Whether you’re an aspiring baker or a seasoned pastry chef, this honey and almond Paris–Brest offers an exciting opportunity to expand your skills while creating a stunning dessert that’s sure to steal the spotlight.

Police in rural Australia investigate a suitcase thought to contain human remains, only to find a lifelike sex doll, highlighting the growing issue of mistaken identities in realistic mannequins.

Heavy snow in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape has led to roads being closed on Monday. Snow in KZN The KZN Department of Transport and Human Settlements announced the closure of some roads in Kokstad, Kingscot and Underberg. It said this has been done to ensure that motorists are not trapped in areas where there is snowfall. It said Clifton, around Nottingham Road, is also affected by the snow. KZN – #SNOW now falling in the Midlands area (Nottingham Road) pic.twitter.com/1H4HIVo1Dn— TrafficSA (@TrafficSA) August 10, 2026 The department’s Road Traffic Inspectorate (RTI) said a truck is stuck on the R617. This road has also been closed, with traffic being redirected to R56. “We are requesting motorists to delay their trips and members of the public to remain indoors, as prevention is better than cure,” said MEC for Transport and Human Settlements Siboniso Duma. He said teams have been deployed to remove snow from the roads before it accumulates to more than 30cm in depth. Eastern Cape mountain passes The Eastern Cape Department of Transport said heavy snowfall has resulted in mountain passes being closed. They are: Penhoek Pass between Komani and James Calata (Jamestown). Barkley Pass between Khowa (Elliot) and Ekhephini (Barkley East). Boesmanshoek Pass between Molteno and Sterkstroom It said the Nicomalan Pass has not been closed yet. “Road users are advised to avoid the affected roads, reschedule travel plans, or use alternative routes where possible,” it said. Heavy snow has led to three mountain passes being closed in the Eastern Cape. Picture: Supplied/Eastern Cape Department of Transport The Chris Hani District Municipality said overnight snow in Graaff-Reinet has led to the Lootsberg pass and Wapadsberg pass being closed. This means that the N9/6 towards Middelburg and R61/2 near Nxuba cannot be used, it said. “Alternative routes for road users travelling from the Western Cape side towards Middelburg need to travel on the R75/4 turn into R63/8 towards Pearston, then Somerset East and Cookhouse back onto the N10 towards Nxuba.” Border post closed The Qacha’s Nek border connecting the Eastern Cape to Lesotho has also been shut down after heavy snowfall in Matatiele and Cedarville. Pictures of vehicles covered in snow from the villages of Fobane in Matatiele were shared on social media. Cars covered in snow in Matatiele, Eastern Cape. Picture: Nancy Palien/Facebook Electricity outage at hospital In the KZN Midlands, the snow has disrupted operations at Harry Gwala Regional Hospital in the uMgungundlovu District. Samkelisiwe Mncube, the hospital’s spokesperson, said the area experienced heavy snowfall overnight, resulting in the clinic losing power. “Telephone lines have also been knocked out, severely hampering communication services in the area,” she said. “The clinic is appealing to the community to remain calm and to check on vulnerable neighbours, especially the elderly, young children, and those with chronic illnesses who may require urgent medical attention.”

With the aptly named Flagship already available, LDV used its gala relaunch event in Johannesburg this past Friday evening (7 August) to debut the Elite, its new entry-level version of the D90 SUV. Priced considerably lower than previously claimed, the D90 retains the same design and powertrain as the Flagship, but with a reduction in specification items. Same drivetrain Based on the same ladder-frame platform as the T60 bakkie means the D90 Elite carries over the 2.0-litre bi-turbodiesel engine that pumps out 160kW/500Nm. D90 Elite uses the same bi-turbodiesel engine as the Flagship, but rides on 18-inch instead of 20-inch alloy wheels. Picture: Charl Bosch Paired to the ZF-sourced eight-speed automatic gearbox, the Elite has the 230mm of ground clearance as the Flagship, a 3 100 kg towing capacity and a low range transfer. Claimed fuel consumption is 9.1 L/100 km. It does, however, only have a rear locking differential compared to the Flagship’s three, but still seats seven as standard. Dimensions Known as the Maxus Territory in China where the LDV name is not used, the D90 Elite, which LDV South Africa confirmed for the local market back in 2024, has the same dimensions as the Flagship, namely: Length: 5 046 mm; Wheelbase: 2 950 mm; Height: 1 876 mm; Width: 2 016 mm. In total, two driving modes are included, Eco and Sport, plus five off-road settings; Auto, Sand, Gravel, Snow and Rocks. Not included, though, is the Crawl function reserved solely for the Flagship. Spec Officially shown to the public at last year’s Kyalami Festival of Motoring, LDV didn’t divulge specification at the event, however, previous reports confirms the Elite as having the following items as standard: LED headlights; 18-inch alloy wheels; keyless entry; push-button start; tri-zone climate control; imitation leather upholstery; sunroof; 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster; dual wireless smartphone charging pads; eight-speaker sound system; in-built dashcam; 12.3-inch infotainment display; Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; Elite retains the same pair of 12.3-inch displays as leather upholstery as the Flagship. Picture: Charl Bosch Safety and driver assistance comprises: tyre pressure monitor; six airbags; reverse camera; rear parking sensors; Adaptive Cruise Control; Automatic Emergency Braking; Lane Keep Assist; Blind Spot Monitoring; Lane Departure Warning. Colours As with the Flagship, the Elite has a choice of four colours: Natural White; Metal Ash; Metal Black; Spruce Green. Price Included with the Elite’s price tag, as with the Flagship, is a five-year/200 000 km warranty and a five-year/100 000 km service plan. D90 2.0 BiT Elite 4WD AT – R749 900; D90 2.0 BiT Flagship 4WD AT – R899 900.

I have spent this entire weekend refreshing forecasts and calling people in the mountains just to get the timing right. Tomorrow, I finally chase the snow myself. My snow chase to Sutherland starts tomorrow, but I have been watching this one build for days already. Every SAWS update this week kept nudging the same story forward: a cold front, a cut-off low, and a wide stretch of South Africa’s mountains about to turn white. By the time it actually arrived this weekend, I was already glued to every warning update like it was a scoreboard. And then it happened … Snow settled across the Eastern Cape Highlands, into Lesotho, over the southern Drakensberg, and across the Western Cape’s high ground, Matroosberg, the Cederberg, and further into the Karoo’s Roggeveld range near Sutherland. Five of the best-loved snow spots in the country, all catching flakes within days of each other. My snow chase to Sutherland: Watching the forecast become real There is a particular kind of excitement that builds when you have been tracking a system for a full week and it finally delivers. I read every update SAWS put out, cross-checked timing against what people on the ground were telling me, and watched the warnings shift from “possible” to “confirmed” one province at a time. By the time the snow actually started falling, it did not feel like a surprise. It felt like watching something I had been promised finally show up. Why I chose Sutherland, and why tomorrow I am heading to Sutherland tomorrow morning, and I will not pretend the decision was purely emotional. Sutherland sits roughly five hours from me, so getting the timing right matters more than almost anywhere else on that list. Arrive too early and you are standing in the cold for nothing. Arrive too late and the snow has already started melting off. I spent the past few days doing exactly what a proper snow chaser does: calling people who actually live near the Roggeveld range, asking what they were seeing outside their own windows, and lining that up against what the forecasts were saying. Snow that continues into Monday and Tuesday gave me the window I needed to plan a trip that actually has a shot at catching it well. The chase itself There is something almost ridiculous about driving five hours on a hunch built from weather warnings and phone calls to strangers near a mountain range, and I would not have it any other way. This is the part of winter I genuinely look forward to every single year, the anticipation, the phone calls, the slightly obsessive checking of forecasts, and then finally, the drive itself. I will be sharing how the snow chase to Sutherland goes once I am back. Have you ever planned an entire trip around a weather forecast, snow chasing or otherwise? Let us know in the comments below, Mzansi … Is it snowing in your area? If so, please send your photos to info@thesouthafrican.com.

SA Rugby president Mark Alexander has paid tribute to former Springbok hooker Jacobus Frederick Beatrix “Piston” van Wyk – who made 15 Test appearances between 1970 and 1976 – after he sadly passed away. Van Wyk, who played for the erstwhile Northern Transvaal and Natal – now the Bulls and Sharks – started and ended his 15-cap Springbok career with Tests against the All Blacks. Tribute to former Springbok forward A versatile and aggressive hooker, Van Wyk also toured Australia in 1971 and faced the touring British & Irish Lions in 1974. “It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of Piston van Wyk, a former Springbok whose legacy is etched into the proud history of South African rugby,” said Mr Alexander. “Piston’s career was marked by his formidable scrummaging strength, his unwavering commitment to the team and his memorable performances against some of the world’s toughest opponents. “From his debut in the green and gold to his standout contributions in numerous Test victories, Piston embodied the resilience and pride of the Springbok jersey. His presence on the field was a source of inspiration and his dedication to the game reflected the values of discipline, humility and sportsmanship.” Special memories Alexander added that Piston carried himself with dignity and integrity on and off the field. “Leaving behind a legacy that extends far beyond the scoreboard. His name will forever be remembered among those who helped shape the path for future generations of players. “We extend our deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May they find comfort in knowing that his contribution to our sport and our nation will never be forgotten. Piston van Wyk’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who cherish the game of rugby and the values it represents.”

Customer quiet-quitting is the bill for shortcuts taken years ago. By the time it shows up in the numbers, they have already gone.

Generation fell 8.1% in June to the weakest reading in seven years, while Eskom’s fleet ran better than at any point since 2017.