The Department of Educa- tion is spending R6,1-billion over a five-year period to halve illiteracy by 2012 through its Kha Ri Gude (Let us Learn) mass literacy campaign. Over nine-million people in South Africa are illiterate or functionally illiterate.

To date, 360 000 learners have been enrolled, with 24 000 volunteer educators, 2 800 supervisors and 150 coordina-tors involved. Surty says the department will target an enrolment figure of 1,2-million people in 2009.

The literacy and numeracy study material is being offered in all official languages, as well as Braille, and study material is also available for deaf individuals. In addition, as many of the learners are studying in their own languages, a book on simple English is also available, which will help in everyday situations, such as filling in forms.

Meanwhile, government spokesperson Themba Maseko has given an update on an ordinary meeting held by Cabinet earlier this month, saying that preparations for the War on Poverty campaign, which Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka will launch in the Xhariep district, in the Free State, this month, are at an advanced stage.

Further, he notes that the Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on rising food prices has tabled a progress report on possible interventions to mitigate the impact of rising food prices.

Maseko says the IMC is considering a number of short-term measures, including the possible expansion of the school feeding scheme, increasing the value of starter packs, doubling the number of households receiv- ing starter packs from 70 000, to 140 000, and the possibility of increasing and extending social grants.

The IMC will. table proposals on the cost impli-cations of these measures with the Minister’s Budget Committee.

In addition, Cabinet has also clarified the role of the proposed National Food Control Agency, announced by President Thabo Mbeki late last month.

The agency will not regulate food prices, but will deal with issues of strengthening the agroprocessing industry, food safety and the promotion of industry exports, besides others.

A legislative framework for the agency will be finalised by March next year, says Maseko.