Twenty years after she acted in common purpose to kill her lover’s wife, convicted murderer Mumtaz Osman, wants to appeal her sentence.

Geely’s E5 range pairs sleek styling and a tech-focused cabin with a choice of plug-in hybrid or fully electric power. We drove both to see how they perform on South African roads.

National Treasury is taking steps to gain more control over municipal finances, including having a say in the appointment of chief financial officers (CFOs). Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana announced during his medium-term budget policy statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday that the Municipal Finance Management Act (MFMA) and the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) will be amended to address weak financial and operational management in many municipalities. “We are undertaking the first comprehensive modernisation of the PFMA since its enactment, centred on five objectives: modernisation; clearer accountability; stronger enforcement; capable government; and fiscal sustainability,” said Godongwana. Taking control of municipalities The proposed changes to municipal law come two weeks before the local elections on 4 November 2026. Godongwana said Treasury is intervening to turn around financially distressed municipalities and improve their ability to deliver basic services. “We are enforcing compliance with public finance regulations, but we are also providing support to municipalities so that they can collect revenues more effectively and invest in urgently needed infrastructure,” he added. First-ever amendments Treasury said the draft Public Finance Management and Related Laws Amendment Bill (2026) is the first significant update of the PFMA since it was enacted in 1999. The bill aims to strengthen governance, accountability, and transparency while addressing persistent financial management weaknesses, including unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure, weak consequence management and governance failures. It clarifies chief executive officers’ responsibilities as accounting officers and the board’s responsibilities, strengthens mechanisms to address financial misconduct and non-compliance, and improves support for institutions in financial distress. Changes coming to PFMA According to the draft document, Treasury is amending the PFMA to require the Accountant-General to prepare consolidated financial statements for institutions and to submit them to the Auditor-General, among other changes. If the amendments come into law, National Treasury will have to publish financial statistics and aggregations for all spheres of government on the National Treasury website. Other changes include revoking the National Treasury’s power to withdraw exclusions; empowering the Minister of Finance to impose conditions when authorising the use of funds in emergencies; and empowering the minister of Finance to table a multi-year budget projection that contains key macro-economic projections. Changes to MFMA According to the draft document, Treasury is amending the MFMA to expand National Treasury’s investigative, oversight, and enforcement powers; require municipalities to submit bank account details to National Treasury; and provide for control of municipal accounts and withdrawals from municipal accounts during a national or provincial intervention. “The proposed changes allow for robust early interventions under section 139 of the constitution, strengthen oversight of financial management by the National Treasury, and provide for officials, political office bearers and board directors to be made personally liable for unauthorised, irregular, fruitless and wasteful expenditure,” said Treasury. Among other things, the changes will deter councils from adopting unfunded budgets and establish provisions for more credible budget estimates. Once the amendments take effect, National Treasury will have more power over financial systems and controls, including appointing CFOs. “These measures are part of a suite of reforms to strengthen the integrity of public finance management across all spheres of government,” said Treasury.

The Johannesburg High Court has convicted the Eldorado Park father who raped and murdered his four-year-old daughter and assaulted his three-year-old son. The trial of the couple charged in connection with the death of their four-year-old daughter and the assault of their three-year-old son started in the Johannesburg High Court on Tuesday, 20 October 2026. Eldorado Park father convicted for rape and murder Legal Aid South Africa (Judicare) is representing the accused. The court is withholding their identities to protect their surviving child. On Thursday, the court convicted the 34-year-old father after he pleaded guilty to all the charges against him on Tuesday. The state charged him with child abuse, rape and murder. His daughter died in August 2025. The state accepted his plea, and the court subsequently convicted him of murder and two counts of rape, child abuse, assault and resisting arrest. In his plea statement, the father admitted to assaulting his daughter by hitting and biting her several times before drowning her in a bath. The drowning resulted in the child’s death. Father admits to hitting, biting and drowning daughter He also admitted to raping the child while her mother was at work on the day of the incident and assaulting his son on 13 March 2025. On the day of the incident, the child screamed in agony, and neighbours heard her cries and alerted the police. Police found the daughter unconscious on a bed with visible head injuries, bruises and a swollen eye. She was subsequently rushed to the hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries after two days in the intensive care unit. The children’s 32-year-old mother pleaded not guilty. She faces charges including child abuse, failure to report sexual offences and murder. Mother pleaded not guilty to charges The state alleges that the mother knew about her daughter’s injuries. But she failed to report the matter to the relevant authorities. The court postponed the case to 23 October to sentence the father and to allow the state to apply for a separation of trials. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) welcomed the conviction as an important step toward ensuring accountability for the crimes committed against the young children. “Children are among the most vulnerable members of society, and the NPA remains resolute in prosecuting those who perpetrate sexual and physical violence against them and in seeking sentences that reflect the gravity of these offences,” NPA spokesperson Magaboke Mohlatlole said.

Orlando Pirates’ Jacob Serman, Khumoetsile Van Schalkwyk and Ofentse Moeletsi share a rather special nickname. It is from none other than the greatest ever football player Lionel Messi. To make it more exciting, Serman, Van Schalkwyk and Moeletsi play for different dvisions within Buccaneers youth. THREE ORLANDO PIRATES YOUNGSTERS NICKNAMED MESSI Jacob Serman Formerly with SuperSport United, Serman is an exciting attacking midfielder and winger who has also turned out for rivals Kaizer Chiefs. The left-footed youngster won multiple Under-13 and Under-14 Gauteng Development League titles before making the high-profile move to their Soweto rivals. A elegant technician has reportedly trained with the club’s DStv Diski Challenge squad. Khumoetsile Van Schalkwyk Van Schalkwyk, meanwhile, is a versatile winger capable of playing on either flank. Capable of being the next Relebohile Mofokeng, he is originally from Stella, he developed through regional sides including Masokolara FC, SACOV FC and Sol Plaatje FC before joining the North West University Soccer Institute. Wearing the number 23 shirt, Van Schalkwyk has earned recognition for his football intelligence and long-range shooting ability. He is part of the Pirates DStv Diski Challenge team. Ofentse Moeletsi Moeletsi completes the trio. The 21-year-old attacker first attracted attention while playing for Highlands Park’s Under-19 team, where his ability to beat defenders on either wing caught the eye. He later featured in the DStv Diski Challenge setup at Sekhukhune United before moving to Orlando Pirates. Moeletsi has featured in the club’s ABC Motsepe League and DStv Diski Challenge structures. NEXT GENERATION OF TALENT The nickname Messi is associated with exceptional dribbling, creativity and football intelligence, qualities that have helped make Lionel Messi one of the greatest players of his generation. Although the nickname alone does not guarantee success, Serman, Van Schalkwyk and Moeletsi have opportunities to develop their talents within one of South Africa’s biggest football clubs. HAVE YOU ANY OF THEM IN ACTION? Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.

Orlando Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza has reacted following the departure of long-serving assistant coach Mandla Ncikazi. After days of speculation, the Buccaneers confirmed that the 57-year-old will be leaving the club to take up the Head Coach position at a team in the Premier Soccer League. “The move follows discussions with management this morning in which Mr Ncikazi expressed his wish to pursue the opportunity to lead a team again. The Club has given him its blessing to do so,” the club said in a statement. Pirates chairman Irvin Khoza thanked Ncikazi and acknowledged his ambition to return to head coaching. “Mandla leaves with our gratitude and our blessing. His contribution to Orlando Pirates has been evident throughout his time with us. We respect his wish to pursue this new opportunity and wish him success as he takes on a new responsibility,” said Dr Khoza. Pirates fans praise Ncikazi following his departure Many Orlando Pirates fans took to social media to thank the departed coach. @malalaveve wrote: “He was there during the rainy days.” @mr_shimmy wrote: “Farewell coach Mandla. You served the team with dedication and determination. All the best in your new role. @kanyane23 wrote: “Farewell taMindlo. Thank you for serving the Ghost with professionalism throughout.” With Ncikazi having left Pirates, it is believed he will return to Golden Arrows as head coach. He departs the club with nine trophies as part of the Bucs technical team, where he served mostly as an assistant coach. Do you think Ncikazi should have stayed?

A home affairs credential could spare South Africans repeat payment onboarding, says DIDx's Lohan Spies.

South Africa's big financial firms call artificial intelligence a growth driver, yet benefits are rarely tracked properly.