John Dobson praised the Stormers’ resilience after they thrashed Bristol Bears in Cape Town in their Champions Cup opener on Saturday.

Childline KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 1986 after rising reports of child abuse at Addington Hospital, has evolved from a telephone service into a broader child-protection organisation offering counselling, prevention programmes and a 24-hour helpline.

While overall used car sales declined slightly year-on-year in September, three affordable hatchbacks showed remarkable growth. According to AutoTrader data, the Suzuki Swift, Toyota Starlet and Hyundai Grand i10 all recorded double-digit growth last month. The three hatches accounted for 1 965 sales which represents an 18.3% increase over September 2025. The Suzuki Swift were the most popular of the trio, with 832 units sold in September. That is a 17.7% year-on-year increase and was enough to secure fifth place in the national rankings. Toyota Starlet makes waves The Toyota Starlet sales showed a 24.5% increase. In going from 478 to 595 units, the hatch moved up from the 10th to the eighth best-selling pre-owned car. This represents the largest annual improvement among the ten leading models, helping the Starlet climb from tenth to eighth place. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Grand i10 recorded 538 sales last month, a 13% improvement over the 476 units sold in September 2025. It was the 10th best-selling model in September. Interestingly, all three cars had average mileages substantially below the average national figure of 69 991km. The Suzuki Swift averaged 34 748km, the Toyota Starlet 38 269km and the Grand i10 41 565km. At an average selling price of R192 879, the Grand i10 was the cheapest vehicle among South Africa’s ten best-selling used models. The Suzuki Swift’s average selling price was R206 685 and the Toyota’s Starlet’s R228 622. These are all well below the overall national average price of R432 938. VW Polo and Vivo still ahead The trio still trail the Volkswagen Polo and Polo Vivo, which were the third and fourth best-selling pre-owned respectively after the Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux. But both VW hatches showed year-on-year decline. The 1 247 used Vivos sold last month is 7.7% less than September 2025, while the 1 187 Polos represent a 20.5% decline. The average price of a used Vivo was R215 237 and that of a pre-owned Polo R276 010. The rest of the top 10 best-selling pre-owned cars in September included the Toyota Fortuner (sixth), the Toyota Corolla Cross (seventh) and Isuzu D-Max (ninth).

As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more integrated into everyday life, a new survey shows South Africans are increasingly turning to AI for help with everyday decisions, from writing documents and planning holidays to seeking health advice. The survey by Kaspersky found that nearly three in four South Africans use AI-powered tools such as chatbots, image generators and video creation platforms. Common uses The most common uses include searching for and summarising information (74%), writing text (49%) and generating images (39%). The findings suggest AI is evolving from a productivity tool into a digital adviser, with many users seeking guidance on personal matters. According to the survey, 29% of respondents use AI for health-related questions, while 25% turn to it for help planning holidays, weekends or social events. A further 34% said they seek advice from AI on various personal issues. Warning But cybersecurity experts warn that growing reliance on AI could expose users to privacy and security risks, and that AI’s convenience comes with growing concerns about how personal information is shared and stored. “Users should be aware of the limitations and potential risks associated with AI services,” said Seifallah Jedidi, Head of Consumer Channel for the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa at Kaspersky. “Even widely used AI platforms may contain vulnerabilities that could lead to data exposure, while information shared with these platforms may be processed or accessed by third parties depending on the service and its policies.” AI content The survey also highlighted concerns about the accuracy of AI-generated content. Nearly one in 10 South African respondents said they had already encountered incorrect information produced by AI, while 24% believe the technology can provide inaccurate answers. Jedidi urged users to verify information before acting on it, especially on sensitive subjects. “It is important to develop digital habits such as verifying information, handling personal data with caution and critically assessing AI-generated responses,” he said. Cybercriminals He also warned that cybercriminals are increasingly exploiting the popularity of AI by creating fake AI services designed to steal data or distribute malware. “Users should also be aware that cybercriminals increasingly use fake AI agents and services as a lure to distribute malware, sometimes disguising malicious tools as well-known AI resources,” Jedidi said. Users have been advised not to share confidential information with AI platforms, to review privacy policies carefully and to independently verify information generated by AI, particularly on medical, financial and legal matters.

One lucky South African has become R112 million richer after winning the PowerBall jackpot in the Tuesday, 13 October 2026 draw. The winning ticket was purchased at OK Foods Meyerton, with the player emerging as the sole jackpot winner in PowerBall draw number 1763. Meyerton is a small industrial and residential town located 18km north of Vereeniging in Gauteng. Lucky numbers The five numbers drawn were 3, 15, 24, 30, 31 while the PowerBall bonus ball – which is also required in winning the jackpot – was 7. The National Lottery operator has congratulated the winner and urged them to come forward to claim the life-changing prize. “We congratulate our latest PowerBall jackpot winner on this extraordinary win. Winning R112-million is a life-changing moment, and we look forward to welcoming the winner when they come forward to claim their prize,” said Kgothatso “KG” Mashile, Head of Marketing at Sizekhaya Holdings. Advice for R112 million PowerBall winner Mashile encouraged the winner to complete their personal details on the back of the physical ticket immediately and keep it in a safe place. Taking these precautions is an important step in protecting the winning ticket while preparing to claim the jackpot. Once the winner comes forward, they will have access to free and confidential professional counselling and financial guidance through Sizekhaya Holdings. The support is intended to help the winner prepare for the significant changes that come with receiving such a large amount of money and make informed decisions about their financial future. “An extraordinary win like this brings incredible possibilities, but it is important for the winner to approach this new chapter with care and make informed decisions that will help secure their future,” Mashile added. A life-changing lottery win The R112 million jackpot represents an extraordinary financial windfall for the unidentified winner. However, the lottery operator has stressed the importance of approaching the prize responsibly, with professional guidance available to help the winner navigate their new circumstances. For now, the identity of the Meyerton ticket holder remains unknown as the winner has yet to come forward to claim the prize.

SASSA has confirmed the amended payment dates for the final two months of 2026, giving millions of South Africans the opportunity to plan ahead for the festive season. The changes were necessary in November as they clashed with the local government elections scheduled for Wednesday, 4 November. WIN | Test your SASSA knowledge and win R250 In a statement, the agency said the revised schedule follows consultations with various stakeholders to ensure the efficient and secure administration of grant payments, with minimal disruption during the election period. Approved National Treasury has approved the revised payment dates, allowing the agency to implement the new schedule. As always, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) pays Older Persons Grants first, followed by Disability Grants and then Children’s Grants. In terms of the revised arrangements, social grants will now be paid as follows:  Older Persons Grant: Friday, 30 October Disability Grant: Monday, 2 November Children’s Grants: Tuesday, 3 November The final two months of the 2026 payment calendar are now as follows: MonthOlder PersonsDisabilityChildren’sNovemberFriday, 30 OctoberMonday, 2 NovemberTuesday, 3 NovemberDecemberWednesday, 2 DecemberThursday, 3 DecemberFriday, 4 December December payment dates The final major grant payment cycle of the year starts on Wednesday, 2 December, when Older Persons Grant beneficiaries are scheduled to be paid. Disability Grant beneficiaries will receive their payments on Thursday, 3 December, while Children’s Grants are scheduled for Friday, 4 December. Why SASSA payments are staggered SASSA uses a staggered payment system to help manage demand and reduce congestion at payment points. Beneficiaries should also remember that they do not have to withdraw their money on the day it is paid. Once the grant has been deposited, the money remains available in the beneficiary’s account. This means beneficiaries can choose when to access their funds rather than rushing to a payment point on the scheduled payment date. How much will SASSA beneficiaries receive? Following the grant increases introduced in April 2026, the main grant amounts are: Older Persons Grant: R2 400 Disability Grant: R2 400 Care Dependency Grant: R2 400 War Veterans Grant: R2 420 Foster Child Grant: R1 290 Child Support Grant: R580 The SRD grant remains separate from the permanent social grant payment schedule. The R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant has individual payment dates rather than following the three-day payment cycle. Beneficiaries receiving the SRD grant should check their personal SASSA status for their specific payment date. With the final three payment cycles of the year now confirmed, beneficiaries can plan their household budgets around their respective payment dates – particularly with the December festive season approaching. Loading…

The Reserve Bank wants all of South Africa's ATMs white-labelled, with free transactions below a threshold, starting with a pilot in January.

Apple's first foldable iPhone carries a steeper local premium than its new HomeView, HomePod mini 2 and Apple TV 4K.