The Department of Home Affairs says it has successfully repatriated and deported nearly 9,500 foreign nationals from the Durban Drive-In site.

Bafana Bafana face a critical match against South Korea, requiring a tactical masterclass to secure their Round of 32 qualification.

Norway’s fans cheer their team during the 2026 World Cup Group I football match between Norway and Senegal at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Timothy A. CLARY / AFP) A South African supporter poses for a photo at the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. According to the The World Cup Reputation Index survey, carried out by Cherry Data Signals, 5 200 US adult respondents across the tournament’s host cities has named South African fans among the world’s most colourful supporter cultures, particularly recognising them for their rhythm, colour and vuvuzela-style noise. South Africa ranked 5th in the Survey. The team plays South Korea on Thursday morning. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto/AFP) An Israeli soldier aims his weapon fitted with a laser sight while patrolling the market in the Old City of Nablus in the northern Israeli-occupied West Bank on June 23, 2026. Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967 and violence there has soared since Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) From left, Siyabonga Xaba, from Activation Squad, Adel Kriel from Hollard, 1986 Two Oceans Marathon winner and prostate cancer survivor Thulani Sibisi, Jorika Spies from the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lucy Balona, spokesperson for Cansa pose with a cheque of R1.2m from proceeds raised by the Hollard Daredevil Run which raises awareness for prostate and testicular cancer. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen A caring dog sitter cools off dogs in a mist fountain as France experiences a heatwave, in central Paris on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Dimitar DILKOFF / AFP) ActionSA president Herman Mashaba walks with members along Ntokozweni Street in Dlamini 1, in Soweto, 23 June 2026, during his Joburg Mayoral Door to Door Campaign. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen People jump in the Trocadero Fountain near the Eiffel Tower during a heatwave in Paris on June 22, 2026. The latest bout of exceptionally high temperatures to hit Europe has seen outdoor events cancelled, transport disrupted, schools shut and office workers told to work from home, as the authorities issued health alerts to protect the elderly and vulnerable. In France, the epicentre of the weather anomaly, 54 of the country’s 96 mainland departments were on the highest heat alert, with temperatures forecast to climb up to 43C in the southwestern city of Bordeaux and 39C in the capital Paris, said national weather service Meteo-France. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP) Displaced women and children from Malawi board the first bus to leave at an abandoned municipality building on Mayor’s Walk in Pietermaritzburg on June 23, 2026 after fleeing their homes amid fears of xenophobic attacks and threats from anti-illegal immigration groups. The country, one of Africa’s largest and most industrialised economies, has been on edge following weeks of sometimes violent xenophobic unrest that has left at least two people dead. Small but organised groups have issued an ultimatum for undocumented migrants to exit or face consequences, a demand with no legal force. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP) This photograph shows a lavender field in Valensole, southern France, on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Miguel MEDINA / AFP) Security guards stand underneath the flag pole located atop of Australia’s Federal Parliament building at sunset in Canberra on June 23, 2026. (Photo by DAVID GRAY / AFP) An Afghan worker sorts recyclable materials at a scrapyard in the Kolcha Abad village of Dand district, Kandahar province on June 23, 2026. (Photo by Sanaullah SEIAM / AFP) MORE: 24 hours in pictures, 22 June 2026

The UN announced Tuesday that it would begin evacuating thousands of sailors stranded in the Strait of Hormuz by the Middle East war, as the first round of US-Iran talks on ending the conflict wrapped up in Switzerland. Tehran and Washington have signed an interim deal to halt a war that sowed chaos across the Middle East and sent oil prices soaring, embarking on a 60-day negotiation to settle issues like sanctions relief and the fate of Iran’s nuclear programme. An Iranian blockade that began early in the conflict choked off maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz — a vital route for global oil and gas shipments — but crossings have begun to rise again since the US-Iran deal was inked. The head of the UN’s International Maritime Organization said it would begin evacuating more than 11,000 sailors stranded in the waterway “in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal States in the region, the United States and the maritime industry”. “We have secured the necessary safety guarantees and have thoroughly verified the conditions for safe navigation to support these operations,” secretary-general Arsenio Dominguez said. Traffic through the strait has reached the highest level since the start of the war, according to two maritime tracking platforms, representing just over 40 percent of the normal peacetime level of about 120 vessels per day. But Tehran’s top negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf insisted the Strait of Hormuz “will never return” to the days of free passage before the war, despite the foes agreeing to set up communication lines to keep it open. Oman and Iran said in a joint statement Tuesday that they would study the administration of the trade route and the costs to be charged for services provided, insisting on their sovereignty over the waterway. Nuclear disagreements Diplomacy on a definitive deal to end the war ramped up on Tuesday, with Iran’s president heading to mediator Pakistan, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio setting off on a tour of Gulf allies, and Lebanon and Israel kicking off more direct talks in Washington. But Iran denied a claim by US Vice President JD Vance that Tehran had agreed to invite International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors back, after Iran blocked them from nuclear sites struck by its arch foes in a 12-day war last year. “We have not had a meeting with the director general of the IAEA, nor do we have any plans for the agency to inspect Iran’s nuclear facilities damaged by the US and Zionist military aggression,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told reporters. US President Donald Trump, however, insisted Iran had “fully and completely agreed to highest level Nuclear inspections long into the future”. When the US joined Israel’s previous war with Iran in mid-2025, it bombed nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, including with powerful bunker-busting munitions. The extent of the damage remains unknown despite Trump claiming they were “obliterated”. Iran’s UN ambassador Ali Bahreini also told reporters “there hasn’t been such a decision” to accept IAEA inspectors. Diplomatic whirlwind Rubio landed in the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday, with plans to also visit Kuwait and Bahrain — all attacked by Iran during the war — to discuss the deal with Tehran and the Hormuz strait. Comments by Rubio, an ardent Iran hawk, will be closely watched as he has largely remained out of the spotlight, with Vance taking a lead role in defending the deal. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, meanwhile, was visiting key mediator Pakistan on Tuesday with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Araghchi and Ghalibaf also held talks in Oman with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, who expressed hope for “a peaceful, definitive settlement”, Omani state media said. Mediators Pakistan and Qatar said both sides had agreed on a “roadmap” to reach a final agreement within the 60-day timeframe. They agreed that four negotiating groups be set up on nuclear issues, sanctions and other matters, Iranian state media said. Lebanon war On the Lebanon front, a fifth round of negotiations between Lebanese and Israeli officials began in Washington on Tuesday in a bid to end the Israel-Hezbollah conflict there. Fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which drew Lebanon into the Middle East war on March 2, has repeatedly threatened to derail peace efforts. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem again demanded a timetable for a full Israeli withdrawal from the country. The goal of the Washington talks will be “to end the cycle of violence for good”, a US State Department official told AFP. Despite a reduction in hostilities in Lebanon, Israeli soldiers shot and killed two people in the south on Tuesday, state media reported. Israel said it had fired on Hezbollah operatives infiltrating its delf-declared security zone.

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: Morning fog patches in the north, otherwise fine and cool but partly cloudy in the south. It will be cold in the extreme south-west. 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 to warm. 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: Morning fog patches in the south-western Bushveld, otherwise fine and cool to warm. 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: Morning fog patches in places, otherwise partly cloudy 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: Morning fog patches, otherwise partly cloudy and cool. It will be cold along the Lesotho boarder. 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 east, otherwise partly cloudy and cool to cold. Wind: Temperature: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-easterly, becoming light and variable in the evening. 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: Cloudy with isolated showers and rain in the southern half, becoming partly cloudy and cool to cold in the western and north-eastern parts from the afternoon. Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate easterly to south-easterly in the morning in the south coast, otherwise fresh to strong. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Low 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: Cold in places over the interior, otherwise partly cloudy and cool, but cloudy with isolated showers and rain along the coast and adjacent interior. The Western half – wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-westerly early morning, otherwise moderate to fresh south-westerly, becoming easterly in the evening. The Eastern half: Fine in places in the east in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy and cold to cool, becoming cloudy with isolated showers and rain in places south of the escarpment from the afternoon. The Eastern half-wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate south-westerly, becoming light and variable in the evening. 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 fog patches over north-eastern interior, otherwise partly cloudy and cool but warm in the north-east. It will become cloudy in the afternoon with isolated showers and rain in the south and east. Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate northerly to north-easterly north of Mtunzini at first, otherwise moderate to fresh south-westerly to southerly. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Very High 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 Yellow Level 1 Warning: Damaging waves leading to difficulty in navigation at sea for small vessels/ personal watercraft and localised disruption to beachfront activities are expected between Hondeklip Bay and Cape Agulhas. FIRE DANGER WARNINGS NIL ADVISORIES NIL Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service

At a time when some overseas reports have sought to case a ‘doping’ cloud over South African rugby following the recent ban handed down to Springbok prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye, it won’t come as welcome news that the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport has recently confirmed a suspension for a talented Varsity Cup player. Liam Santos, a Varsity Shield forward for Wits University, has been handed a three-year suspension that will be effective up to and including 23 April 2029. Santos attended the prestigious Grey College in Bloemfontein, where he excelled as a starting No 8 for the 1st XV and represented the Free State Cheetahs at the U18 Craven Week. He has also been involved in Sevens rugby, including selections for the U19 Lions team and an international stint representing Portugal Sevens in the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series. Santos moved to Johannesburg to attend Wits University, playing for FNB Wits in the Varsity Shield competition – a competition they went on to win this year – but his career has faced a major setback due to a doping ban. SAIDS hand down big doping ban to Varsity rugby star According to the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport, this is the statement that details the nature of his ban, which is said to be related to substances that “increase muscle, improve strength and improve body fat” and also “support injury recovery”. “Following an In-Competition test conducted on Liam Santos (the “Athlete”) on 20 February 2026, the Athlete tested positive for the presence of Drostanolone Metabolite, 2a-methyl-5a-androstan-3a-ol-17-one and the Dehydrochloromethyl Testosterone Metabolite, 4a-chloro-18-nor-17b-hydroxymethyl, 17a-methyl-5a-androst-13-en-3a-ol) in his urine Sample. “In terms of the World Anti-Doping Code (“WADC”) Prohibited List 2026, Drostanolone and Dehydrochloromethyl-Testosterone are classified under Category S1 (Anabolic Androgenic Steroids), which is prohibited at all times (In- and Out-Of-Competition). “The athlete accepted the sanction of four (4) years, which was subsequently reduced to three (3) years based on his early admission of the anti-doping rule violation under Article 10.8.1 of the SAIDS Rules. The Athlete’s period of Ineligibility began on 24 April 2026 (the date he was notified of his mandatory Provisional Suspension) and will be effective up to and including 23 April 2029.” News comes not long after Asenathi Ntlabakanye was suspended Back in May, the Independent Doping Tribunal Panel (IDHP) handed down its verdict on a banned substances case against Ntlabakanye, and the 27-year-old has been suspended for 18 months. The ban will be effective from 13 May 2026, and it will rule him out of the World Cup next year.

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South Africa does not have a digital talent shortage. What it has is a shortage of work-ready talent.