South Carolina police have closed their investigation into actress Hayden Panettiere’s death, which was ruled an accidental overdose involving fentanyl and other drugs.

NSFAS has recorded more than one million applications for the 2027 funding cycle and warned that applications close on October 31, with no extensions.

The City of Tshwane has confirmed to The Citizen that it received a notice from the South African Revenue Service (Sars) with a search warrant for a raid on the home of City of Tshwane chief financial officer (CFO) Gareth Mnisi. Reports say Sars allegedly raided Mnisi’s home on Thursday morning. Raid City of Tshwane Mayoral spokesperson Samkelo Mgobozi told The Citizen that they have received a notice. “I can confirm that SARS advised the City of its intention to execute a search warrant at the office and residence of the Chief Financial Officer. “As to whether the warrant was subsequently executed, that is a matter best confirmed directly with the South African Revenue Service,” Mgobozi said. Mnisi returned to work in July after receiving a final written warning following disciplinary proceedings linked to allegations raised before the Madlanga Commission. Suspension He was suspended earlier in 2026 after claims that he shared confidential tender information and may have influenced procurement processes while serving as chairperson of the city’s Bid Adjudication Committee. A forensic investigation also examined allegations that he failed to declare certain business interests and relationships with companies involved in municipal tenders. While the investigation did not find him guilty of misconduct, it recommended disciplinary action. Earlier in July, the Tshwane Council voted to classify the allegations against Mnisi as less serious, paving the way for his return to work. Court application However, the DA launched an urgent court application challenging both the downgrade of the allegations and the legality of the council meeting that adopted the decision. The application also disputed the suspension of Municipal Manager Johann Mettler, with Solidarity joining the legal challenge. Findings DA Tshwane caucus leader Cilliers Brink argued that Mnisi had received a “soft landing” despite serious findings against him, while Executive Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya maintained that she acted within her legal responsibilities and would abide by the court’s ruling. The legal challenges centre on the validity of the council proceedings and voting process that led to both decisions. *This is a developing story

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has insisted “we can’t feel sorry for ourselves” and must move on quickly following their stunning loss away to fourth-tier Fleetwood in the League Cup. The Premier League champions crashed out 5-3 on penalties in an incredible upset after the fourth-round tie finished 1-1 in normal time at Fleetwood’s home ground of Highbury. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes had his penalty saved by Jay Lynch in the shoot-out before teenage defender Conor Haughey scored Fleetwood’s winner. Aaron Loupalo-Bi’s first-half goal had put Fleetwood ahead before Viktor Gyokeres equalised after the interval. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta made nine changes to his starting side but after a ragged first-half display he sent Norway midfielder Odegaard on for the second period. The visitors, last season’s losing finalists, managed an improved performance but still missed several chances before teenage rising star Max Dowman was sent off five minutes from the end of normal time. “It’s very frustrating to go out,” Odegaard said after Fleetwood made a mockery of the 84 places between the clubs in the English football pyramid. “Obviously, the way we’ve played was not on the level. We need to do much, much better than we did. “Frustrating, but congratulations to Fleetwood and we look forward to the next game already and bounce back. “They did well so we have to give them credit, but… we need to do better. I thought we improved during the game, but again, we need to step up even more — so that’s a shame.” Arsenal now just have days to get the defeat out of their system ahead of what promises to be a tough match at Liverpool on Sunday, with the Gunners having drawn level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City last weekend. “We can’t feel sorry for ourselves. We need to move on — we have a big game at the weekend, so bouncing back at the weekend is all we can do now,” Odegaard added. Meanwhile, British media reports Wednesday said Arsenal would lodge an appeal against Dowman’s red card with the Football Association and were hopeful of a decision being handed down prior to the trip to Anfield. The 16-year-old was dismissed for kicking out at Harrison Neal following a heavy challenge by the Fleetwood midfielder, with an unimpressed Arteta giving Dowman a strong word as he trudged off. “Something that we discussed already before the match,” Arteta said when asked what he told Dowman.

Black Friday 2026 is just a few weeks away, and the deals are already starting to appear. Big red price tags and countdown timers can make every offer look irresistible. But not every discount is what it seems. And scammers love Black Friday as much as shoppers do. Black Friday falls on Friday, 27 November 2026, followed by Cyber Monday on Monday, 30 November. Here are five things to check before you buy. IS THE DISCOUNT REAL? A big percentage off doesn’t always mean a big saving. Consumer watchdogs have warned that some sellers inflate the “original” price, so the discount looks bigger than it really is. It’s a problem around the world. When European consumer authorities checked 314 online shops during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales, they found that 30% displayed their discounts incorrectly, according to Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. What to do: Start tracking the prices of items you want now, so you’ll know what a genuine discount looks like on the day. In South Africa, the Consumer Protection Act prohibits false or misleading claims about prices. COMPARE PRICES ACROSS STORES The first deal you see isn’t always the best one. What to do: Check the same product, with the same model number, at several stores. Remember to include delivery fees when comparing online prices. KNOW YOUR RETURN RIGHTS Sale items still come with legal protections. Defective goods: Under the Consumer Protection Act, you can return faulty goods within six months for a repair, replacement or refund, even if you bought them on sale. The exception is a defect the store clearly told you about before you bought the item. Online purchases: Under the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act, you can generally cancel an online purchase within seven days of receiving the goods, although you may have to pay the cost of returning them. “No returns” signs: Check the store’s return policy before you buy, but remember that a store can’t take away your legal right to return defective goods. IS THE WEBSITE REAL? Scammers create fake online shops and adverts that look almost identical to the real thing. What to do: Type the store’s web address yourself, rather than clicking on links in adverts, emails or SMSes. Check the web address carefully for spelling mistakes or extra words. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true, especially on social media. Look for contact details, such as a physical address and phone number. PAY SAFELY How you pay can make a big difference if something goes wrong. What to do: Pay by card through the store’s secure checkout, rather than by EFT to an individual’s bank account. Never share your one-time PIN (OTP) with anyone. Approve payments only in your banking app when you’ve made the purchase yourself. Set a budget before you start shopping, so you don’t overspend on deals you don’t need. WHERE TO COMPLAIN If a retailer won’t help with a faulty product or a misleading deal, you can complain to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO), or to the National Consumer Commission (NCC). WHAT ARE YOU HOPING TO BUY THIS BLACK FRIDAY? Let us know in the comments below…

South Africa’s gas-to-power programme has hit a major setback. The government wanted to buy 2,000 megawatts of gas-fired electricity. Four companies offered more than that. But not a single project was approved. The Department of Electricity and Energy and the Independent Power Producer (IPP) Office announced on Wednesday, 28 October, that Bid Window 1 of the Gas Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (GASIPPPP)had ended without any award of generation capacity. WHY NO PROJECTS WERE APPROVED The programme aimed to buy 2,000MW of gas-fired electricity. By the closing date of 29 May 2026, it had received four bids, offering a combined 2,830MW. But according to the department, the bidders couldn’t provide assurances of gas supply at the level the programme required. South Africa imports most of its natural gas from Mozambique, and doesn’t have an operational liquefied natural gas (LNG) import terminal. ‘SOUTH AFRICA IS NOT RETREATING’ Minister of Electricity and Energy Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the government still plans to pursue gas-to-power. “South Africa is not retreating from our gas to power objectives. As the first in Africa to take on this ambition, we are further enabled by this first procurement process to strengthen the conditions necessary to achieve them,” he said. 📹 RECAP | Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa prioritises battery storage and gas-to-power to reduce curtailment and strengthen reliable electricity supply. #EnergyZA#GovZAUpdates pic.twitter.com/HqpelwEHqC— South African Government (@GovernmentZA) October 8, 2026 The department says the process provided practical lessons that will shape how future rounds are structured. It plans to announce more information before the end of 2026. The minister had been due to brief the media on the programme at 09:00 on 28 October, but the briefing was postponed. WHY GAS-TO-POWER MATTERS Gas power stations can be switched on when they’re needed, unlike solar and wind, which depend on the weather. That makes gas useful for providing electricity when renewable output falls, or when demand rises, such as during evening peaks. Earlier in October, Ramokgopa announced plans to procure 5,000MW of gas-to-power and 4,600MW of battery energy storage between 2026 and 2037. WHAT IT MEANS FOR ELECTRICITY PRICES For now, the setback won’t directly change your electricity bill. Electricity tariffs are set by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, and no gas-to-power plants were ready to supply electricity yet. However, the cost of future gas-fired electricity will depend heavily on gas prices. When announcing the new procurement plans in October, Ramokgopa said future bids would be assessed on “fuel availability, delivered gas prices, supporting port and pipeline infrastructure, grid connections and commissioning schedules” together. WHAT IT MEANS FOR ELECTRICITY SUPPLY The delay means South Africa will have to wait longer for new gas-fired power. In the meantime, the government is also procuring battery storage, which can store surplus solar and wind power for use when it’s needed. DO YOU THINK GAS-TO-POWER IS THE RIGHT WAY TO SECURE SOUTH AFRICA’S ELECTRICITY SUPPLY? Let us know in the comments below…

Icasa wants mobile operators to check their subscribers' fingerprints or faces against home affairs records.

AI is squeezing Google search growth: Alphabet missed ad revenue estimates and burned billions in cash.