For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Lumkile Nkomfe.

Making headlines: DA accepts Ghaleb Cachalia’s resignation, rejects attacks on party; Thabi Leoka produces 'degree certificate' - but LSE denies she received doctorate; And, Court decision gives green light for sale of Mandela's personal items

DA accepts Ghaleb Cachalia’s resignation, rejects attacks on party

The Democratic Alliance has accepted the resignation of Ghaleb Cachalia as a MP and as a member of the party, effective immediately, while also dismissing Cachalia’s claims about the party.

Cachalia announced his resignation today, detailing his reasons to the chairperson of the party’s Federal Executive.

In his resignation letter, Cachalia wrote that the leadership of the DA has become increasingly uncomfortable with his public utterances on the war in Gaza.

Claimed there was a “growing dysfunctional, undemocratic and authoritarian tendency” in the party, adding that he has not directly contradicted party policy in any way.

The DA categorically rejected Cachalia’s claims, which the party says he “manufactured” in an attempt to justify his resignation, including his mischaracterisation of the party’s position on the war in Gaza.

DA National Spokesperson Solly Malatsi noted that DA remains irrevocably committed to peace, to a two-State solution, and to the creation of a sovereign and unoccupied Palestine in peaceful co-existence next to a secure Israel.

Thabi Leoka produces 'degree certificate' - but LSE denies she received doctorate

Leading economist Thabi Leoka has continued to maintain she has a doctorate from the London School of Economics despite the university confirming it has no evidence it granted her the degree. 

The 44-year-old has served on the boards of a number of SA companies and sits on the Presidential Economic Advisory Council.

When the questions arose earlier in the week about her degree following a news report, Leoka suggested journalists may have tried to verify her credentials using the wrong name. 

She officially changed her first name from Bathabile to Thabi in 2018. Other degree certificates awarded to her use the name "Bathabile Leoka" as far back as 2002.  

But the London School of Economics said it had searched both names and drawn a blank. 

Leoka maintained that she was in possession of the degree and had the certificate to prove it. 

She said that the degree – a Doctor of Philosophy in Economics – was awarded to her in November 2008. 

And, Court decision gives green light for sale of Mandela's personal items

Nearly 100 items linked to former statesman Nelson Mandela are set to be auctioned on Monday to provide funds for a memorial garden in the Eastern Cape.

British auction house Guernsey's has advertised the auction for next week after the end of a legal battle cleared the way for the objects to be sold.

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria overturned an interdict sought by the SA Heritage Resource Agency against Madiba's daughter, Makaziwe Mandela, and his former prison warder Christo Brand. The two reportedly planned to sell items, including Mandela's prison key, through an international auction house.

In court papers, the Heritage Resource Agency said it learnt of the planned sale of the items in December 2021 through a report in the British newspaper The Daily Mail. At the time, it was reported that the key to Madiba's former prison cell would be auctioned for more than £1-million.

On auction is Madiba's "personal and only identification book", which was issued in February 1993, not long after his release from prison.

According to the auction catalogue, the document is Madiba's "first and only legitimate identification book in post-apartheid South Africa". He received a smart ID card in 2015.

Other items for sale, according to Guernsey's, include a Madiba shirt, gifts from statesmen and institutions, his eyeglasses, his walking stick, his Bible, a tea set, a bronze cast of his fist, and hearing aids.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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