Latest news with #GautengProvince
The Citizen
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The Citizen
Martial arts open championship unites youth at Patterson Park
Patterson Park in Norwood came alive today, as the United World Martial Arts Federation South Africa (UWMAFSA) hosted its open championship. An event focused on empowering youth through martial arts. The championship is open to all martial arts styles and age categories, offering a platform for a wide range of participants to showcase their skills. Organised in partnership with the Gauteng Province, the event highlights inclusivity and development through sport. Read more: #ACTIVE Mixed Martial Arts 'We've opened the competition to all styles and age categories. It's not just about medals; it's about giving young people an opportunity to grow through martial arts,' said Roxanne Cassim, general secretary of the championship. 'This isn't just sport; it's youth development in action.' The event is being held at Patterson Park, a facility made available through support from the Gauteng Province. Cassim acknowledged their contribution, saying: 'It's wonderful to see the local authorities support initiatives that are aimed at empowering the youth.' The championship is overseen by UWMAFSA president and 8th dan Abdulla Imtiyaz, who has played a key role in martial arts development in South Africa. Imtiyaz has helped grow the sport by bringing the traditions of Japan into the local context and nurturing future generations of martial artists. This story is developing. An update will follow once final results and comments from the organisers are available. Follow us on our Whatsapp channel, Facebook, X, Instagram, and TikTok for the latest updates and inspiration! Have a story idea? We'd love to hear from you – join our WhatsApp group and share your thoughts! At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Mail & Guardian
24-06-2025
- Business
- Mail & Guardian
Gauteng needs 200 more schools, says education MEC Chiloane
The increase in learners is exacerbated by people relocating to Gauteng, and private-public partnerships are required to address overcrowding. File photo The Gauteng education department is in the process of securing private sector funding to build 200 schools after receiving R2.5 billion from the national treasury for the 2025-26 financial year to build 18 schools, MEC Matome Chiloane has said. 'I would say [we need] about 200 schools — it would make a big difference. We are coming up with different strategies. Amongst those which I do believe will work quicker is the public-private partnership,' Chiloane told journalists at the weekend. The provincial department said it faced an The Gauteng department of infrastructure development says it plans to build 20 new schools by 2029, averaging about four schools per year. Gauteng, the country's most populous province, currently has 5 790 public schools. Infrastructure growth has, however, not kept up with learner enrollments. Between 2014 and 2023, only 28 new schools were built, averaging one school for every 12 035 additional learners. During the 2023-24 financial year, KwaZulu-Natal recorded the highest number of schools either built or renovated, with three projects completed, followed by Gauteng, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape, which each Chilaone said the increase in learners is exacerbated by people relocating to Gauteng and that private-public partnerships are therefore required to address overcrowding. 'The private sector comes on board to work with us to build schools, and then they hand over to us so that we can utilise them, and then we come into some form of agreement. So, that is in the process; we are just tightening the process,' he said. Chiloane's comments echo those of Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who has been actively championing a shift toward stronger During a basic education lekgotla earlier this year, Gwarube again stressed that private sector partners are not merely financial supporters but 'thinking partners' who can contribute data, insight and innovative solutions to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes. 'The basic education sector is reeling from budget constraints. In this climate, corporate partnerships are critical in serving our 13.5 million learners across the country, regardless of where they come from. However, in partnering with corporations, we must implement measures to manage branding in schools. Partnerships are key and so is protecting our learners,' she said. Earlier this year, the basic education department welcomed a McDonald's-led initiative that introduced solar-powered ' In May, Gwarube estimated that R32 billion was needed to provide additional classrooms at more than 8 200 overcrowded schools, while R14 billion would be required to construct over 13 000 toilets to meet minimum norms and standards. The minister has said that 90% of the country's 22 381 public schools are in
News24
23-06-2025
- Business
- News24
Gauteng's future on the line, as Maile warns: ‘No more flying blind'
The MERO report exposes performance gaps and opportunities across Gauteng's municipalities. Maile warns that poor planning and service delivery will no longer be tolerated. Collaboration with Ernst & Young sets a new standard for provincial planning. Finance MEC Lebogang Maile has issued a warning to municipalities across Gauteng: improve planning and service delivery, or risk being left behind. Speaking at the Johannesburg Stock Exchange during the launch of the province's first-ever Municipal Economic Review and Outlook (MERO) report on Monday, Maile said the era of vague promises and poor governance must give way to data-backed accountability. 'We can no longer plan in the dark,' he said. We now have the facts; we must act on them. Lebogang Maile According to Maile, the MERO report is more than a dashboard of economic indicators. It is a tool designed to expose where municipalities are falling short on jobs, infrastructure, safety, education and housing, and where there is potential to drive inclusive growth. Maile was adamant that Gauteng's municipalities will no longer be treated as passive administrators, adding that they are expected to become active engines of development, guided by hard evidence rather than political instinct. He said: We want municipalities to become enablers of development. But they can't do that without credible data. The MERO is that data.' Behind the formal speeches was a firm subtext: local government is under pressure, and Maile intends to use the MERO as a yardstick for performance across the board. The report, developed in partnership with global consulting services Ernst & Young (EY), breaks down the province's economic health at the municipal level, tracking everything from unemployment and poverty to infrastructure and demographic change. It comes at a time when Gauteng is grappling with urgent challenges: from growing informal settlements and ageing infrastructure to violent crime and soaring youth unemployment. Gauteng contributes a third of South Africa's GDP and houses more than a quarter of the population in just 1.5% of the country's land. READ: 'DA acting like spoilt brats': Lebogang Maile slams party over 'baseless corruption claims' But Maile said the province cannot afford to lean on its economic reputation while basic service delivery continues to fail many communities. 'This isn't just South Africa's economic heart; it's a critical artery of the continent's development. And that means we must plan accordingly,' he said. The MERO is intended to help implement the Grow Gauteng Together 2030 strategy, a provincial plan focused on transformation, modernisation and reindustrialisation. But its success depends on political will at the local level. Maile was also unapologetic about the role the private sector must play in making that vision real. 'We're not interested in going it alone,' he said. 'Private sector partners have a vital role to play in shaping the future of our province, and they must do so with intention.' Institutions such as the SA Revenue Service are expected to draw on the MERO's data to enhance planning, while municipalities are under clear instruction to act on the findings. 'The MERO tells us where we're succeeding and where we're falling short. It's a call to action,' said Maile. The most critical takeaway from the report is that data must now become the language of local government, not only to identify opportunities like investment nodes or improving sectors, but also to pinpoint risks and service gaps that need urgent attention. 'The MERO is not just a report; it's a mirror, a map, and a mandate,' Maile said. 'Our shared future depends on decisions rooted in truth, not assumptions.'
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Citizen
Lesufi links vehicles to crime as Gauteng launches new number plate system
The new vehicle registration plate system will feature three letters and three numbers. City of Joburg Transport MMC Kenny Kunene (L), Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi (C) and Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. Picture: X / @GautengProvince Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says the province's current number plate format is running out of combinations, prompting the introduction of a new system designed to enhance crime-fighting efforts. Lesufi, alongside Gauteng Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, unveiled the new vehicle registration plates at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday. New number plates for Gauteng motorists The new number plates will include several innovative features designed to enhance security and traceability. These plates will be embedded with QR codes and a track-and-trace system for vehicle identification and registration. Additional design elements include the South African national flag and name, as well as a tamper-evident security decal designed to curb counterfeiting. Beyond crime prevention, the plates will also serve a broader range of administrative and economic functions. ALSO READ: These are Gauteng's hotspots for murder, rape, kidnapping, carjacking and house robbery They will support the Gauteng government in collecting revenue and enforcing vehicle roadworthiness and insurance compliance. The data captured through the new system will also contribute to improved planning and policymaking. Furthermore, the initiative will help manage the number plate supply chain, hold manufacturers accountable throughout the value chain, and create economic opportunities by empowering locally based small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMMEs). As part of the rollout, the provincial government has also introduced state-owned vehicles – referred to as the G-fleet – equipped with the new number plates. This marks the start of a six-month pilot project that will precede a full rollout across the province. [WATCH] : The g-Fleet Management vehicles will be affixed with the new number plates as part of the six-month pilot project, before a provincial rollout. The system is expected to strengthen the vehicle registration assist with crime prevention.#GPNewNumberPlates #TacklingG13 — Gauteng Provincial Gov (@GautengProvince) June 5, 2025 Existing format reaching its limit Speaking during the launch at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Johannesburg on Thursday, Lesufi said the system is expected to strengthen vehicle registration and assist with crime prevention. '[Whether] you like it or not, 85% of all the crimes that are committed in Gauteng, a motor vehicle is involved. Either it's the getaway, or that car itself is stolen, or the registration of that car is faulty. 'So if we have to fight crime, we have to overhaul the car registration regime,' he said. The premier also highlighted the issue of the province exhausting its available number plate sequences. 'Those that were born in this province, they know we are used to having a yellow number plate that ends with T [which stood for] Transvaal. READ MORE: Arrested kingpins and service delivery: Lesufi lists Gauteng successes 'We migrated to GP [Gauteng Province]. It was three alphabets and three numbers, then GP, [but] we ran out of that. 'We went to the current one, which is two alphabets, [two] numbers and [two more] alphabets. We are running out of that. 'So we said, let's take advantage of this migration and create a completely new digital system that can be accountable.' Under the new system, vehicle registration plates will consist of three letters followed by three numbers before the 'GP' designation. The current number plate series is reportedly set to remain in use until all combinations are exhausted, which is expected to occur around 2038.
The Herald
17-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
UAT outraged as Gauteng returns unspent R1bn to National Treasury
The United Africans Transformation (UAT) party expressed its disappointment at the Gauteng government after it was revealed that more than R1bn earmarked for critical services had been returned to the National Treasury due to underspending in the 2024/25 financial year. Provincial Treasury department head, Ncumisa Mnyani said on Monday that the department of health did not spend R724.6m of its R66bn allocated budget, while the department of education also failed to use R317.35m of its R66.1bn budget, Sowetan reported. The political party said people of Gauteng cannot continue to suffer because government officials are too slow, too disorganised, or too complacent to do their jobs. 'How does a government with a R66bn health budget fail to spend R724m, when clinics remain understaffed and healthcare infrastructure is crumbling? 'How does a department with a R66.1bn education budget fail to spend R317m, while township schools face overcrowding, poor sanitation and infrastructure backlogs?' the party said. It said Gauteng's infrastructure and services were in dire need of attention. This included roads with unaddressed potholes and maintenance needs, continuous power outages affecting daily life and economic productivity and underfunded schools requiring renovations for a conducive learning environment. 'The returned funds could have fixed our roads, schools and many more. Instead, we're stuck with potholes and darkness, crime, unemployment, lack of housing etc.' TimesLIVE
