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Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala on Monday appeared at the Madlanga commission of inquiry, where he refused to answer some questions, saying he did not want to incriminate himself.

Matlala is facing criminal charges related to a multimillion-rand SAPS tender awarded to his company Medicare24.

Police officers who were involved in the awarding of the tender were arrested and suspended from work. Brig Rachel Matjeng, who was Matlala’s girlfriend and one of the senior officers who awarded the tender, has since been fired after Matlala admitted to giving her more than R300,000 in bribes.

Some of the questions he was asked at the Madlanga commission centred on the tender, whether he bribed senior police officers, and other questions about his relationship with alleged cartel members.

Five of the questions he refused to answer were:

• on the R228m tender awarded to Medicare24;
• whether he gave Maj-Gen Shadrack Sibiya 20 impalas, stating he disputes the recording wherein the allegations are contained;
• why Sgt Fannie Nkosi (arrested for fraud, theft, defeating the administration of justice and money laundering) was in possession of his company (Luxo Africa) bank card and for how long;
• about the R15m loan and payments between him and North West businessman Suliman Carrim;
• about his relationship with Hangwani Maumela, with whom, he told the commission, he was friends and who was a director of Matlala’s company.

Sowetan

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US President Donald Trump said on Monday that Iran should surrender to end a war with the US as talks between the countries remained stalled.

“They should put up the white flag of surrender,” Trump told a Fox News reporter during a phone interview.

An interim deal agreed to in June declared an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts”, but quickly unravelled, with Trump saying it was “over” on July 7 and Iran’s foreign ministry declaring it “suspended” a week later.

Under that memorandum of understanding, Iran and the US committed to negotiating a final deal — covering broader issues such as the fate of Iran’s nuclear programme — in a maximum of 60 days, extendable by mutual consent. Monday marks 60 days since the MOU was signed.

Separately, Oman and Iran have been in talks to try to reach an agreement to restore commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carried 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies before the US-Israeli attacks on Iran began in late February.

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Fox.

The dispute over control of the Strait of Hormuz has driven up fuel prices and put pressure on Trump to end a war that is unpopular at home ahead of the November midterm elections that will decide ‌control of the US Congress.

Trump told Fox News that the midterms were not affecting his strategy on Iran.

“Midterms have nothing to do with my thinking,” he said.

Earlier on Monday, Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “The number one Goal is, and always will be, that Iran cannot have, in any way, shape, or form, a Nuclear Weapon,” repeating one of his stated rationales for the war.

In a recent statement to Fox News, President Donald Trump warned that the US would bomb Oman if it interferes with the US blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

Tyler Kendall reports https://t.co/LqKg481aal pic.twitter.com/OnL9kxrLRx

— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) August 17, 2026

Reuters

Lev Shlosberg, the party’s deputy chairperson, was accused of discrediting Russia’s armed forces and spreading false information about them.

In a closing speech to the court in the city of Pskov last Friday, he maintained his innocence, said he was the victim of a political trial and repeated his call for an immediate ceasefire in the war that has lasted four-and-a-half years.

The verdict, published by the court, follows an August 10 decision by Russia’s Supreme Court to ban Yabloko from taking part in a parliamentary election next month.

Yabloko, the only registered political party to call for an end to the war, has come under heavy pressure from the authorities in the run-up to the election, where any sizeable anti-war vote could have embarrassed the Kremlin.

‘LIST OF MARTYRS’

Shlosberg used his closing speech to deliver a searing indictment of the war.

“The lives of countless thousands of people have been cut short during this time. Sooner or later, the precise and complete death toll — with names included — will be made public, and the entire nation will shudder at this list of martyrs,” he said, according to a transcript by Mediazona.

“Today, cemeteries in our country, including military ones, are growing far more rapidly than maternity wards, kindergartens, and schools,” he said.

Mediazona and the BBC Russian service have recorded the names of at least 239,354 Russian military dead, based on publicly available records.

Based on records of the estates of dead people, which they used to calculate excess mortality among Russian men, they estimate the true toll at more than 350,000.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine publishes up-to-date casualty figures.

Moscow says it is fighting to address security threats from Nato and Ukraine, and to defend the rights of Russian-speakers living in Ukraine. Kyiv and its Western allies reject these as a false premise for launching the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War 2.

TRIED UNDER POST-INVASION CENSORSHIP LAWS

Russia passed laws soon after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that prescribed long prison terms for those found guilty of “discrediting” the military or deliberately spreading false information about the war.

As a result, public condemnation of it is rarely heard inside the country. But individuals such as Shlosberg, human rights campaigner Oleg Orlov and the late dissident Alexei Navalny, defending themselves at trials with no realistic chance of acquittal, have seized the opportunity to speak out from the dock against what they have described as tyranny and repression.

Such criticism is not reported by state media, but can be read online by those with access to virtual private networks that allow them to bypass state-imposed internet restrictions and get access to websites that would otherwise be blocked.

Mediazona said Shlosberg’s speech was repeatedly interrupted by the judge, who urged him to stick to the facts of the case against him. But he insisted on his right to continue.

“A single person is imprisoned, yet fear seeps into the hearts of millions,” he said.

The politician was first detained in June last year and charged with discrediting the army after describing the war in Ukraine as a game of “bloody chess” in a video debate.

Prosecutors later added a charge of spreading fake news about the war in a repost on his Telegram channel.

Monday’s verdict follows the conviction in June of Yabloko’s deputy leader Maxim Kruglov, who was jailed for seven years for spreading lies about the army.

Reuters

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After touring in Europe, Afrikaans rapper Jack Parow has wrapped up his European tour and is preparing to head back to South Africa for the summer to drop his newest project, Parow Tjoef.

At the weekend, Parow became the seventh celebrity reveal on season three of The Masked Singer SA. The Bang Babbelas hitmaker spoke about his experience in disguise as “Spinach”.

“Being on The Masked Singer SA was such a great experience. It’s such a lekker show to be a part of, and I’m thankful to have been invited,” he said.

“I just finished my European tour, and I’m heading back to South Africa soon for this summer. [One thing people might not be aware of is that] I’ve done a few cameos on a couple of TV shows, but being part of The Masked Singer SA was so different. It was the first time I was on a show that judged my singing abilities.

“It was a bit of a challenge, as my voice is recognisable, as you saw with J-Something throwing my name in the hat from my first performance, even though my main focus was to try by any means to change the tone and pitch of my voice.”

While the show demanded more skills from him to fully lock in, the rapper said that maintaining a packed performance schedule, averaging two to three shows a week, was his hardest challenge.

“I always love pushing myself into different areas or trying things I haven’t before, and this was one of those,” he said.

Being “Spinach” allowed Parow to step outside his signature persona, which shifted him into an area he had not previously explored on TV.

“I’m proud to be almost 20 years in the industry and still selling out shows and being able to tour the world,” he said.

“It’s just been a mindblowing journey, and I’m so thankful for the love and support from my fans, and hopefully there are still many years left.”

As he looks ahead to the next chapter, Parow said his focus is simple: making music, performing and taking the time to appreciate the journey.

“I’m just concentrating on making new music, playing shows and most of all enjoying the journey, as it’s easy to become overwhelmed and rush through it all without realising how amazing the path is,” he said.

Sowetan

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Cryptocurrency users in SA have been warned that the growing number of cryptocurrency scams, including the use of artificial intelligence and impersonation, is putting investors and ordinary users at greater risk.

The warning comes as the latest Chainalysis Crypto Crime Report reveals that cryptocurrency scams netted at least R230bn in 2025, with the figure expected to rise to more than R280bn as more illicit wallets are identified.

Chainalysis report

Chainalysis is a blockchain data platform that uses advanced software to trace cryptocurrency transactions, helping law enforcement and financial institutions track down cybercriminals and combat financial crime.

The report shows how criminal networks are increasingly combining technology, social engineering and sophisticated money-laundering methods to target victims.

The report found that the average scam payment increased by 253% between 2024 and 2025, rising from the equivalent of about R13,000 to R47,000. Impersonation scams were among the fastest-growing forms of fraud, increasing by more than 1,400% year-on-year.

Chainalysis reported that Sub-Saharan Africa received more than R3.4 trillion in on-chain value between July 2024 and June 2025, representing growth of about 52% and making it the third-fastest-growing crypto region globally.

SA is among the countries helping drive the region’s growing institutional crypto activity, making the increasing sophistication of scams a concern for local consumers and businesses.

The latest report shows that scammers are no longer relying solely on generic investment promises or poorly written messages.

“We’re seeing increasing convergence across scam types as fraudsters leverage AI, sophisticated SMS phishing services, and complex money laundering networks to target victims more effectively than ever before,” the report states.

“Impersonation scams have emerged as a particularly concerning trend, growing more than 1400% compared to 2024.”

For South Africans, the warning is particularly relevant as cryptocurrency and digital financial platforms become increasingly accessible, making it easier for criminals to reach potential victims across borders.

The report warns that AI is likely to make these operations even more difficult to detect.

“We are moving toward a future in which virtually all scams will incorporate AI into their operations to some degree,” it states.

The report found that AI-enabled scams linked to AI vendors generated an average of about R54m, compared with roughly R12m for scams without such links, making them 4.5 times more profitable.

For South Africans, this could mean receiving a seemingly legitimate WhatsApp message, SMS, social-media communication or investment opportunity that has been specifically designed to appear trustworthy.

The danger is further amplified by the availability of cheap, ready-made criminal tools.

Chainalysis found that phishing kits, fake websites and other scam infrastructure can be bought and used by criminals without them needing advanced technical skills.

“Human trust remains among the most exploitable vulnerabilities in security infrastructures. Modern scam networks have professionalised, integrating human trafficking, money laundering, and crypto-enabled fraud into a single, industrialised business model,” the report states.

However, the report cautions against viewing cryptocurrency itself as inherently criminal.

“While the overall percentage of illicit activity remains small relative to legitimate crypto usage, the stakes have never been higher for maintaining the integrity and security of the cryptocurrency ecosystem,” the report notes.

Sowetan

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Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende, who has been a key player in the team’s success, remains focused on the club despite the fact that his contract ends in June next year.

Allende, who joined Sundowns on a three-year deal from Uruguayan club Montevideo City Torque in July 2022, said there haven’t been any talks to renew his contract.

The 27-year-old Chilean international said: “I am focused on my last year here at the club, and I haven’t spoken to anyone [regarding the extension of my contract]. I am really focused.”

“When I have to play, I will always give my 100%.” — Marcelo Allende

Speaking at the club’s media open day at their Chloorkop base on Monday, previewing Wednesday’s league clash against Marumo Gallants at Loftus Versfeld, Allende said: “When I have to play, I will always give my 100% ... because the most important thing is the result and to bring good things to the club.”

Allende, who’s scored an impressive 16 goals and 16 assists in 177 games for the Tshwane giants since his arrival, is expected to play a role when they host Marumo.

“We’ve been training well, and we are ready for the next one [against Marumo],” he said.

Sowetan

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Iran will escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and beyond and launch an attack if the US fails to implement an interim peace deal fully in a matter of weeks, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Monday.

If the US does not meet that deadline and diplomacy fails, Tehran would conduct a “timely and precise” military attack to break the US naval blockade on the Islamic Republic, the official added.

Diplomatic efforts to bring Tehran and Washington back to talks under a June agreement have stalled in recent weeks.

Iran’s foreign minister has said the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until the US first returns to the deal, while the US Treasury secretary has warned of unprecedented economic isolation for Iran.

“Within the short period of a few weeks set by Iran, all the agreement’s provisions must be implemented by the US. This is a precondition for further negotiations with the US,” the official said.

Mediators would share details of Tehran’s deadline with Washington and regional states, the official added.

“Iranian entities must be prepared to escalate tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and wider region, as Iran will be ready to make decisions and take action on difficult decisions,” the official said.

The Iranian official said Tehran was shifting its policy from defence to offence, as it was losing confidence in the merits of diplomacy with Washington.

“It is a proven fact that the US is not serious about a ceasefire and won’t commit to any, so putting pressure on the enemy or relying on mediators in the hope of reaching a permanent ceasefire is not realistic,” the official said.

Reuters

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The collapse of a tailings storage facility at Samancor’s Dikwena Chrome mine near Brits has raised concerns about the potential health risks facing surrounding communities, particularly if mining waste has entered local water sources.

The tailings facility’s compartment 1B failed on Thursday, releasing almost all the stored sludge and sending waste beyond the mine premises.

While no injuries have been reported, the water and sanitation department and the Limpopo-Olifants catchment management agency are investigating the incident, with samples of affected water being tested.

What does the collapse mean for the health of people living nearby?

According to public health expert Dr Angelique Coetzee, the immediate risks depend largely on how close people are to the affected area, the extent of the spill and, crucially, what substances are contained in the tailings.

“We do not yet know exactly what chemicals are present in the escape material or whether the surrounding water sources have been contaminated,” she said.

“Direct contact with contaminated mud or water may cause irritation on the skin.” — Public health expert, Dr Angelique Coetzee

Coetzee said one of the first concerns was the physical danger posed by the sudden movement of sludge.

While no injuries have been reported in the Dikwena incident, Coetzee said people should avoid the affected area and ensure they do not come into contact with the sludge.

“Direct contact with contaminated mud or water may cause irritation on the skin, depending on what chemicals and the concentration of those chemicals that were present,” she said.

She urged particular caution around children, who may be tempted to play in or near the sludge.

Coetzee said the risk could change once the wet sludge dries.

“If that contaminated sediment dries, then it becomes dust. And then if you inhale some of those contaminated particles, that can irritate your nose, your airways, and even aggravate asthma or other respiratory diseases,” she said.

Residents should avoid areas covered by the dried material and avoid disturbing or sweeping contaminated sediment, she said.

Coetzee identified water and food contamination as one of the community’s most important potential concerns.

“Another question to ask is, did the tailings reach the groundwater? Any boreholes or irrigation channels or surface water? And exposure could also occur through drinking, cooking, livestock or irrigated crops,” she said.

Coetzee said particular attention should be given to children, pregnant women, people with asthma or chronic lung conditions, and residents who rely on boreholes or other local water sources.

The urgent priority, she said, should be testing the tailings, soil, surface water and groundwater, followed by an assessment of dust once the material dries.

“Until those results are available, it would be irresponsible either to reassure the community that there’s no risk or to claim that they have been exposed to dangerous levels because we don’t know,” she said.

Sowetan

The contenders who emerge from Monday’s primaries are already facing a brutal race — polls suggest Likud’s popularity has plummeted since the October 7 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, and the party could lose a third of its seats.

Researchers said Likud could have an even tougher fight if its 140,000 listed members choose a roster of populist, hard-right candidates, at a time when surveys show more of its traditional voters want to head closer to the political centre.

“The gap between Likud party members and Likud voters and the general public has increased substantially, and this might have a dramatic effect on Netanyahu’s ability to win,” said analyst Nimrod Nir, at the Hebrew University’s Agam Labs.

Netanyahu courting moderates

An Agam Labs survey published on August 11 showed more than half of Likud voters — 54.9% — wanted a more centrist government than Netanyahu’s current coalition, which includes ultra-Orthodox Jewish and nationalist parties.

But just a third of the listed party members who will choose the candidates on Monday would like to see a centre-right government, according to the survey.

Two thirds wanted something similar to the outgoing coalition, formed after Netanyahu’s 2022 election victory.

The current government includes national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s ultranationalist Jewish Power party and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionism, which have advocated for depopulating Gaza and resettling it.

Netanyahu has been on a mission to recruit more moderate candidates to balance out populists who have gained momentum in the primaries race.

“As prime minister of Israel, I intend to deepen the unity within us,” Netanyahu said in a video statement posted on July 22. “Therefore, I will work to establish a broad national government, a stable government that will ensure our security and future.”

One senior former Likud member with knowledge of the party’s strategy said those efforts are so far not going well.

“If [Netanyahu] improves the list and brings better people, then maybe he will succeed, but he’s not going in the right direction,” the former party member added, without going into further details.

Four former and current senior Likud members, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the party was scrambling to win back voters who have drifted away since the last ballot.

A spokesperson for the Likud party did not respond to a request for comment.

As prime minister of Israel, I intend to deepen the unity within us.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Fifth of electorate undecided

In the Agam Labs survey — which polled about 1,000 Likud members and more than 1,000 voters — the divisions got starker when it drilled down to specific issues.

The current coalition has made concessions to the ultra-Orthodox leaders in its ranks who have been seeking to exempt their members from service in Israel’s conscript military.

The issue has become particularly contentious during the Gaza war, with non-Orthodox Jewish Israelis asking why they should have to shoulder more of the burden of the fighting in Israel’s longest conflict.

More than 80% of Likud voters want to see a rise in the number of ultra-Orthodox conscripts, according to the Agam Labs data, against just 65% among Likud members.

Such divisive topics could be pivotal in a vote where about 20% of the overall electorate describe themselves as undecided. Many of those are disillusioned Likud people that the party wants to win back, pollsters and researchers say.

“These are the people that are going to decide what’s going to happen with the election,” Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at the Hebrew University, said.

Reuters

Orlando Pirates stopped Sundowns from winning what would have been their ninth league title on the bounce when they clinched their first championship in 14 years last season. Sundowns face Marumo Gallants in their first home game of the season at Loftus Versfeld on Wednesday.

“They [other teams in the division] are still chasing us because everything revolves around Mamelodi Sundowns, and that shows the great work we have been doing throughout the years,” Kekana said during the club’s media open day at their base in Chloorkop on Monday.

“Not being the defending champions takes a bit of pressure off us, but we are still in the mix, and we want that league.”

Kekana is of the view that complacency was their major undoing last season, where they won only the CAF Champions League, stressing the importance of guarding against it this term as they aim for more trophies.

“The one thing we have to do this season is to guard against complacency. There were moments last season where we thought things would fall into place for us instead of us actually grabbing games by the neck,” Kekana said.

“I think sometimes we got a bit complacent last season. This season we have to make sure we get the results because complacency creeps in.

“Obviously, we only won one trophy last season, and this season, with the additions that we have, we are looking to challenge and compete for more trophies.”

Sundowns have won two of their opening three games of the season and drawn one. Many feel the Brazilians haven’t yet hit top form, despite remaining unbeaten. Kekana is of the view that they have been OK, insisting they can’t hit top gear from the word go.

“If you look at the way we played against Chiefs, I think we dominated possession. So, we are still Mamelodi Sundowns, the African champions, and sometimes we are not going to start the season sprinting 100 miles an hour,” Kekana said.

“It’s a build-up for us. There are a lot of positives we can take from the games we have played so far. We haven’t lost, and we dominated all the games.”

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The violent past of Rassie Nkuna, who is serving a life sentence for murdering his girlfriend and her sister, and who is also awaiting sentence for murdering a man and his pregnant wife, has been laid bare in court.

Records show that Nkuna’s first recorded case was in 2013, when he was accused of reckless driving. Over the next decade, his criminal offending escalated, with him eventually being linked to at least 25 cases, including armed robbery, rape, vehicle theft and murder.

Nkuna’s criminal history is detailed in a clinical psychology report presented at the Pretoria high court last week as the court considers aggravating and mitigating factors ahead of his sentencing for the March 2022 double murder of Gauteng couple Lucky and his pregnant wife, Sabeliwe Mogashoa.

Nkuna and his co-accused, former police officer Jacob Chego, were convicted of the Mogashoa couple’s murders and are expected to be sentenced in September.

Nkuna is already serving a life sentence for murdering his police officer girlfriend, Pretty Mazibuko, and her sister, Marcia, in 2022. He is also on trial for the murder of Nonkululeke Crystal Nkosi and the murder of Hillary Gardee, daughter of EFF deputy president Godrich Gardee.

According to Lt-Gen Favourite Selepe’s report, Nkuna has been linked to at least 25 cases, with the first recorded in 2013, when he was charged with reckless driving.

“The accused person presents a significant threat to human life, with a sudden surge in murders throughout 2022,” Selepe said in her affidavit.

In 2015, Nkuna was sentenced to four years’ direct imprisonment for possession of a stolen vehicle and an unlicensed firearm.

Records show that he was released on parole in 2016. A year later, he was linked to two cash-in-transit robberies and carjackings.

Between 2018 and 2019, Nkuna is believed to have committed eight armed robberies and was linked through DNA to three rape cases committed in a period of two months.

Selepe said the pattern of offending was particularly concerning.

“Rape had become a regular part of his behaviour, rather than a single event. This behaviour is consistent with a serial rape and thus the classification of serial rapist,” she said.

She added that the combination of armed robberies and rape offences suggested that Nkuna was a highly adaptable offender who posed a significant risk of reoffending.

“Committing both armed robberies and rapes in the same policing area shows a flexible offender, which strongly indicates a high likelihood of reoffending,” Selepe said.

Between 2019 and 2022, Nkuna was back in custody. In January 2022 he was released on parole.

Nkuna is alleged to have used different birthdates to avoid case linkage.

Sowetan, in March 2025, reported on how a parole board released Nkuna, who had absconded from his sentence and was classified as a high risk, despite this, he was not properly monitored. He went on to kill six people before his arrest in August 2022.

Selepe recommended that Nkuna be sentenced to life imprisonment.

“His criminal career demonstrates that neither passage of time nor convictions have produced any reform or cessations of offending.”

A separate confidential psycho-legal report seen by Sowetan and compiled by Col Thabiso Ntshangase also painted a bleak picture of Nkuna’s prospects for rehabilitation.

Ntshangase said the assessment could not establish any mitigating factors because Nkuna refused to co-operate with the assessment.

He concluded that Nkuna posed a significant future risk of violence and sexual offending.

The court also heard mitigation and sentencing submissions relating to Chego.

Ayanda Ndala, the social worker who compiled Chego’s pre-sentence report, said he had no previous convictions and had been described by his family as a kind and loving person.

However, Ndala said the seriousness of the offence left the court with no option but not to impose a suspended sentence.

She recommended that the court impose the prescribed sentence, noting that Chego had not taken responsibility for the offence despite being convicted.

Sowetan

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The Special Tribunal has authorised the sale of a Ferrari SF90 Stradale linked to controversial businessman Hangwani Morgan Maumela, with the luxury hybrid supercar expected to fetch at least R9.5m.

The Ferrari, which was purchased for more than R11.1m in April 2022, is among several luxury vehicles preserved as part of the Special Investigating Unit’s (SIU’s) probe into alleged corruption and maladministration at Tembisa Hospital.

The SIU alleges that about R2bn was looted from the hospital through irregular procurement processes.

The Ferrari belongs to the MHR Maumela Family Trust, which, together with Maumela, is part of what the SIU refers to as the “Maumela Syndicate”.

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the preservation of the vehicles and other assets was part of efforts to ensure that assets linked to the investigation were not dissipated while the legal process continued.

“The offer took into consideration the costs associated with keeping the vehicle, including storage of R5,000 a month and insurance of R8,333.33 a month.

“There are also battery replacement costs of R104,857 and an estimated R408,000 in warranty reinstatement and factory-related costs,” he said.

In its latest judgment, the tribunal authorised curator Jacobus Gideon Louw Van Wyk to sell the Ferrari for no less than R9.5m.

According to Makgotho, the proceeds will be deposited into an interest-bearing Trust account and used to maintain other assets under the curator’s control.

The SIU has previously said its investigation traced a network of companies and assets allegedly linked to the “Maumela Syndicate”.

Makgotho said the vehicles and properties were attached as part of the civil proceedings and that the preservation process was aimed at safeguarding assets while the matter was being litigated.

The Ferrari’s sale was requested by Van Wyk, who told the tribunal that disposing of the vehicle was necessary and prudent to preserve its value and generate liquidity to carry out his mandate.

The application was opposed by the Maumela Syndicate, which argued, among other things, that the Ferrari was not rapidly depreciating and could instead appreciate in value.

“Two valuations placed the vehicle’s value at R10.2m and R10.165m. The respondents also presented two offers to purchase the Ferrari, one for R10m dated July 1 2026 and another for R10,999,995 dated July 27 2026,” Makgotho said.

Special Tribunal president Judge Bernard Makgabo Ngoepe found that there were sufficient grounds to authorise the sale, even though there was no evidence of “rapid” depreciation.

The judge found that the ongoing storage and insurance costs could continue for an extended period, while there was no evidence that the vehicle would appreciate sufficiently to offset those expenses.

The tribunal also dismissed the Maumela Syndicate’s counterclaim seeking Van Wyk’s removal as curator, with costs.

Makgotho previously said the SIU had preserved several luxury assets linked to Maumela as part of its investigation. Among the vehicles identified were several Lamborghinis, an Aston Martin and a Ferrari SF90 hybrid valued at approximately R10m.

The investigation into the alleged Tembisa Hospital looting is ongoing.

Hichilema’s share of the valid votes rose to roughly 62%, up from 59% late on Sunday.

His main challenger, Brian Mundubile, was on 36% of valid votes, down from 39% overnight.

A presidential candidate must receive more than 50% of the vote to win in the first round, or face a run-off between the top two contenders.

Analysts had predicted Hichilema, 64, would win the election due to the advantages of incumbency and a fractured opposition, although Mundubile drew large crowds during campaigning.

Zambia is the continent’s second-largest copper producer after Democratic Republic of the Congo and is of strategic interest for its critical minerals.

Late on Sunday Zambia’s government said police had arrested several leading opposition figures on the night of the election on August 13, accusing them of posing a threat to state security.

Opposition parties and civil society groups accused the government of growing repression in the lead-up to the election, including placing restrictions on their meetings and campaign activities. The government has denied the accusations.

Reuters

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Alleged cartel member Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has refused to tell the Madlanga commission of inquiry the nature of his relationships with senior members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) because they are affected by a recording which he is disputing.

Dressed in a stylish green suit, Matlala, who is believed to have infiltrated the criminal justice system, described himself as an adult businessman in custody.

I claim the privilege against self-incrimination

Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala

The commission, which is investigating allegations of criminal infiltration of the criminal justice system, served Matlala with a subpoena [through a rule 10.6 notice] which notified him that he had been implicated in criminal activity and that the commission wanted responses from him.

Among the questions he was asked were to detail the nature of his relationship with officials such as Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya and KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss Maj-Gen Lesetja Senona and whether he had given them any gratification.

Matlala didn’t respond to this question, prompting evidence leader Adv Sello Mahlape to ask why.

“It has to do with the recordings which I am disputing, so I did not want to add them now because now I [will] have to dive deep and explain why I am saying I am disputing. We still have [to get] transcripts because some are unofficial,” Matlala said.

Alleged criminal cartel member Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has arrived at the Madlanga commission of inquiry in Tshwane. He is expected to testify today and tomorrow.
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Video: @Moloi_Herman1 pic.twitter.com/5Id31s8XSW

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 17, 2026

Mahlape then asked whether Matlala’s ignoring to address the nature of his relationship with the two individuals was due to the fact there is a recording which he intends to dispute.

Matlala agreed.

The commission previously heard a recording believed to have been made in December 2024, when Matlala’s house was being raided.

In the recording, a person believed to be Matlala details a number of relationships he has with senior police officials.

In the same recording, a man, believed to be Witness C, asked Matlala whether he had ever bought 20 impalas for Sibiya.

When asked about the controversial R228m Medicare24 Tshwane District tender he had with the SAPS, Matlala revoked his right not to self-incriminate.

“I am currently facing a criminal charge which is pending before court with respect to the Medicare tender. In light of [that] I ... do not wish to give evidence that may lead to self-incrimination; therefore, I claim the privilege against self-incrimination.”

The tender to conduct a health awareness assessment of police members was cancelled after it was found that it was awarded irregularly.

The commission’s hearings continues.

Sowetan

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Khalil Al-Hayya, the Hamas chief who met US envoy Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, in Cairo on Sunday, emerged as a pivotal figure in the Palestinian militant group during the Gaza war as Israel killed its other leaders.

Named Hamas’ overall leader in July, Hayya narrowly escaped assassination himself in a 2025 Israeli airstrike in Qatar that killed his son and aides.

The Cairo meeting marked Hayya’s second with Kushner: in October 2025, he led a Hamas delegation in negotiations with Kushner and US envoy Steve Witkoff, helping to clinch a deal that led to a ceasefire and the release of remaining hostages seized in the Hamas-led attacks on Israel in October 2023.

The meetings have marked a departure from Washington’s longstanding policy of shunning Hamas, which the US designates as a terrorist group.

Hayya served as part of a five-member council that ran the group from 2024 after Israel killed Hamas leader Yahya Al-Sinwar — one of the masterminds of the October 7 2023 attacks that ignited the Gaza war.

On his watch, Hamas agreed in July to lay down its weapons under a Trump-backed plan linking its disarmament to Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza — a once unimaginable declaration from a group that was pummelled by Israel during the war.

Hamas has rejected the word “disarmament”, instead saying it has agreed to hand over its weapons to be stored under the control of a US-backed Palestinian technocratic government.

Israel has rejected the plan, which also foresees Gaza being rebuilt, saying it won’t withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed.

A Hamas veteran

Born in the Gaza Strip in 1960, Hayya joined the Sunni Islamist Muslim Brotherhood movement from which Hamas emerged in 1987. He has a PhD in Islamic Studies.

He rose through the Hamas ranks alongside figures such as Sinwar — serving as his deputy for Gaza — and Ismail Haniyeh, another former Hamas leader who was assassinated by Israel in Tehran in 2024.

The Doha airstrike was not Hayya’s first narrow escape.

In 2007, an Israeli airstrike hit his family home in Gaza City’s Sejaiyeh quarter, killing several of his relatives. Hayya was not there at the time.

In 2008, his son Hamza was killed in an Israeli attack in Gaza. During a war between Hamas and Israel in 2014, the house of Hayya’s eldest son, Osama, was bombed, killing him, his wife and three of their children.

Azzam Al-Hayya, another of his sons, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City in May while Hayya was engaged in talks with mediators.

Azzam was the twin brother of Hammam Al-Hayya — the son killed in the Doha strike.

Hayya left Gaza in 2021, basing himself in Qatar along with other members of Hamas’ exiled political leadership.

From Doha, he served as Hamas’ point person with Arab and Islamic states, among other roles.

Among Hamas watchers, Hayya is seen as part of a camp that deepened the group’s ties to Shi’ite Muslim Iran, which provided the group with arms and finance before the Gaza war.

Hayya was closely involved in numerous rounds of indirect negotiations with Israel during the Gaza war before a ceasefire deal was finally reached.

I told him that I had lost a son and that we were both members of a really bad club, parents who have buried children

Steve Witkoff, US envoy

Exchanging condolences with Witkoff

Trump granted Witkoff and Kushner permission to speak directly to Hamas as he sought to secure an end to the war and the release of the remaining hostages.

Their October 8 2025 meeting with the Hayya-led delegation was the highest-profile encounter yet between the US and Hamas.

Witkoff said he had expressed condolences to Hayya during their meeting for the loss of his son Hammam in Israel’s Doha airstrike.

“I told him that I had lost a son and that we were both members of a really bad club, parents who have buried children,” Witkoff told CBS News’ 60 Minutes programme.

Hayya has said he and Witkoff exchanged “humane words” over the loss of their sons.

He also set out core Hamas demands.

“We told them what we want. We want stability, we want a Palestinian entity, and we want a Palestinian state in accordance with international law and relevant resolutions. We want to live in peace so that the region can stabilise, and without that, the region will not stabilise,” he told Al Jazeera in an interview.

Defending the right to ‘resistance’

Hamas’ 1988 founding charter called for the destruction of Israel, though Hamas leaders have at times offered a long-term truce with Israel in return for a viable Palestinian state on all Palestinian territory occupied by Israel in the 1967 war.

Israel regards this as a ruse.

"It is a very critical moment for Benjamin Netanyahu"

Sky's @DiMagnaySky has the latest as Trump's envoy Jared Kushner met Hamas leader Khalil al Hayya in a bid to make progress on the Gaza ceasefire plan rejected by Israel.

Kushner is set to meet Netanyahu today. pic.twitter.com/qhhUv6LfUM

— Sky News (@SkyNews) August 17, 2026

Hayya has been cited as saying the October 7 attack had been meant as a limited operation to capture “a number of soldiers” to swap for jailed Palestinians.

“But the Zionist army unit completely collapsed,” he said in comments published by the Hamas-linked Palestinian Information Centre in 2024, referring to Israel’s military.

Hamas-led militants killed 1,200 people in the October 7 attack on Israel and abducted another 251. Israel’s retaliatory offensive killed more than 73,000 people, according to Gaza health authorities.

Despite the devastation caused by Israel’s Gaza offensive, Hayya said in a December 2025 speech that “the resistance” had shown “the enemy can be defeated” and that the myth of Israeli “strategic deterrence” had been shattered.

He has also said the Palestinian issue has been put back on the international agenda.

Reuters

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Zambian police arrested several leading opposition figures on the night of national elections last week, accusing them of posing a threat to state security, the government said.

Votes were still being counted on Monday from Thursday’s presidential and parliamentary elections, with partial results showing President Hakainde Hichilema in the lead.

The election is widely seen as a test of whether Hichilema’s economic gains since a pandemic-era debt crisis are enough to win him a second term in the major copper producer.

His main rival, opposition leader Brian Mundubile, said heavily armed personnel had raided his residence after the election in what he described as an attack on his life.

The government said late on Sunday that Mundubile had been at the scene when 11 people were apprehended and shots had been fired from the premises at law enforcement agents, resulting in an exchange of fire.

It said individuals had been found “in possession of high-grade military weapons, ammunition and other materials for use in armed insurrection” and that they had been under surveillance for months.

The government named six people who it said were in custody, including a spokesperson for Mundubile. The others arrested were “senior members of certain political parties in Zambia”.

Opposition representatives had been calling for the safe return of some members of Mundubile’s inner circle who they said had been detained or had disappeared.

Opposition parties and civil society groups accused the government of growing repression in the lead-up to the election, including placing restrictions on their meetings and campaign activities. The government has denied the accusations.

Reuters

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Corruption accused Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has invoked the right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence before the Madlanga commission of inquiry in relation to a controversial R228m South African Police Service (SAPS) tender scandal.

On Monday, Matlala took to the witness box to testify before the commission after being implicated by several witnesses that he allegedly bankrolled police bosses in the tender awarded to his company, Medicare24.

“The SAPS and Medicare contract is a matter in which I have been criminally charged and currently attending court, and as such I am unable to comment on the question posed … the basis is that I do not wish to incriminate myself,” Matlala said in response to a question to explain the circumstances of the tender and whether he gave any gratifications to police officers.

The constitution provides that every accused person has a right to a fair trial, which includes the right not to be compelled to give self-incriminating evidence.

“I remain an accused in that matter together with my companies, and as such, evidence is still to be led in an open court with respect to this matter,” he said.

“I am entitled to be presumed innocent until proven guilty and also not to answer self-incriminating questions, especially on such a complex matter that the state has already preferred charges against me.”

The Medicare24 contract has been central to the commission’s probe into allegations of criminal infiltration in law enforcement agencies.

Matlala has been accused of gifting and paying large sums of money to police deputy commissioner Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya and former police organised crime investigations boss Maj-Gen Richard Shibiri, and having had dealings with SAPS officer Sgt Fannie Nkosi.

Matlala’s invoking the right not to self-incriminate means he will not answer the commission’s questions about some of the major parts of the allegations made against him regarding the tender.

Matlala also asked not to answer questions in relation to his co-accused in the corruption case. That includes Brig Rachel Matjeng, whom the state alleges Matlala paid about R300,000 in bribes.

On Monday, he told the commission he had no relationship with suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu, and denied having given any gratifications for the benefit of the minister.

“It suffices to say, I do not know minister Mchunu,” he said.

It was alleged that Matlala spent thousands on politician Brown Mogotsi in hopes of influencing Mchunu and protecting his multi-million-rand contract, which SAPS cancelled in May 2025.

Matlala said the same about crime intelligence boss Maj-Gen Feroz Khan.

“I do not have any relationship with Maj-Gen Khan. I have never met him and have had no interactions with him,” said Matlala.

The commission continues to hear his testimony.

Business Day

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Deep house music is having a comeback moment with the kids, and Dark Horse is at the forefront of this sonic resurgence.

The Bushbuckridge-born DJ and producer, real name Ntando Sithole, is less a comeback than a rediscovery of a sound that has gone through many evolutions.

He speaks to Sowetan about his latest album, Flora Ntlemo.

Who is Ntando Sithole when he steps away from the Dark Horse?

I’m a simple person. Most of my time is in the studio, about 85% of my time. When I’m not there, I’m at home listening to music with my wife, watching movies, or hanging out with friends. My wife is always watching TV, so whenever there’s something South African, she’ll call me to come and watch with her. The last thing we watched together was The Polygamist.

How does it feel to see deep house gaining renewed attention?

Deep house is one genre that doesn’t expire. I’m not trying to say amapiano is a trend, but with every new genre that comes in, we always think it’s the thing. Then after that season, everyone realises it’s time for us to listen to music.

It’s time to go back to deep house. There was a time when hip-hop was the thing. After that, it was deep house. Then there was also a time when Afro music was the thing; however, the consistency of deep house has always been there. People only realise it once a certain genre is fading out. Deep house has always been there, and it will live forever.

What does your latest album Flora Ntlemo tell us about the state of deep house?

With this album, I unlocked a whole new level of deep house. Things were a bit different back then, but after this drop, it brought light to many deep-house producers. The rollout of the album showed that deep house can be successful again. Today I was laughing because my previous album is even back on the charts. You don’t often get that in deep house.

What are you seeing from the younger generation of deep house artists?

I see the new kids in the deep house space moving differently. They’re not moving like the old days, when deep house had to be underground and exclusive. Now the deep house kids are going all out.

Who are the “OGs” that paved the way?

It’s the OGs who introduced us to this deep house — Vinny Da Vinci, Glen Lewis and DJ Christos. Big shout-out to them. We are here because of them. They paved the way for house music and for us to thrive.

The most beautiful thing is for this generation to see them in their late 50s still doing the same thing they were doing 30 years ago. That’s so inspiring. It makes us believe that we can make this thing work.

What’s next?

I’m working on 2027 music. I’ll drop something right after Easter. I’ll take another six or seven months and drop something. I go to the studio and make music. When the time comes, I have the library to choose from.

Sowetan

The singer and actress known for her prolific roles in Lockdown, Durban Gen and Umkhokha has booked her next lead role after winning her first SA Film and Television Award (Safta) for her buzzy role in iThonga.

In the new e.tv drama Land of Mills and Money, she is joined by a stellar cast of Winnie Ntshaba, Zamani Mbatha, Themba Ndaba, Jo-Anne Reyneke, Sphelele Luthuli, Mbali Ngiba, Kenneth Nkosi, Thandeka Qwabe and Gcinile Nkosi.

She speaks to Sowetan about the new role.

How did it feel to land the Phiwe role?

Words cannot express. Besides the fact that it’s a lead role, to get a job is something I’m grateful for because we all know how hard it is in our industry to move from one gig to another. It wasn’t long after I had finished shooting and winning a Safta a few months ago, and already something else is happening. I’m grateful to my ancestors that everything seems to be aligning the way it’s supposed to.

Who is Phiwe?

Phiwe is a police officer, which I love because I enjoy embodying different professions. At some point I played a doctor, lawyer and cook. Recently, I played a spoilt brat who was also a businesswoman. It’s something that is very challenging because there’s a lot of fighting that needs to be done. Phiwe is also a first-born daughter who takes care of her family. That is something I’m very used to because of how I grew up. First-born daughters carry a lot. They become deputy parents because they have to take care of their families.

What is it like working with such a stellar cast?

I was star-struck. I grew up watching these people on TV, and now working with them kind of gives me hope. I remember when I was shooting with Winnie, I was shaking. She came to my room and said, “Let’s run the scene,” and I was thinking, “I don’t want to mess this up.” I went to the bathroom and had a little prayer. I said, “Lord, you’re the one who put me here. You have to sustain me.” This was because I was quite anxious a the intense scene I was about to shoot with Winnie.

Which would you choose between music and acting?

That’s one thing I cannot choose. Both of them play a huge role in my life. I love being a musician, but I’m taking a break from music. It’s been five years. I’m putting my energy into acting. I’m going back to the studio soon.

How did you transition from music to acting?

I’ve got criticism from other shows that I’ve done. People just thought, “She’s a musician. Why is she acting?” Not knowing that, I’m a professional actress. I’m a musical theatre graduate from TUT, so what I’m doing is what I studied and what I’m passionate about. I cannot wait for people to see me in a different space and profession and still as an actress.

It’s important to show versatility and how far you can go as a person. I’m also grateful because I’m not typecast. I might be typecast in terms of having a love triangle all the time, but in terms of the profession that I do on shows, it’s vastly different.

Launched at Monterey Car Week in the US over the weekend, the Revuelto follows other cars that wore the revered moniker: Miura SV (1971), Diablo SV (1995), Murciélago LP 670-4 Super Veloce (2009), and the Aventador SV (2015).

The Revuelto SV gains more power, sheds weight and gains aerodynamic and chassis setup tweaks for better performance and handling. To be built in a limited series of 1,963 units, a tribute to the year the Italian carmaker was founded, the Revuelto SV is reserved for the brand’s most loyal customers.

“Every element has been developed to make the experience behind the wheel even more intense, direct and engaging,” says Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Automobili Lamborghini.

Delivering a combined output of 783kW from its plug-in hybrid V12 powertrain — 36kW more than the standard Revuelto — the SV is the most powerful production Lamborghini yet to come out of the Sant’Agata Bolognese factory.

Powered by a naturally aspirated V12 engine paired with three electric motors and a new high-performance battery, the Italian supercar also has an astonishing 1,425Nm of torque. The all-wheel drive car dispatches the 0-100km/h sprint in a claimed 2.4 seconds, 0-200km/h in 6.7 seconds, and runs to a top speed exceeding 345km/h.

Race-derived suspension features manually adjustable dampers and optimised damping for 10% more lateral grip than the standard Revuelto, while enhanced stopping ability comes from F1-inspired carbon-ceramic brake discs.

Optimised aerodynamics deliver 80% more total downforce, which helped the SV set the production car lap record at Germany’s Hockenheimring with a time of 1:41.6, set by Lamborghini factory driver Marco Mapelli. For track days, the car is available with new high-grip Bridgestone Potenza Race R semi-slick tyres.

The Revuelto SV has a dedicated Pilota driving mode for a more customisable track driving experience, which can be used to activate different levels of traction control driving settings.

Lambo’s most powerful bull is styled with a new front treatment, dedicated Super Veloce livery and extensive use of visible carbon fibre. The 3D-Superlight Dromos wheels — available in 20″ front and 21″ rear sizes — have centre locks with a distinctive hexagonal structure.

Inside, the Revuelto SV has ultra-lightweight carbon fibre door panels and specially developed racing seats available in Corsa-Tex and leather upholstery.

The Lamborghini Revuelto SV is priced at about $740,000 (R11.9m) before local taxes and import duties.

Baidoa, home to hundreds of thousands of people displaced by conflict and hunger in other areas, was shaken by hours of fighting between federal soldiers and opposition forces loyal to the former president of South West state, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed ​Laftagareen.

Residents said the clashes in the city centre on Monday were the fiercest since March, when federal forces seized control of Baidoa after ​Laftagareen’s administration said it was severing ties with the federal government. Laftagareen then resigned from office.

Struggling to contain a two-decade-old insurgency by the al Shabaab militant group and stave off famine, the federal government has been facing growing armed resistance from state governments.

State authorities have rejected Mogadishu’s influence over state elections and rejected constitutional changes they said concentrate power in the hands of the executive.

Somalia’s defence ministry said troops in Baidoa had come under attack before dawn by fighters using vehicles laden with explosives. It said its forces had driven the assailants out of Baidoa, killing about 30 of them.

Four Baidoa residents said federal troops had driven the opposition fighters out of town, and reported seeing dead bodies.

“I saw 10 dead people, including four civilians and six soldiers from both groups,” said local elder Farah Ibrahim.

Laftagareen’s camp, which earlier in the morning said on Facebook its forces had captured the city centre, could not be immediately reached for comment.

Baidoa faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with one in four children at its displacement sites severely malnourished, according to a July survey by the French medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres.

Reuters

But when one of the country’s largest exporters and the buyer of all his cocoa beans, Sunbeth Global, warned that he could lose access to the EU, which buys 60% of the world’s cocoa, he eventually agreed.

Ayaninuola, selling to the big and well-resourced exporter, is in an enviable position compared with other growers in the area and elsewhere.

Industry experts estimate that when the EU law banning commodity imports linked to deforestation comes into effect at the end of December, farmers who grow more than half the beans in the world’s fourth-largest cocoa producer could fail to meet the bloc’s rules. Nigeria has about 300,000 mostly small-scale cocoa farmers, according to the Nigerian Export Promotion Council.

The situation is similar across West Africa, including the top grower Ivory Coast. Industry experts say struggles to comply with the law could squeeze the region’s exports to the EU and lead to higher costs for its chocolate makers.

The region grows about 70% of the world’s cocoa beans and ships about two-thirds to the EU, data from the World Bank, EU and UN show.

“There’s a distinct possibility that in the early days of the law, EU importers won’t be able to get enough compliant cocoa from indirect or third-party shippers from origins such as Nigeria, from Ivory Coast, from anywhere,” said sustainability consultant Nicko Debenham, a former global cocoa trader.

Debenham estimates that the supply squeeze in the EU could last about two years, during which exporters who have invested in meeting the bloc’s rules would command a premium from chocolate makers for their beans.

Counting the compliance costs

Aimed at ending the 10% of global deforestation fuelled by the bloc’s consumption of imported goods, the EU law will require that importers of commodities and related goods prove their products weren’t grown on recently deforested land by, among other measures, tracing their raw materials back to the plot where they were grown.

Twice delayed due to its complexity, the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) also requires proof from importers that the goods were produced in accordance with laws in the country of origin.

Compliance is costly and challenging, cocoa buyers say, especially in countries such as Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Ghana, where the industry comprises hundreds of thousands of small-scale farmers living in remote, rural areas.

Exporters have to map all the individual farms, verify land use and maintain — throughout a multilayered supply chain — digital traceability records that EU buyers can rely on.

In Ivory Coast, only about half the cocoa can be traced to where it was grown, NPO Trase said in a study released in May, largely because the rest of the supply chain is indirect or involves several intermediaries.

Eating into margins

Major Nigerian cocoa exporters such as Sunbeth Global say compliance is proving expensive, with EU buyers resisting efforts so far to pass on the costs.

Sunbeth said it spent the past three years mapping 124,000ha of farmland in southern Nigeria, covering about 60,000 tonnes of cocoa in its supply chain, at a cost of $30 (R485) to $70 (R1,132) per tonne.

The company has also deployed hundreds of field agents over the past three years to train its farmers to comply with Nigerian laws, including those against child and forced labour, and hired a 35-person sustainability team that works with Amsterdam-based data verification specialist Meridia, it said.

“It is expensive to do this [and] in early conversations with our offtakers, there has been some pushback over who will bear the cost of EUDR compliance,” Sunbeth COO Nzubechukwu Anisiobi said.

“The cost-benefit analysis right now is eating into our margins.”

Starlink Global and Ideal, Nigeria’s biggest cocoa exporter, which ships about 60,000 tonnes a year, said it has spent $40 (R647) to $80 (R1,293) a tonne mapping and tracing its supply chain since 2023 — costs it says have yet to be recovered from European buyers.

Reuters

The new model is a road-going evolution of the D7X-R that made a winning competitive debut at this year’s Dakar Rally. Three D7X-Rs finished first, second and fourth in the new stock class after 14 days of competition, while the team also claimed a 1-2-3 result on 10 of the 13 stages. The cars covered a combined 24,000km during the event.

Rather than simply borrowing some of the race car’s styling, the Defender Dakar retains its D7X body architecture, transmission and driveline. These components are based on those of the high-performance Defender OCTA.

Power comes from the D7X-R’s 4.4l twin-turbocharged V8, but the road car is free from the restrictions imposed by Dakar regulations. It therefore produces its full 467kW and 750Nm, with additional cooling to cope with the demands of its performance and off-road capability.

The suspension has also been developed with the race car in mind. The Defender Dakar rides on coil springs with motorsport-proven Bilstein Advanced Dampers, while 35″ Advanced All-Terrain Tyres are fitted to new forged 20″ wheels.

It also gets two new off-road driving modes, Dunes and Gravel, alongside Flight Mode. Originally developed for the D7X-R, the latter is designed to help control the vehicle when it becomes airborne over rough terrain and manage its landings.

Its appearance leaves little doubt about where the Defender Dakar comes from. The specification includes roof-mounted light pods, a fixed metal roof, carbon fibre raised air intakes and bonnet, extended wheel arches with exposed rivets, a tailgate blanking plate and mudflaps. An enhanced metal front undershield and additional underbody protection add further protection beneath the vehicle.

The signature colour combination is Dakar Sand with a Yanbu Turquoise roof, inspired by the livery of the race-winning D7X-R. Narvik Black and Alaska White will also be available, with a matte protective film offered as an option.

Inside, the Defender Dakar takes a more focused approach than the standard SUV, with a 2+2 seating layout and front race seats designed specifically for the model. Buyers will be able to specify four-point racing harnesses, while the rear stowage area has been designed to accommodate race helmets.

The loadspace also incorporates dedicated mounting points for the spare wheel and an air compressor.

Registrations of interest are now open through JLR retailers, with reservations due to open in early 2027. Defender says more technical details and specifications will be revealed at the 2027 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.

Netanyahu, whose ruling coalition is trailing in Israeli opinion polls ahead of an October national election, this month publicly rejected a US-backed agreement that would see Hamas surrender its arms in exchange for Israel withdrawing from Gaza.

Trump had said the agreement would be carried ​out in phases, with Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza as disarmament ​proceeded and an international stabilisation force worked with a new Palestinian police force to secure the territory.

However, Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving leader, said the country’s military will only withdraw once Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza have been completely disarmed. Diplomats said Israel is unlikely to make any major concessions over Gaza ahead of the October 27 election.

Kushner pushes for Gaza plan

Kushner was joined at the Jerusalem meeting with Netanyahu by Nickolay Mladenov, Trump’s board of peace envoy for Gaza, two sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly.

Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mladenov, a former UN official with close ties to the United Arab Emirates, helped broker last month’s disarmament agreement and is widely seen as leading efforts to implement Trump’s original 20-point plan to end the war, which Israel and Hamas agreed to last year.

However, there has so far been little progress, with Israel continuing to carry out strikes on Gaza despite agreeing to a ceasefire as part of Trump’s plan. Hamas last month agreed to a new US-backed 15-point roadmap aimed at moving Trump’s plan forward. Israel rejected that roadmap.

Earlier, a source said Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya had been present at some of the meetings in Cairo on Sunday that mediators held with Kushner and Mladenov.

It marks Kushner’s second known meeting with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian militant group designated a terrorist movement by the US.

Kushner previously met Hamas officials alongside US envoy Steve Witkoff in October 2025, helping clinch a deal that led to a ceasefire in Gaza and the release of remaining hostages seized by Hamas in the October 7 2023 attack on Israel.

Trump said in late July a deal had been reached for the complete disarmament ‌of Hamas and other armed groups in Gaza. Hamas has said it agreed to the plan, but the deal’s implementation would depend on Israel first meeting its own commitments, including withdrawal and halting attacks.

Reuters

Mama Ka Bafana hitmaker Nelisiwe Sibiya is booked and busy and on top of her acting game five years after stepping away from music.

The singer and actress known for her prolific roles in Lockdown, Durban Gen and Umkhokha has booked her next lead role after winning her first SA Film and Television Award (Safta) for her buzzy role in iThonga.

Click here to read more.

Feeling hot and bothered? Exploring the link between hormones and mental health

When a woman goes through perimenopause and menopause phases, the shift in hormones can give them more than just hot flushes; it can affect their mental health.

You could be experiencing mood swings, insomnia — lack of sleep affects how your body and brain function the next day — or it could be anxiety and depression.

Click here to read more.

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

Sowetan

“The police officer was caught in the act and was arrested after the sting operation,” Western Cape SAPS spokesperson Sgt Wesley Twigg said.

“The cash was found in his possession, and the contraband was confiscated in the cells.”

Provincial police commissioner Lt-Gen Sizakhele Dyantyi warned officers who are involved in corrupt activities, saying he is taking a zero-tolerance stance.

TimesLIVE

The 39-year-old went in for emergency surgery as a 7.7-magnitude earthquake and aftershocks ravaged the East Nusa Tenggara province, the country’s worst disaster since 2022, fighting off the tremors and her declining health to deliver her fourth child.

“During the surgery I was not afraid,” said Kelen, who lives in the region of Nagekeo, close to the quake’s epicentre. “I had to be healthy for my kids.”

Her delivery came two months ahead of schedule due to a complicated pregnancy that posed risks for mother and child, forcing doctors to use flashlights to perform the surgery during intermittent power outages as the hospital building shook mercilessly. Her doctors said Kelen could have suffered from a fatal seizure had they delayed the birth.

“We had no choice,” said her obstetrician, Yona Sara Pardede. “We were afraid. The surgery was difficult as she was a small baby. I asked God to help us. We don’t have a ventilator.”

Her daughter Gempita was named after the Indonesian word for earthquake. “Gempa”.

Fear of aftershocks

Saturday’s disaster, the country’s deadliest since a 2022 quake killed hundreds in West Java, has so far killed 54 people across the East Nusa Tenggara province.

Many medical professionals across Indonesia’s southernmost province treated people with injuries in tents as the quake damaged hundreds of hospitals and homes.

On Monday, rescuers scoured the area for people feared trapped under rubble and were sending aid via aeroplanes, authorities said.

Residents sheltered in evacuation tents, with several saying they needed clean water and food. Most were afraid to return to their homes for fear of aftershocks.

Born at 1.3kg during aftershocks, Gempita remained stable in an incubator placed on grass in a tent as the sun beat down on Nagekeo.

Kelen, who suffered a haemorrhage after her birth, said she was grateful to be alive.

“I was very grateful for the doctors. Even when the room had collapsed, they did not abandon us.”

Reuters

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Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira could have punched her ticket to real fame and fortune by winning the WBC junior lightweight belt in a high-profile tournament that featured mega star Claressa Shields at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, on Sunday morning.

This is according to WBC board governor, doctor and former Boxing SA board chair Malefetsane Ngatane.

“Heavyweight promoters could have been there and seen what Ferreira is made of,” he said.

“If you fight in such a high-profile tournament, featuring an accomplished boxer like Shields, promoters look at you for a future appearance in their shows.

“Chances of her defending outside home are there, and that is how she will be able to make good money.”

The purse money for her unification fight against Caroline Vyer has not been publicly disclosed by promoters or athletic commissions.

Ngatane hopes Ferreira will have the opportunity to defend without threats of her title being stripped because of non-defence.

He said financial muscle is a big issue for SA world boxing champions defending their titles at home.

Ngatane said Dewald Mostert and Vini Grogor paid a lot to stage WBC championship fights here.

Mostert staged Kevin Lerena’s successful WBC bridgerweight title fight against Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko at SunBet Arena in Pretoria on May 1 last year.

Grogor brought WBF mini flyweight champ Melvin Jerusalem from the Philippines to defend against Siyakholwa Kuse on March 16 at Emperors Palace, where Kuse ended his reign on points.

“Everything is done in dollars,“ said Ngatane. “Let’s say Jerusalem demanded $100,000 (R1.6m) to come here.”

Mexican WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman attended the tournament staged by Grogor’s Golden Gloves.

“As a WBC board member, I am very proud that slowly South Africans are getting into the game of the WBC,” said Ngatane.

Ferreira’s victory, which came by way of Vyer being disqualified in round eight for constant holding, made Ferreira the first female in SA to win the WBC belt.

She is the first in Africa to unify belts and the third WBC African female champ. The first two were Zambian Catherine Phiri, followed by Kudakwashe Chiwandire from Zimbabwe.

Boxing SA board chair Ayanda Khumalo said: “What a historic moment. She has made us super proud.”

Shields is widely regarded as one of the best female fighters in history.

Nicknamed “The GWOAT” (Greatest Woman of All Time), the American recaptured the WBC and WBA middleweight world belts.

She stopped Australian Kaye Scott in the sixth round, becoming the first undisputed champion in three divisions of the four-belt era.

Sowetan

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Attacks on healthcare facilities, workers and patients in conflict zones including Ukraine and Gaza have continued to rise in 2026, reaching an average of more than four per day, the World Health OrganiSation (WHO) said on Friday.

There have been more than 900 attacks between January and August this year, resulting in at least 900 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries, according to WHO data presented in Geneva by Altaf Musani, the agency’s director of humanitarian and disaster management.

Ukraine, Lebanon and the occupied Palestinian territory account for the largest share of reported incidents, though attacks have also been recorded in Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Musani said.

“What we are witnessing are multiple forms of violence,” Musani said, citing the use of heavy weapons, destruction of health facilities and the detention or abduction of healthcare workers and patients. During this period 94 healthcare workers have been detained.

In Gaza, all 36 hospitals have been damaged and only about half remain partially functional, while in Sudan 37% of health facilities are reported non-functional this year, he said. In Ukraine, the WHO has verified more than 3,100 attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion, including a recent strike affecting a WHO warehouse.

“An attack on healthcare does not end when an attack is verified,” Musani said. “It is the patient who cannot receive treatment tomorrow. It is the ambulance that cannot make the next referral.”

A WHO study of 69 attacks in northwest Syria found outpatient consultations fell by 51% immediately after an attack and remained depressed for more than a month.

Attacks can also undermine responses to disease outbreaks, Musani said. In the DRC, 12 verified attacks on healthcare since an Ebola outbreak was declared in May have disrupted surveillance, contact tracing, treatment and community outreach efforts. Such incidents make it harder to detect and contain outbreaks, he said.

The 156 verified attacks in Ukraine so far this year, out of a total of 3,100 since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, have affected hospitals, ambulances, warehouses and medical supply chains, Musani said.

Since the WHO’s surveillance system began tracking such incidents in 2018, more than 10,400 attacks have been verified across 29 countries and territories, resulting in about 5,700 deaths and more than 8,500 injuries, Musani said.

He said not one of the more than 10,000 verified attacks had yet entered an accountability process.

Health facilities are protected under international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions.

Reuters

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Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou has defended misfiring striker Yanele Mbuthuma, saying his work rate is phenomenal and urged supporters to back him.

Mbuthuma has failed to find the back of the net this season despite getting clear-cut chances to score and has been heavily criticised by some supporters.

Mbuthuma is in the game; if you analyse the match as a tactician, he is doing well for the team

Abdeslam Ouaddou, Orlando Pirates coach

Speaking after the Buccaneers’ 3-0 win over Chippa United in the Betway Premiership match at Kings Park Stadium on Sunday, where Gamphani Lungu, Lebone Seema and Daniel Msendami scored, Ouaddou said those who analyse the game will see that the striker is contributing well for the team.

“Mbuthuma is in the game; if you analyse the match as a tactician, he is doing well for the team, really. Of course, now we are expecting this efficiency in the last third, but we cannot kill a fantastic player with a lot of future for Pirates,” Ouaddou told the media after the match.

“Just because he is in a moment where it is a bit difficult for him, we have to support him. I thank the fans from Durban for the flowers they sent him today [Sunday].

“You can see the boy was flying because he had these fantastic words coming from the stand. It is what it should be when we support the team.”

Ouaddou also backed Patrick Maswanganyi to take up the role left by Relebohile Mofokeng and said he will be an important player this season.

“Everybody who understands football [and] who knows football can see fantastic quality in Tito,” he said.

“As long as he brings the game in his favour to play forward. It’s what we have been saying to him, to bring the game forward. You see that he can help the team and he can really be the link between the defenders and strikers.

“And like you said, truly with the departure of Rele, he has a big space there to play and a very big role to play for our club.”

After the reaction from the Buccaneers against Chippa after drawing with AmaZulu in their midweek match, Ouaddou hopes they will remain consistent.

“I said I wanted a reaction from the players; I had it today [Sunday]. I just hope that we will be consistent in the next games.

“It’s funny how some people want to create some polemics sometimes between the coach and the players. I know my players very well and the physiology. Yes, sometimes the coach is hard, but the love is there, and when there is a father speaking, he is looking for a reaction.”

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Sowetan

The decision followed a recommendation from an independent data monitoring committee, which found the volrustomig combination was unlikely to meet either of its primary endpoints of progression-free survival or overall survival in patients whose tumours lacked the PD-L1 protein.

Separately, however, the company reported positive readouts from two other late-stage lung cancer trials, with its Tagrisso-Orpathys combination and the Daiichi Sankyo-partnered Enhertu both meeting key goals.

Investor confidence has been dented by a series of blows, including the surprise failure of Wainua in a late-stage heart disease trial, the US rejection of the breast cancer drug camizestrant on trial design grounds, and a late-stage failure for the rare disease drug Ultomiris.

While we are disappointed, we will learn from this trial

Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca executive vice- president for oncology haematology R&D

Company targets 20 new drug launches

AstraZeneca, however, stood by its forecasts in July, including its target of $80bn (R1.3-trillion) in annual revenue by 2030, expressing confidence that the recent setbacks had not undermined its long-term prospects.

The drugmaker, which topped second-quarter profit expectations on strong demand for its cancer and rare disease therapies, is counting on up to 20 new drug launches to help reach that target.

“While we are disappointed, we will learn from this trial,” said Susan Galbraith, AstraZeneca’s executive vice-president for oncology haematology R&D.

The company said the safety profile of volrustomig in combination with chemotherapy was consistent with the known profiles of the individual medicines, with no new safety signals identified.

Other phase III trials of volrustomig in cervical cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and mesothelioma will continue as planned.

Volrustomig is a dual checkpoint inhibitor bispecific antibody designed to unblock two key immune pathways, PD-1 and CTLA-4, to help the immune system attack tumours.

Reuters

TimesLIVE

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After losing three bids in the high court to stop the publication of matric results in newspapers, the Information Regulator has turned to the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) to stop the years-old tradition.

The case is a landmark one for the regulator, lodged in accordance with the Protection of Personal Information Act (Popia).

Popia was signed into law in 2013 to promote the protection of personal information processed by private and public bodies and to ensure promotion of access to information.

Should the regulator win the case at the SCA and the matter not be appealed in the Constitutional Court, matric results will cease to be published nationally using learners’ exam numbers.

The regulator, an independent body, has had three unlucky runs in convincing the high court in Pretoria that the publishing of matric results, even without names or ID numbers of matriculants, breaches privacy laws and should be stopped.

Appealing against the high court majority judgment by judge Omphemetse Mooki, information regulator commissioner Mfana Gwala argues that the department of basic education has a legal obligation to release matric results directly to learners, rather than publish them in newspapers for all to see.

The department of basic education “is obliged to release matric results directly to the learners themselves and not to any unauthorised person, but it is not obliged to publish them in newspapers”, Gwala contends.

“There is no person who can claim to have a right to be informed of any learner’s matric exam results through newspapers.”

The department has no legal basis to justify the publication of matric results in newspapers, Gwala argues, because it has no contract with newspaper outlets.

“There is no contract in terms of which the [department] is obliged to publish matric exam results in local newspapers.”

There is no person who can claim to have a right to be informed of any learner’s matric exam results through newspapers.

Mfana Gwala

The genesis of the biggest legal showdown by the regulator against the department and minister Siviwe Gwarube was a November 2023 assessment by the regulator that probed whether the publication of the matric results in newspapers was compliant with Popia.

After the assessment the regulator issued a notice to the department that it must not publish the 2024 matric results in newspapers and must make the results available to the learners using methods compliant with Popia, such as each learner obtaining their results from the school or using a secure SMS platform.

“Matric exam results are personal information of the learners,” Gwala maintains.

The department currently publishes matric results using exam numbers of learners, which the high court found does not breach privacy laws. The department stopped publishing learners’ surnames in 2014 after the establishment of Popia.

Gwala argues the publication of matric results in newspapers using exam numbers and the relevant results still makes it possible for learners to be identifiable, which is prohibited by privacy laws.

“Matric exam numbers are issued sequentially per school, and matriculants sit in their relevant exam rooms sequentially according to their exam numbers.

“It is, therefore, possible for matriculants to be able to determine the exam numbers of their fellow matriculants by simply looking at the sequence of exam numbers published in the local newspapers and their seating arrangement in their exam rooms.”

Mooki, in the high court, described the argument by the regulator as “fanciful”.

“I agree with the department that the regulator’s contention is fanciful. Its approach is akin to a poorly constructed thought experiment. No empirical evidence supports the position,” Mooki said in dismissing the legal argument.

He found the regulator’s stance did not reflect events in the real world.

“It would be a very unusual learner who, having prepared for exams, having spent weeks sitting for various papers and having spent weeks awaiting results, would care to recall who sat next to the learner during exams, work out from the sequence of exam numbers, and then have thoughts about how that other learner performed in the exams.”

Gwala argues the constitution does not give the department authority to publish matric exam results in local newspapers.

“The DBE [department of basic education] is by law prohibited from publishing personal information of learners such as their matric exam results in a manner which makes them identifiable,” he says.

Matric results get published in print media, and Arena Holdings, which owns the biggest national newspaper titles, including Sunday Times, Sowetan and Business Day, is a respondent in the litigation. The company has not opposed the litigation by the regulator but provided an explanatory affidavit to the high court as a publisher of matric results.

The case, which tests whether the publication of matric results in newspapers breaches privacy laws, will now be decided by a full bench of the SCA.

Business Day

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An explosive affidavit by the South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) alleges that Kastelo, a fintech group founded by DA federal finance chairperson Mark Burke, misrepresented its business activities to authorities in a bid to “circumvent” the country’s exchange controls.

A legal battle is raging between Kastelo, chaired by Burke and run by his brother Nicholas, and Sarb over the freezing of some of its funds held with Access Bank.

The central bank put a block on the company’s funds in November, but not before Kastelo had externalised about R4bn as part of its business dealings.

The affidavit, penned by André Malherbe, an investigator at the central bank’s financial surveillance department, has flagged Kastelo’s business model as being based on “conjecture and speculation” and stated that there was systemic circumvention of the individual single discretionary allowance (SDA) and foreign investment allowance (FIA).

In essence, the Reserve Bank suspects Kastelo uses third parties’ SDAs and FIAs to externalise funds for its own benefit, which is forbidden by law.

Malherbe’s affidavit further says the central bank had reason to believe Kastelo’s clients were incentivised with bonuses to allow the use of their allowances and that they might not be aware that foreign bank accounts were opened in their names.

The Reserve Bank found that Kastelo’s portfolio had R891m in individual SDAs and R8.9bn in individual FIAs.

These funds are converted to foreign currency and invested offshore, particularly crypto arbitrage trading, the practice of buying a digital asset on one market or exchange at a lower price and quickly selling it on another for a higher price.

Malherbe considered the evidence of several whistleblowers and cross-border foreign exchange (CEF) results of Kastelo, covering the period from November 2021 to November 21 2025. According to Malherbe, the CEF disclosed a “reasonable suspicion of exchange control contraventions” to the tune of R4bn.

Key allegations made by Malherbe include the following:

• Kastelo bought and sold foreign currency for its own account or indirectly controlled foreign currency flows.
• Kastelo conducted transactions without the knowledge of their clients or their participation.
• Transactions were not concluded and settled directly between authorised dealers and clients.
• Kastelo misrepresented its activities in compliance declarations submitted to the Reserve Bank.

“The very business model is suspected of contravening the exchange control regulations. The dominant purpose of the business model is to circumvent the exchange control regulations by facilitating acquisition of foreign currency for Kastelo’s own benefit through the use of third parties without permission from the department,” Malherbe’s affidavit reads.

“Clients have no understanding of what is being done in their name through Kastelo. Most are not aware that they hold bank accounts abroad. Using a person’s SDAs and FIAs is not permissible.

“Kastelo relies on repatriation of the money as an argument. This displays a profound misconception as to the core purpose and objectives of exchange control regulations. The primary purpose is to protect the foreign currency reserves of the Republic. The business model depletes this, and it is irrelevant that there was an inflow in any form other than foreign currency. The risk to the fiscus is that foreign currency reserves of the republic will be depleted,” it says.

FIA allows tax-compliant South African resident adults to legally transfer up to R10m offshore per calendar year for global investments. This is separate from the SDA, which covers up to R2m annually without specialised tax clearance. Until this year, the SDA limit was R1m.

Kastelo defended its business model. The company told Business Day that it allowed clients to benefit from the difference in crypto prices domestically versus abroad.

It further denied allegations that it kept its clients in the dark about offshore accounts.

“Most of our clients made no use of their foreign investment allowances and generated no returns from offshore opportunities prior to using Kastelo’s services,” the company said.

“Kastelo enabled them to use their own discretionary allowance to earn returns for themselves on their own investments.

“Benefiting from offshore opportunities, or any kind of arbitrage, is usually limited to wealthy and financially sophisticated investors. Kastelo democratised this by providing the extensive administrative services required for successful real-world arbitrage trading. Like any financial services provider, we received a fee for services rendered, although even this fee was lower than our competitors’.”

Kastelo shared a video with Business Day, which it says was shared with clients before signing them up for its arbitrage trading product.

The video states that accounts will be opened on behalf of clients.

“In addition to the video, all the necessary mandates and agreements were presented to the client, re-emphasising every step, including specific mention of opening and closing of accounts locally and abroad for the purposes of investment,” the company said.

“Clients invested funds, and Kastelo administered the arbitrage process on their behalf, for their benefit, in line with a discretionary mandate and against a fee.”

Kastelo said that despite arbitrage trading still being available in the market, it no longer offered the service since Sarb’s bank account blocking order last year.

Burke was elected as the DA’s federal finance chairperson at the party conference in April, which saw Geordin Hill-Lewis installed as party leader. He replaced Dion George in the role, which is key to the DA’s fundraising efforts.

Burke, armed with a PhD in econometrics and quantitative economics from Cambridge University, is a rising star in the DA and its most articulate voice on economics and finance.

At just 36 years of age, Burke manages the internal financial controls and accountability of the DA, the country’s second-largest party, and is tasked with ensuring the party’s funds are properly accounted for and transparently used.

Burke was sworn in as an MP for the first time in 2024, following the watershed general elections that led to the formation of a government of national unity.

He is a member of the standing committee on appropriations, as well as an alternate member of the standing committee on finance.

Kastelo’s website lists Burke as an expert in foreign exchange.

“With experience in international development and venture capital across three continents, Mark acquired a deep knowledge of finance, foreign exchange, and regulatory compliance.”

Burke referred questions to Kastelo, which have been reflected above.

A broader investigation by Sarb is ongoing.

Business Day

The latest complaints were received on Monday morning after local security and cleaning company Project 360 contacted Reaction Unit South Africa (Rusa) for assistance.

Residents living near the Wick Street Local Cemetery in Verulam claim the disturbing behaviour has been taking place since January, with as many as four different men allegedly visiting the cemetery during the day and evening.

According to Rusa, the men allegedly watch pornographic videos on their phones while masturbating on or around graves and tombstones.

Residents have reportedly had enough.

“They claim the audio from the pornographic videos can be heard by children living in nearby residential complexes,” said Rusa.

Rusa said residents have reported that the alleged offenders return to the cemetery despite being chased away by municipal workers and members of the public.

Some of the alleged incidents have also reportedly taken place in full view of members of the public.

The complaint has left the cemetery with anything but a peaceful reputation.

According to Rusa, residents reported that “as many as four different men” have been observed allegedly engaging in the acts “on an almost daily basis”.

The complaints have reportedly continued despite attempts to remove the men from the cemetery.

Rusa said its drone pilot will conduct regular aerial patrols over the cemetery and dispatch reaction officers when required.

The move effectively gives the cemetery a new security feature: eyes in the sky.

The alleged incidents have reportedly been occurring at different times throughout the day and evening.

For residents, however, the issue is not about who the alleged offenders are, but where they are choosing to behave in this manner.

Residents are now demanding that the graves be treated with dignity and respect.

The latest intervention means those allegedly treating the cemetery as a private entertainment venue could soon have a much harder time going unnoticed.

Sowetan

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The South African Reserve Bank (Sarb) is inviting aspiring economists who will be entering their first year of undergraduate studies in the 2027 academic year to apply for its external bursary programme.

“The Sarb, as part of addressing the severe shortage of skills in South Africa, provides scholarships and bursaries to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing studies in relevant fields,” the central bank said.

The closing date for applications is September 30.

As part of its corporate social investment initiatives, the Bank makes a number of external scholarships and bursaries available annually to qualifying prospective undergraduate students.

“The Sarb’s economic research department, in collaboration with the Sarb Academy, invites prospective undergraduate students to apply for competitive bursaries in the fields of economics, economics and econometrics, economics and mathematical statistics, and economic science,” it said.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered for a bursary, applicants must:

• Have provisional acceptance into an undergraduate degree programme in the field of economics;
• Have achieved an average pass mark of 70% or higher in their current year of study, including 70% or above in English and mathematics;
• Be younger than 30 years of age; and
• Demonstrate financial need and be unable to afford university studies without a bursary.

Applicants must submit their examination results, proof of acceptance at a recognised institution (student number) and any other supporting documents required.

Students must use the PROMO CODE: SARBERD27 when submitting their applications.

How to apply

Applications can be submitted by post, addressed to:

Dimpho Nkoana

POSTNET Suite 101

Private Bag X153

Bryanston, 2021

Applications may also be submitted by email to sarbbursary@ttibursaries.co.za

Potential external bursars will be required to avail themselves for interviews. Successful applicants for the bursary will be expected to sign an agreement with the Sarb.

Sowetan

Hours before exercises were scheduled to begin, Trump said on his Truth Social site he was “not happy” that the US had agreed to participate and highlighted his “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un, the leader of nuclear-armed and heavily sanctioned North Korea.

“These exercises are not only costly but also send a signal that is totally inappropriate and hostile to a country that, as long as Donald J Trump has been president, has been unthreatening and respectful,” Trump wrote.

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield joint military exercises are scheduled to run until August 27, with about 18,000 South Korean military personnel participating.

South Korea’s joint chiefs of staff said the drills started on Monday as scheduled but declined to comment on Trump’s remarks. The country’s presidential office and defence and foreign ministries did not immediately respond on a public holiday in Seoul.

A Pentagon spokesperson referred questions on the matter to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a request for details.

Up-and-down relationship

Trump has long sought to end or curtail military exercises with South Korea while clashing with Seoul over sharing the costs of stationing 28,500 US troops in South Korea and their role in securing the broader region.

North Korea, still technically at war with the South, routinely denounces the US-South Korean exercises as preparations for an invasion. Pyongyang last week fired a ballistic missile from its eastern coast towards the Sea of Japan, the South Korean and Japanese militaries said, days after a similar North Korean short-range ballistic missile launch.

“This decision may be part of a larger effort to create a diplomatic opportunity with Pyongyang, as Trump has consistently wanted since coming back to office, though the haphazard nature of this move is unlikely to make much of an impression in Pyongyang,” Jenny Town, head of the Stimson Centre think tank’s 38 North programme, said in an email.

The relationship between Trump and Kim has been a roller coaster for years.

Trump once mocked the North Korean leader as “little rocket man” and threatened Pyongyang with “fire and fury”, while Kim boasted he would “tame the mentally deranged US dotard with fire”.

Yet they also took part in three summits, with Trump declaring, “We fell in love” after exchanging letters with Kim. None of these efforts led to changes in North Korea’s nuclear weapons or ballistic missile development.

Even as Trump on Sunday spoke warmly of North Korea, he pointed to South Korea’s stance on the US-Israeli conflict with Iran.

“While somewhat unrelated (?), I recently asked the president of South Korea if they would like to join us in the denuclearization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and they said, ‘No thanks!’” Trump wrote.

Exercises to shift simulations

It’s unclear how the drills could be cut back, but in recent years, they have shifted away from live-fire exercises to computer-simulated missile and cyberattacks.

Victor Cha, head of the Korea programme at Washington’s Centre for Strategic and International Studies, said Trump may be seeking greater influence over North Korea as Pyongyang has been heavily engaged in support of Russia in Ukraine.

“The other way to look at this is that Trump wants to engage Kim as a way to impede the Russia-NK ties,” said Cha.

US military officials have said North Korean troops, who have fought alongside Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, have gained experience from the conflict, while Ukraine said last week that North Korean-made missiles were used in a Russian ballistic missile attack on a steel plant in Zaporizhzhia.

A high-ranking US Northern Command official, Lt-Gen Joseph Jarrard, last week warned that North Korea had successfully tested intercontinental ballistic missiles with “enough boost to deliver a nuclear payload anywhere in North America”.

Economic factors

While Trump has repeatedly called for South Korea to shoulder a bigger burden of defence costs, a US official this year called Seoul a “model ally” committed to increasing defence spending in line with US regional strategy.

There are also broader economic tensions.

A former US official who worked in the first Trump administration said he believed Trump is “frustrated with the intransigence” of the South Korean administration of President Lee Jae Myung in addressing economic issues.

“The Lee government has repeatedly pursued policies antagonistic to American companies and shown little interest in following through on the historic investment deal with the US,” the official said.

The countries signed a trade deal last year to lower Trump’s vehicle tariffs in exchange for Seoul’s commitment to invest $350bn (R5.66-trillion). South Korea has not announced details of its investment plan.

The allies have been at odds over a dispute involving a US-listed e-commerce company, Coupang, which is being investigated by Seoul over a massive data leak.

Reuters

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The EU intends to significantly expand sanctions against Russia in the coming months, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told a German newspaper.

“EU sanctions have already cost Russia dearly, depriving Russia’s war machine of more than €1-trillion [R18.73-trillion], and for autumn I am putting forward the most far-reaching sanctions listings since the start of the war,” she told German daily newspaper Die Welt.

“Once adopted, they would immediately raise the total number of sanctioned Russian entities by a third. The pressure must keep growing until Moscow ends its war.”

Kallas did not elaborate further on timing or details of the new sanctions package.

The EU in July approved its most recent sanctions package against Russia over its war in Ukraine, imposing curbs on the country’s banking sector and cryptocurrency networks.

Reuters

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Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz slowed at the weekend, data showed on Monday after attacks on tankers, while US-Iran talks to resolve the Middle East conflict stalled.

Five commodity vessels transited the strait on Saturday, with none registered for Sunday, ship tracking data from Kpler showed, vs 31 the weekend before.

Ships entering the strait on Saturday included an empty very large crude carrier with its automatic identification system switched off and an Indian-flagged very large gas carrier that used the Iranian route, Kpler data showed.

A small tanker laden with Iranian fuel oil exited, it showed.

Shipping appeared to grind to a near standstill after the UAE said three vessels operated by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were attacked in transit last week.

The US said it could maintain a naval blockade of Iran indefinitely.

Some ships may pass through undetected with transponders off, but the figures are far from the more than 130 ships a day that traversed the Strait of Hormuz before the war launched by the US and Israel on Iran in February.

Washington must meet Iran’s conditions regarding the strait for shipping to resume, foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with local media on Saturday.

The waterway handled a fifth of the world’s shipments of crude oil and liquefied natural gas before the war.

At the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, where Yemeni Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia on July 20, Kpler data showed 49 weekend transits by commodity vessels, down from 55 in the week before. There were no tracked Saudi oil shipments.

Reuters

I want to file my case at the apex court to prove to the Compensation Fund and its biased tribunal, among others, that the rejection of my IOD (injury on duty) claim for loss of hearing was irrational. That is a violation of Section 23(1) of the Constitution, which states: “Everyone has the right to fair labour practices.” The workers’ rights are further protected via the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act.

The unfair judgment against my injury was based on an incorrect Percentage Loss of Hearing (PLH) they referred to in their assessment. I need help. I can’t afford a lawyer. − Sipho Buthelezi, Vosloorus

The plant is a strategic hub for automotive growth to meet growing demand across the continent. Dunlop supplies passenger, SUV and commercial vehicle tyres to markets including Nigeria, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

As vehicle manufacturers accelerate exports into African markets, the company aims to also support the industry’s transition to new energy vehicles. The investment equips the facility with advanced manufacturing technologies that will strengthen Dunlop’s ability to meet the growing demand.

Yasuaki Kuniyasu, president and CEO of Dunlop parent company Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) of Japan, said the investment reflects a long-term commitment to South Africa and its industrial future.

“Dunlop is a brand built on a long history and deep trust, and it represents our mission to deliver safe, high-quality tyres to customers around the globe. Within our global strategy, our business in South Africa holds a very important place. The automotive industry is one of the key industries that supports the nation’s economy and employment.”

Trade, industry and competition minister Parks Tau thanked SRI for continuing to bet on the country.

“This plant does not stand alone. It sits at the centre of South Africa’s automotive value chain, supplying original equipment partners that include Toyota, Isuzu, Ford, Volkswagen and Nissan,” said Tau, who added the government would support the industry with policy strengthening.

“In this regard, we are acting on the South African Automotive Masterplan, which is being reviewed alongside its key support instruments to test their performance against our 2035 targets for jobs, localisation and growth, and to prepare our policy framework for the global shift to new energy vehicles,” he said.

The investment includes a new compound mixer that enhances compound quality and manufacturing consistency, a tread line, and a sidewall line that improve production quality for SUV and light truck tyres.

An advanced curing technology providing enhanced temperature control, a critical factor in tyre performance, durability and quality, is also added.

The upgrades position the Mnambithi facility among the most technologically advanced tyre manufacturing operations in Africa.

Lubin Ozoux, CEO of Dunlop Tyres South Africa, said the investment is about far more than infrastructure and technology.

“It positions our Mnambithi operation at the forefront of tyre manufacturing innovation in Africa, while enabling us to produce the next generation of tyres required by vehicle manufacturers and consumers.

“Through our support of local suppliers, contractors and service providers, the benefits of this investment ripple throughout the community, strengthening local businesses and contributing to long-term economic growth,” Ozoux said.

Why is it that man can go to the moon and even make plans to send astronauts to Mars and explore the depths of the seas and the intricacies of life but cannot get along with his neighbour?

People are struggling with enslaving addictions: drugs, smoking and vaping, uncontrolled anger, pornography and other sexual addictions.

The answer is: there is a real spiritual personage leading the course of this world, the devil. He is no cartoon figure with horns, a pitchfork, and a red jumpsuit; he is the ruler of this wicked world, the influencer behind much of what is wrong, including religion (John 14:30).

Lastly, whether we like it or not, the devil is waging his war of deception against us, using politicians. This war affects you, your family, and the world at large. Come on SA, wake up and stop trusting these habitual liars. – Bushy Green, Kagiso

The nationwide competition is open to South Africans who can submit an original name for the new model. The winner may also have the opportunity to travel to China in October, subject to final confirmation and the competition’s terms and conditions.

The winning name will be announced during Media Day at the Festival of Motoring, where Chery’s new bakkie will be introduced to the local market.

“South Africans are inventive, expressive and rarely short of an opinion, particularly when it comes to their cars,” says Verene Petersen, national marketing manager at Chery South Africa. “We could have introduced this bakkie with a name decided elsewhere, but we wanted to give South Africans a meaningful role in its story. The winning entry will go beyond the competition itself. It will become part of Chery’s journey in this country.”

Chery says the competition is inspired by the local habit of giving vehicles names based on their appearance, character or the role they play in their owners’ lives.

The carmaker will also promote the initiative through social media content featuring creators, vehicle enthusiasts and members of the public. The formal entry process is still to be confirmed, with submissions closing on August 24.

The new bakkie — known as the Rely P3X in the Chinese domestic market — will give Chery a presence in an important segment of the South African market, with the company positioning it for work, family use and leisure.

Chery has not yet revealed full details of the model, including its specifications, pricing and launch date. These will be announced closer to its local introduction.

“I don’t know why people continue to ask that question [whether Banyana’s recent struggles have to do with the ageing squad] because in Europe, there’s Marta [Brazilian veteran playmaker], for example. She is 40 years old and still playing at the highest level [for Orlando Pride in the US],” Kgatlana said.

“I don’t know if the mentality of African fans is that players are simply too old. I don’t think they are. As long as the time is right, you need to blend experience with youth. This helps ensure that when senior players retire, there isn’t a massive gap.

“In our team, the majority of players have played in more than five Wafcons, which is a plus for the younger ones because they are learning every day, in training, and in matches.”

Banyana, the 2022 Wafcon champions, were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the hosts, subsequently missing out on the World Cup automatic qualification until they beat Nigeria to earn a spot at the intercontinental playoffs.

The draw for the World Cup intercontinental playoffs takes place in Zurich on Thursday. The playoffs will be held in two phases, the first in November and December with six teams − two each from Africa and Asia and one each from Oceania and South America − competing for two places.

In the second, in February next year, those two join another four who received a bye (two from Concacaf, one from Europe and one from South America) for three final World Cup places.

The 30-year-old Kgatlana scored in Banyana’s 2-1 win over Nigeria for the World Cup intercontinental berth contest at Casablanca’s Moulay Rachid Stadium on Thursday, while she had netted three times during Wafcon.

He is nominated alongside Christiaan Mass (golfer) and Pieter Coetzee (swimmer).

The 19th edition of the national awards has a total of 19 categories, including the major award of the night, the Sport Star of the Year award.

The period under review is January 1 2025 to December 31 2025, for all 19 categories of recognised performances from individuals, teams, and administrators of the SA sporting fraternity.

Lerena successfully defended his WBC bridgerweight world title by a third-round stoppage of Ukrainian Serhiy Radchenko in front of 8,000 fans at Sun Bet Arena in Pretoria on May 1 2025.

“It’s an absolute honour to be nominated for Sportsman of the Year at the South African Sports Awards, recognising what was an incredible 2025 for me,” said Lerena, whose fighting prowess is polished by former heavyweight contender Peter “Sniper” Smith.

“I became the first South African to successfully defend a WBC title in front of 8,000 people on home soil. “I stepped up to the heavyweights and went across the pond to challenge for the WBC belt in front of 90,000 people.

“We fell short on points that night, but I dared to challenge myself on one of the biggest stages in world boxing time and time again.”

He said his biggest success in 2025 was the four Aquila Boxing Promotions shows, which he was part of and were televised live by SuperSport.

Lerena and his wife Geraldine launched that promotion last year.

“Other fighters had an opportunity they would not have had, had I not been there,” said Lerena, who paid tribute to his team, Smith and manager Spence Brown.

He paid gratitude to his wife and children, the sporting fraternity, and his business partners who shared the same vision as his.

Meanwhile, Siseko “Panda” Teyisi, who retained the SA junior-flyweight belt in April last year, added the IBF Inter-Continental belt to his collection in September and chalked up the second successful defence of the SA belt in December, has been nominated for the Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year.

Teyisi, 22, is undefeated after 10 fights, with seven wins coming by way of knockout.

Other nominees are Prudence Sekgodiso and Bayanda Walaza, who are both athletes.

Under the theme “Crowned By Greatness”, the awards ceremony will take place at the Sun City Super Bowl on Sunday.

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The University of Cape Town (UCT) council has suspended the implementation of four resolutions challenged by vice-chancellor Prof Mosa Moshabela, pending the final determination of his judicial review application before the Western Cape high court.

The decision was taken at a special council meeting on Saturday to consider matters arising from legal proceedings instituted by Moshabela, who is seeking the review and setting aside of four resolutions adopted by council on May 30, as well as other related matters.

Moshabela is challenging resolutions three, four, five and six, which concern allegations about his conduct, executive coaching and an annual structured 360-degree evaluation, as well as a further investigation into the Forest Hill incident.

The incident relates to Mosa’s driver who allegedly an academic’s residence without her prior permission. He allegedly sais he had done so while carrying out an instruction from Moshabela “to confidentially investigate [her] wellness”.

In a 64-page affidavit filed in the high court last week, Moshabela argued that a complaints-based investigation approved by council was progressively altered, leaving him without an opportunity to respond to allegations before decisions concerning his conduct were taken.

UCT council chairperson Norman Arendse said council had received and considered independent legal advice on the court proceedings and the appropriate manner in which the university should respond.

“Council resolved to follow the preliminary processes prescribed by the rules of court and to await Moshabela’s supplementation of his papers in terms of the rules before deciding whether or not to oppose the review proceedings,” Arendse said.

“Council also confirmed its willingness to participate in mediation in an effort to resolve the dispute. It also resolved to suspend the implementation of the four resolutions which the VC has impugned, pending the final determination of the judicial review proceedings by the high court.”

Arendse said council recognised the considerable public and university community interest in the matter but had a responsibility to protect the integrity of the ongoing legal proceedings and respect the rights of all those involved.

This included UCT officers and institutions, as well as the Office of the Ombud, whose confidentiality protections, he said, were essential to its functioning.

The process that followed was undertaken on independent legal advice and was designed to ensure independence, appropriate confidentiality and fairness to all persons affected.

UCT council chairperson Norman Arendse

UCT said the ombud operates independently and separately from council. While the ombud accounts to council annually and reports, for administrative purposes, to the council chairperson or a designated council member, the office’s independence and confidentiality are fundamental to its role.

Staff and students must be able to approach the ombud in confidence, UCT said, meaning details of concerns raised and the identities of those approaching the office are not ordinarily disclosed to the chairperson or council.

Arendse said that when concerns relating to the vice-chancellor required council’s attention, the ombud alerted him, in his capacity as council chairperson, to the existence and seriousness of those concerns without compromising their confidentiality.

“I sought independent legal advice and thereafter placed the matter before council and informed the VC,” he said.

“The process that followed was undertaken on independent legal advice and was designed to ensure independence, appropriate confidentiality and fairness to all persons affected.”

Council said the dispute involved difficult and sensitive issues that went beyond the individuals concerned and raised broader questions about the university’s ability to discharge its governance responsibilities independently, fairly and without fear or favour.

“Council’s responsibility is neither to shield any individual office-bearer from legitimate scrutiny nor to assume wrongdoing merely because an allegation has been made,” it said.

“Its responsibility is to act in the best interests of the university.”

Council said that required it to respond appropriately when serious concerns were brought to its attention while ensuring fairness, confidentiality and respect for the rights and dignity of everyone affected.

“The fact that council acts when serious concerns are brought to its attention should never be understood as council having predetermined the truth of those concerns,” it said.

“Equally, council would not properly discharge its governance responsibilities if it simply ignored serious matters because they were difficult or sensitive.”

It added: “The VC is entitled to fairness, dignity and due process. Those who approach the ombud are equally entitled to the protection that legitimately attaches to that process. These principles are not mutually exclusive.”

The suspension of the four resolutions means that their implementation will remain on hold while Moshabela’s review proceedings run their course.

You could be experiencing mood swings, insomnia — lack of sleep affects how your body and brain function the next day — or it could be anxiety and depression.

General practitioner Dr Louisa Albertyn says, simply put, menopause is when women no longer have monthly periods.

“Each woman is born with a certain amount of eggs, and as you’re in your reproductive years, every month you ovulate, you have your period. Then when your eggs are finished, you will reach menopause,” says Albertyn.

“Perimenopause is that transitional phase where it can be anything between four and 10 years before menopause. So already 10 years before going into that, having no period anymore, you can already be in perimenopause. And if you are in your 30s and you reach menopause that early, we call it premature ovarian insufficiency.

The decline in progesterone causes, most commonly, insomnia and anxiety.

Dr Louisa Albertyn, General practitioner

Albertyn told viewers during a Q&A session hosted by the SA Depression and Anxiety Group (Sadag) session on Facebook that every menopause symptom — the hot flushes, the anxiety, struggling to sleep, mood changes, weight gain — can already happen in perimenopause.

“But there, you still have periods. They change in the sense that they can become irregular. Sometimes before they become irregular, they are just heavier or longer or lighter and shorter.

“The biggest symptoms [are] the oestrogen [and] progesterone. The fluctuation and then initial eventual drop of oestrogen is the reason for most of the symptoms — your hot flushes, mood changes — which is a big thing we’ll talk about today — weight gain, brain fog, and night sweats.

“Today [we will talk about] not just about ovulation, but the hormones that fluctuate during perimenopause and then in menopause, when your ovaries stop making hormones. During perimenopause, those hormones are all over the place, with oestrogen up and down and progesterone declining, but in menopause, they are just flatlined, and you don’t really have much of them left anymore.

“The stuff that you don’t feel but that you later can struggle with is osteoporosis (a medical condition that makes bones weak and fragile). Also, oestrogen is cardio-protective and protects the brain, so oestrogen actually is the big, big hormone, but let’s not forget progesterone. The decline in progesterone causes, most commonly, insomnia and anxiety.”

Albertyn says that women have a little bit of testosterone, and it comes in when there’s sexual dysfunction like hypoactive desire disorder — a condition marked by a low or absent interest in sex.

“[It causes] women [to] start struggling with orgasms, with arousal, and let’s not forget vaginal dryness … There are less common [symptoms], like tinnitus, and some women complain of a metal taste in their mouths and itchy skin.”

Albertyn says health practitioners and others must “never forget women have hormones, and we have fluctuating hormones, and later on, no hormones. It’s so easy with men [because] they have testosterone. It can decline as they get older, but it’s a slow and steady thing that happens.

“In women, every month is up and down, and then later on, it’s just more all over the place, and later on there’s nothing. So whether we have hormones or not, please remember we are hormonal beings.

“And if you work with a woman, listen to her. If she says ‘nothing really happened, but I’m not feeling myself’, hormones are the first thing that should come to mind. There are always hormones involved.”

Albertyn says hormonal treatments are available to help women.

“To stabilise hormones, [we prescribe] a low-dose contraceptive pill, or we use hormonal replacement therapy. In other words, we still let you have your period every month. So, we give you two weeks of progesterone, two weeks of no progesterone, until you have that year of no periods …” she says.

“[For] hormonal replacement therapy (HTR), there are patches, gels, and tablets. If you’ve had breast cancer, then you can’t have HRT. If you have had a blood clot or you smoke, then we stay away from the oral hormone replacement, so we’d rather do it through the skin, so your gel or your patch.

“Then there is off-label stuff. If someone is really depressed or anxious, you can [prescribe] an antidepressant. Some of them have actually been proven to help with hot flushes. With all the data we have about the safety of hormonal replacement therapy, that will always be your first line of treatment because it protects the bones, the brain, and cardiovascular health.”

Albertyn says HTR is not “one size fits all”, adding that some women may have to try different ones before they find one that works for them.

She says exercise, eating healthy and having a good support system are important.

“[There must be] good communication with your partner or your husband and your children so that there’s understanding. Educate yourself because that empowers you, and educate those around you, especially in the workplace, [and] that there is support at your workplace for menopause.”

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, contact Sadag’s mental health helpline on 0800-212-223.

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A whistleblower who accused Gauteng government officials, consultants and contractors of allegedly siphoning R16.9m from a school construction project says he had warned the department more than a year ago.

However, his allegations were never properly investigated despite officials promising to involve their risk management unit, he said.

Nhlanhla Mkhize, the owner of Mkhize Gcwabe Properties (MGP), made the allegations in an affidavit lodged with the SAPS in connection with the R116m Semphato Secondary School project in Soshanguve.

His complaint centres on four alleged instances of theft totalling R16.9m, which he says were facilitated through payment certificates for work that did not exist.

The affidavit says the alleged theft involved payments for preliminaries, roof sheeting and trusses, paving, roads and parking, and masonry.

Mkhize says he first became suspicious after MGP was brought into the project in January 2024 to assist the original contractor, Yaweh 1 Construction and Projects, shortly before its termination.

The company resumed work on January 17 2024.

At the first technical meeting, Mkhize says the project was presented as 55% complete, with expenditure of R48.4m. But his company’s assessment placed actual progress at 23.48%, with expenditure of R31.4m. The difference, according to the affidavit, was R16.9m.

“The claimed progress figure was vastly different from our own audit at feasibility stage.”

Mkhize says the discrepancy only became clearer as MGP examined the project’s payment certificates and physical progress.

He alleges that the department had paid for work that did not exist, including more than R6.1m for paving, roads and parking.

The affidavit says 71% of the budget for paving roads and parking had been paid between September 2021 and the end of 2022.

But when MGP arrived in 2024, Mkhize says there was no paving on site.

What was being measured and approved for quality when there was no single paving brick on site?

Nhlanhla Mkhize, owner of Mkhize Gcwabe Properties

Mkhize says payment certificates were supposed to pass through several layers of scrutiny before money was released, including consultants, the construction project manager, the department’s project management team, management and finance.

He questions how the alleged payments could have been approved if the work was not physically present.

“What was being measured and approved for quality when there was no single paving brick on site?”

The affidavit further alleges that more than R4.1m was paid for roof sheeting and trusses despite the buildings allegedly not being ready to receive the roofs.

Mkhize says photographs taken in December 2023 showed about 90% of the buildings were still far from being ready for roofing.

He alleges that his company later had to spend more than R3.5m installing roofs itself.

But it was the alleged response from the department after he raised his concerns that has now become a central part of the story.

Mkhize says that after spending months examining the project and confronting consultants, he formally reported the allegations to the department on March 12 2025.

He says he had by then verified what he believed to be the facts behind the alleged irregular payments.

“By the 12th March 2025 I decided to officially report the matter with the department as I had verified all facts.”

According to Mkhize, attempts to contact the department’s DDG responsible for projects on the same day were unsuccessful. He says he later learnt that the DDG had left work and was going on three weeks’ leave.

The affidavit alleges that some of the people named in his complaint subsequently took lengthy periods of leave.

When the DDG returned, Mkhize says an online meeting was held on April 4 2025, attended by consultants and members of the department’s project team assigned to Semphato. The allegations were discussed, and those named were asked to respond.

Mkhize says he was also told that the department’s risk management unit would be brought into a follow-up meeting because of the criminal allegations.

But Mkhize alleges that meeting never happened.

He claims that only three people eventually responded to his allegations and that no follow-up meeting took place during the next year.

He further alleges that the DDG instructed some, or all, of those who received his report to delete it from their computers because he was allegedly concerned that the Auditor-General could investigate.

Those allegations have not been tested in court.

“Needless to say, there was no follow up meeting in the last 12 months, instead efforts to get me off the project intensified.”

Mkhize now alleges that the department’s failure to act after his report allowed attempts to conceal the alleged irregularities to continue.

The Gauteng department of infrastructure development has been asked whether it investigated the allegations, whether risk management became involved, whether any officials or consultants were disciplined or suspended, and whether the matter was referred to law enforcement or the Auditor-General.

The department of education has also been asked whether it was aware of the allegations and whether learners and the Soshanguve community have been affected by the project’s troubled history. Both departments had not responded to questions at the time of publication.

The Semphato project was valued at R116m, with R61.2m certified by March 5 2025, according to the affidavit.

Poverty, unemployment, food insecurity, and inequality remain a daily reality for thousands of women, particularly those from vulnerable households and communities.

Women often carry the responsibility of caring for families, raising children, supporting elderly relatives, and sustaining households, frequently with limited resources and opportunities. Yet, despite these challenges, women continue to demonstrate resilience and remain at the forefront of community development, food production, and local economic activity.

Addressing these challenges requires deliberate investment in programmes that empower women economically, equip them with practical skills, and create sustainable opportunities for income generation.

It is against this backdrop that the Gauteng department of social development has intensified its efforts to promote sustainable livelihoods and economic inclusion through targeted interventions aimed at reducing poverty and restoring dignity.

Through its Sustainable Livelihoods Programme, the department continues to implement initiatives that contribute towards poverty alleviation, food security, entrepreneurship development, cooperative support, and skills development.

These interventions seek to empower vulnerable individuals and communities with the tools necessary to participate meaningfully in the economy and become self-reliant.

Over the years, the department has invested in a range of programmes that support women and youth through agricultural development projects, food gardens, cooperative enterprises, skills transfer initiatives, and entrepreneurship development.

These interventions complement departmental programmes such as the War on Poverty Campaign, Thiba Tlala food security initiatives, community nutrition programmes, and various livelihood projects that provide vulnerable households with opportunities to improve their socio-economic circumstances.

One of the department’s most significant lessons has been that government cannot tackle poverty, unemployment, and inequality alone. Sustainable development requires collaboration between government, the private sector, civil society organisations, and communities themselves.

Public-private partnerships have become increasingly important in leveraging resources, expertise, and opportunities that can accelerate social and economic transformation.

This is evident in the department’s partnership with Rebafenyi Development Centre, a non-profit organisation funded by the department of social development and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited, which has invested in agricultural skills development, enterprise support, cooperative development, and entrepreneurship training.

The graduation of beneficiaries on August 28 from these programmes is more than a celebration of academic achievement. It is a demonstration of what can be accomplished when government and the private sector work together.

The significance of this achievement is amplified by its commemoration during National Women’s Month. This year marks 70 years since the historic Women’s March of August 9 1956, when more than 20,000 courageous women marched to the Union Buildings to protest against unjust pass laws.

Today, that spirit of resilience continues to inspire women who are breaking barriers in business, agriculture, government, and community development. Across Gauteng, women are leading cooperatives, managing food production projects, creating employment opportunities, and strengthening household food security. They are not merely beneficiaries of development programmes; they are active agents of change driving economic and social transformation.

As we celebrate Women’s Month, we must recognise that empowering women economically is not only a social imperative but an economic necessity. When women have access to skills, resources, markets, and opportunities, families become more resilient, communities become stronger, and local economies grow.

The future of Gauteng’s development depends on our collective ability to invest in women, support sustainable livelihoods, and strengthen partnerships that create lasting social and economic impact. There can be no sustainable development without women’s economic empowerment.

*Nkomo-Ralehoko is the MEC for social development in Gauteng

They were among the estimated 5,000-8,000 who remain in Ceuta after the mass border crossing two weeks ago that saw over 72,000 people surge into the tiny territory of about 80,000. Most returned voluntarily in the following days.

With the city’s resources overstretched, most migrants were living in precarious conditions on El Trampolin beach or the city’s outskirts while awaiting a chance to journey on to continental Europe.

“We’re sleeping next to the sea, with cold and bad smells. We’re suffering a lot,” said Ayoub Elarroud from Morocco’s Tetouan, adding that police were blocking migrants from going to the city centre.

The protesters held up Spanish flags and banners reading “We don’t want to go back to Morocco” and “We are also human”, while chanting slogans such as “We’re tired” or “We need a solution”. On the rocky shores behind them, some migrants washed their clothes while others fished with makeshift bamboo rods.

Earlier this week, interior minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said migrants who had entered irregularly would not be allowed to stay in the enclave, travel to mainland Spain or obtain legal status, except in rare cases involving extreme vulnerability.

By the Numbers

• 72,000+: Estimated total migrants who surged into Ceuta during the mass border crossing two weeks ago.
• 5,000 – 8,000: Estimated number of migrants currently remaining in Ceuta.
• 80,000: Total population of the enclave of Ceuta.
• 3,000 dirham ($324): Average monthly salary in Morocco cited by migrants as a driving factor for leaving.

Health services under pressure

The head of Ceuta’s medical board, Enrique Roviralta, told Onda Cero radio that the city’s limited healthcare workers were exhausted and criticised what he described as a slow response by the central government.

Roviralta added that diseases such as infectious diarrhoea and scabies were breaking out, and violence-related injuries such as broken noses or stab wounds were rising.

On Sunday, health minister Monica Garcia rejected suggestions that local health services had “collapsed”, but acknowledged they were under pressure.

“To associate migration with illness is unjust and xenophobic,” she told reporters in Ceuta, adding there was a moderate risk of epidemic outbreaks for migrants and a low one for residents.

Most of the Moroccan migrants interviewed by Reuters said they were driven by poor working conditions in their country, despite many holding higher qualifications.

Mohammed Ouanzar, a 39-year-old automation specialist from Fez, said average monthly salaries of 3,000 dirham (about R5,150.58) made it impossible for him to buy a home or start a family.

“Once I reached Spanish soil, I felt like I was born again,” he said. “I’d rather die than return.”

Hicham Chikir, 25, said most people were eager to work in Europe. “If anyone is bad, the police can send them back,” he added.

Refugees exhausted

Emmanuel, a 30-year-old electrician who fled conflict-ridden northeastern Nigeria, said he decided to embark on a perilous four-month journey across Niger, Algeria and Morocco because his children had stopped going to school over fears of being kidnapped.

“I’m fighting for a better life for them,” he said, adding that he would take any job he was offered.

Mohammad Ismail Hossain, 34, left Bangladesh over two years ago following the 2024 mass uprising. He traversed India, Pakistan, Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Libya and Algeria — mostly on foot — and saw many companions die of thirst in the desert.

Ousmane from southern Senegal said he was seeking asylum because he suffered persecution over his sexual orientation but had yet to obtain a reply from the local NGOs he had contacted.

“The worst thing is waiting all day with nothing to do, checking my emails constantly,” he said.

Reuters

A whistleblower who accused Gauteng government officials, consultants and contractors of allegedly syphoning R16.9m from a school construction project says he had warned the department more than a year ago.

However, he said his allegations were never properly investigated despite officials promising to involve their risk management unit.

Nhlanhla Mkhize, owner of Mkhize Gcwabe Properties, made the allegations in an affidavit lodged with police in connection with the R116m Semphato Secondary School project in Soshanguve.

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More than 2,000 pupils share 16 toilets at Ekurhuleni school

More than 2,000 pupils at Villa Liza Secondary School in Ekurhuleni are sharing 16 toilets, with the Gauteng department of education confirming 24 others are out of order.

The school has 2,068 pupils but only seven toilets for boys and nine for girls.

The available toilets are mobile ablution facilities, with each toilet serving about 130 pupils.

• Click here to read the full article.

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How brother’s advice on SA’s scarce skills led woman down exciting aviation path

When Mosa Mahlelebe’s brother advised her to study engineering after matric as it was one of the scarce skills the country needed, she heeded his advice.

She enrolled at a TVET college to study electrical engineering after completing matric in 2006.

“I was also intrigued to understand how electricity works,” she recalled.

At the time, Mahlelebe did not know where that journey would take her.

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Even when one tries to follow media reports of what was discussed in such gatherings, the stuff tends to fly over most people’s heads. In recent years, we have had SA host important gatherings such as Brics and the G20 Summit — where some of the world leaders we only see on television were in attendance — but an average Tshepo would struggle to tell you what those were about.

Hence, when most of us hear of yet another summit, we switch off — preferring to change the subject to easy topics such as why Miguel Cardoso’s Mamelodi Sundowns always struggle to beat the Phefeni Boys, whether they are coached by so-called interpreters or a real McCoy like Fernando da Cruz.

Down in eThekwini over the next two days, 16 nations will be gathered for the 46th Southern African Development Community’s heads of state summit. We would be making a grave mistake if we dismissed the meeting as just another meaningless talk shop we shouldn’t be paying much attention to.

It is a significant gathering, especially as it comes just two months after SA was almost brought to a standstill due to mass protests over undocumented immigrants from mostly African countries.

In meetings held by SADC foreign affairs ministers and diplomats ahead of the heads of state summit, many of our neighbouring countries expressed “hurt” at the manner in which SA handled the crisis — specifically for the violence that accompanied some of the protests.

While we must be careful not to belittle what happened in the run-up to the June 30 deadline for foreigners to leave unilaterally imposed by March and March and its associates, the SADC has far more pressing issues for its gathering this week than to be stuck on the antics of Phakelumthakathi and Ngizwe Mchunu.

Dominating the debates at the summit should be the economic and political state of the region.

With a combined population of almost 400-million people, the SADC region is bigger than the US in population size. It is endowed with many of the critical raw minerals the world needs as it shifts towards cleaner energy. But unless there is a joint and concerted effort to move beyond being a mere supplier of raw materials to richer nations – a role the region and the rest of Africa have played since colonial conquest – Southern Africa and her people will once again miss out on the possible benefits of these advantages.

According to various global studies, Southern Africa holds 30% of the global reserves of critical energy transition minerals such as the platinum group metals and also lithium, cobalt, copper, graphite, nickel and manganese. SA and Zimbabwe alone hold 83% to 85% of global platinum reserves, yet the two countries do not determine the price of the minerals on world markets.

Reports indicate that, by 2030, global demand for some of these minerals would have tripled as most of the world moves towards cleaner energy. What should the Southern African region do to take advantage of this opportunity, in the process creating new jobs for its people and growing its economies? These are the topics that should dominate the summit.

President Cyril Ramaphosa and a number of other regional leaders are talking a big deal about “beneficiation”, manufacturing and technology development as ways of avoiding the trap of the region remaining a mere supplier of raw materials to richer countries. But how this is going to be done remains to be ironed out.

The new global scramble for rare minerals has seen the likes of the US enter into bilateral minerals agreements with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, but history teaches us that a more united region, acting as one, has far more bargaining power than an individual African country trying to strike a deal with a superpower.

Linked to the rare minerals debate is the integration of infrastructure development throughout the region because there is little that the region can achieve without integrated transport, water, energy and digital systems.

Regional heads of state should pay particular attention to the worrying developments suggesting an erosion of democracy in a number of member states.

S’thembiso Msomi

But, as it is often said, peace and political stability are preconditions for development. Hence, in all their debates over the next two days, the regional heads of state should pay particular attention to the worrying developments suggesting an erosion of democracy in a number of member states.

Tanzanian and Mozambican elections, for instance, ended up in violent clashes — with the opposition challenging the final outcomes. Counting had to be stopped momentarily in Zambia last week as those not happy with how the elections were being conducted threatened violence. In Zimbabwe there is unhappiness over how the ruling Zanu-PF engineered constitutional changes that would extend President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s stay in power.

All of this does not augur well for long-term regional stability.

If the summit in eThekwini addresses all of these, in a few years’ time the Southern African region will be thriving, no one will have the need to jump borders without proper papers and, certainly, no one will remember who Phakelumthakathi was.

The testimony before the commission has painted a troubling picture of senior police officials allegedly involved in criminal activities, corruption and the abuse of state power. These revelations have inevitably damaged the SAPS’s reputation and further eroded public trust in an institution vital to the functioning of a democratic society.

However, amid the grim picture emerging from the commission, there are police officers who remind us that the SAPS is not defined solely by the actions of those who betray their oath.

The weekend funerals of constables Thapelo Tlometsane and Siphiwe Sibiya, members of the Anti-Gang Unit who were killed in the line of duty in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, brought home the enormous risks faced by officers who confront criminals to keep communities safe. Their deaths were a tragic reminder that policing remains a dangerous vocation, requiring courage and a willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Their lives and service deserve to be remembered not only with grief, but also with pride. They represented the kind of policing South Africans desperately need: officers who understand that wearing the police uniform is a responsibility to the public.

That same sense of duty was evident in the work of Sgt Thilivhali Nengovhela, whose dedication and dogged investigation helped crack the case of a young mother brutally killed by her partner, as reported in our Friday edition.

His achievement is significant because it demonstrates the difference a committed police officer can make to a victim’s family and to society. Nengovhela applied science and technology to prove that the death of Mahlako Rabalao is not accidental but murder.

These officers offer an important counterpoint to the disturbing testimony at the Madlanga commission. They remind us that the battle to restore policing in SA is not only about exposing wrongdoing and holding corrupt officials accountable. It is also about recognising, supporting and protecting the thousands of honest officers who continue to do their jobs with integrity.

As we mourn Tlometsane and Sibiya, and salute Nengovhela, we should remember that they represent the best of policing − and the standard to which the entire service must aspire.

The DRC’s public health institute said in its latest report confirmed cases had risen to 4,945, including 101 new cases detected in the previous 24 hours.

The outbreak, the DRC’s 17th, was already the biggest in the country’s history in terms of number of cases, a milestone reached in late July. The latest government data shows the total number of deaths has surpassed the 2,299 deaths recorded in the DRC’s 2018-2020 outbreak, which was previously the country’s worst on record.

There are now 4,945 confirmed cases, the data showed.

By the numbers

• 2,325: Total deaths reported so far, surpassing the 2018–2020 outbreak to make this the deadliest Ebola crisis in the DRC’s history.
• 4,945: Total confirmed cases, with 101 new cases detected within a single 24-hour window.
• 46%: Current case fatality rate — up from about 20% in June — meaning nearly one in every two confirmed cases is fatal.
• Three months: The time it took for this outbreak to surpass 2,000 deaths, compared to nearly five months during the major West Africa outbreak.
• 0: Approved vaccines or specific treatments available to combat the Bundibugyo species driving the outbreak

Three months after it was formally announced, the outbreak is dwarfed only by West Africa’s 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, in which 28,616 cases and 11,310 deaths ​were recorded across Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It took nearly five months from the declaration of ‌that outbreak ⁠to hit 1,000 deaths, whereas the DRC’s current outbreak hit 2,000 deaths in less than three months.

No available treatments for rare species

The current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo species of Ebola, which has no approved vaccines or treatments. The outbreak has gained momentum since it was declared on May 15 as weak health infrastructure, community resistance and instability hinder efforts to identify and respond to cases.

The proportion of people dying from the outbreak after a confirmed infection, known as the case fatality ratio, has risen from about 20% in early June to 46%, according to government data, meaning nearly one in every two confirmed cases is fatal.

Experts said the trend does not indicate the virus has become more lethal. Instead, it points to persistent shortcomings in surveillance, case detection and access to care.

“Normally, as an outbreak progresses, the case fatality ratio should fall as contact tracing improves and patients are identified and treated earlier,” said Thomas Parisch, a public health specialist recently deployed to the DRC with Medecins Sans Frontieres.

The fatality rate has surged to nearly 50%, driven by a missing defence line: zero approved vaccines or treatments

“Instead, we’re still seeing many cases detected very late, when treatment is less likely to succeed, with many identified only after they die in the community.”

A small number of experimental vaccines and therapies are being evaluated, while global health authorities assess whether existing Ebola treatments could offer protection. Evidence so far is limited to animal studies.

The outbreak earlier spread to neighbouring Uganda, but authorities there managed to limit deaths to two and confirmed cases to 20 before declaring an end to the outbreak in the country last month. Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, living or dead. It can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

Reuters

Story audio is generated using AI

More than 2,000 pupils at Villa Liza Secondary School in Ekurhuleni are sharing just 16 toilets, with the Gauteng department of education confirming that 24 others are out of order.

The school has 2,068 pupils and currently only has seven toilets for boys and nine for girls.

The available toilets are mobile ablution facilities, with each toilet serving about 130 pupils.

National basic education standards recommend a ratio of one toilet for every 25 female pupils and one for every 35 male pupils, while the World Health Organisation recommends a student-to-toilet ratio of 1:25 for girls and 1:30 for boys.

The situation has prompted pupils to protest over what they say is a lack of privacy and inadequate access to working toilets.

They say the problem started earlier this year when some toilets were closed because they were broken and had become progressively worse over the past six weeks.

They also said boys and girls had, at one point, been forced to use the same toilets.

“It’s been bad having to share a toilet with females. We protested two weeks ago so we could be heard because it had gone ignored for too long,” one pupil said.

If you have a running tummy or weak bladder, a disaster can happen.

Anonymous pupil

“There is no privacy when you are there to do your business. This means you have to wait longer. If you have a running tummy or weak bladder, a disaster can happen.”

The pupils said that after the protest, some of the broken toilets were reopened, ending the sharing of facilities between boys and girls.

The department confirmed that boys and girls had used the same facilities but described it as a “temporary situation”.

“The incident referred to ... occurred when the boys’ toilets were temporarily cordoned off for maintenance, and some boys attempted to enter the adjacent girls’ facilities,” said Onwabile Lubhelwana, spokesperson for the Gauteng education MEC.

“The school has confirmed that this was an isolated incident and not an arrangement in which boys and girls share toilets.”

Lubhelwana confirmed that 24 toilets were not functioning.

“The school has been operating with mobile ablution facilities since 2012. Deterioration is attributed to the ageing mobile infrastructure as well as incidents of vandalism,” he said.

He said reported problems include damaged flushing systems, collapsed urinals and damaged toilet partitions.

“Some facilities have deteriorated to the extent that they require refurbishment rather than routine maintenance,” Lubhelwana said.

He said the department’s head office maintenance unit inspected the facilities on August 13 and issued a job card for repairs.

“Repair work is currently in progress,” he said.

Researcher Kimberley Khumalo of pressure group Equal Education said the situation highlighted how overcrowding affects more than classroom space.

“We have seen a focus on bringing in classrooms by the department, forgetting about all the other factors at play when the school is overcrowded, including availability of teachers, subjects and resources,” Khumalo said.

Equal Education has called for schools with more than 2,000 pupils to have about 60 toilets.

“It’s disappointing in 2026, after many engagements, that learners are subject to this reality,” Khumalo said.

She said inadequate sanitation could particularly affect girls during menstruation.

“We have seen in some provinces this resulting in some girl learners not attending school when they are in their menstrual cycle because it’s difficult to manage it in a school like that,” she said.

Abraham Mlindeli Geqeza, a parent of a learner at the school, said he got to learn of the toilet problems via a community WhatsApp group.

“I am concerned about the situation, but I also feel responsible to do something as a parent and as a community resident.

“Parents need to teach children to take good care of the facility; in most cases, they are the ones vandalising the toilets.”

Geqeza said that as Villa Lizza is a no-fee school, parents also need to contribute something, as there is a lot of pressure to maintain the school financially.

“This is not just about children but is about us as the community taking responsibility for our school,” he said.

But before you book that holiday, splash out on shopping or start planning how to spend every cent, financial adviser Marnus Mostert says taxpayers should pause and give their refund a job.

The tax season started in July and ends in October.

Mostert, franchise principal and financial adviser at Consult by Momentum, warns that a tax refund is not a bonus.

“It’s your money being returned to you,” he says.

The refund could come from medical aid credits, retirement annuity contributions, or other tax deductions that were not fully accounted for during the year.

Instead of treating the lump sum as free cash, taxpayers should consider whether it could help reduce debt, boost retirement savings, or build an emergency fund.

Mostert suggests asking four questions before spending it: What is the most expensive money on my balance sheet? What happens if something goes wrong next month? Am I leaving valuable tax breaks on the table? And what do I want this money to do?

Kill expensive debt

For consumers struggling with high-interest debt, a refund could provide breathing room.

Putting extra money towards debt can reduce interest costs and free up income over time. Mostert recommends tackling high-interest accounts strategically, while some consumers may prefer paying off the smallest balance first and then using the money freed up to tackle the next debt.

For example, someone with R2.75m in debt – made up of a R2m bond at 10%, a R650,000 vehicle finance at 11%, and a R100,000 personal loan at 18% – could have minimum repayments of about R35,972 a month.

“If that person adds R3,833 a month, equal to a R46,000 annual tax refund, towards the debt, they could potentially save R1.5m in interest and become debt-free about a decade sooner, using the debt snowball approach made famous by Dave Ramsey,” says Mostert.

Give your future self a boost

Another option is putting the refund towards retirement.

A retirement annuity can give the money years to grow and benefit from compound interest. A tax-free savings account is another way to build wealth over time.

Mostert points to the power of reinvesting the refund generated by retirement annuity contributions.

If someone contributes R46,000 a year to a retirement annuity from age 33 to 65, assuming a 9% annual return after charges and a 45% marginal tax rate, they could retire with about R7.91m if they spend the refund each year.

Reinvesting the refund into the same retirement annuity could increase that figure to about R13.63m.

“A tax-free savings account works differently. Contributions do not provide an upfront tax deduction, but interest, dividends, and capital gains are not taxed,” says Mostert.

A 33-year-old investing the R46,000 annual limit until reaching the R500,000 lifetime cap could have about R4.38m by age 65, compared with about R3.31m if the same contributions were made to an ordinary taxable investment.

Prepare for emergencies

A refund could also help build an emergency fund.

Having savings available means consumers can deal with these shocks without reaching for expensive credit.

Mostert says consumers do not necessarily have to choose just one option.

The money can work like a waterfall – starting with retirement savings, using the resulting refund to build a tax-free savings account, and, once its limits are reached, directing additional money into a discretionary investment or towards debt.

The best choice will depend on each person’s circumstances, including debt levels, emergency savings, age, marginal tax rate, and how long the money can remain invested.

The smartest move, Mostert says, may be deciding what to do with the refund before it arrives.

“Make the decision when you file your return and give the money a job before it even lands.”

The refund may not be a windfall – but it can create a waterfall.

The march, organised by the group March and March and affiliated anti-immigrant organisations, is planned for today around the Durban International Convention Centre (ICC), where the 46th Ordinary Southern African Development Community (SADC) Summit is taking place.

The group, which rose to national prominence this year by setting an unauthorised June 30 deadline for undocumented immigrants to leave the country, said it wants SADC leaders to take greater responsibility for their citizens living in SA.

SA is set to formally assume the SADC chairship for 2026/27 at today’s summit, with President Cyril Ramaphosa chairing the gathering of the 16-member bloc. SA has held the role on an interim basis since November, when an extraordinary summit accepted Madagascar’s relinquishment of the chair after the ouster of President Andry Rajoelina.

The chairship’s agenda has centred on lifting intra-SADC trade toward 50% and securing greater local beneficiation of critical minerals. Migration policy has also become a friction on the summit’s formal agenda, with Zimbabwe and Mozambique resisting SA’s push to place the bloc’s stalled free movement protocol before leaders directly.

His Excellency President @CyrilRamaphosa uses the SADC Public Lecture to illustrate what a rising Southern Africa should look like: refineries rather than only mines, agro-processing rather than only farms, shared energy across borders and regional value chains that connect… pic.twitter.com/6cy5JHPHVi

— The Presidency 🇿🇦 (@PresidencyZA) August 14, 2026

Deputy national police commissioner Tebello Mosikili, who chairs Natjoints, told reporters this week that citizens have a constitutional right to march but that protest activity must not interfere with the summit, which brings together nine heads of state in person along with government delegations from the remaining member countries. Comoros has been suspended from the bloc over unpaid membership fees.

Separately, Natjoints said two Congolese nationals were arrested on Saturday after they tried to enter the convention centre using accreditation issued to other people. Their identities did not match the credentials they presented at an access control point, prompting immediate arrest.

The pair face charges of fraud, impersonation and contravention of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, which governs unauthorised entry into designated event areas. A third suspect, a Zimbabwean national, was arrested earlier in the week after allegedly trying to obtain accreditation by posing as a performing artist and faces a charge tied to being in SA illegally. That brings to three the number of people detained so far over the summit’s access controls.

“Natjoints is fully aware of plans for marches and other public gatherings in and around Durban during the summit period. Security and law-enforcement plans are in place to manage these activities,” the South African Police Service said.

“Natjoints respects the constitutional right to protest peacefully and lawfully. However, there will be no tolerance for criminality, violence, intimidation, threats, destruction of property, attempts to breach restricted areas or any deliberate effort to disrupt the proceedings of the summit.

“Those participating in marches and gatherings are urged to comply with the law and instructions issued by law enforcement officers.”

Natjoints said only accreditation issued directly to an individual will be honoured at the ICC and warned against sharing, lending or falsifying credentials, saying its security measures are designed to detect and intercept attempts to compromise safety around delegates, heads of state and government officials.

March and March, founded by former radio presenter Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, has held repeated demonstrations in Durban and other cities this year, including a mass protest on June 30 marking the deadline it set for undocumented foreign nationals to leave the country. The group said Monday’s action is intended to pressure both SADC leaders and the South African government to tighten immigration enforcement.

The security backdrop to the summit was addressed on Sunday by SADC executive secretary Elias Magosi, who told the Organ Troika Summit in Durban that the region remains generally stable and free from interstate conflict but flagged eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Madagascar as the bloc’s most pressing concerns. He said the security and humanitarian situation in eastern DRC remains deeply concerning despite progress achieved through preventive diplomacy and mediation, and the bloc extended condolences to communities affected by violence and by an outbreak of Bundibugyo virus disease in the country.

In Madagascar, he said SADC continues to support dialogue and national reconciliation through a Panel of Elders, with a liaison office planned to back the process.

Second-half goals from Gamphani Lungu, Lebone Seema and Daniel Msendami were enough to hand the Buccaneers a win after their disappointing draw against AmaZulu on Wednesday.

The Chilli Boys now remain without a win in three matches after earlier draws against Golden Arrows and Richards Bay and this has put early pressure on coach Brandon Truter.

After a disappointing draw against AmaZulu in their midweek match at the same venue, the Buccaneers were looking to redeem themselves against the Chilli Boys and did that in style.

Pirates were on the front foot in the opening half as they went in search of an opener, but were unable to find a way past a Chippa side who were sitting deep in their own half, restricting the opposition’s efforts from a distance.

Chippa relied on transition and nearly caught the Buccaneers twice on the break. Despite dominating the opening half, Pirates were unable to create enough clear-cut chances as there was no creativity from the midfield.

Chippa came into their own at the midway point of the first half and worried the visitors when a teasing shot from outside the box by Sirgio Kammies urged goalkeeper Sipho Chaine to dive near the post and keep the ball out.

Oswin Appollis was lively in the first half, but the rest of his team mates looked rather flat. Pirates had the best chance of the match immediately after the interval when Chippa gave the ball away in their own half and Patrick Maswanganyi did well to beat the defender before his efforts were thwarted by goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Gamphani Lungu was joined on the scoresheet by Lebone Seema and Daniel Msendami as Orlando Pirates secure three points to go above Kaizer Chiefs in the #BetwayPrem standings #SSFootball | #SSDiski pic.twitter.com/2lOaJdTiL6

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 16, 2026

Pirates’ second-half pressure paid off when Lungu scored just before the hour mark with a shot outside the box to net his second goal of the season.

Seema doubled the lead three minutes later with a free header from Deon Hotto’s corner kick after he was unmarked inside the box. It was a better second half from Pirates as they came back with more energy, while the Chilli Boys struggled to cope with the high pressure from the Buccaneers.

Pirates continued to dominate and substitute Msendami made it 3-0 when he capitalised from a mistake by the Chippa defence.

The victory saw the Buccaneers move to top of the log with seven points, tied with Kaizer Chiefs and AmaZulu but with a superior goal difference.

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New Zealand demolished the Bulls 50-19 in a match that had become an exhibition match by the second half, but — forget the carnival atmosphere and the occasional moments of vulnerability — the visitors provided a solid display to suggest they’re going to be a handful against the Springboks at Ellis Park on Saturday.

Admittedly, this wasn’t a finely tuned Bulls side. This is so early in their pre-season; they’re basically still stretching and wiping the sleep out of their eyes.

Even so, nobody expected the All Blacks to boss the Bulls pack the way they did when defending a 5m scrum early in the match, when the scores were still level. They pushed the mighty blue tractor backwards and forced the turnover.

And the way the Kiwi backline threw the ball around with purpose, they could do some damage against the Green-and-Gold if they could minimise the errors, which were understandably plentiful in this open contest.

They had this match wrapped up before half time, given the way they chose to attack with the ball in hand.

The crucial takeaways, perhaps, were how the All Blacks responded to pressure moments early in the match.

Each time the Bulls asked questions, the All Blacks answered.

Both sides missed early chances. The Bulls lost their first lineout throw in the New Zealand half, and a few minutes later the All Blacks were pressing inside the home side’s quarter but then lost the ball when their maul off a lineout was well held up.

The home side took play to the other side of the field, winning a few lineouts deep in the New Zealand 22m area, and they gave them some tough moments.

Skipper Marcell Coetzee made a good break, and hooker Juann Else’s push for the line was adjudged to be just short.

The Bulls had a 5m scrum, and the New Zealand pack turned on the power, pushing the home side back and winning the penalty. From there, they quickly made their way upfield, and then the backs turned on the magic, with Josh Moorby cutting in to dot down in the corner.

The Bulls were denied another try almost immediately afterwards, but after that was disallowed, the visitors hit back almost instantly, throwing the ball around, and Moorby went over in the corner again.

Centres Anton Lienert-Brown and Rieko Ioane were livewires in the midfield, where flanker Anton Segner frequently popped up.

The way the All Blacks run the ball is different from most South African teams. They’re aiming at gaps and trying to offload to runners at speed in a bid to maintain momentum. They’re also not shy to use grubber kicks when they run out of space.

The Bulls also gave the ball some air, especially in the second half, but they were unable to replicate the fluidity, with too many players dancing in front of All Black defenders, losing impetus.

But they looked better when resorting to more familiar tactics, like building phases and gaining metres by punching around the sides of the ruck, with Coetzee scoring late in the match.

The All Blacks looked vulnerable at times, and some of their tries were soft.

But this team was also structured — on attack and defence, up front and at the back — and while the Springboks won’t be shaking in their boots, they also won’t be underestimating the power of the All Blacks.

Only once have New Zealand won a series in South Africa, the last time they toured in 1996, and, likewise, only once have the Boks triumphed in New Zealand, way back in 1937.

And in 2026, these are the only two remaining unbeaten teams in the Nations Championship.

This is Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry.

Scorers

Bulls: 19 (0)

Tries: Ruan Vermaak, Stravino Jacobs, Marcell Coetzee. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2).

All Blacks: 50 (24)

Tries: Josh Moorby (2), Codie Taylor (2), Leroy Carter (2), Rieko Ioane, Wallace Sititi. Conversions: Beauden Barrett, Josh Jacomb (4).

Story audio is generated using AI

A railway line and Eskom power lines were damaged and a river was polluted when the wall of a dam at Samancor’s Dikwena Chrome mine near Brits collapsed, resulting in waste material stored there spilling out and flowing onto the road.

The waste was prevented from flowing towards the R566 provincial road by a railway line embankment and some berms (earthen barriers) at the adjacent Eland Mine.

This has since prompted an investigation by the water and sanitation department and the Limpopo-Olifants catchment management agency.

The department’s spokesperson, Wisane Mavasa, said the dam breach occurred at about 5.30 pm on Thursday, with authorities confirming that almost all the tailings (waste materials left after valuable minerals are extracted during mining) and slimes stored in one of the facility’s compartments were released.

😱😱😱😱 What's happening in Brits bafethu?? pic.twitter.com/XVtcb5y37y

— TheMechanic (@MmMolale) August 15, 2026

Mavasa said the northern wall of compartment 1B “collapsed and failed, releasing almost all the tailings/slimes which were stored in the compartment”.

She said no casualties were reported following the incident; “however, there was some damage to the mine’s infrastructure, the railway line, Eskom’s power lines and pollution of an unnamed tributary”.

Water samples have been collected from the affected area, with authorities awaiting the results to determine the extent of the pollution.

Engineers from the water and sanitation department’s specialist unit for dam safety regulation, together with officials from the catchment management agency and the department of mineral and petroleum resources, were dispatched to the site following notification of the breach.

Mavasa said teams are assessing the impact of the failure and investigating what caused the facility to collapse.

“[The water and sanitation department] has issued a verbal directive to the mine to cease with the deposition of tailings in any of their tailings dams while investigations on the failure of the facility are being carried out.

“The minister continues to urge mining houses that own dams which meet the minimum requirements to be classified as dams with a safety risk as defined in the National Water Act to register their tailings dams in order for the department to effectively play its oversight role,” Mavasa said.

In September 2022, a tailings dam wall burst at a mine in Jagersfontein in the Free State. It released a flow of the sludge to a nearby residential area, leaving 40 people injured. More than 200 people had to leave their homes because of the disaster. One person died while another went missing and was never found.

Sowetan

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Iran executed a man convicted of deliberately driving his car into police officers during anti-government protests in the city of Karaj in January, Iran media reported on Sunday.

Shahram Sadeghi was accused of driving a car into police officers in Karaj on January 8, injuring seven officers, one of whom was reportedly left in a coma for three months, according to semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The Karaj Revolutionary Court sentenced Sadeghi to death and ordered the confiscation of his assets for what authorities described as an “operational action” in favour of Israel, the US and hostile groups under Iran’s espionage law.

The Supreme Court upheld the sentence, and it was carried out early on Sunday, according to the judiciary.

Also on Sunday, Iran’s parliament approved the general principles of a bill that would criminalise interviews and other communications with media deemed hostile to the Islamic Republic, including US or Israeli media and outlets financed by either country, Iran’s Shargh newspaper reported.

Osman Salari, a member of parliament’s judicial and legal commission, said the individual provisions of the bill, which is aimed at countering foreign intelligence influence, have yet to be debated and approved. Reports about the bill’s details should not yet be considered final, Salari told the Mizan news agency.

Under the proposed bill, interviews or participation in discussions with such media would be banned, with violations carrying prison terms of six months to two years.

Revolutionary Courts

Interviews with other foreign media would require notification to the intelligence ministry, while contact with foreign embassies, offices of foreign organisations or other non-Iranian institutions without notification and written permission from the foreign ministry would be punishable by a fine and deprivation of certain social rights.

The proposed legislation would also toughen penalties for economic crimes committed under the direction or supervision of foreigners, ban providing information to foreigners without intelligence ministry approval and restrict scientific co-operation with foreign institutions outside an approved list.

It would punish policy or legislative proposals made under the direction of foreign intelligence services if they harmed Iran’s security or independence, with prison terms of up to 30 years. Cases would be heard by Revolutionary Courts.

The bill will be considered article by article in parliament. Once parliament approves the final text, it will have to be reviewed by the Guardian Council before becoming law.

The move is not the first time Iran has criminalised co-operation with foreign entities. A law passed in 2025 after a 12-day war with Israel imposed tougher penalties for alleged cooperation with hostile states.

Iranian photojournalist Yalda Moaiery was sentenced this month to 15 years in prison under that law over allegations that included giving interviews to media deemed hostile and providing photographs to US- and Israel-linked organisations.

Reuters

Story audio is generated using AI

Pope Leo called on Sunday for an end to violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank amid a siege in the territory’s village of Qusra.

Israeli settlers encircled houses after cutting off water and electricity, in what rights groups have said is a concerted effort to seize more land and further eat into territory where Palestinians aim to establish a state.

“I renew my appeal for an end to the repeated violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank,” the Pope said, without mentioning specific confrontations or attacks.

I renew my appeal for an end to the ongoing violence against the Palestinian civilian population in the West Bank, and I urgently call on the international community to work toward advancing the two-state solution, for a just and lasting peace.

— Pope Leo XIV (@Pontifex) August 16, 2026

“I urgently ask the international community to take action so as to advance the two-state solution, for a fair and lasting peace,” the Pope added after noon prayers at his Castel Gandolfo residence outside Rome.

The Vatican has long backed the idea of a future Palestinian state, which has been recognised by more than 150 of 193 UN member states as encompassing the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including East Jerusalem.

Bom domingo com o Papa Leão!

Aos fiéis reunidos na Praça da Liberdade em Castel Gandolfo, #PapaLeãoXIV comentou a liturgia deste XX Domingo do Tempo Comum, que apresenta o episódio da mulher cananeia#Angelus pic.twitter.com/B4FCxvlVSM

— Vatican News (@vaticannews_pt) August 16, 2026

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government has overseen massive settlement construction in the West Bank that finance minister Bezalel Smotrich says is aimed at burying the idea of such a state.

The UN and most governments consider the settlements to be illegal under international law related to military occupation. Israel seized the West Bank in the 1967 war but argues the territory is disputed rather than occupied.

Reuters

“Some [of the players] are playing on a real netball court for the first time. When I started playing netball in Malamulele, we were playing in the gravel, but that didn’t stop us,” Chauke said.

The competition that took place at Mutanga Lodge in Cullinan, Gauteng, on Saturday offers R1.4m in prize funding for different categories of winners — Botho (privileged schools), Ubuntu (disadvantaged schools), runners-up and third-place finishers. The winning schools use the prize money for selected legacy projects in their communities.

Idlangamabela Secondary School from Mpumalanga was crowned the champions and walked away with R400k; Jabulile Secondary School clinched second place, winning R200k, and Motjedi Secondary was third, getting R100k.

Afrikaanse Hoër Meisieskool from Pretoria were champions in the Botho section, Helpmekaar Kollege finished second, and Hoër Meisieskool Oranje were third.

“I’m a product of school netball,” Chauke said. “That’s why whenever they [the competition’s organisers] call me to come and do something, I can’t say no.

“It’s important because this is the pathway; this is the factory where all of us are manufactured. We cannot expect the results at the top if we are not developing it at the bottom and creating the opportunities for exposure for talent identification.

“Everyone can learn, and that is the opportunity that Kay Motsepe as well as Sanlam is offering our girls. They can learn, they can grow and they can become leaders all through the game of netball.

“That’s the importance of school netball.”

Idlangamabela Secondary coach Senzo Khumalo hopes to use the prize money to build a proper netball court at the school.

“We will have a talk with the school management on how to utilise the money, but definitely, it has to benefit netball,” Khumalo said.

“We don’t have a court, maybe it will start there.”

Sowetan

Story audio is generated using AI

Three people, including two Congolese, have been arrested for allegedly attempting to circumvent accreditation and access control measures at the 46th ordinary Sadc summit being held in Durban.

The arrests were confirmed by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (Natjoints) on Sunday as security operations around the summit venue remain heightened.

Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said the two Congolese were arrested on Saturday after allegedly attempting to enter the summit venue using accreditation that had not been issued to them.

“The two Congolese nationals face charges of fraud, impersonation and contravention of the Safety at Sports and Recreational Events Act, relating to entering a designated area without authorisation. Their identities and the circumstances surrounding the attempted access are subject to further investigation.

“The suspects were detected at an access control point when their identities did not correspond with the accreditation presented and were immediately arrested,” said Mathe.

The accreditation allegedly belonged to another person.

Natjoints said only people with valid and properly issued accreditation would be allowed into the Durban International Convention Centre, where the summit is taking place.

The latest arrests follow the arrest earlier in the week of a Zimbabwean who allegedly attempted to obtain accreditation by presenting himself as a performing artist.

Mathe said the Zimbabwean faces a charge relating to being illegally in South Africa.

“This brings to three the number of individuals arrested in connection with attempts to circumvent the summit’s accreditation and access control processes,” she said.

“Natjoints issues a stern and unequivocal warning that the exchanging, lending, sharing, falsification or misuse of accreditation as well as any attempt to gain access to the summit venue without proper authorisation will not be tolerated,” Mathe said.

She urged people not to attempt to test the security arrangements surrounding the high-level gathering.

“Security measures implemented by Natjoints are comprehensive and designed to detect and prevent attempts to compromise the safety and security of delegates, heads of state, government officials, accredited participants and members of the public,” she said.

Natjoints issues a stern and unequivocal warning that the exchanging, lending, sharing, falsification or misuse of accreditation as well as any attempt to gain access to the summit venue without proper authorisation will not be tolerated.

Brig Athlenda Mathe

The arrests come as Natjoints also prepares for planned marches and other public gatherings in and around Durban during the summit.

Mathe said law enforcement agencies were aware of the planned activities and had security measures in place to manage them.

“Natjoints respects the constitutional right to protest peacefully and lawfully.”

However, she warned that authorities would act against criminality, violence and attempts to breach restricted areas.

“There will be no tolerance for criminality, violence, intimidation, threats, destruction of property, attempts to breach restricted areas or any deliberate effort to disrupt the proceedings of the summit.”

Those taking part in marches and gatherings have been urged to follow the law and comply with instructions from law enforcement officers.

She warned against attempts to use legitimate protests as a cover to undermine the summit.

With the Sadc summit under way, Natjoints said security operations would remain in place.

“The message from Natjoints is clear: the 46th Sadc summit will proceed as planned. Security measures remain firmly in place, and anyone attempting to compromise the summit will face the full might of the law.”

She also called on accredited delegates and participants to protect their credentials and not allow them to be used by anyone else.

The safety and security of the summit, its delegates and all participants remained Natjoints’ priority.

TimesLIVE

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Zimbabwe’s national police service said in a post on X on Sunday that the death toll from a boat accident on Lake Kariba last week had risen to 80 after eight more bodies were found.

A passenger ferry capsized last Tuesday, with investigations suggesting the boat was overloaded when it went over during heavy winds.

The vessel was built to carry 90 passengers but more than 120 people could have been on board as it crossed the lake that borders Zambia, police said.

Sixty-seven people were confirmed to have been rescued. They were taken to a primary school for medical attention.

🚨 LAKE KARIBA TRAGEDY

An overcrowded ferry overturned after being hit by strong waves while traveling from Kariba to Chalala

The ferry was built for 90 passengers but had around 120 or more aboard

💔 At least 44 killed, 67 rescued#Zimbabwe #エビライ同時視聴 #KARIBA pic.twitter.com/kcYlwO8jRV

— GlobeUpdate (@Globupdate) August 13, 2026

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation earlier cited a local official as saying that 114 tickets had been issued for the ferry’s journey.

Update: August 16 2026: This article has been updated with the new death toll and more details.

Reuters

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The South African National Roads Agency (Sanral) is investing in the country’s youth through its High School Scholarship Programme, which aims to ensure that financial challenges do not prevent academically talented pupils from reaching their full potential.

The programme supports pupils from grade 8 to grade 12 and provides comprehensive financial assistance to successful applicants for the 2027 academic year.

For families struggling with the increasing cost of secondary education, the scholarship covers a range of expenses, including registration and school fees, hostel accommodation if required, school and sports uniforms, transport, prescribed books and stationery.

The support extends beyond covering education costs, with Sanral also providing extra tuition classes to help pupils strengthen their performance, particularly in critical subjects such as mathematics and science.

Pupils can also access the Sanral Wellness Programme, which provides mental and emotional support as they navigate their academic journey.

However, applicants must meet specific requirements to qualify for the programme. The scholarship is only available to South African citizens and they must maintain a minimum overall academic average of 60%.

The programme is also means-tested to ensure that support reaches pupils from households that need financial assistance.

The combined annual household income of the applicant’s parents or guardians must not exceed R550,000.

Parents, guardians and pupils who meet the requirements are encouraged to prepare their applications well in advance of the closing date.

Here’s what pupils need to apply:

• Applicants will need to submit several supporting documents, including a certified copy of their ID or birth certificate and certified copies of their latest academic results, such as a mid-year (June 2026) report card.
• Proof of residence must also be provided, along with proof of household income. This may include recent salary slips, pension receipts or official affidavits that are not older than three months.
• Learners are also required to submit a motivational letter outlining their background, achievements and future career goals. A support or motivational letter from the pupil’s school principal must accompany the application.
• Applications must be submitted digitally through the official Sanral Scholarships Portal.

With the annual application deadline set for September 30, prospective applicants are urged not to wait until the last minute to gather the required documentation.

Sowetan

They added that more than 130 people had been injured, many with broken bones.

Saturday’s quake was the Southeast Asian nation’s deadliest since a 2022 quake killed hundreds in West Java.

More than 3,300 people in Indonesia’s Sikka region — one of the hardest hit — self-evacuated or were in a sports arena, according to the country’s national disaster mitigation agency, known as BNPB.

Some residents were stranded outside collapsed homes under makeshift tents made out of tarpaulin, while others received treatment in a tent outside the local hospital.

A sprawling archipelago of 290-million people, Indonesia straddles the “Pacific Ring of Fire”, a seismically active zone where tectonic plates meet, triggering frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Nearly a thousand aftershocks had been recorded since the quake.

Simon Subandi, deputy regent of Sikka

At a now-closed port in Maumere, littered with debris from a collapsed roof and walls, residents said they were scared of aftershocks.

The disaster agency said on Sunday nearly a thousand aftershocks had been recorded since the quake.

Nearby, hundreds of residents filled a sports stadium, which has been designated as an evacuation spot.

As the sun was setting, residents stood in line to get warm drinks. Some mothers hooked pieces of clothing to tent frames to form makeshift cradles for their babies. Other children played soccer outside.

One of these mothers was Lisda, 22, who chose to be in a tent with her twin babies due to the fear of sleeping inside her home.

The area of the quake was hit in 1992 by a magnitude-7.5 earthquake that caused extensive destruction, Indonesia’s geophysics agency said.

Margaretha Movaldes Da Maga Bapa, head of the region’s disaster mitigation agency, said the quake had brought back memories.

“We’ve had quakes often. But this one really brings back the trauma of the one from 1992,” she said, referencing the trucks bringing aid and tents.

Suryaman, a rescue agency official, told Reuters the priority was clearing rubble in the most affected areas of Manggarai, East Manggarai and Nagekeo to find people possibly still trapped under rubble.

Suryaman said the agency had not received missing person reports but added that landslides and aftershocks were impeding the search.

More than 3,500 military and police officers have been deployed to the region, Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya said in a statement.

Power supply was nearly fully restored, but authorities were still working on fixing distribution lines, state utility firm Perusahaan Listrik Negara said Sunday.

The East Nusa Tenggara government has declared an emergency for the province, BNPB said, a move that allows authorities to mobilise resources and funding.

Update: August 16 2026

This article has been updated with more information.

Reuters

Phili opened his account for the club after giving Chiefs a lead in the second half before Sundowns striker Cassius Mailula came off the bench to equalise to ensure the points were shared.

Speaking during the post-match press conference, Da Cruz urged the talented midfielder, who joined the club recently from Stellenbosch, to build on that performance going forward.

“First of all, I would love that he continues to score,” Da Cruz said.

“But also, in situations like today where we’re going to have to defend for long periods, I would love it if he is able to keep the ball more, support the team by keeping the ball because in the first half he lost the ball too much for me.”

WATCH | Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz was pleased with his side performance against Mamelodi Sundowns during their 1-1 draw at FNB Stadium on Saturday. He also praised players Langelihle Phili, Thabo Moloisane and Pule Mmodi. pic.twitter.com/983jHGdKfx

— Sowetan (@Sowetan1981) August 16, 2026

Phili was substituted after scoring the goal and getting a yellow card for taking off his shirt, but Cruz said he still needed time to adapt to the club.

Phili, 21, has already made three appearances for the club and Da Cruz said he wants to see him being more effective.

“The difficulty against an opponent like that, that has a bit more of the ball, when you win the ball back, you expect him to keep it.

“In the first half he lost too many balls. At half time we told him he needed to keep the ball, and he was much better in the second half. But he is still someone finding his bearings in the organisation and we need to give him a bit more time. The further we go, the more important a player he will be for the team.”

Da Cruz was also happy with the performances of Thabo Moloisane and Pule Mmodi, who were making their first appearance on the pitch under him this season.

Meanwhile, Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso praised his side’s fighting spirit after coming from a goal down to force the draw.

“What I think is important is that we show character to fight for results until the last minute, but we should also show character to fight for results from the first minute,” Cardoso said.

“I don’t like to win matches at the end. I prefer to win them in the beginning because that’s when teams can obviously manage the contest, coaches can manage players, make changes and give opportunities to others.”

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Sowetan

Ngwenya was on target once again when AmaZulu beat Siwelele 2-0 in Betway Premiership at Kings Park Stadium over the weekend, netting his fifth goal of the season across the league and the MTN8. Mlondi Mbanjwa also found the back of the net for Usuthu.

“We will work on Thando. I think Thando last season was something else. Even though I still say he scored six goals, he knows he missed. I don’t know how many 1v1s a goalkeeper can beat. He could have easily scored 15, 16 goals before he got injured,” Zwane said of Ngwenya’s form last season.

I want Thando, when he goes to Zimbabwe, to be treated as the Musonas, Khama Billiat and Peter Ndlovu because he has the potential to reach that level.

Arthur Zwane, AmaZulu coach

“I remember in one game in Joburg, he said ‘coach I can’t keep up with the tempo of the game’ and I told him to soldier on. He’s got the right attitude.

“He is still young, but I think he will get to the level of the Musonas. I am his mentor and coach, and I will push him to reach that level.”

Ngwenya joined AmaZulu from his native Zimbabwe side FC Platinum at the start of the previous season.

“I want Thando, when he goes to Zimbabwe, to be treated as the Musonas, Khama Billiat and Peter Ndlovu because he has the potential to reach that level. As a striker, he can score; he’s got goals in him,” Zwane said.

Usuthu, who have won two of their three opening league games with a draw, next face Mamelodi Sundowns away on August 26.

@AmaZuluFootball coach Arthur Zwane on their victory against Siwelele. pic.twitter.com/9JRRb0fLs4

— Marawa Sports Worldwide (@MarawaSportShow) August 16, 2026

Sowetan

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Seven years after UCT student Uyinene Mrwetyana was murdered after walking into a post office in Claremont, Cape Town, her mother, Nomangwane “Noma” Mrwetyana, says the fight against gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) must move from awareness to action.

Noma was speaking in KuGompo City on Saturday, where the Uyinene Mrwetyana Foundation held a memorial walk in honour of her daughter.

“It has been seven years since Uyinene left on August 24 2019. She walked into that post office and she never came out,” said Noma.

Uyinene was 19 when she was murdered in August 2019.

Her death sparked nationwide outrage and became a rallying point in South Africa’s fight against GBVF.

Speaking about the establishment of the Uyinene Foundation, Noma said the organisation was created to ensure her daughter would be remembered for more than the circumstances of her death.

“As a family, we decided to establish the Uyinene Foundation in honour of Uyinene.”

Noma said the foundation had two key purposes: to celebrate Uyinene’s life and to continue the fight against GBVF.

“We believe as a family she cannot be known as that UCT girl who was killed at the post office. She was more than that, and the foundation is used as a vehicle to tell the story that Uyinene was not only the person who fought at the post office until she took her last breath.

“She was an academic, she was bubbly, she was a fashionista,” Noma said.

“Reason number two was for us to continue with the fight. I recently revisited the clips from the funeral and one of the things that her brother said during the funeral. He said, ‘Your fight is now our fight.’

“As a foundation, we took a decision to say we will continue to fight against GBVF and all other social ills.”

Noma said the annual walk was not only about remembering Uyinene but also about reflecting on the progress, or lack thereof, in the fight against GBVF.

“Seven years on, you may be asking why we are here today. It is to do exactly that. To celebrate the person of Uyinene as well as to continue with the fight against GBVF.”

This year’s theme, “From Awareness to Action”, was a call for greater accountability and collaboration between institutions tasked with addressing GBVF.

“The theme is saying from awareness to action. We want to believe that there has been enough awareness, or let me say to a certain extent. So let’s put our hands together today,” said Noma.

“We cannot work in silos; hence, we said the government must be here, SAPS must be here, the NPA must be here, and the Commission for Gender Equality must be here so that there’s a multidisciplinary approach in the fight against GBVF.”

Noma urged South Africans not to become desensitised to violence against women and children.

“We cannot give up. We don’t want it to one day be your child. Let’s use the incident to raise awareness of GBVF.”

Former Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi-Bolowana, who also took part in the memorial walk, said Uyinene’s mother had reflected on the painful circumstances through which the public first came to know her daughter.

“Today is such an important day. Uyinene’s mom was reflecting on seven years ago when she was introduced to us in the most painful, tragic way,” Tunzi-Bolowana told eNCA.

She said the walk was an opportunity to honour Uyinene while demanding meaningful action from those in power.

“Today we are here in her memory to remember her but also to continue to spread awareness, and we’ve spread enough awareness.”

Tunzi-Bolowana said women were increasingly demanding concrete action from the government after years of awareness campaigns and public commitments to tackle GBVF.

“Women are tired; women have been crying every day, and so now we want to see exactly what it is that the government will do and continue to do because if we look into last year, GBVF was considered a national crisis, and so to that we say, ‘What else should happen from now? What should we look forward to for women to feel free and safe in this country?’ So we’ll continue spreading that awareness until something changes.”

For Tunzi-Bolowana, the country has reached a point where awareness alone was no longer enough.

“Awareness is not a problem anymore. We’ve done more than enough of that. I think it is now the implementation of these policies that are supposed to be implemented correctly.”

She also raised concerns about the lack of accountability for perpetrators of GBVF.

“I feel like we’re not backed enough; we’re not supported enough. We’re seeing perpetrators getting away with things every day. Whether that be at the police station or whether it’s at a high government level. Not enough is being done, and that’s exactly where the issue is,” said Tunzi-Bolowana.

TimesLIVE

She achieved the feat at the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, in the US, during a month celebrated in South Africa to honour the 20,000 women who marched to the Union Buildings on August 9 1956 in protest against unjust pass laws. National Women’s Day is celebrated on August 9.

Ferreira, the IBO junior lightweight holder, whose belt was on the line on Sunday morning, added the WBC belt to her collection after dethroning defending champion Caroline “Caro” Veyre.

French-born Veyre, who fights out of Montreal, was disqualified in round eight for constant holding.

Veyre had been warned before and lost two points for excessive holding, and the referee finally had enough and stopped the fight.

Ferreira is the first local female boxer since the first major women’s professional boxing tournament was held in South Africa in 2007 to win the lucrative WBC belt.

Ferreira remains undefeated after 12 fights. She is from Fietas, a once bustling and thriving area that incorporates the suburbs of Pageview and Vrededorp on the western edge of Johannesburg but now faces significant challenges with a high rate of homelessness, crime, poverty, prostitution and drug abuse.

Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira

Trainer Bernie Pailman’s role as cut man was upgraded to head cornerman for the fight as Ferreira’s trainer Arafaat Kock could not travel to Atlanta.

Apart from guiding Ferreira to a WBC belt, Pailman has produced his own champs, including helping Malcolm “The Stone” Klassen win both the IBF junior lightweight world title in 2009 and IBO belt in 2016.

Former IBF mini flyweight world champ US-based Deejay Kriel was also part of the winning team.

Successful trainer-cum-manager Colin “Nomakanjani” Nathan’s No Doubt Management also produced its first WBC champ, having guided fighters to winning IBO, IBF, WBA, WBO and The Ring belts.

Speaking from her hotel room, Ferreira said: “It feels amazing — like a dream come true. I was praying for this moment and praying that people would notice me, and it still hasn’t sunk in yet.”

Asked what was next for her, she replied: “I don’t know — you must ask my manager. Whoever they put in front of me, I will fight.”

Said Nathan: “Exactly a year ago, Ferreira was not even a South African champion.

“The sport of dreams — fast forward to now: history was written and a career was changed. South Africa, stand up and clap for Bernice “The Badger” Ferreira, our first female South African and African unified world champion."

Sowetan

Xaba is using the 10km races to prepare for that event in Copenhagen, Denmark on September 20. The runner, who won the Spar Women’s 10km race earlier this month, underlined her class on Sunday as she cruised to victory in 32:11 in the final leg of the Totalsports Women’s Race. Brenda Kenei of Kenya was second in 32:28, while Cacisile Sosibo rounded off the podium finish in 34:01.

“The preparations are for the World Half Championship because we are focusing on where I will be doing the half marathon,” Xaba told the media after the race.

“I’m very happy — it shows that we are moving in the right direction with my coach because we come into the race with a full volume of training without breaking it and getting some rest in between.

“When it comes to races, we do it, and the following day we train very easily, and it shows that we are in the right direction for what we are planning for the World Half Marathon.”

Xaba said she will run the Absa Run Your City race in Tshwane on Sunday, August 23, as her last race before the World Half Marathon next month.

“It feels amazing because this is my second win this year. It shows that my training is going well. I have not hit the training volume I normally do, as I’m focusing on the World Championship.

I’m very happy — it shows that we are moving in the right direction

Glenrose Xaba

“This shows that I’m in good shape.”

Meanwhile, the bank’s presence at this year’s race goes beyond celebrating women in sport and reflects its commitment to supporting women’s health, wellbeing, visibility and empowerment, according to its head of sponsorship, Jabulile Nsibanyoni.

“Our commitment to women’s empowerment highlights how the bank recognises and celebrates women as leaders and changemakers across business, the creative industries, sport and the communities they come from,” she said.

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Sowetan

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Uber, the world’s largest ride-hailing platform, has paused its motorcycle product for consumers in SA, about a year after its launch.

This comes as the e-hailer announced earlier this week that it has moved to cut its popular Uber X product in SA to simplify offerings to its customers. At the time it was unclear whether customers would continue to have access to the company’s cheapest options: “Moto”, using motorcycles, and “Electric”, which makes use of electric vehicles.

A spokesperson for the company told Sowetan’s sister publication, Business Day, the Moto service “is currently paused as we evaluate the feedback and insights gathered during its pilot phase”.

Uber launched the offering that allows people to take rides on motorcycles at the start of 2025, in the hope of drawing more users to its transport marketplace.

The service, Uber Moto, was initially available in the western suburbs of Johannesburg, which included Braamfontein, Melville, Greenside, Brixton, Mayfair, Fordsburg, Rossmore, Langlaagte, Richmond and the University of Johannesburg.

“We realised there’s a large percentage of the population that just doesn’t have access to transportation,” Uber’s GM for sub-Saharan Africa Deepesh Thomas told Business Day in June 2025.

Having firmly established e-hailing as a mainstream transport option, competition has moved to the lower end of the market, where work is being done to capture price-sensitive customers

Business Day

“There are gaps in [the] public transportation [system]. There are also gaps in the likes of Uber and our competitors that don’t cater for the 3km to 4km last-mile trips, whether it is into or out of taxi ranks, for example.”

Motorbike fares start from as little as R18.

Though a first for SA, this mode of transport was a mainstay elsewhere in the world, such as Nigeria and India. For now, it appears that the company is assessing whether to continue with the service or not. Customers will continue having access to the electric product.

Uber launched a range of electric vehicles (EVs) for use on its platform in SA in November 2025. The company has an ambitious goal of having all rides on its platform be undertaken in EVs by 2040, in line with several countries and organisations that have made similar pledges to reduce carbon emissions.

Uber SA’s move to cut UberX, for instance, appears to be a reaction to too many options − Moto, Electric, Go, X, Comfort and Black − a situation usually seen as causing confusion for customers.

Uber launched its operations locally in 2013 and is the biggest e-hailing player in SA, with operations in 24 towns and cities, including Cape Town, Durban, Joburg, Pretoria and Gqeberha.

Over the years, the platform has undergone major changes, starting off as an on-demand chauffeur service for high-end customers to where rides are now offered at various price points, with the addition of food and package delivery as well as the ability to move furniture and other large items.

Its main rival, Bolt, also offers e-hailing services across various price points. Both companies have benefited mainly from middle-income consumers looking for a more reliable form of daily transport beyond the typical public options.

Having firmly established e-hailing as a mainstream transport option, competition has moved to the lower end of the market, where work is being done to capture price-sensitive customers.

The country is estimated to be home to about 100,000 e-hailing drivers and more than two million passengers. − Business Day

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Ekurhuleni SAPS acting district commissioner Brig David Ngcobo has condemned the conduct of police officers captured on a video allegedly refusing to assist a member of the public at Brackendowns police station in Alberton.

The video circulating on social media shows a man asking officers to certify documents and assist him with completing an affidavit after losing his identity document.

In the footage, the man presents his original driver’s licence, a copy for certification, and a copy of his ID. An officer is seen with his arms folded while the man repeatedly asks for assistance.

A voice in the background is heard saying: “You will speak alone.”

Towards the end of the video, an officer says he has explained everything to the man but that he did not want to listen.

Several officers are visible in the footage, but none is seen assisting the man.

Ngcobo said the conduct did not meet the standards expected of SAPS members.

“Members of SAPS are expected to serve the public with professionalism, courtesy and respect as required by the code of conduct. We condemn the conduct depicted in the video.”

Ngcobo confirmed that the officers shown in the video had been identified.

“The matter is being addressed internally, and the members concerned will be subject to appropriate disciplinary processes.”

It is unclear what happened before the video was recorded, and the footage does not provide the full context of the interaction.

SAPS urged members of the public who experience service delivery complaints involving police officers to report it through its complaints channels.

Complaints can be lodged with the SAPS national complaints service centre on 0800-333177 or the Gauteng service complaints standby line on 082-442-2000.

Sowetan

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When Mosa Mahlelebe’s brother advised her to study engineering after matric, as it was one of the scarce skills the country needed, she heeded his advice.

She enrolled at a TVET college to study electrical engineering after completing her matric in 2006.

“I was also intrigued to understand how electricity works,” she recalled.

At the time, Mahlelebe did not know where that journey would take her.

Today Mahlelebe holds an important position in aviation at OR Tambo International Airport as the manager of airside operations.

The 37-year-old mother of two manages airfield infrastructure availability, aerodrome compliance, contingency planning, baggage performance, stakeholder relationships, service-level agreements and operational standards.

Mahlelebe plays an important role in ensuring compliance with aviation regulations, policies and procedures, contributing to the safe, efficient and seamless operation on the airside.

When she started in the industry, there weren’t many women. However, this has changed over the years as more women are showing a keen interest in different aspects of the aviation industry.

“Young women should not be afraid to enter fields where they may not see many other women. Gender should never define what they can achieve or who they can become.”

Born in Daveyton to a stay-at-home mother and a father who worked for a steel manufacturing company, it was from her mother, who never had any type of education, that Mahlelebe drew her determination to become independent.

“Having a stay-at-home mother who raised me and my four siblings without having had the opportunity to attend school herself shaped who I am today,” she said.

Young women should not be afraid to enter fields where they may not see many other women. Gender should never define what they can achieve or who they can become.”

Mosa Mahlelebe

“She instilled in me the importance of education, encouraged me to pursue my goals, and taught me to be independent. The independence I have today comes from the values, sacrifices and lessons my mother gave me.”

After completing her N4, Mahlelebe secured an apprenticeship with a company that manufactured paper.

After completing her apprenticeship, she qualified as a maintenance electrician.

However, the company later ran into difficulties, and she was laid off.

In 2011, however, Mahlelebe’s career took another turn when she secured a job as a maintenance electrician at OR Tambo International Airport.

Her responsibilities included maintaining critical electrical infrastructure at the airport, such as substations, generators and transformers, to ensure that airport operations continued without disruptions. This experience provided her with an appreciation of the importance of reliability, safety and infrastructure availability in supporting airport operations.

“At the time, I didn’t fully understand what opportunities existed at the airport. The careers I knew in aviation were being a pilot or a flight attendant,” said Mahlelebe.

Her career evolved while she was at the airport, and she later became a baggage technician.

Her role involved investigating system failures, analysing operational performance, improving efficiency and working closely with stakeholders to minimise delays and disruptions.

This combination of technical expertise and operational experience ultimately led to her taking on the acting role of manager of airside operations in 2020, which she still holds today after being permanently appointed.

“When the opportunity came to be a manager, I took it with both hands.”

Despite her demanding career, Mahlelebe has continued to invest in her education.

Through company bursaries, she completed her electrical engineering qualification and a BCom degree in supply chain management. She went on to obtain a postgraduate diploma in risk management, among other qualifications, while continuing to advance her career in the aviation industry.

She is currently in her second year of a master’s degree in business leadership.

She recalls that when she joined the industry, it was largely male-dominated. However, she has witnessed a significant transformation over the years, particularly with more women taking up leadership roles.

Outside of her professional achievements, Mahlelebe considers herself blessed to be the mother of two boys, aged 11 and seven.

“My boys are my number one motivator; I want them to see me succeed, and I am determined to raise them to be good men who respect women. With everything happening around the country, including the ongoing cases of gender-based violence, I believe it is important to teach them respect, responsibility and compassion.”

For young girls who are uncertain about which career path to follow, Mahlelebe said they should not put themselves under unnecessary pressure.

“In terms of having it figured out immediately, career development is a journey, and sometimes you discover your passion by trying different things and being open to new opportunities.

“My journey has taught me that your starting point does not determine your destination. Every experience can become part of the foundation for the next stage of your career.”

Sowetan

The 42-year-old from Botshabelo in the Free State was appointed as the team manager last month and said she was looking forward to helping the ladies achieve great success.

As team manager, Tlale’s role is to oversee the administration, logistics, and operations of the team as they prepare for the International Hockey Federation Junior World Cup in December 2027.

She has hit the ground running.

“My immediate focus is to build a strong, united team culture that supports our players. My long-term goal is to see the U-21 women’s team qualify, compete with confidence and represent South Africa with pride and excellence at the Junior World Cup in 2027.

“Beyond results, as an advocate for women in sport, I want to help mentor and develop young women who are not only great athletes but also great ambassadors for South Africa with discipline, integrity and pride,” she said.

Tlale, who has won several awards, including the Administrator of the Year award at the 2024 Free State Sports Awards, was always destined for a career in sport.

Growing up, her love for sport saw her competing with boys in the field. “It all started with me playing football with boys, and I was the only girl playing football in my township,” said Tlale.

“I still have big goals. I want to lead a national federation one day, gain international experience working in sport overseas and ultimately start a women in sport foundation to uplift the next generation. Women have an important role to play in sport. They can lead with purpose, grow participation, mentor young athletes and ensure that sport is accessible in towns, urban and rural areas.

In addition to her new role, Tlale is a government employee. She is the assistant director: regional manager of employee sport and recreation at the department of correctional services for the Free State and Northern Cape regions.

Sowetan

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Regan Collis, a 23-year-old alleged gangster, appeared in the Boksburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday after being arrested in connection with the murders of four people in Reiger Park, Boksburg.

Constables Thapelo Tlomatsana and Siphiwe Sibeko, anti-gang unit members who had been deployed at Reiger Park to help deal with gang-related crimes, were killed while responding to the shooting of friends Jaydin Magerman and Rolene Lessing.

Collis faces multiple charges following a police operation that also led to the recovery of two R5 rifles allegedly taken from the two slain anti-gang unit officers.

Here are five things you need to know about Collis:

• The Hawks have described Collis as a well-known gang member and alleged gang leader. He was arrested after a multidisciplinary tracing operation that led to the recovery of two R5 rifles belonging to the officers at KwaDukathole Informal Settlement in Germiston this past weekend.
• Police said Collis also shot and wounded another person on the day he allegedly killed the officers and the two friends.
• Collis has several pending cases before the Boksburg magistrate’s court that include two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and the possession of an unlicensed firearm. Some of those cases are from 2023, while another murder case was committed this year. He was out on bail when the latest crimes were committed.
• He was supposed to have appeared in court on Tuesday for the 2023 murder. However, before he could appear in court, he was arrested for the murders of the two officers and two women.

• In the latest case, Collis faces four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of robbery with aggravating circumstances, and charges of possessing an unlicensed firearm and ammunition. Police have not ruled out adding further charges.

Sowetan

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A 23-year-old alleged gangster is expected to appear in the Boksburg magistrate’s court on Wednesday in connection with the murders of two police officers who were killed in Reiger Park, Ekurhuleni, on Friday.

The suspect faces two counts of murder and possession of unlicensed firearms. His arrest followed a multidisciplinary tracing operation in Dukathole informal settlement in Germiston, where two R5 rifles belonging to the two anti-gang unit members were found.

Police allege he was involved in the killings of constables Thapelo Tlomatsane and Sphiwe Sibeko.

Two friends, Jaydin Magerman and Rolene Lessing, were murdered on the same day in Reiger Park and investigation into their murders are continuing.

According to Hawks spokesperson Col Katlego Mogale, the suspect is a known gangster and was out on bail at the time of his arrest.

“He has several pending cases, including two counts of murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of an unlicensed firearm,” she said.

“Investigations are ongoing, with police continuing to pursue all those involved. Further arrests have not been ruled out.”

Meanwhile, the Magerman family has confirmed they are preparing to bury their daughter on Friday, with a memorial set for Thursday night.

“Tomorrow [Thursday] night is the memorial and on Friday is the funeral,” said the Magerman family’s spokesperson, Chris Landsberg.

• Correction: The previous story referred to Magerman and Lessing as cousins but they are friends, and Landsberg speaks on behalf of the Magerman family

TimesLIVE

Albanese’s centre-left government enacted laws in January for the gun buyback, tighter checks for gun licences and a crackdown on hate in the wake of the December 14 gun attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration in Australia’s most populous city.

Australians are quite rightly proud of our gun laws, but the fact is there are more guns in Australia today than there were at the time of dealing with the Port Arthur gun buyback

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns

The alleged gunmen used powerful firearms that were legally obtained. Australia had a record 4.1-million firearms last year, the government has said, with more than 1.1-million of those in New South Wales, its most populous state.

The buyback is to be Australia’s largest since a similar campaign after a 1996 massacre in Tasmania’s Port Arthur, in which a gunman killed 35 people.

Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the scheme would start on November 2, and people returning rifles and handguns would be eligible for up to A$1,000 (R11,452) compensation per firearm.

“Australians are quite rightly proud of our gun laws, but the fact is there are more guns in Australia today than there were at the time of dealing with the Port Arthur gun buyback,” Minns said in televised remarks.

New South Wales now limits individuals to possession of four guns under its own reforms prompted by the Bondi Beach attack, which police say was carried out by a father and son who police believe were inspired by the militant group Islamic State. The surviving suspect, Naveed Akram, 24, is yet to enter pleas to a raft of charges, including 15 counts of murder.

Reuters

Yonhap said multiple North Korean soldiers crossed the military demarcation line (MDL) in the eastern area of the demilitarised zone, in the first reported MDL violation by the North Korean military this year.

The soldiers were probably patrolling the area when they crossed the MDL, and no other unusual activity was reported after the North Korean soldiers returned, Yonhap said.

The North Korean embassy in Singapore did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

North Korean troops violated the MDL 17 times last year, the news agency said. The two Koreas are still technically at war after their 1950-1953 war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

Reuters

Jacobus Gideon Louw van Wyk, the curator appointed by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to preserve assets related to the alleged looting of Tembisa Hospital, successfully applied to have the vehicle sold.

The Ferrari was bought for R11.1m in April 2022 but has lost more than R1m in value.

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Higher education minister Buti Manamela suffered a legal blow on Friday when the high court in Pretoria ordered the reinstatement of the board of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), which he had disbanded in May.

The court also suspended Manamela’s appointment of Hlengani Mathebula as administrator of the NSFAS.

Insiders have indicated that Manamela’s case started crumbling when he fired the team he had appointed to help him defend his decision to disband the NSFAS board and appoint Mathebula after that team pointed out legal errors in his case.

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The ANC leadership’s plan to install its mayoral candidates as mayors in key and highly contested municipalities before the local government elections has been scuppered by the party’s protracted interview process, which took longer than expected.

The party has now abandoned the move, as those who had initially pushed back against it say it would be setting the mayoral candidates up for failure. They could not achieve much in the less than three months before the November 4 polls if they were to be installed as mayors now.

This comes as the ANC is expected to announce its mayoral candidates for key municipalities and metros in the coming week.

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