Inacio Miguel insists Kaizer Chiefs fear no one as they prepare to face Mamelodi Sundowns, treating the high-stakes match as a privilege rather than pressure.

Despite 1,518 vacant medical posts in South Africa, the Health Department lacks data on unemployed doctors, raising concerns about the efficiency of the public healthcare system.

We bring you a visual snapshot of the day’s news events, featuring the rare total solar eclipse casting parts of Spain into daytime darkness, wildlife veterinarians in Kenya treating an ailing elephant amid a mysterious illness affecting herds in Amboseli, and community members in Alexandra closing shops owned by foreign nationals during Operation Pan to Kasi. These are some of the compelling images from around the world. (For best view, click on image for fullscreen) This handout composite image from NASA shows the progression of a total solar eclipse over San Millán de los Caballeros, Spain, on, August 12, 2026. People in Europe were able to see a total eclipse, while northern parts of the US were able to see a partial eclipse. (Photo by Bill INGALLS / NASA / AFP) Spain’s swimmer Luca Hoek Le Guenedal competes during the final of the men’s 100m freestyle swimming event during the LEN European Aquatics Championships at the Olympic Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis, northern suburbs of Paris, on August 12, 2026. (Photo by Sébastien BOZON / AFP) This combination of pictures taken on August 12, 2026 shows the different stages of the total solar eclipse as seen from Lodoso, Burgos province. Millions of Europeans contemplated the sky in awe today during a rare total solar eclipse that plunged a swathe of Spain into an eerie daytime darkness. The shadow cast when the Moon covers the Sun began in Russia’s remote Arctic north at around 1700 GMT and continued in an arc through Greenland and Iceland. Spain is where most people viewed the total eclipse, which crossed the country diagonally from the northern Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean Sea, where it vanished at around 1830 GMT. (Photo by Cesar MANSO / AFP) March and March participants close shops owned by foreign nationals near Nobuhle Hostel, 13 August 2026, in Alexandra, north of Johannesburg, during the Alexandra Community Operation Pan to Kasi. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen A massive flower carpet comprising nearly 500,000 fresh blooms covers the historic Grand Place in Brussels, Belgium, on August 13, 2026. Recreating Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai’s iconic woodblock print ‘The Great Wave off Kanagawa’, the floral installation marks the 160th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Belgium and Japan, drawing onlookers and visitors to the central square. (Photo by Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu via Getty Images) A girl observes the total solar eclipse as seen from the sea port of Tarragona, east of Spain,, on August 12, 2026. Millions of Europeans contemplated the sky in awe today during a rare total solar eclipse that plunged a swathe of Spain into an eerie daytime darkness. The shadow cast when the Moon covers the Sun began in Russia’s remote Arctic north at around 1700 GMT and continued in an arc through Greenland and Iceland. Spain is where most people viewed the total eclipse, which crossed the country diagonally from the northern Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean Sea, where it will vanish at around 1830 GMT. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP) A Palestinian boy rides a horse past the rubble of nearly two dozen shops that were demolished by Israeli bulldozers, citing the lack of a building permit, earlier in the day along the main road east of the Palestinian city of Jenin in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on August 12, 2026. Violence in the Palestinian West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967, has soared since the Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war in October 2023. All Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which has been occupied since 1967, are illegal under international law. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) Veterinary officers from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) attend to a male elephant lying on the ground after falling ill at Kitenden B Community Conservancy in Amboseli, Kajiado County, on August 12, 2026. On the ground, raising a cloud of dust, the elephant exhausts itself trying again and again to get back on its feet, in a futile effort that only causes it to spin endlessly in circles. Genghis Khan appears set to become the 20th elephant in Kenya’s Amboseli region to succumb to an as-yet mysterious illness. Since the end of June, at least 19 elephants, mostly females or young animals, have died after displaying the same symptoms, notably partial paralysis preventing them from standing. The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) said at the end of July that it had detected a high concentration of cyanide in the carcasses, raising the possibility of pesticide poisoning resulting from the animals consuming fruit from surrounding farms. (Photo by SIMON MAINA / AFP) A Count Binface replica model is seen setup at the side of a main road leading into Clacton during the by-election on August 13, 2026 in Clacton-on-Sea, England. The Clacton-on-Sea by-election was triggered by Reform UK leader Nigel Farage resigning his seat to seek voter “absolution” amid parliamentary scrutiny over an undeclared £5 million donation from a Crypto billionaire. In protest of what they called a political stunt, the main UK parties have boycotted the race, leaving a ballot paper of 33 opponents consisting of independents and fringe candidates. The absence of mainstream competition has positioned the satirical space-warrior candidate Count Binface as Farage’s primary, high-profile challenger. (Photo by Ben Montgomery/Getty Images) People queue and buy ice blocks at production centers and retail points as a heatwave sweeping across Iraq, prompts residents to rely on ice to cool down and maintain daily life amid above-normal seasonal temperatures on August 13, 2026 in Baghdad, Iraq. (Photo by Murtadha Al-Sudani/Anadolu via Getty Images) (COMBO) This combination of four pictures created on August 13, 2026 people looking through a self-made pinhole camera (top L) and through eclipse glasses to watch the partial solar eclipse in the landscape park Halde Hoheward in Herten, western Germany, on August 12, 2026. Millions of people turn their gaze towards the heavens on August 12, 2026 to witness one of nature’s greatest spectacles — a rare total solar eclipse — as it sweeps over mainland Europe to briefly turn day into night. In Germany, the sun will be between 84 and 90 percent obscured from shortly after 7:00 p.m. until just before 9:00 p.m. (Photo by Ina FASSBENDER / AFP) The moon passes over the sun’s horizon behind the Pyramide du Louvre, designed by Chinese-US architect Ieoh Ming Pei, during a partial solar eclipse in Paris on August 12, 2026. In France, the solar eclipse was not total – after the total solar eclipse of 1999 France will not see another total eclipse for another 55 years in 2081. (Photo by Simon WOHLFAHRT / AFP) Attendees watch as the moon fully passes over the sun’s horizon during a partial solar eclipse at the Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Paris on August 12, 2026. In France, the solar eclipse was not total – after the total solar eclipse of 1999 France will not see another total eclipse for another 55 years in 2081. (Photo by Simon WOHLFAHRT / AFP) A Cruzeiro supporter with the club’s stars painted on the face looks on ahead of the first leg of the Copa Libertadores round of 16 football match between Brazilian teams Cruzeiro and Flamengo at the Mineirao stadium in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, on August 12, 2026. (Photo by DOUGLAS MAGNO / AFP) Roving entertainment is seen during the 2026 AFLW Round 01 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Melbourne Demons at Ikon Park on August 13, 2026 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images) This aerial view shows a collapsed building after an earthquake in Cali, Colombia on August 12, 2026. Colombia’s government on August 12 declared three days of mourning for victims of an earthquake that demolished buildings in the west of the country, killing more than 200 people. (Photo by Raul ARBOLEDA / AFP) Members of the Deokaran family unveil a monument to the late whistleblower Babita Deokaran, 9 August 2026, during the “Bringing Babita Home” unveiling ceremony at the Shri Mariammen Hindu Temple Society in Durban on Women’s Day. KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli (left) attended the ceremony. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal A shooting star is pictured in Grossmugl, Austria, on August 13, 2026. (Photo by MAX SLOVENCIK / APA / AFP) 1/18

The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has handed down four life sentences to a 26-year-old man who used social media to lure and rape young women. Victor Mokoena was convicted of four counts of rape, attempted murder, robbery with aggravating circumstances, assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and pointing of an object resembling a firearm. The court handed Mokoena a life sentence for each count of rape, 15 years for robbery, two years for assault and one year for pointing the object. It also ordered that the lesser sentences run concurrently with the life sentences. Social media used to target victims Mokoena was sentenced for offences committed between March 2021 and October 2024 in Johannesburg. According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), he allegedly targeted young women using Facebook and Instagram. He approached them under the pretext of offering modelling, promotional and photoshoot opportunities. “He presented himself as a photographer or promoter and lured his victims with offers of modelling, promotional and photoshoot opportunities,” NPA regional spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said on Thursday. “Once the victims arrived at the agreed locations, Mokoena took them to secluded areas, where he raped and assaulted them.” Mohlatlole said that in some instances, Mokoena strangled the women, threatened them with an object resembling a firearm and robbed them of their belongings. Digital evidence helped link cases He also deleted conversations and contact details from the women’s phones in an apparent attempt to conceal his identity and frustrate the investigation. “The investigation linked several cases through the similarities in Mokoena’s modus operandi and digital evidence obtained from the victims,” Mohlatlole said. Investigators also established that he had used different names when communicating with his victims. In aggravation of sentence, State Advocate Hope Zwane said Mokoena’s deliberate planning and persistence in identifying and luring the women to secluded locations showed that he posed a danger to society. The court found that Mokoena had treated the women with disdain and had used derogatory language towards them. “The NPA welcomes the substantial sentences imposed by the court and commends the investigating officers and prosecution team for their diligent efforts in linking the various cases and ensuring that Mokoena was held accountable for his crimes,” Mohlatlole said. Mohlatlole urged members of the public to exercise caution when responding to unsolicited offers or opportunities on social media. “Verify individuals’ identities before meeting them in person.”

A man who survived a ferry disaster that claimed at least 46 lives on Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba told AFP on Thursday how he watched helplessly as people tried to save themselves, with his best friend and seven of his relatives among the dead. The overloaded government ferry – a vital link for villagers and fish traders around the vast lake – overturned in choppy waters on Tuesday in one of the country’s worst passenger boat disasters. Memorial service “Thank God that a wave pushed the sinking vessel and we managed to climb on top,” Chance Siyamavhu said at a memorial service in the lakeside town of Kariba close to the border with Zambia. Perched on the upended boat, he watched as passengers struggled to survive, unable to save them. “When the boat capsized, most of the people scrambled to get the life jackets but most of them did not even know how to use them,” the 45-year-old told AFP. “Most people could not make it.” “Our relatives were swept in another direction and they sank because we were not in a position to help them,” he said. Dozens gathered for a memorial service in the lakeside town of Kariba © Jekesai NJIKIZANA / AFP Dozens of mourners gathered in front of 44 coffins at the emotional service, as police announced that the death toll had risen to 46. “The names of the victims who perished in the accident will be released in due course,” a police statement said. Boat took on water Officials say the boat was authorised to carry 90 people but was packed with 114 adults, five crew members and an unspecified number of children. The civil protection unit said 77 people were rescued, and there were fears that other passengers may be unaccounted for. Survivors said they had pleaded for the captain to turn back as the boat took on water. Anymore Chambati, who had been a security official on the vessel, told AFP he had tried to hand out life jackets as the boat began to sink. “I managed to only give not more than 10,” he said. “The ferry engines were filled with water because of the heavy winds and eventually they failed, save for one.” By Garrin Lambley © Agence France-Presse

Banyana Banyana have vowed to bring their ‘A’ game when they face Nigeria in a crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier playoff at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday, 13 August. The two nations were knocked out of the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026) in the quarter-finals, thereby missing out on the four automatic World Cup qualification places. Lifeline They have, however, been given a lifeline by featuring in the playoffs that will take the winner into a long and difficult route to securing tickets to South America for the women’s football global showpiece next year. “It’s not the place we want to be but we’ve been given another opportunity, a very big opportunity to go on a very long journey. We obviously have to bring our A game, there’s no margin for error, the disappointment of losing the previous game is going to probably drive us to get a positive result. It’s not going to be an easy game, two big guns of African football, not where we want to be and one of us not going further ahead to qualify for the World Cup. “It’s a big game for us, we know how big it is, the players know how big it is, I’m sure Nigeria know how big it is, we just have to do what we have to do, we just have to execute our plans and make sure that we are victorious at the end of the day,” said coach Desiree Ellis. ‘Crucial match’ The two women’s football giants last met at the previous edition of the WAFCON, with the Super Falcons winning the clash en route to lifting their 10th continental title. But things have changed and both sides are now fighting for a spot to the next phase of the playoff qualifiers. Speaking to the media in Casablanca, Banyana Banyana captain Refiloe Jane said they will leave everything on the field to ensure that they are victorious. “It will be a crucial match for the team, we came here with an objective to qualify for the World Cup, and we would have liked to qualify the first time given the first opportunity, but things didn’t go our way. We keep our heads up high, we have another opportunity to do so, so our focus is on the next match, to try and give it our all to continue on this journey. “The rivalry against Nigeria goes back over the years, we just have to believe and put in the work, and we have shown in the past that we can do it. It’s a real do or die, and we want to leave the field knowing we have given it our all,” said Jane. South Africa and Nigeria meet at 22:00 SA time, with the Ivory Coast and Ghana contesting the other playoff spot at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium at 19:00 (SA time). Prediction Banyana Banyana 1-2 Nigeria How do you foresee the match will end? Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below …

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