October 2026

Police also seized drug-packaging materials and cash they believe is proceeds of crime. Police put the value of the drugs at an estimated R9.7 million.

The drugs will undergo forensic testing to confirm what they contain. The suspect is expected to appear in the Gqeberha Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Police spokesperson Amanda van Wyk said the South African Police Service "remains committed to intensifying operations aimed at dismantling organized criminal networks and disrupting the illicit drug trade".Share

Titans captain Anneke Bosch scored an unbeaten 78 off 45 balls against the Cobras. Her opening stand with Luyanda Nzuza was worth 105 runs. Faye Tunnicliffe scored 41 for the Cobras, who made 136/6 in 20 overs.

The Warriors made 92/9 in 20 overs against the Badgers. Allrounder Annerie Dercksen took three for 22. Badgers captain Babette de Leede, a Dutch international, top-scored with 28 as the side reached 94/5 in 15.3 overs.

The Titans have won three matches from three. The Badgers have won two from two. The two sides are the only unbeaten teams in the competition.Share

Nature's editorial says the network grew its membership using suspect practices. It says the societies persuaded high-profile scientists to join, sometimes without telling them, which made the bodies look robust and international. The editorial names early-career researchers, including those at African universities, as typical targets. This is an opinion piece, and the separate investigation behind it is not covered here.Share

Professor Kristian Carlson of the University of Southern California, affiliated with the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Wits University, worked on the study. Little Foot's arms are strong compared with its thighs, like African apes, but its lower limb is closer to the modern human pattern. Fossils from Dmanisi in Georgia, from about 1.8 million years ago, look much more like modern humans. The study infers behaviour from bone strength, so it is an interpretation, and the authors say the cause of the shift is uncertain.Share

Reports said the drugs came into the country from Brazil and are blocks of cocaine. These details come from unnamed sources, and police have not confirmed them.

Police in Gqeberha seized drugs worth an estimated R9.7 million the day before.Share

According to the paper's abstract, the hydrogel promotes tillering in rice and suppresses the germination of root-parasitic weeds. Striga is one such weed, and it threatens maize and other crops in southern Africa. The study is on rice, and only a summary was available, so field results and scale are unknown. It appears to be early-stage work.Share

The usual view is that resistance comes mainly from mutations in the genes that drugs target. The authors say changes in the structure of the genome also play a part. Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus that has spread in hospitals worldwide, so this may matter for how laboratories detect and treat it. Details of the sample sizes and methods were not available, and the finding comes from the authors' own laboratory work.Share

The paper says these concentrations can rival dissolved organic matter in driving pollutant change under sunlight or UV-based water treatment. The research is peer-reviewed. The details available show only the title and a one-line summary, so the methods and sample sizes are not clear. The summary gives no direct use in South Africa.Share

The Camps Bay City Improvement District and the South African Police Service (SAPS) also took part. Police warrant officer Christian Lakay walked the bride down the aisle.

Theresa Massaglia, founding CEO of Ignisive, commented on the couple's story. She said: "Their story is a powerful reminder that, with support, opportunity, and human connection, transformation is possible, and even the most challenging journeys can lead to new beginnings".Share

Masondo spoke to presenter Gugs Mhlungu on 702's Weekend Breakfast. She said stopping exercise for a significant time causes a cascade of physiological declines. These include lower insulin sensitivity, reduced aerobic capacity, worsening blood lipid profiles and weaker mitochondrial function.

She said people are likely to feel the difference after a week or two, and that changes are measurable at cellular level. She explained mitochondria this way: "Inside our muscles, there are little things called mitochondria, which help make energy so that you can move."

Masondo said the longer a person stays off exercise, the longer it takes to regain the former fitness level. She said avoiding stretching makes injuries more likely, especially at the gym.Share

The city said a power outage hit the Roodeplaat water treatment plant. Production there is suspended until the electricity is repaired. The city also closed the Soshanguve reservoir outlet for now.

Rand Water is working with city technicians to repair the fault. Areas named as affected include Soshanguve, Montana Park, Sinoville and Wonderboom.

The city expects supply to resume on Monday, subject to sufficient recovery. It said supply should recover gradually as production restarts, reservoirs refill and the distribution network stabilises.Share

Singh is the Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. He visited the site with the South African Police Service, Transnet, eThekwini Municipality and the Coastal Marine Taskforce. The assessment focused on teams from the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) that clean up plastics and other pollution.

The earlier operation was led by law enforcement officers and targeted illegal gillnetting. Singh said: "Protecting our marine and coastal resources requires both decisive action against those who break the law and hands-on efforts to restore the habitats that support legitimate livelihoods and biodiversity."Share

Seedat said the bank accounts are frozen, so Court Order cannot reach company funds or make payments. He said unsold stock held on consignment still belongs to its owners and is not part of the assets available to creditors. He said the liquidator will decide how available funds are administered.

Consignor Dean Promnick says he is owed about R110,000 in cash. He says he had stock worth between R250,000 and R350,000 with the business. He withdrew 64 of his 110 items before the liquidation, and he says 46 items remain with Court Order.

Promnick says payments ran six to seven months late and the shop kept selling stock at high prices. He also says shop staff did not know about the liquidation and kept helping consignors withdraw stock. Some consignors say they are owed between R50,000 and R100,000 in stock and payments.

Another consignor, who is using the name Mohale, says he is owed R129,000. He claims Seedat is seeking sympathy and reacted only after consignors found out.Share

Letsike spoke at an International Stuttering Awareness Day event in the Free State. She said stuttering is a speech condition that can be an invisible disability. She said it does not define a person's intelligence, abilities or potential.

Letsike said many children and adults who stutter face bullying, discrimination and exclusion because they communicate differently. During the walk she said "no person should ever be silenced, ridiculed or denied opportunities because of how they speak".

International Stuttering Awareness Day falls on 22 October each year.Share

Houston finished the night on 48 points. The club is fifth in the Western Conference with three matches left. It was Foster's fourth start for Houston since he arrived on loan.

Minnesota's Bongokuhle Hlongwane also featured in the match.Share

Allan Williams, an associate consultant at Medscheme, said gap cover can raise use of services and claim costs. He said: "While gap cover provides valuable financial protection for us as individuals, it can undermine schemes’ attempts to contain costs and ensure sustainability". About 800 000 South Africans have gap cover, by one estimate. Medscheme data show 96% of gap claims come from tariff shortfalls, co-payments and sub-limits.

Elizabeth Greyling, a senior actuarial analyst at Medscheme, said contribution increases are making membership unaffordable. Contributions rose by an average of 8.1% a year from 2022 to 2026, against average inflation of 5%. About 75% of hospital admissions led to an out-of-pocket payment in 2025. She also said prescribed minimum benefits (PMBs) have not been reviewed regularly, as the law requires. PMBs made up 70% of spending on Medscheme-administered schemes in 2025, excluding medical savings account claims.

Homaam Arend, an actuarial analyst at Medscheme, said members who buy down to a primary healthcare top-up could save as much as 37% if single and 23% for a family of three. An estimated 1.5 million to two million South Africans have primary healthcare plans. Arend said younger, lower-risk members are most likely to buy down, which threatens comprehensive options. About 4% of members moved to cheaper options in 2025 for 2026, and 1.8% moved up.

Stephanie van Niekerk, a senior manager at Medscheme, said co-ordinating complementary products around medical schemes can protect schemes without waiting for law reform.Share

KwaZulu-Natal Private Ambulance spokesperson Craig Botha described the medical response. Two occupants were trapped inside one vehicle.

Botha said one of them died before emergency services could arrive. He said: "Sadly, the second occupant had sustained fatal injuries and succumbed to her injuries before the emergency services could arrive."Share

Ntshangase blamed poor service delivery for growing public dissatisfaction with municipalities. He said residents of KwaZulu-Natal are sick and tired of municipalities that do not deliver services.

He also claimed that investors would come and unemployment would fall if the DA ran municipalities. He urged young people to vote, saying they are the ones who are unemployed.

DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis was due to address the rally, according to a video caption.Share

Northern Cape Premier Zamani Saul and Northern Cape Health MEC Nontobeko Vilakazi will join Motsoaledi. The programme covers Kuruman and surrounding communities.

The department said decades of blue asbestos mining in the province left unrehabilitated dumps, contaminated soil, roads and public spaces. It said these continue to expose residents to airborne asbestos fibres.

The department said in a statement: "Government remains committed to a coordinated response that combines health screening, community education, and improved access to diagnosis, treatment and compensation for affected workers and residents,"Share

The awards carried total prize money of R224 000. Each winner also received a point-of-sale device from Standard Bank, worth R6 000.

Mayor Cyril Xaba said the informal economy is a critical source of livelihoods and jobs in the city. He said: "The informal economy plays a vital role in the lives of eThekwini residents. It creates employment opportunities, supports families, and grows our local communities".

Around 260 000 people in eThekwini work in the informal sector, based on the Quarterly Labour Force Survey. About 75 000 of them work in informal trade. The city's unemployment rate was 21.2% in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest among South African metros.

Earlier summit commitments led to the refurbishment of more than 200 trading sites.Share

The fleet has 10 compactor trucks, one tipper truck and one landfill compactor truck. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality bought the vehicles for its waste services.

The municipality said the fleet will strengthen its operational capacity and improve daily waste collection. It also said the trucks will support efficient and sustainable waste management services.

Faku said the investment reflects the municipality's commitment to improving basic service delivery. She said: "Today is more than a ceremonial handover of vehicles and machinery."Share

Party leaders arrived at the venue in K section, uMlazi, south of Durban. They included Apostle Mxolisi Phakathi, the party's candidate for mayor of eThekwini.

The party's core campaign slogan is "Sithatha Omasipala (We are taking the municipalities)".Share

Comments go to Vukile Davidson at National Treasury. The framework would apply to financial institutions in South Africa.

Treasury estimates average annual investment needs of 4.4 per cent of gross domestic product through to 2050. This covers mitigation, adaptation and a just transition.

Treasury said the framework "seeks to align with international good practice while reflecting South Africa’s national circumstances, policy priorities and sectoral realities".Share

The incident happened at about 8.27pm on Friday, 23 October. Police said the driver of a blue or silver SUV allegedly stabbed the Honda driver during a suspected road rage fight. The SUV driver then tried to drive away, lost control and hit a wall near Henri Botha Street.

Walmer police are investigating a murder case. Police spokesperson Capt Andre Beetge said: "Walmer is investigating a murder case that emanated during a suspected road rage incident." Police are asking for witnesses.Share

SACP General Secretary Solly Mapaila is expected to attend the rally. COSATU President Mike Shingange is also expected to attend.

The party will contest the local government elections on 4 November independently of the ANC-led Tripartite Alliance. Thulamahashe is in Bushbuckridge, Mpumalanga.Share

SASSA responded to media reports about Matlou. Those reports claim he hosted media briefings to discourage journalists from publishing negative reports about him, going back to December 2024.

The agency said the allegations about the communications and stakeholder engagement tender overlook its wider institutional and marketing strategy. It said the tender will help beneficiaries understand their rights, obligations and access to social assistance.

SASSA said the move from the Gold Card created a communication challenge, because beneficiaries were not well informed about the change. It said it must step up public education when changes affect beneficiaries.Share

The utility gave the update on Sunday 25 October. It said the improvement came overnight and was slight.

Johannesburg Water did not name the affected areas in its update.Share

Ramaphosa visited homes in Soweto, including in Diepkloof and Orlando. He urged young people to apply for the opportunities that are available.

ANC Head of Campaigns Mdumiseni Ntuli said the party's campaign is gaining momentum. He linked this to the registration of 181 councillor candidates. The Independent Electoral Commission had barred these candidates from taking part in the elections, and the matter has since been resolved.Share

The Sharks won in Wales on Friday. The Bulls and the Stormers won at home on Saturday, in Pretoria and Cape Town. The Bulls, Sharks and Stormers all earned bonus points.

Stormers flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed scored two late tries. Scarlets player Joe Roberts scored a hat-trick in the loss in Cape Town. Ethan Hooker scored a try for the Sharks.

The Lions lost to Edinburgh and dropped out of the top eight. They have 9 points and sit 11th. Edinburgh lead with 19 points, and Glasgow have 18 points.

The Bulls are third on 16 points. The Stormers are fourth on 16 points, and the Sharks are fifth on 15 points.Share

Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe visited the Maguga family, accompanied by police district leaders Brig Humphries and Col Dippenaar. Lobishe said those responsible should be brought to justice.

In a statement, Lobishe said the tragedy showed the urgent need for a co-ordinated response to gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF). She said: "GBVF remains a serious societal challenge that continues to devastate families and communities."

Lobishe also said some political parties or individuals were trying to use the tragedy for political point scoring. Officials urged the public not to spread unverified information.Share