The new Passport and Travel Documents Act officially took effect from this morning.Under the new legislation, South Africans and foreign nationals...

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Great Britain’s Alistair Brownlee returned to the top of the World Triathlon London podium for the first time since scoring Olympic gold in Hyde Park in 2012. Spain’s Fernando Alarza made his way on the World Triathlon Series podium for the first, while France’s Vincent Luis took bronze in the men’s race.Â* In the women’s [...]US women sweep World Triathlon London is a post from: Time-to-Tri


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IRONMAN have announced that the 2017 IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championship triathlon will be held in the United States. Three cities, all of which currently host IRONMAN® or IRONMAN® 70.3® races, have been named as the finalists in the selection process – Chattanooga (Tennessee), Lake Placid (New York) and St. George (Utah). In addition, the 2017 [...]Ironman 70.3 Worlds returns to US in 2017 is a post from: Time-to-Tri


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Wednesday 26th may 2015, will go down as a big day for FIFA in history. On this day, some 18 persons were were indicted by US prosecutors. The persons are either involved in executive positions within FIFA or who were involved via Marketing Companies. Most of the charges related to racketeering, fraud and money laundering. [...]The FIFA crystal ball is a post from: Time-4-Sport


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Olympic gold medallists Alistair Brownlee (GBR) and Nicola Spirig (SUI) will make their 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series season debuts at the ITU… Time-to-Run – TRI Pre-event Gold medallists for ITU in Cape Town is a post from: Time-to-TriGold medallists for ITU in Cape Town is a post from: Time-to-Tri


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France swept the men’s Long Distance World Championships in Weihai with Bertrand Billard retaining his title as the fastest man across the 4km swim, 120km bike, 30km run course. Compatriots Sylvain Sudrie and Viennot Cyril joined him on the podium. “The organisation (of the race) is perfect,” Billard said. “I would like to thank the [...]France take Men Long Distance titles is a post from: Time-to-Tri


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London this weekend marks the sixth race and start to the European leg in the 2015 ITU World Triathlon Series. Serving as the host city for the… Time-to-Run – TRI Pre-event ITU World Triathlon Series on to London is a post from: Time-to-TriITU World Triathlon Series on to London is a post from: Time-to-Tri


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Police efforts to curb rhino poaching at the Kruger National Park continue to yield positive results.

Police arrested two suspected rhino poachers at Nyongane in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, in the early hours of this morning.

One suspect was found with five 458 PMP rifle rounds, four R5 rounds, two PMP 270 rounds, one PMP 71 MR7 round and an air rifle while his accomplice was found with a hunting rifle, one homemade silencer and a firearm barrel.

“The former suspect was charged with possession of a prohibited firearm whilst the latter was charged with illegal possession of ammunition. The duo were detained at Hazyview police cells and will appear in court soon,” Police spokesperson Colonel Vishnu Naidoo said.

Meanwhile, earlier this month two rhino poachers were sentenced by the Nelspruit Regional Court in Mpumalanga to 30 years imprisonment.

They were found guilty of illegal hunting of protected species in a national park, possession of an unlicenced firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm with the intention to commit a crime and trespassing in a national park.

Mozambican nationals Silver Tibane, 33, and Mucindi Abondi, 24, were arrested at the Tshokwane section of the Kruger National Park during Operation Rhino in October.

Field rangers had responded to gunshots that were heard in the section and managed to identify and apprehend the suspects during an investigation.

Tibane and Abondi were found in possession of a .375 hunting rifle, two .375 rounds, one .375 cartridge case, two rhino horns worth an estimated R500 000 and an axe. –SAnews.gov.za

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa says efforts to turn around the performance of the national carrier, South African Airways (SAA), has begun to bear fruit.

“The going concern status of the airline has been restored, costs have been reduced and operational efficiency is improving.

“We have confidence that the newly developed long term turnaround strategy will ensure that SAA continues to play a crucial role in facilitating commerce and tourism within our country and abroad,” said the Deputy President on Tuesday.

He was speaking during the Presidency Budget Vote in Parliament.

In December, President Jacob Zuma assigned Deputy President Ramaphosa to oversee the turnaround of SAA, the Post Office and Eskom – three critical state-owned companies that are drivers of the economy.

SAA was also transferred from the Department of Public Enterprises to National Treasury.

“We are also encouraged by progress at the South African Post Office, where the strategic turnaround plan has been finalised for submission to Cabinet,” said the Deputy President.

He said the administrator appointed by Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Siyabonga Cwele, last year has undertaken a thorough diagnostic review of the challenges at the Post Office, and a business model that is better suited to the changing postal services environment has been developed.

With regards to Eskom, progress has been made in the implementation of government’s plan to stabilise the utility.

The Deputy President said Eskom will regain its strength in the country's economy.

“As the supplier of around 95% of the country’s electricity, Eskom is critical to our economic growth and sustainability. As we are all acutely aware, the company has been experiencing severe generation constraints, exacerbated by significant operational and financial challenges,” he said.

The Deputy President added that the Presidency welcomes the appointment of Eskom Acting Chief Executive Brian Molefe. – SAnews.gov.za

Pretoria - The cost of living in the country's economic hub will rise substantially as of July 1.

Property rates will go up by 6%; refuse collection will surge by 8%; electricity will swell by 12.19%; and water and sewerage will rise by 14%.

This was announced by City of Johannesburg Member of the Mayoral Committee for Finance‚ Geoffrey Makhubo, on Tuesday during the City’s 2015-2016 Budget.

Detailing the tariffs, Makhubo said the property rates tariff increases of 6% are within the South African Reserve Bank inflation target range.

For the refuse removal services, which will increase by 8% for domestic, businesses and commercial customers, Makhobo said they were also cost-reflective to ensure adequate funding of Pikitup’s operations.

While the proposed average tariff increase for electricity of 12.19% is in line with the NERSA/Eskom proposed tariff increase.

“The message we want to convey to our residents is: the less electricity consumers use, the less they pay,” Makhubo said, committing to the roll out of prepaid and smart meters that will not only protect the City’s revenue streams but will also mitigate the impact of load shedding through the load limiting capabilities of the smart meters.

The roll out has however been met by resistance from residents in some parts of Soweto, such as Orlando and Protea who have taken to the streets in protest in recent weeks.

Makhubo however maintained that: “We want to emphasise the fact that water and electricity tariffs are largely ‘pass-through costs’, outside the control of the City as they are determined by external agencies”.

He said the municipality was aware that that there are many residents of Johannesburg who are concerned about the tariffs for electricity and water.

“We want to assure them that we empathise with their situation and share their concerns.

“At the same time we want to create greater awareness of the fact that consumers themselves can take steps within their own households to reduce their monthly bills.”

The City will also continue to work with customers on the most effective ways to manage their consumption of water and electricity to reduce their household costs.

Information on practical measures to lower consumption is already widely available from City Power, Joburg Water and Eskom, he said.

There are, however, a number of special stipulations within the City’s property rates policy which pertain to specific categories of property owners.

These include:

· The first R200 000 of the value of all residential property is exempted from rating.

· Pensioners with a gross monthly income of less than R7 850 get 100% rebates on property rates, while those with income higher than R7 850, but less than R13 457, qualify for a 50% rebate.

· Pensioners older than 70 years who own a house worth R2-million or less receive a 100% rebate on property rates.

· Child-headed households with property value not exceeding R2-million receive 100% rebate on property rates.

· All households within the City receive 6kl free water every month.

· A subsidised water tariff structure is in place for those on prepaid meters.

· A subsidised sanitation and sewerage tariff structure is applicable for those on prepaid meters.

· Residential properties valued at less than R200 000 receive free refuse removal service.

SAnews.gov.za