News24 | R335m 'fraud' at City Power; How much university bosses earned: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes

10 hours ago 1

(Graphic by Sharlene Rood/News24)

(Graphic by Sharlene Rood/News24)

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.


President Cyril Rampahosa

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed several current affairs issues on Monday. (GCIS/Siyabulela Duda)

We are not being blue-ticked by the US, says Ramaphosa amid ongoing 'hiccups'

- President Cyril Ramaphosa dismissed claims that the US is ignoring South Africa, stating that diplomatic engagement is ongoing despite the recent expulsion of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool.

- Ramaphosa emphasised the importance of the US-South Africa relationship, highlighting their strong trade ties and South Africa's role as a key global player.

- The president assured the public that South Africa is committed to resolving the diplomatic situation and maintaining a positive relationship with the US.

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Students protest outside the Great Hall at Wits Un

Wits University's vice-chancellor Professor Zeblon Vilakazi's annual remuneration was R6.8 million in 2023. (Alex Patrick/News24)

'It really does not make sense': What university bosses earned in 2023

- Several South African vice-chancellors received annual remuneration exceeding R6 million in 2023, sparking debate about fair compensation in the higher education sector.

- Critics argue these salaries are excessive considering financial challenges faced by universities and students, while proponents emphasise the need to attract and retain qualified leaders.

- Factors considered in determining vice-chancellor remuneration include university size and complexity, industry benchmarks, individual performance, and fundraising responsibilities.

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City Power project

As darkness engulfs Johannesburg. City Power saw millions of rands disappear from its maintenance budget. (Rosetta Msimango/News24)

POWER CONNECTIONS | Air fresheners, BIC pens, mops: Inside 6-month R335m 'fraud' at City Power

- City Power, a Johannesburg-owned power company, allegedly spent R335 million fraudulently on maintenance and infrastructure projects despite internal warnings about deceptive invoices.

- An internal investigation revealed inflated prices for cleaning equipment and other irregularities, with evidence suggesting collusion between employees and contractors.

- The Auditor-General's report highlighted financial mismanagement and governance failures at City Power, including R150 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure.

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crime and courts

Key State witness Lourentia "Renz" Lombaard told the court Joshlin Smith was sold for her skin colour and her blue-green eyes. (Elisma van der Watt/Maroela Media)

Kidnapped Joshlin Smith was wanted for colour of eyes and complexion, court hears

- A key witness testified that the accused, Racquel "Kelly" Smith, confessed to selling her daughter Joshlin to a sangoma for R20 000.

- The witness, Lourentia "Renz" Lombaard, revealed that the sangoma specifically wanted Joshlin for her blue-green eyes and light skin complexion.

- Lombaard initially kept quiet out of fear but eventually decided to testify in exchange for immunity from prosecution, expressing deep remorse for her involvement.

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 Kenny Fihla

Former Standard Bank deputy CEO and new Absa CEO Kenny Fihla. (Standard Bank/Supplied)

Absa appoints new CEO from Standard Bank after shock Sunday night resignation

- Kenny Fihla, former deputy CEO of Standard Bank, has been appointed as the new CEO of Absa.

- Fihla's appointment follows the early retirement of Absa's previous CEO, Arrie Rautenbach, and will be effective from 17 June 2025.

- Standard Bank has acknowledged Fihla's resignation and will announce succession plans in due course.

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 Cape Town Ci

Cape Town City head coach Muhsin Ertugral during the Betway Premiership match between Cape Town City and Kaizer Chiefs at Cape Town Stadium this month. (Shaun Roy/Gallo Images)

Cape Town City and Muhsin Ertugral part ways just three months into the job

- Cape Town City FC and coach Muhsin Ertugral have parted ways after a poor run of form.

- Ertugral, who was initially appointed as technical director, took over as interim coach but only managed three wins in 14 matches.

- The club must now find a new head coach and technical director during the international break.

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MultiChoice South Africa has announced new DStv pr

MultiChoice South Africa has announced new DStv price adjustments for 2025, with increases for multiple packages. (Simple Images/Getty Images)

MultiChoice announces DStv package price hikes for 2025

- MultiChoice South Africa announced price increases for several DStv packages in 2025, with adjustments ranging from R1 to R50.

- The company cited the South African VAT rate increase to 15.5% from May 2025 as a contributing factor to the price adjustments.

- Despite the price increases, MultiChoice emphasised value enhancements, including additional concurrent streams and new channels for certain packages.

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*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.

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