Innholdsfortegnelse for 2025-12-06 i Independent on Saturday

IN HIS upcoming action thriller, Shelter, The Transporter star Jason Statham is once again cast in his familiar role as a hero saving a young woman. The trailer for the action movie Shelter, directed by Ric Roman Waugh (Angel Has Fallen, Greenland), has been released. The film opens on the big screen next month, with Bill Nighy, Naomi Ackie, Daniel Mays and Bodhi Rae Breathnach joining Statham. While fans are enthusiastic about his involvement, some are expressing fatigue with the repetitive theme of him fighting people to rescue a girl. The trailer sets the tone with an introduction to assassin Michael Mason when a man explains that what he knows about him, “Mason isn’t just an assassin, he’s a precision instrument. He was one of the first elite operatives.” It…

“Rage bait” will be Oxford University Press’s 2025 Word of the Year. Defined as online content designed to provoke anger and drive engagement, it's a sign of our digital culture. Two words, one cultural mood, and a whole lot of scrolling fatigue. And before you roll your eyes, Oxford swears it isn’t rage-baiting us with the choice. As someone who spends their fair share of time online, I really felt this. Over the past few years, we’ve all learned to spot content designed to annoy us, whether it’s a “modern dating rules” thread meant to stir up arguments, a fake political hot take, or another video comparing milk tart to crème brûlée just to get people talking. That’s not just a trend; it’s a reflection of our online experience. But…

As South Africa bids farewell to a momentous 2025, there’s yet another reason for the nation to celebrate. With popular expressions like “yoh”, “haibo” and “lekker” making it into the mainstream, the country’s accent has been hailed as the second sexiest accent in the world, according to a recent ranking by World of Statistics. This accolade underscores the nation’s rich linguistic diversity and cultural heritage that gives rise to a myriad accents, all distinct and enchanting in their own right. The ranking pits South Africa’s captivating accent against an impressive array of global contenders, showcasing how perceptions of “attractive” speech can shift dramatically from one region to another. While South Africa is categorised as a native English-speaking nation, the complexity of its linguistic landscape means that no single accent dominates.…

The eThekwini Municipality has approved an amendment to the land use scheme for a Newlands East shopping mall to have a student residence on the property. The proposed amendment to allow for a student residence on Marble Ray Drive was discussed at a council meeting on Thursday. A report from the eThekwini Economic Development and Planning Committee explained that: The proposal aligns with the strategic intentions of the municipality, specifically the Newlands sub-area of the northern urban development corridor. This plan encourages mixed use, and the redevelopment of the existing Marble Ray complex. The composite commercial and residential usage is appropriate as the area is characterised by a plethora of mixed uses, including several offices, medical facilities, a veterinary clinic, a supermarket, and a fueling station. The proposal is not…

Acting Minister of Police Firoz Cachalia has revealed that over the past decade, more than 21 million criminal cases were opened in South Africa, with 13.2 million of these closed without resolution. He disclosed this in a parliamentary reply to a question by Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Dr Mmusi Maimane, who asked: “For each of the past 10 financial years, what total number of criminal dockets have been opened, solved, officially closed without resolution in each province, and how many are still open and under investigation?” Cachalia said that the figures for cases still under investigation for each financial year include dockets carried over from previous years and should not be aggregated to calculate a cumulative total. “For example, the total of 1 909 625 shown for 2024/2025…

Service delivery has been severely hampered in KwaZulu-Natal after key licensing and testing centres, including Rossburgh and uMdloti, were forced to close due to disconnected water and electricity supplies. This disruption, which left a Durban motorist needing to change vehicle ownership turned away from two centres on Tuesday, is allegedly linked to outstanding property rates owed by the provincial Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI). Days before the end-of-November deadline to migrate to the new number plate system, Transport MEC Siboniso Duma alerted the public to the disconnection. He confirmed that while the Transport Department had settled its own utility bills, the centres were allegedly shut down over outstanding rates, a responsibility that falls with the DPWI as the property manager and landlord. Duma said yesterday that the Durban…

South African Neo-Nazi Matthew Gruter landed in the country on Thursday after his visa was cancelled by the Australian government over an antisemitic demonstration. He had taken part in a neo-Nazi protest outside the New South Wales Parliament in Australia. Gruter, a civil engineer, arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday afternoon with his wife and their one-month-old baby. He initially attempted to shield his face with luggage but became visibly distressed when approached by the media. During the encounter, he exchanged heated words with a photographer and in viral footage was seen close to physically confronting the photographer. “Are you trying to get us attacked and murdered in South Africa? Is that what you are trying to do, trying to label us?” he asked. Pressed for comment about…

The bride walked out of the locker room and onto the pool deck wearing a tutu over her swim trunks and white water shoes. She kissed the groom – who also wore swim trunks – before they held hands to descend the stairs into lukewarm water. They would exit the indoor pool as husband and wife. Three years earlier, Marlene Parsons, 78, and Edward La Rue sr, 83, met in the same pool during water aerobics classes when they playfully splashed each other. Both their spouses had recently died, and neither one had an interest in remarrying – a condition they agreed upon when they started dating. But things change when you fall in love. This month, they got married in the shallow end of an Illinois pool, where their…

A baby Jesus has been stolen from a Christmas nativity scene in Brussels which sparked an online furore over its faceless depictions of Christianity’s holy family. In portraying Jesus, Mary and Joseph with patchwork cloth lacking facial features, artist Victoria-Maria Geyer said she hoped to craft an inclusive version of the Christmas tradition which left “free rein for everyone’s imagination”. Yet, despite the local ecclesiastical authorities approving the scene, the installation in central Brussels has come under fire since opening last Friday, with right-wing Belgian politician Georges-Louis Bouchez even comparing the figures to “zombies”. As debate swirled on social media, the baby Jesus, represented by his fabric head, disappeared from the Christmas cot last Saturday, prompting the authorities to replace the son of God and tighten security. A petition launched…

In the coming years, coffee from Brazil might start to taste a bit different. The South American country is the world’s biggest producer of arabica, a mild variety of coffee bean. But as climate change makes it harder to grow those beans, some farmers are investing in robusta, which produces a more bitter bean but can tolerate higher temperatures and is more resistant to diseases. Brazil’s traditional coffee growing regions, which largely produce arabica, have been beset by more intense and frequent droughts, and hotter temperatures. Arabica is still the country’s main coffee export, but robusta production is now growing at a faster rate: by over 81% over the past 10 years, according to the US Department of Agriculture, which tracks global coffee production. For Brazil, robusta provides an oppor-…

Sure, vomiting is allowed. Discouraged but allowed, according to the bylaws of this ultramarathon. Fifty kilometers of running and several thousand calories of greasy fast food are required for the event, so yes, you can be forgiven for puking. But Pepto-Bismol, Alka-Seltzer, Pepcid, Mylanta or any other medicinal stomach aids are banned. Otherwise, the rules of the first-ever Taco Bell DC 50k were pretty simple, organisers Phil Hargis, 54, and Mike Wardian, 51, explained to the hundreds of participants shivering in below- freezing temperatures outside a Taco Bell in Old Town Alexandria on Saturday morning. Each participant must run to nine Taco Bells scattered across Alexandria, Arlington, and the District. At each location, they must purchase and eat an item off the menu. Drinks don’t count. And there’s no chance…

JMC or Jiangling Motors Corporation have officially returned to the South African market after a few years’ absence and aim to ruffle the feathers of the bakkie market. JMC announced earlier this year that they would be coming, and they have now revealed their line-up, which will include a workhorse single-cab and two double-cabs. The vehicles will be imported under the Salvador Caetano Auto South Africa banner, who also have the GAC brand in its portfolio, and they intend to open 40 dealerships by 2026. With Ford owning a 32% stake in JMC, the company is leveraging their partnership in terms of power plants and engineering. Ford’s Territory, sold here, is the result of that partnership, too. The three-bakkie range includes the single-cab JMC Carrying Plus, Vigus Double-Cab and the…

VSL Manufacturing has officially opened its new R750 million manufacturing facility in Struandale, positioned alongside the Isuzu Motors South Africa (IMSAf) assembly plant. The investment marks a significant boost for South Africa’s automotive value chain, the Eastern Cape’s industrial base, and the country’s efforts to grow black-owned manufacturing businesses. The launch is the culmination of a long rebuild for a company that rose from the liquidation of Stateline Pressed Metal in Komani in 2018. The closure left 123 people out of work, but two retrenched employees – Vuyo Skweyiya and Deon van Zyl - decided to revive the operation. With funding from ABSA, they acquired the defunct company’s equipment and launched VSL Manufacturing. Today, it’s a 51% African female-owned company. The turning point came in 2021 when IMSAf appointed VSL…

When former Ekurhuleni city manager Dr Imogen Mashazi sat down at the Madlanga Commission, South Africans were entitled to expect the steady hand of a veteran public servant. Instead, we watched a spectacle. Lipstick applied mid-session. Faces pulled at the evidence leader. Soft laughter under her breath. Eyes fixed on her phone while senior counsel tried to question her. When pressed for answers, she leaned on stock phrases: “I take your point.” “No comment.” “I’ll talk to my lawyers.” At one point, she told the commission she would rather submit answers in writing because appearing again might cause her to “get a stroke”. It may have been theatre for some – the memes were flying on social media – but it exposed a culture in public administration that treats accountability…

As South Africa marks the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), our conversations often centre on bruises, broken bones, and emotional scars. Yet, there is another form of abuse that rarely makes headlines but quietly erodes lives; financial abuse. Financial abuse is not simply about disagreements over budgeting or a partner being “bad with money.” It is a deliberate, manipulative strategy designed to strip someone of independence, dignity, and the ability to leave a harmful situation. It is the scaffolding upon which other forms of abuse are built. Scrolling through social media recently, I came across a post from a young woman in Cape Town who bravely shared her experience. She wrote: “I thought I was just being supported when he asked me to quit my job. He…

Earlier this year, the Labour Court found that a restraint of trade was unenforceable due to the dismissal of the employee. This decision was taken on appeal to the Labour Appeal Court (LAC). The judgment provides important guidance for employers seeking to enforce restraints following dismissals and clarifies the scope of the Labour Court’s jurisdiction in related matters. Background Backsports (Pty) Ltd, a company in the internet communications and technology sector, employed an employee as a senior stream lead for 10 months until his dismissal for misconduct on October 16, 2024. His employment contract contained a restraint of trade clause which, among other things, prohibited him from competing with Backsports or any of its subsidiaries, and from soliciting employees, for a period of 12 months from the termination date of…

Lando Norris set the early benchmark at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by topping the timesheets in FP1, edging out title rival Max Verstappen by the slimmest of margins. The McLaren driver looked sharp from the outset, stringing together clean laps and showing strong single-lap pace as the season finale officially got underway. Verstappen, meanwhile, was right behind him, keeping the pressure firmly on as both drivers sized each other up ahead of a crucial weekend. But one major contender was missing from the opening session entirely: Oscar Piastri. The Australian, still mathematically in the hunt for the world championship, was forced to sit out FP1 as McLaren fulfilled their mandatory rookie running requirements. As per FIA regulations, every team must field a rookie driver in two FP1 sessions during…

As the draw for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia was unveiled, Rassie Erasmus’s Springboks have been handed a pool that, on paper, appears comfortably navigable. The defending champions are expected to cruise through their group with Italy, Georgia and Romania their opponents, but the challenges of travel and logistics Down Under may prove a subtler test. Placed in a pool with a mix of emerging teams and familiar rivals, the Springboks are favourites to top the group with a quarter-final against New Zealand or Australia in the prospects. Thanks to the new format, where pools of death were taken out, the Boks should also have an easier Round of 16 clash. The Boks’ pool schedule could include trips between Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, or Adelaide, depending on where…

All the talk before the Proteas Women’s first match of the home summer may have been about former captain Dane van Nierkerk’s return to international cricket after a four-year spell in the international wilderness, but Laura Wolvaardt reminded everyone who really is in charge now. Wolvaardt showed off all her class with a record-breaking 115 not out that powered her team to a best-ever 220/2, and eventual 105-run victory over a helpless Ireland team in the first T20I at Newlands yesterday. It’s been 1014 days since Wolvaardt last graced the picturesque ground at the foot of Table Mountain when she valiantly tried to push the Proteas over the line in their first-ever T20 World Cup final. Since then, she and the Proteas, have featured in two further World Cup finals…

The Covid-19 pandemic has tilted the scales of travel preferences in favour of staycations – a chance to explore local attractions while avoiding the hassles associated with international travel. For many South Africans, December is synonymous with family vacations, often leading to festive gatherings in eMakaya (hometown) or indulging in local escapes. Staycations present the perfect opportunity to enjoy memorable experiences without straying far from home. They foster exploration within our own communities, promoting local businesses and enabling meaningful connections with the surroundings. Whether you’re setting off on a day trip to a family-friendly attraction or embarking on a weekend getaway to a nearby dorpie, there's plenty to do this festive season. If you’re looking for family-friendly fun this holiday, here’s our guide to top attractions across Johannesburg, Durban, and…

It’s that time of the year again, the season of twinkly lights, Mariah Carey resurfacing like it’s her annual national service, and of course, corny Christmas movies that melt our hearts. And listen, The Jingle Bell Heist fits right into that tradition. It’s the kind of film you curl up with on the couch, pretending it’s snowing outside even though it’s 32oC, you’re sweating through your pyjamas, and the only “cold front” is the one Eskom forgot to schedule. But hey, hot cocoa in hand, fan blasting, we move. From the opening scenes, the film serves warm, festive energy that feels oddly comforting. And because no Christmas flick is complete without a bit of crime, think Wet Bandits in Home Alone and, hello, or the Grinch with the sticky fingers,…

Not long ago, after-work drinks were a regular ritual. Many millennials started their careers with 5pm debriefs over cheap wine, midweek specials, and last-minute plans for “just one drink” that usually turned into three. Sociologists even called millennials the most drinking generation, the cohort that kept the alcohol industry buzzing well into the 2010s. If you’ve tried to wrangle a Gen Z friend into after-work drinks lately, you’ve probably heard some version of: “Can we make it a walk instead?” or “I’ve got Pilates at six”. It’s not personal. It’s cultural. Happy hour, once the sacred decompression window for millennials, is being rewritten by a generation that treats wellness the way previous generations treated nightlife: as a social currency, a lifestyle flex, and sometimes, a lifeline. Forget cocktails; 2025 is…

BAD drivers won’t be able to hide, some might have their licences scrapped and others compelled to undergo “rehab” when a slew of traffic rule changes come into effect next year. Traffic authorities say that under the new system, any infringements against a motorist’s name will be entered into an online traffic offences register, where drivers can check their own records. Law enforcement officers will also have instant access to the system during roadside stops. Collen Msibi from the Department of Transport says it’s just one of many initiatives aimed at improving safety on the country’s roads. “It’s basically a register if you want to see the history of your traffic fines. It doesn’t mean that certain people will make it to the list and others won’t, everybody will be…

This festive season, a heartwarming wave of generosity has enveloped the residents of the Association for the Aged (Tafta) as the Robin Hood Foundation South Africa extends its Bless A Granny & Grandpa project across various homes. This collaboration between non-profit organisations is not just about giving, but is a testament to the profound impact community-led kindness can have on the lives of older persons. Guided by Charlotte Edgar, the Robin Hood Foundation team has already made stops at Tafta’s St Martins Village on October 31 and Kings Hall on November 28. Their journey of generosity continues at Tafta Lodge, John Dunn House and Langeler Towers, ensuring that hundreds of elders will feel seen, valued, and celebrated. These visits have have transformed mundane days into jubilant celebrations, said Tafta’s Chief…

Cycle Sunday has returned for the holiday season. It takes over Durban’s iconic M4 highway, where it is expected to be a car-free cycling haven on December 14, just in time for the peak summer holiday season. The freeway will be open to cyclists from 5am to 9am. It is a non-competitive event making it perfect for everyone, from kids and first-time riders, to recreational riders, weekend warriors, and seasoned cyclists. Participants have the freedom to ride as far as they wish within the 31km route, allowing them to choose any distance they prefer. This event will provide a traffic-free freeway, water points en route, fun activities, ample space for families and slower riders and a relaxed holiday atmosphere. Shaun Peschi, founder of Peschi Sports, said the event was great…

International Relations and Co-operation Minister Ronald Lamola has issued a sharply worded response to criticism from the United States over South Africa’s G20 Presidency, insisting that Washington has mischaracterised the country’s role and misunderstood the purpose of the forum. Lamola delivered the remarks following comments by US officials suggesting South Africa had undermined consensus during its tenure as G20 host, an assertion he rejected as both factually incorrect and contrary to the ethos of multilateral co-operation. In his opening remarks, Lamola offered formal congratulations to the United States for assuming the G20 Presidency, but his address quickly pivoted to a direct challenge of the criticisms levelled at Pretoria. “From the outset, let me extend congratulations to the United States on assuming the G20 Presidency. We offer our sincere wishes for…

The district of George, resting beneath the Outeniqua Mountains, was once a meticulously engineered landscape of colonial exploitation. By 1834, the emancipation census, the district recorded 1038 enslaved Africans: 592 men and 446 women, including nearly 300 children. Most were Cape-born and Creole, while others arrived from Mozambique, Madagascar, and across the wider Indian Ocean. They farmed wheat and cattle, cut timber, and built the infrastructure that sustained the colonial economy. Cradock’s Pass, opened in 1822, and Montagu Pass, finished in 1847, survive today as heritage that signify “engineering triumphs.” Yet on their foundations sits the energy of the oppressed and imprisoned labourers whose names have been forgotten. The lives of oppressed Khoi and San were governed by a web of restrictive laws: the Hottentot Proclamation of 1798, the Caledon…

If the call across the land is for a more maximalist Christmas, First Lady Melania Trump did not heed it. In her first holiday back in charge of White House decor, she presented a straightforward, even understated – at least by White House standards – look on a tour that has been halved in size. This year’s theme? “Home Is Where the Heart Is.” And it’s officially called Christmas at the White House, rather than referring to the broader holiday season. (Indeed, there’s not a menorah or a nod to other religious traditions in sight. A White House staffer confirmed there is no menorah.) The decorations include ample ribbon throughout, Lego portraits of presidents Donald Trump and George Washington in the Green Room, 3D-printed ornaments on the White House Christmas…

THE Department of Health has been compelled to act against ‘xenophobic’ vigilantes after the Gauteng High Court ruled that blocking access to public health facilities is illegal. Judge Wilson on Thursday found that the blockades violated both legal and constitutional rights to healthcare. He warned that xenophobia is not just a social problem but a direct threat to democracy and human rights. “Xenophobia is one of the greatest threats to democracy and human rights we presently face. Leaving aside that it feeds on the most toxic of human instincts: the hatred of the other… the problem with xenophobia is its misdirection. If we can blame foreigners, we need not look to ourselves for the solutions to the poverty and inequality that scar our society,” he said. The judgment came after…

A small, highly anticipated study shows a glimmer of hope in the long effort to control HIV without medication and search for a cure for a virus that attacks immune cells. Researchers gave 10 people with HIV a complex regimen of experimental immunotherapies, then discontinued the daily pills that kept the virus at bay. In six participants, the virus rebounded slowly and stayed at a low level for months, and one person’s immune system kept the virus in check for more than a year and a half – giving scientists hope that they could optimize the approach to create a cure. “It’s provocative, but I’ve been doing treatment interruption studies for 30 years, and this is unexpected and unparalleled,” said Steven Deeks, a professor of medicine at the University of…

South Africans haven’t exactly embraced Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) with the enthusiasm that proponents predicted when manufacturers were spending billions of dollars on research and development and telling us that it was the only way forward before the world imploded. The reality is that almost all manufacturers have dialled down their expectations of when to put ICE engines out to pasture and, in the process, brought back some kind of normality to the world of motoring. What we have seen, though, is that buyers are seeing hybrid cars as a real alternative. They provide decent consumption, there’s no range anxiety, and you don’t have to rely on second or third-party infrastructure to keep you mobile. One such option we recently had on test was the Chery Tiggo Cross HEV that…

In the aftermath of what many considered a successful G20, the first on African soil, and the subdued Tuesday handover ceremonies, held quietly far from the glare of the media, the US responded. Washington’s reply was swift, voiced through the mouth and pen of US President Donald Trump, who declared that South Africa “will not receive an invitation” to the 2026 G20 Summit in Florida, a statement that reverberated far beyond Washington. On its surface, it is provocative – beneath it, a test of global order, forcing a reckoning between multilateral norms and unilateral prerogatives, between what the G20 was designed to be and the reality that raw power sometimes imposes. At first glance, this appears as a clash of personalities. But beyond the headlines, the dispute exposes a deeper…

Your retirement investments are not static. They need to be reviewed from time to time in accordance with an overall retirement plan, and there will be times in your life when changes will need to be made. It is prudent to reduce investment risk as you get older, especially once you have retired. However, it is also widely agreed among investment experts that, to generate enough income for what may be a long retirement, you may need to maintain a relatively substantial portion of higher-risk investments all the way through. Investment risk is the probability of your investment not performing as expected, typically through market volatility. When you have time on your side, volatility, which is a short-term risk, should not be a concern; in fact, it is necessary to…

If you have worked in the UK and are eligible to claim a state pension, now is the time to act. Big changes are coming. UK expats who once worked in Britain face a closing window of opportunity to secure affordable access to the state pension. The UK government has announced that from April 2026, voluntary National Insurance contributions for those living abroad will rise sharply, and eligibility rules will tighten. At present, anyone who has lived and worked in the UK for at least three years can voluntarily pay £182 (around R4 000) per year to add extra qualifying years to their pension record. This has allowed many South Africans who previously worked in Britain to build up enough years to receive a pension when they retire. But from…

Marumo Gallants stand between Orlando Pirates and a first-ever Carling Knockout Cup title in a final that carries pressure, history and the promise of a high-stakes battle. The showdown takes place tomorrow at the Peter Mokaba Stadium, where Pirates arrive as favourites after claiming four straight MTN8 titles, while Gallants enter as seasoned spoilers following shock wins over Stellenbosch, Golden Arrows and Mamelodi Sundowns. Pirates’ path to this moment has been anything but straightforward. Despite their pedigree, they have developed a frustrating tendency to stumble in domestic cups, suffering recent shock exits to Magesi and Richards Bay in the past two editions of this competition. Those setbacks fed a narrative of inconsistency that the Buccaneers are now desperate to silence by lifting a trophy they have never won. Reaching the…

South Africa’s four United Rugby Championship (URC) giants — the Bulls, Stormers, Lions and Sharks — delivered a mixed bag packed with grit, frustration, promise and flair. Some surged, some stumbled, some thrilled, and all four learned valuable lessons at home and abroad. Their URC campaigns showed how far South African rugby has evolved since joining the competition, but their European journeys showed how far there is still to go. We take a look at the four sides and what they have achieved in 2025. The Bulls A case of so close, yet so far. Again. They crept into another URC final; they had plenty of experience of playing in knockouts, but for a third time, the Bulls again fell short. It was again a frustrating end to a promising…

Proteas in-form top-order batter Matthew Breetzke told Indian reporters yesterday that India’s impressive record in Vizag is irrelevant as the visitors chase an ODI series triumph in Visakhapatnam today. India and South Africa are deadlocked in the One-Day series, with both teams having won one match each in the three-match showdown, with the decider set to take place in Vizag at 10am today. India have lost only two One-Day Internationals in Vizag in the past two decades and have turned Visakhapatnam into a fortress over the years. However, it is important to note that they have yet to play South Africa in ODIs at the venue. Regardless, Proteas batter Breetzke believes India’s record at the ground will play no part whatsoever in their upcoming clash. “I didn’t know about (their…

Former Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane has weighed in on the positives and challenges teams will face when they use the upcoming AFCON in Morocco to gauge their readiness for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. The biggest football event on the continent – AFCON – is set to get underway in Morocco from December 21 to January 18, with 24 nations competing for the coveted crown of African football. But of the lot, seven – Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Senegal and Ivory Coast – will be hoping to hit two birds with one stone by using the tournament as preparation. These seven teams will be eager to go all the way at AFCON – win the crown – and use that success as motivation and…

Foreign residents living in Saudi Arabia say that restrictions on the sale of alcohol have been further relaxed, just days after non-diplomats were first able to buy booze in the conservative kingdom. Non-Muslim foreign residents earning at least 50 000 riyals a month (R227 175) are now able to purchase drinks at the country’s sole alcohol shop in Riyadh, according to six people who spoke to AFP. Late last month, premium visa-holders were able to buy booze in Riyadh, marking the first time residents who were not foreign diplomats were able to purchase alcohol at the shop in the capital's diplomatic quarter. And then the rules were quietly eased again. In recent days, individuals said they provided their residency documents to staff at the shop, who then checked their salary…

IT’S a race against time to save the world’s fastest land mammal as cheetah numbers continue to plummet. Only about 7 500 remain in the wild, with roughly 1 400 of them in South Africa. Ahead of International Cheetah Day this week, Wild Africa, a wildlife communicator, said efforts to save the species must be stepped up if cheetahs are to survive the next century. Co-founder Peter Knights told the Independent on Saturday that even without humans in the mix, cheetahs face a hard life. “They struggle very often because they have lions and hyenas that will come and take their young. They’ll very often make a successful kill and they get pushed off by other animals. So being a cheetah in itself is a pretty tough life. But then…

Bafana Bafana will be out for revenge when they face Mexico at the 2026 Fifa World Cup opening match, having drawn 1–1 with them in the opening match of the 2010 tournament on home soil. Returning to the global stage for the first time since hosting in 2010 – more than 15 years ago – South Africa have been drawn in Group A alongside Mexico, South Korea, and the winners of a March play-off between Denmark, the Czech Republic, North Macedonia, and the Republic of Ireland. Bafana will be based in Mexico for the group stage, setting the scene for both a homecoming and the renewal of an old rivalry. Coach Hugo Broos last featured at a World Cup as a player in 1986, when Mexico hosted. Mexico and South…

Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu yesterday cautiously conceded that the Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) succeeded in executing its duties despite his decision to disband it. Mchunu told the Madlanga Commission, chaired by retired Constitutional Court Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, investigating allegations of criminality, political interference, and corruption in the criminal justice system, that he agreed with a January 2025 report compiled by National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola. The PKTT was disbanded by Mchunu on December 31, 2024, and a few weeks later, Masemola produced a preliminary report. The preliminary report stated: “The task team (PKTT) has undeniably achieved and far exceeded the purpose for which it was established.” Evidence leader Advocate Mahlape Sello SC asked the former KwaZulu-Natal premier whether he agreed with the report’s conclusion. In response, Mchunu…

Shortly after Amanda McCowan’s divorce, she met her ex-husband’s new girlfriend. She couldn’t stand her. “We had a very rocky start,” McCowen said of Angela Maples, the woman her ex would later marry. In fact, the two women could barely be in the same room. “I had formed the opinion in my brain when I first met her that I don’t like her, I’m not going to share my two older children with her,” said McCowen, 37, who has two children with her ex-husband. And yet, about 10 years after they first met, McCowen did something she never could have anticipated: She donated a kidney to Maples. “She saved my life,” said Maples, who lives in Granbury, Texas. Maples’s health struggles began after a trip to Hawaii in 2022. “I…

When Jacky Lee first heard about a raging fire at the Hong Kong housing estate where she lived, she rushed back to save Jason, her 15-year-old grey poodle still at home, fearing she would never see him again. Lee arrived to find Wang Fuk Court complex engulfed in what would become the Chinese city's deadliest blaze in decades, with at least 151 people killed when seven high-rises were burned to charred husks. The 43-year-old airline engineer joined the crowd waiting anxiously at a nearby school-turned-shelter on Wednesday for news on rescue efforts. After midnight, as the flames grew, a district councillor told her that the search for pets had ended. Then, just as all seemed lost, her phone rang. A firefighter called to ask if she had a dog in…

Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have said they will boycott the next Eurovision Song Contest after Israel was cleared to take part. Earlier this year, several broadcasters urged contest organizers the European Broadcasting Union to bar Israel over alleged vote-rigging and the war in Gaza. The latest US-brokered truce in the conflict was intended to pause the hostilities and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave, but continued Israeli attacks have killed 366 people since it was imposed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. This followed a year of escalating violence after Israel launched its military operation in response to Hamas’ October 2023 attack, which killed 1 200 people and led to 250 being taken hostage. The Israeli operation has since killed more than 70 000 Palestinians, according to the…

The SA National Roads Agency (Sanral) has announced that magnetic swipe cards will no longer be accepted at toll booths from this month. Sanral said that all toll plazas will now support Tap & Go, a contactless payment system that allows motorists to pay using a bank card or mobile device with EMV technology. The move is aimed at reducing fraud at toll booths, where criminals have previously used skimming devices to steal card information. Motorists are advised to use Tap & Go or electronic tag payments to ensure faster and more secure transactions.…

Moderna Where: Palm Court, Gateway Theatre of Shopping Open: Sunday to Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday and Saturday 8am to 9.30pm. Call: 031 210 0612 The Poet found it. It was a recommendation from her book club. A smart new restaurant had opened in Gateway. And so the whole extended family decided it was time to give things a whirl for Sunday lunch. Called Moderna, it was certainly modern with comfy banquettes and light Swedish ply and plenty of plants, it spilt out effortlessly onto a wide verandah in the Palm Court. The food style is Mediterranean with most stops in Italy. I had wondered if it was supposed to be a reference to the Italian city Modena, home of Ferrari. But no, it’s obviously Moderna as in modern with…

Playing music, dancing, creating art – and even playing some types of video games – aren’t just immersive and emotionally rewarding. They may actually slow down brain aging, a new study suggests. By analysing brain activity data, the researchers found that engaging in creative pursuits of all kinds is linked to a younger-looking brain. The study was published by Nature Communications in October. “This is not just a solution for the Da Vincis of the world. Anyone can benefit from having a creative hobby, not just geniuses or professional artists,” said study author Agustín Ibáñez, director of the Latin American Brain Health Institute at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez. “We are living in a world full of stress, uncertainty and despair. Creating a little bubble through art or music can have…

Car insurance platform MoneySuperMarket has trawled through more than 200 million UK vehicle safety inspection records, giving a glimpse at the faults most likely to trip up everyday motorists. The data comes from the UK’s DVSA MOT database, covering more than 3 200 models from major global brands. While the study is UK-based, the issues highlighted are universal - tyres, brakes and basic maintenance items remain the weak points across almost every brand. What fails most often? Three faults dominate the failure list across all makes and models: Parking brake inefficiency. Tyres worn below the legal 1.6mm tread depth. Windshield washers are not supplying enough fluid. These aren’t complex failures or hidden mechanical bugs. They’re basic, often overlooked issues that only get attention once a car is up on the…

When I first moved to New York, I walked into my new dentist’s office and genuinely wondered whether I’d accidentally wandered into a Victoria’s Secret audition. The waiting room was full of stunning young women. Eventually I learned the dentist shared space with a modeling agency. You couldn’t tell who was getting veneers and who was getting a contract until you were halfway down the hallway. Jeffrey Epstein’s life operated on the same architectural principle: two businesses shoved into one building, one involving underaged girls, the other involving powerful political figures, including some tied to the Israeli government. Not exactly whitening trays and catwalks, but equally disorienting. Epstein’s whole operation was like a perverted crossover episode of Law and Order meets House of Cards. The salacious half got all the…

Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) a national crisis. The statistics are devastating: three women are killed by an intimate partner every day in South Africa, and a quarter of women have reported experiencing physical or sexual abuse, according to the South African Medical Research Council. As we mark 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, new data from Statistics South Africa reveals 60 000 sexual offence incidents involving 44 000 victims between April last year and March this year. Only 56.3% were reported to police. About a sixth of reported incidents involved a spouse or intimate partner. And some people were abused more than once. Psychological abuse is equally insidious. Almost a sixth of those affected experience it daily, yet only 26.6% report it to…

One topic that continues to dominate in social circles is the medical aid industry. Most people, and even service providers in the industry, are constantly complaining about funds running out long before year-end. The top-end medical aid costs are only for the very wealthy, and most families can only afford the most basic plans. In this context, it is important to consider the role of the CMS (Council for Medical Schemes). One of the main objectives of the CMS is: “Serve beneficiaries of medical schemes and the public in general by reviewing and approving changes to contributions paid by members and benefits offered by schemes. The programme analyses and approves all scheme rules to ensure consistency with the MSA (Medical Schemes Act). This ensures that the beneficiaries have access to…

South African rugby fans have reason to celebrate: Rassie Erasmus will remain at the helm of the Springboks all the way through to the 2031 Rugby World Cup in the United States. SA Rugby confirmed yesterday that Erasmus’ contract has been extended by another four years — securing his leadership for a full six-year stretch until the next tournament. Fresh off a consecutive unbeaten November tour after claiming back-to-back Rugby Championship titles earlier in the year, Erasmus and the Boks have set their sights on taking their winning momentum into the 2026 season and ultimately the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, where they have been drawn in a pool with Italy, Romania and Georgia. Next year, tough Tests await against England and Scotland, while the world champions will also…

Springbok and Sharks flank Siya Kolisi is unlikely to take up an offer from Japan’s Kobelco Kobe Steelers, according to a high-placed source at the Durban franchise. Reports suggest the two-time World Cup-winning captain has been approached by the Steelers, and while a move to the less intense Japanese league would make sense at this stage of the 34-year-old’s career, another factor is likely to keep him in South Africa. “I would be surprised if Siya is considering a move abroad because he is very close to his children, who are at school in Cape Town,” the source said. “When Siya moved to Racing 92 after the 2023 World Cup, he missed home and came back to the Sharks.” Kolisi’s time in Paris was indeed short-lived — he returned to…

Springbok Sevens head coach Philip Snyman feels that the new Sevens format makes it easier to introduce new players to the system early in the series, and expand the depth of the Blitzboks squad, after handing uncapped utility back Nabo Sokoyi a debut at the Cape Town SVNS this weekend. The 23-year-old Sokoyi, who was born in Upington and schooled at Grey College in Bloemfontein, will take the place of Mfundo Ndhlovu in the only change to the squad that finished in fifth in Dubai a week ago. The South Africans will look to strike form from the first match today at the DHL Stadium to defend their title successfully. They kick off against Fiji (12.44pm), before facing Dubai winners New Zealand (4pm). Their final pool clash is against Great…

A relentless Australia seized a 44-run lead over England in the day-night second Ashes Test in Brisbane yesterday, with aggressive opener Jake Weatherald and Steve Smith leading the charge. By stumps, the hosts had not only reeled in England’s first-innings 334 but raced clear, ending a draining day two on 378-6 in front of a large, boisterous crowd at a humid Gabba. A decent lead is shaping as pivotal, with the pitch likely to deteriorate in the coming days. The hosts are 1-0 up in the series after beating England in Perth inside two days. “That was a crucial last hour there for us. To get to the end of play six down gives us a bit of time in the morning in that day session,” said Marnus Labuschagne, who…

Cup finals don’t simply unfold – they are seized, shaped, and sometimes stolen by individuals bold enough to command the moment. As Orlando Pirates and Marumo Gallants collide with silverware at stake, all signs point to a battle that will be decided by a handful of players whose form and flair have illuminated this tournament. For Pirates, Oswin Appollis has evolved into the club’s most lethal weapon off the bench. The winger carries an infectious energy, always darting at defenders, always asking questions. His goal against Chippa United showcased his sharp instincts, while the assist versus Durban City underlined a growing maturity in decision-making. With four goals and six assists across competitions, Appollis has quietly shifted from a squad option to a genuine game influencer – the kind who can…

Liverpool travel to Leeds this weekend with mounting questions over whether Arne Slot can halt the slide, while in-form Aston Villa take aim at Premier League leaders Arsenal. Slot’s defending champions are showing an alarming vulnerability at the back, with the poor form of captain Virgil van Dijk a growing cause for concern. It is a different story for watertight Arsenal, but the Gunners face a tricky trip to Unai Emery’s Villa. Here are three talking points ahead of the action this weekend. Van Dijk errors mount Mohamed Salah’s faltering form has been a major talking point during Liverpool’s dramatic collapse, but Virgil van Dijk is now also firmly in the firing line. The club’s success in tying down two of their modern greats on new contracts in April was…