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The Citizen
15-07-2025
- The Citizen
The metro continues to fight vandalism at Groenkloof reserve
The metro continues to fight vandalism at Groenkloof reserve The Tshwane metro is working to combat criminality at its oldest conservation facility, which is currently celebrating its 130th anniversary. Groenkloof Nature Reserve has had to bear ongoing vandalism threats. The reserve was proclaimed by former President Paul Kruger on February 25, 1895, and was the first game sanctuary on the African continent. It was established to protect game species from overhunting and remains a vital natural space in the capital Tshwane spokesperson, Lindela Mashigo, said despite conservation efforts, vandalism of infrastructure in the reserve remains a concern. 'Security guards have been deployed to curb criminality, and members of the public are urged to report any incidents to Tshwane Metro Police on 012 358 1906,' he said. The metro hosted a small event to mark the anniversary, where local stakeholders pledged to reintroduce species such as the oribi and bushbuck that once roamed the area. Mashigo said the reserve has been proclaimed under the National Environmental Management of Protected Areas Act. 'Initiatives like alien invasive plant removal are ongoing to protect the unique transitional vegetation between grassveld and mixed bushveld,' he said. According to Mashigo, plans are in place to replace missing signage and improve visitor facilities, while R202 388 has been allocated for repairs and maintenance this financial year. However, the security funding is centralised under Tshwane's Asset Protection Unit. He said activities such as hiking, horse riding, mountain biking, and 4×4 trails are managed under a detailed action plan to balance public access with conservation. For Groenkloof resident Francois Geringer, the reserve is an irreplaceable community asset. 'It's a treasure that must be protected. It's a privilege to have such a beautiful reserve at our doorstep in the middle of the city,' he said. Geringer, who visits the reserve with his family every two months, said he has noticed positive changes in recent years. 'The reserve is very safe now. Walking and mountain bike trails are well maintained, and the new management team is very involved with upkeep and conservation,' he said. While mountain biking had declined in the past due to security concerns, he said cyclists are slowly returning and the reserve's hiking community has grown. 'It's great to see a much more diverse group of people from all over the city enjoying the trails.' However, Geringer believes more could have been done to mark the 130th anniversary and engage the community. He said the metro's celebrations are often overshadowed by politics, so people don't know about them. 'With all the new housing developments in Pretoria turning nature into concrete, Groenkloof is one of the last reminders of what we've lost. 'It's extremely important to preserve it for future generations. There's also lots of opportunity for school camps and programmes to get children involved.' ALSO READ: Bogus police make off with R10 000 after robbing man at gun-point in Silverton Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] 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!
IOL News
28-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
African Bank reports 15% profit growth, paving the way for a bold future
African Bank, which has future plans to list on the JSE, reported a 15% surge in group net profit after tax, reaching R202 million for the six months ended March 31, 2025, driven by its ambitious Excelerate strategy as it aims for a JSE listing ahead "The results reflect the growing impact of its Excelerate strategy, as the Group continues its transformation into a diversified, fully-fledged banking institution serving both personal and business customers," African Bank said. The robust results came despite the South African economy remaining under pressure due to persistent unemployment, structural inefficiencies, and an increasing burden on welfare spending by the government. "However, the easing of inflationary pressure, further aided by the South African Reserve Bank's decision to cut and pause further interest rate reductions, has presented a bit of cautious optimism in the market," African Bank said. CEO Kennedy Bungane hailed the results as a testament to the bank's strategic pivot. 'These figures are more than a financial milestone; they reflect our commitment to empowering South Africans, from township entrepreneurs to families investing in sustainable solutions like solar power,' he said. Celebrating its 50th anniversary, African Bank is positioning itself as a cornerstone of inclusive finance, with a 6% increase in its customer base to 6.1 million and a 20% rise in net advances to R39.1 billion. The bank's Business and Commercial lending arm saw a striking 49% growth in advances, bolstered by strategic acquisitions, including Sasfin's capital equipment finance business, following last year's purchase of its commercial property finance division. These moves have strengthened African Bank's foothold in the small and medium enterprise (SMME) sector, a critical driver of South Africa's economy. Financially, the bank maintained a robust funding base of R36.3 billion, up 8%, with customer deposits accounting for 91% of the total. A strong capital adequacy ratio of 28% - well above regulatory requirements - underscores its stability. Non-interest income soared 39% to R909 million, fueled by growing adoption of digital offerings like the MyWORLD transactional account and credit card services. Improved risk management and a shift to secured lending reduced credit impairment charges by 10%, lowering the credit loss ratio to 5.3%. Chief Financial Officer Anbann Chetti said the results validate the group's strategy and operational focus, 'Our Excelerate strategy is reshaping African Bank into a scalable, future-ready institution. We're delivering value not just for shareholders but for employees and communities.' As part of its pre-initial public (IPO) offering roadmap, African Bank launched iKamva Lethu, an employee share ownership scheme allocating 10% of its shares to staff. "Work is also well underway on the next phase of our pre -IPO journey, which includes the finalisation of amanagement share scheme, and the creation o fretail BEE (Black Economic Empowerment) scheme, following the decision of theGovernment Employees Pension Fund to be a long term shareholder beyond the IPO of the bank. These efforts will culminate in our eventual listing targeted for post the release of our FY27 results, market conditions permitting," Bungane said. Looking ahead, African Bank plans to expand secured lending, launch a digital SMME lending platform, and invest in digital infrastructure, compliance, and cybersecurity. Bungane said, 'This journey is about building a bank that belongs to South Africans, one that serves with integrity and purpose. As we prepare for a future listing, we remain guided by our founders' bold vision and the needs of the communities we serve.' BUSINESS REPORT
