Month: January 2022

Strengthening basic education ecosystem – Minister Motshekga

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 27, 2022

Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, says the basic education ecosystem must be strengthened so that it is future proof against the subsequent pandemics.

Motshekga was giving an opening address on Wednesday at the annual Basic Education Sector Lekgotla held at Emperors Palace, Kempton Park.

The three-day national event brings together provincial education departments, teacher unions, school governing body organisations, learner organisations, non-governmental organisations, academics, international guest speakers and other stakeholders.

The Theme for 2022 is: “Equipping Learners with Knowledge and Skills for a Changing World in the Context of COVID-19”. The overall focus of the Lekgotla will be the recovery plan for basic education after two years of disruptions.

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Photo: GCIS

Worldwide

World Relief: 10 Ways We’re Bringing Hope, Healing and Transformation in 2022

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 27, 2022

Across the globe, extreme poverty and mass displacement are on the rise, aggravated by the ongoing COVID pandemic. We’re currently facing the greatest humanitarian crisis of our time. And yet, there is hope. God is moving, and you’re invited to move too. Together, we’re bringing hope, healing and transformation to 2022.

As Myal Greene, World Relief President and CEO, recently said, “We have the opportunity to respond together as God’s church… Across the globe, men and women just like you are rising up to meet the needs of the most vulnerable among them.”

No one of us can carry the world’s burdens on our own. But when we move together, anything is possible.

Click here to read the full story.

Photo: World Relief / Screenshot

Inside Church Media Room

IMBISA releases a statement on the Tropical Storm in Monzambique

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 27, 2022

The Inter-Regional Meeting of the Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA), an Association of Bishops Conferences of Southern Africa, released a statement on the Tropical Storm that made landfall in Mozambique on Monday.

“The storm, caused widespread flooding, significant damage to infrastructure and displaced people, many of whom were already fleeing from the latent insurgency in the country at the moment,” the statement read.

Tropical Storm Ana made landfall in Mozambique on Monday. The storm, caused widespread flooding, significant damage to infrastructure and displaced people, many of whom were already fleeing from the latent insurgency in the country at the moment.https://t.co/XdJM4fUCBA pic.twitter.com/uEqML7J9oy
— IMBISA (@IMBISA) January 26, 2022

Photo: IMBISA

In The News

SA records 4 514 COVID-19 new cases as death toll hits 94 491

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 27, 2022

South Africa reported 4 514 new COVID-19 cases and 94 deaths, of which 20 occurred in the past 24 to 48 hours, said the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) on Wednesday.

The number of deaths brings the total to 94 491, according to the government official figures.

Meanwhile, data show that Gauteng remains the hardest-hit province after logging 1 376 additional infections, followed by 645 in the Western Cape, 567 in KwaZulu-Natal, 490 in Mpumalanga and 472 in Limpopo.

The latest infections pushe the laboratory-confirmed cases to 3 590 399 since the pandemic hit as the country’s positivity rate currently stands at 10.6%.

In addition, hospital admissions have increased by 183 to 6 035 in the past 24 hours.

#COVID19 UPDATE: 42,686 tests were conducted in the last 24hrs, with 4,514 new cases, representing an 10.6% positivity rate. Today, @HealthZA reports 94 deaths, of which 20 occurred in the past 24-48 hours. Total fatalities are 94,491 to date. More here: https://t.co/M8Df5BfRDa pic.twitter.com/J5h89NqB5U
— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 26, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

Inside Church Media Room

WCC posts job openings for leadership staff

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 27, 2022

“These three positions will be integral for the work of the WCC to continue with a strong and sustainable leadership team after the WCC 11th Assembly,” said Dr Agnes Abuom, moderator of the WCC central committee. “The three positions are open due to retirement of two deputy general secretaries, at the end of 2022.”

The new staff will be appointed by the Executive Committee in June 2022 and will join the WCC in November 2022, working together for two months with the present colleagues in those positions, for proper handing over and learning.

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Photo: Unsplash

Inside Church Media Room

Cardinal Czerny calls for prayers and solidarity with Tonga

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 26, 2022

The acting Prefect of the Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development presides over a prayer service for devasted Tonga, reminding that the recent tsunami in the Pacific island shows, once again, that man is not omnipotent and depends on God for all things.

On Monday evening Cardinal Michael Czerny S.J., the ad interim Prefect of the Dicastery for promoting Integral Human Development, presided over a special prayer service for the people of Tonga, which was devasted by the destructive volcano eruption and tsunami of January 15. Although only three people died, the natural disaster has caused massive and long term damage in the island nation which now depends on international aid for reconstruction.

Cardinal Michael Czerny presides over a special prayer service for the people of Tonga, which was devasted by the destructive volcano eruption and tsunami of January 15.https://t.co/JrFwyf76td
— Vatican News (@VaticanNews) January 25, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

In The News

COVID-19 cases rise by 3 197 as death toll increases to 94 397

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 26, 2022

South Africa conducted 36 216 Coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours, of which 3 197 came back positive, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the country logged 132 deaths, with 23 occurring in the past 24 to 48 hours.

According to the NICD, Gauteng continues to record the highest number of daily infections after 898 people were confirmed to have contracted the virus.

Gauteng is followed by 483 infections in KwaZulu-Natal and 460 in the Western Cape, pushing the positivity rate to 8.8%.

This means the country now has 3 585 888 laboratory-confirmed cases since the outbreak, while the death toll is sitting at 94 397 to date.

#COVID19 UPDATE: 36,216 tests were conducted in the last 24hrs, with 3,197 new cases, representing an 8.8% positivity rate. Today, @HealthZA reports 132 deaths, of which 23 occurred in the past 24-48 hours. Total fatalities are 94,397 to date. More here: https://t.co/mPiipjmHFD pic.twitter.com/GexMtu1Zwp
— NICD (@nicd_sa) January 25, 2022

Photo: Unsplash

In The News

President Ramaphosa releases SIU COVID-19 investigations report

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 26, 2022

President Cyril Ramaphosa has released the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU) report into COVID-19 procurement to the public this morning.

The report is a culmination of an 18-month investigation by the SIU into billions of Rands worth of contracts entered into by the state for resources related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of these contracts remain under investigation by the unit and a supplementary report will be handed over to the President by June this year.

“This investigation targeted individuals and institutions who believed they could exploit a moment of national vulnerability to enrich themselves and those with whom they colluded to abuse public resources.

President @CyrilRamaphosa has authorised the release to the public of the final report of the investigation by the Special Investigating Unit into procurement by all spheres of government of goods, works and services associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/4BB7Sv1VKB
— Presidency | South Africa 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) January 25, 2022

Photo: GCIS

Inside Church Worldwide

Planting trees and working for peace in Palestine

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 26, 2022

The volunteers, coordinated by Rabbis for Human Rights, braved freezing temperatures on 14 January and again on 21 January, traveling by buses and private cars from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to the villages of Awarta and Burin to plant olive trees.

While the first day of planting was completed peacefully, on the second day of planting, 21 January, volunteers were attacked just before Shabbat as they were in the village of Burin.

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Photo: WCC

Inside Church Worldwide

WCC urgently appeals for peace for the people of Ukraine

Post author By Staff Writer
Post date January 25, 2022

“As we follow the news of the mad progression towards war, we plead for a different logic than one based on geopolitical competition – a logic that considers the death and suffering that any armed conflict would inevitably visit on the children, women and men of Ukraine,’ said Sauca.

“We pray for a change of hearts and minds, for de-escalation, and for dialogue instead of threats.”

Click here to read the full story.

Photo: Unsplash