Latest news with #720
IOL News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Coalition appeal: ActionSA urges DA and EFF to unite against ANC in KwaDukuza
The KwaDukuza Municipality could be governed by the DA-led coalition. Image: Facebook While the ANC is searching for a new KwaDukuza Local Municipality mayor and deputy, ActionSA is calling for united opposition to take over the running of the municipality. The party's councillor Halalalisani Ndlovu has appealed to all opposition parties, especially the EFF and the DA to set aside their differences for the best interests of KwaDukuza residents. Ndlovu said in 2021 the opposition had an opportunity to stop the ANC, however, the ideological differences between the DA and EFF helped the ANC to retain power in the municipality. 'I want to make an appeal to all the opposition parties to unite and save the people from KwaDukuza from another ANC rule. I appeal to the DA and EFF in particular to put the residents first by setting aside their political and ideological differences and form a coalition that will serve the people,' said Ndlovu. The EFF and DA are yet to respond to the unity calls. In the 59-seat council, the ANC has 29 seats while the opposition has 30. The ANC was forced to form a coalition with the African Transformation Movement, which holds one seat. 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 Last week, the ANC forced mayor Ali Ngidi and his deputy Njabulo Cele out of their positions following recommendations in April to investigate the pair's alleged abuse of power. Besides removing the pair from their positions, the ANC also ordered them to pay back the money they splurged on luxury vehicle hire, without council approval, since assuming office in November. The report that was presented to council in April showed that from November to February the mayor had spent R497,180,10 while his deputy had spent R527,720,13. Furthermore, the ANC ordered Ngidi to pay for fuel use of the mayoral car which was used to transport his family, particularly his children to school. Ngidi will also have to pay for the security firm that guarded his home-this was also not approved by the council. It was reported that the Durban-based security company was billing the municipality R173,000 for eight guards that were stationed at the mayor's house day and night. It is not clear for how long the company had guarded his home.
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Merafong residents brace for major tariff hikes after municipal budget approval
Residents of Merafong are set to experience significant increases in municipal service charges from 1 July 2025, after the 2025/2026 municipal budget was officially approved during a Special Council Meeting on 28 May. The newly approved budget outlines steep hikes across various services: Water tariffs will rise by 15.30% Electricity tariffs will increase by 8–11%, depending on usage Sewerage services will go up by 9.5% Refuse removal will increase by 6% Sundry tariffs will also rise by 6% In addition, property rates for residents living in towns will rise by 5%, while agricultural properties and Public Service Infrastructure (PSI) will see a 3% increase. Mine property rates will rise by 4.4%. The total budgeted expenditure exceeds R2.7 billion, with the largest portion allocated to debt repayment, followed by spending on bulk purchases such as water and electricity. Employee-related costs are expected to total R466,720,835. Despite opposition from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), the budget was passed by majority vote. These increases are likely to place additional financial strain on residents already grappling with rising living costs. The municipality has defended the hikes as necessary to ensure service delivery and cover growing operational expenses. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
New Straits Times
08-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
CPO Futures likely to trade with slight downside bias next week
KUALA LUMPUR: The crude palm oil (CPO) futures contract on Bursa Malaysia Derivatives is expected to trade with a slight downside bias next week, amid rising output and stock levels, said a trader. Palm oil trader David Ng noted that the market is currently entering a seasonally higher production period, which typically begins in April and extends through September or October -- a period during which output typically increases, leading to a corresponding rise in stock levels. "We expect the commodity to trade between RM3,720 per tonne and RM3,950 per tonne," he told Bernama. Meanwhile, Interband Group of Companies senior palm oil trader Jim Teh expects the market to experience profit-taking, with prices likely to trade between RM3,700 per tonne and RM3,800 per tonne. "Stock-wise, the market will be closely watching the Malaysian Palm Oil Board data, which is scheduled for release on June 10," he said. In terms of demand, Teh noted that physical buying is expected from China, India, Pakistan, the Middle East, the European Union countries, and little buying from the United States. "Production-wise, the good weather conditions suggest that CPO output is likely to increase," he added. On a Friday-to-Friday basis, the spot-month June 2025 contract rose RM23 to RM3,911 per tonne, while July 2025 and August 2025 added RM39 each to RM3,930 per tonne and RM3,917 per tonne, respectively. September 2025 rose RM36 to RM3,906 per tonne, October 2025 increased RM29 to RM3,899 per tonne, and November 2025 went up RM25 to RM3,899 per tonne. The weekly trading volume advanced to 290,679 lots from 281,987 lots the previous week, while open interest edged down to 241,688 contracts from 241,994 contracts. The physical CPO price for June South gained RM30 to RM3,960 per tonne. -- BERNAMA
New Straits Times
06-05-2025
- Health
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: HK actor Niklas Lam flies to China for dentist, so much cheaper
HONG KONG: Hong Kong actor Niklas Lam, 30, recently revealed on Instagram that he travels all the way to Shenzhen in China to see the dentist as it is "cheaper than in Hong Kong". Lam said: "Extracting just one tooth in Hong Kong would have cost me between HK$700 (RM380) and HK$2,500 (RM1,360), but in Shenzhen, I pay 630 yuan (RM365) to have two removed. "I'm lucky I didn't have to get my wisdom tooth removed because that would've cost even more in Hong Kong." Lam said that extracting a wisdom tooth in Hong Kong costs around HK$5,000 (RM2,720), and if surgery is required, the price could reach up to HK$8,000 (RM4,351). A wisdom tooth extraction in Shenzhen only costs 700 yuan (RM405). "The price difference is ridiculous. Will an actor in Hong Kong be very rich? The truth is they won't. If they're solely relying on their job as an artiste for income, they won't have enough to feed themselves," said Lam. Many netizens agreed with the actor, and said that they were not surprised at the high cost of living in Hong Kong. "No wonder my cousin goes to Shenzhen every week for groceries," said one netizen.
Borneo Post
05-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Customs Dept seizes over 2kg of cannabis disguised as Hari Raya gifts
Handout photo showing one of the packages seized during the inspection. — Sarawak Customs Department photo KUCHING (May 5): The Royal Malaysian Customs Department successfully foiled a drug smuggling syndicate in two separate operations and seized 2.1kg of cannabis worth approximately RM62,880. In a statement, Sarawak Customs director Norizan Yahya said the first case dated March 28 involved the seizure of cannabis weighing approximately 1,024 grammes, with an estimated value of RM30,720 at a courier service premises at Jalan Durian in Sri Aman. 'At around 10.15am, a team of Customs officers from the Kuching Narcotics Branch conducted an inspection at the premises, which led to the discovery of four packages suspected to contain cannabis,' he said. Norizan said the modus operandi of this syndicate was to smuggle the cannabis via air freight, concealing them as Hari Raya gifts, and sent to incomplete addresses to evade detection by the authorities. In the second case, four packages were seized during a separate inspection conducted on the same courier service premises on April 2 at 11.30am. The packages were found to contain cannabis weighing 1,078 grammes, with an estimated value of RM32,160. He said the modus operandi was the same as the first case. Both seizures were made under Section 30(1) of the Dangerous Drugs Act 1952. Cannabis is categorised as a dangerous drug under Part III, First Schedule of the Act. Norizan said investigations are ongoing under Section 39B of the same Act, which provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment, and if the court imposes a life sentence, the offender shall also get a minimum 15 strokes of the cane. He also called on the public to support the Customs Department in curbing smuggling activities, particularly those involving cigarettes, liquor, fireworks, drugs, vehicles or other prohibited goods. 'Smuggling not only causes revenue loss to the country, but poses a threat to national security and public welfare.' Members of the public can contact the Customs Department at 1-800-88-8855 or visiting the nearest Customs Department office. Their identities will be kept strictly confidential. cannabis crime Customs Department drugs lead
