News24.com | Gauteng education department prepares to open online school applications for 2019

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The second term of the school year has just resumed but the Gauteng Department of Education is already preparing for next year.

It will officially open an online application system for Grade 1 and Grade 8 admissions in 2019 on Monday next week. This will close at midnight on May 28, 2018.

Department spokesperson Steve Mabona told News24 that the deadline provided ample time for parents to apply for placement.

ALSO READ: Over 269 000 online applications as Gauteng deadline looms

“We need to sort out placement now. Remember there is a lot of admin and checks that we need to complete,” said Mabona.

“If parents do not apply on time, we will reopen the system if the numbers allow.”

Last year, the department processed more than 90 000 applications and was able to place 90% of pupils who applied on time, according to Mabona.

Home or work address or school of choice

“Starting applications on time enables the department to plan around procurement and delivery of learning and teaching support material (LTSM) and school furniture. Further, this helps with the provision of educators as well as necessary infrastructure to schools,” the department said in a statement.

Parents applying for primary school placement can select options based on home address, work address or school of choice.

A parent applying for Grade 8 can indicate the current school that the child is attending. This will identify high schools closest to the current primary school the pupil is attending.

ALSO READ: Gauteng education department approaches ConCourt over Hoërskool Overvaal

An application using home address, work address or stating whether there is a sibling at the school, will be placed on priority list A (WA).

Pupils from primary schools closest to the high school in the area and pupils with siblings at the school will also be placed on the priority list.

Pupils on this list also include those whose parents’ home or work address is closest to the school. They will get priority during the admission process.

Provision for applicants without internet

However, when using the school of choice option, the applicant will be placed on waiting list B (WB). This means the applicant lives or works outside of the feeder zone.

Pupils who don’t qualify for priority list A will be placed on waiting list B. They’ll be numbered on a first-come, first-served basis.

“If you are placed on WB, your chances of being accepted at that school are slim. We then invite parents to exercise the opportunity to apply for a different school,” said Mabona.

Parents who wish to send their children to a school focused on specialised talent should note that the pupil will be required to write an aptitude test, or be subjected to other pre-selection tests.

ALSO READ: Maths is still compulsory, education dept insists

The department has also made provision for parents who lack access to the internet or require face-to-face assistance. Parents are advised to visit one of the 65 admissions centres that will operate across 15 education districts.

The placement of pupils will start on July 18 and close on October 31, 2018. The Gauteng Department of Education emphasised that it was important for parents to confirm or decline placement offers within seven days of receiving the offer.

Failure to confirm or decline an offer will result in the offer being withdrawn.

Parents must visit www.gdeadmissions.gov.za to apply. Parents are urged to use Google Chrome to access the website, as it is faster than other browsers.

Health24.com | This is why your vanilla or cinnamon flavoured e-cigarette is toxic

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The safety of e-cigarettes has been an ongoing topic for a while.

Research has shown how e-cigarettes can be bad for your health in various ways.

But a new study suggests that the flavourings used in e-cigarettes might potentially be the most toxic part of the vapour inhaled by users.

What makes the flavour so dangerous?

E-cigarette liquid contains dozens of different chemicals, and these vary widely from product to product, said lead author Flori Sassano. She is a research project manager with the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.

Many of these chemicals are toxic to human cells in the laboratory, but the most toxic appear to be those related to the flavourings contained in e-liquids, Sassano said.

These chemicals include vanillin and cinnamaldehyde, which respectively produce the flavours of vanilla and cinnamon.

The flavourings have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for consumption, but that doesn’t mean they are safe to inhale as vapour from an e-cigarette, Sassano explained.

The FDA’s list of safe flavourings “is based upon studies that have been done on these chemicals when ingested, but not when inhaled,” she said.

Not all flavours tested

There are more than 7 700 e-liquid flavours on the market from more than 1 200 different vendors, and most have not been tested for their potential toxicity, the study authors said in background notes.

For their research, Sassano and her colleagues tested about 150 commercially available e-liquids, and out of those identified 143 unique chemical compounds.

“What this tells us is these e-liquids are very diverse, and because they are diverse they are very hard to study as a group,” Sassano said.

What the study entailed

To test toxicity, the researchers developed a system by which lab-grown human cells are exposed to e-liquid chemicals. The more toxic a chemical, the more it will reduce the growth rates of these cells, according to the report.

Most of the liquid in an e-cigarette is made up of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerine, and those chemicals on their own are toxic to lab-grown human cells, the researchers said.

But the flavourings added to e-cigarettes can be even more toxic, the investigators discovered.

The toxic effects of these liquids proved harmful to cells from human lungs and upper airways. And, overall, the more ingredients included in an e-liquid, the greater the toxicity, the findings showed.

The study was published online in the journal PLOS Biology.

Sassano said the process they’ve developed provides a fast and reliable way to evaluate the toxicity of the chemicals in e-liquids.

Image credit: iStock

eNCA | Father throws toddler off shack roof during tense evictions in PE

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PORT ELIZABETH – Law enforcement officers rescued a one-year-old child after her father threw her from the roof of a shack in Joe Slovo township in Kwadesi, Port Elizabeth (PE) on Thursday.

Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge said the incident occurred during a demolition conducted by the Nelson Mandela Municipality.

Members of the South African Police Service and metro police were deployed to ensure the safety of the team doing the demolition.

“At about 10.40am, a 38-year-old man climbed onto the roof of one of the structures and held his one-year-old girl in his hands. He did this to force the team not to demolish the structure.

“Due to the dangerous threat to the safety of the child, police set out a plan to rescue the girl and to arrest the male,” said Beetge.

Just before midday, police surrounded the shack and tried to persuade the father to come down from the roof, Beetge said.

Within minutes a rescue attempt ensued and police grabbed the father as he simultaneously flung his daughter off the roof.

Beetge said a metro police member managed to catch the girl as she was being flung.

“The father will be charged with attempted murder of his daughter. The case will be investigated by the Motherwell Cluster Family Violence, Child Protection, and Sexual Offences (FCS) unit.”

Beetge said the girl would be handed back to her mother, while social services would provide oversight.

READ: ConCourt makes landmark ruling for evicted workers

By 1pm the operation was finalised after a total of about 90 structures were demolished.

Beetge said other incidents occurred during the course of the demolition.

A group of about 150 residents attempted to block Uitenhage Road by burning tyres and rubble, he said.

Police deployed along this route ensured that the road was reopened and was made safe for traffic.

The Motherwell cluster commander, Major General Dawie Rabie, applauded police members for the safe rescue of the child.

“It is shocking that a father would attempt to sacrifice his own child for the sake of delaying the demolishing of an illegal shack structure. He will be facing the full result of the Law against his actions,” he said. 

African News Agency

IT Systems Analyst (Cape Town)

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Remuneration: Market related 
Location: Cape Town
Job level: Junior/Mid
Type: Permanent
Reference: #CUMG-1201
Company: Cape Union Mart

Job description

Our IT team is looking for a proactive systems analyst to join our organisation. This person must be passionate about business needs, data, testing, IT, product creation and most importantly be solutions orientated.

This role requires excellent client-facing communication skills; the primary purpose is to work with Buying, Manufacturing and all related vendors to implement a new Product Lifecycle Management system (PLM), interpret and transform business processes and to configure the system to meet these business requirements.

Requirements

Key accountabilities of the role:

  • Become the system specialist
  • Understand all business processes across all business entities at Cape Union Mart, Old Khaki, Poetry, Tread+Miller and Keedo
  • Document change requests and configuration settings
  • Use SQL scripting for problem-solving and data analytics
  • Manage integration between PLM and other interrelated systems
  • Technical recommendations and testing
  • Identify and document system deficiencies and recommend solutions
  • Applies AGILE project methodology consistently to projects

Key experience and skills required for the role:

  • Completed a tertiary qualification in information systems or computer programming
  • Two years’ experience in retail advantageous
  • Understands technical design specifications
  • Strong problem solving and analytical ability
  • Ability to translate business requirements into systems configurations
  • Manage and implement change requests
  • Functional testing for enhancements and upgrades
  • Software architecture knowledge advantageous
  • Ability to convey technical processes and terminology into easy to understand language.
  • Ability to interact and communicate well with individuals at all levels of the organization, either independently or as part of a team.
  • Ability to work with other vendors of interrelated software and understand how their systems work with the data in the design and buying workstream
  • Excellent relationship building skills and strong team player
  • Ability to work under high pressure and run multiple projects simultaneously
  • Constantly thinking of the bigger picture and how to simplify and streamline interdepartmental processes and relationships (process improvement)
  • Can hit the ground running and deliver successful results
  • Passionate about quality and customer service and exceeding expectations

Posted on 12 Apr 15:03

Cape Union Mart

Cape Union Mart International (Pty) Ltd has been equipping South African adventurers since 1933, and is South Africa’s favourite outdoor adventure store. Stocking everything one needs for outdoor pursuits – including hiking, camping, trail running, mountain biking, snow sports, travel and more – Cape Union Mart is an essential first step in every adventure. Cape Union Mart has stores across South Africa, and in Namibia and Botswana.

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Accountant Assistant

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Accountant Assistant.
R12 500 per month .
Assist with financials.
oversee cash books.
reconcile general ledger accounts
Matric.
BCom Finance Degree.
Email detailed CV & contactable refs to: stopforthandsons@gmail.com

Health24.com | Need motivation? Joel Stransky stood on the podium at the Cape Epic, a year after being in ICU

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A year after emergency facial surgery, Joel Stransky was challenging for the podium in the Grand Masters category at the 2018 Absa Cape Epic.

One year ago, Joel Stransky, relieved that his sunglasses had probably saved his right eye and eye socket from any real damage other than bad lacerations, was beginning his recovery from facial surgery and was struggling to breathe normally as a result of broken ribs and a punctured lung.

On Sunday 25 March 2018, he smiled broadly and breathed deeply as he savoured the view from the podium of the 2018 Absa Cape Epic.

Read more: The ultimate guide to mastering mountain biking: from buying bikes to finding frails

Stransky and his teammate, Andrew McLean, racing as Team Cycle Lab KTM, had finished third in the Grand Masters category for riders 50 years and older. The Grand Masters is not a small category (75 teams started), nor is it a slow one. McLean and Stransky finished in 61st place overall from a total of 678 teams that started the demanding eight-day mountain bike race.

“It’s an incredible feeling to stand on the podium at the Absa Cape Epic!” said a clearly elated Stransky, shortly after finishing the 658km race through some of the most rugged and toughest conditions in the Western Cape.

“Yes, I was in a bad way a year ago, but I’m not one to reflect much on the past. I like to focus on the present and future and one of the main reasons I made such a great recovery from my injuries is that I was focused on being 100% prepared to race the 2018 Cape Epic,” he added.

It was the eighth Cape Epic that Stransky has completed. He crashed out on day one of the 2017 edition and was “quadbiked” out of the remote location, barely able to hold on, and rushed to hospital with serious injuries, where he spent some time in the ICU after surgery.

For Stransky, a man who helped South Africa win the 1995 Rugby World Cup, this year’s Cape Epic is his most treasured.

“I’m a naturally competitive person. Whether it’s in rugby or business or in my charity work, I’m always striving to be better and progressing. For me, the added pressure of racing for a podium finish at this Cape Epic suited my character. I also got to compete alongside my friend, Andrew, who helped coach me to get to my best cycling condition ever,” added Stransky.

“When I did my first Cape Epic back in 2010, I would never have dreamed of a podium finish at this race. And what a dream journey it’s been.”

When spectating at the Cape Epic, you can spot the former rugby players quite easily. In a sport that favours the slim, they stand out as they grind away at their pedals, unable to pedal smoothly as they face the fact that they were born into a power-to-weight ratio disadvantage on a bicycle. 

Sure, Stransky wasn’t a huge rugby player, but at 88kg and 179cm he wasn’t the smallest, especially when you consider he played most of his career in the 1990s before the advent of specific sports supplementation and scientific training that’s now the professional rugby norm.

He finished the Cape Epic weighing 79kg, his face gaunt and his legs sinewy and lean. He certainly doesn’t show up on the naked eye’s “former rugby player radar”.

“Some people I haven’t seen for a while don’t recognise me,” chuckled Stransky. “They ask if I’m okay. But I’m perfectly fine. I’ve never felt better in fact and it’s a great feeling to be super fit. But more exciting for me is that it’s great to be fast on a mountain bike…”

 

This article was originally published on www.mh.co.za

Image credit: iStock, Zoon Cronje 

NEXT ON HEALTH24X

Putting the health citizen at the centre of UHC

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As healthcare systems worldwide evolve towards universal health coverage (UHC), there must be a move beyond technical policy evidence to an action plan driven by participation, collaboration and implementation, where the overarching priority remains the person receiving the healthcare service

“If we can get that mindset right across the healthcare value chain, we will move closer to achieving UHC. We’ve heard a lot about why UHC would be impossible to implement, what we cannot do, and why we cannot do some of the things. It’s time the industry pushes boundaries to look at what is possible and what can be done to implement those pockets of possibilities without having to change regulations or legislation. It’s about identifying the low-hanging fruits and kick-starting practical steps towards UHC,” says Katlego Mothudi, managing director, Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa (BHF).

Pockets of success

The narrative around introducing and implementing UHC in Southern Africa has always been that it is unaffordable, and that government systems are collapsing and are not geared to delivering UHC. Yet there are pockets of success in countries such as Rwanda, which ranks as one of the most successful UHC programmes in Africa. Lessons can be learned from Ethiopia and Ghana, which have also achieved significant milestones. These examples go to show that UHC for Southern Africa and for Africa is possible, he says.

“First we need to remove the barriers that we have created in our thinking about UHC. We need to look at what can be done now, without waiting for regulatory reform, and push the boundaries of what we have deemed impossible to realise workable solutions in delivering UHC.

Changing the relationship between the health citizen and service providers

“The healthcare sector’s priority should be ensuring that healthcare delivery is more member-centric and not service provider focused. Efforts must be made towards ensuring that the end product delivered to the health citizen meets their healthcare needs,” says Mothudi.

The relationship between healthcare service providers and the health citizen has conventionally been transactional. Even with chronic health citizens, healthcare service providers have built a relationship of dependence.

According to the BHF, there is a lot that medical schemes can do, working together with governments across the region, without having to wait for regulatory reform to begin driving the implementation of UHC.

Some of the current challenges include cost escalation, reduced access and poor or non-standard quality of care. For the insured, without a doubt, medical aid contributions required to purchase healthcare are very high, and out-of-pocket payments are increasingly becoming a big challenge to the health citizen. Benefits schedules are also so complex that members don’t know benefits to which they are entitled.

A common view among the insured is that while contributions are high, there aren’t enough benefits to justify the costs. For the uninsured, of concern across the region is adequate access to healthcare services as well as the quality of healthcare received. Across the board, health citizens do not know what to expect from their healthcare providers, and also don’t know how to measure quality care. As a result, they cannot benchmark to determine whether they are receiving the best available healthcare services or not.

Information and a multidisciplinary approach

“There needs to be adequate consultation and informed consent to empower the health citizen with appropriate information to influence their choices and compliance to the healthcare services provided to them.

“Information prioritisation must focus on empowering the health citizen; there is a need to create awareness of the drivers of costs, cost of services, to create an understanding of the impact of fraud on the health citizen, the impact of choice of care, as well as an understanding of treatment modalities.

Across the region and continent, there is inadequate accountability for the quality of healthcare. New technologies come into the country and into the region unvetted. There is a lack of standardisation of healthcare measures, which raises the question: whose interests does the healthcare sector seek to serve? If it is for the healthcare citizen, we would be more cautious about these things. A multidisciplinary approach to healthcare delivery and regulation alignment will enable a seamless implementation of universal healthcare across the continent.

“This can only be attained through industry collaboration with all the stakeholders in healthcare to truly deliver to the needs of the health citizen,” says Mothudi.

Putting the healthcare citizen first, pushing the boundaries of the possible is the theme of the upcoming 19th Annual Board of Healthcare Funders of Southern Africa Conference, which will be held at Sun City, from 17-20 June 2018.

Retail Sales Manager – Irrigation

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To R15 000 + bonus scheme + medical aid + provident and funeral funds. An excellent opportunity for an experienced Retail Sales Manager in irrigation products – pumps, valves, sprinklers, piping etc. to join a leading irrigation company in their Bloemfontein branch. Contact Ron 0117041302