Journo blog

Summer maize ploughing seemed impossible for Misty Mount residents By Qaqamba Matundu Photo by Qaqamba Matundu   December is a month that most people in the Eastern Cape use to plant maize because, summer is best known to be a great season for plants to blossom nicely with the help of sun, but due to climate change that has been ongoing the past years things are no longer the same. December is dominated by extreme heat. Misty Mount is a small disadvantaged rural area in Mthatha in the Eastern Cape with no job opportunities. People survive only by farming and now it’s difficult to make a living because everything is dying including livestock. The scorching sun makes the soil to be hard rock. Mzoxolo Ndiki, one of Misty Mount residents affected by climate change said, “Last year I asked a tractor to come plough for me since it was that period of maize, but it took weeks for it to finally manage because the soil was very dry. I then planted what later became waste because ev...

  South African unemployment crisis By Qaqamba Matundu Unemployment rate lessened to 32,7% in quarter 4 of 2022 from 32,9% in quarter 3, 0,2% quarter 3 to quarter 4 in 2022. “Statistics South Africa said 169 000 jobs were gained between Q3 and Q4, while the number of unemployed persons increased by 28 000 to 7,8 million.” Says Storm Simpson, reporter from The South African. According to Politicsweb industries like finance (103 000), private household (54 000), trade (52 000) and transport (43 000) recorded the largest job gains. Job loses were recorded in community and social services (122 000), agriculture (12 000) and construction (12 000). The formal sector recorded an increase in employment of 143 000 and the informal sector recorded a loss in employment of 155 000 between the Q3 and Q4 of 2022. “South Africa’s unemployment rate remains sky high and the best that can be said about terrible situation is that the ...

 

  Don’t be a victim of scammers! By Qaqamba Matundu Figure 1: Don’t be a victim. Photo: Internet Marketing and Communication Department at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) is alerting people that might be desperate for school and place to stay of active scammers that roam around during the time of applications. Like everyone, applicants can fall victim to a scam. It is important you know how to spot signs of scam and most effective methods to protect yourself. Protecting your personal information helps on protecting you and your money. Scamming is something that happens every year with all universities. It has been reported that CPUT has opened its first late application window. The university receives thousands of applications and can only accept a certain number of qualifying applicants. Many people out there know how frustrating this period is and prey on desperate people in need of school, that is why the university is urging people to be alert. It is imp...

 

Responsibilities of journalists during election time By Qaqamba Matundu Media organisations and journalists plays a vital role in the electoral process by assuring the dissemination of news and diverse opinions. Media makes possible deeper knowledge of candidates, parties and their programs. Journalists contribute to the effective participation of citizens in democratic debate, especially by ensuring that issue of public interest remain at the centre of election campaign.  Reports as “Journalists must resist the pressure of their own opinion which they should express in the privacy of voting station, like any other citizen. They are expected to treat all politicians impartially regardless of the sympathies or antipathies they may feel towards them. A professional work of journalism must be accurate, verified, balanced, neutral and respectful of human dignity. Journalists must have rights to provide information without being pressured or threatened, bring with it the duty to provide...

Does NSFAS need to increase allowance? By Qaqamba Matundu With prices of everything increasing in South Africa. The cost of living is high. Students are the ones suffering the most with the “little” allowance they get. “Over fifty thousand people, many of whom are university students have signed a petition imploring Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande and National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) to increase their allowance. They want the current allowance of R1,500 to be increased to R2000 to accommodate the increase cost of essentials like groceries and toiletries.” Says Enoch Many students across the country come from unprivileged homes whereby they do not get any allowance from parents. It is not easy for students to afford everything as they need to buy food , toiletries and others do not qualify to get transport money, so they also use some of the money for transport to school. Students come from different provinces far away from their home, they are on their own. Ma...