Latest news with #CGA
The Citizen
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Germiston athlete eyes national success and university scholarship
Lucie Ilunga, a 400m and 800m sprint specialist, has come a long way since her early days as a netball player. Now in Grade 12 at Queens High School, she shares her journey into athletics, guided by coach Elvis Khoza. Ilunga only began to take athletics seriously in Grade 8, despite having a strong netball background. ALSO READ: CGA hosts cross-country in Germiston 'Running wasn't really my thing,' she recalled. 'But I took part in a school athletics event and, to my surprise, finished 29th.' After that race, Khoza approached her with an invitation to train. 'At the time, my heart was still with netball. I had just played my last matches at the district games and had been selected for the provincial team, so I didn't think much of it at first,' she explained. But Khoza's persistence paid off. 'He convinced me to give running a try, and my journey has been fascinating ever since.' A promising athlete with global potential Now affiliated with Thembisa Athletics Club, Ilunga has made remarkable progress. In her first year, she won the 800m at the OR Tambo Socini Games and qualified to compete in Italy. 'Unfortunately, Covid-19 had other plans,' she said, referring to the cancelled trip. ALSO READ: CGA announces team to lead SA at Paris Olympic The following year, in Grade 9, she placed second in the 800m at the same games but was unable to make the national team due to unforeseen circumstances. Balancing athletics with academics and leadership Beyond the track, Ilunga shines academically. She has served on the school's Representative Council of Learners (RCL) for four consecutive years and currently holds the position of Deputy Head Girl. 'I've received academic merits since Grade 11 and was awarded the best leader award,' she said. Despite a demanding school year, Ilunga is working hard to secure a scholarship for university. 'Next year I aim to study something I'm passionate about, like business management.' She continues her training at Germiston Stadium as she prepares for upcoming competitions. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
a day ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Local sprinter targets personal best at UJ Challenge
Chariaan Eksteen is gearing up for the UJ Track and Field Summer Challenge. As a teacher and athlete, Eksteen's passion for running began in high school, where she started athletics in Grade Eight as a long-distance runner and quickly progressed to competing in school competitions. 'I've experimented with various events, but it wasn't until Grade 12 that I found my fit. I tried the 100m and 200m, earning a spot on the school relay team, and also competed in the 400m, making it to the provincials. 'After matric, I joined Brakpan Athletics Club, but recently switched to Boxer Athletics. 'In the CGA competitions, I placed fifth in one of the events hosted at UJ last year. My training is focused on shaving off seconds and achieving a personal best. ALSO READ: Athlete excels at championships for CGA 'I've known my current coach, Thulani Sibeko, for a while, having trained with him at Boksburg. His encouragement and familiarity made the decision to switch clubs an easy one. 'I'm currently preparing for the UJ Track and Field Summer Challenge. 'As a Grade RR teacher with a passion for child development, I've also pursued a Bachelor's degree in Foundation Phase. 'I enjoy mentoring my students and helping them develop their athletic skills, and I'm committed to making a positive impact on their young lives,' said Eksteen. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala University Registrar 'defies' V-C's direction on use of official vehicle
Kerala University Registrar K.S. Anil Kumar has defied Vice-Chancellor Mohanan Kunnummal's explicit instructions not to use the official vehicle. In his order, the Vice-Chancellor had barred Dr. Kumar from using official resources, including the university's vehicle. He also instructed Director (Planning and Development) Mini Dejo Kappen, who has been given the additional charge of Registrar, to take custody of the car keys and to ensure that the vehicle remains in the university garage. However, Dr. Kumar arrived at the university headquarters in the same car on Wednesday, claiming that he had no personal vehicle and that the university car was the only one available to him. The security officer has reportedly submitted a report to the Vice-Chancellor, stating that the Registrar has maintained that this suspension was overturned by the university Syndicate and that he is entitled to use the official car by way of his position as the Registrar. Meanwhile, BJP-backed Syndicate members accused Left-aligned Syndicate members and various organisations of preventing the Vice-Chancellor's entry to the university campus. Syndicate member P.S. Gopakumar said this was not just an administrative issue, but a serious one involving intimidation. Online meeting Despite the chaos, the Vice-Chancellor chaired an online meeting of the Centre for Global Academics (CGA), which oversees international student affairs at the university. The meeting reportedly decided to grant admission to 93 foreign students across various affiliated colleges. As many as 2,620 candidates had applied for various programmes this year. The selected students, mostly from Arab countries, Africa and Sri Lanka, will be admitted to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes including BA, BCom and MA. While the meeting was held in Dr. Kumar's absence, Dr. Kappen and CGA Director Sabu Joseph participated in the meeting.
The South African
10-07-2025
- Business
- The South African
Trump's tariffs will hurt the same SA farmers he claimed to support
American president Donald Trump, who recently backed South African farmers, is now imposing tariffs that will affect their livelihoods. Trump recently amplified (false) claims of persecution against white South Africans, and authorised a refugee resettlement program for Afrikaner farmers. For those farmers that remain in South Africa, Trump now finds his trade policies on a collision course with their livelihoods. A 30% tariff on key exports, including citrus, wine, sugar cane, and beef, will take effect on 1 August, ending the duty-free access South Africa enjoyed under the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA). Back in April, Trump instituted 30% tariffs on South Africa for all goods imported into America. After facing significant backlash, Trump hit pause on the tariffs for 90 days. Critical US-SA trade talks, including a diplomatic visit by SA president Cyril Ramaphosa to the White House, yielded little progress. On Monday this week, the US president confirmed that he would be subjecting imports from South Africa to the 30% tariff. 'It doesn't make sense to us to welcome South African farmers in America and then the rest that stays behind, to punish them,' Krisjan Mouton, an established citrus farmer in Citrusdal, told Reuters . 'It's going to have a huge impact…it's not profitable to export anymore to the USA.' South Africa is the world's second-largest citrus exporter after Spain. The industry earns around $100 million annually from the US market. Though the US accounts for only 6% of total citrus exports from SA, many farms are built around meeting America's specific size and phytosanitary standards. It makes finding new markets a logistical nightmare, while increasing shipments to other countries may cause an oversupply. Industry leaders have also argued that SA citrus has never competed with US production, but has rather complemented it. 'South African citrus growers do not threaten US citrus growers or US jobs,' said Citrus Growers Association (CGA) chairperson Gerrit van der Merwe. 'In fact, our produce sustains interest and demand for citrus when local US citrus is out of season, eventually benefitting US growers when we hand over consumers at the end of our season.' The new 30% tariff will now remove South Africa's favoured trade status, making South African citrus uncompetitive compared to fruit from South America and Australia. While three-quarters of South Africa's freehold land is white-owned, they will not be the only casualties. Thousands of farmworkers and fruit packers could be laid off too. 'A 30% tariff would wreak havoc on all communities that have, for decades, focused on producing specifically for the US market,' said CGA chief executive Boitshoko Ntshabele. In Citrusdal alone, the CGA estimates that up to 35 000 jobs are on the line. 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.
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
US tariffs on South Africa set to hit white farmers Trump has embraced
By Wendell Roelf CITRUSDAL, South Africa (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump's threatened 30% tariff on South African exports is set to deal an economic blow to a community he has vocally and controversially championed: white farmers. Citing false claims that white South Africans are being persecuted, Trump has cut aid to the country, publicly berated its president in the Oval Office and invited Afrikaners - descendants of early European settlers - to come to the United States as refugees. But for white farmers who remain rooted in their homeland and aspire to keep making a living from the land, the tariffs due to come into effect on August 1 are an assault on those ambitions. "It doesn't make sense to us to welcome South African farmers in America and then the rest that stays behind ... to punish them," said Krisjan Mouton, a sixth-generation farmer in Western Cape province's citrus heartland. "It's going to have a huge impact," he said, standing among rows of trees heavy with navel oranges on his farm near the town of Citrusdal. "It's not profitable to export anymore to the USA." After a three-month pause, Trump escalated the global trade offensive he launched in April, announcing tariffs on more than a dozen countries on Monday, including South Africa. Its citrus fruit, along with wine, soybeans, sugar cane and beef, had previously benefited from duty-free access to the U.S. under the Africa Growth and Opportunities Act. Helped by that trade initiative, South Africa, the world's second-largest citrus exporter after Spain, generates $100 million annually from the U.S. market. The new tariff ends that preferential treatment. And with three-quarters of South Africa's freehold land white-owned, white farmers will face the immediate economic fallout though they will not be the only casualties. Boitshoko Ntshabele, chief executive of the Citrus Growers' Association of Southern Africa (CGA) said the levy will hurt all South African farmers and farm workers, no matter their race. "A 30% tariff would wreak havoc on communities that have, for decades, focused on producing specifically for the U.S. market," he said. 'FARMERS WILL GO BANKRUPT' Its location in the Southern Hemisphere means South Africa produces citrus at times of the year when the U.S. doesn't, with its exports giving U.S. consumers year-round access to fruit. While the United States accounts for only around 6% of South Africa's citrus exports, some farming areas produce specifically for the U.S. market. Redirecting produce grown for the U.S. to other markets is not simple, as size and plant health requirements vary from country to country. Nestled in a valley in Western Cape's rugged Cederberg mountains, Mouton's family farm employs 21 permanent workers, and nearly triple that number during peak picking season. The CGA has said about 35,000 jobs are at risk in Citrusdal alone, as the tariffs risk making South African citrus uncompetitive compared to fruit from Peru, Chile, and Australia. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has said trade talks with Washington will continue and argued that the 30% rate was based on an inaccurate understanding of the two countries' trade. In the meantime though, the CGA wants to speed up an expansion of exports to new markets including China and India. High tariffs in some countries and stringent plant health requirements in the European Union, for example, make that a complicated prospect, however. Not far from Mouton's farm, workers are carrying on as usual, for now, sorting and packing fruit at the 14,000-square-metre Goede Hoop Citrus warehouse. But if the 30% levy remains in place, that won't last long, managing director Andre Nel told Reuters. "Farmers will go bankrupt. For sure there would be job losses within our sector," he said. "I don't even want to think about it." ($1 = 17.8568 rand)
