A 43-year-old foreign national is expected in court after police allegedly found crystal methamphetamine, methcathinone and cocaine during an operation in Ballito.

Grace Mondlana, Vafa Naraghi, Lasizwe Dambuza and Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh were among the notable winners at the 2026 Content Creator Awards in Sandton.

South African Airways (SAA) has declined to comment on the court battle launched by Captain Yvette Walsh, citing ongoing legal proceedings while insisting its operations meet the highest standards of safety, compliance and operational integrity. The veteran pilot with a 23-year flying record has taken the airline to the High Court to salvage her career after being blamed for a mid-air turbulence incident that injured crew members and sparked a dispute over what went wrong in the cockpit. Investigation Walsh is seeking an independent investigation into the October 2024 incident involving an Airbus A330-300 travelling from Cape Town to OR Tambo International Airport. Walsh argues that she has not been given a fair opportunity to challenge findings that could have serious consequences for her career. SAA responds SAA spokesperson Mphilo Dlamini told The Citizen the airline is aware of the legal proceedings instituted by Walsh. “As the matter is currently before the courts and remains sub judice, SAA is not in a position to comment on the merits of the case or issues that form part of the ongoing legal challenge. Dlamini said the airline remains “committed to the highest standards of safety, regulatory compliance, and operational integrity”. “The airline conducts its operations in accordance with applicable civil aviation legislation, regulatory requirements, internationally recognised aviation standards, and its established internal policies, procedures, and governance frameworks.” Turbulence The incident occurred when the aircraft encountered turbulence during the flight. Walsh and the flight’s captain, Craig Pearce, initially believed the aircraft’s erratic movements were caused by severe weather conditions that led to a phenomenon known as “porpoising”, where the aircraft pitches up and down rapidly. However, subsequent reviews by Airbus and the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) reportedly concluded that Walsh’s manual control inputs contributed to the aircraft’s unstable flight path. Scrutiny The findings placed the experienced pilot under scrutiny and led to her being grounded pending further processes. SAA has opposed her urgent application, arguing that there is no need for an independent probe and that any urgency surrounding the matter was of Walsh’s own making. Safety concerns The airline maintains that the dispute does not involve any ongoing safety concerns relating to the aircraft. The court has since removed the case from the urgent roll and will hear it through the normal High Court process next year. For now, Walsh remains on medical leave as the legal battle continues, and the outcome will likely determine whether she can return to the cockpit.

The ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) has called for formal internal disciplinary action against ANC National Chairperson Gwede Mantashe. The organisation demanded that Mantashe issue a public apology following explicit and controversial comments he made when asked about allegations of sex-for-jobs exploitation while on a campaign trail in North West this month. The backlash stems from a media exchange in which a reporter questioned Mantashe regarding reports that a municipal councillor in a mining town had allegedly solicited sexual favours from women seeking work. Vulgar remarks trigger strong rebuke In a widely circulated video recording of the encounter, Mantashe dismissed the issue as a personal affair rather than a systemic or party concern. “Don’t involve me in issues of asking for a vagina. This person asked for his vagina from a person that he encountered. This can’t be an ANC issue,” Mantashe said. He further distanced the party from the official’s alleged conduct. “If councillors, once elected, try to use their position to sleep with people, just know that the man is behaving badly and is going around sleeping with people. That’s not an ANC thing,” he said. Women’s League demands The ANCWL openly condemned Mantashe, declaring his statement completely out of line with party expectations. ANCWL secretary-general Nokuthula Nqaba labelled the remarks as “gratuitously improper”. “Therefore, the ANC Women’s League apologises to the Newzroom Afrika journalist and calls on Comrade Gwede Mantashe to issue a public apology to both the journalist and the public for his inappropriate remarks,” Nqaba said. League rejects age as an excuse Beyond demanding a public apology, the women’s wing pushed for official organisational sanctions against the party chairperson. “We also call for him to be subjected to organisational disciplinary action -in response to his repeated insults and attacks on women. The ANCWL reject the use of his age to excuse his dishonourable conduct,” Nqaba said. The league urged top ANC leadership to take a firm stance against Mantashe’s behaviour, emphasising that seniority carries a responsibility to model ethical leadership. “We call on the ANC leadership to reprimand Comrade Mantashe,” Nqaba said. Appeals to historical and moral standards The ANCWL stressed that Mantashe holds a national leadership role within a movement built on foundational principles of equality and human dignity. “We also emphasise that the organisation’s founding values were rooted in Christian principles: it was established in a church and guided by men and women of the cloth,” Nqaba said. The league said that maintaining ethical standards remains vital for all elected figures entrusted with leading society. “Each generation of leaders of the ANC since 1912 has been tasked with the responsibility to uphold revolutionary morality and observance of moral regeneration,” Nqaba said. “These principles have always been some of the defining features for those in leadership positions, especially in an organisation which has a revolutionary task to lead society,” Nqaba said.

A 17-year-old matric pupil from KwaMsane is missing after reportedly being caught in rip currents while swimming at Jabula Beach in St Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal. The National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI) said its St Lucia duty crew was activated at 17:07 on Sunday following reports from iSimangaliso Wetland Park rangers of a drowning in progress. READ | Man missing after rescuing friend caught in rip currents – NSRI According to NSRI St Lucia station commander Melinda Snyman, eyewitnesses reported that the teenager was swimming when he was last seen in the surf zone, apparently caught in rip currents, before disappearing from view. NSRI rescue swimmers responded, while a rescue vehicle towing the organisation’s rescue craft, Rescue 40 Alpha, was dispatched. The rescue craft was launched from the beach. Search for missing teenager continues An extensive search was conducted, but no signs of the missing teenager were found. Police have opened an investigation, while Police Search and Rescue teams have been alerted and are expected to continue the search with assistance from iSimangaliso Wetland Park rangers. The teenager’s disappearance has raised concern as search teams continue efforts to locate him. The NSRI said its thoughts and care were with the teenager’s family and friends during this difficult time. Warning about rip currents Rip currents are powerful channels of water that can pull swimmers away from the shore and create dangerous conditions, even for confident swimmers. Beachgoers are urged to swim at beaches where lifeguards are on duty, pay attention to warnings and avoid entering the water when conditions are unsafe. Anyone caught in a rip current should try to remain calm, avoid swimming directly against the current and signal for help.

A former Kruger National Park regional ranger and a former state veterinary official have been sentenced to 10 years in prison for the illegal killing of a white rhino inside the park. South African National Parks (SANParks) welcomed the sentences handed down at the Skukuza Regional Court, describing the case as particularly serious because the convicted men were entrusted with protecting South Africa’s wildlife. Convicted Former regional ranger Rodney Landela and Kenneth Mochocho, a former State Veterinary Animal Health Technician employed by the Department of Agriculture, were convicted in connection with the killing of the rhino in July 2016. The court sentenced both men to 10 years’ imprisonment for illegally hunting and killing a white rhino in a protected area. They also received four-year sentences for possession of a firearm with intent to commit a crime. The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the men will effectively serve 10 years in prison. Magistrate NP Ngobeni also declared both men unfit to possess firearms. SANParks welcomes prison sentences SANParks said the case was especially concerning because the two men had been entrusted with safeguarding the country’s wildlife but instead abused their positions to commit a wildlife crime. The organisation commended the court for recognising the seriousness of the offence, including the deliberate nature of the crime and the misuse of an official state-issued firearm. SANParks argued that a fine or a non-custodial sentence would not have served the interests of justice, particularly because it believed the crime was motivated by greed rather than need. The organisation said the sentence sent a strong message that rhino poaching and the abuse of public trust by conservation officials would not be tolerated. Asset forfeiture proceedings SANParks also welcomed the involvement of the National Prosecuting Authority’s Asset Forfeiture Unit, which is seeking declarations relating to the convicted men’s assets. The proceedings add another dimension to the case, as authorities seek to address assets associated with the convicted individuals. Rhino poaching remains a serious threat to South Africa’s conservation efforts, with protected areas such as the Kruger National Park playing a crucial role in safeguarding the country’s wildlife. SANParks said those who undermine conservation work and the protection of South Africa’s natural heritage must face serious consequences.

A previously sought amount of R3.8-billion for modernisation and for creditors still owed money was never released.

Toyota expects software-defined cars to reach 10 million a year by 2030. South Africa isn't prepared.