Latest news with #Khoza
The Citizen
a day ago
- The Citizen
Woman survives leopard attack at private reserve in Greater Kruger
A woman narrowly escaped death after a leopard attacked her at the Dover Trust Camp in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, adjacent to the Kruger Park, on July 20. The reserve forms part of the Greater Kruger, a collective term for the private reserves located along the western boundary of the Kruger National Park. Nomsa Khoza (48), a caretaker at the reserve's Dover Trust Camp, recounted the harrowing incident from her hospital bed at Tintswalo Hospital in Acornhoek yesterday, in an exclusive interview with Lowvelder. Khoza said the attack occurred at around 17:30, as she was walking from her accommodation to a nearby house to switch on the lights as part of her daily routine. 'I suddenly heard an unfamiliar sound coming from the bushes. Before I could make out what it was, a leopard pounced on me,' she said. 'I was terrified and thought I was going to die, but God gave me the strength to fight the leopard with my bare hands and win the battle.' She said the leopard appeared to have aimed for her throat but missed as she instinctively swerved. 'I only saw balls of fire in its eyes' 'It bit me on the upper right side of my chest. I fell on my back, and it climbed on top of me and bit my left arm,' she said. Khoza sustained deep scratches to her chest, thighs and lower abdomen from the leopard's claws. 'I only saw balls of fire in its eyes,' she recalled. In a desperate attempt to survive, Khoza said she wrapped her left arm around the leopard's neck and pulled it closer. 'That gave me the chance to stick my fingers into its mouth and stretch its lips apart. I think the pain made it pause. I kept hitting it with my fists and shouting for help.' Relative hears screams and rushes to help Her cousin and colleague, Ronald Moropane, heard her screams. 'I was in the shower when I heard the noise. I forgot everything and ran outside in my birthday suit to see what was going on. When the leopard heard me shouting, it fled into the bushes,' he said. Moropane rushed back inside to get dressed before returning to help. 'She was bleeding heavily. I laid her down inside the house and called the management.' Quick response saves her life Reserve rangers soon arrived and called an ambulance. Khoza was placed in one of the rangers' vehicles to meet the ambulance en route, and she was transported to Tintswalo Hospital for treatment. When Lowvelder visited her yesterday, her sister Reinah and daughter Valentine were at her bedside. Valentine expressed deep gratitude that her mother had survived. 'It's rare for anyone to survive a leopard attack. Only God knows how He saved my mother,' she said. She added that the family regarded the incident as a tragic accident that could have happened to anyone. Attempts to obtain comment from the reserve's management were unsuccessful at the time of publication. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on
The Citizen
4 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Residents of Limpopo village fed up after not getting water for 15 years
Residents of a village near Giyani are forced to get water from a river, while the Mopani District Municipality downplays the problem. Residents of Siyandhani Village in Giyani, Limpopo, run the risk of contracting diseases if they continue to drink the filthy water from the Ritavi River, which they are forced to use for survival. They told The Citizen they last saw a drop of water coming out of their taps approximately 15 years ago. Residents accuse municipality of ignoring water crisis Ashwin Khoza, a resident, said they have tried everything to convince the municipality to supply them with clean water. 'We have never had water in the past 15 years, and the municipality is aware but doing nothing about it. Siyandhani comprises many villages, and most of us don't have access to clean water. To make things worse, a municipal water tanker does not even come to rescue us; it only supplies water to the nearest village where the ANC councillor resides.' ALSO READ: R42m water storage facility installed, but taps run dry in Xanthia village Khoza said some in the community are profiting from the crisis. Residents have been buying water from those who have privately installed taps in their yards. 'At home, we are five and every month we spend about R500 buying water. We buy about 750 litres three times a month, and the water vendors charge us a lot because they know that we don't have other options. But the most terrible thing is that there are those who don't have the money to buy, and they are forced to collect water from the Ritavi River. Remember, we are a family of five, and we use the water to drink, cook and do laundry.' Sharing water with animals One of those using water from the river, who agreed to speak to The Citizen but asked not to be named, said they boil the water before drinking it. She said sometimes the water is dirty because the animals also drink there. 'We are talking about the river, not a dam, so it has not been fenced; the animals also drink there. We are at serious risk of being infected with waterborne diseases. The municipality does not give us straight answers about this problem.' Some years ago, Giyani made headlines after the collapse of a R2.2-billion water project aimed at bringing clean water to the people. Khatho Civils, one of the companies that was contracted to direct water from the Nsami Dam to various reservoirs around Giyani, claimed that 95% of the project was completed. ALSO READ: Water projects worth R50bn to be constructed in Limpopo while progress on older projects stalls Rodney Mavundza, DA councillor in Mopani District Municipality, said Mopani District Municipal Manager Tshepo Mogano must account for the failure to provide clean water to Siyandhani Village. 'The Mopani District Municipality has failed to supply water from Mapuve Water Works and to deal with the water mafia hijacking the water supply from the bulk pipes. This is largely due to the lack of bylaws to deal with those who steal water and sell it to the community,' he said. Mopani District Municipality downplays water problem Mopani District Municipality spokesperson Odas Ngobeni, however, said the water problem is not as widespread as the residents claim. 'The community of Siyandhani is serviced and receives water from Mapuve Water Works, which receives water from Middle-Letaba Dam. We accept that there may be limitations in that certain portions of that community may not be receiving water, particularly the new stands, and that is why we deploy water tankers to areas through the local municipality,' Ngobeni said. He also blamed vandalism for some of the water woes. 'We have six boreholes drilled to augment water supply in that village, but all were vandalised and key components were stolen, including transformers.' Ngobeni said Siyandhani is also set to benefit from phase two of the water reticulation part of the Giyani Water Project, which targets the next 31 villages. NOW READ: R213m down the drain as Limpopo residents still have no water
IOL News
21-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Ernest Khoza loses court bid to challenge Outa's corruption report
The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed an application by the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) former chairperson, Ernest Khoza's application for the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) to remove a report implicating him in corruption. Image: Supplied Ernest Khoza, former chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), has lost his bid to challenge the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) over a report implicating him in corruption. The Johannesburg High Court dismissed his application to have the report removed from Outa's website. It was Khoza's second attempt after he wrote to Outa, through his attorneys, demanding the removal of the report shortly after it was published last year. The report, which was published in January 2024, exposed how Khoza and former Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, defrauded Nsfas through kickbacks from service providers. 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 ✕ Khoza did not respond to calls and messages. Khoza argued that Outa was no mere private party, and that the default common law position did not apply to it. Among others, he stated his argument as: In publishing its investigation reports, Outa reaches a wide audience, and therefore acts as a quasi-media organisation, and attracts similar duties to the recognised media, in particular the duty to allow implicated parties prior notice and an opportunity to comment, prior to publication. However, in its answering affidavit, Outa described itself as a non-profit civil action organisation supported and publicly funded by ordinary South Africans. Its mission includes challenging and taking action against maladministration and corruption, and, where possible, holding those responsible to account. The organisation added that as part of its work, it has investigated alleged maladministration in the administration of publicly funded bursaries and student accommodation by the Department of Education and Nsfas, the government-funded bursary and loan organization. 'Outa received recordings of a telephone conversation purportedly involving the applicant, duly investigated, and in January 2024, it published the article and impugned report,' read the papers. Outa added that the report contains accurate quotes from the recordings, and that it is truthful and has been published in the public interest. The court said the investigation did not determine anything, adding that it made prima facie findings of fact and provided them to the relevant authorities with recommendations on further action. 'None of the findings or recommendations contained in Outa's report are binding on anyone, and the police and National Prosecuting Authority will decide independently whether to investigate Outa's complaints or to prosecute anyone accused by Outa of wrongdoing,' read the judgment, which added that the organisation performs investigations and makes recommendations in its capacity as a private actor. Reflecting on the outcome, Outa's executive director of accountability, Advocate Stefanie Fick, said this judgment reinforces the principle that private actors, even those acting in the public interest, are not bound by the same procedural obligations as public entities. Fick said the judgment also protects the ability of civil society organisations to expose corruption without undue interference, while preserving the common-law remedies available to individuals who feel aggrieved by such publications. Get your news on the go, click here to join the Cape Argus News WhatsApp channel. Cape Argus
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Court dismisses Khoza's bid to remove corruption report from Outa
The Johannesburg High Court has dismissed an application by the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas) former chairperson, Ernest Khoza's application for the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) to remove a report implicating him in corruption. Image: File Former board chairperson of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), Ernest Khoza, has lost a bid to challenge the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) to remove the report implicating him in corruption. This after the Johannesburg High Court dismissed his application for Outa to remove the report from its website. It was Khoza's second attempt after he wrote to Outa, through his attorneys, demanding the removal of the report shortly after it was published last year. The report, which was published in January 2024, exposed how Khoza and former Higher Education Minister, Blade Nzimande, defrauded Nsfas through kickbacks from service providers. 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 ✕ Khoza did not respond to calls and messages. But in his application, he sought for the court order to take the report down from its website and an order that he must be allowed to respond to the allegations. He also demanded that the report only be republished once this was completed to his satisfaction, adding that the republished report contain an accurate record of his responses to each allegation. Khoza argued that Outa was no mere private party, and that the default common law position did not apply to it. He stated his argument as follows: - Outa proclaims to the world that it exercises a public interest function. It undertakes quasi-public functions, which must attract commensurate public duties. - Although lacking any legal authority or mandate to do so, Outa purports to conduct investigations into allegations of malfeasance and corruption in the public sphere. - Outa holds itself out as following a fair investigation process, described on its website as its '5-step methodology', which includes investigations, engagement with those implicated, exposure of its findings to the public, mobilisation of public interest in the matter, and litigation aimed at achieving what it perceives as the appropriate remedy. - Outa seeks to convey the message that it follows a fair investigation process, and that its findings can therefore be trusted. This, in turn, creates a legitimate expectation on the part of a person implicated in wrongdoing in an Outa report to be heard prior to publication. - In publishing its investigation reports, Outa (a reputable organisation) reaches a wide audience, and therefore acts as a quasi-media organization, and attracts similar duties to the recognised media, in particular the duty to allow implicated parties prior notice and an opportunity to comment, prior to publication. - Section 8(2)(iii) and (iv) of the Constitution provides for the horizontal application of fundamental rights, and should be applied in the circumstances. In addition to the right of reply and fair process, the applicant asserts that his fundamental right to dignity includes the right to be heard and to preserve his reputation. However, in its answering affidavit, Outa described itself as a non-profit civil action organisation supported and publicly funded by ordinary South Africans. Its mission includes challenging and taking action against maladministration and corruption, and, where possible, holding those responsible to account. The organisation added that as part of its work, it has investigated alleged maladministration in the administration of publicly funded bursaries and student accommodation by the Department of Education and Nsfas, the government-funded bursary and loan organization. 'OUTA received recordings of a telephone conversation purportedly involving the applicant, duly investigated, and in January 2024, it published the article and impugned report,' read the papers. Outa added that the report contains accurate quotes from the recordings, and that it is truthful and has been published in the public interest. The court said the investigation did not determine anything, adding that it made prima facie findings of fact and provided them to the relevant authorities with recommendations on further action. 'None of the findings or recommendations contained in Outa's report are binding on anyone, and the police and National Prosecuting Authority will decide independently whether to investigate Outa's complaints or to prosecute anyone accused by Outa of wrongdoing,' read the judgment, which added that the organisation performs investigations and makes recommendations in its capacity as a private actor. Reflecting on the outcome, Outa's executive director of accountability, Advocate Stefanie Fick, said this judgment reinforces the principle that private actors, even those acting in the public interest, are not bound by the same procedural obligations as public entities. Fick said the judgment also protects the ability of civil society organisations to expose corruption without undue interference, while preserving the common-law remedies available to individuals who feel aggrieved by such publications.
The Citizen
20-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Germiston athlete eyes national success and university scholarship
Lucie Ilunga, a 400m and 800m sprint specialist, has come a long way since her early days as a netball player. Now in Grade 12 at Queens High School, she shares her journey into athletics, guided by coach Elvis Khoza. Ilunga only began to take athletics seriously in Grade 8, despite having a strong netball background. ALSO READ: CGA hosts cross-country in Germiston 'Running wasn't really my thing,' she recalled. 'But I took part in a school athletics event and, to my surprise, finished 29th.' After that race, Khoza approached her with an invitation to train. 'At the time, my heart was still with netball. I had just played my last matches at the district games and had been selected for the provincial team, so I didn't think much of it at first,' she explained. But Khoza's persistence paid off. 'He convinced me to give running a try, and my journey has been fascinating ever since.' A promising athlete with global potential Now affiliated with Thembisa Athletics Club, Ilunga has made remarkable progress. In her first year, she won the 800m at the OR Tambo Socini Games and qualified to compete in Italy. 'Unfortunately, Covid-19 had other plans,' she said, referring to the cancelled trip. ALSO READ: CGA announces team to lead SA at Paris Olympic The following year, in Grade 9, she placed second in the 800m at the same games but was unable to make the national team due to unforeseen circumstances. Balancing athletics with academics and leadership Beyond the track, Ilunga shines academically. She has served on the school's Representative Council of Learners (RCL) for four consecutive years and currently holds the position of Deputy Head Girl. 'I've received academic merits since Grade 11 and was awarded the best leader award,' she said. Despite a demanding school year, Ilunga is working hard to secure a scholarship for university. 'Next year I aim to study something I'm passionate about, like business management.' She continues her training at Germiston Stadium as she prepares for upcoming competitions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
