If you’ve spent any time on X over the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen Johannesburg mayor Dada Morero and various commentators locked in a public battle over Marble Towers in Johannesburg. Technically, it’s a dispute about a building in Johannesburg’s CBD. In reality, it raises many more questions about how cities enforce the rules governing the built environment. For those who haven’t been following every court filing, here’s the basic version. The owners of Marble Towers approached the court seeking an urgent interdict against the City of Johannesburg. They argued that the city was threatening to demolish structures on the property without following the proper legal process. They wanted the court to stop any demolition, prevent officials from entering the site for that purpose and compel the city to hand over reports and documents relating to its enforcement actions. The city, on the other hand, argued that the structures in question were illegal because they had been erected without approved building plans. The city said notices had been issued over several years, compliance opportunities had been provided and the owners had failed to address the issues. The city also raised concerns about fire safety, blocked emergency exits and public risk. Last week, the court handed down its decision. It found that the structures were indeed illegal because there were no approved building plans. It dismissed the urgent application, ruled that the owners had failed to establish a basis for an interim interdict and confirmed the city’s right to enforce building regulations and fire safety laws. Importantly, however, the court also made it clear that the city cannot arrive with bulldozers and start demolishing structures.  Proper legal procedures needed to be followed. The owners have been given an opportunity to regularise the structures, submit compliant plans, address fire safety concerns and secure the site. On paper that might sound like a straightforward victory for the city. But Marble Towers is merely the latest pothole in a road Johannesburg has been travelling on for years. Anyone who has spent time in Johannesburg’s CBD knows that unauthorised building alterations, illegal structures, safety violations and neglected compliance requirements are hardly unique to one specific property. Johannesburg has spent years grappling with hundreds of unsafe, illegally occupied, hijacked or non-compliant buildings across the inner city.  Depending on which official estimate is used, the number ranges from more than 180 active cases to well over 500 affected properties. What nobody disputes is that the problem extends far beyond a single building. Enforcement in many South African cities often happens in bursts. Problems are ignored for years, notices are issued, deadlines come and go and then eventually a crisis forces action. It’s almost performative and ironically, the lights, camera and action take centre stage right around election time. By the time officials intervene, tensions are high because owners, tenants, businesses and investors have often operated under the assumption that nothing would ever happen. If the city fails to enforce regulations consistently, it sends a message that the rules are optional.  That uncertainty is the norm. If it enforces them selectively or only after years of inaction, it creates a different problem. Property owners begin questioning where they stand, investors worry about regulatory risk and residents wonder why dangerous conditions were allowed to persist in the first place. Neither scenario is good for a city trying to attract investment.  Then there is another issue entirely outside all the legal arguments —building regulations. They exist for a reason. Most people think only about fire exits, occupancy limits, structural compliance and approved plans when something goes wrong. But every regulation is usually written in response to a disaster that happened somewhere, at some point. When authorities raise concerns about blocked fire escapes or non-compliant structures, it’s not just about protecting paperwork; it’s about preventing tragedies. The challenge for Johannesburg is that enforcement alone does not build confidence. Confidence is built on consistency. And consistency is something Johannesburg has lacked for many years. Investors need to know that the same rules apply to everyone. Residents need to know that safety concerns will be addressed before they become emergencies. Property owners need to know that compliance requirements are predictable, transparent and fairly applied. This is what ultimately makes cities work. The Marble Towers judgment might have settled one legal dispute but it leaves Johannesburg with a bigger and more daunting task. The city might have won this time but will this mark the beginning of more consistent governance?  We are as used to striking successful headlines as we are to seeing them fade — until the next building lands up in court. If unlawful structures, safety concerns and compliance failures can remain unresolved for years before action is taken, then Marble Towers is not an exception.  It’s a symptom of a disease that South African cities like Johannesburg have been treating with painkillers instead of a cure.

Open training sessions are being held before the Fifa World Cup in North America. They serve multiple important purposes, including marketing the game, connecting with fans and sponsor activations for products such as boots.  Fifa’s 2026 Community Training Sessions initiative opens select practices, reaching about 75 000 fans. Goals include community connection, extending the event beyond stadiums and promoting “Be Active”. Spain, Germany, South Africa and Japan have drawn crowds. Bafana Bafana’s base in Pachuca, Mexico, at Universidad del Futbol, saw fans interact with players and pose for photos. The sessions build hype and accessibility while delivering sponsor ROI. Brands such as Nike and Adidas showcase boots in real drills, driving visibility and sales through emotional connections, a standard feature of modern World Cup commercialisation. As the 2026 Fifa World Cup rapidly unfolds across North America, the on-pitch drama will rival an intense off-field battle: the ever-evolving soccer boot wars. The rivalries mirror fierce competition in marathon running and basketball, where Nike and Adidas compete through carbon-plated supershoes and athlete sponsorships. Nike’s “Breakout” pack features the Mercurial Superfly 11 and Vapor 17 with GripKnit uppers, possible collarless designs and hybrid studs for local pitches. Adidas offers refreshed Predator, F50 and Copa models in “Solar Turbo” colours, with power strike zones and collaborations.  Argentina superstar Lionel Messi might wear a custom F50, while Puma’s City Edition range draws inspiration from host cities. Trends emphasise energy foams, knitted materials and custom fits for French forward Kylian Mbappé, England’s Jude Bellingham and others. Boot technology gained prominence in the mid-1990s with Adidas’s Predator, launched in 1994 and Nike’s Mercurial Vapor, introduced in 1998 and worn by Ronaldo. Nike’s global push built on its transformative relationship with Michael Jordan.  The 1984 partnership, featuring equity royalties, revolutionised athlete endorsements and sneaker culture. It fuelled Nike’s expansion into football and challenged Adidas’s dominance. Iconic moments also highlight personal style. Diego Maradona often took the field with untied laces in his Puma boots, a casual flair that captured worldwide attention and humanised the superstar during his legendary warm-up runs. Golden Boot trends reflect boot evolution. Davor Šuker, the 1998 winner, wore traditional Adidas leather boots. Ronaldo, the 2002 winner, shone in Nike Mercurial Vapor I boots. Miroslav Klose, in 2006, favoured Adidas Copa and Predator models. In 2010, Siphiwe Tshabalala’s opening wonder goal for South Africa against Mexico came in Nike CTR360 Maestri boots, ideal for his controlled strike.  Thomas Müller won the Golden Boot with five goals while wearing Adidas F50 adizero boots suited to agile poaching. James Rodríguez, the 2014 winner, wore Adidas F50 boots, Harry Kane, the 2018 winner, wore Nike Hypervenom boots and Mbappé, the 2022 winner, wore Nike Mercurial Superfly IX boots. The early focus on speed shifted towards a blend of agility and control through advanced materials. South African links add depth to the story. Doctor Khumalo, the Bafana Bafana legend, enjoyed a long partnership with Puma, including his signature 16V boots. The 2026 boot wars echo innovation races in marathon running and basketball. The boots blend heritage, technology and personal stories, from Jordan’s influence to Maradona’s untied laces and Khumalo’s Puma legacy, helping propel athletes towards glory. Lelo Mzaca is an award-winning multitalented journalist, copywriter and presenter of The Big Breakfast Show on Radio 2000. He has an overwhelming passion for sport, lifestyle, music, arts and culture.

Nearly 9,000 employees of the Expanded Public Works Programme in eThekwini face uncertainty as funding is frozen due to allegations of mismanagement and irregular payments, prompting calls for accountability and reform.

South Africa's hopes of adding a sixth tournament title of the season ended with defeats to France and Spain on Sunday, as the newly crowned world champions finished fourth at the Bordeaux Sevens.

Teenager Kimi Antonelli extended his lead in the drivers’ world championship with a commanding and nerveless victory for Mercedes ahead of Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton in a protracted, incident-hit Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday. It was the 19-year-old Italian’s record fifth consecutive victory this season, making him the first Italian to achieve that feat since Alberto Ascari in 1952. It hoisted him 66 points clear of Hamilton in the title race. “The car was a peach today,” he said after becoming the youngest winner of Formula One’s classic blue riband event. ‘An incredible day’ “An incredible day — one of those when we had incredible pace to give me confidence to push.” In a stoppage-strewn race punctuated by crashes, retirements and a series of penalties, Antonelli came home 6.271 seconds clear of seven-time champion Hamilton with Red Bull’s Isack Hadjar third ahead of Oscar Piastri of McLaren. Racing Bulls’ Liam Lawson and Arvid Lindblad finished a career-best fifth and sixth respectively, while Sergio Perez in 10th scored the new Cadillac team’s first point. Hamilton equalled Ayrton Senna’s record total of eight Monaco podiums. Four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull suffered an engine failure at the start and retired, as did world champion Lando Norris when his McLaren had battery problems. Antonelli made a perfect getaway. Behind him, Verstappen had a power failure as he attempted to start. “What can I do?” asked Verstappen. “Just bring it home,” came the Red Bull reply. His problem was diagnosed as engine failure. It was his eighth first-lap retirement. For Antonelli, the youngest-ever pole sitter in Monaco, his dream start enabled a run in clear air to establish a lead of 5.4 seconds by lap 10. Norris had a lap one setback when, after squabbling with Piastri for sixth, he was passed by Pierre Gasly on the outside of St Devote. In the first round of pit stops, Hamilton was one of several drivers given a five-second penalty for speeding in the pit-lane. After revelling in his supremacy, Antonelli came in a second time after 37 laps, easily retaining his lead before Norris’s problems ended with a call to retire on lap 46. The young Italian was racing with such ease that race engineer Peter Bonington told him: “Kimi, fastest lap! No, we don’t need them.” ‘No rear brakes’ On lap 60, Lance Stroll smacked the barriers at Antony Noghes to prompt a safety car. The race re-started on lap 66 and, as Antonelli pulled clear with Hamilton in pursuit, the luckless Leclerc crashed at the same spot. “I’m not taking the blame for that,” he said. “It’s like I had no rear brakes at all.” That lifted Hadjar into third place before a second red flag suspended the action, with the field called back to wait in the pit lane as the track was repaired and Russell was given a drive-through penalty for failing to serve an earlier time penalty correctly. After a 40-minute hiatus, the action resumed from a standing start. Antonelli held his nerve to lead again with Hamilton second ahead of Russell, who promptly pitted for his penalty and fell to 14th.

Members of the guard of honor prepare ahead a welcoming ceremony for the visit of Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone at the Government Office in Hanoi on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / POOL / AFP) Spectators at the 2026 South African Air Force Museum Airshow in Valhalla on June 06, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. The airshow is a platform for aviation enthusiasts to witness breathtaking aerial displays, meet skilled pilots, and explore a wide array of aircraft that have shaped the South African skies. (Photo by Gallo Images/Manash Jyoti Das) Nuns react following the Holy Mass lead by Pope Leo XIV held in the Plaza de Cibeles in Madrid on June 7, 2026. Pope Leo XIV is visiting Spain June 6-12 with stops in Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary Islands, where he will meet with migrants and organisations dedicated to helping them. (Photo by Javier SORIANO / AFP) An aerial view of the San Juan de Lurigancho neighbourhood, on the northern outskirts of Lima, where Peru’s presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori, for the Fuerza Popular party, will attend an election-day breakfast on June 7, 2026. (Photo by Ernesto BENAVIDES / AFP) Marishe Vermeulen pose for a picture next to 1934 Ford Coupe (street rod) at the East Rand Motor Show in Benoni, Ekhuruleni, 7 June 2026. The day includes live entertainment, gourmet food trucks, and stalls for both automotive and general shopping. Picture: Nigel Sibanda/The Citizen Moths, of the Memorable Order of Tin Hats (M.O.T.H), take part in a parade, 7 June 2026, at the M.O.T.H Cottesloe Homes Market and Founders Day Parade in Fairland, Randburg. The event included a traditional March Past accompanied by an Irish Pipe Band followed by a memorial service. M.O.T.H is a South African ex-service organisation dedicated to supporting military veterans and their families through community fundraising, housing, and mutual fellowship. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Sea-Anne Venter, left, and Kylie Pienaar pose for a photograph, 6 June 2026, at the Medieval Fayre hosted by Alter Egos at Greensleeves in Krugersdorp. The Medieval Fayre sees many visitors dressing in medieval appropriate costumes, and also features interactive activities including archery, weapon throwing, unicorn rides, historical European martial arts, Dungeons & Dragons games, a Knight’s Quest scavenger hunt, fancy dress competitions, tavern quizzes, medieval games and LARPing battles. Picture: Michel Bega/The Citizen Wapadrand Boeredans group at the annual 44th Mampoer Festival at the Voortrekker Monument on June 06, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. The annual cultural festival celebrates traditional mampoer distilling, features championship classes, rare collector’s bottles, stalls, and family entertainment. (Photo by Gallo Images/Alet Pretorius) A journalist watches as a cat crosses an alley and behind an Israeli army armoured vehicle moves in the Balata camp for Palestinian refugees, east of Nablus in the occupied West Bank, during an Israeli military operation on June 7, 2026. Since the war in Gaza broke out in October 2023 with Hamas’s attack on Israel, near-daily violence has rocked the West Bank, which Israel has occupied since 1967. Israeli soldiers or settlers have killed at least 1,080 Palestinians since then, including both militants and civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry data. (Photo by Jaafar ASHTIYEH / AFP) A shouting protester is reflected in the glasses of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent outside Delaney Hall, which is being used as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center, in Newark, New Jersey on June 6, 2026. The US state of New Jersey on June 2, 2026, sued the private prison company that runs the migrant detention center where protesters have rallied for several days over allegedly poor conditions at the jail. The lawsuit against GEO Group demands that local health authorities be allowed full access to Delaney Hall, one of many facilities holding people rounded up in US President Donald Trump’s mass deportation sweep. (Photo by Ryan MURPHY / AFP) Members of a festive music band who took part in the inauguration pose in front of the newly-inaugurated Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple in Berlin on June 7, 2026. The Hindu temple, dedicated to the Hindu deity Ganesha and built in South Indian Dravidian style, was consecrated on June 7 after more than two decades of planning and construction, at Hasenheide in Berlin’s Neukoelln district. With its tower of over 17 metres of height, it is said to be the largest Hindu temple in Germany. The construction costs of more than one million euros were financed by donations. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP) Horses are washed in the River Eden during the annual Appleby Horse Fair, in the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland, northwest England, on June 6, 2026. The annual event is a traditional Gypsy Fair attracting thousands of travellers from across Britain to gather to buy and sell horses. (Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis / AFP) Anti-government demonstrators clash with police officers and civilians during an operation to clear a road blockade in San Julian, Santa Cruz department, Bolivia, on June 6, 2026. Bolivia has faced days of demonstrations and road blockades amid growing political tensions and shortages affecting different regions of the country. (Photo by Rodrigo URZAGASTI / AFP) MORE: 24 hours in pictures, 4 June 2026

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: Fine. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Low 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, becoming partly cloudy in the south by the afternoon. It will be warm in the Lowveld. 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: Fine and cool but warm in the east. 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: Fine 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: Fine and cold to cool but partly cloudy in the south. 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: Partly cloudy and cold to cool with isolated rain and showers in the south-east. Wind: Temperature: The wind along the coast will be light and variable. 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: Partly cloudy and cold to cool but cloudy in the south and central with isolated to scattered rain and showers. Wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate westerly to north-westerly but south-westerly along the south coast. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: Moderate 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: Fine in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy and cool with isolated showers and rain from afternoon. It will be cloudy in south by the afternoon. The Western half – wind: The wind along the coast will be moderate to fresh south-westerly. The Eastern half: Fine in the morning, otherwise partly cloudy and cool with isolated showers and rain from afternoon in the west and central. The Eastern half-wind: The wind along the coast will be light north-westerly, becoming moderate to fresh south-westerly by afternoon. 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 in places in the east becoming fine in the afternoon, otherwise, partly cloudy and cool but warm in the north-east. Wind: The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north-westerly until late morning, otherwise northerly to north-easterly, reaching fresh in the extreme north. The expected UVB Sunburn Index: 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 NIL FIRE DANGER WARNINGS NIL ADVISORIES Very cold conditions are expected over the north-eastern high lying areas of the Eastern Cape Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service

Social Relief of Distress (SRD) beneficiaries across South Africa are running out of time to update their banking details, as the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) warns that unclaimed benefits may result in the permanent cancellation of the R370 grant. SASSA has identified four key reasons why SRD payments fail to reach beneficiaries: a closed bank account, an inactive account, an account that does not accept credits, and an account that fails verification checks. When any of these conditions exist, the R370 grant payment bounces, and the beneficiary receives nothing that month. SASSA sends an SMS notification to alert affected recipients, but many miss the message or delay responding. Ignoring that SMS, even briefly, sets off a countdown that puts the entire grant at risk. The 3-Month and 90-Day Deadlines You Cannot Ignore SASSA operates on a strict timeline for unresolved payment failures. After three consecutive months of unpaid grants, SASSA flags the application. After 90 days without corrective action from the beneficiary, the agency may suspend the application entirely. A further 90 days of inaction triggers outright cancellation. That means a beneficiary who ignores a single banking detail problem for roughly six months can lose their SRD grant permanently and must restart the application process from scratch. With unemployment numbers still devastating millions of households, the income gap is one that many families cannot afford. How to Fix Your SRD Banking Details Before It’s Too Late SASSA urges all SRD beneficiaries to take four immediate steps. First, confirm that your banking details on record are correct and that your account remains open and active. Second, update any incorrect details promptly; do not wait for the next payment cycle. Third, check your SRD application status regularly through official channels. Fourth, use only verified SASSA platforms when submitting updates, as scammers frequently impersonate SASSA online to steal personal information. Beneficiaries can update their details and check their SRD status at srd.sassa.gov.za or by calling the SASSA helpline at 0800 60 10 11. Do not hand your details to anyone outside official SASSA channels.

Orders of about $150-billion, double the $75-billion target, mark impressive demand for the largest IPO ever.

OpenAI is planning its biggest ChatGPT overhaul yet, aiming to turn it into a "super app" with coding tools and AI agents.