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IOL News
21 hours ago
- IOL News
Elderly man wrongfully arrested for child rape to receive R1. 5 million in damages
Imprisoned for more than 16 months on a charge of rape which he did not commit, an elderly man is now due to receive R1.5 million from the police as compensation for his harrowing ordeal. Image: File An elderly Mpumalanga man, who was falsely accused of raping a child and had to spend more than 16 months in jail under harrowing circumstances, before the charge was withdrawn against him, is set to receive R1.5 million in damages from the police. The now 70-year-old, only identified as MM, turned to the Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, where he claimed R30.3m in damages. This was calculated at R60,000 a day for approximately 505 days. To make matters worse, MM was only released from prison a month after the charge was withdrawn against him. The police failed to either inform him or the prison authorities immediately after his name was cleared. MM told the court that upon his release, he faced stigma in his community and even in his home village in Mpumalanga, where people viewed him as a child molester. This reputational damage continues to affect him and, in all likelihood, will continue to do so, Acting Judge RC Thackwell remarked. He was arrested at his home on suspicion of having raped a minor. He was detained first at Primrose Police Station and subsequently at Boksburg Prison. It had emerged that the investigating officer simply glanced at the case docket and had no concrete evidence that MM was a suspect. Judge Thackwell said the law requires that before making an arrest, an officer must do more than simply form an initial suspicion. 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 ✕ Ad Loading 'The suspicion must be reasonable when viewed objectively. Practically, this means the arresting officer needs to take concrete steps to validate their initial suspicion by investigating the essential elements and facts potentially relevant to the particular offence.' The judge added that suspicion alone is insufficient. The plaintiff testified that he was at his home in Marathon Squatter Camp, while he was engaged in his business of selling cooked meat from his home premises. The police arrived at his home accompanied by a woman and a child. The mother of the child accused him of raping the minor. The plaintiff stated that he did not know either the woman or the child prior to this encounter. MM, meanwhile, provided a harrowing account of his time in detention. He described being housed in a cell with approximately 60 other inmates in unsanitary conditions where toilets were frequently blocked. He witnessed violence among inmates, including the stabbing of an inmate who was next to him and another inmate being struck on the head with a blunt object. He also stated that the food was inadequate. Speaking on how this nightmare ordeal impacted him, MM testified that people in his community viewed him differently, with some referring to him as dangerous to children. He lost his business, and the family had to sell his car to make ends meet. The duration of his detention is exceptionally long for a case where the charges were ultimately withdrawn, and there was no real evidence identified in support of those charges, the judge noted, in awarding him R1.5m in damages.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Repo rate cut offers no shelter from Budget 3.0 fallout for consumers
Thursday's repo rate cut is unlikely to bring much relief to cash-strapped consumers, as any savings will be offset by the rising fuel levy eating into their income. Although the Reserve Bank's decision to cut the repo rate by 25 basis points on Thursday is good news for economists, it will not shield South Africans from the burden of the fuel and sin tax levies introduced by Budget 3.0. Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, warns that increased taxing of the workforce is not the answer and will put further financial strain on households, driving them to new depths of despair at a time when they are buckling under the weight of multiple unsustainable inflation-related living costs. 'The reality is that the finance minister's decision to impose new tax measures will hurt lower-income families most, as they will bear a proportionally higher burden, forcing them to make impossible lifestyle choices with the little disposable income they have left.' Before the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) governor, Lesetja Kganyago, announced the repo rate cut this afternoon, economists polled by Reuters accurately predicted that the Bank would restart its repo rate cutting cycle this month, trimming the repo rate by 25 basis points to bring down the interest rate to 7.25% as the latest inflation data strengthens the case for monetary easing. ALSO READ: Reserve Bank cuts repo rate thanks to lower inflation, stronger rand Repo rate cut too small to matter for consumers 'While any cut in the repo rate benefits consumers, the change is simply not big enough to make any real difference in their lives, or to encourage growth in the economy. The impact on consumers will be minimal, as the 25 basis points cut will mean a tiny saving of R254 per month on a R1.5 million home loan and around R65 on a R500 000 car loan. 'Ultimately, a growing economy is the only solution that will slowly lift the weight of unsustainably high living costs from the shoulders of South Africans,' Roets says. Inflation currently remains outside the Sarb's target range of 3% to 6%, with the most recent data showing that consumer inflation was 2.8% in April, just slightly above March's 2.7%. However, Roets points out, inflation on food and non-alcoholic beverages was 4.0%, the highest it has been since September 2024. 'Overall, inflation is still considered low, which would have been a strong incentive to cut the current repo rate. The exchange rate of the rand also remains a key factor in economic stability and would have influenced the MPC's decision.' ALSO READ: Reserve Bank could cut repo rate on Thursday, but will it decide to? Move to lower inflation target will affect repo rate Kganyago is a longstanding advocate of shifting to a lower inflation target, arguing this would ensure South Africa is better placed to compete with its trading partners. He said earlier that a single-point target of 3% would be in line with South Africa's peers and lead to lower interest rates in the long term. However, his critics worry that reaching a lower inflation target will require tighter monetary policy that will impede growth and employment in a country with one of the highest jobless and poverty rates in the world. On Thursday, Kganyago reiterated his view, saying that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) believes that the 3% scenario is more attractive than the 4.5% baseline and would like to see inflation expectations move lower, towards the bottom end of their target range. He also said the MPC will consider scenarios with a 3% objective at future meetings. However, Annabel Bishop, chief economist at Investec, warns that a lower inflation target risks scuppering further interest rate cuts this year too. 'With a change to the inflation target reportedly occurring soon this year, the Sarb has chosen to cut interest rates this month to avoid the limitation of doing so in the future but then could easily be at risk of needing to reverse the cut.' ALSO READ: Salaries decreased by 2% in April, but higher than a year ago Slow pace of repo rate cuts perpetuates debt trap Roets says the reality is that the slow pace of the country's repo rate reductions is perpetuating the debt trap that millions of ordinary South Africans find themselves in, leaving millions with no option but to survive on credit. 'This scenario has been escalating since the prolonged tightening cycle began towards the end of 2021, when the MPC raised the repo rate by a cumulative 4.75% between November 2021 and May 2023, taking it from 3.50% to 8.25%, the highest level since 2014. ' Against this backdrop, the latest Statistics SA General Household Survey, released on Tuesday this week, reveals shocking statistics about hunger in the country. According to the survey results, almost a quarter of South African households did not have enough food to eat last year. This means that around 14 million people out of South Africa's population of 63 million went hungry. Of those polled, 22.2% of households considered access to food inadequate or severely inadequate. 'South Africans need real financial relief. This is a glaring red flag that should be at the top of the list of concerns for government. Sadly, this means more and more South Africans are relying on their credit and store cards to put food on the table and keep the lights on. 'The likelihood is that they will default on debt and fall into an even deeper trap, as the cost of credit increases due to existing debt. This is most evident with big purchases like home and car loans.'
IOL News
5 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
'We must fight on': Premier Ntuli rallies KZN after R1. 5bn US aid cut disrupts health services in province
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli calls for unity and strategic action as KwaZulu-Natal confronts the impact of USAID PEPFAR funding cuts, urging stakeholders to stay committed to HIV, TB, and STI goal. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has called for unity, transparency, and resourceful action in the province's fight against HIV, TB, and STIs, following a major setback in international funding and amid broader financial strain on South Africa's public health sector. Addressing the members of the Provincial Council on AIDS (PCA) in Mayville, Ntuli expressed deep concern over the recent cancellation of R1.5 billion in USAID PEPFAR funding by the United States government, a decision that has disrupted critical services and resulted in over 5,000 job losses. 'This sudden withdrawal has disrupted the lives of thousands and set back our long-term plans,' Ntuli said. 'While we respect the sovereignty of nations, we hope President Ramaphosa's current visit to the United States will reopen negotiations and possibly reinstate the funding.' Ntuli urged all sectors to adapt to the current fiscal constraints and highlighted the importance of aligning programmes with the available resources.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Dopamine aplenty on offer this weekend
Scottsville's sprint Jackpot pool is set to top R1.5 million. Like addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, nicotine and alcohol, gambling activates the brain's reward system, which is powered by dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter inside the brain that reinforces sensations of pleasure. That's what comes up if you ask Google why people gamble. Of course, we know that seeking too much pleasure reinforcement is unlikely to be good for us in the long run, so best be a tad careful with the dopamine fixes during this Champions Season at the racecourse. Health warning out of the way, on to the fun part: planning to scoop big Jackpot pools coming our way this weekend. Three carryovers totalling R700,000 will boost pools for Jackpot One wagers this coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Jackpot Ones at Fairview on Friday 30 May and at Hollywoodbets Kenilworth on Sunday 1 June will kick off with R100,000 carryovers, TAB announced on Monday. Between those two dates, the Jackpot One pool at Hollywoodbets Scottsville on Saturday 30 June will get a weighty R500,000 carryover. The Scottsville meeting features four of South Africa's major sprint races, and they make up the four Jackpot One legs on the day. The four sprints, all over 1200m, comprise three Grade 1 contests and a Grade 2, with the R1.5 million Gold Medallion for two-year-olds heading the show. TAB predicts this pool will top R1.5 million, with the carryovers at Fairview and Kenilworth generating pools of more than R500,000. Down the line Looking a bit further ahead in the KwaZulu-Natal season, on Saturday 7 June punters will be able to bet into the huge Hong Kong Jockey Club World Pool tote on Races 7 to 10 at the Hollywoodbets Gold Challenge meeting, and on all races at the Epsom Derby meeting in the UK. In other good news for the patrons who keep cash churning through the system, the Pick 6 first-timer rule has been extended to include the Bipot – as seen at Greyville racecourse this past Saturday. Should first-timers finish first and second, the first horse to finish of those to have run before also qualifies for the Bipot. 'The purpose of applying the first-timer rule to the Bipot is to prevent customers from being disadvantaged by first-timers and will be welcomed by the many customers who have requested it apply to both the Pick 6 and Bipot,' said TAB. 'It should be noted that, in the Bipot, the first-timer rule does not apply in the event of a raced horse finishing first or second. 'As with the Pick 6, the first-timer rule only applies to Bipots on South African race meetings. In Quickmixes, it applies to South African races only.' Fields for the Scottsville sprints have been finalised. SA Fillies Sprint (draw, name, weight, MR, trainer, jockey) 1 Double Grand Slam 60 122 Justin Snaith Richard Fourie 2 Frozen Fantasy 58.5 99 Robyn Klaasen Kabelo Matsunyane 3 Symphony In White 58.5 105 Candice Bass-Robinson Andrew Fortune 4 Just Be Lekker 60 109 Candice Dawson Serino Moodley 5 Rascova 60 122 Sean Tarry Gavin Lerena 6 Chasing Happiness 60 112 J A Janse van Vuuren S'manga Khumalo 7 Mrs Browning 60 113 Sean Tarry Luyolo Mxothwa 8 Mia Moo 60 115 Sean Tarry Callan Murray 9 Whistle The Tune 58.5 105 Candice Dawson Calvin Habib 10 Asiye Phambili 60 116 Duncan Howells Sean Veale 11 Gimme A Shot 60 110 M G Azzie/A A Azzie Muzi Yeni 12 Mai Sensation 58.5 105 Lucinda Woodruff Juan Paul vd Merwe 13 Chrome Tourmaline 60 106 Fabian Habib Diego De Gouveia 14 Gimmie's Countess 58.5 107 Dean Kannemeyer Craig Zackey 15 Convocation 60 92 Gareth van Zyl Athandiwe Mgudlwa
The South African
7 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Pick n Pay store closures and conversions drive profitability
South African retailer Pick n Pay is making steady strides in its turnaround strategy, significantly narrowing losses and delivering strong performances in digital and clothing segments as it restructures its store portfolio. For the financial year ending 2 March 2025, the group reported a headline loss reduction of over 60%, supported by a focused recovery strategy that included the closure or conversion of 40 loss-making supermarkets across South Africa. 'Steady progress has been made over the past 18 months,' the group noted, highlighting improved like-for-like sales, which grew from -0.5% in H2 FY24 to 3.6% in H2 FY25. As part of the group's efficiency drive: 25 company-owned Pick n Pay supermarkets were closed 7 were converted into franchise stores 8 were rebranded as company-owned Boxer stores In total, 15 Pick n Pay stores, including 7 liquor stores, were converted to Boxer-branded outlets during the year. These stores have since shown increased performance under the Boxer brand, affirming the group's repositioning efforts. As of March 2025, the total Pick n Pay supermarket footprint dropped by a net 45 stores, leaving the group with 570 supermarkets, including 289 company-owned stores, 21 hypermarkets, and 260 franchises. The Pick n Pay segment's trading loss for FY25 declined to R549 million from R1.5 billion in FY24 – a reduction of approximately R1 billion. This improvement was largely driven by a second-half swing to profitability, with a R170 million profit in H2 FY25, compared to an R864 million loss in H2 FY24. While core supermarkets face continued challenges, Pick n Pay is seeing strong growth in its clothing and online operations. Pick n Pay Clothing added a net 30 new stores, bringing its total to 415 locations. Like-for-like sales increased 7.7%, with 11.6% turnover growth from standalone stores. Despite a slow start due to port delays and late seasonal changes, H2 like-for-like sales grew 3.8%, which the group says is encouraging given the high base. Meanwhile, the retailer's online retail business surged, with FY25 turnover growing by 48.7% year-on-year. Online sales, driven by the Asap mobile app and its partnership with Mr D, are now profitable on a fully costed basis. The group reported triple-digit growth from franchise stores using Asap, highlighting growing adoption of the platform beyond company-owned stores. As part of its digital overhaul: The Asap platform was fully re-engineered over 18 months over 18 months A new Asap app launched in April 2025 , integrating Smart Shopper , value-added services, and AI-driven features , integrating , value-added services, and A revamped Pick n Pay website will debut with Asap on-demand service on 1 June 2025 The app remains in beta testing until September 2025, with new feature rollouts expected throughout FY2026. Pick n Pay's leadership believes the multi-pronged recovery strategy is gaining traction, with profitable momentum in Boxer, digital, and clothing segments supporting the broader turnaround. The focus going forward will remain on profitable growth, operational efficiency, and accelerated digital transformation as the group continues to reshape its retail model in a highly competitive market. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
