The Director of Batsha Ba Tiro Financial Management (Pty) LTD Marius Augustine Bocks (54) and his company (juristic person), pleaded guilty for Contravention of the Tax Administration Act. Bocks briefly appeared before the Kimberley Specialised Commercial Crime Court on 2 February 2024.
The Hawks spokesperson in Northern Cape, Warrant Officer Nomthandazo Mnisi said, during 2018 and 2019, Batsha Ba Tirong Financial Management Pty (LTD) t/a Batsha Ba Tirong Security Services submitted fraudulent IRP5 certificates to South African Revenue Service (SARS) claiming company income tax returns.
“The company had no employees and therefore was dormant under the tax period 2018/2019 for which it falsely claimed corporate income tax. The South African Revenue Service nearly suffered a total loss of R21 million.
“An intensive investigation by the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team led to the conviction and sentencing of the accused. Batsha Ba Tiro Financial Management was fined R200 000 00, whilst Bocks was sentenced to pay a fine of R600 000 or to face five years direct imprisonment,” she said.
Monna wa dingwaga di le 47 o latofadiwang ka go thuntsa lekgarebe la gagwe, Nde Emphukile (38), o tlhotse a tlhageletse kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno. Kabelo Mogongwa yo o lebaganeng le kgetsi ya polao, o buseditswe kwa ntlo-lefitshwaneng, mme kgetsi ya gagwe e buseditswe morago go fitlha di 12 Tlhakole 2024.
Go begwa fa Mogongwa le Empukile, ba ne ba dula botlhe kwa phaphosing e e hirilweng kwa motseng Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, moagisani wa monna o, o ile a tlhalosetsa sepodisi fa baratani ba, ba gorogile ka ura ya bongwe mo mosong, mme go ile ga tsoga kgakgauthano ma gareng ga bone.
“O kaile fa a utlwile modumo wa sethunya. Sepodisi se ile sa biletswa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme se ile sa fitlhela moswi mogare ga bophadiphadi jwa madi.
“Sepodisi se ile sa tlhoka gore ba shage burglars gore ba kgone go tsena mo ntlung. Molatofadiwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno,” Botma wa tlhalosa.
The South African U17 Women’s National Team lost 0-3 to Ethiopia away from home in the first leg of their 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifier out in Addis Ababa on Sunday afternoon. A 10th minute goal by Mahelet Mitiku managed to unsettle the South Africans and saw them struggling to get into the game, while two defensive errors allowed Hidat Kasu to score a brace in the 19th and 72nd minutes of the match.
The South Africans seemed a bit more settled in the second half, but failed to get into the final third of the Ethiopian box. Bantwana Bantwana Head coach, Nthabeleng “Dunga” Modiko, believes that her side still has a chance to redeem themselves, when the two sides meet again next 10 February 2024 for the second leg in South Africa.
“This was a lovely game to watch and congratulations to Ethiopia on the victory. We made mistakes that cost us the game, and we will go back home and work on those areas before next weekend’s match.
“The South African U17 Women’s National Team will travel back home tomorrow morning to continue preparations for the second leg. The second leg against Ethiopia will be played on Saturday 10 February 2024 at Lucas Moripe Stadium and kick off is scheduled for 3pm,” she said.
Last week, I launched the first export shipment of goods produced by South African companies destined for other African countries under the preferential trade provisions of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) from the Durban port.
We can expect many more products and many more shipments to follow as South African companies sell South African made goods into the massive African free trade area. Exports to AfCFTA countries already account for nearly a quarter of South Africa’s global exports. This figure will now increase quite dramatically.
South African companies have a great opportunity to take advantage of the AfCFTA by exporting their goods into the rest of the African continent. In order to take this great opportunity up, as a country we need to ensure that our products make it from the factory gate onto the ship and head towards their destinations with the least possible delay and at the lowest possible cost.
For some years now the efficiency and competitiveness of our ports and rail network have been in decline. In order to give our companies the ability to take up these export opportunities we need to fix our logistics architecture.
Transnet, which operates our ports and freight rail lines, has had to contend with severe challenges, including the effects of state capture, the impact of the COVID pandemic, natural disasters and rising levels of theft and vandalism of its infrastructure. As a result, the volume of goods transported on our rail network has decreased significantly, forcing more companies to use trucks and causing congestion on our roads.
Working together with the private sector, we are turning the situation around, guided by the Freight Logistics Roadmap that was crafted by Transnet, government and social partners. The roadmap outlines a clear set of actions to stabilise and improve Transnet’s performance in the short term and to fundamentally reform the logistics system in the long term.
To ensure this work receives dedicated attention, we established the National Logistics Crisis Committee (NLCC), which is chaired by the Presidency and brings together all of the relevant government departments to drive a coordinated response to the logistics challenges.
We have also established Corridor Recovery Teams which bring Transnet, the private sector and independent experts together to improve the performance of strategic rail and port corridors.
This single-minded approach to improving performance is already showing results. For example, the number of ships waiting to berth at the Port of Durban – which has experienced severe congestion in recent months – reduced from more than 60 ships in mid-November to just 12 ships at the end of January.
At the Port of Cape Town, which is preparing for the important fruit season, Transnet has deployed new leadership and is putting in place several measures to improve its capacity in the short term. Seven new cranes, which are used for moving and stacking containers, were delivered to the port last month, and the number of work shifts is being increased to improve vessel turnaround times.
In addition to these short-term measures, the Freight Logistics Roadmap includes far-reaching reforms to modernise our logistics system and enable much greater investment in infrastructure. These reforms will introduce private sector investment and competition in port and rail operations, improving efficiency and bringing down prices, while ensuring that infrastructure remains owned by the state.
A key milestone in this reform journey will be the implementation of ‘open access’ to the freight rail network, which will allow private rail operators to invest alongside Transnet Freight Rail for the first time.
Another key step is the introduction of strategic partnerships in container terminals, which will enable new investment to expand port capacity and upgrade equipment. Progress has already been made with the appointment by Transnet of an international container terminal operator for the Durban Pier 2 terminal. Transnet will retain 51% ownership of the terminal and no workers will lose their jobs once the partnership is established. The private partner will have full management responsibility for the terminal and will contribute both capital and expertise to improve its performance.
The process of reform takes time and there are no quick solutions to the challenges facing Transnet. However, the steps we are taking now will not only improve performance in the immediate term, but will also create a truly competitive and efficient system into the future.
This week’s Mining Indaba in Cape Town will showcase the enormous potential of the mining industry to drive economic growth and job creation. The actions underway to improve the logistics system will help us to unlock this potential, given that mining companies depend on the rail network and ports to compete in global markets.
From the work already underway, we have shown that it is possible to overcome the barriers to growth by working together in partnership. We are building momentum and have begun to see the results.
As more and more of our products leave our shores, whether to the African continent or other parts of the world, more companies will thrive, more investment will be made and more and more jobs will be created.
Monna wa dingwaga di le 47 o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno, morago ga dipego tsa gore o thuntsitse lekgarebe la gagwe, Nde Emphukile (38). Go begwa fa lekawana le lekgarebe la gagwe ba ne ba dula botlhe kwa phaphosing e e hirilweng kwa motseng Khibitswane, gaufi le Taung.
Go ya ka sebueledi sa sepodisi mo Bokone Bophirima, Mokaptein Aaftje Botma, moagisani wa monna o, o ile a tlhalosetsa sepodisi fa baratani ba, ba gorogile ka ura ya bongwe mo mosong, mme go ile ga tsoga kgakgauthano ma gareng ga bone.
“O kaile fa a utlwile modumo wa sethunya. Sepodisi se ile sa biletswa kwa lefelong la tiragalo, mme se ile sa fitlhela moswi mogare ga bophadiphadi jwa madi.
“Sepodisi se ile sa tlhoka gore ba shage burglars gore ba kgone go tsena mo ntlung. Molatofadiwa o ile a tshwarwa, mme o solofetswe go tlhagelela kwa kgotlhatshekelo ya Taung mo letsatsing la gompieno,”
A tavern owner (39) has been arrested for operating illegal liquor outlet on 1 February 2024. The police conducted an entrapment operation and during the search at the premises, the police found music equipment, pool games and liquor to the estimated value of R6150.
The ZF Mgcawu District police spokesperson, Sergeant Omphile Masegela said the Upington police received a tip-off about an alleged illegal liquor outlet operating in the Lambrechsdrift area.
“The police confiscated all the liquor and the owner was arrested. He was charged for Contravention of the Northern Cape Liquor Act. The suspect is expected to appear in court on 9 February 2024.
“The police sent a stern warning against illegal trading in liquor, including concoctions from different premises including tuck shops,” he said.
The police in Brits said they have found the missing Maryanne Venter (16) from Bokfontein, outside Brits. Venter went missing 2 February 2024. North West police spokesperson, Captain Aaftje Botma said a search was conducted in the surrounding areas, but that did not yield positive results.
“At the time of her disappearance, it cannot be confirmed what she was wearing. She has brown eyes, with a large built body, 1.58m in height with dark brown hair. Fortunately, she was found on Sunday.
TaungDailyNews 