Latest news with #Steffens
The Citizen
5 days ago
- The Citizen
Police probe Ballito robbery after man held at gunpoint
A Ballito homeowner was held at gunpoint during an early morning home invasion yesterday in what authorities describe as a brazen robbery on Minerva Road South. The North Coast Courier reports that, according to Umhlali SAPS, three unidentified men, one reportedly armed with a pistol, entered the property at around 03:00. The robbers allegedly gained access through a sliding door that had been left open, surprising the homeowner who was working on his computer in the lounge at the time. The armed thief reportedly pointed the firearm at the homeowner and forced him to lie on the floor while the other two thieves ransacked the home. Numerous high-value items were allegedly stolen. In a possible lead for investigators, a power bank believed to belong to one of the robbers was left behind at the scene. The item has been retained by police for fingerprint analysis. No injuries or property damage were reported and no shots were fired. Emergency services and police responded promptly. This incident follows a similar non-violent break-in on Marion Road North on Saturday, between 20:00 and 21:00. In that case, a thief entered through a side sliding door while the homeowners were on the patio, stealing a wallet and a laptop without being noticed. CCTV footage from the Marion Road incident revealed a robber wearing Adidas shoes similar to those seen in previous cases. However, police noted a different modus operandi in the two incidents. Ballito Neighbourhood Watch chairperson Morné Steffens confirmed a recent rise in burglaries and attempted break-ins in the area. 'We are very fortunate here with crime usually at a minimum. It's been blissfully quiet, until now,' said Steffens. He urged residents to remain vigilant, secure all entry points and report suspicious activity immediately. Anyone with information is asked to contact Umhlali SAPS or the Ballito Neighbourhood Watch at Breaking news at your fingertips… Follow Caxton Network News on Facebook and join our WhatsApp channel. Nuus wat saakmaak. Volg Caxton Netwerk-nuus op Facebook en sluit aan by ons WhatsApp-kanaal. Read original story on At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Tshwane cleansing levy 'unfair double tax on residents', AfriForum
The Tshwane council, which passed its annual budget for the 2025/2026 financial year last month, approved the levy. Civil rights organisation AfriForum says the implementation of the new city cleaning levy would result in an 'unfair double tax on residents'. The lobby group is set to take the Tshwane Municipality to court to challenge the implementation of the new city cleaning levy. The Tshwane council, which passed its annual budget for the 2025/2026 financial year last month, included the introduction of an additional monthly charge to residents using private waste collection services. Cleaning levy A monthly levy of approximately R200 is expected to be imposed on all properties that do not currently utilise the metro's refuse removal service, effective 1 July. ALSO READ: Proposed cleaning levy sparks legal challenge in Tshwane Last week, AfriForum, through its legal team, requested the metro to halt the levy pending the formulation of an alternative agreement or until the legal proceedings are concluded. Legal action AfriForum's advisor for local government affairs, Deidré Steffens, said they want the new city cleaning levy reviewed. 'We approached the metro shortly after the council announced the plans for the levy in March this year and stressed that implementing it would result in an unfair double tax. We gave the metro the opportunity to rectify the matter, but now, due to the metro's failure to respond, we have no choice but to approach the court to have the decision reviewed. 'The levy is presented as a so-called service-related fee. However, it is in reality an additional tax that owners must pay on top of the existing property tax that is used to finance non-revenue-generating services, such as street and neighbourhood cleaning,' Steffens said. 'Punishing residents' AfriForum argues that the levy is not based on the level of usage as required by Section 74(2)(b) of the Local Government: Municipal Systems Act. The organisation further points out that the levy unfairly targets residents and businesses that do not use the municipal refuse collection service due to the metro's inefficient service delivery. AfriForum's district coordinator for Pretoria South, Arno Roodt, maintains that the metro wants to 'punish residents for its inability to balance the city's budget. 'Rather than addressing the underlying causes of budget deficits, the metro is simply shifting the burden onto taxpayers, especially those who do not make use of the metro's inefficient service'. Roodt added that AfriForum has submitted numerous proposals to the metro, suggesting ways to generate additional revenue based on actual usage, 'but the metro has turned a deaf ear to this.' NOW READ: Pretoria High Court plunged into darkness after power outage
The Citizen
20-05-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Proposed cleaning levy sparks legal challenge in Tshwane
AfriForum is challenging Tshwane's proposed R200 city cleaning levy, calling it unconstitutional and unfair. Tshwane Deputy Mayor Eugene Modise poses for a photograph at Tshwane House, 20 November 2024, following an interview with The Citizen. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen AfriForum has started legal action against the City of Tshwane to obtain clarification on the implementation of the proposed environmental, or city cleaning levy announced in the budget speech. Last week, the deputy mayor, MMC of finance Eugene Modise, announced the city's plans to implement the levy of approximately R200 per month from 1 July for all properties without a municipal waste account. AfriForum's local government affairs advisor Deidré Steffens said they submitted a request to obtain clarification on the city's plans regarding the levy in April, but received no reply. AfriForum submit to request clarification on levy plan 'On 24 April, AfriForum submitted its comments on the city's draft medium-term revenue and expenditure framework (MTREF) in which the levy was announced. 'Our legal team has made it clear that the draft MTREF containing details of the proposed levy contains material contradictions and gives excessive discretionary power to the municipal manager in the application of the levy. This creates unacceptable scope for abuse and arbitrary application,' she said. ALSO READ: Tshwane's R54.6bn budget draws mixed reactions According to Steffens, the implementation of the proposed levy would be contrary to Section 74(2) of the Local Government Municipal Systems Act, which requires that tariffs reflect the actual use of services and be applied fairly. Steffens said although the constitution required municipalities to promote the social and economic development of communities in their budgeting processes, this was not the case with the implementation of the levy. 'A non-revenue-generating service, such as a cleansing levy, is traditionally financed by property rates and if the city were to proceed with the proposed implementation of this levy, it would amount to double taxation. Cleansing levy traditionally financed by property rates 'It is unacceptable that a service that should be funded by property taxes is now being repackaged as a new levy, presumably to cover the metro's budget deficits. 'This is a blatant attempt to milk more revenue from already overtaxed residents,' she said. ALSO READ: Millions needed to fix Tshwane sinkholes AfriForum was prepared to approach the court if the city failed to provide the information by the deadline, Steffens said. Republican Conference of Tshwane councillor Lex Middelberg said the levy was a reintroduction of a similar city cleaning levy that was introduced in the 2017-8 MTREF but then abandoned. 'This cleaning levy is unconstitutional. The city conceded this and abandoned the cleaning levy in later MTREFs after the issue was raised by the Tshwane Money Matters Caucus in November 2017 with your predecessor in office at the time, with the minister of finance, the AGSA and the MEC for local government,' he said. Not a tariff for services rendered Middelberg said the cleaning levy was not a tariff for services rendered, but by its own definition an arbitrary tax raised on persons who do not consume the service. 'The cleaning levy is not raised to render a service, but to bulk up the city's coffers with additional revenue to be applied for other purposes than to clean the city,' he said. ALSO READ: Tshwane mayor faces outrage for Weskoppies Hospital power cut Tshwane's DA spokesperson for finance Jacqui Uys said they were also against the levies. Uys said the current waste collection in the city could cost residents up to 10% of their salaries. 'Instead of assisting poor households who cannot afford almost R500 per month for waste removal, the ANC-led City of Tshwane has opted to introduce a punitive tax of almost R200 on these households if they choose not to use the city's services,' she said. DA raises concerns 'The DA has also raised concerns about the newly introduced waste levy in the draft budget.' Uys said the intention of the new levy was not to ensure a cleaner city, but rather the introduction of yet another tax to use the residents of Tshwane as a stopgap to improve the city's financial position. NOW READ: Tshwane mayor under fire for downplaying pothole crisis
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Utah man identified as driver in fatal single-car crash in Nevada
ELKO, Nevada () — A Utah man died in a car crash in Nevada over the weekend, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP). Aaron Steffens, 42, of Salt Lake City, was identified as the driver, and he suffered fatal injuries after reportedly crashing his grey 2001 Ford Mustang coupe. 'The driver of the Mustang input steering to the left and the vehicle rotated in a counterclockwise direction,' NHP said in a press release. 'The Mustang traveled off the roadway and into the center median where it overturned.' Fatal crash in Midvale, motorcycle engulfed in flames Officials said Steffens was traveling east on I-80 at the time of the crash. Troopers with NHP responded to the crash just after 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 26. NHP reported that it has investigated seven fatal crashes so far this year, which have resulted in eight deaths. There is no further information at this time. Alleged hit-and-run driver turns himself in after injuring 77-year-old woman in Roy Hiker life-flighted out of American Fork Canyon Utah man identified as driver in fatal single-car crash in Nevada Palestinian student Mohsen Mahdawi's release offers hope amid Trump crackdown Layton man charged for operating an illegal THC cartridge lab out of his home Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Gas leak causes explosion, evacuation around downtown Hutchinson, chief says
Hutchinson officials evacuated several blocks near and around downtown after a gas leak caused an explosion Saturday at a longtime auto parts store, according to fire chief Steven Beer. Firefighters were called at 9:26 a.m. about a gas odor at Steffens Auto Parts, 428 S. Main. It's an odorized gas, Beer said. 'Upon arrival crews witnessed the building exploded,' Beer said in a news release just after 1 p.m. 'Everyone in the structure got out. This fire is a gas fed fire through a (10-inch) natural gas line. The main body of fire at (the auto parts store) has been controlled however the street and sidewalk remains on fire due to the gas leak. Crews went to a defensive operation using unmanned freestreams.' Video and photos online show several water lines all going to fight the fire. One person said on Facebook that her family member, owner Darin Clifford, 'evacuated just before it blew up.' The city of Hutchinson said at around 11:50 a.m. that, because of 'a large fire in the downtown area,' it was evacuating Avenue A to Avenue F and Plum to Adams. That area could be expanded, Beer said. 'All residents and businesses within these boundaries are urged to evacuate immediately for their safety,' the city said on Facebook. Tony Hernandez, who shot video of the fire, said he could smell gas and could see a gas line burning in front of the store. The Hutchinson man said it smelled like propane. Eldon 'Butch' Steffens opened Steffens Auto Parts in 1968. Darin Clifford, who started working at Steffens in 1980, purchased the business in 1997 when Butch retired, according to the Hutchinson News. This is a breaking news story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
