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The Citizen
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
How life has changed for Uyanda Hlangabezo after being on Big Brother Mzansi
Uyanda Hlangabezo has extended his leave as a teacher so he could attend events such as the upcoming Durban July. Uyanda Hlangabezo has opened up about how his life has changed after being on Big Brother Mzansi. Picture: uyanda_hlangabezo /Instagram Former Big Brother contestant Uyanda Hlangabezo's life has changed significantly after being part of the reality TV show, to the extent that he has had to step away from his full-time job as a teacher by taking extended leave. Because the reality show premiered in January, Hlangabezo says he missed the first term of school. 'In term two when I was back from Big Brother, I decided to go to work for one week, which is when I realised that it was hard for me to balance work in the industry and my profession,' Hlangabezo says. 'I'm a qualified educator, which is a pedagogical practitioner but because of the events that I'm attending, I decided to extend my unpaid leave,' Hlangabezo told The Citizen. He says his pupils have found his newfound fame inspiring. 'They're super inspired. Lately I've been getting invitations from different schools to be a motivational speaker. To see learners in schools being inspired by my story is amazing.' ALSO READ: WATCH: 'It is so unfair and so hurtful' – Stephanie Ndlovu defends Petronella Tshuma Uyanda at the Durban July His leave extension is coming into good use as he will be one of the many attendees at this year's Durban July after receiving an invite from Executive Concerts, who will host a marquee at the Greyville Racecourse. 'That shows the role that I've played in the Big Brother house. I don't want to lie, my life has changed a lot. Weekly, I'm busy with a lot of brands that I'm working with,' he said. Hlangabezo says he received several invitations from various marquees at this year's July event, but decided to accept Executive Concerts' invitation to their marquee. T'bo Touch will host the marque alongside business personality Hope Mbele. 'Durban July is one of the biggest events in South Africa and I'm very excited to see people recognise me after being on Big Brother is something that I'm grateful for.' This will be his first Durban July. The performers headlining the Executive Concerts marquee are Kabza De Small, Nkosazana Daughter, DJ Merlon, Stanky and a handpicked line-up of local legends and surprise guest performances – blending amapiano beats with refined sophistication. 'Executive Concerts is about more than just an event. It's about shaping a cultural moment where Africa's elite can connect, celebrate and showcase the best of who we are,' says Andile Chili, founding partner of Executive Concerts. NOW READ: A dream': Kaizer Chiefs star Dillan Solomons marries longtime partner
The Citizen
9 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Municipalities accused of ignoring tensions between foreign-owned and local businesses
Deputy Minister Jane Sithole said her office had received complaints from street vendors in Bushbuckridge. Municipalities must investigate and take action on allegations that foreign nationals are preventing South Africans from starting businesses in certain areas. This is the view of Deputy Minister of Small Business Development Jane Sithole, who said her office had received calls from street vendors in Acornhoek, Bushbuckridge complaining about Pakistani nationals evicting them from their shops. Last week in Carletonville, spaza shop owners believed to be Pakistani nationals were accused of assaulting a woman and her husband for refusing to obey their order not to open a shop selling food near their stores. ALSO READ: Gauteng woman allegedly attacked by Pakistanis for opening shop near theirs In a social media video that went viral, a man believed to be a leader of Pakistani tuckshop owners conceded that the fight between his group and the family erupted after they continued with their plans of opening a store near his spaza shop. In an interview with The Citizen on Friday, Sithole urged municipalities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders not to ignore complaints from hawkers and spaza shop owners. She said there was a tendency for authorities not to attend to residents' complaints until it's too late. 'For now, I can't say who is wrong or right, but what I know is that people are complaining about this. We all know that chasing away street vendors is not the foreign nationals' job as only the municipality can do that. 'Hence I say the Bushbuckridge municipality and the other municipalities must take these complaints seriously and deal with them before the situation gets out of hand.' She said her department is investigating the matter raised by the hawkers in Bushbuckridge. 'We, as the leaders, collectively have a duty of making sure that confrontations between locals and foreign-owned businesses are averted. Most of the street vendors who contacted my office said they tried in vain to report the matter to the municipalities, traditional leaders and councillors.' ALSO READ: Illegal spaza shops 'still proliferate' despite warnings Sithole also urged the municipalities to erect stalls for hawkers to help them run their businesses, as some of them are breadwinners in their families. 'If you run a shop to make a living, please do not evict other people who are also trying to make a living.' Bushbuckridge municipality spokesperson Fhumulani Thovhakale was contacted regarding the Bushbuckridge matter, but she did not respond to the questions sent to her.
The Citizen
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Water projects worth R50bn to be constructed in Limpopo while progress on older projects stalls
Although construction of some of the bulk water projects began years ago, most are yet to get off the ground. The Limpopo provincial government is working with the department of water and sanitation (DWS) to construct new bulk water projects worth more than R50 billion, while many of the province's other water projects are either stalled or progressing at a snail's pace. Outlining some of the long-term bulk water projects at The Ranch Hotel, near Polokwane last weekend, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo said he was worried that the completion of Limpopo's water projects had been delayed for extended periods. 'The DWS does not have the capacity to implement water services projects directly. We are not provided with funding to establish this capacity because water services are a municipal function and not a DWS function,' he said. ALSO READ: R213m down the drain as Limpopo residents still have no water Mahlobo said progress meetings with all the water services authorities are held every month. 'But despite these measures, projects are still often delayed, primarily due to poor performance by contractors and payment service providers.' Limpopo's water projects delayed The Citizen understands that although construction of some of these long-term bulk water projects began many years ago, most are yet to get off the ground. For example, the Giyani water treatment works is still appointing an implementing agent and construction is only expected to start in July 2025. The Giyani bulk water project began in 2014 with a budget of R900 million. It was meant to be completed in August 2017, but the project is still not complete. It has so far cost the government more than R4.5 billion. The Mooihoek/Tubatse bulk water supply project is almost complete, with the contractor currently addressing a snag list to finalise the project. The Nebo bulk water supply is still in the scoping phase. Offtake to Schoonoord (Phase 3C) and Marulaneng (Phase 3B) is complete, but functionality depends on the completion of Malekana to the Jane-Furse pipeline. The R129 Mametja/Sekororo bulk water supply Phase 1 is delayed due to Eskom power connections, while RM04 experienced the same electricity problems for the water treatment works and boreholes. ALSO READ: Multi-billion Limpopo mega-project has ground to a halt Addressing a South African Local Government Association (Salga) lekgotla in Polokwane last week, Mahlobo said many water and sanitation projects in Limpopo have been subjected to lengthy delays. Mahlobo blamed corruption in the DWS and implementing agents, poor planning, poor performance of contractors, weak project and contract management by implementing agents, vandalism and theft, and illegal connections. Investigations into the Giyani water project by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) are ongoing. The former CEO and CFO of Lepelle Northern Water (LNW), a state-owned water utility responsible for bulk water provision in Limpopo, resigned. One LNW manager has been charged and dismissed. The SIU is also filing criminal and civil litigation to recover funds. New water projects Some of the long-term bulk water projects to begin between 2025 and 2030 are the N'wamitwa Dam, with an estimated budget of R6 billion, the Beitbridge/Musina intergrated water supply scheme, with an estimated R2 billion budget and the 10-year R25 billion Olifants management model water project. This massive project is meant to supply water to three municipalities, Jane Furse, Mogalakwena and Polokwane. Phase 1 of the project began last year. When complete, it is expected to provide water to 39 000 households. Phase 1 of the Olifants/Ebenezer bulk water scheme began last year with an estimated cost of R18 billion. The project is scheduled to start pumping 114 megalitres of water per day in 2027 and ultimately 270 megalitres of water per day in 2029. NOW READ: R3bn allocated to fix Limpopo's roads and build new ones
The South African
10 hours ago
- Business
- The South African
Here's WHAT happens if you breach the SASSA income threshold
Here's a first-hand account of what grant recipients who break the SASSA income threshold must go through. At the start of May, the agency warned that any suspect/unverified accounts would not have their grants paid. And beneficiaries would be notified by text to validate their profiles in-person at a SASSA office. Initially, SASSA made this sound largely like an identity verification process. However, we're now aware that thousands of grants were overturned due to breaches of the SASSA income threshold. All grant recipient should be aware of the income and asset limits that apply to their specific monthly stipend, as these differ for Old Age and Childcare grants. It appears the three-month notice period is being ignored when it comes to SASSA income threshold breaches. Image: File Nevertheless, it appears the South African Social Security Agency is finally taking a hardline approach to enforcement. According to The Citizen , anyone who exceeds the SASSA income threshold is being forced to repay their ill-gotten money. At last count, nearly 45% of the population is receiving some form of social welfare payment each month. 4 million of these are SASSA Old-Age grants, 13 million are SASSA Child Support beneficiaries and there are nearly 10 million SRD recipients each month. Qualifying parents are allowed to receive Child Support for a newborn right up to their 18th birthday. Image: File That's a lot of people who need their SASSA income threshold and identities verified. Previously, the agency was mandated to serve a written notice of upcoming SASSA grant reviews. Moreover, you were given three months to rectify your finances to comply with any asset and income requirements. Now, however, it appears a new precedent has been set from last month onwards, in which the grant is overturned first and clients must rectify afterwards. According to reports, a child support beneficiary who breached the SASSA income threshold last month is in the process of repaying R3 360. Considering the grant pays out only R560 per month, that's more than five months' worth of assistance owing. Debit orders from your bank account or in-person visits are accepted by SASSA as forms of repayment. Image: File Reports suggest one mother suddenly stopped receiving Child Support payments in May and June. She was alerted via text to visit an agency office in-person and was told to bring a recent bank statement, payslip and copy of her and her child's ID. It came to light that she got a job in January, and her employment income had exceeded the SASSA income threshold. In turn, the agency offered her two options to repay the ill-gotten government assistance. Either pay R3 360 in full before the end of June or make the payment over six months at R560 per month – plus interest. The latter would essentially negate the job she's just secured, costing her more over six months. Tough budget constraints mean the agency is trying to reduce costs wherever it can. Image: File SASSA provides several options for beneficiaries to repay grants: In-person at any SASSA branch office. Bank transfers to SASSA regional accounts. Debit orders arranged through the beneficiaries' bank. Note that when beneficiaries cannot afford to repay funds within a certain timeframe, extensions can be approved by SASSA officials. Although interest charges on outstanding amounts will still accrue. 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.
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- General
- The Citizen
Daily Lotto results: Friday, 27 June 2025
Tonight's jackpot is R600 000! Here are your winning Daily Lotto results for 27 June 2025. Get the Daily Lotto results as soon as they are drawn on The Citizen. Daily Lotto results for 27 June 2025: The winning Daily Lotto numbers will appear below after the draw. Usually within 10 minutes of the draw. You might need to refresh the page to see the updated results. 00, 00, 00, 00, 00. For more details and to verify the Daily Lotto results, visit the National Lottery website. How to play Daily Lotto in SA? If you are buying a ticket in-store: Pick up a betslip in any lottery store. Choose five numbers between 1 and 36 or ask for a Quick Pick. Entries cost R3 each. You can play a max of R150, but you are allowed to play multiple boards. Select how many consecutive draws you wish to enter, up to a maximum of 10. Leave blank for a single draw. Take your betslip to the teller to pay for your ticket. Write your details on the back of your ticket in case you need to claim a prize. If you do not sign your ticket and you lose it, anyone can use it to claim the prize. If you are playing online: Set up a lottery account here and make a deposit to pay for tickets. Choose five numbers from 1 to 36 or select 'Quick Pick' to generate a random set. Repeat this on as many boards as you want to play. Decide whether to enter a single draw or multiple draws. Confirm and pay for your entry. What time is the Daily Lotto draw? The Daily Lotto draws take place shortly after 9:30pm every evening, and tickets can be bought until 8:30pm. Is there a winner every day? Yes. The jackpot prize money is guaranteed to be given away even if no one matches all five numbers. When this happens, the jackpot is split between everyone who matches two or more numbers. Visit and go to the How to Play Daily Lotto section to learn more.
