Top Stories this week: ActionSA challenges Home Affairs, former finance manager hides in freezer to evade arrest, and new Lotto winner’s plans revealed
This week’s headlines are packed with gripping stories and significant updates. From the investigation into immigration controls to budget cuts, here are our picks for the top stories this week.
ActionSA demands answers from Home Affairs after Chidimma Adetshina’s mother is spotted in Nigeria
– ActionSA sent an urgent letter to the Department of Home Affairs, questioning how Chidimma Adetshina’s mother travelled to Nigeria despite an ongoing investigation into immigration controls.
– Adetshina's mother was spotted during a televised Miss Universe Nigeria event, raising concerns over the department's oversight in restricting her travel.
– The Hawks have taken over the investigation, and Home Affairs has issued legal notices (PAJA letters) to Adetshina and her mother, preparing to revoke their IDs and passports.
– Adetshina withdrew from Miss SA following a probe into her citizenship, with allegations that her mother committed fraud by stealing another woman's identity.
– Despite the controversy, Adetshina participated in and won the Miss Universe Nigeria 2024 title, advocating for inclusion, unity, and acceptance.
Read the full story here.
Ten year prison sentence for former finance manager who hid in freezer to evade arrest
– Prishne Khan, a 37-year-old former finance manager, was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being found guilty of 63 counts of fraud, having stolen over R3 million.
– Khan misappropriated R350,000 while working at the Northern Cricket Union by altering invoices and funnelling money to her relatives before resigning when questioned.
– Later, as a finance manager at another company, she manipulated banking details to direct payments to accounts linked to her husband and cousin, eventually siphoning more than R3 million.
– Khan used the stolen money primarily for gambling, though she initially claimed it was to buy her husband a car.
– After evading capture by hiding in a freezer, she was arrested and sentenced, with an additional four-year sentence for theft running concurrently with her 10-year fraud sentence.
Read the full story here.
R13 million Lotto jackpot winner will leave his lift-club, drive to work as he now has money for fuel
– A Gauteng resident won R13.47 million in the Lotto Plus 1 jackpot from the August 24, 2024 draw, purchasing a R20 quick-pick ticket through the Standard Bank app.
– The winner plans to use his winnings to buy a new house, cover fuel expenses, and invest R10 million for future returns.
– Despite his newfound wealth, the winner has no plans to quit his job but will continue working with less pressure.
– He humorously mentioned leaving his lift club due to rising fuel costs, now being able to drive himself.
– Ithuba CEO Charmaine Mabuza praised the winner's decision to invest a large portion of his winnings for long-term financial stability.
Read the full story here.
PICS: Deadly crash that claimed life of Michaelhouse pupil rises to 23
– The death toll from three road crashes in KwaZulu-Natal on Saturday has risen to 23, up from the initial count of 21.
– Among the deceased were a Grade 8 Michaelhouse pupil and his parents, who were returning from a rugby match; the younger brother was hospitalised.
– MEC Siboniso Duma has declared a week of mourning due to the high number of fatalities and visited the victims at Greys Hospital in Pietermaritzburg.
– One of the crashes involved a Toyota Hilux and a Toyota Fortuner on the R622 near Mooi River, which claimed 12 lives, including foreign nationals from Lesotho.
– Both drivers in the collision died, along with seven passengers from the Hilux and two from the Fortuner, as confirmed by the Department of Transport.
Read the full story here.
‘We are not firing teachers, and we are not retrenching teachers,’ says Western Cape Education Department
– The Western Cape Education Department (WCED) faces significant budget cuts, leading to potential job losses for over 2,400 teachers starting January 1, 2025.
– MEC David Maynier clarified that the cuts will primarily affect contract teachers whose terms end in December 2024, and some permanent teachers will be reassigned to schools with vacancies.
– The cuts stem from a national government shortfall, with the Western Cape receiving only 64% of the funding needed for the 2023 wage agreement, leaving a R3.8 billion deficit over the next three years.
– Other provinces are also struggling, with KwaZulu-Natal unable to afford over 11,000 educator posts and other provinces like Mpumalanga, North West, and Northern Cape facing substantial financial pressures.
– Maynier has raised the issue with the Council of Education Ministers and is in contact with the national Minister of Basic Education, advocating for urgent action to prevent further negative impacts on education.
Read the full story here.
Siya Kolisi’s Sharks move back on after American businessman offers to pay transfer fee
– Springbok captain Siya Kolisi’s return to the Sharks is likely, as American businessman Vincent Mai has reportedly offered to pay the £726,000 (R17 million) transfer fee demanded by French club Racing 92.
– Kolisi and his family are reportedly unhappy in France, and the Sharks had initially reached a stalemate over Racing's demand for the full payment upfront, which the Sharks were unwilling to meet.
– Vincent Mai, a South African-born businessman and part of the consortium owning the Sharks, stepped in to resolve the issue. Mai was also instrumental in Kolisi's education through a bursary to attend Grey High School.
– Racing 92 centre Gael Fickou expressed understanding of Kolisi’s decision, emphasising that Kolisi’s family comes first and that his departure wouldn’t impact the team’s preparations for the new Top 14 season.
– Kolisi, currently injured from the Springboks’ recent match against New Zealand, is expected to rejoin Racing 92 in late September after the Rugby Championship concludes.
Read the full story here.
DJ Maphorisa fuming at Samthing Soweto over new track as amapiano artists fight over song rights
– Amapiano fans are outraged after the release of "Amalanga Awafani," a collaboration between Mas Musiq, DJ Maphorisa, and Samthing Soweto, failed to credit Samthing Soweto for his vocals.
– Despite Samthing Soweto’s voice being prominently featured in the song, his contribution was omitted from the official credits, leading to widespread backlash on social media.
– DJ Maphorisa explained on Instagram Live that the exclusion was due to a dispute over music rights between him and Samthing Soweto, which resulted in the decision to release the song without proper credit.
– Maphorisa defended his actions, expressing frustration over being betrayed by those he helped in the industry, while emphasising his role in elevating South African music, particularly amapiano.
– Samthing Soweto has yet to address the issue directly, though he tweeted a broken heart emoji, and DJ Maphorisa urged fans to hold him accountable for the situation rather than Mas Musiq.
Read the full story here.
Springbok star Makazole Mapimpi skips All Blacks match for birth of his child, surprising fans with secret marriage
– South African women are both thrilled and heartbroken over the news that Springbok star Makazole Mapimpi is starting a family, as it was revealed he is now officially off the market.
– Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus announced during a press conference that Mapimpi would be absent from the upcoming match against the All Blacks due to the birth of his child, surprising fans who were unaware of his private marriage.
– Fans expressed their excitement and disbelief on social media, with many commenting on how Mapimpi had kept his personal life under wraps, making the news of him becoming a husband and father even more unexpected.
– The announcement also evoked emotional reactions, as fans reflected on Mapimpi’s difficult past, including losing his mother, siblings, and growing up without family support, a journey that was highlighted in the documentary Chasing the Sun.
– Mapimpi’s story of overcoming adversity and now starting his own family has touched many, symbolising a powerful narrative of resilience and hope.
Read the full story here.
Reserve Bank Governor pours cold water on an interest rate cut in September
– SARB Governor Lesetja Kganyago emphasised the need for sustained low inflation before the South African Reserve Bank can justify cutting interest rates. His remarks come ahead of the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on September 19, 2024.
– The current repo rate stands at 8.25%, a 14-year high, with the prime lending rate at 11.75%. While headline inflation dropped to 4.6% year-on-year in July 2023, marking a three-year low, Kganyago highlighted the importance of ensuring this trend continues.
– Kganyago cautioned against premature optimism, referencing previous instances where inflation initially dropped but later rose again. He stressed that only sustained inflation around the midpoint of the 3%-6% target range (closer to 4.5%) would prompt a rate cut.
– The Public Servants Association (PSA), representing over 245,000 public servants, has called for a 25-basis-point reduction in interest rates to ease the financial strain on consumers, citing the recent decline in inflation as a potential turning point.
Read the full story here.
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