Latest news with #R350
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Gautrain launches 50% fare discount with new KlevaMova offer
Travelling on the Gautrain has become more affordable for many in Gauteng, thanks to a new discounted fare initiative called KlevaMova. Launched by the Gautrain Management Agency and the provincial Department of Roads and Transport, the product offers a substantial 50% discount on train fares to a wide range of qualifying passengers. The discount is available to individuals living in households with a combined annual income of R350 000 or less, students under the age of 25, learners, pensioners, and recipients of Sassas's disability grant. The discounted tickets are available as weekly, monthly, and return trip products. Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport Kedibone Diale-Tlabela described the initiative as a vital step in making public transport more accessible to vulnerable groups. 'The high cost of travel continues to be a burden, especially for those living on the outskirts of economic centres,' she said. 'By reducing fares, we aim to ease the financial pressure on households and improve access to work and study opportunities.' Also read: Young swimmer makes it to six finals, clinches bronze, at South African Junior Nationals Figures from the Gauteng Household Travel Survey highlighted the issue. Nearly 60% of households were spending more than 10% of their income on public transport in 2019/20, a notable increase from 55% in 2014. Diale-Tlabela also called on employers to promote KlevaMova among qualifying staff. 'We want to see a more inclusive ridership on the Gautrain. This is about creating equity in mobility.' To benefit from KlevaMova, individuals must apply by submitting supporting documentation. Applications are subject to verification before approval. Also read: Diverse sectors meet future talent at The IIE's Varsity College Sandton career fair The initiative is complemented by a major reduction in parking fees. From April 1 to July 31 2025, all Gautrain users can park at any station for just R1 per day, making the service even more appealing to those who drive to stations. This latest move aligns with the province's long-term Integrated Transport Master Plan, which places passenger rail at the centre of efforts to reduce road congestion, accidents, and emissions. Read more: Kew residents fill pothole despite Joburg Roads Agency's promise More details about KlevaMova and how to apply are available at via the toll-free number 0800 428 87246 (0800 GAUTRAIN), or at Gautrain stations (excluding OR Tambo) between 08:00 and 17:00 from Monday to Saturday. With KlevaMova now available, public transport in Gauteng may finally become a viable and cost-effective option for many more residents. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Eyewitness News
24-05-2025
- General
- Eyewitness News
City says there's no money for water and toilets for Mamelodi settlement
Families living in Marikana informal settlement in Mamelodi have been living without proper access to basic services like toilets and running water for over eight years. Residents we spoke to say they've had no choice but to connect electricity and water illegally to survive. Many are unemployed and rely on social grants. Most of the more than 600 people who live on a flood line near the Pienaars River, first moved onto the land in 2016. They hoped that the City of Tshwane would eventually provide basic services until they were allocated RDP houses. But years later, nothing has changed and conditions at the settlement are deteriorating. Some households have dug their own pit toilets, but other relieve themselves in the surrounding bush. There is flowing sewage water in the potholed-streets. Illegal electric wires hang from poles overhead and inside yards. Households pay up to R350 a month to RDP homeowners in the neighbouring community to connect to electricity and water. Resident Lebogang Ngxila pays R250 to use electricity which was connected by community leaders to her home. She said she struggles to cook food for her family because the power supply isn't stable. 'It often trips early in the evening when most of us are cooking,' said Ngxila. Moses Malebana is one of several residents we spoke to who complained about a lack of road maintenance and electricity. He said they have to jump over puddles of dirty, smelling water next to their shacks. 'When some cars pass here at high speed, they splash my home with this dirty water,' said Malebana, who is unemployed. He said he could no longer afford to pay the electricity fee, so his illegal connection was switched off two months ago. He now boils water and cooks on a wood fire. Another resident, Nonhlanhla Galeka, lives with her boyfriend and their 11-month-old baby. She told GroundUp that she has to leave her baby alone in the shack each time she relieves herself at a neighbour's pit toilet 400 metres away. 'I cannot build a toilet in my yard because my stand is very small. This place is very cold because it is next to the river. My baby gets the flu very often,' she said. Galeka claims that several officials from the city previously visited the community on different occasions. She said the officials promised that they would get basic services and that they would be relocated to land more suitable for housing. Nonhlanhla Galeka says she has to leave her baby alone in her shack each time she goes to relieve herself at a neighbour's pit toilet 400 metres away. Ronald Nemakula said he applied for an RDP house in 2000 at the City's Department of Human Settlements, but he is still waiting. He built his shack in Marikana after spending many years waiting for the house. 'I want to be relocated to a safe place because life is difficult here,' he said. Gabeiel Nyodzani said that he relieves himself in the nearby bushes because he does not have a toilet in his yard. He said a lack of running water makes it difficult to cook and wash clothes. 'My life will be better if the municipality can give us chemical toilets and send trucks here to deliver water every week.' He added that when it rains, the river swells and floods their homes. City of Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo told GroundUp that the city does not have plans to formalise Marikana because the land is on a flood line and therefore isn't suitable for housing. Mashingo confirmed that there are plans to relocate 220 homes but would not give further details about this. Asked to respond to the residents' claims that the City promised to provide them with basic services, Mashigo said the City currently doesn't have funds to provide services to Marikana. On the illegal connections, the city says it plans to remove them and take action against those involved. This article first appeared on GroundUp. Read the original article here.
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Joburg man makes gym weights from recycled plastic
Milton Sepeng, a 32-year-old man from Johannesburg, has transformed his passion for fitness into a business after losing his job in 2023. With gym membership and equipment becoming unaffordable, Sepeng turned to innovation, creating gym weights from recycled plastic waste. 'I have always been passionate about gym since high school,' he said. 'My story started when I lost my job in 2023, I could no longer afford gym membership nor buy gym equipment as I had no money at all. Every rand I could come up with went towards food and data, I also relied on the R350 grant.' He said the idea was inspired by an article about two women from the Free State who manufactured building bricks from plastic waste. 'I thought that as it is possible for cement to make homemade gym weights and bricks, maybe recycled plastic can also make gym weights. That's when I started doing my research and finally found a method to do it. I got together a few scrap materials to make the mould, then I made my first gym plate/weight. It wasn't perfect, but I had done it.' After using the weights himself, Sepeng saw potential for a business, catering to individuals who couldn't afford traditional gym equipment. 'I got together a couple of thousand to buy basic tools, and that's how I started manufacturing and selling gym weights made from plastic waste.'
IOL News
23-05-2025
- IOL News
Fraudster gets eight years for house scam
Riaan Dandrey Belelie was sentenced at the George Regional Court on Wednesday for a fraudulent house sale transaction, which cost the complainant R300 000. Image: Supplied / Hawks A George man has been sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for defrauding a complainant of R300 000 in housing sale scam. Riaan Dandrey Belelie, 39, was sentenced at the George Regional Court on Wednesday, said Hawks spokesperson Zinzi Hani. According to Hani, Belelie went about the transaction in 2018. On the sentence, Hani said: 'This comes after he entered into a plea agreement with the State on charges of fraud, forgery, and uttering. He was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment, of which four years is suspended for five years. 'It is reported that on August 3, 2018, the complainant agreed to sell a house to the accused for the amount of R780 000. According to the terms of the agreement, the accused should pay a deposit of R350 000 on the date of signing the contract,' said Hani. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ The court heard that the balance of R430 000 should be paid in three instalments of R143 334, and further, the amount of R5000 per month for rent from September 2018 until November 2018. 'On August 5, 2018, a proof of payment to the amount of R300 000 was sent via email to the complainant. It was sent on a Standard Bank internet banking letterhead. Upon the receipt of proof of payment, the accused moved into the property. It was later discovered that the proof of payment was forged. This led to the arrest of the accused, which further resulted in his sentencing,' said Hani. The complainant suffered a potential loss of R300 000 and Belelie will effectively serve four years' direct imprisonment. Cape Times
The Citizen
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Arrested kingpins and service delivery: Lesufi lists Gauteng successes
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi stated his administration was focused on reducing crime and growing the economy. Premier Panyaza Lesufi gave an update on Gauteng's priority programmes on Thursday morning. Almost a year into Gauteng's government of provincial unity, Lesufi listed the successes achieved over the past several months. He said his administration's key objectives were three-fold: focusing on economic growth, reducing crime and 'strengthening the capacity of the state'. Roughly 30% of key criminals arrested The premier's State of the Province Address trumpeted an investment conference that would kickstart economic revitalisation. Lesufi said on Thursday that the conference had generated R320 billion worth of pledged commitments. 'We are now focused on converting these pledges into tangible job opportunities for our people,' said the premier. In combating crime, Lesufi claimed authorities have arrested almost one-third of the kingpins associated with criminal activity in the province. 'We have apprehended over 150 of the nearly 450 criminals identified as major contributors to crime in the province,' said Lesufi, thanking police officials. 'The number of kidnappings, cash-in-transit heists has decreased. Sadly, reported cases of Gender Based violence and femicide are not decreasing as we expect them to,' the premier conceded. Service delivery Gauteng's municipalities have been ravaged by service delivery problems, notably water shortages and the deterioration of the road network. Lesufi announced that R1.5 billion has been allocated for immediate road repairs and maintenance, while R350 million is still needed to repair broken traffic signals in Johannesburg and Tshwane. 'By the end of 2025, we will take over the coordination of road maintenance programs currently managed by provinces and municipalities to ensure more efficient service delivery,' he stated. The administration is also focused on recovering hijacked buildings in Johannesburg CBD, with Lesufi claiming 12 illegally occupied buildings have been recovered so far. Compliance of staff Lesufi's opposition in the provincial legislature have been calling for the results of lifestyle and compliance audits on officials to be made public. Without revealing any specifics, the premier provided progress on vetting efforts within the administration. 'As of October 2024, the provincial government had 750 senior managers, 732 of whom were either already vetted or in the process of achieving a 98% compliance rate. 'We urgently address the remaining 17 cases where paperwork has not been submitted. 'I have received the final report of the lifestyle audits with outcomes for two Heads of Department (HOD). One HOD has successfully passed the audit, and the other one will be going for the final round of audit.' 'There are three MECs who are still to conclude the lifestyle audits as they were appointed into the Executive Council in this administration,' Lesufi stated. NOW READ: 'I'm viewing my options,' says Lesufi on availability for ANC's top positions
