A Springbok man has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for stabbing a 16-year-old boy in the face and arm during an attack in Vaalwater.

With the new deciduous fruit export season on the horizon, Transnet is implementing crucial measures to avert the billion-rand losses experienced last year

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has terminated the call-up service of a reservist who was seen under the influence of alcohol in a viral video. In the video, which was widely circulated on social media platforms, the SANDF member is seen in military uniform, clearly inebriated and struggling to walk. Viral video The video was recorded on Thursday, 6 August 2026, by an unknown individual who asked the reservist about her behaviour. “Why are you drunk in uniform,” he asked. Concerns The SANDF said it condemned the “inappropriate conduct” involving one of its members who was recorded under the influence of alcohol while wearing military uniform in a public space. “Upon investigation, it was established that the individual concerned is a SANDF reservist who was on active reserve call-up at one of our units in Pretoria. “The SANDF views such behaviour as unacceptable and inconsistent with our values and discipline expected of members of the defence force. To this effect, appropriate disciplinary action has been taken against the member, and the call-up has since been terminated,” the SANDF said. The SANDF stressed members’ conduct. “The SANDF and its entire leadership reiterate that any conduct that brings the institution and military profession into disrepute cannot be tolerated, and will continue to act decisively against any behaviour that undermines the integrity of the defence force,” it said.

Tributes are pouring in following the death of veteran actor, poet, playwright and cultural activist Sol “Solrah” Rachilo. Rachilo died on 16 August 2026 at the age of 97, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture confirmed. Gayton McKenzie’s tribute to Rachilo Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie described Rachilo as a “living archive” of Soweto’s history. “I extend my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Ntate Sol Rachilo. He was more than an actor and a poet. He was a living archive of Soweto’s history, a mentor to countless young artists, and a steadfast voice for the generation of 1976,” McKenzie said. The minister said Rachilo’s legacy would continue through his artistic work and the institutions he established. “His body of work, together with the institutions he established to nurture future generations of artists, will continue to inspire South Africans long after his passing,” he said. “We mourn the loss of a true cultural elder, and we thank him for a lifetime spent in service of our heritage and our arts. Hamba kahle, Ntate.” A career spanning more than six decades Born on 22 February 1929, Rachilo built a career spanning more than six decades in theatre, film, literature and community arts. He trained as a social worker at the Jan H. Hofmeyer School of Social Work before beginning his acting career after auditioning for Athol Fugard’s No Good Friday. Rachilo went on to portray Boesman in Fugard’s Boesman and Lena. He also appeared in productions including Joe Bullet, Charlie Steel, Stoney: The One and Only, Sponono, Gangsters, Game for Vultures and Lisenethini. Beyond acting, he published poetry and prose reflecting on the 1976 Soweto uprising, including Nostalgic Waves from Soweto: Poetic Memories of the June 16th Uprising. He also mentored young performers and writers through the Children of Soweto Action Centre Drama Academy and Inner Eye Production and Artists’ Management.

Southern Africa’s urban landscape is changing as more people move into cities, with some urban centres recording particularly rapid population growth. The latest United Nations World Urbanization Prospects provides population estimates for cities around the world and projections through to 2050. The latest edition covers more than 12 000 urban centres with populations of at least 50 000, giving a broader picture of urban growth than previous UN editions. Several cities across Southern Africa are showing notable population growth, including some smaller urban centres that may not immediately come to mind when thinking about the region’s fastest-growing cities. Lobatse, Botswana Lobatse is one of the standout examples. The Botswana city had an estimated 88 511 residents in 2025, with its urban population increasing by 9.23% compared with 2024, according to UN data published through Worldometer. The same data projects a population of about 96 139 by 2030 and 128 202 by 2050. The growth rate is particularly striking when compared with Botswana’s better-known capital, Gaborone, which had an estimated 254 517 residents in 2025 and recorded annual growth of 2.28%. Swakopmund, Namibia Namibia’s coastal city of Swakopmund is another notable growth story. Swakopmund’s estimated population reached 89 839 in 2025, representing annual growth of 6.22%. The UN-based projections put its population at approximately 111 264 by 2030 and 210 460 by 2050. That makes Swakopmund’s growth rate considerably higher than Windhoek’s. Namibia’s capital had an estimated population of 409 758 in 2025 and an annual growth rate of 2.13%. Kuisebmond, Namibia Kuisebmond is another Namibian urban centre showing rapid growth. The area had an estimated 86 747 residents in 2025, with annual population growth of 4.17%. Its population is projected to reach about 116 750 by 2030 and more than 201 000 by 2050. The figures show that Namibia’s urban expansion is not being driven by Windhoek alone. Kabwe, Zambia Kabwe is among Zambia’s cities recording some of the strongest population growth. The city had an estimated 267 618 residents in 2025, with annual growth of 4.12%. Its population is projected to rise to about 321 296 by 2030 and 582 180 by 2050. Kabwe’s growth rate is higher than Lusaka’s, although the capital remains vastly larger. Lusaka had an estimated 3.51 million residents in 2025 and annual growth of 3.07%. Tete, Mozambique Mozambique also has several cities experiencing relatively rapid population growth. Tete had an estimated 421 174 residents in 2025, with annual growth of 3.71%. The UN-based projections put the city’s population at approximately 499 786 by 2030 and 800 094 by 2050. The city’s growth rate is higher than that of Mozambique’s capital, Maputo, which recorded annual growth of 1.53% in the same dataset. Zambia’s capital city While Lusaka’s growth rate is below that of some smaller cities, its size makes its expansion particularly significant. The Zambian capital had an estimated population of 3.51 million in 2025, with annual growth of 3.07%. The UN-based projection puts the population at more than 4.1 million by 2030 and about 6.55 million by 2050. That means Lusaka could add hundreds of thousands of residents within just a few years, creating growing demand for housing, transport, water, electricity and other urban services. Zimbabwe’s capital city Zimbabwe’s capital is also continuing to expand. Harare had an estimated 2.12 million residents in 2025, with annual growth of 2.26%. Its population is projected to reach about 2.35 million by 2030 and approximately 3.45 million by 2050. Harare’s growth rate is also higher than that of Bulawayo. The latter had an estimated population of 492 771 in 2025 and annual growth of 0.98%. Cape Town, South Africa South Africa’s cities are also growing, although at different rates. Cape Town had an estimated 4.51 million residents in 2025, with annual population growth of 1.95%. Its population is projected to reach nearly 4.9 million by 2030 and more than 6.1 million by 2050. Johannesburg remains the larger urban area, with an estimated 7.08 million residents in 2025, but its annual growth rate was lower at 1.60%.

Former Orlando Pirates striker Bruce Ramokadi has highlighted Yanela Mbuthuma’s biggest problem. The 24-year-old striker has not found scoring easy since joining the Buccaneers last season. Despite being preferred as first-choice striker, the former Richards Bay man only netted five goals in 27 matches in the previous campaign. Both Relebohile Mofokeng and Oswin Appollis, who are wingers, scored more than 10 goals for the club. Orlando Pirates fans have called for Mbuthuma to start on the bench after the striker failed to score in the four matches he played this year. “The thing is, he must not try hard. I see that he is trying very hard and when you do that, you are bound to make mistakes. So he must just be himself, play the football he was playing at Richards Bay,” Ramokadi said. “Because if you’re a box striker, you need to be in the box, you don’t have to be as skillful as other players. Just do your job, even if he can score with a toe, it’s fine, it’s a goal and that will boost his confidence. “He must not look to score smart goals, because most of the time players want to score beautiful goals. I mean when you score, a goal is a goal. On the record it says you scored, there’s no space of how you scored it, he told Kickoff. Ramokadi praised Mbuthuma’s performance but felt the striker wanted to play like creative players at Pirates. “I think that’s his biggest problem, he wants to play like other (creative) players and he is just a goal-scorer. But I can see he’s a hard worker, he defends from the front, which is what made him different from (Tshegofatso) Mabasa.” Mbuthuma yet to score for Pirates this season Ramokadi has urged the club not to lose patience with Mbuthuma. He believes the striker will eventually find his scoring boots. Should Mbuthuma be given another chance?

One year into its Rwandan operation, the group is showcasing IP transit, Starlink and G2M fibre.

The October gathering will ask who controls African data and who regulates security providers.