History Matters

Inaugural Speech of the 13th Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Free State (UFS) For such a time as this Jonathan D Jansen In Honour of Adv. Bram Fischer Preliminaries Welcome, welcome, welcome. I thought this would never happen. In fact, many of you told me it could never happen because of my [...]

What to make of the war of words that has erupted between Jonathan Jansen and Jessie Duarte? Briefly, ANC spokesperson Duarte is demanding that recently installed University of the Free State Rector Jonathan Jansen apologise for calling Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga a “lazy and incompetent minister, if one takes into account her record as [...]

The Sunday Times July 4th 2009 Too much emphasis on suffering and sacrifice can leave a hard residue of victimhood and entitlement We Are a nation-in-the-making and we cannot afford to squander our assets. Our knowledge about ourselves — our identity as a nation — depends on our understanding of our past and how others [...]

State of the Nation Address by His Excellency JG Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, Joint Sitting of Parliament, Cape Town 3 June 2009 Honourable Speaker; Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP; Deputy President of the Republic, Kgalema Motlanthe Former [...]

The PPEN is an important education reform initiative and we support it call for readers to get involved. Dear Colleagues and Friends, Welcome to 2009.  May it mark a ‘turning point’ for public education… Thank you again for expressing your commitment to the public call to education, and your support of the Public Participation in [...]

Nomfundo Xulu Published:Times Jan 29, 2009 THOUGH the history of South Africa has always been fascinating, some elements do not make sense because every historian has a different story to tell. One such historical era involves the respected and feared Shaka Zulu. While Zulu people usually sing his praises and say he was the saviour [...]

Jonathan Jansen Your view on the 2008 matriculation examination results depends on where you stand. If you are a successful student with a “B” designation, you are ecstatic because you are virtually guaranteed university entrance. Your parents are very happy and there are no protests again the school system. If you are a student who [...]

Published in the M&G 30 December 2008 The country’s 2008 matric class received a pass rate of 62,5 %, Education Minister Naledi Pandor said on Tuesday. Of the 533 561 candidates with a full set of results, 333 681 candidates, or 62,5%, met the requirements for a National Senior Certificate, she told a press briefing in Pretoria. [...]

Sue Blaine Education Correspondent Business Day 27 November 2008 THE education department intends to rid SA of unsafe school environments by 2012. This aim is part of the minimum norms and standards for school infrastructure published for public comment by Education Minister Naledi Pandor this month. Education department statistics show that 42% of SA’s 25043 [...]