City Power has made a significant payment of R4.3 billion to Eskom to address its outstanding electricity debt, aiming to prevent power interruptions in Johannesburg. Despite this progress, a substantial balance remains due, and the PAJA consultation process continues.

Books are more than words on a page. They become companions that shape our questions, nurture resilience, and remind us to pause for meaning in a fast‑moving world. From confidence and vulnerability to purpose and humanity, each story lingers, nudging us toward who we are becoming.

With just a week left before the petrol prices kick in, motorists have been warned to brace for another fuel price hike after global oil prices hit $100 (R1 600) a barrel. This has pushed petrol price recoveries by R2 per litre in July, and hammered diesel recoveries deeper into the red. CEF Data from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) show that South Africa’s fourth week fuel outlook has flipped from relief to renewed pain, after starting the month with an over-recovery of R2.50 per litre. The new data raises the risk of price hikes in August that will hit motorists and the wider economy. Motorists may still see a modest cut at the pumps, but it barely dents the R6‑per‑litre gap that opened when the Iran war sent fuel markets spiralling. Grim picture The picture for diesel is far worse. What began as an over‑recovery of R3 per litre at the start of the month has flipped dramatically, leaving the fuel on track for a hike of up to R1.10 per litre. End‑of‑week recoveries paint a grim picture: The CEF data show petrol prices still showing an over-recovery of 34 cents per litre, while diesel recoveries are under or in the red, with 0.05% (500 ppm) diesel recording an under-recovery of R1.31 and 0.005% (50 ppm) diesel at an under-recovery of R 1.11 per litre. Illuminating paraffin has also swung into under-recovery, now at R1.03 cents per litre. Fuel price outlook If these forecasts hold, motorists could see the following adjustments in August 2026: Octane 93 petrol: decrease of 34 cents per litre Octane 95 petrol: decrease of 29 cents per litre Diesel 0.05%: increase of R1.31 per litre Diesel 0.005%: decrease of R1.11 per litre Illuminating paraffin: increase of R1.03 per litre Energy hit The renewed energy hit follows a widening of the Middle East conflict that has now spread from the Strait of Hormuz to the Red Sea. US President Donald Trump said he’s now considering a “massive attack” on Iran to push the nation to negotiate a peace deal. It’s against that backdrop that crude breached $100 a barrel on Thursday for the first time in two months.

South Africa’s top schools secured important results in one of the last weekends of the school rugby season. Wynberg and Paarl Boys’ High managed to beat Boland Landbou and Durbanville away, while Paarl Gim beat Rondebosch at home in their second-last fixture. They have a tough challenge travelling to rivals Paarl Boys’ in their final match next week. Paul Roos were pushed to the brink by SACS, but edged out an important 38-34 away victory. Stellenberg edged Outeniqua 26-21 in what was their third-last match of the season. It puts them on a four-game winning streak in the final run-in with matches against Durbanville and Milnerton left. Affies beat Maritzburg College in KwaZulu-Natal. In the Noordvaal Cup, Rustenburg earned a surprise 37-34 home win over Helpmekaar, and Menlopark edged Noorheuwel 45-42. KES also secured a surprise away win over Pretoria Boys High in the regular Noordvaal tournament. Selected results Western Cape SACS 27 Ysgol Glantaf 26 Boland Landbou 26 Wynberg 42 Paarl Gim 52 Rondebosch 24 Durbanville 7 Paarl Boys’ High 56 SACS 34 Paul Roos 38 Milnerton 19 Tygerberg 15 Brackenfell 54 Monument Park 5 Melkbosstrand 12 Parel Vallei 52 Bellville 26 Hermanus 13 Bosmansdam 15 Strand 29 Stellenberg 26 Outeniqua 21 Charlie Hofmeyr 45 Hugenote 28 Drostdy 31 Oakdale 24 DF Akademie 31 Punt 27 Bosmansdam 15 Strand 29 KwaZulu-Natal Durban High School 21 Jeppe 21 Maritzburg College 12 Affies 40 Glenwood 23 Northwood 82 Eastern Cape Port Rex 21 Marlow 49 Cambridge 0 Queen’s 63 Ooskus Gim 19 Dale 55 Selborne 26 Hudson Park 28 Graeme 61 Pearson 24 Muir 24 Brandwag (EP) 36 Nico Malan 95 DF Malherbe 12 Framesby 28 Grey High School 35 Kingswood 70 Stirling 7 Daniel Pienaar 45 Andrew Rabie 43 Free State – Griquas Diamantveld 73 Goudveld 0 Fitchardtpark 31 Witteberg 34 Beth Voortrekker 22 Jim Fouché 31 Trio 39 Sentraal 26 Grey College 95 Harrow 0 Upington 35 Kalahari (Kuruman) 21 Landboudal 26 Duineveld 17 Noordvaal Cup EG Jansen 24 Waterkloof 34 Middelburg 35 Monument 68 Rustenburg 37 Helpmekaar 34 Menlopark 45 Noordheuwel 42 Zwartko 49 Nelspruit 33 HTS Middelburg 19 Oos-Moot 32 Transvalia 40 Montana 14 Klerksdorp 19 Kempton Park 44 Pietersburg 47 Lichtenburg 29 Marais Viljoen 51 Ligbron 15 Secunda 11 Heidelberg VS 33 Piet Retief 41 Eldoraigne 7 Noordvaal Pretoria Boys High 17 KES 29 Northcliff 30 Parktown 33

Orlando Pirates dominate the PSL awards nominations, with stars including Oswin Appollis and Relebohile Mofokeng shortlisted for several of the night’s biggest honours. The ceremony gets underway on Monday 27 July at 19:00 and will be shown live on SuperSport PSL (DStv Channel 202). South African football will celebrate the standout performers from the Betway Premiership, cup competitions, the Motsepe Foundation Championship and the DStv Diski Challenge. Also read: Orlando Pirates starting line up with new 51-goal striker CONFIRMED LIVE BROADCAST Announcing the broadcast on social media, the PSL said: “Join us on Monday, 27 July 2026 at 19h00, live on SuperSport PSL Channel (202), as we celebrate the stars of South African football.” Orlando Pirates head into the ceremony as the most nominated club after an impressive season. Appollis and Mofokeng are both in the running for the prestigious Footballer of the Season award alongside Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena. Appollis, Mofokeng and Kamogelo Sebelebele have also been nominated for the Players’ Player of the Season award. In the race for Coach of the Season, Miguel Cardoso of Mamelodi Sundowns, Ben Khalil Youssef and Cedric Kaze of Kaizer Chiefs, as well as Orlando Pirates coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, have all been shortlisted. PSL AWARDS NOMINATIONS BETWAY PREMIERSHIP Footballer of the Season Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates) Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) Players’ Player of the Season Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates) Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates) Coach of the Season Miguel Cardoso (Mamelodi Sundowns) Ben Khalil Youssef & Cedric Kaze (Kaizer Chiefs) Abdeslam Ouaddou (Orlando Pirates) Goal of the Season Cemran Dansin (Orlando Pirates) Siyanda Ndlovu (Golden Arrows) Glody Lilepo (Kaizer Chiefs) Goalkeeper of the Season Sipho Chaine (Orlando Pirates) Ricardo Goss (Siwelele FC) Brandon Petersen (Kaizer Chiefs) Defender of the Season Khuliso Mudau (Mamelodi Sundowns) Lebone Seema (Orlando Pirates) Nkosinathi Sibisi (Orlando Pirates) Midfielder of the Season Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates) Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) Young Player of the Season (Under-21) Isaac Cisse (Golden Arrows) Seluleko Mahlambi (TS Galaxy) Relebohile Mofokeng (Orlando Pirates) Betway Premiership Top Goalscorer Sede Junior Dion (Golden Arrows) MTN8 Last Man Standing Oswin Appollis (Orlando Pirates) Tshepang Moremi (Orlando Pirates) Kamogelo Sebelebele (Orlando Pirates) CARLING KNOCKOUT Player of the Tournament Washington Arubi (Marumo Gallants) Mbekezeli Mbokazi (Orlando Pirates) Ndabayithethwa Ndlondlo (Marumo Gallants) NEDBANK CUP Player of the Tournament Darren Keet (Durban City) Siphamandla Ncanana (Durban City) Brooklyn Poggenpoel (Durban City) Most Promising Player of the Tournament (Under-23) Kyle Jurgens (Durban City) Seluleko Mahlambi (TS Galaxy) Luphumlo Sifumba (Durban City) MOTSEPE FOUNDATION CHAMPIONSHIP Player of the Season Gabriel Amato (Cape Town City) Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City) Cayden Fortune (Cape Town City) Goalkeeper of the Season Malcolm Jacobs (Venda FC) Siphamandla Hleza (Milford FC) Mickey van der Hart (Cape Town City) Players’ Player of the Season Khethukuthula Ndlovu (Kruger United) Ronaldo van Neel (Hungry Lions) Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City) Young Player of the Season (Under-19) Gabriel Amato (Cape Town City) Emile Witbooi (Cape Town City) Cayden Fortune (Cape Town City) Top Goalscorer Ntuthuko Mlotshwa (Lerumo Lions) Ronaldo van Neel (Hungry Lions) DSTV DISKI CHALLENGE Player of the Season Bennet Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) Lebo Mohlala (Orlando Pirates) Mpho Padime (Orlando Pirates) Top Goalscorer Bennet Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns) PSL MATCH OFFICIALS Referee of the Season Moreki Lekwape Eugene Mdluli Abongile Tom Assistant Referee of the Season Nandipha Menze Elphas Sitole Zakhele Siwela.

South Africa braces for another major strike action this week. First migrant labour protests, now Gauteng’s taxi industry is threatening an economic shutdown. The date in question is tomorrow, Tuesday 28 July 2026, with potential to extend at least seven days, if no middle ground is reached. So, be prepared. National Taxi Alliance (NTA) operators say they cannot renew or apply for operating licences due to a debilitating backlog within the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport. As such, many drivers and operators have been working without licences and are having their vehicles fined and/or impounded. NATIONAL TAXI ALLIANCE STRIKE Meanwhile, Gauteng’s MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Diale-Tlabela, denies there are any backlogs. She insists the licence renewal system works exactly as designed. And it is illegal operators and so-called ‘ghost members’ who are pushing for the strike and shutdown action. As such, she points to discrepancies between association membership figures and departmental records. 542 members says the taxi alliance, while the department has 4 800 members on the books. Clearly, one side’s math doesn’t add up … Nevertheless, another strike threat and major economic shutdown is the last thing the country needs right now. One month ago, 30 June 2026 immigration protests brought parts of the country to a halt. Fearing the worst, many treated it like a public holiday with schools and businesses closed preemptively. ANOTHER BIG DENT IN THE ECONOMY A reminder of how nasty 2023’s taxi strike violence was in Cape Town when negotiations broke down. Image: File A taxi strike would land another blow. More than 75% of South Africans – from children to elderly SASSA grant recipients travelling at month end – rely only on minibus taxis to get around. Without them, businesses may close entirely, at least for the day. Gauteng NTA chair Mpho Motsepe wants a sit-down with the MEC. He wants industry grievances addressed. Failing that, the strike goes ahead for a minimum of seven days. Cape Town saw something similar play out back in 2023. SANTACO organised a strike over mass taxi impoundments. The city called in reinforcements and SANTACO got heavy-handed with retaliations. The Cape Chamber of Commerce counted the damage afterward in the tens of millions. Three quarters of businesses reported more than half their staff were affected. 69% reported direct financial losses and 32% lost over half their usual daily earnings. Gauteng’s economy could face a similar reckoning if this strike goes ahead tomorrow, Tuesday 28 July 2026. But what do you think? Should the NTA strike if it feels like Gauteng authorities are not up to scratch? Do you use public transport in the province? If so, what is the experience like? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

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.