South Africa’s inflation could approach 5% by year-end as fuel price increases feed through, but economists expect rates to remain unchanged at the Reserve Bank’s November meeting.

The South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD) says the Film and Publications Board refused classification for the film ‘Hebrews to Negros - Wake Up Black America’ over Holocaust denial, dehumanisation and antisemitic content.

Results from Israel’s hard-fought election pointed on Wednesday to no clear winner as a leader of the Arab minority appealed to a hesitant opposition to join forces to end the divisive reign of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. With more than three quarters of the vote counted, Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc was slightly ahead but still short of a majority in Tuesday’s election, the first since the 7 October 2023 attack which has led Israel to wage war in Gaza and across the region. Both Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, who is allied with far-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish parties, and Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief leading a broad opposition bloc, vowed that they would seek to form the next government. But neither looks set to reach the 61-seat threshold for a majority. With 77% of ballots counted, Netanyahu’s bloc had 54 of the 120 seats in parliament and Eisenkot’s opposition had 49. Israeli Arab parties The final results could still change but one place of clear gains was among Israeli Arab lists which were set to jump to 17 seats. Voters from the community, descendants of Palestinians who stayed after Israel’s creation and who make up around 20% of the population, have been enraged by the Netanyahu government’s ultra-nationalist Jewish vision for the country and the Palestinian territories. Yousef Jabareen, head of the leftist Arab-majority Joint List, said the Israeli public had voted for new leadership, and “anyone who wants to offer a substantive and genuine alternative to Netanyahu’s blood-soaked government will have to talk to us”. “It’s either the continuation of racism, the continuation of exclusion and the continuation of supremacy, or a genuine Jewish-Arab partnership,” he said. Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot (C) addresses his supporters at the election night rally after the first exit polls were announced, in Tel Aviv early on 28 October 2026, during Israel’s legislative elections. Picture: Jack GUEZ / AFP Eisenkot has resisted allying with Arab parties. Netanyahu during the campaign relentlessly attacked the opposition by saying it would put Arabs in power, running on the slogan: “Either the Right or Palestine”. Yair Golan, the head of Israel’s main left-wing party and a member of Eisenkot’s camp, became the first member of the opposition camp to call for an alliance with Arab parties. “Netanyahu lost. I know how to count to 120,” Golan said in a social media post. “We must no longer accept Netanyahu’s racist division between Jewish votes and Arab votes.” But Eisenkot’s camp also includes right-wingers who share many of Netanyahu’s hawkish views and have adamantly rejected working with Arab lawmakers. Arab lawmakers could also give Eisenkot support in parliamentary votes on an ad hoc basis, enabling him to maintain a minority government without joining a coalition, although few observers believe such an arrangement would survive for long. Iran conflict A lack of a clear majority for either camp could mean weeks spent trying to cobble together coalitions, with possible new elections on the horizon if negotiations fail. “Maybe everybody lost in these elections but the Arab parties. And for the Arab parties, it’s unclear that they can make use of their huge success,” Hebrew University of Jerusalem political scientist Gideon Rahat said. A stalemate could in the immediate term benefit Netanyahu, who would remain caretaker prime minister until a new government is formed. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot appeared to indicate another factor was on the horizon – a Israeli attack alongside the United States on Iran. Netanyahu ordered bombing campaigns against Iran both last year and earlier this year, reluctantly stopping only after President Donald Trump reached a now-moribund ceasefire. In the days leading up to the election, Netanyahu repeatedly called for the overthrow of Iran’s government. News reports, which Netanyahu denied, said military top brass pushed back on his plans for pre-election action. Trump has said that the United States is no longer negotiating with Iran but will not attack until after next Tuesday’s US midterm elections, in which his Republican Party is forecast to lose ground. Speaking to supporters at a rally, Netanyahu said that Israel had a “unique opportunity” with Trump to “forever eliminate the existential threat of Iran”. Eisenkot in his own post-election appearance warned Israel’s security chiefs that they must serve the national interests and not the political needs of Netanyahu, who is a caretaker prime minister “without a mandate”. “Netanyahu, don’t you dare use Israel’s security for your political needs,” Eisenkot said. President’s role All eyes will be on President Isaac Herzog, who usually keeps a low-key ceremonial role but who must decide whom to task with the first chance to form a government. Herzog has reportedly supported a unity government, which could take on more urgency if Netanyahu attacks Iran, although Eisenkot has publicly ruled out serving with him. Netanyahu, who has served as prime minister on and off for more than 19 years, has divided Israeli society. Facing criminal charges over corruption that he denies, Netanyahu has sought to revamp the judiciary. He has also allied with far-right champions of extremist settlers who attack Palestinians in the West Bank with virtual impunity. Netanyahu is also wanted by the International Criminal Court over Israel’s devastating war in Gaza, where residents expressed uncertainty on Wednesday as to what the outcome might mean for them. “Our fear is that these elections might result in the emergence of an even worse leader and those who are more violent and bloodthirsty,” displaced Gazan Huda al-Houli told AFP.

The Sharks have won their last three matches against Munster, who are also in poor form in the URC. But the Durban union could jeopardise everything if they underestimate their opponents ahead of their Saturday night United Rugby Championship clash in Limerick. Sharks wing Ethan Hooker said the Irish side, who won the tournament in 2022/23, are stronger than their URC results suggest – winning once, drawing once, and losing twice to uncharacteristically sit ninth on the table. Munster showed fight during their 24-18 away defeat to Leinster last weekend, and will be eager to return to Thomond Park, where they secured a 33-25 win against Racing 92 in the Champions Cup the week before. Munster formidable at home “They love having the ball in their hands. They love multiple phases trying to stretch you, get around you,” Hooker said. “Munster are a quality team. They’ve only won one game, but any team would be fools underestimating them, especially with a home game, home crowd and the passion of the Irish fans.” The Springbok wing described the fixture as one of the biggest on the Sharks calendar. The Durban side also want to finish their tour on a high after a last-gasp 40-33 win at Lyon in the Challenge Cup and an emphatic 36-21 bonus-point URC win at Cardiff despite four injuries. “We have really put it on ourselves to be good on tour and get as many points as we can. Munster is no easier than any other team. We hold them in high regard. “We have our game plan and systems in place and will give it everything on the weekend.” Sharks backline to step up amid injuries Hooker backed the Sharks’ young backline to step up in the absence of their injured captain André Esterhuizen and former Junior Springbok Player of the Year, Jurenzo Julius, both centres. Siya Masuku, who usually plays flyhalf, may have to move to midfield, while wing Litelihle Bester and utility back Suleiman Hartzenberg are two of the players called up from South Africa – the other being prop Cameron Dawson. “We have really been working on our depth… We prepare ourselves for situations where we could have two big losses [injuries] and I know the guys coming in to replace them will put up their hands.

A 25-year-old Botswana national has been identified as the first citizen of the southern African country to be killed while fighting for Russia in Ukraine, after reportedly joining the Russian army through a WhatsApp recruitment group. Pako Namogang, born on 30 May 2001, was recruited through a group called “Work in Russia”, according to Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence Directorate (DIU), which released details of his identity and military service. The agency said a Russian recruiter used the group to seek people willing to serve in the Russian army. Namogang travelled from Johannesburg to Moscow on 6 July 2026 before signing a one-year military contract on 21 July. He was reportedly killed in mid-August during fighting near Novoliubivka in Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region, the DIU said. Botswana man killed fighting for Russia According to the Ukrainian intelligence agency, Namogang was accommodated in a hotel after arriving in Moscow before proceeding through the military recruitment process. He subsequently received training before being deployed to Russian-occupied territory in Ukraine. The DIU also alleged that intermediaries helped recruit Namogang and other foreign nationals into the Russian military. The agency said it had published documents relating to his identity and military contract. However, the circumstances surrounding his death have not been independently verified. At least 25 Batswana recruited The Ukrainian government’s “I Want to Live” project, which tracks foreign nationals serving with Russian forces, reportedly has information on at least 25 Botswana citizens who signed military contracts with Russia. One of the recruits is reportedly being held as a prisoner of war by Ukrainian forces, while Namogang is the first Botswana national the project has identified as having been killed in the conflict. The figures highlight concerns about the recruitment of African nationals into Russia’s war against Ukraine, sometimes through offers circulated on social media. Botswana government warns young people Botswana’s government had already raised concerns about the recruitment of its citizens before Namogang’s identity was announced. According to Botswana’s state-owned DailyNews, International Relations Minister Phenyo Butale told Parliament on 25 August 2026 that nearly 22 Batswana had been drawn into recruitment schemes connected to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Butale warned that some citizens were being attracted by offers presented as employment, training or security work before finding themselves on the frontline. He said Botswana had helped stop and return eight citizens who were intercepted at airports in Botswana, South Africa and Ethiopia. The minister also cautioned young people against accepting foreign military employment or training offers without understanding the risks involved. Namogang’s reported death adds to concerns over the vulnerability of African jobseekers to recruitment into overseas conflicts.

Driving between rest camps in Kruger National Park can take anything from just over an hour to most of a day, depending on where you are staying. The park’s vast size means visitors need to consider distances carefully when planning an itinerary, particularly if they intend to move between camps during a short holiday. The following figures are taken from SANParks’ published distances chart. Journey times are estimates that allow for slower driving and game viewing, rather than uninterrupted travel at the maximum speed limit. Route between campsApproximate distanceEstimated driving timeLongest: Punda Maria to Berg-en-Dal415km16 hours 35 minutesBerg-en-Dal to Shingwedzi344km13 hours 45 minutesPunda Maria to Skukuza342km13 hours 40 minutesShingwedzi to Berg-en-Dal344km13 hours 45 minutesPunda Maria to Lower Sabie342km13 hours 40 minutesSkukuza to Lower Sabie43km1 hour 45 minutesSatara to Orpen48km1 hour 55 minutesSkukuza to Pretoriuskop49km2 hoursSatara to Olifants54km2 hours 10 minutesLetaba to Satara69km2 hours 45 minutesShortest: Olifants to Letaba32km1 hour 20 minutes Why do drives take so long in Kruger NATIONAL PARK? Kruger National Park has strict speed limits to protect wildlife and visitors. SANParks lists maximum speeds of 50km/h on tarred roads and 40km/h on gravel roads. Actual driving times can be longer because of: Wildlife sightings: Animals on or beside the road often cause vehicles to slow down or stop. Road surfaces: Gravel roads and certain routes can take longer to negotiate than tarred roads. Stops along the way: Visitors may want to visit picnic sites, viewpoints or waterholes. Route choice: The shortest route is not necessarily the most rewarding for wildlife viewing. SANParks’ published distances chart uses an average speed of 25km/h when estimating journey times, taking game viewing into account. Some tips for planning drives between camps Visitors should avoid planning an itinerary around distances alone. A route of 50km may take considerably longer than expected if there are good wildlife sightings along the way. It is also important to remember that visitors must reach their booked camp or exit gate before the applicable closing time. Plan to arrive with a comfortable margin rather than relying on the estimated journey time. For longer journeys, consider booking overnight accommodation at an intermediate camp. This can make a trip more relaxed and leave more time for game viewing. Before setting off, check the latest SANParks travel times and Kruger maps, and confirm whether any road closures or other restrictions affect your route.

Vodacom Group CTO Dejan Kastelic says South Africa could switch off 3G within two years if operators act together.

A year after leaving the FATF grey list, South Africa's anti-corruption reforms have stalled.