Ramaphosa said conditions in the troubled metro had improved since his previous visit, crediting provincial and municipal leaders with responding to residents’ concerns.

A 35-year-old man from Witbank remains missing after getting into difficulty in the sea near Salmon Bay, Ballito, on Saturday morning.

Flyhalf Handré Pollard became yet another Springbok to suffer an injury over the weekend, after the Bulls survived a scare against Ulster at Loftus. The Pretoria union led 21-0 after half an hour, before errors let the Irish side back into the game. Ulster, for their part, showed tremendous fight to take it to the wire, trailing by five points near the end. But some late penalties went against them, and the Bulls slotted one on the hooter to secure a 34-26 bonus-point win. Bulls lose Pollard Bulls coach Johan Ackermann questioned referee Ru Campbell’s decisions after the Bulls were rewarded for scrum dominance only late in the game, and seemed to be penalised unfairly at the breakdown once. “It’s the first game that we’ve had a fair bit of casualties. Probably the positive is that it’s not muscular or not long-term stuff,” he said, referring to Sango Xamlashe and Cheswill Jooste’s HIAs. “Handré is the bigger one. It’s a hamstring. Time will tell how long that will be.” The Bulls coach said he felt mixed emotions because, if he had been offered five points against Ulster before the game, he would have taken them without a doubt. “You have to be grateful that you got the win. But… so many times with soft penalties, we either released the pressure on them, like letting them exit, or we put pressure on ourselves by letting them get an entry into our 22. “We made it quite easy for them because at half-time I felt that we had them on the ropes.” ALSO READ: Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith joins the Bulls ‘I don’t know how many URC games this guy had’ Ackermann said he would ask the referees for some clarity around Campell’s decisions because “there were some big moments where I felt either we missed a scoring opportunity or that influence on possession or territory”. “I don’t know how many URC games this guy had; maybe it was just the occasion. But there were moments that were a bit grey for me. “Two or three times at breakdown, scrums, and early in the game where Elrigh [Louw] got penalised for cleaning a guy that tackled Cheswill, and Cheswill bounced up and went again. So, technically perfect, Cheswill released the ball, got up and went. But Elrigh got penalised.” Still, Ackermann said the Bulls were not clinical for the full game and Ulster showed plenty of fight.

Mamelodi Sundowns are bracing themselves for a backlash after suffering a disastrous exit from the CAF Champions League. Shock Sundowns exit The Brazilians crashed out in the second preliminary round after being held to a 1-1 draw by Wiliete SC at Loftus Versfeld last Friday. The result saw the Angolan side progress on the away goals rule, leaving the reigning champions’ hopes of defending their continental crown in ashes. It is the first time since 2015 that Sundowns have failed to reach the group stages, when they were eliminated by TP Mazembe. Sundowns coach Miguel Cardoso knows the heat will intensify following the club’s catastrophic elimination from Africa’s premier club competition. “We need to stay united, committed to each other and be strong behind the doors of Chloorkop,” he said. “From now on, there will be a lot of fire on us. I’m pretty sure there will be a lot of fire on us. How we become immune to that is exactly what will allow us to win more in the future.” Despite winning the MTN8 and FIFA African-Asian Pacific Cup this season, but defending the Champions League was top on their list of priorities The defeat left Cardoso visibly emotional, with the Portuguese coach acknowledging the magnitude of the club’s failure. ‘It’s a big punch in our face’ “We have won two trophies and we’re leading the league in South Africa but this one is a big knockout,” said a crestfallen Cardoso at Loftus Versfeld after the match. “It’s a big punch in our face. What will make us stronger is how we’ll react because there are so many things to win. It’s a big punch on our faces, it’s on me, the players and everybody. “As I understand that when we win everybody wins and when we lose, everybody loses. There are many reflections that we have to do together but what will speak for Sundowns is the greatness that will come after this defeat.” Sundowns turn attention to Carling Knockout Sundowns will have little time to dwell on their continental disappointment, with a home clash against Marumo Gallants in the Carling Knockout scheduled for Tuesday. Cardoso insists the club can’t simply move on without acknowledging the significance of their Champions League exit. “There’s so many competitions to play for but we obviously can’t forget what it means to be out of the Champions League,” Cardoso concluded. “It’s hard for the club and it’s hard for the coaches. As you can imagine with me, it’s hard after being in the final three years in a row. “Great empires also come from ashes. It was like that after the first world war, many countries grew and after the second world War, it was the same. Today is obviously a dark night, but it’s a dark night that has to give us the energy and purpose to move forward and build more.”

A 35-year-old man from Witbank, Mpumalanga, remains missing after reportedly being caught in rip currents at Salmon Bay in Ballito on Saturday. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) Ballito duty crew was activated at 08:00 following reports from IPSS Medical Rescue of a drowning in progress near the Salmon Bay launch site. READ | Weekend tragedy as man drowns in Wilderness saving son According to NSRI Ballito station commander Mike Bishop, an IPSS Medical Rescue member who was nearby witnessed the man in distress and raised the alarm. The man is believed to have been caught in rip currents in an area that is not protected by duty lifeguards. Brother-in-law injured in rescue attempt The missing man’s brother-in-law entered the water in an attempt to reach him. However, the man disappeared beneath the water before his relative could get to him. The brother-in-law sustained cuts and bruises during the rescue attempt. Paramedics treated him at the scene, and he did not require further medical care. NSRI Ballito rescue swimmers, the South African Police Service (SAPS), Police Search and Rescue, Metro Police Search and Rescue, IPSS Medical Rescue and KwaDukuza lifeguards responded to the incident. Search efforts continue NSRI launched its rescue jet-ski and deployed a rescue swimmer into the surf zone as part of extensive search efforts. Despite searches at sea and along the shoreline, there were no signs of the missing man. Police have opened an investigation, while Police Search and Rescue teams continue searching with assistance from KwaDukuza lifeguards and Metro Police Search and Rescue. The NSRI said its thoughts and care were with the missing man’s family during this difficult time. Warning about rip currents The incident highlights the dangers of rip currents, which can rapidly carry swimmers away from shore. Beachgoers are urged to swim at beaches protected by lifeguards, heed safety warnings and avoid entering the water when conditions are dangerous.

The Bulls have signed Springbok loose forward Kwagga Smith on a three-year contract. The two-time Rugby World Cup winner brings a serial winner’s pedigree and a fearless, abrasive edge to a franchise already rich in backrow talent. READ | Sharks, Springboks suffer major injury blow Smith, 33, has been in two World Cup-winning squads, in 2019 and 2023. He is a ferociously talented ball winner who plays at No 6 and No 8. His athleticism and refusal to take a backward step have made him one of the most revered players in the Springbok group. ‘Delighted’ Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said he was delighted to team up again with Kwagga Smith, having coached him previously at the Lions. “As a youngster, he showed character and fight and integrity. He’s a team man who has grown into a stalwart, and it’s been a privilege to watch his career unfold and establish himself as one of the best backrows in world rugby. Wherever he goes he makes a difference, and I look forward to him contributing both on and off the field.” Made his name in Sevens Kwagga Smith made his name in Sevens before he did so in the 15-man game. He won Commonwealth Games gold with the Blitzboks in Glasgow in 2014 and an Olympic bronze medal in Rio in 2016. He then took that pace and aggression into the 15s game. His first big break came at the Lions, where he was part of the side that won the 2015 Currie Cup. He moved to Japan in 2018 and has spent eight years there with Yamaha Júbilo, now rebranded as the Shizuoka Blue Revs. He kept his place in the Springbok set-up throughout and has played more than 60 Tests. His honours include the 2019 and 2023 World Cups, the 2021 series win over the British & Irish Lions, and the Rugby Championship titles of 2019, 2024 and 2025. He has played 63 Tests for the Springboks, scoring 11 tries. His most recent Test came in November 2025 against Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, a match the Springboks won 73-0. Knee injury Kwagga Smith suffered a major knee injury in May 2026, tearing his ACL and meniscus while playing for the Blue Revs. It ruled him out for the rest of the 2026 season. Medical experts have since cleared him to return to play at the end of December. “I’m very excited to be joining,” said Smith, who mentioned that he was tracking well with his recovery. “I’m already jogging. I miss the rugby but I’m feeling good. My wife is pregnant, due in January, so the timing of joining the Bulls is perfect. Playing under Johan Ackermann [previously] was one of my best experiences. I’m looking forward to getting back by early next year.” Bulls CEO Edgar Rathbone added: “Kwagga is a proven winner who has achieved just about everything the game has to offer, and he has never lost his hunger. His work rate, physicality and fearlessness are exactly what we want in Bulls colours. He will drive standards inside our group, and our supporters will love the way he plays.”

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.