Zululand gets R22 million for flood damage repairs
Zululand District Municipality Mayor Michael Khumalo has welcomed the allocation. 'This additional funding will go a long way towards accelerating our efforts to mitigate disaster risks and put into place proactive measures. We pledge to utilise this grant promptly and follow procedures and protocols as established by the department to ensure accountability and transparency,' said Khumalo.
The mayor added that the Zululand District has experienced unprecedented challenges due to heavy rains and flooding, which resulted in significant damage to water infrastructure and other public facilities. The combined funding of R22 million will be used for repairs to damaged water schemes, sanitation systems and other essential municipal services. He also urged residents to continue working together with the municipality to ensure that the recovery efforts are inclusive and transparent. This grant will be transferred in phases. The minister's office reported that the department is currently awaiting transfer dates from the National Treasury.
CoGTA MEC for KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has also welcomed the announcement, since municipalities in the province were impacted by incidents that caused billions of rands worth of destruction. He said this allocation is specifically earmarked for disaster response and recovery.
The funds will provide much-needed relief to communities, facilitating the installation of new disaster mitigation measures and the improvement of roads, as well as water and sanitation infrastructure. This allocation also underscores the national government's commitment to supporting the province's ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts.
ALSO READ: Zululand District Municipality elects new mayor
The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area.
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
Luxury vehicle threshold for ministers, premiers raised to R1. 1m
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and the National Treasury have increased the limit for purchasing of official vehicles for ministers, their deputies, premiers and MECs to R1.1 million from R800,000. Image: Independent Newspapers Ministers and their deputies in President Cyril Ramaphosa's Government of National Unity (GNU) executive can now buy luxury official vehicles valued up to R1.1 million after the National Treasury increased the limit from R800,000. National Treasury director-general Dr. Duncan Pieterse revealed the increase in an instruction dated July 11, 2025, and which came into effect on Tuesday this week. Late former finance minister Tito Mboweni announced the R800,000 cap (inclusive of value-added tax [VAT], maintenance plans and security upgrades) for official cars delivering the medium-term budget policy statement as part of government-wide cost-containment measures. Treasury increased and adjusted the R700,000 threshold to R800,000 in the 2019/20 financial year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading Pieterse said Mboweni's successor Enoch Godongwana is required, in terms of the guide for members of the executive (formerly the ministerial handbook), to consult his police, transport and state security counterparts to annually adjust and set the cost limitation for vehicles procured by members of the executive, who also include premiers and MECs. 'The minister (Godongwana) has adjusted the price limit for official vehicles from R800,000 to R1.1m inclusive of VAT, maintenance plans and security upgrades with effect from the date of this Treasury instruction,' stated Pieterse. National and provincial government departments will provide details of all acquisitions related to the costs of vehicles procured for official use by members of the executive in their annual reports at the end of each financial year. Treasury warned members of the executive and departments against purchasing vehicles of higher prices than the set price limit. 'Members of the executive are further prohibited from making personal additional financial contribution or through any form of creative or negotiated trade-in value to purchase a vehicle of a higher price while technically not exceeding the set price limit,' reads the instruction. In addition, the instruction prohibits avoiding compliance by leasing vehicles of a higher threshold in lieu of a direct purchase and subverting the guide's provisions and the price limits by leasing through other means such as the Fleet Management Trading Entities or similar arrangements. The guide sets out conditions as temporary arrangements under which hiring of vehicles may be considered in cases where official vehicles of a similar make and model are not available as may be purchased by departments. This is not the first time Treasury has increased the threshold for official vehicles. In September last year, Pieterse granted a deviation for the Eastern Cape provincial government to proceed with the purchase of a vehicle for official use by members of its executive limited to R900,000 inclusive of VAT, but excluding security features not exceeding a R100,000. At the time, provincial departments were advised to liaise with the SA Police Service for the fitment of security features. ActionSA MP Alan Beesley described the increase in the price threshold for official vehicles for members of the executive as simply unacceptable. 'With close to 50% of households going to bed hungry tonight, the luxury lifestyle of the executive is morally incomprehensible. Under the GNU, we have a bloated cabinet whose perks continue to increase,' he complained. Beesley asked: 'How can the Cabinet tell hard-pressed South Africans to tighten their belts when their own belts are getting considerably looser? It is wrong on so many levels'. He added that corruption comes in many forms, including the systemic abuse of taxpayer's money. ActionSA has introduced the Enhanced Cut Cabinet Perks Bill to amend the Independent Commission for the Remuneration of Public Office Bearers Act to have regard to prevailing economic conditions. Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader and chairperson of Parliament's standing committee on Appropriations, Dr. Mmusi Maimane, said the GNU is fast becoming a patronage network. 'It is not working for the people but serving politicians. Compounding the issue is a bloated executive, VIP protection, a R3 billion expenditure meaning the priority is not on education or economic growth. "We will as BOSA and the appropriations committee continue to fight against such excesses and will be ensuring National treasury accounts for such items,' promised Maimane. BOSA has proposed a drastic reduction in the size of the bloated Cabinet, capping of ministerial perks and a significant cut to wasteful VIP expenditure as well as merging or eliminating underperforming departments that have failed to deliver value to the public.
The Citizen
12 hours ago
- The Citizen
2025 competition to reward SA's top social entrepreneurs
Social entrepreneurs in Gauteng have an exciting opportunity to gain recognition and support for the positive impact they are making in their communities. The Iwisa No.1 Community Champions Competition is back for its third year, celebrating township, rural, and peri-urban small businesses that are tackling some of South Africa's biggest challenges. The 2025 edition of the competition launched online on June 15 during Youth Month, which is fitting, as many inspiring entrants in previous years have been young people leading change in their communities. ALSO READ: Locals invited to enter potjiekos competition fundraiser on March 29 Sibongile Mooko, premier executive, said that addressing issues such as youth unemployment, education inequality, or environmental sustainability, these community heroes are being given a chance to be recognised and rewarded. 'The belief that each of us can do good and bring about change inspired the competition, and that this becomes more powerful when we do it together,' said Mooko. The competition is open to social enterprises operating for more than two years in the Eastern Cape, Free State, Western Cape, and Gauteng. Eligible businesses must address a clear social or environmental need and be financially active. Ten finalists will be selected from each region to attend expert-led pitch workshops before competing in regional finals. Winners could receive funding prizes of R30 000 (first place), R20 000 (second place), and R10 000 (third place) per region. ALSO READ: Applications open for the 2025 Samsung Solve for tomorrow STEM competition Beyond cash prizes, finalists will also benefit from a business bootcamp and three months of dedicated mentorship to help them grow and scale their impact. This year's competition aligns with national development goals and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It targets SMMEs working in sectors including • Food security and nutrition • Education and skills development • Health and well-being • Clean and affordable energy • Circular economy and recycling • Digital and tech innovation. 'Our theme this year is about building stronger communities by enabling those who serve them. We want to spotlight entrepreneurs working in these critical areas and help them grow,' said Mooko. ALSO READ: Local swimmers need support for competition in Italy Applications close on July 31. They must be submitted online via the Iwisa No.1 website When on the page, click the arrow on the right to find the Community Champions competition details. In a world often filled with challenges, this competition brings a wave of hope as it celebrates the unsung champions of our communities – the entrepreneurs, problem-solvers, and doers. If you or someone you know is making a difference, now is the time to be seen, supported, and celebrated. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Daily Maverick
a day ago
- Daily Maverick
Treasury's decision not to allocate extra funding imperils compulsory Grade R roll-out
While the Bela Act makes Grade R attendance compulsory, the National Treasury's refusal to allocate additional funding leaves provinces struggling to deliver on the promise of universal early childhood education. The National Treasury has turned down the Department of Basic Education's request for additional funds to implement compulsory Grade R schooling. Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube confirmed the Treasury's stance during her 2025/26 budget vote speech in Parliament, acknowledging that although the Department of Basic Education's budget rose by more than 8% to over R35-billion, it fell short of meeting the cost required for universal access to Grade R schooling. Gwarube did not mince words about the consequences: provinces must absorb the significant costs from within already stretched budgets. The enactment of the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act in December 2024 marked a watershed moment, officially making Grade R attendance compulsory for all children in SA. The law was 'the culmination of over three decades of careful policy development, expert recommendations and legislative process', said Equal Education Law Centre legal researchers Daniel Peter Al-Naddaf and Katherine Sutherland. 'This year marks 24 years since Minister Kader Asmal launched Education White Paper 5 on Early Childhood Development, which recorded Grade R as the first year of formal education. This recommendation originated from the South African Preschool Study Team in August 1994 — almost 31 years ago,' they said. 'It took six years to reach a White Paper and another 23 years to become law through the Bela Act in September 2024. Compulsory Grade R was not a rushed policy decision. 'Yet, after 30 years of planning, implementation is failing due to lack of funding. The irony is that the very government that spent three decades developing this right now renders it meaningless through budgetary neglect.' Al-Naddaf and Sutherland noted that basic education is a constitutionally protected right that must be fulfilled immediately. By including Grade R in this definition, the law established not only a duty for parents to send their children to school, but also an immediate right for children to receive this education, regardless of when it might be convenient for the government. Taking from Peter to pay Paul During her address, Gwarube said the Department of Basic Education was unable to secure additional funding from the National Treasury for the undertaking, meaning that provinces must fund it from their allocated budgets. 'Our goal is clear: every child must enter Grade R ready to learn in all respects. We urgently need additional funding for compulsory Grade R, as required by the Bela Act,' she said. Al-Naddaf and Sutherland observed that, although there was a real increase this year in the consolidated Basic Education budget when measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), per learner spending declined when calculated using a sector-specific inflation rate, the Basic Education Price Index (Bepi). The Bepi provides a more accurate reflection of true spending power in the sector, as it captures factors like rising teacher salaries — the main cost driver — better than CPI adjustments alone. 'When factoring in this education-specific inflation measure, alongside projected learner enrolment growth and the formalisation of compulsory Grade R, it becomes evident that per-learner spending in real terms will decline to its lowest level since at least the 2013/14 financial year,' said Al-Naddaf and Sutherland. When asked how ready provinces were to fund and implement compulsory Grade R from their current budgets, Al-Naddaf and Sutherland said that, for many years, provinces had been expected to do more with fewer resources. This ongoing strain has left provinces, particularly those already facing funding challenges, in a vulnerable position as they try to fulfil the new mandate. The department has estimated that implementing universal Grade R will cost R17-billion. 'After a decade of chronic underfunding and budget cuts, it is unreasonable for the Treasury to expect provinces to somehow absorb a R17-billion obligation within budgets already cut to the bone, especially when provinces derive around 97% of their income from the national government,' said Al-Naddaf and Sutherland. 'It is estimated that the education system will need to incorporate an additional 200,000 Grade R learners to realise universal Grade R, and costs that provinces must bear to achieve this include additional Grade R classrooms; the upskilling of underqualified Grade R practitioners; furniture; playground equipment; learner packs; per learner funding for school budgets; and Grade R educator salaries.' They noted that several provincial education departments were at risk of becoming insolvent this financial year, attributing this to years of chronic underfunding and mounting obligations imposed without matching resources. Under-resourced schools The Gauteng Department of Education is wrestling with a R31.1-billion infrastructure backlog, forcing learners into crumbling buildings or overcrowded classrooms. This gargantuan backlog does not include the 2,000 new classrooms required for the compulsory roll-out of Grade R. In the Northern Cape, education officials say it will take at least five years to address the current shortfall of 252 classrooms. Meanwhile, Limpopo appears, on paper, to have nearly universal Grade R access, with only nine schools lacking Grade R. 'However, if one looks at the number of enrolled Grade R learners in the province (128,721) and the total number of Grade R educators and practitioners (2,151), this would amount to an average teacher-to-educator ratio of 60 learners to one teacher,' said Al-Naddaf and Sutherland. 'Having Grade R available on paper is fundamentally different from meaningful implementation — true access requires quality education with adequate resources, and it is clear that quality education cannot be achieved under these severely under-resourced conditions.' Al-Naddaf and Sutherland noted that many provinces had reported having to make trade-offs and redirecting funds from other vital programmes to fund universal Grade R. The effects ripple across the education system: Scholar transport budgets are slashed, making it harder for children in rural or remote areas to get to school. The National School Nutrition Programme, meant to guarantee a basic meal to every child, now stretches thin resources to feed growing numbers of Grade R learners, risking a decline in the quality or quantity of food available. Legislation versus purse strings Gwarube acknowledged these difficult choices, reflecting in Parliament: 'We operate under extremely difficult fiscal conditions which require innovation, creativity and firm financial discipline in all our provinces. 'This is a clarion call to all our stakeholders in the sector and PEDs [provincial education departments] to tighten belts, accelerate delivery and guard against falling foul of their constitutional responsibilities of delivering quality education to all.' Despite the funding setback, Gwarube outlined the department's plans to maximise its allocated resources. Early childhood development (ECD) is a particular focus, with the ECD conditional grant rising to R1.7-billion. Of this, R230-million is earmarked for a nutrition pilot programme targeted at the youngest learners, while R162-million will be invested in infrastructure for ECD programmes. Gwarube also highlighted several targeted allocations designed to address specific educational challenges. More than R4.6-billion has been allocated to curriculum policy support and monitoring, and R1.2-billion will go towards the school workbook programme, ensuring that learners from Grade R to Grade 9 receive the necessary learning materials. The minister announced that R57-million had been earmarked to advance mother-tongue-based bilingual education. However, these pockets of targeted funding can't offset the overall resources required to give every child quality access to Grade R schooling, as the implementation of the Bela Act rests uneasily on fragile fiscal ground. Al-Naddaf and Sutherland raised a constitutional warning: 'Treasury's refusal suggests that it believes it has the power to block the implementation of legislation by declining to fund it, even when this contravenes the rights of children.' This, they argue, undermines the law and the 'immediately realisable' right to basic education enshrined in the Constitution. 'We are most concerned about the hundreds of thousands of children who will be affected. It is vital that we consider what it means for democracy and the rule of law when the Treasury is effectively able to veto a law by refusing to fund it. It may be education today, but what guarantee does anyone have that their rights will have the funding to mean something?' Daily Maverick sent questions to the National Treasury, the Department of Basic Education and Gwarube's spokesperson. No responses had been received by the time of publication. DM
