Built on seven generations of foldable innovation and consumer insight, the Galaxy Z series gives users more choice than ever, with three distinct form factors engineered to fit different needs:

1. The all-new Galaxy Z Fold8 is a fresh and exciting form factor that provides a new kind of foldable experience built around the way people explore, discover and immerse themselves in their favourite content.
2. The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra brings Galaxy’s signature Ultra experience to a foldable form factor, offering a larger workspace for enhanced productivity and content creation.
3. The Galaxy Z Flip8 — the sleekest Galaxy Z Flip yet — was built for expression and quick interaction on the go.

Galaxy Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been optimised for each of these form factors. Across the lineup, every insight feels more actionable and every action feels more connected.

Multitasking is easier on the larger screens of Galaxy Z Fold8 and Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, while Galaxy Z Flip8’s AI-native FlexWindow keeps relevant information and shortcuts within reach.

And with partner AI experiences such as Gemini Intelligence, Galaxy gives users even more ways to get things done in fewer steps — with transparency, privacy and user control built in.

“As AI becomes more agentic, mobile devices will become the most personal entry point to experiences that understand and adapt to each user,” says TM Roh, CEO, president and head of the Device eXperience Division at Samsung Electronics.

“By setting a new standard for foldables, we are once again advancing the premium mobile experience and opening the next era of intelligence to more people.”

Here’s a closer look at the lineup:

All-new Galaxy Z Fold8: built for immersive discovery

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is engineered for users who want a foldable smartphone that feels natural in the moments when curiosity turns into deeper discovery.

It introduces a form factor designed to move easily from quick interactions on the cover screen to deeper viewing, reading and gaming on the main display.

At just 201g, the Galaxy Fold8 is also Samsung’s lightest Galaxy Z Fold yet.

Despite its lightweight design, it pairs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy processor with a larger 4,800mAh battery, delivering smooth, responsive performance and lasting power so users can stay immersed longer.

Intuitive display ratios

The Galaxy Z Fold8’s display ratios are designed around the way people naturally consume content throughout the day:

• When folded, the 10:16 cover screen feels familiar and comfortable for the short moments people return to most often, such as messaging, social updates, browsing and short-form video.
• When unfolded, the 4:3 main display creates a larger canvas that helps users lose themselves in games and films.
• When rotated, the same display ratio becomes naturally suited to reading, giving users a more comfortable way to settle into articles, e-books and long-form content without carrying another device.

By adapting the screen to the content, these display ratios help to create a more immersive experience whether users are quickly checking their messages or settling in for a longer session of browsing, watching, reading or gaming.

A clear and versatile camera experience

The Galaxy Z Fold8 is designed to help users capture and share the moments that catch their attention.

Whether it’s a sweeping landscape, a group shot or a spontaneous moment on the move, Galaxy Z Fold8 makes everyday photography and video feel easier to capture, edit and share:

• Dual 50MP cameras deliver consistent high-resolution detail across wide and ultrawide perspectives, helping preserve image quality across different scenes and shooting conditions.
• Dual Recording lets users capture both sides of the moment while previewing themselves through the cover screen, making reactions and shared experiences easier to frame.
• My FanCam automatically tracks a selected subject and reframes footage into a preferred aspect ratio, turning dynamic scenes into social-ready videos with less manual editing.

Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra: built for maximum productivity

Ultra represents Galaxy’s highest standard for performance, capability and innovation. With the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra, that standard meets Samsung’s most advanced foldable design.

Its expansive 8″ main display opens up a productive workspace for multitasking, while its advanced camera system and long-lasting battery help users create throughout the day.

All of this comes in Galaxy’s slimmest Z Fold design yet — measuring just 4.1mm when unfolded and weighs 215g, it pushes the standard for productivity on the go.

Professional-grade creativity with an Ultra-level camera system

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is built to give creators more freedom from capture to edit, with an Ultra-level camera system and creative tools that make high-quality content easier to produce from one device.

Highlights include:

• The 200 MP main camera system captures rich, detailed photos with greater clarity and is now enhanced with High Dynamic Range capability in 200MP mode for more true-to-life images.
• A new 50MP ultra-wide camera brings greater detail and clarity to wider scenes and macro shots, giving users more flexibility when capturing landscapes, interiors, group shots and close-up details.
• Improved Nightography helps photos and videos look brighter and clearer in low light, so users can capture standout moments even in challenging lighting conditions.
• For advanced creators, 8K video recording through the new APV codec gives users greater flexibility and quality for editing and production workflows, while Cine LUT adds cinematic colour and tone control directly from a mobile device.

Peak performance, cool under pressure

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra is engineered to stay fast, responsive and reliable through the most demanding workloads, from heavier multitasking and content creation to AI-powered workflows.

With Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy at its core, the Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra delivers the performance users need to switch between apps, work across a larger screen and keep demanding tasks moving smoothly.

A larger 5,000 mAh battery helps users stay productive for longer, supporting a full day of work, creation and entertainment in a slimmer foldable design.

The Galaxy Z Fold8 Ultra also introduces a new dual-path charging architecture with 45W fast charging, helping distribute power more efficiently across the battery system for faster, more stable and reliable charging throughout the day.

In addition, it uses an expanded graphite cooling structure engineered for improved thermal conductivity, helping dissipate heat more effectively and keeping the device responsive during demanding tasks.

Galaxy Z Flip8: built for self-expression

The Galaxy Z Flip8 is built for users who want their phone to feel as dynamic as they are.

Designed around quick interactions, personal expression and AI-native experiences, the Galaxy Z Flip8 brings the power of Galaxy AI closer to everyday moments through a reimagined FlexWindow (cover screen) and uniquely flexible Flip form factor.

Weighing just 180g and with a thickness of only 6.1mm, Samsung’s slimmest and lightest Flip brings information, actions and creativity closer to everyday moments.

A smarter, more intuitive FlexWindow experience

The Galaxy Z Flip8 reimagines the FlexWindow as an AI-native everyday interface, bringing information, actions and assistance closer to the moments when users need them most.

The new FlexWindow brings apps, insights and actions directly to the cover screen, helping users access information, AI-powered features and connected tasks in fewer steps.

Now Brief on FlexWindow home brings timely insights and next steps, helping users move from glanceable information to action at the right moment.

The Galaxy Z Flip8 also makes automation through Gemini Intelligence easier to access from the FlexWindow, allowing users to complete connected actions through side-key activation or natural voice requests.

FlexCam unlocks a more expressive Flip selfie experience

The Galaxy Z Flip8 enhances Samsung’s signature Flip camera experience, turning everyday moments into more expressive content through flexible shooting angles, real-time previews and Flip-only creative experiences.

From hands-free shooting and real-time preview to cover-screen selfie videos and Flip-only mirror selfies, the Galaxy Z Flip8 helps users create, check and share polished moments without setting up extra equipment.

Highlights include:

• A 50MP camera with ProVisual Engine, delivering Galaxy Z Flip’s most advanced selfie experience with natural skin tones, dynamic bokeh effects and exceptional detail.
• Flex Mode, enabling hands-free shooting from a wide range of angles.
• Camcorder Grip with Zoom Rocker, providing a more comfortable, stable hold for capturing dynamic shots on the move.
• Super Steady now with Horizontal Lock, helping keep footage smooth and consistently framed, whether filming action-filled moments or on-the-go selfie videos.
• FlipShot, allowing users to personalise the FlexWindow and capturing more expressive mirror selfies.
• Mirror View, providing a realistic mirror-like preview for quick appearance checks before taking a photo or heading out.

Pre-order your Galaxy Z Series smartphone

The latest Galaxy Z Series smartphones are available to pre-order at the following recommended retail prices^*:

• The Galaxy Fold8 Ultra is priced at R50,999 for 512GB model and R60,999 for the 1TB model. It’s available in a choice of Violet Shadow, Cream, Graphite and Green Shadow, with the latter exclusively available through Samsung’s online store.
• The Galaxy Z Fold8 is priced at R40,999 for the 256GB model and R45,999 for the 512GB model. It’s available in a choice of Lavender, Cream, Graphite and Pistachio, with the latter exclusively available through Samsung’s online store.
• The Galaxy Z Flip8 is priced at R26,999 for the 256GB model. It’s available in a choice of Pink, Cream, Graphite and Mint, with the latter exclusively available through Samsung’s online store.

Don’t miss this limited-time offer

Pre-order your Galaxy Z Series smartphone from now until August 12 2026 to take advantage of a special launch offer^**.

In addition to your innovative new smartphone, you’ll receive:

• Free accessories worth up to R1,500;
• Free access to Samsung SOS+, a 24/7 emergency response service, for 12 months; and
• A free six-month Google AI Pro trial (worth over R2,500), including access to Google’s most advanced AI models and 5TB of cloud storage to boost productivity and creativity.

For added peace of mind, sign up for Samsung Care+, which provides comprehensive protection against accidental damage, fast repairs, an extended warranty and certified expert support at home and abroad.

Did you know switching from iOS to Samsung Galaxy is now easier than ever?

Samsung has made it even simpler for iOS users to move to Galaxy, thanks to a more seamless migration experience across a wider range of devices.

With the updated Smart Switch, iOS users can scan a QR code on their current device and wirelessly transfer data without downloading additional apps.

Smart Switch can also transfer additional types of data, including passwords and passkeys, call history, accessibility settings, eSIM data and more, helping reduce the time needed to set up a new device.

And with Quick Share’s new compatibility with AirDrop, sharing files between iOS and Galaxy devices is now seamless in both directions.

For more information about the Galaxy Z Series or to order your new smartphone, visit the Samsung website.

This article was sponsored by Samsung.

^{* Prices are recommended retail prices and may vary per retailer. ** Terms and conditions apply.}

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Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Andrea Johnson admitted she had made an error in concluding that the corruption case against police crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo fell within the directorate’s mandate.

The directorate, headed by Johnson, faced the allegation that it acted outside its mandate.

The allegation, made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has become a central issue before the Madlanga commission of inquiry, which is examining whether the directorate had the legal authority to investigate the corruption case.

Johnson, when faced with three experienced legal minds in retired justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga and advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo questioning her on the matter, made concessions during cross-examination on Wednesday.

She mainly faced technical questions about whether the complaint by National Coloured Congress MP Fadiel Adams, which started the investigation into Khumalo, complied with the National Prosecuting Authority Act’s requirements for cases falling within the directorate’s mandate.

Khumalo faces corruption charges related to the SAPS crime intelligence unit’s employment of “unqualified civilian” Brig Dineo Mokwele in a senior post.

Johnson admitted the complaint by Adams lacked substance to back up suspicions of corruption. The National Prosecuting Authority Act requires that matters investigated by the directorate should stipulate the grounds on which the suspicion is based.

She said although Adams made a serious allegation falling within the directorate’s mandate, further analysis of his affidavit did not substantiate a basis for his suspicion of corruption as required by the act.

The commission took the view that Adams’ failure to do so legally meant that his allegation should not have been investigated by the directorate.

“It is an error; it was an honest error,” Johnson said.

The concession, however, attracted questions as to whether, since her appointment to the position in 2022 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, Johnson had applied the wrong legal test when considering whether affidavits by complainants fell within the directorate’s mandate.

“Would it be a fair understanding that all your approaches to all section 27 [of the National Prosecuting Authority Act] referrals take the attitude you did on this one, based on affidavits that do not have any grounds to support suspicions expressed therein? Have you interrogated their compliance with section 27 before initiation of an investigation?” evidence leader Mahlape Sello asked.

Johnson responded with a “no” and referred Sello to the affidavits her office sent to the commission, adding that they were compliant with the law.

Read: EDITORIAL | Questions over Idac chief threaten confidence in anti-corruption fight

Madlanga criticised Johnson for applying the wrong legal test when considering whether Adams’ complaint was compliant with the act, saying: “Even a law student doing their first year would know that. How you could mix the subjective test and objective test completely escapes me.”

Johnson said her understanding of the act’s section 27(b) required her to apply an objective test when considering whether affidavits of complainants were compliant with the act’s provisions, adding that her decision on the Adams matter did not reflect on how she dealt with other cases.

It also emerged in the commission that minister Senzo Mchunu’s office was the one which triggered the investigation against Khumalo.

Mchunu’s office in November 2024 alerted the directorate to Adams’ complaints of interception in corruption cases he opened against Khumalo.

Johnson told the commission that after getting the complaint from Mchunu’s office, without an affidavit from Adams, she asked senior investigator Dylan Perumal to engage Adams. She said the directorate could only investigate the case if there was an affidavit from him.

Sello put it to Johnson that by doing so, the directorate “solicited” the affidavit from Adams.

“I suggest you did that because you knew the minister’s letter does not constitute a section 27 referral. Idac decided to cure that deficiency.

“If we look at section 27, it says the complaint must be in an affidavit, so you knew the minister’s letter would not be sufficient to trigger your mandate. And you sought to cure that shortcoming,” Sello said.

Johnson did not agree with the use of the term “solicited” but agreed she issued instructions for Perumal to engage with Adams.

“I do not agree with the (word) solicited. We would have asked him [to file an affidavit],” Johnson said.

Johnson will continue with her testimony on Thursday.

Update: July 22 2026

This article has been updated with new information.

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A security guard who returned fire when Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni came under attack from men in a BMW armed with AK-47s denied that he accidentally shot the taxi boss.

Bethwell Cele said this on Wednesday at the Johannesburg high court in the trial of alleged cartel boss Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and four co-accused.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni.

During cross-examination, Mabusela’s lawyer Adv Nardus Grové questioned Cele about the sequence of events on the night of the ambush at the Centurion Golf Estate in 2022.

I’ve never worked [directly] for Sibanyoni. I work for him through another company.

Grové suggested that some of the shots Cele fired that night could have hit Sibanyoni.

However, Cele said it wouldn’t have been possible.

“When you shoot someone with a 9mm firearm, it cannot have both an entrance wound and an exit wound. He [Sibanyoni] had been shot twice, and he did survive.”

Cele became visibly frustrated with Grové’s line of questioning.

However, Grové said: “I am asking the questions, and you are supposed to answer the questions to the best of your ability.”

Judge Cassim Moosa then intervened.

“I think the counsel is putting to you that you accidentally shot Mr Sibanyoni. What is your answer?” Cele responded: “No.”

Grové continued: “It says that when you made your first statement, you actually made up a story to protect yourself . . . what do you have to say about that?”

Cele replied that he did not have an answer to that.

It was also revealed in court that Cele works for Sibanyoni. Grové told Cele that they were aware of his working relationship with Sibanyoni and that his first statement was made while he was still scared and acting in his interests, suggesting this was why he had given certain answers.

However, Cele denied that he worked for Sibanyoni directly and insisted his account was not shaped by fear or by any employment relationship.

”I’ve never worked [directly] for Sibanyoni. I work for him through another company; I’m not working directly with him. He’s not the one who’s paying me.”

The trial continues on Thursday.

Sowetan

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Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe says he has no intention of staying in office beyond his second term, and no one will persuade him otherwise.

When he was elected president in 2021, Motsepe said he only wanted to serve one term but was persuaded to stand again for a second term. He is adamant that he will not stand for a third term in 2029.

Nobody is going to persuade me to serve more than two terms in CAF.

CAF president, Patrice Motsepe

“There are certain things you should never be persuaded about, and nobody is going to persuade me to serve more than two terms in CAF; it is not going to happen,” Motsepe said during a CAF media briefing in Sandton, where he said he was satisfied with the performance of African teams during the World Cup, which was co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada.

Motsepe pledged his support for Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who seeks re-election for a fourth term in Morocco next year during Fifa’s elective congress.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe confirms he won't stand for a third term in 2029 and says no one will persuade him to. He said he supports Fifa president Gianni Infantino who is running for fourth term in 2027.
Video: @RealNevilleK pic.twitter.com/1IDS2Zd730

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 22, 2026

“I personally support Infantino; he is not just a good friend, he is a loyal friend,” Motsepe said. “He is loyal to Africa, and again, I come from a different background where people who have been loyal to you, you never stab them in the back; you never do that.

“Fifa doesn’t need me, so nobody is going to persuade me to change my views on those things.”

Under Motsepe’s leadership, CAF has seen many changes with a boost in financial backing for member associations and increased prize money for tournaments, including the Africa Cup of Nations, the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) and CAF inter-club competitions.

On Wednesday, he announced an increase in prize money for the Wafcon tournament to be hosted by Morocco starting on Sunday.

Motsepe said the winners of the competition will bag $2m (about R33m), 100% more than the victors of the 2024 edition, which was played in 2025.

He expressed confidence in the future of football on the continent after he leaves office in 2029 and said the focus now is to get someone who will do an even better job than he did.

“CAF will be fine; African football will be fine even when I’m not there, and that’s part of what I’m focusing on,” he said. “Part of the job is to have better people than me when I was there to take over.”

Click here to join Sowetan’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered to you on the move

Sowetan

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Free State Judge Lepona Joshua Lekale has been earning a judge’s salary and benefits for eight years without performing any duties, because he has been on sick leave.

A Judicial Conduct Tribunal probing his medical capacity to remain on the bench heard evidence on Wednesday that it has been costing the taxpayer more than R500,000 a year just for his state-subsidised Mercedes GLC vehicle, petrol, services and toll fees.

During his extended sick leave, Lekale even swapped his vehicle for a newer one and racked up considerable mileage.

Judge Lekale, who is 62, only served six years before going on sick leave in 2018.

He has submitted a slew of sick notes for diabetes-related illnesses which resulted in a leg amputation and vision loss, a condition an ophthalmologist in July 2024 described as “end stage”, diagnosing him as permanently legally blind.

“It is with a great and deep sense of sadness that I lodged the complaint against him ...”

Free State judge president Cagney Musi

Lekale, however, refused to apply for medical boarding, claiming that a traditional healer had warned that it would incur the wrath of his ancestors and he would never regain his sight, which he believed could return “even tomorrow”, the tribunal heard.

The tribunal, chaired by retired Supreme Court of Appeal deputy president Xola Petse, assisted by retired judge Irma Schoeman and advocate Lesego Montsho-Moloisane, is probing a complaint laid by Free State judge president Cagney Musi that Lekale is suffering from incapacity, which could lead to his impeachment.

Lekale, who is representing himself, attempted to have the proceedings held behind closed doors, saying it was a “personal” matter.

However, following submissions by media houses and research and advocacy project Judges Matter, Petse said the hearing would be public: “He [Lekale] does not want his medical condition to be laid bare for all and sundry to know the nature of his illness … but the media have satisfied the threshold that the proceedings are of public interest and should be held openly to protect the image and integrity of the judiciary as an institution.”

Advocate Megan Blows led the evidence of judge president Musi, taking him through dozens of medical certificates Lekale had submitted over the eight-year period, starting in June 2018.

“As we speak he is still on sick leave,” Musi said.

The certificates showed a progressive deterioration in his condition. Many were issued by the same ophthalmologist who would constantly advise that he “may” be able to resume duties, usually on a date which coincided with recess periods.

“It is with a great and deep sense of sadness that I lodged the complaint against him because I have worked well with him. But this situation will continue unless something is done. I guess that’s why we are here,” Musi said.

While Lekale was earning his salary, an acting judge had to be appointed to do his job.

“The test of whether his conduct has impacted public trust and respect for the judiciary is an objective one that must be judged through the eyes of a reasonable person,” said Musi.

“He has been on sick leave for eight years; he has been paid and an acting judge has been earning a similar salary… It’s the optics.”

Musi said he had written to two successive justice ministers about the “untenable” situation which may lead to “embarrassment”.

Musi said he had engaged with Lekale about the possibility of applying for medical boarding, but he had refused on the advice of the traditional healer who told him that his ancestors would be angry and that he would get his sight back as long as he remained in office.

“It is his belief … It’s irreconcilable. On the one hand you have a diagnosis by a specialist in the field. On the other hand, you have what he believes to be true from a traditional healer,” he said.

Musi said he had sought advice from retired chief justice Raymond Zondo, who suggested he try to find an amicable solution, and later from chief justice Mandisa Maya. She advised him to lay the complaint with the Judicial Service Commission, which he did in January 2025.

Musi said there was no medical indication that Lekale would be able to see again.

“But the traditional healer gave him hope, even that he may see again the very next day.”

Lekale only had two questions for Musi.

“If I were to recover and go back to work, would you accept me?”

Musi said, yes, that he had been a good judge.

Lekale then asked why Musi had never visited him while he had been off sick.

Musi said he had telephoned him at least once a week to ask how he was doing.

The hearing will continue on Thursday when Lekale is expected to present his case.

This article was first published on GroundUp

The Adas hardware maker’s shares were up about 6% in premarket trading.

The companies said select models from Stellantis, the parent of Jeep and Chrysler, will integrate Mobileye’s Road Experience Management technology from 2027, using crowdsourced road data to improve lane keeping and hands-free driving.

Adas has become one of the car industry’s fastest-growing technologies as carmakers race to offer increasingly sophisticated safety and convenience features and generate higher-margin software revenue.

The technology is widely seen as a step toward fully autonomous driving, though regulators still require drivers to remain attentive when using hands-free systems.

The first applications are expected in select US Stellantis models next year, with wider rollout subject to vehicle platform and configuration.

Stellantis will be the fifth of the world’s 10 largest carmakers to contribute data to Mobileye’s REM platform, which covers more than 95% of public roads in the US and Europe. More than 8-million vehicles logged 54.7bn kilometres of data on the platform last year, Mobileye said.

Jerusalem-based Mobileye’s system collects road data through front-facing cameras in EyeQ-equipped vehicles and combines it with cloud-based mapping intelligence. That allows vehicles to receive real-time updates on lane markings, road layouts and construction zones.

Reuters

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The second day of Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala’s trial was marked by courtroom clashes, disputed evidence and repeated attempts by the defence to test a witness’s recollection of the 2022 shooting involving businessman Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni.

This happened during the cross-examination of security guard and state witness Bethwell Cele, who was caught up in the attack against Sibanyoni while on duty at the Centurion Golf Estate.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and his daughter Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni. They are on trial at the Johannesburg high court.

During cross-examination, Mabusela’s lawyer Adv Nardus Grové probed Cele’s recollection of the 2022 incident.

Here are five key takeaways from the day.

• Grové attempted to use still photographs he had taken at about 6am on his way to court to help Cele explain the crime scene. However, the state objected, arguing the images were unauthenticated. Judge Cassim Moosa upheld the objection, ruling that the defence should instead use the state’s crime scene photographs taken shortly after the incident.
• Grové also questioned Cele about the number of trees and the distance between where he and fellow guard Francis Mazibuko took cover during the shooting. Asked to estimate the distance, Cele repeatedly declined, saying: “I’m not good at maths or science.”
• The court displayed an aerial map of the crime scene, allowing Cele to demonstrate how the white BMW — with the alleged shooters inside — approached the entrance, made a U-turn at the robot and drove into the Centurion Country Club entrance before the shooting erupted. This comes after Cele resisted drawing the route himself, remarking that he was “not an artist”.
• Cross-examination revealed that Cele had taken photographs of the side mirror cover he said he shot off the BMW but never told police about them. He testified that he only photographed the mirror after investigators had finished processing the scene.
• During cross-examination, Grové put it to Cele that one of the security team’s own bullets could have struck businessman Sibanyoni during the shoot-out. Cele rejected the suggestion but nevertheless testified that Sibanyoni had been shot more than twice and survived. Cele also confirmed that he works for Sibanyoni through another company but insisted he is not paid directly by him.

Sowetan

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Overflowing sewage has become a sickening part of daily life for families living in parts of Soweto and Ekurhuleni, with residents saying they have to cook, sleep and raise children as raw sewage floods their homes and streets while they wait for permanent repairs.

Raw sewage is a major health hazard because it is teeming with harmful bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella, viruses, and parasites. Exposure through direct skin contact, inhalation of airborne droplets, or accidental ingestion can lead to severe gastrointestinal illnesses, hepatitis, and respiratory infections.

Polao Monaheng of White City, Soweto, says the sewer spillage started after one of the neighbours extended their house and removed the manhole that was in their yard and dug it outside. This led to the manhole getting clogged and the sewage spilling. This problem affects about 10… pic.twitter.com/GiOTn3S4f5

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 22, 2026

In White City, Soweto, residents of Sikhakhane Street say nearly two months of sewage flooding has left toilets inaccessible, yards submerged and children unable to play outside.

More than 50km away in Villa Liza, Ekurhuleni, some residents said the recurring sewage spills they have lived with for more than three years have turned them into prisoners in their own homes.

Sikhakhane Street residents believe the problems began after a nearby property was extended and a manhole inside the yard was allegedly moved outside.

Since then, flushing toilets often causes sewage to flow back through manholes and kitchen gulleys and into their yards, they said.

Sipho Dlamini, 50, said: “I can’t access the toilet in my own home. Sometimes the water level rises to the point of almost flooding my house. Johannesburg Water technicians come, but the next day the problem is back.”

Sindisiwe Khathi of White City in Soweto says she has developed an allergic reaction in her hers and believes this is linked to the sewage spillage near her home. https://t.co/vlIRF46zCH
Video: @MimieShana pic.twitter.com/o70tKeN0l4

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 22, 2026

Polao Monaheng said around 10 households are now affected.

“We have logged numerous complaints. The last technicians who came told us the problem could not be fixed by them because the manhole had been tampered with and that we should hire a private plumber. We simply don’t have that kind of money,” she said.

Monaheng said the overflowing sewage has blocked vehicle access to the street, meaning refuse trucks can no longer collect rubbish there.

“Our children can no longer play outside because sewer water flows through the street and into the ground where they used to play,” she said.

For Sindisiwe Khathi, trying to clean the street came at the cost of her health.

After joining neighbours to remove sewage waste last weekend, her eyes became swollen.

“The clinic gave me antibiotics and said the swelling was probably caused by an infection from exposure to the sewer water. I was only trying to help my community,” she said.

Johannesburg Water spokesperson Austin Mncube said the utility was expected to resolve the problem this week subject to site and working conditions.

“Conventional methods were attempted; however, they did not yield positive results,“ he said.

Meanwhile, residents in Villa Liza say repeated sewage spills have become a permanent feature of their neighbourhood.

Anna Mokoena-Malethu, 62, said her family has spent years living with the smell.

“We cook and eat here no matter how bad it smells because we have nowhere else to go. The repairs are always temporary,” she said.

Mam Tsotetsi, 69, said she has considered leaving her home altogether.

“I can’t live like this forever. My grandchildren can’t even play outside because sewage runs past the gate,” she said.

Nombuyiselo Mabizela, 59, described feeling trapped inside her own home.

“When I’m not at work, I lock myself indoors because of the smell. Your home should be a place where you relax, but instead it feels like a prison,” she said.

Some residents believe population growth may be placing additional strain on ageing sewer infrastructure, while others suspect nearby developments could be affecting existing sewer lines. They say they have not received clear explanations from the municipality.

A media enquiry sent to the City of Ekurhuleni had not been answered by the time of publication.

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The Gauteng taxi industry has issued a seven-day ultimatum to Premier Panyaza Lesufi, warning that taxi operators across the province could embark on protest action and shut down services if the government fails to address its grievances.

The warning comes from the Gauteng National Taxi Alliance (GNTA) and the provincial leadership of the South African National Taxi Council (Santaco), who say their working relationship with Gauteng roads and transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has collapsed.

At the centre of the dispute is the MEC’s handling of operating licence distribution. The taxi industry accuses Diale-Tlabela of bypassing provincial and regional taxi leadership by engaging directly with individual taxi associations and operators when issuing operating licences, instead of working through recognised industry structures.

Provincial Santaco chairperson Midday Mali said this undermines the governance structures of the taxi industry, creates divisions among associations and weakens organisational discipline.

“The structures of the taxi industry are constitutionally mandated to represent the collective interests of affiliated associations and members. Such actions undermine the governance of the taxi industry, create division among associations and weaken organisational discipline,” Mali said.

Another major source of frustration is the collection of operating licences.

According to the taxi industry, operators are no longer allowed to collect their licences from the local Transport Operating Licence Administrative Board offices where they submitted their applications.

“Instead, they are required to wait until the MEC announces a date and venue for a centralised ceremonial handover, forcing many operators to travel long distances at their own expense,” said Mali.

The industry says it has repeatedly asked the department to:

* Properly inform regional taxi structures before operators are called to collect their operating licences.

* Give operators sufficient notice before collection dates.

* Ensure no operating licence is cancelled because an operator could not attend a collection event.

* Work with recognised taxi leadership to resolve the backlog in the Operating Licence Administration System (Olas) and other administrative challenges.

Mali said the industry had attempted to resolve the matter through engagement before resorting to public threats. He said letters requesting urgent meetings were sent to the MEC on June 29 and to Lesufi on July 10, warning that the situation could trigger conflict and violence within the industry. According to Mali, neither letter received a response.

“Should our cries and pleas be ignored, we will be left without a choice but to organise a protest march to deliver a memorandum of our grievances to the premier of Gauteng within seven days of this briefing,” he said.

He added that if there is still no response after the seven-day period, the taxi industry will consider shutting down operations across Gauteng’s five regions.

Despite the escalating tensions, Mali insisted the industry’s intention is not to disrupt public transport but to protect taxi operators and preserve established governance structures.

“Our objective is not confrontation, but to protect the rights of taxi operators, uphold organisational governance and ensure a stable and efficient public transport system for the people of Gauteng,” he said.

Diale-Tlabela has rejected suggestions that the government must obtain approval from the taxi industry before carrying out its administrative responsibilities.

She said government has a responsibility to deal directly with issues affecting public transport and should not be prevented from engaging with taxi operators where necessary.

“We are trying to ensure that we deal with conflicts on the ground. So when you say to me I must not do it until you give me permission, I get worried as to why I must get permission from the taxi industry when I’m government,” she said.

The MEC added that she remains willing to work with the taxi industry despite the current dispute.

“They have left me; they’re going to find me where they left me. I gave them tasks, I’m expecting a report. We can still work together like we’ve been working together because we have achieved a lot together, and there’s still a lot to be achieved.

“But they should not want to control government’s movement to its people,” she said.

For now, attention shifts to Lesufi, whose response over the next seven days could determine whether negotiations resume or whether Gauteng commuters face widespread taxi disruptions.

Diale-Tlabela, is expected to meet with the taxi operators on Thursday.

Sowetan

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President Cyril Ramaphosa will learn on Friday whether he must answer before a parliamentary impeachment committee when the Western Cape High Court rules on his urgent application for an interdict.

If the court does not grant the interdict, Ramaphosa will have to explain what he knew about the 2020 theft of $580,000 from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo and face cross-examination from parliament’s section 89 impeachment committee.

On Wednesday the committee narrowed the field of potential evidence leaders for its inquiry into Ramaphosa’s conduct in the Phala Phala matter after several senior advocates indicated they were unavailable to take up the role.

Nine senior advocates were nominated by political parties — but only four are immediately available to begin work in August, while one is only available from November because of existing commitments.

The committee postponed appointing an evidence leader and agreed to reopen nominations until Friday, with a final decision expected next week after parliament’s legal advisers assess the availability of any additional nominees.

Zinzile Matebese SC is only available to serve from November because of existing commitments, making him unsuitable for the committee’s preferred August start date.

The committee is also awaiting a Western Cape High Court ruling on Ramaphosa’s application to halt the inquiry pending the outcome of his review application.

The nominees available immediately are:

• Kate Hofmeyr SC, a senior counsel specialising in constitutional, administrative, commercial and competition law. She served as one of the evidence leaders at the Zondo commission of inquiry into state capture between 2018 and 2022 and has acted as a judge in both the Joburg and Western Cape high courts.
• Vuyani Ngalwana SC, a senior advocate and former deputy head of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit. He has practised extensively in constitutional, administrative and commercial law and previously served as a pension funds adjudicator.
• Ismail Jamie SC, one of the Cape Bar’s most experienced senior advocates, having practised for almost four decades. His areas of expertise include constitutional, administrative, public, labour and commercial law.
• Pule Seleka SC, a Joburg senior counsel who previously clerked for former chief justice Arthur Chaskalson at the Constitutional Court. He has acted as both a high court and labour court judge and specialises in constitutional, administrative, commercial and labour law.

Zinzile Matebese SC is only available to serve from November because of existing commitments, making him unsuitable for the committee’s preferred August start date.

Those not available are:

• Taki Madima SC;
• Eshed Cohen;
• Marumo Moerane SC; and
• Doron Goldberg SC.

During the meeting, parliament’s legal advisers also flagged that Ngalwana had previously made public comments about the Phala Phala matter.

ANC MP Mikateko Mahlaule argued that while Ngalwana may not be legally conflicted, there could be a perception of bias.

MK Party parliamentary leader John Hlophe countered that similar arguments could be made about other nominees, including Hofmeyr, who has previously represented Ramaphosa.

The committee deferred that decision until its next meeting.

Business Day

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A Gauteng company scored R4m from the National Lotteries Commission (NLC) for a community water provision project it completed three years before.

The Special Tribunal has declared the awarding of the grant unlawful and ordered all the implicated people in the elaborate scheme to repay the money with interest.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which probed the plot, uncovered possible collusion between members of Mshandukani Foundation, Mashudu Mashandukani and his wife Pretty, together with disgraced former NLC chief operations officer Phillemon Letwaba and Ironbridge Travelling Agency and Events, a company owned by his wife Rebotile Malomane.

The paper trail was done through bank accounts.

According to the SIU, the foundation had applied to drill and equip boreholes in the Eastern Cape and Limpopo in February 2019. In their application they said the project would benefit 8,015 vulnerable people and create 15 part-time jobs. It included operational costs such as salaries, stipends, audit fees, bank charges and travel expenses.

However, the SIU’s investigation revealed the funding application was based on a project that had been completed several years earlier, and the grant funds were diverted to entities linked to the foundation’s leadership.

Mshandukani Holdings, owned by Mshandukani, had completed the project.

A month after the foundation’s grant application submission, Letwaba told Pretty her proposal had been “duly considered”. A few days later the NLC paid the grant into the foundation’s bank account which had a balance of R6,000 at the time, said the SIU.

The SIU’s financial investigation traced the movement of the grant funds and found they were redirected to entities linked to the foundation’s leadership and individuals associated with the NLC.

“The R4m grant was distributed to individuals and organisations, including R3.6m paid to Preldon Construction, a company owned by Ms Mshandukani. From the R3.6m, R500,000 was paid by Preldon Construction to Ironbridge Travelling Agency and Events, a company owned by Mr Letwaba’s wife, Ms Rebotile Malomane, and R550,000 was paid by Preldon Construction to Mshandukani Holdings, purportedly as a loan.”

The SIU said Preldon Construction made several payments:

• R700,000 to Mshandukani Foundation;
• R2.1m to Mshandukani Holdings;
• R150,000 to an associate;
• R120,000 to Mshandukani’s personal account; and
• R39,675 to Rocbit Drilling Equipment.

The investigation also established Engcobo local municipality had no legal authority over the schools and clinics because the responsibility for water services rests with the Chris Hani district municipality in terms of the Water Services Act.

“Furthermore, the Mshandukani Foundation lacked the necessary approvals under the South African Schools Act and had failed to consult the department of basic education as required. The SIU also discovered two employees of Mshandukani Holdings, a geologist intern and a receptionist, had been listed as members of the foundation without their knowledge or consent,” said the SIU.

It found the foundation, Letwaba, Ironbridge Travelling Agency and Events and Malomane had not provided an explanation for how the grant funds were used.

The tribunal ordered the Mshandukani Foundation, Pretty, Mshandukani, Takalani Israel Mulandana, Thambatshira Maria Khameli and Preldon Construction to repay the R4m jointly and severally.

“The Tribunal’s orders form part of the SIU’s ongoing efforts to implement investigation outcomes, recover public funds lost through corruption and strengthen consequence management across the public sector,” SIU.

Sowetan

This was after judge Cassim Moosa found that the same authenticity concerns previously raised against the state now applied to the defence.

The ruling came during the third day of cross-examination of state witness Bethwell Cele, a Bidvest Protea Coin security officer who was on duty at Centurion Golf Estate when Sibanyoni was ambushed on August 10 2022.

'Cat' Matlala and four others on trial | The defense's attempt to submit photographs taken by Nardud Grové was objected to by the state on the basis that the images were unauthenticated, taken nearly four years after the shooting, and had not been disclosed. Judge Cassim Moosa… pic.twitter.com/evn470sj04

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 22, 2026

Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni.

Before introducing the photographs, Mabusela’s lawyer, advocate Nardus Grové questioned Cele about his recollection of the scene, including when he first noticed the white BMW allegedly carrying the gunmen.

Cele previously testified that he was on duty at Centurion Golf Estate when Sibanyoni arrived in his red Ferrari, only to be ambushed a few moments later by gunmen with AK-47s travelling in a white BMW sedan.

In response to Grové’s question, Cele testified that the BMW’s left window was lowered slightly as it approached the traffic lights on John Vorster Drive before turning towards the estate.

He later told the court he struggled to estimate distances between landmarks because he was “not good in maths”, prompting Moosa to encourage him to make only a rough estimate.

Grové then sought to place the witness’s evidence “in context” by introducing still photographs he had personally taken at about 6am on Wednesday while travelling to court.

“These are simple still photographs of what it looks like,” Grové argued. “The witness can then describe to us where he was, where the BMW travelled, and where the U-turn was made. We’ve done it for many, many years.”

He told the court the images were not comparable to CCTV footage because they merely depicted the layout of the estate.

'Cat' Matlala and four others on trial | Lawyer, Nardud Grove, has told the court of a visit to the crime scene on Tuesday and Wednesday morning, noting several trees near the estate. He asked state witness Bethwell Cele to estimate the distance between the trees and where he and… pic.twitter.com/jRYUYe8buw

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 22, 2026

“If I can’t use the photographs, then I will ask that we go there and we all go and look at it. Then we can see the trees, and we can see where the witness was,” he said.

However, prosecutor Elize Le Roux immediately objected, arguing the photographs had never been disclosed to the state, were taken nearly four years after the shooting and lacked proper authentication.

“We haven’t been shown these pictures. It’s now coming as a surprise to the state,” she said.

She also questioned whether Grové was effectively placing himself in the witness box. “Is my learned friend now a witness in this case?” she asked.

Le Roux reminded the court that the defence had vigorously opposed the state’s attempt a day earlier to use CCTV footage to orientate the court because of authenticity concerns.

Moosa agreed that the same legal principle now applied.

“What I think the cause of complaint on the side of the state was that yesterday she actually wanted to set the scene and provide perspective to the court relating to the scene of the shooting,” Moosa said.

“Today the defence is producing a photograph, and Ms Le Roux, in my view, is quite correct to raise an objection relating to this particular document because we don’t know who the author is, we don’t have the evidence of that individual and we don’t know what it’s meant to depict.”

The judge added that allowing the defence photographs after the objection to the state’s visuals would be inconsistent.

Le Roux informed the court that it already had a photo album compiled shortly after the shooting, which had been disclosed as part of the evidence. Moosa subsequently ruled that the defence should instead use those photographs rather than images taken on the morning of the hearing.

Court was briefly adjourned to allow the parties to consider the state’s photo album before Cele’s cross-examination resumed.

Sowetan

Matlala, his wife Tsakane, and three others face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder linked to three separate shooting incidents.

The charges are in connection with a series of attempted hits, including the attempted murder of Matlala’s former girlfriend, actor Tebogo Thobejane.

Video courtesy of the SABC.

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Coach Rassie Erasmus has adopted a strategic approach for the next leg of the Springboks’ season by naming a group of 43 players to begin preparations in Johannesburg on Sunday for the Test against Argentina and the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against New Zealand.

The Boks meet the Pumas in Buenos Aires on August 8. Erasmus has released five players to play for their franchises in midweek matches against the All Blacks.

Ten seasoned Springboks make a return from injuries. They are Eben Etzebeth, Lood de Jager (both locks), Franco Mostert (utility forward), Siya Kolisi (loose forward), Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Handré Pollard (both flyhalves), Ethan Hooker, Canan Moodie (both utility backs), André Esterhuizen (flanker and centre) and Morné van den Berg (scrumhalf).

The five players who will be released to their franchises are prop Ntuthuko Mchunu, No 8 Evan Roos, hooker Andre-Hugo Venter, scrumhalf Embrose Papier and wing Jaco Williams.

Lock Ruben van Heerden, who made his Test debut against Wales last Saturday, is the only player in the squad named for the opening leg of the Nations Championship who was omitted from the two groups after making the move from the Stormers to Montpellier, as he finds his feet with his new French club. He remains on standby.

Paul de Villiers was simply outstanding during the first three rounds of the #NationsChampionship in that 6⃣ jersey 💪🇿🇦#SSRugby pic.twitter.com/xInwJQL5l3

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 20, 2026

“We put a lot of thought into how we will manage the entire group of players to give everyone a chance to stake a claim for places in the squad for the [All Blacks] series,” Erasmus said. “And we decided splitting the squad into two groups will be best for the Springbok team and the players to play their way into the squad.

“Some players are returning from injury and need some valuable game time, so depending on how they progress from their injuries during next week’s training camp, we will decide who we will take to Argentina. The other guys in the 43-man squad will remain behind in Johannesburg with a group of coaches and management to begin preparing for the Tests against New Zealand.

“Then there are other players who have played a lot of rugby this year and for us during the Nations Championship and need a match off to allow their bodies to recover.”

The Wiese brothers were on the rampage in the first half against Wales 💥#SSRugby #NationsChampionship pic.twitter.com/LxYMIBj3hx

— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) July 20, 2026

SA Rugby media

Video courtesy of the SABC.

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Sowetan

Magesi were relegated to the MFC after losing the PSL Promotional playoffs to Milford in June.

Chipepeze, who has been with Magesi since 2022 after joining them from Baroka, said his decision to stay — despite interest from other clubs — was motivated by a desire “to build memories again with the club, because we’ve been together now for four seasons and I was happy with the project [in the MFC].

“Personally, things didn’t go well in the Premiership. I wanted the team to stay in the top flight, but that’s another challenge on its own. I like challenges … it was my decision to go another year and try to create good memories, and that’s my reason.”

The Zimbabwean international conceded it will not be easy in the second tier but vowed they would do their best to help Magesi return to the top flight.

“At the end of the day, we just have to make sure that as a football club we push together — because we didn’t do well in the Betway Premiership and things like this always happen.

“We just have to focus and try to build the club and make sure it goes back to where it belongs. Participating in the Motsepe Foundation [Championship], we know it is going to be difficult mentally and physically, and we need to be prepared for that.

“It’s exciting times. We just have to be patient and take it one game at a time. We have to forget about the past. We are starting on a clean slate now and we just have to stay positive ... and be patient.”

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Morocco’s foreign ministry says it is concerned by the death of a man during a police arrest in Bologna, Italy, and has urged a “thorough investigation”.

Morocco-born Abderrahim Fakir died on Sunday after police were called to the Pilastro neighbourhood on the outskirts of the northern Italian city to ​deal with a man behaving aggressively and damaging a vehicle.

On Tuesday night the Moroccan ministry called for the necessary explanations regarding the death to be provided and for responsibility to be established.

The death triggered anti-police protests in Bologna on Monday that left dozens of officers injured.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni​ called for a full investigation into the death and also condemned the subsequent clashes with police.

Reuters

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The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) on Wednesday applied for the two cases involving theft, fraud, and defeating the ends of justice against Sgt Fannie Nkosi to be centralised.

The Pretoria North magistrate’s court granted the application.

Here are five things that you need to know:

• Nkosi was arrested in April and charged with fraud, theft, and money laundering in Pretoria. During a raid at his house, the police found closed dockets, money he could not account for, and ammunition.
• In July, the police added another theft, fraud, and defeating the administration case in Thohoyandou, Limpopo. The state alleges that he removed information from a police docket in September 2022.
• On Wednesday, the court granted centralisation of the cases and postponed the matter to August 19 in a different court.
• State prosecutor advocate Tholoana Sekhonyana told the court the matter is trial-ready.
• Nkosi remains in custody.

Sowetan

Built by the British brand’s Classic division, the bespoke 1993 Range Rover has been commissioned as a companion to the new Range Rover SV Ultra, sharing its exterior finish, interior colour scheme and some design details.

The Classic is finished in Titan Silver, a paint colour introduced on the SV Ultra. According to Range Rover, the finish uses fine aluminium flakes and advanced pigments to create a highly reflective metallic effect intended to resemble liquid metal.

Visual links between the two vehicles extend to the Classic’s 16-inch three-spoke alloy wheels, finished in Satin Platinum Atlas with diamond-turned rims. New SV Ultra bonnet lettering and the removal of the side body mouldings also give the older model a cleaner appearance. A plaque in the engine bay identifies it as the first bespoke “matched pair” commission.

Inside the cabin, the restored Classic adopts the same Orchid White and Cinder Grey colour combination as the SV Ultra. It also becomes the first Range Rover Classic to feature ultrafabrics upholstery, a synthetic trim material used as an alternative to leather.

The seats incorporate the same laser-cut pattern and mosaic-style perforations introduced on the SV Ultra, while the dashboard, steering wheel and door trims have been redesigned to mirror the flagship’s cabin. Brushed aluminium door handles, colour-matched speaker grilles and bespoke trim finishers complete the interior.

The donor vehicle started life as a US-market 1993 County Edition powered by Land Rover’s naturally aspirated 3.9l V8 petrol engine, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission.

Range Rover said the restoration required more than 2,000 hours of work covering body fabrication, paint, trim and final assembly. The V8 engine, transmission, suspension, steering and braking systems were also comprehensively rebuilt, with the project aimed at preserving the vehicle’s original character while improving reliability and refinement.

The project also highlights the personalisation services offered through Range Rover Classic, allowing customers to specify bespoke exterior colours, unique trim materials, embroidery, custom scripting and tailor-made finishes developed with the company’s in-house design team.

The matching pair will be displayed at RM Sotheby’s Monterey Auction Preview from August 12 to 14 before being offered for sale on August 14.

He will speak about developments at Caf and in the African football fraternity.

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Banyana Banyana’s Gabriela Salgado has insisted she’s put that nasty injury she sustained in the semifinals of the last Women’s African Cup of Nations (Wafcon) against Nigeria in Casablanca last July behind her as she hunts for her first Wafcon crown in Morocco.

A shoulder injury saw Salgado miss the 2022 Wafcon, where Banyana lifted the trophy for the first and only time to date in Morocco.

At the last Wafcon in the same nation last winter, the 28-year-old Banyana forward fractured the mid-shaft of her left leg in the semifinals against Nigeria as they eventually settled for a disappointing fourth spot.

With this year’s Wafcon starting on Sunday until August 16 in Morocco yet again, Salgado has made it clear that she’s got over that severe leg break that soured Banyana’s already-disappointing Wafcon campaign last year, aiming for her first title.

“Injuries are part of the game ... I’ve been back with the team for a while now, so my injury is no longer in my mind. I am just happy to be on the field,” Salgado said.

“It took a lot of mental [strength] for me to be here today, returning to Wafcon. I had to have a good mentality and put in the work. The past setbacks motivate me to go for that gold medal.”

Banyana are in Group B with Tanzania, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso. The four Wafcon semi-finalists secure direct World Cup qualification, while two additional spots are determined via play-off pathways. The next World Cup will be hosted by Brazil next winter.

Banyana’s Wafcon Group B fixtures (all at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, in SA time):

July 27 v Tanzania (6pm)

July 31 v Ivory Coast (6pm)

August 4 v Burkina Faso (9pm)

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What began as an online joke has evolved into one of the most significant protest movements in India, which is being led by young people hoping to change the established political structure and the damage they believe the government has caused.

Calling themselves the “Cockroaches”, young Indians are channelling anger over failings in the education system into a broader campaign for government accountability. In doing so, they also have mounted one of the most visible public challenges in recent years to the Hindu nationalist government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Court remark sparks youth movement

The immediate trigger for the protests was public anger over alleged leaks of some of India’s most competitive entrance examinations for medical colleges and government jobs. The exams are a pathway to stable employment and upward social mobility for millions of Indians. The possibility the exams have been shared in advance often force authorities to cancel or repeat tests, leaving students with months or years of lost preparation and uncertainty.

The movement began in May when India’s supreme court chief justice Surya Kant, during an unrelated court hearing, compared some unemployed young people to “cockroaches”. The remark sparked an online backlash, prompting Boston University student Abhijeet Dipke to launch the Cockroach Janta Party, or Cockroach People’s Party.

Many young Indians embraced the remark and adopted the cockroach as an emblem of resilience. The campaign exploded on social media, attracting more than 21-million Instagram followers within days. Supporters posted memes, mock campaign slogans and satirical commentary targeting Modi’s government over unemployment, limited job opportunities and economic pressures.

The movement took on a street presence in June when Dipke returned to India from the US and began organising protests across cities and university campuses that drew hundreds. Plans to stage a sit-in at Jantar Mantar, a prominent protest site in New Delhi, gained nationwide attention.

Since then the movement has demanded the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, examination system reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam paper leaks.

Protests expand beyond student issues

The New Delhi sit-in initially drew a few hundred daily protesters, but the turnout soon grew into the thousands. The movement gathered more momentum after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration and began a hunger strike that has lasted more than three weeks. Police forcibly transferred Wangchuk to hospital at the weekend.

As the protests have grown, they have embodied broader frustrations over government accountability and the prospects of young people. Many protesters said they have lost trust in institutions, including the education system, political leadership, the judiciary and the media.

The movement also has attracted professionals and families beyond the core student base. Supporters across India have ordered food online with directions to share the deliveries with anyone at the protest sites.

The movement’s appeal has widened partly because of the lack of a traditional political party structure. Organisers said volunteers and supporters fund their own travel to protests and rely on social media for mobilisation.

Government response has evolved as protests grow

The government initially rejected demands for talks with protesters. Pradhan accused protesters of working against the country’s interests and said the government had resolved the crisis by ordering fresh examinations.

The official stance began to shift only after the movement escalated. Police used tear gas and batons after thousands of demonstrators on Monday tried to push through security barricades during their march to parliament as lawmakers returned for the monsoon session.

The crackdown led to public anger. A government minister later met movement representatives in the first visible outreach, but the talks failed to ease tensions.

Pressure also mounted after opposition leader Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in outside Modi’s residence on Tuesday, thrusting the Cockroaches to the centre of India’s political debate.

Under mounting pressure, Pradhan said the government was committed to “addressing every genuine concern of our youth” during the ongoing parliament session, but did not say whether he will resign, which remains a core demand of the protesters.

Protests have become a challenge for Modi

The movement’s rapid spread beyond student groups points to growing frustration among young Indians and resembles a broader trend across South Asia, where youths have played a central role in anti-government movements in recent years.

Though India’s opposition parties remain divided and political space for criticism has shrunk under Modi, the ruling government must face the unusual challenge of a decentralised movement of young people rather than established political organisations.

Opposition parties and rights activists have backed the campaign, framing it as a broader fight for democratic accountability and the right to peaceful protest. The movement has also given India’s opposition a potent platforms to broaden its appeal among young voters while challenging Modi’s government across ideological lines.

With hundreds of millions of voters under 35, including millions of first-time voters, India’s youth are a crucial voting bloc. Their growing frustration could have wider political implications ahead of future elections.

AP

Filmmaker Sandulela Asanda is shifting the narrative and paving the way for queer cinema with the release of their debut feature Black Burns Fast.

The coming-of-age film arrives in cinemas on July 31 and Asanda speaks to Sowetan about helming the year’s most buzz-worthy local movie.

Click here to read more.

BOOK REVIEW | Aspects of liberation theology revisited via books inspired by Kairos Document

Despite frequent and frightening political dark clouds hovering over the country’s skies, author, priest, theologian, and social justice campaigner, the Reverend Dr Wesley Madonda Mabuza prays for the restoration of the rational political discourse in the country.

In an interview, Mabuza, the author of the new book, Keeping the Spirit of Kairos Alive, a book you could loosely describe as an expanded sequel to the 1985 Kairos Document, makes a compelling appeal for the serious deconstruction of church theology so as for society to uncover the richness of contextual theologies that speak to current socio-economic, political, and ideological realities of the day.

Click here to read more.

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A Northern Cape man who touched the buttocks of his girlfriend’s teenage daughter has been handed a five-year prison sentence.

Monapule Rantsi was sentenced by the Kimberley Sexual Offences Court for sexually assaulting the teenager.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Mojalefa Senokoatsane, the offence occurred on December 11 in Homestead, Kimberley.

“At the time, the accused was the victim’s mother’s boyfriend and resided in the same household as the victim.

”He sexually assaulted the child by inappropriately touching her buttocks while she was lying under blankets,“ said Senokoatsane.

The matter was reported to the police and Rantsi was then arrested and later convicted.

During sentencing, the court emphasised that every child should feel safe in their own home, Senokoatsane said.

“It found that the accused had abused the position of trust placed in him as a member of the household and someone regarded as part of the family.”

Senokoatsane said the court also took into account Rantsi’s criminal history.

Rantsi, he said, is not a first-time offender and has previous convictions for escaping from lawful custody in 2011. He also has a 2013 case of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm as well as a 2018 robbery with aggravating circumstances.

“In the latter matter, he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment by the Kimberley regional court on July 7 2026.

“The court further noted that the sexual assault was committed while the accused was on bail for the robbery with aggravating circumstances case,” he said.

Senokoatsane said they as the NPA welcome the outcome of this matter, which demonstrates that offenders who prey on vulnerable children and abuse positions of trust will be held accountable.

“Crimes of a sexual nature committed against children have devastating and long-lasting consequences, and the criminal justice system remains committed to ensuring that perpetrators are brought to justice.”

Sowetan

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Owethu Rula is already within the weight limit of the flyweight division, which is 50.8kg, two weeks ahead of her WBF flyweight world title fight, says her trainer Caiphus Ntate.

That can only be attributed to dedication, hard work and the wish to win a boxing belt.

Being at or slightly below the contracted division limit will allow Rula to bypass severe dehydration and focus on training sharpness, rather than shedding muscle and water.

Training for a fight while cutting weight is tough.

You are forced to push your body through gruelling, high-intensity sessions while operating in a caloric deficit.

This combination leads to severe physical fatigue, mental fog, and compromised recovery. It is widely considered one of the hardest aspects of combat sports.

Rula from Walmer in Gqeberha will clash with Smangele “Smash” Hadebe at Grandwest Casino in Cape Town.

Dubbed “Battle at the Island”, the tournament will feature six female titles and a single male championship bout.

It will take place on August 8, a day before South Africa celebrates the national Women’s Day.

The match is scheduled for 10 rounds.

Under the South African Boxing Act regulations, female professional boxing matches are capped at a duration of two minutes per round.

For national title fights sanctioned by Boxing SA, the mandated distance is 10 rounds, while provincial titles are contested over eight rounds.

Rula and Habede will headline the tournament to be organised by Terry-Anne Hart’s Fighters Club promotion.

Rula, who is managed by Lonki Witbooi, was initially scheduled to challenge Hadebe for her national title.

But Hart successfully upgraded the matchup to an international world title fight.

“We are 2kg over the limit,” said Ntate.

“And that is on purpose. She is sparring against Nozipho Bell [junior-lightweight fighter] and Sanele Magwaza [junior-featherweight campaigner].

“The motive behind her sparring against heavy and aggressive fighters is to prepare her for Hadebe who is an aggressive fighter.”

Ntate described Hadebe from Walkerville in the south of Johannesburg as a world class boxer and he respects her.

“But I have a golden plan to upset her,” he said, adding that Hadebe’s experience does not bother them.

“Owethu has fought four title fights ... she’s well-tested. I have vast experience in world title fights ... undermine us at your own peril. We are going to shock the country on August 8.”

Owethu, the Eastern Cape champion, has a record of six wins and five losses.

On the other hand, Hadebe, the former ABU and WBO Africa champ, has chalked up 15 wins, five losses, and two draws.

Hadebe is trained by Harry Ramogoadi and Sihle Mathenjwa, while Colleen McAusland manages the boxer’s career.

Jason Phaal and Meegan King will do battle for the SA cruiserweight title that was vacated by Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu two weeks ago.

Hart said doors will open at 5pm and action will begin at 6pm.

Sowetan

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After the South Africa Football Association (Safa) is understood to have offered coach Hugo Broos a one-year contract extension, legendary Bafana Bafana defender Mark Fish says keeping the 74-year-old Belgian would be understandable.

With the qualifiers for next year’s Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania starting in September, Fish said it would make sense for Safa to keep Broos for another year, reckoning the players fancy their chances of winning the next Afcon under him.

“We are in a situation where we all thought he was leaving and now he’s staying. I do understand why they want him to stay if they want to push for Afcon,” Fish told Sowetan.

“At the end of the day, it’s Safa’s decision. To carry on with the continuity we have had, it would make sense for him to stay going into the Afcon.

“I think the players feel the experience of the World Cup has given them more confidence and exposure and they can probably win the Afcon.”

Broos, who joined in May 2021, saw his five-year Bafana contract lapse at the end of the recent World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, where Bafana reached the competition’s knockout phase for the first time, crashing out in the round of 32 at the hands of one of the hosts, Canada, in Atlanta.

Let’s not talk about speculation. I will issue an official statement. I previously told you to give us space. We are going to deal with the process of hiring a new coach. These other things we don’t know

Jack Maluleke, Safa technical committee chair

Sowetan understands Safa has tabled a one-year extension for Broos, despite him telling his native Belgian publication Voetbalnieuws that he was leaving the team a few weeks ago.

Perhaps an indication that Safa will convince Broos to continue, when Bafana returned from the World Cup the Belgian made it clear he’d be open to take up another role within Safa.

Should Broos stay, the Safa technical committee would end up with egg on its face as it was finalising the process of appointing a new coach, with Pitso Mosimane believed to have been the leading candidate.

Quizzed about the recent development regarding Broos’s possible stay, Safa technical committee chairperson Jack Maluleke, who previously told a Sunday publication Mosimane had applied for the job, said he would issue an official statement.

“Let’s not talk about speculation. I will issue an official statement. I previously told you to give us space. We are going to deal with the process of hiring a new coach. These other things we don’t know,” Maluleke said.

Safa CEO Lydia Monyepao was not reached for comment.

Sowetan

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Consumer inflation accelerated to 5% year-on-year in June from 4.5% in May, data showed on Wednesday, all but sealing the case for another interest rate hike when the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) concludes its monetary policy meeting on Thursday.

The main contributor to the annual inflation rate was transport, which came in at 12.7% and contributed 1.7 percentage points to the headline number, Statistics South Africa said.

Annual inflation for housing and utilities and insurance and financial services was also up significantly.

On a month-on-month basis, prices were up 0.7 % in June compared with May.

The June print marks the second straight month of inflation coming in above the 2% to 4% tolerance band of the Bank’s 3% target adopted last year.

The Bank has signalled it will not wait for the second-round effects of the oil price shock to emerge before acting to ensure high inflation expectations do not become entrenched

The bank lifted its policy rate to 7% at its May policy meeting after data showed inflation had jumped to 4% in April from 3.1% previously, driven mainly by higher fuel prices as the US-Iran war strangled global oil supply.

Oil prices extended gains to trade near six-week highs on Wednesday as fears of further supply disruptions intensified after US forces struck Iranian military targets for the 11th straight night, Reuters reported.

The Bank has signalled it will not wait for the second-round effects of the oil price shock to emerge before acting to ensure high inflation expectations do not become entrenched.

“Inflation can be persistently higher after a shock has passed if people start believing higher inflation is normal,” Sarb governor Lesetja Kganyago told the annual Bureau for Economic Research conference last month.

“Monetary policy operates with lags, so if you wait for complete proof of second-round effects you are probably too late.”

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Business Day

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Chery SA has confirmed that its new Q electric hatchback will arrive in local showrooms in early September.

Positioned as the Chinese brand’s most affordable new energy vehicle in SA, the compact hatchback is aimed at buyers seeking an urban-focused EV with a practical driving range and a relatively accessible entry point into electric motoring.

The Q measures 4,195mm in length, 1,811mm in width and 1,570mm in height, while its 2,700mm wheelbase is relatively long for a vehicle of this size, helping maximise interior space. Chery says the packaging provides a spacious cabin without compromising urban manoeuvrability, aided by the hatchback’s 5.2-metre turning circle.

Luggage capacity stands at 375 litres with the rear seats in place and expands to 1,450 litres when folded. There’s also a 70-litre front storage compartment, or “frunk”, beneath the bonnet for stashing charging cables and other small items.

The Chery Q rides on either 16 or 17-inch alloy wheels, depending on the model grade, and features short overhangs, semi-flush door handles and a floating C-pillar. A closed grille reflects the battery-electric drivetrain, while distinctive Q-shaped LED headlamps serve as the vehicle’s signature styling element.

Power comes from a single front-mounted electric motor producing 90kW, paired with a 42.7kWh battery pack. Chery claims the Q is capable of travelling up to 400km on the NEDC test cycle, although real-world range is likely to be lower.

Inside, the dual-tone dashboard combines an 8.8-inch digital instrument cluster with a 15.6-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8155 processor and supports gesture controls as well as a configurable home screen.

Other highlights include contrast-colour air vents, a flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel and a column-mounted gear selector that replaces the traditional centre-console shifter, creating extra storage space between the front seats. Chery also says the large windscreen has been designed to improve outward visibility, with a quoted upper field of vision of 16.8º.

The flagship Elite derivative adds a suite of driver assistance systems, including automated parking functions designed to simplify manoeuvring in tight spaces.

Ahead of the September launch, Chery has introduced a pre-order programme that includes a seven-year/150,000km vehicle warranty, a home wallbox charger and portable charging equipment.

Customers who place an order can choose either a charging card to the value of their holding deposit or an equivalent discount on the purchase price. A powered tailgate is also included as part of the launch offer.

The final model line-up and detailed specifications will be announced closer to launch. Pricing will range from R350,000 to R400,000.

The blast, triggered by a build-up of methane gas, tore through the tunnel on Monday at the 500MW Teesta Hydroelectric Project in northeastern Sikkim state in the Himalayas. Authorities have recovered the bodies of 12 workers who died inside the tunnel about 40km south of the state capital Gangtok.

Rescue teams equipped with specialised breathing equipment and night-vision gear were having difficulty entering the tunnel because of the gas and a build-up of water, administrative official Anupama Tamling said.

The Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases. Fragile mountains, seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky in the region, according to experts.

A February explosion in a coal mine in neighbouring Meghalaya state killed 18 workers. A tunnel section collapsed in 2023 in northern Uttarakhand state, trapping 41 workers for 17 days before they were rescued.

AP

He has been charged with theft, fraud and defeating the ends of justice.

Video courtesy of SABC.

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Sowetan

The group said on Wednesday it will pay nearly R1.5bn to acquire a stake in Shop2Shop to create one of South Africa’s largest merchant commerce and fintech platforms, significantly expanding the retailer’s reach across both the informal and formal economy as it prepares to launch its own bank.

Pepkor says it will acquire its controlling stake by investing R1.57bn in cash in Shop2Shop and transferring ownership of Flash, which has been valued at R10.6bn. Together, the two businesses imply a combined equity valuation of about R21.3bn.

The retailer said the deal also creates a pathway towards a separate listing of the combined fintech business in the medium term, a sign of its intention to unlock value from a business that has become one of the fastest-growing parts of the group.

“The proposed transaction is a significant step in Pepkor’s strategy to accelerate expansion within its informal market platform segment and will unlock value for shareholders through a planned future listing,” the company said.

“South Africa’s informal market represents a fast-growing segment of the economy, underpinned by resilient consumer demand and increasing merchant participation.

This marks another milestone in Pepkor’s transformation from a traditional discount retailer into a broader consumer and financial services business

“The proposed transaction combines two complementary businesses to create a significant merchant commerce and fintech platform in South Africa that is well-positioned to support merchants transitioning to digitally enabled businesses while maintaining accessibility for cash-based transactions.”

The combined platform will bring together Flash’s value-added services business with Shop2Shop’s merchant payments, acquiring, cash management and trade services, creating a business that serves merchants across the entire payments value chain.

This marks another milestone in Pepkor’s transformation from a traditional discount retailer into a broader consumer and financial services business. Over the past few years, the group has steadily expanded its fintech operations through businesses spanning:

• digital payments;
• unsecured lending;
• insurance;
• smartphone financing; and
• loyalty programmes.

Flash has become the largest contributor to Pepkor’s fintech business, accounting for about two-thirds of segment revenue. The platform enables informal traders and small businesses to sell airtime, prepaid electricity, data, bill payments, money transfers and other digital products through a nationwide merchant network.

In the six months ended March, Flash processed R34.7bn in transaction value, up 20.3% from a year earlier, while its network of active traders grew to 176,000.

Pepkor has also expanded Capfin, its unsecured lending business, whose gross loan book reached R5.3bn during the first half of the financial year. FoneYam, its smartphone rental product sold through PEP and Ackermans, increased active accounts by 32% to 2.4-million, while Abacus Insurance doubled its revenue as insurance products were rolled out across more of the group’s retail brands.

The Shop2Shop acquisition deepens Pepkor’s exposure to South Africa’s informal economy, where merchants are increasingly adopting digital payment solutions while continuing to rely on cash transactions

The group recently received regulatory approval to establish a bank, with its first banking products expected to launch later this year. The bank will build on Pepkor’s network of more than 6,600 stores, its digital capabilities and existing financial services businesses, including Flash and Capfin.

Pepkor has previously said it serves about 26-million customers, with more than 12-million using its digital platforms, while around 32-million customers visit its stores annually.

The Shop2Shop acquisition deepens Pepkor’s exposure to South Africa’s informal economy, where merchants are increasingly adopting digital payment solutions while continuing to rely on cash transactions.

The group disclosed that its CEO, Pieter Erasmus, through an associated company has an indirect minority interest in Shop2Shop which predates his appointment at Pepkor.

“Post the implementation of the proposed transaction, the ultimate beneficial owners of FintechCo will comprise Pepkor holding 57.1% and the S2S shareholders holding the remaining minority interest of 42.9% through various entities established for the benefit of the S2S shareholders and founders,” it said.

“These include companies related to Peter Berry [CEO of Shop2Shop] and Erasmus, who will — after implementation of the proposed transaction — hold an indirect minority interest in FintechCo of 24.0% and 13.2% respectively. The balance will be held by members of Shop2Shop group employees.”

Business Day

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The Johannesburg high court was on Tuesday taken back to the chaotic day that taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni drove into Centurion Golf Estate in his red Ferrari, only to be ambushed a few moments later by gunmen with AK-47s travelling in a white BMW sedan.

As Bidvest Protea Security officer Bethuel Cele stood in the dock, he detailed his testimony on how an ordinary shift quickly descended into a barrage of gunfire that left him returning fire with all 15 rounds from his 9mm service pistol.

Cele, who had nearly two decades of experience as a security officer at the time, told the court he was stationed at the estate when Sibanyoni arrived on the night of August 10 2022.

According to his evidence, the attack unfolded almost immediately after Sibanyoni entered the estate just after 10pm.

He said a red Ferrari entered the estate, followed by a VW Golf 7. A man, understood to be Sibanyoni, got out of the Ferrari. Cele said the BMW was moving slowly, as though its occupants were looking for something.

“The left-side window was slightly lowered. The BMW drove past, made a U-turn at the traffic lights and returned. The BMW then stopped near the Ferrari and Golf 7 before two armed men jumped out carrying AK-47 rifles,” he said.

“As soon as they got out, they realised I had seen them. The first shot was fired at me.”

Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala , his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni.

Cele said he and his colleague Francis Mazibuko immediately ran for cover behind a tree six metres away.

While hiding, Mazibuko reminded him that he was armed and that they could not simply wait to be killed.

Cele said he initially fired about five shots and heard one of the gunmen react, leading him to believe he had hit him.

“I saw that he had been shot in the stomach. I could see his intestines protruding before he climbed back into the BMW through the window.”

He said the second gunman continued firing towards the occupants of the Ferrari and the VW Golf.

“One of them shouted, ‘Die, you dog,’ before opening fire again. I was lying on my stomach while firing my weapon.”

Cele said that during the shooting incident, some of the occupants of the Ferrari and Golf managed to flee into the estate.

The BMW eventually sped away, leaving behind a scene of chaos.

During cross-examination, Kekana’s lawyer Riaan Gissingsuggested to Cele that if he had fired 15 shots, there should have been 15 spent cartridges and corresponding bullets recovered from the scene.

Cele agreed and said police officers later arrived with evidence bags and collected the spent cartridges while processing the crime scene.

“I gave the firearm back to my manager, and it was locked in the safe. The police then collected it for ballistic testing,” Cele testified.

Gissing also challenged Cele’s recollection of events by referring him to an earlier police statement.

Counsel has raised concerns over the witness’s manner of speaking, describing it as derogatory and inappropriate when responding to questions. However, Cele rejected the claim, saying he was simply speaking in his native language, isiZulu. @Sowetan1981 pic.twitter.com/8E3GNhVrW7

— Koena Mashale (@Koena_xM) July 21, 2026

In the statement, Cele recorded that only two suspects exited the BMW during the shooting.

“I saw three suspects that were in the BMW, and only two came out of the vehicle during the shooting,” Gissing read aloud.

Cele insisted there was no contradiction.

“The two got out first and started shooting. After the vehicle came to a standstill, the third person also got out and started shooting,” he said.

As cross-examination continued, tensions spilt beyond the evidence itself.

Zama’s lawyer, Adv Timothy Chauke, accused Cele of being disrespectful in the way he answered questions, arguing that his responses and manner of speaking were inappropriate during cross-examination. This was in reference to the bullets that were collected at the scene of the crime. Chauke wanted to know if the police had also collected Cele’s bullets, to which he said he did not know as it was none of his business.

Chauke, however, took exception to that.

“I wouldn’t say that the phrase is derogatory, but I would say it is disrespectful, especially in the context in which it is said. And I would feel that, much as this witness wants to be respected, he owes respect to us,” he said.

Cele rejected the criticism, maintaining that he was simply speaking naturally in isiZulu.

“I said at the outset that I wanted to testify in Zulu. Now, when I’m testifying in Zulu, people get lost,” Cele said.

The matter has been postponed to Wednesday.

Sowetan

The talks flight attendants deliver about how to inflate a life vest or find the exits on a plane that are routine today were developed after 52 people perished aboard Pan Am’s Clipper Endeavor in 1952 because they didn’t get off the plane before it sank. Explorers used an autonomous sonar drone to find the fuselage and tail of the DC-4 last month under 600m of water.

The plane made a hard landing after losing engine power shortly after takeoff. The 17 passengers and crew who survived told investigators everyone lived through the landing, but panic set in as many passengers struggled to find life vests and the crew had a hard time pulling out life rafts.

Within minutes, the plane sank.

Now before takeoff, flight attendants instruct passengers about exit locations and where life vests are located and how to inflate them.

“This one became a catalyst, and it helped drive safety steps forward of better flotation equipment and the preflight briefings,” said aviation safety expert John Cox, a pilot and founder of Safety Operating Systems. “So this is one steppingstone along the path to what we today enjoy as aviation safety. It was a rallying cry at the time.”

And now the discovery of this wreck could offer new hope for families who lost loved ones in other ocean crashes like Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared 12 years ago with 269 people aboard.

Years of research helped locate the wreckage

This crash first caught the attention of Russ Matthews in 2019 when he saw a blurb about a luggage tag from the flight washing ashore in Florida. He said the historical significance of the Clipper Endeavor prompted him to dig deeper.

That led to years of digging through the Pan Am Airlines and Coast Guard archives looking for clues about the location of the plane’s watery grave. Reports from the Civil Aeronautics Board, which was the predecessor to the Federal Aviation Administration, also helped.

But the key to finding the wreckage was found in records in Puerto Rico from a hearing that was held on the crash, and a map estimating the location of the crash that was done by Air Force pilots who witnessed the crash because they just happened to be in the area on a training flight.

Bad weather disrupted a previous attempt to locate the wreck in 2024 with a towed sonar array that was also documented by the Discovery Channel’s Expedition Unknown show. But Matthews said he and the volunteers who work with his Air/Sea Heritage Foundation dreamt of making a second attempt to find it before next year’s 75th anniversary of the crash with one of these newer advanced drones that were originally developed for military uses like finding undersea mines.

Undersea drone played a key role in the search

Tony Romeo, who is CEO of the undersea exploration firm Deep Sea Vision, had been talking with Matthews for a while about the possibility of helping try to find this plane if one of his ships was ever in the area, and then in April one just happened to be passing right by Puerto Rico between two other jobs while carrying an advanced underwater drone with the right sensors to be able to find it.

“There we were, and everything kind of came together at the moment: good weather, the right team, and the right equipment and ship. So we took a shot at it,” Romeo said.

Deep Sea Vision previously led an unsuccessful six-month search to find Amelia Earhart’s plane, but Romeo had a special interest in this case because his father was a mechanic and pilot for Pan Am airlines. In fact, the drone they used in the search already had a Pan Am sticker on the side.

Capturing the moment of discovery

All the research Matthews’ group had done, combined with weather data from the time of the crash, was synthesized to create a map of the most likely location and a search area of 10 square nautical miles. The drone actually found the wreckage on its first pass over that area, though the explorers didn’t know that until it returned to the surface with its images.

The Discovery Channel’s Josh Gates and his crew were again along for this latest search to capture the moment the plane showed up on images from the drone after they were downloaded. The search will be featured in a special episode of the show this autumn, but a few highlights released Tuesday show the moment everyone in the control room realised what they had found. Shouts of “Oh God!” and “That’s a plane!” erupted when the image loaded on screen.

“To have a front-row seat to an expedition like this as it’s unfolding is tremendous, and so I feel really lucky that we were able to be a part of it,” Gates said.

AP

For individuals, that fee is paid through transport fares, data bundles, school fees, electricity, debt-service costs and the time spent looking for work.

For businesses, it is paid through unreliable infrastructure, logistics delays, security costs, compliance burdens, working-capital pressures and the rising price of energy. The result is an economy in which participation is formally open, but practically expensive.

This matters because South Africa’s central economic problem is not only low growth; it is also the high cost of being included in that growth.

Recent data shows the scale of the challenge. Stats SA reported that real GDP grew by only 0.5% in the first quarter of 2026.

Meanwhile, labour-market data showed the official unemployment rate at 32.7% in the first quarter of the year, while consumer inflation reached 4.5% in May.

The economy is therefore asking households and firms to absorb high participation costs in a context of weak growth, limited jobs and renewed price pressure.

Survival spending

The household budget tells the story most clearly. Stats SA’s Income and Expenditure Survey 2022/23 estimated that, on average, households spent nearly R143,691 on the consumption of goods and services in 2023.

But the composition of that spending reveals how little room many households have to invest in opportunity. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels absorbed 34.7% of household consumption expenditure, while food and non-alcoholic beverages took 16.3%, transport accounted for 15.3%, and insurance and financial services absorbed 9.3%.

In other words, about three-quarters of household spending was concentrated in the basic costs of shelter, food, mobility and financial protection.

The labour market compounds this pressure. In the first quarter of 2025, the official unemployment rate was 32.9%, with 8.2-million unemployed people. Youth unemployment was even more severe at 4.8-million, translating into a youth unemployment rate of 46.1%.

These figures mean that for millions, participation in the economy begins not with wages, but with the cost of searching for work, which includes printing CVs, buying data, travelling to interviews and carrying the psychological cost of repeated rejection.

Even when inflation moderates, the level of prices remains high. Average consumer inflation slowed to 4.4% in 2024, down from 6.0% in 2023. Yet this disinflation does not mean affordability has been restored. Prices that rose sharply during the previous inflation cycle have largely stayed high, while wages and social support (social grants) have not fully closed the gap.

By May this year, inflation had climbed again to 4.5%, driven partly by fuel prices, which are especially important in an economy where distance from opportunity is itself a form of exclusion.

Mobility, connectivity and finance

Transport is one of the clearest examples of the price of participation. A worker living far from their place of work must pay before earning. A job seeker must spend before knowing whether a job exists.

A small trader must move goods before making a sale. When transport accounts for 15.3% of household consumption expenditure, mobility is not a marginal cost; it is a gatekeeper to income.

Apartheid played a central role in creating this burden by deliberately locating black households far from economic opportunity, restricting asset ownership and education, and embedding spatial and financial inequalities that continue to raise the cost of participation today.

Digital access is now another gatekeeper. DataReportal (2025) estimated that South Africa had 50.8-million internet users at the start of 2025, representing internet penetration of 78.9%, and 124-million cellular mobile connections, equivalent to 193% of the population.

These figures show a connected society, but they do not prove affordable or equal access. For the unemployed, students, informal traders and micro-enterprises, the cost of devices, data and digital literacy can determine whether they can apply for jobs, access markets, compare prices, receive payments or comply with administrative requirements.

Financial participation also carries a price. Standard Bank’s 2024 spending analysis found that a growing share of consumer spending was going to interest payments, reflecting the pressure of elevated interest rates.

For lower- and middle-income households, credit often becomes a bridge between income and necessity. But when borrowing finances for food, transport or school costs, the economy is not expanding opportunity; it is monetising desperation.

Price paid in duplicated infrastructure

Businesses face a parallel problem. In many countries, firms pay taxes and receive reliable infrastructure.

In South Africa, too many firms pay taxes and then pay again for substitutes, comprising generators, solar systems, inverters, batteries, boreholes, private security, fleet tracking, backup connectivity and compliance consultants.

These duplicated costs raise the hurdle rate for investment and widen the gap between large firms that can internalise infrastructure and small firms that cannot.

The electricity crisis illustrates the point. Load-shedding was severe in 2022 and 2023, with estimates showing 205 days of load-shedding and 8.1-million megawatt-hours shed in 2022, worsening to 335 days and 16.6-million megawatt-hours shed in 2023.

The situation improved significantly in 2024, with 83 days of load-shedding, and further in the first eight months of 2025, when only 12 days were recorded.

Yet the improvement has come partly because households and firms have shifted away from exclusive reliance on the grid. The National Treasury estimates revealed that rooftop solar photovoltaic capacity increased by 276% to 6,165MW between December 2022 and December 2024.

That is an impressive private-sector response, but it is also evidence of a costly self-insurance economy.

Energy costs are not only about keeping lights on. They affect refrigeration, manufacturing shifts, digital transactions, irrigation, mining, retail trading hours and the cost of capital.

A large retailer can install solar across its property portfolio; a township spaza shop cannot always finance a reliable backup system. A manufacturer can negotiate supply contracts; a micro-enterprise often pays retail prices for electricity, fuel and connectivity. The same shock therefore produces different competitive outcomes.

Compliance is necessary but costly

The formal economy also has administrative entrance fees. Formalisation requires registration, accounting, tax compliance, labour law compliance, municipal approvals, sector permits, banking relationships and often professional advice.

These rules are necessary for a functioning economy, but their cumulative cost can discourage smaller firms from entering or remaining in the formal sector.

The risk is that the economy punishes the very behaviour it claims to encourage. A business that formalises may gain access to procurement, finance and larger customers, but it also assumes fixed costs that informal competitors may avoid.

If the benefits of formality are uncertain while the costs are immediate, many entrepreneurs will rationally remain small, invisible or semi-formal. That is bad for tax revenue, productivity, worker protection and long-term growth.

The unequal price of the same economy

The price of participation is not evenly distributed. Households in richer metros spend far more in absolute terms than those in poorer areas. Stats SA’s 2022/23 income and expenditure data show that Cape Town households recorded a median expenditure of R140,523, while Tshwane followed at R123,176 and Buffalo City recorded R75,283.

These figures point to different local economies, different opportunity structures and different costs of accessing work, services and markets. The General Household Survey 2024 also shows how dependent households remain on labour income and social support.

Nationally, salaries, wages and commission were reported as a source of household income by 62.2% of households, while grants were reported by 50.9%. In some provinces, grants were more common than salaries as a household income source. This is not merely a welfare statistic; it is a signal that the labour market is not carrying enough households into productive participation.

For firms, inequality also matters. A micro-enterprise cannot. A firm operating near a port, highway or affluent market faces different costs from one operating in a rural municipality or township with weak infrastructure.

The economy therefore rewards incumbency and scale, while making entry expensive for precisely the businesses South Africa needs most.

Lowering the entry fee

South Africa does not need to abolish the costs of participation; no economy can. But it must reduce unnecessary costs and make necessary costs more predictable, transparent and productive.

The first priority is infrastructure reliability. The improvement in load-shedding is welcome, but durable energy security requires faster grid investment and more generation capacity. Private investment should complement public infrastructure, not permanently substitute for it.

Second, transport policy must be treated as labour-market policy. If transport takes more than 15% of household consumption expenditure, then safer, cheaper and better-integrated public transport is not a social convenience; it is an employment intervention.

Spatial reform, affordable housing near economic nodes and reliable commuter systems would lower the cost of job search and expand the effective labour market.

Third, digital inclusion must move beyond coverage to affordability. With internet penetration close to 79%, the next policy question is not only whether people are connected but also whether they can afford meaningful participation.

Lower data costs, public Wi-Fi in transport nodes and community facilities, digital skills programmes and cheaper devices would help turn connectivity into income-generating capability.

Fourth, the state should simplify the path to formality for small businesses. A single digital business portal, lighter reporting for micro-enterprises, pre-filled tax returns, simplified municipal permitting and targeted accounting support would reduce the fixed cost of compliance. The goal should not be deregulation at any cost, but smart regulation that makes legality easier than informality.

The South African economy is often described through aggregates such as GDP growth, inflation, unemployment and investment.

But behind these numbers is a more human and commercial reality. The economy has become expensive to enter, expensive to navigate and expensive to remain in. Households pay to search for work, move across space, connect online and manage debt.

Firms pay to secure electricity, move goods, comply with rules and protect assets. These costs do not merely reduce disposable income or profit margins; they shape who gets to participate at all. An inclusive economy is not built only by creating opportunities on paper. It is built by lowering the cost of reaching them.

• Naape is an economist and founder of the Baneng Naape Foundation.

Sowetan

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Former president Thabo Mbeki says South Africa has “no clear direction” to tackle inequality, poverty and unemployment, warning the collapse of the social compact has left the country without a coherent plan of action.

Addressing the CSI Indaba 2026 in Johannesburg, Mbeki said the original social compact process had effectively collapsed, shrinking from a broad, multistakeholder effort into a narrower partnership between government and business.

“The social compact has collapsed, the social partnership has collapsed,” he said. “[The country] has no clear direction as to what we are going to do to solve the problems of inequality, poverty and so on. It doesn’t exist.”

Mbeki was critical of the government’s economic recovery efforts, describing them as a “wish list” rather than a concrete programme, and drawing parallels with the National Development Plan, which he regards as outlining a vision without a clear plan of action.

He dismissed claims of economic “green shoots”, pointing instead to declining fixed gross capital formation — a key measure of new investment — as evidence that recovery is not materialising.

Mbeki revisited his 2024 call for an inclusive, citizen-led national dialogue after South Africa’s 30 years of democracy. He said foundations had proposed a model built around 32 constituencies — including women, youth, business and traditional leaders — to ensure broad participation.

However, he said a government-led national convention announced for August 2025 proceeded without proper consultation or the establishment of these constituencies, leading the foundations to withdraw.

“It was an attempted hijack of the national dialogue to kill it.”

He added that while efforts to revive a genuine, people-led process are continuing, progress has stalled.

Mbeki urged business to re-engage on the basis of social responsibility, warning that corporate social investment alone is insufficient to drive systemic change.

Without renewed co-operation among social partners and a credible national dialogue, “this country will sink”.

TimesLIVE

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Conflicts and disruptions to global energy markets could push millions more people into hunger by driving up fuel, fertiliser and food costs.

That is according to the head of the Rome-based International Fund for Agricultural Development (Ifad).

A new UN report released on Tuesday shows progress against hunger remains too slow to meet global targets. The UN food security report has found global hunger eased modestly in recent years, but it projected more than 500-million people could face chronic hunger by 2030. Africa is expected to bear the largest share of the burden.

In an interview with The Associated Press on July 10, Ifad president Alvaro Lario said geopolitical tensions and potential disruptions to shipping and energy supplies, including uncertainty surrounding the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war, could leave an additional 9-million to 18-million people facing hunger if the shocks persist.

“We are in an era where we have the highest number of conflicts and they are increasing,” Lario said. “Whenever there is conflict, hunger, displacement and refugees increase.”

Conflict fuels food insecurity

Conflict remains one of the biggest obstacles to reducing hunger worldwide, Lario said.

Wars and geopolitical tensions can disrupt shipping, energy supplies and agricultural inputs, increasing costs across food systems already strained by inflation. Lario stressed hunger and conflict often reinforce one another, creating a cycle that is difficult to break without greater stability.

The biggest challenge is no longer simply producing enough food, but making healthy diets affordable

Alvaro Lario, Ifad president

Higher energy prices are affecting fertilisers and agricultural production, he said. The impact is especially significant for small-scale farmers, many of whom rely on diesel fuel to pump water, harvest crops and transport goods to market.

Rising fuel costs increase production expenses and can feed directly into higher food prices.

Climate shocks add pressure

The new report identifies affordability as one of the world’s biggest food security challenges. While food production continues to grow, about one third of the global population can’t afford a healthy diet. In low-income countries, that figure rises to about 77%, according to Lario.

“The biggest challenge is no longer simply producing enough food, but making healthy diets affordable,” he said.

Climate change is adding further pressure to food systems and rural livelihoods.

Lario said floods, prolonged droughts and extreme heat are increasingly disrupting agriculture around the world and have become a common reality for many communities.

Governments should focus on resilience and adaptation before disasters strike, rather than relying solely on emergency responses afterward, he said.

“This is becoming the new normal,” Lario said. “We are seeing floods in many countries. We’re seeing droughts that have been expanding for four or five years.”

The fund is increasing investments in climate-adaptation programmes aimed at helping rural communities withstand floods, droughts and extreme heat, he said, arguing support is urgently needed for the millions of small farmers who produce much of the world’s food.

Africa emerges as the epicentre

The report highlights Africa as the world’s most pressing food security challenge. For the first time, the continent has overtaken Asia as the region with the largest number of hungry people, and nearly 60% of the world’s chronically undernourished people could live there by 2030.

Lario attributed the shift partly to rapid population growth and slower economic gains than in parts of Asia, and he called for greater investment in agriculture, infrastructure and food systems.

African countries import nearly $100bn (R1.6-trillion) worth of food each year, he said, underscoring the need for stronger local production, storage, distribution and regional trade networks.

Conflicts, energy-market disruptions and climate extremes threaten to derail progress unless governments invest in more resilient food systems, Lario said.

AP

The health ministry said hantavirus was also suspected in the deaths of two health workers in the southwestern state of Barinas. Th]e cases remain under investigation and were not linked to the three fatalities in the eastern state of Anzoátegui, about 655km away.

Both states were spared the worst of the back-to-back major earthquakes that hit northern Venezuela earlier this month.

The ministry described the deaths in Anzoátegui and Barinas as isolated incidents that “do not represent a risk to the general community”. It said health workers would be sent to the affected states to “guarantee the health security of all Venezuelans”, without elaborating.

The Venezuelan Medical Federation, a national professional group, said the deaths in Anzoátegui were in the same family in the rural municipality of Miranda in the south of the state.

Hantaviruses exist throughout the world and are spread mainly by contact with rodents such as rats and mice. It i’s rare and not easy for a hantavirus to spread between people. In severe cases, the virus can cause a deadly lung infection or kidney failure.

As a recent deadly outbreak aboard a cruise ship in the Atlantic showed, some hantaviruses can spread between people in rare cases. The little-studied Andes hantavirus, detected in the outbreak that killed three passengers and infected several others on the MV Hondius in May, raised concerns around the world due to its mortality rate, as high as 30%, and the lack of treatment and vaccines.

Weeks later in Argentina, from where the hantavirus-stricken cruise set sail, authorities are trying to determine the origin of the outbreak.

An early hypothesis circulated by officials suggested patient zero, a Dutch ornithologist, may have become infected in the southernmost city of Ushuaia, famed for its location “at the end of the world”. However, Argentine scientists who tested rats for the Andes hantavirus in the area recently ruled out Ushuaia as the source of the outbreak, to the relief of the Antarctic cruise hub heavily reliant on foreign tourism.

Argentina also concluded the wine-producing province of Mendoza was not the source of contagion earlier this month after local investigators and biologists from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no trace of hantavirus in rodents collected from areas visited by the Dutch man and his wife.

AP

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The US military has confirmed a third service member is believed to have been killed in Friday’s attack on a base in Jordan, and identified the person as Sgt Angel Rampersad, 28, of New York.

The confirmation brings the death toll to 18 US service members killed since the war began.

The US military has also identified a soldier killed while disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq as Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton from North Carolina. The military said on Tuesday Swinton would receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and be promoted to staff sergeant.

On Monday, the Pentagon identified 1st Lt Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Pvt Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton, Texas, as the two other soldiers killed in Jordan in Friday’s attacks.

The soldiers were killed by Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in the first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war. They were deployed to support a US mission against the Islamic State group, a US central command statement said.

After the attack, US central command announced two service members were killed and another was missing. The next day, the military command said troops found unidentified remains and an examination process to verify the remains was under way.

The Pentagon said Rampersad is believed to be the missing soldier, her official status is “duty status whereabouts unknown” and she is “believed to be deceased”.

Rampersad belonged to the same unit as Gonzales, the 10th army air & missile defence command based in Ansbach, Germany.

Swinton, a 30-year-old father, had served for nearly a decade, according to his family and a military statement. He will receive a Bronze Star, Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge, and will be promoted to staff sergeant. The army said it was investigating the circumstances of his death on Sunday at an air base in Irbil.

He leaves behind a six-year-old son and a four-year-old daughter, his mother said.

“I will never recover from this,” his wife, Mia Gonzalez-Swinton, posted on Monday on Facebook. “We had so many plans for when you got back, I’m sick to my stomach.” She said she was notified on Sunday that he had been killed.

His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave others, and the unconditional love he poured into his family. He will forever be missed, forever honoured, and forever our hero

Christel Swinton Andujar, mother of Sgt Michael Emmanuel Swinton

His wife and kids were the centre of his world, said his mother, Christel Swinton Andujar.

“His legacy will live on through the countless lives he touched, the laughter he shared, the strength he gave others, and the unconditional love he poured into his family,” she said via text message. “He will forever be missed, forever honoured, and forever our hero.”

Two US army soldiers were killed in Jordan last week while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. They were the first US troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war.

Renewed fighting between the US and Iran is in its 10th day, with both sides launching barrages of strikes. Iran has attacked US allies in the region, and American soldiers are stationed across the Middle East.

Iranian authorities said US strikes in the past three weeks have killed at least 50 people and wounded more than 500.

Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people. Workers on ships, and foreign workers and others in Gulf nations, Israel and Lebanon have died in the conflict.

The US state department said in a new warning to Americans that “Iran and groups supportive of Iran may target other US interests overseas or at locations associated with the US and Americans throughout the world”.

US President Donald Trump has said the war is necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. He faces political pressure to bring the war to a close and avoid the kind of prolonged Middle East conflict he had campaigned against. The escalation has pushed oil prices higher in recent weeks.

AP

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A Johannesburg couple has lost their court fight to stop a bank from recovering more than R2.1m owed on their home loan after the court ruled that they had failed to present a valid defence.

Acting judge Shadrack Tebeile granted summary judgment in favour of Standard Bank, ordering Vernon Llewelyn Parsley Kock and Rochelle Amanda Kock to pay R2,111,892, plus interest and insurance premiums.

The court also declared the couple’s Gauteng home specially executable, meaning it can be sold to recover the debt. However, the judge suspended the execution order for five months, giving the couple one last chance to save their home by paying the arrears, interest and default administration charges.

The dispute stems from a home loan agreement signed in September 2010. Standard Bank advanced the couple R1.845m, secured by a mortgage bond over their property.

According to the judgment, the couple fell behind on their monthly repayments. The bank sent them default letters and notices in terms of the National Credit Act (NCA) in July 2022, warning them about the arrears and informing them of their rights, including the option of debt review.

However, the arrears were not settled and the bank later issued a summons.

The couple opposed the bank’s application for summary judgment and raised several defences. They questioned whether the bank’s representative had authority to conclude the loan agreement, argued that they should have been given a better opportunity to enter debt review and claimed the bank had failed to work with them on a recovery plan.

They also disputed the insurance premiums added to the loan account, alleged that the bank had not properly complied with the NCA, and argued that some of the bank’s evidence was based on inadmissible electronic records.

Tebeile rejected each of these arguments.

On the challenge to the bank representative’s authority, the judge found that the couple had signed the loan agreement, accepted the loan money and allowed the mortgage bond to be registered over their property.

“They [the couple] cannot now, after benefiting from the agreement, raise a bare denial of authority without any particularisation of the basis for the denial,” Tebeile said.

The court also found that the couple had been informed of their right to seek debt review after receiving the section 129 notices in 2022 but had not taken that step.

Tebeile said simply wanting to be placed under debt review was not a legal defence to the bank’s claim.

The judge further accepted the bank’s evidence that it had made several attempts to help the couple regularise their arrears through payment arrangements, but those efforts had failed.

The court found that the couple’s denials that they had breached the loan agreement were unsupported by evidence. It also ruled that the bank had properly complied with the NCA by sending the required notices to the couple’s chosen address.

In dismissing the remaining defences, Tebeile concluded: “On the totality of the defences raised, I find that the respondents have failed to disclose a bona fide defence. The defences are either bare denials, legally unsustainable, or raised without any supporting factual material. The applicant [bank] has demonstrated a clear and unanswerable claim.”

Though the court ruled in favour of Standard Bank, it considered the constitutional protection afforded to homeowners before allowing the property to be sold.

The judge set a reserve price of R1.7m, higher than the amount proposed by the bank, saying the sale price should fairly protect both parties’ interests.

If the couple pays the arrears together with the accrued interest and default administration charges within five months, the credit agreement will be reinstated and Standard Bank may not proceed with the sale of the property. If they fail to do so, the bank will be entitled to execute the order and sell the home in execution.

The couple was also ordered to pay the bank’s legal costs on an attorney-and-client scale.

Sowetan

In its early days on the SA motoring landscape, its products were cheap but not always cheerful. And they had weird names. Can you remember the Shuma, Magentis or Pregio?

Then there was the Carens, a neat concept playing in the multi-purpose vehicle genre that was popping at the time. But it seemed to lack the charm and appeal of contemporary rivals, which included the Renault Scenic, Citroën Xsara Picasso and Opel Zafira.

There’s a new Carens in town. You might think one of the executives had a crush named Karen, hence the moniker.

That could be true, but further research suggests the name Carens has Scandinavian roots, carrying connotations of being “pure” and “beloved”.

But, as you know, the game has changed considerably since those early pioneers.

Today, alternatives include the Hyundai Grand Creta (a close relative), the Suzuki XL6 and higher-spec versions of the Toyota Rumion and Suzuki Ertiga. Interestingly, all these vehicles – Kia included – come from India.

Kia has made significant strides in design over the past two decades. The latest evolution of the brand’s stylistic language, as applied to the Carens, makes for an overall spiffy result.

This is a family car with a robust appearance – thanks to its confident posture, distinctive lighting signatures and stylish alloy patterns.

There are four model grades, all powered by the same 1.5l four-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, paired with either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

The basic LS goes for R399,995; the LX is R459,995; the EX will set you back R499,995, while the car we tested — the highest grade SX — is R599,995.

Size-wise, it offers dimensions of 4,550mm (length), 1,800mm (width) and a height of 1,734mm. The vehicle has a 558kg payload. With all seats up, luggage capacity is 216l. Seats folded, the figure is 1,973l.

Behind the wheel, there’s a noticeably superior ambience in terms of quality, compared to rivals like the Suzuki and Toyota. It is closely matched only by the Hyundai, which is no surprise since they share core ingredients.

The Kia edges ahead with its textured upholstery and supple leatherette. Fancy touches include two-tone trim with cream-coloured finishes on the steering wheel and other elements, contrasting with black.

The range-topper is fully loaded. From lane-keep assist to a sunroof, driver electric seat adjustment, heated front seats and surround-view camera, it is all there. But there are some bonuses you may not expect, including a banging Bose audio system, as well as adaptive cruise control.

The Carens makes light work of open-road jaunts. Road manners are respectable, although the seating position might be on the higher side for some (even in its lowest position).

It must be noted that while the diesel in automatic guise is more than adequate in town and at maintaining freeway speeds, overtaking manoeuvres do require some planning. This is obviously not as potent as the 2.2l turbocharged diesel offered in bigger Kia models.

The output is 85kW/250Nm, and even when driven hard, the consumption figure reads around the 6l/100km mark. This means that although it has a relatively small tank (45l), Carens has long legs with a quoted range of 849km, if you match the claimed 5.3l/100km.

The warranty is of a five-year/unlimited mileage duration, and the service plan covers three years or 45,000km.

The Kia Carens is a well-built family car from a proven brand, with few downsides. It also has the perk of being one of the few diesels left at the price.

Expired tax certificates, tampered-with B-BBEE documents and cover quoting were allegedly used by 14 companies linked to tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela to milk Tembisa Hospital of millions of rand.

The companies identified are either linked directly to him or his family, and proceeds were used to purchase multiple luxury homes and sports cars.

This is information contained in the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) application for the forfeiture of Maumela’s assets, which was granted on Monday.

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WATCH | Ferrari ambush: Court hears chilling account of Sibanyoni shooting

The Johannesburg high court was taken back to the chaotic day that taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni drove into Centurion Golf Estate in his red Ferrari, only to be ambushed a few moments later by gunmen with AK-47s travelling in a white BMW sedan.

As Bidvest Protea Security officer Bethuel Cele stood in the dock on Tuesday, he detailed how an ordinary shift quickly descended into a barrage of gunfire that left him returning fire with all 15 rounds from his 9mm service pistol.

Cele, who had nearly two decades of experience as a security officer at the time, told the court he was stationed at the estate when Sibanyoni arrived on the night of August 10 2022.

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Andrea Johnson invokes right against self-incrimination in Khan docket matter

Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Andrea Johnson has invoked her right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence before the Madlanga commission of inquiry.

Johnson invoked the constitutional right in relation to allegations that she disclosed a criminal docket to crime intelligence operational support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan in a matter in which he was under investigation.

“The allegations are contained in a docket that is now with the National Prosecuting Authority for a decision on whether I should be prosecuted and for further handling,” Johnson told the commission yesterday.

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Sowetan

It’s a question that has bedevilled every prime minister since the financial crisis of 2008. Their failure to find an answer is a big part of the reason the men and women who have taken up residence behind the famous black door at 10 Downing Street in that period have had an average tenure of two years.

The UK prime minister’s announcements during his first 24 hours on the job underscore the political and financial challenges he faces as he tries to jump-start the country’s sluggish economy.

Burnham, from Britain’s left-leaning Labour Party, faces restive voters seeking relief from the high cost of living. At the same time, the investors who help finance the government by buying its bonds are demanding he reduce public sector debt that has ballooned to levels last seen in the 1960s.

In an effort to balance the competing demands, Burnham surprised pundits by naming former defence secretary John Healey as his treasury chief. Healey, who served in the treasury under former prime minister Gordon Brown, is seen as someone who will make sure the government lives up to its pledge to reduce Britain’s debt pile.

On Tuesday morning Burnham made a down payment on his commitment to ease the pressure on cash-strapped consumers. The government announced it would scrap the tax on home electricity use for at least six months beginning in October, saving the average household £45 (R991) a year.

Importantly, the government said the move would be paid for by cancelling plans to introduce digital ID in an effort to reassure investors that Burnham isn’t about to go on an unfunded spending spree.

Treasury chief has a big job

“Healey has a daunting task on his hands,” said Victoria Scholar, head of investment at an interactive investor.

“The government has ambitious plans to tackle cost of living pressures, but he faces a very difficult set of public finances to carry these expensive plans through.”

Burnham, like his predecessors, faces the challenge of finding a way to reinvigorate an economy that has grown an average of less than 1.5% a year since 2009, compared with an annual average of 3% in the 15 years before the 2008 financial crisis.

As he develops his economic plans, Burnham will be constrained by promises to reduce government debt, which exceeds 95% of GDP. According to Britain’s budget watchdog, debt interest payments rose to £111.2bn (R2.4-trillion), or 8.3% of government spending, in the financial year that ended in April, leaving less money to spend on government services ranging from healthcare to education and defence.

New challenges added to old ones

He also faces a new challenge after his predecessor, like most other European governments, pledged to increase defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by 2035. That came after pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has criticised his allies for not paying their fair share for Europe’s defence.

Meeting that commitment will cost about £36bn (R793bn) a year, or £500 (R11,012) for each person in the UK, according to estimates from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, a respected independent researcher.

“We should absolutely acknowledge these constraints are structural,” said Olivia O’Sullivan at Chatham House, a London-based think tank. “They would be tough for any prime minister at this time.”

That’s why boosting economic output is so crucial to all Burnham’s plans.

Stimulating economic growth is key

Without faster growth, British taxpayers will either have to pay higher taxes or accept cuts in popular programmes such as the National Health Service (NHS), which offers free medical care to everyone. A booming economy, on the other hand, would boost the revenue generated by existing taxes and tax rates because the value of company profits, worker salaries and other transactions would rise.

Sluggish growth doomed former prime minister Keir Starmer’s government when angry Labour lawmakers forced him to cancel welfare cuts designed to help balance the budget. More recently he was widely criticised for failing to offer a credible plan for increasing defence spending.

Some Labour supporters have grumbled the government “shouldn’t be in hock to the bond market”. However, economists said Burnham and Healey must take the financial constraints seriously if they are going to succeed in bolstering the economy and increasing the pot available to fund popular programmes.

“It’s not some imaginary bogeyman in the bond market,” said David Aikman, director of the independent National Institute of Economic and Social Research. “We need people to buy the debt we’re issuing.”

So far, Burnham has offered little detail on his plans for the British economy.

His big idea is to “reindustrialise” the economy by shifting investment away from London to other parts of the country that were hard hit by the decline in manufacturing. Burnham also said he will increase construction of public housing to address the nation’s housing shortage and bolster the construction industry, and support the small and medium-sized businesses that account for 60% of private employment.

At the same time, he has pledged to stick to Labour’s promises not to raise taxes on working people and to maintain the “triple lock” on state pensions, an expensive policy that guarantees pensions will rise each year by the annual increase in consumer price inflation, average wage growth or 2.5%, whichever is higher.

Jim O’Neill, a former chief economist for Goldman Sachs and member of the House of Lords who has advised Burnham in the past, told the BBC last month Britain’s new prime minister must “get real”.

“We need somebody who is prepared to do something bold and different,” he said.

Burnham, he added, “has the same challenge everybody else seems to avoid, and that’s doing something about things like welfare, stopping this never-ending spectacular rise in the spending on NHS, doing something about the triple lock and so on, and getting out of this weird sort of prison of being owned by every little small group that opposes anything anybody wants to do.”

AP

Jenitar Sau Na’amoana, who is 34 years old and already has four children, delivered the babies last week at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Queensland state.

“We are very excited to be able to care for this amazing little family, a big family now,” Dr Alexa Bendall, a maternal-foetal medicine specialist who cared for Na’amoana, said in an interview released by the hospital.

The babies were conceived naturally and came from one fertilised egg that split into four, “which was incredible”, Bendall said.

“We think the figures are probably around one in 15-million for a case like this to be spontaneously conceived,” she said. “We don’t think it’s ever happened in Australia.”

Overall, experts say, the chance of conceiving quadruplets naturally is only one in 700,000; most are conceived with the assistance of medical technology.

Hospital officials said Na’amoana and her husband, Jortham, had not planned to have more children and were quite surprised when she became pregnant with the quadruplets.

Na’amoana faced a high risk of complications, especially given the foetuses shared one placenta. In general, being pregnant with any multiple foetuses puts a mom at increased risk for problems such as preterm birth, miscarriage and birth defects, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Na’amoana was monitored by a large medical team at the hospital since 10 weeks’ gestation and was admitted as an inpatient at 25 weeks so she could be monitored, hospital officials said. She delivered the babies by caesarean section on July 14.

“The fact that we’ve got four beautiful, healthy babies born at 28 weeks and four days is incredible,” Bendall said. “Mum did lose a little bit of blood but not an excessive amount for having quads, and she’s doing well.”

The babies are doing well in the neonatal intensive care unit. Their names are Emily, Harriet, Catherine and Alexa, in honour of Bendall. The doctor called the name a “beautiful tribute” and said she feels privileged to have helped bring these children into the world.

“From an academic perspective, it’s really interesting,” she said. “But also from a human perspective, to be able to be part of the family’s journey and come out with four beautiful babies and a healthy mum is very precious.”

AP

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The City of Tshwane and mayor Nasiphi Moya have urged the Pretoria high court to dismiss the urgent application brought by suspended city manager Johann Mettler to have his suspension set aside.

Both parties argued that Mettler’s immediate reinstatement could disrupt the municipality and create legal uncertainty over decisions already taken.

Mettler approached the court on an urgent basis to interdict the council’s decision to place him on precautionary suspension and to allow him to resume his position.

Mettler was suspended during a special council meeting at which there were 13 allegations of wrongdoing against him.

In an affidavit signed on July 20, acting Tshwane manager Musa Khumalo answered court papers filed in the urgent matter by Moya.

The [court’s] remedy must not retrospectively destabilise the municipal administration ...

Musa Khumalo, Tshwane's acting city manager

Khumalo said the city was not asking the court to rule on whether Mettler’s suspension was lawful. Instead, it argued that the urgent relief sought goes too far and risks destabilising the city’s administration.

In the affidavit, Khumalo said the municipality’s concern is that Mettler wants the court not only to suspend the council resolution that led to his precautionary suspension but also to invalidate every decision, instruction and administrative step taken since then.

He argued this would create uncertainty for municipal employees, service providers, creditors, financial institutions, auditors, regulators and residents who may have relied on decisions made after the suspension.

“The remedy must not retrospectively destabilise the municipal administration or prejudice innocent third parties,” Khumalo said in the affidavit.

Any changes should happen in an orderly manner that protects the validity of municipal decisions already made, he argued.

Mettler’s application seeks his immediate return as city manager, including restoring his access to municipal offices, email systems, records, staff, delegations and decision-making powers.

Khumalo said this amounted to substantially final relief before the main case has been heard.

The city further argued that Mettler had not identified specific decisions that should be set aside and instead sought a blanket order affecting an undefined number of municipal actions.

Khumalo said such an order would be legally uncertain because it does not identify the affected decisions, the officials who took them or the people who may be affected.

He also argued that third parties who could be affected have not been joined to the court proceedings.

His affidavit also notes that the office of city manager is a statutory position responsible for overseeing the municipality’s administration and finances.

Khumalo argued that replacing the accounting officer without a structured handover could affect governance and service delivery.

The latest filing comes after Moya formally appointed attorneys to represent her in the matter.

The notice filed on July 19 confirmed that the mayor, cited as the fourth respondent, has appointed legal representatives to oppose Mettler’s urgent application.

The court battle follows the Tshwane council’s decision earlier this month to place Mettler on precautionary suspension while an investigation proceeds.

Mettler has argued that the suspension was unlawful and asked the court to urgently overturn it, saying the council meeting that approved the move was procedurally flawed.

The dispute has also spilt over, with DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink launching separate legal action seeking Mettler’s reinstatement.

He asked the court to reinstate Mettler as city manager and block anyone from being appointed as acting city manager, as well as to stop any planned disciplinary actions against him until the case has reached its final determination.

Brink argued that the council resolution was invalid because councillors who were on approved leave were incorrectly counted as absent when the vote was taken.

The legal battle began after Mettler, through his attorneys, sent a letter of demand to Moya, arguing that his precautionary suspension was unlawful and should not be implemented pending a court review.

He contended that the council’s decision was open to review on the grounds of legality, rationality and procedural fairness and demanded written reasons for the suspension while threatening legal action if the city proceeded.

The urgent application is expected to determine whether Mettler returns to office while the broader dispute over the legality of his suspension continues before the court.

TimesLIVE

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South Africa speaks often about supporting small businesses. We speak about funding, incubation, market access, township economies, youth entrepreneurship and job creation.

All of these matter. However, we often avoid the most painful truth: for many small businesses, the biggest burden is not only lack of finance. It is the cost of dealing with government.

Red tape has become the hidden tax on South Africa’s entrepreneurs.

It is paid not only in money but also in time, uncertainty, lost opportunities, delayed openings, failed applications, duplicated paperwork and endless visits to municipal offices.

It is paid by the spaza shop owner who cannot get clarity on a trading permit. It is paid by the small manufacturer waiting months for land-use approval. It is paid by the restaurant owner who must comply with multiple overlapping requirements before opening their doors.

It is also paid by the informal trader who wants to become formal but finds the process too confusing, too slow and too expensive.

For large companies, bureaucracy is frustrating. For small businesses it can be fatal.

Every day a permit is delayed is a day without income. Every unnecessary form is time taken away from customers. Every unclear by-law creates fear and uncertainty. Every late government payment can mean unpaid staff, missed rent or a business closing its doors.

This is why we must stop treating red tape as an administrative inconvenience. It is an economic crisis.

Small businesses are expected to create jobs, absorb young people into the economy and drive local development, but many are forced to spend more energy navigating government systems than growing their businesses.

We cannot demand entrepreneurs create employment while government itself remains one of the biggest obstacles in their way.

The problem is not that regulation is unnecessary. Every economy needs rules. Health, safety, consumer protection, zoning and fair competition matter. But regulation must be clear, reasonable, predictable and efficient. When compliance becomes more complicated than running the business itself, the system has failed.

We do not need more layers of bureaucracy. We need a serious red tape reduction agenda.

Ease of doing business must become a performance target for every municipality and government agency that interacts with small businesses.

Municipal managers and officials should be measured on turnaround times for business licences, trading permits, rezoning, land-use approvals, complaints resolution and supplier payments.

These turnaround times must be made public. A municipal red tape scorecard would allow citizens, businesses and policymakers to see which municipalities are helping businesses grow and which are holding them back. What gets measured gets managed. What gets published gets taken seriously.

The government must establish a national red tape portal where small businesses can report delays, duplication, unreasonable requirements and non-payment. Entrepreneurs should not be forced to suffer silently when systems fail them.

The 30-day payment rule must be enforced across all spheres of government. It is unacceptable for the state to speak about supporting small businesses while failing to pay them on time for work done. Late payment by government is not a minor administrative issue; it is a direct threat to business survival.

The success of small businesses cannot depend only on entrepreneurs being resilient. Resilience is important, but it cannot compensate for broken systems. No entrepreneur should need political connections, endless patience, or repeated visits to government offices simply to start or expand a lawful business.

If South Africa is serious about economic growth, then cutting red tape is not a favour to small businesses. It is an economic imperative.

The easiest job to create is often the one government stops blocking. The fastest investment to unlock is often the one stuck behind a counter, a form, or an approval that should have been processed months ago.

Small businesses do not ask government to do everything for them. Many simply ask the government to stop standing in their way.

If we want entrepreneurs to build, employ and grow, the state must become an enabler, not an obstacle.

• Sithole is deputy minister of small business development

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Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Andrea Johnson has invoked her right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence before the Madlanga commission of inquiry.

Johnson invoked the constitutional right in relation to allegations that she disclosed a criminal docket to crime intelligence operational support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan in a matter in which he was under investigation.

“The allegations are contained in a docket that is now with the NPA (National Prosecuting Authority) for a decision on whether I should be prosecuted and for further handling,” Johnson told the commission yesterday.

Johnson took to the witness box for the first time at the Madlanga commission to answer allegations of improper conduct. In 2018, she allegedly shared a docket of an assault case that was opened against Khan.

“Now that the matter is before the NPA, for a decision on whether I should, or not, be prosecuted, various consequences emerge. One of those consequences is the need for me to have my rights protected,” she said.

She based the protection of her rights also on the Commissions Act, which entitles her as a witness not to give self-incriminating evidence. “I hold the view that the commission’s fact-finding mandate does not override my constitutional protection against self-incrimination under any circumstances.”

Johnson, however, told the commission the invocation of the right was not a blanket ban on answering questions about the matter. It was limited only to not answering questions that could be incriminating.

Retired Hawks Col Kobus Roelofse, who investigated the case, told the commission the sharing of the docket details happened before a warning statement was taken from Khan. Roelofse said he regarded the sharing of the docket and the timing of it as improper conduct.

Johnson testified she knew Khan personally but in 2024 she decided to limit her communication with him after media reports alleged a link to the murders of insolvency specialist Cloete Murray and his son Thomas.

“In late 2024, media reports emerged concerning Gen Khan’s alleged involvement with persons allegedly linked to the Murray murders. Those reports concerned me because I had previously met with one of the Murray sons, who wanted to know whether Idac could assist with the investigation. I informed him that Idac could not assist but explained how he could escalate his concerns about the investigation to South African Police Service [SAPS] management,” she said.

She denied the allegation that she was part of a “Khan-Idac” cabal and the allegation that the directorate was used by top cops in factional battles within the SAPS.

The commission continues.

Business Day

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Filmmaker Sandulela Asanda is shifting the narrative and paving the way for queer cinema with the release of their debut feature Black Burns Fast. The coming-of-age film arrives in cinemas on July 31 and Asanda speaks to Sowetan about helming the year’s most buzz-worthy local movie.

As a black queer filmmaker, how important is telling this story?

I find it more than important; I find it critical. Once upon a time, we didn’t see ourselves as black people in media and we didn’t see ourselves outside of specific frames. As a queer person, it’s important to see yourself and know that others like you have experienced similar things. Film, cinema and media were ways I travelled through imagination as a young person, and learnt to understand the world. It’s important to know that you have a presence in the world.

You’ve described Black Burns Fast as a love letter to your younger self. What does that mean?

I believe in being the change you want to see in the world. There is pressure in trying to make the kind of films I wish I’d seen growing up, because you want them to succeed, but I also feel it’s a calling. I know I’m not the only person who needs these stories. Many others need to see themselves reflected in this way to believe they can do more for themselves. It’s an honour and my guiding light, which is why the reception of the film feels so special. It reaffirms something I’ve known for a long time.

As a debut feature director, what message are you sending?

I hope it encourages people to think outside the box and embrace the different experiences SA has to offer. We are such a diverse country, [and] there are still so many stories and perspectives that haven’t been explored. The response to the film shows that queer experiences and the experiences of young South Africans are a deep source of storytelling that audiences are ready to receive.

The film has been well-received, from Berlin to London and beyond. Were you surprised?

Yes, initially I was surprised, but there are elements that naturally translates. The story is about being true to yourself, navigating who you are in the world and choosing to live joyfully. More than ever, we need stories of joy, hope and whimsy. I’ve learnt that the world is hungry for SA stories that show every part of what it means to be African – not only our history, but also our present and joys – because joy is universal.

What does authentic black queer representation looks?

It’s about being as specific as possible to your own lived experience, rather than relying only on research or other films. When you are honest about what you’ve experienced and what you’ve seen around you, you will naturally connect with others and find parallels in their experiences.

Is there a growing appetite for queer stories?

There is definitely a growing appetite for these stories. Younger people are pushing more and more to see stories outside of what we grew up with, and to see themselves and their friends reflected on the screen. SA has one of the strongest constitutions protecting people, and more people are demanding to see themselves represented. Now it’s about broadcasters and those who hold the power to recognise that demand.

Sowetan

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On March 30, at about 4pm, Martha Rantsofu, an acting accountant at Emfuleni municipality, was gunned down outside a tyre fitment centre in Vanderbijlpark minutes after arriving.

Her cold-blooded murder was captured on CCTV camera footage that went viral on social media. Her killer, according to an eyewitness who spoke to Sowetan, appeared to have followed her when she went to change her car tyre.

The 39-year-old’s assassination in broad daylight was reminiscent of how whistleblowers, including Babita Deokaran, had been brazenly gunned down in public.

Given the targeted nature of her attack and killing, obvious questions arose of what the motive behind her murder could have been.

At the time of her killing, Emfuleni municipal officials were at pains to deflect answering questions on whether her killing had anything to do with her work.

In fact, the municipality fobbed off questions about Rantsofu’s killing; instead, accusing this publication of not being interested in other deaths of employees at the hands of criminals.

This week police confirmed that before her murder Rantsofu had flagged the R16m fleet procurement scandal where invoices were signed for 18 vehicles, but only seven were delivered.

An investigation found that some of the vehicles paid for by the Emfuleni municipality were registered in the names of other entities and recommended criminal charges for the losses suffered.

The confirmation by police of the possible motive behind Rantsofu’s murder, however, exposes a troubling culture in the municipality of a lack of transparency in dealing with corruption.

Instead of being open to public scrutiny and vowing to protect its employees who risk their lives by exposing corruption, the Emfuleni municipality was found wanting and tried to deflect attention from the cause of Rantsofu’s killing.

The targeting of whistleblowers and municipal officials who stand up against corruption is the beginning of anarchy and requires a firm stance by municipal officials against it and not silence to protect reputations.

If anything, the Madlanga commission has shown how deeply entrenched corruption is in our municipalities and how criminal networks are used to silence those who speak against it.

For a troubled municipality like Emfuleni, where the effects of corruption are felt daily, with sewage running down the streets and rubbish not being collected, the bar of accountability ought to be set higher.

When officials choose silence over accountability even when evidence is pointing to the use of violence to target whistleblowers, the result is not only loss of lives but also subversion of justice.

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Financial stress is increasingly infiltrating SA homes, and financial anxiety is no longer just what people worry about come month-end, but it’s a constant psychological burden.

Home-life stress has spiked from 33% in 2025 to 42% in 2026, DebtBusters Money Stress Tracker findings, which were released on Tuesday, show.

This is the highest level recorded since the survey was launched in 2022.

Psychologist Andrea Kellerman says when financial stress “infiltrates the home and is no longer left at work or contained within monthly budgeting, the opportunity for emotional recovery is lost”.

“Emotional resources become depleted, patience decreases, communication deteriorates, and conflict becomes more likely. Gradually, the home shifts from being a place of restoration to becoming another source of psychological pressure,” says Kellerman.

July is Mental Health Awareness Month

“When people cannot recover at home, the nervous system remains in survival mode, increasing emotional exhaustion and conflict and reducing resilience. More South Africans report feeling stuck, indicating a growing sense of helplessness after years of sustained financial pressure. Spending over 40% of take-home pay on debt weakens the psychological link between effort and reward, increasing burnout and reducing hope.

“Young adults are showing the greatest increase in financial concern, raising concerns about optimism, motivation and belief in the future. The encouraging finding is that more people are considering debt counselling, showing that many are still looking for ways to regain control.”

DebtBusters’ executive head, Benay Sager, says the survey further shows that more than 70% of South Africans say they experience financial stress, which is largely driven by rising costs.

There were 18,000 respondents.

“This year, 72% of respondents admitted to money stress, a slight increase compared to last year and a reversal of a steady decline from a high of 78% in 2023. Home life stress has reached 42%, up by more than a third compared to 2025 and the highest recorded level since the survey’s 2022 commencement,” says Sager.

“After a two-year period in which increasing interest rates were the primary driver of financial anxiety, short-term cost-of-living concerns now dominate. The top two 2026 issues are the fear of running out of money before the end of the month and having enough to cover debt repayments.

“Concerns about inflation and living costs increased by close to a third, and worry about the cost of electricity was significantly higher – up 99% compared to 2025.

“Rising living costs have also resulted in more debt repayment pressure. More than half the respondents now spend more than 40% of their take-home pay on debt repayments. People taking home more than R20,000 a month face the most debt-repayment pressure. This group is the backbone of SA’s middle-class population — and 75% of them spend more than 30% of their after-tax income on debt repayments.”

Kellerman says even though “the brain is quite adaptable and it is able to go into a little bit of resilience when there is this stress reprieve, there was an increase now where we have seen again that the stress has gone up”.

“The home isn’t the sort of safe place anymore, and it is quite important that the home be safe. If we don’t feel psychologically safe internally, then that is quite a problem, and when we then bring it into the home that is supposed to be our sanctuary, our safe space, then we don’t have any space anywhere.

“If we think of money and so on, it has now crept more into our fundamental needs like food, electricity costs that have gone up and petrol. So all of those are fundamentals. If we think of food and if our fundamental needs are minimised, those financial concerns are not just at the workplace, but they now go into our monthly budgeting even more, and that goes into family.”

She says we have to consistently make decisions which influence relationships and atmosphere at home.

“That places even more stress [on people], and that cumulative stress has depleted the ability to make better decisions and think out of the box, and then it goes more and more into conflict management, and then it goes more into family members having to absorb that kind of stress.

“That is a big concern because that goes into the emotional well-being of everyone involved, [including] children. That has this ripple effect; children also become highly sensitive, and then we would have more conflict at home as well, with the partners also being less emotionally available for each other, and that mental energy is not quite there.”

Feeling stuck and losing hope

She says 34% of respondents said they felt stuck, and this means that people feel discouraged.

“The cortisol levels go up, adrenaline goes up, and then we go into this kind of burnout space. We can’t think out of the box about how to get out of these financial problems, and that gradually erodes the person’s belief that they can actually change their circumstances.

“With this repeat of having to look after themselves, and then also the increase of paying off their debt, which is 40%, which is not sustainable. Even if they try to work harder, they feel exhausted. So they don’t really feel that there is an improvement; they feel stuck, and that then causes that helplessness internally. In addition to being stressed and anxious, that then also causes depression.”

Kellerman says to break the cycle, it is important to seek help to “understand that small little steps can really change [situations].

Younger adults show more willingness to act

Sager says there is some good news.

“While fewer consumers are enthusiastic about cutting back on monthly spending, possibly an indication of savings fatigue, more are making a plan. Younger consumers are 1.5 times more likely to follow through with a budget and four times more likely to be looking for a higher-paying job,” he says.

“They also show 58% more intent in dealing with money stress. Overall, South Africans show a lot of entrepreneurial spirit when dealing with money stress, whether, for example, making or growing things to sell, buying or selling online, or renting spare accommodation.

“When addressing financial stress, fewer say they are embarrassed to ask for help, and negative sentiment about debt counselling has declined by 23% over the past three years. Willingness to act, increased awareness, and less resistance to getting help offer some hope that the 80% of South Africans with unsustainable debt levels who could benefit from debt counselling will increasingly start to take the opportunity to rebuild their finances,” Sager says.

Click here to join Sowetan’s WhatsApp channel and get the latest news delivered to you on the move

Sowetan

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Kaizer Chiefs have made their third signing of the transfer window, securing the services of 27-year-old Tanzanian midfielder Adolf Mtasingwa Bitegeko from his native side Azam FC.

Bitegeko is the first Tanzanian player to be on the books of Chiefs. The highly rated midfielder, who can operate as an eight and as a six in the engine room, is viewed as a potential replacement for Thabo Cele, who is believed to be on his way out, having missed the club’s preseason tour of Spain.

Chiefs have already secured the services of goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner and centre-back Thabo Moloisane in the current transfer window, making Bitegeko their third recruit for the 2026/27 term so far.

Amakhosi, who returned from their pre-season tour of Spain on Monday, have also loaned goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari to newly promoted Mpumalanga outfit Kruger United, freeing up a foreign-player spot. The Soweto giants are also expected to sell Congolese winger Glody Lilepo to Libyan club Al Ahli Benghazi in the coming days.

Bitegeko, who has captained Azam, previously played in Iceland for clubs including KR Reykjavík and Völsungur IF.

Sowetan

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Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Andrea Johnson has invoked her right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence before the Madlanga commission of inquiry.

Johnson invoked the constitutional right in relation to allegations that she disclosed a criminal docket to crime intelligence operational support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan in a matter in which he was under investigation.

“The allegations are contained in a docket that is now with the NPA for a decision on whether I should be prosecuted and for further handling,” Johnson told the commission on Tuesday.

Johnson took to the witness box for the first time at the Madlanga commission to answer allegations of improper conduct. In 2018, she allegedly shared a docket of an assault case that was opened against Khan.

“Now that the matter is before the NPA, for a decision on whether I should, or not, be prosecuted, various consequences emerge. One of those consequences is the need for me to have my rights protected,” she said.

She based the protection of her rights also on the Commissions Act, which entitles her as a witness not to give self-incriminating evidence. “I hold the view that the commission’s fact-finding mandate does not override my constitutional protection against self-incrimination under any circumstances.”

Johnson, however, told the commission the invocation of the right was not a blanket ban on answering questions about the matter. It was limited only to not answering questions that could be incriminating.

Retired Hawks Col Kobus Roelofse, who investigated the case, told the commission the sharing of the docket details happened before a warning statement was taken from Khan. Roelofse said he regarded the sharing of the docket and the timing of it as improper conduct.

Johnson testified she knew Khan personally but in 2024 she decided to limit her communication with him after media reports alleged a link to the murders of insolvency specialist Cloete Murray and his son Thomas.

“In late 2024, media reports emerged concerning Gen Khan’s alleged involvement with persons allegedly linked to the Murray murders. Those reports concerned me because I had previously met with one of the Murray sons, who wanted to know whether Idac could assist with the investigation. I informed him that Idac could not assist but explained how he could escalate his concerns about the investigation to South African Police Service [SAPS] management,” she said.

She denied the allegation that she was part of a “Khan-Idac” cabal and the allegation that the directorate was used by top cops in factional battles within the SAPS.

WATCH | Idac head Andrea Johnson at the Madlanga commission:

The directorate’s decision to charge police crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo with corruption has been a significant part of Johnson’s testimony. She pushed back against the allegation that the controversial arrest of Khumalo, after a complaint from MP Fadiel Adams, was politically influenced.

KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi previously testified that the corruption investigation against Khumalo was a move to delay serious organised crime investigations.

Johnson told the commission the case was not “pursued for any political purpose, at the instance of any political actor, or to advance any form of political interference within SAPS”.

Khumalo was charged with corruption in 2025 related to the SAPS crime intelligence unit’s employment of an “unqualified civilian”, Brig Dineo Mokwele, in a senior post.

“I would be remiss if I did not dismiss the suggestion that Lt-Gen Khumalo was arrested because he was the co-ordinator of the political killings task team. This suggestion is anything but true. It is as false as it is unfortunate,” Johnson told the inquiry.

The commission’s public hearing continues. Business Day

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Bafana Bafana prospect Shandre Campbell’s new Belgian club, KV Kortrijk, has high hopes that the 21-year-old will add value to their team.

Highly-rated Campbell joined the newly promoted side from one of that country’s giants, Club Brugge, on Monday, penning a four-year deal.

“We are very proud to welcome Shandre Campbell to KV Kortrijk,” noted Nils Vanneste, Kortrijk’s sporting director.

“With Shandre, we are bringing in someone who brings a lot of creativity, speed and depth. Despite his young age, he has already gained experience in the Belgian First Division. We look forward to Shandre’s first minutes at the club.”

At Kortrijk, Campbell will link up with coach Michiel Jonckheere, who was Brugge’s assistant coach until he left last June.

Campbell, who arrived in Belgium from now defunct SuperSport United in June 2024, could not establish himself as a starter at Brugge, coming off the bench in 18 games, during which time he scored two goals.

Campbell excelled in Brugge’s reserve side, that competes in the second-tier, scoring 11 goals in 25 games with three assists.

While Campbell was part of the Bafana Bafana squad at the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Morocco in December and January, coach Hugo Broos did not use him, opting instead for a more experienced lineup.

The highly-rated winger will be eager to cement his berth in Kortrijk’s starting XI and boost his chances of returning to the Bafana set-up, with qualifiers for next year’s Afcon beginning in September.

At Kortrijk, Campbell follows in the South African footsteps of retired goalkeeper Darren Keet and Cassius Mailula, who is said to be on the verge of rejoining Mamelodi Sundowns.

Sowetan

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When Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) head Adv Andrea Johnson took the hot seat at the Madlanga commission of inquiry on Tuesday, it was largely to contradict the testimony of KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Testifying at the inquiry for the first time on Tuesday, Johnson pushed back against Mkhwanazi’s allegation that the directorate was being used to settle scores.

• She denied allegations that the directorate targeted police crime intelligence head Lt-Gen Dumisani Khumalo in a move to delay serious organised crime investigations.
• She said it was false that Khumalo was arrested because of his leadership role in the political killings task team (PKTT). “I would be remiss if I did not dismiss the suggestion that Lt-Gen Khumalo was arrested because he was the co-ordinator of the PKTT. This suggestion is anything but true. It is as false as it is unfortunate,” Johnson said.
• Johnson said at the time her office probed the corruption case against Khumalo, it was not aware he was managing the PKTT, and the case could, therefore, not have been aimed at delaying the work of the PKTT.
• She rejected allegations that Idac acted outside its mandate by investigating Khumalo and other top cops in crime intelligence.
• Johnson invoked her constitutional right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence specifically in relation to testimony on the allegation that she disclosed a criminal docket to crime intelligence operation support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan.

These are the words of a security guard who was on duty in Centurion when he allegedly witnessed the attempted assassination of taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni in August 2022.

Bethuel Mzamo Cele, the state’s first witness, was testifying at the Johannesburg high court in the trial of alleged cartel member Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actress Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni.

At the time of Sibanyoni’s shooting, Cele said he had been working as a security guard at the Centurion Country Club for five months.

He said when the shooting happened, he fled the scene with his colleague, Francis Mazibuko, and had opened fire on the gunmen. He told the court he believed one of the gunmen had been struck by his return fire.

Matlala and co-accused's attempted murder trial | The state's first witness, Bethuel Mzamo Cele - a security guard - takes the stand in the Johannesburg high court to testify about the attempted assassination of taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni in August 2022.
Video: @Koena_xM pic.twitter.com/Z7LNDnpy9y

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 21, 2026

Giving the chronology of what happened that night, Cele said Mazibuko, who was working as a controller, came to his post shortly before the shooting to hand him a two-way radio.

At about 10.35pm, a red Ferrari arrived at the entrance of the estate, followed by a white Volkswagen Golf 7, he said.

“While Mr Mazibuko and I were standing there, we saw a white BMW driving slowly, as if the occupants were looking for something. The left-side window was slightly lowered. The BMW drove past, made a U-turn at the traffic lights and returned,” he said

“The BMW then stopped near the Ferrari and Golf 7 before two armed men jumped out carrying AK-47 rifles. As soon as they got out, they realised I had seen them. The first shot was fired at me.”

@sowetan1981 State’s first witness relives 2022 shooting while defence successfully objects to CCTV evidence. Video: @snazokos  Reporter: @koena_xm  #catmatlala #joeferrari #southafricanews ♬ original sound  - sowetan1981

Cele said Mazibuko immediately shouted to him to run. From there, he said they moved behind a concrete flower bed where he was able to observe what was unfolding.

“They continued firing, but they were no longer shooting at us. They were shooting at the Golf 7.”

Cele recalled Mazibuko urging him not to remain without defending himself. ”Mazibuko shouted, ‘We can’t die while you are carrying a firearm.’ I cocked my firearm and fired five shots.”

Cele testified that one of the gunmen appeared to have been hit. “I could see one of them had been injured. He ran back to the BMW through the window while I continued firing.”

IN THE DOCK| Attempted murder accused Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala and his four co-accused, including his wife Tsakane, are appearing in the Johannesburg high court on Tuesday on 25 charges. These include the attempted murders of actor Tebogo Thobejane, who is Matlala's ex-girlfriend,… pic.twitter.com/BVlTbao8Ji

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 21, 2026

He said the second gunman continued firing towards the occupants of the other vehicles.

“One of them shouted, ‘Die, you dog,’ before opening fire again.”

Cele remained on the ground while exchanging gunfire. He said that the BMW was 5m-6m away from his position.

When asked how many people were inside the BMW, Cele replied: “There were three occupants, including the driver. I saw three AK-47 rifles during the attack. I know what an AK-47 looks like,” he said.

When questioned further, Cele said the occupants of the Ferrari and Golf fled into the golf estate as the shooting erupted. During his testimony, Cele became emotional.

“If I think about that incident, it’s like it happened yesterday. My Lord, it makes me angry because this thing could have been finished a long time ago,” he said.

Judge Cassim Moosa acknowledged Cele’s emotional state and encouraged him to take his time.

“The court understands that you were there and appreciates your emotions. None of us were there with you. You are our eyes and ears. Tell us what happened slowly, as though you are taking us through a movie,” he said.

The matter was then adjourned for 15 minutes.

Sowetan

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Johannesburg high court judge Cassim Moosa has ruled in favour of “Cat” Matlala’s lawyeragainst the state’s request to show CCTV footage that allegedly captured the events of August 10 2022, when taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni was caught in an attempted assassination.

The ruling came after the state’s first witness, security guard Bethuel Mzamo Cele, completed part of his testimony detailing the dramatic shootout at the Centurion Country Club, where Sibanyoni allegedly came under attack from gunmen armed with AK-47 rifles.

Matlala, his wife Tsakane Matlala, Musa Kekana, Tiego Floyd Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama are facing 25 charges that include the attempted murder of actor Tebogo Thobejane and Sibanyoni.

Matlala and co-accused's attempted murder trial | Counsel for the accused has objected to the state showing CCTV footage to witness Bethuel Mzamo Cele during his testimony.
The defence argued that the video footage has not yet been properly authenticated and cannot be used to… pic.twitter.com/8TZk86r9K6

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 21, 2026

State prosecutor Elize le Roux sought to play the CCTV footage after establishing that Cele had viewed it since the incident.

“You have since viewed the video footage. Is what you saw on the footage the same as what you have told this court?” Le Roux asked.

“Yes, it is exactly the same,” Cele replied.

However, before the footage could be played, advocate Annelene van den Heever objected.

This objection was supported by Kekana’s lawyer Rein Gisseg.

Van den Heever argued that the footage had not yet been properly authenticated. .

“It cannot simply be shown to the witness before its authenticity has been established. The witness cannot corroborate the origin or authenticity of this footage,” she said.

“If the state proceeds in this manner, it will trigger a trial within a trial.”

She submitted that allowing the footage to be shown at this stage could trigger a trial-within-a-trial to determine its admissibility and authenticity, potentially requiring expert evidence regarding its origin and chain of custody.

@sowetan1981 State’s first witness relives 2022 shooting while defence successfully objects to CCTV evidence. Video: @snazokos  Reporter: @koena_xm  #catmatlala #joeferrari #southafricanews ♬ original sound  - sowetan1981

“We would then have to call an expert witness to deal with the origin and authenticity of the footage before it can be relied upon. The admissibility of the video must first be determined before it is shown to this witness.

“The court cannot simply assume this is the footage of the incident without the proper evidentiary foundation being laid,” she said.

However, Le Roux said the witness was not being asked to authenticate the footage.

“He is merely being asked whether what appears on the video is consistent with what he personally observed. The authenticity of the footage can be dealt with at a later stage through the appropriate witness,” she said.

After hearing arguments from both sides, Moosa upheld the objection, ruling that the footage would not be shown before the necessary legal foundation had been laid.

Earlier, Cele testified that he had been stationed at the entrance to the Centurion Country Club when a red Ferrari and a white Volkswagen Golf 7 arrived shortly before the shooting.

He told the court that a white BMW then approached slowly before stopping near the vehicles.

“The BMW stopped for about three seconds before the shooting started. That’s when we ran for cover. I struck the BMW. I hit the mirror, the windows and the doors,” he said.

“I could see one of them had been injured. He ran back to the BMW through the window while I continued firing.”

During cross-examination by the state, Cele was asked about his state of mind after the shooting, prompting an objection from Van den Heever, who argued that the line of questioning was irrelevant.

Le Roux countered that the evidence was relevant because fear for one’s life formed part of the attempted murder allegations.

Moosa dismissed the objection, allowing the questioning to continue.

“At the time, I did not really think about it. It was only the following day that it struck me that I could have been one of the people buried because of what happened that night,” he said.

The trial continues.

Sowetan

The national team is preparing to compete at the 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup — scheduled from August 15 to 30 — which is being jointly hosted by Wavre in Belgium and Amstelveen in the Netherlands.

The 26-year-old midfielder took to Instagram to express the reality of self-funding her international sporting career.

“I’ve been quiet for too long, but as we prepare for the World Cup, I feel I owe it to my team, my family, and every young athlete in South Africa to speak up,” Zulu wrote. “For years, my family, friends and personal sponsors have financially carried my hockey career.”

I’ll continue to play with pride and passion when representing my country until the sport develops into something I would have wanted it to be years ago

Onthatile Zulu

Zulu shared a breakdown of the expenses players are expected to cover for the upcoming World Cup, which includes:

• domestic and international flights;
• accommodation;
• meals;
• transport; and
• medical or recovery costs.

While international flights are partially sponsored, players are still left to cover the remaining expenses, which amount to R68,137 per player.

While deeply passionate about the sport, Zulu raised serious concerns about players having to pay out of their own pockets to represent their country.

“This is a sport I love with every fibre of my being. It has given me the dream-come-true opportunity to represent my country,” she said. “But behind every green and gold jersey is a heavy financial reality. I have had to personally pay for almost everything to represent South Africa: interprovincial tournaments, visas, flights, accommodation and transport.

“While I am deeply grateful when our federation is able to subsidise costs, the remaining financial burden on us as players is overwhelming. It is exhausting and stressful to worry about how to pay for a tournament when we should only be focusing on performance.”

Zulu revealed that national hockey players did not earn a salary for their efforts. “Because hockey isn’t professional in South Africa, we don’t get paid. When I tell people this, they are shocked, but for many SA athletes it’s just the norm.”

This systemic lack of funding damages the team’s integrity and international standing, as they are constantly labelled as “underdogs” due to minimal preparation and limited resources, she said.

Representing South Africa is our greatest honour and it’s time to invest in our dreams, not just applaud them

Onthatile Zulu

Despite these hurdles, Zulu remains inspired by the achievements of other national teams, such as Bafana Bafana and the Proteas Women at their respective World Cups, and vowed to keep flying the South African flag high.

“I’ll continue to play with pride and passion when representing my country until the sport develops into something I would have wanted it to be years ago.”

She highlighted that the financial barrier doesn’t just affect current national team players but also cuts short the careers of young promising players who do not have money.

“I look at school-level hockey and see so much talent and potential. However, over the years I’ve also seen some of my incredibly talented teammates forced to walk away from their dreams simply because they couldn’t afford to keep playing. It breaks my heart.”

Zulu also voiced her frustration over government spending priorities, noting the contrast between the lack of support for athletes and the budget allocated to major ministerial trips. The department of sport, arts and culture recently revealed that it spent R31m to send a delegation to the 2026 Fifa World Cup.

“It hurts ... it really just comes down to care, investment and the necessary people actually paying attention to sports that need development. I can only hope and pray that things change over time. Representing South Africa is our greatest honour and it’s time to invest in our dreams, not just applaud them.”

TimesLIVE

The Japanese company’s relentless focus on keeping prices and running costs low put millions of people behind the wheel. Hatchbacks made by its Indian arm Maruti Suzuki commanded between half and four-fifths of the country’s new car sales in recent decades.

However, as Indians grew richer, they gravitated to bigger and flashier rides, and the carmaker’s emphasis on affordability started to become a drag. Today Maruti Suzuki’s share of the world’s third-largest car market lingers at about 39%, near an all-time low.

Suzuki’s struggles reflect how cost-sensitive managers in Japan were slow to adapt to the changing tastes of newly affluent Indians, four people familiar with its business said. Executives, the people said, for years felt demand for sunroofs, advanced technology and SUVs hadn’t trumped questions of affordability for Indians.

Reuters is reporting for the first time details about the deliberations between Indian and Japanese executives at Suzuki as they struggled to pivot beyond a long-successful strategy that emphasised value before almost everything else.

Maruti Suzuki managers first floated the idea of adding sunroofs about a decade ago, the people said. However, Japanese bosses considered the feature, which has become a symbol of upward mobility in India, impractical given India’s extreme heat and dusty roads. They worried that adding a more powerful air conditioning unit and strengthening the cabin to accommodate the panel would increase costs and distract from Suzuki’s mission of providing affordable transport.

The carmaker didn’t introduce sunroofs until 2022. By then, fast-growing domestic rivals Tata and Mahindra — which both have a market share of about 14% — had sunroofs as standard features on between a quarter and a third of their cars sold in India, according to data from car research firm Jato Dynamics.

This account of the missteps that eroded Suzuki’s iron grip on India and its subsequent efforts to woo back customers is based on interviews with more than 20 people, including executives, suppliers and others with direct knowledge of the carmaker and its Indian business. Most spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to talk to the media.

Maruti’s head of corporate affairs, Rahul Bharti, said Japanese managers were not reluctant to embrace the changing tastes of local customers. Instead, he said, they had prioritised factors such as cost and climate, and emissions and safety considerations.

Indian and Japanese executives engage in “extensive” talks before introducing products and new features, Bharti said. Maruti’s market share had declined recently because of a collapse in demand for small cars, the carmaker’s slow rollout of SUVs and its 2020 decision to stop selling diesel cars.

While it is committed to building affordable and compact models, Suzuki has directed local managers to “pay more attention to the Indian customer”, he said.

Tata and Mahindra did not return requests for comment.

Maruti Suzuki continues to run a lucrative business in India. Revenue has more than doubled over the past five years to $19bn (R313bn) and profit has tripled to $1.5bn (R24.7bn) as margins improved. About 60% of the 3.3-million cars Suzuki sold in the past financial year were in India, and Maruti contributed nearly half of its profits.

However, while it is making more money from selling fewer cars, the company has fallen short of CEO Toshihiro Suzuki’s goal of owning half the market.

Maruti Suzuki also risks being seen by younger drivers as a “brand for their parents or grandparents”, said Toshihide Kinoshita, an automotive analyst at Nomura Securities.

In India, the typical buyer of a new car is in their mid-30s. The average age in the US is 51, according to data from Cox Automotive.

The people’s car

Japanese car manufacturers increasingly see India, the world’s fastest-growing major economy, as a lifeline.

Many face an existential threat in traditional strongholds such as Southeast Asia from the low costs and fast-paced innovation of Chinese rivals. They are also being squeezed by tariffs in the US and slow growth at home as Japan’s population shrinks.

Chinese EV makers, however, are largely shut out of India, which has increased scrutiny of investments from China after a deadly border clash between the two countries in 2020. Japanese carmakers sense the opportunity: Toyota and Suzuki have announced plans to spend a cumulative $11bn (R181.35bn) to expand manufacturing and other operations in India by 2030.

Maruti Suzuki is now a symbol of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to turn India into a global manufacturing hub.

Suzuki first invested in Maruti in the early 1980s when the Indian brand was state-owned. Then-prime minister Indira Gandhi wanted to provide a “people’s car” to fulfil the dream of her late son Sanjay, a car enthusiast who had sought to bring affordable mobility to the middle class.

The Maruti 800 arrived in 1983. It was priced at about $9,000 (R148,402) in inflation-adjusted dollars and became synonymous with India’s modernisation. Over three decades, Maruti sold nearly three million of the small hatchbacks. Such was the scale of Suzuki’s dominance in India that its former CEO Osamu Suzuki said he aimed to keep a 50% market share “for eternity”.

India’s economy has grown 18-fold since Suzuki entered the market. Yet Suzuki’s cost-control culture meant managers initially faced resistance when they lobbied to offer advanced driver assistance systems that Mahindra introduced in about 2021, four years before Maruti, three people said.

For many buyers, the modernity and aspiration Maruti once represented are found in Tata’s and Mahindra’s feature-laden SUVs, rather than in Maruti’s workaday models. Maruti does not have “the bells and whistles” that customers want, said Jato Dynamics president Ravi Bhatia.

One erstwhile loyalist looking elsewhere is Anil Tiwari, who is seeking a car to supplement his family’s 17-year-old Maruti Alto hatchback. The insurance agent has narrowed his choices to a Mahindra or Toyota SUV after his wife and children demanded a sunroof and a large infotainment display, among other technologies.

“My wife and children want the best,” he said.

Fightback?

Maruti has been here before. Its market share dipped below 40% in 2011, though newer models and an expanded sales network helped it recover.

This time, competition is fiercer. Better equipped rivals and the fall in market share mean Suzuki faces its toughest situation in India “in the past 40 years”, CEO Suzuki told reporters at the Tokyo auto show last year.

In an attempt to regain dominance, Suzuki is expanding R&D teams at Maruti and giving executives flexibility to make more decisions locally, five people said. It aims to cut the average product development time to 36 months from 48 months, four sources said.

Maruti has also built more car testing labs in India to speed up design and execution, Bharti said.

It has introduced pricier and more design-forward cars, including a three-row minivan that starts at about $25,000 (R412,516). It plans seven more SUVs by 2030, which will join a recently released model that has a sunroof and advanced driver assistance systems.

The brand is also reversing its decision not to use large display screens in some vehicles, according to three sources who said Japanese executives had felt they would be a distraction for drivers.

Bharti confirmed Maruti and Suzuki executives had discussed those concerns. Large displays and similar features are always “on the cards”, he said, though the company continues to weigh customer demand against the realities of Indian driving conditions.

One question is whether Maruti’s more expensive cars will sell. The brand’s association with affordability means Indians willing to spend more usually don’t consider Maruti, six people said. Less than 3% of Maruti’s sales come from cars priced above $15,500 (R255,765), compared with more than 21% for the rest of the industry, according to Jato Dynamics.

That perception is shaping the choice for buyers such as Deepanshu Singhal, a sales executive who plans to upgrade to a Mahindra or Toyota SUV from the Maruti Dzire sedan he has driven for seven years.

“I’d rather spend a little more money for a better car that has some freshness and newness,” he said.

Reuters

Johnson, testifying at the inquiry for the first time on Tuesday, pushed back against the allegation made by KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against the directorate.

Mkhwanazi previously testified the corruption investigation against Khumalo was a move to delay serious organised crime investigations. Khumalo is leader of the KwaZulu-Natal political killings task team (PKTT) with a mandate to investigate political assassinations and other serious crimes.

“I would be remiss if I did not dismiss the suggestion that Lt-Gen Khumalo was arrested because he was the co-ordinator of the PKTT. This suggestion is anything but true. It is as false as it is unfortunate,” Johnson told the inquiry.

Khumalo was charged with corruption in 2025 related to the South African Police Service crime intelligence unit’s employment of “unqualified civilian” Brig Dineo Mokwele in a senior post.

Johnson said at the time her office probed the corruption case against Khumalo, it was not aware he was managing the PKTT, and the case could therefore not have been aimed at delaying the work of the PKTT.

“The truth is Idac was investigating Lt-Gen Khumalo in his capacity as divisional commissioner of crime intelligence for alleged unlawful conduct that manifested itself in the execution of his duties in that capacity,” she said.

Johnson’s office also faces allegations that it acted outside its mandate by investigating Khumalo and other top cops in crime intelligence.

Johnson, however, also refuted those allegations.

The case against Khumalo came to the attention of Johnson’s office through a complaint by MP Fadiel Adams.

“The allegations concerning Lt-Gen Khumalo and co-accused came to the attention of Idac by way of a referral made in terms of section 27 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act,” Johnson said.

She contended the case was within the mandate of the directorate.

“When one looks at all the cases referred to Idac by Mr Adams, they depict the capture of systems and process for private interests by the head of crime intelligence and other senior managers,” she said.

“The picture that has emerged is that the appointment and installation of certain persons in certain positions within the crime intelligence unit by Lt-Gen Khumalo and his co-accused persons helped them strategically to access funding without following proper processes.”

Business Day

Johnson has come under scrutiny after revelations at the inquiry. She faces allegations of improper conduct after she allegedly shared with police crime intelligence operation support boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan a docket for an assault case opened against him in 2018.

Video courtesy of the SABC.

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Matlala, his wife Tsakane, and three others face 25 charges, including 11 counts of attempted murder linked to three separate shooting incidents.

The charges are in connection with a series of attempted hits, including the attempted murder of Matlala’s former girlfriend, actor Tebogo Thobejane.

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Expired tax certificates, tampered-with B-BBEE documents and cover quoting were allegedly used by 14 companies linked to tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela to milk Tembisa Hospital of millions of rand.

The companies identified are either linked directly to him or his family, and proceeds were used to purchase multiple luxury homes and sports cars.

This is information contained in the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA’s) application for the forfeiture of Maumela’s assets, which was granted on Monday.

According to the affidavit compiled by deputy director of public prosecutions Wendy Lisa Da Silva, the Treasury had appointed Morar Incorporated to conduct a forensic investigation into the allegations of fraud and corruption at Tembisa Hospital.

The company reviewed the hospital’s central database, Basic Accounting System (BAS), and all other related procurement documents and data from the hospital. They identified role players within the syndicate and conducted financial flow analyses covering the period from January 2019 to August 2022.

The BAS showed all the payments to each syndicate company, the bank accounts and the amount paid to each account.

According to Da Silva, the report found that the 14 companies were involved in orchestrating widespread contraventions of the procurement process at Tembisa hospital.

“Hangwani Maumela and other members of the Maumela family are/were directors of the syndicate companies. There were instances in which crucial details of companies’ directorships were fraudulently misdeclared by the syndicate companies,” Da Silva said.

“The payments were purportedly for the supply of goods including medical equipment. The payments were just below the R500,000 threshold,” the affidavit reads.

“The syndicate companies were frequently awarded purchase orders and the frequency of these purchase orders suggested that these services should have been acquired through the competitive bidding process instead of the quotation process. The splitting of the orders to the values of less than R500,000 was clearly a scheme utilised to avoid the competitive bidding process.”

Documents such as the B-BBEE certificates and tax compliance certificates (TCCs) uploaded on the hospital’s central database by, or on behalf of, the syndicate companies, were fraudulent.

“In instances, B-BBEE certificates that were submitted had either expired or had been post-dated, reflecting an issue date in the future. There were also instances in which the TCCs that were submitted had expired or were postdated at the time of the RFQ closing date.”

Morar found that the documents submitted by the syndicate were tampered with and forged.

The syndicate abused the cover quoting system, which is an illegal practice in procurement where multiple “competing” bids are submitted in collusion to create the appearance of a fair, competitive process while ensuring a specific preferred supplier wins the contract.

“These cover quotations were captured in order to legitimise the process. The amounts submitted by the ‘cover quoting companies’ were always higher than the amount quoted by the syndicate company …. The syndicate companies were almost always successful with their quotations and were regularly selected/appointed over the cover-quoting companies,” read the affidavit.

Certain entities who participated in the scheme received kickbacks from the syndicate companies. In some instances, syndicate companies also cover-quoted for each other.

“In other instances, quotes that were submitted ostensibly by competitive bidders were found to be fraudulent.”

Morar also found that funds received from Tembisa Hospital were mainly used for the purchase of immovable properties, luxury vehicles, payments to attorneys, transfers between the syndicate companies and other companies associated with the syndicate, payments to the Maumela Family Trust and family members for their personal use to fund their extravagant lifestyle.

“Although no direct transfer of monies from the entities to the officials was detected, analysis of their bank records indicates in excess of R10m received by them in addition to their salary receipts.

The report also states that Maumela and/or the members of the syndicate could not have managed the kind of elaborate scheme without collusion with officials in the procurement and finance departments of Tembisa Hospital and the department of health.

“According to the financial analysis report, the activity on the bank accounts of the syndicate companies does not reflect ordinary business-related transactions indicative of companies that are trading in the normal course.”

National Prosecuting Authority spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said the money that will be accumulated from the auctioning of Maumela’s assets will be channelled to the Gauteng department of health.

Sowetan

Transport and human settlements MEC Siboniso Duma said the children were travelling in a minibus taxi with heavily black-tinted windows. The taxi was impounded after the stop.

The driver was also fined more than R2,000 after officers found he was not carrying a driver’s licence.

Duma said the operation was part of the province’s #NenzaniLaEzweni campaign, aimed at improving road safety and protecting schoolchildren from dangerous driving practices.

“RTI and Operation Shanela teams will be clamping down on motorists who overload children and attempt to evade law enforcement by using heavily black-tinted windows,” he said.

He said authorities would continue removing vehicles with illegal window tinting from the province’s roads in line with the National Road Traffic Act.

Under the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (Aarto) demerit points system, motorists who fail to carry a driver’s licence and those driving vehicles with non-compliant window tint each face demerit penalties.

Duma said vehicle window tinting must allow sufficient visibility for traffic officers to make eye contact with drivers during roadside inspections. He added that side windows should allow at least 35% visible light transmission, while front windscreens should allow at least 70%.

The department said law enforcement operations targeting overloaded scholar transport and other traffic violations would continue throughout the school term.

TimesLIVE

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The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg dismissed Mohamed Alli Dawood’s application to set aside a legal notice served by BMW Financial Services, saying the company had not followed the court rules.

The dispute started after BMW Financial Services sued Dawood over an instalment sale agreement for a 2021 BMW X3 xDrive 30d M-Sport. According to court papers, Dawood was behind on his repayments by R159,700.62 as of March 15 2024.

After receiving the summons, Dawood indicated that he would defend the matter. However, he failed to file his plea within the required time.

BMW then served him with a notice of bar through the sheriff at the address he had chosen for legal documents. Dawood later argued that the notice had not been properly served because it was handed to another person at the property and that he only found it days later after it had allegedly blown onto his driveway.

He asked the court to declare BMW’s later notice, informing him that it would seek default judgment, an irregular step.

But acting judge Shadrack Tebeile rejected that argument.

“The complaint regarding service of the notice of bar therefore lacks merit,” the judge said.

The judge found that court rules do not require the notice to be handed personally to the motorist. Instead, serving it by hand at the address chosen by Dawood was enough.

“Rule 4A(1)(a) does not require personal service on the applicant himself. Service by hand at the nominated physical address, whether on the applicant, an occupier, or a responsible person, constitutes compliance,” Tebeile said.

The court also noted that Dawood admitted he eventually received the notice.

“The purpose of service is to bring the document to the attention of the party, and actual knowledge may cure any technical irregularity,” the judge said.

BMW Financial Services also admitted that its first attempt to apply for default judgment did not follow the correct procedure because it failed to give enough notice. However, the company withdrew that application and served a fresh notice that complied with the rules.

The judge said the company acted correctly by fixing the mistake instead of waiting.

“There is no rule that precludes a party from remedying non-compliance before the expiry of the 10-day period. Indeed, the purpose of Rule 30A is to afford an opportunity to cure, and a party who cures early should be commended, not penalised,” he ruled.

Tebeile also rejected Dawood’s argument that BMW should have waited before continuing with the case.

“Rule 30A does not operate as a stay of proceedings,” the judge said, adding that BMW was entitled to continue seeking default judgment because Dawood had not filed his plea.

Though the court dismissed Dawood’s application, the judge said he still has another option if he wants to continue defending the claim.

“If he wishes to deliver a plea out of time, he may apply for condonation and for the upliftment of the bar,” the judge said.

The application was dismissed, and Dawood was ordered to pay BMW Financial Services’ legal costs on scale B, including the costs of counsel.

Sowetan

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The Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL Rights Commission) has opened a formal investigation into illegal initiation schools after the death of 43 initiates across South Africa during the winter initiation season.

On Tuesday the commission announced that it had opened a formal investigation in terms of Section 7 for the investigative committee to find out why deaths and serious injuries continue.

The committee said the investigation comes after growing concerns over illegal initiation schools and criminal syndicates that profit from the practice at the expense of initiates’ lives.

According to the report shown by the commission, here’s how the affected provinces recorded initiates’ deaths:

• Mpumalanga: 18;
• Eastern Cape: 14;
• North West: 4;
• Limpopo: 3;
• Gauteng: 2; and
• Free State: 2.

The commission also identified Mpumalanga, Gauteng, the Free State and North West as provinces where the situation is deteriorating and said part of the investigation would focus on understanding the reasons behind the increase in deaths.

The current state of affairs is an indictment on the collective regulatory systems and calls for urgent intervention

CRL Rights Commission

The commission said it will focus on criminality, negligence and failures by the authorities to enforce the law, and it should not be looked at as an attack on the cultural institution of initiation or its sacred traditions.

“The current state of affairs is an indictment on the collective regulatory systems and calls for urgent intervention,” the commission said.

It added that while the Customary Initiation Act provides a clear legal framework, illegal initiation schools continue to flourish because of systemic failures, poor accountability and the commercialisation of the practice.

The commission said investigators would examine why illegal schools continue to operate.

“Common causes of death include severe dehydration, advanced septicaemia, untreated infections, exposure to harsh winter conditions and complications from botched circumcisions,” the commission said.

The investigation follows previous engagements between the commission and government departments, traditional leaders, health professionals, law enforcement agencies and families affected by initiation-related deaths.

One of the key resolutions from those discussions was to close all illegal initiation schools to protect lives and preserve the integrity of the cultural practice.

The commission has called for full cooperation with the investigations from traditional leaders, provincial initiation coordinating committees, the SA Police Service, the National Prosecuting Authority, the department of health, parents and community members.

TimesLIVE

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A new study has found that boys in low-income communities in Gauteng are significantly more likely than girls to suffer from malnutrition, leaving many shorter for their age and underweight because they did not receive adequate nutrition during early childhood.

Researchers from the University of Johannesburg (UJ) found that many children attending under-resourced schools continue to lack consistent access to nutritious food, despite some improvements in long-term child nutrition.

The study found that while the prevalence of stunting, a condition caused by chronic undernutrition during the first 1,000 days of life, declined between 2020 and 2022, the proportion of underweight children doubled from 6% to 12%.

This means the number of underweight children increased from one in 16 to one in eight over the three-year period.

Dr Matshidiso Sello, a senior researcher at UJ’s Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA), said the study analysed data from 129 pupils aged between five and 10 attending under-resourced schools in Gauteng between 2020 and 2022.

The period coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, when many households lost income and social support as lockdown restrictions and economic shocks took effect.

“Stunting indicates chronic undernutrition that develops over time. It is caused specifically during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, including pregnancy,” Sello said.

“On the other hand, being underweight indicates that a child is not getting enough food or has recently experienced an illness that is affecting their weight.”

According to Sello, the decline in stunting suggests that long-term investments in maternal and child health, nutrition, social protection and school nutrition programmes may be yielding positive results.

However, she warned that the sharp increase in underweight children points to growing food insecurity among low-income households.

“For families and health workers, underweight can be an early warning sign that households are under severe economic stress. Detecting it early allows for interventions before children experience more serious health and developmental consequences,” she said.

The study also found that boys were five times more likely than girls to be underweight and more than three times as likely to be stunted.

Although the research was not designed to determine why boys are disproportionately affected, Sello said the findings mirror international evidence.

“Our findings are consistent with international research showing that boys may be more biologically vulnerable to nutritional and environmental stress during childhood,” she said.

Sowetan

Meyiwa was gunned down in Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni, in October 2014.

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Every day, South Africans wake up to headlines about lives cut short by bullets. Families are torn apart, communities live in fear and the sound of gunfire has become an all-too-familiar reminder of the violence that plagues our country.

Nowhere is this challenge more apparent than in Gauteng, where gun-related crimes remain a significant contributor to murders, robberies, taxi violence, organised crime and gender-based violence.

It does not have to be this way.

As the Gauteng legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety recently concluded an official study tour to Japan, one lesson stood out above all others: “A safer society is possible when access to firearms is treated as an exception rather than a right."

During our engagement with the Japan National Police Agency, the committee gained an in-depth understanding of one of the world’s most effective policing systems. The purpose of our visit was to critically assess international best practices that could strengthen oversight and improve community safety in Gauteng.

Japan offers an extraordinary example.

It is one of the most gun-restricted countries in the world. Private citizens have no legal right to own firearms as a matter of course. Handguns and assault rifles are prohibited for civilians, while obtaining the few firearms that are legally permitted involves one of the most rigorous licensing processes anywhere in the world.

Background investigations, psychological assessments, extensive training, secure storage requirements and continuous monitoring are part of an uncompromising regulatory system.

The outcome is undeniable.

Gun-related violence in Japan is exceptionally rare. Firearm homicides are among the lowest globally, and many police officers complete entire careers without ever discharging their service weapons.

Even during many public order operations, police officers rely primarily on communication, discipline, tactical planning and specialised crowd management techniques rather than firearms. Their training places significant emphasis on martial arts such as judo and kendo, reinforcing restraint, discipline, confidence and proportionate use of force.

This is not merely a policing success story. It is a societal success story.

South Africa’s circumstances are undoubtedly different. Our history, inequality, organised criminal networks and socio-economic realities present challenges that Japan does not have to the same extent.

Any attempt to compare the two countries without acknowledging these differences would be simplistic.

However, acknowledging our differences should never become an excuse for resisting meaningful reform.

Japan demonstrates that strict firearm regulation, combined with effective law enforcement and strong public trust in institutions, can dramatically reduce gun violence. While South Africa may not replicate Japan’s model in its entirety, there are valuable lessons that deserve serious national consideration.

We must ask ourselves difficult questions.

Should firearms be as accessible as they currently are? Are existing firearm licensing systems sufficiently rigorous? Are enough illegal firearms being removed from our communities?

Are we doing enough to prevent state-owned firearms from entering criminal hands? How can we strengthen intelligence-led policing to dismantle illegal firearm trafficking networks?

These are questions that require political courage rather than political convenience.

Reducing gun violence cannot rest solely on policing. It demands stronger firearm regulation, more effective border security to combat illicit arms trafficking, tougher action against corruption, better destruction of confiscated firearms, improved investigative capacity and sustained community partnerships that reject the normalisation of guns as instruments of protection or conflict resolution.

The portfolio committee has consistently championed the vision of a gun-free Gauteng because every illegal firearm removed from our streets represents lives potentially saved. Every firearm prevented from reaching criminals is a family spared unimaginable grief.

Our visit to Japan reaffirmed that creating safer communities is not an impossible dream. It is the product of deliberate policy choices, effective institutions and a shared commitment to placing human life above the widespread availability of weapons.

South Africa deserves communities where children can walk to school without fear of crossfire, where women need not fear armed perpetrators, where businesses can thrive without constant threat of violent robbery and where police officers spend more time preventing crime than responding to shootings.

A nation should never measure its strength by the number of guns in civilian hands but by the safety and dignity enjoyed by its people. Japan has shown that another path is possible.

The question is whether South Africa is prepared to walk it.

• Masuku is chair of the Gauteng legislature’s portfolio committee on community safety

Sowetan

Banyana disappointingly finished fourth at the last Wafcon in Morocco last year. SA, who won their first and last Wafcon title to date in the same country back in 2022, are in Group B with Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Tanzania at this year’s continental championship, taking place in Morocco again from Sunday until August 16.

Banyana, who’ve already settled in Casablanca, stunned Japan 1-0 in a friendly in Osaka last month in what was their last friendly before Wafcon. Japan, who thumped Banyana 5-0 in the first friendly also last month, are ranked fifth in the world, while SA are 57th.

“Going to Japan, I don’t think we knew what we were going to face, although we knew what type of a team Japan are, obviously ranked fifth in the world,” Swart said.

“The second game definitely showed that we’re capable of fighting with the best and that game really gave us a big boost in confidence … but also just to see where we are as individuals and what we bring to the team.

“To win and keep a clean sheet against Japan was huge, and it’s what you want going into Wafcon.”

Swart feels the lessons they picked up from the previous Wafcon have also prepared them to win this year’s edition, with World Cup qualification also their dream.

“We talk a lot about the lessons we learnt from the previous Wafcon. We think the biggest lesson was complacency; we saw that everyone is beatable,” the Banyana keeper said.

“Coming fourth wasn’t something that we wanted, but looking back at that tournament now, we feel we are better positioned to compete while also using those lessons to do better. First and foremost, we must qualify for the World Cup, and that’s non-negotiable. We want to be champions and go to the World Cup,” Swart said.

The four Wafcon semi-finalists secure direct World Cup qualification, while two additional spots are determined via play-off pathways. The next World Cup will be hosted by Brazil next winter.

Banyana’s Wafcon Group B fixtures (all at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, in SA time):

July 27 v Tanzania (6pm)

July 31 v Ivory Coast (6pm)

August 4 v Burkina Faso (9pm)

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A man, who allegedly confessed to helping Rebecca Mfolo plot and execute the killing of her “abusive” husband, has given a different account of where he was at the time of the murder.

He claims he was at his girlfriend’s place when Mfolo’s husband was killed.

On Tuesday, Lucky Kudumane, Mfolo, Bafana Mototsoe and Sfiso Manana appeared at the Pretoria high court where they are charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder in the death of the late taxi boss Aubrey Mfolo in January 2023.

While the court was expecting to hear the defence case, advocate Desmond Thanjekwayo, representing Kudumane, applied for the investigator Julius Nkgweng to be recalled, as there was a version that they wanted to put to him.

Thanjekwayo said Kudumane had briefed him that on the day of the murder he was at his girlfriend’s place. The girlfriend’s name is Masfudi, he said.

Kudumane also denied knowing the Mfolo couple.

However, Nkgweng denied the version, stating that there is an eyewitness who has testified in court that he saw Kudumane with his co-accused on the day Aubrey was gunned down.

In a confession statement before court, Kudumane said a woman called Dineo had informed him that they had a job for him to kill someone’s husband.

Kudumane agreed to do the job. He said after they kidnapped Aubrey and subsequently killed him, they then went to Mfolo who promised to give them R15,000 for cleansing.

Mfolo, whose confession was made on the night she was arrested and has been accepted by the court, claims that she had hired the hitmen because she had suffered abuse from her husband.

“I suffered so many years. I was sleeping next door for my safety with [my] kids because the abuse never stopped; it continued. I lost my job because he was jealous and possessive. He had an affair with another lady from Bapong and impregnated her,” she said.

Mfolo said there was a point when her husband wanted to set her alight. After having had enough of the abuse, she spoke to Manana, who told her he would “look for the people who can do the job for us”.

On the night of the murder, she said, her husband was asleep when he was woken by people beating him up. They then left with him in the taxi.

Proceedings continue.

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Denis “The Menace” Mwale has promised not only to knock the hell out of Simnikiwe Bongco but also to teach him some manners when they collide at The Galleria in Sandton on Saturday night.

“I am going to win the fight by a KO and teach him some manners,” said the SA-based Malawian who is trained by Thembani Hobyani.

Bongco will be competing in only his fifth professional fight, while Mwale has had 21 bouts, with 11 wins, nine losses and one no contest.

Twenty-five-year-old Bongco has vast experience as an amateur, with 229 wins from 238 fights.

But, to Mwale, that counts for nothing because of the difference between amateurs and pros.

“Just like a baby, you first crawl before you learn to walk. He’s had four fights against nobodies, but he thinks he can beat me,” said Mwale.

“I will take him to deep waters and drown him ... he thinks I am his stepping stone ... he’s going to meet a proper professional boxer now.

“I’ve been there, I know how the game works. I teach some lessons about boxing. I don’t underestimate him, but I know for sure I will beat him.”

Bongco, who is trained by Peter Smith, was overheard saying, “This is a good step up for me, and I am ready just to show everyone what I’ve got. A lot of people underestimate the power I have.

“At the end of the day, if Denis stands in front of me, he’s going to get knocked out in the first round.

“He needs to be cautious, but a knockout definitely is going to happen. In which round, I don’t know, but it is definitely going to happen.

“I am slowly maturing as long as my coach is happy with my performance and improvements. Next few months or next year, I will become unstoppable.”

The bout will form part of an eight-bout tourney of promoter Geraldine Lerena.

It will feature a six-rounder between ring veterans, Jackson “M3″ Chauke and Gideon “Hardcore” Buthelezi.

The last boxer to represent South Africa at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008, 40-year-old Chauke from Tembisa is a former SA and IBO flyweight world champion.

Chauke last fought when he lost to Zimbabwean eight-fight novice Ndabezinhle Phiri in what was Chauke’s fourth defeat in 30 matches.

Chauke is trained by Damien Durandt and Andson Kazembe. The boxer’s dance partner is 40-year-old Buthelezi from Boipatong in the Vaal.

A former IBO world champ in three weight divisions, Buthelezi last fought in 2022, losing to Filipino prospect Dave Apolinario for the vacant IBO flyweight title.

That defeat left Buthelezi with a record of 26 wins and six losses. Buthelezi will have trainer Keith Rass in his corner on Saturday evening.

Topping the card will be a 10-round bout between IBO All-Africa featherweight champion Lindokuhle Khuzwayo and Gauteng champion Sabelo Ndwandwe.

Action will begin at 7pm.

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In 2015, a highly controversial campaign was born on the streets of Johannesburg and brought to life by CEOs of some of the biggest and richest companies in the country.

It was called the CEO SleepOut and it involved wealthy and powerful men and women who control the commanding heights of the economy “experiencing” homelessness for a night with the aim of raising millions for charity.

At the inaugural event held on the Nelson Mandela Bridge, the CEOs, who had each donated R100,000 to the appointed charity to secure their spots, were shuttled to the site in luxury SUVs, including Porsche Cayennes and Mercedes-Benzes.

They queued on a designated blue carpet while sipping warm beverages from takeaway cups before sleeping in warm sleeping bags. The event took place within heavily barricaded, strictly policed zones equipped with emergency medical services so if any of them fell ill, help was immediately available.

This, of course, was a huge contrast to the daily violence and vulnerability faced by the truly homeless, who have no access to emergency medical services unless they walk to deteriorating, underfunded and understaffed public clinics and hospitals.

Where were the homeless on this night, you may wonder? They, and street vendors, were cleared from the streets where the event took place. This was to ensure the safety and comfort of the executives.

Despite raising the money as intended — and subsequently expanding nationwide in subsequent years, hosting satellite events in Cape Town, eThekwini and Gqeberha — the event rightly received a massive backlash.

Critics pointed out that sleeping on a pavement for a single night does not provide a genuine understanding of systemic poverty or homelessness. On social media, terms such as “poverty porn” and “slacktivism” were widely used, with people condemning the event for turning a dire economic and humanitarian crisis into a temporary, trend-driven corporate team-building exercise built on an exploitative aesthetic.

The next year, the event again took place on the Nelson Mandela Bridge, where police clashed with student protesters who were demonstrating against the event’s hypocrisy. The incident resulted in Siphiwe Shange, a 19-year-old Wits University student, being shot in the eye with a rubber bullet.

I’m reflecting on this as I think about some of the philanthropy that has come to define Nelson Mandela Day, a globally recognised day celebrated annually on July 18, the late statesman’s birthday.

Last Saturday, as with many years before, we saw companies give 67-minutes of their time to initiatives including painting dilapidated schools, preparing meals for the homeless, hiking to raise money for charity and visiting aged care homes. These initiatives are not bad or pointless, but they’re not the kinds that companies that make hundreds of millions in profits should be proudly participating in for an hour in a year.

They are initiatives that ordinary people with limited resources may take because that is all they are able to do. My grandmother, who is a pensioner, may cook for the homeless. My friend who is unemployed may paint a school in Soweto.

However, a CEO who runs a multi-million rand company cannot reasonably engage in the same exercise as a means of philanthropy and believe they are doing good.

Instead of a one-night charity stunt on the Nelson Mandela Bridge or painting schools, corporate leaders should be addressing structural challenges that bring about more meaningful and sustainable change in society.

These men and women who are multi-millionaires should focus on paying living wages that allow employees to have dignified lives, altering exploitative corporate structures that disproportionately concentrate company profits in executive packages and shareholder dividends, and paying fair taxes to structurally alleviate poverty and fund public services. Anything less is mere performance.

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Despite admitting that being head coach of TS Galaxy came too early, Bernard Parker is confident he will be successful in the new season.

Parker was given the opportunity to lead the team this season by club chair Tim Sukazi after he was brought in as caretaker coach last campaign when the Rockets parted ways with Adnan Beganovic.

Sukazi praised Parker’s leadership qualities after he successfully steered them away from relegation last season and said it is logical for continuity for him to continue coaching the team.

“I felt like it came too early because I feel I still have a lot of school fees to pay in becoming the head coach,” Parker said.

“But then with the type of experience I have and the type of people I have around me, it helps. The same with the chairman; he is giving me the blessing, and I said, ‘Why not?’

“As brave as I am, as confident as I am, I believe that I had to take this opportunity and make sure I make the best of it, and I’m confident I will make the best of it.”

Parker also feels it is a bit of an advantage for him after he was told earlier, before the Fifa World Cup, that he will continue coaching the club.

“The chairman told me before going to the World Cup with the legends; he said to me, ‘When we come back, we will plan.’

“And during that time, we were on the phone every day in terms of the plans, the players, and also what we are looking forward to in everything we want to achieve in the coming season.”

The former Kaizer Chiefs and Bafana Bafana striker is also pleased with how things are going in the preseason.

“Pre-season has been going well. It’s my first preseason as a head coach, and so far so good. It’s not easy at a team like TS Galaxy where you lose so many players and you get to have so many [new] players in.

“You have to make sure the players get to understand the culture and the philosophy and how we want to gear ourselves up so that we can be ready for the first game of the season.”

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AutoTrader data shows that buyers can secure remarkable performance and refinement for the financial outlay, provided they budget carefully for what comes next.

High fuel prices have made large-engined luxury cars increasingly difficult to justify, but they may also be helping to create an unusual buying opportunity. AutoTrader used car data suggests softer demand may be creating opportunities in parts of the large-engined luxury car market, though prices have not fallen across the board.

These cars belong to an era when luxury manufacturers expressed their engineering prowess through cylinder count and engine capacity. They are expensive to fuel, insure and maintain, but buyers entering the market while demand remains subdued could secure an extraordinary amount of luxury and performance for the money.

Bentley Continental GT

Launched in 2003, the first-generation Continental GT transformed Bentley from a low-volume maker of traditional limousines into a modern luxury-performance brand. Its 6.0l twin-turbocharged W12 produced 410kW, while all-wheel drive helped the hand-built grand tourer sprint from 0-100km/h in under five seconds before continuing beyond 300km/h.

AutoTrader recorded eight examples in each period, making this one of the more reliable comparisons in the dataset. The average asking price fell by 17.1%, from R1,234,344 in H1 2025 to R1,023,209 in H1 2026, though average mileage increased from 55,633km to 71,356km and the average registration year shifted from 2007 to 2008.

At just more than R1m, the Continental offers craftsmanship and performance that would require considerably more money in a new car. Its historical significance is also becoming clearer as Bentley moves beyond the W12 era, though the air suspension, cooling system, electronics and tightly packaged mechanical components mean buyers should prioritise condition and a comprehensive service history over a low asking price.

Audi A8

The Audi A8 4.2 V8 appears to have more than doubled in value, with the average listing price rising from R154,000 in H1 2025 to R349,995 in H1 2026. However, the small samples contain materially different cars and should not be interpreted as evidence of A8 prices suddenly surging.

The two vehicles recorded in 2025 had an average registration year of 2004, placing most of the sample in the second-generation D3 range. The sole 2026 listing was a 2011 third-generation D4 A8 with 62,000km, compared with the previous sample’s average of 92,000km.

In 4.2 FSI form, the D4 combined a 273kW naturally aspirated V8 with quattro all-wheel drive and Audi’s aluminium-intensive construction. It was an understated alternative to the S-Class and 7 Series, delivering full-size limousine comfort without broadcasting its owner’s arrival.

The R349,995 asking price is therefore better viewed as the cost of a newer-generation, lower-mileage A8 rather than a 127% market increase. It still represents an exceptional amount of luxury for the money, provided the buyer budgets for air suspension, electronics and the maintenance requirements of an ageing direct-injection V8.

Mercedes-Benz S600L

The W221 S-Class helped restore Mercedes-Benz’s flagship reputation after the quality concerns associated with its predecessor. In S600L form, it paired the long-wheelbase body with a 5.5l twin-turbocharged V12 producing 380kW and 830Nm, delivering effortless performance with the refinement expected of a flagship luxury limousine.

Four examples appeared during each period, with the average asking price falling by 13.1%, from R791,464 to R688,024. However, the 2026 cars were older and had covered more distance, with the average registration year moving from 2011 to 2008 and mileage increasing from 93,526km to 132,987km.

The lower price therefore reflects a less favourable selection of cars as much as any broader decline in demand. Even so, an average asking price of less than R700,000 places the S600L within reach of buyers who would otherwise be shopping for a far more ordinary new SUV.

Ownership still requires a considerable budget for the Active Body Control (ABC) hydropneumatic suspension, cooling components, electronics and the densely packaged V12. Fuel consumption is only one expense, and buyers should remember that depreciation has reduced the car’s value without reducing the cost of maintaining what was once one of Mercedes-Benz’s most expensive models. Even so, if ownership costs are within budget, few cars below R1m offer this level of refinement and elegance.

BMW M760Li

The M760Li provides the clearest like-for-like evidence of softer pricing. The average registration year remained unchanged at 2019, while listings increased from 13 to 14 and average mileage rose only moderately from 50,371km to 55,109km.

Despite broadly similar samples, the average asking price declined by 9.6%, from R1,598,300 in H1 2025 to R1,445,583 in H1 2026. That represents a reduction of more than R150,000 in a year.

Powered by a 6.6l twin-turbocharged V12 producing 448kW and 800Nm, the M760Li combined limousine comfort with acceleration capable of troubling serious performance cars. It also marked the end of BMW’s production V12 era, giving it historical relevance that may become increasingly important as 12-cylinder engines disappear.

The BMW may be newer than the Bentley or Mercedes-Benz, but it is no less complex. Its drivetrain, air suspension, four-wheel steering and extensive electronics demand specialist care, though buyers who find a well-maintained example are unlikely to encounter many other cars offering the same breadth of ability.

Porsche Panamera Turbo

The 2015 Porsche Panamera Turbo did not follow the downward trend. Its average asking price increased by 8.5%, from R1,581,885 in H1 2025 to R1,715,576 in H1 2026.

The change is partly explained by the cars available. Listings fell from 13 to nine, while average mileage improved from 58,517km to 51,863km and the average registration year remained unchanged at 2015.

With a 4.8l twin-turbocharged V8 producing 382kW, all-wheel drive and a seven-speed PDK transmission, the Panamera offered a blend of practicality and driver engagement that the more traditional luxury saloons could not quite match. It combined space for four adults and their luggage with the handling expected of a Porsche, even if its styling initially divided opinion.

The higher average price suggests buyers continue to value that combination of practicality, performance and driver involvement. At more than R1.7m, it is difficult to describe as inexpensive, but the data shows that thirsty luxury cars are not being punished equally and that the strongest examples can still command substantial money.

A buying opportunity, with conditions

The figures do not prove that fuel prices alone are pushing values down, as mileage, age, condition and the mix of cars advertised all influence average asking prices. However, the 17.1% decline recorded by the Continental GT and the 9.6% reduction for the closely matched M760Li samples suggest buyers currently have more negotiating power in some parts of the market.

Prospective buyers should not assume fuel prices will fall or that values will recover. Any future appreciation could easily be offset by servicing, insurance and repairs, particularly if the car has been bought cheaply after years of deferred maintenance.

The opportunity lies in finding a well-maintained example while demand remains subdued. If fuel prices eventually ease, buyers who entered the market during this softer period may have secured exceptional luxury and performance at an attractive price. Ultimately, though, the purchase will only prove worthwhile if they can comfortably afford the running costs that follow.

The fine, the biggest ever imposed for breaches of the 27-nation EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA), comes months after online retailer Temu was fined €200m for similar breaches. Last year, Brussels issued a $12m penalty for Elon Musk’s social media site X.

Scale is not an excuse. Risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online. Today, we are holding AliExpress to this standard and request it to take action.

Henna Virkkunen, European Commission executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy

“The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not an unavoidable cost of shopping online. It is a failure by AliExpress to comply with its obligations under the Digital Services Act,” said Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy.

“Scale is not an excuse. Risks must be identified and addressed systematically to ensure consumers can safely shop online. Today, we are holding AliExpress to this standard and request it to take action,” she said.

AliExpress said since the DSA came into force the company “has been, and continues to be, firmly committed to meeting our obligations and we have invested substantial resources in risk assessment and mitigation, product safety and consumer protection”.

It said it disagreed with the “disproportionate fine, which does not adequately reflect our established framework and the significant, proactive enhancements we have made. We are carefully reviewing the decision and considering all available options”.

The fine was for conduct by the company until at least June 2025, when the commission issued a preliminary ruling that found AliExpress was not doing enough to tackle the sale of illegal products under the DSA, and when it accepted commitments by AliExpress to improve its systems.

The commission said AliExpress has until October 20 to submit an action plan setting out measures to “remedy the breach of its obligations to assess and mitigate systemic risks”.

The DSA is designed to keep users safe online and stop the spread of harmful content that is illegal or violates a platform’s terms of service, such as the promotion of genocide or anorexia. It also looks to protect Europeans’ fundamental rights, including privacy and free speech.

The spread of counterfeit clothing, unsafe toys, dangerous cosmetics and other illegal and harmful products is not an unavoidable cost of shopping online. It is a failure by AliExpress to comply with its obligations under the Digital Services Act.

Henna Virkkunen, European Commission executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy

Monday’s announcement in Brussels also comes less than three weeks after AliExpress’ operator, Chinese tech giant Alibaba, said it will pay $600m (R9.86bn) to resolve a dispute with the US government over allegations the Hangzhou-based firm sold and imported illegal pharmaceuticals, controlled substances, regulated chemicals and pill-making equipment into the US.

AP

Former child star Sipho “Psyfo” Ngwenya rose to fame on YoTV before launching a music career with Don’t Be Scared and acting as Ajex in the daily drama Generations.

At the weekend, he made a surprise TV return when he became the third celebrity-reveal on season three of The Masked Singer SA. Fresh from being unmasked as Clock, he takes Sowetan for a trip down memory lane.

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Artist Kutlwano Monyai uses crocheting skills learnt from granny, mom in works of art

Award-winning fine artist Kutlwano Monyai has unveiled a deeply personal body of work that celebrates the transformative power of joy and the quiet wisdom of domestic education through crocheting plastic bags.

Monyai is the 2024 Absa L’Atelier Art ambassador and winner, and two years after her crowning, she debuted her solo exhibition Dakalo: The Ultimate Gift at Gallery Momo in Parkhurst, Johannesburg, at the weekend.

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Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Mandla Masango feels Amakhosi target Langelihle Phili has all the qualities to make it at the club.

Chiefs and Stellenbosch are believed to have reached an agreement for the attacking midfielder with Ashley du Preez likely to go there as part of the deal.

Phili, 21, was outstanding for the Cape Winelands side last season. In 39 appearances across all competitions, he scored nine times and provided a single assist. Masango is adamant that he can add a lot to Chiefs’ attacking play should they sign him.

“He is a good player. I really like him a lot and he’s got goals in him, so I think he will be a good addition to the team,” Masango told the media.

With Amakhosi having signed two players Thabo Moloisane and Renaldo Leaner so far, Masango said new coach Fernando da Cruz must be given time to evaluate the squad before he can release and sign more players.

“The coach only arrived now, so he just needs to assess the current players because you can’t just release everyone now,” he said.

“You need to assess and plan to know which area to beef up. The season has not started yet, so let’s give them time. Probably the coach will know which areas he will need to strengthen.”

With Chiefs having concluded their preseason camp in Spain, where they played three matches against Glasgow Rangers, Al-Kholood and Elche C, Masango said they will benefit from this when the season starts.

Amakhosi will end their preseason preparations when they face Zimbabwean champions Scottland in the third annual Toyota Cup at Royal Bafokeng Stadium on Sunday at 3pm.

“It’s a good initiative because you get to test yourself against the European teams, which shows that we are not far away within the standard even though they are higher than our current standards.

“But for the fact that they have to test themselves against those players abroad it is good.”

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He is now facing a tribunal over whether he is fit to remain on the bench.

Lekale, who is reportedly visually impaired, has repeatedly said he would be able to return to work but never did.

He has refused early retirement, saying a traditional healer warned him not to leave office.

It is the first time the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has set up a tribunal to investigate a judge’s alleged incapacity, rather than misconduct or gross misconduct.

The tribunal is due to sit from Wednesday until Friday this week.

The complaint was lodged by Free State judge president Cagney Musi. It came after Lekale refused to take early retirement. Instead, he submitted successive medical certificates from the same doctor stating that he would be fit to return to work within the coming months.

Lekale has also said that a traditional healer told him not to take early retirement, and that his eyesight would return.

Lekale has not yet completed the 15 years of service required to qualify for a full judicial pension or “salary for life”.

Judges Matter researcher Mbekezeli Benjamin said the tribunal’s central task will be determining Lekale’s health status and how it affects the broader judiciary, but accountability will loom large.

“It will also shed light on how the tribunal manages Western medicine with African spirituality, in the context of the demands of the judiciary,” Benjamin said.

Retired deputy president of the Supreme Court of Appeal judge Xola Petse will chair the tribunal.

The complaint was first considered by the Judicial Conduct Committee (JCC). In a ruling issued in May 2025, the committee recommended that a tribunal be established.

The JCC’s report said Lekale was appointed in 2012 and had served a “short period” of six years before “his service was interrupted” by illness in 2018.

From time to time, he was granted sick leave on the strength of medical certificates.

The JCC said that after five years, it had become apparent to Musi that Lekale would not, or could not, resume duties. When Musi raised the issue of leaving active service, Lekale said a traditional healer had warned him not to do so.

Lekale confirmed this account to the JCC. He said the traditional healer had told him his ancestors would be “offended” if he retired, and that he would become permanently blind as a result. The healer had also told him his sight would return.

Lekale also relied on a recent medical certificate from an ophthalmologist stating that he would be fit to resume work in July 2025.

But the JCC questioned the value of that certificate.

“The certificate does not specifically say the respondent’s health condition has improved. And as rightly pointed out by [Musi], this doctor has routinely issued certificates of a similar nature as far back as 2019.

“The certificate would say that [Lekale] would be fit to resume duties on a specific date, but when that date passed, a fresh certificate would be issued, fixing a later date,” the committee said

The JCC concluded that Lekale continued to suffer from “the same illness” and was unable to perform his judicial duties. Since 2018, an acting judge has had to be appointed to cover for him, and the JCC said this situation “has now become untenable”.

Based on the evidence, the JCC said, it was likely that a tribunal would find that Lekale suffered from incapacity and should be removed from office.

• This article was first published on GroundUp

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The parliamentary committee investigating whether President Cyril Ramaphosa should face impeachment will consider fresh evidence submitted by ActionSA, including controversial South African Police Service (SAPS) disciplinary findings that cleared two senior presidential protection officers implicated in the Phala Phala saga.

Committee chairperson Makashule Gana confirmed the party’s submission would be added to the committee’s evidentiary record and considered alongside other material before the inquiry.

Gana said he intended engaging the chairpersons of parliamentary portfolio committees that had previously dealt with matters relating to Phala Phala to obtain information that could assist the committee in carrying out its work.

His decision means the committee will consider ActionSA’s latest submission as part of the growing body of evidence before the impeachment inquiry.

The development is a boost for ActionSA, which wants the Section 89 committee to scrutinise the disciplinary proceedings involving Maj-Gen Wally Rhoode and Brig Hennie Rekhoto, two members of the Presidential Protection Service whose conduct came under scrutiny after the 2020 burglary at Ramaphosa’s Limpopo game farm.

ActionSA argued the disciplinary findings expose serious inconsistencies between SAPS’ internal process, the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (Ipid) investigation and the public protector’s findings.

The party has asked the committee to obtain the complete disciplinary record from SAPS, including witness statements, evidence bundles, transcripts and legal opinions. It also wants Ipid and the chairperson of the disciplinary hearings to appear before MPs to explain why SAPS reached conclusions that differed materially from those of Ipid and the public protector.

According to ActionSA, the evidence is directly relevant to the impeachment inquiry because it deals with the conduct of officials who allegedly acted on behalf of the president during and after the burglary, and could help establish the sequence of events and the extent of Ramaphosa’s accountability.

The submission follows ActionSA’s acquisition of the disciplinary records through the Promotion of Access to Information Act.

The party claimed the hearings that cleared Rhoode and Rekhoto raise several concerns. It argued that despite Ipid identifying alleged breaches of SAPS regulations, the disciplinary process dealt with only a handful of charges before finding both officers not guilty.

ActionSA further alleged key evidence was excluded, crucial witness statements were treated inconsistently and several findings previously made by Ipid were never ventilated during the disciplinary process.

One of the most explosive claims in the submission is that Rhoode allegedly told the disciplinary hearing Ramaphosa instructed him to accompany presidential adviser Bhekani Chauke to Namibia during efforts to trace suspects linked to the burglary. ActionSA argued this could place responsibility for the controversial cross-border operation directly at the president’s feet.

The Section 89 committee is tasked with determining whether Ramaphosa committed a serious violation of the constitution or the law, engaged in serious misconduct, or is unable to perform the functions of his office — the constitutional grounds on which a sitting president may be removed.

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Video courtesy of SABC.

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The centre was meant to take in and quarantine Americans evacuated from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where an Ebola outbreak that erupted two months ago has so far killed at least 930 people, out of the 2,344 cases confirmed there.

A US humanitarian organisation, the Samaritan’s Purse, said at the weekend that seven of its US staff from DRC were being quarantined in “large military tents” for 21 days in Kenya, adding that none had so far shown symptoms of Ebola.

The organisation did not say where in Kenya their workers were quarantined but local media have reported that military tents in Laikipia Air Base would house the US-backed Ebola facility. The air base is about 185km north from Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, near the town of Nanyuki.

They are being housed in large military tents in a fenced gravel compound, sleeping on military cots, and their food is being provided by the US military

Samaritan’s Purse President and CEO Franklin Graham

Residents of Nanyuki have staged a series of protests against the facility recently, and two people died when the protests turned violent.

Neither Kenya’s health ministry nor the US state department responded to requests for comment about whether Americans were being quarantined in Kenya. The Laikipia Air Base could also not be reached for comment.

Kenya — hundreds of kilometres to the east of the DRC and with Uganda between them — has no confirmed Ebola cases but is a key US ally in Africa. The US has pledged $13.5m towards Kenya’s Ebola preparedness efforts.

Kenyan President William Ruto has defended the planned US-backed quarantine facility, describing it as part of a partnership with the US. He said there were also plans to establish 24 additional Ebola preparedness centres across the country, with US funding.

However, last month a Kenyan court issued an order that barred the operationalisation of the facility and health minister Aden Duale later ordered the suspension of its construction.

The case was based on a petition by the Law Society of Kenya and constitutional lobby group the Katiba Institute, which had argued against establishing a quarantine for Americans from the DRC, saying that Kenya’s fragile health system could be overwhelmed in the event of an Ebola outbreak.

The Katiba Institute’s chief, Nora Mbagathi, said the activist groups were concerned about the latest reports of Americans already being quarantined in Kenya.

“Should any Kenyan government official be involved … they have completely betrayed the public trust and must be held personally accountable,” Mbagathi said.

The Law Society of Kenya said in a statement on Monday that a “deliberate” violation of a court order would amount to ”impunity and lawlessness”.

Samaritan’s Purse said its staff had been working on the front lines of the Ebola response in the DRC, where the organisation operates two treatment centres in Bunia and Nyankunde.

Should any Kenyan government official be involved ... they have completely betrayed the public trust and must be held personally accountable

Katiba Institute head Nora Mbagathi

“They are being housed in large military tents in a fenced gravel compound, sleeping on military cots, and their food is being provided by the US military,” Samaritan’s Purse president and CEO Franklin Graham said in a statement.

Graham did not respond to questions about why the quarantine was up and working in Kenya despite the court order.

AP

Lesotho’s high elevation and mountainous terrain combine to make it the coldest country on the continent, with temperatures in the highlands typically plunging to -8°C between June and August.

The Afriski Mountain Resort, about 3,200m above sea level, nestled in the northern Maluti Mountains, is Lesotho’s single fully operational ski resort — and the only one in sub-Saharan Africa.

The majestic snow-covered landscape is ideal for skiing, and seasoned and new visitors enjoy the slopes spread over 17ha surrounding the resort — about the size of 24 standard soccer pitches. The resort opened 25 years ago, a short bus or car ride from the nearest major town of Butha-Buthe, about 80km away.

Last year, tourism contributed about 7% to Lesotho’s annual GDP of about $2.6bn (R42.74bn). For its part, Afriski provides a chunk of needed cash in a country cited by the World Bank as one of the poorest in the world — and its artificial snow machines ensure it stays open throughout the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

Thousands come to country Trump says no one’s heard of

US President Donald Trump may have joked in 2025 about Lesotho being a country that “nobody has ever heard of”, but just a year earlier, the kingdom, bordered on all sides by South Africa and with a population of 2.3-million, celebrated 200 years of the founding of the Basotho nation and 58 years of independence from British rule.

Located in its entirety at 1,000m and more above sea level, Lesotho sees a lot of snow — and skiing is growing in popularity here from a rare sport previously mainly associated with North America and the European Alps.

Most people drive into Lesotho from neighbouring South Africa, but international visitors can also fly in to the airport in Maseru, the country’s capital.

Afriski’s CEO, Theo Ferreira, says almost 70% of the visitors come from South Africa; the rest are mostly from Lesotho or elsewhere in Southern Africa. The resort now has 227 full-time and seasonal employees, nearly all Lesotho nationals, with about 30 South Africans working mainly as skiing instructors, he said.

While the resort has rooms for 420 overnight guests, the nearby Butha-Buthe and Mohlokong towns can offer extra accommodations in peak season. The busiest day so far this year saw more than 1,400 visitors, while in 2025, the record was more than 1,600 day visitors and those staying overnight or longer, Ferreira said.

Because unreliable weather patterns can make natural snow scarce, the resort relies on artificial snow to make skiing possible all winter long.

Lesotho’s snow may not be how you imagine Africa

The resort has played a role in helping ski tourism emerge as another attraction in Southern Africa, known for its wildlife and scenic coastlines along the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

For many visitors, Afriski is where they had their first ski lessons, braving falls and dusting themselves off before having another try, and another — until making that first, full glide down without falling.

Janco Smits, a student from Cape Town, describes it as “an amazing slope to learn on”.

“At the start it was a little discouraging because you fall, and you fall hard,” he said. “But the people here, they gave me one lesson, and after an hour, honestly, I felt confident.”

“When you think of the African continent, you don’t think of snow. You think about the sun and the Sahara [Desert],” said Thato Ramaphoko, a first-timer at the resort from Pretoria. “But that you can go to all that and also come here and it also snows at the same time, it is just mind-blowing, so I just had to see it for myself.”

Visitors at Afriski can also sample a taste of Lesotho in the form of traditional sausage rolls and Maluti Lager, the country’s proudly home-brewed beer.

As for a souvenir to take home, try the colourful Basotho blanket, which comes in vibrant colours and patterns that also pop up in local garments and are creatively integrated into various skiing jackets and gear.

AP

Stali, from Nxamkwana village, is the founder and CEO of Spectacles4TheBlind SA, a company that has developed AI-assisted smart glasses capable of identifying and describing objects through audio.

The device tells users what is in front of them, helping them navigate their surroundings with greater confidence and independence.

Currently, the smart glasses operate in English, Afrikaans, isiXhosa, isiZulu and Sesotho.

The young entrepreneur recently returned from Hong Kong, where he participated in the prestigious Leap Startup East competition as one of the top 150 global startups selected to compete and exhibit.

The experience exposed him to potential investors and manufacturers interested in supporting his vision.

“After engaging with potential investors and manufacturers at the exhibition, there is a possibility of adding more international languages to the device so that visually impaired people across the world can benefit from the technology,” Stali said.

Although he has struggled to secure funding to fully commercialise his innovation, support from the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality enabled him to attend the event in Hong Kong.

I promised her that one day, when I was older, I would create a device that would allow her to move around without depending on anyone else

Elihle Stali

“Initially, I was not sure how I was going to get to China,” he said.

“I decided to share my story on TikTok and many people were moved by it. They encouraged me to start a BackaBuddy campaign so that my followers could contribute towards the trip.”

The idea behind Spectacles4TheBlind SA was inspired by Stali’s late grandmother, who was visually impaired.

As a child, he often accompanied her wherever she went and helped her with everyday activities.

“I was always quick to answer when she called me,” he recalled.

“I promised her that one day, when I was older, I would create a device that would allow her to move around without depending on anyone else.”

Although his grandmother passed away before seeing his dream become a reality, Stali remains committed to fulfilling that promise.

“Today, I am fortunate to have the knowledge and skills needed to pursue that childhood dream,” he said.

His journey, however, has not been without challenges.

Stali was unable to continue his studies towards a Bachelor of Commerce in Computer Science and Information Systems at Nelson Mandela University due to financial difficulties.

He explained that he lost funding support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) after changing his field of study from a Bachelor of Science to a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

The challenge is linked to the NSFAS N+ Rule, which limits funding to the minimum duration of a qualification plus an additional one or two years.

Despite the setback, Stali is determined to complete his degree in 2027.

“I have never failed any of my modules, so I am motivated to finish what I started,” he said.

Stali’s innovation journey began while he was still at school.

In 2019, as a Grade 11 pupil, he won a regional competition at the Eskom Expo for Young Scientists using the same concept that would later evolve into Spectacles4TheBlind SA.

Although he did not win at national level, the feedback he received encouraged him to continue refining the idea.

His perseverance paid off. In 2023, during his first year of studying towards his BCom degree, Stali won the Best Innovative Business Idea award at the national Entrepreneurship Development in Higher Education Intervarsity Competition.

Here he competed against honours, master’s and PhD students from institutions across the country.

“It was a major confidence boost,” he said.

“Competing against postgraduate students and winning showed me that my idea had real potential. It encouraged me to keep entering competitions and seeking opportunities to grow the business.”

Since then, Stali has continued to earn recognition, including being selected as a Top 12 finalist at the Gordon Institute of Business Science Festival of Ideas.

GCIS Vuk’uzenzele

The efforts range from air force drones tracking stagnating rooftop pools of water after monsoon rains to military and police officers helping to inspect homes, building sites and schools in a campaign to stamp out mosquito-breeding sites.

With 53 deaths and 76,044 infections since it began in January, the numbers of the stricken, spread wider by a more virulent strain, are approaching the tally of more than 100,000 notched by a 2017 outbreak.

“It’s challenging for doctors because it’s a rapid increase in patients,” said consultant Lalindra Dias in Negombo, one of the worst-hit areas, located about 35km north of the key city Colombo.

“All of a sudden you get a large influx coming into the hospital,” said Dias, whose district general hospital treated nearly 1,800 sufferers in less than two months since June, up from about 1,050 in 2025.

July influx of cases

Hospitals rushed to add beds, convert wards to care for the ill and step up hours worked by doctors and nurses in the battle to treat an influx of more than 18,000 cases in the first two weeks of July, health authorities said.

June’s tally of 21,537 infections, usually characterised by high fever, body aches and loss of appetite, was more than double the figure in May, but Sri Lanka has yet to introduce a vaccine.

The heightened strain comes in the aftermath of cyclone Ditwah, the nation’s worst natural disaster, which tore up critical infrastructure and health facilities in late November, causing losses estimated by the World Bank at $1.4bn (R23bn).

That threatens to swamp Sri Lanka’s advantage of four beds for every 1,000 people, which outstrips the average global ratio of fewer than three, World Bank data shows.

Public health workers were “stretched to their limit”, said Kapila Kannangara, acting director general of the National Dengue Control Unit.

“The number of patients is high, and the severity of the cases is high,” he said, since about 75% of cases were linked to the more virulent Denv-2 strain with a rapid spread.

Health officials expect infections, typically boosted by the rainy season, to ease off as monsoon rains weaken in August, but warn they could climb from November as rainfall returns to the island in its second annual monsoon season.

Armed forces join cleaning up work

On Thursday, the government targeted cleaning up of the worst-affected regions, combing sites from homes to religious institutions to eliminate sites where mosquitoes breed, authorities said.

With its drones helping public health officials identify rooftops where water collects and monitoring larger areas, the air force is also helping overstretched staff at some public hospitals to keep track of patients.

Nearly 11,000 mosquito breeding sites were cleared this month, with fines levied at more than 4,000 premises found to harbour them, the health ministry said.

To reduce pressure on hospitals, doctors are advising those with mild symptoms to recover at home, some patients said.

“The doctor asked me to stay at home because my platelet count had not fallen too much,” said 23-year-old Shalini Aloka Perera. “I did my treatment at home because there are too many patients in the hospitals.”

Authorities are also considering turning to a dengue vaccine, though experts have warned it may confer limited benefits as the virus is complex and several strains are circulating.

At the Negombo hospital, Dias said the rise in cases was expected to plateau before reducing in August, but the different pattern of virulence made such forecasts difficult this year.

“We cannot exactly say when it will stop, maybe by the end of July. Sometimes it will be a little longer than that.”

Reuters

Delhi Police said nearly 180 people, including 118 security and police personnel and 60 protesters, were injured on Monday when they clashed in central Delhi.

Thousands of protesters from Delhi and nearby cities and towns gathered to march on parliament on Monday, joining a movement that began as an online satire but has turned out to become the biggest challenge for Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his third term.

The months-old movement of the self-named Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) has drawn the support of millions of young, Gen Z Indians who are demanding the resignation of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan over examination paper leaks that affected more than 2-million students in May.

At least 70 protesters had been detained and legal action would be initiated against them, police said late on Monday.

Early on Tuesday, about 150 to 200 protesters gathered at the protest site of Jantar Mantar in central Delhi, chanting slogans during a mild drizzle. Security remained tight with paramilitary personnel patrolling parts of central Delhi and barricades slowing traffic.

“We had to call off the protest yesterday because we did not want more youth to be injured,” CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke told a press conference.

“We will not march again because the police will hurt the youth again,” he said, adding that more than 150 protesters were undergoing treatment in hospital.

Reuters could not independently verify that number.

Reuters

However, the jail term has been suspended. He will avoid prison if he pays all the maintenance he owes and continues paying the monthly amount ordered by the court until the divorce case is finalised.

The Durban high court ruled the man was in contempt of court after he stopped paying the full maintenance ordered in August 2022.

Judge Mbuzeni Mathenjwa said the husband knowingly failed to obey the court order and could not convince the court he was unable to pay.

“The respondent’s failure to fulfil his maintenance obligations under the court order was deliberate and intentional,” the judge said.

The dispute dates back to a maintenance order granted while the couple’s divorce case was before the courts. The order required the husband to pay his wife R120,089 every month.

After the home loan on the family’s property was settled in January 2023, both parties agreed to reduce the monthly payment to R106,211.

However, from December 2024, the husband paid only R8,000 a month instead of the agreed amount.

He then asked the court to reduce the maintenance permanently, arguing his financial situation had changed.

The husband claimed he could no longer rely on loans from his construction company and a related business trust that had previously helped him meet his financial obligations.

He also argued his wife no longer needed maintenance because a family trust had received about R13.8m after selling a property for R17m.

His wife opposed the application.

She argued the trust’s money did not belong to her personally and the assets belonged to the trust. She also accused her husband of failing to fully disclose his finances and said he continued receiving large amounts of money despite claiming he could not afford the maintenance.

The judge agreed with her.

Mathenjwa said the husband’s inability to obtain loans did not automatically mean he could no longer afford to pay maintenance.

“The ability to pay should not be confused with a party’s ability to secure loans,” the judge said.

He also rejected the husband’s argument that his wife no longer needed maintenance because the trust had money.

The judge said the trust’s assets were separate from the wife’s personal finances.

The court also found the husband’s own bank records did not support his claim that he was struggling financially.

According to the judgment, he received R248,699 in one month and R911,642 in another, despite claiming his only monthly income was R141,000.

The judge said the husband failed to explain the payments.

As a result, the court dismissed his application to reduce the maintenance order to R8,000.

The court then considered the wife’s application to have him declared in contempt of court.

The judge said it was common cause that the husband knew about the court order and had failed to comply with it. The only issue was whether he had a lawful reason for not paying.

The husband argued he did not have enough money and his failure to pay was not intentional.

But the court found otherwise.

Mathenjwa said the husband applied to reduce the maintenance order on November 29 2024 and stopped paying the full amount on December 1 before the court had ruled on his application.

He also failed to ask for the matter to be heard urgently, leaving it unresolved for more than a year.

The judge stressed contempt of court is a serious offence because it weakens the authority of the courts and the justice system.

He ruled a prison sentence was justified if the husband continued ignoring the maintenance order.

The court sentenced the husband to 60 days in prison but suspended the sentence on condition that he pays all the outstanding maintenance and continues making the monthly payments until the divorce case is finalised.

Sowetan

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Citroën has had many different seasons in South Africa. There was a time when the beloved original DS series was locally built.

That started in 1959 and ended in 1975. Then the brand disinvested, only to return in the 2000s. It did fine alongside its relative Peugeot, with cars such as the C3 B-segment hatchback and family-friendly Xsara Picasso.

In the 2010s it enjoyed a stronger resurgence with new products, including the DS3, DS4 and DS5. Cars that harked back to the daring, innovative history of the marque.

Then it slowly faded again, going dormant at the end of 2016. The brand said it would not be exiting, but neither would it be importing new models.

Activity began to trickle back in 2019 when the latest C5 arrived. Unlike its predecessor, a sedan, the newcomer adopted a sport-utility vehicle format and competed with the likes of the Volkswagen Tiguan.

Around 2020 further stability came when the Stellantis group was established locally, combining the historical brands of PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. Soon Citroën was relaunched yet again.

There was a new C3, which delivered on many of the associated hallmarks of the brand. The C5 was revised too, but slow sales quickly prompted the firm to think of a new strategy.

Aiming at the budget end of the market, it opted to import cheaper Indian-made models rather than the European-specification cars such as the C3 and C5. This approach was kicked off with another, different sort of C3, aimed to compete with India-sourced juniors, including the Renault Kiger and Nissan Magnite.

Then came the Citroën Aircross, targeting the Suzuki Grand Vitara and Toyota Urban Cruiser, also hailing from India. Recently the range expanded with the Basalt, named after a type of volcanic rock. A strange handle that South African buyers are likely to find peculiar.

The vehicle is positioned between the C3 and Aircross. Pricing ranges between R354,900 for the Plus model and R364,900 for the Max.

Both versions use a 1.2l turbocharged-petrol with three cylinders, and transmission is of a six-speed automatic variety. Included is a four-year/60,000km service plan and five-year/100,000km warranty.

This Citroën is built to a tighter budget than the European-origin models we once knew. The hood is held up by a small, flimsy-looking strut (manually erected), and the door handles and doors have a light feel to them.

Chinese marques have upped the game for interiors at this price point, giving buyers soft-touch materials and upmarket finishes. The Citroën has a basic constitution compared to a rival such as the Chery Tiggo Cross. Materials are harder, with seat upholstery a coarse felt-type fabric. Not much in the way of premium aspirations but it does appear durable.

Specification is acceptable, and it is good to see the airbag count is six even on the cheaper model. There is keyless-start, keyless-entry, a 10-inch infotainment system, cruise control, and on the Max model a reverse camera.

The biggest surprise is the engine and gearbox combination. Three-cylinder motors have a characteristic vibration, which is reasonably well-suppressed in the Basalt. Its eagerness on kick-down is notable, so is the smoothness of the automatic six-speed between shifts. Output is 81kW/205Nm, which is adequate for average driving requirements.

Average consumption is 6.3l/100km. Driven leisurely it is possible to achieve as low as 5.9l/100km, but with a heavier foot in urban conditions that can crest the 8l/100km mark. Citroën hopes the styling of the vehicle will land with younger, style-conscious shoppers. Somehow we think they might not perceive it in the way the brand hopes because it looks like a BMW X6 knock-off thanks to that sloping roofline and distinctively hatched rear.

The jury might be out looks-wise but it is sufficiently practical. Rear legroom is good, occupants even get their own centre arm-rest at the back. Boot space is an impressive 470l. The Basalt is 4,352mm long, 1,765mm wide and 1,593mm tall.

After countless peaks and troughs, one hopes the Citroën brand has the staying power as the South African new car market undergoes its own shifts. The Basalt is a likeable car. But whether that is enough to hold it in good stead, particularly given how competitive the situation is in this price category, remains to be seen.

Sowetan

Thousands of people in Kyiv and other cities took to the streets for several days in a row, defying martial law, to protest against last week’s removal of young reformer Mykhailo Fedorov as defence minister and to demand the dismissal of commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

The protests, led by young people, also exposed deep divisions in the defence leadership on how to stop Russia’s battlefield advances, as the war’s overall momentum has swung in Kyiv’s favour.

Syrskyi, 60, faces criticism from civil society, soldiers and legislators for his Soviet-style command culture and high-casualty tactics.

Contenders for the top army job

Zelensky met five generals and one colonel, viewed by political analysts as potential replacements for Syrskyi, one after another to discuss the battlefield situation as fighting rages along more than 1,200km of the frontline.

The six most well-known and respected military commanders, including commander of the joint forces Mykhailo Drapatyi and deputy chief of the general staff Volodymyr Horbatyuk, represent a younger generation of Ukrainian officers whose careers were shaped in combat against Russian troops.

Oleh Apostol, commander of the air assault forces, and the commanders of the three army corps — Andriy Biletsky, Ihor Obolenskyi and Denys Prokopenko — also met Zelensky, who posted pictures from his study after each meeting.

Zelensky’s chief of staff, Kyrylo Budanov, called for unity and restraint in the wake of the protests, promising a constructive response.

“The public’s views have been heard,” he said. “Work is under way. Results will follow.”

A poll from the Gradus research company showed that 61% of Ukrainians were against the dismissal of Fedorov.

Zelensky said he spoke to Fedorov, 35, “at length” over the weekend.

A source close to Fedorov told Reuters he had discussed “other roles” with Zelensky, but he was only ready to return as defence minister. Ukrainian media reported that Fedorov had been offered roles overseeing military technology and innovation.

Dmytro Koziatynskyi, a war veteran and one of the organisers of the protests, called on supporters to launch a “general, indefinite protest” unless Syrskyi is removed and Fedorov reappointed as defence minister by July 24.

Reuters

Eight sources — including diplomats, aid sources and a congressional source — said Washington, historically UNHCR’s largest donor, has been considering disengaging from the agency. Several said a decision was expected last week but no announcement was made, suggesting the lobbying effort may have helped delay or avert a move.

Reuters granted the sources anonymity to speak about UN relations with the US.

The US deliberations over leaving UNHCR, which was created in the aftermath of World War 2 to help refugees fleeing war, persecution and violence, follow a disagreement over the appointment of the deputy high commissioner, five sources said.

They said the agency told supporters it could be placed on a US blacklist, ending funding, and Washington could also withdraw from its governing executive committee.

An end to US funding would seriously weaken the agency at a time of near-record levels of displacement around the world amid long-running conflicts in Ukraine, Sudan and other countries, diplomats and aid officials said.

Rethinking it would be an existential threat for UNHCR. It could have a massive knock-on effect

Former UNHCR official

“People have been alerted by UNHCR to call friends in the administration,” said a source at an aid group involved in the talks, adding many had done so. “They are at least thinking about it,” the source said.

Another diplomat said UNHCR officials had asked supporters in the past week to use all available diplomatic channels with the US to urge ongoing support.

A UN refugee agency spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.

“We have no comment on this issue because we have no information on it,” said UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

A US state department spokesperson said there have not been any changes to Washington’s engagement with UNHCR.

“As with many other international organisations, we work with and through UNHCR when doing so is useful to advance US foreign policy interests or save lives.

“We will continue to evaluate the role of the US in international organisations,” the spokesperson added, referring to a February 2025 executive order to review US participation and funding.

Since beginning his second term last year, Trump has cut funding for UN agencies and withdrawn from dozens of UN entities including the World Health Organisation. Trump officials have also urged other nations to join a global campaign to roll back asylum protections.

Leadership dilemma

The dispute centres on last month’s appointment of US career diplomat Tressa Rae Finerty as UNHCR’s deputy high commissioner.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres and UN high commissioner for refugees Barham Salih chose Finerty over Simon Hankinson, a US-backed candidate and former foreign service officer who has accused the UNHCR of pursuing “a mass migration agenda”.

“If they wanted reform, a return to UNHCR’s original mission of helping actual refugees, and a careful inspection of budgets and spending, I was the guy,” he said, calling Finerty a “business as usual” candidate.

Reuters could not reach Finerty for comment.

A former senior UNHCR official said Salih, a former Iraqi president and refugee, would have faced an internal “uproar” had he backed Hankinson.

Other UN agencies such as the International Labour Organisation have also faced dilemmas over appointing US officials amid questions about the US commitment to global co-operation.

Andrew Veprek, assistant secretary of state in the bureau of population, refugees and migration who has espoused anti-migration views, was involved in backing Hankinson’s candidacy, two sources said. The state department declined to comment on his involvement.

Top donor

The US was the top donor to UNHCR in 2025, giving $868m (R14.28bn) or about a quarter of the total contributions, according to the agency.

UNHCR is facing a financial crisis after available funding fell by about 30% in 2025 compared with 2024, Reuters reported. The agency has cut thousands of jobs and announced further cuts this year.

Diplomats and aid officials said a full US withdrawal would deepen the crisis and undermine support for the 1951 Refugee Convention, the cornerstone of the post-war refugee protection system.

“Rethinking it would be an existential threat for UNHCR,” the former UNHCR official said. “It could have a massive knock-on effect.”

Reuters

The empire of the tender tycoon Hangwani Maumela has crumbled after the state was granted seizure and forfeiture of his luxury cars and high-end homes with a combined valued of R326m.

The court on Monday gave the NPA the greenlight to auction the loot the state believes he accumulated through the R2bn looting frenzy at Tembisa Hospital from 2019.

The NPA will also take over assets belonging to the Maumela family trust.

• Click here to read the full article.

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WATCH | Taxi boss Sibanyoni to be first witness in ‘Cat’ Matlala trial

Taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni is expected to take the stand as the state’s first witness with regard to his 2022 shooting when the trial of Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused resumes on Tuesday at the Johannesburg high court.

Sibanyoni is one of the victims in the cases against Matlala, his wife Tsakane, Musa Kekana, Tiego Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama.

They face 25 charges, including the attempted murders of Sibanyoni, actor Tebogo Thobejane, and a friend who was in a car with Thobejane at the time and sustained serious spinal cord injuries.

• Click here to read the full article.

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EXPLAINER | Why Rea Vaya keeps suspending services

Thousands of commuters have once again been left stranded after another suspension of Rea Vaya bus services, raising questions about why the disruptions keep happening and whether Johannesburg’s bus rapid transit system can be stabilised.

The latest suspension has affected Rea Vaya’s Phase 1B network between Soweto and the Johannesburg CBD, disrupting about 15,000 passenger trips a day.

While the City of Johannesburg attributes the latest stoppage to delayed payments and rising operating costs, repeated service interruptions this year have highlighted the financial and operational challenges facing the city’s flagship bus service.

• Click here to read the full article.

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Sowetan

Four commodity vessels crossed the strait on Monday, mostly on the Iranian route, down from seven the day before, Kpler data showed.

The four vessels included two tankers that exited the strait and two vessels that entered.

The two vessels that exited comprised a tanker that was carrying petrochemicals and one that was empty.

The two vessels that entered the strait were a bitumen tanker and an oil tanker.

There were no visible very large crude-oil carriers or liquefied natural gas tankers passing through the strait on Monday.

Shipping tensions intensified further as Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday they were imposing a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia, a move that threatens to disrupt global energy supplies beyond the Gulf.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Tuesday it had received many reports that a tanker had messaged that it had been struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, Greek shipping company Dynacom Tankers said two of its managed vessels were hit by projectiles of unknown origin on Monday while sailing off the coast of Oman, while a third tanker was struck by a drone at Russia’s Novorossiysk CPC terminal in the Black Sea.

Reuters

The increased number of teams, from 32 to 48, decreased the overall standard of matches. Some teams were not up to scratch, while others tried their best. Cape Verde, with only half a million people, drew all their first-round matches, including against Spain, the final winner, and scored two goals to Argentina’s three in their final match.

There were problems in the US, with Trump successfully asking for a red card decision to be reviewed and being booed at the trophy ceremony.

The half-time entertainment during the final included many stars who didn’t have enough time to really perform but took too much time for the break.

The event may have highlighted football to the world, but there were lowlights as well. — Dennis Fitzgerald

Story audio is generated using AI

Taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni is expected to take the stand as the state’s first witness with regard to his 2022 shooting when the trial of Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and his four co-accused resumes on Tuesday at the Johannesburg high court.

Sibanyoni is one of the victims in the cases against Matlala, his wife Tsakane, Musa Kekana, Tiego Mabusela and Nthabiseng Nzama.

They face 25 charges, including the attempted murders of Sibanyoni, actor Tebogo Thobejane, and a friend who was in a car with Thobejane at the time and sustained serious spinal cord injuries.

Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala and his co-accused, including his wife, Tsakane, in the Johannesburg high court for trial. They face 25 charges, including the attempted murder of his ex-girlfriend, Tebogo Thobejane.
Video: @Koena_xM pic.twitter.com/ALMXiqigj6

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 20, 2026

According to prosecutor Elize le Roux, the trial will hear evidence from the August 2022 shooting, with the state relying on eyewitness testimony, CCTV footage, forensic evidence and cellphone analysis.

Le Roux said the evidence would show that Sibanyoni and his companions were parked outside the Centurion Country Club when a white BMW approached and gunfire broke out.

“When the BMW was next to them, shots were fired from the BMW at them. Mr Sibanyoni was seriously injured.”

Earlier in the day, Judge Cassim Moosa ruled that the matter would proceed, despite granting a three-week adjournment between August 11 and August 28 to accommodate the availability of Kekana’s lawyer.

Before adjourning, Moosa reminded the accused that they had an important role to play throughout the proceedings, and encouraged them to remain engaged during the trial.

Addressing them directly, he explained that they would be provided with writing materials to assist them throughout the case.

“This is your trial. Please listen carefully to the evidence. You will be provided with paper and pens to make notes, and if there is anything you wish to raise, communicate with your legal representatives,” he said.

“The charges you face include offences that may attract the prescribed minimum sentences, including life imprisonment if you are convicted and if the court finds there are no substantial and compelling circumstances to justify a lesser sentence.”

He stressed that although they were represented by counsel, it was important that they actively followed the evidence as it unfolded.

During the plea proceedings, all five accused pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Matlala’s lawyer, Annelene van den Heever, told the court that the defence intended to make certain admissions when proceedings resumed on Tuesday.

“In respect of the remaining charges, the accused will exercise his right to remain silent

“Other than that, there is nothing on my side,” Van den Heever told the court.

Le Roux’s opening address also previewed the state’s case relating to the October 2023 attempted murder of Thobejane.

She told the court the state would lead evidence that Thobejane and her companions had left a Sandton restaurant before their vehicle came under attack at a traffic light.

“Ms Malinda [Thobejane’s friend] was seriously injured during the shooting incident and was rushed to hospital. She was left severely disabled because of her injuries and today walks with great difficulty,” Le Roux said.

WATCH | Tebogo Thobejane says she's pleased that justice is finally taking its course. Thobejane, one of the victims in the Matlala trial, appeared outside court as proceedings were adjourned until tomorrow, when the state is expected to begin presenting its case against Matlala… pic.twitter.com/XU9P4vzkXB

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) July 20, 2026

Outside the court, Thobejane said she remained confident in the state’s case.

“We have to let justice take its course. The prosecutor and the police have done an amazing job, and we just have to see the evidence they have. After that, we just have to take it as it goes,” she said.

Sowetan

Story audio is generated using AI

Luxury homes and sports cars belonging to Hangwani Maumela, a central figure implicated in the Tembisa Hospital looting scandal, are set to be seized by the NPA’s forfeiture unit.

This comes after the Johannesburg high court granted the NPA a forfeiture order to assets belonging to Maumela following the August 2025 preservation order.

The assets are estimated to be valued at R326m, and this includes high-end residential properties in Gauteng, KZN and the Western Cape.

Some of the items to be attached are:

• ERF 45/0 Bantry bay, 67 Victoria Road, Cape Town, valued at R88,570 000
• ERF 15/0 Hartbeestpoort, 29 Peninsula street, Pecanwood Estate, valued at R13,660 000
• ERF 28/0 Sandton, 25 Oxford Avenue, Sandhurst, valued at R69,750 000
• ERF 28/12 Sandton, 25A Oxford Avenue, Sandhurst, valued at R71,660 000
• ERF 25/5 Ballito, 5 Reserve close, Zimbali Coastal Estate, valued at R9,410 000
• ERF 1099/00049 and ERF 1099/00133, Twin towers, 191 Beach Road, ThreeAnchor Bay, Cape Town, valued at
• R41,500 000
• Motor Vehicles
• Lamborghini Urus Aventador SVJ, valued at R17,999,995
• Lamborghini Huracan STO, valued at R8,750,000
• Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae Coupe, valued at R17,999,995
• Lamborghini Urus, valued at R6,999,900
• Bentley Continental GT V8 valued at R4,199,000
• Isuzu D Max valued at R538,600
• Multipurpose trailer
• Regency 250 LE3 Boat, valued at R1,960,847

According to NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, the forfeiture application was premised on the forensic investigations by a firm appointed to assist in the investigations concerning the allegations of procurement fraud and corruption that took place at the hospital between January 2019 and August 2022.

“The investigation into this matter was precipitated by the receipt of a report from the late Babita Deokaran, who was assassinated on 23 August 2021 and who was the chief director: financial accounting at the Gauteng department of health,” said Kganyago.

“Her report detailed suspected procurement irregularities within Tembisa Hospital’s supply chain management.”

Kganyago said after Specialised Audit Services Unit (SAS) of the National Treasury (NT) conducted a review of Tembisa Hospital’s Basic Accounting System payment data to determine all payments made to the companies that were identified by Deokaran as having benefitted from the unlawful activities.

“It also conducted a review of the Tembisa Hospital’s Central Supplier Database and the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission records of the implicated companies to verify the registration and directorships of the companies, to identify any additional related companies involved in the unlawful activities and to review payments made to those companies.

“The review covered the period between April 2016 and August 2022.”

The SAS review confirmed the possible large-scale corruption reported by Deokaran. It found that 14 entities allegedly controlled by the Maumela syndicate had irregularly and unlawfully benefited from Tembisa Hospital contracts worth more than R400m.

Forensic investigations uncovered widespread irregularities in the procurement processes, including the alleged manipulation of contract awards to favour entities associated with the syndicate.

In some instances, companies listed as having submitted quotations during the bidding process denied ever submitting them. In other cases, companies allegedly linked to the syndicate were used as cover bidders, submitting quotations in a manner that consistently favoured the syndicate-linked entities.

An analysis of the flow of funds allegedly showed that most of the money received by the syndicate-linked entities was used to purchase assets, pay bribes to officials and cover bidders, and fund the extravagant lifestyles of syndicate members.

Only a small portion of the total amount received could potentially be attributed to the purchase of goods and services that were actually delivered under the contracts.

NPA head Adv Andy Mothibi said the NPA’s pursuit of justice continued, particularly in the fight against corruption.

He said ordinary South Africans became victims of crime and corruption when they were forced to endure inadequate healthcare, under-resourced facilities, medicine shortages and a lack of essential equipment. “This is a travesty of justice,” Mothibi said.

He said the Asset Forfeiture Unit was an important tool in disrupting criminal syndicates and ensuring that they could not use the proceeds of alleged criminal activities to fight the state.

NPA said the outcome demonstrates the impact of collaborative efforts by government agencies working together in the fight for justice.

Sowetan

This happens all the time, including by self-appointed community leaders. My simple message to any right-thinking South African is, never listen to anyone who claims to fight for you and then block children from going to school, and workers from going to their jobs.

Isolate rogue leaders who disrupt public life. By doing that at least we’ll be showing we can think logically, and that we care about the future of our kids. – MM

“Benjamin Netanyahu will not be arrested, in any way, shape, or form, while in the United States of America,” Trump wrote in a social media post that did not refer to the mayor’s comments.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in 2024 for alleged war crimes during the Gaza war. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and denies committing war crimes.

Trump did not mention Mamdani in his Truth Social post but credited Israel with helping in the Iran war.

The New York City mayor said in an interview broadcast on Saturday that the city’s legal department is actively considering what the law might allow.

“I believe that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in The Hague. He’s a war criminal who has been charged by the International Criminal Court,” Mamdani told a New York Times video podcast called “The Interview”.

Israel says ICC arrest warrant is ‘bogus’

Netanyahu traditionally travels to New York every September for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly.

Israel responded to Mamdani’s comments on Sunday in an X post that called the ICC a kangaroo court and the arrest warrant against Netanyahu bogus.

“Mamdani appears interested in diverting public attention from his follies and attacking the leader of the Jewish state and the only democracy in the Middle East,” it said.

The ICC was established in 2002 and has international jurisdiction to prosecute genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The United States and Israel are not members of the court.

Mamdani, who took office in January, said during his mayoral campaign that he would have police arrest Netanyahu if he set foot in New York City.

Last November, shortly after Mamdani’s election victory, the mayor-elect and Trump held an unexpectedly friendly meeting in the White House even though they had previously traded insults.

Reuters

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Access to safe, reliable drinking water is not a privilege. It is a constitutional right and one of the most basic responsibilities of government.

Yet for millions of South Africans, turning on a tap still brings uncertainty. In many communities, water either does not flow at all or is unsafe for consumption, exposing families to health risks and stripping them of their dignity.

What was once regarded largely as a challenge for rural municipalities has spread to metropolitan councils that have greater financial and administrative resources.

Ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, rapid population growth, weak governance and delayed investment have combined to create a water crisis that now affects communities across the country.

Few places illustrate this failure more starkly than Hammanskraal, which falls under the City of Tshwane. For years, residents have endured unreliable and unsafe water supplies despite repeated assurances that relief was imminent. The area has become a symbol of the government’s inability to translate promises into lasting solutions.

President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to launch the National Water Access Acceleration Programme in Hammanskraal on Mandela Day was therefore both symbolic and appropriate.

Nelson Mandela believed that access to clean water was fundamental to human dignity and development. Choosing a community that has suffered for so long sent a message that the country’s water crisis deserves urgent national attention.

The programme aims to accelerate practical, sustainable and fit-for-purpose water solutions for communities that continue to lack safe drinking water. Those objectives are commendable.

More importantly, the president’s personal involvement raises expectations that this initiative will receive the political backing, coordination and accountability needed to succeed.

But South Africans have heard ambitious announcements before. Hammanskraal residents have welcomed ministers, premiers, mayors and senior officials over the years, only to watch deadlines come and go while their daily struggle continued.

Ceremonial launches and impressive speeches cannot substitute for functioning infrastructure, competent project management and measurable delivery.

The government must publish clear implementation timelines, allocate adequate funding, monitor progress rigorously and hold those responsible accountable for delays or failures.

For the people of Hammanskraal, this initiative represents another chance to restore a basic human right that should never have been denied. For communities across SA facing similar hardships, it offers a glimmer of hope.

That hope must now be matched by action. Clean, running water should not remain an election promise or a ceremonial pledge. It must become an everyday reality.

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For more than 50 years, Grassroots Educare Trust has helped shape the lives of children in vulnerable communities. Founded in 1972, the organisation has established a strong presence across the Western Cape and Northern Cape, focusing on early childhood development (ECD) and supporting childcare practitioners through training and mentorship.

In Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape, that mission is being driven by community developer Nomvuzo Funani, who believes every child deserves care, protection and the opportunity to learn. “I wanted to be that person who would help the child to grow and become a confident and strong person,” she said.

For Funani, education is a powerful tool that can protect children, help them develop and create opportunities for a brighter future.

Grassroots believes that raising young children is a shared community responsibility and that quality ECD can be provided in various settings, including homes, playgroups and ECD centres. “By ECD, we mean any setting where young children experience healthy, focused and stimulating growth – whether at home, in a playgroup, or in an ECD centre.

Empowering communities to deliver ECD is the cornerstone of our philosophy. “Our skills programmes are primarily registered with the Western Cape education department. These training programmes focus on implementing quality in both ECD centres and out-of-centre programmes, bringing structure into classrooms and into the daily activities of teachers and playgroup leaders,” said Funani.

Grassroots also provides governance and financial management training to help preschools operate effectively, with sound policies, proper accounting systems, and clear staff contracts and job descriptions.

“Our vision is not only to prepare children for school, but to help raise confident, resilient young people who can build stronger communities in the future,” said Funani.

Funding from the National Development Agency (NDA) has strengthened the Grassroots’ work in Plettenberg Bay, enabling it to reach more playgroup leaders, support compliance at childcare centres, and provide resources such as learner materials and food gardens.

“This assistance is especially important in communities where substance abuse, poverty and unstable home environments place children at risk. The Trust often has to stand in the gap for children whose parents are affected by drugs and alcohol, making sure they still receive the support, protection and learning they need,” said Funani.

With July being Nelson Mandela Month, the work of Grassroots aligns closely with the values of the late statesman. “Nelson Mandela Month is a call to serve others with compassion and purpose. Our work reflects the values associated with Mandela’s legacy: dignity, care, community upliftment and the belief that real change begins at grassroots level,” she said. – GCIS Vuk’uzenzele

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Suspended Ekurhuleni metro deputy police chief Julius Mkhwanazi appeared at the Johannesburg magistrate’s court on Monday to apply for bail for the third time this year.

He appeared along with his former girlfriend, identified as Witness K when she appeared at the Madlanga commission earlier this year. The pair are charged with the alleged theft of precious stones worth R14m in Killarney, Joburg. Their bail application was rolled over to Tuesday, and they were remanded in custody.

Here is what you need to know about Mkhwanazi

• He was first arrested on April 18 along with Ekurhuleni city manager Kagiso Lerutla for allegedly paying a person to impersonate Lerutla in court in 2019. The state accused him of helping Lerutla to find an impersonator. They were both released on R30,000 bail.
• On July 9, Mkhwanazi was arrested with former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi, suspended head of legal Adv. Kemi Behari, and suspended head of human resources Linda Gxasheka. The state alleges that Mashazi and Gxasheka protected Mkhwanazi after he was accused of fraudulently fitting blue lights to a fleet belonging to Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala. Behari and Gxasheka fraudulently increased their salaries afterwards. They were released on R50,000 bail.
• On Friday, Mkhwanazi was arrested on allegations that he was involved in the theft of precious stones in Killarney in February 2023.
• Police watchdog the Independent Police Investigative Directorate is awaiting a decision from the National Prosecuting Authority in relation to the cover-up of the murder of Emmanuel Mbense, in which Mkhwanazi was also implicated.
• Mkhwanazi also faces an internal disciplinary hearing.

Sowetan

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Public works and infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson has ordered an investigation into 6,238 state-owned residential properties allocated to government officials around the country.

Macpherson has asked the department’s director-general, Sifiso Mdakane, to investigate the properties that are allocated to various user departments and occupied by officials and to draw up a strategy for disposing of those without a clear operational purpose.

Of the 6,238 properties, 3,626 are in KwaZulu-Natal, 566 are in the Western Cape and 407 are in Gauteng. The department spent an estimated R39.6m on day-to-day maintenance during the 2025/2026 financial year, though this figure only covers 108 of more than 6,000 properties.

Mdakane has been given 30 days to submit a comprehensive report to the minister detailing who occupies each property, why it was allocated, whether it is still needed and whether it should be kept, repurposed or sold. The report must also look specifically at homes occupied by public works and infrastructure officials to ensure the same rules have been applied to everyone.

The investigation will also examine:

• the legal basis for leasing out state-owned homes, including whether the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, the Public Finance Management Act and National Treasury regulations have been followed;
• whether the rentals charged are in line with the market and whether approval was obtained for any exceptions;
• whether officials living in work or official housing qualify for it under their conditions of employment and whether the correct fringe benefit tax has been applied; and
• whether departments have handed back properties they no longer needed and whether any surplus properties should be repurposed, redeveloped, sold or released from the state’s portfolio.

Macpherson said the government should not continue carrying the cost of maintaining thousands of residential properties when many officials already receive housing benefits as part of their employment packages.

“The state should not own more than 6,000 residential properties for government officials. Unless there is a clear and compelling operational reason for the state to retain a residential property, it should be sold.”

Macpherson said properties that are no longer needed should be disposed of through a transparent and lawful process. Selling unnecessary properties would reduce government spending, generate value for the public and allow the state to focus its limited resources on infrastructure and assets that directly support service delivery.

“This is central to our commitment to use public assets for the public good and build a better South Africa.”

TimesLIVE