The future of the National Freedom Party’s (NFP) eDumbe mayor, Sibusiso Shevu Mkhabela, hangs in the balance.  This comes after the party’s national executive committee (NEC) announced that Mkhabela be removed as party national chairperson and NEC member.  “The NEC resolved to remove Cde Sibusiso Mkhabela from the position of national chairperson and as member of the national executive committee with immediate effect,” said party secretary-general Sunset Bheki Xaba in a communique. He was also removed as a member of the party’s national working committee. No reasons were given about what had led to his recall from the party’s highest decision-making body.  Mkhabela is a close ally of the now-expelled former party KZN chairperson Mbali Shinga. Shinga, who was also the MEC for social development, was sacked on June 4. She was also removed as a member of the legislature. This follows the party’s appeals tribunal upholding the decision to fire her.  Her woes stem from the fact that she defied party instructions during a no-confidence vote against KZN premier Thami Ntuli in December.  Although the NFP had given Shinga instructions to vote for an uMkhonto weSizwe Party-sponsored motion, she had instead supported the DA, ANC and IFP who are in the government of provincial unity (GPU).  Fighting her removal from the provincial cabinet and her party, Shinga has since approached the Pietermaritzburg High Court. She also wants the court to prevent anyone from being sworn in as her legislature replacement.  Mkhabela was among the prominent voices accusing party president Irvin Barnes of dividing the party and pushing for his removal. While Barnes and his supporters want the party to join forces with the MK Party and the EFF in a bid to topple the KZN GPU, Mkhabela, Shinga and their sympathisers want the party to remain in the GPU’s fold.  It is unclear what will happen to Mkhabela’s mayorship amid the developments. The NFP’s top leadership also suspended Zodwa Mtshali, the KZN provincial secretary. Mtshali is also the deputy mayor of uMhlabuyalingana Local Municipality, in the KZN far northern KZN region. Mtshali was suspended for what the party called unruly behaviour after she issued a media statement against Shinga’s expulsion and affirmed the position of the provincial executive to rally behind Shinga’s court bid.  She has been suspended for three months, pending an internal investigation. 

There is a tired accusation that resurfaces every time communities resist pollution, challenge mining licences, oppose gas projects or question government decisions: communities and NGOs are “anti-development”.  It is an accusation designed to delegitimise dissent; to suggest that those raising concerns about health, livelihoods, land, water or democratic participation are obstacles to progress. But South Africa’s history tells a different story. In fact, many of the rights and freedoms people enjoy today exist because civil society organisations (CSOs) refused to remain silent when silence would have been easier and politically convenient. To understand the role of CSOs, one must first understand what the Constitution was meant to do. The Constitution was never written to comfort the powerful. It emerged from the violence and exclusions of apartheid as a system in which the law was used to deny dignity, land, healthcare, movement and political voice to most people.  The democratic Constitution therefore carried a deeper responsibility, not only to establish democratic institutions but also to protect people from abuses of power, whether by the state or private interests. At its core, the Constitution is meant to serve those most vulnerable to exclusion: the poor, workers, rural communities, people living next to mines, refineries and industrial zones and those denied healthcare, clean water, decent housing and meaningful participation in decisions affecting their lives. It recognises that without dignity and material justice, freedom would remain incomplete. This is why the Treatment Action Campaign’s (TAC) role remains one of the defining examples of democratic civil society in post-apartheid South Africa. The TAC did not invent rights. It gave life to rights that existed on paper. At the height of the HIV/Aids crisis, when denialism and political paralysis cost lives daily, the TAC organised communities, educated the public and challenged the state in court to force the rollout of antiretroviral treatment.  At the time, activists were accused of embarrassing the government, creating instability and undermining authority. Yet history has since rendered its judgment on the matter clearly. Had the TAC remained silent in the name of political convenience or “stability”, countless more South Africans would have died waiting for treatment that proved to save lives. The TAC tested whether constitutional rights would mean anything for poor black South Africans dying in public hospitals and townships. Section 27 guarantees the right to access healthcare services but rights written into law mean little if governments can ignore them without consequence.  Through litigation, mobilisation and public pressure, the TAC demonstrated something essential about democracy: rights are not self-executing. They must be defended, demanded and deepened through public participation and accountability. The legacy matters profoundly today. The same Constitution that protects access to healthcare also guarantees the right to an environment that is not harmful to health or well-being. It protects dignity, equality, access to information and just administrative action. The rights were never intended to exist in isolation from one another. Together, they form part of a democratic vision in which people are not treated as disposable in the pursuit of profit or political ambition. This is why environmental justice struggles are constitutional struggles. When communities challenge toxic air pollution in Mpumalanga, they are defending constitutional rights. When residents question oil and gas exploration that threatens water sources and livelihoods, they are defending constitutional rights. When people demand meaningful consultation before projects proceed on their land, they are not obstructing development and democracy; they are exercising it.  Yet increasingly, CSOs and community organisations are portrayed as enemies of development whenever they challenge powerful political and economic interests. The framing deliberately avoids more uncomfortable questions: Development for whom and at whose cost? For too long, development has been narrowly defined through extraction and large-scale industrial expansion alone: more mines, more fossil fuel projects, more pipelines and more infrastructure. Communities are repeatedly told to sacrifice in the name of jobs, growth and investment. Yet many of the areas carrying the heaviest environmental burdens remain among the poorest and most neglected in the country. People living next to coal plants struggle with unemployment. Communities near refineries continue to suffer from pollution-related illnesses. Rural areas targeted for extraction often lack basic services long after companies have extracted wealth from the land. Communities therefore have every right to ask difficult questions. If development destroys water sources, deepens inequality and leaves people sick while profits flow elsewhere, who is benefiting? These are not anti-development questions. They are democratic questions.  Civil society organisations often step into these struggles because ordinary people do not have equal access to power. People cannot always afford lawyers, scientific experts or policy specialists capable of challenging corporations and state institutions. CSOs help level the playing field. They create space for participation where decisions are otherwise made behind closed doors. They force transparency. They ensure that constitutional obligations are not reduced to symbolic promises. This is not sabotage. It is democracy functioning as intended. Importantly, environmental justice organisations are not simply saying “no”. Across the country, NGOs and community movements continue advocating for cleaner energy systems, affordable electricity, public accountability, resilient human settlements, safer public transport, sustainable livelihoods and development models that prioritise human well-being over short-term extraction. They are not opposed to development. They are opposed to forms of development that treat poor and working-class communities as sacrifice zones. There is also a deeper irony in the accusation. Many of the voices that dismiss CSOs benefit from rights secured through decades of civil society struggle. From access to HIV treatment to anti-corruption work, housing rights and environmental protections, organised civil society has repeatedly strengthened South African democracy when institutions alone proved insufficient.  South Africa’s progress has never come from unquestioning obedience to power. It has come from organised people insisting that the country live up to its constitutional promises. The TAC understood this. Environmental justice movements understand it too. Safeguarding rights is not anti-development. It is how democracies prevent development from becoming exploitation. Siphesihle Mvundla is groundWork’s climate and energy justice campaigner.

Opposition parties are intensifying their push for the impeachment committee to demand forensic evidence in the Phala Phala theft case, following shocking revelations about the accused's lavish spending that contradicts President Cyril Ramaphosa's claims.

An employer has appealed for public assistance after claiming that his immigrant gardener, was allegedly robbed by police officers while travelling to work in Wierdapark, Gauteng, leaving him without his bicycle and R950 in cash.

Mourners hold smoke flares during the funeral ceremony of Yaroslav Varnak, 23 years old a serviceman who was killed in action in Kyiv on June 8, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / AFP) Some 429 people dressed as ‘The Tramp’ gather for a photograph in front of The Manoir de Ban, the final residence of English film director and actor Charlie Chaplin, during an event to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Chaplin’s World museum in Corsier-sur-Vevey, western Switzerland, on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP) Foreign nationals camped outside the Department of Home Affairs offices in Durban on 7 June, 2026 use their mobile phones to watch South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressing the Nation on its immigration crisis. (Photo by Rajesh JANTILAL / AFP) Fans of singer-songwriter Kate Bush gather in the Meadows to recreate the Wuthering Heights dance on June 06, 2026 in Edinburgh, Scotland. The mass dance in tribute to Kate Bush’s legendary 1978 music video for her hit song Wuthering Heights was part of a wider worldwide movement, of similar tribute events are taking place in cities across the world. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) Pope Leo XIV attends the Corpus Christi Procession after holding a mass in the Plaza de Cibeles on June 7, 2026 in Madrid, Spain. Pope Leo XIV is making an apostolic journey to Spain from June 6-12, marking the first papal visit to the country since Benedict XVI visited in 2011. During the trip Pope Leo travels to Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Many of his planned engagements center on issues around marginalized people, youth, and migrants, alongside meetings with the Spanish royals, government figures, and church officials. A highlight of the itinerary sees Pope Leo inaugurate the recently completed Tower of Jesus Christ spire at the Basílica de la Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the architect Antoni Gaudí’s death. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Palestinians light torches during the launch of a mock sporting event ‘Gaza 2026 World Cup Simulation’ at the Martyr Muhammad al-Durra Stadium, which houses displaced people in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip on June 7, 2026. The event launched in the Gaza Strip is a community-led initiative aimed to showcase the resilience of Palestinians with a message of global solidarity. (Photo by Eyad Baba / AFP) A man cools off in stream water during a hot summer day on the outskirts of Islamabad on June 8, 2026. Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has forecast hot and dry weather in most parts of the country with the highest temperatures recorded at 46 celsius in the southern Sindh province. (Photo by Aamir QURESHI / AFP) A woman crosses the street in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad building near Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur on June 8, 2026. (Photo by Mohd RASFAN / AFP) Environmentalists including Kenya’s former Chief Justice and presidential contender, David Maraga (C), are detained by police during a march in protest of a controversial seizure of a chunk of conservation land within the Nairobi National Park for the private development of parking spaces, in Nairobi on June 8, 2026. Destruction of indigenous fauna to clear a site for construction work has begun at the park famed for being the world’s largest national park within a metropolis sparking immediate outrage among environmental defenders including Kenya’s former Chief Justice and presidential contender, David Maraga who was among those arrested for taking part in the protest. (Photo by Tony KARUMBA / AFP) A man poses for a photo next to a fallen rocket half-buried in the ground on the outskirts of Jericho on June 8, 2026, following Iranian and Iran-backed Houthi rebel attacks. Israel and Iran traded fire on June 8, seriously testing a fragile truce and threating hopes for a deal to end the Middle East war. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP) ‘El Colacho’ leaps over babies during the festival of El Colacho on June 07, 2026 in Castrillo de Murcia, Spain. The historic festival sees ‘El Colachoâ, a man in costume representing the devil, jumping over newborn infants to cleanse them of original sin and protect them from evil spirits. (Photo by Samuel de Roman/Anadolu via Getty Images) People take part the Dragon Parade during the 25th Great Dragon Parade edition at the Main Square, Krakow, Poland, on June 07, 2026. For the 25th year in a row, Krakow brings the annual celebration representing the myth of Dragon, the city symbol. (Photo by Omar Marques/Anadolu via Getty Images) A man grabs a child during the 16th Tomato Fight Festival known as “Tomatina” in Sutamarchan, Boyaca department, Colombia on June 7, 2026. (Photo by ESTEBAN VEGA LA-ROTTA / AFP) Tugboats move a crude oil tanker to its berth at the oil terminal at the port in Qingdao, in China’s eastern Shandong province on June 8, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP) IZMIR, TURKIYE – JUNE 6: Aircraft of the Turkish Air Force perform a runway parade during the ‘Youth and Aviation Festival’ held at the 2nd Main Jet Base Command in the Cigli district of Izmir, Turkiye, on June 6, 2026. Organized by the Ministry of National Defence to mark the 115th anniversary of the Turkish Air Force, the festival aims to promote aviation culture among younger generations and introduce the public to Turkish aviation. (Photo by Berkan Cetin/Anadolu via Getty Images) MORE: 48 hours in pictures, 7 June 2026

A fine and cool to cold day has been forecast across South Africa for Tuesday, 9 June, with fog patches and showers expected in some provinces. Here is what weather to expect tomorrow, according to the South African Weather Service. Weather warnings for 9 June 2026 The weather service has not issued any impact-based warnings or advisories for June. Extended weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, 09-10 June 2026:Fine and cold to cool but partly cloudy in places on Tuesday with isolated showers and rain in the south-east.#saws #weatheroutlook pic.twitter.com/zHt74CSty0— SA Weather Service (@SAWeatherServic) June 7, 2026 Provincial weather forecast Here’s what to expect in your province on 9 June: Gauteng: It will be a fine and cool day. The region’s expected UVB sunburn index is “high”. Residents should take the necessary precautions against prolonged sun exposure. Mpumalanga: Expect fine and cool conditions, but warm in the Lowveld. Limpopo: It will be fine and cool but warm in the east. North West: Fine and cool weather awaits. Free State: Expect a fine and cool to cold day. Northern Cape: There will be morning fog patches in places in the west; otherwise, it will be fine and cool to cold. Western Cape: Morning fog patches are expected in places along the coast; otherwise, a fine and cool day waits. Eastern Cape (western half): It will be partly cloudy and cool with isolated morning showers of rain in the south. Eastern Cape (eastern half): Expect partly cloudy and cool conditions with isolated showers of rain along the coast and adjacent interior. KwaZulu-Natal: There will be morning and evening fog patches over the interior; otherwise, it will be partly cloudy and cool but cold in the southwest. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the south and east.

Struggling to decide what to wear? Here’s what today’s weather has in store for South Africa’s nine provinces. Your daily weather, UVB forecast and temperature updates around South Africa. Weather conditions and UVB forecast Gauteng Temperature: Fine and cool. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: High DID YOU KNOW Where does Gauteng rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? Gauteng is the smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 18 178 square kilometres. Where does Gauteng rank in population among South Africa’s provinces? Gauteng is the biggest in terms of population, with an estimated 16 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of Gauteng? The administrative capital of the province is Johannesburg, which is situated at 25°44′46″S 28°11′17″E. Mpumalanga Temperature: Fine and cool but warm in the Lowveld. DID YOU KNOW Where does Mpumalanga rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? Mpumalanga is the second smallest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 76 495 square kilometres. Where does Mpumalanga rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? Mpumalanga is the sixth most populous, with an estimated 4.7 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of Mpumalanga? The capital and largest city in the province is Mbombela (formerly known as Nelspruit), which is situated at 25°27′57″S 30°59′07″E. The daily weather forecast and temperature updates around South Africa. Limpopo Temperature: Fine and cool but warm in the east. DID YOU KNOW Where does Limpopo rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? Limpopo is the fifth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 125 754 square kilometres. Where does Limpopo rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? Limpopo is the fifth most populous, with an estimated 5.9 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of Limpopo? The capital and largest city in the province is Polokwane, which is situated at 23°54′00″S 29°27′00″E. North West Temperature: Fine and cool. DID YOU KNOW Where does the North West rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? The North West is the sixth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 104 882 square kilometres. Where does the North West rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? The North West is the seventh most populous, with an estimated 4.2 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of the North West? Its capital is Mahikeng (formerly known as Mafikeng), which is situated at 25°51′56″S 25°38′37″E. Free State Temperature: Fine and cool to cold. DID YOU KNOW Where does the Free State rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? The Free State is the third largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 129 825 square kilometres. Where does the Free State rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? The Free State is the second smallest in terms of population, with an estimated 2.9 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of the Free State? Formerly known as the Orange Free State, its capital and biggest city is Bloemfontein, South Africa’s judicial capital. It is situated at 29°07′S 26°13′E. Northern Cape Temperature: Morning fog patches in places in the west, otherwise fine and cool to cold. Wind: Temperature: The wind along the coast will be light and variable DID YOU KNOW Where does the Northern Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? The Northern Cape is the largest of South Africa’s nine provinces at 372 889 square kilometres. Where does the Northern Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? The Northern Cape is the smallest in terms of population, with an estimated 1.3 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of the Northern Cape? Its capital is Kimberley, which is situated at 28°44′18″S 24°45′50″E. Western Cape Temperature: Morning fog patches in places along the coast, otherwise fine and cool. Wind: The wind along the coast will be light and variable. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate DID YOU KNOW Where does the Western Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? The Western Cape is the fourth largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 129 449 square kilometres. Where does the Western Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? The Western Cape is the third most populous, with an estimated 7.2 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of the Western Cape? The capital city is Cape Town, which is situated at 33°55′31″S 18°25′26″E. Eastern Cape The Western half: Partly cloudy and cool with isolated morning showers of rain in the south. The Western half – wind: The wind along the coast will be light and variable. The Eastern half: Partly cloudy and cool with isolated showers of rain along the coast and adjacent interior. The Eastern half-wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-easterly. DID YOU KNOW Where does the Eastern Cape rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? The Eastern Cape is the second largest of South Africa’s nine provinces at 168 966 square kilometres. Where does the Eastern Cape rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? The Eastern Cape is the fourth biggest in terms of population, with an estimated 6.7 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of the Eastern Cape? Its capital is Bhisho, which is situated at 32°50′58″S 27°26′17″E. KwaZulu-Natal Temperature: Morning and evening fog patches over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and cool but cold in the south-west. Isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers are expected in the south and east. Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-westerly to southerly, becoming light north-westerly in the extreme south late evening. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate DID YOU KNOW Where does KwaZulu-Natal rank in size among South Africa’s provinces? KwaZulu-Natal is the seventh largest of South Africa’s nine provinces, with an area of 94 361 square kilometres. Where does KwaZulu-Natal rank in population size among South Africa’s provinces? KwaZulu-Natal is the second most populous, with an estimated 11.5 million inhabitants as per the most recent census in 2020. What is the capital of KwaZulu-Natal? The capital city is Pietermaritzburg, which is situated at 29°37′S 30°23′E. WEATHER ALERTS IMPACT-BASED WARNINGS NIL FIRE DANGER WARNINGS NIL ADVISORIES Very cold conditions are expected over the north-eastern high lying areas of the Eastern Cape Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service

Despite certainly not coming into this season as overwhelming favourites, the Blitzboks secured a unique double in the 2026 sevens campaign when they followed up their SVNS Series triumph by successfully defending their World Championship title. The Blitzboks played in six finals out of nine tournaments, won five and on Sunday, retained the SVNS World Championship title they won in Los Angeles last year. The South Africans also won 37 matches, more than any other team this season, consistently overcoming injury setbacks and a taxing schedule to ultimately prove how far guts and gumption can take you. Blitzboks provide cause for celebration For coach Philip Snyman, the two title successes were the rewarded for hard work, a positive team ethos and a buy-in of a shared culture of competitive excellence and honesty. “I am so very, very proud on this team, and to win both the World Series and the World Championship is a special feat indeed,” said Snyman. “The fact that we won the Hong Kong tournament for the first time ever was probably the highlight of the World Championship, and along with playing in the final last weekend, that laid the foundation for us to retain our World Championship status. “We did not make it easy for ourselves this weekend – we didn’t play our best rugby here in France and at times we were our own worst enemies, but the hard work done earlier in the championship race laid the foundation. I am so happy and proud to be associated with this team and system.” Snyman said everyone involved with the Springbok Sevens system can rightfully feel proud, despite a weekend where they did not sustain their winning momentum. “I am humbled and proud to be part of this squad,” he said. “We did not always play our best rugby, but our effort could never be faulted.” Snyman said Tristan Leyds was a worthy winner of the Men’s Player of the Year award: “He joined us over two years ago and has quickly grown into a senior player, someone who worked really hard to upskill himself to the demands of sevens rugby, while also remained a positive squad member. “He is a worthy winner. I played with all three previous winners, Cecil Afrika, Werner Kok, and Seabelo Senatla, and coached Tristan. He is right up there with the best.” Credit where it’s due Snyman also applauded leading try-scorer for the season, Shilton van Wyk, who also made the season’s Dream Team: “I am very happy for Shilton too, named alongside Tristan in the Dream Team. If I had my way, the seven players would all be from the Blitzboks, but then, I am biased after all,” Snyman smiled. “Our aims and goals for the season are well known. We wanted to grow our depth, make every semi-final and start the momentum to make us the best system in the world. “Fair to say we are not there yet, but we are going in the right direction and for that I am very grateful. We introduced six or seven players to the world series and that will benefit is for the next season or two. “It is great to have the backing of SA Rugby and the support we receive from South Africans are amazing. Most of our squad are contracted until 2028 and we are looking at bringing in a couple more talented players as we build towards the next Olympics.” On Sunday, however, the Blitzboks failed to add to their winning tally on the final day of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Bordeaux, and although they will be disappointed, they claimed the big prize by defending their World Championship title. They achieved that goal on Saturday already and, with the job done, Impi Visser and his men can be excused for not setting the same standards on the final day, where they suffered a semi-final defeat to France and lost to Spain for the bronze medal.

Season 1 of Watts & Wheels motors on with a sub-R500 000 EV price war, a swimming Yangwang and plenty more.

Banking group Absa won't confirm a launch date, a network partner or whether the MVNO is even still happening.