UAV takes surveillance to new heights
It's poised to enhance border surveillance and security operations.
The Milkor 380 UAV, developed by defence company Milkor, is ideal for remote areas and dense terrain.
According to Milkor's Daniel du Plessis, South Africa is one of the top 10 countries in terms of intellectual property and skill development for UAVs of that scale.
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Daily Maverick
3 hours ago
- Daily Maverick
Drive to survive — the cost of SA's road safety crisis
South Africa's roads are a death trap — claiming nearly 12,000 lives a year, draining 3% of GDP and enabling corruption through fake vehicle roadworthiness checks. With failing infrastructure, rigged testing stations and weak roadworthiness inspection enforcement, every fake certificate risks another fatal crash. As investigations begin, will the government finally steer policy in the right direction — or keep driving blind? 'To ensure greater safety on our roads, and reduce the devastating toll road accidents have on lives and livelihoods, we aim to reduce road fatalities by 45% by 2029 so we reach the UN target of halving road fatalities by 2030,' said Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy during the ministry's budget vote in Parliament on Wednesday, 2 July Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) puts the crash bill at R186-billion a year – about 2.8% of GDP – well above the global average for middle-income states. Statistics SA shows about 6,423 road deaths were officially recorded in 2019 on death certificates. However, the RTMC State of Road Safety 2023 and international data estimate the real annual toll closer to between 11,883 and 12,000. For context, that places South African road fatalities (25 per 100,000) at levels worse than countries such as Botswana (~18 per 100,000), the UK (~3 per 100,000) and only slightly better than Mozambique (~31 per 100,000). 'We will never have accurate stats of how many accidents are caused by unroadworthy vehicles … we cannot even quantify the cost,' says the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse's (Outa's) Rudie Heyneke, one of the lead authors of a 2025 report on corruption allegations at vehicle testing stations (VTS). The Stats SA record confirms the 25-39 age group bears the brunt – a direct drain on households, employers and the tax base, let alone the human cost. Heyneke makes this point clear: 'It's not a direct expense, but it's my money, it's your money, that goes into financing that ambulance, that hospital. It's a huge cost to the country.' Why is this happening? Law, tests and stations The National Road Traffic Act of 1996, Regulation 138 and SANS 10047/10216 make it clear: every car must pass a physical inspection at change of ownership, with annual tests for taxis and trucks, and semi-annual for buses. 'Passenger vehicles must be tested only with the change of ownership … so you can think that there's a lot more that can go wrong' says Heyneke. Many of the vehicles on the road today might fail a roadworthiness inspection, and requiring more frequent checks would indeed make our roads safer. However, even when Certificate of Roadworthiness (CoR) checks are required, the answer is not that simple. Second testing The problem, as Heyneke explains, is that many testing centres are vehicles for corruption. For example, if your vehicle fails a test in Gauteng, you can skip repairs or buy a pass in Limpopo or North West, a process enabled by a loophole in the way we manage vehicle roadworthiness fraud has become such an issue that Minister Creecy requested a probe be launched by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU). The National Traffic Information System (NaTIS) does not log failed test data or block a second pass, even if a pass is registered on the system within minutes after failing in another province. The RTMC was not able to provide data on the number of fraudulent CoRs logged and voided in response to written questions by Daily Maverick and referred our queries to the Department of Transport. The department had not responded to any of Daily Maverick's questions by the time of publication almost a week later. Outa's 2025 probe shows dozens of cross-border 'pass buys' every month, heavily used by taxis, buses and mine trucks. Stats SA data show only 54% of Gauteng's road deaths happen where the victim lives – mirroring the same cross-border test routes. 'Your car dies in Gauteng, but it's born 'safe' in Limpopo – that's the scam.' Private stations, public conflict Since the 1990s, private vehicle testing stations have multiplied to boost capacity – but oversight has fallen by the wayside. Limpopo now issues far more CoRs than its national fleet share of about 6% would justify, according to Outa data. Many station owners are also fleet operators, second-hand dealers or local politicians – an obvious conflict. The SIU's investigation falls under Proclamation 191 of 2024, signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, covering officials, owners and syndicates. Unsafe roads, bad cars, a perfect storm The 2025 Africa Status Report on Road Safety shows South Africa's roads often lack lighting, signage and routine repair – add that to our decaying fleet plus fraud guarantees failures. Many 'driver error' fatalities are actually mechanical failures – worn brakes, broken steering, bald tyres that never saw a real inspection lane. Stats SA shows 27% of victims die in hospital and 13% are dead on arrival – strained public health infrastructure means that weak trauma care and rescue make the damage worse. International data confirm countries enforcing periodic inspections cut fatality rates by half or more. The WHO's Global Status Report on Road Safety of 2023 shows that countries with more frequent mandatory public roadworthiness inspections, which are centrally logged, consistently see fewer road fatalities over time, particularly with regard to mechanical failure-based crashes. The UK mandates annual testing, while Japan and Germany mandate biannual roadworthiness tests – and the numbers all demonstrate the clear efficacy in reducing crashes and fatalities. There has been a welcome decrease in road fatalities this year, with Easter weekend being notably calmer, with a 45.6% change since last year. 'We commend all those who played a role in this outcome,' said Automobile Association (AA) CEO Bobby Ramagwede in a statement earlier this year noting the improvement. 'Through coordinated efforts, we are finally beginning to see measurable improvements in road safety.' DM What this means for you The SIU's large-scale investigation is now live – asset freezes, possible criminal charges could see the light of day to investigate vehicle trading centres and a decline in the number of roadworthy certificates that are improperly issued. Outa hopes to host a national roundtable later this year with the ministry, SIU, fleet groups, taxi councils and VTS owners to push fixes. The fixes are not rocket science, according to Outa's Heyneke: Enforce periodic testing for older cars – the law already allows it; Upgrade NaTIS with a national block: fail once, no second pass without repairs; and Mandate photo and video evidence for every test, meaning no false paperwork. Until the loopholes close, every fake CoR is potentially a road crash tax that's quietly draining nearly 3% of South Africa's GDP – but until paper matches metal, we're paying in blood and billions. DM
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- The Citizen
SASSA reassures beneficiaries amid grant reviews
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reassured grant recipients that no social grants have been suspended. This follows public concerns regarding the agency's current beneficiary review process. SASSA CEO Themba Matlou said the reviews are routine and legally required, aimed at verifying continued eligibility – particularly in cases where beneficiaries may have additional income sources not previously disclosed. 'This review is not a punitive measure. It is meant to ensure continued eligibility and prevent misuse of public funds. This comes after the agency collaborated with registered credit bureaux and flagged approximately 210 000 social grant beneficiaries for receiving additional incomes not disclosed,' Matlou said. According to him, the Social Assistance Act requires applicants to declare all income streams when applying for grants, and to report any changes in financial circumstances thereafter. ALSO READ: Mpumalanga SASSA warns of scam He emphasised that failure to do so may result in corrective action. 'The review of social grants helps identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in financial, medical or legal circumstances. 'SASSA uses the review process to verify that grants are not paid to deceased individuals or those who have relocated without updating their records. In some cases, reviews uncover individuals listed on other payroll systems – public or private – while still receiving grants.' ALSO READ: All gold Sassa cards to replaced with black Postbank cards Some payments may be temporarily delayed if a beneficiary does not respond to a review request or fails to submit updated documentation in time. 'However, no grants have been suspended. Efforts are also under way to improve capacity at SASSA offices to manage the high volumes of in-person visits,' Matlou added. Beneficiaries contacted for a review are encouraged to visit their nearest SASSA office with the following documents: • Valid South African ID (13-digit barcoded ID or smart card) • Proof of income (payslips, pension slips, or affidavit if unemployed) • Bank statements for the last three months (for all active accounts) • Proof of residence (utility bill or letter from a local authority) • Medical referral report (for disability or care-dependency grants) • Marriage certificate or divorce decree, if applicable • Death certificate for a spouse or dependant, if applicable • Any relevant supporting documents, including birth certificates and school attendance records for child-related grants If a beneficiary is bedridden or immobile, a procurator can be appointed to assist. SASSA encourages beneficiaries in such circumstances to contact their local office to arrange this. The agency is working towards automating the review process to reduce queues and improve convenience. Plans are under way to launch online self-service options, which would allow beneficiaries to digitally update their information and submit supporting documents. SASSA urges all affected individuals to respond promptly to any official communication. Failure to comply may result in delays to future payments and, in some cases, suspension or legal action. Matlou reiterated that the process is about protecting public funds and ensuring that support reaches those who truly need it. For any queries or to confirm their review status, beneficiaries should visit or contact their nearest SASSA office. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- The Citizen
Grok 4 AI chatbot turns to Elon Musk for some answers
Grok 4 found itself at the center of a storm for posts that praised Adolf Hitler. Elon Musk unveiled the latest version of his generative AI model on Wednesday. Picture: Grok Grok 4, xAI's latest generative artificial intelligence (AI) assistant, seemingly consults owner Elon Musk's positions on topics before responding to questions. The South African-born world's richest man unveiled the latest version of his generative AI model on Wednesday. 'We just unveiled Grok 4, the world's smartest artificial intelligence. Grok 4 outperforms all other models on the ARC-AGI benchmark, scoring 15.9% – nearly double that of the next best model – and establishing itself as the most intelligent AI to date. Storm However, the AI chatbot found itself at the centre of a storm after the launch, as it drew scrutiny for posts that praised former German dictator and Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Grok began praising Adolf Hitler, referring to itself as MechaHitler and making antisemitic comments in response to user queries. When asked 'Should we colonise Mars?', Grok 4 begins its research by stating: 'Now, let's look at Elon Musk's latest X posts about colonising Mars,' AFP confirmed. It then offers the Tesla CEO's opinion as its primary response. ALSO READ: Report reveals alarming collection of data by AI chatbots Consulting Musk Australian entrepreneur and researcher Jeremy Howard published results last Thursday showing similar behaviour. When he asked Grok, 'Who do you support in the conflict between Israel and Palestine? Answer in one word only,' the AI reviewed Musk's X posts on the topic before responding. Repairs X said it was aware of Grok's response when prompted by users. 'We are aware of recent posts made by Grok and are actively working to remove the inappropriate posts. Since being made aware of the content, xAI has taken action to ban hate speech before Grok posts on X. 'xAI is training only truth-seeking, and thanks to the millions of users on X, we are able to quickly identify and update the model where training could be improved,' it said. While users can access Grok 3 for free, a subscription to Grok 4 costs $30 (R535) per month, while a larger version known as Grok 4 Heavy costs $300 (R5 360) per month. NOW READ: Huawei unveils Pura 80 series smartphones with innovative camera system [VIDEO]
