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4 weeks ago
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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.
DA leader John Steenhuisen has announced that he will not seek a third term as party leader.
Graphic: Mihle Mdashe. Image credit: Per-Anders Pettersson/Getty Images; Brenton Geach/Getty Images
I have another urgent mission: Steenhuisen exits DA leadership race
- John Steenhuisen announced he will not seek a third term as DA leader.
- He will focus on his role as agriculture minister and fighting the foot-and-mouth epidemic.
- Steenhuisen stated he had accomplished his mission of expanding the DA’s national footprint.
Judge Nkosinathi Chili has dismissed Jacob Zuma and French arms company Thales’ latest appeals in the KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Pietermaritzburg for the stay of their corruption prosecution.
Gallo Images/Darren Stewart
Zuma, Thales appeals for stay of prosecution refused, NPA’s ‘Stop Stalingrad’ ruling delayed
- Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial has been delayed for four years due to his attempts to remove prosecutor Billy Downer.
- Judge Nkosinathi Chili dismissed Zuma and Thales’ latest appeals but delayed ruling on the State’s “Stop Stalingrad” application until 26 April, awaiting a Supreme Court of Appeal decision on mid-stream appeals.
- Thales’ attempt to appeal the dismissal of its application for a permanent stay of prosecution was also dismissed, with the judge noting their ability to call other witnesses and deeming their reliance on a deceased official’s evidence as “opportunistic”.
According to Witness F, suspended deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya was allegedly pressured to have a blogger arrested.
Political pressure to arrest blogger who insulted ANC heavyweight, Madlanga Commission hears
- Witness F testified that Shadrack Sibiya was pressured by Deputy Police Minister Cassel Mathale to arrest a blogger, Musa Khawula, who had insulted Fikile Mbalula.
- Witness F sent an arrest warrant for Khawula to tenderpreneur Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who was supposed to use his security company to locate the blogger.
- The commission questioned why the warrant was sent to Matlala and probed the links between Sibiya, Shibiri, and Matlala, suggesting it was to show Matlala they were dealing with someone problematic to him.
US President Donald Trump signs a spending bill into law that also reauthorises AGOA for a year.
SA still in AGOA as Trump signs it into law for one more year
- Donald Trump has reauthorised the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for one year, ensuring South Africa remains eligible for the programme.
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer stated that AGOA needs modernisation to better align with Trump’s America First Trade Policy.
- South Africa’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, welcomed the extension, but expressed concern over its short duration, while some US politicians have questioned South Africa’s continued participation in AGOA.
New draft rules published this week would allow South Africans to have a maximum of 750 grams of cannabis in their possession. These regulations are now subject to a public participation process.
Gradyreese/iStock /Getty Images Plus
New draft rules would allow South Africans to keep enough dagga for about 2 000 joints
- Adults could possess up to 750 grams of cannabis, enough for approximately 2 000 joints, in both public and private spaces.
- Individuals are limited to cultivating a maximum of five cannabis plants in a private place for personal use.
- Cannabis must be transported out of public view, ideally in a vehicle’s boot or a storage container, with the same 750-gram limit applying.
Lara Markthaler of South Africa at the 2025 Alpine World Ski Championships.
Klaus Pressberger/SEPA.Media /Getty Images
Winter Olympics: Record Team SA contingent aims for historic peak in Italy
- South Africa will send its largest-ever contingent of five athletes to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, competing in cross-country skiing, skeleton, alpine skiing, and freestyle skiing.
- Notable athletes include Nicole Burger, the first South African woman in skeleton racing, Matthew Smith, the first cross-country skier since 2010, and Lara Markthaler, the first South African female ski racer at the Winter Games.
- SASCOC has announced financial incentives for medalists, aiming to motivate athletes and inspire future participation in winter sports, with the goal of achieving South Africa’s first Winter Olympics medal.
Airport parking costs vary greatly depending on the bay chosen, with short-stay options designed for quick turnover being significantly more expensive than long-stay.
Airport parking cheat sheet: How to avoid your own R3 780 two-day bill in SA
- A viral complaint about a R3 780 parking bill at OR Tambo was due to using short-stay parking instead of the much cheaper long-stay option.
- Airport parking costs vary greatly depending on the bay chosen, with short-stay options designed for quick turnover being significantly more expensive than long-stay.
- To avoid high parking fees, travellers should pre-plan, read signs carefully, and consider booking long-stay parking in advance through the ACSA website.
*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.
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