With key figures like Cheslin Kolbe and André Esterhuizen sidelined, head coach Rassie Erasmus could look to exciting domestic prospects for the upcoming Nations Championship.

Older persons, disability and children’s grant beneficiaries will receive payments earlier than usual, while grants under review are scheduled for payment on November 5.

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban has authorised the sale of five luxury properties in Sandown, Johannesburg, that Sars says are linked to businesswoman and reality TV personality Shauwn “MaMkhize” Mkhize, as the revenue service steps up efforts to recover unpaid tax. On 26 October 2026, Judge Jacqueline Henriques granted an urgent application allowing court-appointed curator bonis Willem Jacobus Venter to sell the properties. The proceeds must be held in an interest-bearing trust account. Sars then has one month to bring a further action asking the court to declare that the properties, or their proceeds, can be used to settle the debts of Mkhize and the Zikhulise Group. The sale does not hand Sars the money. That question will be settled in the follow-up litigation. What Sars says is owed As of 19 September 2025, Mkhize’s personal income tax liability stood at about R13.33 million, including interest. Per reports by Daily Investor, she was also held personally liable for the Zikhulise Group’s tax debt of roughly R112.57 million, bringing the total to about R125.9 million. Auctions of movable assets had by then recovered around R6.1 million. The Sandown compound The five properties form a compound in Sandown Extension 24. Four, at 56 Adrianne Street, are registered in the name of Israeli businessman Yaron Peretz. The fifth, at 22 Aston Street, is held by 22 Aston Investments (Pty) Ltd. Sars maintains Mkhize is the beneficial owner. It points to evidence from a tax inquiry that she and related entities funded much of the purchase price and handled negotiations. A valuation put the combined market value at about R35 million, with a forced-sale estimate of R24.5 million. The municipal valuation is roughly R22.8 million. Why the court moved now The court found the properties were deteriorating, Scrolla Africa reported. Unpaid municipal charges of about R1.79 million are outstanding on four of them. Private security costs roughly R188 000 a month, and insurance premiums come to nearly R98 000 every six months. Sars has been funding these costs under a preservation order, and the court accepted that they were eroding the assets’ value and defeating the purpose of preservation. Mkhize, her son Andile Mpisane and related entities opposed the sale. They argued, among other things, that it was premature and that the properties served as a primary residence. The court rejected the key arguments and ordered them to pay costs. Today, the KwaZulu-Natal High Court authorised the auction sale of five Sandton properties owned by Shaun Mkhize (a.k.a Mpisane) towards paying the R105m tax debt owed to SARS by her, her son and her companies. pic.twitter.com/Va3SA0KlH7— Mbekezeli (@MbekezeliMB) October 26, 2026 The residence argument drew scrutiny at the hearing in April, when Judge Henriques asked why it was not explicitly stated in the affidavits. Sars’s counsel argued that converting the properties into cash was mutually beneficial because Mkhize’s frozen accounts meant she could not maintain them and Sars could not use taxpayers’ money to do so. Judgment was reserved at that hearing. A dispute two decades in the making Mkhize, formerly Mpisane during her marriage to Sbu Mpisane, built a high-profile business career that has spilled over into a media career of sorts, thanks to her status as a reality TV star with several famous friends. Her company, Zikhulise Cleaning Maintenance and Transport Service, won large government contracts in the early 2000s. She became known for her lavish lifestyle on the reality series Kwa Mam’Mkhize and as owner of football club Royal AM. Her tax troubles go back to at least 2005, when she was convicted of tax fraud over false declarations. Sars audits between roughly 2010 and 2014 flagged under-declared income, missing VAT returns and allegedly inflated invoices. Criminal charges of fraud, forgery and tax evasion collapsed in 2014 after a court found the prosecution had withheld favourable evidence. Civil recovery continued. Zikhulise was provisionally liquidated in 2018 and finally liquidated by the Pretoria High Court in 2020 over about R204 million in taxes, penalties and interest. Earlier attempts to seize assets, including a La Lucia mansion, a farm and luxury vehicles, produced mixed results, and some items were temporarily returned. More recently, Sars obtained a provisional preservation order under the Tax Administration Act in November 2024, later confirmed, covering the Sandown properties and other assets. In 2025, luxury vehicles, designer handbags and other movables were seized and auctioned. Royal AM also faced league sanctions and separate court battles over financial and tax issues. Mkhize’s position Mkhize has consistently disputed aspects of the assessments. She has sought deferred payment arrangements and challenged Sars in court, at times accusing the revenue service of bias or bad faith. Sars says it is simply enforcing tax obligations against a taxpayer whose companies benefited from public funds while building up large unpaid liabilities. For now, the court has prioritised turning the deteriorating properties into cash to protect their remaining value. Whether Sars can apply the proceeds to the debts will be decided in further action, which it has a month to bring.

Israelis flocked to the polls Tuesday in turnout unseen in decades, with a deeply divided electorate delivering a verdict on veteran right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the first election since the October 7, 2023 attack. After casting his vote in Jerusalem, Netanyahu expressed worry over high voting numbers among Israel’s Arab minority and warned of attempts to “steal the election”, a signal of a potential long fight ahead as he echoed his ally US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu vs Eisenkot Nationwide turnout in the first five hours of the election was the highest at that stage in nearly 50 years, with the Central Elections Committee giving a figure of 31.5 percent. Israelis are casting their ballots in the shadow of three years of multi-front regional wars triggered by October 7, with the trauma still fresh and questions over accountability and security central to the campaign. The close-fought vote comes as Israel looks increasingly isolated on the world stage, driven by its devastating military campaign in Gaza, soaring settlement construction and violence in the occupied West Bank, and a move towards hard-right religious nationalism. The last opinion polls to be published showed Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, running neck and neck with his main rival Gadi Eisenkot, a centrist political novice and former military chief whose mild manner is seen as the antithesis of the incumbent. Before voting, Eisenkot paid his respects privately at the grave of his son Gal, whose death fighting in Gaza has brought empathy from many Israelis. Speaking afterwards at a polling station, Eisenkot called on Israelis to ignore distractions and vote to replace “the worst government since the state was established”. Israel going in a ‘really bad direction’ Some 7.3 million people are eligible to vote, with tens of thousands of Israelis estimated to have flown in from abroad for an election seen as crucial to deciding the future character of their country. Eilana Zisblit, 55, told AFP she had travelled back from Canada where she has lived for almost 30 years in order “to make a change”, voting for a centre-right party in Eisenkot’s bloc. “The country is going in a really, really bad direction. Both for Jews and Arabs living in the country, and for Jews living abroad,” she said. She said the election was crucial, explaining: “It’s now, or the country really won’t survive anymore.” ‘Incitement and violence’ Netanyahu, 77, has served as Israel’s prime minister on and off for more than 19 years. He has used Arab-Israeli parties throughout the election to stoke fears of a Palestinian state — and said on Tuesday that three senior officials of the Raam party had been arrested with envelopes full of cash in the south. “We cannot leave this battle here in the hands of the left and the Arab parties that want to bring an end to the Jewish state,” Netanyahu said, urging Israelis to vote for his right-wing Likud party. The acting director general of the Central Elections Committee, Dean Livne, said that police had “caught individuals who tried to bribe voters” even before people had arrived at polling stations in the morning. He said the unidentified suspects were not at polling stations and were caught near their homes, adding the matter was a localised case and under investigation. In Tel Aviv, Israel’s main left-wing party The Democrats — which is part of Eisenkot’s opposition bloc — said police had arrested a man with a knife who had moved threateningly towards its leader Yair Golan. “Incitement and violence will not intimidate us,” Golan said in a statement, blaming the incident on the “poison machine” of Netanyahu. Wily operator Netanyahu returned to power in December 2022, bringing into his coalition far-right ultra-nationalists who have since seen their political clout skyrocket. Seeking to unseat the premier is an informal bloc of parties led by Eisenkot’s Yashar and spanning from the right to the centre-left — including former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, as well as seasoned politician Avigdor Lieberman and left-leaning Golan. Neither Eisenkot, 66, nor Netanyahu has publicly said they would partner with the predominantly Arab lists, which represent some 21 percent of Israel’s population and who could become kingmakers if the results are as close as expected. Netanyahu, a wily political operator, has described himself as the only person who can keep Israel safe. In the last days of the campaign, he posted an image of a nuclear bomb destroying Tel Aviv and talked up his endorsement by Trump. Opposition leaders accused him of playing games with security, while media outlets reported an extraordinary clash between Netanyahu and the military which allegedly feared he would take action on Iran for political gain. Netanyahu, who denied the reports, in the years since October 7 has ordered multiple wars that have seen Israeli forces reduce Gaza to rubble, occupy southern Lebanon and for the first time pummel arch-foe Iran with US help. At home, Israelis have faced bombardment from Iran, Hamas, Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Most polling stations will close at 10pm (2000 GMT). Final results could take days to trickle in and it is highly unlikely that any single party will come close to the 61 seats needed for a majority in the 120-member parliament. Cobbling together any coalition could take weeks or months, with possible new elections on the horizon if negotiations fail.

A Democratic Alliance (DA) councillor and ward candidate has been shot dead at his home in Zamdela, Free State, just days before the local government elections. Thulani Mbana, the party’s Ward 14 candidate in Metsimaholo, was killed in Taylor Park on Monday night, 26 October. According to police, two unidentified men approached his residence at approximately 21:40 and called out to him. As Mbana approached, one of the men allegedly pulled out a firearm and shot him several times at close range. Both suspects fled on foot. Mbana died at the scene. POLICE HUNT FOR KILLERS Free State police commissioner Lieutenant General Thabang Lesia has assigned the Zamdela Trio Task Team and Serious Organised Crime Unit to investigate the murder. The motive remains unknown, and police have not established whether the attack was politically motivated. Authorities have urged residents to avoid spreading unverified information that could compromise the investigation. ELECTION SECURITY UNDER SPOTLIGHT Mbana’s murder comes ahead of the local government elections on Wednesday, 4 November. The Free State Provincial Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure (ProvJOINTS) says it is ready to coordinate security operations across the province. Lesia warned that police would not tolerate violence or criminal activity and pledged to protect communities during the election period. Anyone with information can contact investigating officer Captain Sandile Dladla on 082 453 6245 or 073 226 6788. Anonymous tip-offs can also be submitted through Crime Stop on 08600 10111 or the MySAPS App..

Miss SA 2025 Qhawekazi Mazaleni has moved out of her “dream apartment” that came with her reign. Take a look inside the luxury home. MISS SA MOVES OUT OF ‘DREAM APARTMENT’ Qhawekazi Mazaleni, who was crowned Miss SA in 2025, has completed her one full year of reign as Miss SA. She is still the reigning Miss SA. However, it is time for her to move out of her “dream apartment”. She took to Instagram to share her grattitude and sadness as she packed away all her stuff to officially move out. Take a look… “Can’t believe it has been 1 FULL YEAR. Thank you for trusting me to serve ♥️🇿🇦 I’ve cried so many tears of gratitude these past days, I keep saying I won’t cry on finale night buuut I’m scared to make that promise,” she wrote. “@official_misssa, thank you for seeing me. Thank you believing in me and for teaching me to be my biggest advocate so I can advocate for others. Ndiyabulela ♥️. Let’s start the next chapter,” she continued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Qhawekazi Mazaleni (@qhawemazaleni) “I’m moving out of my Miss South Africa apartment and my first box is PACKED. What a beautiful journey 🥹 19 Days until a new Queen is crowned. It’s all feeling so real. To fresh starts and chapters that we’ll cherish forever 🥂,” she wrote. INSIDE THE dream APARTMENT The Miss SA 2025 apartment was a luxury penthouse located at Ellipse Waterfall in Waterfall City, Midrand. The property was developed by Tricolt and Attacq, the high-rise residence features modern kitchen finishes, natural light, world-class amenities, and a private plunge pool. The Miss SA Organisation shared a glimpse inside the apartment via Instagram. Take a look… “Step inside @qhawemazaleni’s sanctuary during her reign. 🏡,” read the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Miss South Africa (@official_misssa)

The Information Regulator has fined FNB R1-million after its app exposed 88 home loan applications.

Africa Tech Festival's Kadi Diallo argues for adaptable AI rules that suit each market's level of readiness.