Latest news with #R1000
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Mother of Peace launches R400K oyster mushroom campaign
NON-PROFIT organisation and children's home, Mother of Peace, has launched a R400 000 fundraising campaign to expand its oyster mushroom farm, a crucial step in strengthening its income-generating initiatives and moving closer to long-term sustainability. Also read: Become familiar with Mother of Peace-Illovo Caring for over 60 children who have been abandoned, orphaned, or removed from unsafe environments, Mother of Peace operates without government funding. The home relies on public donations and self-initiated projects to cover expenses such as food, education, staff salaries and municipal costs. The home's James Gradwell said the income-generating projects help bridge the funding gap, but it is still never enough. 'That's why this farm is so important. It has the potential to make us completely self-sufficient,' said Gradwell. The oyster mushroom farming project, which has already undergone a successful pilot phase, is ready to scale. Oyster mushrooms are in high demand and serve as an excellent meat alternative. Mother of Peace has already secured relationships with local markets, ensuring a steady customer base once full production begins. 'We've done our research and are currently preparing the climate-controlled growing room. With expert guidance from Ugan Pillay, an experienced mushroom farmer, we're confident this project will thrive,' said Gradwell. Also read: South Coast Sun 23 May 2025 Pillay, who has over 15 years of experience in oyster mushroom farming, transitioned into training after the pandemic forced him to close his own farm. He now aims to establish South Africa's first government-accredited mushroom training facility in partnership with Mother of Peace, offering valuable skills development to caregivers and youth at the home. To support the fundraiser, Mother of Peace sells vegetables and about 800 chickens each month to the community. Equipment is also on hand to launch a bakery, adding another potential income stream. 'Every rand or dollar goes directly into this initiative. This is more than a farm – it's a foundation for our children's future. With your support, it can grow into a powerful force for good, making our home fully self-sufficient for years to come. It's a small farm with a mighty impact,' said Gradwell. If 400 people or businesses donate R1000 each, the target would be reached sooner, and a Section 18a tax certificate to the value of the donation will be issued. To donate towards the project, go to or call Gavin Gradwell on 082 200 9614 for more information. The R400 000 raised will be used for: • Preparing climate-controlled growing rooms for year-round production. • Purchasing growing materials, tools, and pasteurisation equipment. • Packaging, transportation to markets, and buyer logistics. • Installing a full security system to protect both the farm and the children. • Repairing an existing walk-in fridge. • Building a reverse osmosis water treatment plant for clean growing water. • Conducting training workshops for staff and youth. For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox. Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Indian Express
18-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Elon Musk amplifies friend's message with false claims about South Africa on X, Grok AI debunks misinformation
X owner Elon Musk is under fire after he shared a message from a friend that made shocking claims about South Africa. The claims in the message were swiftly debunked by South African residents and Grok, AI built into X. On Friday, Musk shared a screenshot of a message – allegedly sent by an unnamed friend currently in South Africa – on X. The note said Johannesburg is in total disrepair, asserting 'not one' traffic light in the city is operational, and that a loaf of bread now costs R1000 (USD 50, approximately). It also alleged widespread corruption and cited violent crimes, particularly attributing it to Black South Africans, sparking widespread outrage. Sharing the message, Musk wrote, 'Just received this from a friend visiting South Africa.' See here: Just received this from a friend visiting South Africa — Kekius Maximus (@elonmusk) May 16, 2025 Users on X quickly fact-checked the claims. South Africans began posting real-time videos and photos showing functioning infrastructure in Johannesburg. One user, @TheTechBuddha, uploaded a video of a busy city intersection with clearly working traffic lights. Another user, @ also posted a video showing functioning lights, commenting, 'I'm actually volunteering to drive around Joburg on live stream so that you can rest with the lies.' Traffic lights work everywhere in Joburg. Quite impressive. And bread is less than 1 US dollar. — The Tech Buddha (@Paulkim_) May 17, 2025 Your friend is talking shit. Our Joburg is fine. Here are some videos with traffic lights since you care so much. I'm actually volunteering to drive around Joburg on live stream so that you can rest with the lies. — (@ShudufhadzoRSA) May 16, 2025 Musk's own AI chatbot, Grok, was prompted to verify the claims. It responded, 'A standard loaf of bread in South Africa costs about R16 to R19 (USD 0.83 to USD 0.98).' The bot also noted that there are no credible reports supporting the claim that bread costs R1000 or that the alleged large-scale corruption at Baragwanath Hospital exists to the extent described. 'A standard loaf of bread in South Africa costs about R16 to R19 (USD 0.83 to USD 0.98), based on recent data. Prices vary by city and retailer, with some reports noting R13 to R18 for a 450g to 700g loaf. Economic factors like inflation and supply chain costs influence these figures, but they've stayed stable recently. Check local stores for exact prices, as variations exist,' Grok wrote. Check here: @elonmusk A standard loaf of bread in South Africa costs about R16 to R19 ($0.83 to $0.98 USD), based on recent data. Prices vary by city and retailer, with some reports noting R13 to R18 for a 450g to 700g loaf. Economic factors like inflation and supply chain costs influence… — Grok (@grok) May 16, 2025 The original message shared by Musk included heavily racialised language and dire warnings about life in South Africa. Many users condemned Musk's decision to amplify it, accusing him of spreading harmful stereotypes and misinformation. 'Why don't you come visit yourself instead of bad-mouthing our beautiful country? I walk around Cape Town every night and have never had any issues. Stop spreading rumours and rather use your billions to help if you actually believe any of this!' a user wrote.
IOL News
17-05-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
More than 12 000 foreign nationals awaiting trial amid overcrowding crisis
The number of foreign prisoners waiting for trial stands at 12037 (19 percent) of the 61000 remand population in the South African prisons. Image: Picture: Phando Jikelo/Independent Newspapers Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald has disclosed that 12 037 foreign nationals are currently awaiting trial in prisons across the country for the contravention of the Immigration Act. The number of foreign prisoners waiting for trial constituted just 19% of the remand population in the country's prisons. Groenewald revealed this when asked during a question and answer session in the National Assembly this week whether he intended to initiate bilateral engagements with the South African Development Community (SADC) countries to deport offenders who were foreign nationals to alleviate correctional facilities from the overcrowding. 'Currently there are no bilateral agreements with neighboring countries due to the fact that South Africa does not have an enabling domestic legislation to regulate and facilitate the transfer of sentenced foreign offenders, including South Africans incarcerated in foreign countries, to serve their sentences in their countries of the region,' he said. 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 ✕ This takes place as the country's prisons are bursting at the seams with sentenced prisoners totaling 104 000 inmates in facilities that cater for 108 000 beds. 'There are enough beds for the sentenced inmates in our facilities. Our problem comes with the remand detainees, not only the foreign remand detainees, but all remand detainees, and then we talk about almost 61 000 remand detainees,' Groenewald said. He observed that there were people who have been in remand for more than 10 years and they still have not had their criminal cases finalised. 'We are looking at the matter, and of course, the solution will be that we also have remand detainees who couldn't afford a bail of around about R100. There is about 1 227 who couldn't afford a bail of less than R1000.' Groenewald stated that the implementation of the Immigration Act in relation to deportation of those not entitled to stay in the country fell within the scope of the Department of Home Affairs. 'The Department of Correctional Services is responsible for identifying foreign nationals in its detention facilities and reporting such individuals to the Department of Home Affairs. The Department of Home Affairs then establishes the nationality of such offenders and initiates the deportation of those who stay in the Republic of South Africa.' Asked if he has engaged fellow ministers in the security cluster to find a way of dealing with legislation and other things to minimize this issue of overcrowding, Groenewald said there was quite a lot of progress. 'We already started last year. There is a process to amend the Criminal Procedure Act, and part of that will also be to amend the legislation in such a way that we have legislation that will make it possible to deport of these illegals back to their countries of origin,' he said. But, Groenewald indicated that there was a willingness from Lesotho to see where they could exchange and deport South African's prisoners in their country with their nationals to their home country. 'In Namibia, same situation occurs there. So the good news is that we are in a process, and I would like to see that we take all steps possible to enhance it.' He stressed that South Africa must have enabling legislation to do so. 'At this stage, we lack that legislation, and that's why I said we're in the process to see how we can make legislation.' Meanwhile, Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the deportation of illegal foreign nationals continued with the available funding and the deportees with financial means engaged in self-deportation. Schreiber said subject to the ongoing budget process, the intended budget allocation for 2025-26 was R23.2 million, up from R21.3m allocated the previous year. 'The number of deportations annually has increased from 14 589 in 2020 and 39,672 in 2023 to 46,898 in the previous financial year. This is an 18% increase year on year and it does means South Africa now does deportation than countries like France and Germany combined,' he said.
The Citizen
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Last scene plays for popular Durban cinema
STER Kinekor Gateway closed its doors this morning (May 9), and staff took to social media to express their sadness while movie-goers reminisced about their experiences at the cinema. Also read: Umhlanga woman makes family feel at 'home' with hearty donation Ashveer Singh said: 'A sad day for the cinema experience as a whole. I've watched dozens of movies at Ster-Kinekor Theatres Gateway Theatre of Shopping VIP and created so many memories over the past 20 odd years. But let's face it, for a middle income family of four, a night out at the movies including snacks averages at least R1000 at a time – who has that disposable income these days? Perhaps mall management has another vendor available, fingers crossed their prices are affordable, because everyone should experience cinema on the big screen.' Ryan Austin Basdew commented on Singh's thread: 'Man, this is heartbreaking. Especially with the line-up this year. Mission Impossible, Final Destination, Ballerina, Superman and Fantastic Four. Not getting to see them in the Imax takes away so much. Navin Ramsamuj added: 'That was the main one in Durban after Musgrave closed.' Renaldo Kell said: 'It's sad to see Ster Kinekor close down at Gateway. Thank you for helping release my film last year. I wish you weren't closing.' The only Ster Kinekor that's left in Durban is now at Watercrest Mall in Waterfall. Comment from Ster Kinekor could not be obtained at the time of publishing. For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Bring Goofy home! Empangeni SPCA offers reward for missing pup
EMPANGENI SPCA has posted a R1000 reward for information leading to the safe return of Goofy, the NPO's beloved Jack Russell-cross pup. Goofy has been a resident of the local SPCA branch for the last seven months, after being brought in as a stray and no takers for adoption. ALSO READ: Empangeni police locate human remains in Ndabayakhe He was last seen at the SPCA on Tuesday morning, in the vicinity of the dip tank. Only when the dip tank was vacated was it evident that Goofy had disappeared, presumed stolen. Empangeni SPCA has opened a case of theft at the local police station. Anyone with any information as to Goofy's whereabouts is urged to contact the SPCA on 071 1744746. Don't have the ZO app? Download it to your Android or Apple device here: HAVE YOUR SAY Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter. For news straight to your phone invite us: WhatsApp – 060 784 2695 Instagram – zululand_observer At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
