The Denis Hurley Centre is urging Durban residents to recognise homeless people as neighbours with voices and histories, as it launches its “See Our Faces, Hear Our Voices” campaign.

LUAN Giliomee has gone from supporting the DHL Stormers as a youngster to potentially making his debut for the Vodacom Bulls in the Investec Champions Cup this weekend - a remarkable journey for a player who is just 20 years old.

In South Africa, about 249 000 people develop tuberculosis (TB) annually. An estimated 54 000 die from it. Those are staggering numbers, says Prof. Linda Malan from the North-West University’s (NWU) Centre of Excellence for Nutrition. Prof. Linda Malan “Although TB receives significant research attention, there is concern that investment in new diagnostics, drugs, vaccines and implementation strategies remains insufficient relative to its global burden,” Prof. Malan says. She says continued research is critical to develop shorter, safer treatments, better diagnostics and vaccines, and to improve prevention and patient outcomes. That is precisely why Prof. Malan and her team at the NWU are looking beyond the treatment of TB itself. Their question is simple: What if, alongside standard TB treatment, nutrition could help the body respond more effectively to the disease? This potential is at the heart of the NWU’s research into omega-3 fatty acids. The TREAT3 clinical trial, part of the Clinical Nutrition Sub-programme at the NWU’s Centre of Excellence for Nutrition, Faculty of Health Sciences, builds on 10 years of preclinical research. It is investigating whether adding long-chain omega-3 fatty acids to standard treatment can influence inflammation and the body’s response to TB. Picture: Supplied The aim is not to replace TB medication, but to investigate whether omega-3 could help the body cope with the disease and its inflammatory effects. “TB treatment kills the bacteria, but the body’s immune response also plays a major role in recovery,” says Prof. Malan. Inflammation is a necessary part of fighting TB, Prof. Malan explains, but when that response becomes excessive or prolonged, it can damage lung tissue and contribute to ongoing symptoms and impaired recovery. “That is why we are interested in the balance of the immune response,” she says. “Not simply suppressing inflammation, but helping the body respond appropriately.” This is where omega-3 comes in. Exploring new possibilities Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats involved in the immune system and regulation of inflammation. They occur in foods including oily fish, seafood, nuts and seeds. The NWU research, however, focuses specifically on long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA), which are abundant in fish oil. When consumed, EPA and DHA become incorporated into cell membranes and can influence how immune cells communicate. They also provide building blocks for molecules involved in regulating and resolving inflammation. The NWU team is investigating whether increasing omega-3 intake alongside standard TB treatment can regulate the immune response, potentially helping the body fight infection while limiting unnecessary inflammation and tissue damage. “We’re investigating whether adding omega-3 fatty acids to standard TB treatment can safely reduce harmful inflammation and improve the body’s response to infection, while potentially contributing to faster control of TB,” says Prof. Malan. This host-directed approach looks beyond the bacteria to support the patient’s immune function while limiting inflammation and harmful tissue damage, Prof. Malan explains. The NWU team’s earlier preclinical work provided encouraging evidence for this approach. In infected mice, omega-3 supplementation reduced excessive inflammation, improved markers of anaemia of infection and showed inflammation-resolving effects without increasing bacterial load. The effects were particularly evident in animals with low omega-3 status before infection. “Interestingly, longer-term omega-3 supplementation performed better than the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen in some measures, suggesting that this nutrition-based intervention warrants further investigation as a potentially safe and effective way to reduce inflammation,” Prof. Malan says. “These findings supported the concept of omega-3 as a potential adjunct, or host-directed, therapy alongside standard TB treatment.” Taking research into practice The crucial question is whether laboratory findings can benefit people. That is now being tested at the Perinatal HIV Research Unit at Tshepong Hospital in Klerksdorp. The setting is particularly relevant in a country where HIV co-infection remains one of the factors complicating the fight against TB. The clinical trial began in August 2026 and aims to enrol 40 participants, with eight enrolled to date. Participants take two grams of omega-3 fatty acids daily with standard TB medication for two months and are followed until completing treatment at six months. The trial should be completed by the end of 2027. “The work brings together nutrition, immunology and TB research,” says Prof. Malan. For the researchers, the appeal lies in what the findings could mean beyond the laboratory. If omega-3 improves outcomes, omega-3-rich foods could be incorporated into TB care alongside standard treatment instead of relying solely on supplements. In South Africa, Prof. Malan highlights affordable oily fish such as pilchards because they provide EPA, DHA, high-quality protein and other nutrients that may support recovery. A food-based approach could potentially be more sustainable and accessible in resource-limited communities. “What excites us most,” she says, “is the possibility that a simple, affordable nutritional intervention could complement TB treatment while addressing both infection and the patient’s broader nutritional and inflammatory needs.”

Reality TV star Ratile Mabitsela has undergone cosmetic surgery. Mabitsela recently had a mastopexy, also known as a breast lift, and documented her experience on Instagram. “My self-love journey has taught me that loving yourself looks different for everyone. “Come along on this journey with me as I undergo a mastopexy (breast lift),” she captioned the video. Mabitsela said she decided to document the experience to help women who may be considering the procedure. “I’ve chosen to share this journey because I know there are women who may be considering the same procedure but have questions, fears or simply don’t know what to expect,” she wrote. She added that she wanted to share the experience to encourage open conversations about the procedure. “I want to share my experience openly, from surgery day to the realities of healing and recovery, because these conversations shouldn’t have to happen behind closed doors. “If sharing my journey helps even one woman feel more informed and confident about making her own choices, then it’s worth it.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ratile Boitumelo Mabotja (@ratile_mabitsela) Ratile Mabitsela on her wellness journey Earlier this year, Mabitsela trended on social media amid speculation that she had undergone a Brazilian butt lift (BBL). Speaking to Daily Sun at the time, she attributed her transformation to changes in her wellness routine. “I had to be conscious about my diet, my water intake and what it is that I do,” she said. Mabitsela said the changes had also affected how she felt about herself. “It didn’t just make me look better. It makes me feel better… I feel alive. I feel excited to dress up and go out,” she said.

The third most expensive school in South Africa is Roedean School for Girls in Johannesburg. How much does it cost per year? HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO ATTEND ROEDEAN SCHOOL FOR GIRLS? South Africa’s (SA) most expensive school is Hilton College, the all-boys boarding school, located near Howick in KwaZulu-Natal. The cost of attending the “most expensive” school in SA is R441 766 a year. The second most expensive school in SA is Michaelhouse, a boys’ boarding school, located in Balgowan in the Midlands in KwaZulu-Natal. This school costs R417 000 a year to attend. So, what does the third-most expensive school cost? Roedean School for Girls, located in the suburb of Parktown in the city of Johannesburg, cost R413 095 a year for 2026. This is an increase of 6.7% from R387 093 in 2025. This works out to around R34 400 a month. Since the first and second most expensive schools in South Africa are boys schools, Roedean School for Girls is the most expensive girls’ school in South Africa and the only school in the top three outside of KwaZulu-Natal. CAN YOU ATTEND THE SCHOOL WITHOUT BOARDING? You can attend Roedean School for Girls without full boarding. The cost of day-school tuition is R233 104 for 2026. This makes the school the second most expensive day school in South Africa, next to Kearsney College, for boys located in Botha’s Hill, KwaZulu-Natal. Additional costs include uniforms, sports kits, outings, tours and stationery. These different from school to school. Parents should check the school’s current fee schedule for the full prices. READ | How much does it cost to: Attend Roosevelt High School? READ | How much it costs to: Attend SA’s most expensive school READ | How much does it cost to: Renew a driver’s licence in South Africa? READ | How much does it cost to: Take your family to the Blyde River Canyon? READ | How much does it cost to: Take your family to visit Robben Island? READ | How much does it cost to: Visit the Two Oceans Aquarium? READ | How much does it cost to: Take your family to Johannesburg Zoo? READ | How much does it cost to: Take your family to Gold Reef City? READ | How much does it cost to: Take the family to uShaka Marine World? READ | How much does it cost to: Attend the Nedbank Golf Challenge? READ | How much does it cost to: Visit Kirstenbosch Gardens? READ | How much does it cost to: Attend St Stithians? READ | How much does it cost to: Catch the Cape Town Red Bus? READ | How much does it cost to: Visit Cape Point? READ | How much does it cost to: Buy a Kaizer Chiefs season ticket? READ | How much does it cost to: Take the cable car up Table Mountain? READ | How much does it cost to: Take the family to watch the Springboks?

Passport fraud has landed two former Home Affairs officials in handcuffs. Home Affairs has linked them to a syndicate that allegedly sold South African passports to foreign nationals. The alleged price? Up to R100,000 each. Here’s how it worked: the officials allegedly used the identity details of real South African citizens, but swapped in photos of foreign nationals. Home Affairs calls the loophole “photo swapping”, and it lurked inside an outdated manual system. The Department of Home Affairs (DHA) has welcomed the arrests, according to a report published on Monday, 12 October. HOW THE PASSPORT FRAUD SCHEME WORKED According to SAnews, the officials allegedly exploited weaknesses in an outdated manual process. They used the identity details of legitimate South African citizens to obtain passports. But the passports carried photographs of foreign nationals. That meant the passports looked genuine and carried real South African identities, just with someone else’s face. HOW THE SYNDICATE WAS CAUGHT The arrests follow a joint investigation by the department’s Counter Corruption Unit and the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks. Investigators first uncovered the syndicate in 2022. The two accused have not been named, and they are presumed innocent until proven guilty. WHAT HOME AFFAIRS SAYS HAS CHANGED Home Affairs says it has now closed the loophole. Under its digital reforms, biometric verification now links applicants to their identities throughout the application process, including when officials take their photographs. That stops criminals from swapping in a foreign national’s photo. Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber said outdated manual processes had created loopholes that criminal syndicates could exploit. He said the reforms aim to change how the department works. His goal is for fraud to be “prevented by design, rather than detected only after the damage has been done.” A WIDER CRACKDOWN ON CORRUPTION The arrests are part of a bigger clean-up at Home Affairs. According to the department, 98 officials have been dismissed and 42 arrested for corruption since the start of the seventh administration. Schreiber praised the Counter Corruption Unit and the Hawks for their work. WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU This kind of fraud uses real people’s identities. That means ordinary South Africans can be affected without knowing it. If you’ve lost your ID, or suspect someone has used your details, report it to Home Affairs and open a case with the South African Police Service (SAPS). It’s also worth keeping copies of your documents secure, and being careful about who you share your ID number with. This one is unsettling. Your identity is one of the most valuable things you own. And this case shows how easily criminals could misuse it, without you ever knowing. I’m glad Home Affairs has closed the loophole. But it’s a reminder to guard your personal details closely. DO YOU TRUST THAT HOME AFFAIRS’ DIGITAL REFORMS WILL STOP PASSPORT FRAUD? Let us know in the comments below…

Tough questions emerged about cloud budgets and data control at a recent Cloud on Demand and Microsoft breakfast.

Wits physicists have built an optical neural network that reads light's hidden topology without imaging it.