Latest news with #R3000
The Citizen
2 days 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
28-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Glen Hills baby home appeals for donations
THE Ray of Hope Babies Home has been a place of safety for abandoned and vulnerable infants in Glen Hills for 15 years. Recently, Crisis mother Rachel Uys noticed a decline in donations, sponsorships, and volunteers and is calling on the community to help alleviate the mounting pressure it is experiencing. Uys said the drop in donations over the past year has placed the NPO in a difficult position. 'The economic climate has affected everyone, and we've really felt the impact. While we're incredibly grateful for the church and community members who continue to support us, we are in need of more help,' said Uys. The home, which consistently cares for six babies up to the age of three and a half, provides round-the-clock care, medical attention, and emotional support. Some children require specialised formula, medication for eczema or withdrawal symptoms, and other tailored treatments which pushes the monthly care costs up to R3000 per child in certain cases. The recent financial strain has forced the organisation to consider temporary staff downsizing. Volunteers have stepped in to fill the gap, but more are needed. 'We've had to temporarily let go of one of our casual caregivers. I have stepped in but I also have a ton of operational duties to see to such as hospitals and clinic visits, court visits, shopping, etc. And as the children grow, their needs grow too. It's not just baby formula. Toddlers need solids, new clothes, and pull-ups,' Uys explained. 'Unfortunately, people often only think of the babies when donating, but our toddlers need just as much. We need long-term volunteers who can commit their time regularly. Even one extra person helping with meals or laundry makes a huge difference,' said Uys. Currently, staff live on the premises part-time and are grateful for basic food donations like rice, mealie meal, bread, and spreads. Ray of Hope welcomes individual and corporate donations, and can issue Section 18A certificates for tax-deductible contributions. Supporters are encouraged to reach out via phone or email to request the home's current wish list of essential items and child-specific needs. 'Every donation counts whether it's cash, nappies, or your time. Together, we can keep giving these little ones the love and care they deserve,' she said. To make a donation or for their donation wish list and sponsorship opportunities, call Uys on 084 924 3100 or email info@ For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook , X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok. Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
21-05-2025
- Business
- The South African
Springbok ticket prices: Steep inflation hits the pocket
Springbok tickets have just gone on sale for the July Test matches that will include two games against Italy and one against Georgia, and despite many South Africans ending up in arms over the 'premium' prices, it does seem like these games will be sold out. Tickets for the Springboks' home matches in their defence of the Rugby Championship title will next go on sale on Friday, 13 June, and there is no doubt that supporters would need to fork out once again for these high-profile fixtures. To break it down, the Springboks' season-opener against the Barbarians on 28 June saw ticket prices ranging from R250 to R3,000. For the July internationals, the lower-range tickets prices at R200 and R350 were sold out in a flash, but many in the ticket 'queue' had to accept being left with the only options ranging over R1000, and up to R3000. Looking at interesting research from highly-respected sports business journalist, Cash N Sport , there were some eye-opening findings over the topic of Springbok ticket prices. In a comparison looking back a the past 10 years, it was found that 'top-end Springbok tickets are over 11 times more expensive than Bafana's and three times more than the Proteas'. However, it's really the inflation over the last decade that shows how the Springbok ticket prices have soared over the last decade. 'In 2015, you could get in for around R150, with the best seats costing R750. By 2022, top-end tickets for games like the All Blacks reached R1,500, and in some cases even higher for VIP seats,' Cash N Sport posted on X. 'Entry-level tickets have mostly stayed around R150–R300, but these are very limited with the majority of tickets being over R500 and big games are now priced like major global events, costing up to R3000.' The point was also well made that although watching the Springboks has now become a premium experience, particularly as the team has achieved so much success since 2018, there is also the risk of now pricing out some supporters. It also shouldn't be forgotten that the Springboks are expected to extensively experiment with selection this season, and so many fans who have forked out for premium tickets could face the prospect of only seeing a 'second string' side in action for some games. SPRINGBOKS' 2025 TEST SCHEDULE AND KICK-OFF TIMES (SA TIME): 28 June: vs Barbarians, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Kick off: 17:05. 5 July: vs Italy, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Kick off: 17:10. 12 July: vs Italy, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha. Kick off: 17:10. 19 July: vs Georgia, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Kick off: 17:10. 16 August: vs Australia, Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Kick off: 17:10. 23 August: vs Australia, DHL Stadium, Cape Town. Kick off: 17:10. 6 September: vs New Zealand, Auckland. Kick off: 09:05. 13 September: vs New Zealand, Wellington. Kick off: 09:05. 27 September: vs Argentina, Kings Park, Durban. Kick off: 17:10. 4 October: vs Argentina, London. Kick off: 15:00. 8 November: vs France, Paris. Kick off: TBD. 15 November: vs Italy, Turin. Kick off: TBD. 22 November: vs Ireland, Dublin. Kick off: 19:40. 29 November: vs Wales, Cardiff. Kick off: 17:10. *SA Rugby are working on adding two more Tests for the Springboks, likely to be against Japan and Portug Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news. Meanwhile, here is an important reminder on ticket sales for the Springbok men's game against Argentina in the Rugby Championship at Twickenham in October. Ticket sales Tickets are on sale via and England Rugby, starting from just £55* for adults and £28* for Under-16s. (*booking fees apply)
