Latest news with #R13
The South African
2 days ago
- The South African
Four suspects arrested, R1.8 million dagga seized in Mpumalanga
Police arrested four suspects at the Middelburg Plaza in Mpumalanga on Thursday, 17 July 2025, after two of the suspects were allegedly found with dagga estimated to be valued at R1.8 million. The two other suspects were arrested for allegedly trying to bribe police. A multi-disciplinary team consisting of South African Police Service (SAPS) members from Middelburg Flying Squad, Middelburg K9 Unit and Provincial Counter-Intelligence received information about two Toyota GD-6 Double Cab bakkies believed to be transporting dagga and immediately made their way to the scene. According to a report by the police, one bakkie was intercepted and found with 15 bags starched with dagga and two suspects. While members were arresting the suspects, two foreign nationals approached them. They allegedly tried to bribe the police with R13 000 in exchange for releasing the two suspects arrested and the dagga. However, the police apprehended the foreign nationals and charged them with bribery. Acting Mpumalanga SAPS commissioner, Major-General Zeph Mkhwanazi, commended the police for being able to resist the bribery offered to them. 'Though members were offered cash to look away, they remained committed to the SAPS Code of Conduct. This is the calibre of members that gives us joy as they are determined to root out criminal activities,' Mkhwanazi said. Two senior citizens, Suliman Ismail Molla, 67, and Fathima Essop Molla, 62, who are the directors of a Wholesale store, appeared before the Evander Regional Court on Thursday, 17 July 2025, for dealing in counterfeit cigarettes. The police seized 4710 packets of illicit cigarettes valued at R107 700 at their store. The seizure, which occurred in September 2024, resulted in one suspect being arrested at the time. All three suspects were released on warning and are expected to appear before the same court on Tuesday, 29 July 2025. 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.
The Citizen
3 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Zululand gets R22 million for flood damage repairs
Minister of Co-operative Governance & Traditional Affairs (CoGTA) Velenkosini Hlabisa has announced a R139 million allocation to KwaZulu-Natal municipalities for disaster relief efforts. R13 million was allocated to Zululand District Municipality; Ulundi Local Municipality received R6.2 million; AbaQulusi Local Municipality received R12 million; and Edumbe Local Municipality received R10 million. Zululand District Municipality Mayor Michael Khumalo has welcomed the allocation. 'This additional funding will go a long way towards accelerating our efforts to mitigate disaster risks and put into place proactive measures. We pledge to utilise this grant promptly and follow procedures and protocols as established by the department to ensure accountability and transparency,' said Khumalo. The mayor added that the Zululand District has experienced unprecedented challenges due to heavy rains and flooding, which resulted in significant damage to water infrastructure and other public facilities. The combined funding of R22 million will be used for repairs to damaged water schemes, sanitation systems and other essential municipal services. He also urged residents to continue working together with the municipality to ensure that the recovery efforts are inclusive and transparent. This grant will be transferred in phases. The minister's office reported that the department is currently awaiting transfer dates from the National Treasury. CoGTA MEC for KZN, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi, has also welcomed the announcement, since municipalities in the province were impacted by incidents that caused billions of rands worth of destruction. He said this allocation is specifically earmarked for disaster response and recovery. The funds will provide much-needed relief to communities, facilitating the installation of new disaster mitigation measures and the improvement of roads, as well as water and sanitation infrastructure. This allocation also underscores the national government's commitment to supporting the province's ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts. ALSO READ: Zululand District Municipality elects new mayor The news provided to you in this link comes to you from the editorial staff of the Vryheid Herald, a sold newspaper distributed in the Vryheid area. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
3 days ago
- The Citizen
Four arrested, R1.8M dagga seized at Middelburg Toll Plaza
According to a media statement issued by the provincial SAPS, members from the Middelburg Flying Squad, Middelburg K9 Unit and Provincial Counter Intelligence acted on information resulting in the arrest of two male suspects, aged 39 and 50 with dagga estimated at the street value of about R1.8 million at the Middelburg Toll Plaza on Tuesday at 17:30. According to the report, members responded swiftly after receiving information through the Intelligence Structure of the SAPS about two Toyota GD-6 Double Cab bakkies alleged to be transporting large consignment of dagga. The members intercepted one bakkie and found 15 bags starched with dagga, weighing about 307kgs. While members were busy with the arrest, two foreign nationals from Lesotho are said to have offered a bribe of R13 000 to the officers in exchange for the release of the two suspects and their consignment of dagga. They were also apprehended and charged for bribery. The suspects will appear in the eMalahleni Magistrates' Court today (July 17). At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Standard Bank wins court battle to auction home over R1. 4m unpaid debt
A Gauteng woman has lost her long-standing legal battle to save her home after the Western Cape High Court ruled that the execution of her property was both fair and unavoidable because she didn't pay a mounting mortgage debt and rates bill. The respondent, who represented herself after her attorneys withdrew, faced a default judgment issued against her in August 2018. The case stems from a R580 000 home loan with Standard Bank taken out years earlier, secured by a mortgage bond on her primary residence. However, by April this year, her total outstanding debt, to both the bank and the municipality, had ballooned to over R2.3 million, with R1.4m owed to Standard Bank and R939 271 to the municipality. In 2014, the woman went into debt review, but failed to keep up payments under that process, which was then terminated because she didn't meet the requirements. Despite numerous promises and small payments made between 2016 and 2020 – including what turned out to be her last payment of R13 800 in March 2020 – 'the parties have exhausted alternative avenues to settle the arrears,' the judgement read. Over the years, the woman proposed various solutions: a lump sum payment of R100 000, monthly repayments of R10 000 with an extra R5 000 toward arrears, and assistance from her employed family members. She also referenced a long-outstanding Road Accident Fund claim that she hoped to use to settle her debt.
IOL News
09-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government will fine-tune electrification programmes amidst R13bn budget
Minister for Electricity and Energy, Kgosientso Ramokgopa presented the department's Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday. Image: Supplied Banele Ginidza Minister for Electricity and Energy, Kgosientso Ramokgopa, has said that as only R13 billion had been allocated to the integrated national electrification programme over the medium term expenditure period, the allocation would be used as a de-risking instrument to crowd in developmental capital and concessional finance. Presenting the department's Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday, Ramokgopa said the department was working in close partnership with development finance institutions and the National Treasury in developing an infrastructure finance facility that will enable the frontloading of capital requirements through debt market instruments. "The aim is to mobilise balance sheet financing whilst preserving affordability and fiscal discipline. By using the public allocation as an anchor, the strategy allows for accelerated electricity rollout in high priority provinces and municipalities, greater geographic equity and predictable project pipeline attractive to institutional invetsors," he said. "The approach positions universal access as a bankable development investment with measurable returns in health, education and economic participation." 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. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Ramokgopa said as Eskom's ability to collect revenue for the services provided continued to decline and municipal debt - currently at just below R100bn after compounding by R3bn a quarter over the past year - the department hoped that the the Distribution Agency Agreement (DAA) being put in place would realise benefits for the sustainability of the entire distribution industry. Ramokgopa said the DAA would assist municipalities with their reticulation and distribution of electricity business, revenue collection and retail services. He said the DAA has dual potential to support municipalities to provide sustainable local services while contributing to the sustainability of Eskom. "Some of the benefits realised at these municipalities where these DAAs have been implemented include increased payment levels from 10% to 30% after meter audits and replacement, being assisted to resolve customer disputes with their customers, settle their current accounts with Eskom in full and improved turnaround times to faults," Ramokgopa said. Speaking on behalf of the South African Local Government Authority (Salga), Mayor of Tswelopele Local Municipality, Kenalemang Phukuntsi, said the role of municiplaities was increasingly becoming vague in the amended Electricity Regulations Amendment Act (ERA) of 2024 and Just Energy Transition (JET) programmes. Phukuntsi said while the department's emphasis on a central authority was understandable for coordination, Salga was concerned that the role of municipalities, especially in distribution and the new energy market, was increasingly unclear. She said even within the ERA, the principal place of municipalities as key actors in the future market was not defined in a way that assured of their continued constitutional mandate. Phukuntsi said the Act still introduced a definition for electricity reticulation that Salga deemed as reducing its mandate to just lower levels of customer and voltage. "We still see that as an unconstitutional definition. The minister must still do industry-wide consultation unlike when it was inserted in the Bill without proper consultation. We cannot have a JET if it sidelines the very sphere closer to the core of our communities," she said. Phukuntsi said the strategic plan in the medium term allocations made little reference to the urgent reform required in the electricity distribution industry while the sector was on the verge of collapse in many municipalities. "We urge the department to align its plans with support for real local government, not just technical but institutional and financial and legislative, to ensure municipal distributions are strengthened and capacitated," she said. "We request further urgent clarification on how the roadmap aligns with the JET implementation plan, the National Treasury Metro Trading Entity Reform, and the unresolved issue of municipal debt to Eskom." Phukuntsi said Salga noted that 71% of the R27bn of the medium term allocation was directed to the programmes and projects largely through transfers to Eskom and municipalities. "Salga appreciates the inclusion of municipalities but also calls for the equitable transparent allocation criteria, greater flexibility in grant conditions to prevent funds being sent back to the National Treasury, and therefore disadvantage the communities," she said.
