Stay informed about the latest market movements as a rebound in the technology sector offers hope, but underlying geopolitical tensions may pose challenges ahead. Read more to discover how these factors could influence your financial decisions.

Advocate Andrea Johnson, head of the Independent Directorate Against Corruption, testifies before the Madlanga Commission, asserting her right against self-incrimination amid serious allegations of misconduct.

Johannesburg’s power utility recorded 19 infrastructure-related security incidents over a single weekend, ranging from cable theft to vandalism and infrastructure fires, according to a statement issued by City Power on Wednesday, 22 July 2026. Spokesperson Isaac Mangena said the utility was “gravely concerned about the alarming increase in infrastructure-related crime” following the spike in incidents recorded across the city between 17 and 20 July. Community cooperation praised Amid the wave of criminal activity, City Power singled out residents of Jackson Squatter Camp for assisting law enforcement during a joint operation that led to the recovery of 45 metres of stolen aluminium cable, which was later handed over to the utility’s Reuven Service Delivery Centre. Mangena said the community’s conduct “demonstrates that communities are critical partners in the fight against electricity theft, illegal connections and vandalism, which continue to undermine service delivery and place lives at risk.” City Power confirmed it “commends the residents of Jackson Squatter Camp for cooperating with law enforcement during the operation.” Arrests made in Marshalltown Eight of the 19 incidents involved confirmed cable theft, while two attempted thefts in Newlands and Ferndale saw stolen cable abandoned before suspects could escape with it. According to Mangena, in Marshalltown, three Zimbabwean nationals were arrested after allegedly stealing underground copper cable beneath Bree Street and remained in police custody as investigations continued. Financial losses mount Preliminary assessments put losses at more than R311 141.80 from just five incidents involving stolen copper cable in Ormonde, Nancefield, Randburg, Jeppestown and Kliptown. The value of losses from the remaining 14 incidents was still being calculated, including roughly 400 metres of copper cable stolen in Jeppestown, the largest single theft of the weekend. Two mini-substation fires in Winchester and Sydenham also remained under investigation, while community-related disturbances in Regents Park and Alexandra were resolved without injury after engagement between officials, police and residents. Residents urged to report crime Mangena said infrastructure crime “continues to drain resources that would otherwise be invested in maintaining and strengthening Johannesburg’s electricity network.” City Power appealed to residents to report suspicious activity to its Security Risk Management Department on 011 490 7900, 011 490 7911 or 011 490 7553, or via its WhatsApp line on 083 579 4497.

Former Kaizer Chiefs co-head coach Cedric Kaze says Amakhosi’s new Tanzanian signing Adolf Bitegeko needs to overcome recent injury issues if he is to be a success at Naturena. Chiefs announced on Tuesday that defensive midfielder Bitegeko had signed from Tanzanian giants Azam FC. Kaze knows Bitegeko from his time coaching Azam’s Tanzanian rivals Young Africans (Yanga). “I played against him a couple of times when I was at Yanga against Azam. He’s a good player, technically gifted and very intelligent,” Kaze told Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube. “He hasn’t played a lot lately because of injuries, but when he’s healthy, he can be good for the team.” Kaze left Chiefs at the end of the 2025/26 season along with co-head coach Khalil Ben Youssef. But the pair have remained in the Betway Premiership, with Kaze taking up the reins at Sekhukhune United and Ben Youssef at Durban City. Chiefs have just returned from a pre-season trip to Spain, and will now face Zimbawean champions Scottland FC in the Toyota Cup on Sunday at the Royal Bafokeng Sports Stadium.

Absa has launched a new fleet of mobile bank branches that will travel to remote, peri-urban and underserved communities, bringing banking services and Smart ID applications closer to people who may struggle to access traditional branches. The mobile units were unveiled at Tembisa Mall on Wednesday, 22 July 2026, with Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber, Absa CEO Kenny Fihla and Absa chief executive for personal and private banking Sitoyo Lopokoiyit attending the launch. The rollout also marks a new step in the partnership between South Africa’s banks and the Department of Home Affairs. The Minister said the units would take Smart ID services directly to communities that have historically had limited access to Home Affairs services. Smart IDs on wheels Absa’s new Smart ID-enabled Mobile Branch at Mall of Thembisa. Image: Absa South Africa / Facebook The new mobile branches are built on Iveco trucks and are designed to provide a range of services while travelling between communities. Each unit features: Three banking consultant counters A secure cubicle for digital Smart ID applications An ATM The Smart ID application process is similar to the service available at participating physical bank branches. Applicants do not need to complete paperwork, with the digital application process taking around five minutes. The mobile units themselves will not have permanent staff. According to Absa, employees will be brought in from nearby branches when the mobile branches are deployed to specific locations. The ATMs will also not carry cash while the vehicles are travelling. Instead, they will only be loaded with cash once the mobile branch reaches its destination. Mobile units to complement Home Affairs services Schreiber said Absa’s mobile units would complement the 210 mobile units already operated by Home Affairs. The launch forms part of a broader partnership between Home Affairs and South Africa’s banks aimed at making government services more accessible through existing banking infrastructure. The department launched its digital partnership model with banks in August 2025, with the first bank branches offering Smart ID services opening in March 2026. The initial rollout was limited to selected branches operated by Capitec, FNB and Standard Bank. Absa joined the programme in July, with its first branches offering Smart ID services launching on 15 July 2026. Absa expands Smart ID services The bank initially introduced walk-in Smart ID applications at 12 branches and plans to expand the service to another 60 branches by the end of 2026. With Absa now part of the programme, Home Affairs said South Africans can access Smart ID services through a network of 296 participating bank branches across the country. The following Absa branches were scheduled to offer Smart ID services from Monday, 20 July: Rosebank Mall, Johannesburg Greenstone Mall, Johannesburg Tembisa Mall, Johannesburg Menlyn Park, Pretoria Waterfall Mall, Rustenburg Cavendish Square, Cape Town Cape Gate, Cape Town Kimberley City Centre, Kimberley Vincent Park, KuGumpo City (formerly East London) Nelspruit Crossing, Mbombela Mall of the North, Limpopo Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal The expansion of bank-based Smart ID services, together with the new mobile units, is part of efforts to reduce pressure on traditional Home Affairs offices and make essential identity services easier to access.

Many South African lottery players know a PowerBall Xtra draw recently saw three overnight multimillionaires crowned through its cascade rule. However, fewer know that one of the Lotto games has the exact same design built into one of its own games – which hasn’t triggered yet. The Lotto 5 Max cascade rule sits inside one of Sizekhaya’s popular games, just waiting to be paid out. What is the Lotto 5 Max cascade? Lotto 5 Max, the renamed Lotto Plus 2, carries a built-in guarantee. If nobody matches all six numbers plus the bonus ball on the final draw of the calendar month, the jackpot doesn’t roll over into the following month. Instead, it drops straight down to Division 2 winners, or Division 3 if there are no Division 2 winners either. This only applies to that one final draw each month. Every other Lotto 5 Max draw during the month works exactly the same way as it always has, rolling over if nobody wins. How the cascade rule has already changed PowerBall This isn’t untested. PowerBall Xtra’s identical cascade rule already triggered on 30 June 2026. A R139 million jackpot was split three ways instead of rolling over an eighth time. Each of the three ticket holders walked away with R45.7 million. You can read the full mechanics behind both cascade rules on the National Lottery’s official Lotto 5 Max game page. When could the Lotto 5 Max cascade trigger? As of the 22 July draw, the Lotto 5 Max jackpot sits at R5 million. Tonight’s draw isn’t a cascade opportunity, since the rule only applies to the last draw of the month. Every month-end draw gives players a shot at claiming the jackpot – even if they don’t predict all six numbers drawn. I always tell readers the same thing about these guaranteed payout rules: they don’t change your odds on any single ticket, but they do mean the jackpot money never just disappears into another rollover. Would you rather chase one huge jackpot, or take better odds at a guaranteed payout? Tell us in the comments, Mzansi …

A vehicle-based unit built by Absa will take smart ID renewals into Gauteng's underserved communities first.

South African founders get the final regional slot on the Road to GEC+Africa.