Two Eastern Cape police officers were shot and killed early Friday while responding to a reported attack on a spaza shop in Ziphunzana Location, Libode, near Mthatha.

Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has urged South African men to move beyond talk and take action against GBV.

Mineral Resources and Petroleum Minister Gwede Mantashe says no measures are in place to help South Africans with rising fuel prices. The country began the year with optimism for their wallets, but that quickly took a turn in late February with the outbreak of the Middle East conflict. Since the outbreak of the conflict, global oil prices have surged significantly, while the rand has lost its strength – this has driven fuel prices to a new high ever seen. Petrol prices have smashed the previous record high of R26.74 a litre, set in July 2022 during the Ukraine war, and are now heading towards the R30-a-litre mark. Prices hit new record levels in June 2026, while wholesale diesel has also climbed to historic highs of more than R32 a litre. Motorists need help Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana previously offered motorists temporary relief by suspending the fuel levy at the start of the conflict. However, this temporary relief ended in July 2026. In a parliamentary question, MP Adil Nchabeleng asked Mantashe what urgent measures his department has implemented to cushion South Africans from the impact of rising fuel costs, especially given the August 2026 diesel price increases. “There are currently no interventions planned due in part to the ongoing volatility in petroleum product prices,” said Mantashe. “The department continues to administer fuel prices in a transparent manner as prescribed in legislation.” Diesel prices increase Mantashe added that the department is also reviewing the regulatory accounting system, “which will bring about equitable, fair and transparent margins across the fuel value chain”. In August, diesel prices rose to R26.16 per litre and R26.40 per litre. Petrol prices eased to R25.42 per litre for 93 unleaded, and R25.58 per litre for 95 unleaded. October seems likely to deliver pain for both diesel and petrol users. Diesel prices are currently R30.05 per litre, and forecasts suggest October could push them to R32.08 per litre. Petrol users are also not safe. Currently, a litre of 93 unleaded petrol costs R26.76, while 95 unleaded petrol costs R26.92. For October, motorists could pay R28.85 per litre. Improve affordability Nchabeleng also asked Mantashe if the department is looking to review the fuel price structure to improve affordability. “Whether his department will review the fuel price structure, including the slate levy and other fuel-related charges, to improve affordability and reduce the burden on consumers and the broader economy; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details?” Mantashe said, “Given the current geopolitical landscape that has given rise to an increase in petroleum product prices, the department has already reviewed the Basic Fuel Price (BFP) component of the price structure. “As indicated above, the department is also undertaking the review of the RAS, which the department utilises to determine margins which also form part of the fuel price structure. This review forms part of the department’s APP and will be concluded in March 2027. Changes proposed in the slate levy administration are meant to ensure ongoing supply on fuels in the country for the duration of this current conflict in the Middle East.”

South Africa’s bowling attack has received another knock, with Lungi Ngidi being ruled out of the Proteas’ three-match one-day international (ODI) home series against Australia starting next week. Ngidi picked up a right hamstring injury during a domestic first-class game between the Titans and Dolphins this week. “Following scans conducted on Wednesday, he will undergo a period of rehabilitation,” Cricket SA said in a statement. Two other fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman, had already been ruled out of the series (also due to hamstring injuries). The absence of the trio, however, had opened the door for other players to receive opportunities. Chances for Coetzee, Jansen and Mokoena With Rabada not being considered for selection, speedster Gerald Coetzee had received his first call-up to the national squad in nearly three years in the 50-over format. And with Baartman sidelined, Duan Jansen was called up as his replacement, after shining on his first tour for the Proteas in Namibia earlier this month. Now, with Ngidi being ruled out, 20-year-old seamer Nqobani Mokoena, who also made his ODI debut on the Proteas’ tour to Namibia, had been called up as his replacement. Rabada, Ngidi and Baartman were all still expected to be in contention for selection ahead of the three-match Test series between SA and Australia next month.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has dismissed viral claims that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Chinese President Xi Jinping and other world leaders became ill after attending the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi. The ministry’s fact-checking unit labelled the claims misleading and warned social media users against what it described as malicious posts. The BRICS Summit was held in New Delhi on 12 and 13 September under the theme Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability. The summit concluded with the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration. Fake Alert!!! 🚨🚨🚨We caution against such malicious posts on social media platforms! pic.twitter.com/NRu6Dfk7Yj— MEA FactCheck (@MEAFactCheck) September 17, 2026 Cyril Ramaphosa illness fuels online rumours The claims gained traction after Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that the South African president had been booked off from public engagements. He was advised by his doctors to rest and recover, although his office did not disclose the nature of his illness. Social media posts subsequently attempted to link Ramaphosa’s health to an alleged food poisoning incident at the BRICS summit. However, India’s MEA has rejected the suggestion that world leaders fell ill because of food served at the event. The ministry’s fact-checking account on X directly addressed the claims, describing them as misleading and urging people to be cautious of unverified information circulating online. Claims about Xi also dismissed Separate social media claims suggested that Xi had fainted or had left India early because of health concerns. Those claims are also disputed by available information. Xi attended the second session of the BRICS Summit alongside Cyril Ramaphosa and other leaders on 13 September, before completing his scheduled engagements. There has been no verified evidence presented linking Xi’s health, or Ramaphosa’s subsequent medical leave, to food served at the summit. The New Delhi meeting brought together leaders of the BRICS grouping as discussions focused on cooperation, economic development, resilience and other international issues. Officials urge caution over social media claims The latest rumours highlight how quickly unverified claims can spread when they involve prominent political figures. In this case, Ramaphosa’s confirmed absence from public engagements was used online as the basis for claims about an alleged mass food-poisoning incident. India’s MEA has now publicly rejected that narrative.

Several Afrikaner refugee applicants have shared the criminal charges that have led to them being rejected from the resettlement programme. This comes amid an increase in the number of applicants who have received ineligibility letters. To date, figures have revealed that over 13 000 ethnic minorities, predominantly white South Africans, have resettled under the US under the President Donald Trump administration. The programme is open to South Africans who face “racial persecution” or a fear of future persecution to apply for resettlement in the United States. AFRIKANER REFUGEES ON WHY THEY WERE TURNED DOWN Speaking to The Guardian this week, several refugee applicants shed light on why they were rejected from the resettlement programme. The applicants, mostly Afrikaner people who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were distraught after receiving their eligibility letters. Some of them had packed up and sold off their belongings in South Africa and were now faced with “starting over”. A man in his 60s told the publication that he was rejected as his partner, whom he had jointly applied to the programme with, had a marijuana conviction brought up. The couple had completed the screening process last year and received a rejection letter in June. He said, “I cried like a baby. It was something I actually believed was attainable. I believed the hype.” Another couple shared that they had sold all their possessions when they received a rejection letter in July. The husband shared that he had been convicted of trespassing in 2014, for which he had paid a fine and did not go to court. Despite this, he was granted multiple temporary visas to work on farms in the US between 2011 and 2024. Another man, also in his 60s, admitted to shooting a black person in his job as a security personnel in 1995. The man claimed that he had been investigated by authorities and was not charged, as he was found to have acted in self-defence. The man applied for a Freedom of Information (FOI) request, and was notified that the reasons behind his rejection were “crime involving moral turpitude” and “commission of acts of torture or extrajudicial killing”. CAN REJECTION LETTERS BE APPEALED? Applications have been rejected, and some individuals have had their status revoked for the following reasons:  The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) can revoke applications based on the following: Fraud and misrepresentation  Ineligibility Security and terrorism concerns Criminal history The UCIS has stated that it is under no obligation to grant an appeal to a rejected refugee applicant. However, in rare cases, the application may be reviewed if evidence is missing or a factual error is found. This is entirely discretionary. ‘DO NOT MISLEAD OR LIE’ According to US YouTuber and intel expert Chris Wyatt, many cases of rejection stemmed from applicants who had not been forthcoming about their past during the screening process. He said in a video: “I’ll tell you why people are getting denied. Criminal activity, criminal convictions, lying to investigators, and drug offences and drug use. “Over the past year, I’ve repeatedly said that an act of omission is an act of commission. Do not mislead or lie” Wyatt explained that this also applied to those who intentionally failed to disclose expunged crimes from their past. “You’re a liar in their eyes. Expunged doesn’t mean that the record is gone. It just means that you don’t have a personal criminal record. It doesn’t mean the government doesn’t retain records of it. They consider that a lie. You’ve made yourself ineligible”.

The ransomware group behind the MIP Holdings breach now appears to be extorting insurers directly.

Claude's share of Anthropic's research jumped from 1% to 26% since March, with humans still involved.