Latest news with #Bothma
The Citizen
06-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Excitement builds for Craven Week and Academy Week in Middelburg
With excitement building towards the upcoming Craven Week and Academy Week taking place at Hoërskool Middelburg, Middelburg Observer spoke to Piet Bothma, chairperson of the Puma High Schools' Rugby Association. The election of Bothma as chairperson is another acknowledgement of Middelburg's standards in school rugby, alongside the privilege of playing host to the prestigious FNB Youth Weeks, for not the second but the third time in history. Bothma has ample experience in rugby coaching, and as principal of Steelcrest High School, he was elected by all high schools in Mpumalanga to act as chairperson of the association. According to Bothma, it is an immense honour and privilege to work alongside Hoërskool Middelburg, its principal, vice principal and the school's governing body. 'Without their support, it would have been a mammoth task to organise an event of such magnitude, and it begs to be said that Hoërskool Middelburg is one of the few schools with the facilities to host both the Craven Week and Academy Week at the same time and in the same location. The two have previously taken place after each other.' Bothma also said that Hoërskool Middelburg will be hosting 36 teams, 16 teams in Craven Week and 20 teams in Academy Week. Craven Week will kick off on Monday with WP XV facing the Griffons first at 09:30, followed by the Free State vs SWD Eagles at 11:00, the Bulls vs Lions at 12:30, the Craven Week opening ceremony at 14:00, and the Pumas vs Limpopo as the final match for the day at 14:30. Bothma said there is no tournament format. 'The tournament is all about rugby, meaning winners will play winners and losers will play losers. A ranking committee will determine match fixtures according to points.' Bothma also spoke about how Craven Week and Academy Week will contribute towards the development of talent in school rugby. 'The standard of school rugby in our community is already at a high level, however, both events will offer the opportunity for aspiring players to watch the matches and learn more about rugby at a professional level.' 'The Vuka League will also contribute towards the development of school rugby aside from Craven Week and Academy Week.' According to Bothma, this is the fourth time Mpumalanga will be hosting the tournament, with Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it the first time in 1978, then HTS Middelburg in 2014, and Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it now. It was also hosted in Mbombela previously. Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal.
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Steelcrest's Piet Bothma speaks of Craven Week as chair of Puma Rugby Association
With excitement building towards the upcoming Craven Week and Academy Week taking place at Hoërskool Middelburg, the Middelburg Observer spoke to Piet Bothma, chairperson of the Puma High Schools' Rugby Association. The election of Bothma as chairperson is another acknowledgement of Middelburg's standards in school rugby, alongside the privilege of playing host to the prestige FNB Youth Weeks, for not the second but the third time in history. Bothma has ample experience in rugby coaching, and as principal of Steelcrest High School, he was elected by all high schools in Mpumalanga to act as chairperson for the association. According to Bothma, it is an immense honour and privilege to work alongside Hoërskool Middelburg, its principal, and vice principal, as well as the school's governing body. 'Without their support, it would have been a mammoth task to organise an event of such magnitude, and it begs to be said that Hoërskool Middelburg is one of the few schools with the facilities to host both the Craven Week and Academy Week at the same time and in the same location. The two have previously taken place after each other.' Bothma further said that Hoërskool Middelburg will be hosting 36 teams in total, 16 teams in the Craven Week and 20 teams in the Academy Week. The Craven Week will be kicking off on Monday with WP XV facing the Griffons first at 09:30; followed by the Free State vs SWD Eagles at 11:00; the Bulls vs Lions at 12:30; the Craven Week opening ceremony at 14:00; followed by the Pumas vs Limpopo as the final match for the day at 14:30. Bothma further informed that there is no tournament format, 'The tournament is all about rugby, meaning winners will play winners and losers will play losers. A ranking committee will determine match fixtures according to points.' Bothma also spoke about how the Craven Week and Academy Week would contribute towards the development of talent in school rugby. 'The standard of school rugby in our community is already at a high level, however, both events will offer the opportunity for aspiring players to watch the matches and learn more about rugby at a professional level.' 'The Vuka League will also contribute towards the development of school rugby aside from the Craven and Academy Week.' According to Bothma, this is the fourth time Mpumalanga will be hosting the tournament, with Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it the first time in 1978, then HTS Middelburg in 2014, as well as Hoërskool Middelburg hosting it now. It was also hosted in Mbombela previously. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
23-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Momentum Life pays out R6.6 billion in claims in 2024
The latest claims statistics from Momentum Life Insurance shows that an insured event can happen at any time in your life. Momentum Life Insurance paid out R6.6 billion in 2024, with suicides again being one of the main reasons for unnatural death. Since launching its Myriad product in 2002, Momentum Life Insurance has paid out R77.9 billion in claims. Joretha Bothma, head of product development, underwriting and claims at Momentum Life Insurance, says the 2024 claims report reveals a 99.8% payout rate on valid life cover claims. Death claims at Momentum Life Insurance were consistently driven by health trends, she says. Cancer and cardiovascular disease remained the leading causes of death claims in 2024, accounting for nearly 60% of all life cover payouts. 'These trends reflect broader health patterns in South Africa and reinforce the importance of maintaining comprehensive cover well into later life.' For critical illness claims, cancer was the leading cause of claims at 45%, with cardiovascular, nervous system and musculoskeletal conditions rounding out the top four claims' causes. Bothma says, interestingly, women tend to claim at younger ages than males. 'They tend to claim critical illness benefits during their prime working years, often when they are juggling significant family responsibilities and careers.' 'This highlights the importance of financial protection during this life stage, as a critical illness can have a substantial impact on family finances. The financial support from a critical illness payout can help alleviate some of the burden, allowing families to focus on recovery rather than worrying about financial stability.' ALSO READ: Sanlam pays out R6.62 billion in death and disease claims Youngest and oldest claimants at Momentum Life According to the claims statistics, the youngest claimant was just 18, a sobering reminder that serious illness can strike at any age. Many claims were also paid to older clients, reinforcing the value of keeping critical illness cover intact later in life. The death claim paid out to the oldest member was for a man who died at 92 from a stroke. 'The importance of early uptake and long-term retention of critical illness cover cannot be overstated, especially as conditions such as cancer and cardiovascular disease continue to dominate claim causes,' Bothma says. The top four causes for payouts between lump sum disability and income protection are consistent across benefit types, with musculoskeletal conditions topping the list, followed by nervous system, cancer and psychiatric or mental-related conditions. Nafeesa Gaida, head of claims at Momentum Life Insurance, says the youngest claimant for both lump sum disability and income protection was just 18, a survivor of a motor vehicle accident that left him paralysed. 'This case underscores how life-altering events can happen without warning, even at a young age, highlighting the importance of securing cover early.' The oldest claimant was an 84-year-old client who receives monthly payments for prostate-related disability on his income impairment benefit. Gaida says this again highlights the long-term nature of financial protection and the importance of sustaining it throughout life. ALSO READ: Why trust is so important when it comes to life insurance Claims for terminal illness and unnatural death The youngest person to receive a payout for terminal illness was a woman of 33 who suffered from squamous cell carcinoma, and the payment for the oldest claimant was for a man of 79 who had liver cancer. For child critical illness, 33% of the claims paid out were for endocrine or metabolic system illness, while 15% were for cancer and 13% for congenital conditions. 'Disability and income protection benefits extend far beyond essential monetary payouts. They provide a vital financial breathing space, allowing clients to focus entirely on their recovery.' Claims for unnatural death were topped by accidents (39%), suicide (28%), surgery (16%) and murder (15%). A total of 81% of the claims for unnatural death were for men and only 19% for women. The largest death claims since 2010 were for a man of 49 who died due to surgery in 2010 with a claim paid out for R101 million, a man of 36 who died in an accident in 2013 with a payout of R36 million and a man of 72 who died from a gunshot in 2023, with a payout of R117.2 million.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Manslaughter trial begins in fatal South Dakota farm equipment crash
Jun. 2—KENNEBEC, S.D. — Jury selection and opening statements took place Monday for the second-degree manslaughter trial of 32-year-old Jan Bothma, a South African national accused of causing a fatal crash last year while operating farm equipment. From a larger pool, a jury of eight men and six women was selected to hear the case, which is expected to last most of the week due to the number of witnesses the state plans to call. The crash occurred on April 25, 2024, along 305th Avenue near Presho in Lyman County, central South Dakota, approximately 40 miles west of the Missouri River. Bothma was driving a Case IH farm tractor and sprayer when he allegedly failed to stop at a posted stop sign, striking a pickup truck driven by 33-year-old Chance Veurink of Vivian. Veurink died at the scene. Bothma, who was working on a visa for a local farmer in nearby Presho, faces charges of second-degree manslaughter — a criminal offense in South Dakota defined by reckless or negligent behavior that results in death. "April 25 was a beautiful spring day full of promise, except for Chance Veurink," said Lyman County State's Attorney Steven Smith in his opening statement. Smith urged the jury to approach their role with fairness, calling their decision to be fair "the second hardest decision you will make after the verdict." He accused Bothma of recklessly using his phone while driving and running the stop sign. Smith also referenced a witness who reportedly saw Bothma speed up after slowing through a construction zone, portraying this as further evidence of negligent driving. In contrast, defense attorney George Johnson employed an unusual tactic during his opening statement. Speaking metaphorically as if he were the tractor-sprayer itself, Johnson described the Case IH machine as a key piece of evidence. He argued that computer screens mounted inside the cab on the right side partially obstructed the driver's view, particularly of traffic approaching from State Highway 248. Johnson also explained a known mechanical issue called "D-rate" that can cause the tractor to slow down automatically — a problem he said occurred on the day of the crash. According to Johnson, Bothma attempted to clear the intersection by pulling onto a side dirt road to avoid blocking traffic. "It was my fault, not the driver's," Johnson said from the perspective of the tractor. The trial kicked off with testimonies from Deputy Don Jennings and Sheriff Steve Manger, both with the Lyman County Sheriff's Office. Jennings served as the acting coroner on the day of the crash. During questioning, Jennings and Manger reported details about the crash scene, the condition of the truck, and the extraction process used to remove Veurink from the vehicle. They also reported that a phone and tablet recovered from the crash were returned to Veurink's family. Judge Margo Northrup is presiding over the case. The second-degree manslaughter charges are a Class 4 felony, a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment in a state correctional facility and a fine of up to $20,000. Jury selection took place at the Lyman Elementary School on Monday morning to accommodate all potential jurors in one building before the trial moved three blocks down the street to the Lyman County Courthouse in the town of fewer than 300 residents. The trial is expected to continue this week with additional witness testimony.
