Latest news with #MMCs
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Security guards march for fair treatment
The Security Officers and Cleaners Alliance (SOCA) recently marched from the old Marabastad Depot to Tshwane House in protest over nearly a decade-long insourcing delays. The march came after the Tshwane metro announced that 1 283 municipal workers would be employed by the municipality. The metro recently inducted the first 100 cleaners at the Ou Raadsaal earlier this month. The municipal workers currently employed by outsourced companies will now be employed by the metro. This means they will receive benefits associated with working for the city, including group scheme coverage, a 13th cheque, pension fund contributions, medical aid subsidies, and housing allowances. SOCA members consist of more than 2 000 guards and cleaners who have been seeking to be insourced into the metro since 2018. The metro at the time resolved to employ 4 000 guards directly, but to date, only phase 1, the employment of 1 302, has been completed. The project was then scrapped. The group met with members of the Mayoral Committee before the insourcing announcement at Church Square on Workers' Day. The guards, however, say they are fed up with delays and false promises. 'As we speak right now, we are security officers who have been left out of the process, and we felt that the process was not fair. We are demanding that the city treat us fairly. We are playing a vital role in the City of Tshwane, safeguarding the assets and infrastructure of the city,' SOCA chairperson Joshua Modau said. The additional phases, which were scrapped, included Phase 2: 1 500 officers for the financial year 2021/22 and Phase 3: 1 000 officers for 2022/23. 'They [MMCs] came to us on May 1 at Church Square, and promised they would look into our issue.' Modau said it seemed they were waiting for the budget to be approved. 'When the budget gets approved, and we try to engage with them, we get stories. 'They are playing political tactics so that we don't understand, and we are kept out of the loop. We are saying now, get your house in order, because these MMCs are going around promising this and that, I'm not sure if it's politically motivated or what, so we took it upon ourselves to march and make sure our demands are met,' Modau said. Spokesperson Hlengiwe Ngwenya said the guards are tired of dealing with private companies where they are subjected to mistreatment. 'We're tired of these private companies; they don't pay us on time. We don't care for mafias and their threats; we are the ones on the ground working and not them. Right now, I'm not working; they've fired me because I'm a comrade, and that's fine because that won't change,' Ngwenya said. Ngwenya said the higher-ups would be in for a shock during the next elections should their long-standing plight not be resolved. The security guards demanded to hand over their memorandum to either the Mayor, Dr Nasiphi Moya, or Community Safety MMC, Hannes Coetzee. MMC for Corporate and Shared Services, Kholofelo Morodi, accepted the memorandum on behalf of the Mayoral Committee as Moya and Coetzee were both unavailable. During her address to the rowdy crowd, Morodi assured the guards the committee is working to resolve the issue, but the processes take time. 'I want to make it clear that we're not saying vote for us and we'll insource you. We want to insource because insourcing is part of ending exploitation. It's part of doing the right thing and building internal capacity. We came into government in October, and the first thing we did was start that process of building internal capacity.' Morodi said they want to insource different kinds of workers, not just security guards. 'We've said we wanted to insource cleaners and have started with that first 100. 'We said we want to insource guards as well, and during the coalition with the DA, we began that, but it only started a new kind of exploitation whereby we had untrained and unarmed guards, putting lives in danger,' Morodi said. Morodi said the insourced guards still have to undergo processes that will ensure they are equipped to defend themselves and the metro. She added that when those processes are completed, the metro will begin looking into absorbing the rest. The crowd wanted to know when that would be. Morodi empathised with the crowd's grievances, insisting that this too is not a fight that is new to her. 'We said that we are going to sort out the first batch that was improperly insourced in 2021, that is what we are doing. 'What we don't want is to insource, and you are stuck again and at risk. I can't lie to you now and say we are going to insource you immediately, it's a struggle, it's not easy, but we will insource, have confidence in us,' Morodi said. The group has given the metro 14 working days to respond to its memorandum or face further action. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to [email protected] or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Urgent call for investigation into Tshwane's security guards' qualifications
The FF Plus has urged the City of Tshwane to investigate the qualifications of 1,283 security guards appointed in 2021 through the insourcing process. Image: Rapula Moatshe The FF Plus has called on the City of Tshwane to launch an investigation into the qualifications of 1,283 security guards appointed in 2021 as part of the insourcing process, citing concerns over their lack of adequate training. The party is also urging the city to consider using technology for specific security tasks, rather than solely relying on hiring more security guards. This comes after the party's rejection of a report allocating R230 million over three years for benefits to contracted security guards at last week's council meeting at Tshwane House. The report in question proposed providing medical subsidies, pension funds, and housing allowances to security guards who were hired without benefits. 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 Instead of adopting the report, the FF Plus proposed a thorough investigation into whether the guards meet the requirements and to what extent technology can be used for certain tasks. Councillor Grandi Theunissen noted that the allocated amount excluded several hidden costs, such as basic equipment and training, which he said pointed to reckless financial planning. 'The party seriously doubts whether the metro's budget can absorb the additional costs for security guards,' he said. On Workers Day, Members of the Mayoral Committee (MMCs) from the EFF and ActionSA met with security guards at Church Square in Pretoria CBD, where they promised training security guards who were previously hired without adequate training, as well as equipping them with the necessary tools. They also announced plans in the pipeline to insource over 200 security guards in the 2025/2026 financial year, with potential expansion to hire at least 1,500 guards in 2026/2027. At the time, MMC for Environmental Affairs and Agriculture Obakeng Ramabodu said: 'They were left there with jeans and a T-shirt on-site without knowing what to do. That is why our infrastructure is under attack. That is why our substations are burning every week. That is why electricity is affected because the people that we have deployed to secure our infrastructure are not trained and don't have the necessary equipment.' Hannes Coetzee, the Community Safety MMC and ActionSA councillor, said the current administration inherited more than 1,200 security guards, but the problem is that they lack training. The FF Plus said the council report is part of the coalition government's efforts to push through their policy for the general outsourcing of security and cleaning services.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
CYMAT ENTERS INTO LETTER OF INTENT WITH RIO TINTO ALCAN TO ACQUIRE TECHNOLOGY & ASSUME CUSTOMERS OF THEIR PROPRIETARY ALUMINUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES BUSINESS
MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Cymat Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: CYM) (OTCQB: CYMHF) (the "Company" or "Cymat") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. ("RTA") to acquire the technology and related knowhow to manufacture its proprietary aluminum metal matrix composites ("MMC") and to facilitate the transfer of RTA's customers for the product. MMC is a ceramic particle-infused aluminum used in the automotive and rail industries for light weight components requiring extreme wear-resistance. RTA, who has been manufacturing and selling its proprietary MMCs for over 40 years, has decided to exit the business due to a strategic reorganization. As the only major supplier of this proprietary MMC in the world, RTA is seeking a smooth and un-interrupted transition of this business for its long-standing customers. Cymat utilizes this product as its primary input material to produce stabilized aluminum foam ("SAF"). Its familiarity with the material makes Cymat well qualified and uniquely positioned to take on this business line. Cymat intends to establish MMC production capability within its existing Mississauga plant. Given the similarities and common skill sets required to produce MMC with its own SAF product, Cymat will have the ability to utilize its existing workforce, engineering, and support services to efficiently and economically produce this proprietary MMC. From a financial perspective, historical sales volumes provided by RTA suggest that Cymat could realize incremental annual revenue in the range of $7.5M - $10M with margins comparable to or better than its AlusionTM product. Capital costs for equipment are estimated to be in the range of $2M - $2.5M. Technology and knowhow transfer expenses, while yet to be finalized, are anticipated to be in the low to mid six-figure range. Cymat is planning to finance this initiative through a combination of existing outstanding warrant proceeds and equipment financing sources. Cymat anticipates that it will be fully commissioned and operational with this product line by fiscal year end. The assumption of this new business line provides two major benefits for Cymat. Firstly, it adds a substantial uncorrelated and predictable revenue stream to Cymat's existing business. With its ability to utilize existing resources among other synergies, Cymat expects this venture to be highly profitable. Secondly, it reduces the cost of Cymat's primary input material and majority cost element by a substantial factor. This positions Cymat to be extremely price-competitive and compelling for targeted customers in its key automotive vertical. It also opens up business opportunities in high-volume verticals where SAF has historically been price un-competitive. Michael Liik, Cymat's CEO and Chairman, stated, "This is a highly unique opportunity for Cymat to leverage our existing facilities and unique skill sets to realize a major expansion of our business. This initiative combined with anticipated sales growth in the nuclear and military verticals in our SAF business should accelerate our path to substantial profitability " He added, "Since inception, we have looked for ways to bring this capability inhouse and have now achieved this feat -together with a substantial book of business - making this absolutely transformational for Cymat." About Cymat Technologies Ltd. Cymat Technologies Ltd. has the global rights, through patents and established know-how, to manufacture and sell Stabilized Aluminum Foam ("SAF"), a unique, ultra-light, cellular metallic material. The proprietary production process entails the injection of gases through a molten bath of alloyed aluminum infused with ceramic particles. The result is an advanced, lightweight, recyclable material that exhibits unique characteristics including customizable density and dimensions; mechanical energy absorption; thermal and acoustic insulation; and time, temperature and strain-rate insensitivity. A key benefit of this continuous foam production process is its scalability and resultant low cost of production. SAF is used in such industries as architectural design, military and automotive. Cymat markets its architectural SAF under the AlusionTM brand and its automotive and military SAF under the SmartMetalTM brand. For further information, please visit our website at Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Cymat Technologies Ltd. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Cision Canada
CYMAT ENTERS INTO LETTER OF INTENT WITH RIO TINTO ALCAN TO ACQUIRE TECHNOLOGY & ASSUME CUSTOMERS OF THEIR PROPRIETARY ALUMINUM METAL MATRIX COMPOSITES BUSINESS
MISSISSAUGA, ON, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ - Cymat Technologies Ltd. (TSXV: CYM) (OTCQB: CYMHF) (the " Company" or " Cymat") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with Rio Tinto Alcan Inc. ("RTA") to acquire the technology and related knowhow to manufacture its proprietary aluminum metal matrix composites ("MMC") and to facilitate the transfer of RTA's customers for the product. MMC is a ceramic particle-infused aluminum used in the automotive and rail industries for light weight components requiring extreme wear-resistance. RTA, who has been manufacturing and selling its proprietary MMCs for over 40 years, has decided to exit the business due to a strategic reorganization. As the only major supplier of this proprietary MMC in the world, RTA is seeking a smooth and un-interrupted transition of this business for its long-standing customers. Cymat utilizes this product as its primary input material to produce stabilized aluminum foam ("SAF"). Its familiarity with the material makes Cymat well qualified and uniquely positioned to take on this business line. Cymat intends to establish MMC production capability within its existing Mississauga plant. Given the similarities and common skill sets required to produce MMC with its own SAF product, Cymat will have the ability to utilize its existing workforce, engineering, and support services to efficiently and economically produce this proprietary MMC. From a financial perspective, historical sales volumes provided by RTA suggest that Cymat could realize incremental annual revenue in the range of $7.5M - $10M with margins comparable to or better than its Alusion TM product. Capital costs for equipment are estimated to be in the range of $2M - $2.5M. Technology and knowhow transfer expenses, while yet to be finalized, are anticipated to be in the low to mid six-figure range. Cymat is planning to finance this initiative through a combination of existing outstanding warrant proceeds and equipment financing sources. Cymat anticipates that it will be fully commissioned and operational with this product line by fiscal year end. The assumption of this new business line provides two major benefits for Cymat. Firstly, it adds a substantial uncorrelated and predictable revenue stream to Cymat's existing business. With its ability to utilize existing resources among other synergies, Cymat expects this venture to be highly profitable. Secondly, it reduces the cost of Cymat's primary input material and majority cost element by a substantial factor. This positions Cymat to be extremely price-competitive and compelling for targeted customers in its key automotive vertical. It also opens up business opportunities in high-volume verticals where SAF has historically been price un-competitive. Michael Liik, Cymat's CEO and Chairman, stated, "This is a highly unique opportunity for Cymat to leverage our existing facilities and unique skill sets to realize a major expansion of our business. This initiative combined with anticipated sales growth in the nuclear and military verticals in our SAF business should accelerate our path to substantial profitability " He added, "Since inception, we have looked for ways to bring this capability inhouse and have now achieved this feat -together with a substantial book of business - making this absolutely transformational for Cymat." About Cymat Technologies Ltd. Cymat Technologies Ltd. has the global rights, through patents and established know-how, to manufacture and sell Stabilized Aluminum Foam ("SAF"), a unique, ultra-light, cellular metallic material. The proprietary production process entails the injection of gases through a molten bath of alloyed aluminum infused with ceramic particles. The result is an advanced, lightweight, recyclable material that exhibits unique characteristics including customizable density and dimensions; mechanical energy absorption; thermal and acoustic insulation; and time, temperature and strain-rate insensitivity. A key benefit of this continuous foam production process is its scalability and resultant low cost of production. SAF is used in such industries as architectural design, military and automotive. Cymat markets its architectural SAF under the Alusion TM brand and its automotive and military SAF under the SmartMetal TM brand. For further information, please visit our website at Certain information set forth in this news release may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding future financial position, business strategy, use of proceeds, corporate vision, proposed acquisitions, partnerships, joint-ventures and strategic alliances and co-operations, budgets, cost and plans and objectives of or involving the Company. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and is based on information currently available to management. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "predicts", "intends", "targets", "aims", "anticipates" or "believes" or variations (including negative variations) of such words and phrases or may be identified by statements to the effect that certain actions "may", "could", "should", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. A number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause the actual results or performance to materially differ from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of the Company including, but not limited to, the impact of general economic conditions, industry conditions and dependence upon regulatory approvals. Certain material assumptions regarding such forward-looking statements may be discussed in this news release and the Company's annual and quarterly management's discussion and analysis filed at Readers are cautioned that the assumptions used in the preparation of such information, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by securities laws. SOURCE Cymat Technologies Ltd.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hawaii tour boat operator allegedly faked credentials
A tour boat operator involved in a snorkeling accident that injured 10 people in June 2022 is facing federal charges after he allegedly stole personal identifying information to fake his credential for more than a decade, according to federal court records. Jeffrey Scott Worthen, 61, worked on tour boats in Alaska and Maui since the late 1990s and allegedly stole the identities of a boat captain, a business owner and an ex-girlfriend to create fake federal credentials that allowed him to get work. Worthen needed a 'Merchant Mariner Credential, ' a U.S. Coast Guard issued credential that serves as the mariner's 'qualification document, certificate of identification, and certificate of service ' and must be produced when requested to prove the ability to work on the water. The credential is not valid until signed by the applicant and an authorized Coast Guard official. Worthen is charged with fraud within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the U.S., aggravated identity theft and making false statements to federal investigators, according to a March 27 criminal complaint. He allegedly submitted fraudulent MMC cards to his employers in Alaska and Hawaii from 2012 to 2022, according to federal court documents. On June 9, 2022, the 26-foot rigid hull inflatable 'Great White ' owned and operated by Hawaii Ocean Rafting of Lahaina, was underway with 15 passengers and two crew members, including Worthen at the helm and a deckhand. At about 10 :22 a.m. that morning while en route to a second snorkel site, Worthen 'attempted to pass through a section of water between Sweetheart Rock and another rocky pinnacle near Lanai when the vessel struck a rock, ' according to an affidavit authored by special agent with the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service. Five passengers were ejected overboard into the water, and nine passengers and a deckhand were injured. The damage to the vessel resulted in flooding. After recovering all passengers from the water, passengers and crew members donned life jackets and started waving down other boats because the radio didn't work. Two vessels responded and took the passengers back to Lahaina Harbor. As part of the Coast Guard's investigation of the crash, they asked for the company's personnel records, which included credential checks. Investigators identified 'several major discrepancies ' with the MMC Worthen shared with Hawaii Ocean Rafting's owners. They included a profile picture not within policy ; the MMC's document reference and serial number were assigned to a different person ; Worthen's personal information not in capitalized letters ; the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections name and signature were not the applicable person, and standard watermarks and holograms used on properly issued MMCs were faded, according to the affidavit. A check of the serial number revealed it belonged to a man in Maryland and the document number belonged to a boat captain in Alaska that Worthen worked with doing whale watching tours. During an interview with investigators on Sept. 14, 2022, Worthen allegedly said he 'renewed his MMC online ' through the Coast Guard's Portal and 'uploaded all information and his picture, which was taken by him in his bedroom.' 'He denied the MMC copies being false and signed the copies presented, as true copies of his MMC. Additionally, Worthen stated he lost his MMC overboard during the incident and that he had thrown away all prior MMC's. He had been working on commercial vessels in Maui and Alaska since the 1990s, ' according to the affidavit. Worthen is scheduled to make his initial appearance in federal court Thursday before Magistrate Judge Barry M. Kurren. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lauren M. Naka mura is prosecuting the case. Worthen is represented by the office of the Federal Public Defender.
