Latest news with #R11m
The Citizen
05-06-2025
- General
- The Citizen
Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire
Emergency services warn households to be vigilant after Nellmapius shack fire Tshwane Emergency Services has warned households to be vigilant this winter. This comes after the service responded to a shack fire in Morongwa Street, Nellmapius Ext 2 on Monday morning. The fire was reported to the Emergency Communication Centre at 08:44, and firefighting resources were immediately dispatched from Silverton and Mamelodi fire stations to the scene. They brought a fire engine, water tanker, rapid intervention unit and bush pumper. Tshwane Emergency spokesperson Lindsay Zwelithini Mnguni said upon arrival, firefighters found that an RDP house and two shacks were on fire. Mnguni said the firefighters immediately began with firefighting operations and extinguished the fire. 'The two shacks were badly damaged while only the contents of the RDP house were affected by the fire,' said Mguni. One young patient was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation, and oxygen therapy was administered. 'Our disaster management officers were on the scene and assisted with the co-ordination of relief efforts for the affected family members,' Mnguni said. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Tshwane Emergency Services urges residents to follow these precautionary measures: – If there is any fire danger exposure to dwellings, like shacks or houses, vegetation or veld fires, dial the toll-free number 107 for emergencies. – Burning charcoal produces large amounts of carbon monoxide, so do not leave it burning in the house when sleeping. – Never use fuels not designed for your heating unit. – Unapproved controlled burning must never be carried out. – Never leave children unattended near a burning candle or fire. – Make sure all candles are placed in safe candleholders. – Never connect electricity illegally. – Never overload electrical plugs. – Never leave an imbawula or coal fire to burn overnight without supervision. – Extinguish paraffin fires with sand or a fire extinguisher. Report any fire or rescue incident by calling 107 toll-free or 012 358 6300/6400. When reporting an emergency, please remain calm, speak clearly, know where you are to give the correct address, and give your correct contact number to allow the operator to phone you back should they require to do so. ALSO READ: Former Tshwane metro director arrested in connection with R11m fraud Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ 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! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Committee uncovers irregularities in stadium project in Leandra
The Select Committee on Public Participation, Petitions and Members' Legislative Proposals did a follow-up oversight visit to the Lebohang Stadium in Leandra on May 13. The visit followed a 2019 petition by the local sports council citing poor workmanship on the stadium, initially envisioned as a state-of-the-art multipurpose facility. Committee chairperson Siphosezwe Mahlangu opened the meeting by outlining the committee's constitutional mandate. All the stakeholders were invited to account for their roles in the project. The Govan Mbeki Municipality, represented by municipal manager Elliot Maseko, explained that R11m in funding was received through the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) for phase one of the project in 2018/19. However, serious discrepancies in execution were identified, leading the municipality to allocate an additional R3m for remedial work and request R10m from the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Recreation (DCSR) for phase two. The DCSR withheld the funds due to unresolved concerns regarding misallocated spending in phase one. MEC Leah Mabuza praised the sports council's responsible actions and the legislature's oversight, committing to ensuring accountability. She emphasised the importance of quality service delivery in projects uplifting poor communities. The provincial and national Departments of Sports, Arts and Culture said several errors had plagued phase one. The provincial department denied early involvement in the project, a claim disputed by the national department and viewed as unsatisfactory by the committee. Songezo Phethelo, the director for infrastructure development at the national department, criticised the lack of ownership from provincial counterparts. This committee echoed this concern, demanding higher standards of accountability. Sports council chairperson Abednego Lukhele recounted the council's exclusion from the project's implementation, blaming it for the substandard outcome. He commended the legislature for its intervention and the community of Leandra for responding peacefully despite frustrations. The committee condemned the overall handling of the project and raised several unresolved questions, including: • Why was the provincial department not involved from the beginning? • What remedial actions have been taken? • Is the project's current state worth the R11m already spent? • Why was the sports council excluded from the project steering committee? • Why were payments approved for uncompleted work? The committee expressed concern over escalating costs now estimated at R24m and called for serious consequence management, which might include employee dismissals, arrests, repayment of public funds and blacklisting the implicated service providers. The matter was referred to the Select Committee on Public Accounts for further investigation, with a directive for all stakeholders to submit detailed reports and attend future hearings. ALSO READ: A day in the life of a Standerton midwife ALSO READ: Tshwane is making strides in tackling Bronkhorstspruit's water issues At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
12-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Increasing web searches for homes in Bryanston and Sandton
With the world at their fingertips, most buyers embarking on a search to find the home of their dreams, and within their budget, begin their journey by scouring the internet, viewing properties for sale. Says Dr Andrew Golding, chief executive of the Pam Golding Property group: 'A recent assessment of web searches on our website reveals some notable trends regarding locations attracting high interest. 'While Cape Town retains top spot for searches on the Pam Golding Properties website, Gauteng locations such as Bryanston and also Sandton overall account for an increasing number of web searches. 'In fact, for the six-month period August 2024 to January 2025, seven of the top 20 searches were for suburbs in Gauteng, with Bryanston and Sandton (as a whole) in second and third place behind Cape Town. Notably, Gauteng locations accounted for nearly a third of all the top 20 searches during this period.' Adds Dr Golding: 'This is compared with the first quarter of 2024, when Gauteng accounted for only five of the top 20 searches on our website, with Bryanston in fifth place and Sandton seventh.' Says Nelson Ferreira, regional head in Gauteng for Pam Golding Properties: 'Sandton's reputation as a premier business and luxury hub plays a significant role in the uptick in enquiries, particularly in the luxury market from R15m plus, where viewing interest has increased. This is not only among South African buyers and returning expats, but also international purchasers predominantly from African countries, and from Europe. There has also been a notable increase in offers submitted on properties priced around R11m to R15m. 'Due to its vibrant lifestyle, lucrative business opportunities and upscale living environment, this area has always appealed to international property buyers for various reasons. This includes those relocating permanently or with three-to-five-year contracts in the area, while other global investors are purchasing apartments to rent out and build a property portfolio in Southern Africa.' Meanwhile, says Ferreira, for savvy investors and local first-time buyers, the recently adjusted R1.21m threshold for transfer duty has significantly improved the time taken to sell properties pegged below this price point. A leafy green suburb within Sandton, Bryanston remains a sought-after address because of its central locality, top government and private schools, and close proximity to Sandton CBD just 8km away. It is also only some 17km to Midrand, and for commuters to Tshwane, offers easy access to the highway. Bryanston is dissected by Winnie Mandela Drive, one of Johannesburg's busiest arterial roads, which effectively separates east from west Bryanston. Says Ferreira: 'The suburb caters for every kind of buyer, from those entering the market to couples, families upscaling and high net worth purchasers seeking luxury living, as well as those relocating back to Johannesburg as a result of a return-to-office trend. 'Bryanston offers a wide range of residential properties, including full title homes priced between R3m and R40m, estates with residences in the price band between R3.5m and R30m, and sectional title townhouses ranging from R900 000 to R8m.' There are several distinct property segments in Bryanston – each in high demand, albeit currently with an oversupply. Development market Comments Ferreira: 'Reflecting the ongoing demand and desirability of the area, developers are actively acquiring freehold properties from 1 900sqm to 4 200sqm, resulting in a wide range of both estate-style clusters and sectional title developments being built. Developers are especially interested in stands that have been rezoned as they offer strong prospects for redevelopment, renovation and resale. Currently, the going rate for rezoned land – whether vacant or with an existing home – is approximately R1 000 per square metre. 'In addition, some individual purchasers are looking to acquire properties where there is potential to subdivide and sell a part of the land, as well as combining households, with a cottage or flatlet sought after for multi-generational living. As a result, many homeowners who are unable to realise the full value of their properties are opting to subdivide. A single stand can potentially be split into five stands, allowing for the construction of five modern cluster homes. Subdivision is driven either by existing homeowners unlocking value or developers aiming to build multiple homes or high-density apartments for resale.' Full title homes Typically set on large stands from approximately 1 900-4 300sqm, making them highly attractive to developers, full title homes are available in both Bryanston East and Bryanston West – with the East more developed with newer builds, while the West comprises mainly older or more existing, mature homes,' says Ferreira. 'In Bryanston West, entry-level pricing for full title homes starts at approximately R3m, which generally comprises a four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom house. Homes in this area range up to R15m, offering substantial opportunity for renovation. In the East, full title prices begin at around R5m and extend up to R40m, with a similar range of stand sizes creating significant potential for investors, particularly developers. Sectional Title units 'The sectional title segment of the market is extremely attractive to first-time buyers because of its affordability, security features, and the opportunity to live in one of Sandton's most sought-after suburbs. What makes this sector particularly competitive is that sellers of existing units must compete with these brand-new, sectional title developments with studios starting at around R900 000, two-bedroom apartments ranging from R1.2m to R1.7m, and three-bedroom apartments or townhouses priced between R3.3m and R4.7m.' Ferreira says buyer preferences in Bryanston East vary – some are seeking freehold properties of 2 000sqm or more, with a minimum of four bedrooms and within gated communities, while others typically prioritising a spacious yet secure lock-up-and-go lifestyle are looking for secure cluster homes on approximately 1 000sqm of land, with 400-600sqm under roof. Cluster and Gated Estates 'Another standout segment is the cluster and gated estate market, where buyers can enter from around R3m, while premium properties can exceed R20m. These estates offer excellent security, lower levies – especially compared to various sectional title units, and larger stand sizes ranging from 400-1 200sqm. Homes in this market segment tend to sell quickly due to strong demand and the appeal of estate living.' With excellent amenities, including top-tier shopping centres, green parks and the exclusive, limited-membership Bryanston Country Club, Bryanston is home to some of Sandton's most prestigious schools including Bryneven Primary, Bryanston High School, Brescia House, The British International Collega, St Stithians College, Michael Mount School and Brynandale Primary as well as close proximity to Redhill. Issued by: Gaye de Villiers on behalf of Pam Golding Properties
IOL News
06-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
KwaZulu-Natal's Education Department grapples with R250 million debt crisis
Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza has raised the union's concern about the financial state of the KZN Department of Education. Image: Indepenent Newspapers Archives A financial report has laid bare the deepening financial crises faced by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Education, painting a picture of an entity drowning in debt. The department owes close to R250 million to the eThekwini Municipality for water delivered by water tankers, as detailed in the financial report released by the municipality last week. This comes as the department is already battling to service a debt owed by Section 21 schools to the municipality for services. It was not immediately clear over what period the debt has been accumulated, but the report covers the latest period from January to March and details all debts owed to the municipality, including by consumers, business, and government. The financial state of the department is a concern to political parties and the South African Democratic Teachers Union (Sadtu), which claims that the department has collapsed financially. KZN Education faced serious budget cuts over the past few years and has revealed that it is struggling to meet its obligations. It has emerged that it has not paid all the suppliers of the school nutrition programme and missed salary payments to Grade R teachers, who were expected to be paid late last week. The financial report stated, 'An amount of R250 million is owed by the Department of Education for the supply of water tankers.' The City's eThekwini Water Services and the Department of Education have established that the water was supplied without a valid Service Level Agreement (SLA) in place; but the issue of the accumulated debt has not been resolved. Discussions are ongoing between the water service and the department on how to resolve the debt issue. The report also indicated that the department's Section 21 schools are struggling to keep up with their accounts, which have fallen into arrears despite a payment arrangement being in place. 'After engagements with the Department of Education, in May 2024, a payment arrangement was concluded for an amount of R169.1m, which was the debt owed by 521 schools at the time. The arrangement was that the department would pay this amount in equal instalments of R11m over 13 months after the initial down payment of R17m was made. The Department of Education has paid as per the agreement, with the last instalment for March still to be received. 'It should be noted that although an arrangement was reached with the Department of Education in May last year, the debt for 521 schools has continued to escalate due to schools not paying their current charges, which have now escalated into arrears,' said the report. The DA spokesperson on Education, Sakhile Mngadi, expressed alarm at the deepening financial implosion within the province's department. He said a crisis is now threatening the well-being of millions of pupils and the constitutional viability of KZN's education system. 'This is no longer just a financial issue. It is a humanitarian and constitutional crisis, born out of poor leadership and a toxic culture of evasion and spin. Every day that passes without urgent intervention places more children at risk, undermines their right to education, and erodes the public's faith in government,' he said. Sadtu provincial secretary Nomarashiya Caluza said the department has collapsed. 'As we speak, some Grade R practitioners have not been paid. The department is struggling to pay service providers for school nutrition programmes, acting personnel have not received acting allowances, and some officials cannot attend important workshops. Some service providers that assisted with stationery at the beginning of the year have not been paid. "Schools have not received their full basic allocation for 2024. What else do we need to see to say that the department has collapsed?' she asked. Addressing the issue of unpaid school nutrition service providers, the department said it is addressing this and blamed a system glitch for the delay in payment. 'We acknowledge the concerns raised by our valued service providers and wish to assure them that the department is doing everything possible to resolve the technical glitches affecting payment processes. The problem has nothing to do with the financial difficulties of the department, as the NSNP is paid from the grant allocation. We remain committed to transparency, timely communication, and the uninterrupted provision of meals to our pupils across the province,' it said. Speaking on the issue of the debt, Education Department spokesperson Muzi Mahlambi said: 'We are in agreement with them (municipality) as to how this is being addressed. We hold meetings with them and discuss these issues.' THE MERCURY
