Latest news with #R16
IOL News
6 days ago
- IOL News
Joburg's R89. 4 billion budget aims to combat crime and improve safety
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department has been allocated more resources to tackle crime across the city. Image: X The City of Joburg has pledged to protect residents from rampant crime across the municipality, with Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds announcing increased resources for the Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD). Arnolds tabled the R89.4 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year at the council chambers in Braamfontein on Wednesday. She stated that the city's degradation through illegal dumping, informal invasions, vandalism, cable theft, and by-law non-compliance erodes dignity, drives away investment, and costs the municipality millions of rand. 'It is not enough to deliver services. We must also protect them,' she said. The JMPD's operations will receive a major boost for optimal deployment of officers in high-risk zones, taking advantage of strategic appointments made with the 2024/25 budget allocation. 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 ✕ Its officers will conduct weekly compliance patrols in informal trading hotspots. 'Smart surveillance systems linked to precinct revitalisation initiatives, supported by a R16 million investment in the Integrated Intelligence Operations Centre in Public Safety,' Arnolds said. There will also be support for the municipality's bad building strategy, where hijacked and unsafe properties are secured, repurposed, or demolished. 'The inner city war room, announced in the State of the City Address, is now operational. It brings together development planning, JMPD, housing, and public safety into a single command unit focused on precinct-by-precinct transformation,' she explained.
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Let's fix Craighall Park's storm-damaged Blue Bridge
In February, JRA needed R16 billion to fix bridges. This is way beyond the R8.49 billion capital expenditure budget for the entire city. With so much infrastructure that needs fixing, the Joburg Road Agency (JRA) has unsurprisingly not rushed to repair the storm-damaged Blue Bridge across the Braamfontein Spruit in Craighall Park. The delay is seriously affecting a wide Delta Park community. After floodwaters bashed the footbridge on the night of 5 March, I asked for emergency funding. Although the bridge was officially closed on 7 March, it's still in use. So, too, are nearby makeshift crossings where folk put their lives in danger. Before 2006, there was no bridge here. It was dangerous. Jennifer Manale, 36, drowned after being swept away while trying to cross upstream from the Blue Bridge in 2004. Her body was recovered 15km downstream. Hence the original motivation for the bridge was a 'safe crossing for domestic workers'. It's still a major thoroughfare for countless pedestrian commuters but the existence of the bridge has vastly increased business and recreational activities in the area. ALSO READ: Who do you trust? The crisis of media credibility Jozi Trail cyclists and Park Runners use it, alongside dog walkers, horse riders and many others who enjoy this great green lung in the northern suburbs. Businesses large and small are affected by the closure. These include cafés, stables, a trader who sells blankets and dogs' beds, a dealer in artefacts made from wire and beads; an artist selling paintings, and a mobile coffee truck frequented by walker President Cyril Ramaphosa. Is there anything that makes the pedestrian Blue Bridge more worthy of attention than the 700 or so other Joburg bridges reportedly in poor condition? Perhaps. A month before flooding, JRA told Rapport that 20 city bridges were on the verge of closure. The Blue Bridge may be slightly ahead of the curve: it is officially closed. But that doesn't mean JRA can or will allocate money. In February, JRA needed R16 billion to fix existing bridges. This is way beyond the R8.49 billion capital expenditure budget for the entire city, of which JRA is allocated R1.027 billion. There is another possible source of funding. ALSO READ: Broken promises and failing services are sinking Joburg In a letter to JRA's acting chief executive, the DA's Sandton constituency political head, MP Leah Potgieter, said funds were available under a national disaster classification published in the Government Gazette on 7 March this year, in terms of the Disaster Management Act. She said the severe weather that contributed to the bridge damage 'is explicitly included in this classification and Gauteng is among the provinces covered. 'This enables access to national disaster relief funds and mandates coordination across all spheres of government to implement recovery measures, including for infrastructure like the Blue Bridge.' Private businesses are also offering to help – financially and with professional expertise – to fix the bridge. I am questioned daily by residents, business and community leaders about progress. Today, 12 weeks since the storm damage, there is still no sign of JRA's structural assessment report. No work can be done here without approval from JRA and, possibly, from higher authorities, depending on the nature of the tasks. To nudge this process along, we have launched a petition to fix the Blue Bridge. It's on the Ward 90 Johannesburg Facebook page, or on X @marttwit. NOW READ: Joburg can only be saved by fair municipal elections
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Join the fight: Sterilise to save strays
No More Tears Animal Rescue will be hosting a mass sterilisation outreach campaign to help sterilise 20 animals in underprivileged areas, but they are appealing for the public's assistance. • Also read: Bella's comeback: Rescued bull terrier on the road to recovery 'In these underprivileged communities, many pet owners want to sterilise their animals, but they simply cannot afford the fees. This eventually leads to overpopulation, neglect and unnecessary suffering of the animal,' volunteer Clarisse Kruger stated. She added that by contributing to this campaign, residents can help prevent the rising number of litter, decrease the amount of strays in and around the town and improve the health of affected animals. To help the animal rescue achieve their goals, Clarisse explained they need a total of R16 000 to sterilise 15 dogs and five cats. She further mentioned that any funds in excess will go directly to helping the animals in their care. The community's support, whether through covering the cost of one animal or contributing any amount, will have a lasting impact on our community by addressing the root causes of overpopulation in a humane way,' she explained. She continued that residents who donate to the cause will receive a letter of appreciation as well as public acknowledgement on their social media pages, if the resident wants to. 'Most importantly, you will become part of a movement that creates a safe environment for animals in need. We cannot do this without the community. We are pleading with the community to consider making a difference. Every donation, no matter how big or how small, can change the lives of many animals,' Clarisse concluded. If anyone would like to inquire about the campaign, they can reach out to No More Tears on 084 433 7748, 064 682 5145, or 079 499 4439. Or residents can send an email to clarisse@ or info@ At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
22-05-2025
- IOL News
Deadbeat dad's failure to pay child support leads to imprisonment
A Cape Town father - a repeat contempt of court offender - was sentenced to 240 hours of periodical imprisonment over weekends from 6pm on a Friday until 6am on a Monday until such time as the stipulated number of hours had been reached. Image: File A father who was errant in paying his court-ordered maintenance amounts was ordered to serve jail time if he did not cough up his arrears amount owed to the mother of his two minor children. The mother and father, who are divorced under Sharia Law while their civil marriage still subsists, both turned to the Western Cape High Court (the father in a counter-application) but the court found in favour of the mother as the primary caregiver of the children. The father - a repeat contempt of court offender - was sentenced to 240 hours of periodical imprisonment over weekends from 6pm on a Friday until 6am on a Monday until such time as the stipulated number of hours had been reached. The sentence would have been suspended if he was able to pay the R16,000 maintenance arrears amount owed and if it was paid in full by on or before 5pm on 20 January 2025 and complied with the Rule 43 (divorce and maintenance) order made in the high court during May 2021. The reasons given by acting judge Phillipa van Zyl, detailed that the father failed to pay certain expenses which included his ex-wife and children's monthly rental as well as monthly DSTV/Multichoice, Netflix, internet/Wi-Fi subscription fee, yearly TV license costs, and the ex-wife's monthly cell phone costs. 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 Acting Judge Van Zyl said the parties were at loggerheads and their affidavits in these proceedings were 'brimful of invective' adding that this spilled over to litigation hearings where the aggression was palpable at the hearing. 'This is an unfortunate situation, because it bodes ill for any possibility of resolving the disputes in a civil manner. The state of affairs cannot be a happy one for the children,' said acting Judge Van Zyl. The unpaid expenses giving rise to the contempt application consisted of two months' rental in respect of the applicants' and the minor children's residence being the rental owing for November 2024 and December 2024 in the total sum of R16,000. It also included various additional expenses payable in terms of the order for the period July to October 2024 (in the total sum of R27,129,13). 'On the day of the hearing, I was informed that the respondent had made payment of the additional expenses the previous day, albeit clearly grudgingly if regard is had to the content of his answering affidavit. The amounts owing in respect of rental remained unpaid,' noted acting Judge Van Zyl. The man argued that the residence in which the woman lived was the deceased estate of the woman's sister - which she is to inherit but is not yet the legal owner as the rental is paid to wind up the deceased estate. 'He accused the applicant of trying to extract more money from him under the pretence of having to pay rental. He therefore refused to contribute towards this rental, despite being obliged to do so in terms of the Rule 43 order. 'The attorneys representing the estate also confirmed what the situation was…The respondent made no secret of the fact that he was dissatisfied with the terms of the Rule 43 order. From the papers it seemed that this has been the case since the grant of the order. He had faced a previous contempt application for non-payment of the Rule 43 order, in which an order was granted against him on 25 October 2024. 'The explanation for the respondent's non-compliance is not satisfactory; they merely serve to convey the impression that he is so angry at the applicant that he would take every possible opportunity of thwarting her. The respondent deliberately did not pay, seeking to justify his conduct with a strained argument,' said acting Judge Van Zyl.
The South African
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs re-visit interest in R16-million Bafana star!
Kaizer Chiefs have decided to re-visit their interest in this top Bafana Bafana attacker. Kaizer Chiefs will be making wholesale changes to their playing squad at the end of the season. So, several players are linked with exits. Meanwhile, a plethora of red-hot talent has been lined up by the Soweto giants. The latest transfer target is this Bafana attacker. Oswin Appollis is once again on Chiefs' radar. 'There was a time when the club was apparently looking at other wingers and letting the issue of Appollis go but now it's believed that the club scouts and recruiters believe that they still need him at the club hence he is back on their shopping list. Since they are going to Africa they believe he will be vital with the Bafana Bafana experience that he comes with,' the insider stated on SoccerLaduma. Meaning, Amakhosi are keen to lure the Polokwane City attacker to Naturena. Moreover, the technical team is planning to reduce the squad size. 'The technical team had earlier requested to have a smaller squad and because they are looking at bringing in more new players like Oswin Appollis then they are apparently going to release some of their current players. There are others who will be out of contract, then there are those who are not in the coach's plans. So that's the plan for now,' he added. Therefore, the emphasis is now on quality over quantity. Interestingly, Appollis is valued at over R16 million, according to Transfermarkt. Therefore, several player departures will take place in the next transfer window. These NINE Chiefs players are facing likely exits. Meanwhile, they are focused on making quality signings with these Sundowns, Bafana Bafana and PSL rival stars all being targeted by Amakhosi. Let us know by leaving a comment below or sending a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Also, subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
