IOL
AKA murder trial: Driver says he mistook gunshots for fireworks
A driver who transported AKA and his entourage testified that he initially mistook the gunshot for fireworks before taking cover inside Wish restaurant.
IOL
ADÉLA makes history as ‘Nicole Kidman’ breaks into Billboard Hot 100 Top 10
Slovak singer ADÉLA Jergová is reportedly set to make history with “Nicole Kidman”, following the Billboard Hot 100 success of “Ain’t In LA” and the release of her debut album, PRIMA.
The Citizen
South Africa v Australia first Test: Day five takeaways
South Africa fell in a 214-run defeat to Australia on Tuesday, on day five of the first of three Tests at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. Resuming their second innings at 102/4 in the morning, still needing 319 runs to win, the Proteas were bowled out for 214 midway through the second session. Markram digs deep Opening batter Aiden Markram stepped out in the morning session with a massive weight on his shoulders, with the hosts hoping to hang on for a draw. And he was superb, sticking his heels in at the crease as he faced 237 deliveries overnight for his 75-run contribution. Markram eventually fell after Australia took the new ball in the second session, but by that point he was fighting a losing battle with the Proteas already deep into their tail. Turning point With the Proteas middle-order needing to show real patience, Wiaan Mulder did well to face 87 deliveries in the morning session as he and Markram settled in. But their 69-run partnership came to an end shortly before lunch when Mulder tried to flick a delivery from Josh Hazlewood down leg and was caught behind by Alex Carey for 29 off 110. And just three balls later, Matt Renshaw had new batter Kyle Verreynne caught by Steve Smith at first slip. The double strike signalled the beginning of the end for the SA team, and while all-rounder Marco Jansen hit 35 off 54, too much was asked of him. Hazlewood shines for Australia Seam bowler Josh Hazlewood shone for the visiting side, spearheading their attack to keep the Proteas under pressure. He took career-best figures in a Test innings of 6/49, and he secured eight scalps in the match. Hazlewood played a key role in preventing the South Africans from hanging on for a draw.
The Citizen
US actor Selma Blair charged with assault after alleged flight altercation
US actor Selma Blair was charged with assault on Monday after an alleged altercation on a flight from Los Angeles to New York City, according to court documents. The “Legally Blonde” and “Cruel Intentions” star was detained at John F. Kennedy Airport after her Delta Air Lines flight landed late Sunday following reports of a physically abusive passenger. US media said that Blair punched one flight attendant and bit another. The 54-year-old then reportedly assaulted a police officer and nurse as she was transported to hospital. Blair was charged with two counts of second-degree assault on the police officer and nurse at a New York state court late Monday, according to court documents. She pleaded not guilty to both counts and was released on bail. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for January 19. The FBI also issued a summons accusing Blair of assaults on the plane, according to a federal judicial source. A representative for Blair said that “Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct”. “Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition,” the representative said. A spokesperson for Delta said the airline “has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.” In 2016, Blair was removed from a plane on a stretcher after an outburst on a flight. “I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out and led me to say and do things that I deeply regret,” she told Vanity Fair after that incident. She also described in her 2022 memoir having bitten several celebrities, including Kate Moss, often in situations where she had been drinking alcohol.
The South African
Hot weather: Could your pet’s paws be at risk?
You may enjoy taking your dog for a walk on a sunny afternoon, but the pavement beneath its feet could be much hotter than you realise. Tar, concrete and paving bricks absorb heat from the sun. SAWS has issued a heatwave advisory for KZN, with persistently high temperatures expected from Sunday, 11 October, until Tuesday, 13 October. The prolonged heat could make outdoor activities uncomfortable, especially during the hottest part of the day. With the heatwave surfaces can become much hotter than the surrounding air, especially during the hottest part of the day. Cats face the same risk, particularly those that spend time outdoors or walk across driveways, pavements and other exposed surfaces. Although paw pads provide some protection, extreme heat can still damage them. Hot weather: How to spot signs of burnt paws in your pet Cat and dogs hehaviour may give owners clue that they may have been hurt. Its either they limp, refuse to walk or lick its feet more than usual when they are sore. You may also notice redness, blisters or damaged skin on the paw pads. Avoid applying ice directly to the paws or using creams without veterinary advice. Check the ground before heading outside One simple way to check whether the pavement feels too hot is to place the back of your hand against it for about seven seconds. If you cannot comfortably keep your hand there, avoid letting your pet walk on that surface. For dog owners, you avoid taking walks when temperatures are high. This can be done by planning walks for the early morning or evening when outdoor surfaces have had time to cool. Along with protecting their paws, owners should make sure cats and dogs have fresh drinking water and somewhere cool to rest. Do you take extra precautions to protect your pets during hot weather?
The South African
Murder rate more than tripled in this wine farm town
The Western Cape’s crime landscape is changing. In one year, crime in small towns like Touws River and Darling nearly doubled. On the flip side, some parts of the Cape Flats, plagued by gangsterism and drugs, have experienced a downturn in crime. But in the Winelands, one town is reeling from a spike in crime. Farm Town Murders Enter Franschhoek. The picture-perfect town, with its rich history and character, could fall victim to a common culprit: drugs. Over three months, crime in Franschhoek rose 56.3%. The most common crimes over that period were drug-related, theft, and assault. But there has also been a sharp rise in murder. The most recent data from the South African Police Service (SAPS), which examines crime records from April to June 2026, shows there were 14 murders recorded in Franschhoek. That’s the same number of murders in a town of roughly 29 000 people as in Manenberg, a notoriously gang-ridden part of the Cape Flats that has 56 198 residents. Over the same period in 2025, there were only 3 murders recorded in Franschhoek. But what’s behind the sharp rise in Franschhoek’s murders? Franschhoek’s murders are a result of a worrying pattern of increasing crime in Franschhoek. In the year ending March 2026, crime in Franschhoek had increased by 59.8%. During that year, there were 80 more common assaults than the year before, totalling 220 common assaults over 12 months. Drug-related crime rose by 94 incidents. In the year ending March 2025, Franschhoek only reported 109 drug-related crimes. But by March 2026, the town recorded 203 such incidents. In fact, last year, Franschhoek reported more crimes than at any point since SAPS started reporting on this data. Crime last reached these levels in the year ending March 2019. That year, the town reported 1 261 crimes, a record at the time. However, that record was shattered in 2025. In the year ending March 2026, the wine farm town recorded 1 358 crimes, up 7.7% since its peak. Cape Wine Farms Under Seige Neighbouring Stellenbosch has also seen an increase in drug-related crime. Over the same period that Franschhoek recorded 72 such crimes, Stellenbosch recorded 212. These crimes had increased by 21.8% compared to the same period in 2025. However, the Stellenbosch police precinct has a higher population than Franschhoek. According to 2022 census data, the Franschhoek police precinct had a population of 28 603. Stellenbosch has a population of 66 840. Additionally, crime in Stellenbosch is trending downward. That isn’t the case for another Cape Winelands town: Wellington. In Wellington, crime is up 12.4% year-over-year. The town has also experienced a 45.2% rise in drug-related crime between April and June 2026. Despite having roughly the same population as Stellenbosch, Wellington recorded the second sharpest rise in drug-related crime in the Cape Winelands. Only beaten by Tulbagh. In fact, only 6 police precincts across 23 in the Cape Winelands recorded a drop in drug-related crime. These are: Paarl: -6.9% Cloetesville: -6.9% Rawsonville: -4% De Doorns: -3.8% Bonnievale: -61.9% Groot Drakenstein: -46.1% Instead, the Cape Winelands is breaking records for drug-related crime. In three months, the municipality recorded more drug-related crimes than it did in an entire year last year. For the year ending March 2026, the municipality recorded 2 311 such crimes. Between April and June 2026, it recorded 2 797 drug-related crimes. Worcester contributed the most to this total. Over the three months, the town recorded 604 crimes. In many towns across the Winelands, this rise in drug-related crimes has correlated with a rise in murders and burglaries. Murder is breaking records in the Winelands. Last year, the area recorded 81 murders. In the first quarter of this year, it recorded 95 murders. There’s also been a correlation between drug-related crimes and residential burglaries. In towns like Worcester and Franschhoek, where there has been a substantial increase in drug-related crimes, there has been an increase in the number of residential burglaries.
TechCentral
The sovereignty paradox: who really controls your data when the rand drops?
Tough questions emerged about cloud budgets and data control at a recent Cloud on Demand and Microsoft breakfast.
TechCentral
Wits researchers build a neural network that runs on light
Wits physicists have built an optical neural network that reads light's hidden topology without imaging it.