South Africa produced a stunning turnaround to beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George’s Park, levelling the series at 1-1.

In a post shared this week, JK Rowling vowed to continue speaking out against trans activism. The 61-year-old author has been embroiled in controversy over her stance.

Just a few days ago, Ntombifuthi Mavis Rumo’s family were celebrating answered prayers when she returned home after her alleged kidnapping. Today, the 37-year-old appeared briefly before the KwaThema Magistrate’s Court in Gauteng, standing accused of staging her own disappearance. Rumo’s co-accused Bonginkosi Mndebele, 27, appeared in absentia due to hospitalisation. Alleged kidnapping plot National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said the pair faces charges of defeating the administration of justice. Mahanjana said Rumo, Mndebele and a suspect who has not yet been charged allegedly met on 7 October and discussed staging Rumo’s kidnapping because they were experiencing financial difficulties. “The three allegedly contacted Rumo’s family and demanded money for her release,” Mahanjana said on Thursday, following Rumo’s court appearance. “When the family was unable to pay, the three allegedly released Rumo on 12 October 2026 and left her at Vlakfontein Road. They then asked her family to collect her from there,” the NPA spokesperson added. Rumo arrested after her return The euphoria of her return was cut short, however, when she was arrested following a police investigation into the reported kidnapping. Mahanjana said Rumo was arrested on 20 October after her husband turned her in. “After her arrest, she pointed out Mndebele to the police,” Mahanjana said. The matter was postponed to 29 October for bail investigations and for Mndebele to appear in court. Mahanjana said the state intends to oppose bail for both accused. Rumo’s disappearance sparks fear in KwaThema Rumo’s alleged staged disappearance sparked fears in KwaThema, a township located in Ekurhuleni, where the bodies of 12 women were recently discovered. Speaking to eNCA after Rumo’s return, residents said they feared for their safety and expressed disappointment in the government’s lack of intervention. “As women in KwaThema we are no longer safe,” one resident told the news channel. “Even our kids – the young ones – we are scared to send them to the nearest shops because the government failed us dismally.”

The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) has found that successive presidents failed in their constitutional duties by allowing a presidential pardon application from two wrongfully convicted men to remain unresolved for 24 years. In a unanimous judgment delivered on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, the ConCourt criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa and former presidents Thabo Mbeki, Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma over the prolonged delay in addressing the litigation by Fusi Simon Mofokeng and the late Tshokolo Joseph Mokoena. The court found that the delay was unacceptable and ruled that Mofokeng and Mokoena’s estate were entitled to constitutional damages. Ramaphosa was also ordered to pay the legal costs in his official capacity. Wrongfully convicted after 1992 shootout Mofokeng and Mokoena were convicted in 1993 of murder, attempted murder and conspiracy to commit robbery following a shootout in Bethlehem, Free State, the previous year. The 1992 incident involved members of the ANC’s self-defence unit (SDU) and the apartheid-era South African Police (SAP), leaving one police officer dead. The two men’s convictions relied on the testimony of a single state witness whose evidence was later considered unreliable. Neither Mofokeng nor Mokoena had been at the scene of the shooting or participated in the SDU. Despite maintaining their innocence, they received life sentences and an additional 18 years’ imprisonment. They were released on parole in April 2011 after spending 19 years behind bars. Their efforts to clear their names continued long after their release. Presidential pardon application left unresolved for decades In November 2001, Mofokeng and Mokoena jointly applied to the president for pardons, citing admissions by SDU members before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Amnesty Committee. They also challenged the credibility of the state’s key witness, who had allegedly admitted to receiving a bribe to provide false information. Over the years, officials from the Department of Justice repeatedly indicated that the matter was under consideration. The pair pursued further applications in 2008 after Mbeki introduced the special presidential pardons process to deal with politically motivated offences that fell outside the TRC process. Their attempt to have their convictions overturned was rejected by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in June 2018, but they only received notification of the decision in March 2019. In April 2021, they again contacted the Presidency to establish what had happened to their pardon application. With the matter still unresolved, they approached the ConCourt in August 2025. Ramaphosa eventually granted the pardons in December 2025 under Section 84(2)(j) of the Constitution. Ramaphosa acknowledges constitutional failure The ConCourt considered the president’s admission that he had failed to meet his constitutional responsibilities. Ramaphosa apologised and acknowledged that the delay was “deeply regrettable”. He also accepted that, regardless of whether the shortcomings originated with the justice minister or the department, the ultimate responsibility rested with him as the head of state. “These concessions by the president are properly made. “Even if one considers the delay to be four years, rather than 24, that would be no less unacceptable and inexplicable,” Justice Narandran Kollapen wrote in the judgment. The judge was critical of the successive administrations, stating that 24-year delay could only have resulted from “wilful neglect or gross negligence”. “Regardless of the reason, the fact remains that Mr Mofokeng and Mr Mokoena lived for two decades not only imprisoned for a substantial period of time for crimes they did not commit, but also under societal stigma and the pall of having been forgotten and shunned by their government despite their every effort to follow up. “Mr Mokoena passed away before his rights could be vindicated, and also without receiving a conclusion to his long and relentless quest to have his name cleared,” the judgment reads. ConCourt condemns handling of the case Kollapen highlighted that the problem extended beyond the length of time taken to decide the applications, describing the broader pardon process and the department’s handling of the matter as “shocking”. According to the judge, government had failed to recognise the “humanity” of the applicants, despite its constitutional responsibility for “protecting them and their rights”. The court also dismissed the government’s argument that Mokoena’s death and subsequent posthumous pardon left no remedy for the harm he had suffered. “This is untenable and smacks of an uncaring attitude,” Kollapen wrote. The judgment found that Ramaphosa, Mbeki, Motlanthe and Zuma had failed to fulfil their obligations under sections 84(2)(j), 83(b) and 237 of the Constitution.

Lamontville Golden Arrows have welcomed Mandla Ncikazi back to the club as their new head coach following his departure from Orlando Pirates. The 57-year-old left the Buccaneers on Thursday, with Arrows announcing his return shortly afterwards. The club described him as a “proud son of the club” with a deep understanding of its traditions. Ncikazi previously coached Golden Arrows during the 2020/21 season, guiding them to a club-record fourth-place finish in the PSL before joining Orlando Pirates as an assistant coach. During his five-year spell at Pirates, Ncikazi contributed to the club’s success, helping the Soweto giants win nine trophies. His return to Arrows follows discussions with the Pirates management on Thursday morning, during which he expressed his desire to pursue an opportunity to lead a team again. The club subsequently gave him its blessing to take up the new challenge. Ncikazi leaves Pirates for Arrows “Mandla leaves with our gratitude and our blessing. His contribution to Orlando Pirates has been evident throughout his time with us. We respect his wish to pursue this new opportunity and wish him success as he takes on a new responsibility,” said Pirates chairman Dr Irvin Khoza. Ncikazi returns to a familiar environment, bringing valuable experience gained during his time at Pirates. His appointment will give Arrows an experienced coach as they look to build on their previous achievements. Meanwhile, several Orlando Pirates supporters have wished the 57-year-old well following his departure. Some fans have highlighted his contribution during the early stages of the Buccaneers’ success in the 2020s, acknowledging the role he played during his time at the club. How do you rate Ncikazi as a coach?

Here is what the weather has in store for KZN, the Free State, and the North West on Friday 23 October 2026. Extremely high fire danger conditions will affect Mahikeng and Ratlou local municipalities in North West, increasing the risk of veld fires. KWAZULU-NATAL Morning fog over the interior, otherwise cloudy and warm with isolated showers and rain. The wind along the coast will be moderate southerly to south-easterly. The UVB sunburn is going to be moderate. DURBAN Durban is going to be cloudy with isolated showers and rain. Moderate winds will blow from the south to south-east. Temperatures will range from 19°C to 23°C. The UVB sunburn index is going to be moderate. FREE STATE Free State should expect morning fog patches in the extreme east, otherwise fine and warm to hot BLOEMFONTEIN Bloemfontein is going to be fine. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 10°C to a maximum of 27°C. NORTH WEST North West is going to be fine, windy and hot MAHIKENG Mahikeng is going to be fine. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 13°C. to a maximum of 33°C. Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service.

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