Latest news with #R177
IOL News
13-05-2025
- IOL News
Construction company robbed of 300 litres of diesel in Bergville
Amid the R177 million road rehabilitation project in Bergville, a construction company was robbed of 300 litres of diesel by criminals. Image: Supplied A construction company hired by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Transport and Human Settlements for the R177 million rehabilitation of a road in Bergville under the Okhahlamba Local Municipality, was robbed of 300 litres of diesel by gun-wielding members of the construction mafia. KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the incident was reported at the Bergville Police Station. He expressed confidence that KZN police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team of law enforcement agencies would apprehend the criminals. He also saluted Inkosi Njabulo Miya of the Emazizini Traditional Council, the izinduna, and the whole community for their public display of anger and opposition against these criminals who are trying to derail the project. 'We are encouraging anyone with information about this robbery to contact the nearest police,' Duma said. 'There should be no place for construction mafia gangs in villages, townships, suburbs or anywhere in KZN.' 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 Duma said the department invested R177 million in rehabilitating the main road P304. The road is a link connecting Bergville to Maloti-Drakensberg Park/Royal Natal Park through R74. It also stimulates rural economies for communities living under the yoke of poverty. The road network was destroyed by floods, leaving hundreds of communities isolated and unable to access hospitals, schools and socio-economic centres. 'With this investment, as the department, we want to ensure that P304 remains in safe and usable condition and contributes towards the stimulation of all sectors of the economy, such as agriculture and tourism,' Duma said. Earlier, Duma revealed that the project will lead to 74 job opportunities, R32 million is set aside for local emerging contractors, R9 million is for women-owned contractors, R16 million is for youth-owned contractors, and R1.6 million is for people with disabilities. Two eThekwini Municipality employees were arrested for diesel theft. They were caught offloading diesel at a residence near Verulam. Image: Supplied Meanwhile, two eThekwini Municipality employees were arrested for diesel theft last week. The municipality said a municipal water truck was caught offloading diesel at a private house. Another water truck was parked next to the same house's gate in eKukhanyeni near Verulam. Both trucks were carrying water meant to be delivered to communities. The municipality said investigators were in the area after receiving reports that several truck drivers were seen in the area offloading diesel. This led to the arrest of two municipal employees, and a theft case was opened at Inanda Police Station. The suspects are expected to appear in court. City Integrity and Investigations Unit head Jimmy Ngcobo commended the investigators. 'Further investigations will be conducted in this area as it is alleged that diesel is frequently offloaded there,' Ngcobo said. He said the stolen diesel is resold. 'We will not allow employees to steal municipal resources,' Ngcobo said. 'We urge the community to report fraud and corruption cases to be investigated, like in this instance.' Ngcobo added that the suspects were caught with 12x25 litres of offloaded diesel, amounting to 300 litres of stolen municipal diesel.
IOL News
13-05-2025
- IOL News
Armed gang steals 300 litres of diesel from Bergville road project, raising safety concerns
Construction workers in Bergville, in KwaZulu-Natal were held at gunpoint by an armed gang in Bergville while working on a road rehabilitation project. Image: REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach A violent gang of six armed men, believed to be linked to the construction mafia, stormed a construction site in the the rural area of Bergville in KwaZulu-Natal and stole 300 litres of diesel. The robbery has prompted strong condemnation from KwaZulu-Natal's Transport and Human Settlements MEC, Siboniso Duma. According to Duma, the criminals held construction workers at gunpoint before making off with the diesel. The incident happened on a site where a major road rehabilitation project is underway. The P304 road is being rebuilt at a cost of R177 million. 'This road serves as a major link connecting Bergville to Maloti Drakensberg Park/Royal Natal Park through R74,' said Duma in a statement issued on Tuesday. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ 'The road plays a vital role in terms of stimulating rural economies for communities living under the burden of poverty.' The P304 route was damaged during the devastating floods that hit parts of KwaZulu-Natal, leaving communities isolated and cut off from hospitals, schools, and socio-economic centres. Duma said the department's investment aimed to ensure the road remains safe and usable, helping to revitalise key sectors of the economy, including agriculture and tourism. Describing the robbery as the first incident on this project, Duma confirmed that a case has been opened at the Bergville Police Station 'We are confident that KZN Police Commissioner Lt General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and his team will apprehend the criminals,' he said. Duma also commended local traditional leaders and the broader community for standing up against the criminals. 'We salute Inkosi Njabulo Miya of the Emazizini Traditional Council, the izinduna, and the entire community for their public display of anger and opposition against these criminals who are trying to derail the project.' He called on anyone with information about the incident to contact the nearest police station, saying: 'There should be no place for construction mafia gangs in villages, townships, suburbs, or anywhere in KZN.' THE MERCURY
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government eyes maritime sector to revive job creation, stimulate growth
The government has sought to harness the economic promise of its vast coastline. As South Africa faces sluggish economic growth and alarmingly high youth unemployment, Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, believes the country's oceans economy could offer a powerful solution. For several years, the government has sought to harness the economic promise of its vast coastline through Operation Phakisa, launched in 2014 as a bold initiative to drive job creation and stimulate economic growth in maritime sectors. At the time, a study by Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University estimated that South Africa's oceans could contribute approximately R54 billion to the country's GDP and create around 316,000 jobs. Additionally, analysis conducted in 2013 projected that nine sectors within the oceans economy could generate between R129 billion and R177 billion in GDP by 2033. However, despite these efforts, South Africa has yet to fully reap the vast potential of its oceans economy. In a post on X formerly Twitter on Wednesday, the minister reaffirmed the government's commitment to investing the in oceans economy.
