Major pet food recall amid salmonella contamination fears

6 March 2026

RCL Foods has issued a nationwide recall of certain dry pet food product lines that may be contaminated with Salmonella.

In a statement issued on Thursday, 5 March, the company said the potential contamination occurred in one of its facilities.

RCL Foods explained that following the recent theft of condemned dry pet food that had been sent to a waste management facility in eastern Gauteng for destruction, they instituted further checks on potentially contaminated product, confirming that some of these batches are in the formal trade.

The company had previously warned consumers not to purchase the stolen contaminated products that were offered on the informal market.

A country‑wide recall has now been issued of limited batches of Bobtail, Bonzo, Catmor, Canine Cuisine, Feline Cuisine, Optimizor and Ultra Pet Dog food manufactured at one of their pet food plants.

RCL FOODS says it is working closely with retailers, regulators and relevant authorities to identify and remove all affected products from the market.

Shoppers who have purchased any of the affected pet food batches are asked to return the product to their retailer for a refund or replacement.

“In addition to the ongoing investigation into theft of condemned product, independent experts have been appointed to determine how product that had been marked for destruction, entered the formal market.”

Preliminary internal assessments indicate that some product, which was condemned and marked for destruction, was erroneously released to the formal trade.

RCL FOODS Chief Executive Officer, Paul Cruickshank says at this stage, they are not aware of any animals or people having been affected.

However, shoppers are advised to exercise caution.

“On behalf of RCL FOODS, I want to apologise to all affected shoppers. Our primary concern is the health and well-being of shoppers and their pets. Our immediate priority is to recall, remove and replace all potentially affected products from circulation. We did not meet our own standards. This is not what our customers expect from RCL FOODS. We are taking every step necessary to rectify the situation.”

THE FULL LIST OF RECALLED PRODUCTS

For further assistance, consumers can reach out to the RCL Foods Customer Care team via:

Telephone: 0860 103 764 (24 hours)
WhatsApp: 087 359 0476
Email: RCLConsumerCare@rclfoods.com (Business hours)

Minister Aucamp upholds appeals to support small-scale fishers

Liesl Smit

6 March 2026

The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp has upheld appeals from small-scale fishing cooperatives in the Traditional Linefish and West Coast Rock Lobster sectors for the 2026/2027 fishing season.

The decision, announced during a media briefing on Thursday, restores 297 standard vessels to the small-scale Traditional Linefish sector after they were previously excluded from the latest Total Allowable Effort (TAE) allocations.

The restoration protects the livelihoods of approximately 10 fishers per vessel, totalling thousands of jobs in coastal communities.

The vessels had been used by small-scale fishers for about 16 years under an interim relief system.

Aucamp said the appeals were handled urgently but carefully to ensure fairness and protect livelihoods while maintaining the sustainable use of South Africa’s marine resources.

“The issuing of these decisions in such a short timeframe is exceptional in nature, but was not taken lightly,” the minister said.

To allow fishers to continue operating while new permits are processed, the department has issued temporary exemptions for the reinstated vessels.

The minister also ruled on appeals in the West Coast Rock Lobster sector, after some cooperatives received smaller allocations despite an increase in the overall catch limit for the 2025/2026 season.

He has instructed officials to recalculate allocations for individual cooperatives by next week and extended the lobster fishing season from four months to five months.

Representatives from small-scale fishing groups welcomed the decision. Hilda Adams of the Mamre Fishing Primary Cooperative and chairperson of the West Coast Fishers Forum thanked the minister for addressing the appeals within a short timeframe.

Faez Poggenpoel, a fifth-generation fisher from the Kalk Bay Primary Cooperative, said the decision could protect thousands of livelihoods. He noted that with about ten crew members per vessel, the reinstatement of 297 boats could affect more than 15,000 dependents.

Civil society organisations Masifundise and Coastal Links also welcomed the reinstatement of the vessels, saying it provides important relief for small-scale fishers whose livelihoods were at risk following the earlier allocation cuts.

However, the groups said several concerns remain, including calls for a broader review of the overall TAE allocations and clarity on vessel allocations in the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, where they say the current numbers remain insufficient.

They also urged the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to ensure more transparent and consistent engagement with fishing communities and representative organisations when making decisions that affect the sector.

Aucamp has announced further engagements with small-scale fishers starting 1 April 2026.

Four dead after Delft South gym fire

Caitlin Maledo

6 March 2026

Four men have died in a makeshift gym that caught fire in Delft South in the early hours of Friday.

The City’s Fire and Rescue Services said they were called to the scene of a fire on Main and Sandelhout Roads just after 03:00, where three structures were alight.

This included a fruit and vegetable stand, the gym and a gas cylinder outlet.

“Crews from Belhar, Landsdowne, Bellville and Mitchell’s Plain were on scene, including the Incident Management Team (IMT) Type 5,” said Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse.

The bodies of the four men were found in the gym after the fire had been extinguished just before 07:00.

“Sadly, the bodies of four adult males were found with fatal burn wounds,” said Carelse.

Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse, noted that the cause of the fire was not known, but was being investigated by police.

He further noted that about 24 gas cylinders were removed, during firefighting efforts.

A spokesperson for the Western Cape SAPS, Captain F.C. Van Wyk, has confirmed that an investigation is underway. He noted that police responded to the scene at 05:30, at which time fire services had already responded.

Van Wyk noted that the fire took place at a gas shop on Delft Main Road.

He further noted that the bodies could not be identified on the scene.

“When the fire was extinguished four unidentified human bodies were found. Unknown if it is male or female, bodies burnt beyond recognition,” said Van Wyk.

He advised that an inquest had been registered.

*This article has been updated to include comment by the Western Cape SAPS.

Roos and Marx crowned SA Rugby Players of the Year

Smile Staff Reporter

6 March 2026

Springbok hooker Malcolm Marx capped off fantastic 2025 season when he added the prestigious SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Award to his World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year accolade, which he received late last year, while Nadine Roos did the double by being named SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year for a second successive season at the SA Rugby Awards, presented by FNB on Thursday.

Rassie Erasmus and the Springboks were also honoured for a brilliant 2025 season, by taking the awards for Coach and Team of the Year after successfully defending the Castle Lager Rugby Championship title while winning 11 of their 13 Tests.

Marx, who was voted the top men’s player in South Africa in 2017, came out on top against four very good finalists in Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nche, and Jasper Wiese. Ethan Hooker walked away with the award for SA Rugby Men’s Young Player of the Year.

Roos was voted the outstanding female player in South Africa in a season where the Springbok Women reached the Rugby World Cup playoffs for the first time. The other finalists were Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, and Babalwa Latsha.

Celebrating the success of women’s rugby, two new awards were added to the roster on Thursday, with Roos also taking the crown as Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year, while Byrhandré Dolf – herself a dual-international – was named as the first winner of the SA Rugby Young Women’s Player of the Year award.

Shilton van Wyk (Springbok Sevens Men’s Player of the Year) and Haashim Pead (Junior Springbok Player of the Year) were also honoured for their brilliant performances in green and gold in 2025.

Mr Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby, congratulated the winners for their outstanding contributions to what was arguably the finest year in the history of South African rugby.

“Malcolm led the charge for the Springboks and richly deserves this accolade alongside his World Rugby Player of the Year Award, while Nadine was the spark that ignited the finest season we have ever witnessed from our Springbok Women,” said Mr Alexander.

“The year 2025 will remain etched in our memories for decades to come, thanks to Rassie, Siya and the Springboks. Yet it was not only the senior team that shone—every one of our national sides delivered and we are immensely proud of all the winners.

“Beyond the Bok Women raising the bar to unprecedented heights, the Junior Boks captured the U20 World Championship for the first time since 2012 and the Blitzboks triumphed in the HSBC SVNS World Championship. Together, these achievements made 2025 not only a golden year, but the best year in the history of SA Rugby.

“Our rugby is thriving at franchise, provincial and club level, which bodes well for the season ahead. Congratulations to all the winners and to every team, coach and player across South Africa and the best of luck for the new season – may we continue to spread hope and happiness.”

Faye Mfikwe, Chief Marketing Officer of FNB, SA Rugby’s principal sponsor and presenting partner for the Awards said: “We are honoured to celebrate the remarkable sportsmen and women recognised at this year’s SA Rugby Awards, whose achievements continue to inspire pride across our nation. Their dedication and excellence reflect the very best of South African rugby, and we are proud to stand alongside SA Rugby as a long term partner in advancing the sport from grassroots to greatness.

“Our development partnership has always focused on creating real pathways for young talent, ensuring that every young person in every community has the opportunity to dream, to participate, and to rise. The success highlighted at the Awards this year represents years of hard work that begins on dusty fields, in school competitions, and in community rugby programmes supported through investments such as ours.

“Rugby remains a powerful force for unity, hope and progress. As FNB, we remain committed to strengthening the structures that nurture tomorrow’s champions and to celebrating the heroes who lift the spirit of our nation today.”

On the domestic front, the DHL Stormers’ Feinberg-Mngomezulu (SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season for 2024/25), Donavan Don of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year), Andrew Kota of the Griffons (Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year) and Patience Mokone of the Isuzu Bulls Daisies (Provincial Women’s Player of the Year) walked away with awards.

Aimee Barrett-Theron capped a great season, during which she took charge of the Women’s Rugby World Cup opening game and one of the semi-finals, by winning the OUTsurance Referee of the Year Award for the fourth time.

The Springboks’ record 43-10 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington, New Zealand last year was voted as the FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year, while SA Wheelchair Rugby was named as the Associate Member of the Year.

Erasmus and Kolisi, as well as the recently retired Springbok Women’s captain Nolusindiso Booi, were amongst a group of six people who received special recognition awards at the Awards.

Kolisi – who was also honoured for this 100th Test cap on the November tour – received the Spirit of ’95 Award for his “exceptional contribution in uplifting the game and the nation, through the example of inclusivity and ubuntu, demonstrating iconic and inspirational leadership to the sport and the country, in the footsteps of the example set by Nelson Mandela in 1995”.

The Springbok Legacy Award, recognising the “extraordinary contribution made by an individual to promote and enhance the standing of Springbok rugby as a force on the field and a power off it by promoting excellence and inclusion to inspire social cohesion, and provide a legacy for the game such that it will resonate throughout the history of South Africa”, was awarded to Erasmus, who also reached 50 Tests as head coach of the Boks last year, only the second person to achieve this milestone.

Furthermore Booi, who retired after the 2025 season, was honoured for reaching 50 Test caps, the first Springbok Women’s player to achieve the feat, while three members of the Springbok management, team manager Charles Wessels (200 Tests), assistant coach Mzwandile Stick (100 Tests), and technical analyst Lindsay Weyer (100 Tests) were also honoured for their achievements.

The prestigious President’s Award was presented to Mr Gavin Varejes, for his contribution to the sport over three decades in many different guises. His support has extended from grassroots development to rural communities through the creation of the South African Rugby Legends Association, which has done extraordinary work in the game for many years.

“Gavin has financially supported individual athletes in ways that may never be known and when rugby has made the call, he has usually had an answer,” said Mr Alexander. “Quite simply, he has been the single biggest benefactor to rugby in South Africa for decades, which is why we are delighted to present this token of our undying appreciation to him.”

SA Rugby Awards 2025 winners and finalists (where applicable):

SA Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Malcolm Marx

Finalists: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Ox Nche, Jasper Wiese

SA Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Finalists: Byrhandré Dolf, Aseza Hele, Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Babalwa Latsha

SA Rugby Young Men’s Player of the Year: Ethan Hooker

Finalists: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Canan Moodie, Haashim Pead, Zachary Porthen

SA Rugby Young Women’s Player of the Year: Byrhandré Dolf

Finalists: Patience Mokone, Nombuyekezo Mdliki, Anushka Groenewald

Springbok Men’s Sevens Player of the Year: Shilton van Wyk

Finalists: Selvyn Davids, Impi Visser

Springbok Women’s Sevens Player of the Year: Nadine Roos

Junior Springbok Player of the Year: Haashim Pead

Finalists: Cheswill Jooste, Riley Norton

Team of the Year: Springboks

Finalists: Junior Springboks, Springbok Sevens

Coach of the Year: Rassie Erasmus (Springboks)

Finalists: Swys de Bruin (Springbok Women), Kevin Foote (Junior Springboks), Philip Snyman (Springbok Sevens)

FNB Fans’ Moment of the Year: The Springboks’ record victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year: Donavan Don (Sanlam Boland Kavaliers)

Finalists: Gurshwin Wehr (Suzuki Griquas), George Whitehead (Suzuki Griquas)

Carling Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year: Andrew Kota (NovaVit Griffons)

Finalists: Keagan Fortune (Valke), Willem van den Hever (NovaVit Griffons)

Provincial Women’s Player of the Year: Patience Mokone (Isuzu Bulls Daisies)

SA Vodacom URC Player of the Season (announced last year): Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (DHL Stormers)

OUTsurance Referee of the Year: Aimee Barrett-Theron

President’s Award: Gavin Varejes

Spirit of ’95 Award: Siya Kolisi

Springbok Legacy Award: Rassie Erasmus

SA Rugby Associate Member of the Year: SA Wheelchair Rugby

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

The Top 200 Digital Hits

Mileanne Kabwe

5 March 2026

They’re everywhere you scroll.
In every reel. Every story. Every feed.

The songs that trended, looped, went viral — and somehow ended up living rent-free in your head.

This weekend, Smile FM is counting them down with The Top 200 Digital Hits — the biggest tracks of the streaming era. From the songs that broke TikTok to the global anthems that dominated playlists and owned your algorithm, it’s a celebration of the music that defined your screen time.

You streamed them.
You shared them.
You played them on repeat.

Now hear them all in one epic countdown.

Join us Saturday and Sunday, 7 & 8 March from 9am, as we roll through the hits that shaped the digital generation.

The Top 200 Digital Hits, powered by Tafelberg Furnishers — Download comfort. Install style.

Only on Smile FM.

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Major pet food recall amid salmonella contamination fears

“In addition to the ongoing investigation into theft of condemned product, independent experts have been appointed to determine how product that had been marked for destruction, entered the formal market.”

Minister Aucamp upholds appeals to support small-scale fishers

Four dead after Delft South gym fire

“Crews from Belhar, Landsdowne, Bellville and Mitchell’s Plain were on scene, including the Incident Management Team (IMT) Type 5,” said Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse.

“Sadly, the bodies of four adult males were found with fatal burn wounds,” said Carelse.

“When the fire was extinguished four unidentified human bodies were found. Unknown if it is male or female, bodies burnt beyond recognition,” said Van Wyk.

Roos and Marx crowned SA Rugby Players of the Year

SA Rugby Awards 2025 winners and finalists (where applicable):

The Top 200 Digital Hits

Click here for T&cs