Latest news with #RCL
IOL News
3 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Clash of Cultures: The Controversy Over Virginity Testing in KwaZulu-Natal
KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga (left) and RCL chairperson Thoko Mkwanazi-Xaluva discussed virginity testing in their recent meeting. Image: Supplied A NEW decree on virginity testing is shaping to be an almighty clash between between culture and the Constitution. The opponents will be Zulu culturists who are set to challenge the government's prescription, via the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL), that now prevents virginity testing of young girls in KwaZulu-Natal the practice below age 16. With the annual Reed Dance ceremony months away, a massive and long standing tradition in the province, the new directive has added to the angst of cultural heads. The commission's chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva met Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga last week and directed that the testing of maidens below 16 was illegal and should be stopped. But culturists have dug in their heels and vowed to defy the directive. 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 Dr Nomagugu Ngobese, the founder of Nombukhubulwane Institute, a cultural body advocating for the preservation of African cultural practice was adamant that the practice will continue and will not be stopped. Ngobese said the practice has helped to reduce sexual violence against children as the organisation conducts tests randomly. She said even perpetrators were scared to rape girl children who were being tested because they realised that testers would become aware that a child had been abused, and that the practice had helped to reduce cases where young girls had been repeatedly raped and could not report this due to fear. 'We will not stop our practice and no one will dictate to us how we raise our kids. We are doing this in the best interest of our kids, the same interest the government claims to uphold. Where is the harm in the practice? A rapist knows no age,' said Ngobese. Furthermore, she accused the government of promoting sexual grooming of children by supplying condoms to schools. She also questioned the government's decision in allowing 12-year-olds to conduct an abortion of a pregnancy if those girls are too young for virginity testing. In the meeting between Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and Shinga, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva raised specific concerns about child protection gaps in religious settings and cultural practices, such as virginity testing. She said unlike schools, where staff were thoroughly vetted and screened, many religious spaces lack such safeguards, thus leaving children vulnerable. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said her commission's constitutional mandate was to protect and promote the rights of cultural, religious, and linguistic communities while strengthening democracy and called on the provincial government to work together to ensure that children were protected from abuse and exploitation in all environments. 'Legislation clearly states that virginity testing may only be conducted on girls over the age of 16 who have provided informed consent. Test results must remain confidential, and marking girls on their foreheads is illegal," said Mkhwanazi-Xaluva Shinga also acknowledged the growing concern around gender-based violence, religious exploitation, and lack of accountability in certain faith-based institutions. She noted that partnerships such as these were essential for crafting effective, long-term strategies to protect vulnerable communities. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the rights of children and promoting their safety, as enshrined in our Constitution,' she concluded. The commission's visit to the province came at time when mass virginity testing is set to start in preparation for the annual Reed Dance ceremony which is presided over by Zulu King Misizulu kaZwelithini. All maidens who attend the ceremony have to be tested before they are allowed to present their reeds to the king. DAILY NEWS
IOL News
3 days ago
- IOL News
Government directive on virginity testing sparks controversy in KwaZulu-Natal
KZN Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga (left) and RCL chairperson Thoko Mkwanazi-Xaluva discussed virginity testing in their recent meeting. Image: Supplied A cultural clash is looming again between government and Zulu culturists over the virginity testing of young girls in KwaZulu-Natal following the directive of the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) which prevents the practice on girls below 16 years of age. The commission's chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva met Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga last week and directed that the testing of maidens below 16 years of age was illegal and should be stopped, however, culturists have vowed to defy this. Dr Nomagugu Ngobese, the founder of Nombukhubulwane Institute, a cultural body advocating for the preservation of African cultural practice said the practice will continue and will not be stoped. Ngobese said the practice has helped to reduce sexual violence against children as the organisation conducts tests randomly. She said even perpetrators are scared to rape girl children who are being tested because they know testers will uncover if a child has been abused and that the practice has helped to reduce cases where young girls had been repeatedly raped and could not report this due to fear. 'We will not stop our practice and no one will dictate to us how we raise our kids. We are doing this in the best interest of our kids, the same interest the government claims to uphold. Where is the harm in the practice? A rapists knows no age,' said Ngobese. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Furthermore, she accused the government of promoting sexual grooming of children by supplying condoms to schools. She also questioned the government's decision in allowing 12-year-olds to conduct an abortion of a pregnancy if those girls are too young for virginity testing. In the meeting between Mkhwanazi-Xaluva and Shinga, Mkhwanazi-Xaluva raised specific concerns about child protection gaps in religious settings and cultural practices, such as virginity testing. She said unlike schools, where staff are thoroughly vetted and screened, many religious spaces lack such safeguards, thus leaving children vulnerable. Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said her commission's constitutional mandate is to protect and promote the rights of cultural, religious, and linguistic communities while strengthening democracy and called on the provincial government to work together to ensure that children are protected from abuse and exploitation in all environments. 'Legislation clearly states that virginity testing may only be conducted on girls over the age of 16 who have provided informed consent. Test results must remain confidential, and marking girls on their foreheads is illegal," said Mkhwanazi-Xaluva Shinga also acknowledged the growing concern around gender-based violence, religious exploitation, and lack of accountability in certain faith-based institutions. She noted that partnerships such as these are essential for crafting effective, long-term strategies to protect vulnerable communities. 'We remain steadfast in our commitment to upholding the rights of children and promoting their safety, as enshrined in our Constitution,' she concluded. The commission's visit to the province came at time when mass virginity testing is set to start in preparation for the annual Reed Dance ceremony which is presided over by Zulu King Misizulu kaZwelithini. All maidens who attend the ceremony have to be tested before they are allowed to present their reeds to the king.
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Reitmans (Canada) Limited to Report 2026 First Quarter Financial Results on June 17th Français
Management will host an earnings conference call and webcast on June 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time MONTREAL, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Reitmans (Canada) Limited ("RCL" or the "Company") (TSXV: RET) (TSXV: RET.A), one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers, today announced that it will release the financial results for the first quarter of 2026 on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, after the market closes and will hold its conference call the next morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Details of the Conference Call Via telephone: 1-833-752-3725 or 647-846-8584 Webcast via the internet at: Presentation material referenced during the conference call will be available at: Conference Call Rebroadcast A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available until midnight, June 25, 2025, by dialing 1-855-669-9658 or 412-317-0088 and entering passcode 9926677. The replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website following the call. About Reitmans (Canada) Limited Reitmans (Canada) Limited ("RCL") is one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers for women and men, with retail outlets throughout the country. The Company operates 394 stores under three distinct banners consisting of 225 Reitmans, 86 PENN. Penningtons, and 83 RW&CO. For more information, visit For further information, please contact: Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Reitmans (Canada) Limited to Report 2026 First Quarter Financial Results on June 17th
Management will host an earnings conference call and webcast onJune 18, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time MONTREAL, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Reitmans (Canada) Limited ("RCL" or the "Company") (TSXV: RET) (TSXV: RET.A), one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers, today announced that it will release the financial results for the first quarter of 2026 on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, after the market closes and will hold its conference call the next morning at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Details of the Conference Call Via telephone: 1-833-752-3725 or 647-846-8584 Webcast via the internet at: Presentation material referenced during the conference call will be available at: Conference Call Rebroadcast A rebroadcast of the conference call will be available until midnight, June 25, 2025, by dialing 1-855-669-9658 or 412-317-0088 and entering passcode 9926677. The replay of the webcast will be available on the Company's website following the call. About Reitmans (Canada) LimitedReitmans (Canada) Limited ("RCL") is one of Canada's leading specialty apparel retailers for women and men, with retail outlets throughout the country. The Company operates 394 stores under three distinct banners consisting of 225 Reitmans, 86 PENN. Penningtons, and 83 RW&CO. For more information, visit For further information, please contact: Alexandra Cohen VP, Corporate Communications Reitmans (Canada) Limited Telephone: (514) 384-1140 ext 23737 Email: acohen@ Caroline Goulian EVP and Chief Financial Officer Reitmans (Canada) Limited Telephone: (514) 384-1140 Email: cgoulian@ Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Reitmans (Canada) Ltd View original content: Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
3 Large-Cap Stocks Skating on Thin Ice
Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence. With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players. This dynamic can trouble even the most skilled investors, but luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you navigate these trade-offs and uncover exceptional companies that break the mold. Keeping that in mind, here are three large-cap stocks that may face near-term headwinds and some other investments you should consider instead. Market Cap: $65.21 billion Established in 1968, Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE:RCL) is a global cruise vacation company renowned for its innovative and exciting cruise experiences. Why Does RCL Fall Short? Scale is a double-edged sword because it limits the company's growth potential compared to its smaller competitors, as reflected in its below-average annual revenue increases of 9.7% for the last five years Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 7.1 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities Royal Caribbean is trading at $240.33 per share, or 15.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with RCL, check out our full research report (it's free). Market Cap: $48.95 billion Founded more than a century ago, PACCAR (NASDAQ:PCAR) designs and manufactures commercial trucks of various weights and sizes for the commercial trucking industry. Why Does PCAR Worry Us? Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion Projected sales decline of 8.7% for the next 12 months points to a tough demand environment ahead Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last two years as its EPS grew by just 1.7% annually PACCAR's stock price of $93.65 implies a valuation ratio of 15.7x forward P/E. If you're considering PCAR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more. Market Cap: $32.56 billion Holding detailed financial records on over 800 million consumers worldwide and dating back to 1899, Equifax (NYSE:EFX) is a global data analytics company that collects, analyzes, and sells consumer and business credit information to lenders, employers, and other businesses. Why Does EFX Give Us Pause? Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 6.8 percentage points Annual earnings per share growth of 4% underperformed its revenue over the last two years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable Underwhelming 10.6% return on capital reflects management's difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging At $263 per share, Equifax trades at 33.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than EFX. The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump's presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025. While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we're homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver's seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025). Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
