News24 | Mel Viljoen seeks R400k for Peet’s legal fight; Khan, Malema texts: Today’s top 7 stories

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.

- Senior Crime Intelligence boss Major General Feroz Khan was shot days before he was due to answer questions at the Madlanga Commission about WhatsApp messages linking him to an alleged plot to oust intelligence watchdog chief Dr Setlhomamaru Dintwe.

- The commission heard that Khan shared the personal details of a VBS curator who laid criminal charges against Julius Malema while helping to craft EFF questions aimed at discrediting Dintwe.

- Malema denied plotting with Khan to remove Dintwe, but did not address allegations that he received confidential information from the Crime Intelligence general, as evidence leaders pointed to a possible “quid pro quo” relationship.

- The Public Protector found the City of Cape Town guilty of maladministration for failing to provide adequate basic services to residents of Langa and Khayelitsha.

- Failures included deteriorating sewers, inadequate access to water, unsafe housing, defective fire equipment, poor waste management, and security shortcomings at clinics.

- Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka issued a binding remedial action requiring the city to implement urgent interventions, including providing additional water access within 30 days and implementing sewer rehabilitation plans within 120 days.

- Mel Viljoen has launched a BackaBuddy campaign seeking R400 000 to help cover husband Peet Viljoen’s mounting legal fees.

- Peet remains behind bars on 400 charges, including fraud, theft, corruption and forgery linked to an alleged R27.6 million Johannesburg Property Company property scam.

- He is expected to apply for bail in the Specialised Commercial Crime Court in Pretoria on Wednesday.

- The Constitutional Court has upheld a Western Cape High Court ruling that key provisions of the Refugees Act are unconstitutional.

- Asylum seekers must have their cases assessed on merit, Justice Steven Majiedt ruled, not dismissed on procedural grounds.

- Madjiedt slammed the State for making unsupported claims during arguments about foreign nationals and human trafficking.

- Clothing factories in Newcastle are closing as immigrant workers flee to avoid xenophobic violence, says eThekwini Clothing and Leather Association chairperson Iqbal Ismail.

- Newcastle is the hub of the cut, make and trim (CMT) business in KwaZulu-Natal.

- Almost all CMTs are owned by citizens of Taiwan and China, who have permanent residence in South Africa and rely