The informal motor mechanic industry is big in most townships and it comprises specialists in different mechanical areas. These include panelbeaters, electricians, welders, gearbox fitters, engineers, wheel alignment and diff adjusters. Most of these specialists operate on street corners and in backyards and employ several helpers each.
Two high-profile task teams set up to investigate racism at universities have been criticised for ”duplicating work” even before they have even started their inquiries. Transformation and social cohesion at higher education institutions are the mandates of both teams, the Mail & Guardian has learned.
A total of R50-million allocated by the government to universities for loans to poor students went unused last year. Universities now have to return the money — which could have provided about 1 500 students with the maximum subsidy of R35 000 — to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme. The disclosure comes after continuing nationwide student protests against financial exclusions.
University vice-chancellors are vigorously debating racism on campuses after University of Limpopo vice-chancellor Mahlo Mokgalong urged his 22 counterparts to acknowledge that the practice exists at all institutions of higher learning. He has accused his colleagues of not being ”honest” on racial matters in higher education.
Student leaders at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) are incensed at the construction of a R5-million mansion for vice-chancellor Ihron Rensburg. The construction of the new house is a sign that the university is not driven by student needs, said UJ Student Representative Council president Mhlobo Hoyi.
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/ 29 February 2008
The Freedom Front Plus (FF+) has been accused of creating a conducive climate for the production of a video by white University of the Free State students protesting against the university’s decision to re-integrate its residences. On Thursday FF+ deputy leader Corne Mulder claimed that he “knew nothing of this mess”.
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/ 21 February 2008
Education Minister Naledi Pandor wore the broadest smile among her counterparts on Wednesday as Finance Minister Trevor Manuel was once again in a generous mood towards her department. But some education analysts are sceptical about provinces’ capacity to deliver on disbursing the billions allocated to general education.
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/ 18 February 2008
Public universities are expected to ask the government on Monday to exempt them from Eskom’s load-shedding, which has gripped the country in the past few weeks. The national outages have undermined the smooth running of university administrations, disrupted lectures and placed millions of rands’ worth of research at risk.
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/ 13 February 2008
The institution, in Ruimsig, west of Johannesburg, was set up by Australia’s Monash University in 2000/01 as one of two satellite campuses in other countries. The mother institution invested about R450-million in property, equipment and running costs in the South African operation.
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/ 28 January 2008
Labour analyst and wits professor Sakhela Buhlungu has resigned from the University of the Witwatersrand, sparking an internal inquiry into the school of social sciences. Wits vice-chancellor Loyiso Nongxa appointed a two-person commission of inquiry to consider Buhlungu’s reasons for resigning which are said to include both management and transformation issues.