Mercedes-Benz has lowered its 2026 profit forecast as weak Chinese demand and rising material costs squeeze earnings, following similar outlook cuts by Volkswagen and BMW amid intensifying competition.

Microsoft is offering voluntary exit packages to about 60,000 employees across several countries as it balances rising AI investment with cost pressures, amid a wave of job cuts across the tech industry.

The presiding magistrate in lekompo musician Lehlohonolo “Shebeshxt” or “Shebe Maburna” Chauke’s bail hearing asked his lawyer, Advocate Mutheiwana Sikhwari, to stop looking directly at a defence witness on Tuesday. Sikhwari rejected the request and said it cast doubt on his good faith. The exchange took place at the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court while state prosecutor Advocate Kgaugelo Lekoloane was cross-examining ballistics expert Jan Christophell de Klerk. Chauke’s own cross-examination had been paused so the expert could testify. Chauke is applying for bail on new facts and faces 21 charges linked to an alleged shooting in Ladanna in October 2025. Magistrate raises concern about eye contact with witness Magistrate Godfrey Netshiozwi interrupted the cross-examination to tell Sikhwari that De Klerk appeared uneasy. According to the magistrate, the expert’s focus seemed to slip whenever the lawyer stared at him. “Advocate Sikhwari, I would advise when you glaringly look at the witness directly in the eyes, I see he seems to appear distracted. Can you just avoid looking at him? He looks distracted when you start looking at him,” said Netshiozwi. The magistrate made it clear that he was not accusing the lawyer of any wrongdoing. “I’m not saying you did anything, but when you look at a person straight in the eye, there is a distraction,” he added. Netshiozwi later asked De Klerk directly whether he had been distracted. The expert replied that he had not noticed anything. Defence lawyer objects to the request Sikhwari refused to look away or turn to face another direction. He argued that doing so would suggest he was guiding the witness through his testimony. The lawyer said he had not realised he was looking at De Klerk at all, explaining that it was his habit to watch whoever was speaking. “I was not even aware that I was looking at the witness. My tradition is always to focus in order to concentrate on the person who is speaking,” Sikhwari stated. He added that looking away would disrupt his note-taking and could harm Chauke’s chances. According to Sikhwari, the court’s remark could create the wrong impression. “This issue raised by the court creates an impression that maybe I’m guiding the witness, if that’s the insinuation it must be dispelled from the onset,” he said. Sikhwari suggested that the court simply ask the witness whether he was uncomfortable, but Netshiozwi said this was unnecessary. The lawyer then told the court that the request put his good faith in doubt, and he strongly objected to it. “I’ve never heard it in my whole career where the court tells a counsel to look that way, and not look at the witness,” Sikhwari argued. Expert questions state’s evidence on the shooting Earlier in the day, De Klerk testified that Sikhwari Attorneys had instructed him to review the evidence on the events of 19 October 2025. This covers count 1, which includes charges 1 to 4. Petrus Ralefetane is the complainant in those charges, and in the overall case. Sikhwari said the expert was called to show the strengths and weaknesses of the state’s case. De Klerk criticised the way the vehicle in the case was photographed and documented. “It is my professional opinion that the photographs and written documentation relating to the vehicle as recorded by warrant officer M.F Kogobe in the photographic album is materially deficient and does not in my opinion adequately document several items of potential forensic significance,” De Klerk testified. He told the court that he had found no forensic ballistic report in the material given to him. He also said there were no corroborating statements confirming that a firearm was discharged that morning, including from the complainant’s driver. “The material provided does not appear to contain documentation addressing the examination of any firearm, fired cartridge cases, fired projectile bullet defects, bullet fragments or any other physical evidence potentially associated with the alleged discharge of a firearm,” De Klerk claimed. De Klerk also questioned the medical evidence. He said the doctor described the injuries only as puncture wounds, and the J88 and medical report contained no definitive diagnosis of a gunshot wound. “Had these injuries exhibited definitive characteristics of a projectile wound, the examining doctor would have noted them as such. The description of puncture wound is highly ambiguous,” he explained. He further testified that the damage to the headrest and the wounds did not line up. He said the shot could have come from inside the vehicle cabin or through the open front passenger-side window, rather than from the rear window. “The head rest defects and the head wounds find this trajectory highly unlikely. The victim simply could not have turned his head and body in such a way that aligns with the angle whilst in the front passenger side,” he added. State challenges the expert’s independence During cross-examination, Lekoloane got De Klerk to concede several points. The expert testified that he had not visited the scene and was never asked to reconstruct it. He also admitted that he did not have the complainant’s medical records or X-rays, and his report made no reference to the recovered bullet jacket. His opinion rested on only 48 pages of PDF files. Lekoloane argued that the defence had chosen what material De Klerk received. “They are the ones who chose and picked what to give to you so that you can execute the mandate that they employed you to do,” Lekoloane said. De Klerk pushed back, saying that if the state had evidence of bias, it should present it, and he would amend his report if it changed his findings. The prosecutor refused. “Unfortunately, I’m not going to give you anything. We did not commission you to do any forensic work for us as the state,” Lekoloane responded. Lekoloane also argued that the expert had formed his opinion on assumptions and incomplete information. De Klerk disagreed, saying his opinion was based on what he had been given. He added that the bullet jacket would not have changed his findings. The bail hearing continues.

Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen has opened up about the difficult situation his players find themselves in following the death of their team-mate Hyron Andrews on the eve of the tyeam’s first match of three on their current European tour. The Lions play the last of those three matches this Friday in the United Rugby Championship (URC) against Glasgow Warriors in Scotland. Andrews, who joined the Lions this season, passed away on the Friday before their Champions Cup debut match, against La Rochelle, in France. Last weekend the Lions were back in URC action, against Edinburgh. Van Rooyen explained that the circumstances weren’t ideal for the team, but that they had no choice but to move forward and try their best. “Obviously, it’s difficult. Like I said last week, there’s no manual for this (dealing with a sudden death on tour). It is tough not being at home,” said Van Rooyen. “Obviously, what we went through (just over) a week ago, it’s not getting any easier being in Scotland for two weeks, with the rain and cold and all of that. “But unfortunately, those are the cards that have been dealt to us currently. So it’s also our responsibility to pull together and see if we can find solutions.” Not at their best The Lions have understandably not been at their best in their last two defeats, and particularly against in-form table topping Edinburgh they fell away badly in the second half last weekend. They now face another big challenge against the second placed team on the URC log in Glasgow, who boast three wins and a draw so far this season, and they will need to improve to give themselves a chance, with discipline set to be a key focus point in training this week. “It’s definitely not easier. Glasgow next for us, third week on tour, so time for us to strap up, get our energy up and see if we can get a result,” said Van Rooyen. “We know Glasgow are a team that want to play. If your discipline isn’t good, they’re going to kick it to the corner and they’re going to maul you with 10 or 12 players. So discipline is important.” After Friday night’s match, the Lions will return to South Africa and the players and management staff will likely receive some important time off during the November international break, before returning to training ahead of a very tough December and January period.

Six people died in a horrific crash involving two trucks and a bakkie on the N3 at Van Reenen’s Pass in KwaZulu-Natal on Tuesday, 27 October. The collision occurred shortly before 13:00 between Sand River and Pyramids Hotel, prompting authorities to close the highway in both directions. SIX KILLED IN N3 CRASH The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) said preliminary investigations indicate that a truck travelling towards Durban lost control and crashed head-on into a double-cab bakkie. The truck then sideswiped another heavy vehicle travelling northbound. RTMC spokesperson Simon Zwane said the bakkie was allegedly carrying workers in the back at the time of the crash. KwaZulu-Natal Transport MEC Siboniso Duma confirmed the death toll and extended condolences to the victims’ families. Investigators are working to establish what caused the collision. BREAKING NEWS | The N3 is closed at Van Reenen’s Pass following a crash involving two trucks and a bakkie that claimed six lives in KwaZulu-Natal. Motorists are urged to exercise caution as emergency teams respond. pic.twitter.com/c3RdQd4svK— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 27, 2026 N3 CLOSURE CAUSES MAJOR DELAYS N3 Toll Concession (N3TC) shut down Van Reenen’s Pass as emergency crews and recovery teams attended to the scene. N3TC chief operating officer Thania Dhoogra urged motorists to postpone their journeys. “If possible, road users are advised to delay travel to Van Reenen Pass until further notice,” she said. Traffic officials warned motorists to expect significant delays while teams cleared the wreckage. Authorities have not confirmed when the highway will reopen. Motorists can follow @N3Route on X or contact the N3 Helpline on 0800 63 43 57 for updates.

Visitors planning a trip to Kruger National Park need to pay close attention to gate opening and closing times, which change throughout the year. South African National Parks (SANParks) operates different schedules for the park’s entrance gates and the gates at its overnight camps. Visitors must plan their journeys carefully to ensure they reach their destination before closing time. The gates generally open earlier during the warmer months and later during winter, while closing times range from 17:30 to 18:30, depending on the month. Kruger National Park gate times for 2026 According to SANParks, the following schedule applies to the park’s entrance gates and overnight camp gates. MonthEntrance gates openCamp gates openAll gates closeJanuary05:3004:3018:30February05:3005:3018:30March05:3005:3018:00April06:0006:0018:00May06:0006:0017:30June06:0006:0017:30July06:0006:0017:30August06:0006:0018:00September06:0006:0018:00October05:3005:3018:00November05:3004:3018:30December05:3004:3018:30 These are the standard published times and may change without notice. Visitors should confirm the applicable times with SANParks before travelling. What is the difference between entrance and camp gate times? Entrance gates control access to the national park from outside, while camp gates control movement between overnight rest camps and the park’s road network. The distinction matters for visitors staying overnight. Camp gates open earlier than the main entrance gates in January, November and December, allowing overnight guests to start their morning game drives earlier. However, visitors entering the park for a day trip must follow the entrance gate schedule. What happens if you arrive late at a Kruger gate? Visitors who arrive after the official closing time can be refused entry. SANParks states that late arrivals are only permitted in emergencies, with a valid reason and supporting proof, for visitors with pre-booked accommodation at certain camps within 10km of the relevant gate. Late admission may be arranged until 21:00 at designated gates, subject to the applicable conditions and an additional fee. SANParks lists the following gates for late-entry escorts to specific camps: Paul Kruger Gate for Skukuza Rest Camp. Numbi Gate for Pretoriuskop Rest Camp. Malelane Gate for Berg-en-Dal and Malelane camps. Crocodile Bridge Gate for Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp. Punda Maria Gate for Punda Maria Rest Camp. Orpen Gate for Orpen Rest Camp. Late admission is not available at Phabeni, Phalaborwa or Pafuri gates. Visitors should contact SANParks in advance to confirm arrangements and current fees. Can you drive around Kruger after closing time? No. Visitors must be inside their booked accommodation or outside the park before the applicable closing time. Driving on the park’s roads outside permitted hours is not allowed. This means visitors should account for more than the distance between their location and the exit gate. Wildlife sightings, slower driving speeds, road conditions and stops can all affect travel time. Day visitors should plan their route carefully and leave enough time to reach their chosen exit gate before it closes. Day visitors should also note that Kruger has a daily visitor limit. SANParks recommends advance bookings for day visits, especially during public holidays and long weekends.

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