Shivambu eyes new party; Gupta pad auction: Today&#x2019s top 7 stories in 7 minutes

News24 brings you the top 7 stories of the day.

Graphic: Sharlene Rood/News24

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.

Former MK Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu has announced the beginning of a process to form a new political outfit.

Thahasello Mphatsoe /News24

Former MKP secretary-general Shivambu announces ‘consultations’ to form new party

- Floyd Shivambu announced plans to consult various leaders and ordinary citizens about forming a new political party.

- Shivambu denied resigning from the MK Party,despite recent internal conflicts and his ousting as secretary-general.

- He claimed accusations of trying to overthrow Jacob Zuma within the MK Party were based on a “bizarre and fake intelligence report”.

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Sibuyile Magingxa,Joburg’s water tanker tenderpreneur,was part of the delegation that joined Deputy President Paul Mashatile in Paris.

AmaBhungane/supplied

amaBhungane | Who went to Paris with Paul? Tenderpreneur joined Mashatile’s France-SA business trip

- Sibuyile Magingxa,a tenderpreneur involved in a controversial water tanker contract,and his partner Lesedi Phala,allegedly the niece of SA’s ambassador to France,attended an investment conference in Paris with Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

- Despite not being on the official delegate list,Magingxa and Phala had access to key events,raising questions about influence and accountability,with various departments evading responsibility for their invitation.

- The South African embassy in Paris claimed Magingxa and Phala met the criteria for participation,but amaBhungane’s investigation revealed a lack of transparency and vetting,highlighting potential issues with who represents South African business on the international stage.

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From left to right: Lindokuhle Thabani Mkhwanazi,Lindani Zenzele Ndimande,Siyanda Eddie Myeza,Mziwethemba Harvey Gwabeni and Lindokuhle Lindo Ndimande during their bail application in the Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane murder case in the Durban Magistrate’s Court.

Darren Stewart/Gallo Images

AKA accused killers mull Cholota strategy to avoid trial,but Kubayi says there’s no crisis

- Lawyers for the men accused of murdering AKA and Tibz are exploring how a ruling that only the justice minister can request extradition,which freed Ace Magashule’s PA,could impact their extradition from Eswatini.

- Despite the NPA admitting the ruling could jeopardise 89 extradition applications,Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi insists there’s no need to panic,while the Ndimande brothers’ lawyers claim there’s no record of the minister’s involvement in their extradition request.

- The NPA is assessing the impact of the ruling,with a senior official revealing that the decision to withdraw an appeal against the ruling was informed by a conversation with Kubayi,who was concerned about the NPA’s “haphazard” approach to extraditions.

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A mourner is being comforted by a social worker outside King Sabata Dalindyebo TVET College in Mthatha where the Eastern Cape held a mourning service for victims of a deadly deluge that has claimed at least 92 lives.

Sithandiwe Velaphi/News24

Pupils vow academic excellence to honour schoolmates who died in Eastern Cape floods

- Thirteen schoolchildren were swept away in Eastern Cape floods,with 10 fatalities,and Jumba Senior Secondary School pupils pledged academic excellence in their memory.

- The Eastern Cape government held a day of mourning for flood victims,with hundreds attending a service where pupils vowed to honour their classmates through academic success.

- Families shared stories of their lost loved ones,highlighting their dreams and the devastating impact of the tragedy,while officials expressed sympathy and solidarity.

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Three Saxonwold properties linked to a Gupta-owned company,Confident Concept,are up for auction.

Supplied/Park Village Auctions

SEE | Inside Gupta compound: Homes with cinemas,beauty salon up for auction

- Three Saxonwold properties linked to Gupta-owned Confident Concept,including their infamous compound,are up for auction on 24 July.

- The properties,ranging from a single-story house to luxurious mansions,were tied up in legal battles following Confident Concept entering business rescue in 2018.

- The auction aims to provide a “long-awaited payday” for creditors after the Guptas fled South Africa facing financial crime charges.

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Veteran Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth wants to play at the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

Michael Steele/Getty Images

Eben on Jake’s calls for star Boks to return to SA: ‘Would be great,but a bit impractical’

- Eben Etzebeth acknowledges the benefit of having top SA players in local rugby but deems it financially unrealistic.

- Etzebeth expresses his desire to participate in the 2027 World Cup and looks forward to upcoming Tests against New Zealand and France.

- He emphasises the importance of appreciating every opportunity to play for the Springboks and the team’s goal to continuously improve.

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Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit.

Supplied/Kyalami

EXPLAINER | Ready for F1’s return to Africa - What the FIA design green light means for Kyalami

- The FIA has approved upgrades for the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit to achieve Grade 1 status,making it the only FIA Grade 1 circuit in Africa.

- The upgrades,costing R90-R180 million,will focus on enhancing safety features like runoff areas and barrier systems,without altering the circuit layout.

- Kyalami aims to be ready for any international motorsport event,including Formula 1 and MotoGP in the future,while continuing to host commercial activities.

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*These summaries were written with the support of Gemini Pro AI.