Latest news with #R9
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Three GNT execs suspended
On Tuesday, the financially bleeding company was forced to pay R9 million of the missing money. Widows of former Great North Transport employees join affected former and current employees to picket outside of the Office of the Limpopo Premier in demand of the implementation of recommendations made in an investigation regarding the whereabouts of lost pension funds. Picture: Supplied Limpopo Great North Transport (GNT) has placed its chief executive officer (CEO), Dr Matata Mokoele, chief operations officer (COO), Ms Mahlako Mogoshoane, and chief finance officer (CFO), Nazeem Essa, on precautionary suspension. The organisation is a subsidiary of the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET). The trio were suspended on Tuesday following allegations of financial misconduct amounting to R9 million. It is alleged that medical aid and pension funds belonging to more than 280 employees have not been paid for a considerable number of years. On Tuesday, the financially bleeding company was forced to pay R9 million of the missing money. The agency confirmed on Friday that the trio had been suspended with pay, pending the outcome of internal investigations. 'This resolution was taken in response to serious concerns related to financial governance, operational delivery, and executive accountability. 'The suspensions are effective immediately and will remain in place for a period not exceeding three (3) months,' said the company. During this period, the Board said it will be engaging the shareholder, the Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA), to provide strategic and operational support, including the secondment of interim leadership resources to ensure the continued delivery of essential public transport services. 'We appeal for cooperation and support from all stakeholders during this transitional period and will provide further updates as necessary,' said the board. ANC Youth League welcome decision The ANC Youth League in Limpopo commended the company for its action. Provincial secretary Phineas Sebola said the lack of pension payments has had a profound impact on retired and current employees, particularly those reliant on pensions for income. ALSO READ: Unpaid provident fund sparks protest by Great North Transport employees Some employees, he said, had unfortunately passed away before receiving their money they were owed. Sebola added that the company has a responsibility to rectify logistical issues in Limpopo and provide affordable transportation services. 'This viable transport mode for our people has been disconnected from the communities due to financial mismanagement. 'As the ANCYL, we view this as an opportunity for our parents, brothers, and sisters who worked for the company for years to receive justice and ultimately obtain what is due to them. 'In addition, the ANCYL advocates for the review of the board and urges the departments responsible to consider dissolving the board and bringing a new structure dominated by young people to bring life in GNT. 'It is in our view that the board has not been doing its work efficiently. Instead, it is now shifting the problem to senior executives. 'We believe that older members may be experiencing diminishing returns in terms of their capacity, leading to ineffective governance of our institutions or companies. 'The inclusion of young people will bring fresh perspectives and energetic engagement to the table, offsetting potential fatigue among older members and facilitating the efficient operation of the company,' Sebola explained. DA lay charges On Monday the DA, the third biggest political party in Limpopo after the EFF and the ANC, laid criminal charged at the Polokwane police station against LEDET and LEDA. This followed years of complaints over unpaid pension fund and medical aid payments to GNT employees. 'The board and executive management of LEDA, as the sole shareholder of GNT, bear statutory and fiduciary oversight responsibilities for GNT's operations and financial conduct. They, too, must be held accountable and face consequences. 'Unpaid contributions for pension fund schemes now total R6.78 million, affecting 945 employees. In some cases, employee membership has already been suspended. 'If a partial payment of R1 million is not made by the end of May, all employee memberships will be suspended. 'If the default continues, employees risk permanently losing their pension benefits. 'Medical unpaid contributions totalled R3.21 million, affecting 247 employees. All medical aid coverage for GNT employees has been suspended, meaning employees cannot access healthcare services unless they pay out of pocket,' said Jacques Smalle, Member of the Provincial Legislature in Lebowakgomo. On Friday, LEDA told The Citizen that it has settled the bill and paid an amount of R9 million towards the employees' pension fund and medical aid contributions. NOW READ: R15m in road unworthiness fines for Great North Transport
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
RiRi sizzles in one of her own bikinis during photo shoot
Rihanna looked sensational in a red-print bra and panty set from her Savage X Fenty range. The singer, 37 is pregnant with her third child with her partner A$AP Rocky, 36, and she deftly posed to hide any glimpse of her bump during the photo shoot. She revealed she was expecting her third child with A$AP when she debuted her baby bump at the Met Gala in early May. Rihanna - who shares sons RZA, two, and Riot, 21 months, with A$AP - has been busy exploring the sights of Cannes with the rapper recently. Earlier this month, Rihanna insisted her new album won't be delayed too much by her pregnancy. Speaking to Entertainment Tonight, the singer was asked if the album - which has been dubbed 'R9' - will be 'put on pause even longer'. She insisted: 'No, maybe a couple of videos.' Fans have been waiting nine years for the follow-up to 2016's Anti, but Rihanna has assured them that her plans are still in place. Rihanna also revealed she isn't 'too overwhelmed' by her pregnancy, although there was some initial shock. She added: 'I'm good! I'm shockingly feeling ok, and not too overwhelmed at the moment.' While details on her new album are few and far between, Rihanna recently offered a teaser of what fans can expect. She told Harper's BAZAAR magazine in February: 'I've been in the studio the whole eight years. But it didn't hit me. I was searching for it. 'I went through phases of what I wanted to do. ''This kind of album, not that album''. I know it's not going to be anything that anybody expects. 'And it's not going to be commercial or radio, digestible. It's going to be where my artistry deserves to be right now. I feel like I've finally cracked it, girl!' Rihanna insisted there was 'no genre' for the album, and she has been determined to make the next batch of songs something 'matching [her] evolution.' This summer Rihanna serves as a voice actor and producer for The Smurfs, a film based on the loveable blue characters. Rhianna plays the iconic Smurfette in the upcoming movie. She dropped a new song Friend of Mine this week, the first from the soundtrack to the movie. Friend Of Mine debuted at No. 72 on the singles charts, a disappointing start for the singer's first new song in nine years. Rihanna hasn't seen a track of hers peak that low in almost a decade. The last time it did, was in March 2106 when Consideration, her collab with SZA debuted at number 88.
The Citizen
a day ago
- General
- The Citizen
PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results: Friday, 30 May 2025
R20 million in jackpots are up for grabs! Here are your PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results for 30 May 2025. Get the PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results as soon as they are drawn on The Citizen, so you can rest easy and check your tickets with confidence. Estimated jackpots for Friday, 30 May 2025: PowerBall jackpot: R9 million guaranteed. PowerBall Plus jackpot: R11 million estimated. PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results for Friday, 30 May 2025: PowerBall: 00, 00, 00, 00, 00. Powerball: 00. PowerBall Plus: 00, 00, 00, 00, 00. Powerball: 00. The winning PowerBall numbers will appear after the draw. Usually within 10 minutes of the draw. You might need to refresh the page to see the updated results. While great care has been taken to ensure accuracy, The Citizen cannot take responsibility for any error in the PowerBall or PowerBall Plus results. We suggest verifying the numbers on the National Lottery website. How much does it cost to play PowerBall? Lottery outlets close at 8.30pm on the day of a draw, which happens at 9pm. The terms and conditions may differ from other service outlets. Visit for more information. You can find the historical winning numbers for PowerBall and Lotto draws here. How much does it cost to play PowerBall? PowerBall entries cost R5 per board including VAT. PowerBall Plus costs an additional R2.50 per board. You can also play PowerBall on selected banking apps (T's & C's apply). Visit and go to the How to Play section to find out more.
The Citizen
a day ago
- General
- The Citizen
It's math! Here's why you're struggling to win the Lotto
Tonight's total estimated jackpot sits at R20 million - R9 million for PowerBall and R11 million for PowerBall Plus. According to the National Lottery, there are 20 358 520 different combinations that Lotto and PowerBall players can play when choosing six out of 52 numbers. The order in which the numbers are matched does not matter in relation to how they are selected. There is also a 1 in 42 375 200 chance of matching all six numbers to win the maximum jackpot. While some argue that winning the lottery is a matter of luck, a mathematician claims that players can increase their chances of being the lucky one by selecting numbers strategically. Tonight's total estimated jackpot sits at R20 million – R9 million for PowerBall and R11 million for PowerBall Plus. 'PowerBall players reducing their chances' According to mathematician Dr Nathan Reed, PowerBall players may be unknowingly reducing their chances of winning by selecting predictable number combinations. Reed suggests avoiding consecutive sequences. 'Sequences like 1-2-3-4-5 or 5-6-7-8-9 are surprisingly popular. While they seem unique, many players choose them, increasing the likelihood of shared jackpots,' says Reed. ALSO READ: Odd PowerBall numbers raise questions; no funny business says commission However, the 20 winners who shocked the country by matching these numbers would disagree. On 2 December 2020, the winning numbers of the PowerBall were 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 as the bonus number. According to Ithuba, 20 people played these numbers and shared the R119 million as a result. Ithuba said these sequences were common among players. It tweeted at the time: 'Congratulations to tonight's 20 winners of the PowerBall draw. These numbers may be unexpected, but we see many players opt to play these sequences.' 'Hot numbers' Reed told that there are 'hot' numbers that players should not rely solely on. 'Numbers such as 16, 23, and 48 are frequently drawn and thus commonly selected by players. Relying solely on these can lead to overlapping combinations.' However, again in 2020, a player walked away with R37 million in July after playing the same numbers for the past four years. His winning numbers were 6, 16, 23, 26, 33 and 48, with a bonus number of 7. 'I have been playing the same numbers for the past four years, not only for Lotto but for PowerBall and Daily Lotto,' he told Ithuba at the time. RELATED: 'Many players play these sequences,' says National Lottery amid social media uproar 'I wanted to play the quick pick selection because I thought I had been playing the same numbers for years and the maximum amount I had won was R1 200 in the daily lotto draw early this year, so I thought maybe it's time I changed my playing strategy. 'I asked the cashier for quick pick selection, but before I gave her the money, my gut told me that today might be the day I strike it lucky and opted to play the same numbers manually.' 'Random PowerBall numbers' Reed further suggests utilising the quick pick option. 'Random number generators can help eliminate personal biases, producing less predictable combinations and reducing the chance of sharing a prize,' he says. 'Many players fall into the trap of choosing numbers based on patterns, birthdays, or perceived 'lucky' numbers. These selections often overlap with others, increasing the chances of shared winnings. By adopting a more randomised approach, players can enhance their odds of securing the full jackpot.'
The Citizen
2 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Semigration boosts Cape residential rental yields
Semigration to the Cape has been a major boost for the residential rentals market, especially in areas such as Durbanville which offers a great lifestyle, but more affordability, says Daniela de Villiers, Seeff's rentals manager for the Durbanville area. The higher demand has unlocked more opportunities for investors and landlords in the area, offering attractive rental yields of 6%-10% depending on the area and property, she says. Average rental rates in the Durbanville and surrounding area range between R9,000 to R25,000, and for luxury homes, upwards of R30,000 per month. Luxury estate homes go to as much as R51,000 and R60,000 per month for homes rented out by Seeff in the Kanonberg and Clara Anna Fontein estates. Tenants are coming mainly from Gauteng, particularly the Pretoria area. They are drawn to the area due to the central location, reputable schools, and relative affordability compared to other upmarket locations in Cape Town. Durbanville offers easy access to main arterials, and well-maintained, safe neighbourhoods. The country-like lifestyle and proximity to the Durbanville Wine Valley are also a bonus for people moving from upcountry. Both families and young professionals are flocking to the area. Students from nearby medical facilities, and those doing practical rotations at state hospitals in the area are also drawn to the rental market. Anneke Roux, another rental agent with Seeff who operates in the Welgedacht area, says the area is also popular with those who enjoy an active lifestyle as they can safely walk and cycle in the scenic surroundings. The highest demand in Welgedacht is in the R13,000-R20,000 range while yields range from 6-10%. Schools are a big attraction, according to Allison Oosthuizen, another Seeff rental agent. Young professionals are drawn to the good selection of apartments in the area, including those at the Waterfront. Apartments rent out at R9,000-R11,000 per month which is more affordably priced compared to the Cape Town CBD. Townhouses is a popular alternative as they are also well-priced at R14,000-R18,000. Even luxury homes at R41,000-R51,000 offer good value compared to other upper end areas. The opportunity for investors is mostly for properties in the R1.2m to R2.4m price range where they can achieve a rental income of R9,000 to R20,000 per month, providing a rental yield of 5-7%. Gratia van Jaarsveld, another Seeff rental agent, however, cautions that landlords must keep their prices in line with the market or they could risk not attracting a good calibre tenant within a reasonable period. Pet-friendly properties are always sought-after. When investing in a rental property, a good location is vital, but landlords must maintain properties in a good condition to optimise the rental and retain good tenants. The areas of Pinelands and Thornton, closer to the City, report similar trends. Johan Meyer, licensee from Seeff for the areas, says the high demand is due to proximity to UCT, Groote Schuur Hospital, good schools, and access to the airport. Tenants include students, medical staff as well as those working at the Old Mutual offices. Here too, rental properties are in short supply, and landlords can earn yields of 6-10%. There is high demand for neat, modern accommodation such as the new Pineworx development. Apartments are renting out at R9,500-R14,000 while houses range from R20,000. The highest prices achieved by Seeff over the last year include R25,000 for a rental in Victory Avenue, R35,000 in Uitvlugt, and R42,000 in Links Drive. Issued by Gina Meintjes
