Mangaung Unite FC is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality of the Free State province. The team competes in the ABC Motsepe League, South Africa’s third-tier football division, and serves as an important developmental side within the region’s soccer structure. Mangaung Unite FC have officially stamped their authority on Free State football, lifting the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League title in dominant fashion.
The celebratory image captures more than just a trophy-winning moment — it reflects a season of consistency, resilience, and collective effort. Players and technical staff, proudly wearing the club’s colours, pose together with triumphant gestures, symbolising unity and the hunger that drove their campaign.
Branded with the rallying call “#Rengapela Kopele,” the victory marks a significant milestone for the Bloemfontein-based side, positioning them as one of the province’s rising football forces. The ABC Motsepe League, known for its competitiveness and role in developing grassroots talent, has once again proven to be a platform where ambition meets opportunity.
For Mangaung Unite, this triumph is not just about silverware — it opens the door to greater challenges, including the prospect of competing for promotion to the national first division.
Supporters and the local football community will see this as a moment of pride, as the team continues to put Mangaung on the football map. With momentum firmly on their side, the champions now turn their focus to the next step — proving they can rise even higher.
Mangaung Unite FC is a South African football club based in Bloemfontein, within the Mangaung Metropolitan Municipality of the Free State province. The team competes in the ABC Motsepe League, South Africa’s third-tier football division, and serves as an important developmental side within the region’s soccer structure. Mangaung Unite FC have officially stamped their authority on Free State football, lifting the 2025/26 ABC Motsepe League title in dominant fashion.
The celebratory image captures more than just a trophy-winning moment — it reflects a season of consistency, resilience, and collective effort. Players and technical staff, proudly wearing the club’s colours, pose together with triumphant gestures, symbolising unity and the hunger that drove their campaign.
Branded with the rallying call “#Rengapela Kopele,” the victory marks a significant milestone for the Bloemfontein-based side, positioning them as one of the province’s rising football forces. The ABC Motsepe League, known for its competitiveness and role in developing grassroots talent, has once again proven to be a platform where ambition meets opportunity.
For Mangaung Unite, this triumph is not just about silverware — it opens the door to greater challenges, including the prospect of competing for promotion to the national first division.
Supporters and the local football community will see this as a moment of pride, as the team continues to put Mangaung on the football map. With momentum firmly on their side, the champions now turn their focus to the next step — proving they can rise even higher.
A moment meant to celebrate achievement at the University of the Free State turned to profound grief with the sudden passing of ’Me Mulalo Ndwa. Her loss is a heartbreaking reminder of both the fragility of life and the enduring impact of a young woman whose promise, dedication and spirit will remain with all who knew her.
By Bonang Mohale
Professor Bonang Mohale is the Chancellor of the University of the Free State and Professor of Practice in the Johannesburg Business School (JBS) in the Faculty of Business and Economics.
It was, still is and always will be with profound shock and deep sadness that I was handed a graduation card G03 with the name of ’Me Mulalo Ndwa with a simple but chilling message: “Student passed away on campus today.”
’Me Mulalo Ndwa was scheduled to receive her Master’s qualification at the University of the Free State’s April graduation ceremony (the other is in December) held at 2pm on 17 April 2026 in the Callie Human Centre, Main Campus, in Bloemfontein.
She was one of the 777 (of a total 8,350 graduates) in that afternoon session, in number 12 of 14 groups to go on stage. From that moment on, everything was sombre and just a haze as I was handed the unenviable task of announcing her death to the congregation just before the singing of the national anthem as I ended the graduation ceremony.
The procession hastily went to Room 46, where her two brothers and her partner were being comforted and assisted. Her older brother explained to us that she had invited the three to Bloemfontein, where she booked them in a guesthouse overnight. With great excitement, the four of them proceeded to the parking lot of the university grounds near the graduation hall.
Heartbreaking news
She was already dressed and asked her brother to pass her the gown, hood and cap. Her brother just felt her weight lean towards the door of the front passenger seat. He quickly held her in his arms and noticed that something was wrong. They called for help from a member of the protection service stationed at the parking lot, who immediately summoned the ambulance that is permanently located at the entrance to the graduation hall. After about 15 minutes in the ambulance, the two paramedics broke the heartbreaking news.
The song that we opened the graduation ceremony with on the afternoon of Thursday, 17 April 2026, still rings in my ears:
Here and Now: In the quiet before the name is called in the stillness before the light we stand on years of unseen work and step into this night hands that studied through the dark minds that stayed when doubt was near every failure, every question led us here this was never chance or favour this was time and sacrifice built in silence, shaped by patience claimed tonight we rise to know we rise to serve we rise beyond the moment and what we earn this is the work this is the vow we rise with purpose here and now hope was tested, fear was loud still we chose to stand our ground what we carried through the struggle has a sound not for praise not for pride but for truth that lived inside.
Here and Now represents a powerful anthem about resilience, finding purpose through struggle and overcoming adversity – a commitment to living intentionally, overcoming limitations and making difference. It emphasises growth, confidence and lifting others, transforming pain or challenges into meaningful action. This philosophy highlights that true success comes from aligned, value-driven living that empowers oneself and others.
’Me Mulalo Ndwa represents the hope, ambitions, aspirations and dreams of our 42,000 UFS students across three campuses (Qwaqwa, South and Main Campuses). The loss of a young life at a moment that should have marked the culmination of years of dedication and academic achievement is deeply tragic.
Her rich life confirms our belief that a new kind of youth is growing up in the world. An affinity of people living in every continent for whom the broadening of their curiosity is a major passion, and for whom education is never complete. Young people who are impatient with the slow pace of change in public life and who, while waiting for politics to enhance justice, believe that ordinary people can make big changes by improving the way they relate to each other daily life, and that the purpose of education is to keep your mind perpetually opened towards limitless possibilities.
As both Benjamin Disraeli and JFK at different times and with different tones opined: “On the education of this nation does the success of this nation depend.” Especially in Africa, the true power of education is revealed when students are seen as whole humans – not only as learners but as individuals with potential that extends well beyond academic metrics.
Individuals receptive to lessons of diversity and shared journeys, accolades and meaningful impact, curiosity and mindfulness, thoughtfulness and supreme adaptability – stepping forward with both empathy and courage, exposure and potential, connecting learning with purpose, application and hard work, failure and growth, self-discovery, life, discipline, leadership and resilience. It is about a redefinition of identity and the art of the possible!
Our collective, deepest and most heartfelt and sincere sympathies and condolences on the tragic, sad and regrettable loss of ’Me Mulalo Ndwe! We can only imagine that there is no pain deeper than losing a family member. May the Ndwe family, friends, fellow students and the entire university community find comfort and strength in the legacy of her kindness and unwavering commitment to her learning and general goodness.
She shall grow old no more and will walk beside the Ndwe family every day unseen, unheard, but always near – still loved, still missed and very dear. Our collective prayers are with the entire extended family.
May Jehovah grant the whole bereaved family, clan, friends, fellow students and the entire university community fortitude to bear the loss – and that you will all also find strength in Jehovah’s abiding grace, healing and His never-ending supply of love.
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. DM
This was originally posted by Daily Maverick
South Africa’s largest asset manager, Ninety One, says the war in Iran dealt a heavy blow to early optimism for the South African equity market.
Markets across the world were rattled when the US and Israel attacked Iran in late February. The Persian nation responded by targeting Middle Eastern energy supplies.
The war caused oil prices to skyrocket and a rise in risk-off sentiment. It bruised equity markets when many nations were set to turn the corner.
Ninety One said that global equities fell in Q1 2026, with the MSCI All Country World Index down 3.2%, as a strong start to the year gave way to a sharp geopolitical shock.
The asset manager said markets rallied through January and early February on resilient growth and continued enthusiasm for AI-led investment, even as strain was emerging in US technology stocks.
The outbreak of the war on the last day of February led to a massive surge in oil prices. Brent crude prices rose 94% over the quarter.
Ninety One said the war delivered a stagflationary shock that forced a rapid re-pricing of inflation and interest rate expectations.
“March marked the most acute phase of the sell-off, as tighter financial conditions and rising macro uncertainty drove a broad-based risk-off move, with growth stocks particularly exposed,” it said.
It added that the global shift in sentiment was also felt in South Africa, where strong early-year gains, driven by resources and improved domestic optimism, were reversed.
Higher oil prices, a weaker rand and rising inflation expectations weighed on markets. While South Africa struggled, other international markets, such as the US and Japan, proved more resilient.
South Africa’s struggles
President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ninety One CEO Hendrik du Toit
“South African markets entered 2026 with strong momentum, but the first quarter proved to be a tale of two halves,” said Ninety One.
“A strong opening rally was followed by a sharp geopolitical shock that unsettled markets in the final weeks.”
The JSE All Share Index rose to a record high in late January and into February, driven by the resource sector, with gold and platinum seeing outsized returns.
Industrials, financials and selected hedge stocks also contributed to early gains. However, Q1’s trajectory shifted near the end of February, when the war started.
“Market sentiment deteriorated significantly in the following weeks, with the metals and mining sector giving back much of its earlier gains and weighing heavily on the broader index,” said Ninety One.
“By quarter-end, the index remained slightly below its starting level for the year and had retreated meaningfully from its peak.”
The rand followed a similar pattern, rising to around R15.73/USD in late January before reversing sharply. The quarter closed at R16.94/$.
The South African Reserve Bank said that higher fuel prices and the weaker currency were expected to push inflation higher in the coming months.
The 10-year government bond yield started the quarter on a strong footing after S&P’s credit upgrade, but rose to 9.32% by the end of Q1 as investors reassessed the inflation and monetary policy outlook.
“The SARB held the repo rate steady at 6.75% at both its January and March meetings, and the market is now pricing in rate hikes,” said the asset manager.
“On the positive side, inflation had reached the 3% target in February, and Finance Minister Godongwana delivered an encouraging Budget speech, projecting narrowing deficits and stabilising debt.”
Nevertheless, Ninety One warned that the Iran conflict quickly overshadowed these domestic positives, leaving markets in a more cautious mood as the quarter closed.
This article was originally posted by BusinessTech
Former Capitec Group CEO Gerrie Fourie scored a R155 million payday in the 2026 financial year, having turned the group into the nation’s most valuable bank.
In July 2025, Fourie retired as Capitec’s CEO after a demanding 10-year tenure. After his retirement, Fourie stayed on at Capitec in a non-executive capacity.
Fourie was succeeded by Graham Lee, who was the CEO of Capitec’s core Personal Banking business.
“His leadership marked one of our history’s most significant growth periods, from a disruptive newcomer to South Africa’s leading financial service,” said Capitec.
Fourie, one of the early founders of the bank at the start of the century, played a crucial role in turning it into the nation’s largest bank, with over 26 million clients.
Fourie became CEO of Capitec Bank in 2013, when the bank had 5 million clients. He said his goal was not only to grow the business but also to prioritise clients and address their needs.
“That client-first focus powered many of our bold moves during his tenure, from launching the banking app to rolling out Capitec Pay,” said the bank.
During Fourie’s time as Capitec CEO, the bank acquired Mercantile, launched Capitec Business and Capitec Insurance, and expanded its global footprint through the AvaFin acquisition.
The vast majority of Fourie’s farewell figure was influenced by Capitec’s long-term incentive plan.
He received nearly R146 million from the vesting of these incentives. This amount comprised 23,681 share options and 23,681 Share Appreciation Rights (SARs).
These were successfully vested due to Capitec fully meeting its performance targets and achieving significant share price growth of 159% during this period.
For the portion of the year he worked before his retirement on July 18, 2025, Fourie’s total guaranteed pay (TGP) amounted to R8,539,000.
This included a cash salary and provident fund contribution of R7,497,000, along with R1,042,000 in additional benefits.
Since Fourie retired partway through the year, he was considered ineligible to receive any short-term incentive (STI) cash bonus for the 2026 financial year.
The LTI included in the single figure takes into consideration both the delivery on the underlying ROE and HEPS performance measures, and the significant growth in Capitec’s share price.
Capitec’s financial results
Capitec has reported a significant increase in headline earnings per share, with the bank projecting further growth.
For the financial year ending on February 28, 2026, headline earnings rose by 23% to R16.8 billion, compared to R13.7 billion in FY 2025.
Additionally, the company increased its dividend per share by 23%, growing to 7,980 cents.
“That is several years of compounding momentum – a trajectory very few can match. We are not a growth story that has peaked. We are still building,” the group said.
Its net interest income rose by 19% to R24.1 billion (R20.2 billion in 2025). Interest income on lending grew by 14%.
Interest income experienced significant growth, driven by a 27% increase in loan disbursements for Personal Banking and a remarkable 48% increase for Business Banking.
The group noted that targeted offers, informed by data analytics, played a key role in boosting lending in Personal Banking, while growth in Business Banking was fuelled by scored lending.
Additionally, interest income from investments rose by 2% to R9.2 billion, attributed to a 7% growth in the average cash and investment portfolio.
However, the decline in the repo rate from 7.5% to 6.75% affected investment yields, as did a shift towards floating-rate instruments.
Despite a 5% increase in deposits and wholesale funding, the group’s interest expenses fell by 8% to R9.2 billion on the back of the reduced repo rate and the restructuring of savings accounts.
Overall, the group’s total loan disbursements grew by 34% to R98.3 billion.
However, the net credit impairment charge on loans and advances increased by 21%, reflecting a 14% growth in the loan book and a rise in the credit loss ratio from 7.5% to 8.1%.
Increases in credit loss ratios were observed across all sectors: Business Banking rose to 2.4%, Personal Banking increased to 8.2%, and AvaFin saw a significant jump to 53.2%.
This article was originally posted by BUSINESSTECH
National police commissioner General Fannie Masemola’s precautionary suspension by President Cyril Ramaphosa, after being criminally charged for violating the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA), will not fix the challenges facing the SA Police Service (SAPS).
Ramaphosa this week announced that he had agreed with Masemola that he be deemed to be on precautionary suspension pending the conclusion of the case after the top cop appeared before the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court.
The president appointed divisional commissioner for financial management services Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane as the acting national police commissioner.
Masemola is charged with contravening the PFMA in relation to the alleged irregular awarding of a R228 million contract to Medicare24, which is owned by controversial attempted murder accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Masemola and his 16 co-accused including Matlala will be back next month and the others face charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering.
Prof. Kholofelo Rakubu, criminologist and Assistant Dean: Research and Innovation at the Tshwane University of Technology’s Humanities faculty, described Masemola’s precautionary suspension as once again highlighting a recurring governance pattern within the SAPS: the reliance on suspension as a substitute for deeper institutional reforms.
Five high-ranking SAPS officers suspended as Madlanga Commission investigates corruption
“While suspension may serve as a short-term accountability measure, it does not address the systemic vulnerabilities that repeatedly place national commissioners in positions where suspension becomes inevitable,” she said.
According to Rakubu, the SAPS has long struggled with structural weaknesses such as opaque procurement systems, politicised appointments and inadequate oversight that create fertile ground for governance failures.
“These vulnerabilities mean that leadership instability is not an exception but a recurring feature. The result is a cycle where commissioners are suspended, acting appointments are made and the institution remains in a state of paralysis,” she explained.
Rakubu also stated that Dimpane’s temporary leadership must be understood within this context and that while she may bring professionalism and stability in the short term, the limitations of acting appointments are clear: they lack the authority and long-term mandate to drive reform.
“This is compounded by the fact that the police ministry itself is under acting leadership, which further weakens strategic direction and continuity,” she added.
Rakubu believes that the impact of having both an acting minister and an acting commissioner is significant and creates uncertainty, undermines morale within the ranks, and signals to the public that the institution is in a perpetual state of crisis management rather than reform.
“Without a commitment to institutional restructuring, strengthening governance frameworks, depoliticising appointments, and ensuring accountability mechanisms beyond suspension, the SAPS will remain trapped in this cycle,” she warned.
In addition, Rakubu stated that in the short-term, the current situation within the SAPS reflects not just the challenges of individual leadership but the failure to address systemic reform.
“Until governance is strengthened at its roots, acting appointments will continue to serve as placeholders rather than solutions, perpetuating paralysis within the SAPS,” she declared.
The Independent Police Union of South Africa (Ipusa) said Masemola’s precautionary suspension was a necessary move to uphold the SAPS’s integrity and that his court appearance highlighted the pressing requirement for accountability at the highest levels of policing.
Ipusa said Dimpane’s acting stint as national commissioner should emphasise the importance of utilising this interim period constructively to restore public confidence in SAPS.
“The institution faces deep-rooted challenges, including corruption, inconsistent enforcement of disciplinary measures, and political interference, all of which have steadily undermined public trust,” the union added.
Ipusa said Dimpane has a valuable, though possibly brief, opportunity to show that SAPS leadership can be defined by transparency, fairness, and robust protection for whistle-blowers.
“Her effectiveness will be measured not by words, but by actions – specifically, the consistent application of disciplinary processes, safeguarding procurement procedures from manipulation, and ensuring that honest officers are protected rather than targeted,” Ipusa stated.
It suggested that to move SAPS forward, she must prioritise independent investigations that are allowed to proceed without fear or favour, and institutional reforms should reinforce compliance and oversight mechanisms.
The union also said that while Dimpane’s challenges will be rooted in operational experience, her relationship with the board of commissioners will be pivotal to her success or failure.
“Ipusa advises her to draw on the collective expertise of the board, uphold the Constitution, and avoid advancing personal interests,” the union opined.
The Freedom Front Plus said Dimpane was the SAPS’s chief financial officer during a period marked by extensive financial irregularities, in which significant sums of money were misappropriated and that evidence of this has recently been presented before the Madlanga Judicial Commission of Inquiry, among other platforms.
“This does not mean that Dimpane is directly implicated in any wrongdoing, but the fact that these transgressions occurred under her watch does not instil confidence,” the party said.
GOOD secretary-general Brett Herron said long-suffering South Africans should not have had to wait for Masemola to be suspended after appearing in court in relation to alleged tender oversight failures.
“He should have been pushed out last year when the levels of depravity in the senior ranks of police under his command became clear in the early proceedings of the Madlanga Commission and Parliamentary Ad-Hoc Committee probing police malfeasance,” he said.
Herron added that there is no evidence that Masemola benefitted from corruption but his weak management enabled corruption and that the police need stronger leadership.
This article was originally posted by IOL
