Latest news with #R30-million
eNCA
6 days ago
- Sport
- eNCA
Europe court finds Switzerland breached Semenya's right to a fair trial
STRASBOURG, France - The European Court of Human Rights has ruled in favour of Olympic champion Caster Semenya. The court upheld the 2023 ruling that the South African middle-distance runner Semenya's rights had been violated. This ruling thus allows Semenya her legal challenge against World Athletics to continue. The ruling comes nearly two years after deliberations began. Semenya's decade-long legal battle has cost an estimated R30-million. She won Olympic gold in the 800 metres in London 2012 and Rio 2016. Semenya has been a world champion three times in 2009, 2011 and 2017.
Daily Maverick
09-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
Conviction reveals criminal syndicates' shifting focus in illegal plant trade
The conviction of four people in the Northern Cape for the illegal poaching of the miracle bush lily reveals that criminal syndicates are targeting a wider array of South Africa's unique flora for international markets. The Calvinia Regional Court in the Northern Cape has convicted four foreign nationals for poaching 303 Clivia mirabilis, more commonly known as the miracle bush lily or the Oorlogskloof bush lily, worth an estimated retail value of between R6-million and R30-million. On 3 July 2025, the four accused were each sentenced to 15 years of direct imprisonment for the illegal harvesting of this rare and critically endangered plant species, contravening conservation laws and violating South Africa's immigration legislation. This all stemmed from an incident on 20 April 2024 when Mark Daddy (43), Raphael Mhashu (25), Simbarashe Charanelura (33) and Elton Ngwanati (34), were initially arrested for unlawful activities in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve near Niewoudtville in the Northern Cape. 'This is a strong warning to those who intend exploiting and damaging the environment, causing harm to the endangered plants,' SAPS Namakwa District Commissioner, Brigadier Schalk Andrews, said in a statement. The Clivia mirabilis is a rare and critically endangered plant species, currently facing a high risk of extinction. It is extremely localised and endemic to a small area in the Northern Cape and Western Cape. It is difficult to keep alive outside its natural habitat. It's described as a perennial herb with strap-shaped leaves and thick, fleshy roots that can reach up to a metre in height when in full bloom with orange to salmon-pink trumpet-shaped flowers. Mojalefa Senokoatsane, NPA spokesperson for the Northern Cape Division, said the men illegally entered the nature reserve and harvested 303 Clivia mirabilis specimens. 'Rangers spotted the accused in the reserve and immediately alerted the police. A swift joint operation between law enforcement and reserve staff led to the arrest of the suspects, who were found in possession of five large bags containing the endangered plants and tools used to uproot them. All four pleaded not guilty,' said Senokoatsane. Senokoatsane said that during the trial, four witnesses testified, including an expert who confirmed the identity, rarity and high value of Clivia mirabilis. The court also heard that illegal poaching of this species posed a significant threat to biodiversity. In aggravation of sentence, the NPA said that regional court prosecutor Darryl Bromkamp had made the case of severe ecological damage caused by environmental crimes and the urgent need to deter similar offences. Bromkamp urged the court to impose a strong sentence to affirm the importance of protecting South Africa's environmental heritage. 'This sentence sends a strong message that environmental crimes will not be tolerated. It affirms the commitment of the NPA and the broader criminal justice system to preserving South Africa's biodiversity and upholding the rule of law. 'It also reflects the growing prioritisation of environmental crimes within the broader fight against organised and transnational criminal networks,' said Senokoatsane. A relentless wave of plant poaching This case is just the tip of the iceberg in a crisis threatening the survival of species such as Clivia mirabilis in a relentless wave of poaching events, driven by high demand from international collectors and largely sold in Asian markets. This is according to a case study compiled by JP Le Roux, a biodiversity officer in the Northern Cape's Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform (DAERL) and submitted to the NPA as supporting documentation for the case. The main population of this species is in the provincial Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve where the four accused were found trespassing and illegally harvesting the plants. Le Roux said that as a member of the Amaryllidaceae family, Clivia mirabilis was unique among its genus due to its drought tolerance and specific ecological niche. 'Its extremely limited distribution and slow growth rate make it particularly vulnerable to poaching,' said Le Roux. As senior ISS researcher Carina Bruwer has written in Daily Maverick, the demand for Clivia mirabilis appears to be concentrated predominantly in China, and supplied by local and foreign harvesters and intermediaries, often from adjacent southern African countries and Asia. Intermediaries sell the plants via several African countries, including Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia and Tanzania. Criminal syndicates in illegal plant trade shift focus Plant poaching threats in South Africa are now extending beyond just succulents. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a dramatic increase in plant poachers targeting unique plant species in arid areas of the country. Now criminal syndicates are targeting a wider array of South Africa's unique flora for illegal international markets. As WWF South Africa has said, dwarf succulents such as Conophytums were initially the primary focus of the illegal plant trade. This led to many species being classified as endangered or critically endangered. But the threat has evolved, with a new focus on other valuable species such as Clivia mirabilis, as is seen with the recent conviction and sentencing. Despite thriving in harsh, dry conditions unlike most forest-dwelling clivias, these plants have a slim chance of survival outside their natural environment, making their illegal harvesting particularly devastating. Experts believe the demand is driven by enthusiasts seeking to cross-breed them. 'There is a huge following of people who collect clivias both locally and internationally… They can cross-pollinate this with other clivias and form a whole bunch of new colours and hybrids, said Le Roux. 'The opportunities for application in horticulture are quite big. That's the big drive behind this for collectors. Everyone is trying to get seeds or pollen that they can hybridise to make something that they can sell and make their own.' According to Le Roux, the plant is targeted by a vast number of collectors, a group far larger than the small, niche communities that seek other poached plants like smaller Conophytums. He said that the scale of poaching for this species was now significantly larger than for any other. WWF South Africa reported that since October 2023, there has been a significant increase in Clivia mirabilis poaching incidents. According to CapeNature, the first indication of interest in the illegal trade in Clivia mirabilis emerged in October 2023 when 18 plants were confiscated in Belhar, Cape Town, along with succulents. Authorities have made several arrests over the years, but historically, low conviction rates and minimal sentencing have failed to serve as effective deterrents, making the success of this latest conviction especially noteworthy. WWF South Africa has warned that this well-organised illegal trade often targets local communities, enticing them to harvest plants for middlemen within the syndicates. The cross-provincial nature of the Clivia mirabilis habitat also complicates law enforcement due to differing regulations. Landowners are also directly affected by these illegal incursions. The scale of an ecological heist The value of the plants in the 3 July 2025 conviction illustrates the immense value that fuels this illegal trade, which has led to devastating losses. In one bust in February 2023, confiscated plants were estimated to be worth more than R3.5-million. According to Le Roux's report for the Department of Agriculture, Environmental Affairs, Rural Development and Land Reform, the scale of the plunder is staggering: An estimated 14,275 plants have been illegally removed between November 2023 and April 2025. The species, officially described only in 2002 and listed as vulnerable, is being pushed toward extinction by illegal harvesting, which disrupts ecosystems and reduces genetic diversity. In a targeted survey of the main Clivia mirabilis population in November 2024, about 3,000 plants were recorded. By December 2024, poachers had removed at least 50% of that surveyed population. But the battle against these poachers is hampered by significant challenges. The case study found that enforcement capacity is stretched thin, with SAPS and conservation authorities lacking the dedicated personnel and resources to monitor the vast, remote and inaccessible terrain where the plants grow. 'The poaching of Clivia mirabilis represents a critical conservation issue that requires coordinated action at local, national and international levels. Sustainable solutions must balance enforcement with education, cultivation and community involvement to ensure the survival of this unique and beautiful species,' said Le Roux. A new strategy In response to the crisis, a multi-pronged strategy combining community action and new technology is being deployed. On 20 January 2025, the Beter Hantam Trust (BHT) deployed a team of six local conservation monitors from Nieuwoudtville to protect the remaining plants. This initiative led to a 'noticeable decline in poaching incidents'. After two incursions in March 2025, the BHT expanded to 24/7 monitoring, which has since seen no further poaching events in the monitored area. To bolster these efforts, authorities are planning to test the effectiveness of thermal drones in the Oorlogskloof Nature Reserve to detect poachers in the rugged terrain. A funding proposal is also being developed with the assistance of TRAFFIC, an international NGO, to the Table Mountain Fund (TMF) for a proposed project which looks to assess the population status of Clivia mirabilis across the Western and Northern Cape provinces and to evaluate the impacts of trade and other threats on the species' long-term survival. Another initiative is that the Clivia Society, in collaboration with the South African National Botanical Biodiversity Institute, is exploring strategies to protect the remaining wild populations and manage confiscated plants, including potentially selling pollen or seeds to enthusiasts to alleviate pressure on wild stocks. Despite challenges like funding and capacity, national and provincial government agencies, NGOs, landowners and local communities are working collaboratively to protect South Africa's globally recognised biodiversity. The survival of Clivia mirabilis now depends on the success of these coordinated efforts to turn the tide against the organised criminal networks stripping the Cape's unique natural heritage. DM
eNCA
04-07-2025
- General
- eNCA
R30M old age home remains empty
TEMBISA - The Tembisa Old Age Home in Ekurhuleni was abruptly closed six years ago, never to be reopened. The R30-million facility was built in 2012, and started operating two years later. And when it closed in 2019, almost 60 elderly residents were left without care, and its staff was left in limbo. Today, it stands empty, with the elderly around it, suffering.
Daily Maverick
09-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
After the Bell: Scamming is a big business — be alert and make sure you're safe
The world is awash with people trying to steal your assets. Even big-name investors have been duped. Be careful out there. I am sure that whatever money you have wasn't easy to get – you and your family worked really hard for it. But have you ever noticed how so many people are trying to steal it from you? There are some days when it seems that literally everyone is out to take it. So often, there is a news report of someone who has fleeced people of their money. The latest was a News 24 report about Mark Kretzschmar, who claimed he could make money for people and who was able to run away with about R30-million. Moneyweb has done important reporting about the company Kleuterzone and its founder, former singer Anthonie Bougas. He now appears to be in Thailand, but is not paying the money owed to investors. Like so many of these cases, he makes certain claims that always amount to the same thing: someone else is responsible, not him. If you have been paying attention to this sort of thing, you will know about Banxso, which was a scam from the start. There are so many ways our society enables this. For a start, regulators find it tough to take any action, or to do it early enough to stop people from losing their money. I have some sympathy for the Financial Sector Conduct Authority here. I mean, no one will complain about losing their money until they've lost it. And by that point, it is usually too late. This means that in some cases, a group of people are giving money to someone, all at the same time, and it's only when one of them realises it's gone that they lodge a complaint. There would have to be an investigation of some kind, and only after that can the FSCA say anything. But I have no time at all for the digital platforms that allow themselves to be used to market these thieves. For several months, there were videos on YouTube of SABC TV presenters supposedly talking about a new investment product. Elon Musk was another who was deep-faked. Now, YouTube e arns more than $30-billion in revenue every year. Is it too much to ask that it does some checking to see if it is taking money from a thief? And to have a proper complaints mechanism where a TV presenter who is being deep-faked can make sure her image is removed immediately? I do wonder how much revenue for YouTube is from simple scams, whether it be a lose-your-money-quick scheme, or that guy who clearly can't sleep at night because he's so worried about my belly fat. If this has happened to you, you shouldn't think it was because you were stupid. Recently, big-name investors, including Sanlam Investments and Old Mutual Alternative Investments, lost up to R700-million after being conned by a company called Enable Capital. The Public Investment Corporation lost another R100-million in the same scam. The person behind it, Reuben Oliphant, seems to have… you guessed it… disappeared. And sometimes, someone appears to have almost found a way to scam someone out of their money legally. Last week, the JSE publicly censured Iqbal Surve's AYO Technology Solutions and issued a suspended fine of R500,000. This was because AYO had withheld information from shareholders about its settlement with the PIC that involved it re-purchasing some of its shares. But it seems the people, sorry person, behind AYO will get away with it. Much of the money the PIC put into AYO through its investment was taken out in the form of dividends. Dividends that make no sense compared with what the company has actually produced. As a result, the money is gone. The PIC will never get it back and someone has clearly benefited. The real poison of this kind of thing is that it makes the scheme look almost legitimate. In a society where so few understand how markets, capital and investments work, it's easy to simply think people are rich because they were born rich – or because they stole their money from someone else. This kind of incident, where someone can literally lie to shareholders (thus possibly depriving them of money) and get away with it, will consolidate that view. Scamming is now big business. In Myanmar alone, there are thought to be around 150,000 people being held against their will in what amounts to prison camps, and forced to try to scam people online. Just think about that number for a moment. It is simply unbelievable how big this industry has become. To run prison camps for that many people requires capital. They wouldn't do it if they weren't making serious cash out of it. Can you imagine the nightmare of being a person who has been, you guessed it, scammed into going there, and finding themselves in one of these camps? I'm not qualified to tell you how to keep your money safe. But please. Please, please, please, make sure that you do. DM
Daily Maverick
05-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Maverick
The Financial Wellness Coach: How to calculate your retirement savings capital
The amount of retirement capital that you need depends on how much you will require to live on every month. Question: My friends tell me I need R30-million in order to retire. My savings are nowhere near that. Am I in trouble? Answer: The amount of money that you need in order to retire will depend on how much you need to live on when you have retired. I do a lot of retirement counselling with individuals approaching retirement, and determining how much they need to live on is always the first step in the planning process. I've found that this amount can vary dramatically – from as little as R8,000 to as much as R230,000 per month. Depending on how much you need in a month, the amount of retirement capital that you need will vary. If you need an after-tax income of R100,000 a month, you will need about R32-million in savings. I suspect that this is where the R30-million story comes in. However, I find that most retired people I help need an after-tax income of between R30,000 and R50,000 a month. I will go through the factors you need to consider when working out how much you will need in order to retire. Monthly retirement budget The first step in working out how much you need when you retire is to get an idea of how much you need to live on each month. I would recommend that you draw up a budget based on what you are spending now, and then amend it to reflect the type of spending pattern you may have when you retire. For example, your parking and lunchtime costs will probably reduce and your medical costs will increase. If you need help here, I have a retirement budget spreadsheet that I can email to you. Tax Once you have figured out how much you need, increase that amount to account for income tax. Drawdown rate and investment strategy You need to ensure that you will have enough money to live on until you, your spouse and any dependants pass away. As one in 10 of us is likely to live to 100, you need to plan on having enough capital for the next 35 years when you retire. What's more, this capital needs to be invested in such a way that it can withstand all the economic and political challenges that you are going to experience over the next 35 years. For someone who is retiring at the age of 65, just think back to what the world was like when you were 30 and all the political and economic challenges you had to deal with. When you retire, you will have a similar set of challenges, but will only have your retirement capital to depend on. There will be no promotions or performance bonuses to help you. It is therefore vital that you get the right investment strategy in place. The recommended drawdown rate for a 65-year-old is 5%. The thinking here is that the typical costs of a living annuity come to about 2.5%, so as long as your investments are growing by more than 7.5%, your pension will increase each year and be sustainable for the rest of your life. In order to work out how much capital you will need in order to retire, you would do the following: Calculate your monthly expenses when you retire; Work out what tax you'll be paying when you retire and increase those expenses by the tax rate; and Divide that number by 5%. This will give you the capital needed to provide you with a sustainable income when you retire. Some examples can be found in the table below. What I've shown you is a rough guide for how to calculate your retirement needs. I would strongly recommend that you speak to a financial adviser who is experienced in retirement planning. They will have access to software that will help you structure your retirement income in the most tax-efficient way and be able to model your investments to ensure you get the right level of returns without risking your capital. DM Kenny Meiring is an independent financial adviser. Contact him on 082 856 0348 or at Send your questions to [email protected] This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.
