Malawian traders and travellers say they lost food, clothing and other belongings when a warehouse linked to Ulemu Bus Company burned in Durban’s CBD. The cause of the fire has not been confirmed.

Proposed amendments could stop driving licences, learner’s licences and Traffic Register Number certificates from being accepted as general identification documents

Warning: This article contains details that some readers may find upsetting. The alleged victims in the rape and sexual grooming case against former deputy national police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya have urged the court to keep him behind bars, saying his release on bail would leave them fearing for their lives and the safety of their families. The concerns were outlined in victim statements read out by state prosecutor Velile Makasana during continued bail proceedings at the Randburg Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. Magistrate Hleziphi Mkhasibe had directed the state to obtain affidavits from the complainants to assist the court in considering Sibiya’s bail application. Both alleged victims described the emotional toll of the case and raised concerns about what could happen if the former senior police official were released from custody. Victims speak out as Shadrack Sibiya seeks bail in rape, sexual grooming case The 16-year-old complainant, identified as ZM, told the court that she was under witness protection and had met with the investigating officer, Sergeant Nokukhanya Ndlovu, on Tuesday, 13 October. According to her statement, the meeting focused on her feelings about the possibility of Sibiya being granted bail. “As she was talking to me, my anxiety levels went high, and I became afraid. Anxiety is what I feel every day ever since the case commenced. “This is based on the knowledge that Ntate [Mr] Sibiya is a senior police officer and has made threats to my father,” her affidavit reads. ZM said the alleged threats had left her feeling “very unsafe” and “uncomfortable” at the prospect of Sibiya being released. She also expressed concern that her family could face further danger, saying she would hold herself responsible if anything happened to them because she had reported the matter. “I feel my entire family will be exposed to more danger and I would blame myself as I am the one who reported the matter.” The teenager is the daughter of Sibiya’s alleged former bodyguard and driver, referred to in court as Mr M. Sibiya is accused of sexually grooming her, which he has denied. The father’s own statement alleged that Sibiya threatened to “wipe out” his family after he reported him to the police. 18-year-old alleges fears of further harm The second complainant, an 18-year-old identified as MC, also expressed fears for her life should Sibiya be released from custody. In her affidavit, MC stated that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts since the alleged rape incident, which reportedly took place on 16 May 2026. “I have also told Sergeant Ndlovu that I wouldn’t wait for any future torture should he be released on bail because something worse than what he had done could happen. “He will therefore find me dead already as I have already suffered enough. “I want the state to know that my trust in the justice system would be betrayed as I would be exposed to the worst situation,” the alleged victim said in her statement. MC further alleged that a friend told her the defence had approached her to make a statement contradicting her evidence, but she refused. “This is the kind of interference that is currently at play with such a sensitive case. “My friends and family know how I suffer as a result of the incident that I did not invite. I worry about their safety as much as I do with mine.” The complainant said the safety concerns had affected her daily life, limiting her movements and activities, as well as those of her friends. “The same fears that I had when I was initially scared to report the matter have since played out. “My movements and activities are limited, and I wish this can come to an end,” she said. Charges Sibiya faces charges of sexual grooming, human trafficking, rape and contravention of the Firearms Control Act. This followed his arrest at The Grand strip club in Sandton on 21 September 2026. The state alleges that he sexually groomed ZM, with explicit material involving the minor allegedly exchanged through WhatsApp between 20 July and 3 August 2026. The charge sheet further states Sibiya allegedly gave an 18-year-old girl alcohol before she lost consciousness and was raped at the Garden Court Hotel in Sandton. Sibiya, who resigned from the South African Police Service (Saps) on 12 October, has claimed the alleged rape victim consented to sex.

If ever a racehorse lived up to his name it’s Gladatorian. He’s a tough, seven-year-old warrior in the ancient Roman Colosseum mould – as demonstrated by his recent victory in the Joburg Spring Challenge at Turffontein, when he travelled 600 kays up the N3 highway from his home in balmy Durbs to give young upstarts in chilly Joburg a galloping lesson in their season’s first feature. It was the soldier’s 12th win in 35 starts in a career dating back to January 2022 (with just 11 finishes out of the prize money) and it earned him top slot in the first “probables” log announced this week for the Betway Summer Cup to be contested for R6-million at Turffontein on Saturday, 28 November. Carrying top weight If trainer Stuart Ferrie stands his ground – and he might do, given the gelding’s penchant for the Big T – Gladatorian will carry the top weight of 60kg off a merit rating of 127. That steadier, coupled with suspicions that, for all his fighting spirit, the gladiator might have stamina issues in a 2000m marathon, have seen bookmakers offer him at 17.00 for the win in Joburg’s premier race. On the latter point, it’s worth noting that Gladatorian has a trophy in the cabinet for a Grade 1 1800m triumph – the HKJC Champions’ Cup at Greyville, no less. The Summer Cup opening ante-post favourite (at a generous 8.00, quickly dropped to 7.50), Errol Flynn, emerged in No 16 slot on the first log. With 20 runners to be carded, trainer Joe Soma’s rising star would seem a certainty for the final field – which might see his price shorten further in the coming days. Among slightly surprising exclusions from the top 20 are Soma’s other two runners, Rule By Force (MR 117) and Jimmy Don (112), and Durban-based Madison Valley (113). By contrast, British import Calla Lagoon (111) secured the No 20 spot with just two wins from three starts to his name. Selection process Explaining the selection process, 4Racing said: “Log rankings are based on a combination of factors, including but not limited to merit rating, recent race form, form over the distance, performance in key build-up races, form in graded races. “In compiling the first log, preference was given to Grade 1 winners, followed by Grade 2 winners and horses with higher merit ratings. “It is important to note that horses that do not participate in relevant feature races leading into the Betway Summer Cup may drop in the log standings. Therefore, participation in these lead-up races is strongly encouraged and will be an important consideration for the second log. “However, the final field will be determined at the discretion of the [selection] panel. The log serves as a strategic guide for owners and trainers, providing a clear indication of where their horse stands in relation to the competition.” The selection panel includes 4Racing’s Gabriel Soma, handicapper Lennon Maharaj and Kurt Felix of Race Coast. A second and final log will be published on 5 November. The date for final supplementary entries and weight allocations is 16 November and the final field will be announced on Tuesday, 17 November. First Summer Cup log (13.10.2026) (log position, age, sex, name, MR, net MR, trainer) 1 7 G GLADATORIAN 127 127 Stuart Ferrie 2 5 M MOCHA BLEND 120 120 Frank Robinson 3 4 G GRAND EMPIRE 111 110 Sean Tarry 4 5 G FIRE ATTACK 124 124 Alec Laird 5 4 G JAN VAN GOYEN 118 117 Mike / Mathew de Kock 6 6 G KING PELLES 122 122 Gareth van Zyl 7 6 G HOLDING THUMBS 119 119 Glen Kotzen 8 5 G NATIVE RULER 121 121 Justin Snaith 9 4 F REET PETITE 114 113 Mike / Mathew de Kock 10 4 F LITTLEMISSMILLION 114 113 Tyrone Zackey 11 5 G CHOISAANADA 120 120 Erico Verdonese 12 5 G THE ULTIMATE KING 117 117 Tony Peter 13 5 M OLIVIA’S WAY 114 114 Roy Magner 14 4 C CHRONICLE KING 115 114 Candice / Tammy Dawson 15 6 G MAGIC VERSE 115 115 Justin Snaith 16 4 G ERROL FLYNN 114 113 Joe Soma 17 7 G OTTO LUYKEN 113 113 James Crawford 18 5 G I SALUTE YOU 113 113 Peter Muscutt 19 4 F DRUMNADROCHIT 111 110 Mike / Mathew de Kock 20 5 H CALLA LAGOON (GB) 111 111 Stuart Pettigrew Other entries, in alphabetical order 6 G ALADDIN’S LAMP 110 110 Mike / Mathew de Kock 5 G BUSSTOPINHOUNSLOW 110 110 Grant Maroun 4 F CURIOUS GIRL 100 99 Mike / Mathew de Kock 5 G FIELD MARSHAL 110 110 Nathan Kotzen 5 M FIRST WISH 93 93 Candice / Tammy Dawson 5 H GO GRAYSON GO 98 98 Frikkie Greyling 5 G IMMEDIATE EDGE 108 108 Mike / Mathew de Kock 7 M INDIAN OCEAN 105 105 Mano Pandaram 5 G ISIVIVANE 108 108 Peter Muscutt 6 M JAZZ CAFE 101 101 Robbie Hill 7 G JIMMY DON 112 112 Joe Soma 5 G LEGEND OF ARTHUR 110 110 Sean Tarry 6 G MADISON VALLEY 113 113 Nathan Kotzen 4 G MASTER SPY 97 96 Sean Tarry 6 G MISSION TO MARS 94 94 Stuart Pettigrew 4 C PALACE PRINCE 108 107 St John Gray 5 G PARISIAN WALKWAY 107 107 Alec Laird 7 G RULE BY FORCE 117 117 Joe Soma 5 G SOLAR SAIL 109 109 Paul Matchett 5 G TINTIN 93 93 Sean Tarry 6 M TOMYRIS 99 99 Tony Peter 5 G WILD INTENT 107 107 Mike / Mathew de Kock

Controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala has provisionally abandoned his bail application in a fraud case involving a R95 000-a-month luxury home in Pretoria. Matlala appeared in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, 14 October, alongside his wife, Tsakane, and two co-accused. His legal team informed the court that he would not proceed with his bail application at this stage. Matlala will remain behind bars as he faces separate attempted murder charges. WHY DID CAT MATLALA ABANDON HIS BAIL APPLICATION? Matlala had planned to apply for bail this week, but his lawyers told the court that he would first deal with his separate attempted murder case. His legal team indicated that he could revive the bail application at a later stage. The State had planned to oppose his release. Matlala also faces criminal proceedings linked to alleged attacks involving actress Tebogo Thobejane, taxi boss Joe Sibanyoni and DJ Vettys. R95 000 LUXURY HOME AT CENTRE OF FRAUD CASE Prosecutors accuse Matlala, his wife and two others of using fraudulent documents to secure a luxury rental property in Waterkloof Heights, Pretoria. The State alleges that the accused submitted false information to an estate agency in January 2025 to obtain a lease for the property. The house carried a monthly rental of R95 000. Prosecutors also allege that Matlala used an identity document bearing the name Vusimuzi Dlamini and falsely claimed links to the Eswatini royal family. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) previously outlined how Matlala allegedly used the identity to convince the estate agency that he could afford the rental. “He portrayed himself as a member of the royal family so that he can be able to prove to the estate agency that he would have funds to pay for the property,” NPA spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana said. Matlala faces charges of fraud, forgery, uttering and contravening the Identification Act. His wife, Tsakane, and co-accused Claudette Masethe and Given Makofane also face fraud-related charges. MATLALA REMAINS BEHIND BARS The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court previously granted Matlala’s wife and the two co-accused bail of R20 000 each. The court ordered them to surrender their passports, report to police and avoid contact with State witnesses. Matlala remains in custody at Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre. The court postponed the fraud case to 29 October for further investigation. Matlala and his co-accused have not been convicted of the charges.

SASSA pensioners aged 60 and older can replace their green barcoded ID book with a smart ID card free of charge at Home Affairs, according to the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) official requirements guide. Other citizens applying for the same card pay R140. The switch is becoming urgent. The DHA is preparing to announce a roadmap for phasing out the green ID book, which is still used by around 16 million people, according to Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber. What pensioners must bring The DHA lists four documents for pensioners applying for their first smart ID. Applicants need their green barcoded ID book, or an affidavit if the book has been lost. They also need proof of residence, or they can simply provide a residential address if they do not have proof. Married pensioners must bring a marriage certificate, and divorced pensioners must bring their divorce decree. Home Affairs uses these documents to verify marital status, so pensioners whose circumstances have changed should bring the paperwork to avoid delays. Why the green ID book is on its way out The minister has warned that the green ID book is particularly vulnerable to fraud. For grant recipients, this matters because SASSA relies on a valid identity document to confirm who is receiving payments. However, there is no need to panic yet. No official cut-off date has been announced, and Home Affairs has stressed that green ID books remain legal and valid for now. The department has said the green ID book will only be phased out once smart ID access becomes widely available. Help for elderly and rural pensioners Long queues and travel costs remain a concern for many older South Africans. In April 2026, a Member of Parliament asked the minister how elderly citizens in rural areas would cope. The DHA replied that it is mindful of the challenges some elderly citizens may face and pointed to the rollout of smart ID services at hundreds more bank branches. Schreiber said access to smart ID services increased by 250% in just 19 weeks through the bank partnership. Home Affairs planning documents also mention mobile offices and home visits to help citizens who cannot travel. Pensioners who use a bank branch should confirm whether any fee applies before paying, as the free pensioner category is listed in the DHA brochure. Applying early also means avoiding the rush that is likely to follow once Home Affairs announces a final cut-off date. 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.

iOCO will not pay a dividend for as long as Rhys Summerton is at the helm of the company.

Google has released Gemini 4 Argon to developers and businesses after months of delays and upheaval.