Edgar Lungu funeral feud; State lottery alarm: Today's top 7 stories in 7 minutes

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.
Saxonwold shebeen on sale: Opulence, neglect and the bitter legacy of the Guptas
- The Gupta's Saxonwold compound, once a symbol of state capture and lavish wealth, now stands abandoned and decaying, revealing remnants of luxury and hasty departure.
- The properties, featuring opulent amenities like spas and cinemas, are up for auction after years of legal battles, with proceeds going to creditors.
- The state of the compound reflects the Guptas' fall from power and serves as a reminder of the authorities' failure to bring them to justice for their role in state capture.
ALS Paramedics/Supplied
Missing Comrades Marathon runner was among dozens hospitalised after race
- Moira Harding, a Comrades Marathon runner who went missing for 15 hours after the race, was among 37 runners hospitalised.
- Harding has been discharged from the hospital but has no memory of getting lost and is undergoing treatment for a chest infection and occupational therapy.
- Race organisers and doctors noted an above-average number of runners requiring medical assistance, potentially due to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, exhaustion, and a disorganised finish area.
NSFAS advised to scrap deals worth R1.3bn with IT firms amid student housing crisis
- NSFAS paid more than R1.3 billion to four unaccredited IT companies to disburse student accommodation payments, leading to a student housing crisis.
- A legal opinion advises NSFAS to cancel the contracts due to irregularities, including the IT companies' lack of financial service provider status and failure to properly manage the online portal.
- The student housing crisis has resulted in unsafe living conditions, non-payment issues, and students allegedly trading sex for accommodation, prompting Rental Housing Tribunal hearings.
Philippe Wojazer/pool/AFP
Zambia's Hichilema apologises to Ramaphosa for drama over return of Lungu's body
- Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema apologised to President Cyril Ramaphosa for delays in repatriating former president Edgar Lungu's body, caused by tensions between Lungu's family and the Zambian government over funeral arrangements.
- Lungu's family halted the repatriation, accusing the government of sidelining them in decision-making, despite earlier agreements and preparations for a state funeral in Zambia.
- Hichilema declared the national mourning period over, urging unity and calm, while the South African government will continue to hold Lungu's remains until the dispute is resolved.
Alarm raised over plans for state-run lottery
- The South African government plans to nationalise the lottery when the current operator's licence expires in 2034, requiring the new Sizekhaya Consortium to help develop state skills and infrastructure.
- Critics warn that a state-run lottery could increase corruption, citing past financial mismanagement in parastatals and government entities.
- The Request for Proposals for the new licence mandates that bidders support the state in developing the capacity to operate the lottery, including transferring technology rights.
Paul Harding/Gallo Images
Proteas Test captain Bavuma ruled out of Zimbabwe series
- Temba Bavuma is out of the Test series against Zimbabwe due to a hamstring injury sustained in the World Test Championship final.
- Keshav Maharaj will captain the Proteas in Bavuma's absence for the two matches in Bulawayo.
- Several key players are being rested, while Lhuan-dré Pretorius and Lesego Senokwane received their first Test call-ups.
DRIVEN | Hyundai enters new energy vehicle tango in SA with fresh Sante Fe Hybrid SUV
- Hyundai SA has introduced its first hybrid vehicle, the Sante Fe Hybrid seven-seater SUV, despite having successful electric cars in global markets.
- The Sante Fe Hybrid features a turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engine paired with an electric motor, offering a total output of 175kW and 367Nm, along with various safety and convenience technologies.
- Priced at R1 249 900, the Sante Fe Hybrid Elite AWD comes with a seven-year/200 000km warranty and an eight-year/160 000km warranty for the hybrid battery pack.

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‘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.