Latest news with #Xaba
IOL News
6 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Glenrose Xaba gunning for whopping sixth national half-marathon title in a row
Glenrose Xaba finished fifth at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on July 13 in a time of 31:50. Glenrose Xaba will chase her sixth national half-marathon title in a row for Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) as part of a star-studded field at the ASA Road Running Championships in Namakgale, Phalaborwa, on Saturday. Men's defending champion Elroy Gelant will also be among the pre-race favourites in the half-marathon that is incorporated into the F21 Half-Marathon. Xaba was the first South African home over the 21.1km distance at last year's national championships in Gqeberha, finishing fourth overall in 1:13:42. Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) athlete Cacisile Sosibo was fifth, in a time of 1:13:51. She is likely to once again be Xaba's strongest challenger. Gelant, who overcame tough conditions to win the SA men's title in Gqeberha last year, will be joined in the line-up by Athletics Central North West (ACNW) teammate Thabang Mosiako, also a former national champion. They are up against a field that also includes in-form athlete Bennet Seloyi, representing Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA). Xaba holds the national marathon and 10km records on the road, as well as the 5 000m and 10 000m records on the track. The multi-talented star is also eyeing ranking points in her bid to qualify for the track 5 000m and 10 000m at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. The ASA Road Running Championships will also be key to national marathon record holder Gelant's build-up to the world champs. He has made clear his ambition to grab a podium finish at the Tokyo showpiece, after finishing in eleventh place in the marathon at the Paris Olympics.
IOL News
24-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
eThekwini Municipality achieves record 95% revenue collection rate
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba Image: eThekwini Municipality / Facebook The revenue collection rate in the eThekwini Municipality has surged to about 95%. The municipality expressed its satisfaction with the revenue collection rate recorded at the end of June, noting that this is the highest increase in five years and falls within National Treasury norms. Mayor Cyril Xaba attributed the success to targeted revenue enhancement strategies that the City has implemented. He vowed to continue putting pressure on the administration to ensure that the City does not regress on the current collection rate. 'Revenue collection is the engine behind expanding services. We must ensure that the spirit of the Masakhane Campaign lives among our communities by encouraging people to pay for services,' said Xaba. Among the revenue enhancement strategies championed by Mayor Xaba is the 50% debt write-off programme, which ended in June. The ongoing deceased estate debt write-off initiative and the migration of meter reading from line directorates (water and electricity) to the Revenue Directorate also form part of the revenue enhancement strategies. The migration of meter reading has assisted in addressing the challenge of estimated bills, as meters are now being read regularly, and customers are paying for the monthly services they have consumed. Meter reading in the City has improved to the extent that only 12% and 20% of water and electricity bills are estimated, respectively. One of the reasons contributing to some meters not being read includes a lack of access to properties. Xaba encouraged residents to use the Municipal App to upload their meter readings monthly so they can be billed for the services they have consumed. 'We have made technology available to our customers to make their lives easier. While our officials will continue to read meters, customers must also play their part,' said the mayor. He called on officials to expedite investigations in cases where customers complain about irregular spikes in their water and electricity bills. 'I am happy that the Revenue Directorate is dispatching technicians to recalibrate or change faulty meters so that residents are billed correctly,' said the mayor. He added that he was pleased that the order for electricity meters will be delivered by the end of next month. 'This will assist us in ensuring that all properties are properly metered, and the City can start collecting revenue from them. Our main priority will be properties that have bypassed meters and those that have benefitted from the deceased estate debt write-off programme. We want all our customers to be connected to services legally and account for their monthly consumption,' said Xaba. THE MERCURY
IOL News
16-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Durban mayor Cyril Xaba champions transparency as Auditor-General presents audit findings
eThekwini mayor Cyril Xaba Image: eThekwini Municipality / Facebook Ethekwini Mayor Cyril Xaba stated that he was keen to promote transparency and accountability by inviting the Auditor-General (AG) to present the Status of Records Review at an Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday. The report is the outcome of a high-level risk assessment process for the period 2024/25 against the 2023 and 2024 audit findings and commitments. According to the municipality, the AG's office presented two important documents: the Audit Strategy, which drives their engagements with City officials, and the Status of Records Review on 4 July. Xaba said he provided comments and commitments to the AG to support their work to improve audit outcomes and restore public trust in the municipality. He explained that in terms of the Audit Strategy, the AG will table the 2024 and 2025 audit outcomes to the executive committee in January 2026 and to council on 30 January 2026. The AG is expected to present the audit report for the municipality to Xaba on 28 November 2025. 'For the work they do, the City budgets around R30 million annually. This seminal work ultimately culminates in the Audit Outcomes. It assesses the extent to which management has addressed those matters and warns of the likelihood of the audit finding resurfacing in future audits. These are early warning signals that, if disregarded, lead to repeat findings,' Xaba said. 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 ✕ According to the municipality, the status of the records review looks at the following: It identifies key areas of concern that may impact the municipality's preparation of financial and performance reports, including complying with relevant legislation and achieving a clean audit. It assesses progress made in implementing audit action plans or meeting declared commitments to address areas of concern that were communicated in previous engagements with the accounting officer. It then zooms into deficiencies and risks in the procurement and contract management environment, and progress or lack thereof in addressing them. It cites poor contract management and planning, resulting in the use of expired contracts and the use of Section 36 due to poor planning. It reviews progress made by management in investigating the irregular expenditure reported in the previous financial year, steps taken to recover monies loss to the municipality and finalisation of investigations and instituting of disciplinary actions against the offending officials. 'There are challenges in the audit process. Inadequate or no supporting documentation was provided to substantiate the reported performance. Concerning the Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation verifying performance information, the AG's office noted that insufficient details were provided regarding the performance information verification process, and the evidence of whether such verifications have been performed,' Xaba said. According to Xaba, as part of his response to the matters raised by the AG, he highlighted the following resolutions adopted at the Drakensburg Strategic Retreat in March 2025: that both internal and external audit findings should be reported to the relevant Portfolio Committees to keep them abreast with the progress and challenges encountered in the implementation of action plans. Portfolio Committees will monitor progress every quarter.
IOL News
13-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Glenrose Xaba falls short of national record after finishing fifth at Absa Durban 10K
Glenrose Xaba finished fifth at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning in a time of 31:50. Photo: Kevin Sawyer Image: Kevin Sawyer Glenrose Xaba was unable to reach her target of breaking the national 10km record at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning, yet still managed to dip below 32 minutes as the first South African home in the elite women's race. The in-form Boxer Athletics Club star finished fifth, behind a quartet of Kenyan runners, in a time of 31:50. The women's race was won by Claire Ndiwa in 30:50, with Janet Mulungi second (30:53) after a thrilling sprint finish. Early frontrunner Jesca Chelangat was dropped in the final kilometre and had to settle for third (30:58), while Rebecca Mwangi came home fourth (31:13). Clare Ndiwa of Kenya crosses the finish line first at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday morning. Image: Anthony Grote Much of the pre-race hype focused on Xaba's attempt to better her national record of 31:12, set at last year's event. However, she blamed changes to the course layout for her inability to do so. 'The pace was okay at the beginning, or first kilometre, but when we reached 6km the course changed too much. There were lots more hills than last year,' she said at the finish on the promenade at Sunkist Beach. 'Last year's course was fast, but this year it was very challenging because there are many climbs. Three climbs take a lot off the speed – four climbs, actually. It's not that course we were expecting from last year. They said it's fast, but it's a bit tough.' Still, the time was an impressive one from South Africa's current 10km queen, who dipped under 32 minutes for the third time this year. It also marked a notable improvement on the 31:54 she clocked at the SPAR Women's 10km Challenge in Durban on 22 June. Absa Durban 10K elite women's race winner Clare Ndiwa (centre) is flanked on the left by third-place finisher Jesca Chelangat, and runner-up Janet Mutungi on her right. Image: Action Photo Asked what it would take to get closer to her record, Xaba said: 'A course that is flat from start to finish, with no climbs. If the course was like last year, all of us were going to run very good times, but I think we slowed down.' The multi-talented 30-year-old was also chasing ranking points in her bid to qualify for the track 5 000m and 10 000m events at the World Championships in Tokyo in September. 'I think this race won't be good for my ranking,' she admitted. 'It was very tough for me. My legs were not responding well in the last 3km. If my legs were responding well, I think I would have run faster.' Xaba refused to blame fatigue from a busy race schedule. 'I don't feel that tired. I'm basing my training more on mileage than speed. My legs just couldn't cope when it came to the hills. I think the hills affected me. I'm used to running flat,' she said. She is now hoping to secure more 5 000m races to improve her strong ranking in that event, as she feels better placed to qualify for the World Championships in the shorter distance than in the 10 000m.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Glenrose Xaba aiming for a record-breaking performance at Absa Run Your City Durban 10K
Distance runner Glenrose Xaba is hoping to continue her fine recent form at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday. Glenrose Xaba will be hoping to continue her remarkable form over 10km so far this year when the distance runner lines up for the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K on Sunday. The notoriously fast, flat route offers the potential for the star of the track and road to dip under 32 minutes for the third time this year. Xaba will be aiming for her fastest time of the season, and is confident of beating her national 10km record. The Boxer Athletics Club runner stormed home in a time of 31:12 at the Absa Run Your City Durban 10K last year to take overall fourth place and better Elana Meyer's 23-year-old national mark. 'Yes. That's the plan,' was her response to questions about the possibility of setting a new SA record. 'I want to write my own history.' Xaba's performance in the recent SPAR Women's 10km Challenge in Durban will only add to her belief that she can once again raise the bar. She crossed the finish line in a time of 31:54 despite breezy conditions in Durban on June 22. She made light work of the challenge of the Ethiopian duo of Diniya Abaraya and Selam Gebre on that occasion. 'Consistency, determination and discipline are key,' Xaba explained when asked how she keeps on churning out world-class times despite a busy season. 'The body is feeling okay since I prepared it from the beginning of the season because I knew that it would have a lot of races.'
