The petition, launched by relatives of the victims of the attacks, called out Zohran Mamdani over his controversial views and connections

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The decision made by Comrades Marathon Association (CMA) members at a special general meeting (SGM) over the weekend might be remembered as a watershed moment for South African road running. Members met on Saturday to vote on whether or not they wanted the prestigious race to stay affiliated to provincial and national federations. And the result is likely to have a major impact on the sport, with federations being pushed into a corner and forced to play ball. The battle started a couple of years ago when KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) tried to stop Comrades runners outside the province from becoming CMA members, with the provincial body losing the fight in court. Then, due to conflict with KZNA, the CMA attempted to sidestep the provincial federation by affiliating itself directly to Athletics South Africa (ASA). This didn’t work, however, with ASA stating the Comrades race had to fall under the jurisdiction of KZNA. So the CMA board gave the organisation’s members a choice: either remain sanctioned or cut ties with the sport’s governing bodies. The members spoke loudly and clearly, with the majority of people voting at the SGM in favour of a split. KZNA losing control And though the CMA says it will continue engaging with KZNA, the provincial body comes to the table with very little bargaining power moving forward. Considering the popularity of the Comrades Marathon and the influence it has on South African road running, KZNA needs to be ready to listen if they want CMA to keep them in the loop. If the provincial federation doesn’t find a way to meet Comrades in the middle, rather than trying to assert its control over the race, Comrades will become an unaffiliated ‘fun run’. And if other races follow suit, based on the funding model of the sport, South African athletics will need to be overhauled or it could collapse. The CMA has flaunted its power, and athletics federations need to accept the lesson they are about to learn. Governing bodies do not merely exist to claim levies while throwing their weight around, and if they don’t operate reasonably and make positive contributions, they will lose control.

“There is no band-aid big enough to fix it; it must be disbanded.” These are the sentiments of DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach, whose party wants the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) disbanded, and an anti-corruption commission independent of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) set up to tackle corruption. Idac is under intense public scrutiny following the dramatic resignation of its head, Advocate Andrea Johnson, alongside explosive revelations at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry. Idac tainted The DA said while efforts to investigate and prosecute corruption are welcome, they do not go far enough. Breytenbach argued that Idac’s credibility has been fatally tainted and that it must be disbanded. “We want something completely new, and we’ve been advocating for some time for an independent, truly independent anti-corruption commission. So, established outside of the National Prosecuting Authority, established by its own statute, as a Chapter 9 institution, so that it has true independence and that it cannot be dissolved unless it’s by a very heightened majority in parliament, which no party will ever see again.” New organisation Breytenbach said a new organisation would provide the security of tenure for the country. “It would allow them to have control over their own budget, and it will allow them to, without fear or favour or prejudice, in a true sense, go after all of the wealth connected, corruption and organised crime issues, and the National Prosecuting Authority is just not managing to do that right now.” Breytenbach said Idac has been “tainted”. “It’s so beyond repair. They’ve taken what is rotting in the National Prosecuting Authority, they’ve transferred it to Idac, and the rot continues. 
You cannot fix it. There is no band-aid big enough to fix it. It must be disbanded, and we must now set up a truly independent anti-corruption body that will have all of the capacity it needs to go after corruption in the true sense.” Idac crisis Breytenbach argued that the crisis at Idac cannot be viewed in isolation, pointing to a wider pattern of institutional decay across the NPA, Hawks, Crime Intelligence and other crime‑fighting bodies. She said the revelations at the Madlanga commission – including allegations of improper relationships and compromised investigations – are a watershed moment that prove reforms cannot restore public trust. Instead, it insists that only a constitutionally established, Chapter 9 anti‑corruption commission with secure tenure, protected funding and robust parliamentary oversight can deliver true independence and credibility. MK on Idac The MK party also wants the Idac abolished, seeking to dismantle the organisation and fold its functions back into South Africa’s existing crime‑fighting institutions. Jacob Zuma’s party submitted the Idac Abolition Bill, 2026, to parliament’s Legislative Drafting and Legal Services Office for processing as a Private Member’s Bill. MK party spokesperson Sifiso Mahlangu said the Bill has been introduced in accordance with the procedures governing Private Members’ Legislative Proposals and Bills. Meanwhile, the MK party said it will be opening a case against Johnson at the Brooklyn Police Station on Monday, 3 August 2026.

The Springboks and All Blacks are just weeks away from kick-off in the first of four Tests in what’s been called ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ tour. The two proud rugby nations will play three Tests in South Africa, and then a fourth in Baltimore in the United States. WATCH | Thousands of ‘Cape Crusaders’ welcome All Blacks to Cape Town The three Tests in Mzansi will take place at Ellis Park (Saturday, 22 August), Cape Town Stadium (Saturday, 29 August) and FNB Stadium (Saturday, 5 September). All those matches will kick off at 17:10. The teams will then travel to the United States for the fourth and final clash on Saturday, 12 September. South Africans will need to stay awake until 23:00 to watch the match. Slow ticket sales Meanwhile, the All Blacks may be one of rugby’s biggest attractions, but ticket sales for their four tour matches against South Africa’s United Rugby Championship (URC) franchises have been slower than expected. With just days before New Zealand face the Stormers in Cape Town, organisers have confirmed that none of the tour matches are close to selling out. The All Blacks begin their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour against the Stormers at Cape Town Stadium on Friday, 7 August before taking on the Sharks at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Tuesday, 11 August, the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, 15 August and the Lions at Ellis Park on Tuesday, 25 August. Tickets for the opening fixture in Cape Town are priced at R650 and R1 350. According to an SA Rugby spokesperson, demand has fallen well short of expectations. “Sales range from modest to poor, so ‘sold out’ signs won’t be going up anytime soon,” the spokesperson told Rapport. “We hope things pick up, but it has been a struggle so far.” Third Test also has tickets available While the first two Springbok-All Blacks Tests at Ellis Park and Cape Town Stadium have already sold out, supporters can still secure seats for the third and final Test at FNB Stadium. Tickets for that encounter are priced between R1 650 and R4 000, with availability remaining despite the fierce rivalry between the two rugby giants. Although interest in the Springboks remains exceptionally high, SA Rugby will be hoping ticket sales for the provincial fixtures gain momentum as kick-off draws closer. Four provinces to test the All Blacks The All Blacks will play seven matches in South Africa on their ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ tour, including three Tests and four matches against provincial sides. Friday, 7 August: Stormers vs New Zealand, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – 19:10 Tuesday, 11 August: Sharks vs New Zealand, Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban – 19:10 Saturday, 15 August: Bulls vs New Zealand, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – 19:10 Saturday, 22 August: First Test, Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 17:10 Tuesday, 25 August: Lions vs New Zealand, Ellis Park, Johannesburg – 19:10 Saturday, 29 August: Second Test, Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – 17:10 Saturday, 5 September: Third Test, FNB Stadium, Johannesburg – 17:10 Saturday, 12 September: Fourth Test, M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, United States – 23:00 (SA time) Have you got tickets for any of the matches? Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below …

This morning’s snow report for Monday, 3 August brings a calm start to the week. No impact-based weather warnings have been issued anywhere in the country today, a rare quiet moment after weeks of shifting alerts. That’s a welcome change from recent weeks, when Orange-level snow and rain warnings hit the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, and Sani Pass closures made headlines more than once this season. Snow report 3 August: quiet conditions nationwide According to SAWS, Gauteng can expect morning frost in places over the Highveld, otherwise fine and cool conditions, becoming warm in the extreme north. The Free State is fine and cold to cool, with Bloemfontein looking fine, while the Western Cape stays fine and cool to warm, turning cloudy with fog over the south-western parts by evening. KwaZulu-Natal remains cool across most of the province, with cloud building over the eastern parts in the afternoon and isolated light showers along the north coast. SAWS has issued no weather warnings for today, and no fire danger warnings are in effect either. Mountain regions remain under close watch No snowfall is forecast for today, but South Africa’s high-lying regions are never far from the next system. The Maloti-Drakensberg range and Lesotho’s Afriski Mountain Resort remain the areas forecasters watch most closely. Our recent breakdown of how SAWS’s warning colour levels actually work highlighted just how quickly conditions can shift from calm to severe. With winter’s final weeks still ahead, forecasters continue to monitor incoming systems closely. If you’re travelling through mountain passes this week, check road conditions before setting off. Honestly, this snow report for 3 August makes a nice change after all the warnings we’ve covered lately. Are you noticing calmer conditions in your area too? Let us know in the comments below, Mzansi. Is it snowing in your area? If so, please send your photos to info@thesouthafrican.com.

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Nearly a quarter of Telkom's prepaid recharges are now funded by airtime credit, the operator's latest results show.