Joslin Smith a young girl from Saldhana is still missing, she was last seen on Monday at 5pm near Diazville Clinic in Saldhana with an unknown boy. The community is calling for citizens to join the search. The police are investigating the matter and are following up with every piece of information that comes through. She is a 7-year-old girl, with curly hair, she was last seen wearing a light blue T-shirt and denim shorts. If you know of Joslin Smith’s whereabouts or have any information contact Saldhana SAPS at 022 714 8333 or Missing Children South Africa on 072 647 7464.
Criminologist and National Coordinator at Missing Children South Africa (MCSA), Bianca van Aswegen says that the fact that children go missing each year is a real and present danger. As an organisation, they feel it is necessary to ensure that the citizens of South Africa are aware of this threat to the safety of all their children. 2022 revealed that at least one child is reported missing every five hours in South Africa. A more concerning fact is that child kidnapping, abductions and human trafficking has increased each day and this is very concerning.
The central train line is in for an upgrade says the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa – Prasa. There was a delay in the renovation because 884 families had built shacks on the railway lines in Philippi. The homeless people have been moved to the Stock Road Transport Interchange. Prasa spokesperson Andiswa Makanda says that work has now started to recover the infrastructure from Nyanga to Chris Hani. The temporary relocation is part of a broader initiative to permanently relocate the 5 195 illegal dwellers along the Central Line.
Mitchells Plain councillor Elton-Enrique Jansen says that this move is not the best idea because there are no schools or public transport where they will be moved to. Moving the squatters to the Philippi wedge has another issue, there are no amenities there. There will be another informal settlement next to two informal settlements where there are no services and where they can’t render services because it will be on private land.
While delivering the 2024 National Budget Speech Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana addressed the issues of the current economy as well as the plans to grow the economy, South Africa’s massive debt, which is estimated to be R6 trillion by 2026, sin tax and social relief grants. With blackouts becoming the norm infrastructure at ports and our railway system are taking huge strain.
In some exciting news the Business Tech reports that from 1 March 2026, South African electrical vehicles can claim 150% of qualifying investment spending and this will make our transition to new energy transportation smoother.
Godongwana is trying to stabilise the country’s debt. He wants to tap into massive paper profits on the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserve. This involves around R150 billion. Salaries of teachers, doctors, nurses and police will be fully funded and will receive R251.3 billion. South Africa has an unemployment rate over and above 32% and R7.4 billion rand has been allocated to the presidential employment initiative.
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The old age grant: R2,085 to R2,185;
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The old age grants for those over the age of 75 will increase to R2,205;
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War veteran grants increase from R2,105 to R2,205;
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The disabled will now get R2,185;
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The Foster care grant recipients will now receive R1,175;
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Care dependency grants gets a boost of R100 from R2,085 to R2,185; and
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Child support grants go up to R525.
Nestle, a Swiss company, has reported that their net profit has increased from last year by 20.9% bringing in a staggering $12.7 billion, that is R240 billion. This is credited to price increases.
Nestle chief executive Mark Schneider says that unprecedented inflation over the last two years has increased pressure on many consumers and impacted demand for food and beverage products.
He adds that looking to 2024, they are prioritising volume- and mix-led growth with increased brand support, as they enhance value for consumers through active innovation and renovation, premiumisation, affordability and more nutritious options. The company is going green by making organic produce more easily available. They intend to grow that sector in the future.
Clean beauty is becoming the latest trend. Social media is making access to sustainable beauty products much easier. Skincare is very important says founder of Eco Diva Natural Organic Skincare, Nicole Sherwin. She explains that in 2024, clean skincare trends have evolved to prioritise not only the health of the skin but also ethical considerations.
With an increasing awareness of animal welfare, animal rights and environmental sustainability, consumers are gravitating towards products that are PETA-approved, vegan, and cruelty-free as well as 100% natural plant-based ingredients.
She says that it is important to choose brands that resonate with your values and ethics. Read the labels on the products and get to know the good ingredients and the bad list so that you can make more informed decisions. Sherwin encourages consumers to make the right choice by purchasing brands that are transparent in their approach and clean, kind and ethical in their offering.
