The latest grant regulations for the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas) have just been published for public comment in the Government Gazette, with a reduction in the percentage of mandatory grants – from 50% to 20% – and the introduction of the PIVOTAL grant.

Grade 9 pupils across South Africa achieved a paltry 12.7% average in mathematics in the Department of Basic Education’s second national assessment that tests ability in home language, first additional language and maths – regarded as the key foundational skills in basic education.

A high-profile audience of corporate leaders, numerous sporting and civic influences from the Western Cape recently attended the launch of the second edition of the Corporate Games in Cape Town at the V&A Waterfront.

On Tuesday, 4 December Business Day reported that the government's Jobs Fund had spent R3 billion since its launch to create 745 jobs, at a cost of R4 million per job. But, according to findings from Statistics SA's latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, South Africa still has more than two million job-seekers – an increase of 225 000 over the past year.

The skills required to ensure a prompt and successful rollout of the government's renewable energy programme will have to be imported, according to Sandra Burmeister, chief executive of the Landelahni Recruitment Group.