Latest news with #R52
The Citizen
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Spaza shops ask for more than R32m worth of stock
According to the presentation, spaza shop owners applied for a combined total of R32.4 million for machinery and stock. Spaza shop owners across the country have submitted applications requesting more than R25 million worth of machinery and stock from the government, as part of efforts to revitalise the informal retail sector. This comes after the launch of the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund by the Department of Small Business Development. In a recent briefing, it was revealed that the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD) received more than 3 269 applications from spaza shop owners seeking support through the Spaza Shop Support Fund. However, only 387 of these applications have been processed so far. Most applications came from KwaZulu-Natal, with 142 submissions and the least from North West with eight. ALSO READ: Government's R500m spaza shop support fund gets thumbs up Funding requests According to the presentation, spaza shop owners applied for a combined total of R32.4 million for machinery and stock. Of this, machinery accounts for more than R16.4 million, while stock requests make up R16 million. 'The fund seeks to enhance food safety, improve competitiveness, and strengthen locally-owned spaza shops,' the department said. ALSO READ: Illegal spaza shops 'still proliferate' despite warnings R52 million disbursed to partners To ensure efficient delivery, three Distribution Channel Partners (DCPs) have been contracted and are working across various provinces. According to the department, R52 million has already been disbursed to two of these partners to begin processing and distribution. 'The approach also provides bulk buying (wholesale network) opportunities that will propel the spaza shops to exploit economies of scale and enjoy competitive pricing and packaging,' it said. Furthermore, geo-mapping and registrations of spaza shops have commenced, with 1 411 shops verified. 'Awareness workshops will be conducted in all provinces between 23 May and 1 July 2025, covering one district per province,' it said. Online applications can be accessed on the Spaza Shop Fund website. NOW READ: Government offers R500m spaza shop support fund – Here's what you need to know
The South African
13-05-2025
- General
- The South African
LATEST outlook for June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) is responsible for June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants. Set for payment in a few weeks from now, each month, billions in taxpayer money is set aside to help financially distressed parents. Here's how it works … Currently, June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants are the most expensive for government. As in, the R560 paid each month to roughly 14-million beneficiaries, is the most expensive form of social welfare. If you are unfamiliar with how the June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants are divided up, here's what you need to know … May 2025 SASSA grants were paid out just last week following a lengthy five-week gap. Image: File The South African Social Security Agency administers three child-related social grants. Note that you may only claim one grant at a time. And only one parent (if married) may claim a grant per child. They are: SASSA Childcare for R560 per month. per month. SASSA Care Dependency for R2 310 per month (Disability for under 18s). per month (Disability for under 18s). SASSA Foster Care for R1 250 to a court-appointed foster parent. Furthermore, we calculated that if a mother puts her newborn onto June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants from the month of their birth, that child will earn the household as much as R155 500 in government funds till they are 18. This number conservatively factors in estimated annual grant increases like the 5.7% enjoyed back in April. Better still, the Department of Social Development (DSD) has been imploring young mothers with newborns to make the application as soon as possible. June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants are payable next month on Thursday 5 June 2025. Don't forget that to qualify for Childcare you have to pass the following means test: Earn less than R8 800 per month if married ( R105 600 annually). per month if married ( annually). Earn less than R4 400 per month if single (R52 800 annually). Of course, you child must be under the age of 18, and you cannot receive more than one SASSA grant at same time, as mentioned. Also, applications can take up to three months to be processed. However, you will be back-paid to the date of your initial application. Diarise the remaining 2025 Childcare grants so you're not left short of money at the end of the month. Image: SASSA Crucial to gaining access to June 2025 SASSA Childcare grants is registering a child with Department of Home Affairs (DHA) eHome. Many parents are not getting their newborn's unabridged birth certificate and identification document early enough warns government. Therefore, they are not eligible as soon as they can be for SASSA Childcare grants. After you have been through DHA eHome, make an appointment with SASSA online. And bring the following documents with you: Valid identity documents of both the applicant (child) and spouse (if married). Proof of marital status (via a marriage, birth or death certificate of your spouse). Official birth certificate and ID of the child you're applying for support for. Proof of income (of both you and your spouse). An approved three-month bank statement (no more than three-months old). Proof of address (a utility statement with your name on it that's not more the three-months old). Note that someone else can apply on your behalf if you're unable to visit a SASSA branch office personally. You will need a doctor's note explaining why and have all of the above signed and certified by a commissioner of oaths. For application or payment queries you can contact SASSA directly here: SASSA Toll-Free Call: 0800 60 10 11 SASSA Head Office: 012 400 2322 Email SASSA: grantenquiries@ Or email: president@ 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.
IOL News
07-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
NCOP delegates push for resolution on delays in the Go! Durban bus project
The Go! Durban Queen Nandi bus station in KwaMashu. MPs from the National Council of Provinces are seeking to intervene in the stalled public transport project. Image: Independent Newspapers Archives A high-level delegation from the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) in KwaZulu-Natal has sought to intervene in the long-standing stalemate over the R9 billion Go! Durban bus project in the eThekwini Municipality. The delegates have called for all stakeholders, including taxi operators, to appear before the Select Committee on Infrastructure in Parliament. The project kicked off close to 10 years ago and despite the infrastructure being built, it has failed to launch due to a stalemate between the City and taxi operators over the ownership of the buses. The NCOP delegation, led by KwaZulu-Natal provincial whip Mzamo Billy, met with eThekwini Municipality's executive leadership this week, following its September 2024 Provincial Week oversight programme. The meeting included mayor Cyril Xaba and senior city management, and focused on infrastructure delivery bottlenecks, with the Go! Durban project at the centre of discussions. The meeting welcomed a resolution that all stakeholders involved in the Go! Durban project, including taxi operators, be formally invited to appear before Parliament. The delegation said it would write to the committee chairperson Frederik Badenhorst, to consider the decision. 'This initiative seeks to break the current impasse over equity disputes and ensure inclusive participation in shaping the future of public transport in eThekwini,' the delegation said in a statement. The delegation reaffirmed that delays in the project undermine access and mobility for thousands of commuters and urged a swift, transparent resolution of the issues. Progress in other critical service delivery initiatives was also noted. The Hammarsdale Wastewater Treatment Plant has recorded R52 million in current expenditure and 35% completion, with officials committing to addressing earlier delays relating to design, procurement, and funding cycles.
The Citizen
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
R75bn shortfall forces focus on bloated SOEs and failed bailouts
The VAT rollback has opened a massive fiscal gap and experts say curbing wasteful SOE spending is now unavoidable. Entities like Prasa need serious review, according to an expert, who says it's time to put people before inefficiency and focus resources where they matter most. Picture: Michel Bega Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana now needs to find R75 billion that would have flowed from the 0.5-percentage point increase in the value-added tax (VAT) that was cancelled yesterday. One of the answers that should be staring him in the face: the cash-guzzling state-owned enterprises (SOEs), which alone have swallowed R520 billion in taxpayer money over the past decade. Critical services at risk Experts said the reality of a revenue shortfall in the medium-term continues to place critical government functions like education, defence and health care at risk of further defunding. Wealth management strategist Lynn Marais of Chelete Management said the VAT reversal 'may soothe political pain, but it slices a deep hole in the fiscal bucket'. She said the big question is, where will the money come from? And while some government departments have already been stripped budget-bare, others like SOEs continue to guzzle enormous chunks of taxpayer money. By the end of March this year, the cumulative cost of SOEs over the past decade or so totalled about R520 billion. This means the average annual cost to government is about R52 billion. 'Constantly throwing billions at state-owned enterprises with no turnaround strategy is fiscally reckless,' said Marais. 'Without an accompanying revenue-replacement strategy or fiscal reform plan, this VAT rollback could undermine more than just budget numbers – it risks our financial credibility.' ALSO READ: A R1 billion U-turn: Scrapping the VAT increase leaves no winners, just absolute chaos Privatisation and reform pitched as solutions Government can fund the medium-term shortfall by getting out of businesses which should be run by the private sector, said Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse chief executive Wayne Duvenage. 'Government should get out of the state entities that compete with the private sector like airlines and armament manufacturing,' said Duvenage. He added government processes and political interference tend to hold these businesses back. 'They are not agile or efficient enough to grow and become the successful organisations they could be. Government mustn't fear a lack of control by allowing these entities to become privatised. The private sector will employ people and pay taxes, which is what government seeks.' Academic dean of Regent Business School Shahiem Patel suggested that public asset optimisation might contribute to addressing the shortfall. 'This could entail better management of underutilised state properties and SOE reform,' said Patel. Performance over ideology Ray Langa, chief executive of Leagas Delaney, said to balance the books, 'we must make tough calls, starting with SOEs that no longer deliver strategic value'. 'Entities like [Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa] need serious review. It's time to put people before inefficiency and focus resources where they matter most,' said Langa. Yet, Patel reckons SOEs still have a role to play. 'I don't think any SOE should be closed. A fully functional suite of SOEs will help drive economic growth,' he said. 'The issue is that not all SOEs are fully functional. The focus should be on corruption-free, efficient, and effective SOEs.' ALSO READ: Economists welcome scrapping of VAT increase Khudusela Pitje, chief executive of New GX Capital, said there are inefficiencies within the public sector that should be given attention to fill the revenue gap. 'Government should focus on ensuring each of the SOEs and municipalities have a return of capital mentality to optimise what is a shrinking wallet. Being focused on growth and job creation will, over the long term, be the right medicine for the country and its fiscus.' Economist Dawie Roodt has long been an advocate for the privatisation of bailout-hungry entities such as South African Airways. The bigger picture But he cautioned the loss in revenues due to the VAT reversal is a drop into ocean compared to the alarm bells the International Monetary Fund's downgrade of South Africa's economic growth this week. 'In the bigger picture, the shortfall is not so bad. Our growth outlook that's been slashed because of geopolitical events, a potentially unstable [government of national unity]. It is critical we look past the VAT issue, too,' said Roodt. Pitje said government needs to strike a balance between delivering key developmental mandates that should drive social and economic return. Roodt added the VAT debacle simply ended up being political grandstanding, just to see who would blink first. 'In this case, it was the ANC, and they have egg all over their faces,' he said. NOW READ: VAT U-turn: How businesses felt the brunt of political roulette
