Latest news with #R13
The South African
5 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Billions allocated to rescue Johannesburg's infrastructure
The City of Johannesburg has committed over R13 billion in multi-year funding to stabilise struggling municipal entities, improve service delivery, and support long-term economic growth. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds revealed the allocations during the city's 2025/26 budget speech on Wednesday, pledging to move Johannesburg 'from planning to progress.' Johannesburg's municipal entities are under significant strain. Years of underinvestment, ageing infrastructure, and revenue shortfalls have created essential services backlogs. Furthermore, Arnolds said the new budget responds to that challenge, reflecting a 'statement of intent' from the city and its residents. 'This budget was built through public dialogue, regional forums, and sectoral engagements,' she said. 'And in every hall, every meeting, every township, the message was clear: We want a city that works.' City Power, which owes Eskom over R1 billion, will receive R4.6 billion over the next three years. The allocation aims to help stabilise the city's power grid. 'This infrastructure will not only support economic continuity, but also enhance household financial stability,' said Arnolds. In addition, Johannesburg Water will receive the largest allocation, R5.6 billion, to address a R27 billion infrastructure backlog and reduce water losses. 'Through intentionally increasing infrastructure investment, the city will begin to claw back on water losses that eat away at resources that could potentially be available to re-invest in infrastructure for the future,' Arnolds noted. The water utility loses over R2 billion annually due to leaks and illegal connections and is owed nearly R500 million by government departments and state-owned entities. Furthermore, the Johannesburg Roads Agency (JRA) has been allocated R2.8 billion, with R400 million earmarked for expanding stormwater infrastructure in flood-prone areas like Orange Farm and Ivory Park. The goal is to boost urban resilience and improve access between townships and economic hubs. 'These investments are part of the broader spatial transformation agenda, creating inclusive, walkable neighbourhoods and connecting marginalised communities to the city economy,' said Arnolds. 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.
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Transforming Manenberg: City invests R13 million in sports facility upgrades
Completion of The Greens Sports Ground in Manenberg is set for June. Image: Facebook Seven years ago, the City's Recreation and Parks Department vowed to inject a total of R19.3 million into the upgrade of various community and sports facilities across the metro, including Manenberg. This week, Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis introduced the work done at The Greens Sports Ground in Manenberg via social media, with the City confirming the upgrades to the facility would total R13.2million. It is expected to be completed by the end of June. Previously, when the upgrades were announced, a total of R17 million was to be ploughed into work expected to be done in Manenberg and Gugulethu. The upgrades at The Greens sports complex include: timber play structure, new outdoor gym equipment, new signage, new outdoor benches, upgraded lighting and electrical infrastructure; upgraded perimeter and internal fencing, upgrades to hard surfaces (pedestrian and vehicular), two upgraded multi-purpose courts (netball and basketball), a warm-up running track, two new 5-a-side football synthetic pitches, and one upgraded full-sized football synthetic pitch. Mayco member for Community Services and Health, Francine Higham, said the project is intended to bring much-needed recreational facilities to the community. 'The project is not completed yet and the projected budget is R13 247 480. Completion is set for end June 2025 (The Greens portion of work),' Higham said. 'The facility was intended for recreational purposes and more community members of varying ages and abilities including sporting organisations will be able to utilise the facility.' 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 According to Pastor Vernon Visagie of the Manenberg Community Policing Forum (CPF), educational programmes and recreation was needed for the youth. 'We are still faced with some challenges and this one is positive but is not going to solve our problems. 'Education and the high drop out rate is what is hampering positive changes." Meanwhile, between September 2024 and the end of January, several key milestones were achieved as part of the Recreation and Parks Department's maintenance, repairs and upgrades programme. Six projects were either completed, or phased milestones achieved, with an assigned budget of just over R43 million. Manenberg's youth will benefit from enhanced recreational facilities. Image: facebook/ Belgotex Sport
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Tshwane makes strides in corruption fight as city tackles R13bn irregular expenditure backlog
Tshwane expects to conclude investigations into an additional R1 billion worth of irregular expenditure by the end of the 2024-2025 financial year. Tshwane Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya announced significant progress in the city's fight against corruption, revealing that investigations into R11.7 billion worth of unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure have been completed this financial year alone. The mayor delivered the update during a progress briefing held at Tshwane House in Pretoria West on Thursday. The city expects to conclude investigations into an additional R1 billion worth of irregular expenditure by the end of the 2024-2025 financial year, bringing the total reduction to R12.7 billion from an initial balance of R13 billion. This represents a dramatic improvement from the previous financial year, when only R1.2 billion worth of investigations were completed. 'This has positioned the city to comply with commitments to the Agsa (Auditor General of South Africa) and National Treasury in respect of reducing historic UIFW balances,' Moya said. ALSO READ: Tshwane's R54.6bn budget draws mixed reactions Tshwane accelerates disciplinary action The intensified oversight has yielded concrete results in terms of accountability measures. The number of cases where disciplinary action has been recommended against officials has increased from 126 in February to 349 currently. Criminal prosecution referrals have risen from 39 to 44 cases, while over 900 cases have been referred to the financial disciplinary board, up from just 70 in February. The city has dismissed 85 officials, an increase from 77 reported in February. 'These dismissals range from sexual harassment, rape, to fraud and corruption, bribery, theft and dereliction of duty,' Moya explained. In a notable development, the mayor announced that a former section 79 chairperson will be referred to the Speaker's Office for investigation regarding violations of procurement policies. 'They said a councillor issued a letter giving permission to a private company to make use of our outdoor advertising space, which is outside our procurement processes,' she said. The long-awaited investigation into the Refilwe and Caledonian stadium projects has also concluded. 'I'm happy to announce the investigation was concluded, and there are five officials that have been issued with letters of intention to suspend,' Moya revealed. ALSO READ: Gauteng's waste collection woes: R1 billion needed for landfills, R60 million for fleets Company blacklisting initiative As part of efforts to clean up the city's service provider panel, the National Treasury is currently processing eight companies for blacklisting and restriction due to poor performance or contract contraventions. Moya admitted that the city has faced challenges in serving these companies with formal notices, as many have vacated their registered addresses. 'Upon legal advice, the city will proceed with steps to have these companies blacklisted in absentia and restore [the] integrity of our panel of service providers,' Moya said. To support ongoing governance improvements, the budget allocates R36 million to group audit and risk for forensic investigations in the fight against corruption. ALSO READ: Here is how Tshwane will be spending its R54.6 billion budget Court victory on salary disputes The city achieved a significant legal victory when the Labour Court granted an exemption from implementing a 5.4% wage increase on 9 May 2025, while referring the matter of a 3.5% increase for the 2021-2022 financial year back to the South African Local Government Bargaining Council. Following constructive meetings with the South African Municipal Workers Union (Samu) and the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), all parties agreed to participate in a mediation process under section 150 of the Labour Relations Act. 'All parties affirmed that mediation offers the best opportunity to reach a mutually beneficial outcome in a timely manner,' Moya said, while acknowledging that both unions expressed disappointment with the court's ruling on the 5.4% increase and reserved the right to appeal. NOW READ: Mayor Moya is working, not hiding
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tensions erupt in Limpopo ANC after vandalism of spokesperson's bakkie
Jimmy Machaka's support for a rival ANC leadership slate may have led to an attack on his bakkie. Tension in the ANC in Limpopo is ratcheting up following a Tuesday night attack on a bakkie belonging to the party's provincial spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka. The tyres were slashed while he was presiding over a media briefing in Polokwane. Machaka said damage inflicted on the car could run to R13 000. Speaking to The Citizen at the Polokwane police station, where he laid charges, Machaka said he wasn't sure who was responsible for the attack. But he crossed the floor earlier this year to align with the electoral slate of Peter Mokaba regional contender Mamedupi Teffo and former ANC youth league provincial chair Tonny Rachoene. He was previously part of the 'Third Term' slate, which backs Polokwane mayor John Mpe's re-election for a third term. ALSO READ: ANC urged to fast-track dispute resolution in Limpopo He said the Third Slate people backing Polokwane mayor John Mpe's re-election for a third term were 'angry because they did not see it coming'. He said it was not the first attack on him: 'Those who want me, let us go into the conference ring and battle. I support Teffo and Rachoene because they support service delivery and I cannot support mediocrity,' he said. In their response, spokesperson for the ANC in the Peter Mokaba region, Adolph Rapetsoa said: 'We sympathise with Machaka for the damage caused on his vehicle. 'But we don't agree with him on dragging the names of our leaders and organisation into the matter. That is malicious.' NOW READ: 'Third Term' slate shines at Limpopo ANC elective conference
The Star
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
MacG apologises to Minnie Dlamini after backlash over offensive comments
Masabata Mkwananzi | Published 1 hour ago Podcaster MacGyver 'MacG' Mukwevho's comments about Minnie Dlamini sparked accusations of misogyny and prompted widespread condemnation, leading to a public apology. Podcaster MacGyver 'MacG' Mukwevho has done an unexpected U-turn, publicly apologising to Minnie Dlamini after facing backlash for his offensive comments. The controversy began in one of the episodes of Podcast and Chill when MacG and co-host Sol Phenduka discussed Dlamini's breakup with her ex-partner, Dr Brian Monaisa. The conversation rapidly veered into controversial territory. "Why can't she keep a man? There's got to be something wrong with her — maybe her c**chie smells or something," MacG said during the discussion, adding: "It happens, man, especially with the hot girls." MacG's remarks quickly drew widespread backlash, with social media users, advocacy groups, TV channels like Moja Love, and even Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities, Mmapaseka Steve Letsike, condemning his behaviour and slamming him for using offensive language against women. Letsike cautioned that such remarks go beyond being merely offensive, stating they amount to a form of online gender-based violence, as defined in South Africa's National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. 'This incident is not a harmless joke or casual banter – it is a harrowing demonstration of online gender-based violence,' she said. The deputy minister voiced her disgust, describing MacG actions as part of a recurring pattern of misogynistic behaviour. She further revealed that multiple women have reportedly initiated legal proceedings against him. 'Women cannot be reduced to vulgar slurs and the objectification of the female body, as this is a damaging reinforcement of gender-based disrespect and consequently violence,' she said. Moja Love strongly condemned MacG's remarks, criticising his continued use of offensive language towards women. In a statement, the channel said, 'MacG's persistent use of derogatory language towards women, reducing them to vulgar slurs and objectifying their bodies is not just offensive, it is a damaging reinforcement of gender-based disrespect.' They added that such conduct has no place in society or the media, 'where voices should uplift, not degrade.' Women For Change also condemned MacG's comments about Minnie Dlamini, describing them as 'misogynistic and degrading.' The organisation expressed that his remarks were 'not only vile and dehumanising but also reflect the deeply rooted toxic masculinity that continues to endanger and humiliate women in South Africa.' Macg found himself in legal trouble before. In October 2024, he was hit with a R13 million lawsuit after spreading harmful rumours about amapiano artist Nkosazana Daughter. During a past broadcast, MacG insinuated that Nkosazana Daughter had an affair with musician Master KG and claimed that her child was fathered by him, not her then-partner, Sir Trill. MacG eventually apologised publicly after Nkosazana Daughter's family denied the claims, expressing regret for making assumptions based on a photo of the child. "We were wrong. She looks just like Sir Trill," he said in his apology. However, he also insisted that he had information from a 'credible source' claiming that Sir Trill was not financially supporting the child. In the podcast episode that aired on May 12, MacG issued an apology to all the women offended by his comments about Minnie Dlamini, saying it was never his intention to upset anyone. 'I want to apologise first and foremost to all the female chillers and just women in general in South Africa that I might have offended with that comment, that was not the intention. You know, we never say things to offend people.' He also invited Dlamini to join him on the show, saying she is 'more than welcome' to come on so they can 'squash it' once and for all. 'This thing started on the podcast, let's end it on the podcast. She said some things, I've said some things, let's squash it once and for all, bro,' said MacG. The Star
