Latest news with #R2.7
The Citizen
08-06-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Merafong residents brace for major tariff hikes after municipal budget approval
Residents of Merafong are set to experience significant increases in municipal service charges from 1 July 2025, after the 2025/2026 municipal budget was officially approved during a Special Council Meeting on 28 May. The newly approved budget outlines steep hikes across various services: Water tariffs will rise by 15.30% Electricity tariffs will increase by 8–11%, depending on usage Sewerage services will go up by 9.5% Refuse removal will increase by 6% Sundry tariffs will also rise by 6% In addition, property rates for residents living in towns will rise by 5%, while agricultural properties and Public Service Infrastructure (PSI) will see a 3% increase. Mine property rates will rise by 4.4%. The total budgeted expenditure exceeds R2.7 billion, with the largest portion allocated to debt repayment, followed by spending on bulk purchases such as water and electricity. Employee-related costs are expected to total R466,720,835. Despite opposition from the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF Plus), the budget was passed by majority vote. These increases are likely to place additional financial strain on residents already grappling with rising living costs. The municipality has defended the hikes as necessary to ensure service delivery and cover growing operational expenses. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
IOL News
06-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Meet the Comrades superheroes
Dean Wight and Mahesh Ratanjee are vying for the top spot as top Comrades charity collectors in this year's race. They're the best of frenemies in a very different but just as competitive Comrades race. Dean Wight, 56, a veteran of 31 marathons, has won it six times. For Mahesh Ratanjee this will be his fourth Comrades and he stands as last year's winner. The race - in which the two are neck a neck - is to be the top fundraiser for the Comrades official charities. Both are aiming to raise over R200 000. Both say the charity component helps keep them going through the race itself. Wright, who runs with Queensburgh Harriers, is supporting the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust. In the eight years he has been running for charity he has raised more than R2.7 million. He actually counts having run 33 Comrades - although two were virtual during the Covid lockdowns. His best year was in R2021 when he raised R538 000 running 90km around his garden. He remembers it being Easter Monday and receiving a large donation from a devoted husband, whose wife, a Comrades runner, had died from covid. Ratanjee admits he's 'just a newbie'. He runs with Durban Athletics Club, which he says is the second oldest Athletics club in the world after London. He's raising funds for the Community Chests of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. His first attempt at Comrades was cancelled with the Covid lockdowns and it's only since that he has been running for charity. Last year he raised the top amount - R197 000. 'You kicked me to the kerb,' Wight says. 'Hey, you just gave me a break,' Ratanjee replies. Ratanjee runs for the Community Chest because the funds raised support an issue dear to his heart - early childhood development. 'My wife and I lost our first child, a girl. We've been fortunate to have two sons since, but I run in her memory. Then last year I lost my 11-year-old niece, so I run on behalf of two angels,' he says. 'They are my superheroes,' he says, showing his Superhero cape that Community Chest runners are given. Wight points to the superhero Captain Creme Soda emblazoned on his bakkie. He runs a company called Beloved Long Runs which helps train people for Comrades. His whole life spent in the sports world - in sports stores and with shoe makers. He ran his first Comrades in 1988 and has had 'many years of practice'. He started running at age 11 when a schoolboy friend asked him to join him on a fun run. His grandfather ran the second Comrades in 1922. After his first race it was his goal to get a green number - then 20. Now it's 50. He tells how a HACT volunteer approached him to run for the charity. It was a volunteer named Sally Jones. 'I went to meet this lady and ended up saying yes. I said 'let's go for R10 000'. And then I thought, I know more than 1 000 runners and if each gives R10, that's over R100 000. I phoned her back with the new offer. And then a schoolboy friend phoned to say that if I raised over R100 000 he'd throw in another R100 000,' he said. Ratanjee, who admits he's never going to be upfront with an 11 hour 47 finish last year, enjoyed running at school and used to participate in the 3 000 meters. His dad and aunt were big Comrades fans. 'But it took me 45 years to rope myself into the race,' he says. 'Last year was special as one of my school mates who beat me in that 3000m contest ran with me,' he says. 'And he's doing it again this year.' Asked about their advice to fellow runners, Wight says to pace yourself and 'enjoy your day'. 'Start slow and finish strong," Ratanjee pipes in. Gordon Mc Donald, director of the Community Chest, thanked the athletes who run for charity. 'Runners put in their heart and soul. All the charities work with their runners, make a fuss of them. It can be lonely on the road, and charities provide a purpose and community for many. It's something bigger than themselves.' Then as we finish one of them checks the comrades charity app. Some "whippersnapper" has jumped over both of them. They vow to redouble their efforts.
The Citizen
29-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Post Office rescue plan is working, but more money is needed
Three creditors still need to be paid a combined amount of R509 million. Pensioners queue outside the Post Office in Westgate, awaiting their payouts. Picture: Devina Haripersad The Business Rescue of the South African Post Office (Sapo) is nearing completion, and the practitioners reported back positive results to parliament. However, a bumpy ride is still ahead. Business Rescue Practitioner (BRP), Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons told the parliament's Communications and Digital Technologies committee that they are 75% done with the handover process to the shareholders of Sapo on Wednesday. However, they need to devise a plan to address outstanding creditors. ALSO READ: More millions to save jobs at SA Post Office Post office debt The committee was told that the Post Office was unable to receive R3.8 billion. Therefore, they are still in discussions with the department regarding an alternative plan to settle outstanding creditors. The creditors that still need to be paid are the South African Revenue Services (Sars), the Pension Fund, and Medipos. The three need to be paid a collective of R509 million. For the financial year 2024-25, the practitioners were able to pay creditors a total of R1 billion. Post office successes The committee was informed that, for the first time since 2012, Sapo had a positive balance sheet with a net asset value (NAV) of R1 billion. Sapo was placed under provisional liquidation in 2023, but thanks to the work of Rooplal and Damons, the entity has been discharged. 'The BRPs applied to have the provisional liquidation order discharged. The matter was heard on 22 November 2024, and the provisional liquidation order was discharged.' The entity is currently paying its liabilities in the ordinary course of business. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa signs Post Office Bill into law Retrenchments The practitioners stated that they issued 4 875 termination letters for employees who were affected by the retrenchment. 'All affected employees' notice period ended on 30 April 2024, and 4 342 employees were retrenched.' Sapo reported that year-on-year expenses of R2.7 billion were reduced by R2 billion, with staff costs being the main contributor to this decrease. As of 31 March 2025, Sapo had 5 592 employees. Additionally, the entity reduced the number of operating branches to 657. Sapo receives money The entity received R150 million from the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies in March 2025. When it comes to revenue, the entity reported year-on-year revenue of R1.7 billion, a decline of R700 million. They attributed this decline to a lack of investment in infrastructure. Achievements The BRP outlined the following goals to be achieved: Improving cash management processes Creditor Compromise Completion of S189 payments (final tranche of settlements) Achieved a target of 657 branches Employee reduction, R1.2 billion annual cost savings Data Centre Migration They are in the process of achieving the following goals: Investment in fleet management systems Strategic partnerships Appointing suitably qualified, skilled and competent management and directors Outstanding goals Statutory and payroll creditors Hardware infrastructure and software applications modernisation Investment in sales and business development team for bulk mail segment Strategic and equitable partnership implementation NOW READ: Parliament discusses SA Post Office's fate a month after 'day zero'
IOL News
13-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Doctor baffled by R2. 7 million electricity bill due to meter reading error
The eThekwini Municipality stated that the high electricity bill that a Reservoir Hills doctor received of R2.7 million was due to an incorrect meter reading that was submitted. Image: Supplied The eThekwini Municipality stated that the high electricity bill that a Reservoir Hills doctor received of R2.7 million in April 2025 was due to an incorrect meter reading that was submitted. Doctor Terence Govender said his average monthly bill was R8 500 and was left bemused by his latest bill. For March, Govender was billed R2.7 million in total. His bill for April totalled R91 000. This included water of R1 680, electricity of R55 000, cleansing and solid waste of R256, interest on arrears of R23 641, and VAT of R8 636. The total bill for March and April amounted to R2.8 million. eThekwini Municipality's Spokesperson, Gugu Sisilana, said they have noted the recent inquiry regarding an unusually high electricity bill reflected on a customer's account. The municipality stated that it wanted to provide clarity on the issue after investigating the matter. According to the municipality, the circumstances that led to this situation were: The cause of the high bill was an incorrect reading submitted to e-services by the customer. On March 25, 2025, the customer submitted a meter reading through the municipality's e-services platform. The reading submitted was 20364, which has fewer digits than the 6-digit reading, which ought to have been submitted. The municipality has also been advocating for customers to submit their readings on e-services as an alternative and appreciate the use of it. Subsequently, a routine meter reading was conducted on May 6, 2025, by municipal staff and captured the correct reading of 204020 units. However, this reading is currently pending final billing, and in the next billing, the adjustment of the R2m will be corrected. Sisilana said the municipality acknowledges the inconvenience this has caused and wishes to reassure both the customer and the public that this matter is receiving urgent attention. 'The customer will be contacted and will be educated on how to read their meter and submit on e-services. However, all necessary adjustments have been made already and will reflect actual consumption and correct the billing anomaly in the next bill of June 2025,' Sisilana said. She said that if residents have queries, the municipality's Revenue Management Unit (RMU) remains available for direct engagement. Krisendra Bisetty of Bisetty Attorneys said he is handling approximately 60 cases of high bills in eThekwini. 'I also have a client who owns a petrol station in Westville who has a R1.5m bill. I recently got a Sydenham woman's R1.5m water bill reversed in two days. She tried for two years without success,' Bisetty stated. In January 2025, a Tongaat homeowner, Arumoogum 'Reggie' Pillay, won his case at the Durban Regional Court after being billed approximately R322 900. Ish Prahladh, chairperson of the eThekwini Residents and Ratepayers Association (ERRA), said residents throughout the municipality were also experiencing similar challenges. Asad Gaffar, eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM), said there is also no clear political will to change the management of the city and the department to address this serious crisis. 'The city has put its citizens into a predicament, and quite frankly, they simply just don't care. It is about time that the residents and ratepayers of eThekwini unite and stand united in a defiance campaign against this city,' Gaffar said. [email protected]
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Health
- IOL News
Doctor bewildered by eThekwini Municipality's R2. 8 million utility bill
A Reservoir Hills doctor received a R2.8 million utility bill from the eThekwini Municipality for April 2025. Dr Terence Govender said his average monthly bill was R8 500. Image: Supplied A Reservoir Hills doctor has been left perplexed after receiving a R2.8 million utility bill from the eThekwini Municipality for April 2025. Doctor Terence Govender said his average monthly bill was R8 500 and was left bemused by his latest bill. For March, Govender was billed R2.7 million in total, which consists of rates R1 820, Water and Sanitation R1 276, and Cleansing and Solid Waste (CSW) R256. He was billed R2.3 million for electricity and R358 311 VAT. Govender's bill for April totalled R91 000. This included water R1 680, Electricity R55 000, CSW R256, interest on arrears R23 641, VAT R8 636. Govender's total bill for March and April amounted to R2.8 million. Govender said that after he had complained, an official came to his home and business to take down the readings. He said all the official said was he would look into it. "I have never been in arrears; I normally pay extra in some months to stay ahead. Some time ago, the bill came to R20 000, and I just paid it to avoid the long queues and nonsense you hear at call centres in the city. This time around, I will take them to task. On the bill, they also use threats of disconnection if you do not pay," Govender said. He blamed the municipality for what he called incompetent employees. He said that at first, he was seething with anger and stressed out, but then as the days passed, he began to laugh about it. Govender said he has generators and inverters at his home, but still pays a high bill. He said there were always prolonged electricity and water supply issues, but residents' bills remained the same monthly. Last week, he spent R3 500 on diesel to operate the generators during a power outage that lasted more than two days in Reservoir Hills. "I am not sure where they thumb sucked these figures from. What happens to those unsuspecting pensioners and other residents who are falling into this situation and making plans to pay off amounts like this? They force people to pay first and claim back later. Now they have pushed their luck and gone beyond. We will take them to court," Govender said. Reservoir Hills Ratepayers Association (RHRA) Director Yogesh Naidoo said, despite alerting the municipality to the problem in April, the RHRA did not receive any feedback. The RHRA raised the following concerns with the municipality: The electricity charge alone is R55 639.37 for a residential property, with no commercial operations or unusual usage patterns. The total arrears and monthly charges are unsubstantiated and continue to escalate with no proper reconciliation or supporting breakdown. Govender has previously attempted to resolve this issue with the Revenue Department without success or response. Naidoo said that the RHRA demand a comprehensive audit and itemised reconciliation of this account from January 2023 to April 2025. The RHRA called for: An immediate halt to interest and penalty accruals pending resolution of this dispute. A formal acknowledgment of this complaint and assignment of a reference number. Prevention of any termination or suspension of services to properties under Govender's property portfolio. Naidoo warned that if there was continued inaction, the RHRA would escalate the matter to the office of the Public Protector, the South African Human Rights Commission, National Energy Regulator of South Africa, and the Auditor-General of South Africa because "this is a clear case of administrative failure causing financial prejudice to a compliant ratepayer". According to the municipality's finance committee revenue management report for April 2025, household debt, which mainly includes individual/residential customer accounts, remains high at R25 billion, contributing to 75% of the total debtors. For January 2025, the city disconnected 704 electricity and 3 767 customers for water arrears, investigations, and tampering. The municipality was also concerned about the Suprema and Revenue Management System (RMS), which had not yet materialised, thus resulting in no proper data in place for customers who are part of the 80/20 electricity programme. The eThekwini finance committee also requested a report on the migration of the RMS and Suprema system at the next meeting. In January 2025, the city billed 926 282 accounts. In the report, some of the challenges the accounts management section faces were non-completion of monthly billing due to network and technical glitches. The municipal meter management services department is a combined meter reading for water and electricity, which was integrated into the revenue management unit in October 2024. The meter reading contract for electricity expired last year. The report stated that the procurement for external meter readers is under way. Attempts to get a comment from the municipality were unsuccessful at the time of publication. [email protected]
