how the IEC's Thought Leadership Seminar in Khayelitsha aims to inspire informed voting decisions among citizens, featuring insights from prominent speakers like Dr Imtiaz Sooliman.

The State's case against Duncan Hoorn culminates with gripping testimony from a senior neurosurgeon, revealing shocking details about the injuries sustained by Chantel Pasqualle-Hoorn and their implications for the trial.

Selectively detailed last week, Geely officially provided more details of the Galaxy Cruiser 700 over the weekend in preparation for the start of sales in China. Devised as an off-road rival for the GWM Tank 300 and Jetour G700, the surprise reveal in Milan rather than China reportedly confirms the 700 as being readied for export markets instead of being restricted to the People’s Republic. Dimensions Styled to resemble to Defender 110, the Cruiser 700 rides on a body-on frame or ladder-frame platform with the following dimensions: Length: 5 085mm; Wheelbase: 2 900mm; Height: 1 895mm; Width: 1 999mm. According to chinacardrive.ru, boot space ranges from 810 to 1 820-litres with the rear seats folded down. Off-road to the power of AI Reported to have ground clearance of 230mm, a departure angle of 31° and approach angle of 30°, the 700’s main drawing card is an AI-developed all-wheel drive system that allows the drive wheels to switch between rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive on the move. It also has a locking differential, a low range transfer case, an adaptive damper system made in-house by Geely and a crab walking U-turn function. Image of the Galaxy Cruiser 700 released before its reveal this past weekend. Picture: Geely Design via autohome.com.cn Able to wade up to 800mm, it also receives an electronic limited slip differential, air suspension, a tank turn function similar to the Mercedes-Benz G580, and the ability to stay moving after a tyre blowout. In addition, the standard LiDAR system not only works as a safety system, but also in conjunction with the so-called wave radar on the front bumper to scan the water’s depth when going off-road. Tri-motor plug-in hybrid On the power front, the Galaxy Cruiser 700 follows the example of the Jetour T2 by offering either a 1.5 or 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine, but with the inclusion of a 47.1-kWh battery pack on both. In a difference, though, the former engine, which makes 120 kW on its own, is paired to two electric motors, while the 2.0-litre has been mated to three motors. For the latter, which makes 160kW on the combustion engine alone, the combined output is 830kW, which Geely claims will allow the Galaxy Cruiser 700 to get from 0-100km/h in “under four seconds”. Being a plug-in hybrid, Geely reports estimated all-electric range of between 165km and 185km according to China’s optimistic CLTC measurements. Inside Not seen until now, the interior, which provides seating for five, has been outfitted with a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 15.6-inch infotainment display, a small recessed display on the passenger side and an augmented reality Head-Up display projected onto the windscreen. Interior has what Geely calls an aviation-inspired design. Picture: autohome.com.cn Along with a Tank 300-inspired centre console complete with what Geely calls aircraft-derived switchgear, the Cruiser 700 also gets contoured massaging heated and ventilated front seats, a refrigerated console box, panoramic sunroof, wireless smartphone charger, ambient lighting and a 540-degree camera system. Not yet approved for South Africa Set to go on sale in August, with pricing unknown, Geely South Africa is still to approve the Galaxy Cruiser 700 for the local market. Should an announcement be made, though, expect sales to possibly only commence in 2027. Additional information from autohome.com.cn.

A police officer rejected claims that one of the suspects in the attempted murder trial involving alleged mastermind Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala was assaulted at the time of arrest. Captain Phimi Alfred Sekgobela, the state’s third witness, returned to the stand on Tuesday, 28 July 2026, before the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg, where a trial-within-a-trial is currently under way. The special hearing aims to determine whether contested evidence – related to Musa Kekana’s arrest – can be admitted in the main trial. Kekana was arrested in Bramley, Johannesburg, hours following the fatal shooting of Vereeniging engineer Armand Swart, who was killed in a case of mistaken identity on 17 April 2024. Cat Matlala attempted murder trial continues Sekgobela, a tactical response team (TRT) officer, detailed how investigators traced a stolen white Hyundai i20 to Kekana’s residence in Kew. The vehicle had earlier been taken during an armed robbery in January 2024. Despite Kekana’s denial that he drove the car, earlier testimony from private security officer Christiaan Frederick Sheppard suggested otherwise, with claims that his fingerprints were allegedly recovered from the vehicle. Authorities also discovered firearms inside the car, including an AK-47 allegedly linking him to multiple attempted assassinations. The court heard that Sekgobela had tasked Sheppard with monitoring both the Hyundai i20 and a Mercedes-Benz V-Class – also referred to as a Viano – linked to former police detective Michael Pule Tau. Both vehicles were believed to be connected to Swart’s murder. According to Sekgobela, Sheppard reported that Kekana arrived at the Kew property driving the Hyundai i20, while the V-Class departed shortly afterward. The police later intercepted the V-Class and arrested Kekana and Tau. Sekgobela testified that he informed them of their constitutional rights before conducting a search of the vehicle. Items recovered included number plates, cellphones, and a small bag. He maintained that the search was conducted with Kekana’s consent. “He said he does not have a problem,” Sekgobela told the court on Tuesday. Accused’s health scare After the arrest, officers proceeded to Kekana’s nearby residence. Upon arrival, Kekana – who was handcuffed – opened the gate using a remote control. Sekgobela told the court that Kekana began coughing up blood, staining his “mustard-coloured” top. “He started coughing and I asked him if there was any medication that he was taking,” the witness said. The police provided him with a towel from inside the house while arranging medical assistance. “I explained to him that I was calling an ambulance to come and attend to him. I gave him the towel so that he does not smear or stain blood on his clothing.” Emergency medical services personnel arrived roughly 30 minutes later and treated Kekana before transporting him to hospital. “[The paramedics] said they needed him to be checked by the doctor, so they wanted to get him admitted to the hospital even though he did not seem seriously ill.” Sekgobela denied that Kekana had been assaulted at any point. The officer also testified that he later requested the accused’s jersey for forensic testing to check for gunshot residue. “He agreed and also asked me, because he was feeling cold, to get him another jacket to warm,” Sekgobela testified. He added that, while in the presence of police officers, Kekana went into the house and picked out a black top before heading back to the ambulence. Images of both the Hyundai i20 and the clothing item were presented in court as part of the proceedings. Warrant Addressing concerns about the legality of the search, Sekgobela argued that the evidence available at the time justified immediate action without a warrant. He told the court that CCTV footage placing the Hyundai i20 at the Vereeniging crime scene strengthened his position. “With the positive information that I had in hand and… the clips of the footage I received from the main scene in Vereeniging, I believed that the warrant would have been granted.” Sekgobela explained that he acted in line with Section 22 of the Criminal Procedure Act (CPA), which permits warrantless searches when there is a risk that key evidence could be lost or destroyed. Kekana is standing trial alongside Matlala, Tsakane Matlala, Tiego Floyd Mabusela, and Nthabiseng Zandile Nzama, all of whom face 25 charges tied to a string of attempted murder incidents between 2022 and 2024. These include an alleged plot against taxi boss Joe “Ferrari” Sibanyoni, an attempt on influencer Tebogo Thobejane, and a case involving music producer Seunkie “DJ Vettys” Mokubung. All five accused have pleaded not guilty.

KwaZulu-Natal faces an Orange Level 6 warning for disruptive rain that could cause flooding, damage to infrastructure and property, and inundate roads and bridges along the coast. A Yellow Level 2 warning for disruptive snow is also in place for the Drakensberg, where snowfall could disrupt traffic, essential services and temporarily isolate some communities. KWAZULU-NATAL Cloudy and cold to cool conditions will continue, with scattered showers and rain expected, becoming isolated in the extreme north-east. Along the coast, winds will blow from the south to south-east. The UVB sunburn index is going to be low. DURBAN Durban is going to be cloudy with scattered showers and rain. Moderate to fresh southerly to south-westerly winds will continue throughout the day Temperatures will range from 15°C to 18°C. The UVB sunburn index is going to be low. FREE STATE Free State should expect partly cloudy and cold to cool with isolated showers and thundershowers but scattered along the Lesotho boarder. Light snowfall is possible along the Lesotho boarder and in the extreme south-west. BLOEMFONTEIN Bloemfontein is going to be partly cloudy with showers and thundershowers. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 6°C to a maximum of 18°C. NORTH WEST North West province is going to be partly cloudy and cool with isolated showers and thundershowers in the extreme south-east. MAHIKENG Weather in Mahikeng is going to be partly cloudy. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 5°C. to a maximum of 22°C. Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service.

One of South Africa’s most recognisable food brands has entered a new era, with Tiger Brands bringing production of Mrs Ball’s Chutney under its own roof for the first time as part of a R200 million-plus transformation of its historic Paarl manufacturing facility. The newly launched Paarl Culinary mega-site, built around a factory first established in 1903, now includes dedicated production facilities for vinegar, Mrs Ball’s Chutney and jam packaging – strengthening local manufacturing capability and securing the future supply of some of Tiger Brands’ most-loved products. Improve quality control Previously manufactured by a third party, Mrs Ball’s Chutney is now produced at the Paarl facility, where three production lines have been installed to manufacture the brand’s popular 470g glass pack, 375g, 800g and 1.1kg PET packs, as well as bulk 3kg and 6.25kg formats. Tiger Brands said bringing production of the iconic condiment in-house would improve quality control, strengthen supply security and support greater efficiency across its operations. “By bringing Mrs Ball’s in-house, by securing our vinegar supply, and by improving our packaging, we are focused on driving growth and better meeting consumer needs,” said Dumo Mfini, Managing Director of Culinary at Tiger Brands. The move forms part of Tiger Brands’ wider strategy to invest in its manufacturing network and increase localisation across its portfolio. New vinegar plant The Paarl site has a long association with South African food heritage. The facility is historically linked to the production of All Gold Tomato Sauce and Silver Leaf jams, and today serves as a manufacturing hub for brands including Mrs Ball’s Chutney, All Gold Jam, Hugo’s Jam, Colman’s sauces and Crosse & Blackwell products. The upgraded facility also includes a new vinegar plant capable of producing three million litres annually. Vinegar is a key ingredient in products such as Mrs Ball’s Chutney, All Gold Tomato Sauce and Crosse & Blackwell Mayonnaise, with the new capacity reducing reliance on external suppliers. The investment has also strengthened links with local agricultural suppliers, with Tiger Brands sourcing ingredients from Western Cape growers, including onions for Mrs Ball’s Sweet Chilli Sauce from farms in Villiersdorp and Grabouw. Household favourite Western Cape Premier Alan Winde welcomed the investment, saying it represented confidence in the province’s manufacturing and job creation potential. The Paarl development is the first of several major structural investments planned by Tiger Brands, which expects to invest approximately R1.5 billion annually in capital expenditure over the next three years. For generations of South African consumers, Mrs Ball’s has remained a household favourite. The relocation of its production to Tiger Brands’ upgraded Paarl facility marks a significant new chapter for the 19th-century food manufacturing site – and for one of the country’s most recognisable condiments. Are you a Mrs Ball’s Chutney fan? Let us know by clicking on the comment banner below … From left: Roger Schierhout, Plant Manager Paarl Culinary, Dumo Mfini, MD Culinary Tiger Brands; with Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde, and Tjaart Kruger, CEO Tiger Brands and Werna Oberholzer, Chief Corporate Affairs and Sustainability Officer, Tiger Brands.

South African staff are among those affected, but the crypto exchange will not say how many.

An Aerospace Village, a drone corridor and satellite research anchor the multibillion-rand airport development's plans.