Universities should encourage healthy debate and allow freedom of expression rather than suppress it. The South African democratic dispensation in which we live today was realised by those courageous enough to stand on their convictions.

Following an outcry about vetting of church and other leaders, the General Intelligence Laws Amendment Bill was amended to remove direct references to vetting such leaders. However, the broad definition of “persons or institutions of national security interest” still includes religious organisations and their employees, and this is a concern.

The African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP) congratulates the Matric Class of 2023 on their outstanding performance in achieving an 82,9% pass rate. They have done their families, teachers, and communities proud.

OUTA has released damning evidence of voice recordings of two meetings between Khoza and a representative of a service provider, revealing how service providers allegedly paid millions of rands in kickbacks to Nzimande and Khoza and at least R1 million to the SACP.

SASSA’s non-payment of grants increases hardship and difficulty and puts grant recipients in the risky path of loan sharks. Missing payments set families back months, and some do not recover from the vicious cycle of borrowing against their grants.

The South African government could have played a far more constructive role in influencing Hamas to release hostages after the deadly October 7 attack on Israel last year, and even to surrender, to avoid the loss of civilian lives, and to seek to bring about a lasting peace in the Middle East.

Hamas is guilty of committing acts of heinous brutality against women, children, infants and families that can never be excused or ignored.

ACDP MP, Marie Sukers, notes that the Department of Basic Education’s own research indicates that their Scripted Lesson Plans (SLPs), in which they have put so much hope, were ineffective.

The ACDP believes that the only long-term solution to this debt spiral is a rejuvenated economy, premised upon stabile energy provision and a vastly improved logistics network.

The ACDP looks forward to a successful outcome for the class of 2023.