Author: Larson Thebe
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made only one change in the team that is going to face the All Blacks for the Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series decider in Baltimore, USA, on Saturday. This as injuries have forced wing and fullback Cheslin Kolbe to stay behind and will be replaced by Damian Willemse, while scrumhalf Morne van den Berg being drafted into the starting team. Despite leading the series 2-1, Erasmus believes that there’s still room for improvement and eliminating some of the mistakes made during the past three matches. “We always want to try and play better,…
Strong and destructive winds have damaged more than 20 schools in the North West, causing extensive damage to roofs and mobile classrooms. According to the Department of Education, the number of damaged schools is expected to increase when schools reopen on Monday. The extensive damage comes as the department is still reeling from the recent burning of three schools and is expected to place further pressure on the already strained departmental infrastructure. The department’s Head of Communication, Dr Elias Malindi, says the damage has been recorded in all districts of the province. “In the Ngaka Modiri Molema District, the affected…
The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has cautioned motorists and pedestrians to exercise extreme caution on the roads due to adverse weather conditions and high winds affecting various parts of the city. The warning comes after severe weather caused waterlogged soil and uprooted trees, leading to multiple road obstructions and hazardous driving conditions across Johannesburg. According to JMPD spokesperson Superintendent Xolani Fihla, fallen trees and storm debris have caused significant traffic disruptions across several key routes. “Currently, Cooper and Beryl Street in Cyrildene, near Athlone Girls’ High School, is blocked due to a large tree that has fallen across the…
Springbok captain Siya Kolisi says the team wants to thank its unwavering supporters by securing a victory over the All Blacks at FNB Stadium in Nasrec on Saturday. Kolisi says a win would mean a lot to ordinary South Africans, homeless people and those who cannot afford to attend the match and watch the team play from the stadium. Saturday’s match will mark the Boks’ final game on home soil this year, with the two teams currently level at one win apiece in the four-Test Castle Double Malt Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry. “We obviously want to win the game, but also,…
One driver has died after the vehicle he was travelling in collided head-on with a loaded truck transporting steel pipes and caught fire on the N1 North, near Mekete Lodge, Polokwane. Authorities say the victim, who was driving a Volkswagen Polo, was attempting to overtake when the accident occurred. He died at the scene. No injuries were reported among the occupants of the truck. “The Limpopo Department of Transport and Community Safety informs motorists that the N1 North, near Mekete Lodge, Polokwane, has been cleared and is now open to traffic following a motor vehicle accident that occurred this morning.…
South African exporters have been given a two-year reprieve after the United States extended the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) until the end of 2028. The extension provides greater certainty for businesses selling qualifying products into the US market, after months of uncertainty over whether South Africa would remain part of the preferential trade programme. US President Donald Trump has signed the legislation into law after it cleared Congress, extending AGOA without major policy changes. For South African businesses, the extension is particularly significant because AGOA provides eligible exports with preferential, including duty-free, access to the US market. Sectors…
A driver of a patient transport vehicle was robbed of his wallet and cellphone, while five patients he was transporting were robbed of their cellphones before the vehicle was hijacked in Tladistad village near Makapanstad in Moretele, North West. Authorities said the incident occurred on Tuesday evening while the vehicle was transporting patients. “According to preliminary information, the driver had just dropped off an elderly patient who had been discharged from Jubilee Hospital when an armed man approached the vehicle, pointed a firearm at the driver and ordered him to hand over his cellphone and wallet. “The driver was subsequently…
For the first time since December last year, the North West Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has recorded no new cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the province over the past week. According to the department, the milestone marks a significant development in the province’s ongoing efforts to contain and curb the spread of the disease. “This is the first week since December 2025 that the province has recorded no new FMD cases, signalling a positive shift in the province’s fight against the disease. It also provides encouragement that intensified vaccination and disease-control interventions are beginning to yield results,”…
Motorists have been warned to brace for steep fuel price increases at the pumps from 2 September. The Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources has announced fuel price adjustments effective Wednesday, citing local and international factors behind the increases. This marks the second consecutive monthly fuel price increase, following the adjustment announced in August. Both grades of petrol, 93 and 95, will increase by R1.34 per litre. Diesel 0.05% sulphur will increase by R2.94 per litre, while diesel 0.005% sulphur will rise by R3.15 per litre. Wholesale illuminating paraffin will increase by R2.13 per litre, while the single maximum national…
Deputy President Paul Mashatile is recovering well at home after undergoing a minor surgical procedure, his office has confirmed. The Office of the Deputy President issued the update in response to weekend media reports concerning Mashatile’s health and his prolonged absence from some public engagements. “The Office reiterates the position communicated previously: the Deputy President became unwell while at home in Johannesburg and, under the supervision of his medical team, sought medical attention,” said Mashatile’s acting spokesperson, Keith Khoza. Mashatile was admitted for a minor surgical procedure and observation before being discharged. He is now continuing his recovery at home…