IOL
ConCourt rejects ATM's appeal to revive Ramaphosa impeachment
The Constitutional Court has rejected the African Transformation Movement's bid to urgently appeal a Western Cape High Court order suspending impeachment proceedings against President Cyril Ramaphosa.
IOL
Balancing the Navy and Banyana: Antonia Maponya navigates dual life ahead of Nigeria play-off
SA Navy HR officer and Banyana Banyana player Antonia Maponya opens up about balancing a corporate career with international football as South Africa prepare for a crucial World Cup play-off against Nigeria.
The Citizen
24 hours in pictures, 12 August 2026
We bring you a visual snapshot of the day’s news events, featuring a massive blaze engulfing a fuel storage tank at Libya’s second-largest oil refinery, conservation officials rescuing a critically endangered Sumatran tiger in Indonesia to prevent conflict with nearby communities, and court proceedings in Johannesburg involving a man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl. These are some of the compelling images from around the world. (For best view, click on image for fullscreen) Black smoke rises during a fire at the Zawiya refinery, Libya’s second-largest oil refinery with a refining capacity of 120,000 barrels per day, after a storage tank belonging to the state-owned Libyan Brega Oil Company was attacked by unknown perpetrators in Al-Zawiyah on August 11, 2026. A major gasoline reservoir in Libya’s Zawiya, west of Tripoli, caught fire and collapsed on August 10, 2026, after what authorities said was an attack by unknown perpetrators. The National Oil Corporation (NOC) said the tank contained about 4.5 million litres of gasoline. Libya has the most abundant oil reserves in Africa but has been divided ever since it was plunged into war during the ouster in 2011 of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Two governments are currently vying for power: the UN-recognised administration in Tripoli led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah and a rival in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar. (Photo by Mahmud Turkia / AFP) Veterinarians and staff from the Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) evacuate a wild Sumatran tiger (Panthera tigris sumatrae) in Agam, West Sumatra, Indonesia, on August 12, 2026. The tiger was evacuated to prevent potential conflict with humans. Sumatran tigers are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), with fewer than 400 estimated to remain in the wild. (Photo by Adi Prima/Anadolu via Getty Images) A view of haze blanketing the Kuala Lumpur skyline in Malaysia on August 12, 2026. Smoke from wildfires in the region has contributed to unhealthy air quality levels (Photo by Syaiful Redzuan/Anadolu via Getty Images) The Grand Camlica Mosque is seen against the colorful sky during sunrise in Istanbul, Turkiye, on August 12, 2026. (Photo by Adem Kutucu/Anadolu via Getty Images) Soweto resident Matthew Molokoane works at his mobile business, 12 August 2026, during the cold front in Soweto. Molokoane continues to earn a living despite South Africa’s rising unemployment. Picture: Jessica Nkuna/The Citizen This aerial photograph shows the wreckage of a World War II German warship, one of dozens sunk by retreating Nazi forces in September 1944, emerging from the low waters of the Danube River near Prahovo, Serbia, on August 11, 2026, as drought and prolonged hot and dry weather continues to lower water levels across the region. Heat and drought are driving rivers across Europe to record lows. Low levels along the Danube river have already seen Hungary and Romania forced to consider shuttering their nuclear plants, which rely on the water for cooling, in late July, though both managed to avoid doing so for now. (Photo by Andrej ISAKOVIC / AFP) Tshepo Ntsimane during court proceedings at Roodepoort Magistrates’ Court on August 12, 2026 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The matter concerns a 56-year-old accused facing a rape charge relating to the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Dobsonville, Soweto, and is postponed for indictment. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo) A woman walks past a large mural during daily life in New York City, United States, on August 11, 2026. (Photo by Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images) Len John (Deputy Director for Investigations attached to the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) in KwaZulu-Natal testifies at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry at Brigette Mabandla Judicial College on August 12, 2026 in Pretoria, South Africa. President Cyril Ramaphosa established the commission to investigate and report on the veracity, scope, and extent of the allegations made on 6 July 2025 by KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that South Africa’s criminal justice system was compromised. (Photo by Gallo Images/Frennie Shivambu) This picture taken on August 11, 2026 shows the silhouette of a local villager attempting to extinguish a wildfire in Palangka Raya, Central Kalimantan. (Photo by REINA / AFP) Hindu devotees offer prayers as they tie a sacred thread to a “Kalpavriksha”, a divine wishing tree, on the occasion of Hariyali Amavasya at a Hindu temple in Ajmer on August 12, 2026. (Photo by Himanshu SHARMA / AFP) Barclay Dougall and Ross Ewing take a shooting party into the hills of the Angus Glens during the opening day of the grouse shooting season on August 12, 2026 in Kirriemuir, Scotland. The red grouse shooting season in Scotland runs annually from August 12 to December 10. The highly anticipated opening day is traditionally known as the “Glorious Twelfth”. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) People cool off in irrigation canals in southern Tehran, Iran, on August 12, 2026, as hot weather affects the capital. Residents who do not have access to swimming pools use the canals to seek relief from the heat. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images) Commuters wait with umbrellas as they wait to board a local bus in the business district during a rainstorm caused by Typhoon Dolphin on August 12, 2026 in Beijing, China. China’s capital and the surrounding North China region are experiencing an above-average rainy and peak flood season in 2026, and government forecasts predict the summer’s precipitation totals to be as much as 20% to 50% higher than usual. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) A view shows a former eel fishing boat stranded in dried mud along the banks of the Rhine River on August 11, 2026 in Neuss, Germany. The Rhine River water level has reached record lows at measuring points along its route through Germany due to ongoing drought and hot weather. The Rhine is a crucial shipping conduit for the region and shipping of heavy cargo has already been severely disrupted. (Photo by Hesham Elsherif/Anadolu via Getty Images) Will from Portsmouth wearing the pair of solar eclipse glasses he bought from a stall on Custom House Quay, on August 12, 2026 in Falmouth, England. The partial solar eclipse is the most coverage during an eclipse viewed from the UK since 1999, with the moon covering 90-96% of the sun. Being situated in the far south west of the UK, people in Falmouth, Cornwall have the opportunity to watch the partial eclipse at a particularly high level of totality, with around 95 percent of the sun obscured (Photo by Hugh Hastings/Getty Images) A worker removes garbage that is clogging a river amid heavy rain on August 12, 2026 in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines. Heavy monsoon rains combined with Typhoon Dolphin has triggered widespread flooding across Luzon and swept a large amount of debris into the waterways. (Photo by Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) US President Donald Trump waves from the presidential limo upon arriving at Spire Academy to attend the 2026 Patriot Games finals in Geneva, Ohio on August 11, 2026. (Photo by Jim WATSON / AFP) A woman walks past a shopping mall on a rainy day in Beijing on August 12, 2026. (Photo by Adek BERRY / AFP) An undated handout photo released by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service, and received on August 12, 2026, shows fire crew from Beaminster Fire Station tackling a wildfire that began on August 9, in the New Forest near Ringwood, southern England. (Photo by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service / AFP) 1/20
The Citizen
‘It’s a great occasion, but we are underprepared,’ says Bulls boss Ackermann
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said that his team were relishing the chance to test themselves against the All Blacks in their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour match at Loftus on Saturday, but admitted that they would not be at their peak for the match. The game comes when the Bulls ordinarily would have just returned from their off-season break and would only be in the conditioning phase of their preparations for the coming season, but instead had to return early. Having reached the United Rugby Championship final in late June, the Bulls also ended their season later than the other South African sides, leaving even less time off and time to prepare than some of the other teams have had. “It’s not to use it as an excuse, but the fact that we went to the final means we had less time to prepare than the other franchises,” explained Ackermann. “We would probably only just have returned from the break, we had to cut the break short. We have to give the guys a five-week break, but we could only give them three weeks. “Conditioning is one thing, but your body, after three or four weeks, loses its contact ability. So we had to fast-track all of that. If this game wasn’t there, we would probably have been in a conditioning phase only. So it has put a bit of pressure on us.” Ideal situation Ackermann explained that the Bulls would ideally have liked to get some players match fit and tested some systems before heading into a game of this magnitude, but unfortunately they were unable to do that. “Normally you play a warm-up match or two, you trial stuff, see if it works and see what players are in form. Now we’re basically picking from the squad we’ve got left, and then the odd guys who were unlucky not to be selected have been given off training. It’s a bit unfair, but that’s the hand we’ve got,” said Ackermann. “It’s a great occasion, but we will definitely be a bit underprepared from where we want to be. We’re building up to the URC and that’s still a few weeks away, so we don’t want to peak now. “We just want to embrace the occasion and hopefully get a reward for what we’ve tried to practise over the last few weeks.” Despite their struggles, Ackermann says his team will be going all out to make things difficult for the All Blacks, and they will hope to challenge them like the Stormers did, and not be run over like the Sharks were. “Listen, we’re competitive, and we’re going to give them a run for their money, hopefully. That’s the aim. We don’t want to make it easy.”
The South African
Kaizer Chiefs starting XI: Petersen keeps his place, Phili starts
Kaizer Chiefs head coach Fernando da Cruz has made changes to the team that started against Golden Arrows in the MTN8 last weekend. Goalkeeper Brandon Petersen has kept his place in the starting line-up despite his costly error that gifted Arrows the only goal of the game. Dillan Solomons gets the nod ahead of Thabiso Monyane while the rest of the back four remains unchanged. In midfield, Da Cruz has brought in Sibongiseni Mthethwa, and he will play alongside Lebohang Maboe in midfield. Asavele Velebayi and Luke Baartman get to start while newly-signed attacker Langelihle Phili gets to make his full Chiefs debut. KAIZER CHIEFS STARTING XI VS SEKHUKHUNE UNITED Kaizer Chiefs XI: Petersen, Solomons, Frosler, Kwinika, Miguel, Mthethwa, Maboe, Baartman, Velebayi, Ighodaro, Phili WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE LINE-UP? Let us know in the comment section below…
The South African
Live score: Kaizer Chiefs vs Sekhukhune United
LIVE UPDATES Kaizer Chiefs line up: Petersen, Solomons, Kwinika, Miguel, Frosler, Maboe, Mthethwa, Velebayi, Ighodaro, Baartman, Phili SUBS: Leaner, Monyane, Nkgwesa, Moloisane, Ndlovu, Mmodi, Da Silva, Shabalala, Vilakazi. Sekhukhune United line up: Nsabata, Mashiloane, Matsimbi, Cardoso, Letlapa, Khupe, Mkhize, Khiba, Mokoena, Rammala, Ndlovu. Subs: To be confirmed. The match kicks off at 19:30 at FNB Stadium, with Kaizer Chiefs playing their second game in just 72 hours after Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Golden Arrows in the MTN8. The biggest storyline will be the return of former Kaizer Chiefs co-coach Cédric Kaze. The Sekhukhune United coach returns to FNB Stadium, where he recently worked. Kaze could hardly have asked for a better start with Sekhukhune United. He has won both matches in charge, beating Durban City 1-0 in the Betway Premiership before securing a dramatic 4-3 extra-time victory over AmaZulu in the MTN8 quarter-finals. CÉDRIC KAZE RETURNS TO CHIEFS The Babina Noko are unbeaten under Kaze and will arrive with plenty of confidence. They will also believe they can take advantage of a Kaizer Chiefs side still recovering from their disappointing MTN8 defeat. Kaze has admitted that facing his former club will be an emotional occasion. However, his focus will be on extending Sekhukhune United’s unbeaten start rather than the emotions surrounding his return. Also read: Three South African signings? Moroccan champions also want Lorch KAIZER CHIEFS UNDER PRESSURE For Kaizer Chiefs, the quick turnaround leaves little time to dwell on the Golden Arrows defeat. Coach Fernando Da Cruz is expected to rotate his team, with several changes likely as Amakhosi look to respond immediately in the Betway Premiership. A victory would give Chiefs the perfect response. But Sekhukhune United have already shown under Kaze that they will be difficult to beat.
TechCentral
The payment ring winning over South Africa’s banks
Smart ring start-up Vezopay has doubled its banking partners, and expects to have signed up five banks by year-end.
TechCentral
TCS | Money just became native to the internet – Steven Boykey Sidley
Steven Boykey Sidley discusses x402, stablecoins and the payments layer the internet never had.