NEWS
Guilty as charged: Woman got contracts from Eskom while employed by the power utility
– Thandi Ruth Magagula, former safety risk officer at Eskom, was convicted of corruption and fraud by the Middelburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
– She pleaded guilty to seven counts of corruption and two counts of fraud under the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act.
– The charges involved awarding contracts worth over R58,000 to Mantoza Engineering Projects, a company she co-directed, without disclosing her involvement to Eskom.
– Her actions breached public service ethics and Eskom's conflict of interest policies.
– Sentencing is set for October 24, with the NPA highlighting the case as a critical step in combating corruption in public institutions.
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Buffalo turns tables on illegal hunters in Kruger National Park, charges and kills one poacher
– Police in Masisi, Limpopo, arrested five men aged 28 to 42 for illegal hunting and defeating the ends of justice.
– The group was hunting buffalo in Kruger National Park when one of them was fatally attacked by a buffalo.
– They moved the deceased man's body near the park fence and later had a relative collect it from the scene.
– The undertaker, noticing multiple injuries on the body, alerted the police, prompting investigations.
– The men appeared in Masisi Magistrate's Court to face charges of illegal hunting and defeating the ends of justice.
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SA man serving in Israeli Sniper Unit accused of killing unarmed civilians
– A 22-year-old Sandton man, Aaron Bayhack, has been accused of war crimes in Gaza as part of an elite Israeli sniper unit, according to an Al Jazeera documentary.
– The documentary alleges that Bayhack, with the 202 paratrooper battalion, indiscriminately fired on civilians, including children, the elderly, and the wounded, in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
– Red Crescent spokesperson Nebal Farsakh reported that Israeli snipers targeted Al-Quds hospital with live ammunition.
– The Department of International Relations (DIRCO) warned that citizens joining foreign military operations without authorisation could face prosecution and risk losing their citizenship.
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GNU scorecard: Black Business Council gives top marks to Ramokgopa, Tau, McKenzie and Schreiber
– Following the May 29 elections, the Government of National Unity (GNU) was formed, led by the ANC and including the DA, IFP, PA, and other smaller parties.
– Continuous electricity supply has been a key achievement under the GNU, with Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa credited for addressing Eskom’s engineering issues.
– Key Ministerial Contributions:
Parks Tau (DTIC): Stabilized operations by filling vacant positions.
Leon Schreiber (Home Affairs): Reduced visa backlogs, benefiting businesses.
Gayton McKenzie (Sport, Arts, and Culture): Advocates bringing Formula 1 to South Africa to boost tourism.
– Improved sentiment under the GNU has led to positive trends in the economy, but leaders acknowledge the need to address unemployment and inequality.
– The DA holds six Cabinet positions, with John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture. Other appointments include Patricia de Lille (Tourism), Pieter Groenewald (Correctional Services), and Bantu Holomisa (Deputy Defence Minister).
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‘We are innovative hard workers’: Pule Mabe steps aside from ANC NEC but insists he and his wife are innocent
– Pule Mabe announced he is stepping down from the ANC’s National Executive Committee, following corruption charges linked to a R27 million tender for waste-collection vehicles.
– Mabe, his wife, and other accused individuals appeared at the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court, with all granted R30,000 bail; the case is postponed to March 25, 2025.
– The tender was awarded to Enviro Mobi, a company linked to Mabe, but only 196 of the required 200 vehicles were delivered, many with mechanical defects and no spare parts.
– Despite resigning from Enviro Mobi, Mabe allegedly retained control of the company's bank account and received R1.6 million in unexplained payments.
– Mabe insists he is innocent, defending the project’s role in creating thousands of jobs across South Africa, and argues that bad weather caused the non-delivery of four vehicles.
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SPORT
CAS ruling may be final nail in Royal AM coffin in Samir Nurkovic saga
– The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed Royal AM’s appeal to overturn their FIFA transfer ban.
– The ban was imposed after Royal AM failed to pay R12 million in wages owed to players Samir Nurkovic and Ricardo Nascimento following the termination of Nurkovic's contract.
– Due to the ban, Royal AM has been unable to sign new players and was forced to play chairman Andile Mpisane in midfield.
– The PSL announced that Royal AM would not compete in the 2024/25 DStv Diski Challenge due to their inability to field a team as a result of the FIFA registration ban.
– Royal AM is set to face Cape Town City FC in the Telkom Knockout on Saturday, followed by a match against Mamelodi Sundowns in the Betway Premiership next Wednesday.
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ENTERTAINMENT
One Direction's Liam Payne falls to death at Argentina hotel
– Liam Payne, a former member of One Direction, died at age 31 after falling from the third floor of a hotel in Buenos Aires, with authorities investigating the circumstances of the fall.
– Emergency responders confirmed he suffered severe injuries incompatible with life and could not be resuscitated, as he fell approximately 13-14 metres.
– Prior to the incident, hotel management reported an "aggressive" guest who may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol, prompting concern for his safety.
– Payne had publicly discussed his struggles with alcohol abuse and had previously sought rehabilitation, with fans mourning the loss as a significant moment in their lives.
– One Direction gained fame in 2010 and became one of the best-selling boy bands, with Payne also pursuing a successful solo career after the band's indefinite hiatus in 2016.
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LIFESTYLE
WATCH: Where are the shoes George? These are the R18,300 missing Gucci shoes husband bought
– A viral TikTok video features a woman confronting her husband, George, about a pair of R18,300 Gucci shoes she discovered on a receipt but never received, prompting the question, “Where is the shoe, George?”
– The woman’s video gained traction online, leading viewers to speculate about the missing shoes and share their thoughts on the situation.
– Another TikTok user, @Passionfruit, investigated the receipt, identifying the shoes as denim designer loafers with a silver buckle detail, and provided details on how to find them.
– The investigator suggested the wife visit the Gucci store and inquire with a salesperson named Marlene to determine who George was with during the purchase.
– The story has captivated many, with the video garnering over 700,000 views and 6,000 shares as people engage in the mystery of the missing Gucci shoes.
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BUSINESS
What led to Pick n Pay’s problems? Outgoing chairman Gareth Ackerman reflects on retailers’ failures
– Gareth Ackerman, chairman of Pick n Pay, acknowledged significant mistakes made by the Ackerman family and board in managing the retail business, emphasising the need for greater scrutiny of management decisions.
– Pick n Pay is currently technically insolvent, with liabilities exceeding assets by R183 million; its revenue increased to R115.37 billion, but trading expenses rose sharply, contributing to a dramatic 373% decline in net profit, resulting in a net loss of R3.2 billion.
– Former CEO Pieter Boone was ousted after less than two and a half years, with Sean Summers, who previously led the company from 1999 to 2006, reinstated to help stabilise the business.
– Ackerman admitted to being overly supportive of past CEOs and stressed the importance of questioning decisions at board meetings, reflecting on the need for change in governance practices.
– Despite current challenges, Ackerman remains optimistic about Pick n Pay's recovery, stating that the company is on a multi-year transformational journey with a plan in place that is yielding positive results.
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IOL NEWS