Latest news with #R6-million
The South African
4 days ago
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs (Departures): 7 OUT, say goodbye to FIVE more?
A dozen exits lined up at Kaizer Chiefs. SEVEN have already been decided. FIVE more are heading out. Kaizer Chiefs have already released SEVEN players. Meanwhile, a few more departures are set to be announced with several stars heading out of Naturena. Chiefs have cut SEVEN players from their playing squad. To date, Ranga Chivaviro, Sabelo Radebe, Njabulo Blom, Edmilson Dove and Mduduzi Mdantsane's departures have been announced. Meanwhile, Yusuf Maart is heading to SV reid. Whilst, Chiefs have decided to mutually part ways with this R6-million midfielder. Therefore, a total of seven player departures have already been decided. Maarts departure will be announced soon with Chiefs set to appoint a new captain to join their new coaches. What goes up, must come down. With so many Chiefs player departures lined up, rest assured there will be many replacements signed too. To date, Amakhosi have signed six players. Flavio Silva, Nkanyiso Shinga, Ethan Chislett, Paseka Mako Thabiso Monyane and Siphesihle Ndlovu. Meanwhile, several more transfer targets from Bafana Bafana, Mamelodi Sundowns, PSL rivals and African giants are linked to Chiefs. Several big-name transfer targets have come up such as Stanley Nwabili, Neo Maema, Percy Tau and Fiston Mayele. However, Chiefs missed out on Oswin Appollis, Sipho Mbule and Tshepang Moremi to rivals, Orlando Pirates. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The Citizen
4 days ago
- General
- The Citizen
Plans to replace pipes to address water woes in Waterkloof
Waterkloof residents may soon see relief from recurring water pipe bursts as the Tshwane metro rolls out plans to replace sections of the suburb's ageing infrastructure. The metro has confirmed that critical worn-out pipelines in Region 3, which includes Waterkloof and Ward 82, will be upgraded in the 2025/26 financial year. This comes after years of complaints from residents and a formal petition that was submitted to the metro earlier this year. The issue stems from old asbestos cement pipes that have long passed their lifespan, resulting in frequent bursts and water outages. Ward 82 councillor, Siobhan Muller, said she was encouraged by the metro's response to concerns raised by residents. 'The department has investigated the matter and provided a report to be tabled before the Petitions Committee within 90 days,' Muller confirmed. She noted that although the department did not respond within the timeframe stipulated in the Petitions By-Law, she was pleased that attention was now being given to Waterkloof. 'I am pleased to see attention is being paid to Waterkloof. Would this be the extent of the project? I really do think that Julius Jeppe [Street] should be included. It is suffering significant leaks on a daily basis,' she said. 'I've lost count of how many times the pipes had to be repaired, specifically on Julius Jeppe between Heloma and Dely,' she added. Muller explained that repairs often require shutting off water to the entire Waterkloof area, which has a wide-reaching impact on households and businesses. She suggested that even if full replacement was not possible, a strategically placed valve could allow smaller sections to be isolated during repairs, minimising disruption. According to Tshwane metro spokesperson Lindela Mashigo, a portion of the 2025/26 budget will be dedicated to water infrastructure upgrades in Region 3. 'The following work is planned to be carried out in Region 3 in the 2025/26 financial year: completion of the scope of work in Waverley, which commenced in the 2024/25 financial year, with a budgeted amount of R6-million,' Mashigo said. He added that the remaining budget of R15.8-million will be used to replace about 3.5km of critical worn-out pipelines in new work package allocations. Mashigo said this will include: – Victoria Street, Waterkloof (Ward 82) – 243m costing R1.1-million – Victoria Street, Waterkloof (Ward 42) – 1.2km at R5.36-million – Other suburbs in Region 3 – 2km at R9.36-million. He acknowledged that budget constraints mean the city cannot replace entire networks in every suburb at once. 'The approved budget for Region 3 in the 2025/26 financial year is R21.9-million. There is not sufficient budget to replace the entire network per suburb. 'Since the 2023/24 financial year, only selective or critical worn-out pipelines with the highest priority for replacement per region are being replaced, ' he said. Mashigo said that they aimed to reduce water loss in the city, by targeting the most problematic pipelines first. He added that problematic pipelines exist in other parts of Region 3, not only in Waterkloof and Ward 82. The metro's water and sanitation department acknowledged the challenges experienced in Ward 82 due to aged pipes. Mashigo said the replacement of water infrastructure is part of a phased approach, and is prioritised based on a pipe replacement potential (PRP) ranking system. 'The attached raw PRP data is dated December 2022 and reflects all pipe replacement work that has been done in Ward 82 over the past few years,' he said. The metro confirmed that the replacement of critical worn-out pipelines in Waterkloof (Wards 42 and 82) will begin on August 15, with work scheduled for completion by January 30, 2026. Mashigo said a robust maintenance plan will remain in place to address outages and leaks until the water infrastructure components are replaced. He added that if additional funds became available, the metro would consider expanding the current project scope based on the priority list of critical pipelines. 'Should additional budget be made available, the priority list of critical worn-out water network pipelines will be followed, regardless of which suburb, region or area,' Mashigo said. On April 29, the Office of the Speaker referred petition 314, which regards Ward 82's water infrastructure, to the water and sanitation department, and asked for feedback within 14 days. Mashigo confirmed that the Office of the Speaker has communicated back to petitioners through their respective ward councillors. 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!
The South African
10-07-2025
- Sport
- The South African
Kaizer Chiefs cut ties with midfielder worth R6-million
Kaizer Chiefs have decided to release yet another player. Kaizer Chiefs squad clean-out continues. The latest player to make way is an Amakhosi midfielder worth over R6-million. Chiefs have decided to part ways with Edson Castillo. 'We are very grateful to Kaizer Chiefs for the opportunity and the time Edson spent with the club. The experience in South Africa, both on and off the pitch, was very positive and helped him grow as a player and as a person,' a representative of Andrade Sports Group told iDiski Times . 'However, as you know, the current situation with the new coach made it difficult for us to continue being part of the project. Now, we believe it's the right moment to look for a new challenge in Edson's career,' he added. 'We are open to staying in the African market, as we truly believe the experience with Kaizer Chiefs and in South Africa was enriching and highly valuable,' he concluded. Therefore, Castillo will become Chiefs' SEVENTH player departure. To date, these FIVE Amakhosi player departures have been confirmed. According to Transfermarkt , he is valued at over R6 million. Meanwhile, Yusuf Maart is heading to SV Reid, he is Chiefs' SIXTH player exit. If you think seven departures is a lot, you should check out the other side of Soweto. So, rivals Orlando Pirates have released SIX players so far. However, there will be several more Bucs departures announced before the end of the current transfer window. Pirates left NINE players at home with one injured, two released. Meaning, these SIX more Bucs stars face ucertain futures at Mayfair. Most recently, Monnapule Saleng left on loan to join PSL Rivals, Orbit College. Meanwhile, Ndlondlo is the latest Pirates player to be released. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 0211. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
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
Daily Maverick
08-07-2025
- Daily Maverick
R6m embezzled from special-needs school — experts say it's part of a larger education crisis
A Pretoria school was left drowning in debt while its HR manager secretly siphoned off millions of rands. Instead of the education and wellbeing of its students, many of whom rely on wheelchairs and specialised care, these funds were funnelled into the former employee's gambling addiction and a car purchase. Commenting on his sentencing, experts say it highlights deep systemic failings in the school's financial oversight, and an urgent need for stronger accountability measures. While families placed their trust in the New Hope School in Pretoria to care for and educate children with disabilities, a senior staff member was quietly diverting millions meant for their support. Over a period of four years, Ralton Christopher Fischer, then the school's human resources manager, stole more than R6-million. The money went to fuel a gambling addiction and purchase a car, while the school was left grappling with financial shortfalls and rising tax debts. Fischer has now been sentenced to 12 years behind bars, six of them suspended, after pleading guilty to using ghost employees and fake bank accounts to drain school coffers. He was sentenced by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on 30 June, after pleading guilty to 11 counts of fraud committed between July 2018 and April 2022. At the time, Fischer was responsible for managing payments to staff employed by the School Governing Body (SGB), rather than by the Gauteng Department of Education. During this period, he fraudulently transferred funds into multiple bank accounts registered in his name, using the details of ghost employees. The scheme came to light when Fischer asked a colleague to forward documents to his personal email. The colleague noticed irregularities and raised concerns, leading to an internal investigation and the eventual discovery of the fraud. Fischer was arrested on 4 April 2023. In court, Fischer claimed that the stolen money was used to support a gambling addiction and to purchase a Volkswagen Golf GTI worth R150,000. He appealed for a lenient sentence, citing his role as a father of four minor children, two of whom have disabilities. He requested either correctional supervision or a wholly suspended sentence. However, the State argued for a custodial sentence. Advocate Abram Machitela, representing the prosecution, said the crime represented a serious abuse of trust and had a direct negative impact on the school and its vulnerable learners, many of whom rely on wheelchairs and specialised support. He also highlighted that the fraud led to more than R500,000 in tax liabilities for the school. Magistrate Du Preez concurred with the prosecution, stating that Fischer's actions were driven not only by addiction but also by greed and selfishness. The court found that Fischer's guilty plea was motivated by the strength of the State's case rather than genuine remorse. Widespread mismanagement Mzwandile Banjathwa, campaign coordinator at Corruption Watch, stated that financial mismanagement within South African schools is widespread and deeply concerning. He highlighted that Corruption Watch has been monitoring corruption in the education sector for more than a decade. Their first report, released around 2012, focused primarily on basic education. More recently, in 2022, they published a comprehensive report addressing corruption across the broader education system, including Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges, as well as basic education institutions. These reports reveal persistent issues such as embezzlement and procurement irregularities, among others. 'What we found was that there was a huge problem around the mismanagement of school funds by members of the SBG and we find that it's about 45% of those reports we're pointing to misappropriation of resources, maladministration, abuse of authority, employment irregularities and procurement irregularities as well,' he said. These reports were mainly from Gauteng, followed by KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape and Free State. '…they were pointing at the SGBs themselves, the administrators themselves, and also school principals, which was a very huge problem for us at that particular time,' said Banjathwa. 'It is a very big problem in South Africa and this is mainly happening in low-income communities where you find that there isn't sufficient money for people anyway, so that's a very huge problem.' Financial mismanagement factors Banjathwa explained that several factors contribute to the problem of financial mismanagement in schools. 'Firstly, many members of SGBs lack formal financial training, which hampers their ability to manage school funds effectively. Secondly, there is often no mandatory independent audit conducted for schools, reducing accountability. There can also be conflicts of interest when some SGB members award contracts to themselves, their families, friends, or even teachers within the school, further exacerbating corruption risks,' he said. Banjathwa said the situation clearly highlights significant weaknesses in procurement and payroll oversight, which represent a major structural flaw in the education system. Although the Department of Education operates a centralised payroll system through Persal, this does not fully prevent problems. 'Unfortunately, Persal does not cover a lot of things. It does not cover funds that are received by schools through donations, through school fees, and so forth. 'So that is where a lot of corruption tends to happen, because you find that some teachers are appointed by the school governing bodies, administrators are appointed in some instances by the SGBs, and there are also cleaners and helpers in the school who are appointed by the SGBs,' he said. The bulk of corruption tends to occur precisely because this money is not managed through the centralised system. As a result, the Department of Education often does not know who is employed at a school, how much they are earning, or even whether these employees actually exist. Need for SGB oversight Demichelle Petherbridge, senior attorney at SECTION27, said that SGBs hold a position of trust within their school communities, tasked with making decisions that serve the best interests of learners and staff. She said cases like the one involving New Hope School expose significant systemic vulnerabilities, particularly in the oversight and transparency of SGB-administered funds. 'Cases such as this highlight the need for strong oversight and transparency within SGB decision-making processes, and may indicate the need to further capacitate SGBs on their roles and responsibilities,' she said. The consequences of financial mismanagement have devastating consequences on the quality of education children receive. Petherbridge explained that such mismanagement often results in insufficient resources to maintain school infrastructure, pay essential utility bills, or purchase necessary materials like paper, stationery and other materials that assist with the running of a school. 'Financial mismanagement can therefore potentially impact the conditions in which learning takes place and negatively affect how education is provided,' she said. Expand centralised payroll system To address these issues, Banjathwa emphasised the need to strengthen payroll oversight by expanding the centralised payroll system as this would greatly improve transparency and accountability. This would enable the department to know exactly who is employed at each school, how much they earn, and allow for timely detection of irregularities. However, he also noted that while some policies exist on paper, they are often not effectively implemented at the school level, which undermines their impact. 'For example the Public Audits Act, it doesn't necessarily audit individual schools, but it does audit the provincial government and national government which should rely mainly on the data that is given to them by schools. So that is the first loophole that you are able to see,' he said. Banjathwa also said that regular and standardised audits that go to schools would assist schools greatly. 'It's also very important to have a standardised and mandatory training given to members of the SGBs, because that's another issue that is quite problematic. Most of these individuals do not have financial training, so they are unable to pick up these loopholes timelessly and that's a very huge problem,' he said. Petherbridge voiced similar solutions, calling for enhanced training and capacity-building for SGBs and emphasising the Department of Basic Education's responsibility to ensure this under the South African Schools Act. 'One solution may be to further train and capacitate SGBs on their roles and responsibilities and the Department of Basic Education has a responsibility to ensure such training in terms of the South African Schools Act. However, learners and parents are also free to inspect a school's financial documents and may request to see these and ensure further accountability,' she said. Regarding the recent sentencing in the case, Petherbridge believes it sends a positive message about accountability but that additional measures could be more impactful. 'Within the context of this case, additional community service to assist schools with learners with disabilities would also have been a beneficial sanction,' she said. In a statement, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the sentence, describing it as a firm response to white-collar crime, and a necessary measure to protect vulnerable communities. 'The NPA remains unwavering in its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, particularly children with special needs. This case highlights the organisation's zero tolerance for white-collar crime, especially when committed by individuals who abuse positions of trust. Stealing from a school that serves learners with disabilities is both morally and legally indefensible,' read the statement. DM
