Olorato's murder case shock; Cat Matlala's R360m tender splurge: Top 7 stories in 7 minutes
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Two men wanted for Olorato Mongale's murder had prior kidnapping, robbery arrests
Two suspects arrested earlier this year for kidnapping and robbery are now wanted for Olorato Mongale's murder after she went on a date.
Police linked the suspects, Bongani Mthimkhulu and Philangenkosi Makhanya, to a syndicate targeting women via similar methods, prompting hundreds of victim reports.
A vehicle tied to Mongale's murder was located, leading to the arrest of one suspect's father, who owns the car.
9 LIVES | A Rolls-Royce, mansions and cosmetic surgery - Cat Matlala's R360m tender splurge
Vusimusi Cat Matlala, a tenderpreneur, lived a lavish lifestyle funded by a R360-million police tender, while his staff and subcontractors went unpaid.
Matlala and his family splurged on luxury cars, mansions, cosmetic surgery, and designer clothing, showcasing their wealth on social media.
The police tender was cancelled amid fraud allegations, leading to a criminal probe and leaving Matlala's subcontractors and employees in financial ruin.
Oh 'Gordy': Elephant seal makes second appearance in Cape Town
A southern elephant seal nicknamed 'Gordy' surprised Cape Town residents by wandering into suburbia, sparking a nine-hour rescue effort.
Gordy later appeared near the Naval Base in Simon's Town, where SPCA and City officials are monitoring him as he rests safely.
Southern elephant seals, known for coming ashore to moult, can grow up to seven metres and weigh five tonnes.
Interest rates cut, Kganyago punts 3% inflation target
The South African Reserve Bank reduced the repo rate to 7.25%, driven by settled inflation and revised economic forecasts.
Lower rates will reduce home loan payments, but economic growth was downgraded to 1.2%, with mining and manufacturing underperforming.
Governor Kganyago aims to lower the inflation target to lock in reduced inflation; consumer inflation currently sits at 2.8%.
SA's metro mess: Big cities regress, but contractors close to councillors, officials score
South Africa's major cities awarded more than R1 billion in tenders to suppliers with close ties to municipal employees or councillors, with Johannesburg leading at R927 million.
Metros are struggling with financial management, incurring R33.29 billion in irregular expenditure since 2021/22 and writing down R118.64 billion in unrecoverable consumer debt.
The Mangaung metro, under national intervention, faces financial distress, spending most of its revenue on employee costs and mismanaging grant funding, leading to service delivery disruptions.
From crushing Klaasen to Brevis blitz: How all of SA's 18 stars fared at this year's IPL
Several Proteas batters, including Heinrich Klaasen and Aiden Markram, performed well in the recent Indian Premier League (IPL) season.
Eighteen South Africans participated in the IPL, with four making their debuts, and most have now left to prepare for the World Test Championship final.
Other notable performances came from Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Dewald Brevis, while some players like Kagiso Rabada and Quinton de Kock had less successful seasons.
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Teacher accused in Arkansas double homicide resigned from Plano ISD after only 4 days in 2024, officials say
The 28-year-old man accused of killing a married couple at Devil's Den State Park in Arkansas was employed by Plano ISD for just four days in 2024 before resigning, according to district officials. Andrew James McGann, who is accused of killing Clinton and Cristen Brink, held a teaching position in the North Texas district from Aug. 6 to Aug. 9, 2024. He resigned voluntarily before the first day of school on Aug. 13 and did not have direct contact with students, a district spokesperson said Thursday. Lesley Range-Stanton, Plano ISD's chief communications officer, said McGann passed all required background checks and fingerprinting at the time of hire. "Our deepest sympathies are extended to those whose lives have been impacted by this heinous crime," Range-Stanton said in an email to CBS News Texas. It was not immediately clear why McGann resigned, what teaching position and school he was hired for, or whether Plano ISD contacted Lewisville ISD — where McGann was previously employed — before hiring him. McGann was previously a teacher at Donald Elementary in Flower Mound during the 2022–23 school year, according to a statement from Lewisville ISD. He was placed on administrative leave in the spring of 2023 and later resigned after Lewisville ISD investigated him for "concerns related to classroom management, professional judgment, and student favoritism." Lewisville ISD said its internal investigation found no evidence of inappropriate behavior with students. CBS News Texas has reached out to Plano ISD for additional information and will update this story as responses are received. On Thursday, some parents said McGann's behavior while working in Lewisville ISD has taken on new significance in light of the charges. "I was shocked and horrified and saddened, but also angry," said Sierra Marcum, whose son was in McGann's class. "Honestly, there were signs that not all was right with Mr. McGann." In August 2022, McGann introduced himself to families at the Lewisville ISD elementary school in a now-deleted Facebook post. Marcum said her son had expressed discomfort with how McGann treated female students, claiming he gave them extra treats and kept some in his classroom alone during recess. "Really, the tipping point for him, I think, was when he overheard Mr. McGann tell one of the little girls, 'If you were older, I would love to marry you,'" Marcum said. "That was the day he came home and started crying." Marcum, however, remains unconvinced by the district's findings. "You drop off your kids every day, and you're entrusting these people," she said. "And we were literally dropping our kids off to a monster. The fact that he was allowed to continue teaching is what blows my mind." Marcum said her son was upset by the news but proud that he spoke up. "He does not care if people think he is a tattletale or a whistleblower or whatever else," she said. "And I hope that's the lesson he takes away — to keep doing that, even if it upsets people and he faces backlash." Lewisville ISD referred all other questions to law enforcement. "Our hearts are with the victims and all those affected by this tragic situation. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority, and we are committed to supporting our school community during this time," the district said in the statement. "So, it really does seem like that the ball was dropped here," said Brandon Hall, a member of the Texas State Board of Education representing District 11. Hall said the case highlights a gap in the system, noting that because McGann wasn't charged with a crime, nothing appeared on his teaching record, making it easier for him to be hired again. "And so a thorough investigation needs to take place. What red flags were seen that prompted that investigation in Lewisville ISD?" Hall added. Hall said Texas has passed laws to improve educator reporting, including Senate Bill 571, which was signed into law in May. The legislation expanded access to the state's Do Not Hire registries and strengthened the Texas Education Agency's authority to investigate misconduct. However, Hall said more can be done to flag teachers with any allegations or history of misconduct. "But no matter what systems we have in place, our ISDs really have to do their due diligence as they're in the hiring process for teachers or any school employee to really dig into their background and make sure that our students are protected," he said. McGann was a teacher at a small Oklahoma school district until May of this year, and then resigned to take a job in another state, according to a statement from Sand Springs Public Schools, which is near Tulsa. It added that McGann had passed all background checks. McGann had not yet started his new job in Arkansas at Springdale Public Schools, said Jared Cleveland, the district superintendent. He said the district could not provide more information, citing the investigation. Law enforcement in Arkansas say McGann is responsible for the murders of Clinton David Brink, 43, and Cristen Amanda Brink, were found dead on July 26 at Devil's Den State Park in Washington County. The couple was hiking with their two daughters, ages 7 and 9, when they were attacked, state police said. Their daughters were not hurt and are being cared for by family members. State police arrested McGann on Wednesday after a five-day manhunt roughly 30 miles north of the park where the killings took place.
