 1424 of these have been signed and concluded.  The outstanding number of SLAs stands at 216, and warning letters were issued to the NPOs and the deadline for SLAs to be received back is this week.  The Department would like to make a call to the outstanding NPOs to fast track the signing of SLAs. The Department has been meeting with NPOs which has positively resulted in increase in the number of SLAs received back.   The Department would also like to report that 818 payments have been made against SLAs signed already, to the tune of R279 million.  This number keeps improving as payment runs happen. The Department has been receiving media inquiries about the NPOs that have not been paid. Whilst we cannot discuss and divul...

BRUTAL MURDER OF LIKHONA FOSE @KASIBC_NEWS  Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane is deeply saddened by the death of Likhona Fose, a 14-year-old Grade 8 girl learner at Ikusasalethu Secondary School in Braamfischerville, whose body was found mutilated in Roodepoort on Sunday, 1 June 2025.  The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has urgently deployed its Psycho-Social Support Unit at Ikusasalethu Secondary School to provide extensive counselling and trauma support to learners and teachers who may have been affected by this tragic incident.  While police are still investigating the circumstances surrounding this brutal incident, we are devastated by the occurrence of young Likhona’s death during National Child Protection Week, where we raise awareness of the rights of children as articulated in our Constitution. Furthermore, the GDE stands with the nation in condemning all acts of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, especially where learners are concerned.  It is ou...