The Junior Springboks will wear black armbands in Saturday's World Rugby U20 Championship final against France, with captain Siphosethu Mnebele praising the squad's unity as the foundation of their title defence.

Prem Balram, the head of Reaction Unit South Africa, said the retired teacher informed them that the same intruder had approached him on Monday and asked for water.

With the South African Reserve Bank’s (Sarb) next repo rate decision just days away, economists expect the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to keep the repo rate unchanged following its pre-emptive 25-basis-point rate hike in May. However, a small but growing risk of another increase remains as inflationary pressures persist, with economists expecting June inflation to reach 4.7%, up from 4.5% in May. It has been argued that the rise in consumer prices is driven largely by external shocks, particularly higher fuel prices stemming from the conflict in the Middle East. The Sarb hikes the repo rate primarily to keep inflation under control and maintain price stability. However, this approach is most effective when inflation rises because people and businesses spend too much. Sarb will likely hold repo rate at 7.00% Senior research fellow at the University of Johannesburg’s School of Economics, Dr Charles S Saba, told The Citizen that it would be preferable for the Reserve Bank to hold the repo rate at 7.00% in July while maintaining a hawkish stance, as inflation pressures are supply-driven rather than demand-driven. “Much of the recent inflation pressure is supply-driven, originating from global oil prices rather than excessive domestic demand,” he said. “Higher interest rates cannot reopen the Strait of Hormuz or reduce international crude-oil prices, but they can weaken already modest economic growth and increase household and business debt-servicing costs.” His comment follows Bank of America’s forecast of a 25-basis-point hike in July, which he said is “credible, but the decision is finely balanced”. Only way for Sarb to hike repo rate Saba added that a 25-basis-point hike would be justifiable if June inflation is significantly higher than expected, the rand depreciates sharply, or higher fuel costs begin to spread persistently into core inflation. “Therefore, a data-dependent pause would presently provide the most appropriate balance between price stability and economic growth,” he said. Dr Bonke Dumisa, an independent economic analyst, told The Citizen there is a 50% chance the Sarb will hike. “The Sarb has tended to raise the repo rate because of their normal ultra conservative leanings. But there is an outside chance that the Sarb may reluctantly keep the repo rate unchanged, given that the inflation expectations now in July are no longer as high as they were in April and May, though still there, but not as high.” Repo rate hike to prevent inflation Tertia Jacobs, treasury economist and fixed-income specialist at Investec, told The Citizen that the Sarb can hike the repo rate due to the Bureau for Economic Research’s second-quarter inflation expectations, which showed inflation expectations moving higher. This is despite Governor Lesetja Kganyago pointing out the repo rate hike in May was intended to prevent inflation expectations from becoming entrenched at higher levels, rather than to respond to an actual rise in inflation. “Since then, the inflation outlook has improved somewhat. The sharp decline in fuel prices is likely to prompt the Sarb to revise its near-term inflation forecasts lower,” she added. “At the same time, the rand has remained resilient and has even strengthened against a basket of major currencies, helping to contain imported inflation. Although oil prices have recovered to around $85 per barrel, they remain well below the $95 per barrel levels seen in May.” Decision coming on Thursday Jacobs said she expects the Sarb to hold on Thursday, 23 July. “Domestic economic conditions also argue for caution. Real interest rates are now close to neutral, while household spending is beginning to moderate as disposable incomes come under pressure. “Given these developments, we believe the MPC has scope to pause at this meeting, assess how the inflation outlook evolves, and determine whether further policy action is needed at a later stage.” Johann Els, chief economist at PSG Financial Services, said it is unlikely that the Sarb will hike rates again next week. “The renewed conflict in the Middle East over the past week, and the resulting increase in oil prices, has certainly made that call more difficult,” he said. Good reasons to hold Els said there are several good reasons to leave interest rates unchanged. “The inflation expectations survey was conducted when oil prices were above $100 per barrel. Even after the recent increase, oil prices remain well below those levels, suggesting the survey probably overstates current inflation risks,” he added. “Third quarter inflation expectations are likely to dip again, depending on how the renewed war unfolds. More importantly, the Reserve Bank acted proactively in May. At the time, I argued that an early rate hike would reduce the need for further tightening later, and I still think that argument holds. “It is also important to note that many other Central Banks have not hiked rates. In addition, the rand exchange rate has remained remarkably stable, easing some of the potential inflationary pressures.”

Former Izingane Zes’thembu star and Mpumelelo Mseleku’s ex, Vuyokazi Nciweni, has denied rumours that she is in a new relationship. The rumours began after a video of Nciweni kissing a man was shared on her Instagram Stories before circulating on social media. Vuyokazi can’t do this man not after the comeback she’s done pic.twitter.com/Jf1spjNBhq– nicole (@Bigbrother_all) July 15, 2026 Addressing the video Addressing the rumours, Nciweni said the video had been taken out of context. “Usually, I’m not the type who addresses things, but I see you guys have already made up your minds about whatever is going on.” She said she met the man while she was out in Pretoria. “I’m currently in Pretoria for work, and I happened to go groove one night. I got intoxicated. I met this guy, and we vibed.” Nciweni said she does not know the man and had only met him that night. “I don’t even follow him. I don’t know who he is, and I don’t know his handles. I met him at the club, and we vibed. I was intoxicated.” She also denied posting the video herself. “People who know me very well, they know very well that I would never, ever post something like that on my story. It was not me who posted that.” Nciweni said she was too intoxicated to know what was happening at the time. “I was too intoxicated to know what I was doing at that moment. So I did not post that video. It was posted either by his friend or him,” she said. @vuyokazi_nciweni Yoh Ay… ♬ original sound – Vuyokazi_Nciweni

Former Orlando Pirates winger Lebohang “Cheeseboy” Mokoena has shared his thoughts on why Thabo Cele was left out of Kaizer Chiefs’ squad for their pre-season tour of Spain. The 28-year-old midfielder was one of the most notable absentees when Amakhosi announced their travelling squad, fuelling speculation over his future at Naturena. According to reports, Cele could be on his way out of the club after just 18 months. The midfielder struggled for regular game time last season, with Lebohang Maboe often preferred in central midfield. Cele returned to South Africa in January 2025 after several years in Europe, hoping to revive his career and force his way into the Bafana Bafana squad but his stint at Chiefs has not gone as planned. Speaking on SoccerBeat, Mokoena suggested that the club’s management may already have made a decision on the midfielder’s future. “What a player, man. His technical ability on its own is impressive. He is a Chiefs kind of player. Sometimes it’s very difficult to get to a club when the club is trying to find its identity. You’re supposed to walk in and find the house clean, and sometimes that takes time,” Mokoena said. Cele could be on his way out of Kaizer Chiefs Mokoena believes the expectations placed on Cele were unrealistic, with the midfielder expected to transform the team almost immediately. “A lot was expected from him to carry the team. A team like Chiefs does not need an individual who will carry the team. Expectations were also high for George Matlou and he left. He didn’t have the impact many expected at Chiefs.” The former Buccaneers winger added that playing for a club of Chiefs’ stature leaves little room for error, with competition for places always intense. “These things happen at big teams. If you don’t take your opportunity, there’s always another player the club is looking at. They sign you today, and tomorrow the scouts are already searching for your replacement before you’ve even touched the ball.” With Cele absent from the pre-season tour, uncertainty continues to surround his future, and it remains to be seen whether he will still be a Kaizer Chiefs player when the new Betway Premiership season gets underway. Will Amakhosi miss Cele?

There were reports of multiple contamination events at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station just outside of Cape Town. But the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) said on Thursday 16 July that no radioactive material leaked into the environment during three contamination events at Koeberg. These three separate events occurred on 30 June, 2 July and 7 July and were contained inside the station. This, according to quotes in AP News. The NNR said the events involved “elevated airborne radioactive contamination” inside the power station, which arose when ventilation units lost power during maintenance work. The regulator stated it presented no danger to the public. South Africa’s sole nuclear power station Koeberg remains both South Africa’s only nuclear power station and the most southerly placed nuclear power station in the world. According to Eskom, it also “boasts the largest turbine generators in the Southern Hemisphere.” They also claim that Koeberg has operated safely and efficiently for 40 years. However, this does not mean that the plant has never faltered. In a report titled “Koeberg’s Dangerous Lifetime Extension,” shared on the NNR website, Dr Tristen Taylor notes “a disturbing history of accidents over the last 19 years at Koeberg.” Eskom recently celebrated one year without loadshedding. Koeberg radiation screening and incident classification Workers inside the power station who may have been exposed during the three events were screened and were not found to have any radiation exposure warranting worry. The regulator said it was conducting further inspections at the station. Energy Analyst Matthew Cruise spoke about the event in a Radio 702 interview, calling them “quite minor.”

ERP specialist Astraia Technology is iOCO's second purchase in four months as dealmaking accelerates.

An independently audited public vote has crowned Paratus Namibia as the most reliable internet provider - again.