Innholdsfortegnelse for 2026-01-11 i Sunday Independent

Cosmetic surgery looks effortless online. A few photos, a big reveal, and suddenly, confidence seems instant. But what those glossy before-and-after posts rarely show is everything that happens in between. The swelling. The bruising. The waiting. The emotional rollercoaster. For many people considering cosmetic surgery, the recovery phase is something they think about last, even though it often shapes how they feel about their results the most. In South Africa, more people than ever are choosing aesthetic procedures, and while the decision to have surgery is usually carefully considered, the healing process is often underestimated. Cosmetic surgery is booming There is no denying it. Cosmetic surgery has gone mainstream. According to the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, South Africa consistently ranks among the top 25 countries worldwide for surgical…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Advocate Andy Mothibi as National Director of Public Prosecutions on January 6, 2026, sparked immediate debate: some called it decisive, others saw political theatre. Both views contain truth. But both miss the more important point. The real question is not whether the appointment process was ideal. It clearly was not. The real question is whether Mothibi will deliver what South Africa urgently needs: swift, fearless prosecutions that hold powerful people to account. After more than a decade of state capture, institutional sabotage, and justice delayed, the country does not need another careful custodian. It needs a prosecutor who acts. Mothibi’s record gives reason for cautious optimism. As head of the Special Investigating Unit since 2019, he oversaw the recovery of more than R2.28 billion in…

The Gauteng High Court, Johannesburg, has ordered the Road Accident Fund (RAF) to pay over R2 million in damages to a 35-year-old Malawian national following a car accident in Sandton in August 2022. The court's decision is a default judgment, granted on October 16, 2025, after the RAF failed to respond promptly to the summons served in May 2024. The plaintiff, who worked as a gardener and handyman, approached the High Court to claim damages for future loss of earnings and past medical expenses. The issues of general damages and future medical expenses had already been settled with the RAF. In May 2024, the RAF was served with a summons but failed to respond on time, leading to a default judgment being granted on October 16, 2025. During the accident,…

POTUS 47 is on a high, the dangerous and delirious kind. From his latest Venezuelan escapade, he has come to believe in his own invincibility, or omnipotence of you will. In the four military expeditions he has been involved in, no American servicemen or servicewomen, for that matter, have suffered any casualties. This has made his administration plan and execute wars, the kind where no casualties could be contemplated. When assuming the presidency for a second stint, US President Donald Trump authorised the bombardment of Puntland, a breakaway province of Somalia. A mere twelve days in office, this was his first foray into a kinetic theatre of conflict. Needless to say, this adventurism did not result in any loss of military personnel. Six months later, the Donald struck Iran with…

Universities South Africa (USAf) announced a significant change to the admissions timeline on Saturday, confirming that public universities will only release application outcomes to prospective first-time-entering students after the official release of the National Senior Certificate (NSC) results to pupils and schools next week. "This is happening for the first time in many years," said Mateboho Green, USAf's manager of Corporate Communications. The shift is a direct consequence of USAf being granted access to the 2025 NSC results at 6am on January 12 — just 24 hours before their public release on January 13. Ordinarily, universities would have received the NSC results three days before the public release. This longer timeframe, according to USAf's Chief Executive, Phethiwe Matutu, previously allowed institutions to "finalise admission decisions and issue acceptance letters on…

South African parents are being urged to pay closer attention to the ingredients in health supplements and baby products, following another safety alert issued by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) this week. In its latest communication, SAHPRA warned that it has identified products currently on the market that contain zinc picolinate and selenium, which are intended for use in children. According to the regulator, neither ingredient is permitted in health supplements for children under the age of 18. “SAHPRA has been made aware of products in the market containing zinc picolinate (as a source material for zinc) and/or selenium intended for use in children,” the authority said. The regulator said the ingredients have been flagged in its official guidance on complementary medicines and health supplements as unsuitable…

Until the final outcome of protracted divorce proceedings, a woman’s attempt to continue living in a matrimonial home she had been evicted from failed after she turned to the courts to retain further occupancy despite the home having already been sold. The Supreme Court of Appeal, which dealt with the application for reconsideration, upheld the decision of the Western Cape High Court. The divorce proceedings of the couple, who were married out of community of property under the accrual system, have yet to conclude, having begun in June 2010. In those proceedings, the wife claimed payment of half the difference in the accruals of her and her estranged husband’s respective estates, as well as lifelong spousal maintenance. The property was purchased by the husband in 2003. Although he was the…

The Government of National Unity will soon convene a cabinet lekgotla at a decisive juncture in South Africa’s political and economic trajectory. This moment is not defined by routine governance cycles, but by the convergence of domestic structural strain and an increasingly unstable global environment. The lekgotla, therefore, assumes significance as a strategic forum where the state must demonstrate clarity of purpose, coherence of action and a capacity to align political authority with material outcomes. Accordingly, the cabinet lekgotla must be approached as a moment of state consolidation within a complex coalition architecture. The presence of multiple political formations within the executive elevates the demand for discipline, co-ordination and a shared understanding of the developmental mandate of the state. The lekgotla will take place within the context of bubbling geopolitical…

For decades, the demand for colonial reparations in Africa was treated by Western capitals as a rhetorical exercise – a radical plea from the fringes that could be safely ignored or pacified with vague “expressions of regret”. By the end of 2025, the era of Western comfort officially ended in Algiers. With the adoption of the Algiers Declaration, the AU has moved from moral grievance to a structured legal offensive. The declaration, born from the International Conference on the Crimes of Colonialism (November 30 to December 1), provides the first concrete roadmap for the AU’s 2025 theme – Justice Through Reparations. It demands the codification of colonialism as a crime against humanity in international law, the restitution of plundered wealth and an audit of the “ecological debt”. The ink…

Pretoria Capitals captain Keshav Maharaj inflicted an upset of note, beating the Paarl Royals in their own backyard at Boland Park yesterday afternoon. Maharaj returned figures of 2/14, helping the visiting Pretoria Capitals defend 138 runs—a total many would have believed was below par at the halfway mark of the match. Fast bowler Lungi Ngidi (1/35) was also crucial to the Capitals' victory, setting the tone beautifully with the new ball by removing Lhuan-dre Pretorius with the second delivery of the match. Ngidi bowled full and straight, shaping the ball into the left-handed batter and trapping him in front of the stumps to get the Pretoria Capitals' defence off to a perfect start. From there, the Capitals kept the pressure on the home side, drying up the runs and ensuring…

Ahead of India’s first-ever international match at the venue, members of the Indian men’s cricket team lauded the facilities and infrastructure at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium as they prepared to take on New Zealand in the opening ODI of the series today. In a video released by the BCCI yesterday, Indian captain Shubman Gill, along with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Prasidh Krishna, is seen talking about the new venue. Prasidh felt nostalgic on returning to the place where his domestic team, Karnataka, became champions of the Vijay Hazare Trophy last year. “I mean, I am excited because exactly about a year back, we came here, played the Vijay Hazare Trophy quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, and ended up being champions,” he said in the video. Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal praised the…

Phil Parkinson was delighted that Wrexham co-owner Ryan Reynolds witnessed a finish worthy of one of the Hollywood actor's own movies as the Welsh club knocked Premier League Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup. Second-tier Wrexham won 4–3 on penalties in front of their own fans at the Racecourse Ground after a 3–3 draw following extra time, having led 2–0 and 3–1 in a classic Cup thriller. "I had a chat with him before the game and it was great to see him over here with his family," said Wrexham manager Parkinson of the Deadpool star. "I think Ryan's mum was here tonight, which was for the first time. So it's really special and I hope they've enjoyed the night." Wrexham have enjoyed three successive promotions since Reynolds and…

Brooks Koepka, a five-time major winner who left the PGA Tour for LIV Golf in 2022 but quit the Saudi-backed series last month, has applied for PGA reinstatement, ESPN and Golf Channel reported Friday. The 35-year-old American, a nine-time PGA Tour champion and five-time LIV winner, departed LIV with a year remaining on his contract, but it was unclear when he might be allowed to return to the PGA Tour, according to the reports. ESPN reported that the PGA Tour will begin a reinstatement and disciplinary process that includes input from players on the board of directors. Koepka, a two-time US Open champion and three-time PGA Championship winner, has not competed in a PGA Tour event since the Valspar Championship in March 2022. After jumping to LIV Golf, Koepka became…

There is something sinister about Mamelodi Sundowns’ acquisition of Orlando Pirates winger Monnapule Saleng, whose recent form has been underwhelming. The move, seemingly out of character for an elite club like Mamelodi Sundowns with championship ambitions, has prompted questions about its motives. Understandably, the news has sent shockwaves through the football community, as fans and analysts alike grappled with a move that seems at odds with the club’s championship aspirations. The decision has raised significant questions about the overarching strategy of Sundowns’ recruitment team. Saleng’s first half of the 2025/26 season saw him decline on loan at Orbit College, where he scored only twice and provided three assists in 12 matches. Given the prevailing circumstances at a struggling Premiership side, many now find it difficult to reconcile his fit within…

Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana will return to major tournaments this year — the Fifa World Cup and WAFCON — in North America and Morocco respectively. Bafana will be back at the global showpiece in June for the first time since hosting the tournament in 2010. They need to ensure that their return is worthwhile by competing well in Mexico in June. It is imperative for them to show up at the World Cup due to the fact that they had a very disappointing outing at AFCON, exiting in the last 16 when they were expected to surpass their third-place finish in the previous edition and emulate the class of ’96 by going all the way. Given those shortcomings, the team must improve on the biggest football stage as they…

AMID a week of great turmoil in geopolitics, the US Senate voted 52-47 to advance a war powers resolution aimed at limiting the use of armed forces against Venezuela. The vote followed concerns that US President Donald Trump did not seek congressional approval prior to his military attack on Venezuela. Trump had ramped up his discomforting rhetoric with repeats of deploying “boots on the ground” as part of his control of Venezuela indefinitely. Trump reacted to the Senate’s vote limiting the use of armed forces against Venezuela in typical fashion. Writing on his social media platform, Trump said: “Republicans should be ashamed of the Senators that just voted with Democrats in attempting to take away our powers to fight and defend the United States.” He named and shamed the Senators,…

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli has warned of the consequences of a successful vote of no confidence against him, which he said was aimed at collapsing the provincial government, and that this would be detrimental to the people of the province. He was reacting to the National Freedom Party (NFP)’s withdrawal from the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). The NFP holds the balance of power in the provincial legislature. The party, whose leader Ivan Barnes supported last month’s unsuccessful motion against Ntuli, would now join the opposition bench. The party is currently holding disciplinary hearings against its MPL, Social Development MEC Mbali Shinga, for defying its order to vote in favour of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) motion, which EFF supported, to oust Ntuli. This motion was defeated after Shinga opted…

AS THE global digital asset industry enters a new year, cryptocurrency continues its steady transition from a speculative fringe market to a regulated and increasingly mainstream financial ecosystem. For investors, businesses and everyday users, the coming year will be defined not by hype but by regulation, infrastructure and informed decision-making. One of the most significant developments shaping the crypto market this year is the acceleration of regulatory clarity. Governments and regulators across the world are moving decisively to establish frameworks that govern how digital assets are issued, traded and stored. While regulation was once viewed as a threat to crypto, it is now widely recognised as a necessary step toward long-term stability, investor protection and institutional participation. Alongside regulation, institutional adoption is expected to deepen. Banks, asset managers and payment…

HISTORY has a cruel way of rhyming when the powerful grow impatient. In the early hours of 3 January 2026, the world woke to images that felt more like a return to the 19th-century frontier than modern diplomacy. The reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro by US forces, his appearance in handcuffs, and the subsequent declaration by President Donald Trump that the US will now “run” Venezuela are not merely legal manoeuvres. It is the reincarnation of colonial discipline, a modern-day sjambok striking the back of a sovereign nation. To grasp the visceral nature of this event, one must look back to 1870, to a dusty patch of land in Southern Africa. There, Paul Kruger, a Commandant of the Zuid-Afrikaanische Republiek, demanded that Kgosi Kgamanyane of the Bakgatla provide free…

ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa and members of the delegation that travelled to the United States last year to repay the costs of the trip, accusing them of cowardice for what he described as "explaining themselves" to former US president Donald Trump. Malatji was speaking in Mogwase, Rustenburg, Bojanala Platinum District, in the North West province on Friday during the Peter Mokaba Memorial Lecture, ahead of the ANC's 114th anniversary held at Moruleng Stadium on Saturday, where Ramaphosa delivered his January 8 statement. The ANCYL president delivered a blistering attack on South Africa's engagement with the US and the conduct of senior government officials. He said Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau should urgently explore alternative sources of investment and economies,…

A Durban school teacher has encouraged learners to take up science because it is challenging, empowering, and far more interesting than they often expect. Doctor Fadeela Kirsten, head of Maths and Science at Hillview Secondary, suggested the call for volunteers to join the Durban Natural Science Museum training programme in February 2026. The eThekwini Municipality is encouraging people to turn their passion for science into purpose. The museum, situated on Anton Lembede Street in the Durban CBD, is looking for energetic and knowledgeable natural science enthusiasts who reside within eThekwini to be part of the 2026 volunteer programme. Eligible candidates should have a qualification or interest in the fields of conservation, tourism, and marketing. Volunteers will have the opportunity to participate and make a contribution to the various projects of…

US military attack on Venezuela an assault on sovereignty On January 3, the US launched an unjustified and unprovoked military attack on Venezuela, culminating in the abduction of sitting President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The aggression followed weeks of escalating pressure that shifted from nominal concerns over narcotics trafficking to explicit statements regarding the need to secure Venezuela’s strategic resources. The impetus underlying the attack had little to do with democracy, human rights or counternarcotics. Trump’s declaration that the US would take control of Venezuela’s oil reserves constituted an overt admission of motive. This was a direct resource grab, echoing older colonial practices in which military power is used to seize what cannot be obtained through economic pressure or political manipulation. Executed without a mandate from the…

The South African Football Association (Safa) should provide Hugo Broos with as much support as possible in the build-up to the 2026 Fifa World Cup to ensure Bafana Bafana have a great chance of progressing into the knockout phases. Following a somewhat disappointing Africa Cup of Nations campaign, in which they were sent packing in the Round of 16, coaches Muhsin Ertugral and Farouk Khan agree that "teamwork will make the dream work" for South Africa in Mexico and the USA. “There has to be some form of bigger technical committee formed from the club coaches to work together with Hugo Broos and his technical team,” said Khan, a former coach-turned-analyst and owner of the Stars of Africa Academy. “There has to be constant discussion of how the players are…

Crystal Palace's defence of the FA Cup came to an embarrassing end as they were beaten 2-1 by sixth-tier Macclesfield yesterday in the biggest shock in the competition’s history. The 117 places that separate Premier League outfit Palace from Macclesfield of the National League North in the English football pyramid is the most ever overcome by an underdog in FA Cup history. Captain Paul Dawson and Isaac Buckley-Ricketts scored either side of half-time to secure a famous victory for a club that were forced to reform in 2020 after being wound up for unpaid debts. "I can't believe it, we never thought we would be in this position," said Macclesfield manager John Rooney, the younger brother of former England captain Wayne Rooney. "I didn't think it was possible but there…

Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet again in the Spanish Super Cup final in Jeddah today, the fourth straight time the rivals have contested the showpiece since the competition adopted a four-team format in 2020 and moved to Saudi Arabia. The match is also a repeat of last season's Copa del Rey final, which Barcelona won 3-2 after extra time in April. Real Madrid won the first meeting between the sides this season 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabeu in October. Barcelona arrived in Saudi Arabia as La Liga top-scorers with a four-point lead over their main rivals, while questions remain over the future of Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid coach, reports Xinhua. Alonso's side beat Atletico Madrid in the second semi-final, but Atletico was the better team, and only poor…

World number one Aryna Sabalenka sent an Australian Open warning as she beat Madison Keys on Friday in Brisbane in a repeat of last year's Melbourne final. Keys stunned Sabalenka nearly 12 months ago but the Belarusian took revenge on the American with a statement 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the semi-finals. Keys was playing less than 24 hours after her marathon three-hour win over Russia's Diana Shnaider and had heavy strapping on her thigh. She turned in an uncharacteristically error-strewn performance and struggled on serve as Sabalenka struck a series of superb returns. Sabalenka, aiming for her third Melbourne title in four years when the Australian Open begins on January 18, said the Brisbane tournament was helping her find form ahead of the first major of the year. "I'm…

Morocco coach Walid Regragui hailed a "historic" achievement in seeing his side reach the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, but warned that the hosts have not yet achieved anything at the tournament. “We need to just keep going one game at a time. “We have not done anything yet,” Regragui insisted after the Atlas Lions beat Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-final in Rabat thanks to goals either side of half-time from Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari. Morocco, World Cup semi-finalists in 2022, set the tone with a superb first-half performance at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, and Cameroon never really looked like recovering after Diaz opened the scoring in the 26th minute. "It was our best first-half performance I think since the World Cup, with lots…

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa’s appointment of Advocate Andy Mothibi as South Africa’s new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) has unleashed a storm of criticism over both the choice of candidate and the process that produced him, even as parts of the legal fraternity welcomed the move as a chance to stabilise a beleaguered National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The decision comes on the back of an already contested selection process that is the subject of an urgent court challenge, and has now drawn fire from opposition party ActionSA and anti-corruption watchdog Corruption Watch, while the Black Lawyers Association (BLA) has publicly endorsed the appointment of the soon‑to‑be former head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), which has been at the heart of fighting organised crime and corruption. Against this backdrop of…

AS India assumes the BRICS presidency for 2026, the grouping gains renewed relevance at a moment when multilateral diplomacy faces its sternest test. The opening week of 2026 has seen a flurry of bold US foreign policy actions under President Donald Trump. On January 3, US special forces conducted a daring raid in Caracas, capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores on narco-terrorism charges, followed by announcements of prolonged US oversight of Venezuela's vast oil reserves. Just days earlier, on Christmas Day 2025, US strikes targeted alleged ISIS camps in northwest Nigeria’s Sokoto State, justified as protecting Nigerian Christians from terrorism. Meanwhile, renewed threats to acquire Greenland, citing national security, rare earth minerals, and Arctic routes, have escalated tensions with Denmark, a NATO ally, with the White…

IN 2024, South Africans sent more than R19.4 billion in remittances to neighbouring countries, more than triple the R5.9bn recorded in 2016. But for the millions of people sending money, such as migrant workers, gig workers, informal traders, and SMEs, that rise in economic participation has come with a punishing cost. According to the World Bank, the average cost of sending just $200 (R3 298) from South Africa remains as high as 15%, especially to countries like Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Lesotho. That is more than double the G20 average of 6.8%, and the highest among major sending countries worldwide. This is not just a drain on individual incomes. It is a systemic failure that punishes participation and slows economic growth. When people lose a chunk of their wages to send…

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has vowed to contest all provinces and all municipalities in the country during the 2026 local government election, highlighting that strategies and tactics will be developed along the way, based on the letter, intent, and spirit of the congress that declared a wall-to-wall resolution. The party has been in disagreement with its alliance partner, the ANC, over the policy direction taken by the government, despite the ANC’s protest, among others. SACP National Spokesperson Mbulelo Mandlana stated that the party is contesting the elections, not an individual organisation, nor the ANC. He added that the SACP will fundraise for elections like all other parties and will follow the laws and regulations governing that process. “The SACP expects all its members and its leaders to campaign…

The Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) has indicated that the procurement process for appointing a new high-speed express commuter rail operator is in its last stages. The GMA is on the verge of concluding the process, which will see the preferred bidder announced soon. GMA spokesperson Albi Modise said this process had to undergo a strict regulatory and governance review, both at the national and provincial government levels. “This phase of the process constitutes a critical compliance step in advancing toward final approval,” he said. Modise added that to ensure fairness and integrity, the bid validity period was extended, which afforded bidders additional time to prepare their submissions while enabling the GMA to complete all necessary governance and regulatory processes. “Given the scale and complexity of this transaction, a thorough and…

Asked a direct question by the CNN award-winning journalist, Christiane Amanpour, on whether he has “any information that might implicate president Zuma in any acts of corruption”, the late Pravin Gordhan responded matter-of-factly: “No, I don't have any personal information, but as I said, there are all sorts of suggestions not just about the president.” Interestingly and embarrassingly so, Amanpour asked the most basic question that had escaped South Africa’s journalistic fraternity. Hoodwinked by the so-called state capture narrative, the media fraternity eagerly lapped up everything coming out of Gordhan’s mouth. In the end, Gordhan was exposed as nothing more than a petty, jealous and probably racist state capture propagandist. It didn’t help at the time that, for the media fraternity, South Africans were divided into saints and demons. Anyone…

Hugo Broos has stood by his view that Mbekezeli Mbokazi’s decision to move to Major League Soccer (MLS), where he has joined Chicago Fire, was not the best option for the defender’s development at this stage of his career. The Bafana Bafana coach made the comments following Mbokazi’s encouraging performances at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the young defender showed composure and promise. Those displays, according to Broos, reinforced his belief that the former Orlando Pirates player needs to be exposed to a more demanding football environment to reach his full potential. In recent seasons, the American league has become an appealing destination for experienced players who may be past their peak but still have enough quality to help raise the standard of the competition and develop local…

The Bulls’ Champions Cup campaign hit a new low yesterday in Pretoria, as they were torn apart by Bristol Bears in a 61-49 loss that was as alarming as it was humiliating. On a run of six consecutive losses and desperate for a revival at Loftus Versfeld, the home side instead delivered one of their poorest displays in recent memory, leaking tries at an astonishing rate and showing little sign of cohesion, urgency or clarity to bag a rare win. They are now seven games without a win. By halftime, Bristol had already racked up seven tries and a commanding 47–28 lead, leaving the Loftus crowd stunned in the afternoon heat. The visitors came out firing in the hot Pretoria conditions, and the Bulls simply had no answers. Two tries…

Australia sealed a thumping 4-1 Ashes win over England with a five-wicket victory in the final Test at Sydney last week. Here are five key takeaways from the series. Death of Bazball? England came to Australia with genuine hopes of a first away Ashes series win since 2010-11 with their aggressive "Bazball" approach. But it quickly unravelled on treacherous batting pitches and in the face of consistently good Australian bowling. They slumped 2-0 down after just six days of cricket with crushing eight-wicket defeats in Perth and Brisbane, and the knives came out for coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan said the gung-ho style was "all becoming a bit too predictable" while long-time BBC broadcaster Jonathan Agnew declared "Bazball is dead." When Stokes spent…

Two events in Mexico and stops in Japan and Bermuda highlight the US PGA Tour's eight-tournament fall schedule announced on Friday. The tournaments, conducted after the Tour Championship, are aimed at players trying to solidify their spots in next year's tour lineup. The FedEx Cup Fall lineup also includes the 16th Presidents Cup matches between the United States and non-European Internationals team on September 24-27 at Medinah Country Club near Chicago. "Fans can expect rich storylines to unfold across the FedExCup Fall as players look to secure or improve their status for the following season," PGA Tour chief competitions officer Tyler Dennis said. The autumn campaign begins with the Biltmore Championship at Asheville, North Carolina on September 17-20. The Bank of Utah Championship on October 1-4 will be followed by…

Stellenbosch FC’s decision to appoint Gavin Hunt early in the 2025/26 Betway Premiership season feels, on the surface, like a move driven more by urgency than ideology. When a club built on continuity turns to a veteran coach synonymous with stabilising difficult situations, the question becomes unavoidable: is this about survival, or about shaping what comes next? The timing matters. Stellenbosch have been searching for momentum since the opening weeks of the campaign, struggling to reproduce the cohesion and clarity that defined them over the past few seasons. While the situation is not yet critical, the Betway Premiership offers little room for hesitation, and early-season drift can quickly become a season-long problem. In that context, Hunt’s appointment makes sense. Few coaches in South African football understand pressure and uncertainty better.…

Kaizer Chiefs’ 2025/26 season is heading into what could be the busiest and most defining period of their campaign—a phase that may shape everything that follows if they tick the right boxes. After starting the season under pressure, with little room for error, the Glamour Boys closed out 2025 in a position that was not built on a ruthless run of results but was solid enough to exceed expectations and lay a foundation for the remainder of the season. Their position is made more impressive by the fact that they had to navigate the departure of head coach Nasreddine Nabi. Despite the potential disruption his exit could have caused, Chiefs have remained steady under assistants-turned-co-coaches Cedric Kaze and Khalil Ben Youssef. The pair have kept the club competitive, with Amakhosi…