Latest news with #R41
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- TimesLIVE
AFU obtains confiscation order against ex-rangers who killed two rhinos
The Skukuza regional court has granted a confiscation order in favour of the National Prosecuting Authority's Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU) in Mpumalanga against two convicted former field rangers who killed two rhinos in December 2018. 'The order, made on Thursday, compels Lucky Mkanzi and Nzima Joel Sihlangu to pay R836,600, plus 11% interest accruing from the date of the poaching of two rhinos,' NPA spokesperson Monica Nyuswa said. The court further directed that R41,820 being held in the SAPS Absa suspense bank account be paid to SANParks to support anti-rhino poaching efforts. Mkanzi and Sihlangu were each sentenced to 20 years' direct imprisonment last year for offences committed between December 25 and 30 2018 in the Skukuza section of the Kruger National Park. At the time of the offences, both were on day shift and had no authorisation to work during the night. During their trial, the prosecution presented evidence showing that the vehicle used in the poaching incident was stationary at the location where the rhinos were killed. Their supervisor testified that neither of the accused had permission to be on night duty. A tracking expert confirmed the movements of the vehicle, placing them at the crime scene, and a police officer testified about a raid on Sihlangu's residence where cash from the sale of rhino horns was found. Both accused were convicted of conspiracy to commit an offence and the illegal killing of two rhinos. 'The AFU plays a vital role in ensuring that criminals do not benefit from their unlawful actions. Through the AFU, the NPA continues to reinforce accountability, uphold the rule of law, and demonstrate that crime has serious financial and legal consequences,' Nyuswa said.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Retailers must tighten cybersecurity as omnichannel strategies expand
Educational institutions have fallen prey to social engineering and spoofing attacks, says the writer. Image: File In an age where customer experience reigns supreme, South African retailers are increasingly adopting omnichannel strategies to capture the attention and loyalty of consumers. This approach, characterised by a seamless integration of in-store, online, and mobile platforms, offers unparalleled convenience. However, as businesses strive to meet rising consumer expectations, they face a daunting challenge: the growing risks associated with cybersecurity. Cloete, an industry expert, explains that 'omnichannel strategies require extensive customer data collection across multiple touchpoints to deliver a seamless experience.' While this data collection might enrich the customer experience, it simultaneously broadens the attack surface for cybercriminals. The interconnected nature of modern retail creates numerous opportunities for malicious actors to intercept sensitive data shared in real time across various platforms. Retailers are particularly appealing targets for cybercriminals due to their access to highly valuable personal and financial information. Login credentials, payment card details, and purchase histories are just a few nuggets of gold waiting to be mined. Cybercriminals employ increasingly sophisticated tactics that exploit vulnerabilities within security systems, often seeking out weak points where access can be gained. For many retail businesses, the omnichannel model prioritises ease of access, which can inadvertently lead to a false sense of security. Cloete cautions against the notion that robust cybersecurity measures might hinder customer experiences. 'Restrictions imposed by cybersecurity,' he notes, 'may be perceived to conflict with smooth interactions. However, for most consumers, strong security builds confidence and trust.' Moreover, retailers must also contend with the vulnerabilities posed by the third-party services essential to the omnichannel experience. A notable case occurred in 2022 when pharmacy giant Dis-Chem suffered a cyberattack traceable to a third-party service provider. This breach affected the personal information of over 3.6 million South Africans, vividly illustrating how interconnected technology can become a double-edged sword. 'Payment processors, marketing integrations, and customer service tools can introduce security gaps if not properly vetted and monitored,' Cloete explains. 'A breach in any of these systems can compromise customer data, even if the retailer's own security measures are strong.' The call for retailers is clear: they must rigorously audit all suppliers and software vendors to ensure they are maintaining an adequate security posture. The stakes are high. According to the 2024 IBM Cost of a Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach for South African companies reached a staggering R41 million last year, with business disruption and post-breach response activities accounting for a significant portion of these costs.
TimesLIVE
23-05-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
Energy bills to fall for millions of Britons as price cap dips 7%
Millions of British households will see lower energy bills from July after regulator Ofgem said its domestic price cap would fall 7% to reflect lower wholesale energy prices. The reduction is welcome news for the government, under pressure to ease a cost-of-living squeeze, and comes after data earlier this week showed a bigger-than-expected rise in inflation in April. "Global wholesale prices for energy have gone down. While this is the main cause, changes to supplier business costs have also made an impact on energy prices falling," Ofgem said. Wholesale gas and power prices are a major part of the formula the regulator uses to calculate the price cap. Benchmark British gas prices have fallen almost 40% since their peak in February, dented by fears over an industrial slowdown and global trade war and after the EU parliament backed weaker gas storage rules. Despite the fall, domestic energy prices remain about 50% higher than they were in the summer of 2021, before Russia's invasion of Ukraine sent gas prices soaring and sparked an energy price crisis in Europe. Consumer groups warned energy costs remain unmanageable for many households and called for more support for those struggling. "Any fall in the price of energy is always welcome news, but this is a short fall from a great height. Bills remain punishingly high for low-income households," said Adam Scorer, CEO of energy poverty charity National Energy Action. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Wednesday said he recognised older people were feeling the pressure of energy prices and he wanted to ensure more pensioners become eligible for winter fuel payments, having curbed the number of people eligible last year. Ofgem's new cap of £1,720 (R41,552) a year for average use of electricity and gas is down £129 (R3,116) from the previous cap for April to June.
The South African
14-05-2025
- General
- The South African
The Lotto results for Wednesday, 14 May 2025
It's time for today's Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws. Will you be South Africa's next Lotto multimillionaire? Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 jackpot estimates: Lotto – estimated at R41 million Lotto Plus 1 – estimated at R6 million Lotto Plus 2 – estimated at R2 million If you want to win your share of the jackpot, you have to play! You know what they say, you've got to be in it, to win it. NOTE: The numbers drawn will appear below as soon as they are available at or after 21:00. View the latest version of this page to verify whether the numbers have been updated. Draw Date: 14 May 2025 Lotto Numbers: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 Bonus Ball: 0 Lotto Plus 1 Numbers: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 Bonus Ball: 0 Lotto Plus 2 Numbers: 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0 Bonus Ball: 0 Did you miss a draw and wonder if you're actually a millionaire? Click here to view past Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 and payouts The Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday on SABC 2 at 20:56 (SA time) Players buy tickets with their choice of six different numbers between 1 and 52. There is provision for random numbers to be generated automatically for those who do not wish to choose, known as a Quick Pick. When introduced, the Lotto jackpot draw required numbers from 1 to 49. Ithuba Holdings increased the number from 49 to 52 on 30 July 2017. In the draw, six numbered balls are drawn without replacement from a set of 52 balls numbered from 1 to 52. A further Bonus Ball is also drawn, which only affects players who match five numbers. Prizes are awarded to players who match at least three of the six drawn numbers, with prizes increasing for matching more of the drawn numbers. All players who match all six drawn numbers win equal shares of the jackpot. The chance of doing so is 1 in 20,358,520. If four, five, or six balls are matched, the relevant prize is divided equally between all who match that many balls. If no player matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and is added to that of the next Lotto draw. The entry fee to the Lotto draw is set at R5.00 per board. Lotto Plus 1 is exactly the same as Lotto, but gives the player a second chance to win. When buying a Lotto ticket, players can pay an extra R2.50 per board to enter the Lotto Plus 1 draw. Odds are the same, while prizes are usually slightly lower. Lotto Plus 1 was introduced on 26 November 2003. Lotto Plus 2 is exactly the same as Lotto, but gives the player a third chance to win. When buying a Lotto ticket, players can pay an extra R2.50 per board to enter the Lotto Plus 2 draw. Odds are the same, while prizes are usually slightly lower. Lotto Plus 2 was introduced on 30 July 2017. Buy your tickets now at your nearest participating retailer, on our website by visiting national using your computer or mobile site, via the National Lottery Mobile App, or participating banks, namely FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, TymeBank and African Bank otherwise dial 120 7529# for USSD. Winners who win R50 000 and above receive free trauma counselling from professional psychologists and financial advice from accredited financial advisors absolutely free. At the same time, winnings are paid tax-free directly into the winner's accounts. If you are buying tickets from a lottery outlet, they close at 20:30 on the day of a draw Players must be 18 years old. Monday: Daily Lotto Daily Lotto Tuesday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Wednesday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Thursday: Daily Lotto Daily Lotto Friday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Saturday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Sunday: Daily Lotto For more details and to verify the winning numbers, visit the National Lottery website. You must always confirm the official winning numbers on the National Lottery website. We do our best to post the results as accurately as possible, but the National Lottery is the only source you can use to 100% verify the results. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
14-05-2025
- General
- The South African
Here's how much you could win in the Lotto jackpots on Wednesday, 14 May 2025
It's time for today's Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws. Will you be South Africa's next Lotto multimillionaire? Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 jackpot estimates: Lotto – estimated at R41 million Lotto Plus 1 – estimated at R6 million Lotto Plus 2 – estimated at R2 million If you want to win your share of the jackpot, you have to play! You know what they say, you've got to be in it, to win it. Did you miss a draw and wonder if you're actually a millionaire? Click here to view past Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 and payouts The Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday on SABC 2 at 20:57 (SA time) Players buy tickets with their choice of six different numbers between 1 and 52. There is provision for random numbers to be generated automatically for those who do not wish to choose, known as a Quick Pick. When introduced, the Lotto jackpot draw required numbers from 1 to 49. Ithuba Holdings increased the number from 49 to 52 on 30 July 2017. In the draw, six numbered balls are drawn without replacement from a set of 52 balls numbered from 1 to 52. A further Bonus Ball is also drawn, which only affects players who match five numbers. Prizes are awarded to players who match at least three of the six drawn numbers, with prizes increasing for matching more of the drawn numbers. All players who match all six drawn numbers win equal shares of the jackpot. The chance of doing so is 1 in 20,358,520. If four, five, or six balls are matched, the relevant prize is divided equally between all who match that many balls. If no player matches all six numbers, the jackpot rolls over and is added to that of the next Lotto draw. The entry fee to the Lotto draw is set at R5.00 per board. Lotto Plus 1 is exactly the same as Lotto, but gives the player a second chance to win. When buying a Lotto ticket, players can pay an extra R2.50 per board to enter the Lotto Plus 1 draw. Odds are the same, while prizes are usually slightly lower. Lotto Plus 1 was introduced on 26 November 2003. Lotto Plus 2 is exactly the same as Lotto, but gives the player a third chance to win. When buying a Lotto ticket, players can pay an extra R2.50 per board to enter the Lotto Plus 2 draw. Odds are the same, while prizes are usually slightly lower. Lotto Plus 2 was introduced on 30 July 2017. Buy your tickets now at your nearest participating retailer, on our website by visiting national using your computer or mobile site, via the National Lottery Mobile App, or participating banks, namely FNB, ABSA, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, TymeBank and African Bank otherwise dial 120 7529# for USSD. Winners who win R50 000 and above receive free trauma counselling from professional psychologists and financial advice from accredited financial advisors absolutely free. At the same time, winnings are paid tax-free directly into the winner's accounts. If you are buying tickets from a lottery outlet, they close at 20:30 on the day of a draw Players must be 18 years old. Monday: Daily Lotto Daily Lotto Tuesday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Wednesday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Thursday: Daily Lotto Daily Lotto Friday: Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Daily Lotto + PowerBall and PowerBall Plus Saturday: Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Daily Lotto + Lotto, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Sunday: Daily Lotto For more details and to verify the winning numbers, visit the National Lottery website. You must always confirm the official winning numbers on the National Lottery website. We do our best to post the results as accurately as possible, but the National Lottery is the only source you can use to 100% verify the results. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
