Daily news update: Nsfas splurged R5 billion, no-confidence motion in Joburg mayor delayed and new SABC board

Here’s your morning news update: An easy-to-read selection of our top stories. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way.

Daily news update: 19 April

R5 billion paid out to students who didn’t qualify for Nsfas, Parliament told

Billions of Rands have been paid out to students who weren’t eligible to receive money from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (Nsfas), according to the Special Investigating Unit (SIU).

The SIU launched its Nsfas investigation into alleged corruption, maladministration, and the allocation of loans, bursaries and any other funding payable to students in September last year, after receiving the green light from President Cyril Ramaphosa to probe the matter.

READ MORE: R5 billion paid out to students who didn’t qualify for Nsfas, Parliament told

ANC, EFF no-show pulls rug from ActionSA’s no-confidence motion in Joburg mayor

ActionSA has accused the African National Congress (ANC) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) of deliberately collapsing the City of Johannesburg‘s programming committee that was meant to hear the party’s motion of no confidence in Mayor Thapelo Amad.

ActionSA on Tuesday was expected to officially table its motion of no confidence in Amad during the programming committee’s meeting. However, councilors from the ANC and EFF failed to pitch up during the meeting, leading to the motion not being tabled for debate in council.

READ MORE: ANC, EFF no-show pulls rug from ActionSA’s no-confidence motion in Joburg mayor

Ramaphosa appoints new SABC board – see who made the cut

Following mounting public pressure, President Cyril Ramaphosa has finally appointed a new board for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC).

In a statement on Tuesday, the Presidency said Ramaphosa had appointed 12 non-executive members of the board for a period of five years in terms of Section 13(1) of the Broadcasting Act.

READ MORE: Ramaphosa appoints new SABC board – see who made the cut

DPE’s SAA board announcement a ‘shoddy attempt to legitimise illegitimate process’

The department of public enterprises’ appointment of an interim South African Airways (SAA) board has been highly criticised by the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (Numsa), who claimed on Tuesday it “stinks of corruption”.

The department announced on Monday a new board, chaired by former tourism minister Derek Hanekom, effective from 15 April.

READ MORE: DPE’s SAA board announcement a ‘shoddy attempt to legitimise illegitimate process’

Pretoria court convicts ‘Tsakane graveyard rapist’

Known as the ‘Tsakane graveyard serial rapist’, Petetona Abel Lebele told the Pretoria High Court during his guilty plea on Tuesday, 18 April, that he targeted his victims on their way to school or home.

During the court’s sitting in Benoni, the he detailed how he would grab and drag his victims to the Tsakane Cemetery, in Brakpan, where he would proceed to rape them.

READ MORE: Pretoria court convicts ‘Tsakane graveyard rapist’

WTF is Prime Drink and why does it cost R500 a pop? 

Pictures of a new sports drink on the South African market, called Prime Drink, have been doing the rounds as celebrities and ordinary people alike try to figure out what it is, why there is hype around it and why it costs so much.

SABC News anchor Leanna Manas sought to get to the bottom of it by asking her Twitter followers; “Guys what is the madness with this?? Asking for a friend who’s kids are driving her mad for a bottle that costs an arm and leg.”

READ MORE: WTF is Prime Drink and why does it cost R500 a pop? 

PICTURES: Faf du Plessis shows off new tattoo — and ripped body

Former South African cricket captain and Royal Challengers Bangalore star Faf du Plessis has revealed a new tattoo on his upper body — the word “Fazl” written in Arabic.

In images posted on social media, Du Plessis’ ripped upper body has also been commented on by admirers and cricket fans.

READ MORE: PICTURES: Faf du Plessis shows off new tattoo — and ripped body