Actor Tumisho Masha came under fire on social media for labelling Johannesburg mayoral candidate Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng a “straatmeit” and casting doubt on her ability to run the city.

The Private Security Sector Provident Fund acknowledges widespread employer non-compliance, while the Pension Funds Adjudicator criticises failures to monitor unpaid contributions and protect workers’ retirement savings.

Meta has partnered with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) to launch the AI Academy South Africa, a new initiative to equip developers, students, start-ups, and young professionals with practical artificial intelligence skills. The programme features two tracks offered at no cost: an AI start-up pitch competition and an eight-week virtual AI Masterclass designed to help participants build applications using Meta’s AI models. Local potential The pitch competition will see 10 shortlisted start-ups present their ideas in Johannesburg on 30 October, with two winners receiving more than R82 000 each in equity-free funding and a fully sponsored trip to Meta’s AI Summit in Türkiye. Meta’s Head of Public Policy for Southern Africa, Thabo Makenete, said the initiative is about unlocking local potential. “South Africa is home to incredible talent, and through the AI Academy we are equipping South Africans with the skills, tools and opportunities to build solutions that create real economic value.” “Our collaboration with the DCDT strengthens the local innovation ecosystem and makes sure the benefits of AI reach more people and communities across the country,” he added. Creators Craig Meyer, Acting Chief Director for Emerging Technologies and Digital Innovation at the DCDT, said the programme will help South Africans become creators rather than consumers of AI technology. “This collaboration supports our broader commitment to building an inclusive digital economy in which South African innovators are not merely consumers of AI technologies, but active creators shaping the future of AI in South Africa and across the African continent.” Ramaphosa in Silicon Valley As AI rapidly reshapes economies, workplaces and communication worldwide, President Cyril Ramaphosa said South Africa is positioning itself to better understand the technology and its impact. Speaking at the Black Wednesday commemoration lunch on Monday, Ramaphosa said he plans to lead a delegation of government representatives, academics, business leaders and young South Africans to Silicon Valley after the local government elections. Cyberlabs Meanwhile, Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi launched two cyberlabs in Nelson Mandela Bay schools, aimed at expanding digital access and equipping pupils and teachers with critical technology skills. Opening the first facility at Fontein Full-Service School, Malatsi said many families still lack “meaningful connectivity” despite wider broadband coverage. “Families may have to share a smart device… or choose between buying a bundle of data or bread,” he said. Digital skills The cyberlabs will help learners and educators develop digital skills, access online learning resources, connect with opportunities and participate more effectively in the digital economy. Malatsi stressed that success should be measured by “the number of lives changed” and how many people are lifted out of poverty. He added that “digital literacy is the first line of defence” against disinformation, cyberbullying and online grooming, while also helping young people access jobs, tertiary education and entrepreneurship opportunities. Last week, Malatsi challenged both government and the private sector to stop talking about youth employment and start creating real opportunities for young people to gain the work experience needed to enter South Africa’s growing digital economy.

With gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) continuing to claim women’s lives across South Africa, all eyes will be on Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana to see whether he will put money behind the government’s promises to address the crisis when he delivers his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. GBVF was classified as a national disaster in late 2025. Still, the crisis has since worsened, with at least 11 bodies of women reportedly discovered across the Ekurhuleni region in Gauteng over the past weeks. The grim discoveries have renewed questions about whether the government is committing sufficient resources to prevent violence against women, protect vulnerable communities and bring perpetrators to justice. Godongwana previously said the MTBPS would outline the resources the government intends to allocate to address GBVF, raising expectations that the announcement could finally turn promises into funded action. Will he deliver on his promise? Calls for funding to fight GBVF Craig Wilkinson, founder and CEO of Father A Nation (Fan), has called on Godongwana to fund the fight against GBVF in support of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s four-point action plan against the crisis. “Each action in Ramaphosa’s four-point plan was given a deadline, and some came with targets and funding. Yet prevention, the thing that matters most, still has no deadline, target or budget,” he added. Fan is a non-profit company founded in 2011 to combat GBV, crime, and fatherlessness. Wilkinson is calling on Treasury to ring-fence funding for prevention in this week’s MTBPS, so that it is treated with the same urgency as the president’s other points. Ramaphosa’s action plan against GBVF questioned Ramaphosa’s four-point action plan includes: Reopening and recovering stalled criminal cases Reducing forensic evidence backlogs Making public spaces safer for women Cracking down on alcohol-related violence Wilkinson said the measures put forward in the president’s plan are necessary and urgent, but they largely respond to violence after it has occurred or address the conditions surrounding it. “They fail to deal with the beliefs, attitudes and behaviours that lead to men abusing women. A streetlight won’t protect a woman from an abusive partner behind a closed door.” The president correctly acknowledged the home as the primary hotspot for GBVF and said that prevention must begin with how we raise our sons and what they learn from watching the men around them, said Wilkinson. Raising boys differently could help prevent GBVF Wilkinson said boys need to be raised in the right way to prevent GBVF, because they grow up to be the men that are perpetrators of this crime. “How we raise our sons and mentor our men is the single most important factor in preventing GBVF in the medium and long term. Anything else treats the symptoms and not the cause. “Because boys become the men they see, South Africa must implement a proactive, properly funded and well-staffed programme to tackle the mindsets of the men who perpetrate GBVF. Men should be taught how to speak up, rather than just be told to speak up.” During the Covid-19 pandemic, when the government needed the public behind it, its messaging was strong, clear, and constantly reinforced; it made funds available and acted with urgency to save lives. Wilkinson said the same level of commitment and resources must apply now to make SA safe for girls and women. Points Wilkinson wants Godongwana to address Wilkinson gave five points he believes Godongwana need to address during his MTBPS concerning GBVF: Allocate dedicated funding to the prevention pillar of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide, starting with the MTBPS Implement national programmes that promote engaged fatherhood and positive, healthy masculinity Provide practical education about consent, respect, emotional health and healthy relationships to boys and young men Partner with experienced civil-society organisations already working with men and boys Lead a national prevention campaign that matches the unprecedented urgency and scale of the Covid-19 response He highlighted that the link between fatherlessness and destructive masculine behaviour is well documented. Referencing the State of South Africa’s Fathers 2024 report, Wilkinson said: “Boys look to their father or a father figure to model masculinity. In a country with over 60% of children growing up without a present, engaged father, it is no surprise that GBVF has reached such high levels.” Will Godongwana deliver on his promise? In August 2026, Godongwana promised to include monetary support for the fight against GBVF in the MTBPS; however, he did not say how much. This followed the ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) handing over a memorandum arguing that the government had failed to allocate resources to address GBVF, despite Ramaphosa classifying the crisis as a national disaster. The league said the classification should lead to improved access to survivor services, emergency support, prevention programmes, monitoring, reporting, and oversight. “In the medium budget speech, there will be a statement to the effect that, I don’t know the numbers, to the fact that there’s some work which has been done and therefore needs to be an allocation in the budget,” said Godongwana. “But what is being discussed in Cabinet is an attempt to come to a deal with that issue, whether it’s going to be a specific fund or is going to be in the different departments with some coordination.”

South Africa is spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches, but some are clearly more popular with visitors than others. A new analysis of more than 162 000 Google reviews has revealed the country’s best-rated beaches, with the Western Cape dominating the rankings. The analysis by SEO experts at seobacklinks.com looked at the Google Maps listings of beaches across South Africa on 5 October 2026. It excluded private and hotel beaches, resorts, tidal pools, inland swimming spots, beach pavilions and duplicate listings. Only beaches with at least 200 Google reviews were included, leaving 119 beaches and 162 655 reviews in the final ranking. The beaches were ranked using their exact average ratings rather than Google’s rounded scores. South Africa’s 10 best-rated beaches RankBeachLocationRatingReviews1Dias BeachCape Point4.873332Robberg 5 BeachPlettenberg Bay4.754053Struisbaai Main BeachStruisbaai4.757684Keurbooms BeachKeurboomstrand4.752165Coney Glen BeachKnysna4.732856Sardinia Bay BeachGqeberha4.721 1347Llandudno BeachCape Town4.713 0038Bakoven BeachCape Town4.711 1629Pringle Bay BeachPringle Bay4.7189810The PointJeffreys Bay4.71377 1. Dias Beach, Cape Point Taking the top spot is Dias Beach at Cape Point, with an impressive average rating of 4.87 stars from 333 reviews. The beach is tucked between dramatic cliffs at the southern end of the Cape Peninsula, giving it a more secluded feel than many of the city’s better-known beaches. One November 2024 reviewer described it as a “magnificent sandy beach nestled between towering cliffs”. 2. Robberg 5 Beach, Plettenberg Bay Robberg 5 Beach in Plettenberg Bay came second, with 4.75 stars from 405 reviews. The beach forms part of the spectacular Robberg area and is known for its natural surroundings and views. A September 2026 reviewer praised it as “always clean” and “never over crowded”. 3. Struisbaai Main Beach Struisbaai Main Beach also scored 4.75 stars, but had significantly more reviews than Robberg 5, with 768. Its long stretch of sand and relatively warm water appear to be among its biggest attractions. One February 2026 reviewer simply called it an “absolutely beautiful beach” with “nice warm water”. 4. Keurbooms Beach Keurbooms Beach at Keurboomstrand recorded 4.75 stars from 216 reviews. It was praised by reviewers for its peaceful atmosphere and cleanliness, with one March 2026 visitor calling it one of the cleanest and most peaceful beaches they had seen. 5. Coney Glen Beach Knysna’s Coney Glen Beach took fifth place with 4.73 stars from 285 reviews. The beach is particularly popular for its combination of coastal scenery, picnic areas and parking. 6. Sardinia Bay Beach Sardinia Bay Beach near Gqeberha was the only Eastern Cape beach in the top five and one of only two outside the Western Cape in the national top 10. It recorded 4.72 stars from 1 134 reviews, giving it a substantial review base. 7. Llandudno Beach Cape Town’s Llandudno Beach came seventh with 4.71 stars from more than 3 000 reviews. That makes it one of the most heavily reviewed beaches in the top 10, while still maintaining a rating well above four stars. 8. Bakoven Beach Bakoven Beach, also in Cape Town, recorded 4.71 stars from 1 162 reviews. Its sheltered setting and large rocks help create calmer sections of water, something visitors frequently mention in reviews. 9. Pringle Bay Beach Pringle Bay Beach also scored 4.71 stars, from 898 reviews. The beach’s combination of wide sandy stretches and mountain and coastal views has made it a popular choice among visitors. 10. The Point, Jeffreys Bay Rounding out the top 10 is The Point in Jeffreys Bay, with 4.71 stars from 377 reviews. It is the second Eastern Cape beach to make the national top 10, alongside Sardinia Bay. The Western Cape dominates The Western Cape’s dominance is hard to miss, with eight of South Africa’s 10 highest-rated beaches in the province. The province also had the highest average rating overall. Its 66 ranked beaches averaged 4.58 stars, compared with 4.50 stars across all 119 beaches included in the national analysis. The findings suggest that visitors are particularly impressed by beaches offering clean sand, attractive natural surroundings, calmer water and a sense of space.

The Bulls could be closing in on a major Springbok signing after Kwagga Smith was released from his contract with Japanese club Shizuoka Blue Revs. The Japanese outfit confirmed on Tuesday that the 33-year-old loose forward had been released by mutual consent, bringing his eight-year stint in Japan to an end. Smith’s departure could open the door to a return to South African rugby, with Bulls coach Johan Ackermann having confirmed last month that the Pretoria-based franchise was interested in signing the double Rugby World Cup winner. Kwagga Smith leaves Japanese rugby legacy Kwagga Smith joined Yamaha Júbilo, as the Blue Revs were then known, in 2018 and quickly established himself as one of the standout overseas players in Japanese rugby. He made 78 appearances across competitions, earned five selections in the Top League and League One Team of the Season, and was named League One Player of the Season for the 2022/23 campaign. Smith also has 63 Test caps for the Springboks, with whom he has been part of two Rugby World Cup-winning squads – in 2019 and 2023. In announcing his departure, the Blue Revs praised Smith’s contribution to the club and his influence on teammates. “With 63 Test caps for South Africa, Smith brought a wealth of experience and an impressive track record to the team. He consistently led by example and served as a role model for his team-mates,” the club said. ［契約終了のお知らせ］#静岡ブルーレヴズ はこの度、 #クワッガ・スミス 選手との選手契約を終了することで双方合意に達しました。… pic.twitter.com/GGEAJGglLO— 静岡ブルーレヴズ SHIZUOKA BlueRevs🗻🏉 (@bluerevs) October 20, 2026 The Japanese side added that Smith had played an important role in shaping its history and was recognised as one of the league’s outstanding players. The club also expressed its gratitude for his achievements and wished him well for the future. Bulls could add more Springbok firepower Kwagga Smith’s availability comes at an interesting time for the Bulls, who are looking to strengthen their squad under Ackermann. A move to Pretoria would bring an experienced international campaigner back to South Africa and give the Bulls another versatile option in the loose forwards. Smith’s ability to operate across the loose forward positions, combined with his experience at the highest level, could make him an attractive addition to the squad. Smith’s last Test came on 29 November 2025 against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a match the Springboks won 73-0.

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Datatec shareholders took two-thirds of a R7.05-billion special dividend in new shares instead of cash.