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One hundred and ninety-seven nations amend the Montreal Protocol to include a phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons.
The prosecution argued that the evidence against Shadrack Sibiya is compelling after revealing his phones were wiped, while his alleged victims of human trafficking urged the Randburg court to deny him bail.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has sought to assure political parties contesting the upcoming elections that its results system is reliable and secure. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo briefed the media on processes towards the November 4th Local Government Elections (LGE), including the just-completed special voting application process and logistical and personnel preparations. The IEC’s Results System came under fire after it suffered a technical glitch in the 2024 National and Provincial elections. This saw the Commission hauled before the Electoral Court by the MK Party which alleged that when the leaderboard at the National Results Operations Centre went blank for two hours on 31 May 2024, votes were manipulated. The claim was subsequently dismissed by the Electoral Court last month. Mamabolo says that five parties, the ANC, DA, EFF, ACDP and Freedom Front Plus accepted its invitation to independently audit the system between the 5th and 12th of October. “Parties were given an opportunity to audit the system and ensure that its functionality and security resilience is established. So, we really want to thank the five parties who took advantage of that opportunity now having done so it can’t be that after the election you raise concerns about the reliability of the system when in fact you were given an opportunity pre-elections to find your peace with the functional modalities and the security resilience of the system.” Video: IEC media briefing on special vote applications – 14 October 2026
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With just three weeks before the local government elections, there appears to still be no single dominant narrative. Welcome to the future of South African politics.
US President Donald Trump is campaigning across six states, this week as Republicans fight an uphill battle to retain control of Congress in America’s Midterm elections . A Reuters-Ipsos poll puts Democrats eight points ahead among registered voters. This while billionaire, Elon Musk has provided roughly 366 million dollars this election cycle, largely backing Republicans. Early voting is also under way, with the state of Georgia reporting record opening-day Midterm turnout, less than three weeks before the November 3rd vote. President Trump said this to Republican voters, “I want you to do me one big favour, pretend that I’m on the ballot, because here’s what happens. Every time I’ve been on the ballot, we win. If you elect a Republican House and a Republican Senate, November 3rd, you get $5 000.” A pledge that will require congressional approval before any such payment could be made to every American adult at a cost of 1.7 trillion dollars. With money likely to influence the outcome of this election including hundreds of millions from Elon Musk as he seeks to boost Republican chances of retaining control of both Congressional chambers. Open Secrets Research Group’s Brendan Glavin says, “You know, he’s exceeding what last in 2024, he was the top donor of any individual in the election and that was a record at that time. So, now he’s come back and he’s exceeded that, you know, and there’s still more to go. So, you could put more money in later this month. So, that puts him head and shoulders above the next biggest donor, which was him.” SOURED TOWARDS REPUBLICANS With latest polling giving Democrats, a clear edge as the data suggests a majority of voters have soured on the Republicans, with Musk eclipsing other mega-donors in this election cycle as Glavin explains. “When things aren’t looking great for the Republicans and if he can come in at the, at the last second and spend all this money and then they do well, he’s going to be able to take a lot of credit for that or, you know, legitimately or not, he certainly, you know, he’ll be able to say that, ‘Oh, I came in and helped you guys when things weren’t looking great’, and that’s good for your ego and it’s maybe good for the bottom line.” With early voting already under way in several US states including Georgia. Democratic US Senator Raphael Warnock says, “I cannot stress too much how important it is for everybody to show up and vote early. There is so much at stake in this election. We have seen costs skyrocket over the last two years. Everything from gas to groceries, healthcare. Utility bills. Georgia should vote like Donald Trump is on the ballot. The Georgians I’m talking to are being crushed by these tariffs. Farmers are struggling. The cost of diesel is up. The cost of gasoline is up as a result of this war in Iran.” As some of the early voters also weigh in. “We need to support democracy in America. I’m very disappointed in what our President is doing and I wanted to make sure that I voted for everybody that does not support him.” “It’s important because we need to get out here and vote in this particular election with what’s going on in this world today. I do like early voting to get it out the way so I can get my vote in on time and not have to worry about the hustle and bustle on November 3rd.” With 20 days and counting, all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and roughly a third of the Senate are up for grabs in this election, alongside various state and local offices. The outcome determines control of Congress, shaping whether Trump can advance his agenda or faces stronger opposition and oversight were Democrats could emerge victorious after suffering at the polls in the 2024 election, when Trump returned to the White House and Republicans secured control of both chambers.
Following the reconvening of Cosatu’s elective conference, newly elected president Mike Shingange called for unity with the ANC and SACP, while opening the door for members to campaign for multiple left-leaning parties in upcoming elections.
South Africa will host race by 2029 - McKenzie Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 20:51 PRETORIA - Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie insists South Africa did not miss out on hosting Formula 1. Despite Rwanda getting the rights to host the African Grand Prix in the 2030s, McKenzie remains upbeat that the country is still on track to host the event in the near future. He was addressing the media in Pretoria on Wednesday. "We are not in competition... We as South Africans are still looking at 2028/2029,"
During a campaign stop by Deputy President Paul Mashatile before the local elections, longtime ANC supporters in Ekurhuleni voiced anger over high electricity costs, disputed bills, unreliable refuse collection, unemployment and corruption.
State claims Sibiya's lawyers interfered with witnesses Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 20:37 JOHANNESBURG - The legal team for former Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has wrapped up its bail argument. Sibiya's lawyer, Estelle Killian, has argued that he is not a flight risk or a threat to witnesses, emphasising that they have not interfered with the complainants. She urged the court to grant Sibiya bail because his health was at risk. The State has opposed bail for Sibiya, accusing his defence team of attempting to secure a statement from a witness. Prosecutors argued that this alleged interference provides plausible grounds for the court to deny his release. eNCA reporter Pule Letshwiti-Jones has more details in the video above.
Moments before the bail proceedings began for a police official, alleged to be a member of a murder and robbery gang linked to the killing of Gqeberha prosecutor Tracy Brown, the State revealed that a seventh suspect had been linked to the syndicate and their laundry list of illicit operations.
Vinicius Jr will miss Real Madrid’s first Clasico of the season against Barcelona after the Spanish Football Federation’s disciplinary committee handed the Brazilian forward a four-match suspension on Wednesday. Vinicius was sent off for pulling Nathan Saliba’s hair after coming off the bench in Saturday’s 1-0 win over Villarreal. The committee imposed a two-match ban for the red-card offence and added another two games for his protests to the referee, according to its disciplinary report for the eighth round of LaLiga fixtures. The suspension rules Vinicius out of league matches against Sevilla, Barcelona, Racing Santander and Valencia, leaving coach Jose Mourinho without one of his most-used forwards for the trip to Camp Nou. Vinicius has started all but one of Real’s matches this season. He apologised to his teammates and Real Madrid fans on social media after the incident. The Clasico takes place on October 25, with Real travelling to face league leaders Barcelona. The teams are separated by six points in the table.
Following a decisive Labour Court victory interdicting Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela’s attempt to scrap Dr Innocent Sirovha’s appointment as CEO of the National Skills Fund (NSF), Sirovha has slammed the minister’s actions as a politically driven attempt to stop a candidate who was recommended for the post of CEO.
A 56-year-old Border Management Authority (BMA) official stationed at the Maseru Port of Entry has been arrested following an intelligence driven operation. The operation was conducted by BMA Integrity Management Unit and other role players. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Mmemme Mogotsi says acting on this information, law enforcement authorities conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the BMA official. Mogotsi says at the time of the arrest, the official was allegedly found in possession of 22 stamped passports belonging to Lesotho nationals, without the lawful holders being present, as well as R2 100 in cash. Mogotsi says intelligence indicated that the passports had allegedly been transported from Limpopo to Ladybrand for the purpose of unlawfully being stamped and extending their visa validity and stay in the Republic of South Africa. “Acting on this information, law enforcement authorities conducted an operation that resulted in the arrest of the BMA official. At the time of the arrest, the official was allegedly found in possession of 22 stamped passports belonging to Lesotho nationals, without the lawful holders being present, as well as R2 100 in cash. The suspect was arrested on the spot and is expected to appear before the Ladybrand Magistrate’s Court on charges relating to corruption, possession of passports without lawful authority, and immigration-related offences. The investigation remains ongoing, and additional arrests have not been ruled out.”
South Africa Water Polo has approached World Aquatics to govern the sport instead of Swimming South Africa.
AKA's photographer testifies at murder trial Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 20:08 DURBAN - The murder trial of rapper AKA and his friend, Tebello 'Tibz' Motsoane, has been adjourned until Thursday in the Durban High Court. Four witnesses testified on Tuesday, including AKA’s manager and a DJ who was with them on the night of the murders. On Wednesday, AKA’s photographer Thotloetso Mogotsi took the stand. eNCA senior reporter Dasen Thathiah was at court and filed this report in the video above.
The MK party is widely expected to lead eThekwini in the 4 November polls, but the most likely scenario in Durban is a wobbly coalition where small parties wield disproportionate power.
Proceedings in the trial of alleged underworld boss Nafiz Modack and co-accused were halted as Pollsmoor Prison management appeared in the High Court in Cape Town following formal subpoenas. The appearance followed several days of severe logistical delays that had disrupted the court, though on Wednesday awaiting-trial prisoners arrived on time. Judge Robert Henney sharply criticised Pollsmoor Remand Facility Head, Andrew Waarnar, after Modack and co-accused arrived over an hour late at court on two consecutive days. Waarnar explained that about 17 awaiting-trial prisoners, including four Modack co-accused, share a single vehicle. “The four accused in this case are ready from past eight in the morning. So, they could be in time here, but the challenge is that they utilise one vehicle for all of them. If one vehicle separately can be only for the four, then, as I’ve said, my lordship, then this won’t happen again under my watch.” Waarnar says disruptive gang members also trigger security bottlenecks and cause delays. He explained that transport delays are caused by intense morning security and processing routines, including mandatory medical checks, inmate verification and strict gang separation protocols. Judge Henney rejected the idea that criminal gangs can dictate court schedules. “If all of them must be transported in one vehicle, so be it. You cannot be dictated (to) by one gang, or a gang. That can also not happen under our watch,” said the judge. Following the proceedings into logistical delays, accused Amaal Jantjies returned to the witness stand to face cross-examination regarding her alleged ties to Modack. Jantjies told the court she was given the residential address of the late anti-gang unit detective Charles Kinnear during a November 2019 meeting involving former anti-gang unit General Andre Lincoln. The trial continues on Thursday. -By Clyde Adams
Gwede Mantashe’s support for coal reflects South Africa’s transformation agenda, as Black investors fill the space left by climate-conscious foreign capital.
Kenya reported a second case of Ebola on Wednesday , about a week after recording its first ever infection of the viral disease when a Kenyan who had been living in Congo died in a Nairobi hospital on October 5. The second patient, a 39-year-old man, is a close family member of the first case and was already in quarantine when he fell ill on Tuesday, the health ministry said in a statement. It said he had been isolated immediately after developing symptoms including fever, fatigue and joint pains. “Both cases are linked, and there is no evidence of spread in the wider community,” the ministry said. The second case will nevertheless add to worries in Kenya, the fourth country to register a case linked to the Ebola epidemic in Congo, the second largest on record globally with more than 9 000 cases and over 4 000 deaths. The first case emerged after a Kenyan man, who had been ill in Congo about a month before travelling by road to Uganda, flew to Nairobi on October 3, where a relative drove him to the hospital. That case raised concerns about lapses in border screening systems in the region, with the patient able to cross the border between Congo and Uganda, which has been closed since May. Kenyan authorities have located 113 out of 128 contacts of the first patient, with 108 people in quarantine. “The other five are outside Kenya, and health authorities in those countries have been informed… Tracing of the remaining 15 continues,” the ministry said. Authorities are also carrying out assessments of anyone in contact with the second patient since his symptoms emerged, including health workers and staff at the quarantine centre. “This is the response working as designed,” the ministry added, saying it would share updates on the patient’s progress. It urged Kenyans to stay calm but vigilant. TEMPERATURE CHECKS Ebola spreads through direct contact with the bodily fluids of infected people, whether living or dead. The disease can cause fever, vomiting, diarrhoea and, in severe cases, internal and external bleeding. Since the first case was detected last week, Kenya has set up a dedicated gate for screening passengers arriving from Congo and other countries potentially linked to the Ebola outbreak at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Health experts say, however, that early symptoms can be hard to identify and medication including paracetamol can foil temperature checks, the traditional method used to screen passengers, along with health forms filled out by travellers. The outbreak in Congo was declared in mid-May but may have started months earlier. It is caused by the rare Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there are currently no approved vaccines or treatments. Uganda reported 20 cases and two deaths earlier in the year but was declared Ebola-free in August. A doctor who returned to France in June from Congo tested positive but there was no further spread of the virus. Kenya hosts a 50-bed Ebola quarantine camp for US citizens on an air force base in central Kenya. The facility is currently empty and has only housed seven people. Kenyan officials have said it could receive Kenyans and other nationalities, but Washington has not confirmed that.
Both March and March and Operation Dudula attacked Joburg councillor candidate Aziz Ally and his documented Somali volunteer. Now, the IEC has been asked to investigate a violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Three CIT robbery suspects shot and killed in KZN Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 19:56 UMLAZI - Three suspected cash-in-transit robbers have been killed in a shootout with police and private security in Umlazi, KZN. Initially, police had reported that four suspects were shot and killed, however, this number has since been revised to three by KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda. Netshiunda said a manhunt for other suspects involved in this alleged robbery has been launched. "We know with experience that there are getaway vehicles and there are those who were not at the crime scene. So, we don't know how many of them were at the crime scene, but a manhunt is on for those that we saw, which we are pursuing now," Netshiunda said. He said four firearms were found at the scene and in one abandoned vehicle, officials found cash believed to be that which was stolen.
Matshela Seshibe is currently on special leave following the launch of an internal disciplinary process, and SAA has decided to not interview him for the permanent CEO job.
eNCA News Bite | COSATU elects Shingange, Katlehong death toll rises to four, SASSA clarifies grants | 14 October 2026 Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 19:49 Stay informed in just a few minutes with News Bite , your fast, reliable update on South Africa’s top stories. Mike Shingange has been elected COSATU president , defeating Mabutho Cele by 973 votes to 836. Susan Khumalo is the federation's first deputy president. The vote followed a disrupted congress and continuing leadership disputes. Four people have died after seven were shot in Katlehong , Ekurhuleni . Two died at the scene and two later in hospital. Three remain in treatment, while a suspect has handed himself over to police. The motive remains under investigation. SASSA says it does not pay social grants to undocumented foreign nationals. Spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi says qualifying refugees may receive grants, rejecting misleading online claims about asylum seekers following a Constitutional Court ruling. The murder case involving former boxing champion Zolani Tete has been postponed to 8 December for further investigation. A friend alleges Tete feared for his life before he was killed in Mdantsane . The allegations have not been established by the court. Pope Leo XIV is recovering after an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung. The Vatican says the surgery was successful, with further tests under way. A Saudi nationa l has been arrested over an alleged hidden recording device at an OpenAI office in San Francisco. Authorities say there is no evidence that customer information was stolen; the recording allegations remain before the courts. Nobel Peace laureate Navi Pillay condemns US sanctions targeting the International Criminal Court, warning of the threat to international justice. SPORT Formula One plans a return to Africa, with Rwanda expected to host a Grand Prix in the early 2030s, the first on the continent since 1993. Australia beat the Proteas by 214 runs in the opening Test in Durban. Captain Temba Bavuma points to soft dismissals as South Africa assesses the defeat. The Bulls prepare to face Stade Français at Loftus in the Champions Cup, with Elrigh Louw anticipating a physical contest up front. That's how we wrap today's News Bite . For developments on these stories and more, keep an eye on eNCA.com and DStv Channel 403.
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Chris Hani: A Life of Courage and Compassion, the first authorised biography of guerrilla commander, revolutionary and South African Communist Party leader Chris Hani Chris Hani – whose assassination changed the course of South African history – draws on extensive original research and interviews with family, comrades and contemporaries.
SAPS has released a new statement saying that three cash-in-transit robbers have been shot dead during a shootout with police and private security officers near Mega City in Umlazi, south of Durban . Police had initially said four suspects were killed. Police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says firearms were recovered after the shooting. He says the crime scene is still active. It’s believed the suspects blew up the cash-in-transit (CIT) vehicle on the M4 offramp towards Mega City. ALS Paramedics spokesperson, Gareth Jameson says two security guards were also wounded during the robbery. Reporting: Zanele Buthelezi
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In this video, Daily Maverick’s cartoonist Zapiro revisits the World News Day cartoon he published on 28 September 2026.Filmed by: Joel Seboa Edits and animations by: Joel Seboa Produced by: Emilie Ga…
ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile has delivered a keynote address at the 8th FEDUSA Congress, calling for patience from workers as he described the cost-of-living crisis as a major concern. The three-day event kicked off in Kempton Park, north of Johannesburg on Wednesday, putting key socio-economic challenges right at the top of its agenda. It has brought together about 500 delegates, including organised labour, government, business and international labour representatives. Mashatile has emphasised the need for proactive leadership in an evolving economic landscape. “We do not serve our country by pretending these frustrations do not exist. Our most urgent national task is to achieve stronger growth and create jobs on a scale that substantially reduces poverty and inequality. The economy contracted by 0.2% in the second quarter of 2026, with mining, manufacturing and trade under considerable pressure,” says Mashatile. Meanwhile, Mashatile says the ANC will remain a humble organisation despite being accused of arrogance. He was reacting to a backlash the ANC got from some of COSATU leaders after the party’s National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe walked out of the federation’s national congress on Monday. Mantashe was not happy that he had to speak before the SACP and SANCO, saying it was not in keeping with alliance traditions and insisting on speaking last. This prompted some delegates to accuse Mantashe and the ANC of being arrogant. Mashatile says he will get a full report on what happened. FEDUSA holds 8th National Congress: Basil Manuel shares insights
Government vows to protect political rights following Katlehong shooting Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 19:34 Photo by Salvatore Laporta/KONTROLAB /LightRocket via Getty Images EKURHULENI - The Justice Department and police are joining forces to protect South Africans' political rights ahead of the local government polls. This is according to Deputy Justice Minister, Andries Nel. His comments follow the Katlehong drive-by shooting in which four people have died and three others hospitalised. The victims were returning from a political party member's memorial service when the shooting happened on Tuesday evening. READ | Katlehong shooting death toll rises to four Nel said everyone must be able to exercise their political rights, to campaign freely, openly and to go and cast their votes. "We are working very closely with the South African Police Service. We will ensure that the National Prosecuting Authority is in a position to take forward and prosecute any case that emerges from this investigation," Nel said.
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Three years after the government promised to rebuild storm-damaged homes in Mbizana, Eastern Cape, none of the 200 houses have been completed, leaving desperate residents like 67-year-old Nomonde Mboyi to build their own homes using social grants.
CheckPoint Podcast | Is South Africa's Middle Class Paying Twice To Survive? Xhanti Payi | 14 October 2026 Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 19:29 The Hidden Cost Of Paying Privately For Public Services In South Africa A household can afford to pay its taxes and still find itself buying essential services all over again. The wider consequences reach beyond family budgets. A salary increase should, in theory, leave a household with more room to breathe. There might be money available to save, improve a home, take a holiday or invest in a small business. But for many South Africans, additional income does not necessarily translate into greater financial freedom. It may simply create an opportunity to purchase privately what the public system has failed to provide reliably. Consider the decisions facing a household that relies on a salary to meet its obligations. Parents may pay school fees because they believe a particular school offers their children better opportunities. A family might maintain medical cover for greater certainty about access to healthcare. Private security, backup electricity and dependable internet connectivity can all become regular expenses. These choices differ across households, and public provision is not uniformly inadequate. Yet the underlying question remains: how much income is left for building financial security once essential needs have been met? This is the often-overlooked cost of unreliable public provision. Citizens contribute through taxation, but some also spend additional money securing alternatives. The result is not necessarily literal double billing for an identical service. It is a second layer of expenditure that can reduce disposable income and leave families more vulnerable when unexpected costs arise. The issue becomes particularly revealing when transport is considered. A private vehicle is frequently discussed as a lifestyle purchase, but for some workers it is also a practical response to the limited availability, convenience or reliability of alternative transport. Owning a vehicle can offer independence, yet it comes with financing costs, fuel, maintenance and insurance. A household may therefore be spending heavily just to maintain reliable access to work. Official statistics illustrate how significant transport already is. Statistics South Africa's Income and Expenditure Survey for 2022/23 found that transport accounted for 15.3% of household consumption expenditure, making it the third-largest spending category. The National Household Travel Survey of 2020 also recorded substantial dependence on minibus taxis and long journeys for many public-transport users. These surveys cover different periods, but together they show why transport deserves attention as an economic issue rather than merely a commuting problem. There is a further complication: the middle class cannot be defined only by a salary band. Two people earning similar incomes may have very different levels of financial security. One could have manageable housing costs and relatively few dependants. The other might support an extended family, service debt and pay privately for several essential services. Their earnings may look similar on paper, while their ability to save or absorb an emergency differs considerably. Economist Xhanti Payi raises this wider problem in a CheckPoint: The Podcast conversation with Nkepile Mabuse, describing the middle class as an economic shock absorber. It is a useful metaphor because the pressures do not stop with the individual household. When people devote more income to maintaining basic stability, they have less available for other purchases, investment and supporting new enterprises. This does not mean that every private alternative is evidence of government failure. Families make choices based on preferences, geography, convenience and affordability. Nor does it mean that public services can be improved simply by increasing expenditure. Reliability, management, maintenance and accountability matter as much as budget allocations. The practical question for policymakers is what improvements would produce the greatest financial relief for households. A reliable transport system could lower commuting expenses. Better-maintained infrastructure could reduce the need for private backup services. More dependable public institutions could make some household expenditure a matter of genuine choice rather than perceived necessity. For households, the measure of economic progress cannot be salary growth alone. It must also include how much of that salary remains available after the essential costs of everyday life have been paid. A stronger middle class is not simply one that earns more. It is one that needs to spend less of its income compensating for systems that ought to work. References: · CheckPoint: The Podcast, 14 October 2026. Nkepile Mabuse in conversation with economist and strategist Xhanti Payi. Episode transcript. · Statistics South Africa. *Transport Month: Key Data and Sector Insights* (2025), drawing on the Income and Expenditure Survey 2022/23. · Statistics South Africa. *National Household Travel Survey 2020*, published 4 March 2021. Catch up on all CheckPoint Podcast episodes here: https://www.enca.com/checkpoint-podcast-0
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said it was a pity his country had experienced difficulties with Starlink services and intelligence, saying he had been surprised by developments in his partnership with the United States. “It’s a pity that we had also some difficulties … about Starlink , about intelligence, I mean a lot of different surprises on which you can’t count when you have real partnership and we count on partnership with the United States ,” he said. “We just want to be very honest, very clear and be strong partners.” Zelenskyy was speaking in London alongside British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, with Britain seeking to show support for the Ukrainian leader as his relationship with the US deteriorates. Meanwhile, SpaceX has introduced a limit on some Starlink services in Ukraine, stopping the operation of its military-grade version above 100 miles an hour (160 km/h) and disrupting combat missions, Ukrainian presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said on Wednesday. “Our defence forces did not receive a warning about this limitation, and this led to the disruption of several missions,” he wrote on Telegram. SpaceX’s slowdown of Starlink services for Ukraine’s military will affect its ability to conduct medium-range strikes and to use interceptor drones to counter incoming long-range Russian drones, a Ukrainian defence ministry source and a military source said on Wednesday. Associate Fellow in Russia and Eurasia Program at Chatham House, Marc De Vore, said while “it doesn’t really affect Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian territory”, but it would hamper its defence. De Vore said that any degradation in Starlink services could alter battlefield dynamics and potentially benefit Moscow. He also highlighted any US military intelligence capabilities remain difficult for other allies to replace, after Zelenskyy said Western allies were sharing fewer warnings about strikes. Ukrainian troops have reported that the Starlink connection is being shut off when travelling at higher speeds, causing major disruption to Ukrainian drone operations, many of which depend on satellite internet to pilot the craft. Ukraine is in contact with the US, SpaceX and NATO to seek clarification over limitations imposed on its access to the Starlink satellite internet system, a source in the country’s Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
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Rise Mzansi’s Lukhona Mnguni aims to revive Johannesburg through reliable services, safer communities and improved infrastructure, while acknowledging that the turnaround could take 10 to 15 years. He says coalition partners must prioritise residents’ needs over political deals.
‘They will not be forgotten’ - Boxer reacts to 3 employees gunned down at Eshowe. Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 19:22 ESHOWE - Discount retailer Boxer has confirmed the deadly shooting of three of its employees at its Eshowe store in KwaZulu-Natal. In a statement, Boxer said the employees were murdered on 10 October in what it called a ‘horrific act of violence’. “Today, Boxer teams across the country observed a moment of remembrance before beginning their shifts, standing together in honour of our fallen colleagues,” the statement read in part. CCTV footage of the incident has since circulated widely on social media. The footage appears to show a man dressed in black clothing speaking to three employees inside an office before pulling out a gun and opening fire. READ | Discount retailer Boxer announces profits and a new CEO The three employees tried to take cover, but the alleged gunman continued to fire shots. Details surrounding the circumstances that led to the incident were not disclosed in the statement; however, the retailer confirmed they are communicating with police. “We are working closely with the SAPS and relevant authorities, providing our full cooperation and assistance with the ongoing investigation.” The store has offered its condolences to employees' families. “We remember three valued members of our Boxer family whose lives were tragically cut short. They will not be forgotten.”
The trial against three accused in the VBS Mutual Bank corruption scandal has been adjourned until Thursday in the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in Limpopo. Former Giyani Municipal Manager Risimati Maluleke, former Acting Chief Financial Officer Nnditshedzeni Mashau and businessman Zwivhuya Tshishonga are accused of facilitating the investment of more than R140 million from the Giyani Municipality into the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Previously, the court heard that the municipality failed to recover the money before the bank collapsed. The state’s key witness told the Polokwane Specialised Commercial Crimes Court that the accused made the investment in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank despite a notice from the Treasury department not to do so. The department warned the municipalities against investing public funds into the building society or non-mainstream banks. A witness, who cannot be identified, detailed how municipal funds were deposited into the VBS Mutual Bank. According to the witness, VBS received R100 million from Giyani Municipality and later another R40 million was invested. The witness also told the court that some companies, including the one owned by the businessman, paid bribes to senior municipal officials so they would invest in the VBS. He earlier testified that some officials were bought houses, while others received vehicles. However, he refused to mention the names of the people who were involved in the investments, citing safety concerns. He is expected to continue with cross-examination when the trial resumes. – By Avhapfani Munyai
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Turkish pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV said on Wednesday that police had raided its office in Istanbul and that a government trustee had been appointed to run the channel, in the latest blow to media freedom in the country.
The 'Cat' stays in the bag as more cases pile up Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 18:56 PRETORIA - Any hopes of immediate freedom for alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala have been dashed. Matlala has abandoned his bid for bail in his property and lease fraud case. It was a brief appearance in the Pretoria Magistrates Court for Matlala as his latest court case sees him charged with fraud, forgery and uttering. These charges are linked to a R95,000 rental lease for a property in Waterkloof. The state alleges Matlala and his wife, Tsakane, used fraudulent documents, including bank statements and a fake an eSwatini identity document, to secure the lease. While his co-accused have already walked out on R20,000 bail, Matlala has made a U-turn on his own attempt. The National Prosecuting Authority will now focus on getting the matter ready for trial. While investigations are being finalised, Matlala and his co-accused will be back in court on 29 October. eNCA Senior reporter Silindelo Sebata has more details in the video above.
Gianni Infantino faces soccer leaders who want him gone on Thursday in his first meeting with FIFA’s top brass since his plan to sell a stake in FIFA tournaments, including the World Cup, collapsed. Infantino has faced calls to resign from the leaders of three regional football confederations UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia) and CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean) and their representatives will be present in Zurich for a FIFA Council meeting. They will be joined by their counterparts from Africa, South America and Oceania. On the agenda will be a discussion of the failed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) scheme, which Infantino was forced to abandon within days of announcing it in July. Under the plan, Infantino proposed selling a minority stake in a FIFA commercial subsidiary to private investors, with a company launched by Joshua Kushner, the brother of Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, identified as the proposed lead investor. The 37-member council will also address FIFA’s governance, with some of the sport’s most powerful figures determined to limit Infantino’s powers if they cannot force him out of office. Infantino, 56, will stand for re-election in March 2027, with a November 18 deadline looming for potential candidates to submit their nominations. Last week, former. Switzerland and Tottenham Hotspur defender Ramon Vega announced that he intended to stand, but he has not confirmed whether he has the backing of the five national associations required to enter the race. The FFE plan exposed a split in world soccer, with Aleksander Ceferin, Salman Al Khalifa and Victor Montagliani, the presidents respectively of UEFA, AFC and CONCACAF saying it was time for a change at the top of FIFA. However, Infantino has been canvassing support as he bids to remain in power and received a standing ovation when he met African soccer leaders last week in Cape Verde. He is also expected to be backed by South America at next year’s election in Rabat, Morocco. Despite the AFC’s criticism of his leadership, many countries within Asia, including a bloc of Arab nations, have offered their support. PEACE PRIZE People familiar with the matter told Reuters that although the chances of finding someone to replace Infantino were remote, his opponents were determined to leave him more isolated and curb his powers. In addition to reviewing FFE, council members are expected to discuss FIFA’s financial reserves and how much money it can release to member associations, as well as its disciplinary procedures, governance framework and Peace Prize, which was controversially awarded to U.S. President Donald Trump last year. Last month, UEFA and CONCACAF called on FIFA to release $10 million to each of its 211 member associations, countering Infantino’s FFE proposal under which associations could receive $20 million in development funding and potentially access a further $20 million. Emanuel Medeiros, founder and Global CEO of Sport Integrity Global Alliance, a pressure group for better governance in sport, said FIFA needed to have frank discussion in Zurich. The eyes of the world are on them, he said. The world of football expects to see a council that takes this unique opportunity to establish a genuinely independent, comprehensive and transparent governance review. We certainly wish to see a new impetus, a new dynamic. However, lawyer and politician Miguel Maduro, who was chairman of the FIFA Governance Committee in 2016 before being sacked by Infantino, said he would be surprised if anything meaningful came of Thursday’s meeting. They may announce the setting up of a Working Group or even an Independent Review of FIFA Governance, but the credibility of either exercise will be very limited in the light of FIFA’s track record, he said. Such an exercise, if not genuinely independent and enforceable, might be more of the same: a window dressing exercise simply aimed at reducing public pressure and to state they have now addressed whatever problems they had
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An Indian court ordered that two leaders of the youth-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) be detained in jail for five days, the party and police said on Wednesday, a day after they scaled barricades to enter a historic site popular for protests and chanted slogans demanding the election chief's resignation.
Brazil probing 'criminal' origin of forest fires: minister to AFP Siya Tsewu Wed, 10/14/2026 - 18:36 BRASILIA - Brazil is probing possible "deliberate criminal activity" behind surging fires in the Amazon, as well as possible links to a tense election period, Brazil's environment minister told AFP. The northwestern state of Amazonas, home to a huge chunk of the world's largest rainforest, has recorded almost double the wildfires so far in October as in the whole of October last year. Billowing smoke has shrouded the state capital Manaus for days, while the El Nino climate phenomenon threatens to exacerbate drought in the Amazon. On Sunday, Environment Minister Joao Paulo Capobianco flew over the affected areas, sighting hundreds of fires in the middle of the protected forest. The location of the fires suggested they were not caused by uncontrolled agricultural activity, as is common in the Amazon, but rather "a deliberate criminal act" aiming to damage the forest and illegally seize land, Capobianco said. Those responsible "appear to be acting in an organized and intense manner," he said in an interview. "There is a possibility of a direct connection to the election period," the minister added, although that remains a theory for now. "The fact that some prominent politicians have used that information in their campaign propaganda suggests there is a potential connection," Capobianco said, without elaborating. Sao Paulo state's conservative Governor Tarcisio de Freitas recently criticized the fires in the Amazon, accusing President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's leftist administration of negligence. Lula will face right-wing Senator Flavio Bolsonaro, the son of jailed ex-leader Jair Bolsonaro, in a presidential runoff on October 25. Capobianco is traveling to Manaus again on Wednesday, accompanied by the justice minister, federal police investigators, and intelligence agents to "identify those responsible." State police are also investigating the fires. - Smoke-veiled city - Amazonas has recorded 1,608 fire outbreaks so far this month, compared with 874 for the entire month of October 2025, satellite data from the National Institute for Space Research shows. And there were over 3,700 outbreaks in September, nearly four times as many as one year earlier. However, this year's figures are being compared to historically low levels in 2025. Smoke has severely worsened air quality in Manaus, a city of 2.3 million people, and authorities shuttered public schools on Friday. The federal government, which has dispatched 11 aircraft and around 300 firefighters to the zone, expects to reverse the situation "in the coming days," Capobianco said. The minister stressed that deforestation in the Amazon fell by half between 2022 and 2025. By Lucia Lacurcia Article by AFP
Newly elected COSATU President Mike Shingange says the trade union federation must prioritise internal unity if it hopes to regain workers’ trust. Shingange was delivering his inaugural address on the final day of the reconvened 15th COSATU National Congress in Kempton Park, east of Johannesburg. The new top leadership structure will guide the federation for the next four years. Joining Shingange in the Presidency are Susan Khumalo as First Deputy President and Mbali Blose as Second Deputy President. Zingiswa Losi takes up the role of General-Secretary with Gerald Twala serving as Deputy General Secretary. Addressing delegates, Shingange emphasised that strengthening the Tripartite Alliance requires real commitment and called for an end to opportunistic partnerships. “We must do something about ourselves, first and foremost, because I don’t think God will assist or will succeed in helping us to lead the unification of the alliance that has been fragmenting for many decades now. And comrades, our alliance must not be a by-the-way. It must not be a tactical alliance when we need it and when we don’t need it. The alliance partners, particularly these workers, must not be treated like a pipe of water which you open when you need to drink and close when you don’t need it,” says Shingange. Reconvened COSATU’s 15th National Congress enters day 3:
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A Malaysian court on Wednesday denied former Prime Minister Najib Razak's request to suspend a 15-year jail term in connection with the 1MDB scandal, despite expectations he might be transferred to house arrest following a pardon in a separate case.
The Electoral Commission (IEC) has highlighted the importance of credible and verifiable information ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. The commission made these comments during the Media Freedom Festival in Parkwood, Johannesburg, where journalists, academics, journalism educators and civil society organisations gathered to discuss media freedom and threats to information integrity. IEC General Manager for Communications Fikile Moya says access to credible information is critical to ensuring voters make informed choices and that elections are free and fair. “It is critical to have this ahead of the elections because information integrity is critical in ensuring that elections are free and fair, that people who consume information that informs their voting choices consume information and consume media that is credible, where the information they receive is verifiable and to know what they can do or where they can go if they are not sure about the information they are receiving,” says Moya.
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The headquarters of Saudi Arabia's state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco 2223.SE in the eastern city of Dhahran was attacked on Tuesday night, causing what the kingdom's energy ministry said in a statement was a limited fire, as fighting between Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis and the kingdom intensified.
The number of eligible voters applying for special votes ahead of the 2026 Local Government Election (LGE) has increased by approximately 131 percent from the last LGE in 2021. This is according to the IEC which briefed the media on the outcome of the special votes application process which ran from 21 September to the 12th of October. The electoral body has revealed that it approved the 678 000 home visit applications for the sick and infirm, an increase of 33 percent from 2021 figure of 507 000. Approval of voter station-based applications, for those who cannot vote at their registered voting station on 4 November, stands at 1.1 million, compared to 602 000 in 2021, an increase of 227 percent. IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo reflected on the gender and age patterns related to the data. “Women account for a larger share of applications in both categories comprising 74 percent of home visit applications and 64 percent of voting station visit applications. Age data for home visits also show that voters aged 60 years and older account for just under 80 percent of all home visits applications with the 70 to 79 cohort representing the largest segment therefore shows that home visits are predominately utilised by older voters particularly older women while voting station applications reveal a younger and more diverse demographic profile.”
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Having bolstered their squads in the off-season, the leading South African teams may well improve on their recent Champions Cup performances and make history later this season.
The trial of slain rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes and his friend and businessman, Tebello “Tibz” Motsoane at the Durban High Court heard emotional testimony about the final moments of the pair. The court’s 11th witness, photographer and camera operator Thotloetso Kutlwano Mogotsi who was part of the crew that came with AKA to Durban, described the panic and distress following the shooting. Mogotsi recounted the moment that changed his life forever. He told the court that after hearing several gunshots, they called for help. He testified that paramedics, upon arriving at the scene, attempted multiple times to resuscitate Motsoane after noticing that Forbes was unresponsive. The paramedics declared both Forbes and Motsoane dead at the scene. Mogotsi also made a new revelation about the moments leading up to the shooting, telling the court that Forbes embraced Motsoane outside the restaurant for longer than usual, seemingly after spotting someone from his past whom he did not want to see. “I saw Kiernan and Tibz embracing each other, but it was about something. I think AKA had noticed someone from his past and he did not want that person to notice him. So, as Tebello and AKA were hugging each other, they made a circling motion so that Tebello could get a better look at what was seen by Kiernan.” The whereabouts of rapper Kiernan “AKA” Forbes’ bodyguard at the time of the shooting also came under renewed scrutiny in court. Siyabonga Mdluli, Forbes’s road manager who was present when Forbes and Motsoana were shot, also gave his testimony. Asked about the bodyguard’s whereabouts, Mdluli said he could not see him and had last seen him before the shooting began. “When I realised he’s been shot, that’s when I looked around to find out where AKA was because at that moment I thought he had run inside with us. Unfortunately, when I looked around, he was not there. That’s when I went outside and saw him lying on the ground dead.” Mdluli told the court he did not see the bodyguard anywhere. “I have no idea where he was. I did not see him anywhere,” he said. Two eyewitnesses also testified. They informed the court that they saw two men wearing masks and hats fleeing the scene, with one allegedly carrying a firearm. The witnesses told the court that they were seated in Florida Park, opposite Wish restaurant, before gunshots were fired. “So, I was the last of the ones that ran. I was the last that fled. And so, when I turned around as I was running, one of the guys that was behind me was holding a gun. From what I can remember, sir, I think there was one that was in their differences. One was a little bit bigger in size than the other. That’s due to my memory. That’s what I remember, sir,” said one of the eyewitnesses. The trial continues Thursday with the state introducing its 14th witness.
Both Sides | Why Is South Africa So Violent? Prof Garth Stevens On The Psychology Behind It | 14 October 2026 Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 16:21 Why South Africa's Violence Problem Is Bigger Than The People Who Commit It When violence shocks a society, one of the first questions is usually about the person responsible. What kind of person could do this? Were there warning signs? Was there something psychologically different about them? These are understandable questions, particularly when crimes are brutal or appear to repeat. But focusing too narrowly on the offender can obscure a harder possibility: violence is also shaped by the society in which it occurs. South Africa's history makes that distinction especially important. Clinical psychologist Professor Garth Stevens describes violence as having functioned for generations as a social instrument, used both to subjugate and to resist. That does not mean history mechanically produces today's violent offender. It means violence has occupied an unusually familiar place in the country's political and social imagination. Stevens describes this legacy as a kind of "wound of history". History, however, is only one layer. Extreme inequality, unemployment, weakened institutions and failures of governance can alter the environment in which violence occurs. Institutions matter partly because they impose boundaries: the police, courts, schools, social services, families and community structures all help determine what behaviour is restrained, punished, tolerated or normalised. When those systems become inconsistent or lose legitimacy, the consequences extend beyond service delivery. They change what people believe will happen after rules are broken. That is why South Africa's response to violence cannot be reduced to policing alone. The criminal justice system remains essential, particularly when lives are at risk, but prevention starts much earlier and extends much further. It includes whether children learn that aggression is strength, whether men are socialised into entitlement, whether abusive behaviour is challenged before it escalates, whether rehabilitation works, and whether somebody leaving prison has a realistic route back into ordinary life. This wider lens is particularly important when examining violence against women. Stevens argues that misogyny can become more dangerous when it is combined with entitlement and objectification. Once another person is regarded less as an autonomous human being and more as an object over which power can be exercised, the psychological distance to violence can shrink. His argument is not that misogynistic thinking automatically produces physical violence; it is that attitudes, power and socialisation are part of the environment in which violence becomes possible. That systemic argument is increasingly reflected in South Africa's institutional response to gender-based violence and femicide. Government's October 2026 recovery plan places policing alongside investigation, forensic processing, prosecution, community safety and challenges to harmful social attitudes. A separate national inquiry is examining how the criminal justice system handles reporting, victim support, investigation and pre-trial processes in GBV cases. In other words, even the formal response increasingly recognises that violence cannot be isolated to the moment of the offence. South African Government Psychology adds another necessary caution. Risk factors are not destiny. Stevens rejects the idea of an inevitable line between a difficult childhood, particular personality traits and future violence. Some indicators can increase risk, but prediction is not certainty. The same principle applies to criminal profiling: patterns can assist investigators, but the moment a profile becomes a stereotype, investigators risk seeing only evidence that confirms what they already expect. The uncomfortable conclusion is that reducing violence requires two kinds of work at once. South Africa needs institutions capable of finding, prosecuting and managing dangerous offenders. But it also needs to confront the historical, economic, institutional and gendered conditions in which violence is repeatedly reproduced. Catching the person who commits an act of violence is justice. Building a society in which fewer people reach that point is prevention. References · Professor Garth Stevens, conversation with Randall Abrahams, Both Sides, October 2026. · South African Government, Government on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, 1 October 2026. South African Government · Commission for Gender Equality, SAHRC and CRL Rights Commission, Joint National Inquiry into the · criminal justice system response to GBVF, August 2026. Catch up on all Both Sides episodes here: https://www.enca.com/both-sides-podcast
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On 13 October, at a community meeting with candidates for Johannesburg’s municipal elections, people asked how food storage, safety and prices will be addressed, as well as global market concentration in the food system. They wanted to know how grants will be increased and jobs given, and how young people who are already doing the work will be helped.
The Constitutional Court is expected to deliver judgment on Thursday in the ANC’s bid to have 181 councillor candidates reinstated on the ballot ahead for the 4th November Local Government Elections (LGE). The ANC approached the Apex court on Monday to challenge the Electoral Commission’s (IEC) decision to disqualify its candidate lists in six municipalities. The dispute centres on the ANC’s alleged failure to click the “Submit as Final” button on the IEC’s online nomination system. The party argued that it had complied with the nomination requirements, while the IEC maintained that the lists were not validly submitted. Meanwhile, IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo says they will abide by whatever decision the judicial systems decide on. A number of parties have gone to the Electoral Court and the Constitutional Court over the IEC’s decision not to include some candidates on the PR list. Mamabolo was briefing the media on the state of readiness for the upcoming November 4th LGE. “The ConCourt is the arbiter of disputes of final instance. So, whatever decision that may come out of there will have to be integrated into the operations of the Commission. At this stage the Commission is not contemplating any change in dates. We are working on the 4th. It is important that all the judicial bodies are given the space to consider the merits of the matters and come to a judicious decision in respect of all matters before either the electoral court or the constitutional court.”
Rosemary Ndlovu, co-accused slapped with 10 years' imprisonment Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 16:08 KEMPTON PARK - Former police officers Rosemary Ndlovu and Nomsa Mudau have each been sentenced to 10 years in prison for plotting the murder of Mudau’s husband, Justice Mudau The Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court found them guilty of incitement to commit murder in 2018. Gauteng National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said the court heard that Ndlovu approached a man and asked him to help Mudau arrange her husband’s killing. READ | Rosemary Ndlovu, co-accused sentencing postponed According to Mohlatlole, the man had previously been involved in the murders of Ndlovu’s family members. “Several telephone conversations and meetings subsequently took place between Mudau and the man in Tembisa. During these engagements, Mudau requested that they kill her husband, claiming that he was abusive and involved in extramarital affairs,” he said. Mohlatlole said the court further heard that Mudau intended to pay the man after claiming insurance benefits following her husband’s death. READ | Rosemary Ndlovu, co-accused found guilty of inciting murder “The man later alerted Justice Mudau (the husband) to the plot. He subsequently reported the matter to the South African Police Service (SAPS), leading to the arrest of Ndlovu and Mudau.” Ndlovu is already serving six life sentences following her conviction and sentencing in November 2021 for the murders of five family members and her partner for financial gains through life insurance and funeral policy payouts. According to Mohlatlole the10-year sentence imposed on Ndlovu will run concurrently with the current sentences she is serving.
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The striving to cook a perfect steak is easier and more assured of victory when you do it back to front. This piece from 2022 is republished after queries about the reverse searing method.
Rising fuel costs are pushing up food prices in Uganda , with traders at Kampala’s Nakasero Market saying higher transport expenses are cutting into their earnings, and making it harder for customers to buy everyday goods. Banana trader Nabakka Safina on Wednesday said the cost of bringing produce to market has risen sharply. She said transporting a bunch of bananas that once cost 2 000 shillings (approximately $0.50) now costs 5 000 shillings (approximately $1.25), leaving traders struggling to cope with the added expense. Nakku Sharifah, who sells tomatoes, said traders often have no choice but to sell at a loss when customers cannot afford higher prices because the produce cannot be kept for long. The market vendors say the higher prices are also driving customers away. Sumayiya Nanyunja said she arrives at the market as early as 4am but sales have slowed significantly, adding that many shoppers simply walk away when they hear the price of bananas. Sharifah appealed to the government to help bring down fuel prices, saying lower energy costs would ease the burden on traders and consumers alike. Traders say reducing transport costs would help stabilise food prices and provide relief for households already facing rising living expenses.
Saudi league postpones three matches after Houthi attacks Siya Tsewu Wed, 10/14/2026 - 15:40 RIYADH - The Saudi Arabian football league (SPL) has postponed three fixtures, including one involving Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr, following the dramatic escalation in the country's war with the Houthis. The matchweek nine fixtures have been pushed back in the calendar for "logistical considerations, taking into account the mandatory minimum rest period between matches", according to a statement published on Tuesday on the SPL's website. The meeting between league leaders Al Hilal and Al Riyadh and the match between Al Ittihad and Al Shabab have been postponed to December 19, while the clash between Al Ahli and Ronaldo's Al Nassr has been rescheduled for March 6, 2027. The SPL added, however, that the other matchweek nine fixtures "will be played according to the previously announced schedule with no changes". On Monday, Al Nassr's AFC Champions League match against Uzbek side Neftchi Fergana in Riyadh was delayed by an hour after the coalition announced it had intercepted a missile fired by the Houthis towards the Saudi capital. A violent battle between a Saudi-led coalition and Yemen's Houthis has erupted in recent days, with missile strikes on airports and energy facilities across the kingdom. The latest round of fighting was triggered by Houthi strikes on Riyadh's international airport at the weekend that left 13 people dead and operations suspended in the worst attack since 2015. Article by AFP
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Climate change doesn’t change the virus or make it more infectious or deadly. It changes the infrastructure and systems – such as roads, clinics and patient records – that hold HIV in check. Here’s how the two connect, and how to report it.
Gauteng Traffic Police have arrested over 30 suspects and recovered 19 hijacked and stolen vehicles during high-density operations across the province from 22 September to 13 October. In Tshwane, officers recovered over 30 rounds of live ammunition and arrested suspects for offences including possession of an unlicensed firearm, illegal foreign passports and stolen property. And in Ekurhuleni, those arrested include for ATM bombings and car hijackings. Gauteng Department of Community Safety spokesperson, Ofentse Morwane says operations targeted crime hotspots as part of ongoing efforts to combat crime and improve public safety. “We welcome these operational successes, which support the provincial government’s 10 Point Plan to combat crime through coordinated and targeted law enforcement interventions. We will continue conducting high-visibility operations across the province to intercept criminal activities and disrupt organised criminal networks.”
Eastern Cape man slapped with life sentence for relative's mob killing Zandile.Khumalo Wed, 10/14/2026 - 15:29 JOHANNESBURG - Aphelele Tshangela, a 33-year-old man from Eastern Cape, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of his relative, Sandi Tshangela. Sandi was killed in a mob attack on 14 September 2021; among those parts of the incident was Tshangela and five other participants. According to Eastern Cape National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Luxolo Tyali, the court heard how Sandi had set a man's house alight following an altercation between the two at a local tavern. READ | UPDATE: Zolani Tete murder case postponed Tshangela and others searched for him throughout the night before finding him the following morning. “They found [Sandi] at approximately 6am the following morning and subjected him to a prolonged assault, beating him with sticks and dragging him along the ground with a rope. The assault continued for several hours, and the deceased died at approximately 11am,” Tyali detailed. Tyali said five of the participants pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 25 years in prison each. READ | State alleges funeral policy claim at heart of four-month-old baby's murder plot However, Tshangela pleaded not guilty, resulting in his trial being separated from that of his co-accused, Tyali added. “Among the compelling evidence presented by the state was the testimony of his accomplices, who placed him at the scene and implicated him in the attack. Tshangela also made admissions during the trial and conceded that he had played a leading role in the incident. He was subsequently convicted of murder.” Tyali said the NPA reiterates that vigilantism is not justice and that it remains committed to “prosecuting perpetrators of violent crime and ensuring that justice is delivered for victims, their families and affected communities”.
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A hundred years ago, people had elegant little devices to peel peaches, grind coffee and sieve their flour. And weren’t those peach pip floors something?
Former President Jacob Zuma ‘s testimony before the TRC Cases Inquiry has been deferred to a date yet to be confirmed. The deferment follows Zuma’s admission in hospital and was an agreement between his lawyers and the judicial commission, chaired by Justice Sisi Khampepe. Zuma was expected to appear on the 22nd of this month. His testimony was to follow that of former President Thabo Mbeki who will be testifying on the 19th and 20th. The commission has been tasked with investigating claims of deliberate delays and political interference in the investigation and prosecution of apartheid-era crimes. The former presidents failed in their review to have Khampepe recuse herself from the Inquiry last month. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa has wished the former president speedy recovery.
Laycock makes history with record-breaking five-wicket over Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 14:51 Chad Laycock Kaneez Tuskers’ Chad Laycock JOHANNESBURG - Kaneez Tuskers’ Chad Laycock etched his name into the history books with a remarkable six-wicket haul against Momentum Multiply Titans in the YesPlay Pro20 Cup on Tuesday, recording figures of 6/26 in a record-breaking bowling performance. Laycock became the first bowler to claim four wickets in four consecutive deliveries and the first to take five wickets in a single over in South African T20 cricket. His figures also set a new competition record, surpassing the previous best of 6/29 recorded by Beuran Hendricks in 2014. After electing to bowl first in Pietermaritzburg, Tuskers initially struggled to contain the Titans, who raced to a 112-run opening partnership through Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Sinethemba Qeshile. Laycock provided the breakthrough, dismissing Pretorius for a blistering 81 off 36 balls. Qeshile followed three overs later for 46, while Dewald Brevis added 33 before falling to Bamanye Xenxe. However, it was the 19th over that belonged to Laycock. He dismissed Leus du Plooy before removing Dayyaan Galiem, Aphiwe Mnyanda, Janco Smit and Esosa Aihevba in four consecutive deliveries, bringing the Titans' innings to a dramatic close at 204. Issued by: Cricket South Africa
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‘Feisty tannies’ Francis Jeffrey and Eileen Leander are demanding answers over R2.4m spent on upgrades to Gqeberha’s historic Wylde Bridge, after height restrictors were destroyed and heavy trucks continued to cross the structure, raising safety fears.
The ANC Youth League says it will mobilise members to protest outside court when the suspect in the Katlehong multiple murder incident makes his first appearance. The suspect will appear in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. He handed himself over to the police following a shooting that claimed the lives of four people and injured three others. The victims are believed to be members of the ANC Youth League who were shot at while coming from a memorial service. Ekurhuleni ANC Youth League Chairperson Simphiwe Patose says, “We will be going to the police station right now as the ANC Youth League to check on what the status of the docket is and when he is going to appear in court, so that we can then be able to mobilise members of the ANC Youth League to go and demonstrate to that court to say such people are not supposed to be part of our communities. Because there is nothing that was done to him for him to start shooting randomly at those young people who were part of the march coming from the memorial service there.” Patose says such people should be removed from society. “So, if we cannot rise up against this situation, it will continue, because we have received the reports that in his car there were a number of guns, which shows that this person is not someone who should be part of our society,” he adds. Deputy Police Minister Polly Boshielo has confirmed that last night’s shooting incident has been escalated to the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT). Boshielo says the PKTT will establish whether the attack was politically motivated. Three other victims remain in hospital.
Cosatu elects new leaders as Losi and Shingange take top posts Vusi.Bafetane Wed, 10/14/2026 - 13:23 COSATU elects new leadership JOHANNESBURG - Cosatu has elected new leadership at its 15th National Congress taking place in Kempton Park. The trade union federation's outgoing president, Zingiswa Losi, has been elected as the new general secretary. She defeated the incumbent Solly Phetoe by 996 to 809 votes. Losi will be deputised by Gerald Twala, who was elected unopposed. Losi is the first woman to be elected to the powerful general-secretary post of Cosatu. Mike Shingange was elected president, beating Mabutho Cele with 973 votes to 836. Susan Khumalo was elected as first deputy president. She defeated Duncan Luvuno by 915 votes to 882. Mbali Blose was elected unopposed as second deputy. Kgomotso Makhupola will hold the trade union federation's purse. Her 966 votes were enough to secure the treasurer position over Mike Manganye with 832.
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As a record 962,832 candidates begin South Africa’s 2026 matric examinations, digital tools and community programmes offer additional ways to get academic support.
LIVESTREAM | Shadrack Sibiya continues bid for bail Nokuthula Khanyile Wed, 10/14/2026 - 12:45 JOHANNESBURG - Disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya is expected back in court on Wednesday as his bail hearing continues. The proceedings took a dramatic turn on Tuesday when a voice recording introduced serious new allegations into the case. In the recording, businessman Serge Cabonge allegedly claims that Sibiya received money from alleged crime boss Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. READ | Expert: Sibiya not off the hook after police resignation Cabonge also allegedly claims that a judge advised him to leave the country after his name surfaced at the Madlanga Commission. The inquiry has indicated that it plans to obtain Cabonge’s statement as the allegations come under further scrutiny. Read more: Madlanga Commission wants statement from Sibiya's associate Serge Cabonge
The former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Joseph Kabila , has joined forces with the M23 rebels to form a new political-military coalition known as the Front for the Refoundation of the Nation. The announcement was made at a press conference in the eastern city of Goma. Senior members of the M23 rebel group attended the press conference announcing Kabila as the leader of the new movement: The Front for the Refoundation of the Nation. According to the officials, Kabila will be deputised by four vice presidents, including former M23 political wing head Corneille Nangaa. The new group’s stated objective is to pool their strengths, resources and means to end what they call the tyranny of the Tshisekedi administration by any means, including force. The new movement’s formation comes amid political tensions in the DRC over the ruling coalition’s plans to change the constitution, which would allow President Tshisekedi to rule beyond his final term in 2028. The DRC government has repeatedly accused Joseph Kabila of backing the M23 rebels. VIDEO | Joseph Kabila denounces US sanctions against him https://t.co/fyo5Okwg9U — SABC News (@SABCNews) May 5, 2026 Last year, a military court in Kinshasa found Kabila guilty of treason and war crimes and sentenced him to death in absentia for his alleged links to the M23 rebels. In May, the United States government imposed sanctions on the former Congolese leader, accusing him of providing financial support to the M23 rebels and seeking to destabilise the DRC. Kabila denied the charges, describing the sanctions and the ruling as politically motivated. He led the DRC from 2001 to 2018. His participation in the new rebel outfit comes as the US, Qatar and the African Union continue trying to broker peace between the warring parties in eastern DRC, who have continued fighting. CREDIT: Chris Ocamringa VIDEO | Joseph Kabila joins forces with M23 rebels
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Oct 13 (Reuters) - The partial skull of a tiger-sized predator that prowled what is now the Isle of Wight off England's southern coast about 120 million years ago is giving scientists a better understanding of an enigmatic group of meat-eating dinosaurs known for running down prey and ripping them apart with massive hand claws.
South Africa's water crisis: Is poor municipal management to blame? Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 12:40 JOHANNESBURG - Poor municipal management, weak governance, and inadequate infrastructure investment are exacerbating South Africa's water crisis . Futuregrowth investment analyst Taariq Mohamed says the problem is not necessarily a lack of funding, but how available funds are spent and managed. READ: eThekwini water woes: Demand could outstrip supply by 2027 Municipalities currently owe water boards more than R25-billion. Mohamed says poor financial management and insufficient infrastructure investment are hampering municipalities’ ability to maintain and repair water systems, worsening shortages. READ: 'We are struggling with population expansion' - Joburg Water He says South Africa’s water availability has also come under pressure from lower average rainfall and population growth, which has increased by about 37% over the past two decades. While South Africa is naturally water-scarce, Mohamed argues that poor municipal management is compounding the problem.
Three people have died, and 12 others have been injured in a chemical-related incident on a farm north of Herold’s Bay near George in the Western Cape. Police say the workers were cleaning a large storage tank containing a mixture of chemicals, including phosphoric acid, when the incident occurred on Tuesday. Several workers who attempted to assist reportedly suffered inhalation injuries. Some were treated at the scene, while others were taken to nearby hospitals. Police have opened an inquest docket, and investigations are continuing.
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ROME, Oct 13 (Reuters) - Pope Leo was diagnosed with lung cancer after surgeons removed a part of his right lung on Tuesday, the Vatican said in a medical bulletin, marking a significant health setback for the 71-year-old pontiff.
Indonesians on fire-ravaged island sue state for clean air Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 12:30 PONTIANAK - Every few years, residents of Indonesia's West Kalimantan province contend with devastating wildfires that emit a noxious haze causing illnesses, shuttering schools and stifling economic activity. Now, they've had enough. Lawyers have filed a class action case claiming "negligence, omission and failure" on the part of the government that has resulted in "a massive public health crisis" in the province on Borneo island. Their target: President Prabowo Subianto and 26 officials from the national, provincial and local government, as well as police and emergency services. "We're not asking for anything excessive. We're only demanding our basic rights as citizens: clean air and a healthy environment," Sisilius Rami told AFP at his home in the haze-blanketed city of Pontianak. "We... want to breathe fresh air, see clear skies and enjoy the sun," said the 29-year-old, one of four plaintiffs in the case. Sisilius said the haze affects every aspect of daily life, disrupting schooling and outdoor activities including some farming. Anyone venturing outside must wear a mask or risk inhaling toxins. AFP | DITO "Children have the right to an education. The community has the right to live healthily. The government should be present to guarantee those rights, not leave people to face the consequences on their own," he said. The other plaintiffs are NGOs representing youth, environmental and Indigenous causes in a province with nearly six million inhabitants. They "are all residents of the province of West Kalimantan affected by the 2026 haze disaster, whose number is so large it would not be practical to file claims individually", the filing said. - 'Limited means' - For weeks, communities in West Kalimantan have been fighting fires that have razed vast expanses of land and befouled the air as far away as Malaysia and Singapore. The government has deployed firefighters assisted by volunteers across affected areas, and used cloud-seeding and water-bombing, with limited success. For the AMAN Indigenous people's NGO, also a plaintiff, too much of the burden has fallen on individuals armed with little more than garden hoses and surgical masks. AFP | John SAEKI, Nicholas SHEARMAN "If the government had truly been serious about extinguishing the fires, there would be no haze anymore," said AMAN representative Tono, who like many Indonesians has only one name. The government should have drilled borewells, distributed sufficient firefighting equipment and deployed more water-bombing planes to communities, Tono said. "The government has far more adequate resources and facilities than the community. Yet on the ground, it is the community that is fighting with limited means." The group's lawyer, Glorio Sanen, said the Indonesian state did not prepare adequately despite having had months of warning of a particularly intense dry season due to the El Nino weather phenomenon. "Who has the authority to lead and coordinate across ministries and levels of government? The president. That is why we have named the president as a party to the case," he said. - 'Environmental criminals' - The plaintiffs want the government to declare a national emergency to release resources for fire containment and recovery. They are also suing for free health services for people laid low by acute respiratory infections, and compensation for the families of those who died from it. AFP | DITO "We don't want communities to continue to be victims year after year, while the same problems recur without fundamental improvements," the lawyer said. "This lawsuit is our way of asking the state to fulfil its obligations." The plaintiffs also want a thorough investigation into the causes, and point the finger at large corporations burning land to cultivate timber, rice and palm oil, or for mining. "This haze disaster has caused extraordinarily heavy losses. In education, in health, in the economy. As a consequence of this disaster, we must uncover who bears responsibility," Glorio said. "We must not allow environmental criminals, arsonists who burn forest and land areas, to remain at large and unpunished while the number of victims keeps growing and their suffering worsens." The government told AFP it "respects" the legal action, and that "many of the concerns raised by residents are already being addressed through ongoing efforts". AFP/File | BAY ISMOYO These include "ground and aerial firefighting, healthcare services for affected communities, and investigations into 95 corporations" whose activities may have contributed to the fires, the Government Communications Agency told AFP. It highlighted a standing prohibition on land-clearing by burning, and said the government shared the plaintiffs' goal of "clean air and an end to recurring forest and land fires". Sisilius is not convinced, pointing to previous major fires. "This has already happened in 2015, it happened again in 2019, and it has happened again in 2026, in a very severe way," he said. "We hope the state truly shows up." The next court hearing is scheduled for October 21. by Cece Kusmana (AFP)
The National Transport Department says the proposal to amend the National Road Traffic Regulations is aimed at preventing some people, including foreign nationals, from fraudulently using driving licences as identification documents. Under the proposed changes, driving licences, learner’s licences and Traffic Register Number certificates will no longer be accepted as general forms of identification. The department says the amendments are intended to strengthen controls over road traffic documents and align the regulations with the Identification Act. OCTOBER TRANSPORT MONTH CAMPAIGN NEW REGULATIONS TO STOP USE OF ROAD TRAFFIC DOCUMENTS AS FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION #TransportZA #OTMSA2026 https://t.co/6rtVBeT8OV — Department of Transport (@Dotransport) October 9, 2026 “We want to remove the legal ambiguity, stop abuse and align road traffic legislation with the Identification Act. So we basically want to get rid of the habit where people have turned all these institutions such as banks, airports, residential estates, into traffic departments. People are asked to produce their licences and their traffic register numbers. The department that is responsible for the Identification Act is the Home Affairs Department; therefore, for identification purposes, people must use IDs, hence the amendments that we are introducing,” says the Department’s spokesperson, Collen Msibi. Meanwhile, Msibi says the regulations will take effect once they have been gazetted and all required processes have been finalised. “The regulations will come into operation once all comments and inputs have been considered and incorporated into a final set of amendments which the Department will publish in the government gazette with the commencement dates. Provinces have, in the interim, been instructed to centralise the issuing of traffic register numbers at provincial help desks to strengthen controls,” says Msibi. RELATED VIDEO | DHA expands smart ID access
A heritage building reimagined, and an ownership model that pairs the experience of a hotel with the opportunity of property investment.
Regulator 'will resign' if any political interference in Man City case Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 12:30 MANCHESTER - The chair of English football's Independent Regulator has said he will resign if there is political interference in any future investigation into Manchester City as a result of widespread impropriety. City have been found guilty on over 100 charges of breaking Premier League financial rules by an independent commission. The club have appealed and deny any wrongdoing, but face a severe sanction unless they overturn the verdict. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has come under criticism for his comments saying he would be "really concerned" if City's Abu Dhabi owners left the club following the verdict. Downing Street subsequently had to backtrack, insisting no one was "above the rules". Burnham, who was mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 to June 2026, has since published all of his dealings with the City hierarchy. But the case poses a delicate balancing act for the UK government in preserving its longstanding ties with the Emirates without interfering in the independence of the disciplinary action against City. The club's owner Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan is vice-president and deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The Football Regulator has the power to disqualify and remove club owners and senior executives and force the sale of clubs. "Our independence is absolute, and my independence personally is absolute," Independent Regulator chair David Kogan said on Tuesday. "I made it very clear in an interview last year that if we (experience) any form of political interference on the way we operate it is going to result in my resigning from this role, and I stand by that completely." Kogan has also warned that the English game is on the "edge of financial disaster" despite booming revenues. The Regulator's first "State of the Game" report found that while English football generated £9 billion ($12 billion) in revenue last season, 94 percent of clubs in the top five divisions were loss-making. Thirty-two clubs could not survive more than 30 days without owner funding, while 17 would make a loss even if their players played for free. Kogan added English club football was simultaneously the "richest, best and most deeply competitive in the world while also standing on the edge of financial disaster". The report forecasts total debt in English football would rise above £5 billion by the end of this season and that net transfer debt was approximately £3.4 billion. "Everyone needs to take into account the fact that nothing is ever forever," said Kogan. - 'Alarm call' - England's Football Supporters' Association said the report was "an alarm call for English men's professional football that must precipitate real and lasting change". UK culture secretary Lisa Nandy said: "Football fans for years have lived with the anxiety of knowing their club could be one bad owner or poor month away from ruin. "This report doesn't just validate that anxiety, it has blown the doors off the game with the most stark uncovering of the state of football club finances in England today." Kogan is set to be interviewed by the House of Commons' culture, media and sport committee next month. Committee chair Caroline Dinenage, an MP for the main opposition Conservative Party, said: "The IFR is right, the financial risk embedded in English club football can no longer be ignored. They've framed the issue, now they need to show us what they've got." by Kieran Canning (AFP)
Eastern Cape police are investigating a double murder following the fatal shooting of a headman and his mother at their homestead in Konkwana Village, near Willowvale. Provincial Police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana says two suspects allegedly entered the home on Tuesday night and held five occupants at gunpoint while demanding cash and a firearm. The suspects allegedly opened fire, killing the 44-year-old headman and his 70-year-old mother. Gantana says, “The headman’s wife and two other occupants were not harmed during the incident. Police have opened two counts of murder for further investigation. Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is requested to contact Crime Stop on 08600 10111. Information may also be submitted anonymously via the My SAPS app.” #sapsEC [HEADMAN AND HIS MOTHER GUNNED DOWN IN WILLOWVALE] #SAPS in the Eastern Cape has launched an intensive investigation and deployed an experienced detective team from the Provincial Serious Violent Crime Investigation (SVCI) following the fatal shooting of a local headman and his mother at their homestead in Komkhulu locality, Konkwana A/A, last night, 13/10. According to police records, two unknown armed suspects stormed the homestead at approximately 18:45 and held the five occupants at gunpoint. It is further alleged that the suspects demanded cash and a firearm. They opened fire, fatally wounding the 44yr-old headman and his 70yr-old mother, before fleeing the scene. The headman’s wife and two other occupants were not harmed during the incident. Police have opened two counts of murder for further investigation. #CrimeStop #MySAPSApp ME https://t.co/C4LQE3cTBA — SA Police Service (@SAPoliceService) October 14, 2026
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A shooting at a memorial service in Ekurhuleni on Tuesday left two ANC Youth League members dead. Two other victims have succumbed to their injuries, bringing the death toll to four, with three more people wounded.
SASSA sets record straight on asylum seekers and social grants bombeleni_temp Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:55 South Africa Social Security Agency JOHANNESBURG - The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) does not pay social grants to undocumented foreign nationals, spokesperson Paseka Letsatsi says. “We only pay refugees that qualify,” he says. “The only thing that refugees do not qualify [for] is the right to vote,” he adds. This follows a Constitutional Court ruling in July that declared parts of the Refugees Act unconstitutional and invalid. READ: Court does not confer new rights to asylum seekers - Kubayi The apex court found that asylum seekers cannot be denied access to the asylum system simply because they fail to provide certain documents, miss the stipulated five-day window to report to a refugee reception office, enter South Africa through an undesignated border or fail to meet other administrative requirements. The court ruled that asylum claims must be considered on their merits before applicants can be turned away. It also found that the provisions unfairly prejudiced children whose asylum claims depend on those of their parents. READ: Inter-Ministerial Committee meets after ConCourt ruling on asylum seekers The ruling sparked confusion, with misinformation spreading that asylum seekers had automatically been granted citizenship. Protests were reported in parts of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Social media users also shared screenshots claiming that asylum seekers could receive social grants, fuelling further debate. “Only 1,815 refugees receive social grants, not the numbers circulating on social media,” Letsatsi says. He adds that grants are not permanent and that SASSA’s verification system removes beneficiaries whose status cannot be verified within six months.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is expected to deliver the keynote address at the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA)’s 8th National Congress, which gets underway on Wednesday. Mashatile will stand in for President Cyril Ramaphosa as the three-day gathering opens under the theme ‘Reclaiming and Organising the Future: Workers Dignity, Power, and Justice through Conscious Unionism in an Age of Crisis’. The federation says the gathering comes as workers face rising living costs and pressure on household incomes. FEDUSA’s General Secretary Riefdah Ajam says, “South African workers need confidence that government is serious about tackling issues such as unemployment, the rising cost of living, energy affordability, infrastructure delivery, economic growth, and tackling the scourge of GBV- amongst many other matters here.” “Particularly so, because … our members were in actual fact victims of the recent spate of murders that happened in Kempton Park. And we certainly hope that the DP [Deputy President] will outline some practical actions that will create jobs, strengthen social dialogue, and also economic growth that translates into tangible benefits,” adds Ajam. The audio file below reports more on the story:
Regulator is looking into trades in April and May, around the time of a 3-for-1 share split.
US women rally to draw 2-2 with Spain in second friendly Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:30 PHILADELPHIA - The United States salvaged a 2-2 draw with Spain on Tuesday, three days after they lost to the women's World Cup champions in a pair of home international friendlies. Alexia Putellas and Salma Paralluelo scored five minutes apart in the first half for Spain at Subaru Park, home of Major League Soccer's Philadelphia Union. But Ashley Sanchez pulled back a goal shortly after the break and Mallory Swanson slammed in a US equaliser in the 86th minute. The hosts could have won it deep in stoppage time, but for a fine save from a deflected Lily Yohannes effort by Spain's goalkeeper Misa Rodriguez. By that stage both sides had made multiple substitutions, as they build towards next year's World Cup in Brazil. But the draw is still a major boost for the US ahead of a Concacaf quarter-final clash against El Salvador next month in which they can book their World Cup berth with victory. Spain -- who have already qualified for the World Cup -- had beaten the US 2-0 in Washington on Saturday with goals from Patri Guijarro and Eva Navarro. The reigning world champions were denied a fifth win in a row Tuesday since losing to England in April. Putellas opened the scoring, tapping in from close range. Clara Serrajordi crossed and Clara Pinedo let the ball run through her legs to two-time Ballon d'Or winner Putellas. Paralluelo fired in Spain's second five minutes later, rattling the ball in off the crossbar after US goalkeeper Phallon Tullis-Joyce's poor clearance was intercepted. The US struck back against the run of play in the 49th minute. Sophia Wilson raced into Spain's half but overhit her pass left to Sanchez. She circled back toward goal, shooting from the corner of the six-yard box and into the far corner. With four minutes of regular time remaining, Michelle Cooper collected a beautiful diagonal long ball from Kate Del Fava, miscued her initial touch but recovered to pull it back for Swanson. Swanson flicked the ball up in the air and swivelled, drilling it into the far left corner. Deep in injury time Spain goalkeeper Rodriguez dived low to her left to deprive Yohannes of a dramatic winner. AFP
Lobby group AfriForum says Johannesburg’s ongoing water crisis highlights what it describes as the failure of the current municipal service delivery model. The organisation says the city’s consideration of private sector involvement amounts to an admission that the existing system is not working. AfriForum argues that residents should not be held hostage by municipal monopolies when sustainable alternatives are available. The group is calling for greater involvement of private and community-based institutions in delivering essential services. [LISTEN] AfriForum says Johannesburg’s water crisis shows the municipal service delivery model is failing residents https://t.co/bmxSRHDTZ8 #SABCNews #FirstTakeSA https://t.co/jbUfun9hZC — SABC News Radio (@SABCNews_Radio) October 14, 2026 AfriForum Manager of Environmental Affairs Lambert de Klerk says existing legislation allows private and community-based organisations to assist municipalities in delivering services. “The biggest obstacle is not necessarily the law, but the willingness to implement alternatives. The Municipal Systems Act already provides for private and community-based organisations to deliver municipal services or assist municipalities in delivering these services. There are procurement consultations and regulatory requirements, but these should be used to enable solutions, not unnecessarily delay them.” RELATED VIDEO | Water Focus | Water shortage woes continue to persist in Johannesburg
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It doesn’t seem like anyone told our trade minister that he lost a BBBEE sector code court battle last week – yes, it was on a technicality, but it still doesn’t explain the transformation energy Parks Tau brought to SA Auto Week in Durban.
EU takes a page from Ireland's AI playbook Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:30 DUBLIN - The EU wants to catch up in the AI race by taking a cue from Ireland -- an early adopter of the technology which has rolled out the red carpet for data centres despite local backlash. Ireland will showcase the role it bids to play in the technological revolution when it hosts an international AI summit in the capital Dublin on Wednesday. While the European Union is pushing for strong governance to limit the risks of AI growing out of control, the bloc also believes it must invest and exploit its potential to avoid falling further behind the United States and China. "We need to stay in the race. Because this is crucial for our independence," EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said last month. Leading AI minds and executives will attend the summit including Google DeepMind chair Demis Hassabis and Microsoft President Brad Smith, as well as the EU's most senior tech officials including Henna Virkkunen. Europe will use the gathering to hammer home its pro-AI agenda. Some 20 percent of companies in the 27-country bloc used AI last year, with the adoption rate rising to 55 percent for the biggest businesses -- figures the EU wants to see increase. Most still use AI for relatively simple tasks, research shows. Europe has around five percent of the world's data-centre capacity, while the United States has around 75 percent and China approximately 15 percent, according to Andrea Renda, director of research at CEPS think tank. The EU wants to ramp up its capacity and is pouring billions into so-called AI gigafactories made up of advanced AI processors and energy-efficient data centres for companies and research labs. It might not be enough, however. "If you only build data-centre capacity, you have not done much," Renda told AFP, calling for "political leadership" to help "identify the roadblocks, the obstacles and the enablers of this transformation". The EU insists it is working on several fronts, mobilising funds from various existing schemes, and appointing a Siemens executive to push manufacturers to integrate the technology under a strategy called "Apply AI". But Renda counters that the strategy has "zero" dedicated budget, warning that without "bold intervention, we are not going to be able to do this". Ireland -- already home to many US tech giants because of its attractive tax policies and favourable location -- wants to help drive the momentum in Europe. - 'Recognise AI's impact on humans' - Prime Minister Micheal Martin is expected to champion Ireland's role as a hub for the development of AI. Yet while it boasts one of the highest adoption rates in the bloc, Ireland also shows some of the pitfalls of Europe's AI push. Its heavy reliance on US giants runs counter to the EU's sovereignty efforts, and the rapid expansion of data centres is putting Irish infrastructure under increasing strain, especially its power grid -- fuelling local opposition. The Central Statistics Office said data centres accounted for 23 percent of the country's electricity consumption last year -- as much as all Irish households combined. "A world record," said Patrick Bresnihan, a researcher at Maynooth University. During a "counter-summit" held a few days before Wednesday's gathering, he pointed out that the centres only employed 3,300 people in total. "Particularly in Ireland, I would say that we need a moratorium. So we need to press pause on data centre development," he said, to give policymakers space "to think about what a more progressive green industrial strategy would look like". Neil Bennett, a former tech worker attending the protest event, urged Irish leaders and senior officials "to recognise the human impact of AI on workers in Ireland". The former translator has been deeply impacted by AI. After he lost his job because of the technology, he describes crossing "to the dark side" to work as a data operator. But he soon became disillusioned when his new job was replaced -- by AI. by Peter Murphy and Frédéric Pouchot (AFP)
Ethiopian government troops have advanced to a town on the border with Eritrea previously controlled by Tigrayan rebels, people in touch with residents said on Tuesday, as diplomats scrambled to avert war between the Horn of Africa neighbours. Witnesses and a conflict monitor said Eritrean troops had crossed last week into Zalambessa, near Ethiopia’s northernmost point, in support of the rebels, but it was unclear if the Eritrean troops or rebels were still present on Tuesday. Asmara has denied any incursion into Ethiopia and asked the United Nations (UN) to take deterrent measures against Ethiopia. It argues that Addis Ababa’s accusations of an invasion by Eritrean forces amounted to a “declaration of war”. Fighting broke out in Ethiopia last month as a rebel alliance led by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) went on the offensive, reigniting a war that killed hundreds of thousands between 2020-22. With Addis Ababa and Asmara now on opposing sides again, conflicts raging elsewhere in the region and tensions high across the Red Sea, there are fears of broader contagion of violence this time around. The Ethiopian government’s counter-offensive has driven rebels from a string of towns, forcing them to retreat north. By Tuesday, the army had reached Zalambessa, a town with a population of around 15 000 on the Ethiopian side of the border with Eritrea, according to six sources. The sources included four people in touch with residents, a diplomat and an expert on the conflict in touch with the warring parties. A spokesperson for a pro-government militia did not confirm the military taking control of the town. Spokespeople for Ethiopia’s military and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not immediately respond to requests for comment. DUELLING UN LETTERS Having been locked in conflict for years, Ethiopia and Eritrea made peace in 2018 and Eritrea fought in support of Ethiopia’s federal government during a 2020-2022 civil war in Tigray, but relations have since soured again. Ethiopia has accused Eritrea of backing the rebels and wrote to Security Council members, stating that Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 km (37 miles) inside Ethiopia. Eritrea’s Foreign Minister Osman Saleh has asked the Security Council to take action against Addis Ababa in a letter seen by Reuters , invoking Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows for measures ranging from sanctions to military action. On Tuesday, Security Council members were due to hold a closed-door meeting on the situation in the Horn of Africa, the Greek presidency of the Security Council said. The issue of sea access has also roiled relations. Ethiopia had access to a coastline for decades until Eritrea gained independence from Addis Ababa in 1993. Ethiopia argues that restoring sea access is an existential issue but has said it would be restored through peace and dialogue.
Independent defence analyst Kobus Marais questions the way that amount has been calculated and says ‘much of it is like a wish list – a hope that if this and this and this realise, then we can have R30bn’.
US fines Bank of America $1.2bn for anti-money laundering violations Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:30 WASHINGTON - The US Treasury Department said that it is imposing penalties of more than $1.2 billion on Bank of America, citing "violations of anti-money laundering and sanctions laws." The second-largest US bank failed to properly report more than $5 billion in "suspicious transactions," the department said. Some of these involved risks related to national security and other concerns, including transactions "indicative of Chinese money laundering networks" and illicit finance around the southwest US border. The overall charge involves $1.2 billion assessed by the Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. This includes a $750 million civil penalty from a key bank regulator, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). The Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control also announced a $11.6 million settlement with the bank over "apparent violations of numerous sanctions programs, including on Iran, Russia, narcotics, and global terrorism." "Today's actions send a clear message that even the biggest financial institutions are not above the law," said US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in a statement. "When a bank of this size fails to meet its anti-money laundering and sanctions obligations, the consequences extend far beyond its own walls, exposing the entire US financial system to significant illicit finance risks," he said. The announcement marks a hit to Bank of America just a day before it reports its third-quarter earnings. A Bank of America spokesperson told AFP its results would include a $1.2 billion charge weighing on net income by around 17 cents per share. They added that the institution is committed to finishing the work needed to address issues that regulators raised. "We will continue to support federal and local law enforcement across thousands of investigations and report hundreds of thousands of suspicious activity reports each year," the spokesperson said. US regulators have published a consent order requiring Bank of America to work with a third party to identify and report suspicious transactions that went undetected. The institution will also have to undergo an independent review of its programs for monitoring suspicious activity, and on other forms of due diligence. The bank is subject to a December 2024 cease-and-desist order as well, calling for it to address issues in its anti-money laundering program and compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act. But the Treasury noted Tuesday that the bank "failed to prioritise" compliance despite agreeing to the 2024 order. Due to Bank of America's "egregious and continued" violations of the Bank Secrecy Act, the OCC imposed its biggest civil money penalty assessed against a bank, said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan Gould. Bank of America shares were down 2.6 percent in after-hours trading, following the Treasury's announcement. AFP
The death toll from last night’s mass shooting in Katlehong, Ekurhuleni, on Gauteng’s East Rand has risen to four. Two more victims have succumbed to their injuries in hospital, while three others remain hospitalised. The victims were allegedly gunned down while returning from a memorial service at Mogobeng Primary School. ANCYL condemns deadly shooting in Katlehong and calls for accountability. https://t.co/i7kN1XTPDc — ANCYL (@ANCYLhq) October 13, 2026 One person has since handed themselves over to police. The ANC Youth League’s Palesa Molefe has called on police to intensify efforts to combat violent crime and the proliferation of illegal firearms. “The ANCYL in Gauteng will continue to engage with the affected families and relevant structures. Further updates will be communicated in due course, following consultations with the families. The blood of our young people cannot continue to flow in our streets. Their lives matter, their futures matter, and their deaths must not be met with silence. We demand justice, accountability and decisive action to end the violence devastating our communities,” adds Molefe. VIDEO | ANCYL members killed in a shooting incident in Katlehong:
The parties plan to explore African distribution channels for selected banking products and services.
Trump slammed for posting fatal tiger attack video Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:30 WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump posted disturbing footage on his Truth Social account of a man being fatally mauled by a tiger in Britain, sparking backlash on social media. The 41-second clip of the UK man being attacked Saturday in a wildlife park was also later shared by the White House's "Rapid Response 47" account on X. Trump, who regularly posts provocative material on social media, followed up his initial post -- which he captioned "Don't ever mess with nature!" -- with a video clip of apparently AI-generated visuals of individuals being mauled by big cats to the tune of a tinny synthesiser. Users on X, where the "Rapid Response 47" account has 2.3 million followers, questioned the president's judgment, with one calling the post "sick." "I'm a big supporter but not a fan of this post. To each his own," wrote another. The man in the video, identified by the BBC as William Chapman, later died from his injuries following the Saturday incident, police said. British police responded to reports of a man entering the enclosure at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near the northern city of Doncaster. "The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury," police said in a statement. "Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene," it added. Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it had sent two ambulances by road and an air ambulance to the scene. The park's "Land of the Tigers" feature has a 300-meter (980-foot) raised walkway. From the walkway, visitors can view the park's Amur tigers in their enclosure which includes woodland, grassland and a waterfall pool. There are estimated to be only around 500 of the endangered subspecies left in the wild. AFP
Dieter von Fintel, associate professor of economics at Stellenbosch University, examines SA’s household food crisis, access to nutritious food and barriers to affordability.
UPDATE: Cat Matlala abandons bail application in property fraud case Nokuthula Khanyile Wed, 10/14/2026 - 10:10 PRETORIA - Alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has abandoned his bail application in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Matlala faces charges relating to the alleged use of a fraudulent identity document and falsified bank statements to secure a Waterkloof property lease worth R95,000 a month. His lawyers first want to deal with a separate case in the South Gauteng High Court. Matlala’s legal team could return to court to apply for bail at a later stage. READ | R228m SAPS tender case postponed to 17 November The matter has been postponed to 29 October for further investigations. Matlala’s wife, Tsakane, and two other co-accused have already been granted bail of R20,000 each. His bail application had been expected to be heard over two days. Read more: Tsakane Matlala, two others granted bail in lease-fraud case
Ronan O’Rahilly, CEO of CVH Spirits, discusses his transition from corporate finance to the spirits industry, the power of collaboration and leading a business across multiple continents.
Three out of four cigarettes sold below minimum tax threshold Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 08:50 File: Hundreds of cigarettes. AFP/David Ebener JOHANNESBURG - New research suggests South Africa’s illicit tobacco trade remains deeply entrenched. A study commissioned by British American Tobacco (BAT) and conducted by Ipsos found that three out of every four cigarettes surveyed are being sold below the minimum price needed to cover mandatory taxes. The research shows a slight decline of two percentage points compared with 2025. READ: Illicit trade costs SA billions in lost tax revenue However, the findings suggest that illicit cigarette sales remain widespread. "So anything that is selling below that couldn't have paid taxes because those taxes, as the word denotes, are mandatory taxes that all players should be paying to the revenue authority," BAT's Johnny Moloto said.
Energy expert Tshepo Kgadima discusses Eskom’s 8.83% tariff increase, municipal debt and declining electricity demand following the utility’s appearance before parliament.
Global deforestation slowed in 2025 but surged in Congo basin: study Estelle.Bronkhorst Wed, 10/14/2026 - 08:30 PARIS - Deforestation slowed worldwide last year, but the improvement is unlikely to last as the situation deteriorates in Central Africa and an exceptionally strong El Niño weather pattern intensifies, a new study said on Wednesday. Seven million hectares of forest -- roughly the size of the Republic of Ireland -- were permanently destroyed in 2025, a 15-percent drop from the previous year, according to the annual Forest Declaration Assessment. The slowdown, however, is not enough to keep the world from missing a pledge to end deforestation by 2030, according to the report, which was drafted by a coalition of research groups and non-governmental organisations. The 2025 figure is "encouraging but so far it's the exception, not a new trajectory", Erin Matson, the study's co-author and lead consultant at advisory group Climate Focus, said in a media briefing. To meet the target, agreed at the United Nations' COP26 climate talks in 2021, deforestation would have to fall by around one million hectares per year. Clearing forests for agriculture or mining operations remains the leading drivers of deforestation. Last year's improvement was due in part to progress in Latin America, with a 33-percent drop in what has historically been the world's deforestation "hot spot", according to the study. The authors pointed particularly to Brazil's deforestation action plan and increased enforcement in the country's Amazon. - 'Irreversible ' - Progress in the region, however, "rests heavily on the choices of a small number of governments and remains highly vulnerable" to recent and upcoming elections across the Amazon basin. Brazil's left-wing leader, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva -- who has vowed to end illegal deforestation by 2030 -- faces populist right Senator Flavio Bolsonaro in a runoff presidential election on October 25. Deforestation had surged under the administration of Bolsonaro's father, far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro. Progress could also be threatened in Colombia and Peru, where hard-right presidents were recently elected, according to the experts. Across the Atlantic in Africa, the situation deteriorated in the Congo basin, where rainforest loss reached 2.4 million hectares -- near the same level of deforestation as the Amazon for the first time. "Losing such a size of forest every year is a disaster," said Sam Nguiffo, a lawyer and founder of the Centre for Environment and Development in Cameroon. "As humanity, we clearly cannot afford that because it will be totally irreversible," he said. Logging for timber or felling trees for agriculture or mining appear to prevail in forest management in Central Africa, Nguiffo said. Deforestation has a "massive impact on the cultural identity and on the livelihood of local and indigenous communities", he said. "The erosion of the forest, both in size and in number of species, reduces the space available for communities and fuels conflicts," the lawyer added. - El Niño effects - El Niño, the warming phase of a natural climate cycle, also threatens progress because its effects include droughts, creating conditions for wildfires. The current El Niño event, which emerged in June, is expected to peak later this year but is already shaping up to be the strongest ever observed. El Niño has been associated with strong drought in Indonesia, where tracts of forest and plantations have been burning in biodiverse Borneo and South Sumatra for months. "If projections of the historically strong 2026-27 El Nino materialise, drought and fire risks will intensify further across tropical forest regions," the deforestation report said. Matson, of Climate Focus, noted that there was a "huge spike" in tree cover loss during the last "super" El Niño event in 2015-2016. "We can't fully predict the future but it's unlikely, I would say, that in 2026 we'll see the same kind of reductions (in deforestation) that we saw last year," she said. AFP
Rhys Summerton, CEO of iOCO, discusses a major acquisition to strengthen its balance sheet and the benefits of its R480m cost-saving programme as part of its turnaround strategy.
iOCO will not pay a dividend for as long as Rhys Summerton is at the helm of the company.
David Shapiro of Otto1890 unpacks the latest CPI figures from China and the US, interest rate outlooks, mixed global market performance, contrasting bank and AI earnings, and stubbornly high oil prices. Despite geopolitical tensions, he explains why he remains optimistic about markets ending the year strongly.
ID numbers, medical aid details and payment information may have been taken, Ampath has told patients.
Market movements with Otto1890, iOCO’s acquisition-led growth, Denel’s R30bn pipeline, Eskom in parliament, Stellenbosch University on food security, and CVH Spirits’ Ronan O’Rahilly in the Executive Lounge.
Far fewer eNCA jobs will go than August reports suggested, says eMedia CEO Khalik Sherrif.
Case was initially struck off the roll in August because Pula had failed to join the Evolution companies as parties to the proceedings.
The gang behind the MIP Holdings breach ranks fourth on leak sites, but Microsoft is sceptical.
The proposed R6.7bn motorsport complex in the Swartland region north of Cape Town is targeting a 2031 race.
Google has released Gemini 4 Argon to developers and businesses after months of delays and upheaval.
The Botswana depositary receipts are expected to raise $500m towards the refinery’s $1.6bn IPO, which has been extended to 27 October.
Most security teams can't see their full environment. Axonius explains why AI agents need asset data you can trust.
‘We need to start using water more responsibly and eventually reduce water usage should there be no rains in this particular month,’ says Dr Zahid Badroodien, MMC for Cape Town’s water and sanitation.
Trump also said Taiwan would invest an additional $4.4bn to see the project completed.
The Bridge School Gqeberha will open in 2028 and offer specialised academic, social, and therapeutic support.
Is Cape Town heading for another water crisis? The push to make SA’s gender budget deliver. And where property investors are putting their money as economic pressure mounts
Deloitte said Wednesday that 52% of CFOs expect to cut headcount due to the technology, with AI adoption still in its early stages.
The breach affects Phase Eight, Hobbs and Whistles.
The initiative comes as Thailand’s efforts to crack down on scam operations have uncovered sophisticated ways in which proceeds of cyber fraud become a major part of broader illicit financial flow, Vitai said.
The era during which trading barriers were dropped and there was a free flow of goods is over, said Yuvraj Narayan
After union leaders said wage talks failed to produce an agreement before the midnight deadline.
A revenue overrun could narrow the budget deficit to 3.5% of GDP, while improving fiscal discipline and structural reforms strengthen the case for a return to investment-grade status within two to three years.
The introduction of CDIs, which didn’t involve selling new shares or raising funds, will give the mining and trading giant exposure to Australia’s vast pension industry.
After tapping reserves to cushion the impact of elevated prices stemming from the US-Iran war.
Rio Tinto is the only diversified major miner with lithium assets, after buying a major producer in 2024.
Citadel Fiduciary partner Mbonisi Ndlovu reviews the impacts of the proposed Regulation of Trusts Bill 2026.
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