IOL
Tyla cancels Lagos concert amid South Africa-Nigeria tensions over immigration
Tyla’s Lagos stop has reportedly been removed from the tour schedule after Nigerian content creator Solomon Buchi called for a boycott over xenophobia concerns.
IOL
A silent Men's Month helps no one
As Women's Month begins, the muted observance of Men's Month raises uncomfortable questions about men's willingness to confront mental health challenges. Breaking harmful stereotypes and encouraging men to seek help are essential steps towards reducing suicide, gender-based violence and building healthier communities for everyone.
The Citizen
‘Those who steal from the government, be warned:’ Ramaphosa warns ANC councillors against corruption
ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa issued a stern warning to the party’s future councillors elected after the November municipal elections. Ramaphosa made the remarks after wrapping up the ANC’s campaign trail in Emalahleni, Mpumalanga, over the weekend. Voter registration Several political parties across the country intensified their voter registration campaigns on Saturday and Sunday, which marked the final registration weekend ahead of the 4 November polls. During his address, Ramaphosa urged South Africans not to sit on the sidelines but to play an active role in shaping the country’s future by registering to vote. His call came as more than 11 million eligible citizens had yet to register. Corruption Ramaphosa also addressed concerns about corruption in local government. “Those who steal money from the government, be warned. There are those who join government to steal money, we have opened a commission for them. They are getting arrested. Thieves are getting arrested, and there will be more arrests,” he said. “And those we are going to elect on 4 November – our councillors – are warned. We don’t want thieves. We want those who have morals and discipline. Those that don’t have morals, we will take them out through the door and through the windows,” he added. Madlanga Commission Ramaphosa also addressed corrupt South African Police Service (Saps) officers “The other aspect we are busy with – you have been watching it on TV every day – is that of crooked police officers, police doing illegal things. I’m not talking about the police you see standing here; they are appearing before the Madlanga Commission, and Madlanga is not playing now.” “If you go to Madlanga and you don’t know your story, you will be arrested. Some are even shaking; they are afraid to go to Madlanga. They even go to the hospital to avoid Madlanga, and when in hospital they are always in the toilet,” Ramaphosa said. Election proclamation Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission (IEC) said after the weekend voter registration, it is anticipating the minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs to officially proclaim the date of the 2026 local government elections. “The proclamation sets in motion a number of important processes. Firstly, the commission will have to publicise an election timetable. The timetable sets out cut-off times and dates for the performance of certain election functions, such as the publication of lists of voting stations, the publication of the inspection voters’ roll, and the cut-off date for candidate nomination,” IEC Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mambolo said. “Once those processes are complied with, then we go into the ballot production phase. We anticipate printing in the region of over 70 million ballot papers in a three-week window period. So, it’s a complex logistical exercise which must be approached with proper diligence, Mamabolo said. Democracy participation Recent surveys reveal a troubling trend: growing numbers of South Africans are tuning out of democratic participation, with research pointing to rising voter apathy and disengagement from civic life. The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) and the IEC’s 2026 Voter Participation Survey (VPS) reveal that public demand for democracy in South Africa has dropped to a historic low of 36%, down from 65% in the mid-2000s.
The Citizen
Stolen Porsche recovered as suspect arrested in vehicle trafficking case
An intelligence‑driven policing operation has led to the arrest of a suspect accused of stealing high‑value vehicles, including a Porsche, and trafficking them across the South African border. The man was handcuffed on Sunday, 3 July 2026. Porche The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) said officers recovered a high-value vehicle during the operation. “During the operation, a Porsche was recovered after the suspect led officers to its location. Initial checks yielded no records; however, a forensic examination the following day confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen under a Midrand Saps case.” The JMPD said the suspect was detained at Norwood Saps and faces charges of fraud, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and defeating the ends of justice. Cocaine seized Meanwhile, the South African police (Saps) have seized 95 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated R28 million at OR Tambo International Airport, striking a major blow against organised drug trafficking networks. The drugs were seized on Friday, 31 July 2026, during an intelligence‑driven operation. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the team received information from Saps Crime Intelligence’s Border Integrity Unit regarding a suspected drug consignment. “The information was operationalised by members of the SAPS Visible Policing Unit at OR Tambo International Airport, in collaboration with Customs officials and Menzies Aviation operational members.” Brazil Mathe said the cargo, which had arrived on a flight from São Paulo, Brazil, was intercepted immediately upon arrival at approximately 1pm. “The 95 kilograms of cocaine were seized at the cargo section of OR Tambo International Airport. No arrests have been made at this stage. Investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend those involved in the attempted smuggling operation.” Mathe said the SAPS remains committed to disrupting organised criminal networks involved in the illicit drug trade and will continue working with its law enforcement partners to ensure that South Africa’s borders and ports of entry are protected from criminal exploitation.
The South African
How MUCH is PowerBall on Tuesday, 4 August 2026?
How much is PowerBall on Tuesday 4 August 2026 worth? Well, following a cascading-jackpot payout for PowerBall XTRA this past weekend, R63 million is the total pot. The straight, non-cascading PowerBall is playing for R60 million. And PowerBall XTRA tags on an additional R3 million. Crucial to game mechanics for PowerBall on Tuesday 4 August 2026 is how many rollovers have occurred since the last big payout. In the case of PowerBall, the last big win took place on Tuesday, 3 July 2026 when lucky winners walked away with R72 million. Since then, eight successive rollovers have occurred. Before PowerBall XTRA’s cascade on Friday 31 July 2026, its last payout was way back on Tuesday, 30 June 2026. R139 million split three ways. Are you beginning to see the pattern here? 30 June, now 31 July … The last PowerBall XTRA game of the month must payout, no matter what … POWERBALL ON TUESDAY, 4 AUGUST 2026 Nevertheless, the truth is no trick can beat a random draw. However, if you count the number of rollovers down, you do know when to play the game for the best odds of a split jackpot. New operator Sizekhaya doesn’t want massive winnings rolling over for more than one month. Therefore, being twice weekly, that equates to every eight games. Of course, every number combination carries identical odds, no matter if you choose an automated Quick Pick or the numbers manually. While neither approach shifts the underlying math, do remember that picking relatives’ birth days is less effective, because they only go to 31 instead of 50. BEST WAYS TO PLAY POWERBALL Whether you choose numbers manually or opt for Quick Pick, your odds of winning PowerBall are always the same. Image: File For first-time players, PowerBall on Tuesday, 4 August 2026 involves choosing five main numbers from 1 to 50, plus one PowerBall number drawn from 1 to 16. While PowerBall XTRA is an optional second draw using the same numbers entered in the main game. This comes for an extra fee, of course. Pricing has jumped since 1 June 2026. A standard PowerBall board now costs R10 and PowerBall XTRA costs R5 per board. Therefore, playing both together costs R15 total. Tickets are sold at authorised National Lottery retailers. You can also enter via participating banking apps, including FNB, Standard Bank, ABSA and Nedbank. A large percentage of winners come from the banking apps, purely due to the ease and convenience of the medium. However, do note that some banking apps force a minimum purchase of two boards per ticket, effectively doubling the entry cost. Players must be 18 years of age or older to enter. ODDS OF WINNING POWERBALL ON TUESDAY 4 AUGUST 2026 Here’s the good news, by shrinking the number pool, the jackpot odds for PowerBall on Tuesday 4 August 2026 have improved from 1 in 42 million, to 1 in 33 million. And PowerBall XTRA carries identical odds to the main draw, since it uses the same number matrix. Of course, the next big change to your odds is the cascading-jackpot rule. If nobody matches all the numbers in the final draw of the calendar month, as mentioned, the jackpot drops down. It goes as far down as required to ensure a guaranteed payout, with winners sharing the pot as needed. Sizekhaya’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Fundi Sithebe explained it was this mechanism that split an unwon R139 million three ways on Tuesday 30 June 2026. However, that’s still small potatoes compared with the record payout back in February 2019, when a Cape Town man collected R232 million after 24 consecutive rollovers. Of course, we’re not going to see the like of that sort of massive payout ever again in South Africa. DRAW TIMES AND CLAIMING POWERBALL WINNINGS PowerBall and PowerBall XTRA draw every Tuesday and Tuesday at 21:00. Sizekhaya brought back live televised draws using physical draw machines. Ticket sales cut off before the draw typically at 20:30, half an hour before the draw. All PowerBall prizes must be claimed within 365 days of the draw date. Anyone who misses that window forfeits their prize and the money is transferred to the National Lottery Distribution Trust for charitable causes. How and where to claim PowerBall on Tuesday 4 August 2026 winnings depends on the amount won: Small prizes (up to R4 999) get paid out directly at licensed retailers. Mid-tier prizes (R5 000 to R49 999) can be claimed at selected partner banks. Anything above R50 000 requires an in-person visit to a Sizekhaya regional office, with the original ticket and a valid South African ID. Online and banking-app players have prizes up R249 999 are deposited automatically into their accounts. CONTACT SIZEKHAYA FOR HELP Sizekhaya’s head office resides in Sandton. Image: File Anyone unsure where to start can call the Sizekhaya helpline on 0861 026 000. Or you can visit one of the eight regional offices nationally: Head Office/Gauteng at 36 Homestead Road, Edenburg, Sandton KwaZulu-Natal at 10 Rydall Vale Crescent, Umhlanga Ridge Western Cape at 1st Floor, The Barracks, 50 Bree Street, Cape Town Eastern Cape at 153 Cape Road, Newton Park, Port Elizabeth Free State and Northern Cape at 3 Barnes Street, Arboretum, Bloemfontein Limpopo at Gateway Park, Polokwane Mpumalanga at 29@Marloth, Nelspruit And one final note, around R257 million in lottery prizes currently sits unclaimed across South Africa from the previous operator. Therefore, checking old ticket numbers against those drawn (up to one year ago) costs you nothing and might just turn up forgotten money. You can do so by clicking past results HERE.
The South African
Expats share real reasons behind return to South Africa
Two South African expats living in the UK are documenting their decision to return home after living abroad for many years. According to data, around one million Saffas live abroad, with substantial numbers residing in the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States SOUTH AFRICAN EXPAT: ‘WE’RE COMING HOME’ On his Instagram account, South African expat Jenz Robinson has been documenting the process of his family of five returning home The gym owner and motivational speaker emigrated to the UK almost 20 years ago. While he has set up a successful business and has made connections and friends in his adoptive country, Robinson felt compelled to return home Robinson – who has three children with his wife, Jolsy – called the decision the “wildest ride of our lives” He shared: “This isn’t a ‘screw the UK’ kind of post. I love it here. But Africa is calling me home. His decision was heavily motivated by the life he wanted to provide for his children. He continued: “We want our children to know where they come from. To grow up around family. To experience the mountains, the wildlife, and the beaches, as home”. ‘I DON’T LIKE IT HERE’ Another former South African expat, Shashika Dhupelia, has also been documenting her decision to return home on her social media platforms For the content creator and mom-of-two, the decision to leave a “first-world country” was more about feeling disconnected from the UK. She shared in a TikTok: “It didnt feel like the right fit. When I landed in Manchester, I got out of the airport and said, ‘I don’t like it here’. No valid reason to back up my feelings. I then spent the next year trying to make it work Dhupelia shared how she felt detached from a community and struggled to build connections with other like-minded people She also shared that the cost of living was unaffordable for much of the working class. “For me, it wasn’t a first world lifestyle”, she added. @shashikadhupelia This is my view, not to discourage anyone from wanting to move abroad, but just to share things we didn’t realise were so expensive. I know South Africa is expensive too, so don’t get me wrong. But I feel people assume living in the UK or US just means your life is easier. Anyway just wanted to share for those who reached out to ask why we traded UK for SA ❤️ Let me know if there are other reasons you want to know about – I have a long list 😂 #durban #motherhood #immigration #southafrica #saffasabroad ♬ original sound – Shashi | Life & Family | 🇿🇦
TechCentral
Nedbank hires MTN’s former tech chief as group CIO
Nedbank has appointed Nikos Angelopoulos, formerly MTN Group's CIO, to the same role at the bank.
TechCentral
Eskom’s diesel bill falls 86% as breakdowns hit eight-year low
Eskom recorded a daily energy availability factor of 80.24% on 20 July, its best single day since 20 September 2017.