Table of contents for 2025-10-28 in Star

Consumers are under ‘extreme pressure’ and their situation has worsened, says Summers South Africa’s consumers are under “extreme pressure,” and their situation may even have worsened since the six-month period to August 31, Pick n Pay’s CEO Sean Summers said Monday. The group, which has closed a net 60 supermarkets in South Africa as it moves to regain profitability, yesterday released interim financial results that showed its turnaround gathering momentum, with trading profit up 273.5% to R310 million from R83m. This follows a turnover increase of 4.9%, with like-for-like (LfL) sales up by 4.7%. Summers said in a telephone interview that given the pressure consumers are facing with a lack of disposable income, he was concerned that up to R1 billion a month is being taken offshore through online gambling.…

Durban’s business sentiment weakened again in the third quarter of 2025, marking the fourth consecutive quarterly decline, according to the latest Durban Business Confidence Index (DBCI) released on Monday. The index, compiled by the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Macroeconomics Research Unit in collaboration with the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) and eThekwini Municipality, fell by 0.53% — from 52.40 points in Q2 to 52.12 points in Q3 2025. Researchers, Professor Harold Ngwala and Dr Ntokozo Nzimande, said the decline reflected a deterioration in sentiment regarding both current and future economic conditions in the city. “The data further indicates that business executives were more pessimistic in the third quarter of 2025 than they were in the same quarter of 2024, with the index dropping by 17.38% on a year-on-year…

In governance, wisdom is often mistaken for eloquence. Yet some of the most powerful moments in leadership are not found in what is said, but in what is withheld. The ability to listen deeply, to discern before speaking, and to know when silence carries more weight than words lies at the heart of ethical stewardship. The modern boardroom is filled with voices. Strategies are debated, reports are read, and opinions are shared with conviction. But beneath the noise of activity, there is often a missing rhythm: the stillness of reflection. Where many believe that strength in leadership is found in constant articulation, I suggest that it is rather found in the balance between expression and understanding. Wisdom is not in the loudest voice, but in the truest one. Knowing when…

In 2016, when I asked Oliver Fortuin what disruptive trend could render legacy telcos obsolete within a decade, he answered with one word: "content." Fortuin, then leading BT's Sub-Saharan operations (now CEO of Airtel Business Africa), had been arguing that "the conversation about Africa charting its own destiny doesn't happen without technology." He wanted Africa to move beyond merely deploying Western innovations to actually originating them: homegrown and home run, not just jumping on board at the roll-out stage. Whether today's content landscape matches his 2016 vision, I can't say. But the disruption is undeniable, and the timing is peculiar. The latest GWI social media report shows time on platforms peaked in 2022 and has declined since, with young people leading the retreat. Canadian startup founder, investor and advisor to…

Negotiators have reached a framework of a trade deal to avert additional 100 percent tariffs that President Donald Trump had threatened to impose on imports from China, setting the stage for the US president’s highly anticipated meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in interviews Sunday that constructive meetings with his Chinese counterparts led to the deal, with the delegation from Beijing agreeing to defer restrictions on rare earth minerals that were poised to harm the US economy. The announcement marked a significant de-escalation of a whiplashing trade war between the world’s two largest economies, which heated up when Trump threatened to ratchet up tariffs earlier this month in response to China’s restrictions on the minerals, which are essential components in most electronics. “President…

Gift Lubele has made history by releasing South Africa’s first AI-generated amapiano album, a project that has captured global attention. Originally from Rathoke, a small village in Limpopo, Lubele moved to Tembisa, where he witnessed first-hand the challenges of waste management. He saw an opportunity to create more sustainable solutions, which led him to start Kudoti, a waste-tech startup designed to connect all stakeholders in the waste value chain through a single platform. “That company became my first successful exit,” he said. Lubele’s passion for innovation continued as he pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in AI and Data Analytics at Hult International Business School in Boston. The programme allowed him to merge his interests in data, technology and creativity. “This led to releasing South Africa’s first AI amapiano…

Australian singer and songwriter Ziggy Alberts is back with a new summer single, Cyclone. Following the release of his album New Love in February, which has already surpassed 30 million streams in six months, Alberts has spent much of the year on a 105-date world tour, performing sold-out shows across Europe, North America and a packed Royal Albert Hall in London. Now, as the year winds down, he is closing it on a high note with this reflective yet upbeat track. Announcing the song on Instagram, Alberts wrote: “And so it begins. Seasons of change. I’ve been playing this song all tour, and this day comes with a lot of emotion. In the summer, since New Love, I secretly went back into the studio in true chaos mode.” “I never…

Explosive testimony at the Madlanga Commission, with witnesses making serious allegations that elements within the judiciary may be compromised, has seen political parties demanding swift action. The allegations primarily revolve around alleged impropriety in bail proceedings in Gauteng courts, particularly in high-profile cases. The Commission was established after KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi in a July press conference made startling allegations about political interference in the police. He then told the Commission that there was impropriety in Chief Magistrate Vusi Mahlangu granting bail conditions in a case involving General Dumisani Khumalo. Two police detectives, Witness A and Witness B (their identities are protected by the Commission) gave testimony where they said they believed there was impropriety in Katlego “KT” Molefe’s bail appeal, presided over by Acting Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba.…

Following reports of angry community members attacking a traditional healer’s family, setting fire to her home, and destroying property, police in the province of Limpopo have begun a manhunt. Provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba said the violent incident, allegedly carried out by community members, took place at Bodutlula village on Friday, October 24. “Preliminary investigations reveal that around 8am, a female traditional healer noticed a group of community members gathering outside her home. The local headman arrived shortly after and spoke to them about certain allegations that had reportedly been made against her at the tribal office. However, once the headman left, tensions quickly escalated,” said Ledwaba. He added that, according to reports, some community members began throwing stones at the victim’s yard, injuring her and her relatives and…

Police in Malamulele, Limpopo, have launched a manhunt for suspects following two separate robberies and burglaries at schools in the area. According to provincial police spokesperson Colonel Malesela Ledwaba, the first incident occurred at Mahonisi Primary School in the early hours of Saturday, October 25, at around 3am. A security guard on duty was attacked by four armed men wearing balaclavas. “It is alleged that one of the suspects pointed a firearm at the security guard and fired a shot before overpowering and tying him up,” said Ledwaba. “The suspects then took him to the administration block, broke into one of the offices, and forced open a safe.” The suspects fled the scene with laptops, airtime vouchers, and an undisclosed amount of cash. The guard was later found locked inside…

Minister of Small Business Development Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams has revealed that, despite the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Grant being launched, only a small portion of the funds have been disbursed, with just 109 spaza shops currently receiving assistance. The minister was responding to a parliamentary question from African Transformation Movement (ATM) MP Thandiswa Marawu, who asked about the total amount disbursed, the number of beneficiaries, their demographics, and the geographic distribution of the funding. Ndabeni-Abrahams said: “To date, 10 993 applications have registered and started the application through the Spaza Shop application portal. To date, 2 125 have completed the application process and need to be verified in terms of the programme criteria, which includes municipal licensing and permits.” She added that of the 2 125 completed applications, “109…

Angry residents of Soshanguve Block T have handed a petition to the City of Tshwane’s Section 79 Standing Committee, demanding urgent action to address storm-water drainage issues that cause severe flooding in their area during the rainy season. The petition cites service‑delivery failures, including unresponsive city services, a shortage of tarred roads, and points to the newly-built Boikhutsong clinic as the main culprit, noting it was erected without the city’s required approvals. Local councillor Phindile Chiota said: “When I took office in 2021 the problem was already there. Residents told me the clinic is the cause and we need proper drainage. In the past we couldn’t fix it because of a budget shortfall.” According to her, the water comes straight from the clinic, flooding the yards and even houses during…

The United States has quietly removed Mali from its list of countries required to pay visa bonds of up to $15 000 (R277 500), days after Bamako imposed a tit-for-tat measure demanding the same from American travellers. The updated list of Countries Subject to Visa Bonds, published by the US Department of State, shows that Mali no longer appears among the six nations affected by the controversial policy. The US visa bond programme allows consular officers to require certain travellers to pay a refundable bond of up to $15 000 as a guarantee that they will leave the United States and return to their home countries before their temporary visas expire. The State Department said the visa bond programme is a temporary pilot designed to encourage compliance with US immigration…

SAPS ballistics expert, Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, has revealed that about 41 846 criminal cases remain stuck in the forensic pipeline, many hinging on critical ballistic evidence due to lack of staff, while courts continue issuing warrants of arrest. Testifying before the Madlanga Commission yesterday, Mkhabela painted a picture of a system buckling under pressure – crippled by staff shortages, insufficient resources, and overflowing evidence storage facilities. “We have repurposed a museum, and even that is full,” he said, referring to the desperate measures taken to store seized firearms. “In our strong safe, at any given point, I have more than 29 000 firearms each linked to a killing. We only have 42 analysts.” According to Mkhabela, 41 846 cases were awaiting ballistic analysis, including 29 385 from the national office,…

Springbok assistant coach Jerry Flannery said the Springboks are expecting Japan to be champing at the bit when the sides meet at Wembley on Saturday in London, in the opening match of the South Africans’ five-week November tour. The Bok defence coach added that the main focus area for the team after the Rugby Championship will be to control their play better. Next week, the Springboks play France in Paris, followed by Italy in Turin (November 15), Ireland in Dublin (November 22), and Wales in Cardiff (November 29). Japan are coming off a narrow 19-15 defeat to the Wallabies in Tokyo, and Flannery is wary of the threat posed by the men from the Land of the Rising Sun. “Japan showed resilience in the first half despite picking up yellow…

The rand held relatively steady over the past week, buoyed by South Africa’s long-anticipated removal from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) greylist — a development widely seen as a vote of confidence in the country’s financial reforms. The local currency traded in a narrow range, hovering around R17.30 to the US dollar, after fluctuating between R17.22 to the US dollar on Monday, R17.46/$1 midweek, and closing at R17.26/$1 on Friday. The movement mirrored broader volatility in the US dollar index, though the FATF announcement helped anchor sentiment in South Africa’s favour. FATF confirmed on Friday that South Africa “will no longer be subject to increased monitoring”, acknowledging that the country had successfully completed its reform commitments within the agreed timeframe. However, the Treasury cautioned that delisting marks “the start…

After much concerted effort and collaboration, South Africa’s exit from the FATF greylist is a milestone worth celebrating. It represents the tangible results of systemic reform across the financial sector, including regulation and prosecution, demonstrating that decisive action, innovation, and accountability can deliver measurable progress. This achievement is more than a regulatory checkbox; it signals that South Africa is building a stronger, more resilient financial ecosystem, capable of supporting investment, fostering competition, and encouraging fintech innovation. While there is still work to be done to ensure these gains are sustainable, the delisting demonstrates that a coordinated effort and strategic focus can transform compliance challenges into opportunities for growth and global credibility. The next test lies in turning compliance gains into a permanent culture of accountability and resilience. Without the culture…

The AWS outage that occurred on the 20th October highlighted the risk faced by global tech, AI companies and tech reliant businesses broadly. Thousands of clients rely on AWS for complex, demanding, data-intensive operations, including streaming video, running web applications and storing huge amounts of digital information. The services that were affected included WhatsApp, the British government’s website and tax services, the payment app Venmo, the cryptocurrency platform Coinbase, games at The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal’s website. Dozens of other companies and retailers — including Amazon, Hulu, Snapchat, McDonald’s, Ring doorbells and the game Fortnite — also experienced interruptions. CyberCube estimated that the outage impacted more than 2 000 large organizations and around 70 000 organisations in total. Last year, a much wider, daylong internet outage…

HSBC bank on Monday revealed a financial charge of $1.1 billion linked to money sought by a European fund caught up in the late Bernard Madoff's huge investment fraud. The London-headquartered lender revealed the fallout amid a Luxembourg lawsuit brought by Herald Fund dating back to 2009, when Madoff was sentenced to 150 years in prison for running a pyramid-style scheme. HSBC said it was setting aside $1.1 billion in a provision to be included in its third-quarter results due Tuesday. Its share price was down around one percent in early London deals following the news. It comes after HSBC on Friday lost part of an appeal in a Luxembourg court ruling. The bank on Monday said "the eventual financial impact could be significantly different" to the money it is…

Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Monday a trade deal with the United States could happen within days, possibly easing punitive tariffs after months of animosity. Lula met President Donald Trump at an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit on Sunday, after urging the US leader earlier this month to lift punitive 50 percent trade tariffs. "I'm convinced that in a few days we'll have a definitive solution.... so that life can continue well and happily," Lula told reporters in Malaysia on Monday. The two leaders of the Americas' largest economies stand on polar opposite sides on issues such as multilateralism, international trade and the fight against climate change. Trump has instituted a 50 percent tariff on many Brazilian products. He has also imposed sanctions on several…

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is facing accusations of political interference in the City of Johannesburg’s administrative affairs and the internal processes of the party’s greater Johannesburg regional elective conference. Sources within the ANC claim Mbalula has issued direct instructions regarding the appointment of the new municipal manager and has played a role in delaying the highly anticipated regional conference, aiming to influence its outcome. The controversy surrounding the municipal manager appointment came to a head this week when a report on the year-long recruitment process, set to be presented to council, was rescinded at the eleventh hour. This dramatic turn followed a hastily convened meeting at Luthuli House, the ANC’s headquarters, where Mbalula reportedly summoned the party’s Gauteng provincial and Johannesburg regional leadership. A rescinded report shows former city manager…

Embattled businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, has been denied bail by Johannesburg High Court in an attempted murder case involving his ex-girlfriend, actress Tebogo Thobejane. Matlala, who was named by Crime Intelligence boss Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo at the Madlanga Commission as a member of the so-called “Big Five” cartel, appeared before the High Court last Monday to appeal the denial of his bail after being refused release last month. He is charged with the attempted murder of Thobejane following a shooting incident on the N1 highway near Sandton in 2023. He also faces charges of conspiracy to commit murder and money laundering. Matlala was denied bail in September at the Alexandra Magistrates’ Court after Magistrate Syta Prinsloo ruled that he had failed to demonstrate exceptional circumstances justifying his release and…

The South African Municipal Workers Union (Samwu) in Tshwane says the non‑payment of salary increases for municipal workers since 2021 is to blame for the growing unpaid municipal bills now faced by almost 9 000 employees. This follows a recent council report showing that the number of municipal employees who owe the city increased from 8 759 in July 2024 to 8 820 in July 2025, collectively owing R28.88 million. On the other hand, the number of councillors who are in arrears rose from 121 to 131 in the same period, with R1.7m collectively owed. Samwu regional secretary Donald Monakisi said the outstanding 3.5% and 5.4% salary increases for 2021/22 and 2023/24, respectively, may be among the reasons many municipal workers cannot keep up with their water and electricity…

A provident fund has come under fire from the Pension Funds Adjudicator (PFA) for paying out a member’s withdrawal benefit without his consent and for failing to comply with the rules of the fund and the Pension Funds Act. In a ruling handed down by Adjudicator Muvhango Lukhaimane, the South African Commercial Catering and Allied Workers Union (SACCAWU) National Provident Fund was found to have acted “in contravention of the rules” after processing a benefit payout despite the member’s request that his money be transferred to an annuity account. The complainant, a former Pick n Pay employee who worked at the retailer from December 2017 to November 2023, told the adjudicator that he had instructed the fund to transfer his full benefit to an EasyEquities annuity account because it was…

The fledgling Afrika Mayibuye Movement (AMM), led by former EFF heavyweight Floyd Shivambu, has been rocked by internal strife after its deputy president, Dr Nolubabalo Mcinga, was fired over what the party describes as “organisational and political misconduct”. Last week, IOL reported that the movement confirmed Mcinga’s removal, effective immediately, citing misconduct that included an unauthorised meeting with uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma. The announcement followed reports of infighting between Mcinga and Shivambu, who launched the AMM recently as a new left-leaning political platform. Responding to her dismissal, Mcinga has rejected the decision, insisting she remains in her position and accusing Shivambu of insecurity and weak leadership. “With Afrika Mayibuye, I am still a member. Why not? Why would you form something and want to leave it? I…

The City of Tshwane has maintained that it reconfigured its billing system to rectify the erroneous R194 cleansing levy charged to around 12 000 customers in September amid threats by disgruntled residents to boycott payments until they received refunds. The cleansing levy, which applies to property owners using private waste collection services, was declared invalid by the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria on August 1, following a legal challenge by AfriForum. The city has since lodged an appeal with the Supreme Court of Appeal. Obakeng Ramabodu, Member of the Mayoral Committee for Environment & Agriculture Management, said progress has been made in rectifying the billing system error that led to incorrect cleansing charges on some municipal accounts. He said following the discovery of the billing anomaly, the city swiftly established…

Cameroon’s President Paul Biya, 92, has been re-elected for an eighth term with 53.7% of the vote, according to official results announced by the Constitutional Council yesterday. Rival candidate and former government minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary came second with 35.2%, the council said. Chiroma had claimed victory against the incumbent two days after the October 12 election, and called for demonstrations. Four people were killed on Sunday in clashes between security forces and supporters of the opposition in the economic capital Douala, according to the region’s governor. Security forces initially used tear gas before firing “live ammunition,” according to protesters interviewed by AFP. Since last week, supporters of Issa Tchiroma, who according to his own tally won 54.8% of the votes against 31.3% for Biya, have taken to the streets…

Orlando Pirates will be out to restore pride when they welcome defending champions Magesi FC to Orlando Stadium for a Carling Knockout Cup quarter-final clash tonight at 7.30pm. The Buccaneers are still reeling from their painful exit from the CAF Champions League, where they were edged 5-4 on penalties by DR Congo’s Saint-Eloi Lupopo on Saturday after a 3-3 aggregate draw. That setback has left Pirates desperate for redemption on home soil — and the Carling Knockout represents their final chance to add another major trophy to the cabinet this year. Despite their disappointment in continental competition, the Soweto giants come into this tie with renewed confidence. They have gone unbeaten in their last two matches in regulation time across all competitions, including a dominant 3-0 victory over Lupopo at…

Banyana Banyana’s 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualification hopes will hinge on their decisive second-leg clash against the DR Congo, set to take place at Dobsonville Stadium tonight (7pm kick-off). South Africa returned home with a vital 1-1 draw from the first leg of the qualifier in Central Africa last week. With everything to play for, the aggregate winner will book their ticket to Morocco next year to compete against the continent’s best. For the first time in this round of qualifiers, assistant coach Thinasonke Mbuli will have access to her full squad for the crucial second leg, with the overseas-based quartet of Amogelang Motau, Hilda Magaia, Sinoxolo Cesane and Thembi Kgatlana all available for selection. Banyana will not only be fighting for qualification but also seeking redemption after…

As if Pakistan were not handful, the Proteas’ next Test assignment looms large with mighty India awaiting the arrival of the ICC World Test champions with bated breath. The home team are treating the two-match series as a world championship heavyweight title bout with Shubnam Gill’s team eager to show everyone who cares to listen that the Proteas’ capture of the WTC mace back in June was more due to favourable fixture scheduling than actual performance. The Proteas have shown though they are worthy champions, meeting every challenge that is put before them, particularly after last week’s first Test win in Pakistan for 18 years. But even coach Shukri Conrad was forced to admit the upcoming two Tests in Kolkata and Guwahati will indeed be his burgeoning team’s ultimate challenge,…

South Africa’s renewable energy pipeline has surged past grid capacity, with new generation commitments now outpacing the system’s ability to absorb them — underscoring the urgent need for greater investment in battery storage and grid flexibility. According to the 2025 South African Renewable Energy Grid (SAREG) Survey — a collaboration between the South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA), and Eskom National Transmission Company SA (NTCSA) — the country’s contracted renewable energy capacity has risen sharply to 220 030 MWac, up from 133 748 MWac in 2024. The total includes all solar PV, wind, and battery storage facilities, spanning projects that are operational, under development, or at early planning stages. The survey recorded a significant increase in participation, with 673 projects included this year…

The announcement last week that South Africa has successfully exited the Financial Action Task Force grey list is cause for genuine celebration. More importantly, it offers critical lessons about what works when we get serious about reform. When grey listing was a serious risk already in 2022, BLSA commissioned research showing the economic impact could range from under 1% of GDP if we reacted fast and credibly, to 3% of GDP if we were slow and unwilling to meet FATF standards. We warned that the reputational damage would be significant, including enhanced due diligence requirements for all transactions between South Africans and the rest of the world, potential loss of foreign banking relationships, and reduced appetite for investment. The good news is that we have managed to keep the impact…

It’s a catch-22: AI adoption among businesses of most, if not all kinds, is now a competitive must – yet it’s not a panacea and the human cost can be considerable. This is both in terms of job displacement due to the adoption of fast-changing technology that can drive efficiencies (read: head count) but requires a new breed of skills, as well as the impact on consumers who continue to seek human-based support and customer care in response to over-digitised and automated path to purchase channels that lack sentience and person-to-person understanding and empathy. This is a key insight of the 7th annual South African Customer Experience Report, which I co-authored and which has just been released. While AI in all its forms – from Gen AI, AI assistants and…

South Africa’s new Shesha, an energy drink made from the juice extracted from fresh, raw sugarcane, is a global first. Shesha is produced by Womoba, a subsidiary of the not-for-profit SA Canegrowers. Shesha is made from hand-harvested, high-quality sugarcane stalks that are peeled and crushed to form the base of this naturally sweetened, fortified energy drink. No other energy drink in the world is produced this way. Produced and canned in KwaZulu-Natal, this innovative and proudly home-grown product supports job creation and economic growth in rural communities. “Shesha is about doing something new and exciting with a crop we’ve known for generations. It’s proof that innovation can start right here at home — turning sugarcane into something fresh, relevant and proudly South African,” said Higgins Mdluli, a sugarcane grower from…

Astoria Investments, the Mauritius-domiciled investment holding company listed on the country’s stock exchange and the JSE’s AltX market, said Monday it intends to delist because its share price trades at too wide a discount to net asset value. The company was spun off from RECM and Calibre in April 2022 and takes significant minority stakes in businesses, often investing alongside management teams to drive net asset value. The company’s thinly traded shares shot up 24.79% on the JSE on Monday afternoon to R7.50 per share - a year ago, it was trading at R8.10. Some of its investments include in Outdoor Investment Holdings and Goldrush Holdings. Astoria’s board said they wished to acquire all of Astoria’s shares for R8.15 per share in cash, following which the listings on the AltX…

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) does not understand the judgment that saw Timothy Omotoso acquitted, his lawyer told the Gqeberha High Court yesterday. Almost seven months after the Nigerian pastor and his co-accused were acquitted of 63 charges, including rape, human trafficking and racketeering, the prosecution is seeking to overturn the verdict. The state approached the court seeking leave to appeal the acquittal to the Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein. Before the case can go to the Supreme Court of Appeal, the NPA first has to get the high court’s permission. Defence lawyer Peter Daubermann said the application was based on a fundamental misunderstanding of the verdict and of what counts as a factual finding in law. Judgment in the state’s application was reserved. Omotoso, the former televangelist who…

Three people, including a pilot, were killed when a helicopter crashed at Danielskuil in the Northern Cape on Sunday. The Accidents and Incidents Investigations Division (AIID) confirmed that an Alouette helicopter (registration ZU-RAL) went down at Danielskuil on Sunday, October 26. “All three occupants on board – a pilot and two other people – were fatally injured,” the AIID said in a statement. According to the agency, the pilot had been ferrying the aircraft from Elandsvlakte to Olifantshoek when it crashed in the Kurumanheuwels area of Danielskuil. The helicopter was substantially damaged on impact, and a post-impact fire destroyed the aircraft. “Investigators have been dispatched to the site, and a preliminary report will be published on the SACAA website within 30 days of the accident,” the AIID said. The division…

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has launched a new Request for Information (RFI) process, formally inviting the private sector to invest in South Africa’s passenger rail network as part of government’s efforts to modernise and expand the system. Speaking at a media briefing Creecy said the initiative marked “another important milestone in our collective journey to make rail the cornerstone of our national transport and logistics system.” She said the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) had made significant progress in restoring its operations, with 35 of its 40 passenger corridors successfully commissioned and an audited annual figure of 77 million passenger journeys recorded by the end of May 2025. “To continue on the recovery path, PRASA requires additional investment that cannot be carried by the fiscus alone,” Creecy said.…

While matrics across the country have started with their final exams, lawyers are battling it out in the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, as to whether their results may once again be published in the media early next year. This has been an ongoing issue since 2022, and while several judges have up to now given the green light for the publication, the matter has never been fully ventilated. The dispute over the public publication of matric results began in 2022 when the Department of Basic Education (DBE) tried to prohibit it. At the time, the judge agreed with AfriForum and the other parties involved that the publication of the results was in the public interest and that the use of examination numbers instead of the names of the matriculants provided…

The Proteas and England Women’s cricket teams are close acquaintances. They have met routinely in major ICC tournaments, particularly at the semi-final stage. England hold the upper hand in 50-over World Cups, having shattered the Proteas’ dreams in both Bristol (2017) and Christchurch (2022). Sune Luus’ side famously managed to get their own back on a glorious Cape Town sunlit day in the T20 World Cup semi-final at Newlands two years ago. The familiar foes will climb into the ring again tomorrow in Guwahati, where they will slug it out for a place in the coveted World Cup final. Proteas opener Tazmin Brits believes history plays no part in the present though. “Funny enough, we keep meeting England in the semi-finals whether it's the ODI or the T20. So, yeah,…

Lando Norris said he plans to continue his policy of being relaxed and focused on just himself after taking a one-point lead in the Formula One drivers’ world championship by winning Sunday’s Mexico City Grand Prix. As McLaren teammate and chief title rival Oscar Piastri fought to finish fifth, Norris cruised to a commanding 30-second triumph ahead of Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc, who resisted a late charge by Red Bull’s four-time champion Max Verstappen with the aid of a late Virtual Safety Car intervention. It was Norris’s first win in Mexico and the 10th of his career, lifting him to 357 points in the title race ahead of Piastri on 356 and on top for the first time in six months, since the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix in April. With four…

Kaizer Chiefs displayed a resounding return to form on Sunday, clinching a 3-1 victory over AS Simba to secure their place in the CAF Confederation Cup group stages. This remarkable triumph at Dobsonville Stadium not only marked a significant milestone for the club but also introduced fans to a new hero in 24-year-old Nigerian striker Etiosa Ighodaro, whose debut goal delighted the faithful and set the tone for the match. Under the guidance of co-coach Cedric Kaze, who exuded optimism following the match, Ighodaro’s performance proved an inspiring addition to a team yearning for a potent attacking presence. “It’s not easy to find that kind of striker,” Kaze remarked, emphasising that Ighodaro’s hold-up play and scoring ability are precisely the attributes the team had been lacking. The game commenced at…

“Attack wins games, defence wins titles,” Alex Ferguson famously said. And it’s a message Arsenal seem to be taking to heart as they chase a first league championship in more than two decades. The Gunners not only look like champions — they have the control, composure, defensive solidity and consistency that champions are made of. While there’s still a long way to go in the Premier League title race, the title increasingly feels like Arsenal’s to lose. What sets this Arsenal side apart from Mikel Arteta’s nearly men of the past two seasons is not flamboyance or flair, but something far rarer in north London: ruthless efficiency. The Gunners have become the hardest side in the Premier League to score against, boasting the best defensive record in the division —…