Johnson agreed that Masemola should not have been joined with Matlala and the other accused but could not provide a clear reason why the prosecution had combined the cases.

TV and radio presenter Zanele Potelwa shares her exciting moments from the New York trailer launch of 'Children of Blood and Bone,' including a special encounter with acclaimed actress Thuso Mbedu, who plays the lead role in this highly anticipated film adaptation.

Nineteen primary school pupils were injured when an overloaded scholar transport vehicle collided with a hatchback in Ekurhuleni. The accident occurred on the M7 in Tsietsi, just outside Katlehong, early Wednesday morning, prompting a major emergency response and temporary closure of the busy route. Scholar transport accident Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (DEMS) spokesperson William Ntlasi said fire and rescue officers received the call at 6:55am of a scholar transporter involved in a crash and immediately responded for intervention. “Two teams from Zonkizizwe and Palm Ridge fire stations simultaneously responded swiftly to the scene to render necessary life-saving rescue operations. “A VW micro-bus, which supposedly is a ten-seater vehicle, had twenty occupants at the time, driver inclusive. It was involved in a crash with a Honda Jazz, which had four occupants, driver inclusive as well,” Ntladi said. Hospitalised Ntladi added that all occupants from both vehicles were medically treated on scene by paramedics before transportation to the nearest medical facilities around the city of Ekurhuleni. “At least four pupils were reported to be in serious but stable conditions, while the rest escaped with minor injuries. “Unfortunately, during the crash, two other scholar pedestrians were injured too. Allegedly, they were next to the road waiting for their transport to school as well. Both escaped with minor injuries as well, and they were also hospitalised,” Ntladi said. Investigation The M7 road had to be temporarily closed for traffic for the duration of the rescue operation. The scene was handed over to the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Police Department (EMPD) officers for on-scene investigations. Eastern Cape crash Meanwhile, one person has been killed and two others injured in a dramatic crash involving two cash‑in‑transit (CIT) vehicles and a Hyundai H‑1 on the N2 at Gamtoos Hill in the Eastern Cape early Wednesday morning. Eastern Cape Transport Department spokesperson Unathi Binqose said the crash occurred at approximately 4:30am. “Preliminary reports indicate that the seven‑seater was travelling on the wrong side of the road when it collided with one of the armoured vehicles. In an apparent attempt to avoid the collision, the second cash‑in‑transit vehicle veered off the roadway and down an embankment. “The driver of the seven‑seater was declared dead at the scene, while two security guards sustained injuries and were transported to hospital for medical treatment,” he said. Binqose added that the scene remains under investigation, with the South African Police Service tasked with determining the exact cause

Huawei is bringing South Africans a new chapter of mobile aesthetics and technology with the upcoming arrival of the Huawei Pura 90s Series. Built around the powerful philosophy of Now is Your Moment, the Huawei Pura 90s Series blends advanced imaging innovations with a fresh design language, empowering users to capture every moment with effortless authenticity. Huawei Pura 90s Series. Picture: Supplied 200MP large sensor telephoto camera The Huawei Pura 90s Series raises the bar for flagship smartphone photography, delivering significant advancements in telephoto macro imaging, main camera performance and colour accuracy. Leading the lineup, the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max features an industry-leading 200MP Ultra Large Sensor Telephoto Camera, setting a new benchmark for long-range photography with exceptional clarity and stability. It also debuts chip-level 200MP RAW real-time processing technology, enabling remarkably crisp 20x telephoto video recording. Huawei Pura 90s Pro. Picture: Supplied Complementing these capabilities is an industry-leading CIPA 7.0 image stabilisation system that effectively minimises handheld blur, even in challenging shooting conditions. Powered by the True-to-Colour Camera 2.0, the Huawei Pura 90s Series delivers a 43% improvement in colour accuracy and a 34% wider colour gamut, faithfully reproducing every scene with vibrant, true-to-life colours. Huawei Pura 90s Pro. Picture: Supplied The upgraded AI Composition feature serves as an intelligent framing assistant, instantly recognising subjects such as people, architecture and landscapes to provide real-time composition guidance. AI De-glare removes distracting reflections from windows, glass and screens while restoring natural skin tones and revealing details hidden behind reflective surfaces. AI Move unlocks new creative possibilities by enabling users to isolate, reposition or duplicate elements within an image, with the system intelligently reconstructing backgrounds and matching lighting for seamless results. Vibrant colour palettes Inspired by Huawei’s Rhythm of Colour design philosophy, the Huawei Pura 90s Series embraces a refined flat-edged design across the lineup, creating a signature look that is both understated and elegant. The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max is available in three striking finishes: Blush Gold, inspired by the first light of dawn, Blaze Purple, evoking the beauty of twilight in bloom and Graphite Black, reflecting the quiet depth of the cosmos. Huawei Pura 90s Pro in Max Blush Gold. Picture: Supplied The Huawei Pura 90s Pro adopts a more playful aesthetic inspired by refreshing holiday beverages. Available in Orange Soda, Coconut White, and Mulberry Black, each colourway pairs vibrant holiday-inspired hues with a clean, sophisticated finish. Built to endure The Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max features anti-reflection and scratch-resistant Kunlun Glass, which reduces screen reflections by up to 70%, ensuring vibrant visibility even under direct sunlight. It also offers enhanced resistance to everyday scratches while minimising fingerprint smudges, helping the display stay pristine and comfortable to use. The Huawei Pura 90s Series also introduces the brand-new system-level AI assistant, Celia, delivering a smarter and more intuitive user experience. Powering the series is a large 6000mAh battery for extended all-day usage. The Huawei Pura 90s Pro supports 66W Huawei SuperCharge, while the Huawei Pura 90s Pro Max takes charging even further with 100W Huawei SuperCharge, enabling users to power up in less time and spend more time capturing every moment. Capture the moment Bringing together breakthrough imaging, refined craftsmanship, intelligent AI features and all-day performance, the Huawei Pura 90s Series is designed for people who want every moment to look and feel extraordinary. Whether capturing distant landscapes, everyday memories or life’s biggest milestones, the series empowers users to create with confidence, wherever the moment takes them. The Huawei Pura 90s Series will be available in August 2026 through select retailers, Huawei Experience Stores, operators and the Huawei Online Store, from R849 per month over 36 months or from R19 999. As part of the Huawei Pura 90s Series launch, customers will also receive a value-added package worth up to R10 096, comprising of Huawei Care Service, one month free 200GB Huawei Cloud Storage, one year of Huawei Care+, MEA & APAC Warranty coverage, a Huawei SuperCharge charger, with a protective cover and screen protector included in the box and a complimentary Huawei nova Y74 handset valued at R3 299 each, terms and conditions apply.

All eyes will be on Orlando Pirates this weekend as they begin the defence of their Betway Premiership title against newly promoted Milford FC. The Buccaneers will be eager to make a strong start after learning valuable lessons from last season. Despite going on to win the league, Pirates endured a nightmare opening, losing their first two matches and finding themselves rooted to the bottom of the table. However, they responded in impressive fashion, putting together a remarkable run of results that saw them climb the standings and emerge as genuine title contenders. Their consistency and winning mentality ultimately helped them edge rivals Mamelodi Sundowns to the championship by a single point. With a strengthened squad following the arrival of eight new signings, expectations are even higher this season. Orlando Pirates will be expected to dominate newcomers Milford FC and secure a convincing victory in front of their home supporters. A strong performance would not only give the champions the perfect start to their title defence but also send an early warning to their rivals that they remain the team to beat. The big question, however, is whether the Buccaneers can maintain the same hunger and determination that carried them to last season’s success. If they can, they will once again be among the favourites to lift the trophy. How Orlando Pirates can look against Miford The match will be played at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Saturday (1 August 2026). Kick off is set for 15:00 and the match will be live on SuperSport 2. Abdeslam Ouaddou is expected to field a very attacking team against Milford which could see a 4-3-3 formation. Here’s Orlando Pirates expected linup against Milford: Chaine, Sebelebele, Sibisi, Seema, Ndaba, Dansin, Mbatha, Appollis, Moremi, Ngwatho and Mbuthuma. Can the Buccaneers earn a victory in their first leage match?

As salaries stagnate and the cost of living rises, South Africans are starting to question why mandatory medical aid is a condition of employment. Some of the 4.5 million policyholders want the money in their account rather than having it deducted from their salaries. Young professionals, especially, want the freedom to choose. Not only to choose whether they want a policy, but also the ability to get a policy from any provider. The cost of Mandatory Medical Aid In 2008, the average age of a policyholder was 32; today it’s 38. This poses a risk to the medical aid model, where young, healthy members subsidise older policyholders. However, young professionals are questioning whether they should be paying this forced deduction. The queries seem to arise as those in formal employment are under greater financial distress. Financial pressure that worsens because of salary deductions. According to Lettesha Pillay, head of business development at NMG, South Africans are now resorting to salary advances and staff loans. As quoted in Moneyweb, Pillay noted that employers had resorted to ending staff loans “for various reasons.” Young working professionals want greater access to their salaries. In October 2025, ActionSA announced it would introduce a bill to scrap mandatory membership to Parmed, the medical scheme offered to members of parliament. This argument, alongside disputes that the National Health Insurance prevents voluntary association, has put a spotlight on mandatory medical aid policies. These actions raise the question about the legality of membership as an employment condition. Membership has stagnated As medical aid becomes more expensive, with annual increases above inflation, fewer young professionals join. Rather than expanding alongside population growth, medical aid membership has stalled. The data suggests 1 million South Africans who would have joined a scheme have opted out. This is the tip of the iceberg. Should employers no longer require mandatory medical aid membership, membership could decline rapidly, placing South Africa’s ageing population at risk. Consumers also have more healthcare choices. Products like Dischem Health and nurse-assisted doctor’s visits at Clicks pharmacies have reduced the cost per doctor’s visit from R650 per appointment to R350. Additionally, Clicks offers free basic healthcare through their Helping Hand initiative. The initiative provides free services on Wednesdays to individuals without medical aid. But it’s not only non-policyholders who need to supplement their healthcare. Some medical aid members can’t afford comprehensive cover and still pay out of pocket for hospital care and other healthcare needs. Companies like Mediclinic are beginning to capitalise on this reality by offering flat-fee procedures to those who choose to pay cash.

Russia has charged Telegram founder Pavel Durov and issued an international warrant for his arrest.

Pay@ was the first third-party provider to integrate with Capitec, helping shape the payment method.