Latest news with #Maile
TimesLIVE
9 hours ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Lesufi's office receives further R50m to raise its allocation to R1.72bn
A notable addition includes R50m to the office of the premier for Nas'iSpani, the flagship youth skills and employment initiative led by the Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA). To stimulate the township economy and support entrepreneurs, the department of economic development will get an additional R100m. 'Sixty million rand will augment the R40m allocated at the start of the financial year for loan funding support to SMMEs, while R40m will help the department meet its strategic targets,' Maile explained. He said this funding will also 'lay the groundwork for unlocking the investment pledges made at the Gauteng investment conference.' The department of human settlements receives the largest share of the budget adjustment, R332m. 'This allocation is to assist in servicing informal settlements with sanitation and R100m is for securing land and finished structures to mitigate against land invasion and illegal occupation. 'Roads and transport will benefit from an additional R314.9m, with R150m earmarked for the repair and completion of 54 priority roads across the province. 'Another R115m will be channelled towards fixing broken traffic lights and street lights,' Maile noted, adding that improved road infrastructure is vital for mobility and economic growth. The newly established department of environment will receive R68m — R18m will be for governance capacity and R50m for the 'clean and green' programme in collaboration with municipalities. 'This is aimed at improving the lived experience of the Gauteng citizenry and responding to the challenge of unclean public spaces,' Maile said. Budgets for health (R67.1bn), education (R68bn), and social development (R5.4bn) remain unchanged. Maile said the budget demonstrates the overall 'thrust of our budget approach remains the resourcing of critical social and economic programmes that form the basis of the social wage with our people.'
IOL News
12 hours ago
- Business
- IOL News
Gauteng's R886 million budget announcement: Democratic Alliance's critical response
The DA has reacted to the additional R886 secured by Gauteng's MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, who has announced his reconfigured budget speech on Tuesday. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The DA in Gauteng has reacted strongly against the additional R886 million tabled by Gauteng MEC for Finance and Economic Development, Lebogang Maile, on Tuesday. Despite Gauteng's financial difficulties, Maile said he would turn things around as the province works to meet all of its goals for service delivery and economic development. On Tuesday, Maile delivered the revised provincial budget following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's delivery of his third iteration of the country's Budget vote over a week ago. Godongwana's proposed Budget is also being challenged in court due to the fuel levy increase, which replaced the controversial Value Added Tax increase. Following the previously tabled budget on March 18, which was made up of R171.5 billion on March 18, the revised budget, which was re-tabled at a briefing held at the Gauteng Provincial Legislature for the 2025/26 financial year, amounts to approximately R172.3 billion, representing an increase of R886.6 million. 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 Next Stay Close ✕ Maile indicated that additional resources were made possible through the provincial allocation of unspent funds and revenue over collection from the previous financial year. To offset the challenges, Maile's budget looked at the pledges recently made by the private sector during the recent Gauteng Investment Conference, which reportedly raised more than R312 billion. "The State of the Province Address expressed a clear appreciation of the binding fiscal constraints in Gauteng and the country at large. This necessitates trade-offs and efficiency-driven spending to sustain the momentum critical to realising our aspiration to alleviate the 13 challenges confronting the province... "We also wish to once again extend sincere gratitude to private sector companies, both local and global, who, by making investment pledges at the recent Gauteng Investment Conference, affirmed their belief that Gauteng is a province worthy of its status as the nerve-centre of the regional and continental economy," Maile stated. His address comes just two weeks after Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, during his State of the Province Address, detailed how the provincial government is planning to address 13 major challenges affecting the province for the year ahead. Echoing Lesufi's sentiments, Maile said: "As the provincial government, we will spare no efforts to reach the objectives we have promised to the people of Gauteng, which is a break with inefficient process, a break with corruption and maladministration, a break with fruitless and wasteful expenditure, a break with delayed payments to service providers, and a break with lack of accountability. "We commit to progress, improvement in service delivery, and a definitive change in how we build a provincial economy that grows in the hands of the people of Gauteng." However, DA shadow MEC for Economic Development in the province, Ruhan Robinson, indicated that the additional R886 million is still not enough to meet the needs of the residents. "The R886.6 million added to the Gauteng budget during the re-tabling of the national Budget will not make a significant difference in the quality of life and service delivery for the people living in this province. "It is concerning that no additional funding was allocated to the Gauteng Department of Health. This department is plagued with numerous challenges, ranging from surgeries being cancelled due to budget constraints, which puts patients' lives in danger. Patients continue to suffer at Gauteng hospitals due to the department's failure to replace broken equipment such as heating systems and laundry machines. "Suppliers rendering services and products to Gauteng hospitals are suffering due to non-payment of invoices within 30 days. Despite all these challenges, Premier Panyaza Lesufi has committed to paying e-toll debt," Robinson stated. Robinson added that the decision to pay off the e-toll debt has made it difficult for the province to play around with its financial obligations, adding that the Nas' Ispani programme was another ill-conceived project that would worsen the situation.
IOL News
15 hours 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. 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 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.'
Cosmopolitan
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cosmopolitan
20 Asian-Owned Clothing Brands to Shop in 2025
There's an endless amount of clothing brands out there to shop from. Like, it's hard to keep track of all the cool new labels that pop up every other day, especially if you're trying to be a more mindful shopper and give love to small businesses that resonate with you. So if you're tired of fast fashion and are looking for Asian-owned clothing brands to support, we put together a list of Asian designers and founders that should be on your radar. From colorful knitwear and jade jewelry to luxe silks inspired by traditional motifs, there's something here for everyone. Some of the brands below are high-end and more established while others on this list are more up-and-coming and relatively new, but all of them warrant your attention for their too-good-to-be-true selection. And if you want to check out Black-owned brands, Indian fashion designers, and Latina-owned businesses, we have those, too! Keep scrolling below for 35 Asian-owned clothing brands and accessory brands that you'll want to start shopping immediately. Created by husband and wife duo Yang Pei and Stephanie Li, this bag brand boasts accessible, affordable, trendy designs that often use vegan leather and recycled plastic. The pieces have been spotted on many a celeb and look more expensive than they actually are, which is great news for your wallet. Founded by three Singaporean women, Love, Bonito is synonymous with wardrobe classics for the long haul. Whether it's workwear or something sparkly, there's a style in mind for every kind of shopper. Launched just a few years ago in 2023, Maile is a designer shoe and accessory brand that often features fun silhouettes, bright colors, and whimsical embellishments like pearls and feathers. If this chic French brand isn't on your radar, it should be. Jessy Chu founded the brand after the birth of her son as a new creative endeavor to establish her identity outside of the home, and the slinky fabrics, romantic floral motifs, and Chinese-inspired detailing are to die for. Clare Ngai founded her accessory brand BonBonWhims in the summer of 2020. Two words to describe it: Maximalist and Y2K. You can count on BonBonWhims for the most vibrant selection of jewels and accessories that'll make any outfit pop. Join co-founders Jackie Skye Muller (a Barneys and Kith alum) and Marlon Muller on the court! The couple created Recreational Habits to "bring the exclusive world of the preppy elite and their hobbies to the historically excluded." Shop their tenniscore looks like crewnecks, varsity shorts, playful skirts, and more. Liang's signature fleece outerwear and ballet flats are covetable Cool Girl staples, and she's also done collabs with Vans, Salomon, and Spongebob Squarepants. The New York native is definitely a designer that the coquette girlies can't get enough of. Chinese-American designer Jessica Tse started this jewelry brand in 2018, and it has a playful, youthful aesthetic with sophisticated flair thanks to the fun shapes and pearl accents she sprinkles throughout. With organic shapes, flowers, stars, and silver galore, Kara Yoo makes jewelry for the girls who want everyday pieces with a unique, artsy twist. Take a scroll through the website and don't blame me when you get sucked in! Created by founders Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou, the brand debuted in 2005 at New York Fashion Week and spent the next 20 years expanding their empire into other categories like bags, shoes, and menswear. The Chinese-American designer was born in San Francisco and launched his namesake label in 2003. He went on to launch a contemporary line in 2011 called Derek Lam 10 Crosby, which he now focuses exclusively on. If you need a dress that'll wow, Miss Circle has you covered. Founded by Isabel Deng, the brand is known for timeless-yet-trendy sundresses, cute minis, and sparkly, va-va-voom gowns that are sure to please (Nara Smith wore one in a recent video!). Created by Wei Lin and Zoe Champion, PH5's knitwear is so cute and often features wavy, futuristic prints. Signature details like asymmetrical hemlines and scalloped edges lend unique details to classic silhouettes. Born and raised in Bangladesh, Saima Chowdhury founded sustainable label Grey State in 2015. If you're in need of comfortable, stylish pieces that are perfect for living life in, this is the brand for you. Private Policy was founded by Haoran Li and Siying Qu, who graduated from Parsons in May 2015. The unisex label has designs for everyone with a range of sizing and genderless styles. Dauphinette designer Olivia Cheng turns out such happy, imaginative designs. You'll find lots of feathers, fresh flowers, pretty prints, nature elements (see: the Dauphinette beetle pins) and funky designs. Both Chinese and French, Joseph Altuzarra studied ballet for years before he got into the fashion industry. He founded his namesake label in 2008 and his pieces have a modern aesthetic that are chic and timeless. Born in Singapore and raised in Nepal, Prabal Gurung has so many romantic, dreamy pieces like these Cinderella-esque chiffon gowns. He founded the brand in 2009 and has dressed countless A-listers, including Michelle Obama and Kate Middleton, since. A Brooklyn-based Vietnamese designer, Peter Do worked at Céline and Derek Lam before launching his own label in 2018. He's known for sleek tailored suits, unexpected cutouts, cool tie detailing, and other minimalist garments. Raised in both New Zealand and Singapore, Claudia Li is currently based in New York and started her eponymous label in 2015. For her debut runway show in 2018, she featured only Asian models to pay homage to her Chinese heritage. Hannah is the Shopping Editor at Cosmopolitan, covering all things from chic home decor to trendy fashion finds, TikTok products that are actually worth your $$$, and the perfect gift to buy for your boyfriend's mom. She previously wrote for Seventeen and CR Fashion Book. Follow her on Instagram for hot takes on red carpet fashion and pictures of her office outfits that nobody asked for. I'm Cosmopolitan's Associate Fashion Editor and write about any and all trends, major celeb fashion moments, and why wide-leg jeans are basically the best. I originally moved to New York City to audition for RENT, only to find out that the play closed 10 years ago.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Family marks two-years since disappearance of Kapolei man
HONOLULU (KHON2) — Wednesday marks two years since the disappearance of Frank Pangelinan, an 83-year-old man last seen on video surveillance in Kapolei on May 15, 2023. Be ready for night and weekend lane closures as road work ramps up Pangelinan's family says the passage of time has not made the pain any easier, but they continue to hold out hope.'So it's like we try to get through the day and be positive, but it's always in the back of our minds,' said his daughter, Patricia Arde. 'Every holiday, every birthday… I used to talk to my dad every day, either by phone or in person. So to think that we haven't done so in two years is so heartbreaking.' Arde said she and her mother plan to follow up on recent tips in Waianae and expressed gratitude for the community's ongoing support. The Department of Law Enforcement announced it plans to launch a statewide Silver Alert system on July 1. Similar to the AMBER and Maile alerts, the system will notify the public when at-risk kūpuna — including those with dementia or Alzheimer's — go missing. Download the free KHON2 app for iOS or Android to stay informed on the latest news Authorities have not released any new updates on Pangelinan's case, which remains open. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
