In a gripping opener of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry, Rassie Erasmus reflects on how a crucial scrum by the All Blacks shifted momentum, leading to the Springboks' costly 33-16 defeat at Ellis Park.

Abdeslam Ouaddou has clarified the absence of Tshepang Moremi and Patrick Maswanganyi following Pirates' 1–0 MTN8 win over Sekhukhune United in Polokwane.

In the news today, Free State police launched a manhunt after a missing four-year-old boy was found dead at a cemetery. Meanwhile, a whistleblower reportedly helped prevent an alleged assassination of a senior Justice Department official. Furthermore, 200 National Freedom Party (NFP) members defected to the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), including senior NFP leaders. Weather tomorrow: 23 August 2026 The South African Weather Service says most parts of the country will experience cool to warm conditions on Sunday. Gauteng and North West will be fine and warm, while Mpumalanga and Limpopo will be fine and cool to warm. Full weather forecast here. Stay up to date with The Citizen – More News, Your Way. Missing 4-year-old found dead in cemetery Free State police have launched a manhunt after a four-year-old boy was found dead at a cemetery near Phahameng location in Winburg. Police said they were called to the cemetery in Valkop on Friday after community members discovered the child’s body. “On arrival at the cemetery in Valkop, police were alerted to the motionless body of a child. The child was discovered by members of the community. “The victim was discovered with multiple injuries to the head and body, and a black t-shirt was found lying next to him.” Picture: iStock Alleged hit on Justice Department official foiled A whistleblower’s intervention has reportedly prevented an alleged assassination of a senior official in the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development. This was confirmed by minister Mmamoloko Kubayi. Kubayi said the whistleblower approached her about an “intention to kill a senior official” in the department “who refused to sign questionable contracts”. Picture: iStock Prominent NFP members defect to IFP The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has welcomed 200 new members who have defected from the National Freedom Party (NFP) in a ceremony in Durban on Saturday. IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa told those at the event that the cohort of those the party is welcoming consists of former members of the IFP who left the party years ago. Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) president Velenkosini Hlabisa. Picture: Gallo Images/Sunday Times/Sandile Ndlovu Eskom debt settled, but Pikitup remains a problem The lights will stay on in Johannesburg after the city settled its R5.2bn debt to Eskom, with attention now turning to fixing other services. The payment was confirmed by the national power utility on Friday. “The City of Johannesburg (CoJ)/City Power (CP) has confirmed to Eskom that the current account in respect of July 2026, that falls due on 31 August 2026, of R1 860 379 885 will be paid on its due date. The CoJ/CP has further confirmed that it remains committed to the payment of all future current accounts on or before their respective due dates,” it added. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero. Picture: Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo Sport minister mourns Zolani Tete “South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced,” were the words of sports minister Gayton McKenzie hours after the shocking murder of former world champion Zolani Tete. Tete was gunned down outside his Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, home on Friday evening. He was 38. He had reportedly pulled into his driveway after arriving from the gym when he was confronted by armed men in balaclavas who opened fire on him and a 27-year-old passenger. Zolani Tete in action. Picture: James Chance/Getty Images

A stunned Springbok skipper Pieter-Steph du Toit admitted that his team shot themselves in the foot, after they crashed to a bitterly disappointing 33-16 loss in their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry opener against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on Saturday night. The Boks were the better team over the first 55 minutes of the match, but somehow found themselves trailing at that point, and then produced a disastrous and ill-disciplined final 20 minutes that allowed the All Blacks to pull away emphatically. It was a finishing clinic from the visitors, who came away with points from almost every 22m entry, while the Boks could only score one try, despite having more 22m entries than the All Blacks. In the post-match on-field interview Du Toit was frank with his assessment of the game, and explained that they now had to go back to the drawing board. “All credit to New Zealand. We made some mistakes and weren’t able to convert those opportunities we had. So unfortunately we shot ourselves in the foot, and in a game like this those small errors and opportunities count,” said Du Toit. “We definitely have to go back to the drawing board and see what we did well (and improve on that) and what we can do better.” All Blacks record try-scoring wing Will Jordan made a fantastic return from injury, after missing all three tour games against the franchises, and didn’t look off the pace at all as he scored two tries in a man-of-the-match showing. It means everything “It (the win) means everything. Ellis Park, what an arena. It was a serious shift for 80 minutes. I loved the way our boys dug deep,” said a pleased-looking Jordan. “Some guys were playing here against the Springboks for the first time and got a taste of what it is like. It is just one game of four. But an awesome start to the series for us. “Test footy is about absorbing pressure and then being able to turn your (pressure) into points. In the first half we were just withstanding a real Springbok onslaught and then in the second half we took our moments, so I am stoked.” New Zealand captain Ardie Savea, who was also playing his first game of the tour after being given extra time off after the Nations Championship, looked absolutely spent but very happy with his team’s performance. “We always knew the Springboks were coming at us with big carriers and quality players. When they get a head of steam they are hard to stop. So I am really proud of my boys’ efforts tonight,” said Savea. “It was a boxing match out there. It just came down to crucial moments and I thought we held it together when it was tight, and we got there in the end. “It’s always special coming to South Africa. Especially with the Greatest Rivalry. Just to see the crowd, the fans and even our New Zealand supporters here. It’s just an amazing spectacle to be in. We will take this win, but we know it’s not over, we have got to keep going.”

A heated debate has broken out among South Africans over how SASSA should manage its overwhelming caseload, with one commenter proposing a radical shift away from cash payments entirely. Justanother Katarina argued that SASSA is fighting a losing battle with 28 million people reliant on the state welfare system. She said the agency must simultaneously verify recipients for authenticity and legitimacy, a mammoth task complicated by syndicates, non-citizens and criminals allegedly drawing from the system and taking resources from citizens who genuinely need them. Her suggested fix: biometric verification paired with electricity and food vouchers instead of cash, since, in her words, cash lands up in couches. Hours on their feet – a difficult sight Isabella Gibson offered a different angle, describing what she witnessed recently at a mall. She said she was sad to see young and elderly people of all races sitting and standing for hours while waiting, calling the scene very sad to see. Her comment reinforces concerns raised elsewhere that queuing systems place unnecessary physical strain on vulnerable groups, regardless of the underlying cause. ‘Pensioners deserve R10,000’ – a call for more support Matsemela Sello took the conversation in a different direction, arguing that pensioners deserve R10 000 because the money exists but is sitting in corrupt hands. He said pensioners are often the only remaining support for entire families in South Africa, using their own grants to cover water, electricity, school transport and other costs because there are no jobs for younger family members. Together, the three comments capture the tension at the heart of the grants debate: balancing fraud prevention with dignity, and adequate support with limited state resources. The disagreement over solutions shows just how divided public opinion remains on fixing South Africa’s social welfare system. Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you. Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.

At the request of Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus, the All Blacks performed the Haka to a quiet, respectful crowd at Ellis Park. The warcry set the scene for New Zealand’s 33-16 defeat in the first of four test matches in the Greatest Rivalry series. WATCH: ALL BLACKS PERFORM HAKA TO QUIET CROWD Ahead of the match, Springboks captain Rassie Erasmus repeatedly called on South Africans to show the All Blacks respect as they performed their traditional Haka warcry ahead of each match. Boks fans at Ellis Park stadium gladly complied, watching the New Zealand team, who challenged their South African rivals in song. The Haka was led by 35-year-old Codie Taylor, who led the team with the Kapa o Pango version of the ceremonial dance. Watch the performance below… Codie Taylor leads the All Blacks for the Haka 🇳🇿 pic.twitter.com/Ug52B85fp8— Sky Sports Rugby Union (@SkySportsRugby) August 22, 2026 WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NEW ZEALAND WARCRY? The Haka –  which involves chanting, movement, facial expressions and rhythmic stamping – dates back centuries as a traditional Māori ceremonial performance used to welcome guests, celebrate achievements, mourn loved ones, and show strength and unity. The All Blacks first performed it during their historic 1905 British tour. The Kapa o Panga version was developed specifically for the national team, signifying their “pride, unity, and purpose.” It was first performed by player-turned-assistant coach Tana Umaga against the Springboks in 2005 in Dunedin While the Haka is Māori in origin, it can be performed by New Zealanders of different ethnic backgrounds, particularly in sporting teams and schools. For the All Blacks, the squad comprises Māori, Pasifika, European/New Zealand, and other backgrounds. All players participate when the team performs the Haka, although  Māori players may have a particularly personal cultural connection to it. New players are taught the haka when they join the All Blacks, and the team periodically works with a haka tutor to refine it. Non-Māori may perform and even lead the song, but are required to educate themselves on its cultural context. The leader of the Haka is known as the kaea and is typically a senior member of the team who commands respect and leadership amongst his peers. 

Coverage is live now, Cell C CEO Jorge Mendes has told TechCentral, with commercial propositions to follow.

Capitec and FNB subscribers are doing more for Cell C than its own customers, its full-year results to 31 May 2026 show.