Joburg mayor resigns, Eskom diesel spending, Miss SA 2024 and more

In today’s news update, City of Johannesburg Mayor Kabelo Gwamanda is expected to step down from office, while Eskom announced that it has successfully reduced its diesel costs by R9.59 billion.

In addition, Mia Le Roux has been crowned 2024 Miss South Africa.

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News Today: August 11, 2024

Joburg expected to have a new mayor “on Friday”, ANC to lead again

_{^{Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) for Finance in the City of Joburg Dada Morero. Image: Neil McCartney / The Citizen}}

African National Congress (ANC) regional secretary, Sasabona Manganye says the city of Johannesburg will soon have a new mayor.

Manganye confirmed negotiations for the resignation of the current mayor, Kabelo Gwamanda, were underway.

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Eskom cuts diesel bill by R9.5 billion as it keeps load shedding at bay

_{^{A general view of Tutuka Power Station on November 18, 2021 in Standerton. Image: Gallo Images/Report/Deon Raath}}

Eskom gave itself a pat on the back on Friday by saying it has managed to reduce its diesel bill by R9.59 billion over the past five months.

Eskom has historically spent a lot of money on diesel to keep its open-cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) running.

Its diesel expenses were particularly high during heavy periods of cargo shedding.

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ACT claims Magashule’s former PA was assaulted to accuse him in Free State asbestos case

_{^{Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule outside the Bloemfontein High Court during his pretrial hearing on September 23, 2022. Image: Gallo Images/Volksblad/Mlungisi Louw}}

The African Congress for Transformation (ACT) said its leader Ace Magashule welcomes its former personal assistant’s “arrival” in South Africa, but has criticized the heavy-handed nature of her extradition.

Moroadi Cholota was extradited back to the country so she could appear in court in the case related to the Free State asbestos scandal.

Magashule’s former PA arrived in South Africa on Thursday after the US approved her extradition on July 31.

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SAHRC calls Kunene “reckless” after he said Nigerians and Zimbabweans are working for it

_{^{Kenny Kunene. (Photo by Gallo Images / Sowetan / Veli Nhlapo)}}

The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) said it is concerned by Patriotic Alliance (PA) vice-president Kenny Kunene’s “false and dangerous” words.

Kunene spoke to the SABC about the withdrawal of Chidimma Adetshina from the Miss SA pageant.

Adetshina’s withdrawal came after the Home Office said it found prima facie evidence of identity theft committed by her mother.

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Man arrested after trying to drive R900 000 stolen car across Zim border

_{^{A South African man suspected of trying to smuggle a stolen car into Zimbabwe was arrested on Thursday. Image: Delivered/Saps}}

A 32-year-old man was arrested at the Beitbridge border for being in possession of a stolen Toyota Prado.

The car, worth R900 000, was reported stolen in Pretoria on Monday.

The police’s anti-smuggling task force in Limpopo received a tip on Thursday that the vehicle was about to be smuggled into Zimbabwe.

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The train driver also responsible for the death of six students, says the Mpumalanga premier at the funeral

_{^{Mpumalanga bus-train crashes. Image: Arrive Alive}}

Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has stated that the train driver involved in the school bus accident is also to blame.

Ndlovu was speaking on Saturday at the funeral service for six students who died in the accident, which occurred at the Arnot level crossing near Sikhululiwe village on July 31.

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ECD migration faces ‘lots of challenges’ – Basic Education Minister reveals

_{^{Class R activities during the launch of a Digital Pilot Literacy Project at Levana Primary School in Lavender Hill, Cape Town on 17 May 2023. Image: Gallo Images/Jeffrey Abrahams}}

The transition of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) sector to the Department of Basic Education (DBE) has faced significant challenges, and the process has proven to be far from seamless.

The migration of ECD functions from the Department of Social Development to the DBE took place in April 2022, following an announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa years earlier.

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Mia le Roux was crowned Miss South Africa 2024

_{^{Mia le Roux was crowned Miss SA 2024. Image: Instagram}}

Mia le Roux, a model and marketing manager from Oudtshoorn in the Western Cape, has been crowned Miss South Africa 2024.

The prestigious event took place at the Sun Bet Arena in Time Square, Menlyn, Tshwane on Saturday 10 August.

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Jo-Ane van Dyk spearheads another Olympic medal for Team SA

_{^{Javelin thrower Jo-Ane van Dyk at the Paris Olympics. Photo: Patrick Smith/Getty Images}}

Javelin thrower Jo-Ane van Dyk delivered a stunning performance on Friday night to take South Africa’s tally to six medals at the Paris Olympics.

Van Dyk, a four-time African Championships medallist, launched a heave of 63.93m with her second attempt in the final, landing the javelin just 29cm short of the personal best (64.22m) she set in the qualifying round earlier this week.

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Springboks hammer Wallabies in Rugby Championship opener: Five talking points

_{^{Pieter-Steph du Toit of the Springboks competes for the lineout against Lukhan Salakaia-Loto of the Wallabies during the Rugby Championship match on Saturday. Photo: Matt Roberts/Getty Images}}

The Springboks got their Rugby Championship campaign off to the perfect start with a thumping 33-7 bonus point win over the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Saturday.

The visitors outscored the hosts five tries to one, and could have had one more.

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Summary of yesterday’s news

READ HERE: Koko corruption case, Lesufi on Nasi iSpani, Women’s Day and more