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The DA faces backlash as it uses Cape Town's council chamber for a party event, raising questions about transparency and accountability while formal council meetings remain virtual.

A former Emfuleni municipal fleet manager linked to an alleged R16 million tender scam will remain behind bars until his next court appearance. The manager appeared in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrate’s Court on Monday, 28 July 2026. Court Police spokesperson Colonel Amanda Van Wyk said the man is expected back in court on Wednesday. “The matter is postponed to Wednesday, 29 July 2029, for formal bail application judgement. The accused remains in custody.” According to the South African Police Service (Saps), the individual, who has not been named, was arrested by the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) in Gauteng last week. Tender fraud Police spokesperson Brigadier Athlenda Mathe said the arrest is linked to the alleged irregular awarding and implementation of a municipal vehicle fleet tender in which approximately R16 million was paid to a service provider for the delivery of 18 municipal vehicles, including UD trucks and bakkies. “Investigations revealed that only seven of the contracted vehicles were delivered to the municipality, despite full payment allegedly having been made to the service provider.” Investigations are still ongoing, and more arrests have not been ruled out. Emfuleni fraud In a separate matter, the case against 25-year-old Janitha van Reenen-Coetzee is still ongoing. She is linked to the killing of Emfuleni Local Municipality accountant and whistleblower, Martha Rantsofu. Van Reenen-Coetzee’s bail application has been denied multiple times, with the state believing she is a flight risk. She is facing a charge of fraud involving approximately R424 000 that was allegedly stolen from the Emfuleni Local Municipality. Accusations It is alleged that Coetzee misrepresented herself as an independent agent who could help residents obtain discounts on outstanding municipal accounts. According to the NPA, the victims would provide her with money to make discounted payments to the municipality on their behalf. However, the funds allegedly never reached the municipality. It is also alleged that she submitted claims to the municipality on behalf of the victims. It is further alleged that the municipality paid her a total of approximately R424 000, which was never paid to the intended beneficiaries.

Brics is one of South Africa’s most significant platforms for advancing its global economic interests. It provides an opportunity to strengthen partnerships across the global south, attract investment, expand trade and position SA businesses within emerging economic networks. But the true measure of diplomatic success is not only the prominence of the platforms we occupy, but the extent to which those platforms translate into meaningful economic opportunities for citizens. For millions of South Africans, particularly young people, entrepreneurs and skilled graduates, the pressing question is not how many international forums the country attends, but whether those engagements create pathways to employment, enterprise growth and economic inclusion. A nation’s international reputation and its domestic economic reality cannot exist as separate conversations. South Africa’s growing role within Brics is strategically important. The platform provides opportunities to deepen economic relationships, strengthen south-south cooperation and create new avenues for investment and trade. However, international recognition must be connected to domestic priorities. For many South Africans, including young people with advanced qualifications, the economy remains a landscape of uncertainty. The country has invested in producing skilled graduates, yet too many continue to search for meaningful opportunities. This is why the success of international engagements must also be measured by whether they contribute to expanding economic opportunity. Small and medium enterprises are central to this challenge. They represent potential sources of employment, innovation and community renewal. When public representatives participate in international economic engagements, the expectation is not that every meeting will immediately transform the economy. International relationships require patience, negotiation and implementation. However, democratic accountability requires that such engagements produce a clear public record: the objectives pursued, partnerships established, commitments secured and the practical pathway through which benefits will reach South African businesses. The question is therefore not whether South Africa should participate in global forums. It is whether these platforms become instruments of economic advancement, or remain moments of international visibility without sufficient domestic impact. For entrepreneurs facing financing constraints, limited market access and operational challenges, the value of global diplomacy must be reflected in tangible outcomes. The Township and Rural Entrepreneurship Programme is an important government initiative designed to support enterprises operating in township and rural economies. Its objective reflects a recognition that economic inclusion requires deliberate support for entrepreneurs who have historically faced barriers to finance, markets and business development opportunities. However, the challenge facing SA is not only the creation of programmes. It is ensuring that these instruments are coordinated effectively, accessible to intended beneficiaries and capable of producing measurable impact. SA does not face a choice between global engagement and domestic priorities. It requires both. SA’s credibility will not only be determined by the strength of its diplomacy, but by the ability of its institutions to translate diplomacy into opportunities for its people.

Kaizer Chiefs have signed four brand new players. What will they bring to Amakhosi’s quest to challenge for the Betway Premiership crown? Meet Kaizer Chiefs’ four new signings thus far Khanyisa Mayo has signed permanently from CR Belouizdad for a reported fee close to R9.8 million following a prior loan spell. Adolf Mtasingwa is a 27-year-old defensive midfielder signed from Azam FC for an undisclosed fee, and the first Tanzanian player to join Amakhosi. Mtasingwa brings valuable experience, having spent six seasons in Scandinavia, playing in the Icelandic, Norwegian and Finnish leagues. He returned home in 2024 to help Azam FC finish third in the Tanzanian league last season. He is the vice-captain of his nation. Central defender Thabo Moloisane brings PSL know-how after becoming a mainstay for an impressive Stellenbosch side. Moloisane can also operate at right back when needed. 28-year-old goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner joins from Sekhukhune to bolster Chiefs’ options between the sticks. The 1.87m tall stopper has been capped by Bafana. This quartet of recruits points to an obvious common theme: experience. Lilepo could make a headline exit from Kaizer Chiefs Glody Lilepo is another player who could be heading out the door. The Congolese wide attacker bagged five goals and four assists in 27 league outings last term. Impressively, he operated almost exclusively in a wide attacking role. According to local reports, Stellenbosch winger Langelihle Phili remains near the top of Chiefs’ transfer wish list to replace Lilepo. Phili got seven goals in 27 league outings last term. Could Ashley du Preez sweeten a deal? Betway Premiership action looms large Meanwhile, Betway Premiership newcomers Kruger United will host Kaizer Chiefs on the first day of the 2026-27 season on Saturday, 1 August, kicking off at 20:15. The World Cup is a thing of the past, so we’ll soon be returning to the bread and butter of domestic league football.

How much is Wednesday Lotto and Lotto Plus worth on 29 July 2026? Well, it breaks down like so. Straight Lotto is worth R4 million, Lotto Plus 1 sits at R3.5 million and for Lotto Plus Max 5 you can tag on another R1.5 million. All tallied up that put’s the total worth of the Wednesday game at R9 million, a R2.5-million increase over Saturday’s game past … Crucial to your success for Wednesday Lotto and Lotto Plus is knowing how recently one of the three lottos has paid out. A bit like the old days playing slot machines in the casino, the longer it goes, the bigger the payout becomes. Looking at the above figures, we can see that almost all have paid a small amount 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. WEDNESDAY LOTTO AND LOTTO PLUS As such, Wednesday 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 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 (MP) 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 Lotto Plus 1 had a small payout this weekend, keeping the winnings for Wednesday muted. Image: File If you add MP1 to Wednesday 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 Wednesday 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 Wednesday and Wednesday 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 Wednesday 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 The new lottery operator took over on 1 June 2026. 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.

Vodacom has cut its dividend payout policy to at least 65% of headline earnings, from at least 75% previously.

Local lenders have gone from building everything in-house to buying the start-ups that outran them.