KASI BC AFRICA

GAUTENG SPORT AWARDS (GSA) AS CLOSING DATE LOOMS   The 2023/24 year has witnessed outstanding sporting achievements by South African teams and athletes, many of whom are based in Gauteng. Events such as the recent Olympics, the Under 20 World Athletics Championships, the Rugby World Cup, the Netball World Cup, and football have brought joy and hope to many South Africans, showcasing success in both the field and administration of various sports. With only 09 days to go before the close of nominations for the 20204 Gauteng Sport Awards (GSA) nominees, the organisers of the Awards are calling for the public to finalise their submissions before closing day. Sports fans, federations, clubs and everybody are permitted to submit their nominations. Nominations should be based on achievements between August 1, 2023, and September 15, 2024, for Gauteng-based athletes, teams, clubs, and more.  There are 20 unchanged awards categories from previous years including; Sportsperson o...

MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AMONGST TEACHERS @KASIBCNEWS    The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) notes, with concern, the escalating mental health crisis among South Africa’s teachers. Our educators, the backbone of our nation’s future, are being overwhelmed by unbearable workloads, compounded by budget cuts that have left our classrooms understaffed. A recent study revealed that an overwhelming majority of teachers surveyed are in dire need of crisis intervention, including hotlines, counselling, and mentorship.  The mental health toll on our teachers is a silent epidemic—one that is being ignored by a government that has cut funding for education at a time when our children need it most. In Gauteng alone, teachers are occupying more than half the beds in wellness centres due to stress-related issues, while teachers in KwaZulu-Natal are relying on anti-depressants just to cope with the demands of their profession. As more teachers leave the profession due to burnout and...

  PARLIAMENT  DEBATE ON THE PROPOSED ELECTRICITY  TARIFF INCREASES @KASIBCNEWS South Africans are a resilient people, and whilst we understand and even empathise with the current cost of living expenses that we are all experiencing, we find ourselves at a crossroads in so far as the recent decision by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to grant Eskom’s application to retrospectively recover R8 billion for the 2021/2022 financial year. The debate today to discuss this crucial matter in Parliament is unfortunately not  one the ANC relishes, as we understand the gravity of the situation and why it is imperative for this tariff increase to be effected. NERSA is the regulatory authority of the energy sector in South Africa and its mandate includes the regulation of the electricity supply industry. and thus, this Energy Regulator must regulate electricity prices and tariffs. In other words, its applicable by law that NERSA determines the tariffs that Esk...

MOTHER BREATHES SIGH OF RELIEF AS SON IS ADMITTED TO REHABILITATION CENTRE Jane Mtshwane, a resident of Ekangala, expressed her gratitude after her 39-year-old son was admitted for treatment at the Dr Fabian andFlorence Ribeiro Treatment Centre in Cullinan today. "As a family, we are relieved and grateful that my son got this opportunity. From my interaction with the staff, I feel confident that he’s in the right place to turn his life around", said Mshwane, as this marked a new beginning for his son, and is looking forward to the programme impacting his son and family positively. He son is amongst a group of individuals who were admitted today at the Dr Fabian and Florence Ribeiro Treatment Centre, which is 100% run by the Gauteng Department of Social Development. The youngest admission today was a 14-year-old boy. The admitted substance users, who are seeking support in their battle against drug addiction, represent a critical step in the Department’s ongoing efforts to p...

  Ekurhuleni’s Fight going to Parliament  The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ekurhuleni is deeply concerned with the ongoing energy and water crises, particularly in Germiston, and has taken the fight for Ekurhuleni’s residents to Parliament. It has become clear that the city's electricity and water department is failing, with days of outages and no commitment from the Mayor to resolve the crisis. Some of the issues the municipality faces are: - Crippling staff shortages; - An inadequate maintenance budget; - Standby teams lack vehicles; - There is no funding available for essential repairs; and - Operating with staff levels of under 70%, while the metro welcomes new residents daily. Residents, pushed to breaking point, are threatening rates boycotts. Last week, the Mayor called a public meeting in Germiston's Ward 39 to address these concerns, but failed to attend, leaving the community deeply frustrated. Tempers flared, leading to a physical altercations and public representati...

BRANDWAG SOCIAL HOUSING (BSH) PROJECT In August, 12 2024 Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA) issued a notice to all BSH tenants (occupiers), notably the notice sought to regularise tenants occupancy before and/or by September, 11 2024 in terms of Reg 9(2) of the Social housing regulations, and failure to do so, tenants were to voluntarily evacuate (vacate) the BSH unit on and/or by September, 25 2024.  Thus, can be interpreted that SHRA was to issue, an inspection notice and solicit police assistance as contemplated in Reg 30 of the social housing regulations, at least after the tenancy audit notice expires on September, 25 2024.  However, Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality City Manager Sello More and Executive Mayor Gregory Nthatisi undermined SHRA tenancy audit by issuing another Regularisation Notice on its official Facebook page, that sought to do Door- to -Door tenancy audit (verification), starting on September, 09 2024, two (2) days before the expiry of SHRA tena...

  COJ ( CITY OF JOBURG  ) aggressive Cut-Of Operation to collect R1 Billion from Defaulters The City is set to aggressively collect R1billion from high defaulters in September 2024 as part of revenue collection.  Kgamanyane Maphologela, Director for Communications and Stakeholder Management, says the City is going after various categories of customers with huge municipal debt.  Among those targeted include directors of companies whose companies are contracted to the City as service providers, properties where the City pays rental and landlords owe the City municipal services, customers who sell and buy properties but owe the City, customers who are currently objecting or appealing the new values of their properties but have not paid the new increases, vacant land properties in arrears, equestrian properties, sectional tittle properties, property owners with debit  orders in which the City will deduct money from customers with credit or refund to settle the debt ...