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Graphic: Sharlene Rood
News24 brings you the top stories of the day, summarised into neat little packages. Read through quickly or listen to the articles
Suspended prosecutor Andrew Chauke has been cleared of all accusations levelled against him by former prosecutions head Shamila Batohi.
Yolanda Mdzeke/ News24
Chauke found fit to hold office, as Nkabinde panel clears him of all Batohi accusations
– Johannesburg Director of Public Prosecutions Andrew Chauke has been cleared of all accusations levelled against him by former prosecutions head Shamila Batohi, and has been found fit to return to office.
– A panel led by retired Constitutional Court Justice Bess Nkabinde found that the allegations were not substantiated by the evidence presented, and President Cyril Ramaphosa accepted the findings and recommendations.
– Ramaphosa wrote to Chauke confirming there was no basis to conclude he was unfit to hold office, and expressed trust that the matter’s finalisation would allow him to resume his duties with dedication and integrity.
Lawyer Carel Schoeman told the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg that he used the word “lobola” as a joke when making a R25 000 payment to the mother of a 13-year-old girl he is accused of buying.
Gallo Images/Beeld/Deaan Vivier
Lawyer accused of ‘buying’ and raping 13-year-old claims lobola reference was a joke
– Lawyer Carel Schoeman, on trial for 26 charges including rape, human trafficking and child abuse, told the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg that his use of the word “lobola” was a joke when making a R25 000 payment to the mother of a 13-year-old girl he is accused of buying.
– Schoeman claimed he and the girl “clicked”, and that the payment was not for purchasing a child.
– The State strongly contests his version, and the trial continues with the prosecution laying out the charges against him.
Ndodana Tshuma has abandoned bail in a case of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition against him.
Buhle Bam/News24
UK fugitive abandons bail in firearm case
– UK fugitive Ndodana Tshuma abandoned bail on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition after the State confirmed he is a fugitive from justice.
– Tshuma allegedly murdered his wife, Nothabo, and two children, Natalie and Nala, in Bedford, Bedfordshire, between 2 and 8 July, before fleeing to South Africa, where he was arrested in Kensington, Johannesburg, on 10 July.
– Both the firearms matter and extradition proceedings have been postponed to 27 August for ballistics reports and further investigation, with provisional extradition papers still to be shared with the defence.
Food price inflation has cooled again, even as the fuel price increase has affected most goods and services, pushing inflation to 5% for the first time in 25 months.
Jacob Wackerhausen/
Inflation shocker: CPI hits 5% as fuel bites
– Inflation surged to 5% in June – the highest in 25 months – driven by a 34% increase in average fuel prices and nearly 10% rise in electricity tariffs, beating market expectations of 4.7%.
– Transport costs spiked sharply, with minibus taxi fares up 11.5%, e-hailing services up 8.7%, and long-distance bus fares up 8.4% in a single month.
– Food inflation offered some relief, cooling to 1.6%, with maize meal, white rice and stewing beef all cheaper than a year ago – but the worse-than-expected figures come on the eve of the SARB’s interest rate announcement, with many economists expecting another rate hike.
Junior Springbok dcotor Clement Plaatjies.
Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
Junior Boks’ doctor saves passenger’s life on delayed flight home after championship win
– Junior Springboks team doctor Clement Plaatjies resuscitated a woman who collapsed in cardiac arrest on a flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town after the team’s return from winning the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia.
– The plane was forced to turn around over Bloemfontein and return to OR Tambo International Airport, where emergency services were waiting; the Junior Boks eventually arrived in Cape Town more than three hours behind schedule.
– The team had just made history by becoming the first South African side to win back-to-back Junior World Championship titles, beating France 16-5 in Tbilisi on Saturday.
Veteran lock Eben Etzebeth is back in the mix for the Boks.
Steve Haag Sports/Nations Championshiper group ahead of Pumas, All Blacks Tests
– Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named a 43-man squad to assemble in Johannesburg on Sunday, recalling 10 seasoned campaigners from injury, including Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu.
– Erasmus will split the group – sending a limited squad to Buenos Aires for the Argentina Test on 8 August while the rest remain in Johannesburg to prepare for the four-Test series against the All Blacks.
– The All Blacks series spans Ellis Park (22 August), Cape Town Stadium (29 August), FNB Stadium (5 September) and the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, US (12 September).
Seputla Sebogodi as Kgopolo More and Keitu Kasonkola as Talitha More in Scandal!.
Instagram/@keitu_kasonkola
‘He brought me flowers’: Keitu Kasonkola recalls Seputla Sebogodi’s kind heart
– Actress Keitu Kasonkola, who starred alongside the late Seputla Sebogodi in the TV soap Scandal!, recalled his kindness, including a moment when he brought her flowers.
– Sebogodi, beloved for his role as Kgopolo More in Scandal!, was remembered by his co-star for his generous and warm-hearted nature on set.
– The tribute highlights the personal impact the veteran actor had on those he worked with, beyond his celebrated on-screen career.
*These summaries were written with the support of Toqan AI.
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