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Late bloomer Ryan Fox joined New Zealand's sporting elite after holding off the field to win the 154th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

The Springboks have made a promising start to the 2026 internation season, wining all four games they have played so far. They beat the Barbarians 80-31 in a friendly season-opener towards the end of June and then won all three Nations Championship matches this month – against England (45-21), Scotland (42-28) and Wales (43-0). Ahead of the one-off away Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires on 8 August and the four Test series against the All Blacks in August and September, here are five things we’ve learned about the Boks so far this season. Unreal depth in all positions Coach Rassie Erasmus has built quality depth across his squad, giving a number of players a chance to show what they can do. If you factor in the men who played for the SA A team against Zimbabwe, Erasmus has had a good look at several men over the four matches. In some positions the Boks are four players deep. Erasmus also picked four different teams this season, and no matter who started or played off the bench, the Boks still won well. The find of the season so far is flanker Paul de Villiers, but U20 stars Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams also got their shots, as did several fringe men who grabbed their chance. No Kolisi, Etzebeth and Sacha, no problem Continuing on from the above point, it is quite scary to think the Boks beat all-comers to South Africa over the last month without the likes of Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in the mix. They were injured. But, there are more … Lood de Jager didn’t play, neither did RG Snyman, Bongi Mbonambi, Jean Kleyn, Jaden Hendrikse and Morné van den Berg. Ethan Hooker only played for a few minutes, as did Canan Moodie. Despite missing all these players, the Boks were pretty okay. But, the good news is, many of them will be back in action soon. Veteran World Cup winners still tops There was a time after the 2023 World Cup when questions were asked about the longevity of several of the older double cup winners, such as Kolisi, Etzebeth, De Jager, Mbonambi, Jesse Kriel, Damian de Allende, Handré Pollard and Franco Mostert. Well, as we’ve seen, most of them are still going strong. And with many of them injured and not playing currently they’ve added years to their careers so it’s all worked out pretty well for Erasmus and Co. The only vets who’ve given up or aren’t really in the picture anymore include Willie le Roux, Faf de Klerk, Duane Vemeulen, Frans Malherbe, Vincent Koch, Trevor Nyakane and Steven Kitshoff. Boks have yet to be properly tested The Boks have won all the matches they’ve played this year without too much of a fuss. They easily got the better of the Barbarians and were never really troubled by England. Wales hardly fired a shot, while Scotland were the toughest team to face and asked a few questions, but there was never really any doubt the Boks would win. So, we don’t quite know how they’ll respond under real pressure, or when behind on the scoreboard. Not once were they forced into considering kicking a penalty or two to keep the scoreboard ticking over. And we don’t know how that chosen kicker would respond. This season Cheslin Kolbe, Quan Horn, Pollard, Moyo and Manie Libbok have handled the goal kicks. Basic Boks, so what’s Rassie hiding? While the Nations Championship competition is new and pretty cool and something the Boks would like to win, the Greatest Rivalry series is really what matters this season. Up to now, the Boks have played solid, decent rugby. Their set-pieces have generally been good, they’ve contested well at the breakdowns and their attacking play has been encouraging. Defensively they’ve not been too bad, though they have leaked some tries. It’s been standard fare though. There have been no gimmicks or wild experiments, or something out of the ordinary, like we’ve seen before at times, so it almost feels un-Rassie like. Is he then perhaps holding something back for the Tests against the All Blacks? I wouldn’t be at all surprised.

Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson has ordered an investigation into 6 238 state-owned residential properties allocated to government departments and occupied by government officials, saying properties that are no longer needed should be sold to reduce pressure on the public purse. The minister has instructed the department’s director-general, Sifiso Mdakane, to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the properties and develop a disposal strategy for those that are not required for legitimate operational purposes. Mdakane has been given 30 days to submit a report. Thousands of government-owned homes under review According to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, the state owns 6 238 residential properties allocated to various user departments across South Africa. KwaZulu-Natal accounts for the largest share, with 3 626 properties, followed by the Western Cape with 566 and Gauteng with 407. The department also recorded that an estimated R39.6 million was spent from its day-to-day maintenance budget during the 2025-26 financial year. However, available expenditure information relates only to 108 of the 6 238 properties. Macpherson has requested a comprehensive assessment of all 3 626 properties in KwaZulu-Natal. “The report must include a complete assessment of the properties situated in KwaZulu-Natal, identifying the User Department to which each property has been allocated, its intended purpose and operational need, the capacity in which the current occupant resides at the property and which properties should be retained, repurposed or disposed of.” Occupancy and compliance under the spotlight The investigation will also separately assess properties occupied by officials from the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure. It will determine whether the same allocation criteria, governance requirements, rental provisions, housing entitlement checks, and tax treatment that apply to other departments have been followed without exception or preferential treatment. The probe will further examine whether the leasing of state-owned residences complies with the Government Immovable Asset Management Act, the Public Finance Management Act and National Treasury regulations. Officials will also investigate whether rentals charged are market-related, whether approvals were obtained for any deviations, whether occupants qualify for official accommodation under their employment conditions and whether the correct fringe benefit tax treatment has been applied. The report must also establish whether user departments have surrendered properties no longer required for service delivery and identify surplus properties that should be repurposed, redeveloped, disposed of or removed from the state’s property portfolio. Macpherson calls for disposal of unnecessary properties Macpherson said the state should not continue owning thousands of residential properties for government officials, particularly when many already receive housing-related benefits. “It is my view that thesState should not own more than 6 000 residential properties for government officials, particularly when many officials already receive housing allowances, subsidies or other housing-related benefits as part of their remuneration packages.” He said the default position could not be that the state should continue to bear maintenance, rates, and other costs unless there was “a clear and compelling operational reason” to retain a property. “We need to establish who is occupying each property, the basis on which it was allocated and whether it still serves a legitimate public purpose,” Macpherson said. He added that underutilised or unnecessary properties should be removed from the state’s portfolio through “a transparent and legally compliant disposal process”. “Selling properties that the state does not need will reduce unnecessary expenditure, generate value for the public and ensure that government focuses its limited resources on infrastructure and assets that directly support service delivery. This is central to our commitment to use public assets for the public good and build a better South Africa.”

Thousands of residents across Cape Town and parts of the Cape Winelands are being urged to prepare for planned water supply outages this week as the City of Cape Town carries out maintenance on critical water infrastructure. The work includes installing new pipes and valves, replacing ageing infrastructure, making new water connections and carrying out leak detection tests on major bulk water pipelines. While not every household in the affected areas is expected to lose water, the City has advised residents to store enough clean drinking water in sealed containers before work begins as a precaution. Here’s where water supplies will be affected. Primrose Park Residents and businesses in parts of Primrose Park will experience no water while maintenance is carried out on Velocity Road. The City will first conduct a test shutdown on: Tuesday, 21 July 2026: 09:00 to 17:00 The main shutdown will then take place on: Thursday, 23 July 2026: 09:00 to 17:00 Affected streets include: Velocity Road Gani Road Comity Road Fielies Way Silicy Road Endeavour Road Cape Town CBD Parts of the Cape Town CBD will experience low water pressure or no water while a new water connection is installed. The water outage is scheduled for: Tuesday, 21 July 2026: 09:00 to 18:00 Affected areas include: Jetty Street Roggebaai Square Bantry Bay Residents in parts of Bantry Bay will face temporary water outages while a fire hydrant is replaced. A test shutdown is planned for: Tuesday, 21 July 2026: 09:00 to 14:00 The main maintenance work will take place on: Thursday, 23 July 2026: 10:00 to 18:00 Affected areas include: Victoria Road from Florida Steps 75 Victoria Road Surrounding streets Residents should expect no water during the scheduled work. Elsies River Water supplies will also be interrupted in Clarkes Estate and Adriaanse in Elsies River to allow contractors to install new water connections for a housing development. The outage is scheduled for: Thursday, 23 July 2026: 09:00 to 18:00 Residents in these areas should prepare for no water during the maintenance period. Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant shutdown The Wemmershoek Water Treatment Plant will undergo a two-day maintenance shutdown beginning: Thursday, 23 July 2026: 00:01 Until Friday, 24 July 2026: 23:59 The shutdown may affect parts of: Drakenstein Municipality Stellenbosch Municipality Private consumers supplied via the Wemmershoek pipeline Voëlvlei pipeline testing The City will also carry out acoustic leak detection testing on the Voëlvlei Bulk Water Pipeline, a key part of Cape Town’s water supply network. The testing helps engineers identify hidden leaks and assess the condition of the pipeline by sending specialised equipment through the system. To ensure accurate results, several municipal and private offtake pipes will be temporarily closed during two testing windows: Thursday, 23 July 2026: 10:00 to 22:00 Friday, 24 July 2026: 10:00 to 19:00 Areas that may experience reduced water pressure or temporary supply interruptions include: Hermon Drakenstein Klipheuwel Durbanville Fisantekraal Wellington Private consumers supplied directly from the Voëlvlei Pipeline may also be affected. Residents urged to prepare The City said the maintenance forms part of ongoing efforts to improve the reliability of Cape Town’s water infrastructure and minimise the risk of future failures. Residents in affected areas are encouraged to store sufficient water ahead of the planned work, although the City noted that the precaution does not necessarily mean every household will experience an interruption. Once the maintenance is complete, normal water supply will be restored as soon as the network has been safely brought back online.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has revealed what he described as a frank private phone conversation with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Museveni disclosed that he challenged his counterpart over recent ‘xenophobic attacks’ that forced dozens of Ugandans to flee the country. Speaking on Sunday at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, where Ugandans repatriated from South Africa are receiving counselling and rehabilitation, Museveni said he told Ramaphosa that South Africa had ‘betrayed’ the rest of the continent by allowing fellow Africans to be targeted. Museveni: ‘Who exactly is xeno?’ Museveni said one of the main issues he raised with Ramaphosa was the use of the term ‘xeno’ to describe African migrants living in South Africa. According to the Ugandan leader, he questioned why Africans who had supported South Africa’s liberation struggle were now being labelled as outsiders. “I asked Ramaphosa, who exactly is xeno? Is it me you are calling xeno?” Museveni said. He said he had researched the origin of the word, noting that it comes from Greek and means “alien”, before arguing that Africans should never regard one another as foreigners. ‘South Africa betrayed us’ Museveni said he reminded Ramaphosa that many African countries stood behind the African National Congress (ANC) during apartheid, offering political, diplomatic and material support. “I told President Ramaphosa I felt South Africa betrayed us,” Museveni said. The Ugandan leader said he had personally supported the ANC for six decades and found it painful that Ugandans were now being targeted by anti-immigrant groups. “I supported the ANC for 60 years, not just in words, but also with material help, and yet you call my grandchildren xeno?” he said. Museveni blames ANC opponents Despite his criticism, Museveni said he does not believe the attacks reflect the views of ordinary South Africans. Instead, he told Ramaphosa that those driving xenophobic violence appear to be political opponents trying to damage the ANC’s reputation across Africa. “But from what he told me, it seems that they have political problems there,” Museveni said. “It appears that the people behind this xenophobic campaign are enemies of ANC who wish for the party to lose its reputation around Africa.” Museveni’s warning over African unity Museveni also warned that xenophobia risks creating divisions across the continent and undermining decades of African solidarity. Drawing on his own experience of living in exile in Tanzania for eight years, he said he was treated with dignity and returned home with a positive view of the country, something he believes strengthened relations between the two nations. He contrasted that experience with the current situation in South Africa, saying African countries should welcome one another rather than deepen divisions. “I told President Ramaphosa to rectify this because it is dangerous,” he said. “If we also chase away the South Africans who are here, that is what the enemy wants, that we start fighting amongst each other.” Uganda plans compensation claims Museveni also announced support measures for Ugandans who recently returned from South Africa. He directed the Ugandan government to provide each returning family with Shs2 million (about R8 900) to help them restart their lives. At the same time, he instructed returnees to compile detailed records of businesses, homes and other property they lost during the unrest. Museveni said he had reached an understanding with Ramaphosa that Uganda would document the losses and seek compensation for affected citizens. “I agreed with President Ramaphosa that you should truthfully write down all the properties and businesses that were destroyed for compensation,” he said.

CallMiner's Bruce McMahon on what it takes to run AI at scale, under scrutiny.

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