As Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates, AmaZulu and Kaizer Chiefs prepare for a crucial Tuesday matchday, we examine four key questions facing the Betway Premiership leaders.

The N1 has reopened in both directions after a truck carrying an industrial tank damaged the Lower Church Street pedestrian bridge near Paarden Eiland

Judging by the poor attendance of spectators during the first three days of the first Test between the Proteas and Australia, the top two ranked teams in the world, you would have never guessed South African fans had been starved of Test cricket at home for 641 days. Yes, you read that right. Prior to this Test match, the Proteas last hosted Test cricket at home against Pakistan in January 2025 – a year and nine months ago. Yet, less than a third of the Kingsmead stadium was filled each day for three straight days in South Africa’s first Test of a busy season. How disappointing. Durban has struggled to fill the stands for Test cricket for a while now. It led Cricket South Africa to move the popular Boxing Day Test from its traditional spot in Durban to Centurion a few years ago. Only Newlands and SuperSport Park in Centurion get big crowds in for Test cricket, so why the poor attendance, especially for a team playing Test cricket at home for the first time since becoming world Test champions last year? Is it due to a lack of interest in the longer format? Is it that people don’t have the money to pay for a day at the cricket? Is it the heat? Why bother hosting Test cricket at grounds that don’t attract spectators? Let’s hope the fans rock up to the next Tests in Gqeberha and Cape Town.

An argument between two rival motorcycle clubs in Pretoria allegedly turned deadly after a fight at a Waterkloof pub on Saturday night left one biker dead and another one injured. Police investigate fatal shooting The clash follows months of tension between clubs, including an alleged fistfight in Jeffreys Bay on Boxing Day, fuelling fears of a biker war in South Africa. South African Police Service regional spokesperson Captain Johan van Dyk said Brooklyn police are investigating murder and attempted murder after a shooting at Little Britain Pub around 8pm. “Police found emergency services treating a man outside the pub with a gunshot wound to the chest,” Van Dyk said. “He was rushed to hospital. Inside, a 55‑year‑old man was found dead with a chest wound.” Preliminary information suggests an argument escalated when the suspect drew a firearm and shot the victim. The bullet reportedly passed through the injured man before striking the deceased. The suspect fled on a motorcycle but was arrested yesterday morning. He faces murder and attempted murder charges and is due in Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in Hatfield today. Victims linked to Macs Biker Group, suspect to Crusaders Van Dyk confirmed the victims were members of the Macs Biker Group, while the suspect is linked to the Crusaders. Hours later, Little Britain Pub announced a ban on biker patches, saying the policy applies to all clubs equally. “We are deeply saddened by the shooting,” management said. Biker association condemns violence Sapa Yopa president Pico “Martins” Antonio condemned the violence. “No life should be lost to ego or petty disputes. Bikes are meant for camaraderie and charity, not bloodshed. Firearms are not toys and reckless disregard must face full consequences,” he said. Antonio urged Crusader leadership to denounce the shooter and called for dialogue between the clubs. “It is imperative leadership demonstrates a commitment to peace,” he said. “We urge both Crusader MC and Mac’s MCC to engage constructively to restore order.” Both clubs had not commented by the time of publishing.

The Department of Home Affairs is developing a new biometric online platform aimed at speeding up asylum applications, strengthening identity checks and preventing rejected applicants from repeatedly submitting claims to delay deportation. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said the platform is expected to become operational by 10 November 2026 as part of broader efforts to improve the efficiency of South Africa’s asylum system and strengthen immigration law enforcement. READ | Home Affairs withdraws asylum directive after violent protests Address longstanding administrative challenges Speaking at an Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) on Migration media briefing in Pretoria on Sunday, Schreiber said the department planned to use technology to address longstanding administrative challenges. The new platform will require asylum applicants to submit biometric information, allowing Home Affairs to verify their identities and establish whether they have previously submitted applications that were rejected. It will also enable officials to check the authenticity of passports and other travel documents and identify other recorded infringements. Schreiber said the reforms would help the department process legitimate applications more efficiently while preventing abuse of the system. “The ConCourt did not remove our right as Home Affairs to adjudicate a refugee application. If someone doesn’t qualify, it is our job to say you don’t qualify and you must be deported,” he said. He emphasised that the Constitutional Court judgment of 7 July 2026 dealt with procedural aspects of processing asylum claims and did not automatically grant refugee status or citizenship to foreign nationals. 120 000 asylum appeals outstanding The planned platform comes as Home Affairs continues to tackle a substantial backlog of asylum appeals. Schreiber estimated that approximately 120 000 appeals remained outstanding, although he said the department would provide a confirmed figure. The minister said Home Affairs had achieved turnaround times of around 30 days for initial asylum applications, with the most significant delays occurring during the appeals process. The department reduced its appeals backlog by approximately 20% during the previous financial year, but Schreiber said further improvements were needed to prevent new applications from creating another backlog. To increase processing capacity, Home Affairs had brought in 74 advocates to assist with appeals. Schreiber said the current administration had initially inherited a system in which only nine people were responsible for processing asylum appeals. The department hopes that additional legal capacity, combined with the new digital platform, will help accelerate decisions and improve the management of applications. Government seeks clarity on Constitutional Court ruling Government also intends to approach the Constitutional Court for a supervisory order to obtain guidance on implementing its judgment and addressing the administrative challenges facing Home Affairs. Schreiber said the department needed to establish how many people would come forward to apply for asylum to plan staffing levels and processing capacity adequately. The proposed online system is expected to help officials determine the volume of applications they need to manage and plan a phased implementation process. Meanwhile, the IMC has directed relevant government departments and entities to participate in a hearing scheduled for 29 October 2026 before a panel of judges of the Gauteng Division of the High Court. The hearing will consider conflicting judgments on asylum seekers issued within the division. Schreiber said Home Affairs would continue adjudicating asylum applications and enforcing immigration law, including deporting applicants whose claims had been finally rejected, subject to applicable legal requirements. The biometric platform forms part of Government’s efforts to improve the administration of asylum claims while implementing the Constitutional Court judgment within the framework of the law.

The Department of Basic Education has declared itself ready for the 2026 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations, with a record 962 832 candidates registered to sit the October/November examinations. Of these, 815 051 are full-time candidates, an increase of 48 508 from last year, while 147 781 are part-time candidates, including those seeking to improve their previous results. The exams start on Tuesday, 13 October. READ | 268 inmates to write 2026 matric exams across South Africa Largest full-time cohort ever Announcing the state of readiness in Pretoria on Sunday, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube said the Class of 2026 was the largest full-time cohort to sit the NSC examinations to date. “All candidates have been provided with all the support they would need to perform, and I am happy to declare that learners are ready for the 2026 NSC Exams,” the Minister said. The examinations require coordination across all nine provinces, with approximately 7 100 examination centres established for candidates.  Gwarube said the department had audited the examination centre network and implemented a risk-based monitoring approach to direct supervision and resources where they were most needed. She confirmed that the setting, moderation and quality assurance of examination materials had been completed, with all question papers and examination instruments reviewed by the department and approved by Umalusi. Security measures had also been strengthened across the production and distribution chain, including the vetting of examination officials and collaboration with national and provincial law enforcement structures. The department has established 189 marking centres and recruited 51 104 qualified and experienced educators to mark examination scripts. A standardised national marking approach, strict quality-control processes and strengthened moderation of school-based assessments will be applied to protect the credibility of the qualification. Learner support and preparation The department has implemented its 2026 Learner Support Programme across all 75 education districts, reaching 159 180 learners at 1 262 centres. The programme provided additional learning and revision opportunities, particularly for progressed learners, those requiring extra support and schools experiencing performance challenges. Learners also received support through revision guides, previous examination papers, online learning materials, digital notes and mock examinations. The Second Chance Matric Programme continues to support part-time candidates through after-hours and weekend classes at 41 centres, learning materials distributed to 84 centres and 15 provincial learner workshops. Candidates also have access to class monitoring, free online study resources and educational broadcasts on radio and television. Gwarube acknowledged that the Class of 2026 experienced disruptions to schooling during the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly during the transition from the Intermediate Phase to the Senior Phase. The department had responded by strengthening curriculum coverage, using assessment information to identify learning gaps and providing additional revision opportunities. The Minister also urged parents and guardians to provide learners with a supportive home environment during the final preparation period. “So, we appeal to parents, not to burden learners with a load of household chores nor expect them to run family errands. Please give them the space and support they need to perform at their very best in these exams,” the Minister said.  Protecting the examinations Gwarube said the department had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to examination irregularities and reinforced candidate and parent pledge agreements to promote integrity. A 24-hour examination hotline is active for members of the public to report suspicious activity. Contingency plans are also in place to respond to operational challenges, including severe weather and community disruptions.  The Minister appealed to communities not to disrupt examinations to express dissatisfaction over service delivery or political and socioeconomic issues. “I appeal to communities not to prejudice the Matric Class of 2026 by disrupting the NSC Exams for service delivery, political, or socio-economic dissatisfaction. The NSC candidates cannot resolve societal problems; it is Ministers, as elected representatives, who must account. Please do not go to schools; come to our offices in Pretoria and in parliament,” Gwarube said,  She urged communities not to disrupt the examinations in any way, saying the responsibility for ensuring that candidates could write in a safe and secure environment rested with all South Africans. Having considered the preparations reported by all nine provincial education departments, Gwarube formally declared the department and the Class of 2026 ready for the examinations.

Cybersecurity is Shoprite’s top-ranked risk, and the only one whose controls it rates as partially effective.

Standard Bank will buy as much as 4.99% of Nigeria-focused fintech OPay as it files to list in New York.