Latest news with #R25
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Human trafficking case: Mother refers to baby as a ‘dog'
The mother (30), who allegedly attempted to sell her baby, cried in court after bail was denied to her. Magistrate Vuyokazi Diza handed down judgement recently, in the bail application of four people accused of trafficking a baby. At the first sitting of the bail application on May 12, the court heard how the four involved in this case, attempted to sell the new-born infant for financial gain. In statements from investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Michelle van Niekerk of Margate Saps, the court heard how an offer of R25 000 was received for the child from a Nigerian national. It was the intervention of police that resulted in the arrest of the four who allegedly tried to sell the baby for a better offer of R140 000. Van Niekerk opposed bail and believed they should remain in custody because if one of the four disappeared, it could jeopardise the case. Also, there was concern that they would interfere with state witness. 'The mother of the baby referred to the child as a dog, and wanted nothing to do with it. She was no mother to the child,' read the detective's statement. Her 42-year-old boyfriend (accused three) who faces a schedule one offence was granted bail of R3000. The court heard he had a chronic illness and lived in a shack on a property he owned in Uvongo. He lived there without running water or electricity. Diza said accused three had indicated that he had ties to the area of jurisdiction, and it can be agreed that he can't just up and leave. His bail conditions are that he cannot interfere with state witnesses or police investigations. He must also report weekly to Margate police station. A husband (39) and wife (40), (accused one and two), who are believed to be the 'sellers' of the three-day old infant were also denied bail. Accused one, two and four (the baby's mother) are facing a schedule six offence which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment. In a a strange twist, accused two arrived to court wearing a hijab over a longish pair of shorts. Her husband has been wearing a taqiyah (cap) since the start of the case. In a lengthy judgement, Diza gave various reasons for denying bail to the three accused. She said the court needed proof of residential addresses and employment, and this was not provided. Diza said there was mention of staying in Cape Town or Krugersdorp. 'Cape Town is far away and the police wouldn't know where to look for you, unlike accused three, who has ties to the area.' 'The court invited you to make this information available. It is something worth knowing and that's why I called for it (proof of residences) as 'something was lacking'.' Diza said so much could go wrong (if bail was granted) and they were unable to provide sufficient significant details. She further said she cannot grant bail as it's not in the interest of justice and she can't accept the exceptional circumstances. With regards to accused two's four children, Diza said the court has been informed that they are safe with relatives. The court heard how the mother of the baby (accused four) was going through a difficult time and needed help. Diza said the court questioned that if accused four was staying with her mother, why couldn't she have helped with the baby. Instead, the baby was handed over to accused one and two. * To protect the identity of the child, the four accused in this case, cannot be named. HAVE YOUR SAY Like the South Coast Herald's Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
14 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Human trafficking case: KZN mother refers to baby as a ‘dog'
A mother (30), who allegedly attempted to sell her baby, cried in court after her bail was denied. South Coast Herald reports that Magistrate Vuyokazi Diza handed down a judgment recently in the bail application of four people accused of trafficking a baby. At the first sitting of the bail application on May 12, the court heard how the four accused allegedly attempted to sell the newborn for financial gain. In statements from the investigating officer, Detective Warrant Officer Michelle van Niekerk of Margate SAPS, the court heard how an offer of R25 000 was received for the child from a Nigerian national. It was the intervention of the police that resulted in the arrest of the four who allegedly tried to sell the baby for a better offer of R140 000. Van Niekerk opposed bail and believed they should remain in custody because if one of the four disappeared, it could jeopardise the case. Also, there was concern that they would interfere with state witnesses. 'The mother of the baby referred to the child as a dog and wanted nothing to do with it. She was no mother to the child,' read the detective's statement. Her 42-year-old boyfriend (accused three), who faces a schedule one offence, was granted bail of R3 000. The court heard he had a chronic illness and lived in a shack on a property he owned in Uvongo. He lived there without running water or electricity. Diza said accused three had indicated that he had ties to the area of jurisdiction, and it can be agreed that he can't just up and leave. His bail conditions are that he cannot interfere with state witnesses or police investigations. He must also report weekly to Margate Police Station. A husband (39) and wife (40), (accused one and two), who are believed to be the 'sellers' of the three-day-old baby were also denied bail. Accused one, two and four (the baby's mother) are facing a schedule six offence which carries severe penalties, including life imprisonment. In a strange twist, accused two arrived in court wearing a hijab over a longish pair of shorts. Her husband has been wearing a taqiyah (cap) since the start of the case. In a lengthy judgment, Diza gave various reasons for denying bail to the three accused. She said the court needed proof of residential addresses and employment, and this was not provided. Diza said there was mention of staying in Cape Town or Krugersdorp. 'Cape Town is far away and the police wouldn't know where to look for you, unlike accused three, who has ties to the area.' 'The court invited you to make this information available. It is something worth knowing and that's why I called for it (proof of residence) as 'something was lacking'.' Diza said so much could go wrong (if bail was granted), and they were unable to provide sufficient, significant details. She further said she cannot grant bail as it's not in the interest of justice, and she can't accept the exceptional circumstances. With regard to accused two's four children, Diza said the court has been informed that they are safe with relatives. The court heard how the mother of the baby (accused four) was going through a difficult time and needed help. Diza said the court questioned why, if accused four was staying with her mother, she couldn't have helped with the baby. Instead, the baby was handed over to accused one and two. * To protect the identity of the child, the four accused cannot be named. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hans India
2 days ago
- Science
- Hans India
JNTUH to award over 92K degrees, 74 gold medals
Hyderabad: The Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU) – Hyderabad will confer honorary doctorate to Professor TG Sitharam, Chairman All India Council for Technical Education, during its XIII convocation on Tuesday. During the ceremony, around 74 gold medals will be presented to meritorious students. A total of 92,118 degrees – 77,559 Undergraduate, 13,063 Postgraduate, 950 Doctor of Pharmacy, 305 Doctor of Philosophy and 241 other degrees will be presented to successful students during the event. Telangana Governor Jishnu Dev Varma, who is also JNTU-Hyderabad Chancellor, will take part in the convocation and Professor Sitharam will deliver the convocation address. 'According to JNTUH officials, the University is in the process of revising the course curriculum and the syllabi of all UG and PG programmes in the form of R25 regulations, which will be applicable from the academic year 2025-26,' Professor Reddy said, adding that the main objective of the syllabus revision is to prepare industry need based curriculum that will enhance employability skills, 'A total of 791 students of JNTU-Hyderabad University colleges/units have been placed during campus interviews for the academic year 2024-25.
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Semigration boosts Cape residential rental yields
Semigration to the Cape has been a major boost for the residential rentals market, especially in areas such as Durbanville which offers a great lifestyle, but more affordability, says Daniela de Villiers, Seeff's rentals manager for the Durbanville area. The higher demand has unlocked more opportunities for investors and landlords in the area, offering attractive rental yields of 6%-10% depending on the area and property, she says. Average rental rates in the Durbanville and surrounding area range between R9,000 to R25,000, and for luxury homes, upwards of R30,000 per month. Luxury estate homes go to as much as R51,000 and R60,000 per month for homes rented out by Seeff in the Kanonberg and Clara Anna Fontein estates. Tenants are coming mainly from Gauteng, particularly the Pretoria area. They are drawn to the area due to the central location, reputable schools, and relative affordability compared to other upmarket locations in Cape Town. Durbanville offers easy access to main arterials, and well-maintained, safe neighbourhoods. The country-like lifestyle and proximity to the Durbanville Wine Valley are also a bonus for people moving from upcountry. Both families and young professionals are flocking to the area. Students from nearby medical facilities, and those doing practical rotations at state hospitals in the area are also drawn to the rental market. Anneke Roux, another rental agent with Seeff who operates in the Welgedacht area, says the area is also popular with those who enjoy an active lifestyle as they can safely walk and cycle in the scenic surroundings. The highest demand in Welgedacht is in the R13,000-R20,000 range while yields range from 6-10%. Schools are a big attraction, according to Allison Oosthuizen, another Seeff rental agent. Young professionals are drawn to the good selection of apartments in the area, including those at the Waterfront. Apartments rent out at R9,000-R11,000 per month which is more affordably priced compared to the Cape Town CBD. Townhouses is a popular alternative as they are also well-priced at R14,000-R18,000. Even luxury homes at R41,000-R51,000 offer good value compared to other upper end areas. The opportunity for investors is mostly for properties in the R1.2m to R2.4m price range where they can achieve a rental income of R9,000 to R20,000 per month, providing a rental yield of 5-7%. Gratia van Jaarsveld, another Seeff rental agent, however, cautions that landlords must keep their prices in line with the market or they could risk not attracting a good calibre tenant within a reasonable period. Pet-friendly properties are always sought-after. When investing in a rental property, a good location is vital, but landlords must maintain properties in a good condition to optimise the rental and retain good tenants. The areas of Pinelands and Thornton, closer to the City, report similar trends. Johan Meyer, licensee from Seeff for the areas, says the high demand is due to proximity to UCT, Groote Schuur Hospital, good schools, and access to the airport. Tenants include students, medical staff as well as those working at the Old Mutual offices. Here too, rental properties are in short supply, and landlords can earn yields of 6-10%. There is high demand for neat, modern accommodation such as the new Pineworx development. Apartments are renting out at R9,500-R14,000 while houses range from R20,000. The highest prices achieved by Seeff over the last year include R25,000 for a rental in Victory Avenue, R35,000 in Uitvlugt, and R42,000 in Links Drive. Issued by Gina Meintjes
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
CoJ's R200 prepaid electricity surcharge extended for another financial year
JOHANNESBURG - There is no good news for prepaid electricity customers in Johannesburg, as the R200 surcharge has been extended for another financial year. Finance MMC Margaret Arnolds confirmed during her budget speech on Wednesday that the surcharge was here to stay. It was first implemented in July 2024, causing public outrage about soaring electricity prices. ALSO READ: - CoJ allocates more than R5bn to address water challenges over next three years - City of Joburg's Finance MMC tables R89bn budget - ActionSA says won't support CoJ budget unless R200 electricity surcharge scrapped The City of Johannesburg expects to generate R25 billion in electricity revenue in the next financial year, which is a 12.5% increase from the current fiscal period. A significant driver of this increase is the controversial R200 surcharge imposed on prepaid electricity users. Although the surcharge adds to the financial burden on residents, Arnolds said that maintaining it at R200 was in the best interest of taxpayers. "We refuse to allow economic pressure to push our people further into the margins. That is why we are holding the prepaid electricity surcharge unchanged at R200, excluding VAT - a deliberate act to protect the poor against rising energy costs. "This budget makes it clear: we will not govern in a way that reproduces inequality. Our pro-poor programme is a political choice rooted in the values of equity, dignity, and redress. It is a signal that in the City of Johannesburg, no one will be left behind. Not on our watch." She said that other metros in the country also imposed a similar electricity surcharge, and claimed that Johannesburg remained more affordable in comparison.
