April 30, 2026

PAID CONTENT Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal In communities across South Africa, youth football continues to play a powerful role in shaping not just athletes, but confident, disciplined young people. At the heart of this movement is Sovereign All Stars Football Academy, led by passionate coach Shane Van Der Plank ,a family man whose love for the game…

Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal Newcastle Local Municipality in northern KwaZulu-Natal is increasingly becoming a textbook example of South Africa’s local governance paradox: financial compliance on paper, but persistent operational and political instability on the ground. On the surface, the municipality has something to defend. The Auditor-General’s 2025 report reflected an unqualified audit outcome, indicating that financial statements…