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IOL News
a day ago
- Business
- IOL News
Midvaal Municipality shines at Salga audit awards with five prestigious accolades
Peter Teixeira, the mayor of the top performing local municipality, Midvaal. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers The Midvaal Local Municipality has won big at the SA Local Government Association (Salga) annual municipal audit awards for the Gauteng province. During the ceremony held over the weekend at the Premier Hotel near the OR Tambo International Airport, the association acknowledged municipalities demonstrating excellence in financial management. The municipality again emerged as a top performer and scooped five prestigious awards recognising its exemplary performance. According to Midvaal spokesperson Idah Satikhe, the event is held annually to recognise and celebrate municipalities for their exemplary financial management and adherence to the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA). 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 ✕ The municipality was honoured for ensuring that accountability, as well as swift consequences for transgressions and poor performance, were ensured for the 2023/24 financial year. Its second award was for submitting quality annual financial statements and annual performance report, with no corrections made during the audit in 2023/24. In addition, the municipality paid service providers within 30 days for the 2023/24 financial year, and in its municipal capital grants service delivery for local municipalities, it achieved a 99.2% spending rate. Midvaal also obtained a clean audit, which highlighted areas for improvement in 2023/24. 'These awards are a testament to Midvaal's commitment to good governance, transparency, accountability, and long-term financial sustainability,' Satikhe said. She added that the municipality will continue to shine as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that good governance is possible and exemplifying what a caring, compassionate and agile institution looks like. At the 2022/23 Salga municipal awards, Midvaal also won the best overall municipality in Gauteng for its performance. Midvaal also had zero debt for Eskom and Rand Water, which also awarded it the Blue Drop Award for 2024. The National Department of Water and Sanitation also honoured Midvaal with a Green Drop for Sanitation Wastewater Treatment, while the Chartered Institute of Government Finance Audit, and Risk Officers gave the municipality its Clean Administration Award for 2024. In July last year, Midvaal received the Best Overall Municipality award based on its incredible performance, which is based on its extensive key performance indicator assessment, which is audited quarterly. Midvaal has also achieved 12 consecutive clean audits from Auditor-General South Africa between the 2013 and 2024 financial years.
IOL News
29-05-2025
- General
- IOL News
Gauteng Education Department announces critical 2026 admission process for Grade 1 and Grade 8
Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has announced online admission dates for the 2026 academic year. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers The Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) has officially announced its admission process for the 2026 academic year, with reports that the process will run until 29 August Online applications for Grade 1 and Grade 8 will open on July 24. On Thursday, Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane said while the focus of this year's admission process is on early primary education, he clarified that Grade R is not included at this stage. 'We are not starting with Grade R for now because we have not really, fully implemented BELA (Basic Education Laws Amendment), and not all schools have Grade R classes. Some schools collaborate with nearby Early Childhood Development centres,' Chiloane explained. He said this decision underscores the department's commitment to ensuring that foundational education is available and universally accessible before expanding the admission process to include younger learners. 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 Over the years, the province's online admissions system has faced many challenges, with parents decrying delays, technical glitches, limited school options, and difficulties for parents with poor internet access or limited digital literacy, as some of the most experienced challenges. On the issue of Grade R, the MEC indicated that parents of Grade R pupils must still apply for Grade 1, even if the child is continuing at the same school, and warned that no late applications will be accepted. 'We prioritise those who apply on time. Late applications, when we deal with them later on in the year, we would have forfeited a single right to identify a certain school that you would have wanted for your child. Even if that school is in your home feeder schools, you will still not get in if it's full, if you have not applied in time,' he added. As a precaution, Chiloane urged parents to apply to a minimum of three and a maximum of five schools to improve their chances of placement, adding that applying for one school does not improve the child's chances of acceptance. He further warned parents not to fall for scams that demand payment for assistance with the application process. 'There's no one who will guarantee you a space if you give them money. Those people you must bring them to me because we don't charge, it's free, it's a right.'
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Cosatu warns One Stop Border Bill's silence on illegal migration and exports threatens jobs
The Oshoek border post. In a Time Release Study (TRS) conducted jointly by the South African Revenue Service and the Eswatini Revenue Service last year, the turnaround time for trucks exporting cargo to Eswatini at the Oshoek/Ngwenya port of entry in Mpumalanga had been reduced from 1 hour 42 minutes to just 10 minutes. Image: Timothy Bernard/Independent Newspapers Cosatu has said the proposed One Stop Border Bill's silence on the uncontrolled explosion of illegal migration and exports flooding into South Africa threatens local jobs, businesses, value chains, and revenue needed to fund public services. This is as the federation also criticised the Department of Home Affairs' reneging on an agreement to table the Bill at Nedlac for engagement with social partners. In submissions to the Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs on the One Stop Border Bill on Tuesday, Cosatu, along with the Catholic Parliamentary Liaison Office, raised concerns about the rampant corruption at various border posts. Cosatu Parliamentary spokesperson Matthew Parks said administrative areas of concern included the silence on specific roles of the Border Management Agency (BMA), South African Revenue Service (Sars), the South African Police Service, and the SA National Defence Force. Parks said the respective legislative mandates need to be affirmed, upheld, and stated clearly in the Bill to ensure attempts by the BMA to usurp the constitutional role of Sars or any other separate state institution are not allowed to happen, even by default, as well as to control corruption at the border posts. "We are worried by the impression created by the Bill that it seeks to fast-track the movement of goods at border posts. This may have the unintended consequence of telling Border Management Authority and Sars officials at the border posts to waive collecting customs due to the state. Collection of customs duties is not merely to ensure the state receives taxes due to it, but also to ensure tariffs put in place to protect fragile local industries, businesses, value chains, and jobs are enforced," Parks said. Parks warned that the government should not be in the business of undermining Nedlac, as it makes the life of stakeholders and parliamentarians easier when issues are presented with already agreed-upon resolutions. "There is real value in Nedlac. As Business and as Labour, we share many values about fixing the state capacity to provide quality public services that labour and businesses require, and economic growth is linked to this. We are having engagement at Nedlac to build that cohesive state and social partners to build those social compacts," Parks said. Cosatu also warned against expediting the process of opening up the country to goods and people without proper safeguards, citing the 1990s when the country opened its borders too quickly for goods, and hence a flood of Chinese T-shirts, goods, and clothes caused 100 000 job losses overnight. "If we struggle as a country to enforce controls at our borders, be it land, sea, or air, how much more the other countries? We had issues under the Southern African Customs Union that T-shirts are allegedly produced in Malawi, Eswatini, etc. We know, relatively or not, they are produced in China, but some local supplier within this country just sold a label that says 'Made in Eswatini,'" Parks said. In a Time Release Study (TRS) conducted jointly by Sars and the Eswatini Revenue Service last year, the turnaround time for trucks exporting cargo to Eswatini at the Oshoek/Ngwenya port of entry in Mpumalanga had been reduced from 1 hour 42 minutes to just 10 minutes, and the import of similar cargo has seen the time spent at the border slashed from 42 minutes to 10 minutes. The study helped identify bottlenecks that led to long delays at the border crossing, as plans were afoot to have a one-window experience for truck drivers processing freight. BUSINESS REPORT Visit:
IOL News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Final day drama: Relegation battles, Top 8 hopes and CAF glory on the line this Saturday
The first leg of the CAF Champions league final will see Mamelodi Sundowns host Pyramids at Loftus on Saturday. Photo: Timothy Bernard Independent Media Image: Timothy Bernard Independent Media It all comes down to this. The final day of the Betway Premiership promises high-stakes drama across South Africa, with relegation survival, MTN8 qualification, and CAF dreams all hanging in the balance. Every kick, tackle, and goal could reshape destinies as teams jostle for position in a nail-biting end to the domestic campaign. Meanwhile, continental attention turns to Pretoria, where Mamelodi Sundowns begin their quest for a second CAF Champions League crown against Egyptian challengers Pyramids FC. 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 ✕ SATURDAY Betway Premiership Kaizer Chiefs v Polokwane City Chiefs chase MTN8 spot and stability in season finale 🕒 3pm | 📍 FNB Stadium, Johannesburg Kaizer Chiefs' season finale at FNB Stadium on Saturday against Polokwane City could determine the trajectory of both their immediate future and that of coach Nasreddine Nabi. Despite ending a decade-long trophy drought with their recent Nedbank Cup win, Chiefs' inconsistent league form has left them at risk of missing out on next season's MTN8. Speculation is rife that Nabi could be shown the door—unless a strong finish sways the club's hierarchy. Victory over Polokwane could offer both a glimmer of redemption and much-needed stability. Prediction: Kaizer Chiefs 2 Polokwane City 1 Betting odds: Kaizer Chiefs win 1.75 | Draw 3.25 | Polokwane City win 5.20 Magesi FC v Marumo Gallants FC Confident Magesi eye safety against struggling Gallants 🕒 3pm | 📍 Seshego Stadium, Polokwane Magesi FC are not yet mathematically safe from relegation, but they head into their final two matches of the season with growing confidence. They have shown impressive form in the second half of the campaign and will look to continue that momentum when they face Marumo Gallants at the Seshego Stadium. Owen da Gama's charges were recently outclassed by a rampant Mamelodi Sundowns side chasing an eighth consecutive league title. However, needing just a point to secure their top-flight status, Magesi have already done much of the hard work and should be well-positioned to see out the season above the drop zone. Prediction: Magesi FC to win 1-0 Betting odds: Magesi FC win 2.44 | Draw 2.90 | Marumo Gallants win 3.20 SuperSport United v Richards Bay FC Relegation-scrapping SuperSport host relaxed Richards Bay 🕒 3pm | 📍 Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria Matsatsantsa a Pitori find themselves deep in a relegation battle, with their turbulent season now set to go down to the wire. Currently sitting 14th on the log by virtue of goal difference, their clash against the already-safe Natal Rich Boys is a must-win affair. SuperSport will take heart from having already secured two victories over the KwaZulu-Natal outfit this season—once in the league and again in the Nedbank Cup. With Richards Bay having little at stake, United may just find the edge needed to grind out a crucial result. Prediction: SuperSport United to win 1-0 Betting odds: SuperSport United win 1.84 | Draw 3.10 | Richards Bay FC win 4.90 Cape Town City v Stellenbosch FC Survival or African dreams as Cape Derby decides fates 🕒 3pm | 📍 Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town Cape Town City face a monumental task to avoid the promotion/relegation play-offs. Nothing less than a win against Stellenbosch at Cape Town Stadium will do in their final fixture of the season. Stellenbosch, however, have their eyes on a third-place finish and qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup. A win secures it; a draw or loss leaves them relying on Sekhukhune United to lose to Golden Arrows—an unlikely scenario. For City, rooted to the bottom of the log, even victory might not be enough to avoid the dreaded play-offs. Prediction: Cape Town City 1 Stellenbosch FC 1 Betting odds: Cape Town City win 3.65 | Draw 3.15 | Stellenbosch FC win 2.09 AmaZulu v Orlando Pirates Pirates focus on form as AmaZulu eye MTN8 lifeline 🕒 3pm | 📍 Moses Mabhida Stadium, Durban Orlando Pirates head to Durban with second place in the Betway Premiership already secured, while AmaZulu are fighting to hold on to eighth spot and a place in next season's MTN8. Arthur Zwane's Usuthu have won two of their last four and are showing improved form at just the right time. Pirates, adjusting to life after José Riveiro's sudden exit, may rotate their squad slightly with one eye on recent fatigue. However, the Buccaneers remain dangerous, having won four of their last five league outings. With both sides motivated by contrasting objectives, this clash promises to deliver intensity and drama in equal measure. Prediction: Draw 1-1 Betting odds: AmaZulu win 5.20 | Draw 3.50 | Orlando Pirates win 1.68 Golden Arrows v Sekhukhune United Survival meets African qualification in nerve-racking finale 🕒 3pm | 📍 Mpumalanga Stadium, Durban It's do-or-die for Golden Arrows as they host Sekhukhune United in their final Betway Premiership match, needing a win to avoid the relegation play-offs. Arrows are winless in seven and sit just one point above the drop zone, with their top-flight survival hanging by a thread. The return of Manqoba Mngqithi sparked brief optimism, but the pressure is now at its peak. Sekhukhune, on the other hand, are chasing a CAF Confederation Cup berth. They must win and hope Stellenbosch drop points against Cape Town City. With high stakes for both sides, expect a fiercely contested and emotionally charged encounter. Prediction: Draw 1-1 Betting odds: Golden Arrows win 2.95 | Draw 3.10 | Sekhukhune United win 2.44 Captains Aly Gaber of Pyramids, left, and Rowen William of Mamelodi Sundown will lead their respective teams during the first leg of the CAF Champions League final on Saturday. Photo: BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix CAF Champions League final, first leg Mamelodi Sundowns v Pyramids FC Battle-hardened Sundowns aim to strike first in CAF final 🕒 6pm | 📍 Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria Mamelodi Sundowns, the 2014–15 CAF Champions League winners, host Egypt's Pyramids FC in the first leg of the final at Loftus Versfeld Stadium on Saturday evening. Having fallen short in the knockout stages over the past six seasons, the Brazilians are back in the final and full of confidence. Rhulani Mokwena's side are on an eight-match unbeaten run across all competitions, displaying their resilience and class throughout the campaign. The visiting Pyramids, runners-up in the 2019–20 CAF Confederation Cup, are contesting their first-ever Champions League final—an impressive feat for the emerging Cairo-based club. However, the Egyptians' poor away form is cause for concern. They have suffered multiple defeats on the road in this competition and often struggle in front of goal when travelling. With experience, momentum and home advantage in their favour, Sundowns are tipped to take control of the tie. Prediction: Mamelodi Sundowns 2 Pyramids FC 1 Betting odds: Mamelodi Sundowns win 1.73 | Draw 3.16 | Pyramids FC win 5.13
IOL News
22-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Mamelodi Sundowns' continental glory prompts correct PSL Awards delay
Mamelodi Sundowns captain Ronwen Williams stand next to the new CAF Champions League trophy on Thursday. Photo: Timothy Bernard Independent Media Image: Timothy Bernard Independent Media Comment by Herman Gibbs In a commendable gesture recognising the remarkable achievements of Mamelodi Sundowns, the PSL have announced the postponement of this season's awards ceremony, traditionally held in June. This is an unprecedented move, and the PSL's decision comes ahead of Sundowns' critical participation in the 2025 Fifa Club World Cup and the CAF Champions League final. These events underscore the club's elevated status on the continental stage. The PSL emphasised their desire to support the Brazilians as they embark on these high-profile campaigns. Member clubs and stakeholders in professional football are likely to rally behind Sundowns' ventures on the international stage. 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 ✕ Head coach Miguel Cardoso has been vocal about Sundowns' dominance and the honour it brings to South African football. He expressed hope that the forthcoming PSL awards would reflect the club's stellar performances this season, stating: 'I hope that the awards of the season are given in general to Mamelodi Sundowns, because indeed, the trophies, performances, data and numbers are there.' Cardoso's remarks echo the prevailing sentiment that, although traditional giants Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates command much larger fan bases, Masandawana's recent continental successes have positioned them as the true flag-bearers of South African football. The postponement marks a significant departure from the PSL's historical approach to recognising Sundowns' achievements in previous seasons. Despite various challenges, the Tshwane side have emerged as exemplary ambassadors for their nation, and the entire PSL community appears uplifted by their accomplishments. This gesture straddles the line between fostering domestic rivalries and celebrating collective success within South African football. Commentators and fans alike are hopeful that the PSL's move signifies the beginning of a transformative era in the sport's local dynamics. There is now an increased focus on nurturing homegrown talent and enhancing South Africa's footballing reputation on the global stage.
