Latest news with #SASSA
The Citizen
11 hours ago
- The Citizen
261 arrested in Tshwane crime crackdown
A total of 261 suspects have been arrested in a sweeping, high-impact crime-combating initiative led by police under the banner of Operation Shanela in the Tshwane District. The multidisciplinary operation, which focused on the Sinoville and Villieria policing precincts, was spearheaded by Tshwane District Commissioner Major-General Samuel Thine in collaboration with various law enforcement partners. The co-ordinated effort, executed on June 19, forms part of ongoing SAPS strategies to curb crime and enhance visibility in known hotspots. With intensified patrols, compliance inspections, and suspect tracing, law enforcement officers targeted criminal elements plaguing the northern parts of Tshwane. Police spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said the operation yielded significant results. He said of the 261 suspects arrested, 187 were apprehended through detective work. These arrests include seven suspects for murder, three for attempted murder, nine for armed robbery, 30 for assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, and six for rape. Van Dyk said road safety and immigration compliance were also in focus. A major roadblock, executed with support from tactical teams, led to the detention of 63 undocumented foreign nationals. The individuals are currently undergoing processing for possible court appearances and deportation. 'As part of proactive enforcement, 682 individuals and 306 vehicles were searched during the operation, with ownership of 14 vehicles verified. Officers also conducted patrols across 35 high-crime areas and premises, resulting in multiple arrests. 'One suspect was arrested for possession and dealing in dagga. Police recovered a shopping bag full of dagga, two compressed dagga balls, and 28 small bags of dagga, along with an undisclosed amount of cash,' said Van Dyk. He said another individual was taken into custody for possession of suspected stolen property. The suspect was found in possession of three TV sets, seven cellphones, two tablets, and two watches. He failed to provide a plausible explanation for the goods. Traffic law enforcement also formed a critical pillar of the operation. Tshwane traffic officers issued 160 AARTO infringement notices amounting to R72 600. Seven minibus taxis were impounded for various violations of the Road Traffic Act, and five pedestrians were fined for creating dangerous circumstances on the roads. Six premises were inspected, and two were shut down for failing to comply with the Liquor Act. Police confiscated over 127 litres of alcohol during the crackdown. Major-General Thine expressed appreciation for the dedication and co-operation of all SAPS members and stakeholders who participated in the operation. 'The collective efforts of our law enforcement family continue to bring tangible results in our fight against crime,' he said. ALSO READ: Collect your June SASSA grants from tomorrow 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 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 South African
a day ago
- Business
- The South African
Do you qualify for City Power's free electricity supply?
City Power Johannesburg has commenced with its Free Basic Electricity (FBE) programme, which is aimed at providing eligible customers with free electricity units each month. The programme was initiated in response to illegal connections and electricity theft, which caused network overloading. This resulted in a low rate of revenue collection, which was cited in the Auditor-General's recent report. The registration will commence on 17 June to 31 July 2025, where each customer will receive 50 kWh of electricity per month for free. City Power CEO, Tshifulano Mashava, said the programme is not only about addressing illegal connections, but it also aims to create greater access to electricity. 'Access to electricity is not a luxury, but a key feature required to support social and economic upliftment. This programme is not just about addressing the high levels of meter tampering and illegal connections; it's about restoring dignity by ensuring that there's greater access,' said Mashava. This initiative aims to bring customers back into the culture of paying for electricity services and curb illegal connections. If your meter has been damaged or tampered with, City Power will replace it free of charge. Additionally, beneficiaries will also be exempted from paying the R200 monthly surcharge. To qualify, you must be a South African citizen or permanent resident with a monthly income of less than R7 503 per month. Note that the qualifying amount to access the programme changes annually. Additionally, you must be the legal occupant(s) of the property to qualify. When registering, you will be required to bring supporting documents such as: Identification Document (ID) Proof of residence COJ rates Taxes Account Income Verification (SASSA card or Affidavit) People living with disabilities, senior citizens, unemployed persons, women and children and child-headed households. Mashava further stated that if beneficiaries can afford to pay but refuse to, they will be forced to remove their meters and other equipment. 'There is now no excuse. If you qualify, register and receive free basic electricity. If you can afford to pay and refuse, we will begin a mass disconnection initiative where we will be removing our meters and other equipment,' said Mashava. Customers can register for the FBE programme at different locations, including community-based pop-up registration stations, malls, taxi ranks, churches and SASSA pay points, City Power-led door-to-door campaigns and Imbizos. The team will also be available at the pop-up stands to assist. 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.
The South African
2 days ago
- Business
- The South African
South African economy failing behinds its counterparts
The South Africa economy would be R5-trillion better off if we'd simply kept pace with other emerging countries over the last 15 years. In the last decade and a half, the South African economy has grown at an average of 1% annually. However, other emerging counterparts have grown at 1.4% or higher. This damning data was revealed by Investec's Osagyefo Mazwai. 15 years of lost growth coincides with the South African economy plowing money in State-Owned Entities (SOEs) like Eskom, Transnet and the Post Office. 'It is our proposition that the South African economy is falling behind. Had it followed a more pragmatic approach, focusing on the structural enablers of the economy, the outcomes could be much better for society,' Mazwai said in a Daily Investor report. Likewise, the South African economy displays a stark dislocation in GDP per capita. Proving that, essentially, residents are worse off than they were in 2010. The government has been ineffectual in addressing poverty, unemployment and inequality. And, per capita, the rest of the world is 50% richer than the average South African. With more money to play with, many of the country's crippling debt issues could've been avoided. Image: File As such, Investec compared the South African economy to other emerging markets over the same period. Many emerging nations have been growing at upwards of 4.5% per year. 'Had we grown at 4.5%, our nominal GDP would have been just below R12 trillion. Compared this with the actual number, R7.5 trillion, which is 35% less,' explained Mazwai. This lack of economic growth cost government revenue R800 billion in 2024 alone. And remember that the 2025 Budget impasse squabbled over a mere R75 billion from proposed VAT increases. This is an insignificant amount when one considers how much more growth our emerging-market peers have to play with. In practical terms, Mazwai explains that the missing R5 trillion would have been enough to clear nearly all of the country's national debt. Should SASSA grants be given a re-think in light of this damning data? Image: File As such, finance experts point out that Eskom and Transnet's lacklustre performance is arguably the most significant factor impeding the South African economy. Eskom is R400 billion in debt. Transnet is R140 billion in debt. Likewise, South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) grants cost the fiscus around R265 billion annually. SASSA grants, while well-intentioned, breed an unhealthy dependency on the social welfare system, reducing employment. SASSA grant beneficiaries now number 45% of all residents, and five out of nine provinces have more SASSA recipients than salaried employees. 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.
The South African
6 days ago
- The South African
Beneficiaries struggle with SASSA grant identity verification
SASSA grant identity verification is once again under the spotlight in South Africa. Back in January, the High Court ruled it unconstitutional to withhold social welfare due to budget issues. As such, stringent new SASSA grant identity verification protocols were ruled 'exclusionary.' Nevertheless, this month saw the introduction of the latest SASSA biometric verification rules. Essentially, any new applicant for R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) must verify their identity online with a digital photo uploaded via a smartphone. This is to protect against fraud and grant corruption. If an ID has been used fraudulently (often by a third party), that person will be unable to access the SASSA system. Image: File However, civil society group, Black Sash, says it is receiving hundreds of calls weekly about failed SASSA grant identity verification, reports GroundUp . The organisation says the most common complaint they're discovering is that ID numbers have been fraudulently used by others and therefore are blocked by the agency. This is an issue long-identified by the South African Social Security Agency as potentially damaging to the efficacy of R370 SRD. As such, agency officials want to eventually make the non-permanent grant into a permanent basic income grant for the unemployed. Doing so will prevent millions of Rands wastage on policing identity theft and fraudulent grants. SASSA has said it is unaware of any biometric verification issues this month. Image: File Interestingly, Black Sash confirms that most of these SASSA grant identity verification issues come from people who have just turned 18. Likewise, other applicants struggls because they don't have smartphones or data. In turn, this makes it impossible to access the links sent by the agency. And calling the SASSA helpline leads nowhere either. However, even those with smartphones and access to data will struggle. SASSA beneficiaries who still only have a green ID book, have a higher chance of failing the SASSA grant identity verification. This is because there is no digital photo on file with the Department of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, SASSA says it is unaware of any problems with the latest SASSA grant identity verification initiative. SASSA has asked the National Treasury to extend SRD by two more years till it figures out how to work a basic income grant. Image: File Roughly nine-million people living near the poverty line apply for R370 SRD relief each month. Typically, those unable to complete SASSA grant identity verification must apply for a new smart ID card, until such time as the flagged account is fixed. This costs R140 for a replacement ID as well as transport and time. Clearly, the SASSA grant identity verification system was is unreliable. It's often offline, slow, with inoperable links, or unable to accurately confirm peoples' true identities. As such, Black Sash's suggests SASSA set up help desks at local offices where beneficiaries can be manually verified by staff, too. Thankfully, clients are now also able to collect SASSA SRD grants in-person at participating retailers. To do this, beneficiaries must show their ID and cellphone number linked to the SRD account. A message is then sent to that number for approval before the cash is withdrawn. 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.
The South African
13-06-2025
- The South African
Bail granted to fraud-accused Sassa employees
Ten suspended employees of the South African Social Security Agency have been granted bail by the Lenasia Magistrates' Court. This comes after 11 Sassa employees were arrested earlier this year, for allegedly defrauding the agency of over R4 million. 'The fourth accused, Ethiopian national Abenezer Tilahyn, was denied bail after the court ruled, he posed a flight risk,' said National Prosecuting Authority Spokesperson, Phindi Mjonondwane. The bail amounts granted to the accused 10 ranged from R10 000 to R30 000 each. The accused were also instructed to surrender their travel documents, as part of the bail conditions. Accused number one in the case is Shumani Khwerana. Together with his co-accused, they face multiple charges ranging from fraud, theft and cyber crime. According to the NPA, the suspended Sassa employees orchestrated a scheme where they created fake Sassa profiles that enabled them to fraudulently deposit and withdraw monies from various SASSA pay points. Prior to the court granting the accused bail, their affidavits from the investigating officer, Constable Manana, and two affidavits from Mazimela Kubeka, a senior internal investigator at SASSA, were reviewed. Mjonondwane said, 'These documents outlined how the accused were implicated in the alleged crimes. The court found no evidence that the ten accused, excluding Tilahyn, were flight risks or that they would interfere with evidence or the investigation. As a precaution, the court prohibited the accused from interfering with the ongoing investigation or any state witnesses. 'The National Prosecuting Authority respects the court's ruling, which marks only a stage in the legal process,' said Mjonondwane. She vowed that the court's ruling would not deter the NPA's commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency within the public sector. The matter has been postponed to 2 September 2025 for further investigation. SASSA also confirmed that the implicated employees no longer had access to any of its systems. 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.
