Much like a Liverpool fan shouting for Man United, it’s simply not done. But there are exceptions. South Africa’s big, and more accomplished, rivals, Nigeria, could have the biggest say in whether or not Bafana Bafana make it to the Fifa World Cup next year.
As it stands, Benin top Group C of the Caf Fifa World Cup qualifiers with 17 points heading into the final round of fixtures on Tuesday. South Africa are second with 15 points, while Nigeria are third on 14 points.
Benin’s goal difference is five, while South Africa and Nigeria’s are both three.
Nigeria will host Benin at Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, with their hopes held high that they could still finish top of the group.
Nigeria’s Path to Victory: A Win Over Benin and Bafana’s Hope Against Rwanda
If Nigeria beat Benin by two goals or more, they will also end on 17 points but with a superior goal difference.
That would be just what the doctor ordered for Bafana, as they must simply win at all costs and just hope Benin lose.
Bafana will host Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium. The last time the teams met, Bafana lost 2-0 to hosts Rwanda in the second round of Fifa World Cup qualifiers way back in November 2023.
Of course, Bafana could have been in a much stronger position had they not been penalised due in large part to an administrative oversight. That was because Bafana fielded the ineligible Teboho Mokoena for a qualifier match against Lesotho in March.
It meant Fifa made the correct decision to dock Bafana three points as their 2-0 win over Lesotho was converted to a 3-0 loss.
Had they not been penalised for that error, things would have been rather different. For now, though, we are all Nigeria supporters first and Bafana second.
*This article was first published by IOL news
Three cases of the disease have been reported in the province this week
By: Abigail Visagie
The Free State Department of Health has confirmed that one person has died from Malaria at a farm in Luckhoff, after three cases of the deadly disease were detected in the small Xhariep District town earlier this week.
Department Spokesperson, Mondli Mvambi, has confirmed that one of the three patients, a 53-year-old male, has unfortunately succumbed to the disease. Mvambi also revealed that his wife, aged 50, has been moved out of intensive care and into a general ward, while a 23-year-old male has since been discharged.
According to the National Department of Health, Malaria is a deadly disease caused by a parasite that is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Malaria is one of the biggest health challenges that the world faces today.
According to a recent report by WHO, 597 000 people died from the disease in 2023 alone, and approximately 263 million were newly infected, and 95% of all malaria cases come from the African continent, even though malaria is treatable and preventable.
In South Africa 3 900 cases and 31 deaths were reported in 2025, compared to over 11 600 cases and 56 deaths in 2019.
In the media statement, Mvambi highlighted that none of the family members had travelled to a malaria-endemic region recently, but confirmed that the department was weighing the risk of the disease spreading.
“At this stage, odyssean malaria (infection from a mosquito inadvertently transported from an endemic area) is suspected, while the possibility of rare local transmission is being investigated.”
He further reassured residents in the province that the Provincial and District Outbreak Response Teams, supported by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and the National Department of Health, are conducting case investigations, environmental assessments and enhanced surveillance.
“As part of risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), community health workers and health promoters are conducting health education, active case finding and risk communication. Screening has commenced in the affected area, including surrounding farms.”
Some of the symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, body aches, and nausea or unusual fatigue. Individuals experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care promptly.
Residents are encouraged to reduce mosquito bites by using appropriate repellents, wearing long sleeves and trousers from dusk to dawn and removing standing water around homes.
The Free State MEC for Health, Monyatso Mahlatsi, conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
“We extend our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family during this difficult time,” said Mahlatsi.
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An aggrieved Nedbank former employee took the financial institution to the Labour Court in Johannesburg to overturn mutual separation agreement (MSA) between him and the bank.
Erwin Sonwabile Meth, who served as a group marketing manager at the bank, engaged in a secretive relationship with Luntu Ngcwabe, a sector head in the corporate and investment banking division.
The affair, which transpired while Ngcwabe remained in a heterosexual marriage, eventually came to light.
Meth alleged that following the revelation of the affair, he was victimised, discriminated against, and harassed at work.
Tensions escalated during a trip to Sun City resort for the Nedbank Golf Challenge. During the trip, he stayed with Ngcwabe who was there in an official capacity.
During the course of their stay there, Meth was involved in numerous arguments with third parties including Sun City staff and damaged Sun City’s property. This troubling behaviour did not go unnoticed; Sun City provided footage of the incidents to Nedbank, prompting the bank to take disciplinary action against him.
However, rather than contest the bank's actions, Meth chose to sign a mutual separation agreement, relinquishing his position.
In a surprising turn, he now contends that his signature was obtained under duress, rendering the agreement void.
He further faulted Sun City for sharing the footage with Nedbank which he said violated his constitutional rights and argued that the resort together with the bank were liable for the damages he suffered and claimed R45 million.
He also held Ngcwabe liable for the damages. It's alleged the former couple had a messy breakup after dating for five years. The two have since sought protection orders against each other.
In response, Nedbank argued that the Labour Court lacked jurisdiction to address the conclusion of the MSA as the matter was settled, secondly, it was held that Meth's statement of that claim failed to disclose a cause of action, was vague and embarrassing.
Meanwhile, Ngcwabe also argued that the court lacked jurisdiction as there was no employment relationship between him and Meth.
Sun City also distanced itself from Meth's claims as he failed to make a case against the resort.
Presiding over the matter, acting judge Rushil Bhima noted that Meth was legally represented by attorneys and counsel and the statement of claim emanated from an attorney. However, it was badly drafted that there can be no finding other than the upholding of the exceptions of the defendants.
"In my view, in those circumstances, it would be unfair for the defendants to bear the costs associated with the exceptions which were not only well taken but, in my view, necessary," said the acting judge.
Acting judge Bhima also mentioned that Ngcwabe was dragged to the legal battle for no reason.
As a result, Meth was ordered to pay for the legal fees of all the respondents.
His application was dismissed.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Three former employees of the Gauteng West Department of Education have been convicted and sentenced for theft and fraud after creating ghost employees and siphoning funds from the department’s payroll system.
Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Warrant Officer Thatohatsi Mavimbela says the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sentenced Thaniso Ralethe 37, Kenneth Maredi Mothiang, 43, and Banyana Caroline Mokela, 50, following their convictions earlier this year.
Mavimbela revealed that the trio “whilst employed by the department between the year 2014 and 2015 fraudulently created ghost employees on the department's payroll system and assigned those ghost employees to the Bekkersdal Primary School.”
Their fraudulent activity came to light when Bekkersdal Primary School submitted a request to the department to fill vacant posts, a process that prompted an internal review.
“This unlawful criminal act was uncovered when the school in question submitted a request to the department to fill vacant posts at the school prompting an internal review,” Mavimbela said.
Once the review was completed, the matter was reported to the police, leading to the arrests of the three officials.
“The matter was then reported to the police resulting in the three implicated individuals resigning from the department in December 2015 following their arrest,” said Mavimbela.
After being found guilty on May 23 2025, the trio received their sentences on 2 October 2025.
Thaniso Ralethe, was sentenced to three years imprisonment, wholly suspended for five years, on condition that he is not convicted of fraud, theft, or attempted theft during the suspension period.
Kenneth Maredi Mothiang received ten years imprisonment, with four years suspended on similar conditions, resulting in an effective six years in jail.
Banyana Caroline Mokela was sentenced to an effective eight years imprisonment.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi may have had noble intentions when he established the provincial crime-fighting unit known as the Crime Prevention Wardens — or “AmaPanyaza” — but the initiative is unlawful, according to KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
Mkhwanazi made the remarks before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, which is probing the explosive allegations he recently made against senior officials.
He told MPs that he had strongly objected during a meeting of the SAPS Board of Commissioners (BOC) to the creation of the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens, arguing that the structure was not sanctioned by law — a view later supported by SAPS Legal Services.
The BOC, he explained, is the highest decision-making body of the SAPS, comprising all provincial commissioners, divisional commissioners, and the acting national head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, also known as the Hawks.
“When the premier of Gauteng (Lesufi), with good intentions to fight crime in the province of Gauteng, started a unit that by law should not exist — the Mapanya-panya that is famous. I raised that at the BOC and I said this is illegal,” said Mkhwanazi.
“It is against the law, and the premier must be advised. He has got good intentions but it cannot be done. The law doesn’t allow it. The very senior managers in the police said no, just leave the premier alone. At the next BOC, Legal Services came up with a presentation and they argued the same thing I had argued.
“They presented that what has been done in Gauteng is against the law, it should not be allowed. This was when there was an engagement at executive level, between the minister and the premier at the time,” he said.
Mkhwanazi told the committee that despite his objections, training of the wardens had gone ahead.
“My argument in the BOC and the support from Legal Services was not taken seriously. So they continued with the training. But because Legal Services had taken note of it, they went to the minister and said, minister you cannot sign this off, it is against the law.
“Obviously, the premier of Gauteng was not very pleased that Minister (Bheki) Cele did not want to sign them. As a result, to date, that unit, that group of members, could not be incorporated into the Police Act. They are still there in Gauteng, I’m not sure whether they are enforcing the law, or what they are doing in Gauteng, but legally they are not supposed to be there,” Mkhwanazi emphasised.
In 2023, IOL reported that then Justice Minister Ronald Lamola granted the Crime Prevention Wardens the same legal status as Gauteng’s provincial traffic officers.
Lamola’s spokesperson Chrispin Phiri explained at the time that although the wardens were legally designated as traffic officers, they could still engage in crime-fighting activities, albeit with powers more limited than those of the SAPS.
Lamola was updating the public on the status of the 6,000 wardens — established in February 2023 by Lesufi and then Community Safety MEC Faith Mazibuko to combat crime in Gauteng’s communities.
IOL further reported that the wardens underwent three months of training at a farm in Cullinan and had made headlines after crashing more than 22 BMW vehicles assigned to them.
“After conducting a thorough analysis of the applicable legal frameworks, it was determined that for the Gauteng Crime Prevention Wardens to exercise peace officer powers, they must assume the same legal status as Gauteng provincial traffic officers. Provincial traffic officers currently carry out their duties within the ambit of their peace officer designation, supported by the necessary legal framework,” said Phiri at the time
The Gauteng government had written to Lamola in June 2023, seeking his approval to designate the wardens as peace officers under Section 334 of the Criminal Procedure Act, 1977.
Phiri explained that, in terms of Section 334(1)(a), the Minister of Justice and Correctional Services may confer peace officer powers on any person by virtue of their office to exercise authority under the Act for specific offences or categories of offences.
He said Lamola had engaged in discussions with Lesufi and then Police Minister Cele in an attempt to resolve the contentious matter.
*This article was first published IOL News
