Monday, 9 November 2026

The Human Settlements Minister has dissolved the entire Community Schemes Ombud Service board amid alleged governance failings and an unaffordable IT contract, raising fears about complaint handling.

Vula Medical links rural clinics with on-call public-sector specialists, now used in over 3,500 health facilities and seeing about 2,500 patients a day, with specialist responses in 10 to 15 minutes.

A landlord cannot keep a tenant's deposit as set-off for final-month rent; the Rental Housing Act bars using the deposit during the lease, and any balance must be refunded within 14 days.

An opposed eviction can cost around R75,000 in legal fees, and a court typically awards only about 50 to 60 percent of that back as costs, if the tenant can pay.

Sabrina Ghayour's new cookbook Persiana One builds Persian-inspired meals around a single pot, pan or tray, limiting washing up, and encourages cooks to swap in available ingredients.