Latest news with #VanRooyen
The South African
6 days ago
- Business
- The South African
Pick n Pay celebrates major environmental milestone
To mark World Environment Day 2025 on Thursday, 5 June and this year's theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution', Pick n Pay is celebrating a major environmental milestone. Its Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) customer recycling initiative has diverted over 1.1 million plastic and packaging recyclable items from landfill. The milestone marks a significant win in Pick n Pay's long-term commitment to supporting circular economies and empowering everyday shoppers to play a direct role in reducing plastic waste. Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative has grown into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Twelve new RVM machines were added in the past 12 months. Each machine accepts recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass containers, and rewards customers with Smart Shopper loyalty points, which can be used for everyday purchases. 'What started as a small test has evolved into a movement. This programme has shown that people are willing to recycle when it's made convenient, accessible, and rewarding,' says Riley van Rooyen, Sustainability Lead at Pick n Pay, reflecting on the success of the programme. As of May 2025, the initiative has collected and diverted over 1.1 million recyclable items from landfill, resulting in over 80 000kg of waste recycled and an estimated 1 200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided. Customers have received a total of over R135 000 in recycling rewards since the pilot launched, and over R56 000 in Smart Shopper points since the integration with the programme in August last year. Each machine can hold up to 750 items and uses barcode recognition technology to ensure the correct sorting of recyclables. Customers simply scan their items and instantly receive Smart Shopper points, which they tend to use for groceries, airtime, and data. Prior to the integration with Smart Shopper, customers received recycling rewards through Imagined Earth. 'Ending plastic pollution isn't a one-day project. But this initiative proves that scalable, community-led environmental solutions work. And on this World Environment Day, we're proud to celebrate our plastic reduction initiatives wins with our customers and our partners in the project, who've helped us take over a million small steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,' says Van Rooyen. Despite focusing on a wider business turnaround strategy in FY25, Pick n Pay's sustainability team continued to deliver meaningful progress. By prioritising high-impact, customer-facing initiatives – such as RVMs and packaging innovations – Pick n Pay maintained momentum on key environmental goals. The retailer has exceeded its Plastic Pact 2025 target for packaging weight, reporting a 38% reduction in average packaging weight. This also builds on the retailer's broader efforts to reduce waste in the environment. Last year, it diverted nearly 13 000 tonnes of waste from its stores, the weight of approximately 2 100 average male adult elephants. Through its regular beach clean-ups, it has removed nearly 2 000kg of plastic waste from local beaches over the past five years. 1. Fourways Mall 2. Fourways Crossing 3. New Redruth 4. Waterkloof Rand 5. Benmore 6. Southgate 7. Key West 8. Dainfern Square 9. Lenasia 10. Kensington 11. Bedfordview 12. Randburg Square 13. Montana 14. Southdowns 15. Plantland 16. Hazeldean Square 17. Irene Village Mall 18. Boksburg 19. Hyper Centurion 20. Greenstone Hyper 21. Sasolburg 22. Vaal Mall 23. Three Rivers 24. The Glen 25. Mall Of Africa 26. Rosebank 27. The Falls 28. Carnival Mall 29. Kyalami on Main 30. Sunward Park 31. Primrose 32. Kenilworth Centre 33. Constantia 34. V&A Waterfront 35. Gardens 36. Umhlanga Crescent 37. Hilton Family 38. Summerstrand 39. Blue Hills Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Eyewitness News
6 days ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Main opposition parties reject Treasury's assertion of pro-poor budget
CAPE TOWN - The main opposition parties in Parliament have rejected the National Treasury's assertion that the national budget is pro-poor and not one of austerity. The uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party also slammed the National Treasury's economic growth projections, saying it consistently gets it wrong. The party told a joint meeting of the finance committees that it believes the hike in the fuel levy will also have a severe impact on growth. The meeting on Wednesday finalised its report on the fiscal framework, which underpins the budget's money bills. The MK Party's Des van Rooyen said the National Treasury is being overly optimistic on its GDP growth projection of 1.4% for this year. READ: Experts say economic momentum remains elusive after weak GDP growth Van Rooyen said the budget is being premised on the wrong variables. 'We are not speaking of a once-off prediction. We are speaking about something that is well recorded. National Treasury has been missing its targets for the past 10 years.' The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)'s Omphile Maotwe, meanwhile, insisted government's economic reform programme Operation Vulindlela won't lead to the desired economic growth. 'Just go look at what the public-private partnerships are doing in the State-owned entities. We are not saying we are closing them out. But there's nothing they are bringing to the table. I can assure you.' Former Transnet chief executive, Brian Molefe, now an MK Member of Parliament (MP), backed Maotwe, who also previously worked at the freight company, saying during his tenure, the company was profitable.
IOL News
03-06-2025
- General
- IOL News
Orlando Pirates players step up as Bafana Bafana prepares for friendlies
WITH Mamelodi Sundowns players not being included in the current Bafana Bafana setup ahead of two friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique, it is not a secret that a lot of the weight to lead the side will be carried by Orlando Pirates' stars. Bafana play Tanzania at Peter mokaba Stadium on Friday night, 7.30pm kick-off before taking on Mozambique at Loftus on Tuesday. The positive news coming from Polokwane, where the national team set-up camp, is that they - Pirates players themselves, seem to understand the duty upon their shoulders quite well. Bafana coach Hugo Broos himself made it all clear on Monday when he named Pirates defender and one of the Betway Premiership side's leaders, Nkosinathi Sibisi, as his stand-in skipper in the absence of Sundowns goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams. Leading the defence for Bafana alongside Sibisi is expected to be the likes of Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Deano van Rooyen, who both played crucial roles getting Pirates to the semi-finals of the Caf Champions League. 'It's an honour to be selected for the Bafana Bafana squad. For me, I have been working hard to get this opportunity. You have to keep working hard, you'll never know when the opportunity will come. Now for us the focus is to get a chance in the two games and give my best,' said Van Rooyen. 'We had a good season at Orlando Pirates and a lot of our players gained a lot of experience of playing in the Caf Champions League. For us now it is a chance to help the country achieve good results in the next two games.' Van Rooyen and Sibisi are indeed among the experienced members of the squad. 'Yes we have a younger squad but as the coach has said, there is no pressure on us. So we must just go out there and perform and be ourselves,' said van Rooyen. Commenting on Sibisi's leadership, Van Rooyen said of the man who has captained him many times in the colours of the Buccaneers: 'He is someone who does not speak a lot but his work on the field speaks for itself. I think he is that kind of a leader. His experience on the field, I think will be good for us.' What should make the Pirates players' leadership duty easy, is the fact that other squad members themselves seem to be in unison. One such squad member is AmaZulu forward Tshepang Moremi, who believes everyone will have to seize the moment regardless of age or even seniority. 'Whether you are young or you are old, the important thing for us to understand is that it is our time,' said Moremi. 'This is my first callup and it was my first time meeting with the coach (Broos) yesterday (on Sunday). He told me that I have been working hard and so I deserve to be in this team and I must keep on working hard. 'He told me that whenever I play I must do my best because you never know who is watching. Moremi 'I am looking forward to keeping on improving and working hard. My main goal is to play in the Afcon and Fifa World Cup. 'It is very important to me to keep working hard and contribute to the team, either by scoring and assisting. Even in the upcoming two games, when I get a chance, I will try to either score or assist.'
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Erik van Rooyen Blitzes Qualifier Field
Erik van Rooyen Blitzes Qualifier Field originally appeared on Athlon Sports. POWELL, Ohio — An annual pilgrimage happens the day after the Memorial Tournament, when those players who are not otherwise exempt from the U.S. Open try to qualify on Monday in what has been dubbed 'Golf's Longest Day.' Advertisement The 36-hole affair is spread out among 10 qualifying venues over the continental United States, with 47 spots available for the 125th U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club next week outside of Pittsburgh. This year, 66 players will compete for six spots at Kinsale Golf & Fitness Club, north of Columbus. Eight players from last week's Memorial field will participate. The first 18 holes at Kinsale finished with South African Erik van Rooyen leading at 8-under after shooting a 64, tying the competitive course record. Van Rooyen kept the momentum going and easily was the medalist, finishing 13-under and six shots clear of Bud Cauley, Justin Lower and Lanto Griffin at 7-under. Advertisement 'It's just a long day in the sun, and it requires just a lot of focus,' Van Rooyen said. 'A lot of mental energy to stay with it for that long. I mean, I think the last time I did 36 holes was probably two years ago when I when I was here qualifying as well, or maybe three years ago. So, I don't do 36 holes too often.' Cauley backed up his morning 3-under 69 with a 4-under 68 in the afternoon. He will make his first appearance in the U.S. Open since 2017 and his first visit to Oakmont. Erik van Rooyen plays his tee shot at the 15th hole during the third round of the RBC Canadian Open golf tournament. Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images 'I've been playing pretty solid all year, so I felt like I just kind of kept doing the same things,' Cauley said, rushing to catch a flight home. 'And I knew I had a good chance to get through today.' Advertisement Harrison Ott was in second place at 5-under in the morning and hung on with a 71 in the afternoon to punch his ticket for Oakmont at 6-under. The five players who finished at 5-under and won a five-for-one playoff included Max Homa, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour who carried his own bag for all 36 holes because of a split with his caddie. Chase Johnson, Eric Cole, Rickie Fowler and Cameron Young joined the playoff, with Young making a 12-footer on the first hole to claim the last spot. Related: Scottie Scheffler Captures Memorial for Third Win of 2025 Related: Jack Nicklaus Surprised That Rory McIlroy Skipped Memorial This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 3, 2025, where it first appeared.
The Sun
03-06-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Van Rooyen, Leishman qualify for US Open at Oakmont
SOUTH African Erik van Rooyen and Australian Marc Leishman were among those who earned berths at Oakmont next week from US Open final 36-hole qualifiers on Monday. Van Rooyen fired rounds of 64 and 67 to finish first on 13-under 131 at Kinsale Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio, with Americans Bud Cauley, Justin Lower and Lanto Griffin sharing second on 137 and countryman Harrison Ott on 138. That left a five-man playoff for the final available US Open berth, a fight that included US PGA Tour players Max Homa, Rickie Fowler, Eric Cole and Cameron Young plus compatriot Chase Johnson. Young won the spot with a birdie on the first playoff hole. Homa was notable as the only player carrying his own bag through the all-day affair. Van Rooyen, 35, missed the cut in his last three US Open starts over the past four years after making his best finish, a share of 23rd, in 2020. He is a two-time PGA Tour winner, most recently at Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in 2023, and was a runner-up at last month's CJ Cup Byron Nelson tournament. At Woodmont in suburban Washington, Americans Ryan McCormack and Trevor Cone took the lead, claiming two US Open spots. That left a three-way playoff for two final US Open spots between Australian Marc Leishman, Colombian Sebastian Munoz from LIV Golf and American Bryan Lee. Leishman, who won his first LIV Golf title in April at Miami, and Lee parred the first two extra holes and booked their berths at Oakmont when Munoz lipped out a par putt to make bogey on the second playoff hole. At Lambton in York, Canada, it was American Kevin Velo setting the pace -- but six others joined him including Danes Niklas Norgaard and Thorbjorn Olesen, England's Matt Wallace, Argentina's Emiliano Grillo, American Mark Hubbard and France's Victor Perez. Americans James Nicholas and Chris Gotterup led four qualifiers at Canoe Brook in Summit, New Jersey, with Mexico's Roberto Diaz and US amateur Ben James taking the last spots. American Zach Bauchou led qualifiers at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, with Mexicans Alvaro Ortiz and Emilio Gonzalez and American Alistair Docherty one stroke back to also qualify.
