Former eThekwini councillor Ismail Cassimjee has testified in a Durban Regional Court trial involving alleged property and vehicle fraud. He denies responsibility for the full amounts claimed by the State.

Family and residents gathered outside Somerset West Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday as the man accused of allowing two dogs to attack a 14-year-old boy applied for bail.

Orlando Pirates head coach Abdeslam Ouaddou praised Simphiwe Masilela after the young midfielder scored his first goal for the club in the victory against TS Galaxy.Masilela scored the third goal as the Buccaneers handed the Rockets a 3-0 drubbing at the Orlando Amstel Arena on Tuesday evening to keep the pressure on Mamelodi Sundowns at the top of the Betway Premiership standings.Speaking to the media after the game, Ouaddou was full of praise for Masilela, saying he is one of the best talents he has ever seen during his coaching career. “I can tell you that I have worked for six, seven years in development in France, in Michel Platini’s academy. So I have seen a lot of young players, and he was one of the best that I have seen,” said Ouaddou. Masilela must avoid ‘circus’ While praising Masilela’s technical skill and ability to play between the lines, Ouaddou urged Masilela to avoid unnecessary “circus”.“That’s why, with my greater experience and age, I often guide young players on the right path in high-level football, encouraging them to set aside unhelpful habits.” “As a coach committed to nurturing young talent, I feel it’s my responsibility to remind him of the standards at a high level, but if he chooses to treat it like a circus, that’s his decision.”“We saw today, and even against Sundowns [in the MTN8 final on Saturday], he is one of those quality players. He’s someone who can play between the lines, someone who can dribble and eliminate two or three players with the aim of going forward.“Modern football demands that a gifted player like him embrace vertical play and find the net, and as a coach, I don’t have a problem with showboating, but he needs to step up and score goals to progress.“I am very happy for him, very happy for his family, and I hope he is going to continue to work,” concluded Ouaddou.

The ANC in the North West has acknowledged persistent municipal service delivery challenges while defending its efforts to address corruption and improve governance. Provincial spokesperson Tumelo Maruping discussed these issues with Itumeleng Mafisa on The Movement podcast ahead of the 4 November local government elections. Municipalities struggle with ageing infrastructure Maruping attributed some municipal difficulties to ageing infrastructure, limited revenue collection and dependence on conditional grants. He said many rural municipalities lacked sufficient revenue streams to fund essential services and infrastructure upgrades. Water shortages, deteriorating roads and sewage spillages remain significant challenges across the province. Maruping cited growing populations as another pressure on infrastructure that was originally designed for smaller communities. However, he acknowledged that financial constraints could not excuse corruption or mismanagement. He said the ANC had intervened in struggling municipalities since its provincial executive committee took office in 2022. Corruption and accountability Maruping said forensic investigations had been conducted in Madibeng and Mahikeng following concerns about municipal governance. He added that criminal and corruption cases had been opened against individuals implicated in alleged wrongdoing. He also pointed to improvements in some municipalities’ audit outcomes as evidence of progress. However, he acknowledged that several municipalities continued to face serious challenges. Discussing Madibeng, Maruping defended the ANC’s disciplinary action against a mayor accused of acting against the party. He said the mayor remained in office following a court judgment after the municipality failed to defend the case. Maruping maintained that the ANC intended to pursue accountability through the appropriate processes. Jobs and economic development Maruping said the provincial government alone could not solve unemployment and called for greater private-sector involvement. He highlighted a lack of industrialisation as a major obstacle to creating employment opportunities. The mining sector, despite its economic importance, was not generating sufficient local employment opportunities, according to Maruping. He called for greater representation of local workers and increased investment in communities surrounding mining operations. He also advocated decentralising certain mineral-resource functions to the provincial government. Maruping said a proposed mining university could help train young people and support industrial development. ANC renewal and election campaign Maruping said the ANC was continuing its renewal programme through political education, unity and accountability. He acknowledged that corruption had damaged the party’s public image but insisted that corrective efforts were underway. He described the North West as a strong ANC province while recognising electoral challenges in mining communities and JB Marks.

Here is what the weather has in store for KZN, the Free State, and the North West on Thursday 15 October 2026. A heatwave with persistently high temperatures is expected in northern KwaZulu-Natal until Friday, 16 October. Meanwhile, hot to very hot conditions will cause extreme discomfort in eastern parts of the province. KWAZULU-NATAL Partly cloudy and hot to very hot but extremely hot in the north-east with isolated showers and thundershowers except along the south, and extreme north coasts and adjacent interior The wind along the coast will be light to moderate north- easterly but fresh in the extreme north in the afternoon, becoming southerly to south-westerly in the south by mid- morning, spreading to Richards Bay by the afternoon. The UVB sunburn index is going to be extreme. DURBAN Durban is going to be partly cloudy skies will bring isolated showers and thundershowers. Light northerly to north-easterly, becoming light to moderate southerly to south-westerly from late morning Temperatures will range from 22°C to 30°C. The UVB sunburn index is going to be extreme. FREE STATE Fine and warm to hot, becoming partly cloudy with isolated showers and thundershowers over the extreme eastern parts BLOEMFONTEIN Bloemfontein is going to be fine, becoming partly cloudy. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 12°C to a maximum of 30°C. NORTH WEST North West is going to be fine and warm to hot, becoming partly cloudy with isolated afternoon showers and thundershowers in the east MAHIKENG Mahikeng is going to be fine, becoming partly cloudy. Temperatures will range from a minimum of 15°C. to a maximum of 31°C. Weather forecast data provided by the South African Weather Service.

South Africans are once again debating the future of SASSA social grants, with many raising concerns about who ultimately pays for them. Comments on The South African’s Facebook page show a growing frustration with the country’s dependence on grants and the pressure these places on a limited pool of taxpayers. Jobs over grants Donovan Kay believes the answer to poverty lies in employment rather than handouts. “Government must create jobs; that’s the only way to counteract poverty. SASSA grants come from taxpayers, and taxpayers are becoming fewer and fewer in this country,” Kay wrote. His comment reflects a concern many economists share. South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world, which means fewer people earn enough to pay income tax while more people rely on state support. Every grant payment, from the Older Persons Grant to the Social Relief of Distress (SRD) grant, draws from the national budget funded largely by individual and corporate taxpayers. A shrinking tax base under pressure Kay’s point touches on a long-running fiscal debate. When businesses close, skilled workers emigrate or jobs disappear, the tax base narrows. At the same time, demand for social assistance continues to rise as households struggle with the cost of living. This imbalance places Treasury in a difficult position. Cutting grants would push millions of vulnerable people deeper into poverty, while expanding them without economic growth increases the burden on those who already pay. Julian Humphries shared a similar view, writing that “Everybody that works regardless of what they do must contribute in order for this to be possible.” Where the conversation goes next The debate highlights a broader question about South Africa’s economic direction. Grants remain a lifeline for pensioners, caregivers and unemployed adults, and for many households they are the only reliable income. However, commenters such as Kay argue that long-term relief will only come once more South Africans find stable work. Job creation would not only reduce reliance on grants but also widen the pool of taxpayers who fund them. Until then, the tension between protecting the vulnerable and protecting the public purse is likely to remain at the centre of conversations about SASSA and the country’s social safety net. 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.

Far fewer eNCA jobs will go than August reports suggested, says eMedia CEO Khalik Sherrif.

The gang behind the MIP Holdings breach ranks fourth on leak sites, but Microsoft is sceptical.