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News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.
Graphic: 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.
In Thursday’s State of the Nation Address, President Cyril Ramaphosa identified organised crime as the country’s biggest threat, promised to fix collapsing water supply systems and announced military deployment to combat gang violence and illegal mining.
SONA 2026 | Ramaphosa promises to move fast and fix things in election year
- President Cyril Ramaphosa identified organised crime as the biggest threat to South Africa and announced the military’s deployment to combat violent crime.
- He acknowledged government failures in water supply and promised national intervention in failing municipalities, forming a National Water Crisis Committee.
- Ramaphosa emphasised South Africa’s commitment to sovereignty and equality in international relations, resisting bullying from superpowers and advocating for multilateralism.
Cattle at a dairy farm near Hartenbos on the Garden Route have tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease.
OJ Koloti/Gallo Images via Getty Images
Cattle at Garden Route dairy farm test positive for foot-and-mouth disease
- Foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in cattle at a dairy farm near Hartenbos, leading to quarantine measures.
- Livestock on two neighbouring farms are showing symptoms, and test results are pending, with provisional quarantines issued within a 10km radius.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa declared foot-and-mouth disease a national disaster, announcing a vaccination programme for the national herd and the establishment of control points.
ActionSA councillor and mayoral candidate for Ekurhuleni metro Xolani Khumalo.
ActionSA defends Khumalo amid assault claims and EFF ethics complaint
- ActionSA is supporting its Ekurhuleni mayoral candidate, Xolani Khumalo, despite allegations of assault and a missing person related to a raid in Springs.
- The EFF has lodged a formal complaint against Khumalo, citing concerns about his fitness for public office due to the serious allegations.
- ActionSA has defended Khumalo, claiming there is no evidence to substantiate the allegations and praising his anti-drug efforts, while criticising South Africa’s justice system.
Seven people, including a child, died while four others were injured during a horrific crash on the N2 near Qonce, Eastern Cape, on Wednesday.
Supplied/Eastern Cape Department of Transport
Seven killed, including school principal and prominent business owners, in Eastern Cape N2 crash
- Seven people died in a horrific three-vehicle collision on the N2 near Qonce, including Nana Nicolette Msutwana, the principal of Fezeka Primary School, who perished alongside four family members and prominent business owners.
- The accident involved a chain collision where a Toyota Hilux carrying the Msutwana family had a side-impact with a Mercedes-Benz sedan before crashing into a Nissan Navara carrying couple Platon and Loanna Efstratious. Five occupants from the Hilux and both from the Navara died at the scene, while three Mercedes occupants survived.
- Their Eastern Cape communities are devastated by the loss of these respected figures – Msutwana was a dedicated educator with over 30 years of service, while the Efstratiouses were described as “pillars of the community”.
US President Donald Trump hit steel and aluminium imports with tariffs of up to 50% last year and has repeatedly used levies as a negotiating tool with a range of trading partners.
Trump plans to roll back some tariffs on steel and aluminium goods – report
- US President Donald Trump plans to scale back some tariffs on steel and aluminium goods due to concerns about rising consumer prices.
- Officials believe the tariffs are hurting consumers by raising prices on everyday goods.
- The Trump administration is reviewing affected products and plans to exempt some items while launching targeted national security probes.
SA golf legend Gary Player during the 2025 Masters tournament at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA.
David Cannon/Getty Images
Gary Player feels ‘sadness’ after denied Augusta round with grandsons – report
- Gary Player is saddened by Augusta National’s refusal to allow him a round with his grandsons.
- Player has acknowledged his love for Augusta but criticised its strict rules under current management.
- Player believes he, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer helped build the Masters’ reputation and emphasises mutual respect.
SA TV host Ian von Memerty has shared his plans to be euthanised.
‘A life I don’t want’: SA TV host Ian von Memerty on the ‘agony’ of choosing euthanasia
- Ian von Memerty, a South African TV personality, has publicly announced his decision to pursue assisted euthanasia, citing a desire for autonomy and control over his final months.
- Von Memerty has openly discussed the emotional challenges of his decision, particularly telling his children, and emphasised that it stems from careful consideration, not despair.
- His disclosure has sparked mixed reactions and opened conversations about the moral, spiritual and cultural complexities surrounding assisted euthanasia.
*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI and Toqan.
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