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It has taken the local car buying public a long time to warm up to all-electric vehicles (EVs) for a number of reasons. High prices due to additional taxation, range anxiety and fears associated with charging during load-shedding have all contributed to the slow uptake in local EV sales. But the current combination of soaring fuel prices and more affordable all-electric cars have resulted in the kind of EV sales that would have been unimaginably just a year ago. The switch from traditional internal combustion engine powered cars to more affordable new energy forms of transport has been swift as motorists try and avoid more pain at the pumps. Chery Q enters fray Leading the charge (pun intended) is the Chery Q. Last month, the hatchback set a new record for monthly new EV sales which amounted to 438 units. To put this into perspective, that is 52 cars more than Honda and Mazda sold locally in total in October. The BYD Dolphin Surf previously held the monthly record for EV sales when 302 found new homes in April. Albeit trailing the Chery Q in October, the BYD nonetheless has another strong month with sales of 248. The Chery Q recently entered a fascinating battle against the BYD Dolphin Surf and the Geely E2 in the quest to be Mzansi’s most affordable EV. A mere R10 000 separate the starting point to these three model ranges. E2 undercuts Dolphin Surf Priced between R341 900 and R395 900, the BYD Dolphin Surf was the cheapest local EV before surrendering its crown to the Geely E2 in April. The latter features a sticker ranging from R339 900 to R389 900. After much talk that the Chery Q might undercut the Geely E2 in terms of price, the former eventually entered the battle at a starting price of R349 900, which goes up to R389 900. The Chery does however feature a bigger battery and a better range than its Chinese contemporaries. The Geely E2’s official sales numbers are not yet included in the monthly Naamsa figures.

Despite the hosts missing a slew of star players, the Springboks are expecting a tough challenge from Italy when the sides meet in their Nations Championship encounter at the Allianz Stadium in Turin on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 1:40pm). The Italians are missing some of their best players, including midfielders Tommaso Menoncello and Juan Ignacio Brex, as well as loose forward Sebastian Negri, among others, due to injury, and will thus have to rely on a number of less experienced players to do the job against the world champions. But at a press conference on Tuesday Springbok defence coach Jerry Flannery pointed to the clash between the Boks and Italy at Loftus last year, when the Italians brought an understrength side to tour the country and pushed the South Africans all the way, to show how difficult they can be. Big challenge “We still respect them enormously, when they came to Pretoria last year, they were also missing key players and ran us very close,” explained Flannery. “They have a really strong set-piece. Their scrum is probably up there with one of the best in the Six Nations, and that gives them a big advantage going into the game. They are also a very well-coached team who do the basics well. “They still have players like (utility back) Ange Capuozzo, who can break a game open if you give him half a chance. Obviously, they will miss Brex because he is a really good footballer, while Menoncello is one of the best centres in the world and incredibly powerful. “But they have a strong kicking game, with players like Paolo Garbisi, who has an excellent left foot, and they have good aerial players, so we need to be strong in that area. And if there are any scraps off the back of their kicking game, Capuozzo can create something from nothing, so controlling those areas will be key.” ‘Well-coached team’ Although the injuries will have thrown a spanner into the Boks’ preparations in terms of the players they were expecting to face, Flannery said that they were preparing for the team as a whole and were not focused on individual players. “Italy have shown that they are building depth in their squad, and heading towards the World Cup (in Australia next year), that will benefit them in the long term as those (fringe) players gain more Test caps. “We’ve identified some dangerous individuals, but they are a really well-coached team, so we’re looking at defending them as a team rather than just focusing on the individuals.” With the Boks having only gotten together as a team on Sunday, Flannery believes this is perfect preparation for the World Cup next year, with the short preparation time and a number of big games in a short period of time. “I think the tour is a good representation of what’s coming heading into a World Cup year. The squad must get together and play games consistently in a short period of time,” explained Flannery. “We’re not yet sure how much we’ll rotate through this period, but for me it’s almost like knockout rugby, with the group stages, round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, and final. It’s that kind of intensity.”

Nine South African lottery players became multimillionaires after sharing the R25 million PowerBall Xtra jackpot on Friday, 30 October. The winning tickets were purchased at outlets spread across the country, from Grahamstown and Mthatha to George and Alberton. Each of the nine winners walked away with R2 814 061.90 after matching four numbers and the bonus ball. The winning numbers were 6, 24, 29, 36 and 37, with 2 as the bonus ball. No player matched all five numbers and the bonus ball. There was also no winner in Division 2, which requires all five main numbers to be matched. But thanks to Sizekhaya’s rule that the final PowerBall Xtra draw of every month will pay out regardless of no one correctly matching all five numbers and the bonus ball, the payout cascaded down two divisions. Where were the nine winning tickets bought? The nine winning tickets were purchased at the following outlets and banking platforms: Grahamstown: Get Lucky Shop Mthatha: Bingo Royale Hazelpark: Pick n Pay Hazelpark Banking platform: ABSA Banking platform: Standard Bank Banking platform: FNB Hazyview: Checkers New Hazyview Junction George: New York Corner Alberton: Spar Alberton Why did the R25 million jackpot cascade? Under Sizekhaya’s rules, if nobody wins the PowerBall Xtra jackpot in the final draw of the month, the entire prize cascades to the next winning division rather than rolling over. That is what happened on 30 October. With no winners in the top two divisions, the jackpot was shared among the nine players who matched four numbers and the bonus ball. It is the latest in a run of monthly jackpot cascades since Sizekhaya took over the National Lottery on 1 June 2026. On 30 June, the estimated R139 million jackpot cascaded to Division 2, creating three multimillionaires who each received R45 733 457.30. On 31 July, one player won R23 810 456.50 after matching all five main numbers, while another winner took home R21 062 766.20 on 28 August. On 29 September, 15 players shared the jackpot after matching four numbers and the bonus ball, each receiving R1 388 743.20. The October winners bring the total number of players who have benefited from these monthly cascades to 29. Next PowerBall and PowerBall Xtra jackpots Following Tuesday, 3 November’s draws, which produced no jackpot winners, the prizes have reset for the next draw on Friday, 6 November. The advertised jackpots are: PowerBall: Guaranteed R50 million PowerBall Xtra: Estimated R5 million How to play PowerBall and PowerBall Xtra To enter PowerBall, players select five numbers between 1 and 50, as well as one PowerBall number between 1 and 16. A standard board costs R10. Players can pay an additional R5 to enter the PowerBall Xtra draw using the same number selection. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday at 21:00 and are broadcast on e.tv and SABC. Tickets are available from authorised Sizekhaya retailers, including supermarkets, garages and convenience stores, as well as through participating banking apps and the National Lottery website. Ticket sales close at 20:40 on draw days. How often do you play one of the lottery games? Let us know in the comments below … The South African is the first to deliver Lottery results each day. Check back at 21:00 for tonight’s results.

One of the best ways to spot wildlife in Kruger National Park is to spend some time near a waterhole or dam. These natural gathering points attract animals throughout the day, particularly during the dry winter months when water becomes scarcer. Visitors may encounter elephants, buffalo, antelope, hippos, crocodiles and a variety of birdlife. Some waterholes and dams are also conveniently located near popular rest camps, making them easy additions to a self-drive safari. Here are some of the waterholes and dams worth adding to your Kruger itinerary. 1. Sunset Dam, near Lower Sabie Sunset Dam is one of the best-known wildlife-viewing spots in southern Kruger. Located just outside Lower Sabie Rest Camp, off the H4-1 road, the dam attracts a variety of wildlife and is particularly popular with visitors hoping to see hippos, crocodiles and waterbirds. Elephants and other animals also visit the water to drink, while the surrounding vegetation provides opportunities for spotting wildlife. Its accessible location makes it an easy stop for visitors driving between Lower Sabie and Skukuza. Early mornings and late afternoons are particularly good times to visit. 2. Lower Sabie Dam, overlooking Lower Sabie Rest Camp Visitors staying at Lower Sabie have another convenient wildlife-viewing opportunity right beside the camp. The rest camp overlooks Lower Sabie Dam, which attracts elephants, waterbuck and a variety of birdlife. The setting also makes it possible to enjoy wildlife viewing without spending the entire day in a vehicle. The surrounding Sabie River area is particularly rewarding for visitors interested in a combination of mammals and birdlife. 3. Duke’s Waterhole, near Lower Sabie Another waterhole worth looking out for in southern Kruger is Duke’s Waterhole, located along the S137 near Lower Sabie. The area is known for wildlife sightings, with lions among the animals visitors may encounter. Cheetahs and African wild dogs have also been recorded in the surrounding area. For visitors staying at Lower Sabie, it is worth adding this waterhole to a morning or afternoon game drive. 4. Kanniedood Dam, near Shingwedzi Kanniedood Dam is one of the northern Kruger’s notable wildlife-viewing spots. Located along the S50 near Shingwedzi Rest Camp, the dam is surrounded by the Shingwedzi River system, which attracts a variety of animals. The surrounding area is known for elephant and buffalo sightings, while the riverine habitat also supports a variety of bird species. The S50 is considered one of the worthwhile game-viewing routes in northern Kruger, making Kanniedood Dam a good stop for visitors exploring this less-visited part of the park. 5. Nhlanganzwane Dam, near Lower Sabie Nhlanganzwane Dam is another option for visitors exploring the southern part of Kruger. Located along the S28, approximately 4km south of the Nhlambanyathi bird hide, it is worth considering as part of a longer drive from Lower Sabie. The surrounding area offers a mix of open grassland and bushveld, attracting a variety of wildlife. The dam can be particularly rewarding during the drier months when animals make more frequent visits to available water sources. When is the best time to visit Kruger’s waterholes? Waterholes and dams can attract wildlife throughout the year, but the dry winter season, generally from May to September, can offer particularly rewarding viewing opportunities. As natural water sources become less abundant, animals may gather more frequently around dams, rivers and artificial waterholes. Early morning and late afternoon are also good times to look for wildlife, as temperatures are generally cooler and many animals become more active. During the hotter parts of the day, visitors may find animals resting in shaded areas rather than approaching exposed waterholes. Visitors must also remain inside their vehicles except at designated get-out points, and should never approach, feed or disturb wild animals. There are no guaranteed sightings in Kruger, but including waterholes and dams in your self-drive itinerary can improve your chances of encountering some of the park’s wildlife.

DJ Zinhle's Bestie Connect is a prepaid mobile network on MTN, aimed squarely at her followers.

ACT's Nomvuyiso Batyi says Icasa's draft Sim rules give the regulator powers it doesn't have.