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Crisis at NSFAS: South African Students Demand Urgent Government Intervention.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) in South Africa is on the verge of total collapse, according to the South African Union of Students (SAUS), which is urgently calling for government intervention. The situation has reached a critical point, with thousands of students experiencing months-long delays in receiving their allowances, creating a dire situation for those in the midst of their end-of-year exams. SAUS national spokesperson Asive Dlanjwa expressed deep concern over the state of NSFAS, emphasizing that the scheme has failed in its primary mandate to fund the education of children from low-income and working-class families. Dlanjwa reported that over 70,000 students have not received their NSFAS allowances since May, leaving them without essential resources such as housing, food, sanitary products, and toiletries Compounding the crisis, NSFAS has missed crucial deadlines and failed to open applications for the 2024 academic year, leaving students in limbo. Dlanjwa ...

Addressing Youth Unemployment in South Africa

South Africa is facing a serious problem with high rates of youth unemployment. It is predicted that by 2029, over 6.3 million young people will be jobless, which is one million more than today. Many young graduates struggle to find work, challenging the belief that higher education guarantees a job. The years, South Africa has witnessed a remarkable increase in the number of graduates . In 2020 alone, there were 2.038 million bachelor's degrees conferred, making it the most sought-after qualification. However, despite this educational achievement, the youth unemployment rate has remained alarmingly high. This disconnect between education and employment calls for a reevaluation of the current system. Compared to other countries, South Africa has high levels of unemployment, especially among young people. This has negative consequences across the nation, as job opportunities are scarce and it leads to feelings of hopelessnes s. In countries with high unemployment rates, the idea tha...

''KFC Stole My kota idea"

 KFC has criticized an entrepreneur who accused them of stealing his idea for a chicken kota, stating that the kota is a well-known South African dish and not a secret. Romeo Malepe, from Sharpeville in the Vaal, voiced his frustration on social media, claiming that KFC had taken his concept, which he had presented to brand managing company Yum! four years ago.  KFC responded by saying that their limited-edition KFC Sphatlho, a version of the kota, was developed internally and inspired by South African cuisine. They emphasized their history of incorporating local flavors into their menu. Malepe shared his story with Sowetan, explaining that he had come up with the idea for a Streetwise Kota and was looking for a partnership with KFC. He had noticed that KFC branches in other countries featured popular local food on their menus and wanted to create a kota concept with chicken for the South African market.  Malepe, along with a team of photographers and creatives, developed...

Prime Energy Drink: Why It's Not Suitable for Children and Pregnant Women

 Prime Energy Drink is marketed as a drink that provides energy to boost performance, but it may not be suitable for everyone. The drink contains 200 milligrams of caffeine per can, which is equivalent to about two to three instant coffees. Despite its name, Prime Energy Drink contains only about 40 kilojoules from carbohydrates, which is one of our body’s key sources of energy. The “energy” in Prime Energy Drink refers to the caffeine, which makes you feel more alert and lessens the perceived effort involved in any work you do. However, caffeine can be problematic for children and pregnant or lactating women. Health guidelines recommend limiting caffeine intake during pregnancy and while breastfeeding to below 200mg a day. Theoretically, this drink alone, with 200mg of caffeine per can, should be fine. But practically, diets include many other sources of caffeine including coffee, tea, chocolate and cola drinks. Consumption of these alongside the energy drink would increase the in...

"Body Found in Thabo Bester's Cell Finally Identified as Katlego Bereng: Heartbreaking News for Family"

Police have confirmed that the body found  in the cell of convicted murderer and rapist Thabo Bester at Mangaung Correctional Centre has been identified as Katlego Bereng, according to recent developments. Bester was believed to have died in his cell in May of the previous year, but it was revealed by GroundUp last month that the body found in the cell was not his. An autopsy report indicated that the deceased had died from blunt force trauma to the head and was already deceased before the prison caught fire. National police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe confirmed the identification of the body and that the family had been notified. This news has shattered the hearts of Katlego's family, who have been searching for him since April of the previous year when he stopped answering calls and texts and ceased posting on social media. Katlego lived with his grandmother in Bloemfontein, where his mother also resided. Bester, also known as the "Facebook rapist," had used s...

"Big Changes Needed for Eskom in Upcoming Budget - Investor Warns Even R200bn Debt Relief is Not Enough"

 "Futuregrowth, a company that invests in government debt, says that the debt relief for Eskom in the upcoming budget needs to be fair to all creditors and significant enough - more than 50% - to make the company financially stable again." "Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced that the government will reduce Eskom's debt by one-third to two-thirds. Investors are eagerly waiting to hear the specifics, which will be revealed in Wednesday's budget. Some possible options include swapping a significant portion of Eskom's debt with government debt, or taking over a set amount of debt each year, such as R50 billion annually." Futuregrowth, a large investor in government debt, has cautioned that simply reducing 50% of Eskom's debt will not suffice to restore the company to financial stability in the long term. In order to ensure that Eskom can service its debt costs, the debt relief proposed in the upcoming budget must be significant enough and fa...

Rapper AKA has been killed

  Award winning rapper AKA. The musician whose real name is Kiernan Forbes, has allegedly been shot dead in Durban on Friday. Details of his murder were still sketchy at the time of publishing this article. It is believed that AKA was supposed to perform at his birthday party on Friday. However, he was accosted by unknown gunmen who fatally him several times, in what appears to be a hit, outside a restaurant on Florida Road. The event has since been cancelled.   Another person believed to be AKA’s bodyguard, was also wounded, while another unidentified person, who is understood to be a close friend of AKA, has been shot dead. It is understood that AKA was standing outside the Wish Restaurant when he was gunned down in a drive-by shooting. Two unknown cars are believed to have opened fire on the rapper. sources htt//lolnews.com