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50% cuts for the vulnerable

50% cuts for the vulnerable

eNCA14-05-2025

JOHANNESBURG - Households with a combined income of R350,000 or less per annum will qualify for a half-price discount on Gautrain services.
Sassa grant beneficiaries such as pensioners, people with disabilities and students will also have some reprieve from high transport costs with the KlevaMova campaign.
As South Africans face tough economic times, the Gauteng Household Travel Survey shows that almost 60% of households spend more than 10% of their income on public transport.
The move will hopefully put more bucks back into the pockets of vulnerable groups.

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There have been threats made to my life during the course of my employment as the chief executive of the RAF. 'The threats come from various sectors, chief among them from the taxi industry. There was a high-risk assessment conducted on me. I have security guards placed at my house,' Letsoalo stated in his founding affidavit. He fears for his safety and that of his family, and he is also entitled to R480,000 a year security. Among the conditions of his suspension is that he return all the RAF property in his possession, including the provision of security. 'There is no doubt that this is a matter of life and death, and I cannot wait any longer and need urgent relief now and not later. A grave injustice will befall me or my family if the urgent relief is not granted, especially when the news of my suspension has been widely circulated in print media, television, and social media,' explained Letsoalo. 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However, Letsoalo categorically and unambiguously stated that his case is that his suspension was unlawful, irrational, and unreasonable. In the period leading up to his suspension, he described Board Chairperson Lorraine Francis as confrontational, accusing him of changing his tune about attending meeting of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) and indicating that he must take leave to clear his mind and think about issues as he had been under extreme pressure, which she stated was compassionate leave. Letsoalo said he refused to take compassionate leave after Francis stated that the board was worried he was taking instructions from his lawyers and wanted him to choose. 'I felt aggrieved that I had to learn about my suspension during the proceedings of the portfolio committee (Scopa) meeting. While I was watching the proceedings of the portfolio committee, I received an SMS from the chairperson of the board, who did not attend the portfolio committee meeting on the allegation that she was attending a prior personal matter,' he said. Letsoalo added that Francis also told him to check his e-mails and found the letter informing him of his suspension and withdrawing the earlier special leave. The suspension was allegedly due to adverse findings made by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which he said has been ongoing since 2022. Letsoalo complained that the SIU never gave him a right of reply before presenting its preliminary findings before Parliament. 'If the board felt so strongly about my alleged refusal to attend the Scopa meeting, why could they not use the reason for my refusal to attend the Scopa meeting as a reason for my special leave?' he asked. 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