Morning Brief · 2 min read

Morning Brief, Monday 26 October 2026

Published 26 October 2026 at 05:31

Here are the 8 stories that mattered in the last 24 hours, drawn from 7 outlets. The most widely reported was “Kwagga Smith returns to SA with three-year Bulls deal”, covered by 3 outlets.

1. 

   SportKwagga Smith returns to SA with three-year Bulls deal

   Smith won a Commonwealth Games gold with the Blitzboks in Glasgow in 2014.

   Read at SABC News, IOL Sport, The Citizen

2. 

   BusinessJUST IN: Cocaine worth over R200 million seized at OR Tambo airport

   A joint SAPS, SARS Customs and Border Management Authority team intercepted approximately 250kg of cocaine in five luggage bags at OR Tambo International Airport.

   Read at IOL, SABC News

3. 

   CrimePolice seize drugs worth over R9 million in Gqeberha bust

   The operation was conducted on Saturday as part of the SAPS's National Organised Crime Intervention

   Read at SABC News, IOL

4. 

   AfricaUganda imposes 21-day quarantine on citizens returning from Congo

   Ugandan citizens returning to the country with a history of travel to Democratic Republic of Congo will be quarantined for 21 days, Health Minister Chris Baryomunsi said on Sunday as Uganda tightened Ebola precautions.

   Read at Daily Maverick, Al Jazeera

5. 

   CrimeLavender Hill mass shooting: Five killed, three wounded

   Police are hunting gunmen after five people were killed and three wounded at a Lavender Hill home in a suspected gang-related attack.

   Read at IOL, SABC News

6. 

   PoliticsVenezuela’s opposition leader Machado returns after months in exile

   Venezuela’s opposition leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado returned home after more than 10 months.

   Read at Al Jazeera, BBC News, World

7. 

   PoliticsEarly reports suggest record high turnout in Serbia elections

   Serbia is heading to the polls as a student movement attempts to oust longtime populist leader Aleksandar Vučić.

   Read at BBC News, World, Al Jazeera

8. 

   South AfricaA rebel with mountains to climb

   Meet the man who has the only independent seat on Tshwane council.

   Read at The Citizen