Latest news with #R63
The Citizen
01-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Transformation of dumping hotspot almost complete
Work to beautify a neglected dumping hotspot on the corner of Theuns van Niekerk Street and Hendrik Verwoerd Drive has been progressing steadily since it began in April. The area has been transformed into a vibrant, community-driven garden. Ward 69 councillor Cindy Billson said the project has made significant strides in just a month. 'We've made solid progress,' she said. 'The path leading to the nearby bus stop has been completed, providing safe access, and the first raised flower bed has already been built.' She said about half of the garden surface has been packed with donated dumping rock to begin shaping the area. Billson added that one of the major highlights so far has been the generous response from the community. 'Over R63 000 worth of materials have been donated, including paving bricks, topsoil, and plants.' She said businesses and residents have all contributed, with Lifestyle Centre donating aloe trees, while residents provided mountain aloes and other indigenous plants. River sand and additional paving materials were also sourced through local support. 'Volunteers helped transport everything and even cared for the plants until we could plant them. It's truly a community-driven achievement,' said Billson. With this momentum, the project is approaching its final phase. She said the second raised flower bed still needs to be constructed, and the remaining garden surface completed. 'We need black weed cover and around 22 more bags of cement,' she said. 'If we can secure those materials, we're aiming to complete the project by the end of June.' The garden has not only begun to take physical shape, but it has also sparked a new sense of community engagement. Billson described the public response as overwhelmingly positive, with many residents expressing pride in seeing the space transformed. 'The sense of ownership is growing. People are proud to see this once-neglected corner becoming something beautiful,' she added. She encouraged more residents to get involved. Interested people can contact her via WhatsApp at 079 398 6990. As the current project nears completion, plans for future green spaces are already in motion. 'A new garden is being planned for the large roadside strip between Theuns van Niekerk and Willem Botha streets on Hendrik Verwoerd Drive. 'We've been offered paving for our next garden, which we'll be fetching soon,' Billson said. She said the area is big and will be a major challenge, but the vision is to create a continuous stretch of green, clean, and cared-for public spaces throughout Ward 69. Billson explained that this vision aligns with a broader strategy for urban improvement based on the Broken Windows Theory, which suggests that maintaining and monitoring urban environments prevents small crimes and deters more serious ones. 'By restoring order and beauty to neglected spaces, we discourage crime and dumping,' said Billson. 'But this next project is going to require a lot of help, and we'll be reaching out to residents and local partners to make it happen.' Reflecting on the current project, Billson shared some key takeaways for future initiatives. 'We've seen firsthand how getting people involved creates not only ownership but safety,' she said. She said although the project has faced challenges, among them being the lack of a formal budget, the community has responded with creativity and generosity. 'The biggest challenge is sourcing materials, but we've managed by repurposing dumped rock and arranging transport for donated goods. Every step has involved teamwork,' she said. For Billson, the garden is more than just a beautification effort. 'We want this garden to be a space that brings pride, peace, and connection. It improves safety around the bus stop, adds beauty to the area, and shows that positive change is possible when we work together.' She believes it sends a clear message to residents and visitors. 'Ward 69 cares. We take ownership of our spaces, we don't tolerate decay, and we believe in building something better together.' When the project began in April, it was still in its conceptual phase. The site had long been a hotspot for illegal dumping, prompting Billson and residents in Eldoraigne and Rooihuiskraal North to take action. At the time, 10 tons of river sand were needed, along with around two tons of cement stone to establish a proper roadside boundary. 'We've asked one of the shops in the area to bring us their sand from swimming pool pumps to start collecting,' she said at the time. Fortunately, plant donations were already starting to come in from various sources. The project design was led by Sheevan Moodley, a local resident passionate about nature and sustainability. 'I saw this as a chance to not only apply what I've learnt in my studies but also give back to the community,' he said. Moodley focused on a modern, environmentally conscious approach, using indigenous plants, companion planting for pest control, and features like rainwater collection systems. The garden was designed to be low-maintenance and self-sustaining and to incorporate hostile architecture elements to optimise usage. Moodley also set up regular maintenance schedules to encourage community involvement, further strengthening the garden's sustainable foundation. Local business owner Eben Grove of Load and Tip offered to donate materials and assist with transport. 'I felt the need to help as a way of thanking the community, as they always show up for me in times of need,' he said. Grove believed the project would not only beautify the area but also bring people closer together. Resident Phillip de Jager praised the effort as essential to counteracting urban neglect. 'There are already a lot of areas in the community that look like a mess, so it's extremely important for people to play a part in making the area beautiful,' he said. He said this garden is just one of several community-led beautification projects, recalling a time when municipal gardeners maintained public spaces. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The South African
21-05-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Sundowns coach says he disliked his striker
Mamelodi Sundowns' Portuguese tactician, Miguel Cardoso, took time to warm up to his Brazilian striker, Arthur Sales. With nine goals and 10 assists, Sales has become Sundowns' starting striker ahead of Peter Shalulile. 'I think at the moment we have a wonderful Artur that is following the excitement of the team at the moment,' coach Cardoso said as quoted by Kick Off . 'Sales was a player that when I arrived, was coming from an injury. It was his first year in South Africa. It's not the same coming to South Africa and we also needed to understand the way he is. The Sundowns mentor added: 'Believe me, in the beginning I said, 'I don't like him. I don't like the way he trains'. But I kept loving him, I understood that we needed to decide what kind of behaviours we want from him on the pitch and how to build the team, not around him, but to compliment him more,' Cardoso concluded on the 22-year-old striker who cost the club R63 million from Belgian club Lommel SK. Meanwhile, Sundowns take on Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League first leg final. The game is set for Saturday at 15:00 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The return leg will be in Cairo next weekend. 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
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Zimbabwean white farmers' payout sparks legal fight with war vets
Zimbabwe's promise to compensate white farmers evicted under Robert Mugabe's land reform is facing resistance from some war veterans once hailed as heroes of that revolution. More than twenty years ago, Zimbabwe's government under Robert Mugabe initiated a sweeping and often violent land reform campaign. The campaign evicted about 4 500 white farmers and reallocated their land to an estimated 300 000 black families. Officials defended the program as a necessary step to address colonial-era land inequalities. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has pledged to pay just over US$3.5 billion (R63 billion) to more than 4 000 white farmers. The aim is to rebuild relations with Western countries that condemned the land seizures. The compensation only covers improvements made to the farms, not the land itself. Since the plan was launched in 2020, little has happened. The government has only paid US$3 million (R56 million), covering 378 farms. According to Zimlive , five former liberation war veterans have gone to court to block the government's compensation deal. These war veterans include Joseph 'Ginger' Chinguwa, Godfrey 'Zvabhendazvabhenda' Gurira, Joseph 'Hitler Bazooka' Chinyangare, Reuben Zulu, and Digmore Ndiya. The war veterans believe that the deal with white farmers is unconstitutional without new legislation from Parliament. The human rights lawyer and former finance minister Tendai Biti is representing the war veterans. They've taken their case to the High Court, seeking to have the entire deal declared unconstitutional. In an affidavit submitted to the court, war veteran Chinguwa noted that Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has publicly acknowledged a Global Compensation Agreement involving US$3.5 billion (R63 billion) in payments. Chinguwa said the big issue for war veterans was the lack of detail. The government, he argued, hadn't explained how it calculated the US$3.5 billion (R63 billion). He asked whether the valuation included dams, buildings, or anything else permanently attached to the land. The war veterans continue arguing: '…in our respectful view, anything permanently affixed to the land is part of the land… This would include, for instance, dams, buildings, fruit, coffee or tea plantations.' Chinguwa maintained that the government ought to have tabled a clear Act in Parliament. It should have outlined the compensation formula, the scope of land and improvements involved, and the list of intended recipients. 'None of this was done. To this day, the Global Compensation Agreement is a closely kept secret. In a country governed by the rule of law and constitutionalism, this is clearly unconstitutional…' 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 Citizen
11-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
New shoes for 203 pupils at Fairbreeze Secondary
New shoes for 203 pupils at Fairbreeze Secondary Fairbreeze Secondary School in Tongaat was among the beneficiaries of a recent donation drive by a local hospitality group. Sibaya Sun International handed over 203 new pairs of school shoes, valued at R63 000, to pupils in need. This donation forms part of the company's ongoing commitment to support the community, particularly after the devastation caused by last year's tornado, which destroyed homes in the area. 'We hope this donation will improve these learners' self-image and dignity,' said Sibaya general manager Virath Gobrie. The group has donated nearly R3.5-million towards education as part of its ongoing initiative to improve the lives of schoolchildren across South Africa. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Understanding the exemption of legacy policies in the new pension system
Any policy in respect of a retirement annuity plan entered into before 1 September 2024 - is exempted from the two-component benefit system. Members of pension funds must understand the implications of the new two-component retirement system and how legacy policies are exempted from it, following a recent ruling by the Pension Funds Adjudicator. Any policy in respect of a retirement annuity plan entered into before 1 September 2024 - is exempted from the two-component benefit system. The two-component pension system, implemented on 1 September 2024, splits retirement fund contributions into a "Savings Component" and a "Retirement Component". One-third of contributions goes to the Savings Component, which allows members to withdraw funds before retirement, while the remaining two-thirds go to the Retirement Component, which must be used to purchase a retirement income product. Muvhango Lukhaimane, the Pension Funds Adjudicator, recently ruled on a complaint received from a fund member, who was aggrieved that the South African Retirement Annuity Fund denied him his right to withdraw from his savings component. The complainant's policy commenced on February 1, 1998, with a contractual retirement option date of February 1, 2028. The complainant had a fund credit of R63 134.74 on June 15, 2024. The fund submitted the Income Tax Act (ITA) provides for the exclusion of legacy policies, defined as pre-universal life and universal life policies. It indicated that the complainant's policy fell under this category and was, therefore, excluded from the new two-component retirement system. In compliance with the rules of the Financial Services Conduct Authority, the fund amended its rules to provide that the relevant elements of the two-component system would not apply to legacy retirement annuity policies. The fund submitted that the complainant had an option to transfer his current policy to a two-component compliant retirement annuity to benefit from the new system. The deadline for this transfer was August 1, 2024, and the fund did not receive a transfer request within this period. The fund indicated that the complainant may transfer this contract to a compliant retirement annuity. However, he would need to reinstate the premiums to start accumulating value in the savings component going forward to exercise a savings withdrawal in terms of the two-component retirement system. In her determination, Lukhaimane said it was clear from the fund's submissions that the complainant's policy was exempted from the two-component retirement system in terms of section 1 of the ITA and the fund rules. She said she was satisfied the fund acted lawfully in terms of its rules, the ITA and the policy contract in refusing to pay the complainant the withdrawal he requests. The complaint was dismissed. The Office of the Pension Funds Adjudicator is a statutory body established to resolve disputes in a procedurally fair, economical, and expeditious manner. The adjudicator's office investigates and determines complaints of abuse of power, maladministration, disputes of fact or law and employer dereliction of duty in respect of pension funds. THE POST
