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8 hours ago
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(Graphic by Sharlene Rood/News24)
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Transport Minister Barbara Creecy. (Raymond Morare/DailySun)
Prasa launches investigation into controversial R18bn train signalling contracts
- Prasa appointed law firm Webber Wentzel to investigate allegations of the irregular awarding of two R18 billion contracts to potentially non-compliant companies.
- The investigation will focus on potential procurement irregularities, fraudulent payments, and the conduct of Prasa executives and board members.
- Transport Minister Barbara Creecy will receive a preliminary report within 30 days and announce future real-time audits by the Auditor-General for large-scale procurement processes at Prasa.
Bad financial management and governance at City Power has been detailed by the Auditor-General. (Image: Rosetta Msimango, Graphic: Sharlene Rood)
Power connections: Broke City Power paid contractor R12 million before delivery
- City Power, a City of Johannesburg-owned electricity company, is facing a potential collapse after incurring R2.8 billion in losses and R4.9 billion in irregular expenditure.
- A politically connected businessman, Thato Moseme, was allegedly paid R12 million for a project months before any work was done, raising concerns about corruption and mismanagement.
- The Auditor-General criticised City Power's management for inadequate oversight and failure to prevent irregular expenditure, highlighting the company's dire financial situation.
Julio Mordoh, aged 11, pictured with his dog. (Supplied/Teresa Mordoh)
Former St John's teacher accused of abuse blames past pupil's 'issues' on parents
- Teresa and Marcio Mordoh are suing their son's former teacher, alleging he abused their son, Julio, leading to his suicide.
- The teacher denies the allegations and suggests Julio's mental health struggles stemmed from other factors, including his parents' decisions.
- The Mordohs' lawsuit also names St John's Preparatory School and the mental health clinic where Julio died, seeking accountability for their son's death.
Raquel "Kelly" Smith broke down in the Western Cape High Court on Monday. (Lisalee Solomons/News24)
Joshlin Smith kidnapping: Kelly Smith breaks down as her employer takes the stand
- Raquel "Kelly" Smith, the mother of missing Joshlin Smith, became emotional during the testimony of her employer, Carlyn Zeegers, who spoke positively about her care for her children.
- Judge Nathan Erasmus briefly adjourned the Western Cape High Court proceedings to allow Smith time to compose herself after she became visibly upset.
- Smith, along with co-accused Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial for the alleged kidnapping and human trafficking of Joshlin, who disappeared in February 2024.
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana are racing against time to get approval for the budget speech on 12 March. (Supplied/GCIS)
Budget on the brink: No deal between ANC and DA as stand-off continues
- The ANC and DA have not reached an agreement on the Budget, making it likely the DA will not support it.
- The ANC will need to seek support from other parties, such as the EFF, to pass the Budget.
- The impasse arose from the rejection of a proposed VAT increase.
The Warriors have been docked points for not meeting a transformation target for one of the One-Day Cup games. (Richard Huggard/Gallo Images)
Warriors dumped out of One-Day Cup over quota blunder
- The Warriors cricket team has been excluded from the One-Day Cup playoffs for failing to meet transformation targets in a match against the Dolphins.
- Cricket South Africa (CSA) regulations require teams to field six players of colour, including three black Africans, but the Warriors only fielded two black African players in that game.
- Although CSA allows for leeway if teams communicate their inability to meet the targets beforehand, the Warriors failed to do so, leading to the points deduction.
Athol Fugard at his home on 29 June 2012 in Cape Town, South Africa. A South African playwright, novelist, actor, and director, he is best known for his political plays opposing Apartheid and for the 2005 Academy-Award-winning film of his novel Tsotsi, directed by Gavin Hood. (Gallo Images/Foto24/Denzil Maregele)
GALLERY | 'The moral conscience of a generation': Athol Fugard, a life in pictures
- Athol Fugard, renowned South African playwright and novelist, died at 92 on 8 March.
- Fugard, known for his works opposing apartheid, died peacefully after a day spent enjoying nature and anticipating a cricket match.
- President Ramaphosa praised Fugard as a remarkable storyteller and "the moral conscience of a generation" for challenging injustice during apartheid.
*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.
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