News24 | Jacobs sorry as he rejoins DA; Officials award bursaries to family: 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.

- Johannesburg residents face a hidden 65.6% increase in the monthly water demand management levy, despite the City claiming only a 12.5% tariff increase.

- WaterCan criticised the lack of transparency, stating the increase is buried in budget documents and not clearly explained to residents.

- The City defended the levy increase as necessary to maintain water infrastructure and ensure service sustainability, despite concerns about affordability and revenue allocation.

- Liam Jacobs apologised for his “distasteful” departure from the DA and for harming the party, expressing regret for joining the PA.

- Jacobs criticised the PA for cadre deployment, lack of merit-based appointments, alignment with ANC-style politics, and being an uncritical supporter of the ANC.

- He rejected an offer to return to Parliament via the PA on grounds of principle and pledged to rebuild trust within the DA as an activist.

- The SIU uncovered irregularities totalling over R8 million within the Free State Provincial Government Bursary Scheme.

- Bursaries were improperly awarded to relatives, deceased people, and foreign nationals.

- The SIU has made disciplinary referrals and NPA referrals for potential prosecution.

- Anti-immigration protests in the Western Cape have forced hundreds of people, mainly from Malawi and Mozambique, to flee their homes in Kleinmond and Gansbaai.

- Immigrants have sought refuge in community halls, the mountains, and beaches, while some Mozambicans have decided to return home following reported deaths and burnt homes in Mossel Bay.

- Protests, led by groups like March and March, are driven by claims that immigrants are taking jobs from locals, leading to arrests and displacement, with authorities and community members providing assistance.

- Donald Pols was fired from Tata Steel Netherlands one day after starting as sustainability chief due to his past involvement with the right-wing Afrikaner Studentefront.

- Pols expressed regret and disgust for his past actions, claiming his views changed after moving to the Netherlands, but Tata Steel cited a lack of transparency about his background as the reason for his dismissal.

- Bafana Bafana’s team manager, Vincent Tseka, narrowly avoided being fired after a visa issue delayed the team’s World Cup departure.

- Tseka’s contract, which ends after the World Cup, and fears of FIFA complications prevented his immediate remova