With many frontline workers lacking regular access to email or workplace computers, South African businesses are using WhatsApp to provide payslips, leave applications and HR support — but privacy, data costs and digital exclusion remain concerns.

Instead of chasing every fleeting trend in a frenzy, China stays focused on innovation within chosen sectors. Instead of faltering amid headwinds, it stays anchored to the goal of fostering new quality productive forces.

Carling Knockout holders Orlando Pirates will host Betway Premiership rookies Milford FC in the opening round of the competition. The round of 16 draw was conducted at the Langhams Lifestyle Estate in Fourways, Johannesburg, on Wednesday night. Kaizer Chiefs are also at home against TS Galaxy, while Mamelodi Sundowns will face Marumo Gallants in a repeat of last season’s round of 16 fixture. Dates, venues and times will be announced by the Premier Soccer League at a later stage. The full draw: Kruger United vs AmaZulu FCMamelodi Sundowns vs Marumo GallantsGolden Arrows vs Chippa UnitedDurban City vs Stellenbosch FCOrlando Pirates vs Milford FCPolokwane City vs Siwelele FCSekhukhune United vs Richards Bay FCKaizer Chiefs vs TS Galaxy

We bring you a visual snapshot of the day’s news events, featuring people praying for Pope Leo XIV outside a Rome hospital where he is recovering after surgery, conservation officials examining an orangutan rescued from a forest fire in Indonesia, and the giant pumpkin that won the World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off in California. These are some of the compelling images from around the world. (For best view, click on image for fullscreen) People pray at the statue of John Paul II outside the Gemelli University Hospital, where Pope Leo XIV is recovering after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous tumour from his right lung, in Rome on October 14, 2026. (Photo by Tiziana FABI / AFP) A woman stands beside caskets bearing the remains of fallen soldiers at Le Thi Rieng Park in Ho Chi Minh City on October 14, 2026. Vietnam held funeral rites for more than 700 of its war dead on October 14, unearthed in a major push to identify those missing from decades of conflict with France and the United States. (Photo by Nhac NGUYEN / AFP) Travis Gienger’s pumpkin that won the 53rd Annual World Championship Pumpkin Weigh-Off is lifted on October 12, 2026 in Half Moon Bay, California. Dozens of pumpkin growers competed Monday to see who grew the heaviest pumpkin of the season. (Photo by Benjamin Fanjoy/Getty Images) A fan cheers after Czech Republic’s Karolina Muchova beat USA’s Caty McNally during their women’s singles match at the Wuhan Open tennis tournament in Wuhan, China’s Hubei province on October 14, 2026. (Photo by WANG Zhao / AFP) Former Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Shadrack Sibiya appears at Randburg Magistrate’s Court for further bail hearing on October 14, 2026 in Randburg, South Africa. Sibiya is accused of sexually grooming a 16-year-old girl and raping an 18-year-old woman. (Photo by Gallo Images/Sharon Seretlo) General view shows the visitor walkway at the Iguazu Falls over a strong current seen from the Brazilian side of the triple Brazil-Argentina-Paraguay border, in the city of Foz do Iguacu, Parana state, Brazil, on October 13, 2026. Authorities temporarily closed tourist access to Iguazu Falls due to the rising level of the river of the same name, while increases have been recorded in the flow of the Parana and Uruguay rivers as a result of rains associated with the El Niño phenomenon. (Photo by CHRISTIAN RIZZI / AFP) An army robot dog “Optimal Prime” is pictured in the field on the last day of ARTEX26 Army Technological Experimentation and European Defense Agency’s HEDI OPEX26 High Visibility Event (HVE) experimentation campaign, at Santa Margarida Military Camp in Constancia, on October 14, 2026. (Photo by PATRICIA DE MELO MOREIRA / AFP) People look at the Budhi Gandaki river on a damaged bridge connecting Nepal’s Dhading district and Gorkha district on October 14, 2026, in the aftermath of a flash flood caused by a dry landslide. Nepali rescuers searched for five missing people on October 12, a day after devastating flash floods swept away more than 200 houses and five bridges along the Budhi Gandaki river as the country still recovers from the devastating August 26 floods, triggered by a mountain glacial collapse, which killed more than 1,400 people and left over 5,000 missing. (Photo by PRAKASH MATHEMA / AFP) Itamar Ben-Gvir (C), Israel’s national security minister and head of the far-right Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, tours a market during a meet-and-greet as part of his campaign ahead of Israel’s legislative election, in Ramle on October 14, 2026. Israel heads to the polls on October 27 in its first election since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, in what is seen as a referendum on the prime minister. (Photo by Ilia YEFIMOVICH / AFP) Natural Resources Conservation Agency (BKSDA) and Orangutan Foundation International (OFI) officials examine an orangutan after it was evacuated from a forest and land fire in the Baamang area of East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan on October 14, 2026. Toxic haze has shrouded parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore for weeks as Jakarta struggles to contain fires that have scorched large tracts of Borneo and Sumatra, with the smoke drifting across the region. (Photo by REINA / AFP) A Merlin Mk II helicopter from Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose, lifts one of 18 historic cannons to the nearby mainland for restoration, at St Michael’s Mount on October 14, 2026 in Penzance, England. The cannons have been painted in the past, but where the paint has failed, salt spray has caused them to rust. Initial examination suggests all the cannons are English, possibly from the reign of King George II (1727 to 1760). (Photo by Hugh R Hastings/Getty Images) A car swept away by floodwaters lies on a beach as torrential rain and storms hit the Dodecanese, in the area of Stegna, near the village of Archangelos, on the Greek island of Rhodes on October 14, 2026. A 62-year-old man died in the area after his car was swept into the sea, authorities said, as the mayor requested that the island be declared in a state of emergency. (Photo by Eurokinissi / AFP) A firefighter tries to extinguish a fire burning on the roof of the construction site of Bouygues Bâtiment Île-de-France next to the Gare d’Austerlitz railway station in Paris on October 14, 2026. (Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP) Aquaculture workers navigate boats through an abalone farming area to carry out maintenance work at a marine ranch in Guanwu village, Lianjiang county, Fuzhou, in eastern China’s Fujian province, on October 13, 2026. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP) Dancers from Nehaal Productions perform a devotional dance during Navratri celebrations at the Gujarati Hindu Sanskruti Kendra in Durban, 13 October 2026. Navratri, meaning “nine nights” in Sanskrit, is a Hindu festival honouring Goddess Durga and her nine forms and celebrating the triumph of good over evil. Devotees mark the festival with prayer, fasting, devotional music and traditional dances. The festival is celebrated by millions of Hindus worldwide. Picture: Rajesh Jantilal A woman pushes an electric bike loaded with cabbages at a market in Shenyang, in China’s northeast Liaoning province on October 14, 2026. China’s producer prices rose sharply in September even as consumer inflation remained subdued, official data showed October 14, as conflict in the Middle East continued to push up oil prices and squeeze supply. (Photo by CN-STR / AFP) Larry the cat poses for a photograph outside 10 Downing Street, the official residence of Britain’s Prime Minister, on October 14, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / AFP) A supporter wearing a Salvador Dali mask from the Spanish Netflix hit series La Casa de Papel (Money Heist) poses during a campaign rally in support of Brazil’s President and presidential candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on the Esplanade of Ministries in Brasilia on October 13, 2026, ahead of the October 25 presidential runoff. (Photo by Sergio LIMA / AFP) Protesters, one holding a flag, clash with police amid a jet of blue-tinted water as violence erupts for a second consecutive day during demonstrations demanding the resignation of Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama (not pictured) and better education, in central Tirana on October 14, 2026. The renewed clashes followed violence the previous day, when protesters threw stones, smashed windows at the Education Ministry, tore down a fence and set rubbish bins on fire. (Photo by Adnan Beci / AFP) Aston Villa fans pose for a photo in front of the Ozzy Osbourne mural outside the stadium before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD2 match between Aston Villa FC and Fenerbahce SK at Villa Park on October 14, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Kate McShane/Getty Images) 1/20 MORE PICTURES: Cosplayers, gaming and pop culture take centre stage at Comic Con Africa

A pensioner in Limpopo who receives the Older Person’s Grant says his monthly SASSA payment does not cover his household’s basic needs. The grant recipient, who asked not to be named in this article, has received the grant for three years. He lives in a shared family home where three to five people depend on his income, and he uses his grant for a mix of essential expenses. Despite this, he regularly struggles to make ends meet. He runs out of money before the month ends. SASSA grant falls short for pensioner The pensioner said the cost of living and rising food prices are his biggest financial concern. When asked what he would change about SASSA, he chose an increase in the grant amount. “SASSA must stop harassing and stopping us when we try to find other income streams because the R2 400 is just an insult, period,” he said. The Older Person’s Grant increased by R80 to R2 400 per month in April 2026, following Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s Budget Speech. The grant recipient has experience in administrative and office work. He is currently unemployed and not looking for work. Payment problems and poor communication The pensioner said he has experienced a late or missing grant payment. He rated SASSA’s communication with recipients as very poor. He receives his grant through a bank deposit. He has never applied for additional government support because he did not know what else was available. Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you. Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.

Kaizer Chiefs defender Thabo Moloisane has set his sights on winning trophies and helping Amakhosi end their long wait for league glory following his arrival at Naturena in July. The 26-year-old was one of five new signings brought in ahead of the season and has already featured in the majority of the club’s matches. Speaking ahead of Chiefs’ clash against Stellenbosch FC on Tuesday, Moloisane made it clear that winning silverware is a major priority in his first season with the Soweto giants. The defender believes Amakhosi have an opportunity to challenge for the league title and is determined to play his part in ending the club’s lengthy wait for another Premiership crown. “A star, guys, it is needed here at home. We have an opportunity to see if we can do it this season, and the league, of course. It is one thing that has gone past us for a long time and, for me, in my first season, I just want to get as many trophies as I can. That’s where the ambition is, and the rest can follow,” he said. Kaizer Chiefs last won the league title in the 2014/15 season, and Moloisane is eager to help restore the club’s status as one of South African football’s leading forces. Beyond his ambitions at club level, the defender is also hoping to work his way back into the Bafana Bafana setup. Kaizer Chiefs star wants Bafana return Moloisane acknowledged that returning to the national team will not be easy, given the competition for places, but believes hard work and consistent performances at a high-profile club like Kaizer Chiefs could improve his chances. “We should give credit to the guys, you know. I was speaking to Mdu (Shabalala) last week, saying the line is long to get back into Bafana, but at the same time, I’m at a big institution watched by everyone. For me, it’s just to continue working hard. The journey is still long,” he told media. For Moloisane, the immediate focus remains on delivering for Amakhosi and helping the club compete for honours, while keeping his hopes of a Bafana Bafana recall alive. Will he win a star?

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ID numbers, medical aid details and payment information may have been taken, Ampath has told patients.