Latest news with #R66
IOL News
6 days ago
- Business
- IOL News
GNU Extravagance Making a Mockery of Austerity Measures
Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivers opening remarks at a roundtable discussion with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) on March 19, 2025. For the past few days, there has been a war of words among different constituencies regarding Mashatile's expenses on international trips, says the writer. Image: GCIS Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu When Deputy President Paul Mashatile appeared before Parliament to answer questions as is required in terms of the Constitution, he found himself having to respond to questions which went beyond his political work but touched on issues related to the current state of the country's finances. Dr Teboko Letlape from ActionSA asked for a complete updated breakdown of all official travels by Mashatile since he assumed office on 3 July 2024. This included information about the purpose of each visit and whether it was justified or not; details about the countries visited; costs involved on each trip; the names and roles of each member of the delegation; and any additional costs on each trip. While this appeared to be a normal question-and-answer session which both the President and Deputy President must honour, the questions triggered a debate which has caught the attention of many South Africans. For the past few days, there has been a war of words among different constituencies regarding Mashatile's expenses on international trips. The bone of contention is about the amounts involved in these international trips which include countries such as Botswana, France, Ireland, Japan, United Kingdom, and Zimbabwe. For the Japan trip, one source placed the figure at a staggering R580 582. Responding to this figure, Mashatile's office released a statement on 10 June 2025 arguing that most of the figures (including this one) were blown out of proportion. The statement said that the cost for the Japan trip was less than R66 000. Among other things, the statement reminded the country that South Africa must strengthen relations with other countries. It also indicated that some of Mashatile's trips were undertaken following President Ramaphosa's decision to delegate him (Mashatile) while he was busy with other assignments. To take the nation into confidence, Mashatile's office provided what it called 'correct' figures and other related information. While the question from ActionSA was fair, and while the response from Mashatile's office was justifiable and necessary, the main question becomes: what should South Africans focus on beyond being fixated on the debatable numbers that have been presented by different stakeholders? 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 ✕ Ad Loading In addressing this question, we should not lose sight of the need for the executive members to execute their mandate. We should also not ignore the fact that it is important for our country to forge new relations while strengthening preexisting ones. Importantly, as part of multilateral institutions like G20 and others, South Africa must remain visible in the global arena. But, having said all that, there are many critical questions which have been invoked by the ongoing debate about Mashatile's international trips. The first question can be phrased as follows: given the country's economic situation, is it advisable for the executive to embark on too many trips which eat on the country's thin budget? A logical answer is an emphatic no! Any argument against too many trips should not be misconstrued to mean that there should be no international trip at all. Secondly, given the reasons provided by Mashatile's office, what is the role of South Africa's foreign missions or embassies? If our embassies have properly trained staff, can't they do some of the work which is done by the executive? In the same vein, given that most of the countries our executive visits have embassies with staff, is it not possible to use some of the staff members already stationed in those countries to assist our executive so that the delegation from South Africa could be trimmed to cut costs? In short, is there a return on investment when each member of the executive is accompanied by a big delegation? Is it wise for the South African government to equate itself with First World countries like America that can afford huge delegations? If the answer is in the negative, then we should cut the cloth according to our size. Another very critical question is about the political parties which were very critical of the ANC during their campaigns for the 2024 general election. What has become of their criticism? Have they suddenly lost voices? If they were critical of the ANC because they were listening to the cries of many South Africans, did they miraculously become 'deaf-mute' as soon as they signed the historic statement of intent which produced the multiparty coalition which is touted as the Government of National Unity (GNU)? The reality is that poverty is rife in South Africa. The high unemployment rate of 32.9 per cent is unacceptable. The high crime rate does not encourage foreign investment and tourism. Even continued inequality in the country is not something we can be proud of. To what extent has the coalition government assisted in changing this situation for the better? One glaring irony is that many of the ten political parties that are in a coalition were vocal about our bloated cabinet during their campaigns. Even the ANC was in favour of a reduced cabinet. Intriguingly, after the 2024 election, all of that changed. The seventh administration witnessed a bigger cabinet compared to that of the sixth administration. The mundane argument is that this was necessitated by the coalition government. But were politicians more concerned about cabinet positions than being MPs to serve the people?
IOL News
11-06-2025
- IOL News
SIU freezes Limpopo farm linked to R66 million lottery fraud scheme
The farm Portion 15 of Zandrivierspoort in Limpopo has been frozen by the Special Tribunal after the SIU linked its purchase to R66 million in misappropriated National Lotteries Commission funds meant for old age homes. Image: Pixabay / File The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has obtained a preservation order from the Special Tribunal to freeze immovable property following a sweeping investigation into the alleged looting of National Lotteries Commission (NLC) funds earmarked for the construction of old age homes. The order forms part of a broader crackdown on a complex web of corruption involving the hijacking of Non-Profit Organisations (NPOs), fabricated grant applications, and the diversion of public funds into private hands. SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the probe centred around three NPOs, Matieni Community Centre, Lethabong Old Age Home, and War Against Rape and Abuse (WAR RNA), which collectively received over R66 million in lottery grants 'under false pretences.' One of the central entities in the scheme is Matieni Community Centre, a defunct organisation that was allegedly fraudulently revived to secure funding from the NLC. 'The original members of Matieni Community Centre were unaware of the application, and the individuals listed on the NLC application were not legitimate members,' said Kganyago. Lethabong and WAR RNA were similarly compromised, with falsified documentation submitted by individuals who had no legal standing in the organisations. The SIU's findings paint a damning picture of how the R66 million in public funds were misused. Matieni alone received R23 million from the NLC. Of this, R5.975 million was transferred to the Mbidzo Development Programme, an entity linked to Collin Tshisimba, already implicated in other NLC fraud cases. A further R6.2 million was paid to Wa Rothe Construction. 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 ✕ Lethabong Old Age Home secured R20 million, with R15 million allegedly funneled into Mbidzo's account. WAR RNA also received R20 million, with R5 million redirected to Mbidzo. The investigation uncovered that Mbidzo, under Tshisimba's control, used the funds to pay attorneys for the purchase of a farm in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. The property was registered under Promise Kharivhe, Tshisimba's life partner. 'The order of the Special Tribunal is part of implementing SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by State institutions because of corruption or negligence,' Kganyago said. The preservation order is one of several legal remedies the SIU is pursuing under its statutory mandate. 'The SIU is empowered to institute a civil action in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to correct any wrongdoing uncovered during investigations caused by corruption, fraud, or maladministration,' Kganyago said. The SIU confirmed that any evidence pointing to criminal conduct has been referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action, in accordance with the Special Investigating Units and Special Tribunals Act 74 of 1996. IOL News
The Citizen
26-05-2025
- Health
- The Citizen
Hospital security bill soars to R2.5bn amid patient care crisis
The DA noted that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has voiced concern over soaring security costs at Gauteng public hospitals, which have skyrocketed from R655 million in 2022 to R2.54 billion in 2025 — nearly quadrupling in just three years. According to DA Gauteng Shadow Health MEC Jack Bloom, the rising security expenditure is diverting much-needed funds from critical healthcare services. 'This squeezes out money needed to improve patient care,' said Bloom in a statement on Monday. Multi-million rand contracts under scrutiny Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko revealed in a written reply to the provincial legislature that the increase is due to 'additional points of service provision' and higher rates regulated by the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA). However, Bloom questioned the justification, noting that PSIRA's annual rate increase stands at only 7.38%, far below the near six-fold rise in overall security spending. 'As a percentage of the total Gauteng health budget, security costs have gone up from 1.1% in 2022 to 3.8% of this year's allocation of R66 billion,' he pointed out. Security bills for major hospitals are among the highest. Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg, and Bertha Gxowa hospitals are paying R77 million, R72 million, and R26 million respectively to private security firms each year. In response to Bloom's inquiry, the department stated: 'The security assessment report conducted justifies the additional increase in the number of guards, and it is in line with the PSIRA rates.' ALSO READ: Mpumalanga primary school pupils treated for food poisoning after eating oranges Guards unpaid despite soaring costs Despite these massive outlays, some security workers are not being paid on time. At Tembisa Hospital, guards have gone on a go-slow, protesting after not being paid for three months. At George Mukhari Hospital, Mafoko Security Patrollers recently lost a court case over failing to pay provident fund contributions. Similar allegations have surfaced at Bertha Gxowa Hospital, where workers claim deductions are not reaching the required funds. Although the department insists it uses 'a monthly performance monitoring tool to ensure that security workers are paid on time and according to legislation,' Bloom said, 'this does not appear to be effective.' ALSO READ: Hospital horror: Cops in frantic search for two premature babies snatched from incubators Calls for accountability Bloom suspects widespread corruption. 'Many security companies seem to be grossly over-charging while underpaying their workers,' he said. The DA has vowed to continue pushing the provincial health department to review the escalating costs. 'Hospital patients suffer because of a lack of budget to fix staff shortages, long queues, and broken equipment,' Bloom warned. The Citizen has contacted the Gauteng Department of Health for further comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. NOW READ: Suspect allegedly confesses to Tembisa Hospital fire
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- General
- The Citizen
PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results: Tuesday, 20 May 2025
R66 million in jackpots are up for grabs! Here are your PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results for 20 May 2025. Get the PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results as soon as they are drawn on The Citizen, so you can rest easy and check your tickets with confidence. Estimated jackpots for Tuesday, 20 May 2025: PowerBall jackpot: R62 million guaranteed. PowerBall Plus jackpot: R4 million estimated. PowerBall and PowerBall Plus results for Tuesday, 20 May 2025: PowerBall: 00, 00, 00, 00, 00. Powerball: 00. PowerBall Plus: 00, 00, 00, 00, 00. Powerball: 00. The winning PowerBall numbers will appear after the draw. Usually within 10 minutes of the draw. You might need to refresh the page to see the updated results. While great care has been taken to ensure accuracy, The Citizen cannot take responsibility for any error in the PowerBall or PowerBall Plus results. We suggest verifying the numbers on the National Lottery website. How much does it cost to play PowerBall? Lottery outlets close at 8.30pm on the day of a draw, which happens at 9pm. The terms and conditions may differ from other service outlets. Visit for more information. You can find the historical winning numbers for PowerBall and Lotto draws here. How much does it cost to play PowerBall? PowerBall entries cost R5 per board including VAT. PowerBall Plus costs an additional R2.50 per board. You can also play PowerBall on selected banking apps (T's & C's apply). Visit and go to the How to Play section to find out more.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Robinson Helicopter Company Unveils New R66 Army Training Helicopter at 2025 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit
New Climb Higher Videos Detail Robinson's Contribution to "American-Made Readiness" and 'Pilots of Tomorrow' for the Future of Army Aviation Still from Climb Higher: "American-Made Readiness and Pilots of Tomorrow" TORRANCE, Calif. and NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 14, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world's leading manufacturer of light helicopters, unveiled the new R66 Army Training helicopter at the 2025 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit (Quad A) in Nashville, Tennessee in Booth #3216. As the only American-designed and manufactured helicopter in its class, the R66 offers a dependable and affordable training solution for the Army's IERW (Initial Entry Rotary Wing) program. The Robinson R66 helicopter offers significant advantages as the U.S. Army's next rotorcraft trainer. The R66 consistently has the lowest acquisition and lowest direct operating cost (DOC) and most advanced safety features in its class. Through vertically integrated manufacturing, more than 85% of all R66 parts are made in Robinson's Torrance, California manufacturing facility. This American-made philosophy ensures consistent parts availability and the highest part quality. Inside the aircraft, the R66 incorporates its signature instructor-friendly cyclic design, providing enhanced instructor oversight for improved control and safety in the learning environment. Designed for real-world training, the R66 exceeds demanding Army training requirements and ensures a smooth transfer of skills to operational environments. The integration of advanced Garmin G500H TXi and GTN750 avionics provides enhanced situational awareness and facilitates digital cockpit habit transfer. The intuitive powerplant, equipped with a power turbine governor and twist-grip throttle, simplifies engine management, crucial for effective training. The R66 helicopter also comes standard with an integrated 4k cockpit camera to further enhance safety and support ongoing training. 'The R66 embodies American-made readiness, built with reliability, quality, and durability at its core, and we are committed to providing seamless American-made support,' said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. 'Pilots worldwide learn critical power management skills and achieve true flight readiness in a Robinson aircraft. This foundation prepares them exceptionally well for future operational demands.' In conjunction with Quad A, Robinson Helicopter Company released the latest installment in its Climb Higher video series, "American-Made Readiness and Pilots of Tomorrow," featuring highly experienced, former Army aviators and Robinson pilots. These videos highlight their direct experience with Robinson helicopters and underscore the platform's effectiveness in preparing the Army's next generation of skilled aviators. The series offers compelling insights into the critical role Robinson aircraft play, from law enforcement missions to training thousands of pilots over the last half century. Visit Robinson Helicopter on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube for more. About Robinson Helicopter Company For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Company has been at the forefront of the helicopter industry by delivering safety-enhancing technologies, including OEM-designed crash-resistant fuel cells, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot systems, impact-resistant windshields, and NVG-compatible cockpits. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient helicopters in the industry. For additional information, visit Contacts: Robinson Helicopter Company Robyn E. Lee-Anne Aranda 310-539-0508 x294 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
