Residents in Delft South say months- and years-long electricity problems have forced some to cook over open fires and spend scarce income on candles, paraffin and gas ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

Double Rugby World Cup winner Kwagga Smith has joined the Bulls on a three-year deal, reuniting with coach Johan Ackermann as he targets a return to action following a serious knee injury.

Roberto De Zerbi said Tottenham’s historic 2-0 victory against London rivals Chelsea proved his side have a winning mentality as they banished their dismal start to the season. Tottenham won at Stamford Bridge in the Premier League for just the second time in 36 years and the first since 2018. Trips across the capital to west London have largely been fruitless experiences for Tottenham over the last four decades. But De Zerbi’s men enjoyed a memorable visit to the Bridge on Saturday thanks to a comical own goal from Chelsea goalkeeper Mike Penders and a late wonder-goal from Mathys Tel after Blues star Cole Palmer was sent off. De Zerbi – ‘A big moment’ “It was a big moment for the fans, the club and the players also. They deserved this win, they prepared very well,” De Zerbi said. “We are improving a lot, we are improving in the mentality, in the group and the relationships with the players and then we are improving on the pitch.” Tottenham started the season on a dismal run of six league games without a win, raising the spectre of another relegation battle after they narrowly avoided dropping into the Championship on the final day of last season. With the pressure mounting on De Zerbi, the Italian has drawn his players closer together thanks to meals together and a trip to Marbella. ‘The spirit, the belief’ A win against promoted Coventry on Monday lifted the tension around the north London club and vanquishing Chelsea was another reward for De Zerbi’s team-building ethos. “Now it is a complete team. When we stay for dinner and stay together in the dressing room I see a different group, a different relationship and different atmosphere among the players,” he said. “The character was today great but we have many, many new players. The players who stayed here last season, two or three seasons ago, they suffered the last results, two times 17th position, we are working to change the last part of the history of the club.” Tottenham were beginning to lose the faith of their long-suffering fans after another miserable start to the season. But De Zerbi was adamant he never doubted they would get back on track. “I have to believe for sure in this group. I never lost the confidence in my players,” he said. “The week in Marbella, to speak better face to face, to open ourselves and remove the mask it is important. “It is important for the spirit, the belief. The atmosphere inside the dressing room is maybe more important than the tactics.” For Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, it was a painful setback as the optimism engendered by successive victories over Bournemouth and Everton was washed away on a rain-lashed evening. Alonso’s expensively assembled team sit in fourth place but remain very much a work in progress after the third league loss of his first season in charge. “We are all disappointed with the result, with the performance collectively and individually we were not at our best level,” he said. “It was about the first goal and it went their way and with 10 men it was difficult but we can do better.” Alonso refused to blame Penders and Palmer for their roles in the defeat. “We feel for everyone, it is a team thing, a collective. We have to move on,” he said before adding he “hadn’t seen” Palmer’s two bookings.

New Fiji coach Jake White has backed his side to make an impact at next year’s World Cup after edging Eddie Jones’ Japan 34-28 in Tokyo. The 2007 World Cup-winning Springbok coach made a winning start to his Fiji tenure in a roller-coaster game in the rain on Saturday. White picked no Europe-based players for the game and handed out four new caps. ‘Fiji can beat anyone’ He said Fiji “can beat anyone” on their day and backed them to make their mark at the World Cup in Australia in a year’s time. “If we can just give them a little bit of control and structure and a bit of organisation, and I can get the best 33 players together for the World Cup, I genuinely believe that they can be a massive force at the World Cup,” he said. Japan and Fiji will both head to Europe for next month’s Nations Championship games. Japan will play Wales, England and Scotland, while Fiji will take on France, Ireland and Italy. White will have his Europe-based personnel available for those games but he was impressed by the players he picked to face Japan. “If that’s the calibre of player that we can put together from the island, there’s no reason why they can’t be a force at the World Cup,” he said. Both teams scored three tries in the first half and one more each after the break. Fiji substitute Ben Volavola made the difference with two penalties late in the game. The two sides had met in the Pacific Nations Cup final in Tokyo a month earlier, with Japan winning 20-15. The rematch was being played to mark the 100th anniversary of the Japan Rugby Football Union. “We know that Fiji can play with flair, we know they’ve got unbelievable skill – all I wanted to do was bring a little bit of control,” said White. “The way we played in the last 15 minutes really made me proud.” Jones said the “biggest difference in the game was the number of turnovers”. He also backed White to make an impact with Fiji before the World Cup. “Today he brought in four or five new caps and I saw him talking about going out to all the islands in Fiji to find more talent,” said former Wallabies and England coach. “The one thing he’ll do is find the best talent in Fiji and bring that forward.” This story was first published on sarugbymag.co.za. It is republished here with permission.

Here’s all you need to know to check R370 SRD Grant status. The Social Relief of Distress (SRD) disbursement was due to end in March 2027. However, in the 21 October MTBPS, the National Treasury extended it for another year, to March 2028. That’s the good news. The less-good news is it stays at R370 per month. And beneficiaries need to be approved each and every month. Therefore, here’s the shortcut to check R370 SRD grant status, no matter where you are … CHECK R370 SRD GRANT STATUS The main payment window for SASSA SRD grants this month (October 2026) has already started. They’re scheduled from 22 to 23 October 2026, with the remainder rolling out across the final week of the month, through to 31 October 2026. To check R370 SRD grant status: Click HERE. Enter your valid 13-digit SA ID number. Enter the cellphone number you used to apply. If it differs, your status may not display. Tap Submit. Your result will show either Approved, Pending or Declined, with your payment date once it’s assigned, too. OTHER WAYS TO CHECK SRD R370 STATUS Alternatively, you can also check SRD R370 status by: WhatsApping 082 046 8553 and sending the word: ‘Status’ or ‘Hi.’ USSD by dialling 12069277# and following the prompts. Call the SASSA toll-free line on 0800 601 011. All of the above are free. WHAT STATUSES MEAN Government is fighting in the Supreme Court of Appeal to not have to open up the SRD grant to millions more people. Image: File Approved: Your R370 is on its way. Check your bank account on your payment date. Pending: SASSA is still verifying your details. Check again over the coming days. Declined: You didn’t pass this month’s verification. The result usually gives a reason. Bank details pending: SASSA needs correct banking information before it can pay you. HOW TO APPEAL If you’re declined, you can lodge an appeal HERE and confirm your status in the same place. Remember that the grant is approved month by month, and failed bank-account deposits can trigger declines. Also, there are many look-alike sites claiming to check your status, so, be careful. Therefore, only use srd.sassa.gov.za and never engage with anyone else on the topic. The SASSA SRD extension is good news to millions, but nothing’s final on what comes next. Government hasn’t given a timetable for turning SRD into permanent Basic Income Support. And the Supreme Court of Appeal is still to rule on the case challenging the grant’s rules. But what do you think? Do you check SRD R370 status every month? Is the system faulty? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

Due to planned maintenance, Eskom has scheduled an 18-hour power outage that will affect some areas in Tsakane, Brakpan in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng. The maintenance is scheduled for Thursday, 29 October from 09:00 to 18:00 and again on Friday, 30 October from 09:00 – 18:00. ESKOM SCHEDULES TWO NINE-HOUR POWER OUTAGES IN TSAKANE Eskom stated that there will be an electricity supply disruption in Tsakane due to maintenance that will be conducted on the distribution network. “The power outage will affect customers in parts of Tsakane extensions 5A, 5B, 5C and 11 on Thursday, 29 October from 09:00 – 18:00 and on Friday, 30 October from 09:00 – 18:00. The interruption of electricity is necessary to perform essential maintenance on our distribution power lines,” the power utility said. “Eskom in Gauteng conducts planned maintenance on the distribution electricity network across the province as part of its maintenance plan. It is essential for maintenance to be conducted to service the infrastructure to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of the electricity supply,” Eskom added. AFFECTED RESIDENTS URGED TO TREAT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AS LIVE In the interest of safety, Eskom said customers should treat all electrical appliances as live at all times during the power outage. “Eskom apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused by this maintenance. Should circumstances beyond the control of Eskom arise, the planned electricity maintenance may not proceed as communicated,” the power utility added.

The presidency has pulled its website offline, two days after the PHP project released fixes for critical flaws.

A hacker claims it has 366GB of data from the insurer that handles injury claims for mineworkers and metalworkers.