England No 8 Ben Earl admits facing the world champion Springboks at their spiritual home, Ellis Park, is a dream milestone ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship opener.

World No 1 Jannik Sinner avoided a historic shock on Centre Court, fighting back from two sets to one down against Miomir Kecmanovic to launch his Wimbledon title defence.

Amabutho march in Soweto during the march on illegal immigrants living in the country, 29 June 2026. The activity serves as a build-up to highly tense nationwide demonstrations scheduled for Tuesday, 30 June 2026. Picture: Nigel Sibanda / The Citizen An aerial view of the hundreds of undocumented migrants still present at the Durban Drive In in central Durban, on June 29, 2026 before boarding busses that will be taking them back home. South Africans President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on June 25 to crush any attempts to destabilise the nation during planned anti-immigrant marches next week, amid a wave of xenophobia. Citizen-led groups have set Tuesday 30 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave and called for nationwide marches against illegal immigration, marking a crescendo in months of protests that have at times turned violent. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP) Members of the French 7th Civil Security Training and Intervention Regiment make a recognition in a dammaged building in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on June 29, 2026. Hopes were fading on June 29, 2026 of finding survivors more than four days after powerful twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, as residents grow increasingly frustrated with the government’s response to the disaster that has killed at least 1,450 people and left tens of thousands unaccounted for. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / POOL / AFP) A child jumps into the sea in front of the Maiden’s Tower in Istanbul on June 28, 2026. Europe’s deadly heatwave pushed east with hundreds of millions still sweltering across the continent despite fleeting relief from overnight storms, notably in France and Belgium. (Photo by Yasin AKGUL / AFP) France’s Leo Marchand competes in a 200 metre men’s breaststroke heat during the French national swimming championships in Saint-Etienne, central France on June 29, 2026. Léon Marchand felt discomfort in a groin muscle during the 200m breaststroke heats and was forced to withdraw from the evening final of the event at the French Swimming Championships in Saint-Étienne. (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) A protester kicks a teargas canister thrown by Senegalese police officers during a demonstration against a constitutional reform bill near the National Assembly in Dakar, on June 29, 2026. Senegal’s National Assembly was examining, in a tense atmosphere marked by heated exchanges between lawmakers and clashes between demonstrators and police outside the building, a bill revising the Constitution concerning the powers of the President, Parliament, and the Prime Minister. The initiative, put forward by the parliamentary majority and its leader Ousmane Sonko, comes amid a deep disagreement with the country’s president. (Photo by PATRICK MEINHARDT / AFP) A reveller is doused in red wine during the”Batalla del Vino” (Battle of Wine) in Haro, in the wine producing region of La Rioja, on June 29, 2026. Every year thousands of locals and tourists climb a mountain in the northern Spanish wine producing region of La Rioja to celebrate St. Peter’s day by covering each other in red wine using water pistols, back mounted spraying devices, buckets which are randomly poured on heads and into any other available container. (Photo by CESAR MANSO / AFP) Relatives mourn the death of Amir Ahmad Jawad Jaber, a Palestinian teenager who was killed during an Israeli raid, at a hospital in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 29, 2026. Israeli forces fatally shot a 15-year-old Palestinian teenager during a raid in the occupied West Bank on June 29, the Palestinian health ministry said, as violence surges in the Israeli-occupied territory. (Photo by Zain JAAFAR / AFP) Activists from “Gays Against Guns” hold photographs of victims as they march for LGBTQ rights during the annual New York City Pride March in New York on June 28, 2026. (Photo by kena betancur / AFP) A member of the South African Police Service (SAPS) detains a suspected undocumented foreign national during a stop-and-search operation in central Durban on June 29, 2026. Individuals found without the required documentation in Durban are taken to the Department of Home Affairs for verification by immigration officials. The operation comes ahead of planned nationwide anti-immigration protests, after South African President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on June 25 to prevent any attempts to destabilise the country amid rising xenophobic tensions. Citizen-led groups have set June 30 as a deadline for undocumented foreign nationals to leave South Africa and have called for nationwide marches against illegal immigration following months of protests, some of which have turned violent. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP) Undocumented migrants line up near a bus at the Durban Drive In in Durban, on June 29, 2026 preparing to leave before the camp will shut down and the operation will be transferred to the border with Zimbabwe. South Africans President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed on June 25 to crush any attempts to destabilise the nation during planned anti-immigrant marches next week, amid a wave of xenophobia. Citizen-led groups have set Tuesday 30 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave and called for nationwide marches against illegal immigration, marking a crescendo in months of protests that have at times turned violent. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI / AFP) Malawian refugees camped outside the Malawi Consulate General wait for buses, 29 June 2026, in Woodmead, Johannesburg, as they attempt to make their way back to Malawi ahead of a nationwide anti-immigrant movement demonstration. Citizen-led groups have set Tuesday 30 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave and have called for nationwide marches against illegal immigration. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A reveller poses for a picture during a Pride parade in San Jose on June 28, 2026. (Photo by Ezequiel BECERRA / AFP) A woman rides a merry-go-round amusement ride in central London on June 28, 2026, as people come out to take advantage of cooler temperatures following days of extreme heat. The UK broke the record for a June temperature for the third day in a row on June 26, the Met Office weather agency said, as a sweltering heatwave strained schools and hospitals and drove down business. (Photo by CARLOS JASSO / AFP) This aerial photograph shows beachgoers on an artifical pier in Durres, western Albania, on June 29, 2026. Europe’s deadly heatwave pushed east with hundreds of millions still sweltering across the continent despite fleeting relief from overnight storms, notably in France and Belgium. (Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP) Afghan residents clear rubble from their home at the site of a Pakistani airstrike in Barolo village in the Marawara district of Afghanistan’s Kunar province on June 29, 2026. Pakistan launched its deadliest attack on Afghanistan in months, with Islamabad saying on June 29 it killed dozens of militants as the Afghan government reported civilian casualties. (Photo by Aimal ZAHIR / AFP) MORE PICTURES: Step inside the magical world of the Royal Countess Zingara

At the start of every year, many South Africans set financial goals: to save more, pay off debt, build an emergency fund, buy a home, protect their families, or simply feel more in control of their financial journeys. But by the time June arrives, the reality of everyday life often catches up. School expenses, unexpected bills, rising living costs, family responsibilities, and changing priorities can make it difficult to stay focused on the plans made in January. The good news is that the halfway point of the year is not a sign that goals have failed but rather an opportunity to reflect, reset, and make adjustments to get your 2026 money goals back on track. Optimistic about the rest of the year Papadi Rantsoareng told The Citizen there are things that have not gone her way during the first half of the year, but that does not mean the rest of the year will be bad. “When the year began, I had set 10 goals that I wanted to achieve by the end of the year,” she said. “So far I have achieved four out of the 10. It is moments like these I remember my parents’ teachings about always looking for a positive side. “So, for me, the glass is half full and not half empty. There is still six months left in the year and that is plenty of time for me to re-evaluate my goals, even achieve most of them.” Life changes during the year Kamal Patel, senior financial adviser at Old Mutual Personal Finance, said financial planning is not about being perfect from January to December. “Life changes, and your financial plan should be able to change with it. A mid-year check-in gives people a chance to understand what has changed, what is working, and what small actions they can take now to protect the goals they are working towards.” He is of the view that June provides the perfect moment for individuals and families building their financial futures to take stock of their progress. Questions to ask When assessing your finances, Patel suggests asking two important questions: 1. Am I still moving towards the goals I set at the beginning of the year? Whether the goal was saving for a deposit, reducing debt, investing, building financial security, or protecting loved ones, consider whether your daily money choices and habits are still supporting those priorities. 2. Has anything changed in my life that requires me to adjust my plan? Life rarely stays the same for six months. A new job, salary change, new family responsibilities, increased expenses, or a major purchase may mean your financial priorities need to be reviewed. Patel added that for those who realise they are not where they hoped to be, the answer is not to abandon the plan, but rather to reset it and focus on getting back on track. Successful year so far Neo Tladi told The Citizen that, for her, it has been a good year because her goals are not tied to a specific timeline. “I have never set my goals according to a timeline because that just adds unnecessary pressure,” she said. “I take life as it comes. I know what I want, and I know what I have to do to achieve it. And so far, it has been going well for me. I have learned some things take time, but at the end of the day, I will achieve everything.” 3 practical ways to get back on track Patel shares three practical ways to get back on track before the end of the year. 1. Review your budget and prioritise what matters most A mid-year review is a chance to identify where money is being spent and decide what can be adjusted. This does not mean cutting out everything you enjoy. It means making sure your spending reflects what matters most to you. “Small changes, such as reducing unnecessary expenses, renegotiating certain commitments, or redirecting money towards savings, can make a meaningful difference over time,” he said. 2. Restart or strengthen your savings habit If your savings pattern has fallen behind, start again with an amount that feels achievable. The goal is consistency. Even small, regular contributions can help build financial resilience and create momentum. “People often underestimate the power of starting again. A smaller amount saved consistently is better than waiting for the ‘perfect’ month that may never come.” 3. Revisit your long-term financial plans As circumstances change, so do financial needs. Customers who have started families, changed jobs, bought property, or taken on new responsibilities should review whether their financial plans still protect the life they are building. “Your financial plan should support your current reality and your future goals. The purpose of a review is not to highlight what has gone wrong, but to make sure your decisions today continue supporting the future you want,” Patel noted.

South Africa’s Older Persons Grant pays R2 400 a month. For pensioners already struggling to survive on that amount, the added ordeal of trying to access SASSA’s services is, according to readers of The South African, an indignity in its own right. Allison Atherton, responding to The South African’s article on a pensioner whose medical bills consume his entire grant, described months of failed attempts to access her local SASSA branch. “I’ve been going to the Belleville branch since the end of last year. I haven’t even made it through the door,” she wrote in a comment on The South African’s Facebook page. “Sitting on the curb in gutters, sometimes musical chairs, come rain, wind and sun for hours and hours only to be told come back on another Monday. Absolutely disgusting and zero regard for humans. Faceless, nameless and not even a number. Some even sleep on the curb overnight, hoping to get in.” Her account paints a picture of a system under severe strain, one in which elderly and vulnerable applicants bear the cost of institutional failure with their bodies and their time. ‘Been 3 times no help. Rude people.’ Mary Maryam Adams, also responding to The South African’s article, described a different but equally distressing access problem. She said that when her son assists her financially, SASSA investigates her grant eligibility, even as her own financial situation deteriorates. “Car sold, no more investments… Debts piling up. Can’t survive. Go for face recognition for life. Been 3 times no help. Rude people and don’t even look up my details,” she wrote in a comment on The South African’s Facebook page. Her experience highlights one of the more overlooked pressure points in SASSA’s system: the means test investigation process, which can be triggered when beneficiaries receive informal family support, even when that support reflects desperation rather than financial stability. SASSA says it is fixing the queues – but pensioners aren’t feeling it yet SASSA is aware of the crisis at its offices. In a media statement dated 10 June 2026, the agency announced it is rolling out a national training programme for approximately 1 000 local office management teams as part of its Queue Management System implementation. National Spokesperson Dr Paseka Letsatsi, said the system goes beyond simply organising queues. “It is about improving the entire customer journey from the moment clients arrive at our offices until they receive the service they need. We want beneficiaries to experience a service environment that is organised, efficient, fair and dignified,” he said. Among the changes being introduced are immediate queue tickets upon arrival, improved prioritisation for vulnerable groups, digital self-service options, and real-time performance monitoring via Queue Management System dashboards. SASSA also said the revised approach would ensure clients are assisted rather than turned away due to incomplete documentation. The initiative forms part of SASSA’s Strategic Plan 2025–2030. Whether it will translate into relief for pensioners like Allison Atherton, who has been trying to get through a SASSA office door since last year, remains to be seen.

Wimbledon’s Qualifying Competition delivered drama on and off the court last week, with finals concluding on Thursday after four days of searing heat, transport disruption, a power outage and packed stands at Roehampton. The event unfolded during a week in which the weather dominated UK headlines. This time, however, it was not the usual “rain stopped play” that caused concern. Heat warnings Extreme heat warnings were issued as temperatures climbed well above 35 degrees Celsius, with Tuesday bringing record-breaking June heat and play interrupted for more than an hour by a power outage affecting the electronic line-calling system. The UK Health Security Agency and the Met Office issued public health warnings, while train cancellations added to the challenge for spectators travelling across London. Yet even a national health warning and widespread travel disruption were not enough to deter Wimbledon’s most devoted tennis fans. Tickets sold out soon after going online in early June, and the limited on-site daily allocation was quickly snapped up by determined fans who had queued from early morning. Around the grounds of the Community Sports Centre in Roehampton, capacity crowds embraced the familiar English garden-party atmosphere, albeit one that felt far more tropical than usual for this time of year. Wimbledon-like setting Wimbledon remains the only Grand Slam to stage its qualifying competition away from the main tournament site. Roehampton, just over three miles from Wimbledon, offers a quieter but unmistakably Wimbledon-like setting. The grass courts are prepared by Wimbledon’s grounds team to the same exacting standard – 8mm in height and made up of 100% perennial ryegrass, while the signage, staff, infrastructure and even the strawberries are overseen by the All England Lawn Tennis Club. For fans unable to secure tickets for The Championships, qualifying offers an affordable and immersive alternative. A ticket costs just £20 (R435), with play running from 11:00 until dusk across the week before the main draw. Spectators can watch professional tennis from close range, often just metres from the baseline, with the same strawberries and Pimm’s helping to recreate the full Wimbledon experience at a fraction of the price. Held from 22 to 25 June, the ladies’ and gentlemen’s singles qualifying draws give players on the ATP and WTA tours one final route into the Wimbledon main draw. Those ranked outside the automatic entry cut-off must win three matches to earn one of the coveted qualifying places. Grand Slam champions in action There is even a possibility of watching a former Grand Slam champion close up. This year was no exception as two former champions had to come through qualifying. US Open champion in 2019, Bianca Andreescu, was among the headline names at Roehampton. The Canadian came through all three rounds, sealing her place in the Wimbledon main draw with a 6-3, 7-6 win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich. It marks Andreescu’s first Grand Slam main-draw appearance since the 2024 US Open. British fans also had the chance to watch Heather Watson, the 2016 Wimbledon mixed doubles champion, attempt to fight her way through. Watson took the opening set against Maria Timofeeva in the final round but was ultimately beaten 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 as the top seed mounted a strong comeback. The defeat was an emotional one for Watson, who had been backed by a vocal home crowd throughout the week. Erika Andreeva, sister of Roland Garros 2026 champion Mirra Andreeva, was another notable presence in the draw. Sadly, she was unable to mirror her sibling’s success, falling in the second round to the USA’s Kayla Day 6-2, 6-2. There was also disappointment for two former Wimbledon quarter-finalists. Lulu Sun, who reached the last eight in 2024, was edged out by France’s Oceane Dodin 7-6, 7-6, while Bernard Tomic, a quarter-finalist in 2011, lost to fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell 6-4, 6-4. David Goffin, a two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist and former world No 7, was denied a farewell appearance in the main draw after losing in the first round to Italy’s Andrea Guerrieri 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. The Belgian, a six-time ATP title winner, announced at Roland Garros that this would be his final season. The full list of players who have qualified for the main draw is available on the Wimbledon website. Worth a diary reminder For those looking ahead to next year, Wimbledon Qualifying is well worth a diary reminder. The event offers the chance to see future main-draw storylines before they unfold, and while no qualifier has yet gone on to win Wimbledon, tennis has already shown us that such fairytales are possible. Emma Raducanu made history at the 2021 US Open when she became the first qualifier to win a Grand Slam singles title. The deepest singles runs by Wimbledon qualifiers remain the semi-final appearances of John McEnroe in 1977, Alexandra Stevenson in 1999 and Vladimir Voltchkov in 2000. Perhaps 2026 will be the year a qualifier goes all the way at Wimbledon. If this week in Roehampton proved anything, it is that anything can happen. The Championships, Wimbledon started on Monday 29 June 2026. Amisha Savani is reporting exclusively from the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Wimbledon for The South African

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