The department of forestry, fisheries and the environment has ordered the urgent evacuation of the overwintering team stationed at Marion Island after delays to the SA Agulhas II relief voyage raised fears that critical fuel supplies for the remote base could run out. Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp said the decision was taken after disruptions in the supply of additives needed to produce specialised polar diesel threatened the operation of the island’s generators.  Marion Island, a remote South African research base in the sub-Antarctic Indian Ocean, lies about 2 000km southeast of Cape Town.  Unlike normal diesel, the fuel is designed to withstand the sub-Antarctic temperatures on Marion Island, where ordinary diesel would crystallise. “With the weather conditions having cleared in Cape Town, the helicopters that will be used for the evacuation of the overwintering team were able to land on the vessel, which is now ready to sail,” the department said on Thursday. Aucamp said the department could no longer delay action while uncertainty remained over when the fuel additives would become available. “The voyage delays were caused by the unavailability of crucial fuel products that are mixed with normal diesel and are used to create the special polar diesel required to keep the base running within extremely low outside temperatures that would crystalise normal diesel,” he said.  “As we are unsure when these fuel products will be available, we cannot wait any longer at the expense of the wellbeing of our team. Our people’s lives come first.” Department spokesperson Zolile Nqayi told the Mail & Guardian on Friday that supply chain disruptions linked to the conflict in the Middle East had affected the availability of the additives required to manufacture the polar diesel. He said the department had initially believed replacement supplies would be secured. “At the end of April the department was given assurance from some suppliers that additives for producing polar diesel stock were secured.” However, the department later received confirmation from a Cape Town refinery that it could not produce the fuel because of a national kerosene shortage. At the same time, aviation fuel for the helicopters involved in the operation could not be sourced in Cape Town and had to be transported from Durban. Nqayi said the base still had enough food supplies, although some items had run low. The main concern was the depletion of polar diesel needed to run generators supplying electricity to the base. Fuel levels were being monitored daily. The SA Agulhas II, an icebreaking polar supply and research ship owned by the department, was expected to depart on Thursday and arrive at Marion Island on Monday.  The crew is expected to remain at the base for between three and five days before returning to South Africa on 28 May, weather permitting. The department said the branch: oceans and coasts, together with the department of public works and infrastructure and the department of science, technology and innovation, shared responsibility for ensuring logistical support for overwintering teams. Nqayi said a full debrief would take place after the vessel’s return and that Aucamp and the department’s director-general would decide whether further investigation into the logistical failures was necessary.

The Madlanga commission on Friday dismissed an application by North West businessman Brown Mogotsi to recuse evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson, rejecting claims of bias and unfair prejudice. Mogotsi alleged that Chaskalson had promised to protect him during the commission’s hearings if he provided damaging evidence against North West businessman and ANC backer Suleiman Carrim. But commission chairperson Judge Mbuyiseli Madlanga rejected the claim, saying the exchanges between Mogotsi and Chaskalson did not show any promise of protection or threat of reprisal. “The application is dismissed,” Madlanga said. “The effect of the dismissal is that Mr Mogotsi’s evidence will be heard … Mr Mogotsi’s evidence will be led by Mr Chaskalson.” Mogotsi said in his founding affidavit that his interactions with Chaskalson began in March this year after his attorney withdrew from representing him at the commission. He alleged that Chaskalson indicated he would protect him if he provided incriminating evidence against Carrim. “During this period, advocate Chaskalson and I had various WhatsApp calls and text conversations concerning Mr Suleiman and his evidence. The tone and context of these conversations caused me grave concern regarding advocate Chaskalson SC’s impartiality,” Mogotsi said. In one exchange, Mogotsi said he texted Chaskalson: “I think you can help me”, to which Chaskalson replied: “I think so too. But you can’t mess me around. “Ironically, he had earlier, when I was testifying, called me a liar and dishonest, yet reached out to me for information against Suleiman under the promise of protecting me,” Mogotsi stated in his affidavit. The commission said it was Mogotsi who initiated contact with Chaskalson and subsequently offered to provide information about Carrim and alleged crime boss, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. “The impression formed, according to Mr Mogotsi’s case, is that: ‘If I don’t bring anything valuable, if I don’t bring anything useful, then I cannot be indemnified, or I cannot be saved’,” argued Mogotsi’s attorney, advocate Nthabiseng Mohomane.  “I informed him that I needed protection and he assured me that he would ‘sort me out’, but again pressed for more evidence against Sueliman,” Mogotsi said in his affidavit. Chaskalson, however, described the allegations as fraudulent. He said Mogotsi’s case rested on the claim that he had improperly pressured him to provide evidence against Carrim and that any “help” offered was conditional on implicating Carrim. The record, he said, showed the opposite. “I have never suggested to Mr Mogotsi that he should give false evidence to implicate Mr Carrim,” Chaskalson said in his affidavit. Chaskalson also accused Mogotsi of submitting falsified evidence by deleting several missed calls and text messages. “Mr Mogotsi has removed a text that he sent me on 12 March 2026, at 11.29 pm, in which he stated: ‘M worried about coming [to the commission offices]’, also mentioning that ‘I called u at night, thought it would be strategic also’,” Chaskalson said. “I also deny that I ever offered to protect Mr Mogotsi from adverse findings by the commission if he could implicate Mr Carrim. I would never offer any witness a quid pro quo for implicating another witness and I have not done so.” Chaskalson said Mogotsi’s conduct could amount to criminal behaviour, including falsifying evidence, improperly impugning an evidence leader and acting in a manner prejudicial to the orderly conduct of the commission. He said Mogotsi initiated and pursued the communications because he was concerned that Carrim was blaming him. “Mr Mogotsi sought assistance to avoid being used as a scapegoat and Mr Mogotsi himself offered to provide evidence concerning Mr Carrim and the SAPS/Medicare24 Tshwane district contract,” Chaskalson said. Commissioner Sesi Baloyi also questioned Mogotsi’s claims of bias. “Is it not opportunistic to offer Mr Chaskalson information on Mr Carrim and then fail to deliver because Mr Mogotsi, as it turns out, does not have such information?” Baloyi asked. “You offer and then you fail to deliver. And without more, you say: ‘He is going to be biased against me.’” Baloyi noted that Mogotsi had not pointed to any messages in which Chaskalson expressed anger or threatened retaliation after he failed to provide information.

The Lions secured a historic United Rugby Championship play-off place but fell 24-17 to Munster after a performance marred by inaccuracies and missed opportunities.

Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou insists his side were never looking past Durban City despite missing a golden chance to move top of the log.

It was hard to stem the flow of superlatives after driving the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS during its media launch around the Western Cape last year. This 992.2 version of the Grand Turismo Sport in 2024 became the first production 911 to feature a hybrid system. The powertrain, complete with electric turbo, has genuinely transformed this car into something special. The 3.0-litre flat-six turbo petrol engine from the previous Carrera GTS has been replaced with a 3.6-litre flat-six blown mill. The latter features a 12-volt belt-starter generator and electric motor driven by a 1.9-kWh battery pack. The battery alone weighs 27kg and is situated in the front for optimal weigh distribution. eTurbo changes game The two turbochargers from the 991.2 GTS have been replaced with a wastegate-free single electric exhaust gas turbocharger called eTurbo. This features an electric motor between the compressor and turbine which builds boost faster which leads to more responsiveness. Integrated into the eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, the electric motor also performs the role of starter and alternator. The hybrid set-up produces 398kW of power and 610Nm of torque, up 45kW/40Nm from its predecessor. In 992.2 guise, the GTS also comes with variable dampers on the Porsche Active Suspension Management system which drops the ride height by 10mm, 48-volt anti-roll stabilisation on the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control system and rear axle steering. Further dynamic enhancements include five vertical flaps on the front bumper flanks that opens and closes automatically in response to power demand. And it provides additional downforce in conjunction with the rear spoiler that activates at high enough speeds. The Porsche 911 GTS rides on 21-inch alloys at the rear and 2o-inch wheels in the front. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe Trail by fire We thoroughly enjoyed the rare privilege of piloting the 911 GTS through the Franschhoek Pass and on some scenic winding roads through the Winelands. But with without our Vbox and a controlled testing facility, we could not put Porsche’s excellent claimed 0 to 100km/h sprint time of 3.0 seconds to the test. The day of reckoning finally arrived this month when the friendly people over at Porsche Centre Johannesburg afforded us a rear-wheel drive 911 Carrera GTS to sample. And run against the clock at Gerotek. To put the sprint time claim of 3.0 seconds into perspective, only three cars Road Test Editor Mark Jones have tested have dipped under this time. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance Coupe (2.76 seconds), the 991.2 Porsche 911 GT2 RS (2.85) and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S E Performance 4-door Coupe (2.96). This impressive trio’s resume’s read 600kW/1 420Nm, 515kW/750Nm and 620Kw/1 470Nm. Weighing in at 50kg lighter than the 992.2 GTS’ kerb weight of 1 595kg, the 991.2 331kW/550Nm Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupe recorded a sprint time of 3.62 seconds back in 2017. Porsche 911 GTS dazzles on drag strip To say the new 911 Carrera beat that time would be an understatement. The 992.2 destroyed its predecessor by more than half a second in a time of 3.07 seconds, making it the fourth fastest car on our time sheets. Not bad for a Porsche not even honing a pukka performance GT badge. And the party didn’t stop there either. 200km/h came up in a blistering time of 10.36 seconds and the car was travelling at 251km/h after a mere 800 metres of drag strip. To show just how far Stuttgart’s clever engineers have come, this GTS is faster than the 412kW/700Nm 991.2 Porsche Turbo S which clocked a sprint time of 3.21 a dozen years ago. A time that stood for many years at the top of our leaderboard. We never got to test the 992.1 Turbo S, which Porsche claimed could sprint from 0 to 100km/h in 2.7 seconds. Supreme handling But the saying goes that straights are for fast cars and corners are for fast drivers. And like it aces the former, the 911 Carrera GTS is even more impressive through the twisties. The responsiveness from the eTurbo along with the car’s its outstanding weight distribution makes it a thrilling rive through any corner. The circular drive mode selector is still on the steering wheel. Picture: Jaco van der Merwe The steering feels lighter and more direct than the 4 GTS Coupe, while the feedback from the road makes sure that the driver stays immersed into this impressive machine. Even the braking is an immersive experience, with progressive input required one of the most purist aspects of the drive. Once you master the braking input, it is unreal how much faith the six-piston brake callipers on 408mm discs in front and four-piston callipers on 380mm discs at the rear can absorb. A car for the purists The whole experience is further complemented by the sports exhaust system’s addictive soundtrack.Inside, revised ergonomics features a curved 12.6-inch fully digital instrument cluster customisable with the classic 911 five-dial layout alongside a 10.9-inch infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. An optional extra fitted to our test car we really enjoyed was the front axle lifter, which electronically raises the front to negotiate steep speedbumps and driveways. Once you activate it, the system can even store the location so that the front raises automatically every time you drive there. As our time spent in the Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Coupe increased, so did the superlatives. But this stunning car is much more than its very impressive numbers. It is a proper sportscar that embraces modern technology for purists to savour and enjoy. Porsche 911 GTS test data

The Lions went down 24-17 to Munster in an incredibly hard fought encounter at Thomond Park in Limerick on Saturday night, but after securing their place in the United Rugby Championship (URC) playoffs a night earlier, they made sure they would be in next season’s Champions Cup thanks to a losing bonus point. It will however be a bittersweet night for the Lions as they put in a good enough performance to win the match, but their inability to finish off a slew of chances cost them dearly as Munster held on desperately to lift themselves into the playoffs. The Lions end up finishing the pool phase seventh on the log, and they face a daunting first URC quarterfinal against defending champions Leinster in Dublin in two weeks’ time. In the match the Lions got off to a strong start, but after butchering a couple of early chances it was Munster who opened the scoring. With their first foray into the Lions 22m the hosts attacked from a lineout and bashed away on the line before lock Evan O’Connell just forced his was over for the try, with flyhalf JJ Hanrahan adding the extras for a 7-0 lead in the seventh minute. It was then Munster’s turn to be on top, with some good attack in the Lions half, only for fullback Quan Horn to pull off a superb intercept and race away to level the scores in the 15th minute. The home side retook the lead in the 23rd minute through a Hanrahan penalty, but then seemed to implode as right wing Andrew Smith and inside centre Sean O’Brien both got yellow carded for deliberate knock-ons within a four minute window, as they slipped down to 13-men in the 31st minute. Lions back ahead The Lions were initially unable to make it count due to a few mistakes, but eventually they counter attacked from the halfway and spread the ball one way and back the next, working the space for right wing Kelly Mpeku to walk over, with flyhalf Chris Smith slotting the conversion for a 14-10 lead in the 36th minute. Still with Munster down to 13-men the Lions then kicked possession away, which allowed the hosts to attack into the visitors 22m and get close before earning a penalty and got one man back. They then kicked to the corner, attacked from the lineout and scrumhalf Craig Casey dived over from close range to score, with the conversion giving them a 17-14 lead at the break. The second half started with both teams having chances, but neither could take advantage, with the Lions particularly guilty. It was with them on attack deep in Munster’s 22m, that they then conceded a couple of penalties that allowed the hosts to clear and kick into the visitors 22m. From the lineout Munster were again successful, getting close and this time lock Thomas Ahern powered over to push them more than a converted score ahead in the 55th minute. Five minutes later the Lions cut the deficit to seven with a penalty to Smith, setting up a grandstand finish in the final quarter. In the final 10 minutes the Lions came close twice, with them held up over the line and Angelo Davids was unable to gather a good kick from replacement scrumhalf Haashim Pead into the Munster in goal area, as the hosts held on for the win. Scorers Munster: Tries – Craig Casey, Evan O’Connell, Thomas Ahern; Conversions – JJ Hanrahan (3); Penalty – Hanrahan Lions: Tries – Quan Horn, Kelly Mpeku; Conversions – Chris Smith (2); Penalty – Smith

Johannesburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille has sent a message likening their pursuit of the PSL title to her bid to lead the city. The 75-year-old has been vocal about her support for the Buccaneers, who drew 0-0 with Durban City over the weekend. They will face Mamelodi Sundowns in the final next weekend. HELEN ZILLE LIKENS HERSELF TO ORLANDO PIRATES Ahead of their match against Durban City, Helen Zille sent a special message to Orlando Pirates. She shared in a video clip: “I can almost taste the victory…You are as close to winning as we are close to winning Joburg. Go out there and do it, ,guys, and we will also do it for you” On her social media platforms, Helen has continued to show love to the Buccaneers – from watching the Soweto Derbies at her local tavern, to snapping selfies with players  Helen has also bragged about being given a vintage kit that features signatures of players who had won the African Cup of Champions Clubs [now the CAF Champions League] in 1995.  UP THE BUCS Like Helen Zille, fellow political party members have publicly shown their support for Orlando Pirates. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula showed love to the Bucs, despite their disappointing draw. He tweeted: “Still something to play for the championship, let’s fight to the end. This is football, Pirates loyalists don’t give up!” Still something to play for championship let's fight to the end this is football, Pirates loyalist don't give up! @orlandopirates— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 16, 2026 Once and Always, up the Bucks🏴‍☠️🏴‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/DQgL3ShOTY— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 16, 2026 EFF leader Julius Malema was slightly disappointed. He posted on his X account: “Mxm, not even one nyana”. Mxm, at least one nyana.— Julius Sello Malema (@Julius_S_Malema) May 16, 2026

Several refugees in the US have spoken out about what they miss about South Africa – with many citing the popular local restaurant, Spur! To date, almost 7 000 South Africans have resettled in America under an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump. REFUGEES REVEAL WHAT THEY MISS ABOUT SOUTH AFRICA On Facebook, a popular refugee family, The Smiths, shared a post about what they missed about South Africa. The post read: “Today I genuinely miss Spur. Not the ‘fancy dining’, not the aesthetics, not the influencers taking photos of their food. “I miss the sound of birthday songs every 7 minutes, I miss the smell when you walk in, I miss the sticky kids’ tables. I miss seeing exhausted parents drinking coffee while their kids disappear into the play area for hours. “Americans won’t fully understand this part. Spur wasn’t just a restaurant in South Africa. It was part of our family culture. You could walk into Spur in a T-shirt and takkies, with tired kids, and nobody cared.  “Sometimes when you immigrate, it’s not the massive things that hit you emotionally”. The Smiths are not only refugees who miss Spur. Speaking to YouTuber Chris Wyatt, Charl Kleinhaus said: “I miss some of the food…like Spur and biltong that is cheap. I can watch YouTube documentaries, or I can go to Texas to see the Big Five if I want to. So I am good”. Here’s what others had to say on Facebook… “I miss the easy. You knew how to drive, and you knew where all the good and cheaper shops were. You had your license, your rental house, and a car. Starting over is really not easy” “I miss Woolworths!” “Klein Kariba and Buffelspoort for sure. We do not have resorts like those close to us” WHY EXPATS ARE RETURNING HOME While refugees have vowed to stick around, data suggests that thousands of white expats are returning to South Africa. One, Naomi Saphire told Reuters that she had recently relocated her family from North Carolina to Plettenberg Bay. The businesswoman said of her return: “My heart is just full of gratefulness to be here. The U.S. has been really good to me (but) I just felt like I was depriving my kids of this life.” In 2022, almost 15 000 white South Africans returned to the country in a move labelled “reverse immigration”. According to reports, this was due to lower living costs, family ties, and global instability.

The recovery is holding, but Eskom's own modelling warns of a possible return to blackouts by decade’s end.

Group CITO Johnson Idesoh says the bank will deploy "super agents" to scan its systems and shorten patch cycles.