Latest news with #R72
IOL News
4 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
KZN foot-and-mouth disease outbreak persists while progress made in Eastern Cape, Limpopo
While foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks are under control in other provinces, KwaZulu-Natal remains a critical concern. Image: Ayanda Ndamane Independent Newspapers While foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks are under control in some South African provinces, in KwaZulu-Natal signs of active virus circulation persist. This is according to the national Department of Agriculture. 'The designated management area (DMA) in KwaZulu-Natal remains in place,' said Minister of Agriculture John Steenhuisen, referring to the designated area still under restrictions. The department said to manage the outbreak more effectively, an abattoir in the Vryheid area is being designated to slaughter animals from restricted premises, and a system has been implemented to assess biosecurity levels on individual farms. 'The intention is to align the control measures with the biosecurity risks,' said Steenhuisen. The department said the biosecurity, traceability and record keeping of animals bought and sold at auctions and similar industries were raised as a specific concern and this will be addressed by the department in a directive due to be published. The department also announced that an order has been placed for much-needed vaccines to the value of R72 million. Meanwhile the department is preparing to lift movement restrictions in the Eastern Cape, where the Kouga and Kou-Kamma municipalities have been under a DMA since July 2024. A total of 144,424 vaccinations were administered, and with the last cases reported in September 2024, surveillance has confirmed the disease is no longer present. 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 ✕ Ad loading Similarly, Limpopo's DMA, in place since September 2022, will also be lifted after two rounds of vaccination in the Vhembe Municipality. 'Two rounds of vaccination saw 23,024 vaccinations administered on cattle at 34 dip tanks, proving highly effective,' Steenhuisen said. In Mpumalanga, a single outbreak in Gert Sibande Municipality in April 2025 was traced to an auction in KZN. Surveillance of surrounding farms has not identified any further spread. A second round of testing is under way. New cases, however, have emerged in Gauteng. 'A feedlot and adjacent farm were found positive in the West Rand Municipality,' said Steenhuisen. In the East Rand, FMD was confirmed in communal cattle, and investigations are ongoing. China has since suspended imports of South African beef due to the outbreaks, although wool exports remain unaffected. 'Biosecurity is everybody's responsibility,' Steenhuisen cautioned, urging farmers to isolate newly bought animals for 28 days and report any suspicious symptoms to local State Veterinarians. THE MERCURY
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Health
- The Citizen
Hospital security bill soars to R2.5bn amid patient care crisis
The DA noted that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced concern over soaring security costs at Gauteng public hospitals, which have skyrocketed from R655 million in 2022 to R2.54 billion in 2025 — nearly quadrupling in just three years. According to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, the rising security expenditure is diverting much-needed funds from critical healthcare services. 'This squeezes out money needed to improve patient care,' said Bloom in a statement on Monday. Multi-million rand contracts under scrutiny Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed in a written reply to the provincial legislature that the increase is due to 'additional points of service provision' and higher rates regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). However, Bloom questioned the justification, noting that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. 'As a percentage of the total Gauteng health budget, security costs have gone up from 1.1% in 2022 to 3.8% of this year's allocation of R66 billion,' he pointed out. Security bills for major hospitals are among the highest. Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, and Bertha Gxowa hospitals are paying R77 million, R72 million, and R26 million respectively to private security firms each year. In response to Bloom's inquiry, the department stated: 'The security assessment report conducted justifies the additional increase in the number of guards, and it is in line with the PSIRA rates.' ALSO READ: Mpumalanga primary school pupils treated for food poisoning after eating oranges Guards unpaid despite soaring costs Despite these massive outlays, some security workers are not being paid on time. At Tembisa Hospital, guards have gone on a go-slow, protesting after not being paid for three months. At George Mukhari Hospital, Mafoko Security Patrollers recently lost a court case over failing to pay provident fund contributions. Similar allegations have surfaced at Bertha Gxowa Hospital, where workers claim deductions are not reaching the required funds. Although the department insists it uses 'a monthly performance monitoring tool to ensure that security workers are paid on time and according to legislation,' Bloom said, 'this does not appear to be effective.' ALSO READ: Hospital horror: Cops in frantic search for two premature babies snatched from incubators Calls for accountability Bloom suspects widespread corruption. 'Many security companies seem to be grossly over-charging while underpaying their workers,' he said. The DA has vowed to continue pushing the provincial health department to review the escalating costs. 'Hospital patients suffer because of a lack of budget to fix staff shortages, long queues, and broken equipment,' Bloom warned. The Citizen has contacted the Gauteng Department of Health for further comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. NOW READ: Suspect allegedly confesses to Tembisa Hospital fire
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Mining fails to deliver jobs to local communities
Despite R72 billion in profits, mining towns report extreme unemployment and missing development funds. Mining companies are failing to create jobs for the communities where they operate, recent statistics released by the organisation, Mining Affected Communities United in Action (Macua), indicate. These show that the unemployment rate in communities situated near the biggest mining operations is more than 65%. This means mining firms are not fulfilling their role in the Social Labour Plan (SLP) to create jobs for local communities. Mining firms not fulfilling role in SLP 'Macua is deeply alarmed but not surprised by the latest unemployment data released [last week] by Statistics SA. 'Our research confirms that unemployment in communities located next to some of the wealthiest mining operations consistently exceeds 65%, with some areas having 82% unemployment rate. ALSO READ: Here's why Amplats will still pay Anglo R1.6bn a year after unbundling 'These figures dwarf the official national average. They expose a central truth that policymakers continue to ignore – that the growth of mining profits is not translating into jobs, justice or dignity for those most impacted by the extraction,' said Macua spokesperson Magnificent Mndebele. 'Government leaders parade Operation Vulindlela and sectoral reforms as solutions to inequality and unemployment. But our audits reveal the opposite. 'The mining sector, empowered by expedited licences, deregulation and policy favouritism, has become a site of elite enrichment, not shared prosperity. Site of elite enrichment 'With record profits of over R72 billion from just 11 audited mining companies, communities have seen less than 0.13% of that reinvested in their development. 'Our audits uncovered over R284 million in missing SLP funds across 11 sites, with more than 75% of committed development projects incomplete or undocumented.' ALSO READ: SA opened 159 new mines in five years, creating over 15 000 jobs Mining expert David van Wyk said Macua's report was an accurate reflection of what is happening in the mining-affected communities. 'I fully agree with Macua – mining does not create jobs. This country needs to move up into a post-mining economy. 'On a post-mining economy, I mean that we need not export strategic minerals necessary for manufacturing, for example iron, chrome, manganese, lithium and rare earth minerals. These are all required for manufacturing in general and for batteries and AI technologies in particular.' Need for focused state and foreign investment 'Then we need focused state and a foreign investment to kickstart a manufacturing base.' 'That means moving away from the low-wage economy. We have 60 million people either on low wages or unemployed. They cannot afford manufactured goods. This is a disincentive for manufacturing.' ALSO READ: Millions unaccounted for as ex-mine bosses face court over fraud 'We could, for example, manufacture batteries and cars [not assemble foreign cars as we are doing currently] but make electric vehicles as these are replacing combustion engines globally.' Van Wyk said dying mining towns should be repurposed into suppliers of gas and solar energy using old mine electricity substations to feed solar power from mine wastelands into the national grid, and extract methane from old mine shafts. Large-scale mining in decline As large-scale mining is in decline, the state should create the conditions for artisanal, smalland medium-scale mining and facilitate community-based industries to add value to the diamonds, gold and platinum extracted, such as by jewellery manufacturing for example, he said. National Association of Artisanal Miners spokesperson Zethu Hlatshwayo said mines were not equipping people with skills. 'So mines employ people from other areas.'
The Citizen
29-04-2025
- The Citizen
Urgent intervention needed to stop water meter theft in north
In the heart of Region 1 in Pretoria North, residents are grappling with a series of problems that are threatening both their safety and access to basic services. Region 1 includes suburbs such as Akasia, Dorandia, Florauna, Tileba, Theresapark, The Orchards, Chantell, Rosslyn, Soshanguve, Klerksoord and Winternest. From non-functional streetlights to the alarming rise in infrastructure thefts, it is evident that urgent intervention is needed. Mickey van der Westhuizen, a local DA activist and community leader, has stepped forward to voice these concerns and to call for swift and co-ordinated action to resolve these escalating issues. One of the most pressing issues facing the residents of Ward 98, where he makes his calls to action, is the increase in crime, particularly the theft of water meters. Ward 98 consists of Klerksoord, Clarina, Heatherdale, Theresapark, Dorandia, Tileba, Eldorette and Winternest. 'The theft of water meters has become a severe crisis for residents, with one individual recently going without water for nine days due to the disappearance of these meters,' Van der Westhuizen shared. 'This criminal activity is driven by the valuable brass components in the meters, and it's affecting people's ability to access a basic human right: clean water.' South African law recognises access to water as a constitutional right under Section 27(1)(b), and it is deeply troubling to him and residents that criminals are exploiting this essential service. The stolen meters, which contain brass fittings worth R72/kg, highlight the profit-driven motives behind this crime. 'Scrapyards must do more to prevent the sale of stolen items,' Van der Westhuizen said, urging stricter verification processes at scrapyards and increased vigilance from local authorities. The thefts are not confined to water meters alone. The theft of underground electrical cables has been another significant problem. Klerksoord and Clarina residents have been left without power for hours on end, with criminals repeating the theft of electrical wires twice within a single week. Residents have attempted to mitigate these crimes by creating barriers like placing rubble and cutting down trees to make it harder for thieves to access the infrastructure. 'These measures reflect the resilience of our community, but we need greater support from the metro to ensure that essential services are restored and protected,' the activist said. The situation is further compounded by the recent imposition of a 40-hour overtime cap by the metro. While intended to promote fiscal discipline, the move has led to delays in critical repairs, exacerbating the ongoing power outages, water leaks, and sewer issues in the area. He emphasises that the blanket overtime restrictions are negatively impacting residents who already face unreliable service delivery. 'It's time for a more targeted, community-centred approach to service delivery that prioritises the well-being of the residents over financial constraints,' he said. Van der Westhuizen advocates for a multi-faceted approach to address these problems. The approach includes: – the establishment of relief teams to support overburdened departments during peak times, – the implementation of digital dashboards for real-time classification and response to emergencies, and – better communication between the authorities and residents regarding service delays and available reporting channels. 'Only through a collective effort of residents, local authorities, and service providers can we begin to restore the trust that has been eroded over time,' he said. Van der Westhuizen, as a father, stressed the importance of a clean, safe, and secure community for the next generation. 'I want my children to grow up in a place where they can thrive, a community where they have access to the basic rights they deserve, just like every other child in South Africa,' he remarked. 'As a father, it's my responsibility to ensure that this community, which was once a beautiful place to live, doesn't continue to deteriorate.' His passionate plea for change resonates with many residents who share the same frustrations and concerns. As he aptly put it: 'It's about protecting our future generations and ensuring that they have the same opportunities that we want for our children.' The metro's comments have not been received at the time of publication. 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!
