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04 News | 23 JUNE 2023
Gauteng Education Department Extends Online
admissions applications to 21 July 2023
By GPCN Reporter
The Gauteng Department of Education
has extended the deadline for the online
admissions application period for Grade 1
and Grade 8 to 21 July 2023 for the year
2024.
The original deadline was set for 14 July
2023. The decision was made as the
department observed that some parents
prefer to submit their documents at
schools.
“As such, this extension will give them an
opportunity to submit documents after the
school recess, which is due to commence
from 23 June 2023 until 17 July 2023.
Parents now have until 21 July 2023 to
apply and will be allowed to upload or
submit documents until 28 July 2023,” the
department said.
In addition, the department announced
that the online admissions system has
successfully processed over 400 000
applications since Thursday, June 15,
2023, the beginning of the application
period.
The system had processed 408 714
applications as of Thursday, June 22,
2023. There were 176 975 applications
for Grade 1 and 231 739 applications for
Grade 8.
The department stated that parents
and guardians are still encouraged to
apply early by registering at www.
gdeadmissions.gov.za to proceed with
the application process in spite of the
extension.
According to Gauteng Education MEC
Matome Chiloane, applicants should
call the call center at 0800 000 789 or
WhatsApp at 060 891 0361 if they need
assistance with their application or have
any questions about it.
“We have seen it fit to give parents and
guardians more time to apply and upload
or submit documents at schools. We are
also proud of having processed over 400
000 applications within a week. This is a
testament to our system’s improvement
and the demand of the quality education
which Gauteng offers,” Chiloane said.
The repurposing of Komati Power
Station is progressing rapidly
By CNBusiness Reporter
The Komati Power Station is currently in
the process of transitioning from a coalfired
station to a repurposed, multifaceted
hub.
Eskom has issued a tender notice seeking
a service provider to implement the socioeconomic
development plan for the shift
from fossil fuels to renewable energy.
Komati ceased operation in October of last
year, after serving the community since
1961. No Eskom employees lost their jobs
as a result of the station’s closure.
“Part of the plan includes management and
implementation of mitigation measures for
the socio-economic impacts resulting from
the shutdown of the fossil-fired generating
units at Eskom’s Komati Power Station.
The last of the fossil-fired units at Komati
reached its end of operational life in
October 2022 and was shut down.
“The project is for a duration of
approximately 60 months. Interested
service providers are urged to review the
request for expression of interest (EOI)
document on the Eskom Tender Bulletin
and respond accordingly,” Eskom said.
The Komati site is expected to be powered
by:
• 150MW of solar power.
• 70MW of wind power.
• 150MW of battery storage power.
“The repowering and repurposing of the
power station will be funded through a
concessional loan facility from the World
Bank. The loan facility broadly covers
the decommissioning, repurposing and
repowering of the station and critical
elements of the Just Energy
Transition to provide a second life to the
power station.
“This includes the establishment of an
agrivoltaics test facility, a containerised
microgrid assembly and manufacturing
facility, a training centre for employees and
community members, and importantly, a
community upliftment programme that this
tender seeks to address,” Eskom said.
Community united
against drugs
The community of Rust-Ter-Vaal is
united in the fight against drug addiction.
This became evident on June 16,Youth
Day when an organisation dubbed ‘The
Truth Shall Set You Free’ held the third
annual drug awareness campaign. The
event was held at the Rust-Ter-Vaal
community hall parking lot.
The event was attended by scores of
people from the community in support
of those who a re plagued by drug
addiction. Present at the event was
also various government departments
including law enforcement and
emergency services.
Speaking about the event, Ranleigh
Pitt says: “Our movement was founded
in 2021. We are a group of recovering
addicts from all over Gauteng who were
saved by grace. We go around various
communities sharing news about
recovery and life after drugs.”
Pitt states that the movement works
together with various stakeholders
because of the belief that addiction does
not just affect the addict, but the entire
community.
On the day, recovering addicts from
various communities and organizations
were able to share their stories on how
they were able to overcome addiction
and turn their lives around for the better.
Others testified that in order for one to
defeat the disease, the support of family
and the community at large is vital.
Addressing the community, Pitt said that
those who do not suffer from addiction
also have a role to play.
He urged members of the community
not to judge but to instead find solutions
for those suffering from addiction.
“I would like to thank all the stakeholders
and the community at large for rallying
behind us and making the event a
success.”
Pitt said that two people were taken to
rehab following the event.
Members of the community suffering
from drug addiction and needing
assistance can contact Pitt on:
0839539260.