Latest news with #R80-million
eNCA
23-05-2025
- Sport
- eNCA
A new trophy is revealed
JOHANNESBURG - Anticipation is building in the country's capital ahead of tomorrow's CAF Champions League final. READ: PSG target more silverware ahead of Champions League final Mamelodi Sundowns host Pyramids in the first leg at Loftus Versfeld with kick-off at 15:00. There's not only an R80-million cheque at stake, but also a brand new trophy which was revealed yesterday. Former Sundowns midfielders Tiyani Mabunda and Teko Modise joined eNCA to discuss the new trophy and the competition.
The Citizen
23-05-2025
- The Citizen
Tshwane addresses wet electricity cables crisis in Doornpoort, Montana
The Tshwane metro has confirmed that persistent power outages in the Doornpoort and Montana are due to critical infrastructure challenges, specifically electricity cables submerged in waterlogged terrain. Tshwane spokesperson Lindela Mashigo stated that the problem stems from repeated vandalism and theft on private land (Farm Doornpoort 320 JR, Portion 280), which has severely damaged the cables and made routine maintenance nearly impossible. Residents have endured daily power outages for months, with some areas recently experiencing more than 24 hours without electricity. Frustrated community members have accused the municipality of failing to act decisively, citing delays and the misallocation of funds initially earmarked for rerouting the affected power lines. According to Mashigo, funds have not yet been allocated for the rerouting or upgrading of the infrastructure. He said the metro has, however, submitted a request for capital funding to re-engineer the electrical network. 'Should the request be approved, the metro would either replace the damaged cables along the registered servitude or reroute them via the R101. Mashigo said the cables were originally installed according to regulations and do not, under current conditions, constitute a public safety hazard. However, he admitted that recurring cable joints, introduced due to theft and vandalism, are now highly vulnerable to water exposure during heavy rains, which has led to frequent blackouts. While residents such as Deon Venter allege that funds were previously allocated to solve the issue, Mashigo firmly denied this. Venter questioned why previously promised funds had gone missing and accused the metro of diverting service delivery budgets to security and water tanker services. 'If the money was made available as per the budget speech last year, this issue would have been resolved,' said Venter. The metro has yet to offer a clear timeline for when the repairs or rerouting will begin. For now, the only assurance residents have is that repair teams will respond to outages as they occur, with more permanent solutions contingent on future funding approvals. Venter demanded more than just patchwork fixes. He wants transparency, accountability, and urgent investment in infrastructure to end the cycle of darkness and disruption in his community. WATCH: Freedom Front Plus councillor Mark Surgeon said three underground cables run through the open field north of Doornpoort and under the highway, and two of those cables have been damaged over time due to excessive cable theft. 'Where the cable is repaired, it creates a weak point, so typically when we have a lot of load-shedding back in the day, whenever the cable is re-energised after load-shedding, it causes a jolt, and it sometimes causes that cable to open up in a bit of water. 'During the previous administration I think it was around initially R80-million that was budgeted to replace these cables and reroute them. Then that number was brought down to around 55 due to some good cost-cutting measures of meeting the work would still be done just at a cheaper cost and then that work never materialised with the change of administration,' said Surgeon. He said that with the new budget coming through council, they have not seen any evidence of this project being budgeted. 'Unfortunately, at this stage, it looks like the cables will not be fixed for the foreseeable future unless there is some budget for it in the new budget.' ALSO READ: Progress made in metro's efforts to clean house 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!
Daily Maverick
23-04-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
SMME focus: Banks' agripreneur programmes boost jobs from seed to shelf
Nedbank and Standard Bank's agripreneur programmes are transforming South Africa's agriculture by equipping emerging farmers with skills, market access, and land partnerships. Through hands-on training and connections to major retailers, the programmes are addressing funding challenges, creating jobs, and boosting food security in communities. From the prominent shelves of major retailers to the heart of South Africa's food security, the rise of small-scale farmers and agri- small, medium, and micro enterprises (SMMEs) represents one of the country's most urgent economic opportunities and systemic challenges. Where do these businesses originate, how do they take their first steps, and what support and skills propel them forward? The unyielding reality Despite a slight improvement in South Africa's official unemployment rate — which dropped by 0.2 percentage points to 31.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024, with 132,000 more people finding work and total employment reaching 17.1 million — the broader reality remains stark; eight million people are still jobless. Notably, employment in agriculture declined by 11,000 jobs during this period. Banking growth Against this backdrop, Nedbank has invested R169-million over the past seven years in its Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, empowering more than 5,400 businesses, creating more than 1,000 jobs, and unlocking R80-million in new business opportunities through strategic funding, mentorship and public sector partnerships. In agriculture, the bank's support is especially impactful — the Green Agripreneur initiative, backed by R6.5-million in partnership with African Greeneurs, has helped 20 emerging farmers gain training, business support, and market access. This initiative adopts a comprehensive 360° approach, combining climate-smart agriculture with retail strategies. Participating farmers are now supplying major retailers such as Pick n Pay while mastering skills such as: How to cultivate their own vegetables effectively. Understanding their target markets and developing skills to promote themselves. Selling their produce to established retail outlets, enabling them to earn an income while honing essential entrepreneurial and farming skills. Meanwhile, Standard Bank's Agribusiness Transformation Programme, which was launched in 2019, aims to empower small-scale and emerging black farmers in South Africa, primarily in the Free State and Northern Cape. Through collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, as well as the University of the Free State, the programme has trained 223 farmers across six cohorts, focusing on sustainable, climate-smart practices, improving access to funding, expanding market opportunities, and developing agri-processing ventures. Brendan Jacobs, the head of agribusiness at Standard Bank, said that the programme's success was attributed to its practical approach, ongoing mentorship support, and the creation of a collaborative learning community among farmers. For some graduates of the Agribusiness Transformation Programme, like Paulina Siwawi, the impact is personal and profound. A former teacher who left the classroom to tackle food security in her community, Siwawi credited the intensive training and support from Standard Bank and the University of the Free State for the growth of her poultry business. Her ambitions now stretch well beyond subsistence — she plans to grow her farm to the point where she has bred 10,000 chickens and has established herself as a commercial farmer with a sustainable and profitable enterprise. Funding drought Even as banks and new initiatives step up to support South Africa's emerging farmers, access to funding remains the single biggest obstacle to growth in the sector. 'The challenge, mostly with the new startups… is funding, because when you start a business, you need capital. Without capital it's a challenge due to (costs such as) the input needed, labour costs, and transportation,' said Kobang Maluleka, CEO of African Greeneurs. Human faces of the harvest After completing the 12-month Nedbank Green Agripreneur Programme in August last year, the emerging farmers — many of whom began with little agricultural experience, were immediately helped to establish their own businesses, using the programme's infrastructure as a launchpad. This support enabled them to create jobs, generate income, and contribute to local economic growth in their communities. Daily Maverick spoke to several of these new agripreneurs, who have built viable enterprises and earned income during the programme. Yet, despite their achievements, they echoed Maluleka's concerns about the persistent challenge of securing funding to further scale their operations. Bathabile Masemola and Mfundo Madondo of Green Leafy Growers achieved notable success on their green pepper harvest from January to March this year, generating R18,000 in income collectively and creating 10 jobs. They highlighted a common challenge faced by emerging farmers: 'We have been struggling to get funding, but at least we managed to get on the ground,' Masemola said. The programme has also empowered Nothando Mlaudzi and Sibongile Moloi of MM Greenfields, who earned R68,000 collectively and created 13 jobs over three months (January to March), also through green pepper harvesting. 'We have created employment for 13 people, and in two months, we made sales up to R50,700 and we are supplying big giants like Pick n Pay and looking at getting more market and more clients,' Moloi said. Madikwe Molekoa, the owner of Phutipoyane, generated an impressive income of R250,000 and created 18 jobs through harvesting different crops for more than five months (November to March). Exit strategy Building on these success stories, Maluleka highlighted the programme's unique exit strategy, where, upon completing the programme, participants immediately take over and operate their own businesses using the programme's infrastructure. This approach focuses on developing entrepreneurs rather than employees, fostering a sustainable cycle of income generation, creating employment opportunities for those with entrepreneurial potential and alternative paths for those who prefer employment. From training to thriving The programme begins with a three-month 'activate phase' combining classroom theory and field training, followed by a nine-month 'accelerate phase' in which farmers apply their knowledge throughout a full growing season. This structure ensures that participants gain the real-world experience necessary to run successful agricultural enterprises independently. Beyond training, the Green Agripreneur Programme positions participants for long-term success by facilitating land acquisition and connecting them with funders, suppliers, coaches, and mentors. Nedbank's support spans the entire agribusiness value chain, ensuring that farmers meet rigorous standards in production, packaging, and market readiness. Farming land acquisition 'We connect the agripreneurs with various landowners,' Maluleka said. This includes traditional landowners, municipalities, commercial farmers, and government entities, as the programme itself does not own land. For instance, in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, the team successfully facilitated access to 750 hectares of land through the Ndebele Kingdom, where they negotiated lease agreements, ensuring that farmers could use the land productively — transforming it into arable farmland and creating opportunities for sustainable farming. One of their roles is to act as a bridge connecting farmers to their extensive ecosystem of partners. This includes linking them with funding sources, landowners, suppliers of farming inputs, infrastructure providers, and market channels. What this means for you Your grocery choices have power. Every rand spent on these small enterprises, by buying their chemical-free produce, delivers a triple benefit: More variety: Local stores now stock regenerative, climate-smart options that meet supermarket standards, giving you greater choice. Healthier choices: Enjoy veggies that are good for you and the planet. Local impact: By buying from them, you're investing in a sustainable supply chain that drives economic growth and community development. Participation requirements The Green Agripreneur Programme is not open to everyone and is offered selectively based on specific geographic focus areas. The programme is only advertised when sponsorship is secured, allowing Nedbank to target particular regions where they want to make the most impact. For example, in one cycle, the programme focused exclusively on 10 participants from support is confirmed- often through Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) initiatives or Corporate Social Investment (CSI) partners- Nedbank collaborates with sponsors to identify the target programme then engages directly with the local community, advertising opportunities within that region and selecting candidates accordingly. The Standard Bank programme leverages media channels and departmental outreach to advertise opportunities and identify candidates. Farmers are systematically identified and referred by the Free State's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as well as the University of the Free State, targeting eligible black commercial farmers and black-owned agribusinesses primarily in the Free State and Northern Cape. DM
