A police commander told the Durban High Court that investigators found no conclusive cellphone or financial evidence directly linking Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla to the July 2021 unrest.

Australia return to the scene of their 2018 Sandpapergate scandal for the first time in red-ball cricket on Tuesday, when they meet the Proteas in the series-deciding third Test.

American singer Chris Brown avoided jail Monday as a UK court handed down an eight-month suspended sentence after he admitted taking part in a 2023 brawl at a London nightclub. The judge ruled that the sentence against the former boyfriend of music sensation Rihanna was suspended for a year, meaning Brown will not be imprisoned unless he commits another offence during the period. Brown, 37, who wore a black face mask, sunglasses and black baseball cap when he arrived at Southwark Crown Court in London, had admitted to affray at a court appearance in July. “Violence of this kind in a crowded nightclub is serious. It creates an obvious risk, not merely to the person against whom it is directed, but also to others,” judge Tony Baumgartner said. Prosecutors had accused Brown and co-defendant Omololu Akinlolu, also a US national, of carrying out “a vicious and unprovoked attack” in a crowded nightclub “where Brown used a glass bottle as a weapon to strike the victim’s head twice”. The guilty plea avoided a trial on several other charges, including attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent and possession of a bottle as an offensive weapon. Brown, who has sold tens of millions of records worldwide and who has a chequered legal history, had previously denied those charges. All of the allegations relate to an incident at Tape, a private members’ club in London, on February 19, 2023, while Brown was touring Britain. The victim, a music producer, was struck several times with a bottle before being pursued, punched and kicked. “This was not planned violence. It was nevertheless serious violence by two people in a crowded nightclub,” the judge said. Christina Jessah from London’s Metropolitan Police said: “This was an inexcusable attack that put a man in hospital.” “Despite the passage of time and the fact the suspects were no longer in the UK, we were determined that those responsible should face justice,” Jessah added. Brown was bailed on a £5 million ($6.7 million) guarantee last May, allowing him to perform his international tour, the highest-grossing tour of his career according to Billboard music industry magazine. Legal troubles Leaving court after the sentencing, Brown was greeted by loud cheers from dozens of fans, posing for photos with some of them before being driven away in a black car. He later posted a video on Instagram making a thumbs up sign from inside his car. The singer is known for mid-2000s hits such as “Kiss, Kiss”, as well as a litany of legal troubles, including a US felony conviction for assaulting Rihanna in 2009. Brown rose from a church choir in Virginia to sudden fame with his rich R&B voice before turning to rap. He was convicted of having beaten then-girlfriend Rihanna before the 2009 Grammy Awards, forcing the pop star to miss the gala. In 2012, Brown was involved in an altercation at a New York nightclub with members of hip-hop star Drake’s entourage, during which French basketball player Tony Parker suffered an eye injury after being hit by a thrown glass bottle. Two years later, Brown pleaded guilty to assaulting a fan in Washington. Akinlolu, 40, also pleaded guilty to affray over the London incident. He was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment suspended for a year.

Serbia’s student-led movement targeted a clear parliament majority on Monday after widespread protests ended with a historic election triumph that forced right-wing populist leader Aleksandar Vucic to concede defeat. Nationwide celebrations erupted after the victory in Sunday’s election, which was the culmination of two years of mounting pressure on Vucic after the 2024 collapse of a canopy at Novi Sad railway station that killed 16 people. The disaster has been widely blamed on corruption and triggered some of Serbia’s largest protests since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. On the streets of Belgrade, where cars still routinely honked in celebration on Monday afternoon, passersby told AFP they felt overjoyed at the result. “Everything smells of freedom,” design student Katarina Malesevic told AFP, describing a sense of relief after Vucic’s defeat. The outcome will be closely watched across Europe as the continent faces a wave of youth-led demonstrations. But political analyst Dusan Vucicevic said the movement differed from other protests. “This experiment in grassroots democracy ultimately succeeded in securing more than 50 percent of the vote, although it remains unclear whether a similar model could work in other countries,” Vucicevic told AFP. According to independent electoral watchdog CeSID, the Students’ List secured 53 percent of the vote while Vucic’s populist Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) garnered almost 39 percent, based on 96 percent of the count. The result would give them 140 MPs in the 250-seat assembly, with the SNS at 103. Minority parties will get the remaining seats. “Students won and with them also a hope that Serbia can be a country of justice, freedom and dignity,” Radomir Saicic, a candidate for the List, told supporters at the movement’s election headquarters late Sunday. A near-record turnout of almost 70 percent likely drove the political upset. The figure surpassed the 1993 parliamentary election, when just over 61 percent voted. Unforgettable moment Shocking many observers, Vucic, who had resigned the presidency to run for prime minister and has grown increasingly authoritarian in recent years, conceded defeat less than two hours after polls closed. The defeat triggered raucous scenes as supporters of the movement celebrated the downfall of a government they blamed for deep-rooted corruption. Thousands poured into the streets of Belgrade and other cities to celebrate, with cars honking, crowds chanting, and fireworks lighting up the skyline. Medical student Milutin Kandic, walking through central Belgrade on Monday morning, said he was certain that “no one from my generation will ever forget the moment he conceded defeat”. Addressing supporters late Sunday, Vucic, who has maintained close ties with Russia throughout his tenure, blamed foreign powers for the result. “I want people to know, this was the validation of a revolution carried out with the direct support of various European countries and the US deep state, the one that is also against President Trump,” he said. For nearly two years, students have staged rallies and marched across the Balkan nation to reach voters directly and counter the media machine of Vucic’s Serbian Progressive Party. Their protests have drawn huge crowds. A final pre-election rally in Belgrade on Thursday attracted around 150,000 people, according to an independent protest monitor. The students announced a celebration rally at a central Belgrade square to start at 7:00 pm (1800 GMT). A broad platform Most of the student list’s 250 candidates are experts from fields including academia and the arts with little political experience. The movement has a broad platform, centred on a pledge to fight corruption. It evolved from demands for a transparent investigation into the Novi Sad tragedy into calls for an early election. The movement kept foreign policy issues, including Serbia’s relationship with the European Union and longtime ally Russia, in the background. On Monday, the Kremlin said it hoped that Serbia’s new leaders “understand that cooperation with Russia is in Serbia’s interests, because it brings benefits to Serbia”. “From the outset, they insisted as much as possible that Serbia must first and foremost address its domestic political issues — problems with the electoral process, the media environment, and the literal dismantling of every institution in Serbia, from the national to the local level,” Vucicevic said. The students are expected to prioritise institutional reform and the rule of law, which he added would bring the country closer to EU membership. After pushing back against the protests for almost two years, Vucic called the vote last month under mounting pressure, citing “major turbulence on the domestic political scene”.

Zimbabwean self-proclaimed prophet Uebert Angel has pledged to pay up to US$2 million (R33.2 million) towards verified debts left by businessman Wicknell Chivayo, following reports that three car dealerships are owed millions of dollars for vehicles supplied to the late businessman. Angel made the announcement while addressing his congregation on Sunday, 25 October, saying he was prepared to help settle legitimate claims because his family had also benefited from Chivayo’s generosity. According to reports by Tuko and My Zimbabwe News, Angel’s offer is subject to strict conditions, with claimants required to provide documentary evidence proving that Chivayo owed them money. Angel sets conditions for paying Chivayo’s debts Angel reportedly said he would consider claims from a limited number of creditors, with his commitment capped at US$2 million. He urged those seeking assistance to provide proof of their claims, indicating that he would not simply pay every person who alleged that Chivayo owed them money. The self-proclaimed prophet also reportedly said he had arranged meetings with people seeking payment and that the businessman’s estate still needed to be assessed to establish its overall financial position. Angel’s offer comes as questions emerge over the outstanding obligations of Chivayo’s estate following the businessman’s death in a helicopter crash near Marondera on 30 September 2026. Chivayo died alongside his wife, Lucy Muteke, and four other people. Car dealerships reportedly owed US$5.1 million Reports have linked three Harare dealerships to outstanding payments totalling approximately US$5.1 million for vehicles supplied to Chivayo. Enterprise Car Sales has reportedly been linked to a claim of US$1.3 million (R21.58 million), while Exquisite Cars and Faramatsi Motors have been associated with reported balances of US$1.4 million (R23.24 million) and US$2.4 million (R39.84 million), respectively. However, the claims have not all been accepted by the businesses involved. Reports indicate that the circumstances and amounts surrounding some transactions remain disputed. The reported debts have drawn attention because Chivayo was widely known for gifting luxury vehicles to musicians, footballers, religious leaders and other public figures. Some of the vehicles were reportedly supplied under arrangements that allowed payment at a later date, leaving questions about outstanding balances after his death. Angel’s family benefited from Chivayo’s generosity Angel’s pledge also comes against the backdrop of his close relationship with Chivayo, who reportedly gifted the preacher’s family luxury items, including a Rolls-Royce Ghost. The prophet has described Chivayo as a close friend and family member following his death. His offer has prompted mixed reactions on social media, with some users questioning why the announcement was made publicly during a church service rather than handled privately. It remains to be seen how many claims will meet Angel’s requirements and whether the proposed US$2 million will be used to settle any of the reported dealership debts. The administration of Chivayo’s estate will also be central to determining his outstanding liabilities and how legitimate claims are ultimately resolve

Kaizer Chiefs are said to be exploring the idea of appointing Manqoba Mngqithi. Amakhosi previously made contact with the 55-year-old before deciding to hire Fernando Da Cruz in July. According to the leading Amakhosi insider Innocent Mkhabela on X, talks are underway with Mngqithi resisting the idea of working with the current techincal team at Naturena. KAIZER CHIEFS TALKS WITH MANQOBA MNGQITHI “Amakhosi are back to MANQOBA MNQITHI. Based on what im hearing now is that talks are already taking place behind the scenes but Manqoba doesn’t want current technical team,” Mkhabela said on X. These developments follow after Kaizer Chiefs crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup at the hands of Red Arrows last weekend. Coach Da Cruz is yet to taste defeat in the league. But the Glamour Boys’ performances under the Frenchman have left him with an uncertain future. Meanwhile, Mngqtihi is currently a free agent after parting with Tanzanian giants Young Africans last weekend. The Umzimkhulu-born coach previously confirmed he held advanced talks with Amakhosi before the start of the season. MOVE TO AMAKHOSI WAS BLOCKED  “Kaizer Chiefs did have interest in me. But someone blocked the move and I know who it is,” said Mngqithi. “I have had very cordial talks with Chiefs, even with Kaizer Motaung Sn. It is not a lie. But it never reached any fruition because there are people who block these moves.” “I’m fortunate to know that the person who blocked it I am not even worried about. But it’s true there was interest recently,” he continued. “Kaizer Chiefs even wanted me before I joined Sundowns. I’ve had very cordial talks with senior Kaizer Motaung. I know they have always shown interest in me. But for whatever reason it never happened.” WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON MANQOBA MNGQITHI TO KAIZER CHIEFS? Share your thoughts by clicking on the red comments block below.

Absa says customers who hand banking credentials to an AI agent may be held liable, as local banks keep outside agents out.

Paris Mashile led Icasa's fight to cut mobile termination rates, and admitted when the regulator fell short.