NeIlScOtt24
Social Development gazettes new amounts
All good for grant payments
The Department of Social Development has gazetted the new social grants amounts effective 1 April 2025.
The new amounts, as per the gazette, are:
Older persons grant: R2310
Older persons grant 75 years plus (additional payment): R2310 + R20
War veterans’ grant (including additional payment): R2310 + R20
Disability grant: R2310
Care dependency grant: R2310
Foster child grant: R1250
Child support grant: R560
Child support grant (Top-Up): R560 + R280
Grant-in-Aid: R560 – Source: SAnews.gov.za
Free vehicle testing for long distance operators
Good news for drivers
THERE is some fantastic news for long distance transport operators in Cape Town just before Easter.
Operation Exodus will be making a return to facilitate free vehicle safety checks from Friday, 11 April 2025 until Thursday, 17 April 2025 to long-distance operators before they leave Cape Town.
Where defects are detected, drivers are informed and advised to attend to the issue. They are able to have the vehicle retested afterwards.
“Ensuring your vehicle is roadworthy before taking any trip, especially over peak times and popular travel holidays like Easter, can help identify critical issues and save lives. Vehicle fitness is crucial, along with responsible driving behaviour.
“The vehicle checks are free and will only cost you some time to get it done. We want to make sure everyone gets where they want to be safely and back again,” said Cape Town Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
Operation Exodus venues are Joe Gqabi, Bellville, Cape Town station and the Intercape Bus Depot.
Good news as nearly 90 000 want to register
Half a Billion for spaza shops
THE South African government has received nearly 90 000 applications from owners to register their spaza shops.
The Minister of Small Business Development, Stella Ndabeni, announced on 9 April 2025 that the government is willing to assist South African-owned spaza shops and at the same time launched a R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund (SSSF.
Registered spaza shops will get help
With the recent drive to have spaza shops registered, the government has received 87 407 applications and of these, a total 53% is from South African-owned spaza shops.
“Our commitment with this fund is to support those who heeded the President’s call to register their spaza shops. As the Department of Small Business Development (DSBD), we can help you when you have an idea and want to start a business.
“We have incubators that help new and startup businesses. We can help you from being an informal trader to a formal trader, to start a spaza shop and to own a wholesale or an entire distribution channel. We will be working with you to help you to turn things around,” said Ndabeni.
The fund will be rolled out nationally to impact spaza shops across all major townships, as well as rural areas.
To access the funding, applicants need to apply to the National Empowerment Fund (NEF) and the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEFDA) through the prescribed application process outlined on the relevant institution’s website.
The following website can be used to apply for funding: www.spazashopfund.co.za
The contact details for the Spaza Shop Support Fund call centre are 01 1 305 8080 or via email: Spazafund@nefcorp.co.za.
Contact details for the NEF call centre are 0861 843633, SEDFA call centre 012 748 9600 or an email can be sent to helpline@sefa.org.za. Source: SAnews.gov.za
Effort raises over R200 000 for vital service
‘Insane’ firefighters
THE brave firefighters who took in the challenge of the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon on Sunday, 6 April have so far raised a staggering R226 000 for the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).
City of Cape Town firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan completed the race in full firefighting gear and their feat was described as INSANE by the City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith.
They were joined by VWS firefighters. Liam Gannon and Thomas Lennon.
“The VWS is an incredible organization that relies on volunteer members who risk their lives to combat wildfires. When disaster strikes, VWS volunteers spring into action, providing critical support to contain runaway veld fires.
“To ensure VWS can continue their vital work, they need our financial support. That’s where you come in, Cape Town,” said Smith.
The firefighters who conquered the half marathon in full firefighting gear, including breathing apparatus and oxygen tanks, are asking people to donate just R21 towards for a much-needed vehicle replacement.
Visit www.vws.org.za to learn how to contribute.
“Let’s rally behind these heroes and help protect our beloved city’s natural beauty!” Sources: www.vws.org.za and JP Smith via Facebook
Mayor finally hands over Civic Honours Scroll
Butler gets his award
NEARLY two years after being awarded Civic Honours by the City of Cape Town, South African jazz legend, Jonathan Butler, has finally received his award in person.
In December 2023 Butler was among a group of worthy South Africans who received Civic Honours for the role they played in society. The official ceremony was held at the City of Cape Town Council Chambers.
However, Butler was in California at the time and did not attend the ceremony.
On 28 March 2025 Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, handed over the Civic Honours scroll and award to Butler who was in his town of birth for a visit.
At the time of handing out the awards in 2023, Hill-Lewis said: “Today is about recognising the contributions of some truly remarkable people and to reflect on their achievements and the impact they’ve made in society. We express our deepest admiration and gratitude to them all.”
Young woman invades field of males
Her dreams are on track
Portia Maposse is a young black woman who is gradually invading a traditionally male-dominated field.
The 25-year-old is a systems engineer at the Gibela Rail Transport Consortium in Nigel, Gauteng. Gibela is a black economic empowerment (BEE) rail transport consortium comprising Alstom and uBumbano Rail.
It was established in 2013, as a ring-fenced company to build new trains for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA). This contract is meant to deliver 600 trainsets to PRASA and provide technical support and related services.
She joined Gibela in 2023 as a process manufacturing engineering intern and worked her way up to becoming a systems engineer in 2024, bringing her dream to fruition.
“The journey started at the technical high school I attended where I chose the mechanical technology stream. Then at the University of South Africa (UNISA) I pursued Mechanical Engineering,” she told SAnews.
SAnews visited the consortium’s train manufacturing facility in Dunnottor, Nigel, in celebration of the Decade of the Artisan with special focus on female artisans.
According to the Department of Higher Education and Training, the campaign aims to encourage more young people (high school learners and unemployed youth) to see artisanship as a career of choice.
Asked about her feelings in working in what is considered a male-dominated industry, she said: “Women are now leading in the industry. Always keep in mind that results matter and that women are more powerful.”
Gibela has a staff compliment of over 1 200 with women making 43% of the workforce. – Source SAnews.gov.za
Bust nets R50-million worth of Tik
Cops achieve major success
THE confiscation of crystal meth worth R50-million and smashing a major hijacking syndicate are just two of the recent successes of the SA Police Service’s (SAPS) Operation Shanela.
In the past week 13 633 suspects were arrested through this multidisciplinary operation.
“With high visibility patrols, stop and searches and the tracing of wanted suspects, we are hard at work in stamping the authority of the state,” SAPS said in a statement.
During a massive drug bust R50-million worth of crystal meth, more commonly known as Tik, were confiscated in Aliwal North in the Eastern Cape.
Another major success was the interception of a truck and car hijacking syndicate in which four suspects were arrested. In this case, numerous truck trailers, vehicle parts, heavy-duty machinery, forklifts, and copper plates all valued at R10 million were discovered at a farm in Ventersdorp in the North West.
In other arrests across the country a total of 137 suspects were arrested for murder, with the majority of these in KwaZulu-Natal (32).
Additionally, 259 suspects were arrested for rape, 95 of the arrests were made in KwaZulu-Natal and 220 drug dealers were arrested in the past week with the majority of these in the Western Cape (57).
The police also recovered 131 firearms and 1510 rounds of ammunition.
Additionally, a joint operation conducted by Gauteng Counterfeit Unit, Vispol, Commercial Crime unit, Brand Protectors, and border police resulted in the seizure of counterfeit and illicit goods including clothing, consumables, toys and cellphone accessories worth over R35 million. – Source: SAnews.gov.za
Firefighters do it in full gear
A run for your money
THEY will be fighting fire with fire on Sunday, 6 April.
Four brave firefighters and a former rugby star will be taking on the Totalsports Two Oceans Half Marathon on Sunday to raise much needed funds for the Volunteer Wildfire Services (VWS).
City of Cape Town firefighters Jermaine Carelse and Renaldo Duncan and their counterparts from VWS, Liam Gannon and Thomas Lennon, will be joined by South African rugby legend James Dalton when they take on this year’s half marathon year’s. Their aim is to raise at least R500 000.
The City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Safety and Security, JP Smith, said the Table Mountain National Park (TMNP) and SANParks firefighting teams work tirelessly to preserve the TMNP, while the municipality’s Fire & Rescue teams lend a helping hand when wildfires threaten the coastline.
“However, we couldn’t do it without the selfless efforts of the VWS. This incredible organization relies on volunteer members who risk their lives to combat wildfires. When disaster strikes, VWS volunteers spring into action, providing critical support to contain runaway veld fires.
“To ensure VWS can continue their vital work, they need our financial support. That’s where you come in, Cape Town,” said Smith.
The firefighters will be taking on the half marathon in full firefighting gear, including breathing apparatus and oxygen tanks! To support VWS, they’re asking people to donate just R21 towards a much-needed vehicle replacement.
Visit www.vws.org.za to learn how to contribute.
“Let’s rally behind these heroes and help protect our beloved city’s natural beauty!” Sources: www.vws.org.za and JP Smith via Facebook
SARS is a 'national treasure'
Record revenue for SA
A NATIONAL TREASURE.
This is how the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service (SARS), Edward Kieswetter, described the organisation at a media briefing on Tuesday, 1 April.
Kieswetter announced during the briefing a preliminary gross revenue collection of some R2.3 trillion as at the end of March, representing a year-on-year growth of 6.9%.
Preliminary net revenue results totalled R1.855 trillion with refunds totalling some R447.7 billion.
“Net revenue of R1.8551 trillion is a growth of R114 billion higher, a growth of 6.6% against the prior year and exceeds the revised estimate by R8.8 billion. Which is, we believe in the current environment, a very credible outcome delivered by SARS,” he said.
Kieswetter emphasised that the results are due to the diligent work delivered by the revenue services’ 13 000 workers.
The Commissioner described the revenue service as a “national treasure” in making sure that South Africa’s democracy is funded. – Source: SAnews.gov.za
Bur Grade 7 learners remain a concern
School applications roll in
WITH the applications-window for school enrolment now at its halfway point, 116 466 learners have already applied at schools in the Western Cape.
But there is some concern, because at this point the parents of over 33 000 learners currently in Grade 7 in the Western Cape have not yet applied for a place in Grade 8 for 2026, according to the Western Cape Education Department (WCED).
The WCED said primary schools have been asked to contact the parents to remind them to apply. Schools were also asked to add a note about applications to their end-of-term communications to parents last week.
“We appeal to these parents to apply before the admissions window for 2026 closes on 15 April 2025. They can do so online, at their district office, or at one of our pop-up admissions sites for in-person assistance. We encourage parents to bring all the necessary supporting documentation with them when seeking assistance in person.
“The admissions system, as well as background information and step-by-step guides on how to apply, are available here: https://www.westerncape.gov.za/education/service/learner-admissions
“As of 28 March 2025, we have already received Grade R, 1 or 8 applications for116 466 learners and we thank their parents for making sure that they have applied on time,” said the WCED