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Here’s your daily news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories.
Picture: iStock / The Citizen / Cheryl Kahla
News today includes Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie alleging that Kelly Smith, the mother of missing Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith, planned to run before her arrest.
Meanwhile, Gauteng MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile said efficiency, investment and infrastructure are the medium-term goals in Gauteng’s 2025 budget.
Furthermore, South Africans have an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the proposed 0.5% increase in value-added tax (VAT) through public consultations.
Weather tomorrow: 19 March 2025
The weather service warns of severe thunderstorms in KwaZulu-Natal and disruptive rainfall in Gauteng and Mpumalanga, with heatwave and extremely uncomfortable conditions expected in parts of Eastern Cape, Western Cape and Northern Cape. Full weather forecast here.
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‘I knew I just met a suspect’ – Gayton McKenzie on meeting Joshlin’s mother
Patriotic Alliance (PA) leader Gayton McKenzie has alleged that Kelly Smith, the mother of missing Saldanha Bay girl Joshlin Smith, planned to run before her arrest.
McKenzie was one of the politicians actively involved in the search for the six-year-old, offering support for the family in the hopes of finding Joshlin.
Following the little girl’s disappearance in February last year, McKenzie and his party held a prayer meeting for the family. However, McKenzie said he was unsettled by Smith’s behaviour.
CONTINUE READING: ‘I knew I just met a suspect’ – Gayton McKenzie on meeting Joshlin’s mother
Gauteng budget: Here’s where your money is going
Efficiency, investment and infrastructure are the medium-term goals in the sights of Gauteng MEC for Finance, Lebogang Maile.
The MEC gave the first budget speech of the seventh provincial administration on Tuesday, detailing the departmental allocations for the biggest local economy in southern Africa.
Maile said Gauteng contributes 35% of South Africa’s GDP and believes the provincial economy will grow fractionally more than the nation over the next two years.
More than R520 billion – R171.5 billion for the 2025/26 financial year — has been allocated over the next three financial years, with only R26 billion coming from Gauteng’s own revenue generation efforts.
CONTINUE READING: Gauteng budget: Here’s where your money is going
Budget 2025: Here’s how you can object to the VAT increase
While Parliament examines the budget, South Africans have an opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the proposed 0.5% increase in value-added tax (VAT) through public consultations.
Historically, budgets have been passed in Parliament without any changes.
However, with the ANC no longer holding a majority, the party now requires support from other parties to secure approval for the budget.
This shift increases the role of both parliamentarians and the public in influencing budget decisions, particularly regarding the VAT increase.
CONTINUE READING: Budget 2025: Here’s how you can object to the VAT increase
Convicted rapist Thabo Bester appeals to ConCourt, alleges judicial bias
Convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester has escalated his legal battle to the Constitutional Court, alleging judicial bias in his challenge against the Free State High Court’s dismissal of his poor prison conditions case.
Bester, through his attorney Lerato Moela, has filed papers seeking leave to appeal the judgment handed down on 21 February 2025, by Judge Nobulawo Martha Mbhele.
“The historical background and grounds of appeal would reveal how the Learned Justice misconstrued the issues before her, thereby exceeding the bounds of authority she had,” Bester stated in his application.
CONTINUE READING: Convicted rapist Thabo Bester appeals to ConCourt, alleges judicial bias
SA animator Lesego Vorster wins Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement
South African animator Lesego Vorster won a Children’s & Family Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation for his character design work on Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire.
Kizazi Moto: Generation Fire is a 10-part collection of original animated short films by Disney+.
Vorster directed the ninth episode of the 10-part series; his film is titled You Give Me Heart.
The film is centred on social media and influencer culture. In the short animation, the person with the most followers becomes a god.
CONTINUE READING: SA animator Lesego Vorster wins Emmy for Outstanding Individual Achievement
Here are five more stories of the day:
- MK party makes several new changes in parliamentary whippery
- Former SAA board member Yakhe Kwinana appears in court after arrest
- WATCH: US’ message to other ambassadors after ‘unacceptable’ Rasool remarks
- Family member of mayor accused of rigging eNatis: Here’s how much has been stolen
- Ertugral breaks silence after Cape Town City exit
Yesterday’s News recap
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