The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) in the Mbombela Local Municipality (Mbombela/Nelspruit White River) is deeply concerned by the utter lack of accountability and action to address the deepening financial crisis in the municipality The municipal management has been unable to come up with a solution to the outstanding debt for more than two years now Despite overwhelming evidence that provincial departments comprise a significant portion of the municipality’s debt no decisive measures have been implemented to resolve the issue If ordinary residents fail to settle their municipal bills they face the suspension of their services; it seems that government buildings and departments follow a different set of rules Such double standards are unfair and unacceptable the Department of Public Works and Transport owes the municipality R110,6 million clinics owe R31 million and schools R10,3 million The outstanding debt owed to the municipality currently stands at more than R200 million – it is a crisis that warrants immediate intervention The Freedom Front Plus suspects that the leniency has to do with the fact that the defaulters are ANC departments Such unequal treatment raises serious concerns about fairness The Freedom Front Plus repeatedly submitted questions to municipal administration over the past few weeks and is now demanding that the Municipal Manager explain what steps will be taken to address this crisis at once The party will also table a motion regarding the matter with the next council meeting The party will keep monitoring the situation closely and keep the public up to date with any progress or solutions Yesterday’s EFF march to Kleinfontein was nothing but political theatrics riddled with racism to divert attention away from the failures of the coalition in the The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) questions the Tshwane Metro’s Department of Human Settlements’ decision to relocate yet another 5 200 people to a piece The Freedom Front Plus (VF Plus) sent an urgent letter to the Msukaligwa Local Municipality (Ermelo Lothair) after the Minister of Mineral and ❗️Corné Mulder: GNU must unite or fail — as Trump-era US eyes ANC’s foreign blunders @alechogg @MulderCorn VF Plus dien griefskrif in teen Mangaung-watertariefverhoging | Freedom Front Plus Die VF Plus het ʼn griefskrif teen die Mangaung-metro se voorgestelde watertariefverhoging van 11% oorhandig aan die .. The Freedom Front Plus is committed to group rights against affirmative action and towards a better SA for all President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed Proclamation 257 of 2025 authorising the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to investigate allegations of serious maladministration and corruption within the Mbombela Local Municipality in Mpumalanga The proclamation empowers the SIU to examine seven tenders awarded by the municipality between 16 February 2015 and 2 May 2025 with the aim of recovering any financial losses suffered by the State Tender PRE/040/14/MP for investigation and legal services.2 Tender DHS/112/15/MP concerning the installation of internal municipal civil engineering services construction of low-cost Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) housing units and provision of project management under the integrated residential development programme at Emjindini Extensions 15 to 19.3 Tender NLM-TS-003/2015/16 relating to engineering services.4 Procurement of construction-related goods and services for the R538 Hazyview to Numbi Gate Turnoff Project.5 Bid 26/2015 for the appointment of professional consultants to establish the Strategic Programmes and Projects Support Unit for the municipality.6 Bid 72/2017 for the Turnkey Energy Efficiency and Demand Side Management Programme.7 Tender 116/2018 for the implementation of Phase 1 of the Nsikazi North Bulk Water Scheme The SIU will assess whether these procurements were conducted in a manner that was fair as required by applicable legislation and Treasury guidelines The investigation will also determine if there was any unauthorised or wasteful expenditure incurred by the municipality or the State or any other persons involved in the tenders.• Refer evidence of criminal conduct to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for further action.• Institute civil proceedings in the High Court or a Special Tribunal to recover losses suffered by the State The SIU’s mandate also includes identifying systemic failures and recommending measures to prevent future occurrences of maladministration and corruption within the municipality The investigation will cover activities that occurred between 16 February 2015 and 2 May 2025 It will also encompass any relevant events before or after this period that are connected to the matters under investigation or involve the same individuals The SIU encourages members of the public to report any information related to the investigation Whistle-blowers are assured of protection under the law Reports can be made via the SIU Hotline at 0800 037 774 or through their official website This investigation is part of a broader initiative by the government to combat corruption and promote transparency within public institutions The SIU has been actively involved in similar probes across various sectors including recent investigations into the National Skills Fund and the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure These efforts underscore the government’s commitment to accountability and the prudent use of public resources 🔴 Central News Weekly Edition | Issue 103 🔴 Download the Latest Print and E-Edition | Headline: “”Down with the GNU”: Solly Mapaila Slams Ramaphosa and Rejects Government of National Unity at Workers’ Day Rally” https://centralnews.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Central-News-Issue-103.pdf https://www.magzter.com/ZA/Central-News-Pty-Ltd/Central-News/Newspaper/All-Issues Central News also offers Sponsored Editorial Content To place your advert on our platforms (Print Newspaper or Digital Platforms) : Please email : sales@centralnews.co.za For Business Related:business@centralnews.co.za Newsroom:Send your Stories / Media Statements To: newsroom@centralnews.co.za Office Administrator:admin@centralnews.co.za Social Media Platforms (@centralnewsza) : Linkedin and website in this browser for the next time I comment The Springboks take on Italy in a two-Test series in Pretoria and Gqeberha before meeting Georgia in Mbombela in the Castle Lager Incoming Series as the Boks return to home soil in Test match action for the first time since a thrilling 48-7 victory over Argentina in September last year Tickets will be available exclusively from Ticketmaster Details of an additional match against the world-famous Barbarians will also be announced shortly Tickets for the Boks’ home matches in their defence of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title will go on sale one month later The start to the Bok season not only represents an opportunity to see the back-to-back World Champions in local action but also launches a year in which the Boks will be fighting to defend their No 1 world ranking to secure the most favourable draw for Rugby World Cup 2027 said: “This is more than just the start of the season—it’s a chance for South Africans to once again unite behind a team that brings pride to the nation in a critical year for World Cup preparation “We had an amazing 2024 and we’re looking forward to seeing South Africans fill stadiums with passionate supporters enjoying the experience as a memorable kick-off to a year filled with big challenges and even bigger opportunities.” Castle Lager Incoming Series5 July: South Africa vs Italy Loftus Versfeld (Pretoria)12 July: South Africa vs Italy Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium (Gqeberha)19 July: South Africa vs Georgia Castle Lager Rugby Championship16 August: South Africa vs Australia Emirates Airline Park (Johannesburg)23 August: South Africa vs Australia DHL Stadium (Cape Town)27 September: South Africa vs Argentina Fans are urged to act quickly when tickets become available on 16 May as demand is expected to be exceptionally high following last season’s 100% sellout of Springbok matches The July series will serve as the perfect warm-up for a thrilling international campaign for the Boks which includes matches against the other three nations in the world’s top four – New Zealand Springbok captain Siya Kolisi shared some inspiring words with the future stars of South African rugby when he visited t.. Rugby history will be rewritten when the Springboks launch their 2025 season against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium i.. Scottish referee Hollie Davidson will return to South Africa for the Springboks’ first Test of the 2025 season when they.. Tickets for the Springboks’ eagerly awaited return to home Test match action for the first time in almost ten months wil.. Chasing the Sun 2 – A Story for South Africa – the captivating and award-winning sequel to Chasing the Sun was the most-.. Former SA U18 lock and national age-group cricketer Riley Norton will captain the Junior Springboks against Argentina in the opening round of the Rugby Championship U20 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha on Thursday The 2025 season has been a bit of a blur for Alicia Willemse thus far but on Saturday in Los Angeles at the HSBC SVNS Play-off the 27-year-old playmaker will strive to be at her brightest and clearest of minds SA Rugby and Spur have renewed their partnership for the next four years with the famous South African restaurant group extending their sponsorship to not only include the Springboks The South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises produced a weekend of rugby to smile about as all four teams emerged victorious in their round 16 clashes which saw the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks cement their playoff spots and remain in the top four while the DHL Stormers leapt into sixth place on the standings The Airlink Pumas broke Suzuki Griquas’ remarkable unbeaten run in the SA Cup with a close-fought 39-35 win in Nelspruit on Friday evening to move to the top of the standings after the seventh round while there were valuable victories for the Toyota Cheetahs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and NovaVit Griffons who all strengthened their positions in the race for Carling Currie Cup Premier Division qualification The Junior Springboks had to work hard and fight back after the break but they recorded the perfect start to their U20 Rugby Championship campaign at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium outplaying Argentina by 36-25 in Gqeberha on Thursday afternoon Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote praised the team for their fighting spirit and not letting their heads drop in their Rugby Championship U20 opening round victory over Argentina after the South Americans led by 10 points shortly after half-time in Gqeberha on Thursday Scottish referee Hollie Davidson will return to South Africa for the Springboks’ first Test of the 2025 season when they take on Italy in Pretoria on Saturday Rugby history will be rewritten when the Springboks launch their 2025 season against the Barbarians at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday 28 June – the first time the famous international invitational outfit will be in action on South African soil It will be a tournament with no second chances of clinical execution and most importantly an opportunity where the Springbok Sevens team can deliver a performance that will do their season justice © 2025 SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY | PICTURES © GALLO IMAGES MBOMBELA – Limpopo-born music sensation Makhadzi has done it again — this time bagging the coveted Metro FM Artist of the Year Award during a glittering ceremony held in Mbombela celebrated for her high-energy stage presence and chart-topping hits triumphed in one of the most fiercely contested categories reaffirming her dominance in the South African music industry who have been with her since the beginning of her career Known for hit tracks like Murahu and Ghanama the singer continues to break boundaries and put Limpopo on the global map with her vibrant fusion of traditional and modern sounds Also read: Makhadzi shines bright: Wins Metro FM Best Female Award features a powerhouse lineup of collaborations including: Also read: Limpopo-born singer Makhadzi triumphs at BET Hip-Hop Awards amid financial struggles Although Makhadzi could not attend the ceremony in person her representative accepted the award on her behalf expressing heartfelt thanks to her fans and the Metro FM team for the honor This win adds to Makhadzi’s growing list of accolades and further establishes her as a trailblazer for young and commitment to cultural expression continue to inspire many and elevate the South African music landscape We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again Home | South Africa The streets of Mbombela are alive with activity as preparations continue for tonight’s 25th edition of the Metro FM Music Awards, taking place at the Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga The awards celebrate and recognise the country’s musical talents with this year’s theme being “Crowning Greatness.” This is the third and final year the awards are being held in the province Metro FM Business Manager Kina Nhlengethwa says over 10 000 tickets have already been sold Nhlengethwa says they are ready to host the thousands of guests who will grace the event Nhlengathwa says they are 98 percent done and are expecting people to start arriving at 7:30pm or even earlier to avoid traffic “We have people who will be parking at the government complex that is where the park and ride is happening and we open at two and after that people will start moving into the stadium because we have the black carpet that is starting at 6pm the business and tourism sectors in the province have experienced a substantial economic boost in anticipation of the awards The spokesperson for the Southern African Tourism Services Association says that all accommodation establishments in Mbombela are fully booked “We have seen people visiting our restaurants and they have been here coincided with the long weekend which for us really it is a good thing From the tourism sector with regards to the Metro FM it is a sweet and bitter pill for us because we were told that this is the last installment of them in the province and we hoping that the provincial government will be able to engage and see if whether we can’t extend this contract further because these are the key signature events that Mpumalanga needs,” says Pilane — MpumalangaGov (@MpumalangaGov) May 3, 2025 following a contentious and heartbreaking defeat to the Pumas in Nelspruit that ended their unbeaten SA Cup run I say this because the Suzuki Griquas will no doubt be determined to bounce back strongly and put in a commanding performance when they face the Eagles in George on Friday evening following a contentious and heartbreaking defeat that ended their unbeaten SA Cup run Last Friday’s loss in Nelspruit brought the Kimberley team’s unbeaten run in the SA Cup to an end under highly controversial circumstances Fullback Cameron Hufke appeared to have sealed a match-winning hat-trick in the dying moments only for referee Christopher Allison to overturn the awarded try after glancing at the stadium’s big screen – despite the SA Cup not allowing the use of TMO reviews Griquas had also suffered a harsh yellow card against flanker Marco de Witt Although the visitors fought back bravely and came agonisingly close to snatching a late win has only sharpened their resolve ahead of their meeting with the Eagles at Outeniqua Park Griquas will welcome back promising flanker Lourens “Vlam” Oosthuizen after a long injury lay-off Oosthuizen has been sidelined for over a year following a serious knee injury shortly after joining Griquas in 2023.  Head coach Pieter Bergh indicated that the timing felt right to unleash the dynamic loosie especially after the recent disappointment in Nelspruit Bergh explained that Oosthuizen had been training strongly and was full of energy and hunger to make an impact The coaching staff felt that injecting new blood into the team was the right call to lift spirits and inject urgency into their game Oosthuizen has impressed in recent sessions and now has a golden opportunity to stake a claim for more regular selection Griquas have also included a debutant on the bench: Ntobeko Shezi a former NWU Eagles tighthead prop who recently joined the Kimberley outfit Mbombela Stadium in Mpumalanga erupted in a dazzling celebration of South African music at the Metro FM Music Awards (MMAs) 2025 Themed “Crowning Greatness,” the 19th annual ceremony hosted by Metro FM with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and Motsepe Foundation was a vibrant showcase of talent and glamour Broadcast live on SABC1 and streamed on SABC+ the event captivated audiences with stellar performances and heartfelt tributes cementing its status as Mzansi’s premier music event The dynamic duo of Siyabonga “Scoop Makhathini” Ngwekazi and Luthando “LootLove” Shosha lit up the stage their sizzling chemistry and six show-stopping outfits stealing the spotlight delivering iconic moments that had fans buzzing while Dineo Ranaka and L-Tido captured raw winner reactions backstage The evening kicked off with vocal powerhouse Bassie whose high-energy performance and choreography set the tone delivering renditions of South Africa’s most iconic hits sweeping three categories—Best Music Video and Best Collaboration Song—for her hit “Kwelanga 2.0.” Limpopo’s Makhadzi was crowned Artist of the Year Rebecca Malope received Lifetime Achievement Awards honoured for their enduring contributions to Mzansi’s soundscape The 2025 MMAs saw fierce competition with 2,769 entries across 19 categories Standout winners included Xolly Mncwango (Best Female Artist and Best Gospel Album) Naledi Aphiwe and Mawelele’s “Romeo & Juliet” won Best African Pop Song and Nasty C’s “Too Much” took Best Hip Hop Song Public votes via *120*45787# at R1.50 per minute shaped the outcomes with fans celebrating wins like Neo Dube’s Best New Artist on X The Motsepe Foundation elevated the stakes awarding R50,000 per category winner and R150,000 for Song of the Year The event also boosted Mpumalanga’s economy though MEC Leah Mabuza hinted this might be the province’s final year hosting Marking 30 years of South African democracy Metro FM’s Kina Nhlengethwa called the night a “tribute to our musical heritage.” Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" Tel: +27 11 268 6300 Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy 17 April 2025: Riverside Mall’s recent Community Closet initiative has once again made a meaningful impact providing clothing to hundreds of Mbombela individuals and families in need this round themed Love Unlocked in the spirit of the month of love assisted a total of 520 families and 9 nonprofit organisations demonstrating the mall’s commitment to supporting its extended community Unlike traditional charity handovers where clothing is often simply distributed in bags the Community Closet is thoughtfully arranged in a store-like setting allowing beneficiaries to browse and choose items they truly need The project was first introduced last year received much-needed clothing that had been donated by shoppers This second handover saw an even greater response Day one of the initiative this year saw 240 families receiving clothing followed by 192 families on the second day and 88 families on the third The beneficiaries came from various disadvantaged communities across the Lowveld non-profit organisations were able to collect clothing on behalf of the people they serve The overwhelming success of this initiative was made possible through the generosity of Riverside Mall shoppers whose donations kept the Community Closet stocked beyond expectations Riverside Mall Centre Manager Rochelle Robinson expressed gratitude for the continued support from the community "The Community Closet has shown how small acts of kindness can create a ripple effect of hope This initiative is about more than just providing clothing It’s about offering dignity and choice to those who need it most." The initiative also received support from Royal Princess Eurika Thabile Mogane who has been actively involved in the handovers Her endorsement highlights the importance of collaborative efforts in uplifting communities Riverside Mall remains committed to meaningful initiatives that bring people together and create real impact.  For more information about Riverside Mall, its stores and community projects, please visit the official website or follow the centre on Instagram at @riversidemall Underground Press relies entirely on your generosity enabling us to report on the entertainment industry Your contribution ensures millions worldwide can continue to visit our site for amazing content from around the web.*Currency in South African Rands (ZAR) The Pumas are now the only unbeaten team in this year’s SA Cup after edging out Griquas 39–34 on Friday in a match that delivered late drama and controversy The team from the Northern Cape will rightly feel they were robbed due to poor officiating The Lowvelders crossed the try line five times in their victory over the Peacock Blues at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit bringing an end to the defending champions’ unbeaten streak in the competition the Pumas climbed to the top of the series log and proved they are more than just a dangerous attacking unit – they can defend when it counts The first half was a tightly contested arm-wrestle with neither side willing to concede ground.  with the ball flowing through multiple hands in the build-up the Pumas came within meters of the Griquas’ try line but failed to convert fullback Cameron Hufke sliced through for his second try Griquas then stepped up a gear and extended their lead when Whitehead dived over in the corner after a turnover the Pumas suffered a setback when replacement prop Dewald Maritz received a yellow card centre Sango Xamlashe powered over for his second try and the conversion edged the score to 32–34 in Griquas’ favour The Pumas struck again when winger Lundi Msenge crossed the whitewash for his second try referee Christopher Allison controversially reversed the decision after watching the stadium screen replay – despite the competition not having TMO protocols in place Allison ruled that the ball had not been grounded even though there was no clear evidence to support overturning the call His decision seemed to be swayed by the crowd’s reaction raising serious concerns about officiating standards Allison had also incorrectly shown a yellow card to Griquas flanker Marco de Witt These incidents reignited the debate over SA Rugby’s failure to provide TMO systems especially with qualification for the Currie Cup Premier Division on the line A team failing to qualify for the Premier Division could cost a team up to R20 million and this could be avoided by spending a few thousand the Griquas kept fighting and launched one final attack ending a rollercoaster of a match in heartbreak for the visitors OFM Sport/Morgan Piek cg Verity-Amm and Cheetahs gear up for Griquas test Willemse set for 100th Stormers cap as Harris bids farewell Cheetahs receive Van der Merwe boost for Griquas showdown Cheetahs shift focus to Griquas after securing SA Cup semi-final spot Blitzboks crowned sevens world champions in LA Oekraïne vra Suid-Afrika om ontvoerde kinders te help terugbring Wyle pous Franciskus het begrafnisrituele vooraf vereenvoudig Mianmar-aardbewing: Hulp stroom in ná meer as 1 700 sterftes Suid-Afrikaners wen gesogte blommeskou-trofee in China while Juan Martin Gonzalez takes over at flanker from Pablo Matera who has been named amongst the replacements Santiago Grondona also gets a start this week as he replaces the injured Marcos Kremer on the other side of the back row Gonzalo Garcia has been preferred at scrumhalf while Matias Moroni has been named at outside centre after playing off the bench in Santiago del Estero where Rodrigo Isgro replaces Bautista Delguy with Santiago Carreras taking from Juan Cruz Mallia Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus released three players to their local franchises after the Boks wrapped up their main training block for the week on Wednesday before the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider between South Africa and Argentina at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday It was a hot and humid night in Kumagaya when Ayanda Malinga last faced Japan but the memory of that special Test 26 months ago still fuels the Springbok Women winger Springbok wings Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse expected Argentina to play a high-paced running game on Saturday when the teams face off in the Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider and play for the full 80 minutes to win the match and also bag their first tournament title since 2019 passed on a message of condolences to the family who sadly passed away during a match over the weekend Western Province defeated Border 31-7 to finish SA Rugby’s Under-20 Women’s Week – which ended on Wednesday at the Queens High School in Johannesburg – as one of only two unbeaten teams along with the Blue Bulls The Springbok Women started their WXV 2 campaign on a winning note with a nail-biting 31-24 (halftime 17-12) victory over Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday Springbok captain Siya Kolisi said the team would play for Eben Etzebeth – who will become the most capped Springbok of all time with 128 Tests – and to make the entire country proud when they line up against Argentina in Nelspruit on Saturday Springbok Women performance coach Swys de Bruin applauded the effort of his squad after they outplayed Japan to start their 2024 WXV 2 campaign on a winning note on Friday South African eyes will be on Johannesburg Bridgend and Galway on Saturday as the four local franchises get their Vodacom United Rugby Championship season underway Defending African Rainbow Community Gold Cup champions as well as College Rovers and Northam Rhinos claimed big wins on the opening weekend of South Africa’s premier club tournament travel to East London to take on Border Bulldogs at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium where the men from Kimberley are heavy favourites to continue their unbeaten streak having won their opening two games this season and remaining undefeated since the competition's inception last year who put up a good fight in their 48-22 loss to the Phangela SWD Eagles last week will need to significantly up their game to challenge the defending champions the Eagles will look to build on their first victory when they face their eastern neighbours The hosts are playing their second consecutive home game and will be motivated to leverage home ground advantage against an EP side still seeking their first win Probably the biggest match of the weekend features last year’s runners up taking on the Toyota Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit The Free Staters bounced back from their opening round loss with a strong performance against the Leopards in Potchefstroom but they will face a stern test against Jimmy Stonehouse's well-drilled Pumas side In last year's corresponding fixture in Bloemfontein the experienced Airlink Pumas whitewashed a youthful Toyota Cheetahs 50-0 A fierce battle is expected as the Free Staters aim to avoid losing further ground on the leading teams with only the top four qualifying for this year's Carling Currie Cup Premier Division the Valke have their second consecutive clash against one of the top sides when they host Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park who narrowly lost in a thrilling contest last week in Welkom The weekend's action concludes with the Leopards taking on the NovaVit Griffons in Potchefstroom The visiting Griffons are favourites to maintain their unbeaten run having managed just one converted try and conceded 135 points in the first two rounds will be aiming to improve their performance Phangela SWD Eagles vs Eastern Province Date: Friday GeorgeKick-off: 15h00Referee: Jonathan LotteringTV: Live stream on SS Border Bulldogs vs Suzuki Griquas Date: Friday East LondonKick-off: 15h00Referee: Dylen November Airlink Pumas vs Toyota CheetahsDate: Friday NelspruitKick-off: 19h00Referee: Stephan GeldenhuysTV: Live stream on SS Valke vs Sanlam Boland KavaliersDate: Saturday Kempton ParkKick-off: 15h00Referee: Paul Mente Leopards vs NovaVit GriffonsDate: Saturday PotchefstroomKick-off: 15h00Referee: Hernus Coetzee The race for those coveted four semi-final spots of the SA Cup – and with that qualification to the Carling Currie Cup P.. Seven teams are still in with a shout of reaching the semi-finals of the SA Cup with only two rounds of league action re.. The South African Vodacom United Rugby Championship franchises produced a weekend of rugby to smile about as all four te.. The Airlink Pumas broke Suzuki Griquas’ remarkable unbeaten run in the SA Cup with a close-fought 39-35 win in Nelspruit.. No love will be lost in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship this weekend as the four South African sides continue to p.. the Race to the Eight in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is poised to deliver the most unpredictable battle for the play-offs in league history The NovaVit Griffons delivered arguably the performance of the week by edging the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 38-35 in a nail-biting second round SA Cup match in Welkom to entrench themselves in the top three along with Suzuki Griquas and the Airlink Pumas The Junior Springboks were handed a tough group assignment for this year’s World Rugby Under-20 Championship which will take place from 29 June to 19 July in Italy The Springbok Women's final alignment camp for the year at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport got the nod of approval from performance coach Swys de Bruin who said they made good progress during the monthly camps which started in January Hot-stepping Springbok speedster Cheslin Kolbe became the first backline player since 2013 to take the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year title at a glittering SA Rugby Awards ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town on Thursday evening while Nadine Roos took home the top women’s award for a second time The Junior Springboks are set to reconvene at the Stellenbosch Academy of Sport (SAS) next week with a squad of 41 players for their third training camp of the year and the first gathering since their return from a successful tour in Georgia three weeks ago The Bulls Daisies have all but secured home ground advantage in the final of the 2025 Women’s Premier Division in Pretoria on 29 March so most eyes will be on the Rosina Paarwater Stadium in Bellville where the other finalist for this year’s title will be determined when the league phase concludes Match official appointments for the next few days have been made with the Vodacom URC back to a full round and the Women’s Premier Division league phase wrapping up It was a largely satisfying weekend for South Africa’s teams in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as three of the four side – the Vodacom Bulls Hollywoodbets Sharks and DHL Stormers – came away with victories to boost their playoff hopes while the Emirates Lions managed to secure a losing bonus point away from home to remain within striking range of the top eight DHL Western Province will travel to Pretoria to take on the Bulls Daisies in the final of the Women’s Premier Division next weekend after edging the Sanlam Boland Dames 32-29 in a frantic match in Bellville on Saturday while the defending champions closed out the final round of the competition with an emphatic 96-0 dismantling of the Free State Women in Pretoria Bok loose forward Elrigh Louw added that although he was gutted after the defeat it would be a dream come true to win the competition and lift the trophy The Springboks gained a valuable losing bonus point from the clash at Estadio Unico Madre Ciudades which saw them jump up to 19 points on the table Argentina finished the fifth round with 14 points This means the Boks need only point from their closing match of the tournament in Nelspruit to clinch their first title since 2019 who was one of a handful of players in Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’ match-day team that played his first Test in Argentina said they were not caught off-guard in the clash with the vocal home crowd and Los Pumas’ physicality and tenacity and he shared the coach’s sentiments that they missed out of a few chances could have seen them win the match “We all knew what we are going to face and be up against in Argentina with the hostile crowds,” said Louw “Coming to play in Santigo del Estero wasn’t easy but we learned a few lessons which we’ll take into next week’s game “In the first few minutes we executed things very well But then we made silly errors and slipped tackles which let them back in we’ll make sure we take what we learned from the game into the next one.” Louw was delighted that the team were still in pole position to claim the title and said: “We obviously wanted to beat them there we’ll take the battle to Mbombela and go from there.” Reflecting on his international season this year and being involved in this Springbok group where he has become a regular in the squad Louw said: “This probably rates as the top highlight for me so far and lifting the Rugby Championship trophy would be awesome “It’s not something that I thought I would be able to achieve and we are only a game away from possibly doing it I’m very motivated and I can’t wait for next week.” The team arrived in Nelspruit on Sunday evening and will begin their programme for the week on Monday The Pumas set up a Castle Lager Rugby Championship decider in Mbombela on Saturday as they held on to record a 29-28 (halftime 26-22) victory over the Springboks in the sapping heat of the northern Argentinian town of Santiago del Estero Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus said they were hurting after their nail-biting defeat against Argentina in the penultimate round of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship in Santigo del Estero on Saturday night and that they would take their travel day on Sunday to get over the defeat before regrouping on Monday for what is now a competition final in Nelspruit next weekend a former SA Women's Player of the Year has been included in the Springbok Women’s squad of 30 players for WXV 2 to be played in Cape Town from 27 September to 13 October while Maria Tshiremba has also been included in the group The first round of the annual SA Under-20 Women’s Week took place at Queens High School in Johannesburg on Saturday with six matches showcasing the emerging talent amongst the participating provincial teams Jordan Hendrikse broke the hearts of his former Fidelity ADT Lions team-mates and supporters when he succeeded with a last-minute long-range penalty goal to hand the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV a dramatic 16-14 victory in the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final at Emirates Airline Park in a cold and wet Johannesburg on Saturday evening after a scoreless first half Eben Etzebeth will set the record as the most capped Springbok of all time on in Nelspruit Saturday when he runs out at lock against Argentina while Jaden Hendrikse and Manie Libbok are paired as starting halfbacks for the first time in the title-deciding match of the Castle Lager Rugby Championship at the Mbombela Stadium Ayanda Malinga will make a return to Test rugby for the first time since 2022 after being named on the left wing for the Springbok Women’s opening match of WXV 2 against Japan at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Friday Border and the Blue Bulls are the only unbeaten teams left after two rounds of SA Rugby’s Under-20 Women’s Week SuperSport Schools Plus charges on his way to scoring a memorable try against Welkom Gimnasium Photo: Frans Lombard/Actionpix.A thrilling clash between Hoërskool Nelspruit’s brute forward power and the pace and agility of the Welkom Gimnasium backs delivered a gripping see-saw contest which ultimately ended in a dramatic victory for the Rhinos on Thursday at the Standard Bank St John’s College Easter Festival Relive all the action on SuperSport Schools – (www.supersportschools.com) sealed a tense 34–31 win for the Mbombela-based side after a pulsating encounter The battle between Nelspruit’s dominant forward pack and Welkom Gim’s slick backline made for 60 minutes of must-watch rugby The intensity noticeably escalated under the floodlights and set a high bar for the day’s two remaining fixtures which further underlined why he has been a standout performer throughout the season alleviated pressure with excellent distribution and provided Muller with the front-foot ball he needed to torment the Nelspruit defence powerful number eight Vaughn van Zyl led the charge he shouldered the bulk of the ball-carrying duties leaving a trail of sore bodies in the Free Staters’ camp Werno Heyns impressed with his relentless work rate John Duncan delivered another composed performance His crisp distribution was instrumental in creating opportunities for the backline and played a crucial role in Nelspruit’s memorable win St David’s Marist Inanda made SACS work far harder for their win than anticipated The Johannesburg school mounted a defensive effort of real grit SACS broke through on four occasions to secure a 28–3 victory the Cape Town side’s forwards laid the platform for their attacking opportunities they also produced several surges of their own with Cameron Hirst capping off one of those movements by diving over for the opening try Inside centre Mike Skeeles demonstrated impeccable accuracy from the tee converting all four of his side’s tries with ease Hoërskool Nelspruit 34 (12) – Tries: Werno Heyns Welkom Gimnasium 31 (10) – Tries: Nathan Muller (2) St David’s Marist Inanda 3 (3) – Penalty: Luca Cabion Related News Junior Springboks rotate team for Australia clash SA Rugby 2025-05-05 Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played Hilton College captured a hard-fought 25-20 victory over their arch-rivals Glenwood fullback Joshua Kopp kicked the Durban side to a tense one-point victory over Marlow Landbou in a low-scoring thriller Die Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool se Wit Bulle is vanjaar van stoetgehalte Affies het vir Boland Landbou met 74-14 gekarnuffel The third and final day of the 2025 Absa Wildeklawer kicked off with three emphatic victories on the B-field at Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made several rotational changes to his starting line-up and included four players who played Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu has announced that discussions are ongoing to ensure the Metro FM Music Awards continue to be held in the province Ndlovu made the remarks while attending the 25th edition of the awards currently underway at the Mbombela Stadium final year that the awards are being hosted in Mpumalanga Ndlovu emphasises that the awards have brought significant economic benefits to the province and believes the relationship should continue “It cannot be the last because this relationship has been there for the past three years and the relationship is mutualistic We are all benefiting from this relationship We will continue to engage with Metro FM to check if we cannot be able to extend this contract and taxi drivers are very happy that they have been working since morning we are benefiting as a province from this relationship,” says Ndlovu [WATCH] Metro FM is set to host the 2025 Metro FM Music Awards tonight in Mbombela, Mpumalanga. The star-studded lineup promises an electrifying night of entertainment. SABC News Reporter Nhlamulo Mabasa has more. pic.twitter.com/zxeRmxRFD1 — SABC News (@SABCNews) May 3, 2025 VIDEO | Excitement builds for Metro FM Music Awards The Premier adds that the 25th edition of the Metro FM Music Awards has significantly contributed to the tourism sector and boosted the local economy Mpumalanga has hosted the event for three consecutive years celebrating and recognising South Africa’s musical talent With this year’s theme being “Crowning Greatness,” the streets of Mbombela are buzzing with activity as the awards grow in popularity Ndlovu expresses his satisfaction with the energy and excitement around the Mbombela Stadium “I’m happy with the hive of activities taking place in Mbombela It’s clear these awards are not just about music; they are a catalyst for economic and social upliftment in our province.”  Police in Mpumalanga have launched a search and rescue operation for a missing child following a fatal crash near Alkmaar The child was among the occupants of a light delivery vehicle that veered off the N4 Toll Road and crashed into guardrails on Sunday believed to have been seated in the back of the vehicle Security and Liaison spokesperson Moeti Mmusi says search efforts will continue “It is alleged that a child was part of the people who were in the bakkie They looked for him on Sunday afternoon and the search will also continue today it is not clear whether the child is still alive or not but the search by the police divers is ongoing.” Hoërskool Nelspruit scored a second consecutive victory at the 28th Standard Bank St John’s College Easter Festival with a thrilling 22–13 triumph over Maritzburg College in the final fixture on Burger Field who edged out Welkom Gimnasium 34–31 in a dramatic opener on Thursday return to Mbombela undefeated after an outstanding Driven by the relentless carries of eighthman Their rampaging runs left plenty of bruises in the College camp and laid the foundation for another standout performance from scrumhalf Liam Pringle Pringle’s crisp distribution and pinpoint tactical kicking from the base of the ruck kept the College boys pinned deep in their half right-wing Adam Cahill impressed with one of the day’s best performances from the tee He calmly slotted two long-range penalties and converted his team’s only try a much-anticipated clash between KwaZulu-Natal’s Hilton College and the Eastern Cape’s Kingswood College The sides were evenly matched in an intense first half and went into half-time deadlocked at 13–13 slotted a coolly taken drop goal to edge his team ahead which ignited a dominant second-half display from coach Brad Mcleod-Henderson‘s charges adding three more conversions and three penalties to contribute 18 points to his team’s victory bulldozed his way over the gain-line repeatedly reaped the rewards of his tireless work when he went over for a well-earned try Kingswood’s towering right-wing James Mackenzie gave the Hilton defence plenty to think about with a blistering attacking display which included one of the best tries of the day that wasn’t enough to derail the momentum of the high-flying side from KwaZulu-Natal Hoërskool Nelspruit 22 (12) – Tries: André Smit Maritzburg College 13 (7) – Try: Olwethu Kosani Hilton College 33 (13) – Tries: Zander Vorster Kingswood College 16 (13) – Try: James Mackenzie The win was never in doubt after the Springboks – celebrating a new Test record for Eben Etzebeth (128 caps) – had a sublime start that had the sold out crowd of 43 578 in raptures and hardly gave them time to either sit down or catch a breath in a spellbinding first 15 minutes They broke the Pumas defence in the opening minute and had them on the ropes for at least six minutes before Aphelele Fassi scored the first try and would eventually add six more tries (to one) on a wonderful celebration of Southern Hemisphere rugby Three second half tries were not only good reward for the Springbok faithful but also a valuable lesson to the visitors who allowed their lack of discipline to get the better of their skill set in the second half But back to a brilliant Bok first half effort The initial sortie into the visitors’ half resulted in five defensive penalties conceded by the Pumas in the opening four minutes but both times infringements halted the drive Two more penalties were conceded – with the Boks opting for scrums – before the crack appeared and Fassi scored under the sticks who took over the kicking duties from Manie Libbok for this encounter The Boks came back for more almost immediately this time after another dominant scrum gave them front foot ball and Pieter-Steph du Toit could finish acrobatically The flanker swan dived over a ruck – almost NFL style – to dot down and when Hendrikse kicked the conversion 14 minutes in No team comes into the final match of a Championship with a sniff to win it if they roll over easy and this Pumas side – who already beat Australia New Zealand and South Africa this season – are made from sterner stuff They came back in style themselves when a nifty angled run by flanker Santiago Grondona found flyhalf Tomas Albornoz who scored under the sticks and converted to open their scoring Eben Etzebeth is now the most-capped Springbok ever But the Boks extended their lead when Hendrikse kicked his first Test penalty goal from 35m out to make it 17-7 Argentina centre Santiago Chocobares left the field injured and when wing Mateo Carreras was yellow carded after a high ball collision with Fassi 30 minutes in Fassi made them pay dearly with his second try shortly thereafter after numerous phases by the Springboks during a counter-attack of epic dynamics Hendrikse hit the upright with his conversion but that was just a blimp on a sublime performance that kept on giving Even more so when Cheslin Kolbe scored three minutes from the break with a trademark step and go with no space to work with The try pushed the lead out to 20 points and a happy crowd could not wait for the final 40 minutes Hendrikse missed an early penalty attempt shortly after the break in an otherwise immaculate performance and some of his team mates also made the odd handling error Jesse Kriel goes over for the Boks' seventh and final try There were some not so perfect moments as well including Pablo Matera's shoulder charge on Vincent Koch's head pulled the quality aspect of the half down a bit Matera’s card was upgraded to red and that finished any chance the Pumas had The fairy tale instead rightfully belonged to the new kings of the Rugby Championship First Malcolm Marx went over for a 21st Test try from the back of a strong lineout maul a thing of beauty in the simplicity of the execution scored his second and 11th of his Test career A deft Handre Pollard kick also found Jesse Kriel in full flight Pollard converted all three late tries to make it a memorable day for all South Africans Springboks 48 (27) – Tries: Aphelele Fassi (2) Springbok fullback Aphelele Fassi said players such as Eben Etzebeth along with several other seniors in the Bok squad inspired him immensely to further his international career after becoming a regular feature in the squad this season The opening weekend of Vodacom United Rugby Championship action for the four South African franchises delivered a mixed bag of results with the two home teams bagging victories in Gauteng while the coastal sides suffered defeats on the road in Wales and Ireland the Springbok Women have their eyes firmly set on their next challenge in the tournament taking on Australia in Cape Town on Saturday The Fidelity ADT Lions continued their unbeaten winning streak by registering their ninth win of the SA Rugby Under-21 Cup when they defeated Hollywoodbets Sharks 54-22 on Saturday afternoon in Johannesburg while the Vodacom Bulls were in devastating form on the road The Junior Springbok Women got their R10 African U20 Women's Series off to a winning start at Paul Roos Gymnasium’s Markötter Stadium in Stellenbosch where they defeated a gritty Tunisa 26-17 in the opening fixture of the tournament on Monday after leading 14-5 at the break Voting for Best of Mbombela open until April 27 at midnight The awards serve as an authentic reflection of the local marketplace Every vote counts as it represents the collective opinions of consumers and buyers throughout the City of Mbombela highlighting the brands that have earned their place through consistent dedication to outstanding service this recognition is not just a validation of their hard work and commitment but also a testament to the meaningful relationships they’ve built with their customers why not take this opportunity to reward those who consistently deliver on their promises With categories that span everything from dining and entertainment to home improvement and motoring there’s no shortage of deserving nominees waiting for your vote AVBOB celebrates a milestone by rewarding its members on a large scale NELSPRUIT - Three illegal miners have been reported dead at an abandoned mine in Sabie  Over 130 zama zama's allegedly remain trapped underground READ: Zama Zamas under Stilfontein mine shaft might die a slow death - Vavi Members from the K9 unit of the security company were patrolling around farms in the area when they encountered four men who appeared to be fleeing for their lives This prompted an intervention by Operation Vala  Umgodi SAPS Brigadier Donald Mdhluli says illegal miners have even attacked and injured police officers in the area The Test at the Mbombela Stadium will decide the winner of the 2024 Castle Lager Rugby Championship after the Boks’ 29-28 defeat in Stantiago del Estero last weekend and Human said they had a lot to work on this week who are currently on 19 log points – five ahead of Argentina – only need one point from the match to guarantee their first Castle Lager Rugby Championship title since 2019 while they will also clinch the title if Argentina win the match without a bonus point based on competition points The only permutation that would see Argentina claim the title for the first time is if the visitors win with a try-scoring bonus point and deny the hosts a point which would see Los Pumas crowned champions since they would have beaten South Africa twice “It’s special to be here (in Nelspruit and back in South Africa) and hopefully we can deliver a good performance for the public,” said Human the supporters that will attend the game on the weekend hopefully we can deliver a good performance that can earn us a win and see us win the Rugby Championship.” Looking back at last weekend’s performance Human – who said everyone in the squad was fit and available for selection – admitted that there was hard work ahead for the team this week “Obviously we are still very disappointed with the result last week,” said Human “We always knew how tough it would be to play against Argentina at home and it was the first time some of our players played there and hopefully they learned something from the experience “There certainly wasn’t a lack of effort from the team Human also gave Los Pumas due credit after they defeated the Boks and he expected them to take the field equally hungry on Saturday “I think this is the first time they beat all three other teams in the Rugby Championship so we know what lies ahead for us this weekend,” said the scrum guru said the team fully supported replacement flyhalf Manie Libbok which could have seen the team win the match in the final minute “We just had our match review and coach Tony (Brown) showed us how many opportunities we had that we did not convert into points so the game should not have come down to one kick.” Both Human and Hendrikse praised lock Eben Etzebeth who is set to become the most capped Springbok of all time on Saturday after matching Victor Matfield’s record of 127 caps in Argentina a real team man and always willing to learn,” said Human Hendrikse added: “It’s a massive milestone to become the most capped Springbok I remember watching him play as an 11-year-old boy so I’m very proud of him with the rest of the team.” Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus will announce his matchday squad for the match on Tuesday Mpumalanga authorities have launched an urgent search after a lion was spotted roaming near The Rest Estate in Mbombela during the early hours of Wednesday morning The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) confirmed the sighting through a  security footage triggering swift action to track the predator “The MTPA confirms that a free-roaming male lion was spotted near The Rest Estate in the City of Mbombela early this morning at around 1.38am,” said MTPA spokesperson Simphiwe Shungube “This is confirmed by security footage obtained from The Rest Estate control room “The MTPA has been on the scene since 2am with a thermal imaging drone trying to locate the lion “The authority will continue to monitor the area until the lion is located Members of the public are advised to remain calm.” The lion is believed to be moving between The Rest Estate and the R40 road Sightings were reported near key residential areas such as Tshwane University of Technology and  Medi-Clinic Officials are concerned that the lion’s movements could pose a danger to residents Particularly those travelling on foot early in the morning or late at night “All residents are strongly advised not to roam around outside after dark or early hours of the morning “Please do not allow children to roam around or play unsupervised Period,” reads an alert circulated among residents and cyclists in the morning and afternoon [is issued] sit with your backs to a wall and keep the lights on.” The MTPA stressed that residents should not post sightings on social media Sharing the animal’s whereabouts could lead to panic or interference with search operations Anyone who spots the lion is urged to contact wildlife official Louw Steyn immediately at 083 6266 792 Also Read: Bongani Fassie to celebrate MaBrrr’s 20th death anniversary Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content Fundudzi Media (Pty) Ltd. All rights reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms & conditions and privacy policy. The Mpumalanga Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport has acknowledged the outstanding debt owed to the City of Mbombela Municipality but dismissed claims that it owes the municipality over R5 billion as alleged by the Democratic Alliance. This after the DA raised concerns about the recent electricity cut offs at some government properties in the municipality due to an outstanding debt of R5.5 billion on rates and taxes. The party also raised concerns over reports that the electricity cut-offs also affected Rob Ferreira Hospital in Mbombela. Department spokesperson Bongani Dhlamini says the department acknowledges the outstanding debt of R113 million for the 2024/25 financial year. Dhlamini says however they have already paid R61 million to the municipality in the current financial year, adding that there are ongoing discussions with the municipality and the matter has also been escalated to the Provincial Treasury. Copyright © 2022Capricorn FM.All rights reserved The Pumas set up a Rugby Championship decider in Mbombela next week after a thrilling 29-28 victory over the Springboks Springbok replacement flyhalf Manie Libbok had a penalty two minutes from time to win it for the Boks – 35 metres out and to the right of the poles – but pulled his attempt wide and although South Africa regained possession from the 22 restart the Pumas' defence shut them out to complete the ‘triple crown’ of beating all three of the other SANZAAR nations in a single season There was not to be a miracle this time for Rassie Erasmus’s men but they still hold the whip hand in the race for the title – they need only one point from the battle of the Lowveld to claim their first title since 2019 or they must prevent Argentina from a bonus-point win The winning score was a penalty goal by Pumas flyhalf Tomos Albornoz with 12 minutes remaining the hosts' only points of the second half after they had managed four tries in 20 first-half minutes It seemed as if the Boks had restored normal service after that shocking passage of lax tackling and a mounting penalty count but they couldn’t add to their own tally of three first half tries by Aphelele Fassi (fullback) Jesse Kriel (centre) and Cobus Reinach (scrumhalf) The first half was a riot of scoring as the Springboks took first blood to leap into a 17-0 lead in 13 minutes and then conceded 26 unanswered points in a blitzkrieg of four tries from the hosts in just 20 minutes The Boks roused themselves from the canvas to score their third try and seventh of the half on the stroke of halftime to trail by only four points at the break which had seemed inconceivable in the opening phases as the visitors took what looked a commanding lead Everything had worked perfectly for the visitors The first scrum resulted in a penalty and from the resulting lineout a slick backline move with Lukhanyo Am (centre) and Handre Pollard (flyhalf) swapping positions for the latter to fire a long pass for Fassi to fly through a gaping hole and score to the right of posts from 20 metres Kriel then picked a beautiful cut back with perfect timing and speed to race off the shoulder of Reinach and brush past a despairing tachle to score his 17th test try. Pollard converted to make it 14-0 after just eight minutes and take his personal career tally to 743 points to go past Morne Steyn and into second place on the all-time scoring list The Bok flyhalf added a penalty goal to stetch the lead to 17 points after 13 minutes at which point the Pumas had barely had a sniff of the ball left wing Matteo Carreras scampered down the flank after being given the overlap by fast hands and disconnected Bok defence and arguably then made a greater contribution when he was on the wrong end of an upright tackle by his direct opponent who was yellow carded for the third time in six matches this season The Pumas didn’t need the encouragement Their tails were up and although Albornoz could not land the resulting penalty their second try came down the absent Arendse’s wing when back rower Pablo Matera found himself having an unopposed run to the line The pressure was telling on the Boks and they bgean to concede penalties to give Pumas field position in the right hand corner prop Joel Sclavi took and inside pass to score from close range as a maul was shunted into touch but he made amends by gliding round the left edge of the Bok defence from 10 metres after a series a close range drives had been repelled He converted his own try to make it 26-17 against a shellshocked Bok defence They needed field position and a lift and it came on the stroke of halftime A penalty allowed Pollard to drill to the corner and when the Pumas were penalised for collapsing the resulting maul ducked and darted on a diagonal run to the corner for his 14th try and 36 tests The break couldn’t come soon enough for the Boks – 17 points to the good at one point and now almost suddenly four points adrift They began to put that right immediately on the restart Pollard added his second penalty to close the gap to one point and then his replacement Manie Libbok kicked the Boks back into the lead (28-26) in the 50th minute with his first shot at goal as Erasmus sent on his Bomb Squad making a record-equalling 127th test appearance as they flooded on in the 47th minute That’s the way it stayed for the next 18 minutes as the Boks largely controlled play until a Pumas break out led to a penalty after Gerhard Steenekamp (replacement prop) was harshly penalised for not rolling away when he was sandwiched in a ruck Albornoz slotted a simple penalty to give his side that one-point lead to tee-up a nail-biting final 12 minutes in which the Springboks twice had scrum possession in kickable penalty positions The first ended in a free kick for the Pumas the second went to ground but when the ball was moved wide Argentina were penalised for not rolling away to present Libbok’s opportunity Albornoz; Conversions: Albornoz (3); Penalty goals: Albornoz] Springboks 28 (22) [Tries: Fassi Reinach; Conversions: Pollard (2); Penalty goals: Pollard (2) Official Archive Footage: info@sanzarrugby.com The stage is set for an epic battle at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit, as the Springboks and Los Pumas clash to determine the 2024 Rugby Championship victors.  needing just a single log point to claim its first championship since 2019.  the Springboks will break New Zealand's dominance as the only other team to win a full edition of the tournament since 2012 standing in their way is a determined Argentine team hungry to make history after defeating the All Blacks Wallabies and Springboks in the same year for the first time The Mbombela region is renowned for its wildlife with tourists flocking to the Kruger National Park to spot the famous Big Five.  the focus will be on a different kind of 'Big Five,' as both teams’ forward packs collide in a fierce encounter upfront.  Los Pumas need a try bonus-point win and to beat the Springboks by more than seven points – a daunting task Much of the match’s intrigue lies in the battle between the tight-five forwards.  The Springboks' lineout struggled last weekend against Argentina with Los Pumas showing impressive resilience and strength.  South Africa's head coach, Rassie Erasmus acknowledging that Los Pumas could pull off a famous upset given their recent successes and their shared ability to defy the odds The return of key Springboks players, including the influential Eben Etzebeth, who will be making his 128th appearance promises to bolster South Africa’s chances Etzebeth’s rivalry with Argentina’s Tomas Lavanini has been a focal point in recent encounters and the battle between them will be crucial in determining which side gains the upper hand Springboks stalwarts Damian de Allende and Bongi Mbonambi also return to add experience to the team while Los Pumas’ rising star Joaquin Oviedo will look to showcase his athleticism.  The midfield clash between De Allende and Argentina's Santiago Chocobares is another exciting matchup to watch as both centers have been in outstanding form the match likely will come down to small margins Manie Libbok for South Africa and Tomas Albornoz for Argentina.  While the Springboks have a history of delivering under pressure Los Pumas have shown they can defy expectations with the home advantage and a fully loaded squad the Springboks seem poised to claim victory and lift the Rugby Championship title FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays.  Get the most important Rugby stories delivered straight to your inbox The City of Mbombela is in a catch-22 after its munici­pal council was found to have unlawfully placed its chief financial officer on special leave “This decision lacks any legal basis and amounts to an abuse of power by the municipal council,” Tlhotlhalemaje said The scathing judgment comes despite strong allegations from the council accusing Siba­nyoni of severe misconduct including irregular financial conduct and tender mismanagement – claims she strongly contested who has served as the CFO since January last  year was placed on special leave after a council meeting on July 30 The council alleged that she was involved in “irregular financial transactions failure to properly account for municipal funds and mismanagement of tenders,” as detailed in an internal audit report “It is our duty to ensure that all financial activities within the municipality are conducted with the utmost integrity and any suspicion of misconduct must be thoroughly investigated,” the audit report recommended Sibanyoni argued that the council’s decision was not only procedurally flawed she said special leave could only be granted at the request of the employee and not imposed unilaterally by the employer Court documents revealed that Sibanyoni was notified of the special council meeting on July 29 where the agenda included a report recommending an investigation into her alleged misconduct Sibanyoni promptly approached the Labour Court seeking an urgent order to set aside the council’s decision and have her reinstated as CFO and municipal manager of the City of Mbombela arguing that the matter lacked urgency and that the court did not have jurisdiction pointing out that “the urgency of this matter is beyond dispute given the public interest in ensuring lawful governance” He added that the council’s decision “cannot be justified under any circumstances” City of Mbombela spokesperson Joseph Ngala told Sunday World that the judgment will be presented to the council for a decision Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content The annual Mpumalanga Cultural Experience is underway in the City of Mbombela. Different cultural groups are parading on the streets showcasing the province’s rich cultural heritage. The parade is also aimed at fostering social cohesion The 9th edition of the Cultural Experience includes activities such as music festival People who are taking part in the parade say they are not only showcasing their cultures but also learning from others “We want to experience other cultures and we want other cultures to experience our culture We are the Indian Hindu cultural experience and we are exhibiting how we dress up.” Another says they are happy to see so many different cultures I’m a clown after all; I have to enjoy.” Mbombela hosts 9th Mpumalanga Cultural Experience till 7th December says the annual Cultural Experience Festival has grown over the years It features a wide range of activities including musical performances traditional dances and a cultural exhibition Mabuza says the festival has attracted revellers from the neighboring Mozambique and the Kingdom of eSwatini “We are bordering between Swaziland and Mozambique and people of Swaziland are here in showcasing culture And you know what is exciting is that our young people are really taking issues of culture in a manner that they are highly active They have their own groups which these groups today are more or less more than 40 groups both in all communities that I have mentioned in terms of the race that are participating.” Cultural experience aims to revitalise Mpumalanga’s economy: MEC Leah Mabuza The back-to-back Rugby World Cup champions will kick their season off against Italy in Pretoria a week earlier The Boks’ season opener at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria will mark Italy’s first visit to South Africa since 2013 while it will also be the first fixture between the teams in Gauteng The two teams will meet again a week later at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Gqeberha The last time the Boks played at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium was two Tests against Argentina in 2021 behind closed doors due to the COVID pandemic The last Test in the Castle Lager Incoming Series is against Georgia at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Saturday 19 July – only the third match between the sides in history The first two matches between the nations were in Sydney during the 2003 RWC and in Pretoria in 2021 with the latter also played in an empty stadium due to COVID restrictions A second Test between the sides had to be cancelled due to the pandemic The Boks will begin their Castle Lager Rugby Championship title defence against Australia at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg and the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday before travelling to New Zealand for successive Tests against the All Blacks in Auckland (6 September) and Wellington (13 September) They will then return to South Africa for their final home Test of the year against Argentina at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban on Saturday before the away match against the Pumas a week later at Allianz Stadium Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus was pleased with the Test venues and said it sparked even more excitement among the coaches for the 2025 season “The confirmation of the Test venues always gives us peace of mind from a coaching and management team perspective because it means we can step up our planning and it also boosts the excitement from the public for the season,” said Erasmus “We have played at most of these venues in the last few years and we know them well although it will be particularly exciting to return to Gqeberha for the first time since 2021 “We thoroughly enjoy the passionate support we receive from our home crowds throughout the country and we have no doubt we will enjoy great support at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium once again – this time in a packed stadium which we last experienced in the Eastern Cape in 2018 against Australia.” Erasmus was content with the hard work done behind the scenes so far as they look to build on a successful 2024 season: “We are already at an advanced stage of our planning from a coaching and it’s exciting to see how everything is coming together ahead of another challenging and exciting season.” SA Rugby CEO Rian Oberholzer shared Erasmus’ excitement following the confirmation of the Test venues and said: “All six home Tests will be played at top-class venues and we are pleased that we will see the Boks run out in five different provinces “The team enjoys a lot of support throughout the country – we had more than 300,000 fans in attendance at our home Tests last year – and by spreading out the matches hopefully it allows as many people as possible to see them live in action.” Details on ticket sales will be announced in due course Castle Lager Incoming Series:5 July: SA v Italy – Loftus Versfeld Pretoria12 July: SA v Italy – Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium Gqeberha19 July: SA v Georgia – Mbombela Stadium Castle Lager Rugby Championship:16 August: SA v Australia – Emirates Airline Park Johannesburg23 August: SA v Australia – DHL Stadium Cape Town27 September: SA v Argentina – Hollywoodbets Kings Park Junior Springbok coach Kevin Foote has made a raft of rotational changes for their second clash with the Georgia U20s on Friday in Tbilisi with Riley Norton leading the SA U20s in their final tour fixture which is scheduled to kick off at 15h00 (13h00 SA time) Match official appointments for the next few days have been made with a full round of Vodacom URC on the schedule as well as the return of the Women’s Premier Division after the teams had a bye last weekend SA Rugby President Mr Mark Alexander and Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus paid tribute to double Rugby World Cup-winning prop Steven Kitshoff following the announcement on Tuesday that he had decided to retire from the game after suffering a serious neck injury last year The Springbok Women’s Sevens team realise the enormity and importance of the task at hand when they take the field in the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town this weekend has faced a significant adjustment from the sweltering summer heat of Stellenbosch to the sub-zero temperatures of Tbilisi The Junior Springboks defeated Georgia 27-12 in their second international at the Lelo Arena in Tbilisi on Friday afternoon to not only clinch the series 2-0 but also put a smile on the face of SA U20 coach They have been down this road before and are well aware of the potholes and speed bumps of top flight international sevens rugby but according to Springbok Women’s Sevens captain Mathrin Simmers they are still keeping their eyes firmly on the first step of their new journey towards HSBC SVNS qualification There might not be a semi-final round in this year's shortened version of the Women’s Premier Division but this weekend’s matches in the fifth round can rightly be regarded as knock-outs as all the teams still in the running for the two places in the final are up against each other The Springbok Women's Sevens topped Pool A of the World Rugby HSBC Challenger at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday after beating Hong Kong China 36-0 and Czechia 26-0 and will face African foes Kenya in the semi-finals on Sunday The Springbok Women's Sevens claimed third place in the first leg of the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger 2025 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town on Sunday and although SA coach Renfred Dazel was satisfied with bronze he lamented a three-minute lapse in concentration that cost them dearly against Kenya Home | Politics The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) in Mpumalanga has criticised the Mbombela Local Municipality for failing to appoint general workers despite having received thousands of applications The League says thousands of unemployed youth have applied for vacancies at the municipality it’s been eight months since the positions were advertised and applicants have yet to receive feedback from the municipality The Youth League in Ehlanzeni is today expected to march to the City of Mbombela to demand that the municipality fill the positions ANCYL’s Ehlanzeni Region Chairperson says the process of hiring people needs to start as soon a s possible “Why is this process of simply appointing general workers taking so long Because the issue of high unemployment is a serious crisis in Mpumalanga And these are funded posts that there’s a budget for it So we are of the belief that there will not be any financial burden in the municipality because the funding is already there Now the process that we are seeking that the municipality ought to deal with urgently is the process of appointing these general workers The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga has urged the provincial Roads and Transport Department to intervene following warnings of disruptions to scholar transport in Mbombela on March 3 The TopStar Minibus Taxi Association has announced a crackdown on taxi operators without permits leading to concerns among operators who transport children and workers DA’s Teboho Sekaledi emphasized the need for all stakeholders to engage constructively to prevent criminal actions as transport plays a critical role in the local economy “If everybody participates meaningfully with a well-regulated and legislated economic condition then we won’t find ourselves having one people on even confiscating cars of which is an act of criminality and that cannot be tolerated I can tell you there are many places that I have driven around even in Mbombela where people stranded (for a) long time because they don’t have transport,” Sekaledi said pointing out the widespread reliance on public transport the Metro FM Music Awards have contributed tremendously in the tourism and economic industry in Mbombela Mpumalanga Metro FM has partnered with the Mpumalanga Provincial Government and the Motsepe Foundation for the 2025 awards told Sunday World that what they get in return in terms of the benefits from the economical spinoff such as tourism “That is one of the things that elevate the Metros But also being hosted by a particular province attracts other sponsors But the following year we started seeing more sponsors coming on board how we are growing and the benefits of being a sponsor,” said Nhlengethwa The 2025 MMAs are themed “Crowning Greatness” Nhlengethwa said it took a lot of time for them to think how they will celebrate the industry “We have the awards today because of the artists and we will be celebrating kings and queens of the music industry.” The entries this year saw a significant increase in the entries Nhlengethwa said they were shocked when they looked at the entries She thinks the contributing factor is that it is the third year in Mbombela after a six year break “The excitement of having the Metros back has contributed to the high entries The rise of amapiano is the biggest genres It has contributed a lot to the music industry The awards are hosted in Mbombela for the third consecutive year Nhlengethwa said they plan on going big and are even considering hosting in another country she did not reveal whether this will be the last year the awards are hosted in Mpumalanga Visit SW YouTube Channel for our video content Springbok captain Salmaan Moerat was equally honest in his assessment of the test and said the performance was simply not good enough “It’s putting a positive spin on things to say the match in Mbombela could be fitting as a final to the competition because we must first get over this result “We have to point fingers at ourselves as coaches and management too we have a chance to redeem ourselves next week and to finish the Castle Lager Rugby Championship on a high note.” Erasmus also gave the Pumas credit for their performance: “It was a great match by Argentina while we made crucial mistakes at vital times “They knew they had a chance to win the competition with a victory and you could see they were going for the bonus-point “I definitely think the momentum shifted when we received the yellow card (to Kurt-Lee Arendse) so it’s going to be a tough match at Mbombela Stadium next week.” The Bok coach refused to place the blame on replacement flyhalf Manie Libbok whose penalty goal attempt went wide in the last minute: “If we didn’t miss the penalty kick in the end there were a few things that didn’t go our way “Our lineout didn’t function as well as we would have liked but there were also a lot of other things we could have done better that would have ensured that the match didn’t come down to that kick A disappointed Moerat added: “There were parts of the game when we put them under pressure and after the yellow card we took our foot off the pedal “Argentina are a tough team to play at home Erasmus admitted that after their strong start to the game it was important to build on that momentum but he said the yellow card to Arendse for a dangerous tackle was the turning point in the game “We started well and I’m always nervous when we start well because we generally tend to fight back hard,” said Erasmus “But we should have put them away early on The Pumas moved up to 14 points on the standings following their victory it would mark the first time they lift the trophy since 2019 while it also cap off a memorable series in which they won the Nelson Mandela Challenge plate Against Australia and the Freedom Cup against New Zealand Erasmus announced that the players who were rested for the Argentina leg of the tournament would rejoin the squad in Nelspruit The Springboks travelled back to South Africa on a flight with Los Pumas directly after the match and will resume their full training programme on Monday TOP Star Taxi Association in Mbombela claims that the City of Mbombela has neglected the Nelspruit taxi ranks and its surroundings The taxi association is concerned about the drainage system at the rank which is causing flooding They allege that they have reported this problem but nothing has been resolved since last year The operators accuse the municipal officials of closing the drainage system which leads to flooding As it has been raining the past few days the area is flooded and this is where some of the minibus taxis are parked who use this road on a daily basis also say the state of the road is a huge inconvenience The road has potholes which are damaging vehicles The association says it reported these issues to the municipality with little to no response “It is not the first time we complained about the drainage systems that are overflowing all over We are not happy the way the municipality is treating us They are taking the own time to fix even if you reported the problem to them to fix so we are concerned.” The road leading into town from the taxi rank is flooded the municipality says they are aware of the condition of the road and it will be fixed in due course “We are aware of the situation as you can see behind you because of the rain unfortunately we can do any work our teams would be back to open up the storm water drain and also patch the potholes so that our commuters as well as out taxi operators can operate here smoothly.” The taxi operators also complain about the road in the Nelspruit CBD which is full of potholes and rubbish on sidewalks Kruger National Park, South Africa (24 January 2025) – You may have heard about the Mbombela lion that caused a stir not so long ago it turns out the adventurous feline has found his happily ever after by forming a coalition with three other lions in the Kruger National Park After a brief stint in captivity and a slightly bumpy reintroduction to the Kruger National Park the lion has not only survived but thrived According to the Lowvelder after being captured at Sekelbos Estate in Mbombela on 2 November and spending seven weeks in captivity a botched attempt at releasing the mystery predator in Mjejane Game Reserve on 17 December led to him being temporarily released in the Kruger’s Crocodile Bridge section The lion was fitted with a satellite tracking collar allowing SANParks rangers to closely observe his movements Because they were uncertain about his identity as a Kruger lion they feared he might be displaced or killed by the dominant pride that he could bring diseases into the ecosystem While nobody knows for sure how he ended up in Mbombela (or where he originally came from) DNA test results later proved he was not a captive-bred lion that escaped but instead shared genetics with some lions from the Kruger While rangers kept a close eye on the adventurous fellow who surprisingly covered quite a distance in the park they soon discovered that the lion had formed a coalition with two lions and a lioness which put them in a position to establish their own territory he’s ready to stake his claim on a piece of the Kruger and finally write his own chapter in the wild Comment * document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id" "aa002c0c90de29ddbbda1838e240b420" );document.getElementById("d2d9e305b5").setAttribute( "id" Would you like to receive truly phenomenal inspirational and good thing stories right to your inbox Then subscribe to our weekly GoodThingsGuy newsletter 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