Latest news with #GautengProvincialLegislature
IOL News
2 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
Maile tables revised R172. 3bn budget, vowing service delivery and fiscal discipline
Gauteng MEC for finance and economic development re-tables budget for 2025/2026, focusing on service delivery and economic growth Image: Gauteng Legislature The Gauteng Provincial Government Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has re-tabled the province's increased 2025/2026 Budget, emphasising service delivery, fiscal discipline and inclusive growth in the country's economic hub. The revised budget now amounts to R172.3 billion — an R886.6 million increase from the initially proposed R171.5 billion. Maile presented the revised Budget to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature and explained that the additional funds were made possible through the provincial allocation of unspent resources and revenue over-collections from the previous financial year. 'These resources enable us to better respond to the urgent needs of our communities and to reinforce our commitment to service delivery,' he stated. He further said that the re-tabling was a necessary response to the extraordinary delays and disagreements at the national level, where the postponement and subsequent amendments to the national budget caused ripple effects on provincial planning. 'The developments at the national level, including the postponement and withdrawal of the Division of Revenue Bill, compelled us to withdraw our initial provincial Budget and re-table it within the legal framework provided by the Public Finance Management Act,' Maile said. According to Maile, the priorities outlined in the State of the Province Address (SOPA) are comprehensively funded in this 2025 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Budget within and across all budget votes. Maile said that this deliberate alignment ensures that the government's strategic objectives - such as infrastructure development, social services, safety, and economic growth - are adequately resourced to deliver tangible and measurable impacts for Gauteng residents. He expressed confidence that these investments will translate into real change, improving the lives of the people across the province and reaffirmed the commitment made during the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) tabling in November last year. 'Fiscal discipline is non-negotiable. We will continue prioritizing efficiency gains and making strategic trade-offs to fund our government's priorities. Managing our finances responsibly is fundamental to building a resilient Gauteng that can sustain growth and development, even in difficult economic times.' Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Maile stressed that fiscal discipline requires provincial and municipal governments to uphold fiscal positions that are aligned with macroeconomic stability. He argued that this is essential for maintaining investor confidence and economic resilience and for ensuring equitable and sustainable service delivery across all communities. He also highlighted that exploring alternative funding sources is crucial for long-term fiscal sustainability. 'Provincial departments and entities are actively investigating innovative financing mechanisms—such as public-private partnerships, donor funding, and blended finance models—to supplement constrained revenue streams. 'These efforts will enable the government to expand its investment capacity while maintaining prudent financial management,' said Maile. Prioritising Critical Sectors with Targeted Allocations The allocations outlined in the budget are focused on addressing the most urgent and impactful needs: The Gauteng Department of Human Settlements was allocated R332 million to improve sanitation in informal settlements (R232 million) and to secure land and structures against illegal occupations (R100 million), directly tackling the issues of land invasion and service delivery gaps highlighted in SOPA. The Department of Roads and Transport will receive R314.9 million, with R150 million targeted at 54 priority roads across the five economic corridors and R115 million for repairing traffic lights and streetlights, improving mobility and safety. Maile announced that the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, and Environment have been allocated R23.8 million and R18 million, respectively, to build capacity and implement environmental initiatives, including the clean and green campaign aimed at improving urban environments and public spaces. Other critical sectors include health, education, safety, sports, arts, ICT, and infrastructure. The budget ranges from R50 million for school upgrades to R1.5 billion for ICT expansion and R3.6 billion for infrastructure development. He said these investments are designed to accelerate service delivery, foster economic growth, and improve the quality of life for all residents. The Budget also prioritised social programs, with R5.4 billion allocated to Social Development to address urban poverty, homelessness, and skills development. The Department of Community Safety will receive R2.3 billion to enhance policing, community safety efforts, and law enforcement visibility, including deploying Gauteng Traffic Wardens to restore law and order. Maile announced that R1 billion is being funded for arts, culture, and sports, which supports community engagement and social cohesion and hosts major national and international events. In digital transformation, Maile said R1.5 billion is allocated to expand ICT connectivity, including Wi-Fi hotspots and CCTV installations in townships, contributing to safer and more connected communities. Maile reaffirmed that maintaining fiscal discipline remains an uncompromising priority. He said the government is committed to managing expenditures efficiently, identifying savings, and making strategic trade-offs to fund priority programs. 'Our approach is to ensure that every rand spent delivers maximum value to our people,' he said. 'This requires us to be disciplined, innovative, and unwavering in our commitment to responsible governance.'
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Unwanted gifts from your ex? Toss it in the ex-press disposable truck
In South Africa, the dating-app landscape is far bleaker as people's safety has been threatened. The Tinder disposable truck being used by disgruntled lover in India. Picture: @e4mtweets/X Breakups are messy and leave many people in a pit of regret. However, dating app Tinder has given people an opportunity to get rid of unwanted gifts from former lovers in the form of a disposable truck. Aptly titled the 'ex-press disposal truck', the cute pink garbage truck was launched in April by Tinder India as a way of helping disgruntled lovers get rid of gifts that they received from their exes. Tinder is a mobile dating and social discovery app that connects users with potential matches through a swipe-based system, using profile information and location to suggest compatible people. If two people both 'like' each other's profiles, they can start chatting after swiping right on each other's profiles. ALSO READ: Public urged to beware of strangers from dating apps Giving people closure The truck is part of Tinder's 'Move On' campaign, which aims to normalise the emotional aftermath of breakups and help people find closure. The truck has been seen in Mumbai as part of Tinder's local campaign. The truck comes with a 'drop-off zone' where individuals can dispose of items like love letters, hoodies, sentimental gifts, and even playlists associated with past love interests. The fickle nature of dating apps is evident in how people quickly move on from one relationship to the next by simply swiping to the right. The Pew Research Center, a nonpartisan think tank based in the US that provides the public with information about pressing issues impacting the world, did a study in 2023 that found that approximately 10% of heterosexual people and 24% of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people have met their long-term partner online. ALSO READ: 'Kivuli & Nuru: The Afrodisiacs Collection' —African erotic stories delving deep into the queer world of desire Safety of dating apps These findings suggest that dating apps are generally used for hook-ups or casual sexual encounters between people. In South Africa, the dating-app landscape is far bleaker as people's safety has been threatened. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's portfolio committee on community safety has raised concerns about a disturbing rise in kidnappings and robberies in Johannesburg's Maboneng precinct, linked to dating apps. The committee made an unannounced visit to Jeppe Police Station last Friday, where it was briefed by station management on the pattern of crimes linked to online dating apps. 'During the visit, station management briefed the committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted,' read the committee's statement on the day. It added that the criminal tactics resemble those used in the Olorato Mongale murder case, where strangers trick victims they met online or in public places, then violently attack them. The committee spoke with concern about the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng that allegedly targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 'The committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,' the statement read. NOW READ: Love hurts: Seven common sex injuries
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Public safety alert: Gauteng officials warn of rising dangers in online meet-ups
As kidnappings in Maboneng rise, people are urged to verify online contacts, meet in public places, and inform loved ones of their whereabouts to avoid falling victim to digital luring crimes. Image: Unsplash The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has issued a serious warning to the public amid a surge in violent crimes linked to online dating and social media mee-tups, particularly in the Maboneng precinct of Johannesburg. This comes after an unannounced oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station on Thursday, last week where the Committee was briefed on a disturbing pattern of victims being lured through hookup apps to Maboneng, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted. The station management revealed that individuals from across Gauteng are being targeted, with several incidents mirroring the high-profile murder case of Olerato Mongale. In that case, the victim was deceived by strangers met through online or public platforms before being violently attacked. The Committee expressed particular concern about the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng that deliberately targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community. It condemned these hate-fueled crimes and highlighted that such targeted attacks reflect a broader crisis of safety facing vulnerable groups in urban areas. 'The Committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,'' said the Committee. The warning arrives just as Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu released the Fourth Quarter Crime Statistics (January to March 2025), which underline the gravity of the issues raised during the Committee's oversight visit. According to the national crime data, Gauteng continues to feature among the country's most crime-burdened provinces. The province contributed 19.1% to the national rape figures, making it one of the two highest contributors along with KwaZulu-Natal. Commercial crime also rose nationally by 4.7 %, with Gauteng recording 12,074 incidents, the highest in the country. While national murder rates showed a modest decline in most provinces, Gauteng, along with the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and Eastern Cape, still contributed the bulk of murders in the country. These high-crime provinces remain the focal point for SAPS interventions. The risks to law enforcement are also substantial. Out of the 22 police officers killed during this quarter, 10 of them were from Gauteng, highlighting how policing in the province carries deadly risks and speaks to the levels of organised criminal activity. The committee welcomed recent developments in the Mongale case, including the fatal shooting of one suspect during a police operation in KwaZulu-Natal. However, it stressed that two suspects remain at large and that public assistance is critical to apprehending them. 'We urge the public to assist in locating the other two suspects. Justice must be served for Olerato and all victims of these heinous crimes,' the Committee said. The rise in crimes involving victims lured online also reflects a broader trend outlined by Mchunu during the briefing and presentation of the crime statistics. He acknowledged that while progress has been made in certain crime categories, serious concerns persist in sexual offences, commercial crime, and the proliferation of illegal firearms. Mchunu noted that 4,023 cases of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition were reported nationally in the quarter, a 2.7% increase from the same period last year. This data reinforces fears that many of the crimes, including those in Maboneng, are enabled by easy access to deadly weapons. Gauteng residents are being urged to exercise extreme caution when using online platforms to meet new people. The Committee advised against meeting strangers in isolated or unfamiliar areas and encouraged individuals to inform trusted contacts of their plans. They further urged users to verify the identities of strangers through video calls before agreeing to meet in person and to report any suspicious activity to SAPS without delay. As crime trends shift and criminals exploit new methods, particularly through digital and social platforms, authorities are racing to adapt. Minister Mchunu highlighted that fighting gender-based violence, dismantling organised crime syndicates, and removing illegal firearms from circulation remain top priorities for the SAPS and government at large. 'Dismantling kidnapping syndicates and the broader networks behind them is a policing priority. We are adapting our strategies to respond to the digital spaces where many of these crimes now originate.' The public is being asked to remain vigilant, informed, and involved in the shared responsibility of community safety. [email protected] Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel. IOL News
The Citizen
4 days ago
- The Citizen
Public urged to beware of strangers from dating apps
The Committee expressed particular concern over the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng, targeting the LGBTQIA+ community. The Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has raised concerns over a disturbing rise in kidnappings and robberies in Johannesburg's Maboneng precinct. It warned residents to exercise extreme caution when meeting strangers from online platforms. This follows the Committee's unannounced oversight visit to Jeppe Police Station on Friday, during which it was briefed by station management on a troubling pattern of crimes linked to online dating apps. Lured, robbed and attacked 'During the visit, Station Management briefed the Committee on a disturbing trend where victims from across Gauteng are lured to Maboneng through hookup apps, only to be kidnapped, robbed, or assaulted,' the committee said in a statement on Friday. It added that the criminal tactics resemble those used in the Olorato Mongale murder case, where victims are tricked by strangers met online or in public places, then violently attacked. ALSO READ: Fezile Ngubane is a victim, not suspect in kidnapping case, says Saps LGBTQIA+ community specifically targeted It expressed particular concern over the recent arrest of a gang operating in Maboneng that allegedly targeted members of the LGBTQIA+ community. 'The committee condemns these crimes in the strongest terms and calls for heightened vigilance from all citizens,' the statement read. While commending the police for progress in the Mongale case, in which one suspect was recently killed during a shootout in KwaZulu-Natal, the committee stressed the importance of justice for all victims. 'While the committee commends the police for these breakthroughs… justice must be served for Olorato and all victims of these heinous crimes,' it said. ALSO READ: Police officers charged with serious crimes remain on active duty Safety advice issued The committee urged the public to take safety precautions when engaging with strangers on digital platforms. 'For their safety, the Committee advises the public to avoid meeting strangers from apps in isolated or unfamiliar areas, inform trusted contacts about meetup plans, verify identities through video calls before meeting, and immediately report suspicious activity to the Saps,' the statement concluded. NOW READ: WATCH: Olorato Mongale remembered as 'light extinguished too soon', police vow action
IOL News
21-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng government faces criticism over R34 million spent on unused buildings
The DA in Gauteng has decried the state of hired buildings by various provincial departments, which are reportedly spending more than R34 million monthly in leasing privately owned buildings while the province has its own buildings that are not being utilised. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) is reported to own no less than 41 unused buildings, while many of its departments continue to pay millions in rental fees. This is an assertion made by the DA in the province. According to the document from the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, 12 of these are in the Johannesburg Central Business District (CBD) and the remaining 29 are in the Pretoria CBD. Due to financial constraints, most of these buildings do not meet Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, making them unfit for use. The Democratic Alliance's (DA) provincial spokesperson for Infrastructure Development, Khathutshelo Rasilingwane, and a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, condemned the lack of accountability shown by the Gauteng government over reports that the province is paying over R34 million monthly in building leases instead of refurbishing its own properties to save costs. On Wednesday, Rasilingwane conducted an oversight visit to one of the buildings on Fox Street in the Joburg CBD, where she and her team were denied the right to go ahead with their oversight visit to the building. The building is said to be one of the properties currently being rented by the provincial government, while many of the buildings owned by the province are said to be rotting away unused. The party stated that it has been reliably informed by some of the employees, as well as through its communication channels within the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, following an oral reply to MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, who has confirmed that indeed the province is paying millions in rental fees. "We wrote and sent questions to the MEC for Infrastructure Development, Jacob Mamabolo, who then responded to say the province has 41 buildings that are practically abandoned. We learned they are renting their head offices, including 11 buildings, one of which prevented our visit. This is a building meant to house the Department of Education. "We have just come out of this building where we have been denied access to conduct our visit when we have been reliably informed by some of the workers that the building is actually not being utilised while the government pays R2.9 million a month," she stated. Attempts to get a comment from the provincial Department of Infrastructure Development were unsuccessful at the time of going to print, with the Department of Education in the province having referred the matter to GDID for comment. The DA said it was unacceptable that the GPG pays R34 104 005,07 monthly for office rentals for various departments while the province has its buildings. "Following our oversight inspection, we will engage directly with the MEC for Infrastructure Development (GDID), Jacob Mamabolo, based on the findings," Rasilingwane further stated. [email protected]
