The Lead: There's more than enough good news to go around, here are News24's best stories
Between the headlines on disaster, corruption, and crime are stories that delight South Africans. In fact, some of the most read articles on News24 over the past month have been good news stories.
News24's Good News Editor Paul Herman talks to us about how a Kraaifontein man used his R350 grant to build a vegetable produce business, how budding Springbok star Siphosethu Mnebelele overcame the loss of his parents to make the national junior side, and how a Mitchells Plain man came from humble beginnings to be a fine dining head chef.
Later, host Graeme Raubenheimer reports that the Joburg Mayor's calling in the 'Bomb Squad' of governance experts, not the Springboks, to fix the City of Gold. And finally, the City of Cape Town says there's no budget to complete the iconic, unfinished Foreshore freeway bridge.
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News24
4 hours ago
- News24
Fraudulent fuel scheme busted: Bogus eThekwini employee caught refuelling private car
A man impersonating an eThekwini Municipality employee was arrested for fraudulently refuelling vehicles using City resources. The suspect allegedly admitted to earning R2 000 daily as part of a fuel theft scheme involving privately owned vehicles. The City uncovered significant financial losses as the vehicle refuelled at an amount of R78 000 daily. A man purporting to be an eThekwini Municipality employee was caught fraudulently filling diesel at one of the petrol stations used by the City's fleet. The man was arrested after a tip-off from the Municipal City Fleet Directorate, which noted that municipal vehicles were refuelling more than ten times daily. The City said the suspect, dressed in a municipal uniform, admitted he was not a municipality employee. He allegedly revealed he was hired by a private individual who paid him R2 000 daily. Forensic investigators from the City discovered that a fuel master (automated refuelling dispenser) belonging to the water and sanitation directorate had been used to fuel privately owned cars. This fuel master was linked to a City vehicle that had been stationary for a long time. 'The suspect had duplicated the number plate and branding on the side of the [stationary] car's doors to make it appear similar to other municipal vehicles,' the City said. Its director of integrity and investigations, Jimmy Ngcobo, added municipal employees were colluding with external individuals to commit fraud and corruption. 'The culprit had four vehicles fitted with 750-litre fuel tanks at the base of each single-cab van. Diesel was stored in these tanks and then resold,' he said. 'Each vehicle generated approximately R78 000 a day.' Ngcobo added the suspect made daily rounds, filling diesel at more than 15 petrol stations across the city. 'The municipality has suffered a significant financial loss, which is why we are calling on various stakeholders to report fraud and corruption whenever they witness it,' he said.
News24
5 hours ago
- News24
Global leaders zero in on whistleblowers at G20 corruption talks
The 2nd G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group (ACWG) under the South African Presidency convened in Brasilia from June 9 to 12, 2025, uniting delegates to address critical issues in preventing and combating corruption. Co-Chaired by South Africa and Brazil, the meeting aimed to reinforce the Working Group's priorities to strengthen the public sector by promoting transparency, integrity, and accountability, increasing the efficiency of asset recovery measures, enhancing participation from the public sector, private sector, civil society, and academia, and improving whistleblower protection mechanisms. The South African Ambassador to Brazil, Mr. Vusi Mavimbela, delivered the opening remarks during the inaugural session. He highlighted the importance of international collaboration in the fight against corruption and stressed South Africa's dedication to advancing collective goals, stating, 'Through our G20 Presidency theme, 'Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability', we reaffirm our commitment to advancing collective efforts toward inclusive global economic growth and sustainable development.' Brazil's Minister of State for the Office of the Comptroller General, H.E. Mr. Vinícius Marques de Carvalho, delivered the keynote address, stressing the significance of inclusive approaches in anti-corruption efforts. He underscored the complex nature of corruption, requiring diverse perspectives and expertise. H.E. Carvalho called for a multi-agency strategy, urging the involvement of civil society, academia, and the private sector in shaping effective anti-corruption policies. At the heart of the meeting were the discussions of the draft G20 High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. These draft principles aim to provide a framework for G20 countries to manage seized assets, closing gaps identified by the ACWG to strengthen asset recovery. The Group also considered the Zero Draft Ministerial Declaration, encapsulating the commitment of G20 countries to address corruption through prevention. This draft will be presented for adoption at the Ministerial Meeting in October 2025. In addition to the main sessions, a side event was held on measuring integrity in public procurement, exploring challenges in quantifying corruption, and the necessity for evidence-based methodologies, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The UNDP informed that it is establishing a framework for measuring integrity, collecting data from 60 countries by the end of 2025. This initiative aims to provide objective tools to gauge the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Another side event was held to address the preventive dimension in the fight against corruption and new forms of organized crime, co-hosted by EL PACTO 2.0, a partnership with the European Union focused on justice and security. The G20 ACWG and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Working Group on Bribery held a joint meeting aimed at supporting the shared commitment to combating the bribery of foreign public officials in international transactions. The 2nd G20 ACWG l Meeting provided an opportunity for delegates to exchange views, share experiences, and deepen understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities in the fight against corruption through the lens of the Presidency's theme of solidarity, equality, and sustainability. The Working Group acknowledged that there remains considerable work ahead to fully realise the deliverables committed to at the start of the year, including timely responses to the questionnaires, substantive inputs toward the draft Ministerial Declaration, and the High-Level Principles on the Management of Seized and Confiscated Assets. Through these efforts, the G20 seeks to instil confidence in its commitment to combating corruption and promoting sustainable development, ensuring a brighter future for all. As South Africa and Brazil lead this charge, the hope is that the momentum generated from this meeting will translate into tangible actions that resonate beyond borders, creating a global environment where corruption has no place.
News24
6 hours ago
- News24
‘Who is next?' Murdered Pretoria pupil's aunt urges action against school bullying
Supplied/GDE The aunt of a Grade 11 pupil, who was killed outside Lesedi Secondary School in Pretoria, has called for greater vigilance against bullying. Lethabo Mokonyane, 19, was stabbed on Tuesday, allegedly by two fellow pupils who had skipped school. Shelly Mokonyane urged pupils, parents, and the government to act decisively to ensure schools are safe. Shelly Mokonyane - whose nephew, Lethabo Mokonyane, 19, was killed allegedly by fellow pupils outside Lesedi Secondary School in Pretoria on Tuesday - has called on pupils to report bullying rather than remain silent. Speaking to the media outside the school on Friday, Mokonyane said: It is because of bullying that Lethabo is gone. Who is next? 'I am calling on our government to strengthen its stance against bullying because sending a child to school has now become a parent's worst fear. Schools are no longer safe. When a child leaves for school, they might not come back.' While the circumstances surrounding Lethabo's death are unclear, a report by the Department of Education stated that two pupils skipped school on the day and only returned after the school day ended. According to the department, they were wearing balaclavas when they allegedly attacked Lethabo. Police spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mavela Masondo said two 19-year-old pupils had been arrested and were expected to appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court soon. Mokonyane added that violence had no place in school. 'Schools should not be a place of hate. Children who cannot resolve their problems should take the matter to teachers so it can be resolved with love. 'When you send a child to school, you expect them to come home, not to receive a phone call telling you that they have been stabbed.' She encouraged parents to be involved in their children's well-being and collaborate with teachers. 'Parents should visit schools regularly to inquire about their children's wellbeing, especially when they notice a change in their behaviour. This can help parents and teachers work together to identify things that bother our children. 'These are our kids. We love them.' Mokonyane described Lethabo as a handsome, reserved teenager who loved technology and was a loner. Education MEC Matome Chiloane, who visited the school and the victim's family, said the department had requested police assistance at 75 hotspot schools to curb violence occurring outside school premises. Supplied/GDE Supplied/GDE Lesedi Secondary was one of those schools. Chiloane said the agreement was for the police to dispatch a vehicle to schools in the mornings and afternoons. He said: I do believe that if a police vehicle was present, as agreed, the incident might have been prevented. Things would have turned out differently. He urged bullied pupils to speak up.
