Retired Durban teachers Anand and Lalitha Sookraj completed a 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp, with the journey coinciding with Anand’s 70th birthday.

KwaZulu-Natal residents have been urged to take precautions as severe thunderstorms, heavy downpours, hail and lightning are forecast, prompting authorities to place emergency teams on high alert.

MG parent company, SAIC Motor, has officially announced the brand’s entry into the double-cab bakkie segment in South Africa with two new arrivals next year. Approved, granted Announced at its inaugural Tech Day and Premium SUV conference held in Johannesburg on Wednesday evening (28 October), the Chinese-owned British brand confirmed the range will be started by the U7 and then joined by the range-topping U9. For the moment, an official date of reveal isn’t known, as more will only be announced in 2027. U7 Set to become its latest bakkie, the U7 will follow the route of the U9 and become a rebadged version of the fellow SAIC Motor-owned division LDV’s latest facelift T60. Already sold as an MG in some markets, the U7’s arrival comes after the debut of the revised T60 in Australia last month, where it now carries the T60 Max designation. The latest updated LDV T60 will become the MG U7 in South Africa. Picture: LDV Australia For South Africa, the U7’s main difference is likely to be aesthetics, involving the LDV badges being replaced by the corporate MG logo. In Australia, the LDV model comes in two trim levels, Pro and Luxe, with a single powertrain option, the same 2.5-litre turbodiesel engine as the Terron 9 outputting 164kW/520Nm. Sending drive to the rear or all four wheels is an eight-speed automatic gearbox. Standard is a locking rear differential, a locking front diff on the Luxe only, and the ability to tow 3 500 kg. As it stands, details about the U7 will only come to the fore next year. U9 More clearly is the U9 that went on sale Down Under last year as the rebadged sibling of the Terron 9. Identical in dimensions and exterior design, apart from MG badges replacing the LDV ones, the U9 is anticipated to have the same drivetrain as the Terron 9 and, by extension, the U7, but with upgraded spec levels and, therefore, a higher price tag. What’s more, the Terron 9, known in China at the Maxus Interstellar X, will provide the base for South America’s next-generation Volkswagen Amarok as part of Wolfsburg’s long-standing partnership with SAIC Motor. In this capacity, though, the Amarok will have a plug-in hybrid powertrain, which could potentially be offered to the Terron 9 and U9 at some stage. However, for the moment, this is nothing but speculation. More later As with the U7, MG Motor South Africa is only expected to reveal more details of the U9 in the new year.

Suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu has reportedly filed an application in the Johannesburg High Court challenging a search warrant used to raid his residence in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Members of the Provincial Serious and Violent Crimes Unit executed a search and seizure warrant granted by the Johannesburg High Court in September. During the raid, they seized electronic devices. “The search and seizure is a normal Investigative process in which police convince the court to grant them the warrant to search and seize particular items as mentioned in the application for the warrant,” said Colonel Robert Netshiunda at the time. “This is part of an ongoing police investigation into cases of defeating the ends of justice and fraud, among other charges, which were opened in 2025 at Durban Central police station.” Mchunu’s spokesperson, Sthembiso Mshengu, confirmed that the officers seized cellphones with specific IMEI numbers. “As a law-abiding citizen and in the presence of his attorney, minister Mchunu handed over the handset in line with the directive of the court,” Mshengu said. Mchunu’s High Court challenge Sunday Times reports that Mchunu filed the application on Tuesday, 27 October. In it, he asks the court to set aside the search warrant it issued in September. He alleges that the warrant was obtained “through misleading information”. He argues that “the affidavit in support of it does not place facts showing the existence of a reasonable suspicion that a crime has been committed.” This is not the first search and seizure operation that Mchunu has challenged. In October 2025, he sent legal letters to the police after they attempted a raid at his home. “Our client seeks an undertaking from you and your members that you will cease and desist your campaign of intimidation and defamation against him. In the circumstances, we are instructed to demand, as we hereby do, that you furnish us with the copy of the search and seizure warrant in order to challenge its validity in a competent forum,” read the letter from Mchunu’s lawyer, Sandile July of Werkmans Attorneys. The police’s attempt to search Mchunu’s home came on the same day they raided the residence of deputy national police commissioner for crime detection, Shadrack Sibiya. Mchunu’s chief of staff Cedrick Nkabinde also said between 15 and 20 officers arrived at his home. Nkabinde’s lawyers said they were able to confirm that Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola had sent the unit to execute a search and seizure warrant for mobile phones and laptops that may contain evidence. Allegations against Mchunu On 13 July 2025, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the establishment of the Madlanga commission. This followed allegations by Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi about a sophisticated criminal syndicate that has allegedly infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system. During his July 2025 media briefing, Mkhwanazi said an investigation with the Gauteng organised crime investigation unit unmasked a syndicate which involves politicians, law enforcement, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors, the judiciary, and is controlled by drug cartels as well as businesspeople. He singled out Mchunu for allegedly disbanding the PKTT to protect criminals. Mchunu denied the allegations. National police commissioner Fannie Masemola, former police minister Bheki Cele and other police officials all testified at the Madlanga commission that Mchunu was in no position to disband the PKTT alone. Mchunu has since been placed on special leave, while the acting police minister, Firoz Cachalia, continues the work. -Additional reporting by Gareth Cotterell

According Ouaddou, Chiefs are in the Betway Premiership title race. The Moroccan-Frenchman shared the prediction after Pirates’ 2-1 win over Amakhosi in the Soweto Derby at the FNB Stadium Saturday. KAIZER CHIEFS CAN WIN THE LEAGUE SAYS ABDESLAM OUADDOU The Buccaneers’ win lifted them to 25 points, with a single point off leaders Mamelodi Sundonws at the top of the league. Amakhosi are in fifth place with a 12 points deficit. Ouaddou believes the gap has not excluded Chiefs from the title race. “What I can tell you is that, seeing the game from outside, the technical staff of Kaizer Chiefs are doing a great job,” Ouaddou said. “We must let them work on implementing their game model. Kaizer Chiefs have a very good team, very good young players. In my opinion, they’re on the right path. “We don’t have to rule them out of the title race. This is a big club with big fans, and this technical team is doing a great job,” the Pirates mentor added. FULL FOCUS ON THE BETWAY PREMIERSHIP Meanwhile, Amakhosi have crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup. Coach Da Cruz’s side are not expected to worry less about travelling and a grueling schedule. CHIEFS’ REMAINING LEAGUE FIXTURES AmaZulu – Postponed from 4 November 2026 Chippa United – 28 November 2026 Milford – 5 December 2026 TS Galaxy – 15 December 2026 Marumo Gallants – 19 December 2026 Durban City – 10 January 2027 Sekhukhune United – 17 January 2027 Chippa United – 23 January 2027 Mamelodi Sundowns – 6 February 2027 AmaZulu – 14 February 2027 Polokwane City – 27 February 2027 TS Galaxy – 7 March 2027 Orlando Pirates – 13 March 2027 Stellenbosch – 16 March 2027 Milford – 10 April 2027 Marumo Gallants – 17 April 2027 Durban City – 23 April 2027 Golden Arrows – 28 April 2027. Kruger United – 8 May 2027 Siwelele – 15 May 2027 Richards Bay – 22 May 2027. WHERE DO YOU EXPECT CHIEFS TO FINISH AT THE END OF THE SEASON? Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.

Twenty years ago, the streets of Durban roared to life as the A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport arrived in South Africa for the first time. You can forget F1’s current will they/won’t they affair with Kyalami, last run in 1993. The mid-noughties was the last time loud, open-wheel racing machines graced South Africa. Better still, the A1 GP concept was refreshingly different in motorsport. Rather than daddy buying a seat for his son, this series pitted nations against one another. Each participating country picked a driver and was represented in identical machinery. Therefore, no endless debate about who had the better car. Quick driver + good team = national pride. A1 GP WORLD CUP OF MOTORSPORT A1 GP coverage of the World Cup of Motorsport aired live globally. Video: stefmeister2008 on YouTube The A1 GP circus arrived in Durban for its first taste of the temporary street circuit in January 2006. The warm Indian Ocean provided the backdrop and tens of thousands of spectators lined the beachfront streets. Then there were the names on the grid: Verstappen (Jos ‘the boss,’ not Max), Piquet Jr, Hulkenberg (he raced in 2007), Jani and many more … But it was this first Durban weekend that delivered in spades. France’s Alexandre Prémat took the sprint race, but the feature race belonged to the Netherlands and Jos Verstappen. The former F1 driver started 16th and charged through the field to snatch victory from Switzerland’s Neel Jani with a daring last-lap move. South Africa’s own Stephen Simpson finished a credible fifth in the feature race. SERIES FADED AWAY  Identical machinery kept racing close. Image: File Like many promising ideas, sadly, the A1 GP series would eventually fade away due to lack of money rather than appeal. After two years, the departure of its original financial backer, Sheikh Maktoum, and subsequent funding difficulties left it vulnerable to the global financial crisis of 2008. By the 2009/10 season, races were being cancelled with cars reportedly left stranded when operating costs couldn’t be paid. Nevertheless, twenty years on, it’s hard not to marvel at the sheer ambition of A1 GP back then. Likewise, the sheer spectacle of a Durban beachfront circuit with flat-out action between concrete walls. But what do you think? Would you like to see something like A1 GP World Cup of Motorsport make a return? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

South Africa's biggest telecoms operators say they cannot endorse Icasa's biometric Sim rules as drafted.

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