Late goals from Sphelele Mkhulise, on for young youth international midfielder Gomolemo Kekana in the 63rd minute, came in the 89th and 94th minutes as Downs got their effort to recapture the Premiership title they lost to Orlando Pirates in 2025-26 off to a somewhat tenuous start.

Downs started the league just over a week after the other teams due to the affects to their preseason of the death of Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams last month.

Sphelele Mkhulise snatches it for Sundowns at the death 🤩💥

Masandawana topple the Rockets in Mbombela 👏#BetwayPrem | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/xhJHgzXn8i

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2026

The Brazilians conceded 21 goals in 30 games ending runners-up to Bucs last season. They have let in four goals in their opening two league and cup games — the first being Saturday’s 3-2 MTN8 quarterfinal win against Polokwane City at Lucas Moripe Stadium — this campaign.

The Brazilians took the early lead at a freezing Mbombela Stadium via Brayan Leon’s seventh-minute opener.

TS Galaxy are putting Sundowns under pressure 👀

Victor Letsoalo beats Ronwen Williams in a tight space 🚀

📺 Stream #BetwayPrem on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/SBLM9Lh4gp

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 11, 2026

A stray pass led to Victor Letsoalo equalising from a tight angle for Galaxy in the 33rd.

Downs captain Ronwen Williams awkwardly parried Letsoalo’s header from a free-kick into his own goal to gift Galaxy the lead again in the 77th.

The Brazilians, and Mkhulise, pulled victory from the jaws of defeat as the substitute first finished calmly in space in the box. Then some skill from substitute Tashreeq Matthews put Khuliso Mudau down the right of the box to square for Mkhulise to again make no mistake with the finish past Ivorian goalkeeper Eliezer Ira Tape.

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Jubilee Metals has received two offers for its large waste project (LWP) in Zambia and plans to redirect capital from the project into the expansion of its existing copper operations.

The London- and Johannesburg-listed metals group said on Tuesday it had shortlisted two potential buyers after reviewing expressions of interest from several international companies. It expects to select a preferred buyer and conclude a final agreement within two weeks.

Jubilee has not disclosed the value of the offers, but said the consideration would represent a substantial premium to the price it originally paid for the LWP.

The company said the disposal would allow it to allocate capital to existing operations in Zambia, including the planned on-site copper processing facility at its Molefe Mine operations.

“The LWP is a greenfield development that would require significant capital and carries greater execution risk than expanding Jubilee’s existing operations,” said CEO Leon Coetzer.

“Our investment into defining the LWP has enabled us to attract binding offers for the asset at a substantial premium to the original purchase price, allowing us to redeploy the funds towards investment into the expansion of our existing operations.”

The successful buyer will be required to make an initial deposit by August 27 and will have up to 90 days to complete final due diligence

The offers are subject to further due diligence and the conclusion of definitive agreements, so the sale has not yet been completed.

Jubilee said proceeds from the disposal, together with remaining proceeds from the previously announced sale of its South African operations and the disposal of non-core waste assets, would result in cash inflows nearing $100m.

The company has previously targeted copper production of 25,000 tonnes a year from its Zambian operations and plans to expand its mining and processing activities.

The two prospective buyers have also expressed interest in working with Jubilee on other waste assets in Zambia, including projects near its existing processing facilities. Those projects are still being evaluated.

Under the terms of the offers, the successful buyer will be required to make an initial deposit by August 27 and will have up to 90 days to complete final due diligence. Once that process is completed, the final agreements are expected to be signed within 10 days. The remaining purchase consideration will be paid in instalments over up to three years.

Jubilee acquired the LWP in stages, with $5m of the purchase price still outstanding. The seller has opted to receive that final payment in Jubilee shares rather than cash.

Business Day

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Section27 and the Teddy Bear Foundation (TBF) have welcomed the judgment handed down by the Gauteng High Court (Pretoria) concerning the state’s obligation under the Children’s Act to ensure the effective functioning of the National Child Protection Register.

The register protects children from predators by requiring that school employees are vetted against an up-to-date register of people found unsuitable to work with children.

The case was against the department of social development (DSD) and 16 other respondents, including the department of justice & constitutional development (DOJ&CD), the department of basic education (DBE) and provincial education departments, the Education Labour Relations Council and the South African Council of Educators.

Judge Jabulani Nyathi, in a judgment passed on Friday, held that DSD is responsible for maintaining and keeping the register.

DSD had opposed the application and argued that there were no backlogs in relation to the maintenance of the register, and that it has complied with its legislative obligations.

The court instead held that DSD had not proved a case to show that it had fulfilled its obligations to maintain the register. The court emphasised that the rights of children were paramount, and DSD had an obligation to ensure that the NCPR was maintained.

The court found that TBF and DBE’s settlement agreement, which was made an order of court on July 28, supported the importance of DSD’s role in the NCPR’s vetting and reporting mechanisms. The court said that the NCPR required all departments to work together to ensure its efficacy.

TBF submitted that the DSD had adopted an unduly narrow conception of its statutory obligations.

TBF said the duty to “keep and maintain” the register extended beyond the passive capture of information received from other institutions.

The DSD submitted it had discharged its obligations. It pointed to the digitisation of the register, staffing allocations, audit controls, identity verification mechanisms, training initiatives and the absence of any backlog in relation to compliant referrals.

“The words ‘keep and maintain’ cannot be interpreted in isolation. They must be construed in the context of a statute whose dominant purpose is the protection of children and whose implementation is expressly required to occur through co-ordinated action between organs of state,” Nyathi said.

Nyathi said he was unable to accept the proposition that DSD’s obligation was exhausted once information reached its offices in a technically compliant form.

“The statutory purpose would be frustrated if the custodian of the register were entitled simply to await information while remaining indifferent to systemic deficiencies that prevent qualifying findings from reaching the register in the first place.”

Nyathi said the evidence demonstrated that critical reporting failures had persisted for years.

“The incident that ultimately catalysed this litigation revealed that a perpetrator was entered into a register only after prolonged delay and repeated intervention.”

Nyathi said further concerns arose when specific perpetrators identified by TBF had not appeared in the register despite the existence of qualifying findings.

“In my view (TBF) has established that the DSD’s understanding of its statutory obligations is unduly narrow and that further measures directed at ensuring the efficacy of the register are constitutionally required.”

Nyathi declared DSD’s failure to maintain the register unconstitutional and ordered it to put mechanisms in place to ensure the NCPR is implemented.

The DOJ&CD and SACE did not oppose the matter, and the court granted TBF’s requested relief in respect of these parties.

It found that DOJ&CD must report quarterly to DSD on all people deemed unsuitable to work with children. SACE must report on the number of new entrants on the educators’ roll and whether they have been vetted. It must also report on educators found guilty of misconduct that makes them unsuitable to work with learners, and whether they have been reported to DSD for inclusion on the NCPR.

In addition, SACE must report the number of cases received by it over 12 months, and the number finalised during the same period.

“The judgment affirms the importance of children’s rights, particularly the right to basic education, by recognising that schools must be safe spaces for children.

“The structural orders against the departments will help address failures in implementing the NCPR and bind them addressed to comply with their constitutional obligations,” TBF and Section27 said in a statement on Tuesday.

They said it has been over 15 years since the promulgation of the Children’s Act, and it has taken a court to affirm and mandate these departments to comply with the legislative obligations as it relates to the register.

“Section27 and TBF welcome this judgment and will be monitoring the implementation of the order.”

TimesLIVE

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The United Nations estimates that more than 16,000 civilians detained by Russia during its war in Ukraine are still being “deprived of their liberty”, many held incommunicado and on grounds that don’t comply with international law.

“Widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment” of both Ukrainian civilian detainees and prisoners of war by Russia are continuing, including sexual violence, said Claudia Fuentes Julio, the UN assistant secretary-general for human rights.

She spoke at an informal meeting of the UN Security Council called by Latvia and the United Kingdom on Monday to spotlight the plight of civilians and soldiers taken during the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of its neighbour in February 2022. The council, which counts Russia as a permanent member, heard the accounts as both Russia and Ukraine have escalated attacks in the four-year conflict.

Since the invasion, Julio said, UN human rights staff have interviewed 910 Ukrainian prisoners of war and 403 civilian detainees following their release. The UN has not been able to visit detention facilities in Russia, and its estimated figure of those held does not break down how many are adults or children.

More than 95% of the Ukrainian prisoners of war and 85% of the civilian detainees reported being tortured or ill-treated, often repeatedly, the UN official said. They also reported sexual attacks and inhumane conditions, including food deprivation and inadequate medical services.

The Geneva-based human rights office “has documented the execution of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war at the beginning of their captivity and the deaths of 48 Ukrainian prisoners of war in custody, resulting from torture, denial of medical care, or other inhumane conditions of detention,” Julio said.

Former detainees share their accounts with the UN

The UN Security Council also heard emotionally wrenching accounts from Crimean Tatar human rights activist Leniie Umerova, who called herself a “political prisoner” of the Russians for almost two years, and Khuan Leyva Garsiya, a Ukrainian soldier who was among the hundreds that held out for months at the Azovstal steel plant in the besieged city of Mariupol before turning themselves over to the Russians in May 2022.

Garsiya, who was born in Mariupol to a Ukrainian mother and Cuban father, spent 1,183 days as a prisoner of war (POW). He said he weighed 55kg when he was freed, pulling out a picture of his emaciated body to show the council.

He said he was tortured, beaten harder and humiliated more than other prisoners because the Russians suspected that he was a foreign mercenary due to his Cuban ancestry or an American spy because he went to college in the US.

“Russians were outraged that someone with a connection to Cuba, whom they consider an ally, would fight against their occupation army,” said Garsiya, who is still in the Ukrainian military.

Two of my friends were beaten to death in detention centers in the Donetsk region

Khuan Leyva Garsiya, Ukrainian soldier

He said the Russians tried to break the prisoners mentally and force them to confess to falsified crimes through torture, including freezing, beatings, electrocution and sexual abuse, he said.

“Two of my friends were beaten to death in detention centres in the Donetsk region,” Garsiya said. “Two of my friends died because of the conditions they were put in in Russian prisons and were returned in plastic bags to the homeland.”

For Umerova, her captivity began when she tried to enter Russia from Georgia to visit her seriously ill father in Crimea, which is part of Ukraine but has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

She said she was placed in detention on “fabricated charges”. But unlike many others, she was able to contact an attorney. In the third month, she said, her attorney obtained her release through a court order.

“But as soon as the prison gates opened, a bag was put over my head, and I was taken away again.” In six months, she said she was moved to seven different facilities, calling it “a carousel of repression”.

What happened to her, Umerova said, is part of a system Russia uses to unlawfully detain, isolate, torture and fabricate charges against civilians. She named half a dozen women in Russian prisons today and said at least 84 women have faced criminal prosecution.

UN also said Russian detainees reported abuses

UN human rights experts also interviewed 816 Russians and 57 third-country national prisoners of war from over 45 countries who were members of the Russian armed forces in Ukraine, said Julio, the assistant secretary-general.

About half reported torture or ill-treatment, primarily during the initial stages of captivity and interrogation by Ukrainians, she said. But UN monitors reported that once they arrived in Ukrainian detention facilities, “the conditions generally comply with international humanitarian law and have improved since 2022”.

Russia’s deputy UN ambassador Maria Zabolotskaya told the council the Russian armed forces are complying with international humanitarian law, which includes the treatment of prisoners. She claimed Russian prisoners in Ukraine faced “torture and degradation and moral and physical abuse”.

She called the Security Council meeting part of “a disinformation campaign against Russia”, funded by Nato countries involved in the Ukraine conflict. The aim, she said, “is to derail efforts towards a peace settlement and to justify strikes on the territory of Russia and against civilians”.

Ukraine’s deputy UN ambassador Volodymyr Pavlichenko said he was struck that during Monday’s meeting, Russia was not ready to discuss the return of POWs — “including their POWs” — and all civilian detainees including abducted children.

AP

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An estimated 2.4-million Afghan girls remain excluded from secondary education five years after the Taliban took over the country, a UN agency said on Tuesday, renewing a call for an immediate restoration of their right to education.

Unesco, the Paris-based UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, said the continued exclusion of women and girls from education amounted to a grave violation of their fundamental rights.

“Afghanistan remains the only country in the world where girls and women are formally banned from secondary and higher education,” Hoda Jaberian, Unesco’s programme co-ordinator for education in emergencies, said in a news conference by video. “Five years is not a temporary interruption in a child’s education. It is clearly almost an entire secondary school cycle.”

Jaberian said: “Unesco continues to call for the immediate and unconditional restoration of girls and women’s right to secondary and higher education. It is not negotiable. It’s a basic human right and we reiterate that there is no substitute for this.”

The Taliban seized power on August 15, 2021, as US and Nato forces withdrew from the country after two decades of war.

Shortly after, it barred girls from secondary schools and later extended the restrictions to higher education, employment and other sectors, effectively excluding women and girls from public life.

The Taliban has maintained the ban despite appeals from the UN, humanitarian groups, human‑rights advocates, and several Islamic countries, insisting the issue is a domestic matter.

Afghanistan had made really major progress in expanding girls’ access to education. But unfortunately, much of that progress now has been completely reversed

Hoda Jaberian, UNESCO’s program coordinator for education in emergencies

Jaberian said the restrictions are reversing two decades of progress that Afghanistan had made in education. While access to schooling for girls was severely limited in 2001, by 2021 nearly 1-million girls were enrolled in secondary education.

“Afghanistan had made really major progress in expanding girls’ access to education,” Jaberian said. “But unfortunately, much of that progress now has been completely reversed.”

Unesco has been supporting education in Afghanistan by running community-based education, literacy and skills development programmes.

The skills development and literacy classes take place in community spaces, often inside the homes of the literacy facilitators — with the knowledge of the authorities, the agency said. It said there were more than 1,000 literacy facilitators, most of them trained by Unesco and its partners.

“While the restriction remains, we cannot abandon Afghan learners,” Jaberian said. “Unesco work with communities and our partners from the communities to preserve every possible pathway to learning.”

AP

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Gauteng health MEC Faith Mazibuko says the new mobile units the department has deployed to different parts of the province will take services to the people, especially in areas where they have had to travel far for help.

Mazibuko oversaw the handover on Tuesday of seven mobile clinic vehicles that will be deployed in Tshwane, Sedibeng, Ekurhuleni and Johannesburg.

“These state-of-the-art mobile units will bring quality services closer to communities. No resident will be left behind,” Mazibuko said.

The handover took place at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Soweto.

The units are fitted with solar-powered systems, oxygen facilities, refrigeration units, generators and clinical examination tools.

Mazibuko said the aim was to take primary care to townships, informal settlements, hostels and farming communities where residents now walk far for treatment.

“There are areas where clinics are not accessible, in Johannesburg, Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng, hence today is so important.

“We’re happy today that with the little money the department has, we can help out residents in Gauteng,” she added.

She urged district managers to audit their fleets and write off mobile clinics that are not working so money is not wasted on vehicles that never leave the yard.

Gauteng has announced several mobile clinic rollouts over the past five years, but there has been little consistency in services.

Palesa More, a resident from Motsoaledi, says the problem is frequency, not just vehicles.

“They introduced mobile clinics before but it’s not enough because they come once a week and people need care every day. It does not really reduce the pressure on hospitals when they come only once a week,” More said.

The department said the new units would target areas with the worst access but released no schedule for visits.

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Former Toyota Motor Corp chair Hiroshi Okuda, who has died aged 93 according to Kyodo News, was a rare outsider at the top of a firm more often run by a founding-family member, who massively grew the carmaker’s presence overseas and cemented its global status.

The cause of death was not immediately clear.

As Toyota president from 1995, Okuda battled a period of poor exports and a strong yen by building production bases abroad in a strategy that saw sales surge, while internally championing the development of the revolutionary petrol-electric Prius car.

He was also a rare critic, publicly dismissing a top-job appointment for the founder’s grandson as nepotism.

Okuda was born in 1932 in the central prefecture of Mie to a wealthy family that owned a regional stockbroker. He joined Toyota’s accounting department in 1955 and, within three years, was overseeing expenses including for executive entertainment.

He told the Nikkei business daily that he confronted people over opaque transactions — superiors and board members alike.

“Within the company, I was shunned and viewed as ‘cocky’,” the newspaper quoted him as saying in 2013. “However, after a decade of doing this kind of work, I became able to see the company comprehensively from a kind of managerial point of view.”

He became Toyota’s first leader outside the Toyoda family in nearly three decades, assuming the presidency at a time when shrinking domestic market share added to the headaches of declining Japanese exports and a strong currency.

The next year, in 1996, Okuda spearheaded a strategy dubbed “Vision 2005” to slash engineering costs and reduce export reliance in favour of local production in key markets. In a decade, overseas sales more than doubled, helping global sales soar 67%.

He was also instrumental in bringing the Prius to market in 1997, a year earlier than planned, emphasising the prestige of being the first to perfect mass-produced hybrid vehicles.

Okuda even challenged the power of the founding family — a rarity for a Toyota executive. He became chair in 1999 and on the eve of Akio Toyoda joining the board a year later, Okuda told the Wall Street Journal that the founder’s grandson had to prove he was worthy of leading rather than being handed control.

Toyoda became president in 2009 and chair in 2023.

“Akio-class talents are rolling around all over Toyota, like so many potatoes,” the newspaper quoted Okuda as saying. “The Toyoda family will eventually become a ‘shrine’ to the company’s foundation, to which we will pay respect once a year.”

Okuda’s chairmanship ended in 2006. He also chaired the powerful Keidanren business lobby from 2002 to 2006 and was president of the Japan Bank for International Co-operation for about a year from 2012.

Reuters

Cape Town’s attacker Sigi Burger scored in the dying seconds for the home side to overcome Tshwane 56-55 and be crowned this year’s champions of the Spar National Netball Championships at Stellenberg High School in Cape Town.

In what turned out to be a ding-dong four quarters, Cape Town held their nerve during the dramatic closing stages and prevented the match from going to extra time in front of their own supporters.

It was a heartbreaking end for Tshwane as they tasted their first defeat in the last match of the tournament after dominating proceedings from the opening day.

After the game, former Netball Proteas attacker Burger said there was pressure to score the match-winning point but experience helped her handle the big moment.

Sigi Burger after her late goal helped Cape Town to beat Tshwane 56-55 in SPAR National Championships final on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/PrduYnhbXg

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 11, 2026

“I didn’t know [that there were only about 10 seconds remaining on the clock]. In those situations, there is a lot of pressure on your hands but it is about being slightly older and mature to be able to handle those big moments,” she said.

“It is about trusting your training, the environment around you and knowing it is just another shot.”

Her coach, Dr Freda Kemp, said Cape Town were rewarded for their hard work behind the scenes and the victory makes up for the disappointment of last year, when they lost in the final.

“We lost the final by one point last year. We really worked hard to make sure players got everything they needed to perform at the highest level. We can be proud of what we achieved today.

The girls have put in so much work behind the scenes to prepare for this event.

Bongi Msomi, Johannesburg U-21 coach

“We have worked hard over the past three years. I said to the federation we needed to start attracting sponsorships so that we are able to develop and take netball forward,” said Kemp.

In the earlier under-21 final, Johannesburg proved too strong for Tshwane by beating them 53-38 for their third title in succession and another stamp of approval for coach Bongi Msomi.

Msomi, the former Netball Proteas captain, praised her players for the professional conduct on and off the pitch.

“We are lucky to have enough numbers to get out there and perform at this level. The girls have put in so much work behind the scenes to prepare for this event,” she said.

“Coming into the tournament, we made them come up with their own ideas of what they want to achieve ... to make them accountable. I cannot question how they have been looking, both on and off the court.”

TimesLIVE

Moscow on Tuesday freed a former US Marine jailed in Russia since 2022 after Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a pardon for the ailing American based on humanitarian reasons, US officials said.

The White House and the state department had urged Moscow to release Robert Gilman, 32, so he can receive medical treatment in the US.

Gilman was being held in a prison in Voronezh, about 550km south of Moscow. The exact circumstances of his health are unclear.

But Eric Lebson, chief strategy officer of Global Reach, an advocacy group representing Gilman’s family, told Reuters last week that Gilman was moved in late June from the prison hospital to the psychiatric ward of a civilian emergency hospital in a catatonic-like state assessed as a “dissociative stupor”.

The US officials said Gilman on Tuesday was on a state department plane carrying him from Russia to Washington Dulles Airport.

A US official who spoke to Gilman said he was walking and talking.

“All things considered he seems to be in good shape,” the official said.

Gilman will be evaluated on the flight by four doctors, said the US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity. His mother, Nina, was also on board.

The US officials said Gilman, on arrival at Dulles, will be greeted by US envoy Steve Witkoff and deputy national security adviser Sebastian Gorka, both of whom had sought Gilman’s release along with secretary of state Marco Rubio, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, US special envoy for hostage response Adam Boehler and other officials.

After that, Gilman is likely to be flown to a rehabilitation centre in San Antonio, Texas, for medical treatment, the officials said.

ARRESTED OVER POLICE OFFICER INCIDENT

Gilman, who served in the US Marines from August 2019 until August 2020, was travelling by train when he was arrested in January 2022 in Voronezh, Lebson said.

He was detained for allegedly kicking a police officer while drunk, according to Russian state media.

However, his father, Vladimir Gilman, who emigrated to Massachusetts from Russia, wrote in an October 2024 Boston Globe op-ed that the charges were false.

His son, he said, had fallen ill when the incident occurred and accidentally kicked the officer. The officer was uninjured, dropped the charges, and did not present evidence at Gilman’s trial, he wrote.

Robert Gilman was sentenced to 4-1/2 years in jail. He was one of at least 10 Americans known to be imprisoned in Russia.

The US officials said a Russian senior official, Yuri Ushakov, informed Trump aides last week that Putin had agreed to sign a decree pardoning Gilman for humanitarian purposes, given Putin’s friendship with the president.

The release resulted from intense negotiations over the weekend by US and Russian officials. The US did not exchange any Russian prisoners to gain Gilman’s release and no concessions were made, the officials said.

“It’s a goodwill gesture,” one official said.

A state department spokesperson said Gilman had been recently designated as wrongfully detained and that it was hoped that another American with the same designation, Stephen Hubbard, would now be released along with other Americans “unjustly held in Russia”.

Hubbard, a retired schoolteacher, was sentenced in October 2024 to almost seven years in a penal colony after a court found him guilty of serving in a Ukrainian territorial defence unit against Russian forces, tasked with manning a checkpoint.

Hubbard denied the charge.

Reuters

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US President Donald Trump accused Iran of being “devious negotiators” in an interview released late on Monday and described some of his current options in the war — “just bop along” and let Tehran fail economically or hit them “really, really hard”.

“I’m sort of negotiating,” Trump told Real America’s Voice in a phone interview. “They’re very devious negotiators.”

Since the conflict began in late February, Trump has repeatedly oscillated between threats of escalation and claims that a peace deal is imminent.

Pakistan said on Tuesday the US and Iran were close to “some sort” of deal, and Qatar said talks on managing the Strait of Hormuz were at an advanced stage, despite reports of new attacks on shipping in regional waters.

Trump described one of his possible strategies as: “Do what I’m doing now: just bop along and look how bad they’re doing.

“Economically, they are a mess. They can’t borrow money. We control their money and what they have, which is a lot. They had a lot, and we have total control of it. I’m their banker,” he said, referring to frozen Iranian assets.

Another option would be to “hit them really, really hard”, Trump said.

Trump also shrugged off concerns of low munitions, saying the US was “building them like crazy”, and cast blame on his predecessor, former US President Joe Biden.

Reuters reported last week that the US Army had used up much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during the war, raising concerns about the military’s readiness for future conflicts.

“We’re fine with munitions. But the reason it would be lower, and we’re building them like crazy, but the reason it’s low is because he (Biden) gave $300bn worth to Ukraine,” Trump said.

Reuters

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Italtile expects a subdued economic environment to limit growth in the short term, with consumers continuing to delay discretionary spending on home improvements despite signs of stability in the retail market.

The home-improvement group, which owns brands including CTM, Italtile Retail and TopT, said on Tuesday that the economy delivered modest, steady growth during the year to June, but household spending remained constrained by rising costs and weak consumer demand.

Italtile said geopolitical tensions had recently pushed up fuel and transport costs, while also constraining construction investment and household discretionary spending. Intense competition and excess supply, particularly in the tile market, have added further pressure.

“The current macro environment does not support rapid topline growth,” the group said. Instead, the company pointed to efficiency, cost competitiveness and strengthening its market position as the main drivers of future growth.

The warning came as Italtile reported broadly stable retail trading during the year, suggesting that consumers are still active but highly selective about where they spend.

System-wide turnover across CTM, Italtile Retail and TopT was stable compared with the previous year. Italtile Retail delivered improved sales and volumes, while TopT recorded modest sales growth. CTM was broadly stable, though its second-half performance was slightly weaker.

Italtile said its manufacturing operations are under pressure as global overcapacity and the continued dumping of cheaper tiles into South Africa have contributed to price deflation, while higher energy, transport, fuel and municipal costs have squeezed margins.

The International Trade Administration Commission’s provisional anti-dumping duties on ceramic and porcelain wall and floor tiles, announced in July, could provide some relief to local manufacturers by addressing what Italtile described as an imbalance between excess supply and weak demand.

Italtile expects headline earnings per share for the year ended June 2026 to decline between 7.5% and 12.4%, to between 109.5c and 115.7c, from 125.1c previously. Earnings per share are expected to fall between 7.7% and 12.7%.

TimesLIVE

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Nelson Mandela University chancellor Naledi Pandor has criticised mathematical literacy as an alternative to pure mathematics in the further education and training (FET) phase, describing its introduction as a disaster.

The subject was introduced in 2006 during Pandor’s tenure as basic education minister (2004–2009).

In an interview on the Renaissance podcast, Pandor admitted that allowing the subject to be approved was one of the biggest mistakes of her tenure.

“I suppose one makes mistakes,” Pandor said. “I didn’t support maths literacy because I knew it would be a disaster, but I allowed officials to persuade me.”

She explained that introducing the subject significantly reduced the number of pupils taking pure mathematics.

“What I suspected would happen did happen: a lot of students dropped pure maths in favour of maths literacy, which brought down our overall mathematics numbers.”

Despite her opposition to its implementation as a core substitute, Pandor acknowledged the value of the subject.

“I think it is important, but not as a replacement for pure mathematics. Basic numeracy is something all children should possess, but as a country, we need more mathematicians.”

Pandor also addressed the contentious issue of the matric pass mark, stating that she stood firm against lowering standards during her time in office. She noted that while current pass rates are higher than those during her tenure, the matric exams were tougher under her leadership because she prioritised exam quality.

The class of 2025 achieved an all-time high pass rate of 88% nationally under basic education minister Siviwe Gwarube. Pandor saw her lowest of 62.5% in 2008.

“I got into trouble because I insisted on quality matric exam papers, and perhaps they became too difficult,” Pandor said. “During my time, the matric pass rate went down, and naturally, people blamed the minister. However, the quality of the exam papers was excellent, meaning those who passed were top-tier. That is what we should aim to achieve. At the same time, it doesn’t make sense to have high failure rates; we should have explored other supporting options.”

Pandor suggested that low performance is not always a reflection of a pupil’s ability but often points to ineffective teaching. She suggested that the focus should shift toward evaluating teacher competence rather than testing only pupils.

“To drive real change in society, you sometimes have to confront uncomfortable realities. We often assume teachers understand the content, but there is sometimes a fundamental problem there. We must prioritise upgrading teacher training. Many older teachers were trained under the previous education system, which did not adequately equip them to teach foundational skills like reading and writing.”

Pandor defended the closure of teacher training colleges in the 1990s, emphasising that the change was necessary.

“We had many teacher training colleges. While a few were exceptional, a large number were substandard and cost the state immense amounts of money. Closing them was a necessary adjustment to ensure state resources were spent efficiently.”

She added that many of the colleges focused excessively on educational theory rooted in the Bantu Education framework, rather than subject matter expertise.

“We ended up with teachers who held education qualifications but lacked mastery in core subjects such as mathematics or English. Other successful education systems prioritise strong subject knowledge before professional teaching qualifications.”

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Four leading US human rights groups on Tuesday sued the Trump administration over its campaign aimed at dismantling the International Criminal Court, calling the effort unconstitutional.

President Donald Trump last year issued an executive order authorising sanctions against prosecutors, judges and others working with the court for pursuing cases against officials from the US and its ally Israel, neither of which are members of the ICC.

Human Rights Watch, the Open Society Institute, the American Friends Service Committee and the Centre for Constitutional Rights said in their lawsuit filed in New York that those sanctions prevent them from working with the court to seek justice for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity around the world.

“The plaintiffs are seeking an end to this sanctions regime, which transgresses the president’s authority and violates international and US law, including the rights to freedom of expression and religion,” lead counsel Andrew Loewenstein of Foley Hoag LLP, which is representing the human rights groups, said in a statement.

The lawsuit comes after a similar lawsuit filed last month by advocacy groups who work on human rights for Palestinians. In response to that lawsuit, the state department said the groups were seeking to “enable ICC overreach” and said the court posed a threat to US sovereignty.

Three ICC judges have separately sued the Trump administration over the sanctions.

Trump’s opposition to the ICC goes back to his first term. A similar executive order Trump issued in 2020 was blocked by a judge, who said it likely violated the First Amendment, before being rescinded by President Joe Biden’s administration in 2021.

Secretary of state Marco Rubio last month said the administration would step up efforts to undermine the court in The Hague, including with a diplomatic campaign aimed at persuading other countries to quit it. Rubio argued that the court posed a threat to US personnel carrying out Trump’s hardline immigration policies or strikes on boats accused of carrying drugs, as well as other US service members.

Trump, during a July 31 cabinet meeting, said in response to an update from Rubio that the campaign was aimed at defending Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, rather than Trump himself.

Reuters

Story audio is generated using AI

Human settlement teams have been deployed to communities where snow has blanketed houses and cut off communications in Impendle, Kokstad and Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal.

MEC for transport and human settlements Siboniso Duma, who visited affected areas on Tuesday, said Kokstad and Impendle municipalities have been exposed to severe freezing temperatures.

“Their houses are leaking as they have been completely blanketed by the snow. In particular, communities who live below the belly of the Drakensberg Mountain in Impendle remain completely isolated.”

He said heavy snow was bound to affect electricity, water, clinics and schools. It had also weakened the cellular network and signals, resulting in residents being cut off and unable to access emergency services.

Duma said several communities in deep rural areas in Underberg, Kokstad and the border area between KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape were severely affected by the snow.

“We thank the minister of human settlements Thembi Simelane who has dispatched a team that will join our roving team from human settlements.

“Working with Impendle Local Municipality, Umgungundlovu District Municipality and other key stakeholders, the team will speed up interventions to assist affected communities.”

Duma also praised RTI and operators of graders for their efficiency and precision in executing the snowfall response plan.

While rain continues, the following major routes are clear and not affected by snow:

• R34 - Richards Bay, Eshowe to Mpumalanga.
• R33
• R617 to Bulwer is clear and no snow
• R56 to Kokstad and Eastern Cape — clear, but it is raining
• Midway to Mooi River is clear, though it is drizzling

According to the SA Weather Service, rain, wind and cold conditions will continue along the east coast and adjacent interior. Snowfall is still expected in the mountainous areas.

TimesLIVE

Former Ukrainian detainees and Ukrainian officials accused Russia on Monday of systematically torturing prisoners of war and civilian detainees, holding captives incommunicado and subjecting them to beatings, electric shocks and sexual abuse, with thousands still in captivity.

Russia rejected the allegations made at an informal UN Security Council meeting, with its deputy UN representative Maria Zabolotskaya calling it “a disinformation campaign” and alleging that Russian prisoners in Ukraine were subjected to “torture and degradation and moral and physical abuse”.

Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, still an active member of the Ukrainian military, said his Russian captors subjected him to every imaginable form of torture during 1,183 days in captivity.

“Yes ... I was tortured,” he told reporters after the UN meeting. “Anything you can think of that can be done hurtful, humiliating to a man, unwillingly. Anything that comes to your mind, not only verbal, physical abuse, daily beatings, electrocution, excessive, excessive exercises in freezing cold when it’s minus degrees ... sexual abuse. Everything that can be applied to a person into making a person break mentally. It was all applied to me and most of my comrades.”

Garsiya said he was lucky to survive but two of his friends were beaten to death in detention centres in the Donetsk region. Prisoners were held in “overcrowded barracks without adequate conditions”, where “almost all POWs were ill with dysentery” and many were starving, he told the UN meeting.

A Ukrainian with a Cuban father, he said guards targeted him particularly because of his Latino name, accusing him of being “a mercenary and an American spy”.

Anything you can think of that can be done hurtful, humiliating to a man, unwillingly. Anything that comes to your mind, not only verbal, physical abuse, daily beatings, electrocution, excessive, excessive exercises in freezing cold when it’s minus degrees ... sexual abuse. Everything that can be applied to a person into making a person break mentally. It was all applied to me and most of my comrades.

Khuan Alberto Levya Garsiya, former Russian prisoner

Crimean Tatar activist Leniie Umerova, released in a prisoner exchange in 2024, said she was detained while trying to visit her seriously ill father in Crimea.

She described being moved through “seven detention facilities” in what she called “a carousel of repression” and accused Russia of using torture against Ukrainians in captivity.

Oleg Gushin of the Ukrainian government’s Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War said Ukrainian prisoners were “killed and tortured” in detention.

He said Kyiv had identified “more than 300 places of detention” in Russia and occupied Ukrainian territory and that while more than 9,000 Ukrainians had been returned through exchanges, “thousands” remained in Russian captivity.

Ukraine’s Chargé d’Affaires Volodymyr Pavlichenko called for greater international pressure and accountability for Russia’s treatment of prisoners.

‘Widespread and systematic’

UN assistant secretary-general for human rights Claudia Fuentes Julio said UN monitoring showed that “widespread and systematic torture and ill-treatment of Ukrainian prisoners of war and civilian detainees by the Russian Federation authorities continues,” including sexual violence.

Since February 2022, the UN Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights had documented the execution of 129 Ukrainian prisoners of war at the beginning of their captivity and the deaths of 48 in custody, resulting from torture, denial of medical care, or other inhumane conditions of detention, she said.

She said more than 95% of Ukrainian prisoners of war interviewed reported experiencing torture or ill-treatment.

She said more than half also reported sexual violence, including “rape, gang rape, beating while nude, beatings to the genitals, electric shocks to the genitals and nipples, and degrading treatment of a sexualised nature”.

She said the UN had received “consistent accounts of severe beatings with objects such as batons, heavy belts, and wood, electric shocks, dog attacks, mock executions and other forms of torture.”

Fuentes Julio said the OHCHR had also documented torture and ill-treatment of Russian and third-country national prisoners of war held by Ukraine, but “on a fundamentally different scale”.

She said about half of Russian and third-country prisoners interviewed reported abuse during initial stages of captivity.

Reuters

He fled to Moscow, ending more than five decades of iron-fisted rule by his family and opening a new chapter for Syria.

The historic shift was underscored on Tuesday when a Damascus court sentenced him to death in his absence for crimes including killings, arbitrary arrests and torture during the years in which he clung to power.

Assad became president in 2000 after the death of his father, Hafez.

Shaped in its early years by the Iraq war and crisis in Lebanon, Assad’s rule was defined by the civil war, which spiralled out of the 2011 Arab Spring, when Syrians demanding democracy took to the streets, to be met with deadly force.

Assad turned the full power of the Syrian military against his opponents as he sought to crush the rebellion inspired by the Arab Spring movement that had toppled leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.

Inquiries by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations concluded that government forces under Assad used the nerve agent sarin and chlorine as a weapon in attacks during the civil war on rebel-held areas.

Following one poison gas attack in 2018, then-US President Donald Trump declared Assad an “animal”. Authorities denied using chemical weapons, which killed and injured thousands during the war.

His ruthless approach to fighting rebels, including siege warfare tactics condemned as “medieval” by UN investigators, drew comparisons with the way his father had defeated Islamist insurgents in the 1980s.

Justifying his response, Assad compared himself to a surgeon cutting into a wound. “Do we say to him: ‘Your hands are covered in blood?’ Or do we thank him for saving the patient?” he said in parliament in 2012.

Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in the war, cities were flattened, and more than a quarter of the population fled abroad.

A crumbling army

His grip on power appeared to be slipping in the first years of the war, as much of Syria fell to insurgents, some of them backed by Turkey, Gulf Arab states and the US.

Shi’ite militias backed by his ally Iran began arriving in 2012 to fight on his side, shoring up his hold on Damascus. The arrival of Russia’s air force in 2015 allowed Assad to go on the offensive and claw back the bulk of the country.

He outlasted many of the foreign leaders who believed his demise was imminent in the early days of the conflict.

But reliant on Moscow and Tehran for military support and with parts of Syria still beyond his grasp, Assad’s rule remained precarious. In late 2024, insurgents seized a moment of opportunity, attacking when Iran had been weakened by conflict with Israel and Russia was distracted by its war in Ukraine.

Syria’s demoralised army crumbled as rebels led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group swept towards Damascus. Assad left the capital, first to a Russian airbase in Latakia, before being evacuated to Moscow on December 8 2024.

‘State-run machinery of death’

Prisoners freed from Syria’s notorious jails recounted the torture and abuse they’d endured. An international war crimes prosecutor, visiting Syria after Assad was toppled, said evidence emerging from mass grave sites exposed a “state-run machinery of death”. He accused the Assad-led state of having conducted organised killing comparable to Nazi Germany.

In October 2025, Reuters revealed that the Assad government had secretly moved thousands of bodies to a site in the desert east of Damascus, to hide evidence of atrocities.

From the start, Assad described the conflict as an international conspiracy against a country that had stood in opposition to the US and its Middle Eastern allies, especially Israel. He characterised the rebels as foreign-backed Islamist extremists who would have been easily defeated were it not for their supporters overseas. He dismissed the idea that there was such a thing as a moderate Syrian opposition.

After Sharaa, a former al Qaeda commander, seized power in Damascus, Assad issued a written statement saying that “the state had fallen into the hands of terrorism”.

Barrel bombs

Assad hailed from Syria’s Alawite minority, a group which follows a religion that is an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam and had historically been based in Syria’s coastal region.

Along with the presidency, he also inherited the leadership of the Syrian branch of the Baath Party, an Arab nationalist movement established in the 1940s.

Assad publicly held fast to the idea of Syria as a bastion of secular Arab nationalism even as the conflict appeared ever more sectarian, pitting his Alawite-led state and its Shi’ite backer Iran against insurgents drawn from the Sunni Muslim majority and supported by Sunni-led states.

The use of chemical weapons against rebel-held areas of Syria marked some of the most extensive uses of poison gas since World War One.

The deadliest such attack was on rebel-held Ghouta in 2013. The attack with sarin gas killed hundreds of people. It prompted no Western military response. The threat of a US missile strike was averted when Moscow brokered a deal for Syria’s chemical weapons to be destroyed by the following year.

After another sarin attack, in 2017, Trump ordered a cruise missile strike on a Syrian air base.

Earlier this year, the transitional leadership that took power after Assad was toppled said it had located remnants of a clandestine chemical weapons programme, including raw materials and munitions similar to those used to carry out deadly gas attacks during the civil war.

Assad consistently denied accusations that the state was to blame, in one instance accusing the global chemical weapons watchdog of fabricating a report about the use of chlorine gas at Washington’s behest, echoing a broader pattern of rejecting allegations of state brutality.

In a BBC interview in 2015, he appeared to make light of accusations that the army was dropping barrel bombs — barrels packed with explosives that cause indiscriminate destruction — saying: “I haven’t heard of the army using barrels, or maybe, cooking pots.”

When tens of thousands of photos were smuggled out of Syria showing brutal torture of people in government custody, Assad dismissed it as part of a plot funded by Qatar.

In 2025, France issued an arrest warrent for Assad and other former Syrian officials over the bombing of a press center in the city of Homs in 2012.

Eye doctor

Assad hadn’t always been destined for the presidency: Hafez had groomed another son, Bassel, for the role. But when Bassel died in a car crash in 1994, Bashar was transformed from an eye doctor in London — where he studied as a postgraduate — to heir apparent.

The early days of his rule gave rise to cautious optimism about reform in Syria, where a feared security apparatus had underpinned Hafez al-Assad’s rule since 1971. But this hope soon evaporated. The police state remained intact, perpetuating repression that ultimately fuelled the uprising against his rule in 2011.

Dissidents were jailed and economic reforms contributed to what US diplomats described, in a 2008 embassy cable released by WikiLeaks, as “parasitic” nepotism and corruption.

While the elite did well, drought was driving the poor from rural areas to slums where the revolt would blaze.

He is married to British-born former investment banker, Asma Akhras, with whom he has three children.

Reuters

The auction will return to Approach Golf in Knokke-Heist as part of Zoute Grand Prix Car Week, which runs from October 7 to 11. About 70 collector cars are expected to go under the hammer, following the inaugural event in 2025, which achieved more than €26m (R486m) in total sales.

One of the early consignments is a 2015 Ferrari LaFerrari, the Italian marque’s first production hybrid road car and successor to the Enzo.

The LaFerrari was introduced in 2013 as the latest in Ferrari’s line of limited-production flagship models, following the 288 GTO, F40, F50 and Enzo.

It combines a 6.3l naturally aspirated V12 with Ferrari’s HY-KERS hybrid system, which incorporates a Formula 1-derived electric motor producing 120kW. The combined system produces 708kW, enough for a 0-100km/h time of 2.6 seconds and a top speed of more than 350km/h.

The example being offered is finished in Grigio Ferro Metallizzato (dark iron grey) and was one of a small number delivered new to Belgium in 2015. Chassis number ZFF76ZHB00020822 has covered 13,069km and has remained in single ownership, with servicing carried out through the Ferrari dealer network.

The car will also be sold with a new factory high-voltage battery pack supplied under Ferrari’s LaFerrari Power warranty.

Joining it is a 2015 McLaren P1, one of just 375 examples produced. Only two P1s were allocated to the Belgian market.

The P1 combines a 3.8l twin-turbocharged V8 with an electric motor, producing a combined 674kW and 900Nm. It can accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.8 seconds, reach 200km/h in 6.8 seconds and has a top speed of 350km/h.

This particular car has had one owner from new and has covered just 290km. It is finished in Storm Grey and features a number of McLaren Special Operations (MSO) options, including the Stealth Pack, visual and gloss carbon-fibre aerodynamic components and silver-painted lightweight wheels.

Inside, it has Carbon Black Alcantara upholstery and carbon-fibre racing seats.

The P1 has been maintained throughout its life, including a 2026 service during which its high-voltage battery underwent a full health inspection. It also retains its original Belgian registration plate, “P1”.

According to Broad Arrow, the car has never been driven in the rain and remains in as-new condition.

The LaFerrari and P1 were two of the three hybrid hypercars commonly referred to as the “Holy Trinity” of the 2010s, alongside the Porsche 918 Spyder.

The Zoute Concours Auction is part of Zoute Grand Prix Car Week, with the Zoute Concours d’Élégance by ING Private Banking taking place on October 10 and 11.

Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds hailed it as a “landmark moment” for the Liberty Global-owned championship.

The deal will complement Formula E’s existing portfolio of free-to-air and linear broadcast partners, preserving broad accessibility.

Disney+ subscribers worldwide will get live coverage of every session at race weekends as well as behind-the-scenes programming and race replays on demand.

“Disney’s unrivalled global reach and storytelling will introduce Formula E to millions of new fans,” Dodds said in a statement. No financial details were given.

Formula E is entering a new GEN4 era next season with a more powerful car capable of accelerating from 0-100km/h in about 1.8 seconds, faster than a Formula One car. The series features 21 rounds across 13 events.

The current season ends in London this weekend with the drivers’ title still open.

Apple has replaced Walt Disney’s ESPN as Formula One’s official US broadcaster in a five-year deal from this season.

Reuters

In a conference call with investors Monday, the company behind Truth Social said it will be unwinding much of its expansion and doubling down on its original media business by selling a form of White House access, a move that has raised big ethical questions among Democrats and government watchdogs.

Trump started Truth Social after he was kicked off Twitter and Facebook, but the two reinstated him more than three years ago, so the company has had to transform itself. Instead of a “free speech” forum, it now acts more like a “hear it here first” site, a second White House press office where people get scoops from the president on everything from the Iran war to tariffs to the future of the US central bank.

But shares of the parent company, Trump Media & Technology, kept falling so it decided to become more than a media company, and branched into unrelated industries like online betting, finance, investment funds, buying and storing bitcoin and nuclear energy.

Now it’s returning to its original mission, with a twist: It’s offering a special new service that grants fast access to Trump’s posts for a fee.

The new business could double or triple revenue

In a conference call with investors, the company’s new CEO, Kevin McGurn, said it had already signed up several high speed trading firms, each paying between $60,000 (R971,344) and $100,000 (R1.6m) a month.

“We’re in the early innings,” said McGurn, noting that the potential market included data centre companies, news organisations and developers of large language models, not just traders, and he was talking to them all.

McGurn has rejected the idea that the new business is an ethics quagmire as good-government groups have said, noting that other social media companies provide a similar service. As for the White House, it denies conflicts even exist between Trump the president and Trump the businessman where his private interests may influence his public policy.

Traders on Wall Street can make big money if they get White House news faster and so are signing up — 10 in the week since the service began, which may seem like a tiny number but translates into a major boost for the company. The monthly customers collectively are paying as much as $7m and $12m annually — two to three times the revenue the company took in for all its businesses last year.

Trump Media needs the money — and a lot more.

It’s lost more than $1bn since the start of last year, and its earnings report released on Monday for the three months ended June 30 showed relief is not on the horizon. It lost another $238m, though much of that was due to paper losses from the plunging value of its bitcoin holdings.

Time is running out

The clock is ticking to fix the company.

Trump Media depends partly on outside funding, specifically $1bn raised from lenders with a special agreement that allows them to get paid back early. They can demand the company buy back their convertible notes on November 30, 18 months before the loans mature.

That cashout date is just after the November midterms, which could impact the company should Democrats get control of Congress. Several current members, including Massachusetts senator Elizabeth Warren, say they will hold formal investigations of Trump’s businesses, including Trump Media, should they take over.

A third deadline is farther out, but the most consequential — the end of Trump’s presidency.

Trump is a big draw for the platform’s users, but it’s not clear how many will read his posts after he leaves office, much less why traders will pay as much $1.2m a year for sneak peeks at his posts if he’s no longer able to declare on the site that the Strait of Hormuz is open or that he’s hiking tariffs on dozens of countries.

Would Vance in the White House help Truth Social?

The special, high-speed service, called Truth API, includes posts from other top posters on the site, but no one comes near the president in popularity. He has 13-million followers. The second biggest poster, his son, Donald jnr, has 7.5-million.

Other heavily followed posters include Trump administration members who also may fall in popularity once out of office, including FBI director Kash Patel and health secretary Robert F Kennedy jnr.

A wild card is JD Vance, who will be out of his vice-presidential job in 2028 but, if he runs for president and wins, may continue to post on the site where he has five million followers.

The other business line that McGurn is choosing to hold onto is nuclear fusion, a technology still not commercially available but that is getting a big boost by the current administration.

The US government has a helping hand

In June the US department of energy released a “road map” committing to government funding to speed the development of nuclear fusion as a national priority and calling for public-private partnerships.

Despite the help, investors still aren’t convinced Trump Media has a rosy future.

After closing at about $62 shortly after it went public in 2024, the stock has plunged into the single digits, wiping out billions in stock market value.

On Tuesday shares of Trump Media fell about 3.3% to $9.08.

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

Brazil’s supreme court is set to weigh a series of cases in the coming days that could reshape protections for the Amazon rainforest and the indigenous communities that depend on it.

The cases span from indigenous land rights to recent rollbacks on environmental safeguards and infrastructure projects. Despite their differences, they share a common path to the court.

In recent years, a mostly conservative congress approved measures that environmentalists say violate constitutional rights. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose administration has pursued a more environmentally focused agenda, vetoed some measures outright and parts of others.

But lawmakers overrode those objections, and the disputes ultimately reached the supreme court, which environmental advocates increasingly view as the last line of defence against the weakening of environmental protections in Brazil.

The cases illustrate the constraints facing the Lula administration. Despite notable achievements in reducing deforestation and directing resources to foster ecological investments, the government has often struggled to counter a conservative congress where agribusiness interests wield significant influence.

“The government is very weak in the legislative arena,” said Suely Araújo, a policy coordinator at the Climate Observatory, a network of environmental nonprofits. ”It often opposes anti-environmental bills, but it lacks the political strength to persuade congress to vote with it.”

Agribusiness holds considerable sway in congress

The Lula administration is not only outnumbered in congress, but also has less leverage to negotiate than previous Brazilian governments. In recent years, lawmakers have gained greater control over the federal budget, a key tool of political bargaining.

Agribusiness, one of Brazil’s most powerful economic sectors, also holds a majority in congress and has pushed through measures that weaken environmental protections. As a result, the supreme court has emerged as a check on congress, helping preserve parts of Lula’s environmental agenda when lawmakers push in the opposite direction.

Brazil needs an environmental licensing system that ... must expand infrastructure investment while confronting climate change and biodiversity loss

Brazil’s environment ministry

The office of the president’s chief of staff, which coordinates the government’s relations with congress, told Associated Press that it would not comment on cases pending before the supreme court.

Brazil is the world’s largest producer of soybeans and beef. While most of the beef is consumed domestically, most soybeans are exported. From January through July 2026, China, Brazil’s largest trading partner, bought 50% of its beef exports and 70% of its soybean exports, according to official trade data.

The expansion of Brazil’s agricultural frontier, particularly for cattle ranching and soybean production, is the country’s leading cause of deforestation, much of it in the Amazon.

The parliamentary Agricultural Front did not respond to a request for comment. Agribusiness groups have long said they oppose illegal deforestation and point to increased agricultural productivity even as forest clearing has declined.

Protecting the rainforest is critical to tackling climate change. The Amazon helps regulate climate and rainfall patterns and stores vast amounts of carbon that, if released, could further accelerate global warming.

Shaping the future of indigenous lands

On Friday, Brazil’s supreme court began reviewing final motions seeking clarification of a 2025 ruling that rejected the “time limit” thesis, a legal theory backed by the agribusiness caucus that would restrict indigenous land claims to territories they occupied or were under legal dispute when the constitution took effect on October 5, 1988.

Supporters say the cutoff provides legal certainty for landowners. Indigenous groups argue it disregards decades of expulsions and forced displacement, particularly during Brazil’s agricultural expansion in the 20th century.

The justices are considering motions filed by the government, political parties, farmers and indigenous organisations, with votes due by August 18. Among other issues, they are expected to address compensation rules and possible deadlines for completing indigenous land demarcations.

Ricardo Terena, a lawyer with the advocacy organization Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, said some of the proposals could effectively stall future demarcations by adding administrative hurdles and broadening compensation rights for non-indigenous occupants, allowing them to remain on disputed land until payment is made.

The Kawahiva indigenous people, who remain isolated and uncontacted in the Amazon, is one of the many communities who may be affected by the proceedings. Authorities confirmed their presence in Mato Grosso state in 1999, but only completed the physical demarcation of their territory by mapping it out earlier this month.

According to the nonprofit Survival International, the remaining Kawahiva are nomadic hunter-gatherers who survived attacks and disease and continue to avoid contact with outsiders.

Two other cases that could reshape Amazon governance

On Wednesday, Brazil’s top court is also scheduled to consider two other significant sets of cases: state laws that led to the end of the soy moratorium and a new environmental licence law that fast-tracked approval of strategic infrastructure projects.

In January, major grain traders withdrew from the soy moratorium, a nearly 20-year-old pact credited with reducing Amazon deforestation by barring soy grown on cleared land. The agreement collapsed after top soy-producing states passed bills revoking tax benefits for participating companies. Justice Flávio Dino issued an injunction temporarily halting the state legislation, and the full court is now set to review his order.

Also on Wednesday, the court is expected to consider a challenge to the new environmental licensing law that took effect in February. The law fast-tracks permits for projects with significant impact, including mines, highways, and industrial plants.

Araújo of the Climate Observatory said she expects the supreme court to strike down at least what environmentalists consider the law’s most clearly unconstitutional provisions, including those allowing self-licencing for projects with moderate environmental impacts. She added the law is already having tangible consequences in the Amazon, citing the paving of a controversial highway and plans to dredge a major river without adequate prior environmental review.

The environment ministry has defended the soy moratorium, saying it helped reduce Amazon deforestation even as Brazil expanded production. On the environmental licensing law, the ministry said the government had sought to veto provisions it considered problematic and remained concerned about maintaining minimum national standards.

“Brazil needs an environmental licensing system that is more efficient, predictable, technically robust and capable of addressing the challenges of an economy that must expand infrastructure investment while confronting climate change and biodiversity loss,” the ministry said.

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

Firefighters in western Libya fought on Tuesday to extinguish a fire caused by a drone strike on an oil facility, and a car bomb killed a senior military officer in the country’s east in the latest attacks in the chaos-stricken North African nation.

The drone hit a fuel tank at the Zawiya oil refinery, the largest operational refinery in Libya, in the Mediterranean town of Zawiya on Monday, about 47km west of capital, Tripoli, the state-run National Oil Corporation (NOC) said.

The attack ignited a huge blaze at the fuel storage tank that burnt through the night and was still burning on Tuesday afternoon, according to the Civil Defence, a first responders’ agency.

Eyewitness footage showed firefighters attempting to fight a huge blaze at an oil refinery in Zawiya, Libya. Libya's oil ministry said a series of drone attacks had targeted the oil facilities, however there was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attacks pic.twitter.com/RZjWIdsg4g

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 11, 2026

There were no reports of casualties, the health authorities said.

No group has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks on oil facilities in Zawiya or the car bomb in the eastern city of Benghazi on Monday.

Footage aired by local media showed huge flames and fireballs erupting from the tank, with black and orange smoke rising into the sky as firefighters spray what appears to be foam or water in efforts to extinguish the intense fire.

As they fought the flames, another drone hit close to a key oil tank nearby but did not cause casualties or damage, the NOC said.

The company said the tank, which held 4.5-million litres of fuel when it was hit, collapsed and declared a state of maximum emergency at the facility.

Two drones hit the town’s power plant, with one damaging its firefighting system while the second landed close to the facility’s main fuel storage, local media reported.

Monday’s strikes were the latest in a series of drone attacks on oil infrastructure in Zawiya, which houses critical energy infrastructure including the country’s largest oil refinery, an export terminal and a power plant. The drone strikes come as Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan is set to arrive in Libya for a visit. He is due to visit Tripoli and Benghazi.

A major oil refinery in Libya has been engulfed in flames after a drone strike targeted the facility, in the latest attack to hit the country. No serious injuries were reported, but Libyan National Oil Corporation says it could suspend operations if the attacks continue. pic.twitter.com/euXbm3jSQR

— BBC News Africa (@BBCAfrica) August 11, 2026

At the weekend, the NOC said drone strikes had hit a fuel tank and a desalination plant linked to the oil facilities in Zawiya. It said the tank was damaged.

The attacks come as tensions are rising between the government of western Libya and a warlord who controls the city of Zawiya.

Much of western Libya is ruled by local militias loosely allied to Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah’s government in Tripoli.

Jalel Harchaoui, an analyst affiliated with the Royal United Services Institute in London, said warlord Mohamed Bahroun has been cornered by the government and his forces “are likely to resort to desperate measures”.

Separately, a senior military officer with the forces of powerful commander Khalifa Hifter was killed in a car bomb on Monday evening in the eastern city of Benghazi, authorities said.

Maj-Gen Fawzy al-Mansouri, director of the military intelligence of Hifter’s self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), was killed when an explosive-laden vehicle exploded into his car in the Sayyida Aisha neighbourhood in Benghazi, the LNA said.

The LNA is allied with one of Libya’s two rival governments, which controls the country’s eastern and southern parts.

The attacks underscore the fragility of security in the oil-rich country. Libya, a largely lawless Mediterranean country, has been plunged into chaos and division after the 2011 uprising-turned-civil war, which toppled and later killed long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi.

Amid the chaos, militias grew in wealth and power, particularly in Tripoli and the western part of the country.

The county has been divided for years between rival administrations in the east and west, each backed by armed groups and foreign governments. Currently, it is governed by Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah’s government in the west and by the administration of Prime Minister Ossama Hammad in the east.

AP

In the study, researchers used machine learning to analyse brain scans of 12 dogs as the animals viewed images of human faces displaying different emotions, the university said in a press release on Tuesday.

Researchers found that brain regions linked to higher cognitive functions and reward processing — the temporal cortex and caudate nucleus — were activated only by images of happy strangers.

Anger, fear and sadness did not trigger those regions, according to the study, published in Cell Press journal iScience on Monday.

However, when the researchers looked at the whole brain, they found distinct activity patterns that differentiated fear from anger and sadness, providing the first evidence that dogs can tell apart specific negative facial expressions.

Dogs “have evolved with us to understand our expressions and co-operate with us, and recognising that can change how we communicate with and care for them”, senior author Laura Cuaya said.

The researchers next plan to investigate how dogs integrate other cues — including body language, voice nuances and scent — to interpret the humans around them.

They also hope to compare how human and canine brains process the same emotional signals.

The researchers added that participants in the study were all pets from loving families and cautioned that dogs outside such environments may respond to human emotional cues differently.

Reuters

Global farm production has outpaced consumption and population growth since the 1980s, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and analysts.

The changes have been driven by higher-yielding crop varieties, greater use of fertiliser and improved irrigation and crop protection, lifting yields of staples such as rice, wheat, corn and soybeans.

“Even during drought conditions, better irrigation management and crop science mean we can still produce marketable yields,” said Andrew Whitelaw of Australian agricultural consultancy Episode 3.

“The potential impact on global food supplies and prices exists, but our improved preparedness means the disruptions are much less severe than they would have been in previous decades.”

El Niño gathers force

Dry conditions brought by El Niño have already disrupted crop planting across large parts of Asia, including India, Southeast Asia and Australia, while shortages of fertiliser and diesel caused by the Iran war add to global food production risks.

India is battling a deficient monsoon season, while prospects of drier weather loom in Australia’s key wheat-growing regions and crops across Southeast Asia, including Indonesia and Thailand, are suffering from a lack of moisture.

The outlook could worsen, as an already strong El Niño will intensify in the fourth quarter and early next year, said Chris Hyde, a US-based meteorologist at satellite data and imagery firm SkyFi.

“Expectations are that it will be one of the strongest on record, or the strongest the world has ever seen, and that means the big impact of dryness has yet to come.”

A warming of ocean surface temperatures in the eastern and central Pacific, the El Niño weather phenomenon typically brings dryness to much of Asia and boosts rainfall across the Americas.

In 1997-98 and 2015-16, severe El Niño episodes slashed production of key crops, fuelling food shortages, inflation and sapping economic growth.

Prices of sugar and palm oil jumped after drought cut output in those years in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand, while tightening rice supplies prompted Southeast Asian producers to curb exports.

Drought also reduced Australian wheat exports and forced southern African countries to increase maize imports.

Record inventories

This time, near-record grain inventories, drought-tolerant seeds, better weather forecasting, precision agriculture, improved irrigation and the emergence of newer export powerhouses are poised to cushion much of the fallout.

In key crop producer India, sowing has kept broadly on track after overcoming a substantial initial lag, although rains in August and September will be crucial for maturity and grain formation, said Ashwini Bansod, vice-president for commodities research at Phillip Capital India in Mumbai.

However, India, which accounts for 40% of global rice exports, has so much rice that it is exhausting storage for stockpiles equivalent to more than a year of total global exports.

Nearly half the world’s ample global wheat stocks are held by China, the world’s top producer and consumer of the grain, furnishing a reserve that should help curb import demand if drought dents production in key supplier Australia.

Global palm oil stocks stand near historic highs, although Indonesia’s aggressive biodiesel programme is likely to trim inventories in coming months. Palm oil accounts for about 60% of global edible oil exports.

Exporters Russia, Brazil

The emergence of new export hubs that barely existed a few decades ago has added significant supplies to global markets.

Brazil, for example, has become the world’s biggest soybean supplier, with exports climbing more than 13-fold since 1997/98, while Russia’s wheat shipments jumped to 48-million tonnes last year from roughly 1-million tonnes in 1997/98.

Researchers have evolved drought-tolerant corn hybrids widely adopted across Africa and the Americas since 2015, helping farmers maintain yields during spells of dryness and erratic rainfall.

Heat- and drought-tolerant wheat varieties have also gained ground in India and Australia, where advances in plant breeding have boosted resilience to water and heat stress, shaving the risk of sharp losses from adverse weather.

In South and Southeast Asia, short-duration rice varieties help farmers cope with increasingly erratic monsoon rains.

Farmers are now equipped with a suite of digital tools barely available during the El Niño event of 1997-98, from satellite-based crop monitoring and seasonal climate forecasts to high-resolution soil moisture maps and GPS-guided fertiliser application that let them target inputs more efficiently.

“Governments have much better information than in the past and are able to prepare earlier,” FAO chief economist Maximo Torero said. “Our forecasting and market transparency have improved.”

Farmers are flocking to AI-powered advisory platforms that integrate weather forecasts, soil data and crop information to provide timely recommendations on planting dates, irrigation, fertiliser use and pest management.

Still, wars in the Middle East and the Black Sea region temper some of that optimism, experts warned.

“Much will depend on how conditions evolve during the second half of 2026, particularly given the reduced use of agricultural inputs caused by the Strait of Hormuz crisis and higher fertiliser prices,” Torero said.

The Strait of Hormuz carried about a fifth of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before it was blockaded during the Iran war that began in February, disrupting global fuel and fertiliser supplies.

Reuters

Russian Athletics has lodged a new claim with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) challenging sanctions imposed by World Athletics as the federation seeks to restore the participation of Russian athletes in international competition.

The federation said on Monday the latest appeal targets restrictions it argues infringe its rights and prevent it from fully representing Russian athletes internationally.

Russian athletes have been excluded from international competition under World Athletics since that country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The world governing body for the sport has repeatedly maintained sanctions against Russian and Belarusian athletes, citing the war and broader concerns about the integrity of international sport.

Russian Athletics said the measures have left it unable to participate in World Athletics decision-making processes, including council meetings and votes, and have prevented Russian officials and specialists from taking part in coaching conferences, seminars and professional development programmes.

🔥🚀⚽🔥Breaking
🟠 Russian Athletics Championships in Yekaterinburg stopped after drone strike
Russian Federation says safety is the priority
🟠 Globally: World Athletics ban on Russians continues, while IOC temporarily eased restrictions
A complaint has been filed with… pic.twitter.com/CmpIFjimlQ

— China HD (@China_hp1) July 25, 2026

“The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented. No other sports federation faces such severe restrictions,” Boris Yaryshevskiy, chief executive director of Russian Athletics, said in a statement.

“They not only hinder the federation’s normal operation but also hold back the development of athletics in Russia, particularly among young athletes, preventing us from properly representing our sport in the international arena.”

The federation said it would continue pursuing legal action aimed at lifting the sanctions and was already preparing further steps.

“As we have said before in reference to the Russian Athletics Federation’s request for arbitration to CAS, we will be strenuously defending our position,” World Athletics said in a statement to Reuters.

The latest filing comes after Russian Athletics lodged a separate appeal on July 9 challenging a World Athletics Council decision to extend the suspension of Russian athletes from international competition.

The sanctions against Russian Athletics are unprecedented.

Russian Athletics

The council reaffirmed the exclusion of Russian and Belarusian athletes on July 3.

Russian Athletics said it had retained international sports lawyers with experience in CAS proceedings to represent it in the arbitration process.

World Athletics has been among the most restrictive international federations in its approach to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine.

While some sports have allowed limited participation by Russian athletes as neutrals, athletics has continued to exclude competitors from Russia and Belarus from international events.

CAS, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, serves as sport’s highest arbitration body and hears disputes involving athletes, federations and governing organisations.

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Orlando Pirates utility forward Ghampani Lungu has revealed he dedicated his goal against Durban City to his late father, suggesting he’d been struggling to come to terms with the death in the past two months.

Lungu, who joined Pirates from Siwelele at the start of the season, is expected to play a big role again when the Sea Robbers face AmaZulu at Kings Park Stadium in the league on Wednesday (7.30pm).

The Zambian came off the bench to win Pirates their MTN8 quarterfinal showdown against Durban City at Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday, scoring the winner that made it 2-1 deep in extra time.

“The goal really meant a lot because the past two months have really been tough after losing my father, so it was for him,” Lungu said.

Pirates, who had won their league opener 2-0 at home to newbies Milford the previous week before beating Durban in the MTN8, have hardly struggled against Usuthu. The Buccaneers have won 15 of their 29 meetings with AmaZulu, losing just once, with 13 draws.

Sowetan

Mayors and governors from Cali, Pereira, Choco and Manizalez said at least 179 people had died in those four areas. The federal government, which last updated its estimates on Monday, has said at least 111 died.

About 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed. Soldiers, rescue personnel and families picked through the rubble, passing large pieces of concrete by hand along lines of volunteers.

Choco, the region surrounding the quake’s epicentre, is one of Colombia’s poorest and most neglected regions, often beset by warring armed groups. Much of Choco is accessible only by boat, through the jungle or by aircraft. Little was known about the extent of damage there.

The country’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, travelled to Choco’s capital, Quibdo, on Monday night and announced he had mobilised “the entire military and police apparatus” to respond, deploying engineers, rescue workers and search dogs.

“Choco will never again be the ‘land of the forgotten,’” he said.

The earthquake presents the first major test for De la Espriella, who was sworn in on Friday. He has been a divisive figure because of his pledge of an all-out crackdown on criminal groups in the Andean nation.

Families posted information about missing loved ones on citizen-run websites.

Dana Carolina Zamora posted an image of her missing 60-year-old uncle, Miguel Ángel Zamora, cradling his dog. The farmer was living in a rural area of El Cairo, not far from the quake’s epicentre in San Jose Del Palmar.

This has been a tragedy for the whole city, for thousands of families. But here we are, and we will continue forward with the hand of God

Mauricio Salazar, Pereira Mayor

Local authorities said 80% of El Cairo, a town of about 7,000 people, was damaged. Zamora said her uncle lived in a traditional house of sticks and mud.

“We are afraid. We hope that is not the case, that he is all right and that it is only a communication failure. But we haven’t heard anything from him,” Zamora said.

The earthquake left many people unnerved after back-to-back quakes devastated neighbouring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people.

Mónica Sánchez owns a small company that makes work uniforms. Her home city, Pereira, was one of the worst hit, and a wall inside the factory collapsed. Sánchez and her 12 workers got outside just in time.

“It was shocking — the city fell down around us,” she said.

Pereira’s municipal government said at least 58 buildings collapsed, while Cali mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 40 buildings had collapsed.

Both cities enforced curfews on Monday night to prevent looting. And in Pereira, the city government has banned privately owned vehicles from circulating, to clear the way for ambulances, police and rescue workers.

The US state department has announced it would provide $15.5m (R250.8m) for emergency shelter, food and other aid. Governments across Latin America have also lined up to help.

“This has been a tragedy for the whole city, for thousands of families,” Pereira mayor Mauricio Salazar told local media, his voice quavering. “But here we are, and we will continue forward with the hand of God.”

AP

Morocco beat Banyana 2-1 at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Saturday to deny them automatic qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

I think from the beginning of the tournament, we didn’t do our best. I think it was not our time

Banyana Banyana player Bambanani Mbane

Now, SA will face old rivals Nigeria at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca on Thursday (10pm SA time) for one of CAF’s two spots at the intercontinental play-offs. The intercontinental play-offs will be played in two phases between November and February next year.

Admitting that they didn’t do their best at the ongoing Wafcon, Mbane has insisted they must lift their heads and focus on the Nigeria game, as they believe they can still secure their ticket to next year’s global showpiece.

“I think from the beginning of the tournament, we didn’t do our best. I think it was not our time. Unfortunately there’s nothing we can do now to change what has happened, but we can still qualify for the World Cup,” she said.

“We must just chin up and focus on the next game against Nigeria. We know that it’s going to be a difficult game but we will go all out.”

Mbane’s teammate, Karabo Dhlamini, didn’t hide the fact that they were disappointed that they could not earn direct qualification to the World Cup, also highlighting the need to stay positive ahead of facing the Super Falcons, who have beaten Banyana 15 times out of their 25 meetings, with SA boasting only four wins in this fixture that has seen six draws.

“We are disappointed because now we have to take a longer route [of qualifying for the World Cup], but we have to lift our heads up and make sure we win on Thursday.”

The preliminary phase of the intercontinental playoffs will consist of six teams — two each from AFC and CAF, one from OFC, and the lower-ranked team from Conmebol – competing at a centralised venue in November–December.

The teams will be drawn into three tiers to play a set of pre‑determined matches, with teams from the same confederation barred from facing each other. The top two teams from this phase will advance to the final phase.

The final phase will consist of six teams — two teams advancing from the preliminary phase and four teams who received a bye; two from Concacaf, one from Uefa, and the higher-ranked team from Conmebol — competing in single knockout matches to determine the final three qualifiers for the event in Brazil.

The teams will be ranked according to the most recent Fifa rankings. The three highest-ranked teams will be seeded into pathways, and the other teams will be drawn against them. Teams from the same confederation cannot be drawn into the same pathway.

*Ndebele is in Morocco, courtesy of Banyana’s sponsor Sasol.

Sowetan

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Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabiso Monyane says they will use their MTN8 exit to refuel before their tough Betway Premiership matches against Sekhukhune United on Wednesday and Mamelodi Sundowns on Saturday, both at FNB Stadium.

Chiefs are still smarting from their MTN8 exit after losing 1-0 to Golden Arrows on Sunday, and as they prepare for the two tough upcoming fixtures, Monyane said that defeat showed what they need to work on.

“All eyes will be on Sekhukhune in this midweek game; the MTN8 result definitely tested us as a group,” Monyane told the club media department.

“We’ve used that as fuel, and it showed us where we need to work and how we need to sharpen ourselves. I think it is a wakeup call for all of us.”

While they are desperate to bounce back to winning ways and maintain their perfect start in league matches, Monyane acknowledges that Sekhukhune will also give them a tough challenge.

Unlike Chiefs, Babina Noko have won their two matches this season in the league and MTN8 and will be aiming to continue that form.

“And the preparations for Sekhukhune, I mean, you know it’s a tough team. Hard-running and organised side. So it’s going to be a tough encounter, but I trust the boys to do the work, and for sure we are going for it,” he said.

“We know Sundowns are looming in the background, but now it is one game at a time. Sekhukhune has our full attention, and we are going there to get a result.”

Last season Sekhukhune beat Chiefs 3-1 at FNB Stadium in their first encounter, before Amakhosi came out victorious in the return match at Peter Mokaba Stadium.

Amakhosi fullback Reeve Frosler said they will have to pick themselves up as they face two tough matches.

“We got Sekhukhune on Wednesday, another chance for us to go out there to do what we need to do and get a positive result,” Frosler said.

“We are disappointed with the results, but we have to look forward to Sekhukhune and another one at the weekend.

“We sat down and discussed where we need to improve on, what we need to get better at, and that’s what we are going to do going into Wednesday’s game. Hopefully we can turn things back the way we want to be.”

Fixtures

Wednesday: AmaZulu vs Pirates, Kings Park; Durban City vs Golden Arrows, Chatsworth; Chiefs vs Sekhukhune, FNB; Milford vs Siwelele, Richards Bay

Friday: Stellenbosch vs Gallants, Athlone

Saturday: Chiefs vs Sundowns, FNB (3pm); Sekhukhune vs Polokwane, Seshego (5.30pm); Durban vs Bay, Chatsworth (8pm); Milford vs Kruger, Sugar Ray Xulu (8pm)

Sunday: Chippa vs Pirates, Kings Park (3pm); Galaxy vs Arrows, Solomon Mahlangu (5.30pm).

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Sowetan

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Fourteen years after the Marikana massacre, in which police killed 34 striking mineworkers on August 16 2012, survivors and the families of those who died are still waiting for accountability, according to the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa (Seri).

The public interest law organisation said between August 12 and 13 2012, 10 people were killed, including two Lonmin security guards, two police officers and six mineworkers. At least 78 mineworkers were injured and about 250 arrested in the deadly violence on August 16 2012.

“Fourteen years later, the families and survivors of the Marikana massacre still await justice,” Seri said in a statement on Monday.

Seri said the Marikana massacre was the deadliest use of force by South African police since the Soweto student uprising of June 16 1976.

“To date, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has failed to prosecute anyone concerning the events of August 16 2012. The nine police officers who were charged, some in relation to the events of August 13, others concerning the circumstances of one mineworker’s death, were all acquitted.”

Seri said in March 2021 the Mahikeng high court acquitted four police officers in the case relating to the death of mineworker Modisaotsile van Wyk Sagalala, who was shot and injured at “Scene 2″ on August 16 2012, but died in a police van that was transporting arrested mineworkers.

In September 2024, the high court also acquitted all six police officers who stood trial for their involvement in the events of August 13 2012, which resulted in the deaths of three mineworkers, Semi Jokanisi, Thembelakhe Mati and Pumzile Sokanyile, as well as two police officers, W/O Tsietsi Hendrik Monene and W/O Sello Ronnie Lepaauku.

Seri said these failed prosecutions demonstrated the corrosive impact the passage of time has on the strength of the state’s cases.

In 2023, the NPA issued a statement citing various personnel and resource constraints as reasons for its failure to prosecute the Marikana case.

Seri said after the officers were acquitted in 2024, the NPA also announced it would reinstate the case and conduct a formal inquest.

“However, it remains unclear what the current status of the matter is. The families and survivors are yet to see any meaningful progress.”

Thus far, Seri said, the state has only paid out about R352m settling some civil claims from injured survivors, unlawfully arrested miners and the families.

Of this, 34 of the 36 families Seri represents (comprising more than 300 individual dependents) received about R71m in loss of support, which is only one of the five prayers in the families’ civil claim.

“Over 120 people from the families received nothing. However, these settlements do not amount to justice. They do not provide the families with the truth about what happened to their loved ones, nor do they prevent the same patterns of policing from recurring.

“Civil liability without criminal accountability is not justice, but the price the state has agreed to pay to avoid it.”

Seri called on the NPA to provide a detailed account of the current status of all outstanding Marikana prosecutions and provide a concrete timeline for prosecutorial action.

“If the NPA is unwilling or unable to prosecute, it must issue non-prosecution certificates to allow for private prosecutions.”

Seri also called on the new national director of public prosecutions Andy Mothibi to treat the Marikana prosecutions with the urgency they deserved.

“We also call on the minister of justice to ensure that the NPA is adequately resourced to fulfil its constitutional mandate, and that personnel and resource constraints are no longer justifications for failing to prosecute one of the most serious incidents of state violence in post-apartheid South Africa.”

Seri said even after 14 years, the state’s obligation to account for what happened at Marikana does not diminish with time, nor does the pain inflicted on the victims.

TimesLIVE

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Chery South Africa took over from GWM as the country’s most popular Chinese automotive brand in July as it continued to grow stronger than the local vehicle market.

Last month Chery sold 2,709 units to account for 6.64% of the passenger vehicle segment during the month and 4.7% of the total vehicle market. This placed Chery fifth in the passenger segment and sixth overall, with light commercial vehicles included.

In July the brand recorded a year-on-year sales increase of 25.54%, compared with the overall market’s 13.8% growth.

The achievement followed the brand’s recent official opening of the Chery vehicle manufacturing plant in Tshwane, which it took over from Nissan.

Chery’s shift from being an importer to a manufacturer will begin when the first vehicles roll off the assembly line by mid-2027.

The July performance follows a strong first half of the year for Chery South Africa. The brand sold 14,593 vehicles between January and June, an increase of 24.9% from the 11,687 vehicles sold during the corresponding period in 2025. Average monthly sales rose from about 1,948 units during the first six months of 2025 to more than 2,432 units in 2026.

Chery’s July and first-half results show that the brand is gaining ground in a growing market. Our sales have increased year-on-year in every month of 2026 so far, supported by consistent demand across the SUV range

Jay Jay Botes, Chery South Africa GM

The brand’s highest-volume model was the Tiggo 4 Pro and its next-generation evolution, the Tiggo Max — the two ranges listed as combined sales — accounting for 11,322 sales during the six-month period.

Chery’s next most popular model range was:

• the Tiggo 7, which recorded 2,173 sales, followed by
• the Tiggo 8 with 816 units; and
• the Tiggo 9 with 282 units.

“Chery’s July and first-half results show that the brand is gaining ground in a growing market,” said Jay Jay Botes, GM for Chery South Africa. “Our sales have increased year-on-year in every month of 2026 so far, supported by consistent demand across the SUV range.”

Chery’s petrol-powered SUV models continue to account for a significant proportion of local sales. The range has also expanded to include hybrid and plug-in hybrid derivatives, including the Tiggo Cross CSH Hybrid and Tiggo 8 CSH Plug-in Hybrid.

Chery acquired the 59-year-old Rosslyn factory from Nissan, which until May produced the Nissan Navara one-tonne bakkie. Chery’s acquisition of the factory makes it the third Chinese brand to manufacture vehicles in South Africa after BAIC opened a plant in Gqeberha in 2018 and Foton began building the Tunland G7 bakkie at the same plant in 2025.

The first South Africa-produced vehicles from the Chery Group will be the Jetour T-Series, the Jaecoo J5 and the Chery Tiggo Cross. The Jaecoo J5 will be produced in internal-combustion engine models and new-energy vehicle variants.

At a later stage the KP31 one-tonne bakkie — to be launched here soon as an import — may also be built there if volumes justify it.

Business Day

The clash, which took place on Monday in the Sakaba council area of Kebbi state, also left two civilians and 17 of the rebels dead, police spokesperson Bashir Usman said in a statement.

The rebels were heavily armed and riding motorcycles when they were intercepted by security forces, Usman said. They were seen close to the border with Zamfara state, where armed gangs who frequently raid Nigerian towns and villages are concentrated.

“Tragically we lost 10 gallant police personnel in the engagement, while two others sustained injuries and are receiving medical attention,” Usman said.

The attack is the latest in a cycle of violence in Africa’s most populous country, where gangs compete for territory and control of natural resources in villages where they outnumber overstretched security forces. Dozens have been killed in recent weeks across the north and security forces are often targeted.

The US government is providing military support to Nigeria under an agreement it says aims to protect Nigerian Christians, although much of that support is restricted to logistics and intelligence-gathering at the heart of the violence in the north.

AP

The small Mediterranean country has committed to an unofficial moratorium on executions since January 2004. However, dozens of death sentences since then have been issued, but later suspended or commuted.

A majority of Lebanon’s 128-member parliament voted in favour of ending the death penalty, with the exception of the parliamentary bloc of Hezbollah.

Justice minister Adel Nassar, who was in parliament, called it a “historic step” for the country.

Rights groups that have called for formalising the moratorium or ending the death penalty altogether have also celebrated the vote.

Ramzi Kaiss, Lebanon researcher at Human Rights Watch, says Lebanon is “marking a final break from a cruel sentence that should never be imposed”.

“Capital punishment is unique in its cruelty and finality and is plagued with arbitrariness, prejudice and error,” he said.

It’s unclear how aggravated hard labour would be enforced, as some legislators said the terms of the new punishment are not yet clear. Lebanon does have the punishment of hard labour written into law and court decisions, but even those have been rarely enforced in recent years due to cash-strapped Lebanon’s lack of resources and capacity in its overcrowded prisons.

Lebanon’s abolition of the death penalty comes as parliament is debating a controversial general amnesty law, the largest since the end of its 15-year civil war in 1990, that could reduce sentences or even release convicted militants and drug dealers, with some exceptions.

Family members of Lebanese soldiers and servicemen killed or attacked by Islamist militant groups have repeatedly protested against the law, some saying they had hoped to see the perpetrators who killed their family members executed rather than be issued reduced prison sentences.

Hezbollah did not immediately issue a comment about the landmark vote. Neither did Lebanon’s diverse religious institutions, where the death penalty is considered legal in some of their respective court systems.

AP

Six others were killed overnight in the Ukrainian regions of Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk, and a Russian attack on Kyiv caused fires in the capital, Ukrainian officials said.

Regional governor Ivan Fedorov posted photos online showing buildings and vehicles ablaze in Zaporizhzhia, where officials said 20 people had also been wounded.

“The city was hit by North Korean ballistic missiles, Zircons (anti-ship missiles) and KABs (precision-guided aerial bombs),” Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

“A brutal attack calculated to inflict maximum damage on civilian infrastructure.”

Russia did not immediately say whether it had used North Korean missiles in the attack on Zaporizhzhia. There was no comment from Pyongyang.

Russia’s defence ministry said its forces had struck the Nova Poshta sorting complex in Kyiv, which it said was used to store and distribute dual-use goods, including components for drones and electronic warfare equipment.

Russian forces also struck a metallurgical plant in Zaporizhzhia that produces flat-rolled steel, which it said was used by the Ukrainian military, the ministry said.

The attacks followed a Ukrainian drone strike that Russian authorities said on Monday had killed at least 13 people and wounded 39 in the Russian city of Nizhnekamsk, one of the heaviest civilian tolls in Russia in months.

Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, there is no end in sight to a war that has killed many thousands of people, mostly in Ukraine, devastated towns and cities, and forced millions of Ukrainians from their homes.

Russia has continued heavy bombardments of Ukraine, trying to exploit Ukraine’s shortage of high-end air ‌defences by using more ballistic missiles, which are particularly hard to shoot down.

Kyiv has increasingly been striking Russia, including hitting oil refineries and warehouses used by e-commerce retailer Wildberries. Ukraine said on Tuesday it had targeted an oil refinery in the Russian city of ​Orsk in its latest strikes.

North Korean links

Reuters cited an official at Ukraine’s military intelligence agency last week as saying a North Korean missile unit had begun deploying to western Russia and could ​be equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes on Ukraine.

Russia has fired scores of North Korean ballistic missiles at Ukraine since late 2023, but the deployment of North Korean missile forces would be an expansion of the already extensive military co-operation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Zelensky said on X on Saturday that “a decision has ‌been made for 30,000 to 50,000 North Koreans to be deployed on the territory of Russia” to fight for Moscow. He had previously provided an estimate of 30,000 soldiers.

Russia and North Korea signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty two years ago including a mutual ‌assistance ⁠provision if either faced external aggression. North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia’s Kursk Region in 2024 after an incursion into the region by Ukrainian forces.

North Korea has also supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, according ⁠to Ukrainian ​and independent assessments.

Reuters

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Foreign nationals from other African countries migrate to South Africa primarily because their home governments fail to adequately provide for them.

This is according to former minister of international relations and cooperation and current Nelson Mandela University chancellor Naledi Pandor.

Speaking on the African Renaissance podcast, Pandor criticised African leaders for failing to address the root causes driving their citizens to flee to South Africa.

“What our leaders are not doing is asking themselves why so many of their citizens wish to be in South Africa,” Pandor said.

“Why do they come here? Essentially, they arrive as economic migrants or political asylum seekers. It means that a number of countries on the African continent are not doing what they should to provide for their people.

“They are not getting their economies right, and they lack freedom of association, expression, and human rights. People are running to South Africa because those protections exist here.”

Her comments come as South Africa faces a surge of anti-illegal immigration protests, which have heightened diplomatic tensions across the continent. Thousands of immigrants have fled the country, while others have been deported.

Blaming the whole of South Africa for the actions of a group is problematic, especially coming from two countries that have previously repatriated Africans from their own borders

Naledi Pandor, NMU chancellor

Ghana and Nigeria have joined forces to condemn the attacks targeting foreign nationals in South Africa, characterising the incidents as xenophobic and Afrophobic. The two nations agreed to collaborate closely to ensure the issue is firmly placed on the agenda at the next African Union (AU) summit.

International relations and cooperation minister Ronald Lamola met with fellow African ministers to address these developments, assuring them that law enforcement officials are intervening while reaffirming South Africa’s commitment to protecting the rights of all foreign nationals.

Pandor expressed disappointment with the responses from Accra and Abuja, emphasising that Pretoria has consistently spoken out against violent attacks on foreigners.

“I was disappointed in the reaction because I think those leaders know the South African government is not behind what has been happening here.

“They know there are organisations leading these anti-migrant attitudes, and the government has tried to act to assert human rights and non-violence.

“Blaming the whole of South Africa for the actions of a group is problematic, especially coming from two countries that have previously repatriated Africans from their own borders.”

Pandor urged continental leaders to confront the immigration crisis at its root rather than relying on scapegoats.

“The issue of migration is a difficult dilemma, but we have to address it. Too often on our continent, our leaders avoid complexity. When a subject is too complicated, they divert to something else instead of confronting it directly.”

TimesLIVE

For 67-minutes the locals were made to believe and dream big with the score at 14-all, but they ultimately lost 38-21 to the All Blacks.

The Stormers, not surprisingly, ran out of steam in the final 13 minutes, conceding four tries — three in the last eight minutes. The sixth All Blacks try, scored by replacement hooker Asafo Aumua, came after the final hooter.

The All Blacks won their first tour match in South Africa in 30 years.

Ticket pricing had dominated the build-up but 47,000 turned out to celebrate the occasion on a brilliant Cape Town night. Conditions were ideal. The weather gods had played their part and John Dobson’s Stormers also came to the party.

The Stormers had to adjust their pre-season in near totality to get a match-day squad conditioned for the challenge of the All Blacks. The home team players arrived carrying a ton of heart and passion. Ultimately their Achilles heel was always going to be the timing of the match, with them in pre-season for the United Rugby Championship.

They gave their all for the blue and white hoops tonight. #STOvNZ #inittogether pic.twitter.com/F3NP3vczce

— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) August 7, 2026

The bookmakers had given the All Blacks a 35-point winning margin and the way New Zealand started, it seemed they would be on the money.

The All Blacks, playing with tempo and using width and the wide channels effectively, dominated the opening five minutes to lead 7-0. The first try of the tour came from a lineout maul, but if they thought it would be a cruise the next 33-minutes proved telling as the Stormers halted the early momentum and started to impose their set piece strength.

The Stormers scrum produced several penalties and the lineout drive and maul was as profitable. Stormers hooker Andre-Hugo Venter scored from a lineout maul, only for the try to be disallowed because of a technical infringement.

New Zealand lost flank Simon Parker to the sinbin for a professional foul in the same movement. From the resulting penalty, it was veteran flanker Deon Fourie who powered over from a lineout maul.

Yaqeen Ahmed, on debut, added the conversion to level the scores at 7-all. It stayed this way until a lost Stormers lineout proved telling and the electric All Blacks were quick to pounce and punish the home team with a fabulous try to Parker.

Beauden Barrett converted from the touchline in the 39th minute as the All Blacks led 14-7 at halftime.

The Stormers refused to go away and their scrum got stronger and the lineout maul even better. Right wing Seabelo Senatla scored the most popular try of the night and Ahmed’s conversion again levelled the scores at 14-all.

The All Blacks reclaimed the lead in the 68th minute when left wing Rieko Ioane scored from close range and right wing Leroy Carter delivered a hammer blow in the 72nd minute to finally put some light between the two teams.

For the Stormers veterans Fourie and scrumhalf Dewald Duvenhage were very good. The 37-year-old Duvenhage, in his final match for the Stormers, played most of the match because starting No 9 Imaad Khan sustained an injury in the third minute. Fourie, at 39 years of age, must be the oldest player to score a try against the All Blacks.

The All Blacks, typically, were lethal in transitions and on the counterattack. The handling skills were sublime, but they struggled to defend the lineout maul, were second for most of the match in the scrums and looked out of sorts every time a kick went into the night sky.

They also had three players yellow-carded.

TimesLIVE

Speaking at the National Women’s Day commemoration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday, De Bruyn said the freedom for which she and thousands of other women fought had not translated into the safe and prosperous society they had envisioned.

“Today, as I look at our beautiful country, my heart is heavy. The freedom we marched for and for what we breathed is in reality a painful paradox. How can we fully celebrate our historic victories when our present reality is so deeply disappointing and distressful? We fought to banish the pass laws. Yet today our women are prisoners in their own homes. Gender-based violence continues to cast a dark cloud on our society,” she said.

De Bruyn said she continued to mourn the experiences of women and girls subjected to violence and abuse.

“Every single day I weep for the girl child, the daughters, the mothers and grandmothers who are abused, violated and silenced. This is not the freedom we marched for,” she said.

Read: Ramaphosa asks families to help identify 20,000 women who marched in 1956

De Bruyn was 18 when she joined the historic march on August 9 1956, when about 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against apartheid pass laws for Black women.

Reflecting on the anniversary, she said she was proud to represent the women who took part in the march, many of whom are no longer alive.

“Seventy years ago on this very day, August 9 1956, 20,000 of us marched to these hallowed grounds, to these Union Buildings which were then the bastion of apartheid. I was only 18 years old then and many of my compatriots are sadly no longer with us, it has always been an honour to represent the collective leadership of the march and the 20,000 women. I’m standing here as their representative and what I am saying here today is what they would have said to you if they were alive,” she said.

She recalled how the women stood in silence for 30 minutes during the protest, confronting the apartheid government with a message of defiance.

WATCH | Anti-apartheid activist Sophia Williams-De Bruyn has urged young women to use their voices to fight for their future and against poverty and abuse. pic.twitter.com/AdaZLosTd9

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 9, 2026

“We were young. We were afraid. But we were unified and determined. When we stood undaunted in silence for 30 minutes, the world trembled. We confronted the apartheid regime and boldly said, ‘Strijdom (JG, the then prime minister), you have targeted the woman. You have struck a rock. And we will crush you.’” she said.

De Bruyn said the women who marched in 1956 had hoped their sacrifices would pave the way for future generations to live free from the oppression they had experienced.

She said the continued challenges facing South Africa had left her deeply concerned about whether that promise had been fulfilled.

“We fought to dismantle the systemic oppression of women as a race, class and gender. Yet today we feel the cruel suffocation of entrenched poverty, lack of clean drinking water, homelessness and systemic corruption,” she said.

De Bruyn took aim at corruption in particular, saying the theft of public funds had consequences for ordinary South Africans.

“When people steal money allocated for education, health, for housing and infrastructure, they are in reality stealing education, stealing health and roads. These are real victims of corruption,” she said.

“They are stealing from you and me, who pay our taxes.”

It is also very disappointing that democratic South Africa is still the most unequal country in the world

1956 Women’s March leader Sophie de Bruyn

She also criticised South Africa’s persistent inequality saying the burden continued to fall disproportionately on Black women and young people.

“It is also very disappointing that democratic South Africa is still the most unequal country in the world. The face of poverty and inequality in our country is mainly black, female and young. The impact of spatial racial segregation is still deeply entrenched,” she said.

De Bruyn also raised concerns about youth unemployment, drawing a connection between the role played by young people in the liberation struggle and the challenges confronting them today.

“As we also mark the 50th anniversary of June 16, when in 1976 the youth picked up the mantle from us, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, ranking South Africa very high globally,” she said.

She said the loss of public resources to corruption while young people remained unemployed amounted to a betrayal of those who sacrificed their lives for democracy.

Despite her criticism, De Bruyn said she remained hopeful because of the resilience of South African women.

Sophie de Bruyn

“Even when these crowds, my spirit refuses to break and give up and my happiness comes back but I’m looking at you, the women of today. All of you are still the rock. You are still resilient. Despite the failures of our leadership, in the weight of these struggles, you continue to hold our families and communities together,” she said.

“Your courage is the beacon of hope and the light that keeps this country moving forward.”

De Bruyn challenged political leaders and government officials attending the commemoration to live up to the courage shown by the women of 1956.

“To the officials, the politicians, the dignitaries that are here today, I challenge you to look into the eyes of women here and see their courage, their determination, their fortitude, their hope and moral mettle that birthed the democracy. Do not let our sacrifices be in vain,” she said.

She called on leaders to tackle corruption, protect women and children and provide accountable leadership.

“Clench your hands against corruption, protect our women, feed our children, have a moral compass and stay back home. And match the bravery of 1956 with bold, honest and accountable leadership.”

De Bruyn also urged ordinary South Africans, particularly women, to use their voices and their votes to demand change.

“To the ordinary citizens of our country, in particular women, do not give up hope. Your vote, your voice and your unity are your critical weapons. We handed you a free country. It is now up to you to make it a safe and prosperous one,” she said.

She called for a new march against the challenges facing South Africa.

“Let us march forward once more, not against pass laws, but this time against crime and insecurity, poverty, corruption, unemployment, homelessness, violence and the many, many ills that restrict your future, your safety, your freedom and your prosperity,” she said.

Addressing young women, De Bruyn said the spirit of the 1956 march must be carried forward by a new generation.

“The fire ignited in 1956 cannot be extinguished. And to the young woman here today, do not wait for anyone’s permission. Stand up. Use your voice and fight for your future. Fight against poverty and abuse just like we fought against apartheid. And together let us finish the march that we began 70 years ago. Let the spirit of 1956 rise again in each of your hearts,” she said.

De Bruyn also used the platform to express solidarity with Palestinian women and children, saying their struggle for freedom was connected to South Africa’s own history.

“I would be remiss if I did not express solidarity with the women and children in Palestine who are being subjected to genocide and apartheid,” she said.

She invoked the words of former president Nelson Mandela, saying: “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

TimesLIVE

Story audio is generated using AI

Suspended minister Senzo Mchunu arranged for the inspector-general of intelligence (IGI) report to be handed over to the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac), after the IGI had previously refused to provide it to the directorate.

This is according to Idac’s Drushantha Ramsamy, who told the Madlanga commission on Tuesday that the exchange did not follow the processes that they normally abide by when they exchange information between them and IGI.

“In September, Mr [Dylan] Perumal [suspended Idac chief investigator] told us that the minister, Senzo Mchunu, arranged with someone to fly to him in the Eastern Cape and provide the IGI report,” said Ramsamy.

“I just know that it wasn’t supposed to come to us in that way [through the minister]. There are certain procedures and processes that have to be followed before the sharing of that information. There were channels that had to be followed for that information to be shared.”

The report relates to the investigations that IGI was conducting into Crime Intelligence and Perumal had labelled “golden”. That is because it was believed that it would assist them in their case against crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo and his senior colleagues.

However, a few months before they got the report from Mchunu, they had a meeting with IGI, and the inspectorate had refused to hand them the report.

“It was a fruitless meeting. They [IGI] could not assist us and we could not assist them,” she said.

She told the commission that they had approached IGI because there was always information sharing between Idac and IGI on finalised reports.

The investigation was ongoing, and the sharing of information could not take place, she said.

Earlier, Ramsamy told the commission that a case against Khumalo, which she had been asked to work on, was enrolled in court while she was on sick leave, before she had concluded her assessment.

“In June, I had read the docket, and I found that there were no merits for enrolment; I found that there was no prima facie evidence.

“I had started drafting a memo where I had gone statement by statement, problem by problem and submission by submission, and then you would recommend that there was no case.

“Unfortunately, I [became sick] and did not finish the memo. While on sick leave, I received a call from someone at the office who said, ‘Hey, aren’t you doing Crime Intelligence matters? Your matter is in court.’ I switched on the TV and saw the Crime Intelligence officers in court,” she said.

The hearing continues.

Sowetan

Story audio is generated using AI

Mamelodi Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso is not going to do any favours for younger players in the squad, such as highly promising attacker Bennet Mokoena.

Mokoena was given a rare start in Downs’ 3-2 MTN8 quarterfinal win over Polokwane City on Saturday to spark suggestions he should get more minutes this season.

But Cardoso said people must not expect too much too early from the 19-year-old, who is competing for a place with far more experienced players in the attacking department.

“Bennet played well against Polokwane City because he was very good during preseason,” said Cardoso, who has other young, promising players in his squad such as Gomolemo Kekana, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Siyabonga Mabena.

“I don’t do favours for players and I don’t play players because they are younger or older.

Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso on Bennet Mokoena. pic.twitter.com/VB9AS34jnm

— Mahlatse Mphahlele (@BraMahlatse) August 11, 2026

“I have to analyse performances and naturally from a young player we have to be more tolerant. I think he had a good game [against Polokwane] and he was good during our pre-season in Austria. You can remember in our friendly against RB Leipzig, he had a good game and I think we have a good asset for the future of the club.

“It is my obligation as a coach to give him opportunities together with the likes of Gomolemo Kekana and the others to make a statement in the squad.”

Cardoso has given opportunities to Letlhaku, notably as the Brazilians won last season’s Champions League final against AS FAR of Morocco, and the winger did not disgrace himself as he helped the team deliver their second continental title.

Sundowns are under pressure domestically to reclaim the Betway Premiership from Orlando Pirates and win a cup competition and it remains to be seen how much younger players are going to feature this season.

We have to let them flow naturally, as much as he plays, he is going to feel more comfortable and get better

Miguel Cardoso, Sundowns coach

“I told them after the preseason that if you focus on 2029, these players must be ready. He [Mokoena] is well accepted in the group, they recognise his capacity and when those connections exist it makes it easy.

“Other players recognise his quality and that is the most important thing. For me, it is to choose the moments for him to play and not put him under pressure.

“We don’t have to put pressure on the youngsters. We have to let them flow naturally. As much as he plays, he is going to feel more comfortable and get better.”

Sundowns start their Premiership campaign against TS Galaxy at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday where they are looking for a good start against a team that probably cost them the league title last season when the Rockets inflicted a 3-2 defeat on Cardoso’s side in the Brazilians’ last game.

While urging caution, Cardoso may well give Mokoena other opportunities in the starting line-up as the season gathers momentum to again show what he can do.

TimesLIVE

Government data published overnight on Tuesday showed the outbreak had recorded a total of 4,381 confirmed cases, including 2,011 deaths. The death toll was reached almost three times faster than in the 2014-16 Ebola outbreak that was the worst in history.

The current outbreak was declared on May 15, but health authorities say sequencing showed it began months earlier, in February.

While it took about nine weeks for the outbreak to reach 1,000 deaths, it took just three weeks for the figure to double, evidence that the health crisis is moving faster than efforts to track and manage it.

The 2,000 death toll is “alarming” and requires response efforts to be stepped up in affected areas, said Dr Jean-Marie Akandabo, who helps manage patients at a clinic in Ituri.

It’s already the second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, only behind the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak that had more than 28,000 cases, including more than 11,000 deaths.

The Ebola outbreak is unlike most previous ones because the rare Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccine or treatment. Clinical trials for those have begun in Ituri province, the epicentre of the outbreak, in eastern DRC.

Aid workers say the outbreak continues to outpace the response, which has expanded across the five affected eastern provinces. Many health workers have gone on strike to protest about non-payment since the outbreak was declared.

The WHO has said most new cases are still being recorded outside the group of monitored contacts, showing that transmission remains beyond the control of health workers.

This outbreak has killed a higher percentage of cases

Ebola can be caused by different types of virus. Although the type responsible for the 2014-16 outbreak is considered the deadliest, government data shows the Bundibugyo outbreak has killed a higher percentage of people because care and support are not reaching patients quickly enough. Many patients report symptoms late or not at all.

The outbreak has so far had a case fatality rate of 45.9%, more than the 39.6% rate recorded in the 2014-2016 West Africa outbreak.

We must not take this disease lightly, because it continues to kill and no one is safe

Dr Jean-Marie Akandabo

“In the absence of an effective vaccine, control [for the outbreak] rests on identifying cases and then nursing them in secure facilities until they recover or sadly perish,” said Paul Hunter, a professor in medicine at the University of East Anglia in the UK.

In a remote region hit by conflict and interrupted communications, routine surveillance can be very difficult, and “identifying cases early enough to prevent spread can be impossible,” said Hunter.

‘No one is safe’

Dr Akandabo in Ituri said the major challenges he’s seen are the limited care for patients and poor community engagement.

“We must not take this disease lightly, because it continues to kill and no one is safe,” Akandabo said.

The World Health Organisation said on Monday that at the onset of the outbreak in one of DRC’s most remote and vulnerable areas, some cases were wrongly attributed to malaria and typhoid and that early testing was conducted for the more common type of Ebola.

The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi, told a news conference that officials are “chasing the virus; the virus is ahead of us.”

The first Ebola virus to be identified was in 1976 near the Ebola River in what is now DRC. The current outbreak is the 17th — and largest — the Central African nation has faced.

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

A Syrian court sentenced ousted Syrian President Bashar al-Assad along with his younger brother to death in absentia on Tuesday for crimes against humanity and war crimes during Syria’s 14-year conflict that left about half-a-million people dead.

The sentences at the Fourth Criminal Court in Damascus are the first against Assad or members of his inner circle since the Assad family’s five decades in power came to an end 20 months ago.

“Bashar al-Assad used state agencies to commit war crimes and crimes against humanity,” said judge Fakhareddine al-Aryan during a court session that was aired live on state TV.

Also sentenced to death was Assad’s maternal cousin Atef Najib, who was convicted of overseeing a crackdown in the southern province of Daraa that led to the uprising and later the civil war. Al-Aryan said Najib can appeal.

Under tight security, Najib stood inside a cage wearing a prisoner’s uniform as the judge read the sentence. A crowd gathered outside the courthouse in central Damascus to hear the verdict.

“Today is the day of justice for all the wounded, martyrs, detainees and Syrians who were forced to leave their country,” said attorney Adnan al-Masalmeh, who represented families of Najib’s victims. “Today marks a victory of right against injustice, a victory of the Syrian people against the ousted regime.”

Assad and his brother Maher fled to Russia after the government’s fall in December 2024 and received political asylum. Syria’s new rulers have asked Russia to hand the Assads over.

Najib, who was sanctioned by the US department of the treasury in April 2011, was later detained and is one of the highest-ranking security officials to be put on trial. The former army brigadier-general was head of the political security branch in Syria’s southern Daraa province under Assad in 2011.

During his tenure, more than a dozen teenagers who scrawled anti-government graffiti on a school wall in Daraa were arrested and tortured. The case became a catalyst for mass protests against the repressive policies of Assad’s security forces.

The protests were met by a brutal government crackdown that spiralled into a 14-year civil war that ended with Assad’s ouster in a lightning rebel offensive.

Some of Najib’s victims were present at the courthouse, including two who were teenagers in 2011, and expressed their opinions to reporters.

Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all cases, including this one. It’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed

Hiba Zayadin, Human Rights Watch Syria researcher

“Today we reached a point where the blood was not wasted,” said Mouawiya Sayasneh, about those who died in the crackdown. Fifteen years later, “there is happiness that Atef Najib was sentenced to death”, he said.

Another man, Nayef Abazeid, who was detained at the age of 13 in 2011, expressed his satisfaction with the sentence, adding that “our biggest happiness will be when Bashar Assad is executed”.

Maher Assad was a former commander of the Syrian military’s 4th Armoured Division — which opposition activists have accused of killings, torture, extortion and drug trafficking, in addition to running its own detention centres.

“Today’s scenes outside the courthouse reflect 15 years of pain and a justice long denied. Human Rights Watch opposes the death penalty in all cases, including this one,” said Hiba Zayadin, Syria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “It’s cruel and irreversible, especially when a fair trial isn’t guaranteed.”

Zayadin added that Najib has the right to appeal, and that process “needs to meet fair trial standards too”. Real accountability for Assad-era crimes depends on Syria building a justice system that lasts, she said.

AP

Coetzee was included in both SA A squads for the four-day and one-day series against Bangladesh, which will be played from August 23, with the Proteas coach stating it was important for the 25-year-old fast bowler to learn to trust his body after a litany of injury problems, which have blighted his career.

“He obviously has a burning desire to play for the Proteas again in Tests and ODIs,” said Conrad. “He has a chequered injury history and he needs to learn to trust his body and then in turn we get to trust him.”

Coetzee played the last of his four Tests two years ago against Sri Lanka in Durban, but missed the remainder of that season after injuring his groin in that match.

He was supposed to travel to the Champions Trophy last year but suffered a hip injury and then, when called up for the one-off T20 International against Namibia in October last year, he hurt a pectoral muscle and left that game after bowling just nine balls.

🚨Squad Announcement🚨

The South African Men’s selection panel has today announced the 15-player squad for the white-ball tour to Namibia later this month.

DP World Lions spinner Bjorn Fortuin will captain the side as the Proteas take on Namibia and Zimbabwe in a T20… pic.twitter.com/vsFeT1Vp84

— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 11, 2026

He played in all five T20 internationals in New Zealand in March, taking seven wickets and was then chosen for the SA A side’s one-day series against the England Lions in March, where he picked up five wickets in two matches.

“In England he was offered a [county contract] and he pretty much asked me to play in the SA A side rather than play in the UK because he wants to impress. We are all hopeful that all the injuries are something of the past. Gerald forms a huge part of our attack going forward,” said Conrad.

“We all know what Gerald is capable of. I’ve always been a huge fan. He was one of the first guys [I selected] when I took the Test coaching job. Nothing has changed from my side about how I see him and what he can bring to the party.”

The Proteas play 10 Tests, nine ODIs and three T20 internationals this season, which will put a strain on South Africa’s playing resources, especially among the fast bowlers.

Unsurprisingly Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen weren’t selected for the tour of Namibia at the end of August. Rabada and Ngidi are building their fitness ahead of the international season, while Jansen is completing The Hundred in England.

His HEAD-BAND scares me more 🤯🤯

- Coetzee is a wicket taker
- Also a run machine 😭
- He celebrates aggressively
- He bats well, smashes huge sixes
- Cheetah in fielding

Gerald Coetzee Plays With Fire 🔥🧡

Will he get straight entry into P12?? pic.twitter.com/bcvKqWEImV

— Rey SRHio🧡🦅 (@WhatsUpRey) April 18, 2026

Jansen’s twin brother Duan earned his maiden Proteas call up for a tour that sees South Africa compete with Namibia and Zimbabwe in a triangular T20 series followed by a ODI series between the hosts and a South African team that will be captained by Bjorn Fortuin.

“He operates somewhat in the shadow of his twin brother, but he has all the ingredients of becoming a quality all-rounder. The broader we can make that [all-rounder] base, the better — and if Duan can do half of the things his twin brother does, he will be a wonderful addition to our squad,” said Conrad.

Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, fresh off playing in The Hundred in England and Kwena Maphaka are the only three nationally contracted players who will make the trip as Conrad seeks to build depth with one eye on next year’s World Cup.

“It is an ideal opportunity to build some caps among the younger players, so that when they have to step up for bigger series or games, they have 10 or 12 caps to their name.”

The Proteas play the opening match of the Triangular series against the host nation at the Namibia Cricket Ground on August 28 and will face Zimbabwe at the same venue the following day.

Meanwhile, Marques Ackerman will captain the SA A side against Bangladesh. The squad includes the leading wicket-taker from last season’s domestic four-day series, Matthew Boast, and top run-scorer, Gavin Kaplan.

They play the first four-day match against Bangladesh A starting on August 23, at the Tuks Oval in Pretoria.

South Africa A Four-Day squad:

Marques Ackerman (capt), Matthew Boast, Okuhle Cele, Gerald Coetzee, Tshepang Dithole, Zubayr Hamza, Gavin Kaplan, Tshepo Moreki, Senuran Muthusamy, Tshepo Ntuli, Meeka-eel Prince, Delano Potgieter, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Codi Yusuf.

The Trump administration is hoping months of bombing have pushed Iran’s economy to a breaking point that will force its leadership to cave in to demands to end its nuclear programme and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers.

The president on Monday said since Iran is seeking compensation as part of any peace talks, he intends to demand the same for the US side. It’s part of a larger pivot this weekend by Trump to argue Iran is on the cusp of financially collapsing, even though it has already endured decades of financial sanctions, which are often a longer-term strategy rather than an immediate tool of warfare that can halt a conflict.

The shift comes as US stockpiles of key weapons have dwindled and stop-start talks seem again to have stalled. However, Trump insisted the pressure can lead to a breakthrough.

“Yeah, they can make trouble but they’re broke,” Trump told reporters. “They have no money. Iran is broke, totally broke. They’re not paying their soldiers. They have inflation of 300%.”

Inflation is running high in Iran, though Trump’s estimates were higher than what administration officials have been citing to reporters. The prospect of a longer war also carries inflation risks for other nations, including the US, where the war and higher petrol prices are unpopular.

Crude oil prices climbed on Monday as investors interpreted Trump’s comments as a sign that fewer ships would be traversing the Strait of Hormuz, continuing to limit global supplies of gasoline, jet fuel, natural gas and other forms of energy. The Iran war largely closed the waterway involved in shipping about 20% of global oil supplies before the conflict, and attempts to reopen the strait have been short-lived as it has become a source of leverage for the Iranians in negotiations.

Iran does not appear to be publicly intimidated by the prospect of more financial sanctions.

“Whenever Washington proves itself incapable of pursuing diplomacy, it retreats into sanctions, and whenever those sanctions fail to produce results it simply increases the dose,” Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, said on social media. “The real risk is that American politicians, clinging to this bad habit, will instead strangle their own remaining chances of a less humiliating exit from a crisis of their own making.”

‘Operation economic fury’

The US president didn’t say what additional financial pressure would be applied, but the administration has since April 16 been engaged in what it calls “operation economic fury” against Iran. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent called the component the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign as the countries that buy oil from Iran or bank with it could be sanctioned.

However, one problem with this pivot is that sanctions are unable to bite as quickly as the impact of the largely shuttered strait, said Richard Nephew, a senior research scholar at Columbia University who helped direct the Iran sanctions strategy during former US president Barack Obama’s administration.

Nephew stressed the value of sanctions as a tool is limited because Trump has not articulated clear strategic goals for the war, at times stressing Iran can’t have a nuclear weapon, then emphasising the strait and then talking about ballistic missiles. Instead, Trump has engaged in a series of aerial assaults and a level of destruction that has not produced the quick end he initially promised.

“Economic pressure is a possible element in his strategy, but he’s yet to explain the purpose,” Nephew said. “Trump has systematically weakened his own hand through his inadequate use of force, inarticulate elucidation of an objective and vacillation on negotiations.”

The sanctions and ongoing US naval blockade of Iranian ports give the US economic and financial leverage, said Juan Zarate, a deputy national security adviser during former president George Bush’s administration. Zarate said the US sanctions threatening third-party countries doing business with Iran also have an impact. But these things take time, he said.

“The ultimate question will be how far the US is willing to go to constrict Iran’s oil trade and threaten third countries with severe sanctions, and whether it has the patience to test whether the economic pain will change the regime’s behaviour,” Zarate said.

Former presidents used sanctions

Trump’s latest pivot to economic issues with Iran is something of a flip-flop. Trump has long derided past presidents who used sanctions to limit Iran’s economic ability to pay for its military and nuclear development. In a speech last week in Las Vegas, he defended the bombing, missiles and drone attacks that began on February 28 by indicating the sanctions from previous administrations that date back to November 1979 had failed to succeed.

“It’s been 47 years, but really it’s been 50 years because they’ve been saying 47 for three years,” Trump said. “No other president has done what you should have done a long time ago because Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.”

The Iranian economy has suffered gravely because of the war, with the International Monetary Fund estimating the overall economy shrinks by 5.4% and the Iranian government recently reporting an annual inflation rate of 88.6%. The US treasury department said average loadings of Iranian oil have decreased from 1.8-million barrels per day before the war to less than 500,000 barrels per day over the past month.

The US economy, the world’s largest, has continued to grow, but inflation is elevated and borrowing costs have risen in ways that have hurt Trump’s popularity and led to disapproval of the Iran war.

A senior US official, insisting on anonymity to discuss strategy, said the US military has set back Iran’s ability to produce, sell and ship oil and other energy resources. The administration sees the naval blockade of the strait and sanctions as effective and views Trump as having additional options that can be cranked harder in the weeks and months ahead.

Trump is essentially arguing US voters are better able to tolerate any economic inconveniences than Iranians, who have been in a state of economic hardship for years.

“It’s not just what the military can do. We’ve got the most powerful economy in the world as well,” defence secretary Pete Hegseth said on Monday in a joint appearance with Bessent. “When you’ve got a motivated treasury secretary who can pull a lot of levers because he knows how to do it, you can put a lot of pressure on adversaries.”

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

A 38-year-old man who poured a pot of hot cooking oil over a street vendor in White River, Mpumalanga, has been sentenced to 15 years’ direct imprisonment for attempted murder.

Given Smiso Nkosi was sentenced by the Mbombela (formerly Nelspruit) regional court after being convicted of attacking Emelinah Mdlovu, who was selling vetkoek at her street vending stall on January 24.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Monica Nyuswa, Mdlovu noticed Nkosi arguing with another man near her stall. The argument escalated into a physical fight and moved towards the large pot of hot oil she was using to fry vetkoek.

Mdlovu told the men to stop fighting and move away, warning them that the hot oil could cause serious injuries.

Nyuswa said Nkosi then turned his aggression towards Mdlovu.

Fearing for her safety, she ran from her stall. Nkosi grabbed the pot of hot oil, chased after her and poured it over her body when he caught up with her.

In aggravation of sentence, the state argued that Nkosi posed a danger to society and highlighted that the attack happened in broad daylight

Mdlovu suffered severe burn injuries and was taken to hospital by ambulance for treatment.

An eyewitness travelling in a vehicle saw Nkosi chasing Mdlovu and pouring the oil over her. The witness intervened and called for help, while police arrived shortly afterwards and arrested Nkosi.

The NPA successfully opposed Nkosi’s release on bail, and he remained in custody until the conclusion of the case.

Nkosi pleaded not guilty during the trial.

State prosecutor Simon Mamabolo led evidence from Mdlovu and the eyewitness, supported by medical evidence detailing the seriousness of her injuries. The court subsequently found Nkosi guilty of attempted murder.

In aggravation of sentence, the state argued that Nkosi posed a danger to society and highlighted that the attack happened in broad daylight.

The prosecution also told the court that Mdlovu had been going about her daily work, selling food to earn a living and support her household, when she became the target of the attack.

The court sentenced Nkosi to 15 years’ direct imprisonment and declared him unfit to possess a firearm.

Nyuswa said the sentence reflects the seriousness with which violent crimes against innocent people are treated.

TimesLIVE

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Prospective and current students at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) can now use an artificial intelligence-powered chatbot to get help with applications, admission requirements, registration and financial aid in several South African languages.

The university has upgraded its chatbot MoUJi with advanced large language model (LLM) technology, allowing prospective and current students to interact with it naturally in languages including isiZulu, Afrikaans, Sesotho and English.

The move is aimed at making student support more accessible and available around the clock without students having to search through university webpages or wait for office hours.

Students can ask MoUJi:

• whether their matric results meet the admission requirements for a qualification;
• for help calculating their admission point score;
• about registration; or
• about funding.

UJ registrar Prof Bettine van Vuuren said the upgrade is part of the university’s commitment to using technology responsibly.

“AI is reshaping every sector of society, and higher education has a responsibility to ensure these technologies expand opportunity rather than create new barriers,” she said.

“We believe innovation is never about technology for technology’s sake. It is about improving lives, widening access and ensuring every student can obtain trusted information, regardless of where they are, when they need support or the language they speak. That is how responsible AI should serve society.”

By harnessing responsible artificial intelligence, we are removing barriers to access, strengthening inclusion and creating a more personalised student experience

Dr Tinus van Zyl, UJ senior director for central academic administration

The university receives hundreds of thousands of applications every year, creating a great demand for information about qualifications, admission requirements, registrations, financial aid and accommodation. The upgraded MoUJi is designed to handle many of the routine questions immediately, allowing staff to focus on more complicated cases that require personal assistance.

MoUJi was launched in 2019 as a basic chatbot. It has since grown into a virtual assistant that can pick up on what a student means, understand context and reply in a conversational way, rather than relying on scripted answers or fixed keywords.

Dr Tinus van Zyl, senior director for central academic administration at UJ, said the platform had been built around the needs of students.

“Technology should adapt to student needs, not students to technology. That principle has guided the evolution of MoUJi from a conventional chatbot into an intelligent, multilingual virtual assistant that makes it easier for every student to access information whenever they need it, and in the language they are most comfortable using,” he said.

The technology is intended to support rather than replace university staff, he said.

“By harnessing responsible artificial intelligence, we are removing barriers to access, strengthening inclusion and creating a more personalised student experience. Importantly, AI is not replacing people but rather is empowering our staff to focus on the complex personal interactions.”

With 12 official languages in South Africa, UJ said it did not want language to stand between a student and their studies. By letting students interact with MoUJi in a language they are comfortable with, the university hopes to open its doors to a wider group of prospective and current students.

Our vision is to use artificial intelligence responsibly to ensure every student can access trusted information, get personalised support and timely guidance throughout their academic journey

Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi, UJ vice-chancellor and principal

The upgrade has also eased pressure on UJ’s contact centre, cutting down on the number of routine calls and freeing staff to deal with more complicated queries that need a human touch. UJ said the platform had also reduced its need for temporary call centre staff during busy registration periods.

To protect students’ personal information, MoUJi uses secure one-time password (OTP) verification, and any answers that involve institutional data are pulled directly from UJ’s official systems.

Frances Wessels, senior manager for the student enrolment centre at UJ, said the way students expected to be helped had changed.

“Students increasingly expect immediate, accurate support regardless of the time of day or the communication channel they use. The enhanced MoUJi enables us to deliver that experience while ensuring more complex enquiries are seamlessly referred to our staff. It allows us to provide faster, more personalised support without losing the human connection that remains central to student success,” she said.

UJ vice-chancellor and principal Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi said the university saw MoUJi as part of a bigger shift in how students would be supported in future.

“The future of university support structures is not simply digital but it is intelligent, multilingual and, above all, student-centred. Technology is most powerful when it removes barriers and creates opportunities. Our vision is to use artificial intelligence responsibly to ensure every student can access trusted information, get personalised support and timely guidance throughout their academic journey,” he said.

“As MoUJi continues to evolve, we see enormous potential for AI to proactively support students, helping them succeed long before challenges become barriers to success.”

TimesLIVE

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For years, Sarah Langa has been at the forefront of fashion and travel. Now a new chapter in her love of luxury lifestyle experiences has opened with Sarah Langa Interiors.

Dedicated to African creativity, the new interior design studio is dedicated to lovers of contemporary living. It is a new avenue inspired by a successful debut at Decorex Joburg.

The studio offers a carefully curated collection of furniture, décor, artwork and interior styling. One of the most talked-about pieces at Langa’s Decorex showcase was the Umshanelo Chair, a conceptual furniture piece inspired by the traditional African grass broom found in countless South African homes.

To understand more about what to expect and get her tips and tricks for lovers of a well decorated home, we had a chat with Langa about her new venture.

What has been the most exciting aspect of bringing Sarah Langa Interiors to life?

The most exciting part has been watching an idea that lived in my heart for years become something tangible people can experience. I’ve spent years telling stories through fashion and lifestyle, but interiors allow me to create spaces ople actually live in every day. For me, Sarah Langa Interiors isn’t only about beautiful furniture or beautiful homes. It’s about creating environments that make people feel something.

It’s also been incredibly fulfilling to champion African design in a way that feels contemporary, luxurious and globally relevant. Seeing clients connect emotionally with pieces we’ve designed from scratch has been the biggest reward.

How have you approached collaboration in your business?

Collaboration has always been at the heart of my business because I don’t believe great design happens in isolation. Some of my favourite pieces have come from working with incredible local artisans, manufacturers and creatives who each bring their own expertise to the table.

One of the things I’m most passionate about is creating opportunities for African craftsmanship to be celebrated. Whether it’s handwoven elements, custom metalwork or working alongside other designers, collaboration allows us to create work that’s richer because it’s built on shared creativity rather than individual ego.

Homogenisation in the décor sector has frustrated critics who believe we don’t see enough innovation from new talent. How will Sarah Langa Interiors stand out?

I think one of the biggest challenges in design today is that we’re constantly consuming the same images online, so spaces begin to look identical regardless of where they are in the real world.

What excites me is asking, “What does luxury look like through an African lens”? That’s the question that drives everything we do. We’re not interested in copying international trends. We’re interested in creating future heirlooms that couldn’t come from anywhere else.

We experiment with unexpected material combinations, such as stainless steel paired with soft velvets and natural fibres, and we reference African culture in subtle, sophisticated ways rather than relying on obvious motifs. I want people to walk into one of our spaces and immediately know they’re experiencing something uniquely African, but in a way that feels modern, timeless and internationally relevant.

What are common mistakes people make when decorating their homes while chasing popular trends?

I think the biggest mistake is decorating for social media instead of decorating for yourself. Trends are wonderful for inspiration, but they’re temporary. Your home should tell your story, not someone else’s Pinterest board.

People also underestimate the importance of scale, texture and quality. A home doesn’t need to be filled with expensive pieces, but it should feel layered, intentional and personal.

I’d always encourage someone to invest in fewer, better pieces they’ll love for years rather than constantly replacing trend-driven items.

What advice would you give young homeowners or people moving into their first apartment about personalising their space?

My biggest piece of advice is to take your time. You don’t have to furnish an entire home in one weekend. The most beautiful homes evolve over time because they’re collected rather than purchased all at once.

Start with quality foundational pieces such as a comfortable sofa, beautiful lighting and timeless furniture, then build personality through art, books, ceramics, textiles and objects that hold meaning.

Your home should feel like a reflection of who you are and the life you’re building. That’s what makes a space memorable, not how closely it follows trends, but how authentically it tells your story.

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Adverse weather conditions led to three “road incidents” in Ekurhuleni from the early hours of Tuesday, with one vehicle overturning and injuries reported.

Ekurhuleni metro police spokesperson Thabiso Makgato said the incidents occurred on the R21, R25 and RTJ Namane Drive in Thembisa.

Makgato urged motorists to exercise extreme caution on wet roads and adhere to road safety rules.

Motorists are advised to:

• reduce their speed;
• maintain a safe following distance;
• avoid sudden braking, which could cause vehicles to skid;
• switch on headlights to improve visibility;
• ensure windscreen wipers are working properly;
• check that tyres have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm across the entire surface; and
• avoid low-lying bridges, water puddles and flooded areas.

“Let us all drive responsibly. Your safety is our concern,” said Makgato.

TimesLIVE

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday defended the science-based process used to determine childhood immunisation schedules after US President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing the number of recommended childhood vaccinations in the US.

On Monday Trump signed an executive order calling for a reduced childhood vaccination schedule of 11 immunisations.

Trump said the move would provide US children with “gold-standard” protection and align the US more closely with other developed countries that recommend fewer shots.

Vaccine experts say other developed countries that may recommend fewer shots face different disease risks and have different health-care systems.

The order advances a long-standing objective of US health secretary Robert F Kennedy jnr, who has questioned vaccine safety and promoted claims linking vaccines to autism even though scientific studies and public health authorities have found no evidence of a link.

What comes out from WHO is science-based. We hope that all countries will use this best scientific evidence that we have

Tarik Jašarević, WHO spokesperson

WHO spokesperson Tarik Jašarević told a press briefing in Geneva that vaccination recommendations were based on more than 60 years of research by WHO, national authorities and independent expert groups.

The timing of individual vaccines was determined through extensive scientific review of when people were most vulnerable to particular diseases and the development of the immune system, Jašarević told reporters in Geneva.

Jašarević said countries typically relied on national immunisation technical advisory groups made up of multidisciplinary experts who provided independent, evidence-based recommendations to governments and vaccination programme managers.

Those groups, he said, draw on guidance from WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunisation (SAGE) when establishing national schedules.

“What comes out from WHO is science-based,” Jašarević said. “We hope that all countries will use this best scientific evidence that we have.”

Separate shots for measles, mumps and rubella

Trump’s executive order has drawn criticism from medical associations, public health experts and vaccine manufacturers, who say there is no new scientific evidence to justify the changes and that the existing US schedule reflects decades of evidence and the specific health needs of Americans, rejecting the comparison to other countries.

Physicians have warned that reducing the number of recommended vaccinations could leave more children vulnerable to preventable diseases and create confusion among parents about when children should be immunised.

The Trump order also recommends separating the combined measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine into three individual injections.

Vaccine maker Merck has said there is no published scientific evidence showing a benefit from splitting the shot and warned that requiring separate visits could increase the risk of delayed or missed vaccinations.

Reuters

MSF health adviser Mitchell Sangma said the US had cut its support to aid agencies in the country from $70m (R1.13bn) last year to no funding this year, leaving aid groups struggling to respond as needs rise. Other Western donors have also cut funding.

“This year we have admitted 22,000 nutrition cases, more than 80% higher than last year. When we need this massive scale-up in intervention measures, we are seeing less interest from donor support,” Sangma said.

A July survey by MSF of 888 households in 14 displacement sites in Baidoa, southwest Somalia, found that one in four children was severely malnourished. One third of families said they were surviving on one meal a day, while only 2% could afford three meals.

Somalia is facing a worsening hunger crisis after repeated failed rainy seasons devastated crops, killed livestock and depleted water supplies. Conflict and insecurity have compounded the crisis, disrupting livelihoods and limiting access to food, health care and aid.

The world cannot wait for a famine declaration before acting. Action is needed now to prevent loss of lives

Allara Ali, MSF project co-ordinator in Somalia

In February the Somalian government and the UN said about 6.5-million people in the country faced acute hunger due to drought.

MSF said it had screened more than 21,000 children under five in Baidoa since the start of the year, finding acute malnutrition rates of about 50%. Acute malnutrition is less extreme than severe malnutrition but still involves sudden weight loss and is life-threatening.

According to the UN, more than half-a-million people were displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2026, with drought driving most of the movement. Women and children accounted for about 85% of those displaced.

The crisis is reviving fears of a repeat of Somalia’s 2022 near-famine, but aid agencies say the response is being constrained by severe funding shortfalls.

MSF says there is only about $300m available for Somalia from donors, compared to $2.2bn that was provided by donors in 2022 when a similar drought situation was experienced.

“The world cannot wait for a famine declaration before acting,” said Allara Ali, MSF project co-ordinator in Somalia. “Action is needed now to prevent loss of lives.”

Reuters

The line-up comprises:

• the entry-level 1.3 City;
• mid-tier 1.5 City; and
• flagship 1.7 HD.

The 1.3 City has a payload of 1,300kg and a load box measuring 2,500mm long, 1,700mm wide and 398mm deep, while the 1.5 City can carry 1,500kg and has a slightly longer load box at 2,640mm. The 1.7 HD has a payload of 1,700kg and the largest load box of the three, measuring 3,050mm long, 1,800mm wide and 650mm deep.

Mahindra said all three models can accommodate a standard pallet between the wheel arches. Despite their payload capacities, the Bolero MaXX models can be driven on a standard Code B driver’s licence.

Power comes from Mahindra’s 2.5l m2Di four-cylinder diesel engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive across the range. The 1.3 City and 1.5 City produce 52kW and 200Nm, while the 1.7 HD develops 60kW and 220Nm.

The cabin features wide cloth seats in a driver-plus-two configuration. The 1.5 City and 1.7 HD add stain-resistant seat coverings, while the driver’s seat has reach, height and reclining adjustment.

Air- conditioning, heating and demisting are standard on the two higher-specification models. They also feature an air-cooled lockable glovebox, bottle holders, cabin lamps and a 12V power socket.

Rear parking sensors are standard across the range, while ABS is fitted to the 1.5 City and 1.7 HD. The HD also gets additional underbody and side protection.

Pricing is as follows:

• Bolero MaXX City 1.3: R199,000;
• Bolero MaXX City 1.5: R229,000;
• Bolero MaXX HD 1.7: R259,000.

All variants come with a four-year/120,000km warranty and roadside assistance. Optional service plans are also available.

TimesLIVE

When Sowetan visited the area, women had wrapped fleece blankets around their waists, while others remained in their gowns and sleepwear.

The area does not have electricity and for many residents an imbawula, a brazier, is their only source of warmth.

COLD SNAP 🌧️🌨️🌬️ | A resident of Kliptown informal settlement in Soweto shows us a shack where she and her neighbours sit around a fire to keep warm. Many households in the settlement rely on imbawula to survive the freezing temperatures since they don't have electricity.
Video:… pic.twitter.com/WbqcQlqQRr

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 11, 2026

Resident Imininathi Mntombi said: “There is nothing else that can help us keep warm except using an imbawula. We put wood inside the tin and when the smoke has subsided we take the burning brazier inside the house. But we don’t sleep with it because we know it is dangerous.”

She said her household had designated a separate shack for cooking and making fires where family members could sit and eat before returning to their homes. “We sit and eat there and when everyone is going home, we put out the fire” she said.

Prudence Khanyi said residents sit outside not because they want to but because their shacks are too cold. She said families often only light fires at night for cooking and warmth. For many households, safer alternatives such as gas or paraffin are unaffordable.

“We cannot afford gas or paraffin so we have to collect wood to make fires, cook and keep warm,” Khanyi said.

COLD SNAP 🌧️❄️🌬️ | Mpho Nong, a resident of Good Hope informal settlement in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, warns against using imbawula, saying it is dangerous. She says some residents are forced to use it to keep warm.
Video: @Koena_xM pic.twitter.com/0L8Rp2Rwqu

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 11, 2026

Even when we connect illegally, the electricity comes and goes. We cannot afford paraffin or gas because they are expensive, and most of us are not working

Sibongile Hlatshwayo, resident

Resident Sibongile Hlatshwayo said the lack of reliable electricity has left residents dependent on potentially dangerous alternatives. “We rely on things that are not safe to keep ourselves warm,” she said.

Hlatshwayo said some residents resort to illegal electricity connections but these are unreliable. “Even when we connect illegally, the electricity comes and goes. We cannot afford paraffin or gas because they are expensive, and most of us are not working,” she said.

Despite knowing the dangers associated with braziers, residents continue to use them because they have no other way of surviving the cold, she said.

In Etwatwa, resident Maureen Baloyi said families rely on coal stoves, braziers and outdoor fires as temperatures drop. “Though it is dangerous, some of us sleep with the imbawula because it is extremely cold at night,” she said.

Residents try to stay awake and monitor the fires before removing the braziers once the flames die, said Baloyi.

The risk of fires remains fresh in the minds of residents after a deadly shack fire in November last year claimed the lives of a family, she added.

COLD SNAP 🌧️❄️🌬️ | Gladys Malapile, who lives with her three grandchildren at Good Hope informal settlement in Germiston, Ekurhuleni, says it snowed a bit earlier in the morning. She said they only use imbawula outside as she knows how dangerous it can be to use it inside their… pic.twitter.com/RBYSNrwkuE

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 11, 2026

“There have been more recent incidents involving children dying from smoke inhalation and shack fires, though none had reached the scale of the tragedy that claimed the family of five.”

For residents living in informal settlements, the cold front is not only about enduring low temperatures. It is also about balancing the need for warmth with the risks posed by fires, smoke and carbon monoxide poisoning.

Sowetan

“Over the past year, investigations showed that the frequency and intensity of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the Myanmar military and by various armed groups continued to escalate,” the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM) said in a report.

The mechanism was formed in 2018 to investigate abuses in Myanmar since 2011, including crimes committed against the mainly Muslim Rohingya minority in 2017 when hundreds of thousands were forced to flee a military crackdown and other abuses since a military coup in 2021.

The report said attacks on civilians had continued in the last year and that violence increased before the military-managed election held between December 2025 and January.

The ​election, which Western governments and rights groups said was neither free nor fair, was won by a military-backed party, allowing Myanmar’s then junta leader Min Aung Hlaing to become president. He made a landmark visit to Thailand this month in search of international legitimacy.

Myanmar’s military government did not immediately respond to a request for comment by Reuters.

Aerial attacks

The IIMM said it had documented a pattern of deliberate aerial attacks on homes, schools, medical facilities, religious buildings and camps for internally displaced people. There was a notable escalation in aerial attacks in the months preceding the elections, it said.

The military increasingly used low-cost paramotors, gyrocopters and drones to conduct low-altitude strikes with unguided explosives, it said, adding that it was investigating incidents in Sagaing Region in which pilots allegedly cut their engines before reaching targets, allowing them to glide silently and giving civilians little warning.

“Communities across Myanmar are not only living under the constant threat of violence but are also coping with the profound and lasting impact of what they have endured,” said Nicholas Koumjian, the IIMM’s head.

Investigators also gathered extensive evidence of arbitrary detention, torture and sexual violence in military-run facilities, including alleged physical and sexualised torture and deaths in custody, the IIMM said. Investigators are also examining allegations of conflict-related sexual violence committed by anti-junta armed groups.

Anti-junta groups did not comment on the report’s findings.

Koumjian told reporters it had been challenging collecting evidence but that he hoped international courts would eventually serve justice for victims in Myanmar and “that potential perpetrators know again someone is watching.”

The civil war that has been fought since the 2021 coup against an elected civilian government led by Aung San Suu ​Kyi has killed an estimated 100,000 people and ⁠displaced millions. Tens of thousands of people have been detained since then, the UN says.

Reuters

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Diabetes is now the leading cause of death in South Africa, overtaking HIV and TB, with experts warning that poor diets, limited screening and an unhealthy food environment are fuelling a crisis that could be prevented.

The latest mortality data from Stats SA show that diabetes mellitus was the leading underlying natural cause of death in 2023, accounting for 27,692 deaths, or 5.8% of all recorded deaths, followed by cerebrovascular diseases, including strokes, at 5.4% of recorded deaths.

Hypertensive diseases were third, with 5.2%, or 25,018 deaths, while TB and HIV were fourth and fifth, respectively.

The figures point to a major shift in the country’s health crisis. As deaths from infectious diseases have declined, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension have taken a growing share of lives.

Experts say the problem is not only about what happens in hospitals. It starts much earlier, with what people eat, how often they exercise and whether they are able to access regular health checks.

One of the biggest dangers is that many people are living with these conditions without knowing it.

The biggest challenge is that as our communities grew over the past decade, our staffing complement remained the same or grew by very little. We are always time-challenged and only focusing on the major presenting problems, with little time to do additional screening

Dr Adil Razack

Dr Adil Razack, who works in the public health system, said health-care workers often do not have enough time or staff to screen people for conditions before they become serious.

“The biggest challenge is that as our communities grew over the past decade, our staffing complement remained the same or grew by very little,” he said. “We are always time-challenged and only focusing on the major presenting problems, with little time to do additional screening.”

Razack said many people also do not see the need to get tested until they develop symptoms. “By then, damage caused by uncontrolled diabetes or high blood pressure may already have begun.”

He said the effects of poor metabolic health do not stop at the doctor’s office. For families, chronic illnesses can mean years of medical expenses, medication, hospital visits and specialist care.

Wellness expert and author Maria Emmerich said the financial impact can also extend to lost income and reduced productivity.

“Direct expenses include physician visits, prescription medications, laboratory tests, imaging, hospitalisations, specialist care and medical equipment, all of which can continue for years or even decades,” she said.

There are also indirect costs, including:

• missed work;
• lower productivity;
• reduced earning potential;
• disability; and
• the burden placed on family members who have to provide care.

Emmerich said one of the biggest problems is that chronic metabolic diseases are often managed for years rather than addressing some of the factors that contributed to them in the first place.

Nearly 30% of South Africans screened in a recent hypertension study had high blood pressure. Yet 76% of those under 40 with the condition had no idea.

Experts say it is difficult to talk about diabetes without looking at South Africa’s food environment.

A research study published by the National Library of Medicine evaluating dietary quality among low-income South Africans found that, on average, 40% of the diet consisted of ultra-processed foods. Among 18-to-29-year-olds, that figure reached 40.2% of daily energy intake.

A separate study in the Western Cape found that 80% of foods in supermarkets were ultra-processed. This isn’t individual failure but a structural problem being mistaken for one.

The issue should not be placed entirely on individuals. People are living in environments where the cheapest, most heavily marketed foods are often the least nutritious

Rita Venter

Founder of the Banting Seven-Day Meal Plans Facebook community, Rita Venter, who has worked with a nutritional community for nearly 2.5-million South Africans through her programme, said the figures raise questions about whether people can simply be told to “eat better” when unhealthy food is often cheap, convenient and heavily marketed.

“The issue should not be placed entirely on individuals. People are living in environments where the cheapest, most heavily marketed foods are often the least nutritious,” she said.

Many South Africans work long hours, travel long distances and have to feed their families on limited budgets. “Instead of asking why people are not eating better, the focus should be on making healthier choices more affordable and accessible,” said Venter.

She also rejected the idea that healthy food must be expensive. “Eggs, canned fish, chicken, seasonal vegetables, cabbage and frozen vegetables can provide nutritious options without costing a fortune,” she said.

Research reviewed by Karen Heath, a senior researcher at the Noakes Foundation, found that employees with poorer health can experience reduced work ability, lower productivity and “presenteeism” — being at work but not performing at their full capacity.

“Poor metabolic health is a current workforce performance issue,” Heath said.

Problems with blood sugar regulation can contribute to fatigue, while insulin resistance and chronic inflammation can affect concentration and recovery. This means the impact of diabetes and other metabolic conditions can begin long before someone is officially diagnosed.

Experts say the country’s growing diabetes crisis is not inevitable: better screening could help identify people with diabetes and hypertension earlier. But prevention also requires changes beyond the health system, and people need:

• access to affordable, nutritious food;
• opportunities to be physically active; and
• information that helps them make healthier choices.

TimesLIVE

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Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has dismissed Fadiel Adams’ excuse for submitting his statement to the commission late, describing it as “unbelievable” and urging him to take the commission seriously.

The leader of the National Coloured Congress made a brief appearance at the Madlanga commission of inquiry on Tuesday, where the evidence leader, advocate Matthew Chaskalson, applied for a postponement, stating that Adams only submitted his statement on Monday night.

Explaining the delay, Adams said he submitted his statement late because his laptop was malfunctioning.

Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga has dismissed Fadiel Adams' excuse about his laptop after submitting his statement to the commission late. Madlanga described it as “unbelievable” and urged him to take the commission serious.
Video: @Moloi_Herman1 pic.twitter.com/dZL03ldILV

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 11, 2026

As a result, he became aware of the commission’s rule 3 notice only about three months ago, though it had been sent in October.

A rule 3 notice is a formal communication from the commission to inform an individual that they have been implicated and are afforded an opportunity to address the allegations.

He added that he asked for more time as he wanted to deal with voter registrations.

Madlanga dismissed the excuse, stating that if that were the case, it would mean that he is also unable to do his responsibilities as an MP.

“I find it hard to believe that from October last year, it’s only about three months back that you have received rule 3 notice from this commission — are you telling us the truth?” Madlanga asked.

Adams said he was.

WATCH: Member of Parliament Fadiel Adams says he is disappointed that he will not testify today at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. @Sowetan1981#madlangacommission pic.twitter.com/YQQMl67erd

— The Journalist (@Moloi_Herman1) August 11, 2026

He is expected to testify about how he received classified documents, which he has publicly said were slipped through his office door.

The commission is also likely to establish the role Adams played in the “orchestrated attacks” against crime intelligence officers.

Madlanga concluded by emphasising that he finds it hard to believe the excuse that Adams gave.

“It seems to me that you are not taking this commission seriously and starting from now and going forward you should not treat this commission the way you have thus far, because everything that you have said this far is totally unbelievable, I cannot believe it,” said Madlanga.

Adams’ testimony has been postponed to August 19.

Sowetan

The proposed amendments to both the Criminal Procedure Act and Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act mark a big shift from the R250,000 maximum fine and maximum 10-year imprisonment [or both] that is presently in place.

The mooted amendments define artisanal mining to state that this “means mining activities using rudimentary mining methods, manual and rudimentary tools to access mineral ore, usually available on the surface or at shallow depths.”

The government also wants to make it easy to bring to book people who aid and abet illegal miners. President Cyril Ramaphosa earlier this year deployed more than 2,000 South African Defence Force members to assist the police to, amongst other things, clamp down on illegal mining.

The hard line taken by the government will come as a big relief to mining houses, which have decried the growing threat to the sustainability of the local industry by illegal mining which undermines the rule of law and property rights, degrading the state’s ability to attract investment and meet its development goals.

Worsening this challenge is that illegal mining is not directly addressed by legislation. Those arrested cannot be charged with illegal mining. Thus, in many cases, we are obliged to lay relatively minor charges of trespassing.

Illegal mining activities are said to cost South Africa’s formal mining industry more than R7bn annually.

South Africa’s flagship mining legislation, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act (MPRDA) of 2002, makes it a crime to be in possession of unwrought precious metal ore without the required statutory authorisation.

However, the act has long been criticised for its narrow definition of illegal mining, which prevents police from imposing punitive sentences.

The proposed amendments seek to close this legislative loophole, with government essentially declaring war on illegal mining.

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Police are investigating the murder of an unidentified woman whose body was found behind a church in Ga-Madiba village, Limpopo.

Limpopo police spokesperson Col Malesela Ledwaba said on Tuesday that police received a complaint about a lifeless body at about 8am on Sunday.

“Police were on duty when they received a complaint about a lifeless body behind a church,” Ledwaba said.

Police found the woman lying on the ground with blood stains on her clothing.

Ledwaba said she had sustained multiple stab wounds, including injuries to her eyes, arms, back and head. Emergency medical services personnel certified her dead at the scene.

The woman’s identity is still unknown.

At the time she was found, she was wearing one brown takkie, brown leggings, a pink bra, a brown jacket covering her face, and a blue T-shirt.

Police in Mahwelereng have opened a murder case.

Ledwaba appealed to anyone who may recognise the description of the woman or have information that could help identify her to come forward.

TimesLIVE

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A 24-year-old Free State man is expected to appear in court on Tuesday after the badly beaten body of his partner’s son was found dumped at a cemetery.

He is expected to appear at Hertzogville magistrate’s court on Tuesday on a charge of murder.

Provincial police spokesperson Col Thabo Covane said it is believed that the body of the child was dumped at Old Cemetery, Malebogo, some time between Sunday and Monday morning.

“According to reports, the body of a child with bad injuries to the head was found wrapped in blankets and curtains. Local criminal record centre experts based in Welkom were summoned to process the scene.”

Covane said a murder case docket was opened at Herzogville and a preliminary investigation started.

“The victim was identified as four-year-old boy from Malebogo. The address was visited, and the bloodstained parts of the blankets and curtains, as well as clothing that is presumed to belong to the deceased boy, were discovered.”

Officers arrested a 24-year-old man, who is the deceased’s stepfather.

Sowetan

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Sophie Williams-De Bruyn’s speech on August 9 2026 at a commemoration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria:

Malibongwe! Malibongwe! Igama Lamakhosikazi! Wathinta Abafazi, Wathint’ Imbokodo!

The president of the Republic of South Africa, his excellency Cyril Ramaphosa; our host, minister Gayton McKenzie; The premier of our province, Gauteng, Panyaza Lesufi; premiers of all provinces; MECs, ministers and deputy ministers; comrades; ladies and gentlemen, all the women gathered here today [Sunday], iMbokodo — warm greetings to you all and happy Women’s Day!

I stand before you all today with a heart that simultaneously bursts with pride and joy while feeling waves of sadness. Seventy years ago, on this day, August 9 1956, 20,000 of us marched to these hallowed grounds, to these Union Buildings which were then the bastion of apartheid.

Because I was only 18 years old then and many of my compatriots are sadly no longer with us, it has always been an honour to represent the collective leadership of the march and the 20,000 women

Because I was only 18 years old then and many of my compatriots are sadly no longer with us, it has always been an honour to represent the collective leadership of the march and the 20,000 women.

We were young, we were afraid, but we were unified and determined. When we stood undaunted, in silence for those 30 minutes, the world trembled; it took note. We confronted the apartheid regime and boldly said: “[Prime Minister JG] Strijdom, you have targeted women, you have struck a rock, we will crush you.”

The joy of that solidarity, the triumph of knowing we could break the back of oppression, is a fire that still burns deep within me even today.

We emerged from that darkness with a firm belief that our daughters, our children, would walk in absolute freedom from the triple yoke of oppression as a race, class and gender, which we experienced under apartheid.

[The shift] But today, as I look at our beautiful country, my heart is heavy. The freedom we marched and bled for is in reality a painful paradox. How can we fully celebrate our past victories when our present reality is so deeply disappointing and distressful? We fought to banish the pass laws, yet today, our women are prisoners in their own homes. Gender-based violence continues to cast a dark cloud on our society.

Every day I weep for the girl-child, daughters, mothers and grandmothers who are abused, violated and silenced. This is not the freedom we marched for. We fought to dismantle the yoke of the systemic oppression of women as a race, class and gender.

It is also very disappointing that democratic South Africa is still the most unequal country in the world

Yet today we face the cruel suffocations of entrenched poverty, homelessness, a lack of clean water and systemic corruption. When people steal money allocated for education, health, housing and infrastructure, they are in reality stealing education, health and roads. These are real victims of corruption — and furthermore, they are stealing from you and me who pay our taxes. It is also very disappointing that democratic South Africa is still the most unequal country in the world.

The face of poverty and inequality in our country is mainly black, female and young. The impact of spatial racial segregation is still deeply entrenched. As we also mark the 50th anniversary of June 16, when in 1976 the youth picked up the mantle from us, youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, ranking South Africa very high globally.

To see the wealth of our nation stolen by people entrusted with power, while ordinary people starve, while our youth face staggering unemployment, is a profound betrayal of the 1956 sacrifices.

It sears the heart to witness the ideal of our liberation for which we gave our youth, blood was shed and other sacrifices were made, being derailed and wrecked by the staggering greed of a few. [The call to action: finding hope in struggle] And yet, even with these clouds, my spirit refuses to break and give up. My happiness comes from looking at you, the women of today. You are still the rock. You are still resilient. Despite the failures of leadership and the weight of these struggles, you continue to hold our families and communities together.

Your courage is the beacon of hope and the light that keeps this country moving forward. To the officials, politicians and dignitaries here today: I challenge you to look into the eyes of the women here and see the courage, determination, fortitude, hope and moral mettle that birthed this democracy. Do not let our sacrifices be in vain. Cleanse your hands of corruption. Protect our women. Feed our children. Have moral compass and backbone. Match the bravery of 1956 with bold, honest and accountable leadership.

Closing: a final charge

To the ordinary citizens of our country, in particular women, do not give up hope. Your vote, your voice and your unity are your critical weapons. We handed you a free country; it is now up to you to make it a safe and prosperous one. Let us march forward once more, not against pass laws, but this time against crime and insecurity, poverty, corruption, unemployment, homelessness, violence and the many ills that restrict your future, your safety, your freedom and prosperity.

The fire we ignited in 1956 cannot be extinguished. To the young women here today: do not wait for anyone’s permission. Stand up, use your voice and fight for your future. Fight against poverty and abuse just like we fought against apartheid.

Together, let us finish this march we began 70 years ago. Let the spirit of 1956 rise again in each of your hearts. I would be remiss if I did not express solidarity with the women and children in Palestine who are being subjected to genocide and apartheid, both of which are classified as crimes against humanity by the UN and the world. In the words of our late icon and former president Mandela: “Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.”

In conclusion, I would like to make a special plea. There were many women who courageously took part in the march on August 9 in 1956, whose names must be recorded in the annals of history to honour them by name. This could be your grandmother or any of your relatives. If you know any of these courageous women, please submit their names to the Ahmed Kathrada Foundation. We want all of them to be memorialised. We need our unsung heroines to be recognised.

Wathint’Abafazi, Wathint’Imbokodo! You Strike a Woman You Strike a Rock and it will Crush You! MALIBONGWE!

Thank you.

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The head of military intelligence for the Libyan National Army in the eastern part of the country was killed on Monday night when an explosive device detonated in his car outside his home in the Hawari area of Benghazi, two security sources said.

Brig Fowzi Mansouri was killed in the blast, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. They did not say who was responsible for the attack or provide further details on the device.

The killing highlights continuing security challenges in Libya, where rival administrations and armed groups have retained influence despite a 2020 ceasefire that halted major warfare. Libya split in 2014 between rival eastern and western factions after a 2011 Nato-backed uprising toppled longtime autocrat Muammar Gaddafi.

The Libyan National Army, led by military commander Khalifa Haftar, controls much of eastern and southern Libya. It is aligned with authorities based in Benghazi, while the internationally recognised government of national unity is based in the capital Tripoli and controls much of the west.

Reuters

Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings in the country’s third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers.

“Our building has basically been left in ruins and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed,” said Álvaro López, who cradled his dog while he watched the search.

The desperate scene recalled the ongoing searches in neighbouring Venezuela weeks after that country was devastated by two powerful earthquakes.

Besides Cali, the quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama. The epicentre was in San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 400km west of Bogota, the US Geological Survey said.

Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. He declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery.

“We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” he said.

Most powerful quake in Colombia this century

Colombia’s Geological Service said Monday’s quake was the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century” and was followed by several aftershocks.

Colombia’s Pacific region around the epicentre lies along the “Ring of Fire”, the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of Colombia’s poorest, nestled in dense jungle. Much of Choco is only reachable by boat or plane, which may pose difficulty in assessing the wider toll.

Local authorities said the death toll included at least 40 people who were killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located, including three children. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. It was not immediately clear where the other 32 people died.

The earthquakes left many in the Andean nation unnerved after two back-to-back quakes devastated neighbouring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people.

By Monday afternoon, people were reporting their loved ones missing on digital databases in the same way civilians did after Venezuela’s earthquakes. One database had more than 2,000 people, mostly in Cali and Pereira, with the number steadily climbing.

Photos of the missing included a young mother and her baby in Pereira. Another showed an 80-year-old woman in Cali whose family was desperately looking for details after her building collapsed.

Cities devastated

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, said he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed. Residents and rescue workers were searching through the rubble for survivors. The local government said people remained trapped in a number of the city’s 380 damaged buildings.

“My entire house shook. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We’re thanking God we’re alive.”

Little was known about the extent of the damage in Choco, a remote region where officials reported dozens of injured people and damaged buildings but few other details. Phone signals were out in many parts of the region’s capital, Quibdo. The town closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, San Jose del Palmar, has no airport, and is located on top of a mountain ridge along a highway linking the cities of Cali and Pereira.

In Pereira, further south in the coffee-producing mountains of Colombia, photos and videos on local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling onto travellers taking shelter and screaming. People ran through rubble and plumes of dust, and residents said collapsed stores, residential buildings and homes lined the city. Pereira mayor Mauricio Salazar told a local radio station there were at least 15 collapsed buildings where people were feared trapped.

In nearby Manizales, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas asked residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks. Authorities said flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira as they assessed damage.

Offers of aid pour in

Small earthquakes, known as “temblores”, are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude quake near the city of Armenia killed more than 1,100 people.

Response to the earthquake presents the first major challenge for De la Espriella, a Trump ally who was sworn in as president at the weekend. A divisive figure because of his pledge of an all-out crackdown on criminal groups, he said he had personally taken charge of the government’s response to the emergency.

On Monday night, the US state department announced it would provide $15.5m (R252m) for emergency shelter, food and other earthquake response aid. Governments across Latin America also lined up to help.

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose countries were among the largest providers of aid to Venezuela after its recent crisis, said they were ready to assist Colombia.

“From El Salvador we are in communication and ready to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies or any other assistance our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary,” Bukele said.

Chilean President José Antonio Kast said Chile, one of the region’s most earthquake-prone countries, “knows the pain and the challenge left by earthquakes” and also pledged help.

AP

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At least 14 suspected illegal miners, mostly Basotho nationals, have died after a rockfall at a disused mine in Nkaneng near Rustenburg.

The incident was reported to police at about 9pm on Monday at the Nkaneng dumping site on the premises of Sibanye mine.

North West police spokesperson Col Adele Myburgh said eight other illegal miners were injured and taken to hospital, while an unknown number of miners could be trapped underground.

“Police are [there] and the scene is still active,” she said, adding the deaths are being investigated as an inquest.

The incident comes less than two years after the Stilfontein mine tragedy, where at least 87 suspected illegal miners died after becoming trapped underground.

TimesLIVE

Effective from August 1 2026, the maintenance plan has been increased from three-years/75,000km to five-years/105,000km, adding two years and 30,000km of cover.

The maintenance plan includes scheduled servicing and specified wear-and-tear items, including brake pads, wiper blades, key batteries and vehicle batteries.

The change applies to all new Subarus sold through the manufacturer’s authorised dealer network and complements the brand’s existing five-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, which remains unchanged.

“Moving from three-years/75,000km to five-years/105,000km represents a meaningful enhancement to the value included with every new Subaru,” saids Nteo Nkoli, national marketing manager at Subaru Southern Africa.

“Our customers are not only investing in a vehicle, they are investing in long-term confidence and peace of mind. By extending our standard maintenance cover we are making the Subaru ownership proposition more compelling while remaining true to the safety, quality and capability for which Subaru is known.”

Customers who want additional maintenance cover can extend the plan by a further two years/45,000km, taking total maintenance cover to seven-years/150,000km.

TimesLIVE

While the original Marsien was developed with off-road driving in mind and drew inspiration from the Paris-Dakar Porsche 959 rally cars of the 1980s, the GT has been engineered to spend its life firmly on the black stuff.

Each Marsien GT starts life as a Porsche 992-generation 911 Turbo S before being extensively overhauled. Marc Philipp Gemballa says about 1,500 components are newly engineered or manufactured as part of the conversion, covering everything from the bodywork and suspension to the exhaust system, wiring loom, aerodynamic systems and interior.

More than 100 carbon-fibre components make up the Marsien GT’s body. These include the main exterior panels, air channels, wing mirrors, wheel-arch liners and a large rear section extending from the A-pillars to the rear wing.

The redesigned bodywork incorporates active front-fender louvres, an active rear wing, a roof scoop, ram-air intakes, side-skirt intakes and a full carbon-fibre underbody. Together, these changes help cut weight by a claimed 75kg compared with a standard 911 Turbo S while also increasing downforce and stability at higher speeds. A central fuel-filler arrangement has also been adopted, partly to improve weight distribution.

Beneath the carbon-fibre bodywork is a completely redesigned double-wishbone suspension system developed with German suspension specialist KW Automotive. Unlike the original Marsien’s setup, which had to cope with a certain amount of terrain-bashing, the GT’s suspension has been developed specifically for carving up smooth tarmac.

The electronically controlled dampers are based on KW’s DDC V5 technology and can independently adjust compression and rebound damping. Each damper incorporates two electromagnetic proportional valves, allowing the system to respond to changing conditions within 20 milliseconds.

The standard ride height is 100mm, while a front-axle lift system can raise the nose by an additional 60mm to help clear ramps, driveways, speed bumps and other urban obstacles. Multiple driving modes adjust the damper settings, transmission and engine mapping, and can be selected via a button on the steering wheel.

The Marsien GT sits on bespoke six-spoke forged aluminium wheels with centre-locking hubs, measuring 20″ at the front and 21″ at the rear. They are wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, measuring 275/35 up front and 335/30 at the rear.

At the heart of the GT is a Porsche-derived twin-turbocharged flat-six that receives a significant engine upgrade developed by the gurus over at RUF. Revised engine management, enhanced variable-turbine-geometry turbochargers and modified transmission calibration lift output to 619kW and 930Nm.

Marc Philipp Gemballa claims the Marsien GT will accelerate from 0-100km/h in 2.4 seconds and reach a top speed of 330km/h. A second-stage engine upgrade is also in development, with output expected to exceed 670kW.

Both versions exhale through a full-titanium quad exhaust system developed by Slovenian specialist Akrapovič.

The cabin remains recognisably 911-based, though Marc Philipp Gemballa has redesigned much of the trim and hardware. The centre console has been raised and incorporates an aluminium gear lever inspired by the Porsche Carrera GT. Customers can specify an exposed carbon-fibre or mahogany gear knob, while carbon-fibre interior trim is also available.

A Club Sport-style roll bar can be fitted behind the seats, with finishes including painted metal, leather, Alcantara or exposed carbon fibre. Each car will also carry an individual production-number plaque integrated into the centre console.

Production of the Marsien GT will be limited to 30 examples, taking total planned production across the Marsien programme to 70 vehicles.

Pricing starts at €770,000 (R15.4m), excluding taxes, duties, shipping and the cost of the Porsche 911 Turbo S donor vehicle. First customer deliveries are scheduled for the end of 2027.

The Marsien GT will make its world premiere and North American debut during Monterey Car Week at Pebble Beach.

TimesLIVE

During the quarter, the number of unemployed people increased by 345,000 to 8.5-million and there was a decrease of 16,000 in the number of those employed to 16.7-million compared with the first three months of the year, Stats SA said in its latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey.

The number of people employed in the formal and household sectors decreased by 41,000 and 9,000, respectively, in the second quarter, while those in the informal sector rose by 34,000.

The largest decreases in employment were recorded in community and social services (57,000) and mining (26,000), as well as agriculture and manufacturing at 15,000 each.

The total number of unemployed young people aged 15 to 34 increased by 264,000 to 5-million, while that of employed youth fell by 40,000 to 5.6-million. As a result, the youth unemployment rate increased by 1.5 percentage points to 47.4% in the second quarter.

Economists had predicted bleak jobs numbers for the second quarter, partly citing higher input costs for businesses due to the US-Iran war, which has sent oil prices spiralling.

The latest Rand Merchant Bank/Bureau for Economic Research confidence index shows local businesses came under significant pressure in the second quarter, with the operating environment deteriorating due to supply constraints linked to the Middle East conflict.

Unemployment, particularly among young people, was the focus of an annual public economics conference hosted by the Government Technical Advisory Centre last month. Treasury director-general Duncan Pieterse told delegates that as the dominant divisions in the manufacturing sector, which used to provide jobs, become increasingly less labour-intensive, the country must look to sectors such as tourism and construction to help reduce unemployment.

The government has long acknowledged that the economy, which only mustered growth of 1.1% last year, is not expanding anywhere near the levels needed to create jobs.

In an address to the same conference, finance minister Enoch Godongwana reiterated that “South Africa will not defeat youth unemployment at scale without faster, inclusive economic growth”.

He added: “But growth will not happen by itself. It requires reform. Reform requires implementation. Implementation requires capable institutions. And capable institutions require credible public finances, good data, accountability and discipline.”

Business Day

The purpose is to prevent criminal networks from enticing potential migrants to attempt to cross with false information, which has led to tragic deaths, she said in a post on X late on Monday.

Meta and TikTok agreed with the EU to set up an “ad-hoc escalation and co-operation mechanism with fact-checkers” as part of crisis protocols, according to the post.

The commission and pan-European police force Europol are discussing the situation with the two companies every day, the post said.

Virkkunen also spoke to Oscar Lopez, the Spanish minister for digital economy, on how to prevent border crossings and the loss of lives.

More than 70,000 would-be migrants flooded into Ceuta in a mass rush on July 30 that left nearly 100 dead. Would-be migrants were encouraged by a handful of viral videos, including some posted by a Spanish news outlet intended to highlight the burden of migration pressures.

Ceuta and Melilla have the EU’s only land borders with Africa and the cities periodically experience surges in attempted crossings by migrants seeking to reach Europe.

Reuters

Duan had a stellar first season for the Multiply Titans last summer, producing a player of the match performance in the final of the One-Day Cup. He took a wicket, a catch and then made an unbeaten 61 as the Titans claimed a three-wicket victory against provincial neighbours the DP World Lions at the Wanderers in April.

Jansen was later named Domestic One-Day Player of the season and recently finished as English county Gloucestershire’s leading wicket-taker in the T20 Blast, with 16 wickets.

“This tour has opened the door for players who have performed domestically. Duan is one of those players. He is a quality all-rounder who has also shown great character for the Titans,” said Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad.

The 15-man squad announced on Tuesday for both the T20 tri-series with Namibia and Zimbabwe and a subsequent three-match ODI series against the host nation will be captained by left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin.

A DREAM DEBUT FOR DUAN JANSEN IN YELLOW ARMY. 💛

- He is the brother of Marco Jansen. pic.twitter.com/UScGN77jAX

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) December 28, 2025

Eathan Bosch also earned his first T20 International call-up.

The group includes Jordan Hermann, Connor Esterhuizen and Nqobani Mokoena, who were involved in the Proteas T20 squad that toured New Zealand in March. None of that trio has played an ODI.

Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, fresh off playing in The Hundred in England, and Kwena Maphaka are the only three nationally contracted players who will make the trip, as Conrad seeks to build depth with one eye on next year’s World Cup, while also allowing senior players like Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi extra time to prepare for a busy season that includes eight Tests on home soil between October and January.

“We’ve selected one squad for both series, as we feel we have all departments well covered and it provides a great opportunity for players to build on their international caps,” said Conrad.

The Proteas will open the tri-series on August 28 against Namibia and will face Zimbabwe the following day. The matches will be played at the Namibia Cricket Ground in Windhoek.

Proteas squad

Bjorn Fortuin (capt), Eathan Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Duan Jansen, Kwena Maphaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen.

TimesLIVE

The 66-question census, held on August 11, is the first under a centre-left Labor Party government since 2011. The current Labor government backflipped to allow the questions after dropping them temporarily two years ago as “divisive”. Both questions are open to members of households 16 years of age and older.

The answer options for sexual orientation are straight, gay or lesbian, bisexual, don’t know, prefer not to answer or a term of the respondent’s choice that can be written in a designated blank space.

The options for the gender the respondent currently identifies with that differs from that registered at birth are man, woman, nonbinary, prefer not to answer or another term the respondent can provide.

The gender and sexual orientation questions are optional, along with a question on religion that has been included since the first census in 1911.

Labor had promised such questions about sexuality and gender would be included in the next census while campaigning ahead of the 2022 elections that brought the party to power after nine years out of government.

The Australian government determines the topics for each census. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) decides the wording of questions.

In 2024, the government decided against deviating from the 2021 census questions in the interests of maintaining social cohesion.

“We do not want to open up divisive debates in the community now,” deputy prime minister Richard Marles said in August 2024.

The government soon relented after almost a week of backlash from LGBTQI+ advocates and criticism from some Labor lawmakers.

Two days after Marles spoke, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, a heterosexual who has marched in the annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras twice since he took office in 2022, confirmed in a radio interview that a question about sexual orientation would be included in the next census.

ABS chief statistician David Gruen said his bureau discovered a “substantial level of interest in asking questions on gender and sexual orientation” during public consultations ahead of the census.

“For a proportion of the population collecting this information is very important. For other people it’s information that they simply don’t want to share,” Gruen told Australian Broadcasting Corp, referencing the decision to make the questions optional.

Liz Allen, an Australian National University demographer, said Australia lagged behind some like-minded countries in dealing with gender and sexual orientation in the census. Britain asked similar questions of its population in 2021, New Zealand in 2023 and Canada three months ago.

“We’ve been talking about these questions for some time, but the previous government, it didn’t look like they were going to budge on the evidence and enable it to be in the census. So the ABS really didn’t put it to them,” Allen said.

Allen said the questions need to go further into the issues of sexuality and gender by asking respondents if they were intersex, a term for people born with biological sex characteristics such as chromosomes, hormones, or genitals that do not fit typical definitions of male or female.

The last US census in 2020 allowed only two responses to its gender question: male or female. That census, which is held once a decade, did not specifically ask about sexual orientation. But same-sex relationships were for the first time allowed to be listed in the household relationship field.

In Australia, people were asked to submit their census answer forms as soon as they received their instructions in the mail if they knew where they would be on census night.

The ABS expects 85% of responses will be made online, up from almost 80% in 2021, when almost half the population was in pandemic lockdown. The ABS also provides paper census forms on request.

Field staff help homeless people and people living in remote areas participate. Failing to comply with a direction to complete the census can result in a fine of up to A$364 (R4,174) a day.

The ABS said more than 5-million forms had been submitted by Tuesday morning. Almost 11-million forms are expected to be completed.

AP

Samsung SDI said in a regulatory filing that it plans to use the wholly owned unit — SDI-GM Synergy Cells Holdings — to respond to market demand for batteries across various applications, including energy storage systems (ESS) and EVs.

The company said its existing investment plan would change after the shift to a wholly owned unit, but specific investment plans had not yet been finalised. The company would make further disclosures in accordance with regulatory requirements.

“The ownership change was made in consideration of market changes since the joint venture was announced, including the slower-than-expected growth of EV demand. The two partners have now decided to seek other forms of co-operation other than the joint venture,” Samsung SDI said.

Separately, Samsung SDI said it has signed an agreement with GM to jointly develop next-generation prismatic batteries for potential future EV applications.

Reuters reported earlier this year that construction at the plant had slowed amid weak demand for EVs.

GM and other carmakers pulled back on EV manufacturing after ‌the loss of a $7,500 (R121,308) federal tax credit last September. While carmakers continue to build and sell EVs, they have lowered factory output to match demand.

The joint venture was announced two years ago and was initially expected to have an annual production capacity of 27GWh, with an aim to start mass production in 2027.

In March GM and LG Energy Solution also announced a decision to transform another EV battery plant in Tennessee to make batteries for ESS.

Reuters

“I feel really broken,” 17-year-old student Thandani Masangu said after spending three hours wheeling empty containers on a trolley through trash-strewn Hillbrow searching for water.

His block has had none for more than three years.

The infrastructure is old. A lot of it is more than 50 years old.

Joburg Water senior manager, Zakhele Khuzwayo,

Masangu and his friend, Raymond Maleka, spotted a tank being refilled by a municipal water truck; a security guard told them there was only enough for residents of the adjacent tower-block.

As South Africa prepares for local elections in November, water shortages have become a symbol of municipal failures that have angered voters and eroded support for the ruling ANC.

Wealthier inhabitants of the commercial capital are increasingly taking matters into their own hands: drilling boreholes to bypass the municipality, starving it of funds needed to fix the mess.

‘The infrastructure is old’

Johannesburg Water, the utility owned and run by the local authority, acknowledges there is a problem.

“The infrastructure is old. A lot of it is more than 50 years old,” its senior manager for innovation and technology, Zakhele Khuzwayo, said in an interview.

“The city is aware of the limitations. We know where we’d like to be ... Now it’s a matter of paving the way to get there.”

That acknowledgement, and the regular promises of progress, have done little to stop the once mundane issue of maintenance rising up the list of electoral grievances.

“Maintenance is not sexy. It’s always more interesting to allocate funds to other areas,” Craig Sheridan, director and founder of the Centre in Water Research and Development at the city’s University of the Witwatersrand, told Reuters.

“This is not only evident in our water ... we see it in all our public infrastructure,” added Sheridan, who collected the data on the city’s haemorrhaging pipes.

Analysts say climate change is worsening the city’s water woes by increasing the amount lost to evaporation.

Another underlying problem is the mounting budgetary crisis at the Joburg municipality.

In July, the National Treasury withheld funding from Johannesburg, a city that makes up more than a sixth of the country’s GDP, after several failures to meet financial management requirements.

It has said the city’s latest R97.1bn budget is unfunded, with planned spending, including higher municipal wages, exceeding realistic revenue projections.

A spokesperson for Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero did not respond to an emailed request for comment on the problems with water supplies and the broader budget. Last month, national press quoted Morero as attributing unpaid debts to system glitches that disrupted payments.

‘We’re overwhelmed, to be honest’

The ANC has paid the price for poor services in the past. In the local elections in 2021, public anger lowered its share of the vote to less than half for the first time since the end of apartheid — and it went on to lose its majority in national polls less than three years later.

Masangu’s friend Maleka will be old enough to vote in this year’s polls, and said he won’t be choosing the ANC.

Maintenance is not sexy. It’s always more interesting to allocate funds to other areas.

Craig Sheridan, director and founder of the Centre in Water Research and Development at the city’s University of the Witwatersrand

Neither will Lindiwe Ndlovu, 53, former ANC member and owner of a flat in the Hillbrow block of flats being supplied by the tanker.

Ndlovu and three other residents said authorities cut them off in 2019 for non-payment. But they said the utility was using excessive estimates — a meter to determine actual usage was broken and never replaced, despite repeated promises.

A court had ordered the utility to restore the water in May, but they had not yet done so, they added.

“People are tired of these problems,” Ndlovu said.

Johannesburg Water’s Khuzwayo said he could not comment on individual cases. “We’re overwhelmed, to be honest.”

Out in the suburbs, richer residents have been drilling boreholes alongside the solar panels they set up to cope with power cuts, and the contracts they signed with private recycling collectors.

Albertus Lombaard of the Borehole Water Association estimates that residents of Gauteng have drilled 10,000 boreholes over the past decade.

People are tired of these problems.

Lindiwe Ndlovu, former ANC member

Litigation lawyer Thea Kilian said that after one particularly frustrating shutdown, she spent R100,000 to drill and to install tanks and filters that now kept her swimming pool full and her lawn green.

“On our WhatsApp group for the street, you get constant ... reports of water problems,” the 53-year-old said.

She felt awful for those less fortunate, but “it’s a terrible thing to say, (the water problem) doesn’t bother me at all anymore”.

Reuters

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is close to agreeing a deal to acquire a stake of about one-third in Premier League club Liverpool, multiple media outlets reported on Monday.

The investor group also includes Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder, the reports said.

Sky News reported that the consortium is being led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and a former shareholder in English Championship (second-tier) club Queens Park Rangers, and that Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group could announce a deal as early as this week.

“An investment consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club,” an FSG spokesperson said last month.

A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is closing in on a deal to buy roughly a one-third stake in Liverpool FC, Sky News can exclusively reveal.@MarkKleinmanSky reports.https://t.co/mB0SUVjQvL

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/fOqSyU9o1g

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 10, 2026

The investment would reportedly value the club at approximately £4.4bn (R72bn), making it one of the biggest valuations ever achieved in a football club deal.

FSG, which acquired Liverpool in 2010, has explored outside investment in recent years while retaining control of the club. A deal at the reported valuation would underline the substantial increase in Liverpool’s worth during FSG’s 16-year ownership.

The investment comes at a time of significant change on and off the pitch at Anfield.

Liverpool finished a disappointing fifth in the Premier League last season despite spending about £446m on new players.

Amazon billionaire Jeff Bezos 'closes in on stake in Liverpool' 💸 pic.twitter.com/gNM1qnkXdW

— The Sun Football ⚽ (@TheSunFootball) August 10, 2026

The club subsequently parted ways with Dutch manager Arne Slot and appointed former Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola in a bid to revive their fortunes, while their talismanic Egypt forward Mohamed Salah has also departed.

Michael Edwards, widely credited with helping build the squad that won Liverpool’s first domestic league title in 30 years in 2020, left his role as chief executive officer of football at Fenway Sports Group in July.

Liverpool, one of world football’s most successful clubs, are also among the sport’s most valuable and widely supported teams, with their iconic Anfield stadium at the heart of a global fan base.

They won a joint-record 20th English league title in the 2024-25 season. Their honours also include six European Cups, eight FA Cups, a record 10 League Cups and one Fifa Club World Cup.

Liverpool open their new Premier League season at Newcastle United on August 23.

Reuters

The 30-year-old Nigerian goalkeeper left Chippa in early February, having joined the club in 2022.

He appeared in 76 games for the Gqeberha team before requesting to leave, which the club granted.

Nwabali had been without a club before rejoining Chippa for the new season.

He made his comeback against Golden Arrows in the Betway Premiership season opener, which ended in a goalless draw and will also feature in Tuesday’s league match against Richards Bay (7.30pm).

“It’s nice coming back to where they believe in you and where they place trust in you,” Nwabali said.

Chairman Siviwe "Chippa" Mpengesi announces Chippa United's move to the iconic Dobsonville Stadium for our next two home fixtures, honouring the proud legacy of Moroka Swallows.

📅 11 Aug | 🆚 Richards Bay FC | 🕢 19:30
🎟️ Adults: R60 | Children: R30
Available via Webtickets pic.twitter.com/LU1Itlv1ft

— Chippa United FC (@ChippaUnitedFC) August 6, 2026

“It’s nice to be back and working with the people that I know, my teammates and the management. I am happy and excited to be back.”

The Chilli Boys announced eight new players on their Facebook page ahead of their match against Arrows.

In addition to Nwabali’s return and Goodman Mosele’s permanent move to Chippa from Orlando Pirates, they added Nthuthuko Mlotshwa, Muhammad Carrim, Daba Diakite, Tshepang Makara, Muzomuhle Khanyi, Lebohang Tshabalala, Obakhe Tshaya and Highbury FC’s Imraan Jones to their squad for the new season.

The Gqeberha team will play their first home game of the season against the Natal Rich Boys at the Dobsonville Stadium in Soweto.

Playing in this league requires a lot. I am happy that the young players in the team have adapted so quickly.

This is due to the unavailability of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium and Buffalo City Stadium, both of which are undergoing scheduled pitch maintenance throughout August.

“Playing in this league requires a lot. I am happy that the young players in the team have adapted so quickly,” Nwabali said.

“Some of them made their PSL debuts against Arrows, and it was clear that they performed admirably. I believe the coach is happy and proud of them.

“I believe we have a good mix of young and experienced players on the team, and there is a lot of talent.

“We’re taking it one game at a time. After our game against Arrows, the coach analysed our performance and identified areas for improvement.

“Throughout the week, we worked to improve the team for our upcoming league games. Richards Bay is a good side, but the coach has a strategy for how to approach that game, and I believe we will have a good game on Tuesday.”

This week’s Betway Premiership fixtures

(7.30pm unless stated):

Tuesday:

• Chippa United v Richards Bay, Dobsonville Stadium
• Marumo Gallants v Kruger United, Royal Bafokeng Stadium
• Polokwane City v Stellenbosch FC, Seshego Stadium
• TS Galaxy v Mamelodi Sundowns, Mbombela Stadium

Wednesday:

• AmaZulu v Orlando Pirates, Kings Park
• Durban City v Golden Arrows, Chatsworth Stadium
• Kaizer Chiefs v Sekhukhune United, FNB Stadium
• Milford FC v Siwelele, Richards Bay Stadium

Friday:

• Stellenbosch FC v Marumo Gallants, Athlone Stadium

Saturday:

• AmaZulu v Siwelele, Kings Park (3pm)
• Kaizer Chiefs v Mamelodi Sundowns, FNB Stadium (3pm)
• Sekhukhune United v Polokwane City, Seshego Stadium (5.30pm)
• Durban City v Richards Bay, Chatsworth Stadium (8pm)
• Milford FC vs Kruger United, Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium (8pm)

Sunday:

• Chippa United v Orlando Pirates, Kings Park (3pm)
• TS Galaxy v Golden Arrows, Mbombela Stadium (5.30pm)

The Herald

Elbridge Colby, an undersecretary of defence, made the remarks at a forum in the Philippines, his first stop in Southeast Asia, where he will also visit Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia. He renewed Washington’s assurances that the US is not backing away from Asia despite its current preoccupation with the Iran war and the Middle East.

“America is definitely not disengaging from Asia — to the contrary. Our vital national interests dictate our enduring presence here,” Colby told an audience that included foreign diplomats, generals, business executives and journalists.

“We are not leaving; in fact, we are digging in to ensure a favourable balance of power where it matters most,” the Pentagon’s top policy adviser said. “We see Asia as of paramount importance.”

When we ask our allies and partners to step up, to invest more in their own defence and to take responsibility for their own sovereign security, we are not signalling abandonment. We are looking for partners, not protectorates.”

Elbridge Colby, US undersecretary of defence

Colby stayed away from the usual US tirade against China’s growing aggression in the region, including in the disputed South China Sea. Washington has often expressed alarm about Beijing’s increasingly hostile actions against the Philippine coast guard and naval forces in recent years.

Washington has repeatedly warned that it’s obligated to defend the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, if Filipino forces, ships or aircraft come under armed attack, including in the South China Sea.

China and the Philippines, along with Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan, have been locked in territorial standoffs in the disputed waters, a key global trade route, for decades. Beijing virtually claims the entire waterway and has rejected a 2016 ruling in an arbitration case initiated by the Philippines that invalidated its expansive claims.

Colby repeated a vow by US defence secretary Pete Hegseth in a speech at the Shangri-La defence conference in Singapore in May that the US will build and sustain a strong defence in the Western Pacific “that ensures aggression is infeasible, escalation unattractive and war deemed irrational”.

Colby said the US is committed to ensuring “we can sustain combat-credible power where it matters most. Yet this defence architecture cannot rest on American shoulders alone. It must be upheld by a network of highly capable, sovereign nations that have modernised their own forces and stepped up to secure their own territory — transforming our relationships into true partnerships of equals.

“When we ask our allies and partners to step up, to invest more in their own defence and to take responsibility for their own sovereign security, we are not signalling abandonment. We are looking for partners, not protectorates.”

Colby praised efforts by the Philippines, which holds large-scale combat exercises with US forces each year, to strengthen its defence capabilities and cited similar efforts by Thailand, Indonesia and other security allies in Southeast Asia.

AP

Mashego is the daughter of veteran boxing ring announcer Sipho Mashego from the East Rand in Gauteng.

Pieterse is the daughter-in-law of trainer Steven Pieterse whose father, Jan Andries “Happy” Pieterse, won the SA light heavyweight belt in August 1967.

The Pieterses are based in Middleburg, Mpumalanga, where Steven hones the skills of several fighters including Bonginkosi “Malume” Nhlapho, whose WBF Africa light heavyweight belt will be on the line against Ayanda Mthembu as the main bout in MBBP’s maiden tournament at Event City in Middelburg on August 29.

Relegogile, 20, and Megan, 25, founded MBBP in December, with a vision to build a sustainable, inclusive, and dynamic boxing ecosystem that nurtures talent, promotes community well-being, and bridges the urban-rural divide.

Mashego and Pieterse’s unique approach will focus on grassroots development and strategic partnerships to ensure that rural communities benefit from the growth of the sport.

“By investing in people, communities, and holistic development, we will ensure the sport thrives and uplifts all corners of our province,” said Mashego.

Pieterse said one of their objectives is to “provide holistic support for athletes, including housing, nutrition, education, and mental health resources”.

Sipho, Boxing SA’s 2023 Ring Announcer of the Year who was recently honoured by the regulator for his 30 years of service, said: “I am elated to see these young women from different cultures coming into boxing together.”

Steven said: “It’s long overdue that we have something like this in Mpumalanga. Relebogile and Megan are now in a position to grow boxing in our province.

“In 2023, I took 26 boxers to Tzaneen for the championships and we brought back 19 medals, but the problem is that here in Mpumalanga we don’t get recognised for things like that.

“We’ve got a lot of talent that ran away to other provinces due to lack of action. So, [Relebogile and Megan] want to give opportunities to such people and be successful.”

Action will begin at 6pm, and the main supporting bout will feature Phaphama “Load Shedding” Rhonorhono defending his SA welterweight belt against Jabulani Makhense.

Donjuan van Heerden, Pritchard Dube, Pieter de Klerk, Jonathan Sam and Nyiko Nkuna will be involved in undercard fights.

The health NGO worker’s 135,000 naira (R1,610) monthly salary is nearly double the country’s minimum wage, but she said life keeps getting tougher as her salary fails to keep pace with rocketing costs.

If I’m paid today, my salary stays with me just for one week. If you see the cost of living, housing, electricity, everything has gone up

Grace Adama

“If I’m paid today, my salary stays with me just for one week,” she said. “If you see the cost of living, housing, electricity, everything has gone up.”

Living standards for millions in Africa’s largest oil exporter have crumbled in the past three years as the government of President Bola Tinubu pushed through painful reforms, including fuel subsidy removals, naira devaluation and electricity subsidy cuts.

The government and investors say the reforms were essential to pull the country back from the edge of fiscal crisis and would pay off in the long run.

But now, it costs Nigerians more than double to make the staple jollof rice than it did when Tinubu took office, according to an index by Lagos-based SBM Intelligence which tracks the prices of ingredients which go into making the dish. Petrol prices are six times higher after the scrapping of the subsidy and as the naira weakened and global oil prices surged.

Nigerians bristle; investors cheer reforms

The World Bank estimates just more than half of Nigeria’s population were in poverty last year, up from roughly 42% in 2022.

Citizens’ struggles under Tinubu, nicknamed “T-Pain” by some bristling under the rising costs, contrast sharply with investor optimism.

“This is the most positive investors have been about Nigeria, probably in the past two decades,” said Thys Louw, portfolio manager at investment firm Ninety One. “They’re taking the tough medicine now.”

I can’t even send money to my aged mother at home [in Benue state, several hours away]. I can’t do a lot of things that I used to do before

Grace Adama

The chasm between those such as Adama, squeezed by costs, and booming financial markets, adds a new angle to a country already defined by contrasts: glittering, cosmopolitan Lagos and militant-threatened Maiduguri in the northeast; marble-laden mega mansions and tin-roofed shacks housing entire families.

Tinubu must convince voters that the benefits of the reforms will trickle down to them, too, before $10bn (R162.64bn) from government coffers.

“I can’t even send money to my aged mother at home [in Benue state, several hours away]. I can’t do a lot of things that I used to do before,” Adama said, adding that she had cut meat from her diet and moved to a smaller flat but still relied on short-term loans to pay bills.

Booming stock market, limited loans

Tinubu’s term followed eight years of unorthodox economic policies under President Muhammadu Buhari, including import bans to boost local industry, tight currency controls and petrol subsidies.

This created shortages of needed imports, made it tough to get money out of the country or access foreign exchange and fuel subsidies drained $10bn from government coffers in 2022 alone.

We were living in fiscal illusions. We needed to stop deceiving ourselves so the country can move forward

Nigeria’s finance minister Taiwo Oyedele

“We were living in fiscal illusions,” Nigeria’s finance minister Taiwo Oyedele told a recent event in Abuja. “We needed to stop deceiving ourselves so the country can move forward.”

Tinubu’s government says reforms are bearing fruit, pointing to the Nigerian stock exchange, up close to 60% this year, the transfer of oil assets to local companies and the 2024 opening of the 650,000-barrel-per-day Dangote oil refinery just outside Lagos.

Capital inflows into Nigeria hit a six-year high of $23bn (R373.93bn) last year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, reflecting investor confidence.

But fewer than 5% of Nigerian adults invest in capital markets, the Nigerian bourse has said, and the inflows are concentrated in “hot money” — short-term Treasury bills and other financial assets that investors can quickly sell if trouble appears.

Businesses and individuals struggle to get affordable loans, with the key central bank interest rate at 26.5% as the bank battles near-16% inflation.

Petrol prices nationally average about 1,600 naira (R19.09) per litre, lower than in neighbouring Ghana and Ivory Coast, but too high for many used to years of cheap fuel as their main government benefit.

“The solution for me is for the government to bring the fuel price down,” Lagos food seller Eji Uchenna said. His customers can no longer afford to buy in bulk.

Sitting on gunpowder

In June, federal workers rejected a proposed 100,000 naira (R1,194) minimum wage, threatening an indefinite nationwide strike. A June voter sentiment tracker by SBM Intelligence also showed 80% of Nigerians view the country as moving in the wrong direction.

Security tops concerns, with kidnapping rife.

Still, SBM CEO Cheta Nwanze said the anger would not necessarily unseat Tinubu given a fragmented opposition. “The opposition is disunited, and the only way the opposition beats Tinubu is if they are united,” Nwanze said.

Louw said if the government sticks with its policies, workers should start to benefit as inflation falls, allowing lower interest rates.

Oyedele acknowledged the government must do more to ensure “prosperity for all Nigerians”.

“When inequality persists, it becomes dangerous. It’s like sitting on gunpowder — it explodes.”

Reuters

Story audio is generated using AI

Johannesburg residents are being urged to cut back on electricity use as cold and wet weather continues to put pressure on the power network, with hundreds of outage calls open in the city.

City Power said on Monday afternoon it was dealing with 2,450 open outage calls across its eight service delivery centres, down from 2,585 recorded earlier that morning.

Lenasia had the highest number of outstanding calls at 455, followed by:

• Hurst Hill with 445;
• Randburg with 357;
• Reuven with 354;
• the inner-city with 343;
• Alexandra 257;
• Roodepoort 201; and
• Midrand 38.

The latest inner-city service delivery centre update issued at 8am on Tuesday showed 414 open calls, 290 of which had been logged in the previous 24 hours.

City Power warned the power system remained constrained and appealed to customers to reduce their electricity consumption to prevent further overloads.

The utility said cold weather was driving up electricity use as residents turned to heaters, geysers, stoves and other high-energy appliances to keep warm.

City Power will not compromise the safety of employees, contractors or members of the public in an effort to accelerate restoration work during unsafe weather conditions

City Power

“During periods of intense cold, thousands of customers can increase their electricity consumption at roughly the same time, particularly during the morning and night peak periods,” it said.

This increased demand can put pressure on transformers, mini-substations and cables, sometimes causing equipment to trip and leave areas without power.

The problem is made worse in areas where the network is under strain because of:

• illegal connections;
• meter bypassing;
• informal settlements;
• unplanned developments; and
• the growing number of backyard dwellings.

Rain is making it harder for teams to repair some faults.

City Power said inclement weather could affect its response times, meaning some repairs and restoration work could be delayed.

“City Power will not compromise the safety of employees, contractors or members of the public in an effort to accelerate restoration work during unsafe weather conditions,” it said.

The inner-city update said operators would only investigate the outage affecting Braamfontein and Parktown once weather conditions allowed safe access to the affected network.

The outage, reported on Tuesday, is affecting customers at Wits Campus, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital and surrounding areas.

A separate outage at the Braamfontein substation, reported on Monday, was also still being investigated. City Power said the team could not investigate the fault on Monday night because of access challenges, but a day shift team would be sent out on Tuesday.

There is also an unresolved problem at the John Ware substation, where an outage reported on August 7 continues to affect parts of Newtown and surrounding areas.

City Power said tests on the faulty unit had been unsuccessful and a replacement mini-substation had been procured. The team was finalising the appointment of a service provider to carry out the replacement work.

City Power is asking residents and businesses to reduce unnecessary electricity use, particularly during the morning peak between 5am and 9am and the night peak between 5pm and 9pm

The utility stressed not all outages were caused by the cold weather. Its teams are also dealing with cable faults, equipment failures, infrastructure theft, vandalism and other technical problems.

“We recognise prolonged electricity outages during extremely cold weather are particularly difficult for affected customers,” said City Power.

For residents battling freezing conditions without electricity, the delays can make life particularly difficult, especially for people relying on electricity to heat their homes and prepare meals.

City Power is asking residents and businesses to reduce unnecessary electricity use, particularly during the morning peak between 5am and 9am and the night peak between 5pm and 9pm.

Residents are also being advised not to use several high-energy appliances at the same time and to switch off appliances and lights that are not needed.

Those without power should unplug their appliances while the electricity is off. Once power returns, appliances should be switched on gradually to avoid putting too much pressure on the network and causing another trip.

City Power has reminded customers about planned power interruptions:

• A planned interruption at the Central substation is scheduled for August 11 from 3pm to 6pm, affecting:
• • End Street;
  • Fox Street;
  • Main Street;
  • Phillips Street; and
  • Anderson Street.
• A planned interruption at the Braamfontein substation is scheduled for August 27 from 8.30am to 4.30pm, affecting several streets in the area, including:
• • Juta Street;
  • De Korte South;
  • Smith Street West;
  • Wits Showground;
  • Wolmarans West Street;
  • Nico Mostert;
  • Wolmarans Smith Street;
  • Liberty Life;
  • Smith Street East; and
  • Wolmarans East; and
  • the Gautrain.

City Power confirmed load-shedding has been suspended until further notice.

With temperatures expected to remain low, the utility said its teams would continue working through the backlog while responding to new faults.

Customers can report outages on 011-490-7484 or use the toll-free number 0800-003-156, which is available daily between 6am and 6pm. Updates are also available through City Power’s social media channels.

The utility apologised for the inconvenience and appealed to customers for patience as teams work to restore power under difficult weather and network conditions.

TimesLIVE

Story audio is generated using AI

Police are responding on Tuesday to the discovery of the bodies of 14 people at a disused mine in the North West.

At this preliminary stage, multiple people are believed to be injured.

Provincial police are en route to the informal mining settlement of Nkaneng, near Rustenburg.

This is a developing story

The government said its intervention in Perez’s case formed part of broader efforts to assist South Africans affected by conflicts abroad. These include facilitating the release of citizens trapped during the war in Syria and South Africans who were sold to Russian mercenaries.

Perez was born in Johannesburg and raised in Glenhazel before his family moved to Israel in 2014. He was taken hostage and killed during the October 7 2023 attacks on Israel by Hamas.

“The South African government remains engaged in assisting all South Africans, irrespective of race or religion, that are ensnared in conflict zones as well as assisting other foreign nationals where such support is requested,” presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said.

“President Ramaphosa expresses his condolences to the Perez family and affirms South Africa’s support for an all-inclusive peace process that will deliver a lasting peace for the people of Israel and Palestine.”

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA MEETS DANIEL PEREZ FAMILY FOLLOWING GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION

President @CyrilRamaphosa has met with the family of the late Captain Daniel Perez following the intervention of the South African government in facilitating the release of his remains by Hamas.… pic.twitter.com/138nm0kLM6

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 10, 2026

The intervention comes as South Africa maintains one of the strongest diplomatic positions against Israel over its conduct in Gaza. Pretoria brought proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice in December 2023, accusing the country of violating the Genocide Convention in its military campaign in Gaza. Israel has rejected the allegations.

Ramaphosa has continued to call for an end to hostilities and an inclusive political process involving both Israelis and Palestinians. In March, he called for intensified diplomatic efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and said sustainable peace could only be achieved through dialogue.

South Africa has also repeatedly called for the release of hostages held in Gaza. In October 2025, Ramaphosa called for the immediate release of South African and other nationals who were detained by Israel after its interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The presidency did not disclose details of the government’s intervention, including which departments were involved, who South African officials engaged with or whether Pretoria acted directly or through intermediaries.

The government said its assistance extends beyond South African citizens and includes cases involving foreign nationals when support is requested. It has also been involved in international efforts to facilitate the return of Ukrainian children forcibly moved or deported by Russia.

Business Day

Story audio is generated using AI

The families of 27-year-old Jaydin Magerman and Rolene Lessing, two of the four people gunned down in Reiger Park, Boksburg in Ekurhuleni, on Friday night, believe the women were deliberately targeted.

Chris Landsberg, who is representing both families, said the circumstances surrounding the shooting suggested the women were deliberately singled out.

“Whoever shot at the girls made sure it was close range – literally execution-style. No belongings were taken from the scene,” Landsberg said.

The shooting happened on the day Jaydin and her friends celebrated her birthday, which had been two days earlier.

Landsberg said the women had gone to a shop nearby and Jaydin went inside. She returned to the car and both were seated inside when they were shot. According to Landsberg, their attackers appeared to have waited until the women were together before approaching them.

“If it wasn’t a targeted hit, they could have shot at them while they were driving. Instead, the persons waited for the perfect time when both girls were in the car and even drove closer to them to make sure. They were shot at less than 50 metres,” he said.

“It’s still unbelievable and questions remain on how she leaves home for two minutes and gets killed in such a brutal fashion. She was such a peaceful person and the apple of the eye for the parents.”

Landsberg said the two women had been at their grandmother’s home when cousins encouraged them to go out to buy firewood.

He said the duo had driven for about two minutes to a nearby shop when the incident happened.

“That evening they would be celebrating Jaydin’s birthday at her grandmother’s home, which was on a Wednesday. But it was also common for the cousins to meet there each weekend and spend time together,” he said.

Police are investigating the women’s killings as well as the ambush of two anti-gang unit officers, Constables Thapelo Tlomastane, 29, and Sphiwe Sibeko, 28. The two officers were shot and killed while responding to the scene of Jaydin and Rolene’s shooting.

Acting police minister Firoz Cachalia said a well-known gang member who is currently out on bail and facing six other serious charges had been taken in for questioning.

He said the suspect was not the only person of interest and that police operations had led to the recovery of the rifles stolen from the two slain officers. The rifles were found on Monday morning in Dukathole, Germiston.

“The people responsible for the four murders have not yet been arrested,” Cachalia said.

Tlomatsane and Sibeko were members of the SAPS anti-gang unit deployed to Reiger Park. Their service rifles were stolen after they were shot dead just after 7pm on Friday.

A community member who asked not to be named said the anti-gang unit had been activated in the area on Thursday following the killing of a 24-year-old man allegedly linked to gangsterism.

“What is sad is that we know these people. They live with us. Even when we report them, the next day they are out on bail or never arrested at all. If they face justice, maybe the killings will stop,” Landsberg said.

He said he was not shocked by the killings being linked to gangsterism, which is rife in the area, but was hopeful it won’t get to levels of Westbury, on the west of Johannesburg.

“I’m not surprised it happened in Reiger Park, but the shock was it was one of our own. It’s my wish that Reiger Park doesn’t become another Westbury, but I think we are on our way there. I grew up in this community; gangsterism was there, but it has become more vicious and brutal.”

Cachalia also paid tribute to the two officers, saying they had joined the police service about two years ago.

“We visited the families in Brakpan and Mamelodi. It was very sad; the families were going through a difficult time. These were young men who joined the police service about two years ago,” he said.

Cachalia said the officers will be buried over the weekend.

Sowetan

Nearly £50m (R1.09bn) in government funding will be awarded to auto firms and research partners to develop and scale zero-emission vehicle technologies.

A further £17m (R370.7m) will be injected into nine connected and automated mobility projects, covering technologies including sensors, brake-by-wire systems and AI simulation.

“Britain invented the modern motor industry and we’re determined to ensure the next generation of vehicles are designed and built here too,” industry minister Blair McDougall said in a statement announcing the funding.

The country is committed to ending sales of new cars powered solely by petrol or diesel from 2030, with all new cars required to be zero-emission by 2035.

Reuters

This weekend marks 50 years since a female driver last started a world championship grand prix, Italian Lella Lombardi who finished 12th in Austria on August 15 1976.

Formula E, whose first season was in 2014-15, has featured three female competitors — one more than in 76 years of the Formula One championship — with the most recent being Switzerland’s Simona de Silvestro in 2016.

“Would I have a bet that Formula E will [again] have a woman racing driver competing at the main championship level ahead of Formula One? Absolutely I would make that bet,” Dodds told Reuters before Formula E’s season-ending races at London Excel this weekend.

“Obviously, I’d never make a financial bet, because that would go against any governance rules, but if you and I want to have a private beer on it, then I’m happy to make it.”

Women’s programme uses same championship car

Dodds explained his confidence was due to a number of factors.

The first was a structure in place that allows female drivers to test the actual cars raced in the championship, unlike Formula One where the all-female F1 Academy support series uses Formula Four-level cars.

Drivers who succeed in F1 Academy are given a career boost but even Formula Three and Formula Two, critical steps towards obtaining sufficient points for an F1 superlicence, remain a long way off and require substantial funding. There is currently no woman racing in either of those junior series.

“I think the F1 Academy is a really good championship, and I really like what they’re doing in terms of creating opportunities for women drivers,” said Dodds, whose championship is controlled by Liberty Global while F1 is owned by Liberty Media.

“On the other hand, the step between an F1 Academy car and a Formula One car is a massive step today. It’s very unlikely that somebody goes from winning F1 Academy into a Formula One car.

“Whereas our women’s programme today has women testing the same car, the same championship car, on the same track, in the same environment as the current championship drivers.”

Formula E has for the past two years held a “women’s test” to allow female drivers to experience the cars. Last October, at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit, 14 women participated including 2024 F1 Academy champion Abbi Pulling, who is also a simulator driver for the Nissan team.

Four women also took part in the rookie test last March.

“The majority of our teams now have dedicated women drivers on their staff,” said Dodds. “[Japan’s] Juju Noda at Jaguar, and [German] Sophia Floersch was announced by Opel. And you’ve got [Filipina] Bianca Bustamante at Cupra Kiro and Abbi Pulling at Nissan.

“We will also make some big announcements about even more investment in our women’s programme for next season onwards.”

Dodds said the new faster and lighter Gen4 car for next season also lends itself more towards women drivers because it will have power steering.

Formula Two and Formula Three cars have no power steering whereas Formula One cars, under heavy G-forces, do — a situation some have argued works against 16-year-old girls competing with physically stronger boys.

“I think the introduction of power steering really helps us put women on an equal footing in terms of their ability to break into the main championship,” Dodds said.

Reuters

“I have lost the wife I worshipped, our three children have lost an extraordinary mother, and her family and friends have lost someone they deeply loved,” her husband, musician and businessperson Danny K, said on Tuesday.

The 41-year-old lawyer, who succumbed to the illness on Sunday, was diagnosed in November 2023.

“From that moment, she fought with extraordinary strength and determination. Together with her family, she searched for hope in South Africa and around the world, pursuing every treatment and every opportunity available to her. Tragically, despite everything, she could not be saved.”

He said she chose to keep her illness private as she never wanted pity, attention or sympathy. “Above all, she wanted to protect her children and preserve their happiness and innocence for as long as possible,” he shared.

Issuing a statement via Instagram on behalf of the Gundelfinger and Koppel families, he said: “Even through the hardest moments, she remained gentle, humble and remarkably brave, inspiring everyone who walked this journey beside her.”

The families are sharing her diagnosis now for improved awareness.

“Colorectal cancer screening was traditionally recommended from age 50, but the disease is increasingly affecting younger people. Today, international guidelines recommend routine screening from age 45 for people at average risk. Persistent symptoms should always be discussed with a doctor and properly investigated.

“Lisa hoped that one day she would use her experience to raise awareness of this disease and help others through early detection. She never got that opportunity. Her family will now carry that purpose forward in her name. The Koppel and Gundelfinger families have been left shattered.”

The couple married in 2012 and have three children.

The families, who thanked the medical professionals who cared for her, have asked for prayers, compassion and privacy as they grieve.

Danny K said her illness will never define her and said she will be remembered for the way she lived and loved: “With kindness, humility, courage and an unwavering devotion to the people who meant everything to her.”

• For information and screening guidance, contact Cansa on 0800-22-66-22 @cancerassociationofsouthafrica.

TimesLIVE

Story audio is generated using AI

The appearance of National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams at the Madlanga commission will be significant in establishing the circumstances surrounding the allegations that triggered investigations into senior crime intelligence officials.

This is according to crime analyst Chris de Kock who said Adams’ testimony would establish whether he was being used or was part of those who executed “orchestrated attacks” on crime intelligence officers.

Adams is expected to testify at the commission on Tuesday.

Speaking to Sowetan, De Kock said: “They [the commissioners] will have to find out: did Mr Adams take the initiative, or was it the Idac [Investigating Directorate Against Corruption] that pursued the investigations against crime intelligence, which ultimately led to the arrest of Gen Dumisani Khumalo and several other senior officials?” De Kock said.

Lt-Gen Khumalo and his colleagues were arrested following a Section 27 referral to the Idac after Adams alleged that crime intelligence had misused its secret fund and irregularly appointed Brig Dineo Mokwele.

Adams said his allegations were based on classified crime intelligence documents that he had received anonymously in about October 2024. He claimed the sensitive material and procurement files had been slipped under his office door.

The charges were later withdrawn after Idac officials testified that former head advocate Andrea Johnson had “orchestrated the attack” against crime intelligence officers and had failed to follow prescribed procedures during the investigations.

De Kock said the commission’s questioning would have to determine whether Adams was just a useful person “for these strange complaints about the secret fund and the appointment of Mokwele, and he thought he was going to get a lot of publicity ... because he would be [regarded] as a whistleblower, or he was a player in Idac and some people in the crime intelligence”.

De Kock also raised concern about the manner in which Adams handled the documents containing the allegations against crime intelligence, stating he should have referred them to the inspectorate on crime intelligence for further investigation.

“The secret fund is there to run undercover operations, because undercover operations are quite expensive. They have to infiltrate crime, so they can’t just go around in Golfs or small little cars. They have to drive big cars to create a legend that they are also criminals, and then they can infiltrate other criminals.

“So, by going around with documents, you compromise not only operations of crime intelligence, you also endanger the lives of those undercover agents because should the organised criminals know that this guy is not one of us, they would not spare you.”

Political analyst Prof Dirk Kotze said the commission would likely seek to establish Adams’ association with Maj-Gen Feroz Khan and, by implication, his links to crime intelligence.

“They would also want to establish the circumstances surrounding the fact that he received those [classified crime intelligence] documents in his office,” he said.

Kotze said Adams’ testimony could also tie into allegations made by the KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner that some politicians and police officials were working closely with criminal syndicates.

“They will want to establish to what extent Adams is indeed part of it [the criminal network] and whether he has been used in parliament to protect them from parliamentary processes,” he said.

Sowetan

Story audio is generated using AI

By Diana Novak Jones

A US appeals court on Monday allowed thousands of lawsuits to move forward against Meta Platforms, Alphabet’s Google, ByteDance’s TikTok and other social media companies over claims they designed their products to be addictive to young users.

The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the companies’ bid to reverse a lower court’s ruling forcing them to face some 2,400 lawsuits over the claims filed in federal court.

The companies, which also include Snap Inc’s Snapchat, had argued that section 230 of the Communications Decency Act — which shields them from lawsuits over content posted by their users — also shields them from allegations that they failed to warn the public about the addictive nature of their platforms.

But the court said the appeal was brought too early for it to weigh in, a problem the judges flagged during oral arguments in the case. Most appeals come after a trial in the case has concluded, so the judge’s decision would be reviewed at that time, the judges said.

Filed by states, municipalities, school districts and individuals, the lawsuits allege that social media companies intentionally addicted young users, contributing to surging depression, anxiety and body-image issues and a broader mental health crisis among American youth in recent years.

The plaintiffs — which include parents, school districts and states — had argued that the trial court’s ruling was not final and therefore could not be appealed. But they also objected to the companies’ arguments about the federal law, saying it does not cover claims related to how they operate and design their products.

The cases, which have been centralised before US District judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers in Oakland, California, seek damages, penalties and restitution from the companies. The companies appealed against Rogers’ orders in 2023 and 2024 that largely allowed the litigation to move forward.

At arguments in the case on January 6, the appeals court judges expressed scepticism that it was an appropriate time to weigh in on the case. But they also had questions about the companies’ argument that they were shielded from the claims by federal law, with one judge noting that if Congress had intended for the law to provide a shield for the companies from broad liability it could have said so explicitly.

The companies are facing hundreds of additional lawsuits over similar claims in state court, with about 3,300 of them in a consolidated proceeding in California state court.

In the first lawsuit to go to trial in the California litigation, and a closely watched test of how juries might respond to similar claims, a Los Angeles jury in March found Meta and Google negligent for designing social media platforms that harm young people. The jury awarded $6m to a now‑20‑year‑old woman who says she became addicted to Instagram and YouTube as a child.

In a separate verdict also handed down in March, Meta was found liable and ordered to pay $375m to New Mexico after a jury agreed with the state that the company misled users about the safety of its platforms and enabled child sexual exploitation. The judge overseeing that case is currently considering whether to order the company to make changes to its platforms and pay additional damages.

Both Meta and Google, which have denied the claims in those cases, said they would appeal.

The appeals are expected to centre on the question of whether section 230 applies to claims over platform design, a question experts say could have broad implications for the tech industry in general.

Reuters

She had exchanged about 700,000 words in messages over two years, and never got to say goodbye.

Li, 24, wasn’t the only one left mourning the loss of a virtual companion when major Chinese tech companies recently pulled the plug on their popular AI companion services to comply with new government restrictions.

“It was like we were forced to be separated by our parents, but I still miss him,” Li said.

AI companions in China range from romantic partners to virtual recreations of deceased loved ones.

The new regulation, which took effect on July 15, bans AI platforms from generating content that could lead users to make questionable decisions due to manipulation of their feelings or that might trigger extreme emotions or unhealthy habits in children and teens.

ByteDance, developer of TikTok, is among the companies shutting down their AI companion services. Others include e-commerce giant Alibaba and Tencent, owner of the popular WeChat social media app.

US suicides may have worried Chinese regulators

The new rules require AI platforms to deliver risk warnings against relying excessively on such apps. For example, “replacing social interaction”, or serving as a substitute for talking to people in person or speaking with them by phone, cannot be one of the objectives of an online service.

China has a tradition of paternalistic government regulations meant to pre-empt potential problems, said Yolanda Ma, an expert on AI governance. As an example, she referred to a few cases of suicides in the US by young people after interacting with AI companions.

“This regulation tried to strike a balance between the AI service providers, the users, as well as guardians of minors using the services,” said Ma, a fellow with ERA, a non-profit talent and research programme based in Britain.

The People’s Daily, the official newspaper of China’s ruling Communist Party, indicated concern over the issue when it reported in April about harms to people’s mental health and real-life relationships from such services.

“The Chinese government has a strong incentive to tighten regulations on AI companion chatbots, especially considering the psychological risks we’ve observed in the US,” said Angela Zhang, a professor of law at the University of Southern California.

Zhang doubts the move will derail development of AI companion services substantially, though, since tech companies are working on alternatives.

The ByteDance app, for example, is directing users of its former AI companion service to another of its apps which solely focuses on building personalised AI characters and stories.

It’s just not the same, Li said.

Users of virtual companions protest, seek alternatives

The loss of virtual companions has provoked a flood of complaints, according to posts and screenshots shown on social media.

Some people have uninstalled the apps in protest or tried to upload their chat histories into other apps to try to resurrect their virtual partners. Some started a campaign on social media, urging users to call the authorities and tech companies to express their frustration.

Song Wenxin, a video industry designer in southwestern China’s Chengdu, said she was not too emotionally attached to AI services, but empathises with those who were.

She echoed suspicions among many Chinese that one factor driving the new rules is a government policy of encouraging people to have more children to counter a decline in China’s population.

“Any virtual app getting women too engaged to give birth in real life gets banned,” said Song, adding she has no need or desire to have children.

Not everyone has enough resources and support to turn to in real life, the 22-year-old said.

“When I first came to Chengdu for my first job and didn’t know any friends my own age, I needed someone experienced who could tolerate me, and AI did the work,” she said.

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

Mother, wife of musician Danny K and lawyer Lisa Gundelfinger Koppel has died at the age of 41.

According to tributes posted on social media, she succumbed to cancer on Women’s Day.

The families have not made a public statement but Gavin Koppel, Danny’s father, shared a poem on Facebook pledging to turn his pain towards compassion and to help others “who need someone who understands”.

“There has been a massive outpouring of love from every quarter of South Africa. People have stood in solidarity with our pain. They are reaching out with so much love and unparalleled kindness to Danny and his three children at this time. Visitors have been streaming in to comfort us,” he shared.

TimesLIVE has reached out to the Gundelfinger family and to Danny K’s agent, his mother Pam Koppel.

Gavin Koppel thanked the media for “understanding what we are dealing with”. “They are respectful and I am grateful to them for allowing us time to mourn. Our family is united like never before and we will turn our pain into power.”

TimesLIVE

Now 17 and competing in the Central European F4 series, where rivals include 15-year-old Ella Hakkinen, McLaren-backed daughter of retired double F1 world champion Mika, the Swede hopes one day to be on the Grand Prix starting grid for real.

“I don’t think anything is impossible; you just have to really go for it. How long? I have no idea,” Danielsson, currently 26th of 49 in the standings, told Reuters.

The youngster is one of many chasing a dream that only a vanishingly small number will ever realise. And for the past 50 years, only men have managed to make it all the way.

This weekend marks half a century since a woman last raced in the Formula One world championship, and the wait looks far from over. F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in 2024 he could not see it happening in the next five years.

More Than Equal seeks change

Danielsson, whose father Alx won the 2006 World Series by Renault, is already an elite racer — one of a select cohort being helped by More Than Equal, an initiative set up in 2022 by former F1 racer David Coulthard and Czech billionaire Karel Komarek.

The NPO global programme’s founding aim was “to identify, develop and support the first female Formula One world champion”.

“We’re not a race team; we don’t have shiny cars with shiny stickers; we’re not a race series,” CEO Tom Stanton said. “What we do is build drivers, and that’s how we fit into the ecosystem.”

There is no doubting the commitment of those selected or awareness of how difficult the chosen path will be as the sport’s popularity explodes. These are not starry-eyed converts to the sport, lured in by the appeal of Netflix docuseries Drive to Survive.

Danielsson started karting at six, switching to cars at 13. Others have moved away from home, some to other continents just as some current F1 drivers did at a similar age, to progress.

Stanton said that when More Than Equal started the driver development programme, those involved knew there was a mountain to climb. Two years later it looks more like Everest, but at least the Base Camp has been clearly established.

The Formula One-backed all-female F1 Academy series, which effectively replaced a previous W Series and with whom More Than Equal has a partnership, has also raised the profile with races during selected Grand Prix weekends on the support programme.

Britain’s Abbi Pulling won F1 Academy in 2024 as well as a British F4 race. She has also been a winner in the GB3 championship this year. Frenchwoman Doriane Pin, last year’s champion, has since tested a Mercedes F1 car.

“There are starting to be more female drivers out there,” said Stanton.

“Also, they are performing better. I think that’s one of the things that, as female drivers start to be more consistently towards the top of the field, more people will notice. And that’s a blessing and a curse because there becomes an expectation then.”

Platform to identify emerging talent

More Than Equal has created FutureLap, a platform that crunches data from karting and junior single-seater championships to identify emerging talent, male and female, that might otherwise struggle to be noticed.

A study has also been launched with the University of Portsmouth to advance understanding of female ergonomics in Formula Four.

“What we see is there are more female drivers coming through,” said Stanton. “And it’s not that they weren’t there. It’s just that we couldn’t see them because the results are not gender marked. Andrea in the UK is a girl’s name. In Italy it’s a boy’s name.”

The first group of six selected by More Than Equal was whittled down from 1,000 applicants. The second intake of eight came from 1,500.

“The ambition is still that we want to see the first female driver win that F1 Championship, I think we also should acknowledge that there are a number of firsts along the way that are of really equal importance,” said Stanton.

“I’m not saying that the first female F1 champion wouldn’t be an absolutely meteoric event, but actually the first female to sit on the grid in some ways will have equal importance because it legitimises the notion that it can be a mixed sport.

“I think that what we’re doing is unique. I also think that it will take a village to raise this child. It’s going to be a combination of us and teams and other support systems, and we are all going to have to work in concert to make it work.”

Reuters

Masandawana are eager to reclaim their league title after losing it to Orlando Pirates last season, and a good start will be ideal to set a tone for the season.

The Brazilians will also have a score to settle against the Rockets after their defeat in the league match saw them lose the Premiership title to Pirates in May.

It was at Mbombela Stadium where they lost 3-2 in the last match of the season and will be desperate to avenge that on Tuesday.

While Sundowns have historically dominated this fixture with eight wins out of 12 league encounters, the Rockets have turned their home ground into a fortress against the Brazilians.

They have won three of their last four home meetings against Sundowns across all competitions, including the league victory in May and a 2-0 Nedbank Cup triumph in February.

The main concern for Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso though, is the turnaround time from Saturday’s physically draining 120-minute cup tie, which may force him to consider rotation.

“I think we reacted very well to the goal that we suffered. We made a beautiful first half, trying to escape from that man-to-man marking, finding the spaces to penetrate,” Cardoso said after their 3-2 win over Polokwane City on Saturday at Lucas Moripe Stadium.

“I think we had chances to even score more. Obviously, suffering another goal from set pieces brings a lot of energy to the opponent, and then it’s a matter of pursuit. We are still not at our best physically; it’s clear. Our pre-season was tough.”

For Galaxy coach Bernard Parker, his biggest concern heading into this match is the goalkeeping position after Sipho Maseti’s red card against Siwelele rules him out.

Ira Tape is the most likely replacement between the posts. Galaxy started the campaign with a 2-2 draw against Siwelele and will look to build on that against the Brazilians.

League fixtures

All midweek fixtures will start at 7.30pm

Today: Chippa v Bay, Dobsonville; Gallants v Kruger, Royal Bafokeng; Polokwane v Stellenbosch, Seshego; Galaxy v Sundowns, Mbombela

Wednesday: AmaZulu v Pirates, Kings Park; Durban v Arrows, Chatsworth; Chiefs v Sekhukhune, FNB; Milford v Siwelele, Richards Bay

Friday: Stellenbosch v Gallants, Athlone

Saturday: Chiefs v Sundowns, FNB (3pm); Sekhukhune v Polokwane, Seshego (5.30pm); Durban v Bay, Chatsworth (8pm); Milford v Kruger, Sugar Ray Xulu (8pm)

Sunday: Chippa v Pirates, Kings Park (3pm); Galaxy v Arrows, Solomon Mahlangu (5.30pm).

For more than a decade, nature lovers watched via an online video feed as Jackie and her partner Shadow tended to their nest each year atop trees near Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles.

The nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley installed the nest camera in 2015 and documented the successes and failures of each breeding season. In 2024, Jackie diligently sat on her eggs for more than two and a half days after a winter storm blanketed the nest with snow.

The Los Angeles county department of parks and recreation’s San Dimas raptor rescue team found Jackie on July 17 after reports the bird had been involved in a fight with two other eagles and was ill.

Jackie had been receiving medical treatment for three weeks at the Ojai raptor centre, where she was treated for ailments including anaemia. Despite undergoing a blood transfusion and oxygen therapy, her condition worsened, and the centre announced her death on Monday.

Having access to a live cam to see the nesting first hand is very powerful. It brings people in on an emotional level

Kelly Sorenson, executive director of Ventana Wildlife Society

“We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her,” the centre said. “Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.”

The California department of fish and wildlife is caring for the remains.

Among those who enjoyed monitoring Jackie’s nests from afar was biologist Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the Ventana Wildlife Society in central California. While his group was not involved with the Big Bear eagles, he sees their breeding as emblematic of the comeback the species has made in the state over the past decades.

American bald eagles teetered on the brink of extinction until the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s and other protections were established, leading the species to rebound and be removed from the federal endangered list.

“You want to see a success story like that,” Sorenson said on Monday. “Having access to a live cam to see the nesting firsthand is very powerful. It brings people in on an emotional level.”

AP

Story audio is generated using AI

The high cost of communication in South Africa is back in the spotlight, with the department of communications and digital technologies (DCDT) planning a fresh review of the country’s pricing framework.

Affordable voice and data services are no longer luxuries. They are essential tools for education, employment, banking, healthcare, government services and participation in modern society.

The DCDT’s latest initiative acknowledges what many consumers already know: despite years of reforms, the promise of affordable connectivity remains only partially fulfilled.

The Competition Commission’s 2019 Data Services Market Inquiry, Icasa’s subsequent regulations and the long-awaited release of high-demand spectrum in 2022 were all expected to usher in a new era of lower prices. While mobile data costs have declined and operators have generally avoided inflation-beating increases, South Africa still compares unfavourably with many African peers, especially for prepaid users.

The key question posed by the department is therefore the correct one. If spectrum allocation, increased competition and regulatory intervention have already taken place, why do communication costs remain stubbornly high?

Encouragingly, the proposed study appears willing to examine the issue more broadly than previous reviews. Rather than focusing solely on retail pricing, it intends assessing infrastructure costs, market concentration, taxation, spectrum policy, investment incentives, consumer behaviour, international benchmarks and the impact of previous regulatory interventions.

Public debate has often portrayed mobile operators as the sole culprits. While operators should be held accountable where competition is inadequate or pricing excessive, telecommunications pricing is influenced by an entire ecosystem.

Building and maintaining networks is capital intensive. Operators spend billions of rand on spectrum, towers, fibre networks, international connectivity, maintenance and backup power systems to keep services running during South Africa’s electricity challenges. Those costs ultimately find their way into consumer pricing.

World Wide Worx CEO Arthur Goldstuck is correct in arguing that any meaningful review must examine the entire value chain rather than simply demanding lower retail prices. Government cannot ignore the role that policy decisions, regulatory costs and administrative delays may play in keeping prices elevated.

The allocation of high-demand spectrum illustrates the challenge. Spectrum improves network efficiency by allowing operators to carry more traffic at lower unit costs. However, those benefits can be diluted when licences are auctioned at substantial cost. Operators must recover those investments while simultaneously expanding network coverage and meeting regulatory obligations. Every additional cost imposed on the sector eventually affects consumers.

This is why the DCDT’s proposed “Cost to Communicate Roadmap” could become an important policy document, provided it remains evidence-based rather than politically driven.

Competition has intensified, yet affordability challenges persist, particularly for lower-income prepaid users who often pay significantly more per gigabyte than contract subscribers.

There are useful lessons abroad. Several countries have successfully reduced connectivity costs through combinations of lower spectrum costs and infrastructure-sharing arrangements, among others.

The market itself has also changed significantly since the Competition Commission’s inquiry seven years ago. Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) have expanded rapidly, introducing new pricing models through banks, retailers and consumer brands such as FNB Connect, Capitec Connect, Standard Bank Connect, Mr Price Mobile and TFG Connect.

Competition has intensified, yet affordability challenges persist, particularly for lower-income prepaid users who often pay significantly more per gigabyte than contract subscribers.

With the next phase of reform, policymakers should resist simplistic calls for price controls that could undermine investment and network expansion. Instead, the focus should be on removing structural inefficiencies throughout the communications ecosystem while strengthening competition where necessary.

Affordable connectivity will not be achieved through regulation alone, nor by expecting operators to absorb every additional cost imposed on them. It requires coherent policymaking across spectrum management, taxation, infrastructure deployment, competition law and investment incentives.

The DCDT deserves credit for recognising that lowering communication costs requires more than another headline-grabbing intervention. The real test will come once the study is complete. South Africans have seen enough reports and recommendations.

What they need now is decisive action that finally delivers on the long-promised goal of affordable digital access for all.

Story audio is generated using AI

Women’s skateboarding in South Africa is steadily gaining momentum, with more girls taking up the sport and stronger community networks emerging.

The sport, which became an Olympic event at the Tokyo Games in 2021, has helped raise the profile of skateboarding globally.

In South Africa, those involved in the sport say the growth of women’s skateboarding has largely been driven by grassroots clubs, volunteers and community organisations. With limited funding and infrastructure, these groups have created safe spaces where girls can learn, train and compete.

While exact national participation figures are not available, Roller Sports South Africa said female participation is increasing, though women remain significantly underrepresented compared with men.

“We try to encourage girls to start, and we have a strong safeguarding policy,” said Roller Sports South Africa president Wendy Gila.

She said organised skateboarding clubs have grown over the past five to 10 years, allowing skaters to compete within World Skate structures while offering women the same competitive opportunities as men.

Asked whether the Olympics had significantly influenced the sport, Gila said the impact had mainly been seen in “the rules and people training hard to qualify”. Despite a gradual increase in participation, there were still “not nearly enough girls” competing at provincial and national level.

According to Gila, accessibility, cultural beliefs and a lack of family support remain among the biggest barriers preventing more girls from entering the sport.

To help develop women in skateboarding, Roller Sports South Africa has hosted Olympic Solidarity women in skateboarding training programmes and trained female administrators who have gone on to chair clubs around the country.

The federation has also seen South African women reach significant milestones.

Gila pointed to Boipelo Awuah, who twice qualified for the Olympic Games, and Sharné Jacobs, who is being trained by World Skate as a coach, as examples of the sport’s progress.

For Awuah, now 20, skateboarding began by following in her older brother’s footsteps.

“I wanted to do everything my older brother did,” she said. “What has kept me going is honestly the challenge and how I am able to express myself through the sport. Being a quiet individual, it has helped me a lot.”

She believes women’s skateboarding has experienced rapid growth since the sport’s Olympic debut.

I had to go the extra mile and actually skate with the boys … to give other South African female skaters the same opportunity as the boys.

Boipelo Awuah

“There have been so many female skate groups and communities all over South Africa, which has contributed to that growth,” said Awuah.

But she acknowledged that gaining recognition required competing alongside boys and matching their standard.

“I had to go the extra mile and actually skate with the boys … to give other South African female skaters the same opportunity as the boys.”

Awuah encouraged young girls not to be discouraged by the male-dominated nature of the sport.

“Start because you enjoy it … and don’t feel intimidated by the boys.”

Across the country, community organisations are working to create spaces where women and girls feel welcome.

Melissa Bester, founder of Skate Smiles Club, said the initiative was inspired by women’s skateboarding organisations abroad that showed how supportive environments could encourage participation.

“We had already been doing our monthly women’s skate nights for a few years, so starting Skate Smiles Club was a way for us to do even more events and projects,” said Bester.

She has witnessed significant growth in recent years.

“There are so many young girls skating and the level is really high. There are lots of community groups for females all over South Africa that are providing safe, encouraging spaces for women and girls to learn.”

Despite this, Bester said many skateparks remain intimidating for beginners.

“The spaces are still very male dominated and it’s really hard to come into that space as a beginner. As a female, you feel like you stand out even more.”

Bester also explained that success in competitions is judged on more than simply landing tricks. Judges assess competitors on their overall impression, taking into account the difficulty and variety of tricks, execution, style, use of the course, flow and consistency throughout a run.

She believes the sport will become more inclusive as more women enter it, but said female-focused activities at competitions and events could accelerate that change.

Among the organisations contributing to that growth is The Skate School Academy in Randburg, which says about 70% of its athletes are girls.

Founder Shayne Robinson believes girls were always interested in skateboarding but often lacked welcoming spaces to develop.

“I don’t think girls suddenly discovered skateboarding. I think skateboarding finally stopped chasing them away,” he said. “For a long time, a girl who wanted to skate had to walk into a park full of boys, be the worst one there in front of an audience, and keep coming back,” said Robinson.

He said creating an environment where beginners felt comfortable had changed participation dramatically.

“Once one girl stays, her friends come. Then her sister comes. Then her mother asks whether she is too old to try.”

Robinson believes South Africa has the talent to compete internationally but lacks the infrastructure needed to support athletes.

“Since skateboarding became an Olympic sport the rest of the world has poured money into concrete parks, coaching structures and pathways for young skaters,” he said.

“Here, most of our skaters are riding whatever their community managed to build itself.”

He said despite limited resources, South African skateboarders continue to excel because of their determination.

“Our kids skate because they love it, in the face of every reason not to. Give this generation of South African girls’ proper facilities and consistent coaching and they will compete internationally.”

Story audio is generated using AI

The smell of sizzling patties fills the air as customers patiently wait for their kotas, some grabbing a quick bite while others stop to chat before heading home.

For 25-year-old Lehlohonolo Motaung from Protea Glen in Soweto and 52-year-old Amanda Rakgetla from Naturena, selling kotas is about much more than food.

It is about creating opportunities, supporting their families and proving that even life’s toughest moments can become the start of something meaningful. It is also part of a culture that has seen Johannesburg selected as one of the top cities for street food in the world.

Motaung, the owner of South Side Grills, registered his business shortly after completing matric in 2020.

Though he studied commerce in high school, he chose not to further his studies because he wanted to build a career in the food industry.

Speaking to Sunday Times, he said he thought he would be working in the corporate world wearing a suit and tie. However, looking back now, he understands where his love for food comes from.

“My passion for food grew while working with renowned businessman Rhulani Shibambo, known as ‘King Kota’, when he prepared meals at major events,” he said

He said he would travel to events with him, prepare food for people and learn how to run a business behind the scenes.

“When I got the opportunity to work with King Kota, I knew this is where I wanted to be. Food makes people happy,”

In 2022, Motaung joined Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), where he saved every penny to build his own food franchise.

“When I worked at KFC I had a clear plan, to save the money I needed to start my business,” he said.

While in high spirits to build a legacy, his biggest turning point came in 2024 when his mother died from heart failure at the age of 56.

“When my mother passed away, everything changed. I became more determined to succeed because she did everything for me,”

He recalls asking his mother for R10,000 to buy a mobile food van when he started.

Though she was unsure about his decision to become a food entrepreneur, she supported him.

“My mother wasn’t sure about my food business, I had to convince her this was what I wanted to do. Making people smile through food gives me joy,” he said.

Today, Motaung employs three young people who, like him, have experienced unemployment.

“Giving someone a job means they can also support themselves and their families. That’s something I’m proud of,” he said.

His menu caters for every budget. The R35 “Gonzalo Bite” comes with chips, cheese, egg, lettuce and his signature sauces, while the R200 ‘Bazoka’ is loaded with chips, double cheese, double eggs, two Russians, two rib patties, two beef patties, two steaks, lettuce and signature sauces.

Among the customers in the area is Thulani Mbonambi, who says South Side Grills has become his family’s favourite.

“There are many kota spots in Soweto, but my family and I don’t mind walking to South Side Grills because they always give you quality food,” he said.

He said the generous portions and signature chip dip sauce make every visit worthwhile.

“Most places don’t give enough chips, but his kota is filling. When I’m too tired to cook, I don’t hesitate to place an order,”

A few kilometres away in Naturena, Rakgetla’s story is one of survival.

She moved to Johannesburg after getting married in 2000. Unable to find work, she started a transport business, taking people to and from work every day before expanding into other small businesses.

She spoke about a period when residents of Naturena were not allowed to operate a business as it was regarded as a suburban area.

“When I got to Naturena people were not allowed to operate businesses, saying we have a mall nearby where we can buy food, not knowing people love fast food and some couldn’t afford to travel to Southgate Mall for a loaf of bread.”

When residents of Naturena were eventually allowed to operate businesses from home, she saw another opportunity to earn a living.

She started selling vegetables and had a telephone where people could call their loved ones using a landline.

The business was going well until her husband was retrenched. She wanted to expand for more income and to pay off their bond.

While in the process of expansion, everything changed the day she was hijacked while dropping off passengers.

“I remember dropping off my last passenger when two men approached my car and demanded money and my car. They drove me to an unknown place where they threw me out of the moving car and left me for dead,” she said.

She was rushed to hospital. Despite efforts by doctors, they could not explain why she had lost feeling in her lower body.

“Doctors gave me vitamin B tablets for my nervous system, but to this day I can’t feel my lower body,”

Rakgetla uses a wheelchair to move around.

When she could no longer manage everything on her own, her youngest son, Tshepo, stepped in to help keep the business running.

The last born of three, the 25-year-old had been studying marketing at Rosebank College before making the difficult decision to drop out of school.

“It was painful to leave school, but I chose to see it as a positive turning point because I also want to become a business owner one day,” he said.

Watching his mother’s determination inspired him to keep pushing forward.

“I had dreams of owning a business, but when I dropped out I shifted my mindset into thinking how the business could benefit me in the long run,” he said

Rakgetla’s fast-food business sells kotas ranging from R16 to R45 packed with chips, cheese, eggs, polony, Russians and the secret sauces that have earned her a loyal customer base.

One of those customers is Tebogo Magamba, who said he happily drives about 2km to buy his favourite Kota.

By 10am, he had stopped by to buy an R18 Kota for himself and his partner.

“For me, a kota is brunch on a budget,” he said.

“I’ve lived in Naturena for 20 years and I’ve never traded Amanda’s kotas for anybody else’s,” he said.

He said it is her chilli sauce that keeps bringing him back.

“There’s something about it that I’ve never tasted anywhere else. I’d recommend anyone, even tourists, to come and buy kotas here. You won’t regret it.”

TimesLIVE

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Two-time world champion Sivenathi Nontshinga’s camp has allayed fears that his decision to remain in the junior-flyweight could backfire in his world title eliminator in the Philippines in September.

Nontshinga will contest the IBF elimination clash against former victim Regie Suganob in Bohol on September 12 in a bid to negotiate for a third title shot.

Nontshinga has already won the IBF title twice, first beating Mexican Hector Flores in September 2022 before losing in an upset when he was knocked out in two rounds by Adrian Curiel in November 2023.

He immediately regained the belt with a revenge 10th-round stoppage of Curiel three months later to join the elite class of South African boxers who have won world titles twice.

He again surrendered the belt via a ninth-round stoppage loss to Japanese Masamichi Yabuki in October 2024 as weight issues began to circulate.

Nontshinga even admitted he would consider moving up to the flyweight division as it was becoming impossible to retain his weight at 108lbs (48.99kg).

However, after more than a year’s layoff, he returned to the same division, knocking out overmatched Tanzanian Sunday Kiwale in two rounds.

The win helped him return to the IBF junior-flyweight ratings, which have since earned him a title eliminator against Suganob.

The bout will double as a rematch of their July 2023 clash when Nontshinga dropped the Filipino in the first round and cruised to a unanimous points decision to register his first defence of the IBF belt.

The roles are now reversed as Nontshinga will travel to the Philippines.

He easily made the weight against Kiwale, so the team is happy for him to stay at 108lbs.

Nontshinga’s manager Colin Nathan

But Nontshinga’s manager Colin Nathan allayed any fears, insisting his charge was used to fighting in opponent’s territory.

“Sive has won on the road before, and he will do it again,” he said.

With his win over Kiwale dismissed as being academic, as the Tanzanian was considered a no-hoper, concerns on whether Nontshinga’s decision to continue campaigning in the junior-flyweight division would not minimise his strength.

But Nathan shot down the concerns, insisting the KuGompo City boxer was still comfortable in this division.

“He easily made the weight against Kiwale, so the team is happy for him to stay at 108lbs.

“He has been working tirelessly in training with trainers Shannon Strydom and Chris Morrow.

“With the fight in over five weeks, we have upped the pace and intensity,” Strydom said.

Daily Dispatch

On Tuesday, a French-born gentle organiser (GO) ― resort staff who run activities and entertain guests ― was granted R5,000 bail in the KwaDukuza magistrate’s court.

The state claimed he plied the student, who studies outside Canada, with alcohol before allegedly raping and sexually assaulting him in his staff quarters, 300 metres away from where his parents slept.

However, the boutique manager, who studied nursing before joining Club Med in the French Alps in 2024, insists the sexual encounter on July 22 was consensual and initiated by the student, who told him he was 20.

Gender-justice activist Pearl Walsh, spokesperson for the Canadian family, who attended court proceedings, said the bail decision was a “slap in the face”.

Walsh said two weeks after the incident, there were delays in the processing of the rape kit and inspection of the crime scene, amid allegations the student’s drink was spiked.

She alleged resort management and a local tourism stakeholder have downplayed the traumatic incident and are more concerned about the impact on the hospitality industry.

Walsh said Club Med management only responded to the father three hours after the alleged assault and only reached out to the family to offer support after news broke in the media.

“He was seriously disorientated, more than just being drunk after the incident. So we are hoping the tests collected at the Stanger hospital will be able to provide the necessary evidence.”

Walsh said evidence pointed to an international trend of predators preying on victims on the eve of their departure, counting on them being too traumatised to undergo the legal process.

“This is exactly what happened in this case. The family were due to fly out the next day, but we were able to at least get him to a hospital for the necessary tests. The boy didn’t want to be involved in the court matter and insisted they fly home as per their booked flights on July 23,” said Walsh.

She said the family’s lives had been “irretrievably” changed by the incident and yet Federated Hospitality Association of South Africa head Brett Tungay claimed “it doesn’t look like it was a violent assault” during a radio broadcast.

“He owes the family an apology. They came to South Africa because it was sold as a safe holiday destination, yet now that trust has been completely violated.”

Tungay told the Sunday Times it was a tragic incident.

“There is alcohol involved and he wasn’t a minor, he was 18. Only the investigation will reveal what happened.

“Obviously this means huge negative publicity for the resort and this is not good for tourism. Covid-19, the riots and the floods took a huge amount out of tourism on the north coast, and after three years it was starting to turn around. An incident like this will affect tens of thousands of jobs in the hospitality industry.”

In his 13-page affidavit, the GO spelt out how he first met the Canadian on July 19 and spent the night drinking with guests and co-workers.

“As a matter of courtesy, I invited him to join us at our table. He told me that he was busy doing business and would join us later. He was on his phone. The complainant joined our table later. He spoke to all of us and became friendly toward me. He told me that he was on a short holiday with his family, was 20 years old and lived in London.”

“The complainant told me he was not on good terms with his girlfriend and that she did not accompany him on holiday. I replied: ‘That’s why I am gay!’”

He said the teen gave him his Instagram address and WhatsApp details.

He said he next saw the student three days later when he joined colleagues and other guests drinking beer at the bar.

“As the music played, some of the employees and I took to the dance floor. My co-employees and I danced to a choreographed sequence and we invited guests to join us in the dance. While I was dancing on the stage, the complainant was looking at me intensely and in a seductive manner while remaining seated at the table. When the music stopped, I returned to the table and we continued drinking.”

He said as the bar closed at midnight, he and the teen ordered extra drinks and went to his staff apartment near the hotel rooms.

“While with me the complainant communicated with his girlfriend on his telephone. He told her that he was spending time with me. At some point the complainant began speaking about sex to me. I told him that I was open to sexual relationships with men. At some stage thereafter, the complainant moved towards my bed. “

He said the boy dropped his trousers and then invited him to perform oral sex, which he did.

“After a while he asked me to stop and said he cannot continue because he has a girlfriend. I immediately stopped. He pulled up his pants, sat for a while and said that he was leaving. He then left my apartment. I estimate that it was about 3am (being July 23 2026).”

He then called him on WhatsApp several times, and he finally answered.

“In that call I asked him why did he leave. He replied: ‘I’ll meet you in London’ and then cut the call.”

He said he fell asleep and was arrested later the same day.

Lawyer Anand Nepaul, appointed by the French national, urged for leniency during the bail hearing.

“We must treat foreign nationals just as we would expect our own to be treated in their countries,” he told the court.

The court imposed several bail conditions.

The accused must surrender his passport, remain at his stated residential address and report to Umhlali Police Station every Monday. He is also prohibited from communicating with state witnesses or attempting to leave the country.

Pending the outcome of the case, the accused will reside at a guesthouse in Salt Rock, provided by his employers.

The resort said: “Club Med takes any allegation of sexual assault or inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously. The safety, respect and wellbeing of our guests and teams are at the heart of our values and remain an absolute priority.”

It said it has “activated its crisis and safeguarding procedures, and the employee was placed on precautionary suspension pending the outcome of the ongoing investigations”.

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New polling does not create the crisis confronting the liberation movement; it reveals how far a long-running loss of trust, state capability and political leadership has advanced.

The latest Social Research Foundation polling is severe enough to tempt sensationalism. The ANC stands at 34% nationally, the DA at 27%, the MK Party at 15% and the EFF at 7%.

In Johannesburg the ANC has collapsed to 18%; in eThekwini it is below 20% and trails both the MK Party and the DA; only in Tshwane, where it records 32%, does it remain within striking distance of its principal competitor.

Yet the most important conclusion is not that one poll has suddenly transformed South African politics. It is that the poll confirms a trajectory that the ANC has repeatedly diagnosed but has not arrested.

Earlier renditions on the movement’s decline argued that the ANC was progressively losing its claim to be the leader of society. The causes were not confined to campaign technique or the personality of a president. They lay in the hollowing out of branches, the displacement of ideas by factional contestation, weak succession planning, deteriorating municipal performance, corruption around the governing centre and an inability to adapt from dominant-party rule to competitive and coalition politics. The new numbers do not displace that argument. They sharpen it.

Structural decline, accelerated by scandal

The point of departure must be a distinction between cause and accelerator. Phala Phala and the daily revelations before the Madlanga commission are accelerators. They compound public suspicion that ethical renewal was a slogan rather than a governing ethic. They weaken the contrast that President Cyril Ramaphosa once represented between reform and the corruption of the preceding era.

But neither episode, on its own, explains why ANC support has been retreating across successive elections, why urban voters have been leaving for a decade, or why economic stagnation and unemployment have become embedded in the political order.

At the 2024 national election, the ANC received 40.18% and lost the parliamentary majority it had held since 1994. The present 34% reading therefore represents a further deterioration from an already historic defeat.

The movement can no longer plausibly present each setback as an isolated interruption before a return to normal. There is no old normal to which it can return. The electorate has already withdrawn unconditional trust and replaced it with contingent, transactional support.

This is consistent with several arguments by analysts that renewal and mere ecdysis are not the same thing. A movement does not renew itself simply by shedding one leadership slate for another while retaining the same organisational incentives, deployment practices and governing habits. Renewal requires a change in institutional character: who is recruited, how leaders are selected, what conduct is sanctioned, whether branches deliberate on policy, and whether deployed representatives are held to measurable standards.

Phala Phala has damaged more than Ramaphosa

The poll’s verdict on the president is politically devastating. Forty-four per cent of likely voters believe that the president is guilty of a crime, against 12% who believe he is innocent. Among black voters the split is 47% to 15%; even among ANC voters it is 37% to 29%. Around four in five respondents say he should be removed if found guilty.

These are perceptions, not judicial findings, and constitutional due process must remain non-negotiable. But elections are decided by political judgment, not only legal verdicts.

The more serious damage is to the ANC’s brand architecture. Ramaphosa was not marketed simply as another leader. He was presented as the proof that the ANC could correct itself. If the public no longer accepts that distinction, Phala Phala creates an equivalence, fairly or otherwise, between the moral claims of successive ANC administrations.

The Madlanga revelations widen the injury by shifting attention from one disputed episode to the condition of the state itself: political interference, criminal networks, compromised institutions and an executive apparently unable to impose ethical coherence.

The proximity of the criminal underworld to senior leaders of the ANC remains the most damaging to its brand. The largesse, conspicuous consumption and celebrity-convention-postures that the annual January 8 pilgrimage of the ANC assumed have attracted the wrong congregants into the proverbial church the ANC has been.

Ministers and senior leaders have accepted that criminals are their comrades, gang leaders gave them money in retail stores branded bags, and senior police generals and prosecutors have been exposed as part of a bigger ring of dishonesty.

The ANC’s danger is therefore not simply that voters may disbelieve one president. It is that they may conclude that the organisation is incapable of producing a qualitatively different governing class. A legalistic defence may protect office, but it cannot on its own repair political authority. Only candour, consequence management and demonstrable institutional reform can begin to do that.

The metropolitan collapse is the decisive battlefield

The metropolitan findings deserve more attention than the national headline. Johannesburg at 18% and eThekwini below 20% point to the potential unravelling of the ANC as an urban governing proposition.

This deterioration did not begin with the current scandals. The ANC lost control of major cities in 2016; by 2021 Johannesburg had already become a fragmented political market, with the ANC at 33.6% and voters dispersing among several alternatives. The present poll suggests that the urban retreat is acquiring a different quality: the party is no longer merely losing majorities but risks becoming structurally secondary in cities central to economic life and national political power.

This is where the migration issue becomes politically combustible. Public anxiety about undocumented migration, competition for work and pressure on municipal services is real. So too is the danger of vigilantism and xenophobic mobilisation.

The ANC is trapped between voters who believe the state has lost control and constitutional obligations that prohibit collective punishment. Its answer cannot be denial, moral lecturing or opportunistic imitation of anti-migrant parties. It must demonstrate lawful border administration, credible documentation systems, enforcement against exploitative employers and improved local services. Xenophobia flourishes where the state is absent and scarcity is politically weaponised.

Fragmentation does not mean a new hegemon

The ANC’s decline should not be mistaken for the rise of a replacement dominant party. The DA is broadly stable nationally and stronger in the Gauteng metros, but it has not yet converted administrative claims into a compelling cross-class national majority. Its growth remains constrained by social geography, leadership conflict and the uneven record of coalition government.

The MK Party is the principal beneficiary of ANC losses, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, but its appeal is concentrated and heavily personalised. The EFF remains flat despite the vacuum. The result is not alternation between two governing blocs, but deeper fragmentation.

This confirms another argument from our previous essays: coalition government is not a temporary inconvenience waiting to be outgrown. It is becoming the operating system of South African democracy. Yet the parties continue to approach coalitions as extensions of factional bargaining.

If November produces hung councils across the major metros, another cycle of unstable mayors, opaque agreements and administrative disruption will further damage trust in democratic government itself. The immediate obligation is therefore larger than partisan advantage. South Africa needs enforceable coalition rules, transparent agreements, professional appointments, budget continuity and mechanisms for resolving disputes without collapsing councils.

Motsepe’s lead is a message before it is a candidacy

Patrice Motsepe’s 37% lead over Fikile Mbalula’s 17% in the ANC succession preferences must be interpreted cautiously. Public polling does not elect an ANC president; branches and conference delegates do.

Motsepe has also publicly disavowed political ambition. Even so, the persistence of his lead matters. It reveals what voters believe the existing field lacks: competence, economic credibility, distance from factional warfare and the ability to restore confidence beyond the ANC’s traditional base.

The temptation will be to treat Motsepe as a personality-based rescue. That would repeat the error of investing organisational renewal in the perceived virtues of one leader; it seems not to have worked with Ramaphosa. Any eventual candidacy would raise legitimate questions about conflicts of interest, democratic accountability, organisational experience and proximity to the incumbent president.

More fundamentally, no successor can repair an institution that refuses to repair itself. The significance of the poll is therefore less that it predicts the outcome of 2027 than that it indicts the current leadership supply.

The real points of departure

Five propositions should frame the debate that follows from these results. First, the ANC’s decline is structural; scandals accelerate it but do not originate it. Second, the crisis of trust is inseparable from the crisis of state capability: voters experience the party through water interruptions, unsafe streets, unemployment, billing failures and deteriorating infrastructure. Third, urban decline is now the central electoral battlefield and cannot be reversed by rural majorities or liberation memory alone. Fourth, no opposition party has yet established a national hegemony, making coalition governance unavoidable. Fifth, succession without institutional renewal will merely redistribute responsibility for decline.

These propositions also clarify what should not be done. The ANC cannot communicate its way out of a performance crisis, litigate its way out of a legitimacy crisis or campaign its way out of an organisational crisis. Nor can the country afford parties that celebrate the ANC’s retreat while remaining unprepared to govern fragmented institutions. The polling is a verdict on the governing party, but it is also a warning to every contender that public patience with instability, impunity and municipal failure is running out.

The ANC still has agency. It can choose transparent accountability over reflexive protection, capable appointments over factional deployment, economic reform over ideological immobility, functioning municipalities over slogans and a disciplined coalition doctrine over improvised deals. But the available time is narrowing. At 34%, decline is no longer a future tense. It is the environment in which the movement now operates, and the electorate will judge whether it has finally understood the difference between losing support and losing its historical purpose.

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Higher education has descended into a “mess” under minister Buti Manamela, with the Democratic Alliance accusing him of placing politically connected ANC cadres, some of whom have been flagged in forensic audits, in positions to clean up the country’s troubled skills development sector.

Higher education and training portfolio committee member Karabo Khakhau launched a blistering attack on Manamela and the ANC on the sidelines of the DA’s manifesto launch in Johannesburg on Saturday, accusing the governing party of using cadre deployment to protect its political interests at the expense of effective oversight and consequence management.

“We don’t have leadership. The minister does not inspire confidence in anybody,” Khakhau said.

She singled out Manamela’s appointment of administrators to Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas), claiming some had previously been implicated in forensic investigations.

“We see this in how he has handled the choice of administrators that he appointed for Setas, who are cadres who have been written off by forensic audit reports and [he has] sent them to be custodians and transform a sector that is already riddled with corruption,” she said.

Khakhau said the problem went beyond Manamela. She said ministers from the ANC remained beholden to the party’s structures at Luthuli House rather than acting independently in the interests of the country.

“None of these ministers are independent. They’re all coming from Luthuli House,” she said.

“The way the higher education sector is organised is that there is a very serious core of cadres that control what happens within higher education and training.”

She accused the ANC of allowing a culture of cadre deployment and corruption to permeate government.

“The mandate of cadre deployment, of corruption, is a strictly Luthuli House mandate and we see that manifesting itself over and over,” she said.

Khakhau said the same pattern was evident across national and local government, arguing that meaningful reform would be impossible without removing the ANC from power.

“The culture of the ANC is not going to change itself, particularly because it is not just higher education. We see it across departments, in municipalities and altogether in government,” she said.

Even though they try to put on a show of some sort of independence and that they’re safeguarding the interests of South Africa, their actual goal is that they have a mandate from Luthuli House to protect the ANC’s interest.

Higher education and training portfolio committee member Karabo Khakhau

She also accused the ANC majority on parliament’s higher education portfolio committee of frustrating effective oversight through party study groups and political discipline.

“The chairperson is an ANC deployee, the majority of the committee members are ANC,” Khakhau said.

“Even though they try to put on a show of some sort of independence and that they’re safeguarding the interests of South Africa, their actual goal is that they have a mandate from Luthuli House to protect the ANC’s interest.

“This is what makes oversight quite cumbersome.”

Khakhau said the deteriorating condition of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges was another indictment of the department’s leadership, pointing to crumbling infrastructure and problems surrounding the awarding of tenders.

She said the failure to act against officials involved in problematic appointments and procurement decisions demonstrated a lack of consequence management.

“That in itself indicates a leadership that does not instill consequence management,” she said.

“The same principle applies with appointment processes that are manipulated where even after you have found out that the person was incorrectly appointed, these people are not fired.”

Khakhau said the stakes extended far beyond political infighting, warning that millions of young South Africans depended on the higher education and skills development system to secure an education and ultimately enter the job market.

“I worry because beyond all of the things that are a problem in higher education, the bottom line is that young people are still dependent on them for funding in order to get an education,” she said.

She also took aim at the Seta model, saying the institutions had failed to deliver the skills needed by young people and had instead become vehicles for financial mismanagement.

“The current model is only designed to do one thing, to line the pockets and not really to give tangible skills development for this country’s youth,” she said.

The DA has called for Setas to be scrapped in their current form, with Khakhau arguing that their funding could be redirected to TVET colleges.

“In any case, TVETs hold the mandate of technical and vocational education and that is what skills development is,” she said.

“With the introduction of occupational courses and qualifications, nothing stops TVET colleges from performing their mandate of upskilling the country’s youth.”

Despite her criticism, Khakhau said the government of national unity had created an opportunity for the DA to influence the department from within government.

She expressed confidence in deputy higher education and training minister Yusuf Cassim, saying his experience in student politics and knowledge of the department could help push through reforms.

“We are 100% confident that his contribution there will make a dent and we are anticipating that we will see some reforms that he will bring there.”

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I can’t say why people choose to write fiction in South Africa. I mean, I can, but I don’t approve of kink-shaming so I won’t. And to be fair, local writers of fiction still have a number of legitimate dreams to cling to, other than the obvious one of marrying rich.

If you’re very lucky, for example, your novel can be prescribed as a high school setwork.

This is a wonderful outcome, especially if you hate children and want to be the means whereby their nascent love of reading is smothered in the crib.

Not only will you stick it to masses of teenagers, with their churlish desire to experience stories as pure delights rather than as units of educational currency to be scraped together and offered to examiners, but you’ll also make life-changing money in the process, as long as that life lasts no longer than 18 months.

Another possibility is that you get hired to write on a soap opera.

This is also very rewarding work and definitely stretches one’s fiction-writing abilities to their limits: I wrote on a soap opera where someone fell off the roof of a skyscraper at the end of one episode and woke up in hospital in the next, and I am quite sure I never encountered that level of character development in any of the great works of fiction.

So Kafka turned Gregor Samsa into a giant bug. And? Did Gregor go from being in bits on a Sandton pavement to being a grumpy patient in the ICU just a day or two later? Kafka Schmafka.

Finally, there’s always the possibility that you will trend-chase cleverly and voraciously enough that you hit the jackpot with a concept that triggers a bona fide bidding war. For instance, a trilogy in which a rich, mysterious young 19th century English aristocrat who is also a werewolf falls in love with a sexually insatiable chambermaid who is actually an assassin working for Rasputin, and together they reveal that Queen Victoria is sneaking out of the palace at night to go and be both Sherlock Holmes and Jack the Ripper, a transformation facilitated by the Faerie Kin as part of their Netherwar against the Darksiders from the Underrealms.

(I am open to offers.)

The trouble with these dreams, however, is that none are sure bets. Prescription committees change. Soaps get canned. Trends move on.

But there remains one other dream to which local storytellers can aspire; a gig that is not only lucrative but, barring interventions by parliament, seems to offer some real job security.

To write for government ― especially an ANC-run ministry ― is to arrive in the literary promised land of the lowest possible expectations remunerated at the highest possible level.

Last week it emerged that some people are upset that the department of social development has allegedly paid a contractor R1.4m to write and edit press releases.

I am not one of the people who are upset. On the contrary, I find this news incredibly exciting because it means that someone in South Africa is earning a lot of money for writing fiction. The dream is still alive.

Of course, competent writers will probably have to wait their turn, because in this instance there’s no actual skill required. There’s no need to construct complicated plots or nuanced characters; to hold readers’ attention with snappy dialogue or dramatic twists. In these penny dreadfuls the big reveal is a tap, and the gripping cliffhanger is whether water comes out when you turn it on.

To write for government ― especially an ANC-run ministry ― is to arrive in the literary promised land of the lowest possible expectations remunerated at the highest possible level.

Here, one’s brief is to produce text-based wallpaper; meaning-adjacent marks on a page; to simulate a constant, quiet, opaque form of communication, like cows gently mooing in a nearby field, reassuring sporadic passers-by that life is continuing while reassuring the political class that change is not yet required.

No, the traditional skills of the storyteller, like creating a vivid picture of how things are or how they might be, are not required at all. For this Dickens of dross, this Poe of pabulum, the brief is simply to eat money and, out of their other end, gently secrete letters arranged in more or less the right order.

As a taxpayer I can muster a small amount of anger.

But as a writer, ah! I must confess that a part of me is gazing up at the faerie folk of the ANC as they wage their Netherwar against the fiscus and basic decency, and feeling oddly grateful that, as it all comes slowly apart, at least one of my kin is making bank.

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The City of Tshwane’s freshly approved Hatfield Precinct Plan has removed a proposed entertainment zone along Lynnwood Road following objections from members of the public and the University of Pretoria.

The goal is to ensure all development and infrastructure investment in the precinct contributes to a safer, more attractive, liveable neighbourhood.

The plan proposes a more integrated public transport system, aligned with the establishment of a network of public open spaces.

It focuses on key areas such as improving pedestrian safety along and across Jan Shoba Street and Lynnwood Road, creating additional parking to alleviate student parking demand and ensuring a safe, vibrant and liveable student hub that serves as a retail, recreation, socialisation and transport hub.

It provides a framework to guide the redevelopment and management of the Hatfield Campus Village and is intended to guide future development, land use and investment in the area while improving the quality, character and function of the precinct.

It also sets out goals relating to affordable and safe public spaces, connectivity, transport, infrastructure and services, and the development of a more integrated educational and mixed-use community.

Tshwane ward 82 councillor Siobhan Muller said the newly approved plan could make a meaningful difference in curbing the establishment of new nightclubs in the area, provided officials enforce its provisions.

Muller said existing rights would remain in place, but new rights for places of entertainment would no longer be allowed along the area locally known as “the strip” ― from Lynnwood Road between Brooklyn Road and Ox Street.

An earlier draft plan was approved for public comment in October 2025 and public participation took place in February and March this year, where 80 written comments were received, including detailed inputs from the University of Pretoria.

The Hatfield precinct has a high concentration of student accommodation, of embassies, restaurants and bars as well as a large shopping centre.

The population of the area doubled between 1996 and 2011, with a strong shift to younger residents and smaller household sizes.

Hatfield is a major metropolitan node for the Gauteng province, with strong transport infrastructure supported by the Gautrain, BRT, Prasa rail, buses, taxis and e-hailing services.

Included in the new precinct plan is the provision of more housing options ― not only student housing but social housing, affordable rental units and inclusionary housing ― so that a wider diversity of typologies and affordability is available.

The reduction of noise pollution from nightclubs and restaurants in the area, and curbing of illegal land uses in the precinct, are also priorities of the precinct plan.

Muller said there was strong opposition to the proposed entertainment zone during the public participation process.

“There was a very big pushback by the public at the public participation. I’m very proud of our public that came out.”

She said Lynnwood, Menlo Park and Brooklyn have been affected by the noise coming from “the strip” and even after multiple engagements, the city would not close them down.

Muller said the section is now owned by one person, and noise has been an ongoing problem since the venue opened about eight years ago.

She said residents have submitted repeated petitions and previously held monthly meetings with officials to raise their concerns.

A resident who did not want to be named out of fear of being victimised said he welcomed efforts to improve Hatfield but questioned whether the plan would make a difference if existing zoning regulations were not enforced.

“I don’t think it’s going to help because fundamentally the city doesn’t enforce the zoning laws,” he said.

The Hatfield resident said that authorities had failed to take action against some nightclubs already operating in areas that are not appropriately zoned for such activities despite repeated complaints.

He said multiple community groups had raised concerns about illegal nightclubs that had been operating along Lynnwood Road since 2016, particularly the section between Lynnwood and Duxbury roads ― “the strip”.

“As it stands, those guys [the clubs] are not zoned to be there. There is not enough parking. With the current plan, they have no right to be there, but the city isn’t doing anything to stop them,” he said.

The resident said in addition to the blare, the nightclub attracts racing in front of the establishment along Lynnwood Road.

“The danger of street-racing/speeding, combined with young people crossing Lynnwood Road while they are drunk, represents a danger to the public that the City of Tshwane cannot ignore. I’ve reported over 150 noise disturbances from the nightclub since 2023.”

He said the lack of enforcement meant zoning regulations were ineffective.

“Ultimately, the zoning doesn’t mean anything if it’s not enforced.”

He also raised concerns about the impact of large crowds on traffic and pedestrian safety, particularly around the entertainment venues that attract high volumes of patrons.

Roads around some venues become heavily congested, with vehicles occupying lanes as customers struggle to find parking.

“When you drive past there, you can only use one lane because the other lanes are used for parking, and then there are drunk people running between the lanes because, again, there’s no parking,” he said.

Muller said one of the main points of contention during public participation was the zoning of the properties, which are classified as Business 1.

She explained that Business 1 zoning permits uses such as places of refreshment with light background music, where noise should not be audible beyond the property, but does not permit nightclubs.

Muller said some students who live in the area routinely change locations to a building more conducive to sleeping and studying.

“That is how bad the noise is from there. Multiple businesses like Airbnbs, bed and breakfast places have been affected very badly because the residents, the people who they rent out to, cannot sleep due to the noise. The students can’t sleep due to the noise. It is actually a disastrous situation where people just refuse to act, and one must ask, why?” Muller said.

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When T-shirts and food parcels cease to turn society into John Gomomo’s voting cattle or Socrates’s currency and merchandise that merchant politicians trade in, raw sewage cannot garner votes.

Recent Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) findings, co-sponsored by the Electoral Commission (IEC), indicate that public support for democracy has plummeted to a record low 36%. While conventional political commentary attributes this erosion of civic trust to short-term governance fatigue, this crisis is fundamentally a spatial-economic manifestation driven by structural exclusion captured in the Labour Disappearance Index (LDI) and the Democracy Collapse Index (DCI).

Traditional state apparatuses rely on blunt in-out, static administrative typologies — such as Category B1-B4 secondary city designations — that obscure severe sub-municipal inequalities. For instance, aggregate economic metrics in intensive agro-industrial enclaves like Drakenstein mask the acute precarity of surrounding farm-dweller enumeration areas (EA).

By deploying a dynamic census mesh across the 1996, 2001, 2011, and 2022 South African censuses, the Lehohla Ledger* uses spatial-temporal pooling, Global Moran’s I and LISA models to reveal how spatial fragmentation and administrative blindness fuel public alienation.

To reverse this democratic deficit, national policy and Treasury allocations must move beyond administrative fictions and integrate granular EA tracking, ensuring development interventions directly target the empirical realities of South Africa’s diverse human settlements.

A prime example of this analytical failure is found in regions like the Drakenstein Local Municipality or similar intensive agro-industrial enclaves.

Under standard administrative scoring, Drakenstein registers as a successful B1 secondary city driven by high agricultural GDP and a polished urban core. But this aggregate view conceals a profound structural dualism. When we deploy a dynamic census mesh methodology — tracing population shifts, labour dynamics and multi-census microdata across the 1996, 2001, 2011 and 2022 South African censuses down to the EA level — a very different reality materialises.

Beneath the veneer of regional economic success lie pockets of acute farm-dweller precarity, stagnant living conditions and structural isolation. When state resource allocation relies on macro-level administrative labels rather than granular census mesh tracking, public capital bypasses the very EAs where deprivation concentrates. Citizens living inside these neglected pockets experience the state not as an instrument of liberation, but as an absentee landlord. Small wonder, then, that support for the democratic project collapses when the daily material reality is spatial abandonment.

Across all these typologies, the Democracy Collapse Index tracked by the Lehohla Ledger exposes a direct causal link: as spatial fragmentation intensifies and formal labour opportunities contract, as reflected in the Labour Disappearance Index, faith in democratic governance decays synchronously.

When South Africa’s geography is re-envisioned through the Lehohla Ledger’s five dynamic typologies — derived using spatial-temporal pooling, Global Moran’s I and Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA) models — the national topography reveals why trust in public institutions has evaporated.

• The core accumulation nodes: major metropolitan centres continue to function as high-density islands of formal capital, yet their spatial policies relentlessly push working-class populations into sprawling, underserved peripheries. The structural violence of apartheid spatial engineering remains intact, financialised and repackaged for a new era.
• The transitional peri-urban corridors: as captured by volatile EA growth on the edges of major cities, rapid internal migration crashes against sluggish formal infrastructure. These corridors represent zones of permanent crisis where reactive state interventions are perpetually overwhelmed.
• Mining and extractive scars: bound to the boom-and-bust cycles of global commodities, single-industry extraction nodes experience acute labour distress and environmental dereliction when markets shift, leaving local communities stranded without transitional economies.
• The hollowed-out peripheries: in the deep rural interiors and former homelands, working-age populations continuously out-migrate towards saturated metropolitan rims, leaving behind ageing populations with high dependency ratios who rely entirely on social grants while structural infrastructure stagnates.

Across all these typologies, the Democracy Collapse Index tracked by the Lehohla Ledger exposes a direct causal link: as spatial fragmentation intensifies and formal labour opportunities contract, as reflected in the Labour Disappearance Index, faith in democratic governance decays synchronously.

The HSRC-IEC findings should serve as a definitive wake-up call, but only if policymakers are willing to discard the comfortable fiction of administrative uniformity. Tweaking electoral communication campaigns or launching superficial outreach drives will not reverse a 36% support baseline for democracy.

People do not abandon a democratic system because they misunderstand its virtues; they abandon it because the system consistently fails to alter their spatial and material reality.

To restore integrity to the democratic project, state intervention must undergo a fundamental structural overhaul:

Integrate census mesh metrics into Treasury allocations: national grants, such as those distributed via the Division of Revenue Act, must abandon broad administrative categories and instead use multi-census EAs tracking to direct capital where sub-municipal deprivation is empirically mapped. Use the spatial pooling system on the right map and abandon the one driven by averages.

Mandate spatial-temporal planning in IDPs: local Integrated Development Plans must incorporate LISA mapping and valid metadata instruments to ensure that infrastructure delivery targets the actual mesh of human settlement rather than political convenience.

Dismantle spatial apartheid at the root: urban policy must pivot towards aggressive transit-oriented development, inclusionary housing and proactive land release that breaks the concentric rings of exclusion built around our core financial nodes.

The 36% democratic floor is a mirror reflecting the structural limits of our current spatial and economic trajectory.

If South Africa is to rescue its democratic future, it must first reckon with the uneven, fragmented geography of its past — grounding every policy instrument, budget line and development model in the undeniable empirical realities. The out-in three-decade citizens’ dialogue can now be in citizens’ hands to reclaim their agency and restore trust in democracy.

* This analysis is built on the Lehohla Ledger framework, using 2,752 validated statistical instruments across the 1996, 2001, 2011 and 2022 South African National Population Censuses. Micro-spatial diagnostic routines aggregate contiguous Enumeration Areas (EAs) at ward and place name levels to trace spatial transitions, capital retention and sub-SNA labour contributions

2000 — Hendrick Mokganyetsi wins the only Golden League race of his career, finishing first in the 400m at the Weltklasse Zurich.

2008 — The Proteas lose the fourth and final Test to England by six wickets in London, but still take the series 2-1.

2008 — Charlize van der Westhuizen takes 4/30 as the South African women dismiss England for 185 on their way to losing the third ODI against England in Shenley by 77 runs, dropping to an irreparable 0-3 down in the five-match series.

2010 — Katlego Mphela scores in the 42nd minute to give Bafana Bafana a 1-0 win over Ghana, Africa’s top performers at the recent World Cup, in a friendly at Soccer City. It was Pitso Mosimane’s first match in charge as national coach.

2012 — Caster Semenya powers from back of the field to take the Olympic 800m silver at the London Games. The South African clocked 1min 57.23sec to finish second behind Russian Mariya Savinova, who was later disqualified for doping, with the gold going to Semenya.

2016 — Cancer survivor Lawrence Brittain and his rowing partner Shaun Keeling fight back from fourth spot with three-quarters of the race gone to claim Olympic silver in the men’s coxless pair at the Rio Games. Later that day the South African rugby sevens team won bronze by beating Japan 54-14 in the final. But there was an element of disappointment after the Blitzboks had lost to a makeshift British team 5-7 in the semifinals.

2016 — Andrie Steyn scores 43 as the South African women are bowled out for 143 on their way to losing the fourth and final ODI against Ireland in Dublin by seven wickets.

2019 — Brad Binder wins the Austrian motorcycle grand prix in Spielberg for his first triumph of the season.

2024 — Keshav Maharaj takes four wickets for a match haul of eight as South Africa and West Indies play to a draw in the first Test at Port of Spain.

2025 — Neo Maema and Thabiso Kutumela score to give the South African football team a 2-1 win over Guinea in their African Nations Championship match in Namboole, Uganda.

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Shanghai airports cancelled hundreds of flights on Monday as Tropical Storm Dolphin dumped heavy rain in eastern China, causing flooding in places after making landfall as a typhoon the previous day.

Shanghai’s Hongqiao and Pudong airports cancelled more than 900 flights, or about 40% of those expected, after about 1,300 were cancelled the day before, according to Shanghai Airport Group.

Shanghai also suspended some of its metro lines on Monday, and China Railway Chengdu Group suspended 115 trains, state news agency Xinhua reported.

Authorities warned of risks of severe flooding and landslides in some areas. State broadcaster CCTV reported that authorities in Yueqing, a city in Zhejiang province, searched for people trapped in flooded homes.

The China Meteorological Administration said Dolphin was moving northwest at 15 to 20 kilometres per hour and was expected to continue weakening.

Dolphin made landfall on Sunday evening in Taizhou in Zhejiang province with winds of 151km/h, after bringing heavy rain to northern Taiwan over the weekend.

Dolphin had forced at least 760,000 people to preemptively relocate, including over 390,000 people in Taizhou. Authorities in Shanghai and Fujian Province evacuated more than 210,000 and 160,000 people, respectively, from riskier areas.

Authorities in Zhejiang’s capital city, Hangzhou, temporarily closed its iconic West Lake scenic spots as well as temples, parks and museums and will reopen on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Tropical Storm Chan-hom was heading toward Japan’s Pacific coast. The storm had 83km/h winds on Monday morning and was forecast to strengthen slightly before landfall on Tuesday into Wednesday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Storm intensified monsoon in the Philippines

Dolphin did not directly hit the Philippines, but it helped intensify seasonal monsoon rains that set off flooding and landslides on the main northern island region of Luzon.

A landslide buried three houses on Sunday night in the northern mountain resort city of Baguio, killing five people with at least five others missing, officials said. A frantic search for the missing continued on Monday despite intermittent rains. Three people were dug out alive and brought to a hospital, Baguio officials said.

The deaths from the mudslide raised the death toll in nearly a week of torrential rains, floods and a tropical storm last week in the northern Luzon region to 15, the government’s Office of Civil Defence said.

More than a million people were affected by the heavy monsoon rains and floods, including about 98,000 who were displaced from homes.

AP