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IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Respect is earned: From Seagal's disaster to Chelsea's apathy to the PSL's governance crisis
Thulani Hlatshwayo of Supersport United is challenged by Gladwin Shitolo of Golden Arrows during their Betway Premiership clash at Lucas Moripe Stadium on Thursday. BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix Have you ever watched Attack Force? Consider yourself lucky if you haven't. It's a mid-2000s Steven Seagal movie that shows almost no respect for the medium. Seagal plays the commander of some elite US unit, murdered by — who knows what... Genetically modified soldiers? Perhaps. Aliens? Possibly. Vampires? By the end, it seems that way. In any event, Seagal looks uninterested — checked out — when he's on camera, which isn't for very long. About halfway through the incoherent mess, Seagal buggers off, having clearly decided he had better things to do with his life. From then on, body doubles, voice-overs, dubbed sections and stand-ins draped in shadow take over his role. It's so bad, it's comical. Watching the first half of Chelsea's performance on Wednesday night in the UEFA Europa Conference League final at the local pub against Real Betis dredged up similar feelings of confusion. It was somewhat clear — the starting XI confirming it — that the Blues had almost no respect for the match. It was a torrid first stanza from Enzo Maresca and his charges as they laboured to stifle a highly motivated Los Verdiblancos. The Blues improved immensely when Reece James was subbed on early in the second half. That change seemed to allow Cole Palmer and the front line to play their natural game with confidence. In any event, you'd expect a R24 billion-assembled side to squash one not even worth a fraction of that — and eventually, that's just what Chelsea did. Although it ended in a comfortable 4-1 victory, it could have been much smoother had the Londoners respected the moment and their opposition from the start. Sadly, the kind of disengagement seen on the pitch on Wednesday is not just a European problem — it's mirrored, more worryingly, in our own football ecosystem. Respect. I've been thinking about it a lot these past few weeks, especially in relation to football — and more specifically, our local game. It seems to be withering away by the week. It feels to me that the PSL have lost respect for their own brand, the clubs, the players and the fans. There's no arguing that this past season has been a messy affair. The Royal AM saga embarrassed the league and their stakeholders for far too long. An immediate response was required, but it never came. As soon as SARS got involved in managing that debacle, the Premiership's administrators should have expelled the club. In February, SuperSport United and Golden Arrows couldn't complete their game due to loadshedding. Three months later — with the league puzzle mostly solved, but still missing a critical piece — they finally completed the game this past Thursday. In the NFD, arbitration is still trying to resolve who will be promoted to the elite division and who will be relegated to the third tier. It's been almost a fortnight since the league concluded, and we still don't know who will be going up, nor who will contest the PSL promotion/relegation play-offs, which was scheduled to start last week. There has also been too much fan hooliganism — a slap on the wrist here and there — and a disturbing tendency toward inaction. Match officiating, meanwhile, has come under increasing scrutiny. I can appreciate that these are complicated matters to resolve and that such complex problems are not limited to South Africa, but right now, self-interest seems to be driving decisions within the league. That, ultimately, stems from a lack of transparency and open governance. A world-class league cannot be managed in such a way — not if it wants to project success and prestige, not if it wants the respect of its peers. The PSL cannot afford to check out and hope their name — its mere whisper of a presence — will sell the show. If they want to command respect, they must start by showing it: through decisive action, proper governance, and a return to basics.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
2026 election: Retief Odendaal to stand as DA's mayoral candidate for NMB metro
The DA's Retief Odendaal will be in the running for the mayoral chain in Nelson Mandela Bay's local elections in 2026. Retief Odendaal is the DA's mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay metro. Picture: X/ @DAEasternCape The Democratic Alliance (DA) has announced former Nelson Mandela Bay Metro (NMBM) mayor Retief Odendaal as the party's mayoral candidate in the 2026 local government elections. According to Eastern Cape provincial leader, Andrew Whitfield, the announcement in effect 'declares our unequivocal intention to challenge for the governance of Nelson Mandela Bay in next year's election'. According to Whitfield, the DA's coalition partners started to turn the metro around during Odendaal's tenure as mayor between September 2022 and May 2023. Retief Odendaal's previous tenure as Bay metro mayor 'Under his leadership, we improved service delivery and cracked down on corruption. Nelson Mandela Bay also achieved its first unqualified audit in 12 years, under Odendaal. 'All this hard work was undone when the ANC, with the assistance of smaller proxy parties, such as the PA [Patriotic Alliance] and NA [Northern Alliance], returned to govern the metro in 2023,' Whitfield said. 'Like the back of his hand' – DA's Retief Odendaal He noted that Odendaal, who is a qualified attorney, currently serves as the DA's Shadow MEC for Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) in the Eastern Cape legislature. 'Retief knows the administration of the metro like the back of his hand, and has a critical understanding of the problems facing Nelson Mandela Bay.' ALSO READ: Tensions boil in Nelson Mandela Bay metro ahead of council meeting Internal process Whitfield said the decision was the culmination of a competitive, thorough and exhaustive DA internal process of applications and interviews to select the best person for the job. 'The DA charges Retief Odendaal to lead a campaign that connects with the hearts of every person in Nelson Mandela Bay, that reaches every community, and tackles the serious issues facing this metro,' he added. Nelson Mandela Bay Metro: Years of extensive issues and challenges Since 2001, the municipality has been led by various mayors, including Eugene Johnson, Odendaal and Gary van Niekerk. The current executive mayor is the ANC's Babalwa Lobishe. In March this year, Lobishe unsuccessfully tried to get the council to write off R3.2 billion in fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Nelson Mandela Bay has the highest amount of fruitless and wasteful expenditure in South Africa, which recently increased by R2 billion to stand at R24 billion. READ NOW: Infighting in Nelson Mandela Bay metro detracts from delivery
IOL News
5 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
How to take control of your retirement savings
Discover how to take charge of your retirement planning and avoid common pitfalls that can jeopardise your financial future. Some of us count the days until the end of the 'nine-to-five', picturing a retirement of beach walks, travel, quality time with loved ones, and the chance to finally pursue long-neglected passions. Others can't afford to stop working at all. It's easy to assume the difference lies in income or privilege, but more often it comes down to decades of financial planning — or the lack of it. There's nothing more sobering than speaking to a 60-year-old whose retirement fund totals just R100,000. What do you say to someone facing the end of a working life with no safety net? It's easy to blame the investment industry for high fees, too many choices, or underperforming portfolios, although the answer is closer to home: It's on us. We need to take a more active role in what's in our retirement fund. The 10X Investments Retirement Reality Report found that only 6% of South Africa's population is on track to retire comfortably, highlighting a significant retirement savings crisis, with most people facing financial difficulty in their 'golden years'. Of those who do plan for retirement, few are confident they can support themselves due to tough economic conditions. The report shows that a typical earner who saves 15% of their income from the start of their career and preserves their savings when changing jobs will need about 40 years to accumulate a large enough nest egg for a comfortable 30-year retirement, presuming a return of 5% after costs. Experts suggest aiming to replace 60-75% of your working income in retirement. So if you earn R40,000 per month today, you'd want R24,000 to R30,000 per month in tomorrow's money, keeping in mind that these amounts need to grow with inflation over time. 1. Take ownership and re-evaluate your investment strategy Too often, people outsource responsibility for their retirement savings, assuming their employer's fund will take care of everything. But simply belonging to a provident fund isn't enough – you need to understand how it works, what you're invested in, and whether it's aligned with your goals. When was the last time you checked your balance? Are your funds positioned for the stage of life you're in? Confidence in your retirement plan doesn't come from having a fund; it comes from knowing it's the right one for you. Confidence in your retirement plan comes from staying informed and making intentional decisions, not hoping passively. 2. Dipping into your savings, or cashing in About 56% of working people who change jobs cash in their retirement savings. When you switch jobs, it's essential to understand the potential impact on your pension. Your new employer may have different pension policies, contribution rates, and benefit structures. Transferring your pension can consolidate your funds and streamline your retirement savings. However, it's crucial to assess the fees, investment options, and any potential loss of benefits associated with the transfer. One of the biggest downsides is the loss of compound growth: by withdrawing your pension early, you miss out on decades of investment returns. Even a small withdrawal can have a major impact over time. 3. Too much debt Not prioritising debt repayments while employed leads to a debt burden at retirement, making it more difficult to cover basic expenses. Many retirees also have large mortgages or remortgage their homes to access funds. Consider also making regular top-up payments towards your car or other debts if there is space in your budget while ensuring you provide for saving when you will need it most, at retirement. Paying off short-term debt and saving for retirement are two examples of financial levers that are within the individual's control. Small, significant improvements in these areas will help you make large steps towards financial health and wealth. The key message is: don't panic. A limited retirement fund does not have to mean a life of struggle. You can still make the most of your golden years. The best time to start is now. * Jackson is a client relationship manager, at 10X Investments. PERSONAL FINANCE
TimesLIVE
5 days ago
- Automotive
- TimesLIVE
Nissan plans $7bn funding, including loan backed by UK government
Japan's struggling Nissan is considering raising more than ¥1-trillion (R125,794,820,900) from debt and asset sales which would include a syndicated loan guaranteed by the UK government, Bloomberg News said on Wednesday. The country's third-biggest carmaker plans to issue as much as ¥630bn (R78,291,108) worth of convertible securities and bonds, including high-yielding US dollar and euro notes, Bloomberg News said, citing documents it had seen. Nissan is also considering taking out a £1bn (R24,260,850,000) syndicated loan guaranteed by UK Export Finance, the report said. The report said Nissan is also looking at selling part of the stakes it holds in French carmaker and long-standing alliance partner Renault and in battery maker AESC Group, and plants in SA and Mexico. Representatives for Nissan and UK Export Finance did not respond to a request for comment. Bloomberg News cited sources as saying Nissan's board did not appear to have approved the funding proposal yet, leaving it unclear whether it would happen. The proposal was also slated to include the rollover of some debt, the report said. Earlier this month, the company presented a sweeping cost-cutting plan under which it plans to reduce its workforce by around 15% and cut car plants to 10 from 17 globally. Sources told Reuters this month Nissan is considering plans to shut two car assembly plants in Japan and overseas factories, including in Mexico, and stop production in SA as part of its cost-cutting plan. Nissan's shares rose more than 4% after the report but they gave up most of the gains and were last trading up 0.6%.
The Citizen
25-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Rural residents fund road repairs as Polokwane Muni fails to act
POLOKWANE – The gravel roads in the Polokwane municipal area have now fallen into such a state of disrepair that residents have abandoned all hope of any support from the local authority, and attend to do the most urgent maintenance at their own cost. Polokwane Observer recently accompanied Ward 23 councillor, Roelof Lourens to the Soetdorings and Doornbult smallholdings and found that the gravel roads had not been graded for years, making it inaccessible for residents, in particular during the rainy season. You might also want to read: Polokwane Muni faces backlash over road maintenance in Soetdorings A local resident, Ricolette von Benecke, confirmed that the matter has been raised with the municipality at various levels, but to no avail. 'We are now using our own labour and resources to attend to the places where motorists can't even drive their children to school or reach medical care in case of emergencies,' she said. During the visit, Von Benecke was seen supervising workers loading material to cover manholes in ZN and ZM streets in Soetdorings. 'The residents are contributing by providing wages for the workers, equipment and fuel,' she added and confirmed that roughly R24 000 has been spent on road ZJ during February this year while residents had to continue paying rates and taxes to the municipality. After the rains in late January and February this year, some residents could not exit their properties and children consequently could not be taken to school. Even tractors got stuck on road ZB. According to Lourens, the matter has been raised with the municipality's manager of roads and stormwater, Pilot Ramothwala who they invited to a meeting on site. He, however, did not honour the invitation. Numerous follow-ups were made, they said, with no result. 'It appears that the municipality only utilises its so-called yellow fleet to do quick window dressing before a funeral or a visit from a high-ranking politician and sees no priority in attending to our gravel roads,' another resident said. At places in the city where municipal labourers were found, it was apparent that there was a lack economical utilisation of resources, with one worker half-heartedly grafting while 10 are supervising. Polokwane Observer raised the matter with the municipality six months ago and requested a works programme relating to maintenance of gravel roads in the rural areas, but no response was received after repeated reminders. The municipality was also requested to provide a list of all the gravel roads in the municipal area as well as a schedule of repairs done, but it appears that such information is not available. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
