Apple’s newly unveiled HomeView smart display brings fresh AI features at a possible R6,000 price point, but its projected South African cost leaves questions over whether it can rival a traditional iPad.

Duane Davis has been sentenced to 40 years imprisonment for the murder of Tupac.

It’s now time the South African teams stood up in the Champions Cup. Europe’s top cup competition gets going again this weekend with the first round of pool action and the Bulls, Stormers and Lions, for the first time, will be carrying South African hopes. The Sharks and Cheetahs will play in the second-tier Challenge Cup. After four years of trying hard and putting in a bit of effort here and there it’s now up to the Bulls and Stormers especially to show that South Africa takes the Champions Cup seriously. The Lions, in their first campaign in the top tier, don’t have the depth or class to seriously be considered contenders, but they can definitely give it a good go with nothing to lose. A look at the squads picked by the Bulls and Stormers for the Champions Cup suggests Johan Ackermann and John Dobson are viewing things a little differently this time round, which is good news. For too long the South African teams have considered the European cup competitions as an unnecessary extra but hopefully that is no longer the case. Yes, it’s tough playing in the URC and in the Champions Cup, but the European teams are able to manage both, and this season it’s up to the Bulls and Stormers to fly the SA flag. They have the players, depth and experience to give it a proper go. And it’s high time, especially with the English and French clubs pushing for a reduced number of teams down the line, which could impact on South Africa’s involvement in years to come. The SA teams simply need to show this season they can mix it with the best in Europe and take the Champions Cup seriously. Not once has a South African team made it to the semi-finals stage, a poor reflection considering we like to think of ourselves as having among the best club sides in the world. Let’s now show it. Hopefully the Bulls and Stormers especially can give the likes of Toulouse and Bordeaux a bit of a run should they meet at any stage in the coming weeks and months.

The DA in the North West is demanding answers after the Tswaing Local Municipality spent R6 million on bathrooms at a sports facility. Despite the millions spent, the bathrooms have no plumbing or roofing. The bathrooms are part of the Delareyville Sports Facility, which is currently under renovation. Last year, the municipality decided to add two netball courts and a grass court to the existing facility at a cost of R10 million. But a few months later, the council also decided it needed an additional R6 million to build a new ablution block. “The only thing that was done is the grass court that you can see, the two netball courts and a fence; the stadium is still the old dilapidated stadium as it is. In the next financial year, we had to budget another R6 million for bathrooms, toilets,” said DA councillor Soret Viljoen in an interview with The Citizen. R6m spent but no plumbing or roof She said what was more concerning was that it appeared the contractor had left the construction site, as there was no security at the sports facility. “You cannot see on the notice board (outside the facility) the contractor, the contract number, who is the subcontractor, nothing. The bathrooms are still incomplete,” said Viljoen. The R6-million bathroom at the Delareyville Sports Facility in Tswaing Municipality, North West, on 16 September 2026. The building had no roof, plumbing, doors or windows. Picture: Shaun Holland When The Citizen visited the sports facility in September, there was no activity around the construction area, and the controversial bathrooms were incomplete. Despite spending R6 million on the bathrooms, there was no plumbing installed and the structure didn’t even have a roof. There were also no doors and windows. “What is of major concern to the DA is that only R1.7 million rand is budgeted for maintenance and upgrading in the three towns of Tswaing, Delareyville, Sannieshof and Ottosdal. For the past five years, there was no upgrading of the municipal electrical infrastructure. People are suffering regular and long power outages because the infrastructure is old and dilapidated. Despite millions being spent on the Delareyville Sports Facility, DA councillor Soret Viljoen said it is still the same “old dilapidated stadium”. Picture: Shaun Holland “Streets are full of potholes, landfill sites are not managed, streetlights are not working, the Henk Joubert nature reserve is not fenced, and parks and cemeteries are not maintained. Sannieshof and Ottosdal still have no sewer system; they still use the old honey-sucker system where each house and business [has] a septic tank that needs regular vacuum service. “There is only one honey-sucker to render this service in Ottosdal, and only one cherry picker for electrical services – to be shared amongst the three towns. Yet Tswaing spent R16 million on a sports facility – that can still not be used,” said Viljoen. “The community plays soccer in an open field next to the so-called state-of-the-art sports facility,” she added. A municipality in crisis? Last year, an investigation commissioned by the minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs (Cogta) uncovered evidence of maladministration and corruption at the municipality. Governance failures have reportedly cost the municipality millions. Delareyville is in the Tswaing Local Municipality, which is plagued by governance failures. Picture: Shaun Holland According to News24, a report by Tau Matsimela Attorneys revealed that the municipality spent R47.6 million on litigation over five years while prioritising irregular appointments and salary increases over community needs and services. The report concluded that Mayor Norah Mahlangu and her administration had failed the residents of Tswaing and could lead to the collapse of the municipality if changes are not made. Municipality blames payment challenges and weather Municipal communications officer Osupile Tys told The Citizen on Tuesday that the upgrading of Delareyville Sports Facility is a municipal infrastructure development project with an overall estimated cost of R16 million, implemented in two phases. “Phase 1 of the project was successfully completed during the 2024-25 financial year. For Phase 2, a service provider was appointed in December 2025, with the project initially scheduled for completion in July 2026. “However, the project experienced delays primarily due to payment challenges and adverse weather conditions experienced earlier in the year, which affected the planned construction programme. Consequently, the project completion date has been revised to November 2026,” said Tys. The tennis court at the Delareyville Sports Facility. Picture: Shaun Holland He said Phase 2 of the project is 60% complete, with construction activities continuing. “The municipality remains committed to ensuring the successful completion of the facility, which is expected to enhance sporting infrastructure, promote recreational activities and provide improved sporting opportunities for the Delareyville community and surrounding areas,” he said. Is the state-of-the-art facility needed? According to Tys, upgrading the Delareyville sports facility is an important investment aimed at promoting sports, recreation and youth development within the Tswaing community. “The facility will provide a conducive environment for sporting activities, encourage talent development and create opportunities for hosting sporting tournaments and community events. “The facility comprises various sporting components, including swimming pools, which are earmarked for refurbishment in subsequent phases, subject to the availability of funding,” he said. Tys said the municipality’s long-term objective is to fully revive the facility and restore its functionality as a multi-purpose sporting and recreational centre, capable of accommodating various sporting codes and serving the broader community of Tswaing Local Municipality. After The Citizen sent questions to the municipality on Monday, 12 October, Viljoen said construction workers started putting a roof on the R6-million bathrooms on Tuesday.

Vehicle licence renewals in 2026 look like they’re only going to get pricier if the current trajectory holds true. First, the insolvent Road Accident Fund (RAF) proposed in its 2025/26 annual report that a new levy be attached to vehicle registrations and licence disc renewals, not just fuel. While not yet confirmed, this could be plausible given Transport Minister Barbara Creecy dismissal of proposed RAF fuel levy hikes to R3 per litre ‘laughable.’ Next, Gauteng, the country’s most populous province, wants to increase vehicle licence renewals in 2026. Also struggling with insolvency, the province has published draft amendments. And these are open for public comment right now. It proposes licence disc increases of between R24 and R156 depending on tare. Plus, a R12 rise in the registration fee to R240. If approved, Gauteng would become the country’s most expensive province for every class. And it is unlikely that these price amendments will be stopped. VEHICLE LICENCE RENEWALS IN 2026 Plus, any South African motorist knows that vehicle licence renewals in 2026 depend on two things. Firstly, the vehicle’s empty weight, or tare. And second, the province you licence your vehicle in, which cannot be changed. Nobody enjoys the annual renewal process, but online services like NATIS have made it a lot less time consuming … Personally, we’ve only had good experiences with the centrally run government portal. It alerts you well before renewal is due. You register, log in, pay the fee, and your new disc arrives by courier about five working days later. However, don’t forget the R72 transaction fee the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) adds to every renewal. CHEAPEST PROVINCES FOR VEHICLE LICENCE RENEWALS IN 2026 Transport Minister Creecy believes South Africans cannot afford an increase the RAF fuel levy in 2026. Image: File As ever, each province in South Africa is allowed to set its own tariffs for vehicle licence renewals in 2026. Some haven’t moved them in years, while the more efficient ones adjust them annually. So, here’s the cost break down per province, with effective dates shown for reference: WESTERN CAPE (effective 1 July 2026) 751–1,000kg: R420 1,001–1,250kg: R492 1,251–1,500kg: R690 1,501–1,750kg: R762 1,751–2,000kg: R870 2,001–2,250kg: R1,188 2,251–2,500kg: R1,392 GAUTENG (effective 1 April 2025) 751–1,000kg: R456 1,001–1,250kg: R528 1,251–1,500kg: R732 1,501–1,750kg: R852 1,751–2,000kg: R1,104 2,001–2,250kg: R1,284 2,251–2,500kg: R1,536 *Proposed Gauteng fees (in draft, NOT YET approved): 751–1,000kg: R480 1,001–1,250kg: R564 1,251–1,500kg: R780 1,501–1,750kg: R900 1,751–2,000kg: R1,176 2,001–2,250kg: R1,368 2,251–2,500kg: R1,632 KWAZULU-NATAL (unchanged since 1 April 2020) Online services have eliminated the need for time consuming paperwork, unless you’re buying/selling a vehicle. Image: File 751–1,000kg: R474 1,001–1,250kg: R534 1,251–1,500kg: R672 1,501–1,750kg: R810 1,751–2,000kg: R948 2,001–2,250kg: R1,134 2,251–2,500kg: R1,350 EASTERN CAPE (unchanged since 1 June 2018) 751–1,000kg: R378 1,001–1,250kg: R474 1,251–1,500kg: R594 1,501–1,750kg: R696 1,751–2,000kg: R768 2,001–2,250kg: R1,008 2,251–2,500kg: R1,212 FREE STATE (updated, effective 1 August 2026) 751–1,000kg: R450 (unchanged) 1,001–1,250kg: R480 (was R462) 1,251–1,500kg: R630 (was R606) 1,501–1,750kg: R660 (was R636) 1,751–2,000kg: R822 (was R798) 2,001–2,250kg: R900 (was R864) 2,251–2,500kg: R1,212 (was R1,164) LIMPOPO (effective 1 April 2026) 751–1,000kg: R426 1,001–1,250kg: R540 1,251–1,500kg: R810 1,501–1,750kg: R756 1,751–2,000kg: R930 2,001–2,250kg: R1,182 2,251–2,500kg: R1,236 MPUMALANGA (effective 1 April 2026) You can still be ticketed during your 21-day grace period after your vehicle licence has expired. Image: File 751–1,000kg: R435 1,001–1,250kg: R522 1,251–1,500kg: R684 1,501–1,750kg: R782 1,751–2,000kg: R894 2,001–2,250kg: R1,168 2,251–2,500kg: R1,372 NORTH WEST (unchanged since 1 December 2024) 751–1,000kg: R366 1,001–1,250kg: R450 1,251–1,500kg: R552 1,501–1,750kg: R672 1,751–2,000kg: R762 2,001–2,250kg: R762 2,251–2,500kg: R1,146 NORTHERN CAPE (effective 1 April 2026) 751–1,000kg: R420 1,001–1,250kg: R504 1,251–1,500kg: R654 1,501–1,750kg: R810 1,751–2,000kg: R888 2,001–2,250kg: R1,134 2,251–2,500kg: R1,368 WHO OFFERS THE BEST VEHICLE LICENCE RENEWALS IN 2026? Third-party service may be even more time efficient, but some do come at quite a high additional cost. Image: File On the figures above, North West undercuts every other province in each band, with the Eastern Cape close behind. Moreover, the Eastern Cape’s tariffs for vehicle licence renewals in 2026 are now more than eight years old. And Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal charge the most across the common tare bands, and Gauteng’s draft increases would widen that gap even further. Furthermore, don’t forget that you have a 21-day grace period from your vehicle licence expiry date . Miss that window and three things get added to your bill: the full annual fee, pro-rata arrears for the unlicensed months, and an admin penalty of 10% of the annual fee for every month or part thereof that you’re overdue. With online renewals so easy through NATIS, and the like, the cost of a missed deadline is becoming pretty hard to justify. But what do you think? Do you have a preferred service for vehicle licence renewals in 2026? If so, please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

Zimbabweans concerned about reports of WhatsApp account takeovers may be considering alternatives, including using South African mobile numbers, as questions grow over the security of digital identities. The concerns come amid reports of individuals and businesses losing access to WhatsApp accounts, raising fears of impersonation, fraud and disruption to customer communications. According to the state broadcaster ZBC News, the government was investigating alleged WhatsApp Business account takeovers and possible security breaches involving Meta platforms. Information Communication Technology Minister Tatenda Mavetera said authorities were working with the affected mobile network operator and other parties to establish how the incidents occurred and whether financial information had been compromised. “The scale of the reported attack is unprecedented and requires a coordinated response to protect our citizens and business,” she said. She said authorities sought to establish the circumstances surrounding the reported breaches. Businesses and individuals face WhatsApp disruption For entrepreneurs who rely on WhatsApp to receive orders, communicate with customers and coordinate payments, losing access to an account can have consequences beyond disrupted messaging. Criminals who gain control of an account may impersonate its owner and solicit money from unsuspecting contacts. The Zimbabwe Republic Police has previously documented cases involving fraudulent SIM replacements and WhatsApp account takeovers. Could foreign numbers offer an alternative for WhatsApp users? Against this background, switching to a South African number could appear to some users to be an alternative. “I am scared that my number might be hijacked as well, and this could affect my business badly,” said Zimbabwean businessman Themba Ndlovu in an interview with The South African. “I would rather switch back to my South African mobile number,” he said. Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono says the reported security concerns are undermining trust in local mobile networks, claiming that many Zimbabweans he knows are now using foreign numbers for their WhatsApp accounts. He argues that mobile operators have a fundamental responsibility to protect subscribers’ numbers, describing the shift towards foreign networks as evidence of declining confidence in local services. Security measures remain important WhatsApp recommends additional safeguards, including two-step verification and passkeys where available. Its guidance also explains that users who lose access should re-register their number using the six-digit verification code received by SMS or telephone call. For businesses, moving to a foreign number could create additional challenges, including updating customer contacts and maintaining reliable access to the SIM used to register the account.

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