Latest news with #R11m
TimesLIVE
2 days ago
- Business
- TimesLIVE
We're cleaning up: Correctional services minister opens prison bakery
Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald says awaiting trial prisoners, unemployed detainees and thousands of foreigners in South African jails are costing taxpayers millions. 'We have about six inmates who have been awaiting trial for more than 10 years. There are ways in terms of legislation where we can request for them to go back to court. But it's not very successful,' said Groenewald. Groenewald was speaking at the opening of a bakery at the Westville correctional facility on Thursday. He was accompanied by national commissioner Samuel Thobakgale. Groenewald said another problem which contributed to overcrowding was that more than 3,000 remand detainees could not afford to pay bail of R3,000 or less. Groenewald said there was a process in place to establish a bail fund to alleviate this. He said there were more than 26,000 foreigners detained at correctional facilities, 13,000 of whom were detainees. 'I hope that by next year this time the department would have legislation in place so we can deport them to their countries of origin,' said Groenewald. He said foreigners were costing the taxpayers more than R11m a month. 'If they want to continue with their criminality they should do it in their own country,' he said. He said with the bakery producing 3,840 loaves daily, more than 50 inmates were benefiting from the much-needed skills training for which inmates received certificates. 'That is very important because it ensues that inmates are part of rehabilitation so when they leave the prison they are self-sufficient and can reintegrate into the society,' said Groenewald. He said the department wanted to set up 20 bakeries in correctional facilities by 2028. 'We serve the people of South Africa to the benefit of taxpayers. With this initiative we are able to save around R3m annually on the bakery,' said Groenewald. He said the department had spent more than R7m to build and establish the bakery, which he deemed to be a investment. 'A loaf of bread costs us R8 compared with the R23 we were paying external suppliers,' he said.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Rental yields, tax benefits, residency lure South Africans to offshore property
More South Africans are hedging their bets on offshore property, lured by benefits such as attractive rental yields, tax benefits, and the opportunity for a second residency, according to the Seeff Property Group. These investments are also seen as a currency hedge, particularly in stable, dollar-based economies like Dubai and Mauritius, enabling investors to earn hard currency, grow wealth, and diversify their assets. Dubai has for example seen property transaction volume growth of 22.5% and 40.1% in value, while prices are up by 15.6%. Mauritius property prices grew by around 27.19% (late 2023), and about 22% as at early this year. Nombasa Mawela, licensee for Seeff Dubai, says the fast-growing expat population continues to drive high demand for rental investments with an average yield of around 6.31% on top of the opportunity to obtain residency, subject to a minimum investment level. Mauritius rental yields are typically 3 – 7%. Most opportunities offer attractive payment plans which are well received, says Nombasa. South Africans are also leveraging the annual allowance that they can take offshore (R11m, being R1m discretionary, R10m foreign capital allowance). While requiring a higher level of investment, residency in Dubai (UAE) and Mauritius is also an attraction, offering easier access to the EU, UK, and USA. Dubai – fast growing and luring more South Africans Although South Africans continue heading to Dubai and there are now more than 2,400 South African-affiliated companies present, you do not have to invest with the view to relocating or obtaining residency, says Nombasa. Aside from the favourable tax benefits (no personal income tax, Capital Gains Tax, or property tax), investors are drawn to the lucrative rental market. South Africans are opting to invest in the new developments, often making use of the attractive payment plans. Rental services are often part of the deal which adds convenience. South Africans typically target the AED 1m – 3m bracket (approximately R4m – R12m), mostly apartments and townhouses with 5 – 8% rental yields. For a Golden Visa with a 10-year renewable residency, a minimum of AED 2m (R9.8m) into property is required, she says. South Africans can open bank accounts in Dubai and finance is also available. Mauritius – increasingly popular for relocations from SA Severine Dalais-Pietersen, licensee for Seeff Mauritius, says the close proximity and direct flights to the island has made it a popular destination for relocations. It also offers a favourable tax regime (no inheritance tax, flat 15% income tax, although CGT is being introduced). Government-approved schemes for property investment by foreigners are a popular option as they are high quality, and located across the island, usually in high demand tourist areas, thus offering the added incentive of earning good rental income streams. The close proximity to South Africa makes it an attractive option, says Severine. Prices start at MUR 10m/R4m. A minimum USD 375,000 investment is needed to qualify for a Permanent Residence Permit. There is usually a payment plan for the developments. South African investors can also get finance in Mauritius subject to certain conditions, usually including a large deposit. Namibia – an attractive holiday or retirement property option Neighbouring Namibia is a popular holiday destination, and more people are thinking of retiring there, especially in the coastal towns such as Swakopmund, according to Maria Esterhuysen, licensee for Seeff Namibia. Property prices are very similar to South Africa, and the currencies offer similar value. There is no Capital Gains Tax on private sales, and the proceeds can be freely repatriated. Prices from N$ 800,000 – N$ 2,500,000 on average, but there are many luxury options ranging to around N$ 8,000,000 with some exceptions above this. The Namibian government has added a Retired Persons option for 60-plussers with a considerable permanent income from an external source. There is also a Permanent Residence option for those with considerable wealth of at least N$ 4m net worth (and be N$ 2m in property, and the rest in a Namibia bank account). Issued by Gina Meintjes
The Citizen
07-07-2025
- The Citizen
Cable theft: Crisis (not quite) averted
Witpoortjie and Grobler Park are currently the main cable theft hotspots in the southern suburbs of Roodepoort, according to City Power spokesperson Isaac Mangena, who admits that the illicit copper trade still poses the single greatest threat to electricity stability. The Roodepoort Record reported in March last year that cable theft – and the resulting damage to electricity infrastructure – had cost City Power R52m in the preceding six months. 'Just this week, criminals stole more than 56 metres of cable in Witpoortjie alone, plunging parts of the suburb into darkness and highlighting the growing crisis facing City Power,' he says. Mangena says the situation is worsened by illegal mining, which is rife throughout the southern regions of Roodepoort, especially around Albertina Sisulu Drive. 'Zama zamas [illegal miners] actively vandalise electrical infrastructure to conduct their operations under the cover of darkness. In some cases, their actions also compromise electricity pylons, putting them at risk of collapse. 'These criminals not only steal our cables, but damage vital infrastructure, risking the safety of residents,' he says, adding that the entity is, in places, switching from using underground cables to overhead lines to make theft more difficult. The financial toll, though significantly down from last year, remains staggering. Between January and June this year, theft and vandalism cost the city over R11m, excluding labour and lost revenue. 'Witpoortjie and Grobler Park face repeated attacks on mini-substations, cables and distribution boards, leaving residents frustrated by prolonged blackouts and delayed repairs.' 'We are committed to working with residents' associations, block watches, and local security companies since we've seen great results where communities partner with us. 'We know gaps exist, but we are working to close them.' Mangena reports that over 170 arrests were made for copper theft and electricity infrastructure vandalism in Johannesburg this year. Additionally, there has been a 28% drop in infrastructure sabotage and a rise in convictions, with some criminals sentenced to up to 12 years. Mangena urges residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activity as the city steps up efforts to protect Roodepoort's power network. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
TimesLIVE
02-07-2025
- Politics
- TimesLIVE
Minister wants foreign offenders to serve time in countries of origin
Foreign criminals sentenced to jail time should ideally be deported to their countries of origin to serve their terms, says correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald. He hopes the home affairs department can assist with deportations of foreign offenders granted parole. His department spends R11m a day on inmates from other countries, he told parliament's correctional services portfolio committee on Tuesday. 'The South African taxpayer foots the bill for more than 24,000 foreigners in correctional facilities. Calculated at R463 per day, this results in an expense of R11,112,000 per day. 'We are exploring various solutions, including diplomatic approaches.' Anna Molepo, the department's chief deputy commissioner of community corrections, previously told the committee the number of sentenced foreigners in South African prisons was 12,676 in January 2025, which was 12.4% of the sentenced inmate population. The committee was briefed in February on the challenges the department faced, including the legal issues that affect deportation orders and the processing of foreigners. The department said it was working to ensure the Immigration Act aligns with the relevant frameworks. On Tuesday, Dereleen James, an ActionSA MP, called for accelerated deportation policies. 'Prisoners live in relative comfort while our communities are being destroyed, broken, under-resourced and forgotten,' James said. The R463 daily cost per inmate could fund 555,600 loaves of bread, enough to feed 277,800 households with two loaves each.
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire
Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire Tshwane Emergency Services has warned households to be vigilant this winter. This comes after the service responded to a shack fire in Morongwa Street, Nellmapius Ext 2 on Monday morning. The fire was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at 08:44, and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched from Silverton and Mamelodi fire stations to the scene. They brought a fire engine, water tanker, rapid intervention unit and bush pumper. Tshwane Emergency spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni said upon arrival, firefighters found that an RDP house and two shacks were on fire. Mnguni said the firefighters immediately began with firefighting operations and extinguished the fire. 'The two shacks were badly damaged while only the contents of the RDP house were affected by the fire,' said Mguni. One young patient was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, and oxygen therapy was administered. 'Our disaster management officers were on the scene and assisted with the co-ordination of relief efforts for the affected family members,' Mnguni said. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Tshwane Emergency Services urges residents to follow these precautionary measures: – If there is any fire danger exposure to dwellings, like shacks or houses, vegetation or veld fires, dial the toll-free number 107 for emergencies. – Burning charcoal produces large amounts of carbon monoxide, so do not leave it burning in the house when sleeping. – Never use fuels not designed for your heating unit. – Unapproved controlled burning must never be carried out. – Never leave children unattended near a burning candle or fire. – Make sure all candles are placed in safe candleholders. – Never connect electricity illegally. – Never overload electrical plugs. – Never leave an imbawula or coal fire to burn overnight without supervision. – Extinguish paraffin fires with sand or a fire extinguisher. Report any fire or rescue incident by calling 107 toll-free or 012 358 6300/6400. When reporting an emergency, please remain calm, speak clearly, know where you are to give the correct address, and give your correct contact number to allow the operator to phone you back should they require to do so. ALSO READ: Former Tshwane metro director arrested in connection with R11m fraud Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. 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
