Pretoria Central 4 SEPTEMBER, 2020 • 012-842-0300 ‘Stop the farm murders and GBV’ bike protesters demand Desmond and Rika Hattingh was among thousands of bikers from across the country who gathered in Pretoria, calling for an end to farm murders, gender-based violence and racism on Saturday. Despite not having any permission from authorities, the ‘Stop farm murders’ movement went ahead with its demonstration, which saw crosses and fl owers being placed at the gates of the Union Buildings. “We need to follow through with the rainbow nation and unite against these crimes,” they said. For more pictures and to read the full story, see page 4. Photo: Noxolo Sibiya. Metro to probe bill issues ‘We are looking into the matter, I have received a lot of complaints from residents complaining of incorrect billing. This led to us instructing the department to look into the system and see if there was anything wrong.’ Sinesipho Schrieber with hardly any social distancing in place. said the metro had not “anticipated” to have billing complaints and avoid cut-offs by the Nawa said the move to implement cut- such a large number at the offi ces. metro. The Tshwane metro has announced it will offs was to ensure economic restart for the “It is quite a sensitive time and I think to Many said the metro’s “red demand investigate its billing system following metro. respond to this, the metro should improve letters” gave them sleepless nights. hundreds of complaints from residents of “Yes, the President did announce that at its online programmes responding to Resident Deiza Malose believed the “incorrect” billing. the beginning of the lockdown; however, complaints so that we do not have many metro was “shifting” its fi nancial burden to Tshwane administrator Mpho Nawa said we must note that as we entered into new people in the same place, a system to residents. the team of administrators had instructed the lockdown levels the resumption of the attend to complaints while people are in the “The metro has no money to pay now fi nance department of the metro to probe the economy was set in place and this was the comfort of their homes. they are billing residents these ridiculous system. same as for the city. It was mainly done to “The TMPD is also assisting us in trying amounts. Tshwane metro is bankrupt, so to “We are looking into the matter, I have ensure revenue collection for the metro so to keep social distancing.” recoup money it disconnected thousands of received a lot of complaints from residents we may be able to render services.” This as desperate Pretoria residents residents’ electricity indiscriminately, even complaining of incorrect billing. This led to On the lack of social distancing at some queued at various Tshwane metro municipal those who paid their accounts,” Malose us instructing the department to look into of the metro’s credit control offi ces, Nawa offi ces this past week to lodge “incorrect” claimed. the system and see if there was anything Another resident, Solomon Mthimunye, wrong,” Nawa said. who stood in the queue for hours at the “We are defi nitely feeling the pressure, credit control offi ces in Pretoria last Friday, residents can rest assured that we are said he feared for his health. looking into the matter.” “I am upset because I am forced to Nawa said the metro was also looking stand in this line because the metro cut my into developing a better system to facilitate electricity already without any warning. billing that could “reduce” billing mistakes. “Even though I have underlying diseases I “We did not anticipate that things will get have to come here to solve the matter so the this bad but we are looking as to what the metro can restore my power,” he said. problem might be.” Former ward 42 councillor and electrical Nawa said the management would receive engineer Phillip Nel, who has for years a report from the fi nance department this analysed the metro’s billing system, said it week. was fl awed and needed to be fi xed. Contrary to President Cyril Ramaphosa’s “It is not possible that hundreds of people call in March that there should be no load cry of incorrect billing and the metro shedding/power cuts, the Tshwane metro believes there is nothing wrong with the under level 2 forged ahead with cutting system,” Nel said. power for residents who were in “arrears”. “Over the years, the incorrect bills This saw hundreds of residents fl ooding Tshwane resident Hellen Leballo (front) is unhappy for waiting in a queue for a long time to have been a headache to many families in to the various metro credit control offi ces receive assistance from the Tshwane metro’s fi nancial services department. Photo: Ron Sibiya Pretoria.” 2 NEWS PRETORIA CENTRAL REKORD 4 SEPTEMBER, 2020 Phased return of TUT students runs smoothly Reitumetse Mahope higher education department. The batch of students consisted of senior The Tshwane University of Technology and fi rst-year students to the Pretoria, (TUT) says the phased return of its senior Ga-Rankuwa and Soshanguve campus students to residences went smoothly. residences. “Everyone is settling well,” said TUT TUT vice-chancellor Prof Lourens van deputy vice-chancellor for teaching, learning Staden, in a communiqué to students, said and technology Professor Stanley Mukhola. the phased return would include students “In line with our revised plans submitted studying their post-graduate, BTech, to the department of higher education and advanced diploma and fi nal-year diplomas training, students - including master’s and and professional degrees, as well as honours doctoral students - will commence with students. laboratory work from 7 September.” “Students living with disabilities and He said TUT’s bus transport services members of the ISRC and CSRCs are also would also start operating on the same date. included,” said Van Staden. Face-to-face teaching for fi nal-year He said multi-modal teaching and learning students would kick-off on 14 September. would continue. These included third- and fourth-year Picture for illustration. “This means students who have access to professional degree, B Tech, advanced devices for digital teaching and learning will diploma and honours students. “Movement on campus will also be to level 1. be able to use these to study. Alternatively, Mukhola said although the country limited.” “We welcome back our senior students students must use their printed study was now at level 2 of the risk-adjusted He said the phased return of fi rst-year and look forward to reintegrating our fi rst- material to continue with their studies,” Van strategy, adherence to Covid-19 protocols students to residences would commence on years in September, as well as our second- Staden said. and regulations was still critical, including 14 September. year students when the lockdown is adjusted TUT spokesperson Willa de Ruyter wearing face masks, regular washing and “Face-to-face teaching for fi rst-year to level 1,” Mukhola said. also said no outside visitors, students or sanitising of hands, as well as maintaining students will commence on 21 September, Last week, TUT warned students SRC gatherings would be allowed on any social distancing protocols. while multimodal teaching will continue. returning to campuses that movement campuses until further notice. He said in line with national regulations “An announcement with regards to the would be limited as the fi rst cohort of De Ruyter said no students with alcohol restricting social gatherings, the curfew at return of second-year students will be made students returned to university residence in their possession would be allowed on residences was 22:00. once the national lockdown has been revised in accordance with plans approved by the campus or residencies. Digital learning devices for varsity students are prioritised Reitumetse Mahope serious concern that the process using false fl ag accusations about must be beyond reproach given supposed “sabotage and undue The higher education minister recent experiences of reported interference” by the department to has tasked the National Financial corrupt practices experienced mask their own interests in trying Aid Scheme (NSFAS) with the around Covid-19 procurement of to gang-press NSFAS into making procurement process of digital PPE.” shoddy decisions. learning devices such as laptops. Nzimande said the administrator “This will not be allowed to take Minister Blade Nzimande said of NSFAS had informed him that root in the post-school education the learning devices were for none of the bids competing for and training system.” NSFAS-funded students currently the supply of learning devices He said NSFAS was starting registered at universities and as specifi ed in the bid process the process of learning devices technical and vocational education had achieved the mandatory procurement from scratch in order and training (TVET) colleges. requirements as required in the bid to follow the letter of the law. University students who are document. “Government policy is clear not funded in the scheme did not “For this reason, no tender was that our procurement process must qualify “under the Covid-19 digital awarded. promote an inclusive economy learning device scheme”. “This is, of course, unfortunate with diverse players, with specifi c Photo for illustration purposes. “The provision of such devices and regrettable only in the sense priority given to credible broad- is extremely urgent. As part of that the procurement of learning based black economic enterprises This comes as parliament had, committee on higher education, the government’s response to devices will not take place right to ensure we that broaden the base last week, expressed concern over science and technology Philly Covid-19, a formal, transparent, now.