‘Dr Death' vs HPCSA; Manhunt intensifies for ex-Transnet employee: Today's top 7 stories
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.
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.
Jan Gerber/News24
'Flagrant disdain for accountability': Ntshavheni hides travel costs from public
- Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni is refusing to publicly disclose her travel costs, directing inquiries to a confidential intelligence committee, sparking outrage from ActionSA.
- ActionSA's investigation revealed the GNU spent over R200 million on travel, including a R950 000 hotel bill for Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Tokyo, which his office defends as not extravagant.
- Despite refusing to disclose the costs, Ntshavheni has actively posted about her travels on social media, raising questions about transparency and accountability.
Illustration by Dominika Zarzycka/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
IcasaSePush pulls the plug to keep Starlink mission alive
- IcasaSePush, an unofficial Starlink supplier in South Africa, has halted operations to avoid hindering the legal and sustainable introduction of Starlink in the country.
- The company's decision follows increased scrutiny and a clampdown on illegal Starlink usage, despite the connectivity services having a 'life-changing' impact on users.
- IcasaSePush supports proposed policy changes that could allow Starlink to operate legally in South Africa and is open to future partnerships with a less provocative brand.
Sithandiwe Velaphi /News24
49 dead in Eastern Cape deluge, says provincial government
- Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane says the death toll in the Eastern Cape's devastating floods has risen to 49, while the search continues for residents who remained unaccounted for.
- Heavy rains engulfed the Decoligny village of Mthatha on Tuesday and left many houses submerged in water while many residents were displaced.
- About 500 residents were displaced after their houses were destroyed by floods.
Manhunt intensifies for ex-Transnet employee allegedly behind whistleblower hit
- A whistleblower report exposing a 4 500% markup on a Transnet Freight Rail tender led to a murder plot, resulting in the death of engineer Armand Swart in a case of mistaken identity.
- Former Transnet employee Lucky Molefe is a fugitive suspected of being the inside man who manipulated the procurement system and set the murder plot in motion after the price surge was reported.
- Police uncovered a sophisticated crime network involving businesspeople, contract killers, a police detective – allegedly linked to multiple murders and racketeering activities – and money laundering through businesses.
'Dr Death' vs HPCSA: Medical watchdog persecuting me – Wouter Basson
- Dr Wouter Basson is seeking a stay of his disciplinary inquiry by the HPCSA, citing unreasonable delays and deteriorated memory regarding actions from over 40 years ago.
- The HPCSA argues Basson's application is without merit, stating delays were partly due to Basson and the State's funding of his legal costs.
- Basson, the former head of Project Coast, claims the inquiry is persecution, not public protection, and that he lacks expert witnesses due to the death of one and the unwillingness of others to testify.
Proteas done with talk – at Lord's, bat and ball will answer all
- Temba Bavuma emphasises South Africa's unity and determination as they prepare to face Australia in the World Test Championship final.
- South Africa's bowlers need to exploit Australia's vulnerable top order to secure a victory, while Bavuma sees this as a chance to defy the 'chokers' tag.
- Bavuma acknowledges the significance of a win for South African cricket, which needs this victory more than Australia does.
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Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Dem senators propose bill to punish El Salvador for ‘collusion' with Trump
Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., Tim Kaine D-Va., and Alex Padilla, D-Calif., introduced legislation on Thursday to hold Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and other Salvadoran leaders "accountable" for their alleged human rights abuses and for the country's "collusion with the Trump administration to imprison people from the United States without due process." Titled the El Salvador Accountability Act of 2025, the bill would impose property-blocking and visa sanctions on Bukele and other Salvadoran officials "who have engaged in international human rights violations or worked to deprive individuals residing in the United States of their rights under the U.S. Constitution." The measure would also block any U.S. funding to the Salvadoran government and instruct the U.S. to oppose international financial assistance being sent. This comes after the Trump administration sent over 200 illegal, alleged gang members to the infamous, high-security prison CECOT, which has served as a detainment facility for many of El Salvador's most notorious criminals. The move was met with staunch opposition by Democrats who accused the administration of depriving the illegal aliens removed of their due process rights. Democrats took particular issue with the deportation of illegal alien and suspected MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was sent to the prison in March. Van Hollen was the first of several Democrats to fly to El Salvador to meet with Abrego Garcia and to advocate for his return to the U.S. Abrego Garcia, whom the DOJ is prosecuting on human trafficking charges and who is also an alleged wife-beater, was returned to the U.S. on June 6 to stand trial. Van Hollen released a statement celebrating Abrego Garcia's return, saying, "This is not about the man, it's about his constitutional rights – and the rights of all." In a statement announcing the bill on Thursday, Van Hollen accused Bukele and the Salvadoran government of "colluding with the Trump Administration" by "taking American taxpayer dollars to imprison people as part of a scheme to violate their constitutional rights." "We must hold Bukele and his cronies accountable for these wrongful actions as well as for the gross violations of human rights they are committing in El Salvador," wrote Van Hollen. "We must send a clear signal that these injustices are unacceptable and must end," he said. Padilla, who also flew to El Salvador to advocate for Abrego Garcia, commented on the legislation as well, saying that "imposing economic sanctions and visa restrictions on Bukele and his corrupt government is a necessary step to push El Salvador to finally uphold international human rights law and respect fundamental civil liberties." "We must hold Bukele and all responsible parties accountable for the suspension of constitutional rights and continued collusion with the Trump Administration to imprison people from the United States without due process," he added. Padilla was detained by authorities on Thursday after attempting to disrupt a press conference being held in Los Angeles by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin responded to the legislation in a statement to Fox News Digital in which she quipped: "Is this just another excuse for Senator Van Hollen to fly down to El Salvador on U.S. taxpayer's dime to dine with gang members and terrorists?" White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson also chimed in, telling Fox News Digital in an emailed statement that "Chris Van Hollen (D-Illegal Alien) continues to embarrass himself and betray his constituents by spending more time representing criminal illegal aliens than American citizens." "His taxpayer-funded vacation to El Salvador to sip margaritas with a terrorist, human-trafficker, and wife-beater wasn't enough – now he wants to keep more criminal illegals in American communities," Jackson remarked, adding "All Americans should be grateful for CECOT, which houses violent criminal illegal aliens who threaten the safety and security of everyone."
New York Times
3 hours ago
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Trump's New ‘Apprentice' Boardroom: The Oval Office
'This is going to be great television, I will say that.' So concluded President Trump after a stunning Oval Office confrontation in February, in front of live cameras, in which he and Vice President JD Vance took turns castigating President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine and held out the prospect of withholding support for the country invaded by Russia. At a May meeting with President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Mr. Trump brought his own television, playing video clips to support his false claims that white South African farmers have been the victims of genocide. The ambush, which also found Mr. Trump showing a news image actually taken from the Democratic Republic of Congo, left Mr. Ramaphosa scrambling to respond. But again, the cameras broadcast it all. The confrontations were shocking compared with how diplomacy has long been conducted in that stately office. But they were not surprising — at least, not to anyone who had watched Mr. Trump during his 14 seasons as the capricious, demanding host of the NBC business-competition series 'The Apprentice.' In his high-drama Oval Office meetings, carried live on cable news, Mr. Trump has created himself a reality show right inside the White House. It is a serial production, tailored to his tastes for attention and drama, in which his guests submit to judgment and win a blessing or a tongue-lashing. The dynamic in these showdowns is oddly similar to the climactic 'firings' Mr. Trump conducted on the NBC show. Then, as now, Mr. Trump was installed in a set designed to magnify his power — in 'The Apprentice,' it was a sleek 'boardroom' custom-built to improve on Trump Tower's underwhelming real-life offices. Reality competition shows and Mr. Trump's politics operate on the same principles: shock value, conflict, shows of dominance. Escalating a fight is almost always better for ratings than defusing one. So it was in Mr. Trump's TV career; so it is in his administration, whether the tussle is with a world leader or Elon Musk. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
7 hours ago
- Washington Post
Robert F. Kennedy met with the CIA after a trip to the Soviet Union, newly declassified files show
WASHINGTON — The CIA released nearly 1,500 pages of previously classified documents relating to New York Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and his 1968 assassination on Thursday, detailing the spy agency's work to investigate his killing as well as previously unknown contacts between him and the agency. Kennedy met with the CIA following a 1955 tour of the Soviet Union, relaying his observations to the spy agency as a voluntary informant, the documents show. The newly available material comprises 54 documents, including memos about the agency's work to investigate whether RFK's killer had any foreign ties, as well as the response to his killing by foreign powers. President Donald Trump had ordered the release of documents relating to the assassinations of RFK, President John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. More than 10,000 pages of records pertaining to RFK's assassination were released in April. The records released Thursday also included documents about the JFK and King killings, some produced after RFK's death and dealing with conspiracy theories. 'Today's release delivers on President Trump's commitment to maximum transparency, enabling the CIA to shine light on information that serves the public interest,' CIA Director John Ratcliffe said in a statement. 'I am proud to share our work on this incredibly important topic with the American people.' Kennedy, a Democrat, was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles moments after giving a speech celebrating his victory in California's presidential primary. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan , was convicted of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. One document released Thursday, a CIA memo to the White House the day after the assassination, showed that its first search of its records turned up no information about Sirhan. Kennedy's contacts with the CIA following his visit to the Soviet Union reflected the tensions of the time, and the high value put on personal observations of Americans who traveled to Russia and other former Soviet regions. Prominent elected officials and business leaders visiting the USSR were often asked to share their observations following their return. The documents show that RFK was a voluntary informant. In a statement Thursday, the CIA showed the meetings reflected RFK's 'patriotic commitment' to serving his country. Many of his observations reflected granular observations about daily life. 'On 29 Aug 55, while in Novosibirsk, USSR, a friend and I visited a State machine factory. The factory has 3,500 employees, of whom one third are women. The wage scale is between 840 and 2,500 rubles,' Kennedy told the CIA interviewer, according to the documents. 'The Director of the plant whose name I do not recall was frosty, although the engineer was friendly.' The CIA used artificial intelligence to scan its library for documents related to RFK's assassination that could be declassified. The search turned up many documents that had little to do with his killing, such as the records of RFK's meeting with the CIA. Kennedy's son, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., said he was gratified to see the documents' release. 'Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government,' Kennedy said. The documents released Thursday included a September 1975 memo from then-CIA Director William Colby to staff, discussing allegations of CIA involvement in JFK's assassination in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963, that 'have crept up every so often.' Colby asserted that JFK assassin Lee Harvey Oswald had no contact with the agency. Colby said five pre-assassination CIA records did reference Oswald but 'Oswald's name had no particular meaning before that fateful event.' ___ Associated Press writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, also contributed reporting. ___ The documents can be found online at and .
