A 27-year-old man died after a vehicle rolled backwards and crushed him while he was disconnecting a trailer in the Free State.

Umlazi residents in Durban can dive into summer with renewed excitement after eThekwini Municipality officially reopened the refurbished 50-metre BB Swimming Pool and handed over newly developed multi-sports courts.

Springbok star Damian Willemse says the Stormers are targeting Champions Cup glory, as they prepare to welcome Bristol Bears for their opening match of the competition at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 4:15pm). No South African team has ever progressed past the quarterfinal stage, which the Stormers reached in their first campaign back in 2022-23, but have since been knocked out twice in the last 16 and once didn’t even reach the playoffs. With the Stormers seemingly taking this season’s Champions Cup a lot more seriously than they have previously, with Director of Rugby John Dobson saying they would at the very least like to reach the semifinals, and with a team boosted by a number of Bok acquisitions during the off season, they may just have what it takes to go very far. “I’m very excited for the start of the Champions Cup. For us as a club, it would mean the world to add a star to our badge. We feel very strongly about this competition,” said Willemse ahead of Saturday’s match. “We’ve reached the quarter-finals and played in the round of 16, so we know what the pressure feels like when you go to Europe and play against the big clubs, like Bordeaux, Toulon and Leinster. We really want to add a star to our badge, but obviously, it’s still early days. “We’ve got a very tough match against Bristol this weekend. I really rate them as a team. They’ve got an incredible coaching staff, and what they’ve done with their programme really shows on the field. We’re looking forward to our opening game.” Points at home The Stormers will know what they need to do to progress to the competition knockouts, which is win at least two of their four pool games, but as they experienced last season winning three might not even be enough to earn them a home last 16 clash, as they missed out on that by not picking up enough bonus points. Thus they will know how vital it will be to pick up a full house of points at home, especially with tough away trips to competition double defending champions, Bordeaux-Begles, in France and Gloucester in England in December and January, while they will also host French side Racing 92 in January. “In the Champions Cup, there are four pool games and we basically have to win at least two (to reach the knockouts). We’re going to Gloucester and Bordeaux, and these are all tough games,” explained Willemse. “We want to take it a step further and go the full distance this year. We showed tremendous form in last season’s Champions Cup, going to Toulon, we lost by one point (in the last 16). It’s on all of us to make sure we get our momentum and that everyone is firing when we play these games.” Quality Bristol Focusing on the task at hand, this weekend against Bristol, Willemse admitted that the English Premiership side have a number of top players that could cause them problems. “There’s a lot of firepower in that backline. Louis Rees-Zammit (Welsh international) is there, Gabriel Ibitoye and Tom Jordan (Scottish international) are massive players,” said Willemse. “Benhard (Janse van Rensburg, South Africa-born recent England international) is there as well. They’ve got the full package and are an outstanding team. They can move the ball, kick and run, so it’s going to be a massive clash on Saturday.”

It is no secret that the legacy brands are in a fight for their lives. The Chinese have put them under global pressure, but even more so in South Africa. And VWSA is by no means immune. Ongoing Chinese pressure The Chinese motor manufacturers are evolving at a rapid rate. And they are making better and better cars – at seriously good prices, too. They cannot be underestimated. But without many years of development behind them, is this a quick fix? Is the bubble going to burst in a few years’ time when warranty claims and resale issues raise their heads? Or is this the new future of motoring? Only time will tell, I guess. And since I am not psychic, let’s get back to the reality of today, and our drive in VW’s new T-Roc. The new T-Roc is positioned between the Taigo and Tiguan in VW’s ever-increasing T-Series range of SUVs. The range also includes the T-Cross, Tayron and Touareg, and the soon-to-be-launched Tengo. The new VW T-roc offers alloy wheels that now measure up to 20 inches, up from 19 inches before. Picture: Supplied Easy on the eye The car builds on the distinctive character that made the T-Roc a success in the first place, but now offers a more progressive design language, a significantly upgraded interior and a comprehensive suite of digital and driver assistance technologies. What you won’t see with the naked eye is that the new VW T-Roc is 122mm longer and 28mm wider than its predecessor, which in turn translates into a bit more interior and luggage space. But what you most certainly will notice is the distinctive new light signature of the car. This is something that forms a big part of a car’s aesthetic appeal these days. And here the new T-Roc does not disappoint. At the front, you have advanced LED light technology that is combined with a new illuminated Volkswagen logo and a continuous light strip. And the rear features two-part LED combination lamps linked by a continuous illuminated light strip and an illuminated Volkswagen logo once again. In a rationalised line-up, the new T-Roc is only available in three relatively well-equipped derivatives: Life, R-Line and R-Line Black Style. Thanks to the MQB evo, the new VW T-Roc brings a new level of technology to the compact SUV segment. Picture: Supplied VW T-Roc Life – R599 900 The entry level derivative comes standard with: 16-inch Bilbao alloy wheels, LED headlights with low and high beam, black roof rails, Park Assist, rear-view camera, 10.3-inch infotainment system, Digital Cockpit, and 10-colour ambient lighting. VW T-Roc R-Line – R689 900 Jumping up a level sees you get a sportier version that offers: R-Line exterior package, R-Line interior styling, IQ.Light LED Matrix headlights, 18-inch Coventry alloy wheels, sports comfort seats, 12.9-inch infotainment system, and various convenience features. VW T-Roc R-Line Black Style – R709 900 The top of the range derivative brings you a Black Style package that includes: black exterior mirror housings, black decorative elements, black roof rails, privacy glass, 19-inch York Aero alloy wheels, and 30 colour ambient lighting. Jumping inside, the new T-Roc offers a decent amount of space for five people and their luggage. The new VW T-Roc also takes a big step forward in its interior, breaking the conventional class boundaries with its high-quality materials. Picture: Supplied Modern interior Jumping inside, the new VW T-Roc offers a decent amount of space for five people and their luggage and a completely redesigned dashboard with a new integrated Digital Cockpit. You also have a new Drive Experience Dial that provides access to driving profile selection and infotainment functions, while a new multifunction gear selector incorporates an integrated OLED display. R-Line brings a sportier character to the new T-Rocs interior as expected, while the R-Line & Black Style features sports comfort seats upholstered in Varenna leather with R-Line branding. A panoramic sunroof is available across the range, while a Harman Kardon sound system can be specified as an option on the higher derivatives. The latest in digital connectivity is at the centre of the driving experience, with the likes of Wireless App-Connect that allows you to connect seamlessly with the vehicle. The larger infotainment system available on higher derivatives provides an enhanced interface with navigation and additional connected functionality. The new VW T-Roc offers a driving experience control with integrated TFT LCD display from the Tiguan and Tayron. Picture: Supplied Safety systems Not to be outdone in the driver assistance systems department, the new VW T-Roc offers as standard Park Assist and a rear-view camera. But if you opt for the IQ.DRIVE package, you get: Adaptive Cruise Control, Front Assist with Pedestrian and Cyclist Monitoring, Side Assist, Rear Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping System with Traffic Jam Assist, and Emergency Assist. German engineering at its best But it’s when you get out on the road that you will truly understand my opening statement. From the moment you hit the start button and drive off, the superior German engineering shines through. Everything just works in unison. The throttle and gearbox calibration is spot on. There is no jerkiness or weird acceleration. The steering is well weighted and does not feel overly assisted. The same applies to the brakes. There aren’t multiple settings to manipulate the feel. Push the pedal and the car stops. The new VW T-Roc makes a powerfully clean statement in the compact SUV segment with its new front and rear design. Picture: Supplied Acceptable performance Where the performance enthusiasts might have a gripe, is that new VW T-Roc at this stage will only be offered with 110kW/250Nm, 1.4 TSI, that is mated to an 8-speed Tiptronic transmission. It’s not exactly fast, but it does the job perfectly and offers better than Chinese fuel consumption at a claimed 6.6 litres per 100km. Maybe just maybe, a potent T-Roc might make its way here one day. But I wouldn’t hold my breath. The price of something like this will put the car over R1 million and this is not where VW want to be with the T-Roc. An increase of 122mm makes the new VW T-Roc appear half a class larger and creates more space in the interior and boot. Picture: Supplied Service plan and warranty The new VW T-Roc comes standard with a three-year/120 000km warranty, five-year/90 000km EasyDrive Service Plan, including a 12-year anti-corrosion warranty.

Kaizer Chiefs begin their CAF Confederation Cup campaign away to Zambian side Red Arrows on Saturday afternoon. Amakhosi are competing in the second preliminary round, hoping to reach the group stages for the second successive season. Reaching that stage would guarantee Chiefs at least R6.6 million in prize money, while winning the competition could earn them a whopping R66 million. When are Kaizer Chiefs in action? Chiefs face Red Arrows in Ndola on Saturday at 15:00 at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, nearly 300km from the Zambian capital, Lusaka, where their opponents usually play at Nkoloma Stadium. The Soweto giants travelled to Zambia on Thursday with a 23-man squad following a 1-1 home draw against Stellenbosch FC in their latest league outing. The team held their pre-match training session on Friday at 15:00 to familiarise themselves with the conditions ahead of Saturday’s encounter. Kaizer Chiefs coach Fernando Da Cruz will hope to guide his side into the group stages as they look to build on last season’s continental campaign. Da Cruz has previous experience in the CAF Confederation Cup, having led Moroccan side AS FAR to the quarterfinals in the 2022/23 campaign. Their run ended against eventual winners USM Alger. Chiefs will, however, be without regular captain Brandon Petersen, who was not included in the travelling squad as he continues his recovery from injury. Amakhosi will be targeting a positive result away from home to give themselves an advantage ahead of the return leg. Can Amakhosi reach the group stages of the Confed Cup?

If you enjoy being by the beach when the weather’s warmer, this might be the perfect time to own your own slice of it. In one town on KwaZulu-Natal’s South Coast, for R250 000 you can have the privilege of living metres from the beach. Own your dream home on the beach This could be your last chance to buy affordable beachfront property in a Blue Flag beach location. According to one Private Property listing, you can get a 1 464-square-metre plot, 350 metres from Marina Beach, 1 of 11 Blue Flag beaches in the region. The property is listed with an asking price of R250 000. Buyers should expect to pay at least R100 000 in cash, as banks typically give a 60% loan-to-value for land over ten years. If you don’t take out a building loan, you’ll pay roughly R2 500 a month for the property, including the R500 in rates and taxes. But that can be worthwhile because the property has a semi-private beach entrance. Residents use a semi-private road to get to the beach. The path is a 5-minute walk only shared with neighbours. While other plots offering similar amenities are listed for above R300 000, buyers have plenty of options for an affordable holiday or retirement home. Buyers can get a 2-bedroom flat in the Marina Glen Holiday Resort for R530 000. Those who want direct beach access can buy a 2-bedroom townhouse for R830 000 that leads directly onto the golden sand. Holidays in Marina Beach Marina Beach is a coastal village, protected from the crowds that migrate to areas like Margate for a holiday. This area is largely unspoiled. Wildlife like duiker, impala, and buck abound. The area benefits from 195 bird species and a 60-hectare nature reserve. You’ll want to travel to the town year after year. Avid golfers will enjoy the 9 golf courses near Marina Beach, including the San Lameer Golf Course. Those who love the water will appreciate that, even in winter, the water and weather are warm enough to enjoy water activities. Children can enjoy the water safely in tidal and rock pools. During the sardine run, dolphins, whales and sharks visit the region. With a year-round tourism season, buyers could earn when not using the property. On Booking.com and Airbnb, rentals in the area typically list for R1 500 a night during peak periods and R900 a night in the low season. The Marina Beach Property Market The property prices in Marina Beach have been steadily rising since 2022. That year, the average sale price was R715 000. Today it’s R1.1 million, according to data from the KwaZulu-Natal Deeds Office. Marina Beach could experience a sharper increase in coming years as the village is the cheapest of the surrounding areas. In neighbouring Southbroom, the average sale price is R2.4 million. Then, in San Lameer, the average sale price is R1.6 million.

The Reserve Bank wants all of South Africa's ATMs white-labelled, with free transactions below a threshold, starting with a pilot in January.

Apple's first foldable iPhone carries a steeper local premium than its new HomeView, HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K.