South Africa's oversight institutions are struggling due to political interference and resource shortages, leading to a reliance on costly commissions. This article explores the challenges faced by these bodies and suggests reforms to restore accountability.

Murder-accused former security boss Ferrel Govender has denied that he was the aggressor during an altercation with his girlfriend, Salona Ramrutton/Kisten, claiming that she slapped him first and that he retaliated by punching her.

Worldwide research by Autotrader in the United Kingdom shows that South African drivers spend on average over 23 days in their cars every year, by far the most across the 15 countries who participated. Drivers in Mzansi spend more than 10 hours and 38 minutes in their cars every week, which is more than double the British average and nearly three hours more than second-placed Ireland. The study asked drivers to self-report their average weekly driving time. These were also broken down into specific journeys including the commute to work, the school run, errands and vacations. South Africa way above average On average, motorists across the 15 countries surveyed spend just over six hours a week behind the wheel. However, the gap between the most and least car-dependent nations is significant. At four hours and 38 minutes, drivers in the Netherlands spend six hours less a week behind their steering wheels. Despite its modest geographical size, Ireland comes out as a nation with a high drive time, spending on average seven hours and 23 minutes a week in their car. Australia was third at seven hours and eight minutes on average. Despite their widespread geography, South Africa, Ireland and Australia have similar public transport network issues. Whether it’s Ireland’s infrequent bus connections, rural Australia’s low-density suburban sprawl or South Africa’s patchwork of urban-only services, residents in all three of these countries may be spending more time on average in their cars not just for convenience, but for necessity. Detailed data shows that South African drivers top the table for the longest time spent in their cars doing the school run (one hour 14 minutes a week), visiting friends and family (one hour 53 minutes a week) and everyday errands (one hour 36 minutes a week). Oz pips Mzansi in commuting time The average weekly total commute time in South Africa is one hour 48 minutes which is the second highest across the countries surveyed, just one minute behind Australia (one hour 49 minutes a week). Two minutes behind Mzansi in third place is Ireland on one hour 46 minutes a week. In France and Germany, who both have first-class public transport systems in place, drivers in have a lower drive time for their work commutes and errands than other countries. However, motorists from France and Germany have reported the highest average time spent driving to vacation destinations. “Wherever you are in the world, the time we spend in the car adds up to something significant,” says Tom Roberts, car leasing expert at Autotrader. “Understanding how much of your life is spent behind the wheel makes it easier to choose a car that actually fits how you live and drive – comfort, space and reliability mean more, the longer you spend on the road.” Average time per country 1. South Africa (10 hours 38 minutes a week; 23 days and 1 hour a year)2. Ireland (7:23; 16 days)3. Australia (7:08; 15 days, 11 hours)4.- Canada (6:50; 14 days, 19 hours)5. Italy (6:17; 13 days, 15 hours)6. Greece (6:13; 13 days, 11 hours)7. New Zealand (5:58; 12 days, 22 hours)8. US (5:55; 12 days, 20 hours)9. Portugal (5:50; 12 days, 15 hours)10. Spain (5:24; 11 days, 17 hours)11. Germany (5:21; 11 days, 14 hours)12. Poland (5:11; 11 days, 6 hours)13. France (5:10; 11 days, 5 hours)14. UK (4:48; 10 days, 10 hours)15. Netherlands (4:38; 10 days, 1 hour)

Get the Daily Lotto results as soon as they are drawn on The Citizen, so you can rest easy and check your tickets with confidence. Estimated Daily Lotto jackpot for Saturday, 25 July 2026: Daily Lotto: R500 000 Daily Lotto results for 25 July 2026: The winning Daily Lotto numbers will appear below after the draw. Usually, within 10 minutes of the draw. You might need to refresh the page to see the updated results. Daily Lotto: 04, 10, 26, 30, 32. For more details and to verify the Daily Lotto results, visit the National Lottery website. How to play Daily Lotto in SA? If you are buying a ticket in-store: Pick up a betslip in any lottery store. Choose five numbers between 1 and 36 or ask for a Quick Pick. Entries cost R3 each. You can play a max of R150, but you are allowed to play multiple boards. Select how many consecutive draws you wish to enter, up to a maximum of 10. Leave blank for a single draw. Take your betslip to the teller to pay for your ticket. Write your details on the back of your ticket in case you need to claim a prize. If you do not sign your ticket and you lose it, anyone can use it to claim the prize. If you are playing online: Set up a lottery account here and make a deposit to pay for tickets. Choose five numbers from 1 to 36 or select ‘Quick Pick’ to generate a random set. Repeat this on as many boards as you want to play. Decide whether to enter a single draw or multiple draws. Confirm and pay for your entry. What time is the Daily Lotto draw? The Daily Lotto draws take place shortly after 9pm every evening, and tickets can be bought until 8:30pm.

Due to planned maintenance, Eskom has scheduled an eight-hour power outage that will affect some areas in Chiawelo and Dlamini in Soweto, Gauteng. The maintenance is scheduled for Tuesday, 28 July from 09:00 to 18:00. ESKOM SCHEDULES NINE-HOUR POWER OUTAGE Eskom stated that there will be an electricity supply disruption in Chiawelo and Dlamini due to maintenance that will be conducted on the distribution network. “The power outage will affect customers in parts of Chiawelo and Dlamini on Tuesday, 28 July, from 09:00 – 18:00. The interruption of electricity is necessary to perform essential maintenance on our distribution power lines,” the power utility said. “Eskom in Gauteng conducts planned maintenance on the distribution electricity network across the province as part of its maintenance plan. It is essential for maintenance to be conducted to service the infrastructure to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electricity supply,” Eskom added. AFFECTED RESIDENTS URGED TO TREAT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AS LIVE In the interest of safety, Eskom said customers should treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power outage. “Eskom apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused by this maintenance. Should circumstances beyond the control of Eskom arise, the planned electricity maintenance may not proceed as communicated,” the power utility added.

In case you missed any of them, we’ve got a Kaizer Chiefs transfer wrap with four players in the door at Naturena. Kaizer Chiefs confirmed arrivals 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. Central defender Thabo Moloisane brings PSL know-how after his spell with Stellenbosch, and goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner joins from Sekhukhune to bolster Chiefs’ options between the sticks. Moloisane and Leaner both arrive on free transfers. Supporters are divided on the Mtasingwa signing In the comments sections on Facebook, there have been some scathing responses to the acquisition of Adolf Mtasingwa. Several supporters feel as though he’s not of the calibre required by the club. Meanwhile, Kabelo Nkgwesa was given a run-out in Chiefs’ first friendly match of the tour. That was a 1-1 draw against Scottish giants Rangers. After getting a taste of first-team football, the 19-year-old left-back, nicknamed ‘Festival’, wants more. Lilepo is leaving, to the dismay of Chiefs fans 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 be used as a makeweight?

Researchers have decrypted what Tecno, Infinix and Itel smartphones quietly send home: location, apps and camera activity.

Vodacom, the University of Johannesburg and AWS want their new AI lab to become a blueprint for the continent.