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Eyewitness News
a day ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
How residents can find out if they qualify for City of Cape Town's R2,2 billion debt write-off initiative
The City of Cape Town has approved a massive R2,2 billion debt write-off for qualifying residents as part of its 2025/26 budget. As at 30 June 2025, the annual collection ratio result was 97,83%, however, the City says the debt write-off initiative is to offer economic relief for qualifying residents facing hardship and also to enhance the financial sustainability of the metro. The debt remission is for municipal debt outstanding for periods prior to and including 30 June 2024. Council has approved debt relief for qualifying customers who own residential properties valued between R450 000 and R7,5 million. Indigent properties with zero valuation, income-based indigent customers, those on pension and social grants, as well as various institutions such as cemeteries and crematoria, non-profit organisations, animal shelters, accommodation for the vulnerable, local community museums, old age homes, public benefit organisations, social housing, and youth development organisations could also benefit.
IOL News
3 days ago
- General
- IOL News
MEC Martin Meyer adopts struggling school for deaf pupils in Durban
KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer adopted a deaf school as part of Mandela Day commemoration. Image: Willem Phungula In commemoration of Mandela International Day, KwaZulu-Natal Public Works and Infrastructure MEC Martin Meyer has pledged his support by adopting a financially struggling school for deaf pupils. On Friday the MEC, flanked by his department head Dr Vish Govender and eThekwini Municipality ward 97 councillor Andre Beegte spent his 67 minutes in Durban School for hearing impaired in Amanzimtoti south of Durban where he participated in painting the school's ablution facilities. The school owes the municipality R1,5 million for water and R800, 000 for the electricity which the school attributed to undetected underground water leaks and cable theft. The school has just over 300 pupils which are some of them are intellectually impaired and autistic. It has only one therapist which the school management says gives them problems. Speaking at the event, the MEC pledged to support the school and announced that he will partner with the non-governmental organization to fix water leaks in the school. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Meyer, who is now a new resident of Amanzimtoti, said it was a cabinet decision that all MECs must choose a school they will support. He said he chose the school because he always drive past it everyday when going to and from work. The MEC said the second reason he chose the school was that his brother is also hearing impaired. 'The other reason is that my department works closely with the people living with disabilities to a point that we developed the app to assist the disabled to get jobs,' said Meyer. The MEC said as the country is in a difficult place right now remembering Mandela and emulating his leadership has never been so important, He described him as a selfless leader who willingly served his one term and stepped down to allow others to lead, adding that today politicians don't want to leave office. The MEC said Mandela also loved children whom he called future leaders so it was important that new leaders also support children because they are the future. This year was the 16th commemoration of Mandela day where the United Nations declared 18 July -which is Mandela's day birthday- to be dedicated to the upliftment of the societies particularly the vulnerable communities where everyone must dedicate his or 67 minutes in honour of Mandela.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
₹5,000 per box and counting: Himachal's apple season begins with a bang as quality fruit reigns
Apple growers in Himachal Pradesh are upbeat as early varieties of the fruit are commanding impressive prices in wholesale markets. With the apple season kicking off early this year, traders at the Dhalli vegetable market in Shimla say farmers are earning between Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 per 20-kg box, depending on quality and ripeness. Roshan Sharma, a local apple grower, said he received Rs 2,000 per box for the early "Spur" variety. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Cybersecurity MCA Technology Design Thinking Finance others Public Policy Data Analytics Leadership Artificial Intelligence CXO Healthcare Data Science MBA Others Operations Management Management healthcare Product Management Project Management PGDM Degree Digital Marketing Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months MIT xPRO CERT-MIT xPRO PGC in Cybersecurity Starts on undefined Get Details "The early varieties are just beginning to arrive. I got Rs 2,000 for a 20 kg box of Spur variety apples . If people don't bring unripe fruit to the market, quality fruit is getting good prices. Since the universal carton was introduced, rates have improved. The season is expected to last longer this time. Everything depends on the weather and road conditions. We mostly send our apples to local mandis like Dhalli and Solan and are happy with the current prices," he told ANI. Narendra Thakur, a trader operating from Dhalli Mandi at Bhatakufar, highlighted the strong beginning of the season, stating that over 1 lakh boxes have arrived in just 20 days. "This time, early varieties like Tydeman and Spur are coming in good quantity. Growers are getting great prices. Some early foreign varieties fetched up to Rs 5,000 per 20 kg box. Rates are ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000. Farmers are advised not to bring under-ripe apples, as the market penalizes poor color and immature fruit. With universal cartons now standard, quality has improved. If the rains continue, the season will likely extend. But unripe produce is affecting market prices negatively," he said. Live Events Ashok Kumar, a buyer who procures apples for markets in Kathmandu (Nepal) and Bihar, echoed the sentiment and praised the quality this year. "The produce is good, and the rates are also satisfying. Farmers who bring properly ripened apples are getting great deals. I have already bought 10,000 to 15,000 boxes, mainly Royal, Red- Gold, and Tydeman varieties. The season has started on time, and I hope both farmers and traders benefit equally. When the fruit is good, everyone wins," Kumar told ANI. According to market estimates, over 10 lakh apple boxes have been sold across Himachal Pradesh's major mandis by July 18. With favorable weather and disciplined harvesting, stakeholders remain optimistic for a strong and extended apple season.
Hans India
5 days ago
- Business
- Hans India
Smart meter scam allegations: Minister faces legal heat
Bengaluru: Energy Minister KJ George is facing fresh trouble over the alleged irregularities in the procurement of smart electricity meters. BJP legislators Dr. C.N. Ashwath Narayan, S.R. Vishwanath, and Dheeraj Muniraju have filed a private complaint in the Special Court for People's Representatives, escalating their earlier complaint filed with the Lokayukta. The BJP has accused the Energy Department of serious corruption, alleging that a massive contract worth ₹10,000 crore was unfairly awarded to Davanagere-based Rajashree Electricals, sidelining other eligible companies. The complaint claims that companies were deliberately prevented from participating in the tender, with smart meters being procured at highly inflated prices—reportedly sold to consumers at ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 while they are available at ₹900 in other states. Senior advocate Lakshmi Iyengar, representing the complainants, argued that this was a major scam. She stated that a global tender should have been floated for such a large-scale project under the RDSS scheme, but instead, Rajashree Electricals, which handled just ₹354 crore worth of business, was awarded a ₹5,296 crore, 10-year contract. The tender was projected as a ₹997 crore deal to downplay its scale, she added. Though the tender was meant only for BESCOM, the same smart meters were reportedly extended to other ESCOMs without proper authorization—raising concerns of procedural violations. The BJP leaders have also approached the Governor, requesting permission for investigation, and accused the Lokayukta police of failing to act despite their initial complaint. The special court, presided over by Judge Santosh Gajanan Bhat, has taken up the matter and is expected to decide today on whether to admit the private complaint for investigation.
Spectator
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Spectator
2712: Revisions
When paired the unclued lights, one hyphened and one French geographical name, and another which is a combination of 18 & 33, are somehow related. Across 1 Freight making vehicle move (5) 6 The architect's malign intentions? (7) 13 Legal term about wills in US and Spain – late revision (4-5) 15 House-builders' workplace isn't pleasant to see, we're told (4) 16 Belgian crime writer, if not in France, entertains me (7) 17 Strips and barely moves? (7) 21 Rail operatives picked up in major station (5) 24 Pacific root-crop mirrored in protectorate (4) 27 Disclose head has left for Harrow's rival (4) 35 Lover and friend breaking Laura's heart (7) 36 It may have had a careful owner and was accustomed to endless attention (4,3) 37 Some Boursin for Caesar's bears (4) 38 Sandwich spread and spam served with tea, note (4,5) 40 Strange actors changing places at Roman fortress (7) 41 Jimmy has a change of heart for old horses (5) Down 1 Form One, placid with American in charge of RVW's work, say (9,5) 2 Work is over for them, taking endless leisure around isle (8) 4 Brother to have nowhere to swim in popular resort (9) 7 Rough estimate – about one thousand – died here (5) 9 'On your feet!' and 'Get up!' for banking facilities (8,6) 10 Odd strain of stage of an insect's development (6) 12 Pulls the trigger at first signs of growth (6) 14 Guiding light to join the criminals (6) 20 It measures pressure on awfully remote isle, first (9) 22 Queer fish gathering under dam on river (6) 23 Entranced stirring marinade (2,1,5) 26 1A that's discarded from high fliers before noon (6) 29 Popular suit manufactured for northerners (6) 31 A floosie's upset rock bands (6) 34 Frostier early reception initially, after getting here in France (5) 35 Carpet the setter after a fiddle (5) Download a printable version here. A first prize of a £30 John Lewis voucher and two runners-up prizes of £20 vouchers for the first correct solutions opened on 4 August. Please scan or photograph entries and email them (including the crossword number in the subject field) to crosswords@ or post to: Crossword 2712, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery.
