With Advocate Andrea Johnson's testimony behind us, the spotlight now turns to the next key witness in the Madlanga Commission. What revelations await as we delve deeper into the corruption scandal?

This year's festival introduces two exciting new attractions - the inaugural KZN Art Fair and the Just Geekin' Festival - adding fresh dimensions to an already outstanding programme.

The South African Police Service (Saps) has launched a high‑level investigation after a father and son were found brutally murdered in the Free State. The duo were discovered brutally murdered at their home in Virginia following a house robbery incident. Complaint Police spokesperson Sergeant Palesa Thabana said Virginia police responded to a complaint of a possible murder in Tulbagh Street, Virginia on Thursday, 30 July 2026. “On arrival at the scene, they were directed to the outside room where the two motionless bodies were discovered. The two victims were found with both their hands and feet tied. There was blood on the floor. “The one victim was further discovered with a plastic cover over his head. While the other victim was strangled with a wire around his neck. The two males aged 40 and 68 were declared deceased on the scene,” Thabana said. Grim discovery According to information, the father and son were found by their neighbours and private security officers after they were reportedly missing. Thabana said efforts were made to search the premises and gain entry to the outside room where the gruesome discovery was made. She said police were then called to the scene. “It is further alleged that a Silver Hyundai Getz with vehicle registration DNK 369 FS belonging to the victims was also missing. At this stage police can not reveal the identities of the victims until the next-of-kin have been formally notified.” Motive Thabana said police are investigating two counts of murder and a house robbery. The motive for the incident is unclear at this stage. Police have appealed to anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s) to come forward. Captain Gerrie Nel of the Provincial Murder and Robbery Unit can be contacted on 082 806 8432. Information can also be shared anonymously by contacting the Crime Stop Number on 08600 10111 or alternatively through the MySAPS App.

The Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) has found the body of missing 51-year-old EFF member Aaron Makola in Mpumalanga, confirming that he was shot dead and dumped in a bush after vanishing earlier this month. The PKTT made the grim discovery in Delmas on Thursday, 30 July 2026. Missing According to the investigation, Makola was reported missing in Bronkhorstspruit on 10 July 2026. His vehicle was subsequently found abandoned the next day, on 11 July 2026. Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathen said the Gauteng PKTT commenced its investigation into the matter on Monday, 20 July 2026, after engaging with the family and obtaining crucial information relating to his disappearance. “An extensive investigation led members of the GP PKTT to Delmas on Thursday, 30 July 2026, where the EFF member was tragically found.” Shot and killed Mathe said preliminary investigations indicate that Makola had been shot and killed before his body was dumped in a bush. “The deceased has since been positively identified by his family. Investigations are at an advanced stage to identify and apprehend those responsible for the murder, including both the perpetrators and any individuals who may have orchestrated the crime.” Mathe said the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team is continuing its investigation to establish the motive behind the murder. KZN man shot Meanwhile, a man in his thirties was left fighting for his life after being shot multiple times on a footbridge in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), with paramedics racing to stabilise him before rushing him to hospital in critical condition. The shooting occurred just before 6pm on Wednesday, 29 July 2026. ALS Paramedics spokesperson Garrith Jamieson said emergency services personnel were called by Homeland Security to assist with a man who had been shot numerous times and was in a critical condition on the footbridge between the M7 and Oliver Lee Drive in Umbilo. Jamieson added that the events leading up to the shooting remain unknown; however, the South African Police Service (Saps) was in attendance and is investigating further.

How much is Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus worth on 29 July 2026? Well, it breaks down like so. Straight Lotto is worth R5.5 million, Lotto Plus 1 sits at R4 million and for Lotto Plus Max 5 you can tag on another R1 million. All tallied up that put’s the total worth of the Saturday game at R10.5 million. That’s a R1.5-million increase over Wednesday’s last game, which suggests someone did win a portion of Lotto Max 5 on Wednesday … Nevertheless, success for Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus comes from knowing how recently one of the three lottos has paid out big. A bit like the old days playing slot machines in the casino, the longer it goes on, the more likely a payout will be. However, looking at the above figures, we can see small amounts suggest regular winners recently. This has been one of the criticisms of new game mechanics – that payouts, while more frequent, rarely allow winnings to climb to big numbers anymore. SATURDAY 1 AUGUST LOTTO AND LOTTO PLUS As such, Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus has always been the National Lottery’s kind of bread-and-butter game. Cheaper than PowerBall and PowerBall XTRA, easier to win, but less dramatic when it comes to jackpots. Nevertheless, Sizekhaya’s 1 June 2026 takeover reshaped it even further. The core mechanics require players to choose six numbers from a pool of 1 to 52, which is reduced from 1 to 58 previously. As ever, numbers can be chosen manually or auto generated through the popular Quick Pick. Pricing sits lower than PowerBall’s controversial increase. A standard Lotto board costs R5, with Lotto Plus 1 adding R2.50 and Lotto 5 Max adding a further R2.50 on top. Therefore, playing all three together costs R10 per board. What players are still wrapping their head around is the new MultiPlay (MP1) option. It lets players add a seventh number to their existing six in each of the three games. And it gets proportionally more expensive as you go. The total combination if you add MP1 across all boards is R70 – that’s R35 + R17.50 + R17.50. However, your odds are massively improved if you do go down this rabbit hole. HOW TO HANDLE MULTIPLAY Do you prefer to choose your own numbers old school, or use auto-generated Quick Pick? Image: File If you add MP1 to Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus across all three games, your total ticket will cost R70.00. Plus, if you’re using your banking app, be sure to lookout for digital banking fee of roughly R2.95 added to the transaction. So, the question remains, is it worth spending the extra money? Jackpot odds have already improved substantially under the new number matrix. The chances of matching all six numbers now sits at 1 in 20 million. That’s twice as likely as the old 1 in 40 million under ITHUBA. However, dabble with the MP1 and all of a sudden, you’re playing with seven numbers instead of six. This means your odds now become just 1 in 2.9 million, which represents a straight sevenfold improvement. And don’t forget that’s across all three games since they share the board. DRAW TIMES AND CLAIMING POWERBALL WINNINGS Remember, if you’re someone like a SASSA beneficiary playing Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus, decide on a budget before buying lotto tickets, and don’t chase a bad week by spending more. The National Responsible Gambling Programme runs a toll-free counselling line on 0800 006 008 for anyone who is struggling. Lotto and Lotto Plus draw every Saturday and Saturday at 21:00. Sizekhaya brought back live televised draws using physical draw machines. Ticket sales cut off half an hour before the draw typically at 20:30. All lottery 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 Saturday 1 August Lotto and Lotto Plus 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 offices now reside 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 & 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.

A young boy who collected and sold scrap materials to financially support his family – as captured in videos filmed by philanthropist BI Phakathi – has received over R2 million in GoFundMe donations. The teen – identified as Wernand – touched the hearts of people around the world with his mission to keep his family fed and off the street. BI PHAKATHI TEEN BOY RECEIVES MILLIONS IN GOFUNDME Earlier this month, philanthropist BI Phakathi – who keeps his identity a secret – posted a video of a teenage boy named Wernand who had skipped school to collect and sell scrap materials. As with all his videos, Phakathi generously gifted money to the child to buy food and warm clothes and to help his family. However, a few days later, he posted a follow-up video in which he found Wernand back in a junkyard, collecting cans and scrap metal to sell.  Phakathi, along with fellow philanthropist Logan Mayberry, founder of the Reward the Kind charity, visited the boy’s home, where he discovered his mother and newborn sister living in squalor. Wernand revealed that he had spent years in an orphanage before being homeless and reuniting with his impoverished mother. Mayberry started a GoFundMe campaign to help the family secure safe and clean housing. The campaign, and BI Phakathi’s videos about Wernand has gone viral, raising over $124 000 (over R2 million) from close to 4 000 donors around the world. Mayberry shared: “He [Wernand] felt responsible for helping provide for his family. At just 14 years old, Wernand has become the man of the house…somehow, he continues to fight every day for his family. I truly believe we have a chance to change the trajectory of this family’s future. “The funds raised will help Wernand and his family with housing, school fees, food, and other general resources. This support will provide them with stability, safety, and hope for a brighter future” BROTHERS AND AN EMPTY PETROL TANK In another viral video posted by BI Phakathi, the content creator is seen coming to the rescue of two brothers whose car had run out of petrol. The siblings were spotted sitting in their car at a petrol station, waiting for a cash deposit from their employer to purchase fuel to go home. After learning that Phakathi would fill up their petrol tank for free, the brothers burst into tears. The brothers also received a wad of cash to purchase groceries and to help fund their trade course. View this post on Instagram A post shared by BI Phakathi (@biphakathi)

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