Dolly Parton’s estate is seeking a restraining order against her nephew and former security chief, alleging threats and intimidation. Seaver’s representatives deny the claims and say his dismissal was unexplained.

Iran's annual BRICS trade hits $60bn, but officials say the bloc's full economic potential for Tehran is still far from realised.

Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Marcelo Allende has once again side‑stepped questions about his future after helping the club lift the FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup. The Brazilians ran out 2-1 victors over Al‑Ahli Saudi at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday, a result that also secured their progression to the next round of the FIFA Intercontinental Cup. When pressed on his future, the Chilean remained tight‑lipped, offering no clarity on his next move despite his contract expiring at the end of the current season. “I don’t know, but now I want to enjoy this title,” Allende said when asked about the possibility of renewing his contract with the Tshwane giants. “After the FIFA break, we have another big challenge. We have to keep focusing on the season because we have a lot of cups to play in.” Allende has earned just one senior cap for the Chile national team despite his consistent performances for Sundowns since arriving in South Africa in 2022. He admits that being overlooked is difficult to accept but vowed to continue working hard for his current employers. “It makes me a little sad because I’m proud and I would like to represent my country but it’s life and football. I will continue to always give my best and try to play my best football,” the 27‑year‑old said. Allende echoed teammate Aubrey Modiba’s sentiments, insisting that Sundowns have what it takes to compete against some of the best teams in world football. Masandawana are now just one match away from potentially facing UEFA Champions League winners Paris Saint‑Germain in the final of the Intercontinental Cup. “Sometimes we joke and imagine that we’re playing against PSG. We watch them on TV but you can dream,” he concluded. “When I came here, I never thought of this, but when you start to understand the level we have here at Sundowns, I thought we can fight against anyone. We need to show it. We showed against Ahli that we can fight against the best teams in the world.”

High-profile coaches Herve Renard and Carlos Queiroz face each other on Thursday when Ivory Coast host Ghana as 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying kicks off. This blockbuster west African showdown in Bouake between former champions is the highlight of the 24 matchday one fixtures. Ghana have won the AFCON four times, but not since 1982. Renard led Ivory Coast to the second of their three African titles 11 years ago. Renard also won the AFCON with Zambia in 2012 — one of the biggest shocks in the history of the 69-year competition. Queiroz came closest to AFCON glory in 2022 with Egypt, who lost the final after a penalty shootout against Senegal. He watched from the stand due to a suspension. After working with clubs in France, England and Vietnam, Renard has concentrated on national teams, also coaching Angola, Morocco, Saudi Arabia twice, France women and Tunisia. He took charge of Tunisia at the 2026 World Cup after fellow Frenchman Sabri Lamouchi was axed following a 5-1 hiding from Sweden. They also lost to Japan and the Netherlands under Renard. Ivory Coast did not renew the contract of 2024 AFCON-winning coach Emerse Fae after a last-32 World Cup loss to Norway, paving the way for Renard to return. The Queiroz CV includes managing Real Madrid and he has been assistant twice to former Manchester United boss Alex Ferguson. He took charge of Ghana just before the 2026 World Cup, transforming a struggling team into a combative, defensively strong unit. They were the only team to hold England goalless. That defensive resilience is set to be tested again in the Ivory Coast, with the strike force options of Renard including Yan Diomande of Real Madrid and Bazoumana Toure of Newcastle. A blow for Ghana was the withdrawal of injured Mohammed Kudus. The inventive Tottenham Hotspur midfielder also missed the World Cup. – Vieira setback – Only four of the 10 coaches who began the 2026 World Cup in charge of African qualifiers remain — Queiroz, Hossam Hassan of Egypt, Mohamed Ouahbi of Morocco and Sebastien Desabre of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Those who quit, retired or were fired include Renard, Lamouchi, Fae, Vladimir Petkovic of Algeria, Hugo Broos of South Africa, Pape Thiaw of Senegal and Bubista of Cape Verde. Patrick Vieira, a 1998 World Cup winner with France, has replaced Thiaw. His debut for Senegal has suffered a setback due to the lack of an international-standard stadium in the country. Instead of hosting Mozambique on Friday, they will travel to the southern Africa nation for a match that may prove more challenging than the ranking gap of 85 places suggests. Vieira must do without two of the four stars who have been the core of the team. Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy has retired and striker Sadio Mane is injured. Centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and midfielder Idrissa Gueye remain for Senegal, who beat Morocco in the 2026 final only to be stripped of the title. Most of the Senegalese team temporarily left the field to protest an added-time penalty awarded to Morocco, which was missed after a lengthy delay. Senegal have appealed the decision to declare Morocco champions. It will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) on October 8. Pitso Mosimane gets a second chance as coach of South Africa after being sacked at midnight following a 2014 World Cup qualifying draw with Ethiopia. He has since excelled at club level, winning the CAF Champions League with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa and twice with Al Ahly of Egypt. South Africa will lack injured defenders Mbekezeli Mbokazi and Khuliso Mudau on Saturday in Soweto against Guinea, who boast a prolific scorer in Serhou Guirassy from Borussia Dortmund. Bubista worked wonders with Cape Verde at the World Cup. They held eventual champions Spain and took Argentina to extra time. He has joined Moroccan club Renaissance Berkane and assistant Humberto Bettencourt takes over. Cape Verde are away to Mali on Friday.

DJ Zinhle, an astute entrepreneur, recently announced on her social media platforms that her accessory brand, Era by DJ Zinhle, has now diversified into the luggage market. Originally launched as a watch brand, Era by DJ Zinhle has grown significantly over the last fourteen years. The business has opened several stores across South Africa and expanded its product range to include jewellery, handbags, sunglasses, and more. ERA BY DJ ZINHLE EXPANDS INTO LUGGAGE Fans and customers alike were thrilled about Era’s latest offering, with many promising to purchase the stylish Go Getter Suitcase, which retails for R2,500. The website states that the suitcase is currently available only in black and is categorised as a carry-on. Some of its standout features include a built-in cup holder and handbag holder. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ZINHLE JIYANE (@djzinhle) Phindile_89_m: Waiting for my order to arrive. You ate bestie. Kayla Kimkay: Stunning! I have a weakness for great suitcases. Firstladytshepi: This is absolutely stunning!! Mmathapelo_jc: The biggest local brand. @djzinhle you ate, mama. Reshoketswem: The best in the game. DJ ZINHLE’S ARRAY OF BUSINESSES DJ Zinhle’s business acumen is certainly undeniable. Armed with a marketing degree, she has built multiple businesses over the years. Beyond her music career, she established Jiyane Atelier in 2019, a furniture manufacturing business spearheaded by her brother, Zenzele. In 2021, she launched Hair Majesty, a wig brand that has continued to thrive despite receiving negative reviews from customers. While some people may be apprehensive about working with family and friends, DJ Zinhle has shown that’s not her reality. In her reality show on BET, viewers saw the inner workings of Era, where she worked closely with family and friends, including her sister, Gugu Mtshali; Kholiwe Jiyane, who is married to Zenzele; and her friend, Nomuzi Mabena.

The family of Dineo Evelyn Motapane is demanding answers as they prepare to bury the 38-year-old on Thursday. Relatives made a fresh appeal for information during a memorial service in KwaThema on Tuesday, a week after Motapane’s body was found beside a road in the township. Her aunt, Nokwanda Matshikiza, urged anyone who knows what happened to Dineo to approach police, saying information from the community could help investigators crack the case. The family has welcomed the decision to bring senior police officers into the wider Ekurhuleni investigation but says it now wants to see progress. KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and Crime Intelligence head Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo are among the senior officers assisting investigators. At Tuesday’s memorial, the family made its frustration clear. “We want progress. We want to know where investigations are right now,” a relative said. FAMILY PLEADS FOR INFORMATION Motapane is one of nine women whose deaths have formed part of the wider Ekurhuleni investigation since July. Her body was discovered in KwaThema on Tuesday, 15 September. Her family identified her at the Springs Mortuary the following afternoon. No arrest has publicly been announced in connection with Motapane’s killing. Her family believes someone in the community may know something that could help police piece together her final hours. Relatives have also previously said they do not believe the roadside where her body was found was where she was killed. Her aunt, Martha Goge, said last week that the family believed Dineo had been killed elsewhere and later dumped in KwaThema. She appealed to whoever was responsible to come forward and tell the family what happened. Police have not publicly confirmed the family’s belief about where the murder took place. ‘IT’S SO PAINFUL’ The renewed call for answers comes less than a week after Dineo’s cousin Ayanda Nano spoke to The South African about the family’s final days with her. “It’s so painful,” Nano said at the time. She said the family last saw Motapane at about 17:00 on Sunday, 13 September, two days before police found her body. “She seemed fine when I last saw her,” Nano told The South African. Dineo had been at home with her family and gave them no indication that anything was wrong. Nano described herself as Dineo’s eldest cousin but said their relationship was much closer. “I was more like an older sister to her,” she said. FAMILY WAS ALREADY PREPARING FOR A FUNERAL Dineo disappeared while her family was already dealing with another death. Relatives were preparing to bury an uncle on Tuesday. When Dineo did not arrive for the funeral, concern grew. The family had also heard that authorities had discovered a woman’s body in KwaThema. “We were asking, ‘Where is she? When is she coming back? Is she even coming back?’” Nano told The South African. The family contacted its local councillor for assistance before going to establish whether the woman police had found was Dineo. On Wednesday afternoon, relatives identified her at the Springs Mortuary. At the time authorities found Dineo, her family had not yet formally reported her missing. SAPS later confirmed the family had last seen her alive on Sunday. ‘SHE WAS A BUBBLY PERSON’ They are also mourning the woman they knew before her name became part of the Ekurhuleni murder investigation. “She was a bubbly person,” Nano said. Dineo leaves behind a two-year-old daughter. The family has spent the past week receiving support from community members while repeatedly calling for justice. At Tuesday’s memorial, relatives also directed a message at the person responsible for Dineo’s death, saying the killing had affected not only their family but the country. The family will now lay Dineo to rest on Thursday, 24 September, while investigators continue searching for answers about who killed her and why.

E-commerce and logistics growth is reshaping what South African businesses need from barcode printers.

Altron expects first-half headline earnings from continuing operations to rise by as much as 17%.