News24 | Court backs Benoni homeless; No bail for Peet Viljoen: Today’s top 7 stories
News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.
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 via our customised text-to-speech feature.
Disbarred attorney and reality TV personality Peet Viljoen has been denied bail.
Yolanda Mdzeke/News24
Fraud-accused Peet Viljoen denied bail
- Disbarred lawyer Peet Viljoen, facing roughly 400 charges of fraud, theft and corruption linked to the alleged unlawful sale of Johannesburg Property Company properties, has been denied bail by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court.
- The magistrate found Viljoen was a flight risk, pointing to his recent deportation from the US, his lack of a fixed personal address and the absence of any evidence of assets in South Africa.
- The court further raised concerns about alleged threats and interference with State witnesses – including the investigating officer and a former co-accused who has since pleaded guilty – concluding that no bail conditions could adequately guard against such risks.
President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a public apology for the discrimination and violence foreign nationals endured.
Bastien Ohier / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP
Ramaphosa’s SADC chair debut marred by migration crisis as SA pushes free movement protocol
- South Africa will use its new role as SADC chair to urge regional partners to implement a long-stalled protocol on the free movement of people, in the wake of recent anti-foreigner violence that forced tens of thousands of Africans to leave the country.
- President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a public apology for the ill-treatment of foreign nationals, while regional leaders – including Zambia’s Hakainde Hichilema – invoked historic liberation-era solidarity to call for unity and an end to the hostility.
- Beyond migration, the Durban summit is grappling with security crises across the region, including the ongoing conflict and Ebola outbreak in the eastern DRC and post-election instability in Mozambique.
Regional leaders are gathering for the Southern African Development Community’s (SADC) 46th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government in Durban.
RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP
Cops out in numbers as March and March protesters gather ahead of SADC summit protest
- An anti-foreigner march by March and March in Durban drew far fewer protesters than expected, with a heavy police and private security presence vastly outnumbering demonstrators near the venue of the SADC summit.
- The group has issued an ultimatum demanding the deportation of all undocumented foreigners by 30 September 2026 and has vowed to escalate its campaign with a larger national day of action.
- Police tightened security around the summit venue, arresting three people last week for attempting to enter the restricted zone with expired documents and fraudulent accreditation tags.
The Gauteng High Court has ordered that residents evicted from the N12 informal settlement by the City of Ekurhuleni be allowed to return.
Nthabiseng Baloyi/News24
Ekurhuleni ordered to allow families to return to informal settlement, build structures
- The Gauteng High Court has ordered the City of Ekurhuleni to allow around 570 people and their families to return to the N12 informal settlement in Benoni and to build temporary structures for them, pending any appeals.
- Judge Stuart Wilson previously found that the City and other officials committed flagrant constitutional violations during the May evictions, describing the conduct as reminiscent of the apartheid regime.
- The court ruled that the interim relief stands while the City petitions the Supreme Court of Appeal, with Wilson noting irreparable harm to homeless occupants and accusing the municipality’s legal team of “profoundly unethical” conduct.
Eric Wood, left, and Niven Pillay have been banned from working in financial services for 18 years.
Graphic: Mihle Mdashe/News24, Images: Trillian website; Felix Dlangamandla/Getty Images
State capture-linked Eric Wood, Niven Pillay slapped with 18-year bans
- Eric Wood and Niven Pillay, former directors of Gupta-linked companies, have been debarred from financial services for 18 years over dishonest conduct, including improper payments and unlawful revenue-sharing.
- The probe drew on Zondo Commission findings that the Regiments companies were central to Gupta-orchestrated corruption at Transnet, involving inflated fees and kickbacks.
- The debarment is separate from pending criminal proceedings, where both men face charges alongside former Transnet executives over a controversial locomotive deal.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus, who was with national laws advisor Jaco Peyper, said delaying the team announcement to Thursday was out of respect for the All Blacks.
Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Bok team suspense: Rassie delays ‘out of respect’ for All Blacks as injury doubts linger
- Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said moving the team announcement to Thursday ahead of Saturday’s Test against New Zealand was out of respect for the All Blacks.
- Erasmus announced his teams for their Nations Championship matches on Mondays, while the team to face Argentina was announced on the Tuesday before the Test in Buenos Aires.
- Meanwhile, if Siya Kolisi and Ox Nche are able to shake off injury niggles at Monday’s Bok training, they will be fine to start on Saturday.
Hayden Panettiere attends the world premiere of Paramount’s “Scream VI” at AMC Lincoln Square Theater on 6 March 2023 in New York City.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Former child star Hayden Panettiere dies at 36 after life of struggles
- Former child star Hayden Panettiere, best known for her roles in Heroes and Nashville, has died at the age of 36, with her father describing her as “an incredible light and a force of nature”.
- Panettiere’s career began at just 11 months old and spanned decades, but behind the fame she faced deeply personal struggles – including addiction, postpartum depression, and the loss of her younger brother – which she candidly detailed in her memoir published in May.
- Her cause of death has not been made public. She is survived by her daughter Kaya and her parents.
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*These summaries were written with the support of Toqan AI.
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