Umamah Bakharia

Johannesburg, South Africa

News Reporter at Mail & Guardian

Journalist @mailandguardian

Featured in: Favicon

mg.co.za

radioislam.org.za Favicon

fullview.co.za

Articles

Only 0.1% of police officers checked for sexual offences

4 days ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

Build One South Africa (Bosa) has condemned the South African Police Service (SAPS) for what it describes as “dangerous negligence” after a revelation that less than 0.14% of police officers have been screened against the National Register for Sex Offenders (NRSO). Responding to a question in parliament posed by Bosa’s deputy leader, Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, Police Minister Senzo Mchunu disclosed that only 245 members of police service’s 180 000 workforce have been screened against the register.
Calls grow to address marginalisation of boys in education system

5 days ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

With youth month around the corner, education support networks have raised the alarm on the persistent underperformance and marginalisation of boys in the education system. “Girls are now outperforming boys in National Senior Certificate results and bachelor’s degree graduations, which is a positive achievement, but why are boys not matching up to that percentage?” asked former Gauteng education minister, Mary Metcalfe.
State seeks life sentence for accused in Joslin Smith kidnapping

1 week ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

Sentencing proceedings in the Joslin Smith trial are underway in the Western Cape High Court, with the state calling for life imprisonment for the three accused in the disappearance of the child. On 19 February 2024, then six-year-old Joslin disappeared from her home in the Middelpos informal settlement in Saldanha Bay. Her mother, Kelly Smith, reported the child missing that evening, claiming she had left Joslin in the care of her partner, Jacquin “Boeta” Appollis.
Equal Education slams Gwarube over claim that 90% of schools now in a better condition

3 weeks ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

Civil society movement Equal Education accused Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube of failing to understand the reality of public schools after she said last week that 90% of them are now in a better condition, according to her department’s latest infrastructure assessments. Gwarube’s comments were not true, with some classrooms not having been renovated since 2008, said Equal Education’s spokesperson, Ayanda Sishi Wigzell. “I think the minister needs to visit more schools across the country.
Female & Guardian | ‘Policies skewed against women’

4 weeks ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

A report submitted to the UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights states that South Africa is failing to uphold women’s rights to land and housing, despite constitutional protections and international legal commitments.
SA risks losing tech dominance as Morocco positions itself as Africa’s AI powerhouse

1 month ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

South Africa, once considered a continental leader in science, technology and innovation, has found itself at a crossroads in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). Despite its globally recognised research institutions and thriving tech start-up scene in cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, the country has yet to implement a coordinated national AI policy or roadmap.
Unions slam basic education department over no maths at 464 schools

1 month ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

Teacher unions have called out the department of basic education for failing to hire maths teachers after it emerged that 464 schools in the country no longer offer maths as a subject. “There needs to be a serious talk about how the department handles its human resources department, because we have universities that are graduating students, but how many of these teachers care about the needs of learners at the schools?” said the South African Democratic Teachers Union’s (Sadtu) Mugwena Maluleka.
South Africa has second highest rate of literate adults in Africa

1 month ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

South Africa’s adult literacy rate has reached 95%, ranking it as the second most literate country on the African continent. The data from research centre Intelpoint suggests the majority of the population aged 15 years and older possesses basic reading and writing skills. The findings from studies on adult literacy from 2018 to 2021 showed that Seychelles had the highest literacy rate in Africa at 95.9%, while Chad had the lowest at 26.8%.
Push for phone-free schools

1 month ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

Concerned parents have called on Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube to develop a national policy to restrict smartphone access in schools so learners can focus on their work and develop socially without the distraction and influence of social media and games. The South African chapter of the global movement Smartphone Free Childhood is pushing for a phone-free school day to improve students’ concentration and social interaction and to reduce their dependence on the internet.
Gauteng school nutrition tender faces legal battle over alleged corruption

1 month ago | mg.co.za | Umamah Bakharia

A group of disgruntled service providers linked to the national school nutrition programme in Gauteng has taken legal action against the provincial department of education to halt the appointment of new contractors, claiming irregularities and corruption in the tender process.