Like Gushinge, millions of farmers, especially in southern and western India, are facing water shortages as they prepare to plant winter crops.

“There’s not enough moisture in the soil to sow the next crop, and no money left to do so either,” said Gushinge, 78, at Rajewadi village, about 400km east of Mumbai. The Jalna district around his village has received about 48% less rain than average this year, the local weather office has said.

A weak monsoon mean farmers will have to sow winter crops under less favourable conditions, raising the risk of stunted growth and lower yields.

Lower crop yields could further stoke food inflation, with prices of sugar, pulses, wheat and rice already climbing amid a severe El Niño. Onions, ubiquitous in Indian kitchens and widely used in curries, as well as milk and poultry products, are also becoming more expensive.

A spike in prices of staples can anger millions of Indians — increases in onion prices have ousted state governments in elections in the past.

Higher food prices could further weaken discretionary consumption across the economy, with the weakest monsoon rains in more than a decade already dampening rural demand and dragging down sales of tractors and farm equipment.

India holds surplus stocks of rice and wheat, but prices continue to rise as supplies of the premium quality grain preferred by consumers remain tight

Food inflation could reach around 10% in the October-December quarter, said Devendra Pant, chief economist at India Ratings and Research, citing a combination of weak rains, higher global prices and rupee depreciation.

In September annual retail food inflation accelerated to 7.74%, pushing headline inflation to 5.54%, close to the Reserve Bank of India’s upper tolerance limit of 6%.

Higher food prices will likely prompt the central bank to raise interest rates by a further 50-75 basis points, as it risks feeding into broader price pressures, Pant said.

He said he expects the central bank to raise rates for a second consecutive time at its December meeting, after its first hike in October.

Protein has been a key driver of price increases and could prove difficult to bring down, economists said.

The central bank’s September Monetary Policy Report said animal protein and spices accounted for nearly half of the 200-basis point rise in food inflation between March and August, driven by higher feed and fodder, transport, packaging and energy costs, as well as bird mortality after a heat wave.

In September, meat inflation eased to 8.7% from 12.0% in August, largely due to a high base, while inflation in milk, other dairy products and eggs rose to 5.1% from 4.8%.

Animal feed, mainly corn and soybean, accounts for 60-70% of poultry production costs, said Uday Singh Bayas, president of poultry equipment makers’ body IPEMA-Poultry India.

Poultry producers have yet to fully pass on higher feed costs, and broiler prices could rise from January as higher costs and tighter supplies put further pressure on the market, said Uddhav Ahire, chairman of the Anand Agro Group.

Pulses, poultry and dairy are key sources of protein in India. Prolonged protein inflation could hurt lower-income households and force them to alter their diets, with implications for long-term health, said Madan Sabnavis, chief economist at Bank of Baroda.

Sugar output is likely to fall short of domestic consumption for a second consecutive year and may recover only in late 2028 if rains are favourable in 2027, said Rahil Shaikh, managing director of Mumbai-based trader MEIR Commodities India.

Sugar prices have risen nearly 30% over the past year, prompting the government to allow duty-free imports of 1-million metric tons to help bridge a shortfall, with consumption exceeding 29-million tons this year against output of less than 27.5-million tons.

Food inflation will depend partly on how the winter crop season unfolds, with poor soil moisture and the risk of warmer temperatures threatening to further squeeze supplies

But global prices are higher than domestic rates, limiting the impact of imports and making a return to last year’s price levels unlikely, Shaikh said.

While India can turn to imports of sugar, vegetable oils and pulses to offset domestic production shortfalls, higher global prices, a weaker rupee and rising freight costs are making overseas supplies more expensive.

El Niño is also affecting farm production in other countries, while the Russia-Ukraine war has hit grain and sunflower oil supplies from the Black Sea region.

These factors are pushing up prices of vegetable oils, said Sandeep Bajoria, chief executive of Mumbai-based brokerage Sunvin Group.

India holds surplus stocks of rice and wheat, but prices continue to rise as supplies of the premium quality grain preferred by consumers remain tight.

Preferences vary across states, and dry weather has cut supplies of rice varieties favoured in southern India, pushing up prices, said BV Krishna Rao, president of the Rice Exporters Association.

Wheat, India’s main winter crop, has climbed to a nearly two-year high amid concerns that El Niño could bring warmer winter conditions and curb production early next year.

Food inflation will depend partly on how the winter crop season unfolds, with poor soil moisture and the risk of warmer temperatures threatening to further squeeze supplies.

“Amid elevated crude oil prices, higher food inflation and an uncertain outlook for the kharif [winter] crop, sustaining economic activity while safeguarding price stability will be the focus of policymakers in the second half of the financial year,” the government said in its monthly economic report for October.

The hospital experienced an interruption in its water supply at the weekend, affecting most areas of the facility.

The situation resulted in limited water availability within the hospital, necessitating immediate intervention to minimise disruptions to healthcare service delivery.

The hospital’s spokesperson, Omphile Morwaagae, said the interruption was caused by low water pressure from the main supplier, Magalies Water. This prevented the hospital’s two primary facility-based water storage tanks from being adequately filled to meet the demand for water in the wards.

The water supply has since been fully restored following a temporary intervention by the fire department and the Ngaka Modiri Molema district municipality, which provided water to the hospital.

Morwaagae said hospital management is considering permanent measures to strengthen the hospital’s water storage capacity and ensure a more reliable supply of water, to minimise the impact of similar interruptions on hospital operations in future.

“The hospital’s current water storage capacity is limited and has not kept pace with the population growth over the past 58 years. Furthermore, the existing water storage infrastructure serves both Mafikeng Provincial Hospital and Bophelong Psychiatric Hospital, placing additional demand on the available capacity.”

According to Morwaagae, the long-term plan is to refurbish the existing boreholes and procure a water monitoring system that will enable the hospital to continuously monitor water levels across all its storage tanks and ensure that the available water supply is known and effectively managed at all times.

In a match that must set the tone for their European tour, with the Nations Championship finals weekend only weeks away, only lock Salmaan Moerat has not played test rugby this season.

He will partner Ruan Nortje in the second row and will lock down behind Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Thomas du Toit.

Captain Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Jasper Wiese form the loose trio.

The backline is also a settled unit and features first-choice players from those on tour.

Not one of the six uncapped players in the touring squad was included in the match-day squad.

Rassie Erasmus has named the #Springboks team for Saturday’s Test against Italy in Turin – more here: https://t.co/m0U982oDkt
Stream all the action LIVE on DStv: https://t.co/qFpxGWMbDp
#ForeverGreenForeverGold https://t.co/6GH1tJxBXE
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 2, 2026

In September, the Northern Cape High Court found David Mmelesi guilty of causing the collision on the N12 between Warrenton and Kimberley in April 2023.

Mokgoro sustained injuries in the crash and died a year later.

Last year during trial proceedings, one of the witnesses who took the stand was the truck driver involved in the incident.

He testified that Mokgoro’s driver was parked on the side of the road without turning on the hazard lights and then failed to indicate before making a U-turn.

The U-turn resulted in a collision that left her with serious injuries.

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Kaizer Chiefs players protest with match-official Luxolo Badi during the Soweto Deby. Photo: Alche Greeff/Gallo Images

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Hlungwani on Soweto Derby: ‘That goal should not have stood!’

Nov 3, 2026 – 09:10 am
By Siya Ndlela

Former FIFA referee Victor Hlungwani has set the record straight on several controversial decisions taken by match officials in the Soweto Derby clash between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates, including a goal that should not have stood.

The historic rivals clashed in front of a sold-out FNB Stadium on Saturday in an encounter that saw three goals scored, with Pirates walking away with all three points.

Yanela Mbuthuma broke the deadlock in the first half, but Amakhosi equalised through Pule Mmodi.

READ | Pirates’ Masilela after Chiefs beating: ‘It’s a dream come true!’

It was Tshepang Moremi who secured the winner for the hosts in a match that looked almost destined for a draw.

Chiefs ended the match with one less player on the field, after Inacio Miguel received his marching orders for two yellow cards.

Reviewing the match on SoccerZone on Monday, Hlungwani first pointed out that Mbuthuma’s opener should not have stood.

“Mbuthuma is on the line, Miguel’s leg is outside the line; therefore, that puts Mbuthuma in an offside position

“So Mbuthuma here is offside; this goal was not supposed to stand. But you know they say if you are in doubt, give the benefit to the attacking team, but the correct decision is offside.

Hlongwane also revealed that the Sea Robbers were fortunate to end the match with all players on the field, as midfielder Simphiwe Selepe should have been sent off after multiple fouls

“So incorrect a decision by the referee not to give a red card,” Hlungwani added.

Pirates though, will also feel hard done by the officiating on the day as Oswin Appollis’ goal was unfairly ruled as an offside according to Hlungwani.

“We have Kwinika there putting Appollis onside. So this goal was scored in line with the FIFA laws of the game. A goal should have been allowed,” the former referee concluded.

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Orlando Pirates’ CAF Champions League group stages campaign will lead to their Betway Premiership matches being moved. Photo: Alche Greeff/Gallo Images

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Nov 3, 2026 – 09:29 am
By Lovemore Moyo

Discussions relating to Orlando Pirates’ new fixture dates for the six Betway Premiership matches that will make way for their CAF Champions League group stage encounters are underway.

Pirates are in Group C along with RS Berkane, Simba, and Colombe Sportive.

This will mean trips to North (Morocco), East (Tanzania), and the lower edge of West Africa (Cameroon) between November 28 and January 22.

The six league matches affected are against Golden Arrows (November 28), Stellenbosch FC (December 5), Polokwane City (December 19), Mamelodi Sundowns (January 9), AmaZulu FC (January 16), and Kruger United (January 22).

That is six games initially set to be played on Friday and Saturday now being moved to Tuesday/Wednesday dates.

Four of those games are at Orlando, while the fifth is the trip to Loftus, where Sundowns will be awaiting in a clash between the top two teams in domestic football over the last five years.

CAF Champions League – November 27-29 – versus Simba FC in Tanzania

Betway Premiership – November 28 – vs Golden Arrows – Orlando Amstel Arena (possible new date is Tuesday, November 24)

CAF Champions League – December 4-6 – versus RS Berkane – Orlando Amstel Arena

Betway Premiership – December 5 – vs Stellenbosch FC – Orlando Amstel Arena (possible new date is Tuesday/Wednesday, December 8/9 but will depend on if Pirates reach the Carling Knockout final on December 12)

CAF Champions League – December 18-20 – versus Colombe Sportive – Cameroon

Betway Premiership – December 19 – vs Polokwane City – Orlando Amstel Arena (possible new date is Tuesday, December 22 but will depend on Pirates’ travel schedule to Cameroon and the actual day that Colombe choose to play)

CAF Champions League – January 8-10, 2027 – versus Colombe Sportive – Orlando Amstel Arena

Betway Premiership – January 9 – vs Mamelodi Sundowns – Loftus Versfeld (possible new date is Tuesday, January 5, 2027, but as a category A match could be moved to another date)

CAF Champions League – January 15-17, 2027 – versus Simba – Orlando Amstel Arena

Betway Premiership – January 16 – vs AmaZulu FC – Orlando Amstel Arena (possible new date is Tuesday, January 26, 2027)

CAF Champions League – January 22-24, 2027 – versus RS Berkane – Morocco

January 22 – vs Kruger United – Orlando Amstel Arena (possible new date is Wednesday, February 3, 2027, considering the long-distance travel to Berkane, Morocco)

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He was responding to a parliamentary question from EFF MP Paulnita Marais, who asked whether staff shortages were responsible for long queues, system outages and poor service delivery experienced at some home affairs offices in the country.

Marais also asked what measures the department had implemented to address the challenges.

In his response, Schreiber acknowledged staff shortages were placing additional pressure on operations at some offices.

“Staff shortages contribute to operational pressures at certain home affairs offices and may exacerbate queues and service delays. However, these challenges are not attributable to staffing alone as system outages and other operational factors also affect service delivery,” he said.

Schreiber said the department is hiring people to improve efficiency.

“As at September 30 2026, the department has prioritised 724 posts which are in various phases of filling, of which 78% of total vacancies are based in provinces, towards enhanced capacitation,” he said.

“The department’s digitalisation programme, Home Affairs@Home, is intended to augment existing staffing capacity by automating processes and expanding digital service channels, particularly in the context of staffing constraints arising largely from the fiscus’s limited capacity to fund additional posts.”

He said digital literacy training was being rolled out to equip employees with the skills needed to operate in an increasingly technology-driven service environment.

The Cameroonian, who played for Sundowns from 1996 to 1999, admitted to Soccer Laduma that he was greatly disappointed to see the Brazilians knocked out of the Champions League by Angolan side, Wiliete.

However, Feutmba reckons there’s still a lot to play for this season.

“We need to understand that no matter how excellent we believe we are, we can still make mistakes,” said Feutmba to the Siya crew.

“No matter how great or good you are, you can make mistakes… what happened is a very difficult thing for the club, because we are the mirror of South African football. If you talk African football, you mention Sundowns. It’s not good for our football that we are not in the Champions League, but we still have the league and cups to play for,” he continued.

“My message to the team is simple; there’s still a lot to play for. And I believe that we learn moving forward. I also believe we’ve learned again that nothing is guaranteed, no matter how great we are. We’ve won a couple of games since then, so that brings back the confidence to the players moving forward. I always say football doesn’t accommodate negative feelings. So you need to connect fast in a positive way to make sure that you are ready for the next challenge,” added Feutmba.

The next challenge for Sundowns is a clash against Golden Arrows on Tuesday evening in the quarterfinals of the Carling Knockout.

The match will be played at Loftus Stadium, with kickoff set for 19H00.

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Minister of trade, industry and competition Parks Tau said the decision does not define the broader relationship between South Africa and the US. “However, a solution depends on the willingness of both parties to find solutions.

“At the same time, government will support affected sectors, protect South Africa’s national interests and continue pursuing trade, investment and shared economic opportunities with the US,” he said.

Ministerial spokesperson Kaamil Alli said officials are working closely with affected industries to assess the implications and will continue to provide appropriate support on a company-to-company basis.

Government will continue its engagements with social partners to optimise support measures aimed at improving resilience and sustainability of productive sectors whilst diversifying exports and protecting jobs.

“As a responsible government, South Africa has proactively retained measures that were availed as a response to the reciprocal tariffs,” he said.

Alli said Agoa remains important to South Africa, but it does not constitute the totality of the economic relationship between South Africa and the US.

In 2025 approximately 89% of South African exports to the US entered under ordinary World Trade Organisation most favoured nation terms, while approximately 10% entered under Agoa, down from 28% in 2024. Agoa exports were valued at about $1.7bn (about R28.28bn) in 2025, down from $4bn in 2024.

“South Africa supplies 12 of the 50 minerals regarded as critical by the US, 70% of US isotopes used among others in cancer treatments, sources inputs from the US on goods manufactured for exports to the US under Agoa such as autos and boat building. South African companies are also invested in the US economy and the loss of Agoa will undermine these investments and negatively affect existing value chains.”

Alli said the government will continue to accelerate the diversification of South Africa’s export markets.

“Through its cabinet-approved Industrial Development Strategy and Butterfly Strategy, South Africa is pursuing market opportunities across the African Continental Free Trade Area, India, Sadc, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Asean, Mercosu and China. New market opportunities have also been secured for South African citrus, avocados, grapes and apples,” he said.

The chant ‘Kill The Boer, Kill The Farmer’ was never meant in a literal sense. The killings in the farms and of farmers must stop and must stop now.

Malema said the chant belonged to the country’s liberation history but insisted that violence against farmers and farm workers had to end.