October 2026

The prize is run by the Royal Academy of Engineering. Pee-Cycling collected 3,600 litres of urine at a South Africa and New Zealand rugby game, and it is part of the City of Cape Town's stadium tender for three years. The winner will be announced at a final in Johannesburg on 28 October. The finalist and business claims come from the entrants and have not been independently checked.Share

Her mother reported her missing at Jabulani police station. Police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said she was last seen wearing a cream-white tracksuit. Nevhuhulwi said she was reportedly on her way to a tuck shop.

Her mother, Irene Simelane, said the family fears Mapota may have blacked out after a headache. Simelane said her daughter did not sound like someone who wanted to run away. She also said Mapota had taken antidepressants since a car accident in 2017.

Simelane said Mapota received a message on the morning she vanished about a lawyer handling the family trust. She said arrangements needed attention on Monday. Her husband, David Mapota, said the family first thought she had gone to visit friends in their residential complex.

Mapota has three girls. Anyone with information can call the Crime Stop line on 08600-10111.Share

The researchers wrote about their own anonymous online survey in The Conversation. Students with backup power had about 60% lower odds of reporting worse sleep, and solar users fared best. Students who slept worse were more likely to report lower grades and late arrival at class. The data is self-reported from one university, and the authors say it cannot prove that loadshedding caused grades to fall.Share

MEC for Agriculture and Rural Development Madoda Sambatha handed over the facility. The department funded and established the packhouse. It expects the facility to increase vegetable production, improve market access for local farmers and create jobs in Moretele.

Bojanala Platinum District Municipality Executive Mayor Suzan Nthangeni said Moretele has significant agricultural potential. Sambatha spoke at the handover ceremony. He said: "The department remains committed to creating an enabling environment for farmers to thrive."

Emerging farmer Thapelo Madumo spoke about the support he receives from the department. He said Madumo's own advice to aspiring farmers is to take the first step and put in the work, and support will follow.Share

Young Africans won the first leg 4-0, so the second leg gave them an 8-1 aggregate win. Ibrahim Kazimoto and Juma Issa Abushiri scored, and Selemani Mwalimu scored two. Fitahiantsoa Albertin scored the goal for CFFA.

South African Manqoba Mngqithi coaches Young Africans.

In another second-round tie, Simba won the first leg 6-1 against 15 de Agosto of Equatorial Guinea. Ibrahim Doumbia scored twice for Simba. Midfielder Keletso Makgalwa and Anicet Oura also scored.Share

The council said it will engage the National Treasury on procurement reforms. It called for criteria that are objective, transparent and proportionate.

The council said weak professional resourcing can expose public projects to errors, incomplete documentation, delays, avoidable variations, disputes and higher operating costs. It said public institutions should scrutinise unusually low bids. It also wants providers to show how they will deliver the full scope of work.

The council gave an example of an offer to provide professional services on a million-rand investment for one rand. It also said higher fees should not automatically be seen as a sign of better quality.

Council president Arthur Quphe said: "Professional services cannot be procured in the same way as stationery."Share

Makgotlho completed his metallurgical engineering diploma at TUT in 2011. He started work as a cleaner on the Pretoria campus in January 2022. He hopes to register for a doctorate in January 2027.

Makgotlho said he felt very happy and had mixed emotions when he finished his master's cum laude. He said he hopes to develop solutions that could help the mining industry extract minerals more effectively.

He also spoke about the value of his current job. "You can’t work in a dirty space. A cleaner has a huge impact on productivity. When the place is clean, you can produce good results," he said.Share

Sathekge faces up to 23 charges, including rape, kidnapping and attempted murder. The state alleges he stormed the Ga-Chuene clinic, outside Polokwane in Limpopo, after midnight in January 2025.

The state says he held three security officers at gunpoint and handcuffed them. It says he then fled with the two nurses to a nearby bush, where he allegedly raped them.

The state also alleges that he sexually assaulted minors during a robbery. It further alleges that he raped a minor during a house robbery at Ga-Maja.Share

EFF treasurer-general and MP Omphile Maotwe and FF Plus regional leader Willie Spies lodged the complaints. Maotwe alleges the city failed to chlorinate water from the Bronkhorstspruit water treatment plant between 24 September and 14 October. She also alleges the city did not warn residents that the water was unsafe, and that it ran out of chlorine because of problems with its supplier.

Spies alleges the city failed to pass critical information to senior management and did not oversee the plant properly. He also says it failed to warn residents about water safety. The 408 cases were recorded between 7 and 18 October.

Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya admitted that the city did not communicate adequately with residents. Public Protector spokesperson Oupa Segalwe said the investigation team visited the plant after the complaints.

Segalwe said: "The investigation team was informed that the plant had been decommissioned as an interim measure to facilitate the cleaning and disinfection of the entire water system."Share

Applications opened on 18 September 2026. The scheme received 51,474 funding applications in the first four days of the window. Of the total, 800 382 come from prospective university students and 68 244 from TVET college applicants.

Female applicants number 616 558 (70.98%) and male applicants number 252 068 (29.02%). Applicants who receive grants from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) number 653 778, while 214 848 are not SASSA beneficiaries.

NSFAS also warned applicants about fraudulent accounts and people who demand payment. The scheme said "no one can guarantee a funding outcome".Share

The department warned that lead can affect children's brain development, learning abilities and growth. It urged communities to take steps against exposure.

International Lead Poisoning Prevention Week runs from 18 to 24 October. The department also expects to buy two lead-testing machines.Share

Maynier, the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, spoke in a statement on Wednesday after his visit. He said: "The guest experience must be a key focus of the revitalisation of our national parks, including Addo Elephant National Park."

Eight modern family accommodation units are complete and open to the public. A 10-unit Community Lodge should be finished by December 2026. A 705-kW grid-tied solar plant should start running in January 2027.

The statement said much work remains. South African National Parks (SANParks) will now give priority to urgent upgrades of ablution facilities and hiking trails.Share

Prosecutor David Molokomme told the court that Mthombeni's lawyer, named as Malope, could not be reached. Judge Papi Mosopa then postponed the matter. He said: "Your counsel is not reachable, so we will roll the matter to tomorrow."

The two men also face charges of robbery and malicious damage to property. The indictment says they terrorised residents of Mamelodi East Ext 17 and demanded money for services such as water and electricity. It says people who refused to pay were killed or had property damaged.

The state alleges that Nancy Maria Mokwena was dragged from her boyfriend's shack, hit with a spade and set alight in April 2023. It also alleges that Mthombeni assaulted Mpho Mogashoa with an electric cable in March 2023 and tried to extort R4,000 from him.

The state further alleges that Mthombeni threatened Elizabeth Ngwako and unlawfully obtained R4,000 in cash from her. The accused have not been convicted of any charge.Share

The call came ahead of a corporate investment gala dinner in Empangeni on Thursday. Science, Technology and Innovation Deputy Minister Nomalungelo Gina hosts the dinner. The 11 catalytic projects are in uMkhanyakude District Municipality.

Gina said infrastructure capacity, project execution and institutional competence are the most critical indicators of a municipality's ability to attract investors and improve residents' lives. She also said: "All of us must have a clear imagination of what uMkhanyakude can look like in a decade if all identified projects are successfully implemented in each local municipality."

UMDA CEO Thembisile Khumalo said the agency will hold talks with investors after the event. She said: "We will be dealing with particular investors so that we identify their needs." Agriculture and Rural Development MEC Thembeni kaMadlopha-Mthethwa and Mayor Siphile Mdaka are also named among the people involved, along with the Zululand Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Share

The deal would have joined Johnson & Johnson's orthopaedics business with Smith & Nephew. The $34bn figure is the combined value of the proposed transatlantic company.

Reports said Smith & Nephew would not accept its former chief executive as head of the merged business. That dispute ended the talks.Share

The commission made the ruling after media houses argued against blanket secrecy. They said Sifolo's hearing is in the public's interest. They suggested the documents be redacted, that code words be used, or that the commission hold limited private sessions.

The evidence leaders said Sifolo's classified intelligence information would be declassified only for the commissioners to view. They said it would be the basis of his testimony.Share

Nonyane is a Tshwane metro police officer and Tibana is a lawyer. They face charges of fraud, theft and money-laundering. Polokwane magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi refused them bail on 4 September. Judge Pillay found they had not shown that the magistrate used his discretion incorrectly.

The couple argued that they had known about the investigation since 2024 and had not fled the country. They said the magistrate did not weigh their personal circumstances, including minor children. They also said he did not explore house arrest and electronic monitoring.

Judge Pillay called the couple's belief that negotiation or repayment could resolve the matter misguided. He said replacing the money or reaching an agreement would not necessarily end the criminal allegations. The state alleges that money from the estates paid for personal assets.

Two co-accused, Rirandzu Tibana and Jabulani Maluleke, received bail of R60,000 each on 8 October. The case returns to the Polokwane magistrate's court on 6 November.Share

The three parties' negotiators plan to take over about 150,000 to 160,000 flats owned by five major housing groups. These are Vonovia, Adler, Heimstaden, Covivio and DVI Group. A socialisation bill is not due in the House of Representatives until mid-2028, and a funding plan is to be finalised in 2027.

Those calculations put the gap for Vonovia at about €8.4bn. They value 120,000 of its homes at €20.4bn, against compensation of €12bn. The proposed compensation is over 40% below the average book value of apartments held by the four companies. Vonovia holds 130,000 apartments in Berlin.

Vonovia chief executive Luka Mucic calls the plans unconstitutional. He says they would not withstand a court challenge. He also says Germany needs predictability, legal certainty and a stable investment environment to tackle a shortfall of 1.4 million homes.Share

Dexter spoke on CapeTalk and defended the decision to stand alone. He said the party is not breaking away from the alliance with the ANC and Cosatu. He said the SACP wants work now given to private contractors to return in-house.

Dexter said municipal tendering is open to corruption. He said officials should answer personally when they pay more for goods than they needed to. He also said ward committees should have the power to remove officials who fail to perform.

On costs, Dexter said water, electricity and sanitation are human rights, not commodities. He said the SACP would tax wealthy residents appropriately and make them pay more for services. In his words: "So, if you're an unemployed grandmother who lives in Khayelitsha, you shouldn't pay the same for water as a billionaire who lives in Constantia".

Dexter said Cape Town's delivery of social and affordable housing has "failed completely". He said that, to his knowledge, none of the party's candidates has been involved in corruption. He added that a candidate in the Southern Cape has been charged with certain matters, and the party is dealing with the case through a disciplinary process.Share

Kelly gave the example in an interview with 702/CapeTalk. In his example, total contributions over the 20 years come to R240,000. He said compound growth can make a substantial difference over time.

Kelly said investors do not need to be wealthy to start. He said: "R1,000 a month is actually a fantastic starting point". He said the biggest mistake some investors make is expecting to get rich quickly.

He said a long-term aim of earning 3% to 5% a year above inflation over five to 10 years could be a reasonable starting point. The annual contribution allowance for a tax-free savings account is R46,000.

Kelly also spoke about pressure on household budgets. He said there was little room for further relief in the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement. He said rising fuel costs and medical aid increases add to the strain.Share

Detective Rajen Sanders of the South African Police Service (SAPS) also showed footage of Gwabini driving a grey BMW behind Forbes's car. Other footage from King Shaka International Airport, dated 10 February 2023, shows a man following Forbes and his entourage. Tollgate footage shows Gwabini's car three cars behind Forbes's car.

A car rental owner also testified in court. He said a grey VW Polo seen circling the hotel where Forbes stayed, and outside Wish restaurant, was leased to Gwabini. He said the Polo had the same number plate.

The seven accused face trial for the February 2023 murders of Forbes and Tebello "Tibz" Motsoane in Durban. Police investigations indicate Forbes was the main target and Motsoane was collateral damage.Share

The Hawks arrested Cindi on Thursday at Ermelo Correctional Centre in Mpumalanga. One outlet reported that he was already in custody on separate stock theft charges. The case was postponed to 5 November so he can secure legal representation.

Cindi was an investigating officer attached to the Stock Theft and Endangered Species Unit. The Hawks said the investigation began in 2024, after the unit in Standerton reported the alleged misuse of state funds. The Hawks have handed the case docket to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Brigadier Bruce Davenport, acting provincial head of the Hawks in Mpumalanga, commented in a statement. He said the arrest shows the unit's commitment to holding law enforcement officials accountable. Davenport said: "No uniform, badge or rank places anyone above the law."Share

At the Elsies River taxi rank, unknown suspects fired shots from the railway platform. Officers from the Elsies River police station responded to the scene. In Delft, two men were shot dead on Thursday.

Maitland ward councillor Cheslyn Daniels said residents and local businesses remain on high alert. He said the community is living in fear. He asked authorities to step up visibility and campaigns against such shootings and to take illegal guns off the streets.

Andile Tafani, vice-chairperson of the Maitland Taxi Association, told commuters it is safe to use the taxi rank. He said the association has asked the government for extra security there.Share

Wall Street fell sharply on Thursday. The Nasdaq closed almost 3% lower and the S&P 500 fell 1.2%. Shares in Meta Platforms dropped 7% even after the company gave an upbeat earnings update. On the JSE, losses were more than 1%.

Brent crude traded above $100 since the start of October. Reports said a surge in oil prices followed another attack on Saudi Arabia. The Japanese yen gained about 1% and is on course for its biggest weekly gain since early September.

Tomoichiro Kubota, chief market analyst at Matsui Securities Co., said: "It may be that the AI bubble has started to burst." Reports said Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago has warned of an AI bust since November 2025, and that it would hurt the rand.

Markets now wait for interest rate decisions from the US Federal Reserve and the European Central Bank next week. Investors expect both to hold rates.Share

Asked how Treasury will plug the hole in the fiscus with another fuel price reduction on the way, Godongwana said: "We don’t have an instrument to recover whatever money we forfeited." He also said Treasury had lost money in the last six months but managed through prayer.

National Treasury said the fuel levy freeze from April to June cost about R23 billion. The first estimate was R17 billion. It said R10 billion allocated to the Central Energy Fund will offset the revenue loss.

Fuel prices are due to fall by R1.50 per litre next month, and by R1.00 per litre between December and January. Diesel is due to drop by R3 per litre next month and by R1.50 per litre the month after.

Some opposition parties call the ANC fuel levy reduction an election ploy.Share

The relief cuts the fuel levy by R3/l for diesel and R1.50/l for petrol. The cut runs from 4 November to 1 December.

Separately, Treasury said R13bn in expected social grant savings over the medium term will fund efforts against gender-based violence and child stunting. Of that, R3.8bn is set aside for provinces to hire more than 3,500 social workers. Another R1.6bn will support pregnant women and young children through the district health programmes grant.

Treasury also revised gross tax revenue upward by R17.1bn.Share

Waltz said a stalemate could last if there is no deal on Iran's nuclear programme and no return to prewar shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. He said the administration is tightening its economic pressure on Tehran.

Waltz also said the US will not have met its strategic goals until it disposes of Iran's highly enriched nuclear material. He said the US also wants a meaningful agreement on domestic enrichment.

US Central Command said the reinstated blockade of Iranian ports has run for 100 days. It said the blockade has prevented $25 billion in Iranian crude oil exports. At the last US update, on 17 October, it had redirected 138 ships.

The Trump administration hopes bombing campaigns and sanctions will force major concessions from Iran. Reports said Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu renewed threats of a fresh offensive after the 3 November midterms.Share

The party said the concerns also include delays in campaign materials and changes in the parliamentary caucus that were not communicated to party leadership. It also said high-level deployment committees were set up without the knowledge of the relevant party structures.

The party said these matters raised concerns about organisational co-ordination, internal communication, accountability and adherence to party procedures.

Sifiso Mahlangu, the party's national spokesperson, will share deputy secretary-general functions. Reports said Nomvalo was appointed in March and was the party's seventh secretary-general since it was founded in 2023.Share

Temba Bavuma scored a career-best 179 in South Africa's only innings, and the Proteas declared on 425-9. Simon Harmer made 82 and Marco Jansen made 85. Bavuma and Harmer added 183 for the eighth wicket, which the match report called a South African record for that wicket.

Australia then fell for 99 in their first innings, and Jansen took 5-33. South Africa enforced the follow-on. Australia made 295 in their second innings.

Travis Head top-scored in that innings with 121 off 190 balls, his 13th Test century. Kagiso Rabada took 4-77 and Wiaan Mulder took 3-64 in the second innings. Scott Boland faced 166 balls for his 40 runs.

Rain cut play badly: only 43 overs were possible over the first two days, from an expected 180. Bavuma said: "They made us work hard for those six wickets, and obviously everyone is happy."Share

DJ Reddy D, the party's previous mayoral candidate for Cape Town, withdrew over contractual agreements with international clients. The party wants to emerge as the third-largest party in Cape Town, according to the PMC.

Fransman said the PMC presents itself as a pro-poor coalition partner. He said the party's calculations two years ago showed that coalitions would govern municipalities across the country in 90 percent of cases.

Fransman said at the launch: "Any alignment with any coalition partner must speak to a pro-poor governance model, and pro-poor includes the middle income."Share