Latest news with #R135
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Why the ANC remains a safe haven for corruption
Nkabane's dismissal is no turning point—Ramaphosa caved to pressure, not principle, while corruption still defines the ANC's core. The dismissal of higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane does not herald the 'new dawn' President Cyril Ramaphosa promised in 2018. He hasn't suddenly found courage to deal with miscreants. Ramaphosa was bowing to pressure from the DA, which threatened to withhold support for budget items in parliament if he did not act against certain ministers. The initial list included Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane and deputy minister David Mahlobo. But for now, Nkabane's removal is enough for the budget to proceed. Ramaphosa acted just in time, with the Appropriations Bill scheduled to be voted on tomorrow. If this Bill were to fail, the budget would be held up. Government departments would run out of money. Salaries wouldn't be paid. ALSO READ: Five things you need to know about the new higher education minister Buti Manamela Given the scale of corruption in the ANC, Nkabane is small fry. She lied to parliament, which is a criminal offence. And her falsified nominations for section education and training authority boards were dishonest but Simelane has a worse track record, with links to the VBS scandal. Mahlobo features at length in the report of the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture. Known to be former president Jacob Zuma's 'bagman', he should not be in government. Neither he nor Simelane or others are likely to be sacrificed, because corruption is embedded in the ANC. This is evident in allegations against the chief whip of the Johannesburg council, ANC councillor Sithembiso Zungu. ALSO READ: 'Long overdue' – Opposition parties welcome Nkabane's removal He is accused of using construction mafia tactics to disrupt a R135 million school-building project in Lehae in Johannesburg south. In 2019, Zungu was reportedly sentenced to two months' imprisonment for violating a court interdict barring him from disrupting construction on a housing project. Construction mafia, masquerading as business forums, use intimidation to extort money from those who are awarded tenders. The going rate is 30%, in exchange for which they do nothing useful. When I encounter them in my ward, the police are called. Not so in Zungu's ward 122. According to News24, he chaired a local business forum before becoming a councillor. His positions as an ANC branch chair, zone 2 secretary, ward 122 councillor and Johannesburg council chief whip tell us much about the party's priorities. The ANC knew his history as a business forum chair – and all that entails – when they selected him as ward councillor candidate in 2021. By elevating him to chief whip of council, they seem to have endorsed extortion. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa fires Nobuhle Nkabane, appoints new higher education minister Business mafia extortion is a massive issue nationally. In 2023 amaBhungane said construction mafia were 'characterised by entrepreneurial violence, links to the criminal underworld and to the ANC's radical economic transformation faction'. Since last year, it has been a top priority for DA Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson. In March, he said 745 construction-related extortion cases had been reported and 240 arrests made since November 2024. Even if Ramaphosa were a saint with the courage of a braveheart, he would not be able to clean up the ANC. But he is no brave saint. He is a timid, BEE-made billionaire who stashes foreign currency in his furniture. ALSO READ: R10k just to show up: Fear of 'Nkabane 2.0' as ANC Youth League leaders get hospital board positions For mafiosos, ANC remains a haven of Absolutely No Consequences.
The Citizen
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Your guide to Ekurhuleni's new rates, rebates and tariffs
Your guide to Ekurhuleni's new rates, rebates and tariffs Residents and property owners in the City of Ekurhuleni are reminded that the 2025 General Valuation Roll came into effect on July 1, 2025. The City of Ekurhuleni has approved updated municipal tariffs, property valuations, and rebates in line with the Municipal Property Rates Act to ensure continued service delivery while prioritising support for low-income, indigent, and vulnerable residents. Property Rates Rebates and Reductions: In terms of section 15(1)(B) of the Municipal Property Rates Act, the following reductions and rebates will apply for the 2025/2026 financial year: Residential properties: R15 000 impermissible value exclusion. R135 000 market value reduction. Registered indigent households, deemed indigents, and child-headed households: 100% rates rebate. Pensioners (60+), disability grantees, and medically boarded individuals: Additional R150 000 reduction on property value. Sliding scale rebate of up to 100% based on monthly income. Water and Sanitation: All registered indigent households will continue to receive 6kl of free basic water and sanitation per month . Usage beyond this will be billed on a sliding scale between R23.11/kl and R71.57/kl. Electricity Tariffs: Indigent households will continue to receive 50 kWh of free electricity per month . Additional usage will be billed on a sliding scale from R2.58/kWh to R12.38/kWh. Also read: CoE corrects electricity tariff error, refund process in place Waste Management: Indigent and informal settlement households will continue to receive 100% or 50% rebates on waste management services where applicable. Bus Fare Adjustments: Municipal bus fares will increase as follows from 1 July: Scholar coupon (10-trip): from R135 to R140 . Scholar coupon (44-trip): from R600 to R616 . Adult coupon (10-trip): from R150 to R155 . Adult coupon (44-trip): from R665 to R682 . Pensioner/Disabled fare per trip: from R13.50 to R14 . Adult transfer coupon (10-trip): from R225 to R235 . Adult transfer coupon (44-trip): from R995 to R1,035. For more information, visit At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
05-06-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Pick n Pay celebrates World Environment Day with major recycling milestone
Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative grew into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Image: Supplied. Marking World Environment Day 2025 on 5 June 2025, with this year's theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution', South Africa's major retailer, Pick n Pay celebrated a major environmental milestone: its Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) customer recycling initiative, which has now diverted over 1.1 million plastic and packaging recyclable items from landfill. Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative grew into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Each machine accepts recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass containers, and rewards customers with Smart Shopper loyalty points, which can be used for everyday purchases. 'What started as a small test has evolved into a movement. This programme has shown that people are willing to recycle when it's made convenient, accessible, and rewarding,' Riley van Rooyen, Sustainability Lead at Pick n Pay, said. As of May 2025, the initiative collected and diverted over 1.1 million recyclable items from landfill, resulting in over 80 000 kgs of waste recycled and an estimated 1 200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided. Customers received a total of over R135 000 in recycling rewards since the pilot launched, and over R56 000 in Smart Shopper points since the integration with the programme in August last year. Each machine can hold up to 750 items and uses barcode recognition technology to ensure the correct sorting of recyclables. 'Ending plastic pollution isn't a one-day project. But this initiative proves that scalable, community-led environmental solutions work. And on this World Environment Day, we're proud to celebrate our plastic reduction initiatives wins with our customers and our partners in the project, who've helped us take over a million small steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,' van Rooyen added. The retailer has exceeded its Plastic Pact 2025 target for packaging weight, reporting a 38% reduction in average packaging weight. This also builds on the retailer's broader efforts to reduce waste in the environment. Last year, it diverted nearly 13,000 tonnes of waste from its stores, equivalent to the weight of approximately 2 100 average adult male elephants Through its regular beach clean-ups, it has removed nearly 2,000kg of plastic waste from local beaches over the past five years.
The South African
05-06-2025
- Business
- The South African
Pick n Pay celebrates major environmental milestone
To mark World Environment Day 2025 on Thursday, 5 June and this year's theme of 'Ending Plastic Pollution', Pick n Pay is celebrating a major environmental milestone. Its Reverse Vending Machines (RVM) customer recycling initiative has diverted over 1.1 million plastic and packaging recyclable items from landfill. The milestone marks a significant win in Pick n Pay's long-term commitment to supporting circular economies and empowering everyday shoppers to play a direct role in reducing plastic waste. Since launching the pilot in 2018, the RVM initiative has grown into a national network of 39 machines across Pick n Pay stores in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, the Western Cape, and the Eastern Cape. Twelve new RVM machines were added in the past 12 months. Each machine accepts recyclable items, such as plastic bottles, aluminium cans, and glass containers, and rewards customers with Smart Shopper loyalty points, which can be used for everyday purchases. 'What started as a small test has evolved into a movement. This programme has shown that people are willing to recycle when it's made convenient, accessible, and rewarding,' says Riley van Rooyen, Sustainability Lead at Pick n Pay, reflecting on the success of the programme. As of May 2025, the initiative has collected and diverted over 1.1 million recyclable items from landfill, resulting in over 80 000kg of waste recycled and an estimated 1 200 tonnes of CO₂e emissions avoided. Customers have received a total of over R135 000 in recycling rewards since the pilot launched, and over R56 000 in Smart Shopper points since the integration with the programme in August last year. Each machine can hold up to 750 items and uses barcode recognition technology to ensure the correct sorting of recyclables. Customers simply scan their items and instantly receive Smart Shopper points, which they tend to use for groceries, airtime, and data. Prior to the integration with Smart Shopper, customers received recycling rewards through Imagined Earth. 'Ending plastic pollution isn't a one-day project. But this initiative proves that scalable, community-led environmental solutions work. And on this World Environment Day, we're proud to celebrate our plastic reduction initiatives wins with our customers and our partners in the project, who've helped us take over a million small steps toward a cleaner, more sustainable future,' says Van Rooyen. Despite focusing on a wider business turnaround strategy in FY25, Pick n Pay's sustainability team continued to deliver meaningful progress. By prioritising high-impact, customer-facing initiatives – such as RVMs and packaging innovations – Pick n Pay maintained momentum on key environmental goals. The retailer has exceeded its Plastic Pact 2025 target for packaging weight, reporting a 38% reduction in average packaging weight. This also builds on the retailer's broader efforts to reduce waste in the environment. Last year, it diverted nearly 13 000 tonnes of waste from its stores, the weight of approximately 2 100 average male adult elephants. Through its regular beach clean-ups, it has removed nearly 2 000kg of plastic waste from local beaches over the past five years. 1. Fourways Mall 2. Fourways Crossing 3. New Redruth 4. Waterkloof Rand 5. Benmore 6. Southgate 7. Key West 8. Dainfern Square 9. Lenasia 10. Kensington 11. Bedfordview 12. Randburg Square 13. Montana 14. Southdowns 15. Plantland 16. Hazeldean Square 17. Irene Village Mall 18. Boksburg 19. Hyper Centurion 20. Greenstone Hyper 21. Sasolburg 22. Vaal Mall 23. Three Rivers 24. The Glen 25. Mall Of Africa 26. Rosebank 27. The Falls 28. Carnival Mall 29. Kyalami on Main 30. Sunward Park 31. Primrose 32. Kenilworth Centre 33. Constantia 34. V&A Waterfront 35. Gardens 36. Umhlanga Crescent 37. Hilton Family 38. Summerstrand 39. Blue Hills Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
26-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Nampak's turnaround starting to pay off as interim profit soars to R3 billion
Nampak reported a total profit from operations of R3 billion in the six months to March 31, compared with a R135 million loss at the same time last year, and it also substantially reduced debt. Image: supplied In a striking demonstration of fiscal resilience, South Africa's metals packaging group Nampak has recorded a remarkable turnaround in its financial fortunes for the six months ending March 31. The company reported a profit of R3 billion, a stark contrast to a loss of R135 million reported during the same period last year. This turnaround has not only bolstered its's position, but also highlighted the impact of strategic management amid a tightening consumer environment. CEO Phildon Roux shared insights on the results, noting that earnings a share surged to 35 842.2 cents — a robust recovery from a loss of 1 123.5 cents in the first half of the previous year. 'The first half yielded a rewarding financial outcome,' Roux stated, attributing the momentum to a concentrated focus on margin management, cost containment, and efficiency enhancements. This approach resulted in a 22% increase in trading profit alongside a 7% rise in operating profit. The company's commitment to reducing debt was evidenced by the sale of Bevcan Nigeria, which netted R1.3bn and marked a pivotal milestone in their deleveraging strategy. This, combined with strong operating cash flow and lower interest costs, facilitated improved financial metrics despite an uptick in net working capital investments. While the previous year's operating profit was significantly buoyed by a R290m post-retirement medical aid (PRMA) gain, Nampak's current performance reflects the effective management of financial assets. The firm recognised a R65m pension fund surplus and a R100m interim settlement from an outstanding Covid-19 insurance claim, enhancing headline earnings although less substantially than in prior periods. Revenue from continuing operations grew by 11% to R5.7bn, propelled by both volume growth and strategic price management. This growth was particularly noted in Beverage South Africa (up 7%), Diversified South Africa (up 14%), and Beverage Angola, which saw a stark 16% increase. However, Beverage South Africa faced challenges with the slower-than-planned expansion of its Springs Line 2, underscoring a mismatch between growing demand and available supply. Trading profits also saw a healthy rise, climbing 22% to R764m. The better-than-expected performance was largely driven by a 49% surge in Diversified South Africa and a 33% boost in Beverage Angola. These sectors reported particularly strong revenue growth, highlighting the effectiveness of Nampak's strategies in regions facing varying economic climates. Roux remarked on the focus placed on excellent margin management and cost control, praising the impressive performance of Diversified South Africa, which was supported by organic growth and an improved supply chain for fruit and fish cans. The earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) also saw a commendable rise of 7% to R1.1bn supporting the company's overall financial health. Despite the improved cash flow from operations, the outflow of working capital registered higher than usual due to escalating revenue levels. Nevertheless, management has prioritised improvements in collections, successfully offsetting some of the increased cash requirements. The impact of the initial tranche of the disputed Covid-19 insurance claim continues to assist working capital, a factor that Roux acknowledges as crucial for sustaining momentum. As part of its ongoing commitment to financial resilience, Nampak has reduced its net debt significantly from R5.7bn to R3.9bn, a success attributed to strategic asset disposals and prudent cash management. The outlook is optimistic, with Roux confident that the local beverage market's growth potentials remain strong, outpacing supply. Strategic initiatives are already underway to expand capacity and enhance operational efficiencies. 'The outlook for the Nampak group remains promising. The continuity of our strategic and cultural interventions bodes well for sustaining performance in the future,' Roux concluded, hinting at a solid trajectory for the company as it navigates through challenges and seeks to fulfil growing market demands. Visit:
