Minister Nzimande congratulates Team South Africa, which participated in the week-long WorldSkills Africa Competition which took place at Swakopmund, Namibia.
Team South Africa scooped eight medals out of the sixteen (16) categories contested in the competition.
South Africa only participated in fourteen (14) of the sixteen skills categories. Of the ten countries that competed in the competition, South Africa walked away with half the number of medals leaving the other half to be shared among the other nine African countries.
ON THE RELEASE OF NSFAS FUNDS TO INSTITUTIONS
Minister Nzimande confirms that the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) has received the first tranche of its budgetary allocation for the first quarter of the financial year. NSFAS will now commence with processing payments to institutions in order to pay student allowances from Friday, 8th April 2022.
Minister Nzimande calls upon all institutions to ensure that they finalise the submission of their registration data to NSFAS to ensure that there are no delays in processing the transfers.
ON THE MEETING WITH THE FLEMISH MINISTER, BELGIUM
Minister Nzimande met with the Flemish Minister-President Mr. Jan Jambon from Belgium and his delegation today the 5th April 2022. The delegation undertook a tour of the CSIR Solar PV Reliability Laboratory and Coin Cell Testing Facility/Hydrogen Research Laboratory in Pretoria.
Minister Nzimande expressed the appreciation for the Flanders’ past support for development in South Africa post-apartheid, and hope for the strengthening of research and innovation partnerships in a new era of cooperation.
Minister Nzimande highlighted the importance of South Africa’s new Decadal Plan and its focus on innovation partnerships with industry, within the context of our partnership with Flanders. The Minister said the Decadal Plan offers exciting opportunities for cooperation with Flanders, given the Region’s success in developing a vibrant knowledge economy, an ambition South Africa shares.
Minister Nzimande further welcomed the signing of the new Memorandum of Understanding between the South Africa’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Flemish institute for technological research (Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO), as an instrument for further strengthening institutional cooperation between South Africa and Flanders.
The CSIR and VITO share a priority focus on the Sustainable Development Goals, and in this regard the Global Sustainable Technology & Innovation Community (GSTIC),
Several South African universities also enjoy close cooperation with counterparts in Flanders. South Africa is keen to see an expansion of these relations, including with South Africa’s historically disadvantaged institutions.Economic sectors, in which South Africa and Flanders share a strategic interest in which to target research and innovation include renewable energy, the hydrogen economy, marine science, as well as big data, and digital technologies in general.
ON THE TORCHING OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FREE STATE QWAQWA CAMPUS
Minister Nzimande condemns the torching of the University of Free State Qwaqwa campus clinic and part of the media room by unknown arsonists last night, the 4th April 2022.
Minister Nzimande is awaiting the report from the University management on this unfortunate occurrence which will undoubtedly affect both the student and staff who uses the clinic and the media facility.
Minister Nzimande urges law enforcement agencies to swiftly arrest all those who are involved in committing these criminal acts.
Enquiries:
Ishmael Mnisi
066 037 8859
Issued by Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation
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