Latest news with #R104
TimesLIVE
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Open Book Festival funding crisis — community response and latest government decisions
While the community has rallied with support, recent government funding decisions have confirmed the severity of the financial shortfall threatening Open Book Festival's survival beyond September 2025. Since the festival's initial appeal last week, the organisation expresses deep gratitude for the community support received, with contributors donating R104,177.23 toward the R500,000 target needed for the September 2025 festival. The organisation has also streamlined its donation process to make supporting the initiative more accessible. However, recent correspondence from government departments has clarified the extent of the funding crisis. When the initial appeal was made, the festival had not yet received final decisions from key funding applications. The Western Cape Cultural Affairs and Sport department has now confirmed support of just over R55,000 – a fraction of the R300,000 originally applied for. Meanwhile, the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture's list of supported projects does not include Open Book Festival at all. After years of receiving crucial multi-year funding as a Western Cape Flagship Project, including R700,000 in 2024, this represents a dramatic reduction in government support. "We can no longer depend on government support," stated the festival organisers. "This represents an unprecedented shortfall for an event that operates on an annual budget of approximately R2 million." Open Book Festival encompasses three major annual events: the flagship September festival, the Youth Festival in March, and Workshop Week in June. If Open Book Festival ceases to exist, the impact will be felt by many writers who have enjoyed the platform the festival creates, the sales of books, the opportunities to meet, engage and connect with other writers and the opportunities to talk to readers and engaged citizens. The festival's impact resonates deeply within the literary community. Professor Pumla Dineo Gqola noted that "Open Book reminds me of the beauty and generosity in the world, and gives me permission to feel full joy for a few days." Author Damilare Kuku observed, "I have never been to a festival where I could see art healing people in real time." Shubnum Khan, author of Onion Tears, How I Accidentally Became a Global Stock Photo and The Lost Love of Akbar Manzil describes Open Book as "truly one of the best and nicest book festivals I've ever been to. Everyone was just so warm and welcoming and everyone, whether I knew them or not, felt like old friends." Novelist Yewanda Omotoso expresses her experience of the festival as "really special. I remembered what it is about Open Book that reverberates so powerfully ... A generosity of spirit that inhabits the festival and all who touch it." "Without immediate support, there may be no Open Book Festival beyond September 2025," organisers urged. "Every contribution matters. Every share extends our reach. Every voice raised in support strengthens the community we've built together."
The Citizen
18-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Runner tackles Comrades for charity
Among the thousands of athletes who competed at this year's Comrades Marathon was Richard le Roux, participating for his seventh time, all for a good cause. • Also read: Khosa Road Runners cross the finish line at the Comrades Dominique Tibbles, founder of Belly2Brain NPO, said that this year, Richard donned his running shoes and gave his heart and soul for a purpose – running to raise funds for the Belly2Brain annual Cage2Unchange Sandwich Day initiative, held from July 15 to 18 at Cradlestone Mall. During this time, I will be locked in a cage for 67 hours to raise funds for Belly2Brain, to feed 17 000 mouths on July 18,' she revealed. 'Richard became a Belly2Brain volunteer in August last year when we undertook a 5km silent walk against human trafficking. Richard and his son volunteered for the silent walk; since then, Richard and his wife have attended every Belly2Brain outreach, dedicating their time to support the cause – he even offered his 2025 Comrades achievement as a pay-per-km sponsorship for his run in aid of raising funds for the R104 000 budget to purchase the 2 500 loaves of bread, 500kg of peanut butter, and 1 000kg of jam,' she added. She confirmed that Richard successfully completed the race in 11 hours and 31 minutes, raising R11,400 towards the Cage2Unchange budget, which will cover half the bread required, marking a great start to the initiative. 'Belly2Brain is calling on all corporates who are required to fulfil their annual Corporate Social Investment (CSI) spend, as well as individuals, to partner with Belly2Brain and join in the noble effort of feeding 17 000 people this July. Belly2Brain is a registered S18A NPO. The beneficiaries who will collect sandwiches at the end of the spread on July 18 include Cradle of Hope, Hoërskool Nic Diedericks Feeding Programme, Wings of Inspiration, God's Love to Our World for Zandspruit, and Bethany House,' she said. Dominique concluded by urging volunteers to visit the cage between July 15 and 17 at Cradlestone Mall and to keep an eye on their social media pages to stay updated on events taking place around the cage, and to help spread the love on July 18 from 08:00 to 15:00. If you would like to learn more about this cause or wish to donate, call Dominique on 074 183 5929. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- TimesLIVE
Special Tribunal restrains Mercedes-Benz belonging to Selaelo Selota
The Special Tribunal has restrained jazz musician Selaelo Phillemon Selota from selling or disposing his Mercedes-Benz which was allegedly purchased with misappropriated funds from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC). The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which applied for the order, said on Friday the funds were meant for building an old-age home and for providing elderly care in different provinces. 'The SIU's investigation uncovered that Selota's luxury vehicle was [allegedly] purchased using funds diverted from three NPOs that received NLC grants under suspicious circumstances,' SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said. In 2017, the Matieni Community Centre, the Lethabong Old Age Home and War Against Rape and Abuse received millions after submitting applications to the NLC and allegedly transferred R26m to Mbidzo Development Programme. 'On January 18 2018, Mbidzo Development Programme deposited R104,600 to a car dealership to purchase a Mercedes-Benz. Subsequently, on January 27 2018, Mbidzo Development Programme paid the remaining R300,000 to finalise the transaction. The vehicle was registered to Selota shortly after,' Kganyago said. The tribunal order, by tribunal president judge Margaret Victor, dated April 15, also directed Selota to ensure the vehicle remains insured in the amount equivalent to its replacement value and to maintain the insurance pending an application to be brought by the SIU at a later date. 'The order of the Special Tribunal is part of implementing SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions because of corruption or negligence,' Kganyago said. The order is part of a broader investigation into corruption involving NLC grants intended for community development projects.
