Johan Ackermann praised the Bulls’ maturity and physicality after they bounced back from defeat to Munster with a commanding 57-15 demolition of to demolish the Lions

Firefighters battled a blaze in Imizamo Yethu, Hout Bay, early on Sunday, with no injuries reported. The number of affected residents and dwellings remained unknown as calls for urgent assistance and progress on the Phase 3 housing project intensified.

Following a failed attempt at processing asylum seeker applications last week, the department of home affairs has proposed a phased structure registration and appointment model. The chair of the inter-ministerial committee (IMC) on migration Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, said the IMC welcomed this approach. On Friday, the director-general of the department of home Affairs Livhuwani Makhode withdrew the directive his office issued on 28 September regarding the intake of asylum seeker applications. The department said the attempt to practically implement the judgment immediately “led to serious consequences that could not have been foreseen in the Court order”. Refugee reception offices were overwhelmed within days of the directive being issued; home affairs officials were put at risk, and serious threats to public safety and order emerged as South Africans protested the judgment. Among the concerns raised by South Africans is that home affairs resources are being diverted from the department’s day-to-day responsibilities to deal with undocumented foreigners. The current backlog on home affairs’ systems was also highlighted, as the department was already struggling to handle these. Home affairs’ proposal On Sunday, Kubayi said home affairs plans to introduce the phased registration model by 10 November 2026. “The process will be implemented as follows, so that there is no gap in the intake process. Using an online platform, a receipt will be issued online, and an appointment will be booked at refugee reception offices,” said Kubayi. “Assisted registration will be available at every refugee reception office and, on request, for a person in police or immigration detention, through officials, legal representatives, and civil society partners, in the main languages. “The receipt will record the holder’s particulars, and here we are bringing in biometric requirements. So anyone who applies through this mechanism must include biometrics and the intention to apply for asylum. It’s compulsory now that, when they apply, they must have those biometrics done. “A reference number will be issued, and the appointment date will be issued.” The receipt is neither a visa nor recognition of a person’s status. However, home affairs will use the receipt to instruct all officials and border management authorities that a holder of a valid receipt is not to be removed or found and is not to be arrested or detained solely for being in the country without a visa, pending lodging and final determination. Deportations Kubayi assured South Africans that deportations of people who are illegally in the country will not be halted during this period. Only those with legitimate receipts will be protected. “We are re-emphasising that because in the public domain there seems to be a suggestion that deportation and other Immigration Act provisions have come to a stop,” said Kubayi. “They haven’t, so protection applies only to people who have asked to make a first application for asylum. An evaluation will be done for those who are in the country legally and illegally. Those whose claims have been finally rejected after any review or appeal will continue to be deported as the law requires.”

With one world record in the bag, backstroke specialist Pieter Coetzé believes another could be on the cards next week at the Swimming World Cup. The 22-year-old swimmer made waves on Friday when he won gold in the men’s 50m backstroke final in 22.09 at the second leg of the World Cup in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He sliced 0.02 off the previous global short-course mark (set in a 25-metre pool) of 22.11 set by Russia’s Kliment Kolesnikov in Kazan in November 2022. Coetzé went on to win the 100m backstroke final on Saturday in 48.21, touching the wall just 0.05 outside the short-course world record of 48.16 set by Hubert Kos of Hungary in Toronto in October last year. Another world record in his sights Coetzé felt he might be able to go quicker over the 50m distance at the third leg of the World Cup in Astana, Kazakhstan starting on Thursday, though he admitted it would be tough after executing his race almost perfectly over two lengths in Tashkent. He did believe, however, that he could produce a cleaner performance over the 100m distance in Astana. “At the last turn (in the 100m final in Tashkent) I was a bit far from the wall, so I didn’t have a lot of power pushing off, and in that moment I was like ‘mmm, I think I messed it up’,” he said. “When I looked up and saw the time (at the finish) I was actually pretty surprised. I thought it would be a bit slower after that turn, so I know exactly what to do (in Astana).” Raising his status Coetzé, based in Pretoria and coached by Rocco Meiring, has emerged as South Africa’s best swimmer over the last couple of years. Last season he earned three medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Singapore, including gold in the 100m backstroke, and at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow earlier this year he bagged six medals, including three gold. He felt this latest achievement, however, had raised his global status as he took another step forward in his blooming career. “It’s definitely a different feeling to anything else I’ve accomplished so far. I don’t know if it’s fully sunk in yet, but breaking a world record I feel definitely does elevate it to a new level,” he said. “I’ll take the next few days to let it sink in and regroup for the next leg (of the World Cup).”

South African professional mixed martial artist Dricus du Plessis officially tied the knot to Vasti (formerly Spiller) on Saturday 10 October. Who is Mrs du Plessis? DRICUS DU PLESSIS AND VASTI SPILLER OFFICIALLY TIE THE KNOT Professional mixed martial artists Dricus du Plessis and his wife Vasti (formerly Spiller) tied the knot at their beautiful wedding in Paarl, Western Cape on Saturday, 10 October. Take a look at the first look of the wedding here. The pair met at CIT Boxing in Pretoria in 2023. Vasti later made the relationship public in July 2023. Dricus and Vasti got engaged on 14 January 2025. The mixed martial artist got down on one knee and proposed to Vasti on his 31st birthday in Pretoria. So, who is Mrs du Plessis? WHO IS VASTI SPILLER? Vasti is multi-talented, she is a photographer and a children’s book author. She has her own photography business called Baruch Photography. She describes herself as a “visual and literal” storyteller. The beauty also published a book titled The Art of Loving, designed to help young children overcome trauma and the unimaginable atrocities they have been through. She studied at the North-West university and completed her internship in photography. Vasti is also a boxing coach at CIT Boxing. Vasti reportedly entered the Miss SA 2022 pageant but did not make the cut. In July, Vasti penned a touching post to Dricus, sharing photos from a shoot they did together in what appears to be Cape Town. “3 years and I still love you in a way that would worry a therapist and thrill a poet,” she wrote. Dricus commented “love of my life!! ❤️” on the post.

Springbok and Sharks hooker Bongi Mbonambi finds his rugby career hanging in the balance as he faces an internal disciplinary ruling at the Sharks. According to Rapport, the World Cup-winning veteran is currently under investigation for alleged misconduct and a breach of team protocols during a recent team-building session. The disciplinary cloud has cast immediate doubt over Mbonambi’s future in Durban. Reports indicate that if he is found guilty, the franchise is prepared to take a hardline stance, with management even weighing up the possibility of terminating his contract. The fallout has already severely impacted the player’s availability. Despite being fully fit, Mbonambi has been excluded from training and matchday squads as the process unfolds. Sharks coach JP Pietersen has repeatedly sidestepped media inquiries regarding the hooker’s ongoing absence, offering “no comment” as speculation mounts. Springbok and Sharks stalwart facing uncertain future The issue reportedly stems from an alleged breach of team rules during a pre-season team building exercise at Bayala Private Safari Lodges. Mbonambi and other players were said to have continued socialising into the early hours, going against team instructions, and various disciplinary rulings have been made in each case. However, it’s Mbonambi who has especially found himself in hot water as he was apparently present at a team meeting where Pietersen told players that they could socialise on Tuesday evening, but then had to focus ahead of the return to full training. However, he is said to have disobeyed this instruction, while the fact he has not returned to the squad mix indicates there is a feeling that the onus was on him as a senior player to lead by example. Another senior Springbok, Trevor Nyakane, was also said to have been involved in breaching protocols, but could reportedly escape more serious punishment because he was not present at the meeting when Pietersen set down the expectations. Long way back This internal crisis not only threatens Mbonambi’s domestic tenure, but also casts a shadow over his international prospects that have already appeared to be in jeopardy in recent seasons. Having battled various injuries over the past year, the latest developments may also jeopardise his chances of forcing his way back into the Springbok setup ahead of the upcoming November Test window. As the Sharks prepare to finalise their verdict following the disciplinary processes, it now remains to be seen if there is way back into the selection mix for Mbionambi, or whether he faces an exit from the coastal side.

Cybersecurity is Shoprite’s top-ranked risk, and the only one whose controls it rates as partially effective.

Standard Bank will buy as much as 4.99% of Nigeria-focused fintech OPay as it files to list in New York.