 (1).png){kind=spacer}
1 week ago
10
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.
News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles via our customised text-to-speech feature.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana.
Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams
Budget 2026 overview | Big tax moves and better times
- South Africans are spared from planned tax increases due to a mining windfall, with improved economic growth, low inflation and healthier public finances projected.
- For the first time in many years, the tax-free thresholds for investments and transactions have been increased, providing financial benefits to individuals.
- The Budget focuses on infrastructure with R1.07 trillion planned spending, while state-owned enterprises continue to face financial challenges and rely on taxpayer support.
Check how the 2026 Budget will hit your pocket.
Picture Alliance/Getty Images
Tax calculator: See how 2026 Budget will hit your pocket
- The Treasury announced updates to tax thresholds and limits, including increases to the VAT registration threshold for small businesses and the annual tax-free savings account contribution limit.
- Personal income tax tables were adjusted for inflation, but without above-inflation adjustments, effectively increasing the tax burden on individuals.
- South Africans can now take up to R2 million offshore without tax clearance or exchange-control approval, and there were also increases to retirement fund contribution caps and capital gains tax exclusions.
Dikeledi Tears Mphela, who was caught on dashcam video attacking e-hailing driver Isaac Satlat, allegedly made a formal confession statement.
Phil Magakoe/Gallo Images
Two suspects confess to killing e-hailing driver, source says
- E-hailing driver Isaac Satlat was strangled to death in Pretoria West, and six suspects have been arrested in connection with the crime.
- Two of the accused, Tumishang Mogau Mabutla and Dikeledi Tears Mphela, have allegedly made formal confessions admitting to their roles in the hijacking and murder.
- The other suspects face charges including premeditated murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances and being accessories after the fact.
Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mangena testifying in the Nkabinde Inquiry.
Screenshot/Nkabinde Inquiry/YouTube
Cato Manor suspects were ‘executed’, not killed in gunfights – police expert
- Ballistics expert Lieutenant Colonel Chris Mangena testified that suspects in cases involving the Cato Manor Serious Violent Crime Unit were shot at close range, contradicting police claims of self-defence.
- Mangena’s reconstructions revealed manipulated crime scenes, tampered narratives and forensic inconsistencies, suggesting executions rather than legitimate police actions.
- Physical evidence undermined police statements, pointing to deliberate scene tampering and unlawful killings, with Mangena concluding that some victims were likely executed.
Image credit: Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images; Lucie Sindelkova/Canva; OJ Koloti/Gallo Images; Sonantha/Canva; Stoica Adrian/Canva; Valdru/Getty Images via Canva; Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Higher education, higher spending: Manamela and deputies rack up R5.8m travel bill
- The Department of Higher Education and Training spent R5.8 million on international trips for Minister Buti Manamela and his deputies between March and November 2025.
- A trip to New York by Deputy Minister Mimmy Gondwe and staff cost R1.6 million, while Manamela’s Paris trip cost R834 143, including significant expenses for airfare and accommodation.
- Critics question the justification for these expenses given South Africa’s challenges, but the department defends the travel as necessary for international cooperation and strategic national interests.
An Afrikaans-dubbed version of the popular drama Landman, featuring Billy Bob Thornton, airs on kykNET. every Sunday.
OPINION | How Canal+ cuts spell the end of DStv as a catch-all for content
- DStv is cutting content across the board to reduce costs under Canal+ ownership, leading to a net loss for customers and the TV/film industry.
- Canal+ aims to cut 400 million euros from operating expenses by 2028, including content and marketing cuts at MultiChoice, which was already struggling.
- DStv risks repeating mistakes of the past by prioritising cost-cutting over quality content, potentially leading to a ratings collapse and loss of brand identity.
Junior Springbok captain Riley Norton is seen as a future Test star.
Piaras Ó Mídheach/Getty Images
Springboks call on 11 uncapped players for first alignment squad for the year
- The Springboks have announced their first squad of the year, featuring 11 uncapped players, for an alignment camp in Cape Town.
- The camp will be followed by a virtual alignment camp with 21 overseas-based players, before a second alignment camp in May.
- The alignment camp aims to integrate young talent and brief players on the team’s plans and standards for the upcoming season.
*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.
Discover the Truth
Step into a world where the truth shines bright, and every headline is worth your time. With News24, you're not just reading the news; you are part of a community that values knowledge and insight. Immerse yourself in compelling stories, sharp analyses, and content that keeps you ahead of the curve.
