Latest news with #Bezuidenhout
IOL News
a day ago
- Automotive
- IOL News
Motorist awarded R26. 6m after pothole accident leaves her paraplegic
A North West Province woman who is left a paraplegic after her car hit a pothole and overturned, is set to receive R26.6m in damages from the province's roads department. Image: File A pothole in the North West Province will cost the MEC of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport more than R26.6 million after a motorist was involved in an accident when she drove through the pothole, which left her a paraplegic. The North West High Court, sitting in Mahikeng, ordered the department about three months ago to pay this amount to the plaintiff, only identified as Beauty. However, the department has to date not yet paid up. Her attorney, Righardt Bezuidenhout, said the department promised that it would pay by Wednesday. However, by the time of publication, she had not yet been paid. Bezuidenhout had obtained an order to attach the assets of the provincial department, to sell at auction in a bid to receive payment. The department, in the meantime, promised to make the payment to avoid its assets being sold at public auction. Bezuidenhout earlier managed to secure an order against the provincial department after proving that the pothole was the cause of the accident, in which Beauty was left a paraplegic. She lost control of her car in 2014 when she hit the massive pothole on a public road, and her vehicle overturned. The provincial department was held responsible as it was proved to have been negligent for not fixing the pothole earlier. The court was told that the pothole had been there for some time and that it was fixed a few days after the accident. 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 ✕ The provincial department was held 100% liable for the damages she could prove she had suffered as a result of the accident. Beauty was a highly functional nurse prior to the accident, but she is now left helpless and needs around-the-clock assistance. During the second leg of the court case earlier this year, a host of experts were called in a bid to determine how much compensation Beauty should receive. The damages claimed by her were for past medical expenses, future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and general damages. In determining her damages, Deputy Judge President Tebogo Djaje considered the fact that Beauty was employed as a professional nurse at the time of the accident. She had been in service for approximately 25 years. Since the accident, she has not been employed and was medically boarded in 2016. She will not be able to return to work as she presents with a physical impairment of 77%, according to the orthopaedic surgeon. Apart from being wheelchair-bound, she uses an indwelling catheter as well as nappies and is completely dependent on her daughter for assistance. The only physical activity that she can do is gardening to a limited degree. According to the experts, the plaintiff will require extensive future treatment. Apart from spinal injuries, she also suffered a hip fracture, as well as shoulder and rib fractures. Her injuries further left her with several scars, and she lost four of her front teeth.
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
State must pay R26. 6m to motorist left a paraplegic after accident caused by pothole
A North West Province woman who is left a paraplegic after her car hit a pothole and overturned, is set to receive R26.6m in damages from the province's roads department. Image: File A pothole in the North West Province will cost the MEC of the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport more than R26.6 million after a motorist was involved in an accident when she drove through the pothole, which left her a paraplegic. The North West High Court, sitting in Mahikeng, ordered the department about three months ago to pay this amount to the plaintiff, only identified as Beauty. However, the department has to date not yet paid up. Her attorney, Righardt Bezuidenhout, said the department promised that it would pay by Wednesday. However, by the time of publication, she has not yet been paid. When the department failed to pay her prior to now. Bezuidenhout had obtained an order to attach the assets of the provincial department, to sell at auction in a bid to receive payment. The department, in the meantime, promised to make the payment in a bid to avoid its assets being sold at public auction. Bezuidenhout earlier managed to secure an order against the provincial department after proving that the pothole was the cause of the accident, in which Beauty was left a paraplegic. She lost control of her car in 2014 when she hit the massive pothole on a public road, and her vehicle overturned. The provincial department was held responsible as it was proved to have been negligent for not fixing the pothole earlier. The court was told that the pothole had been there for some time and that it was fixed a few days after the accident. The provincial department was held 100% liable for the damages she could prove she had suffered as a result of the accident. Beauty was a highly functional nurse prior to the accident, but she is now left helpless and needs around-the-clock assistance. During the second leg of the court case earlier this year, a host of experts were called in a bid to determine how much compensation Beauty should receive. The damages claimed by her were for past medical expenses, future medical expenses, loss of earnings, and general damages. In determining her damages, Deputy Judge President Tebogo Djaje considered the fact that Beauty was employed as a professional nurse at the time of the accident. She had been in service for approximately 25 years. Since the accident, she has not been employed and was medically boarded in 2016. She will not be able to return to work as she presents with a physical impairment of 77%, according to the orthopaedic surgeon. Apart from being wheelchair-bound, she uses an indwelling catheter as well as nappies and is completely dependent on her daughter for assistance. The only physical activity that she can do is gardening to a limited degree. According to the experts, the plaintiff will require extensive future treatment. Apart from spinal injuries, she also suffered a hip fracture, as well as shoulder and rib fractures. Her injuries further left her with several scars, and she lost four of her front teeth.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Young entrepreneur making waves in the tech world
Alex Bezuidenhout, 20, breaks the mold with a fast-growing podcast platform, a consultancy, and fintech studies. South African Alex Bezuidenhout, left, and his British business partner, Dan Wood, have created a thriving podcast and business consultancy. Picture: Supplied Go-getter is probably the closest term that describes 20-year-old serial entrepreneur Alex Bezuidenhout. It's been less than a handful of years since leaving school, but he's dished up a lot on his plate. Studying financial technology at the University of Southampton, he's launched a thriving business consultancy and produces a podcast that has featured some heavy hitters in business and culture. Alongside British business partner Dan Wood, a former army paratrooper with a background in civil engineering and leaping out of planes, Bezuidenhout's flying the Saffa flag high in Europe. Entrepreneurs working gruelling hours The pair met while working gruelling hours in Guernsey, an island off the UK coast. Bezuidenhout was on a gap year after school and Wood was his supervisor. They became friends, and it wasn't long before after-hours banter turned into a shared ideal. ALSO READ: The rise of dropshipping: Opportunity and risk in a booming ecommerce model The Good Ideas Club, a fast-growing podcast and content platform is one of the byproducts of their chinwags. While it's still a relatively new podcast, the pair has hosted personalities that would make most LinkedIn recruiters blush. 'We had to think strategically. No-one's giving you an hour of their time just because you ask nicely. But say it's for a podcast, suddenly people are game. The result has been incredible. We've had the former COO of Google Europe on the show, serial entrepreneurs, politicians, even Draco Malfoy from the West End cast of Harry Potter.' Content strategy The content strategy is simple. It's conversations with interesting people doing interesting things. But beneath the charm and spontaneity is an intentional mission to break echo chambers and broaden perspectives, said Bezuidenhout. 'Everyone thinks their problems are unique. But when you sit down with CEOs, actors, authors, start-up founders, it's then that you start seeing patterns. The flavour might differ, but the core is the same. Everyone's trying to solve human problems.' ALSO READ: 4 business pitch mistakes that could be costing you investors — and how to avoid them That insight has informed more than just his podcast guests. It's become his method and influences how Bezuidenhout approaches work, leadership, even life. 'Purpose came up a lot. Nobody wants to feel like a cog in a machine. They want to be part of something that matters. And they want autonomy. Give people enough room to own the outcome and they'll surprise you.' Conversations swing from technical to philosophical The conversations on The Good Ideas Club swing from technical to philosophical. From AI ethics to acting, strategic investment to creative process. There's no box. And that's the point. 'We're trying to diversify the mental diet,' he said. NOW READ: How mental health affects entrepreneurs
Irish Independent
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Irish Chamber Orchestra and renowned pianist to play Beethoven compositions at Kerry venue
Mr Bezuidenhout is returning for his third collaboration with the orchestra for the next instalment of his much-anticipated Beethoven Piano Concerto cycle The South African-born pianist brings his own blend of brilliance to Beethoven's music and, following on the success of Piano Concertos Nos. 1 and 3 in October 2023, he is turning his attention to Piano Concertos 2 and 4. Each piece promises to be a dramatic dialogue between Bezuidenhout and the orchestra, from fierce defiance to tender vulnerability while pushing boundaries with bold, expressive depth. Piano Concerto 2 is said to sparkle with youthful charm and wit while Concerto 4 is said to be intimate and emotional before soaring to a radiant finale. The Irish Chamber Orchestra and Kristian Bezuidenhout will play the Tralee venue on Friday, June 20. Tickets can be purchased online for €28.50 (retired/unwaged: €26) plus booking fees at The Irish Chamber Orchestra will play the University Concert Hall in Limerick on June 19 and The Whyte Recital Hall in Dublin on June 21.
Daily Maverick
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Employers and schools can no longer claim ignorance of cyberbullying
South Africa has a robust set of laws to tackle cyberbullying in schools and workplaces. However, in classrooms, offices and online chats, the updating and enforcement of these policies remain deficient. In 2021, a video of 15-year-old Limpopo schoolgirl Lufuno Mavhunga's violent assault at the hands of a fellow learner went viral. Following the assault, Mavhunga took her own life. An investigation by the South African Human Rights Commission found that the school had failed in its duty of care, ignoring pleas from her family and failing to act when alerted. 'We have very good laws,' said Dr Sershiv Reddy, senior lecturer in the department of mercantile law at the University of Johannesburg. 'But sometimes we are impeded by enforcement, maybe due to the lack of funding or other resources.' South Africa's legislative toolkit, including the Protection from Harassment Act (2011) and the Promotion of Equality and Prevention of Unfair Discrimination Act (Pepuda, 2000), offers remedies for victims of harassment and discrimination. These protections often vanish in the policy void between written laws and day-to-day practice. No adults in the room 'More than 95% of our children have access to the internet,' Reddy said 'The keyword is access. It doesn't mean that they may have a mobile device at home, but it means they have access via other means. That could be through a school computer, through the library, [or] an internet café.' Seventy percent of children access the internet without their parents knowing, and more than half of South African schoolchildren have been victims of cyberbullying, Reddy said. In 2018, the Ipsos Research Institute ranked South Africa fifth in a global survey of 28 countries measuring cyberbullying rates. And it's not just children. Anli Bezuidenhout, employment law director at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, pointed out that teachers and employees are also victims of online harassment. WhatsApp and HR While bullies have migrated to WhatsApp groups, Instagram direct messages (DMs) and Zoom calls, schools and workplaces seem stuck in a pre-digital era, failing to proactively update policies. 'Where in the past we may have had policies relating to sexual harassment, we now often see those policies haven't been broadened to also deal with issues such as cyberbullying,' Bezuidenhout said. This is despite the Code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace, which came into effect four years ago. It states that employers (including schools) should have anti-harassment policies that also cover digital spaces. Bezuidenhout explained that the code introduces the requirement to review other policies, such as a company or school's social media policy. Off the clock, still on the hook Tim Fletcher, director and chair of dispute resolution at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, describes the Protection from Harassment Act as 'a fairly draconian remedy', but one that is easily obtainable. Victims can approach the magistrate's court, whether in their area, the perpetrator's, or where the incident happened, to secure an interim protection order, Fletcher said. This order becomes effective the moment it is served, and if unchallenged, it converts into a final order with an attached warrant of arrest. Pepuda, meanwhile, offers even broader powers through the Equality Court, allowing action on virtually any ground undermining dignity. And critically, cyberbullying outside of working hours is still grounds for disciplinary action. 'It's off-duty misconduct, you're against the school conduct, against the company's conduct, bringing the company into disrepute. I would still be able to discipline such an individual,' Aadil Patel, head of employment law at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, said. How does this affect you? The boundaries between public and private, workplace and home, have blurred. WhatsApp groups, private DMs and social media posts are not outside the law's reach. Cyberbullying at school or at work is not something you have to endure quietly. The legal system offers tools for protection. But those tools only work if victims and communities know they exist, and use them.
