News 13:00

BULLETIN 19 January 1 pm

Good afternoon. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme has successfully resolved over nine-thousand outstanding allowances
# An expert says education inequality remains a challenge 
# And cricket: The young Proteas face the Windies at the start of the Under 19 World Cup

# The National Student Financial Aid Scheme says it is finalising the payment of outstanding allowances for the 2023 academic year. The scheme says of the 20-thousand outstanding allowances, nine-thousand-128 allowances have been successfully resolved. NSFAS spokesperson, Ismael Mnisi, says the remaining 11-thousand allowances are being prioritised and will be processed as part of the 2024 normal disbursement procedure:

Meanwhile, a professor of Practice at the University of Johannesburg, Mary Metcalfe, says education inequality remains a persistent challenge. In an interview with the SABC, Metcalfe attributes this to the lingering legacy of apartheid. She indicated that factors contributing to educational inequality include disparities in resources between schools in economically disadvantaged areas and those in wealthier regions, unequal financing, deteriorating infrastructure and overcrowded classrooms. Metcalfe says there is a crucial need to address these disparities in order to achieving a more equitable education system:

# Airlink has confirmed that one of its aircraft was involved in a wet runway excursion upon landing at Pemba in Mozambique yesterday afternoon. The Embraer 135 Regional Jet, operating as flight 4Z 204 from Johannesburg, had 32 passengers and three crew onboard. No injuries were reported. The airport operator has since closed the runway, and Mozambique’s Directorate of Air Accident Investigations will conduct a formal investigation into the occurrence. 

# Cricket: The Under 19 one-day World Cup in South Africa kicked off with two simultaneous matches. The hosts are playing the Windies in Potchefstroom, while Ireland and the USA are doing battle in Bloemfontein. The 16 teams are competing in four groups, with the young Proteas also facing England and Scotland. The top-three teams after the group phase will then compete in two groups in the Super Six, followed by the semifinals and the final. The bottom-placed teams will play placement games to determine positions 13 to 16.

# And finally: Non-profit organisation Kids-Can is gearing up for an extraordinary journey that will make a life-changing impact. Founder and cancer survivor Kaashief Lakay will embark on a momentous cycle from Cape Town to Botswana in September. The mission is to raise one-million-rand to support children battling cancer in impoverished communities. Lakay emphasised that this endeavour aims to not only increase awareness about childhood cancer, but also provide essential resources to families in need, such as food, beds, and transportation.

Stay tuned for more news………….