Latest news with #R35
IOL News
15 hours ago
- General
- IOL News
R35,000 in 30 Minutes: The world rallies to help little Zoë hear for the first time
Tracy Olivari and her beautiful daughter Zoë Image: Supplied Just days after her heartfelt plea appeared in the Weekend Argus, Tracy Olivari from Goodwood received the kind of news that changes lives forever. In a bid to raise R35,000 for her daughter Zoë's hearing assessment and treatment — a crucial step before the young girl starts Grade 1 — Tracy never imagined how quickly help would come. Thanks to international support, including a powerful boost from American YouTuber Colonel Chris Wyatt, the full amount was raised in just 30 minutes. 'I'm still trying to wrap my head around it,' Tracy shared. 'I thought I'd be waiting months — I didn't expect this to happen in three days, let alone in under an hour. I'm completely overwhelmed.' Four-year-old Zoë's story of being born prematurely at just seven months, and was given only hours to live, touched many people, including Wyatt, a retired US Army colonel known for spotlighting South African stories. Wyatt, shared Zoë's story with his audience, who responded almost instantly — giving Zoë not only a chance to hear for the first time, but the opportunity to start school on equal footing with her peers. Tracy with a brave little Zoë Image: Supplied An appointment has already been booked with an audiologist for 17 June, just ahead of the new school term. It marks the beginning of a long-awaited journey for Zoë, who has never been able to hear since birth and in turn affected her speech. 'At least now, I can take her for proper assessments. That's something I couldn't do before,' Tracy said. 'It's going to be life-changing for her — and for us as a family.' The generosity didn't stop with donations. Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services also jumped into action to help make one of Zoë's dreams come true. Jermaine Carelse, spokesperson for the City of Cape Town's Fire and Rescue Services, immediately reached out to the Weekend Argus after reading Zoë's story. He offered her a personal tour of the Goodwood Fire Station — her favourite place. 'Most of us in the Fire Service are parents, and we all know the daily struggles and joys our kids bring to our lives,' said Carelse. 'Sometimes, the little moments — like bringing your child to a fire station — become the big ones. And who doesn't want to be a firefighter? We will make Zoë's day extremely special. We also want to show appreciation to Tracy, who is a single parent, and still giving 200% to make memories each day.' Tracy said she wants to stay transparent and keep supporters updated, and has launched a YouTube channel where she will document Zoë's journey — from diagnosis to treatment, and hopefully to the moment she hears for the first time. 'I want people to see where the money is going. I want them to feel a part of this journey. It's their kindness that made it possible.' Tracy recalled the exact moment everything changed. 'I had just left the office, and the campaign had only hit R1,100. My faith was low. I told myself I wouldn't keep checking because I'd just stress myself out. Then I got a call from my mum. She said, 'Tracy, we made it. Go and look.' When I saw that we'd gone over the target, I just cried. I was laughing, crying, silent — everything at once.' Even Zoë's older sister, just eight years old, was moved to tears. 'She said she's so excited to finally hear her sister's voice. We just held each other and cried.' Zoe Olivari Image: Supplied For Tracy, the journey is about more than just hearing aids or doctor's appointments. It's about the everyday moments most take for granted. 'She doesn't know what a bird sounds like. She's never heard my voice. I can't call out to her when she runs off — I just have to follow. I can't wait to hear her say: 'I love you, Mommy'. To hear it — not just feel it — that will be everything '2025 — who would've thought this would be the year everything turned around? It's a reminder that God really does come through. And that there are still incredibly good people in the world.' 'To every single person who donated — from the bottom of my heart, thank you. You've done more than help my daughter hear. You've shown us love, hope, and humanity. 'Thank you for the prayers especially- there is really power in prayer =. To the Fire department, thank you for reaching out, I know Zoë is going to love experiencing the big fire trucks, she's always been fascinated with it. 'And to the Weekend Argus — thank you for helping us tell our story…Thank you for being the one publication who got back to me. You helped change our lives.' [email protected] Weekend Argus
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Budget 3.0: SARS will have to go all out to justify massive cash injection
CAPE TOWN - The South African Revenue Service (SARS) will have to pull out all the stops to justify a massive cash injection through the latest iteration of the national budget that seeks to bolster its ability to collect more taxes. SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said since the failed March budget, he's already been training additional debt collectors to reach the goal of collecting at least another R20 billion in taxes over the next year. ALSO READ: While the finance minister has had to cave to political pressure to scrap a planned value-added tax (VAT) increase to fund government expenditure, raising the fuel levy as of June will not be enough to close the fiscal gap over the medium term. Tabling the third version of the national budget on Wednesday, Minister of Finance Enoch Godongwana said he was giving SARS R7.5 billion over the next three years to improve its effectiveness in collecting more revenue and to modernise its systems. Godongwana estimates that as much as R35 billion more can be collected. Kieswetter said since April, he's employed an additional 500 debt collectors. Another 250 will be added to SARS's payroll in June. 'Our estimate is that this should at least give us R20 billion. We are targeting a debt collection of the overall composite debt of R120 billion.' One of SARS's targets will be the illicit tobacco trade. Kieswetter said there will be regular progress reports to Treasury, and by the mid-term budget in October, a level of confidence can be assessed.
Zawya
27-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
South Africa: Pick n Pay debuts AI-driven app to unify online services
Pick n Pay has launched a redesigned app that consolidates its on-demand delivery platform, asap!, its Smart Shopper loyalty programme, and other digital services into a single system. The rollout is described as the company's most significant digital development since the launch of asap! in 2020. The new app is currently in beta until the end of September 2025 and includes features such as AI-powered product suggestions, expanded payment options, and the ability to schedule multiple orders. Users can also earn and spend Smart Shopper points directly through the app. Integration with website to expand reach From 1 June 2025, the company will relaunch its website to support asap! deliveries, extending fast delivery services to desktop shoppers without requiring app use. Orders placed through the website will now be fulfilled from 600 stores, up from 47, which the company says will enable a lower delivery fee of R35. Features and future plans The app includes Smart Shopper integration that syncs past purchases across platforms, personalised deal suggestions, and access to bill payments and mobile top-ups. Pick n Pay retail executive for online, Enrico Ferigolli, said additional features will be introduced over the coming months to improve the user experience and support scalability. He described the upgrade as part of a 'four-year journey' that began with pandemic-era demand for rapid delivery. 'We now have all the pieces in place,' Ferigolli said. 'Our latest upgrades enhance the customer experience and improve our efficiency and scalability.' The company has not announced a formal public release date beyond the current beta phase. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
The Citizen
27-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Dipping into retirement funds could cost more than you think
Early withdrawals shrink your retirement savings and prevent them from growing, which can leave you financially short in the future. It's close to the end of the month. Bills are stacking up, and your bank balance is low. Maybe the car needs urgent repairs, or an unexpected medical bill has thrown off your budget. In these moments, many South Africans have found themselves asking: should they dip into their retirement savings to make ends meet? Unfortunately, this has become a growing reality for many, according to the SpendTrend25 report, a collaborative study by Visa and Discovery Bank, that takes an in-depth look at South African consumer spending habits. The two-pot retirement system allowed South Africans to withdraw a portion of their retirement savings, resulting in 1.9 million applications and R35 billion in withdrawals by November. By January 2025, the South African Revenue Services reported that about two million South Africans withdrew from their savings pots, with a total gross lump sum of R43.42 billion paid out. While this system was designed to assist people with life's emergencies and encourage them not to use all the funds on changing jobs, the decision to withdraw even some of it can come at a much higher cost over the long term. Impact on long-term financial security The SpendTrend25 report, including data from Discovery Corporate and Employee Benefits retirement fund members, shows the following: 24% of retirement savings were withdrawn to cover home or car costs 21% of withdrawals were used to pay short-term debt 20% went towards school fees, and 11% was used for other daily expenses. This reveals how people are using money intended for long-term savings to cover immediate costs, even as inflation eases. But this shift from saving for retirement to spending money on immediate expenses can result in retirement funds not growing as fast and financial strain during later years when these savings are needed. Withdrawing from long-term savings is not sustainable financial behaviour, which makes education on long-term financial management crucial across all income groups. The burden of taxes on withdrawals Despite warnings that accessing funds from the savings pot is costly, many South Africans were shocked to find that taxes were levied on their early withdrawals. Retirement fund contributions are tax-deductible, so any withdrawal, whether at retirement or before retirement from your savings component, is taxed as income. This highlights the need for more awareness regarding the implications. Missed opportunity for financial growth By withdrawing from retirement funds prematurely, individuals decrease the overall growth of their retirement savings over time. Contributions to retirement accounts typically benefit from compound interest or from earning interest on interest, which accelerates growth. Early withdrawals shrink your retirement savings and prevent them from growing, which can leave you financially short in the future. Financial tools and education can help to plan for the future To combat this issue, Vitality Money, Discovery Bank's behaviour-change programme that rewards people for managing money well, offers a solution. The platform helps clients track and improve their financial habits, making it easier to build emergency savings, manage short—and long-term debt, and have all the necessary types of cover to help manage all financial commitments. 'Discovery data shows a clear link between financial behaviours and retirement savings preservation. Higher Vitality Money statuses generally indicate better financial habits. For example, Discovery Retirement Fund members with a higher Vitality Money status are less likely to withdraw from their retirement savings,' says CEO of Discovery Bank, Hylton Kallner. While higher earners might seem less likely to dip into their retirement savings, the data shows a different trend. Withdrawal rates were higher among high-income earners with a low Vitality Money status than among lower-income earners with a higher Vitality Money status. This highlights a key insight: Smart financial habits matter more than income when it comes to protecting long-term savings. Financial tools and education can play a critical role in helping individuals manage their finances to avoid relying on retirement savings for short-term needs.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- IOL News
Where is the university built by the Taxi Industry?
There are approximately 150 000 to 283 000 minibus taxis on the road in South Africa daily, depending on whose research one uses, says the writer. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Why has the South African minibus taxi industry not built a school or university for South Africans yet? The Road Transportation Act of 1977 opened public transport provision to previously excluded groups, bringing black operators into the mainstream of the public transport industry. The Transport Deregulation Act of 1988 saw the minibus taxi become the dominant form of public transport for especially the poor, leading to its continued growth and complete dominance. There are approximately 150 000 to 283 000 minibus taxis on the road in South Africa daily, depending on whose research one uses. These vehicles are owned by about 20,000 owners and they are variously affiliated to about 950 regional operating bodies, all of which fall under either the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) or the National Taxi Alliance (NTA). According to SANTACO's documents, the industry employs about 600 000 people and is the main transport provider for 16 million people daily. Its annual turnover is between R35 billion at the low end, R50 billion in the mid-range, and R90 billion in the upper range. Again, figures vary based on who one speaks to. The industry is poorly supported by government. Its relationship with the State has been conflictual for most of its existence. The 2023 Western Cape taxi strike was among the worst in recent years. Struck by both Covid and the strike, the industry bled money. It has a complex business model, where all three principal agents, the owner, driver and sliding door operator, are essentially entrepreneurs. At the end of the transport line, their business acumen determines how much money each of them and their various associations make annually. A minibus taxi transports, on average, twelve people per trip and makes about eight trips per day. At an average cost of about R12 per passenger, the daily income is about R1152 per taxi per day. That's about R230 million per day for this sector. If it operates for 264 days per year, it generates about R61 billion in annual revenue. Paying staff and maintaining vehicles are all extremely expensive. But the question remains: what has it given back to its 16 million loyal commuters? Its "Back-to-School" campaign, supplying school supplies, is very commendable. But where are the schools they built? Where are the infrastructure projects they launched or the bursaries they provide? In 2021, Trade Union Solidarity built a technical university for R300 million. Why have the two national taxi associations not invested their profits into better benefits for their passengers? If each of the 200 000 taxis on the road took only one of its eight daily trips and gave that fare of R144 once a week into a national Taxi Industry Community Empowerment Fund, that would net R29 million every week. If they did this for forty weeks a year, they would have an empowerment fund with an annual capital contribution of R1.1 billion each year. Think of how that could change the face of empowerment interventions in South Africa. 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 ✕ . Lorenzo Davids is the Executive Director of Urban Issues Consulting. Image: Supplied But its business model is rooted in a mindset that does not empower the collective ecosystem. Owners take the lion's share and become rich, while the other agents in the ecosystem eke out a miserly existence. With a better economic model, the minibus taxi industry could rise to become the empowerment bastion of the South African economy. But as long as its mindset is on eating today and not investing in the future, the industry will never reach the potential it has. Perhaps it is also so by design that others in power do not want them to fully grasp the economic muscle they hold, for it will dramatically change the economic power models in South Africa. A university built by the taxi industry would then be small change. Its time the industry woke up. An entire country changed by its new financial model would be a game changer in our economy. Cape Argus
