South African motorists are set for lower fuel prices on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, with decreases signaled by Central Energy Fund data after four weeks of over recoveries. The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy will confirm adjustments next week. Early numbers point to cuts of 61 cents a liter for petrol 93, 57 cents for petrol 95, 33 cents for diesel 0.05 percent, 31 cents for diesel 0.005 percent, and 13 cents for illuminating paraffin. Industry estimates suggest inland 95 unleaded could reach about R21.06 a liter, with coastal prices near R20.41, and diesel wholesale near R18.50 inland.
The trend reflects softer Brent crude, which averaged about $74 a barrel in October compared with $80 in September, and a stronger rand...
Mpumalanga Premier Mandla Ndlovu urged G20 nations to strengthen public institutions and deepen cooperation to curb crime and corruption at the G20 Anti-Corruption Working Group Ministerial Meeting in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2025. He framed integrity, faster asset recovery, and stronger whistle-blower protection as shared goals. His remarks came as South Africa prepares to assume the G20 presidency on Dec. 1, 2024, and amid domestic scandals that have weakened public trust.
The three-day meeting, which ended Thursday, gathered delegates to discuss public sector integrity and practical safeguards. Mpumalanga highlighted digital procurement and training for officials as examples of provincial reforms. Justice...
The City of Ekurhuleni appointed Kagiso Michael Lerutla as city manager with immediate effect, highlighting shifts in Gauteng municipal leadership as Floyd Brink returns to Johannesburg. Lerutla, a chartered accountant with more than 13 years in public finance, previously served as group chief financial officer and became the youngest metro CFO at age 32 in 2019. His mandate centers on stabilizing service delivery, financial management, and infrastructure in a city of more than 3.5 million residents.
Lerutla began his career at the Auditor-General of South Africa and holds a BCompt, a BCom honors in accounting, and an MBA. As CFO, he helped steer Ekurhuleni through post-pandemic pressures and major capital needs while emphasizing...
Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela published draft amended reporting rules for public universities on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, saying tighter oversight will help detect problems before they escalate. The proposals, set to replace a 2014 framework and headed for public comment in the government gazette, follow unrest at the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Free State over governance and management concerns.
The draft requires midyear and annual reports with clear data on infrastructure backlogs, progress on transformation, employment equity, and student exclusions tied to unpaid fees. Universities must file records of engagements with student leaders, unions, and forums, signed by all parties, and disclose spending...
Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts voted to start summoning former Road Accident Fund chief executive Collins Letsoalo after he failed to respond to requests to appear at its inquiry into maladministration, financial misconduct, and misuse of public funds. The decision came at a meeting on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2025, after a final letter on Oct. 17 went unanswered. Chairperson Songezo Zibi said a summons would give Letsoalo a fair chance to answer allegations raised by former staff over the past three weeks.
Testimony has tied Letsoalo, who left the post in August 2025, to sweeping operational changes, staff cuts, and a climate of fear that slowed claims processing at the fund. The inquiry has heard of unrecorded...
Aberrant DSP has released Cataclysm, a distortion and analog-inspired multi-effect plugin for macOS and Windows. The software ships in VST3, AU, and AAX formats and launches at an introductory price of $24 through November 30, 2025, with a regular price of $36. The company describes it as a chaotic tool shaped by faulty test gear, covert lines, and vintage hardware aesthetics.
Cataclysm centers on a Drive module for waveshaping, gating, and tone control, backed by tone circuitry modeled after three classic guitar amplifiers. It adds a time-domain pitch shifter with two voices, a lofi looper with Tape, BBD, and Data modes, a low-frequency Hum oscillator, stereo chorus with bass retention, and amplitude modulation with four waveshapes...
discoDSP released Vertigo 5, a major update to its additive synthesizer for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The version doubles the operator count from 256 to 512, broadens audio import and re-synthesis features, and brings a redesigned interface aimed at faster work.
The update adds zero delay feedback filters, eight times oversampling distortion, an improved reverb, and refined noise generation. MP3 and M4A import join WAV and AIFF, with automatic FFT re-synthesis, safer controls, better loop point detection with embedded markers, and import settings that persist between sessions. Full MTS ESP support enables micro-tuning with per-note changes and menu feedback. Visual changes include a rebuilt three-dimensional skin, transparent panels...
rncbc.org released Qtractor version 1.5.9 for GNU Linux on Halloween 2025, bringing interface and mixer tweaks intended to smooth editing and routing. The update targets users of the digital audio workstation who want faster selection tools and clearer view controls.
Select Mode actions for Clip, Range, Rectangle, and Automation now toggle on and off from the main menu and toolbar. Thumb views in the main window and the MIDI editor respond with steadier positioning when clicked without dragging. The mixer can temporarily hide or show Audio or MIDI buses from the Inputs or Outputs rack panes. The Qt version string also reports the underlying platform, such as xcb or wayland. Qtractor remains free and open source under the GNU General...
The Very Loud Indeed Co. released Shift II, a hybrid scoring transitions set for Native Instruments Kontakt version 6.8 or later. The library targets composers working across tense drama, fast action, and horror, offering a set of 320 transitions that follow project tempo. The sounds can be layered, played in any key, and performed across one and a half octaves.
All content is mapped for a 61-key MIDI keyboard without changing octaves or the interface. The package delivers 24-bit, 48 kHz audio in about 2 GB and provides WAV files for use in a digital audio workstation or other samplers. The interface is straightforward, and the transitions are both tempo-synced and pitched. The introductory price is $49, down from $109.
