The fatal shooting of two ANC campaign volunteers in Umgababa has prompted calls for arrests, with the MK Party urging the deployment of a Political Killings Task Team amid ongoing concerns over political violence in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

Johan Ackermann says his team has set their sights on the Champions Cup semi-finals.

TS Galaxy chairman Tim Sukazi said he received a message from Kaizer Chiefs Marketing and Commercial director Jessica Motaung, after a photo published on his side’s social media accounts depicting Chiefs as a donkey. Galaxy’s Chiefs banter The photo, published after Chiefs had drawn TS Galaxy in the last 16 of the Carling Black Label Knockout, shows Chiefs depicted as a donkey but looking in the mirror and seeing a lion. Our Carling Black Label next fixture Sonke sinamaphupho Vs Kaizer Chiefs away… pic.twitter.com/ekPUFIGtGs— TS Galaxy FC (@TSGALAXYFC) October 14, 2026 Chiefs are the most popular side in the country but it has been over 20 years since they last won the Betway Premiership. Amakhosi’s only major trophy, in fact, since that league triumph, is the 2025 Nedbank Cup. Galaxy’s social media team were clearly making a joke about Chiefs’ over-inflated opinion of themselves. Sukazi – ‘It depends on the beholder’ “I picked up on this late,” said Sukazi this week in an interview with Metro FM. “My law practice is very busy. I saw a WhatsApp message from Jessica with three question marks on this (photo). “It think it is more banter, leading up to the cup match,” he added. “It depends on the beholder. Chiefs fans probably think otherwise and other people do love it. The boundary is thin, I maybe would have preferred to see the logo on the lion’s head than the other animal!.” In terms of that thin boundary, Galaxy deleted a cartoon last season, that deemed to depict Pirates media officer Thandi Merafe chasing a Galaxy player with a brown envelope. This was after Galaxy had lost 6-0 to Pirates in the Betway Premiership.

Céline Dion’s unforgettable Titanic performance has inspired a Barbie doll celebrating one of her most iconic fashion moments. Canadian music superstar Céline Dion has joined the Barbie Signature collection, with a new doll inspired by her memorable appearance at the 1998 Academy Awards. The collectable pays tribute to the singer’s performance of My Heart Will Go On, the emotional ballad from the blockbuster film Titanic that became one of the defining songs of her career. But it is not just about the music. The doll captures a fashion moment that has remained part of pop culture nearly three decades later. A look inspired by the Oscars Picture: Social media At the 1998 ceremony, Dion wore a striking navy blue, long-sleeved gown paired with a necklace inspired by the Heart of the Ocean, the fictional blue diamond necklace featured in Titanic. Mattel has recreated the look for the Barbie Signature doll, translating the singer’s red carpet style into a miniature collector’s piece. The outfit is a reminder of an era when awards show fashion could become as memorable as the performances themselves. Dion’s appearance stood out for its dramatic silhouette and connection to one of cinema’s most successful films. My Heart Will Go On won the Academy Award for Best Original Song that evening, further cementing its place in music and film history. Dion welcomed the tribute, describing it as an honour to become part of Barbie’s legacy. In a statement released by Mattel, she said she hoped the doll would inspire people to express themselves confidently, follow their dreams and believe in the power of their voices. The doll is available through Mattel Creations for $60 ( R992,47), positioning it as a collectable for fans of the singer and Barbie enthusiasts. A comeback moment for Céline Dion The release comes during a significant period for Dion, who has returned to major live performances following her diagnosis with stiff-person syndrome, a rare neurological condition she publicly disclosed in December 2022. The singer is currently performing a five-week residency in Paris, with 16 shows scheduled at La Défense Arena between September and October 2026. Her return to the stage follows emotional appearances at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, where she performed from the Eiffel Tower, and a performance at an Elie Saab fashion show in Riyadh later that year. Dion also released Dansons, her first original song in years, in April 2026. The French-language track was written by longtime collaborator Jean-Jacques Goldman. Through the Barbie Signature collection, Mattel has celebrated influential figures across music, fashion and entertainment, including Whitney Houston, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Stevie Nicks.

Illegal weight-loss drugs are being sold openly in South Africa, and drugmakers want law enforcement to act. Some of the sellers aren’t pharmacists or doctors. They’re social media influencers, gym instructors and even hairdressers. And at least one of the drugs hasn’t been approved anywhere in the world. The warning comes as industry leaders, regulators and law enforcement met at a multi-stakeholder roundtable on counterfeit medicines in Pretoria on Wednesday, 14 October. WHAT DRUGMAKERS ARE WARNING ABOUT The Pharmaceutical Task Group (PTG) is an umbrella body for South Africa’s pharmaceutical manufacturing associations. Its members’ companies account for more than 80% of the medicines used in the country. PTG chair Stavros Nicolaou called on law enforcement agencies to act against the sale of unregistered medicines. “Where there are slam-dunk cases, and evidence has been sent to the South African Police Service and others, we need to see action,” he said. THE UNAPPROVED DRUG BEING SOLD ONLINE Nicolaou singled out retatrutide, an experimental obesity drug that is still in clinical trials. No medicines regulator anywhere has declared it safe and effective. Yet according to Nicolaou, it’s being sold “openly and brazenly” in South Africa by social media influencers, gym instructors and hairdressers. Nicolaou is a senior executive at a generic drug manufacturer that distributes a registered weight-loss medicine in South Africa. WHY ILLEGAL WEIGHT-LOSS DRUGS ARE SO DANGEROUS Weight-loss medicines such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) drugs have become hugely popular. But the legal versions are expensive, and that has fuelled a black market for cheaper, unregistered alternatives. The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has warned the public that it is seeing more unregistered products being sold online, in gyms and through informal channels. Because these products haven’t been evaluated for safety, quality or efficacy, SAHPRA says they can seriously harm your health. HOW ILLEGAL MEDICINES ENTER SOUTH AFRICA Some illegal medicines are slipping through South Africa’s borders in disguise. Border Management Authority commissioner and chief executive officer Michael Masiapato said some medicines enter the country under misleading declarations, including being declared as cosmetics. WHAT REGULATORS ARE DOING SAHPRA says it has already seized illicit products, opened criminal cases, and referred healthcare professionals caught distributing them to their professional councils. However, SAHPRA said that progressing criminal cases depends on institutions beyond the regulator, such as the police and prosecutors. Meanwhile, the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) is tightening the rules on compounding, where pharmacists prepare customised versions of medicines. SAPC registrar and chief executive officer Vincent Tlala said the council was concerned some pharmacies were making medicines in anticipation of demand, rather than for specific patients. The council expects to review revised standards in February 2027, with publication targeted for March 2027. “There is a scourge of compounded products, especially in the area of weight-loss,” said Daphney Fafudi, SAHPRA’s senior manager for market control. WHAT THE LAW SAYS According to the Department of Health, prescription medicines may not be sold online. Advertising prescription medicines on social media is also prohibited. HOW TO SPOT A REGISTERED MEDICINE Registered medicines must show: their schedule, a SAHPRA registration number, a batch number and expiry date, and the active ingredient, with its strength. If any of these are missing, treat the product as suspicious. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF Speak to a doctor first. Prescription weight-loss medicines should only be used under medical supervision. Buy only from a registered pharmacy, with a valid prescription. Avoid buying medicines on social media, from gyms, salons or anyone who isn’t a registered healthcare provider. Be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. Cheap versions of expensive medicines are a red flag. HOW TO REPORT ILLEGAL SELLERS You can report suspicious medicine sales to SAHPRA through its 24-hour hotline on 0800 204 307, or through its online whistleblower page. HAVE YOU SEEN WEIGHT-LOSS INJECTIONS BEING SOLD ON SOCIAL MEDIA? Let us know in the comments below…

Which is more employable in South Africa: degree or no degree? This is less of a question and more a widely held belief that the former makes you more likely to find a job. However, a revealing new report from Pnet has turned a common assumption on its head. Get this, South Africans with lower qualifications and no degree are finding jobs faster than those with. The data comes from analysis of 2.8-million records of people who started new jobs between 2022 and 2025, counting roles that lasted at least one year. DEGREE OR NO DEGREE? According to PNet, the average job-search times by qualification are affected like so. Graduate roles are more specialised, higher-paying, have fewer vacancies and, therefore, involve longer hiring processes: Below matric: 11 months N4 and N5: 12 months Matric: 13 months N6 or diploma: 14 months Degree, master’s or doctorate: 16 months Moreover, the degree or no degree conservation also crosses work sectors. Sales is the quick to hire at 9 months. Specialised finance, architecture and engineering jobs take 16.3 months. Drivers find work in 8.3 months, construction workers in 8.7 months, and electricians in 10.5 months. Therefore, according to the report, the overall average wait time for jobs is about 15 months. Keep that in mind if you’re thinking of quitting your existing job or want to make unemployment fund (UIF) benefits last. THE BIG NO DEGREE CATCH Unemployment between 15 and 24 year olds in actually above 60% in South Africa. Image: File However, it sould be noted that Pnet only measures people who have found work. It says nothing about those who did not and continue to search and apply for jobs. Stats SA’s latest figures tell that side of the story: the Q2 2026 Quarterly Labour Force Survey put youth (15 to 34) unemployment at 47.4%, with 5-million young people jobless. Among 15 to 24-year-olds, unemployment is above 60%. Don’t be fooled by the degree or no degree argument, qualifications still matter enormously for the odds of getting a quality job. What Pnet fails to mention is that graduate unemployment is 12.4%, against 39.2% for people without matric. Lower qualifications may mean a quicker hire, but they don’t necessarily mean a safer and sustainable one … WHAT GOVERNMENT IS DOING FOR BASIC INCOME SUPPORT Facing a worsening unemployment crisis, the R370 Social Relief of Distress (SRD) Grant is funded until 31 March 2027, with a R36.4-billion allocation. Talk is that government wants to replace it with a permanent Basic Income Support (BIS) grant, for working-age people with no income. The Department of Social Development (DSD) aims to finish the policy and submit it to Cabinet by March 2027. And Treasury has said it will only fund it if SASSA links working-age recipients to skills development and employment programmes. Who knows, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana may even reveal more about it at his Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday 21 October 2026. But what do you think? Do you think the degree or no degree debate has any bearing in South Africa’s unemployment crisis? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

Amid sweeping layoffs, Netflix has replaced the content chief whose tenure included Squid Game and Bridgerton.

The shares and the purchase price paid to Kenya's government will stay where they are until a fast-tracked appeal is heard.