Durban City draws with Richards Bay in Betway Premiership match

Durban City managed to secure a draw in the second consecutive derby, managing to come back into the game after falling behind, and shared points with their KwaZulu-Natal rivals, Richards Bay, at Chatsworth Stadium on Saturday evening.

The Citizens had not scored in the first two matches of the championship, and their inability to find an effective attacking method was once again evident in the first half. At the start of the match, experienced player Gaston Sirino pushed the team forward, delivering an excellent cross from the right side that went wide of the goal. The midfielder also hit the crossbar, and Jean Lubumba haphazardly shot on the rebound when the goal was open.

Richards Bay capitalized on the team's early carelessness when Aqaba Xulu scored, dribbling past defenders and sending the ball into the net. Richards Bay goalkeeper Ian Otieno performed well, maintaining his team's advantage by saving a shot from Thabo Nodada, assisted by active Tylo Sanger.

Despite City creating chances, their execution was poor. Lubumba and Tashreeq Morris posed a threat in the box due to their height, which appeared to be the most likely path for Khalil Ben Youssef's team to return to the game. However, Natal Rich Boys remained dangerous on counterattacks, with a increasingly confident Xulu forcing Fredrick Asare to make a save with a delicate movement between his legs.

Morris missed a great chance to equalize with City, controlling another excellent cross from Sirino before unleashing a volley that sailed high over the crossbar from outside the box in the 32nd minute. Xulu constantly posed a danger and unfortunately could not reach a cross aimed into the box. City also luckily avoided a foul call for handball in the penalty area.

Ronnie Gabriel was likely satisfied before halftime, as his team confidently handled everything City offered and looked capable of increasing their lead. City failed to capitalize on a series of corners and free kicks in the start of the second half, and Morris's substitution at halftime deprived them of some aerial strength. Their attempt to consolidate was also hampered by an inability to maintain possession for long periods.

Sanger's long-range shot briefly energized the home team's fans, and Asare's double save in the 65th minute allowed Rich Boys to maintain control. At least the Citizens forced Otieno to make saves. Then came a lucky moment for City: a cross from Luphumlo Sifumba from the right side had a winding trajectory and was scored by Thembela Sikhakhane after the 69th minute.

The game suddenly changed, and now City dominated most of the attacks, especially down the left wing, although neither team managed to score the winning goal. The draw leaves both KZN teams searching for their first victory of the season.

In other KwaZulu-Natal news, AmaZulu continued an impressive campaign start, securing a comfortable 2–0 victory over Siwelele at Kings Park, while Milford FC celebrated a landmark 2–1 win over Kruger United, achieving the club's first-ever victory.

The main highlight of the weekend was the match at FNB Stadium, where Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns drew 1–1 in a tense confrontation, while Sekhukhune United maintained strong form at the start of the season, defeating Polokwane City 2–0 in the Limpopo derby.

iol.co.zaAugust 14, 15:01

Residents unite to address issues related to the demolition and reconstruction of a refinery

The South Durban Community Environmental Alliance (SDCEA) has initiated a general meeting to discuss pressing issues concerning the plans and ongoing work at two closed refineries in Durban—the former Engen plant and SAPREF.

SDCEA Coordinator Desmond D'Sa stated that residents are dissatisfied and have been severely affected by the controlled demolition and construction work at the old Engen plant in Wentworth, now known as Engen Industrial Hub, which began earlier this week.

D'Sa invited journalists to a general meeting scheduled for Monday, August 24th, at the Merebank community hall to comment on the demolition of a stack that has been a visible feature of the area's landscape for decades.

A video clip of part of the demolition circulated on social media, provoking mixed reactions. Samantha Walt, a representative of Engen Vivo Energy, explained that the dismantling is part of a project to convert the refinery into a fuel storage facility.

She emphasized that Engen 'remains committed to conducting these activities safely and responsibly, minimizing inconvenience for our stakeholders, employees, and surrounding communities.'

However, local councillor Zoe Solomon raised concerns regarding the industrial hub plan and its potential impact on local roads in the area. She expressed worry about the routes trucks will use for entering and exiting the zone and possible 'significant structural damage.'

Environmental activists and ordinary community members had previously voiced concerns about the plans and ongoing work at the Engen site, as well as the old closed SAPREF plant in the South Durban area, citing long-standing issues with health, environment, and safety.

iol.co.zaAugust 8, 18:55

Orlando Pirates beat Durban City 2-1 to advance to MTN8 semi-finals

During the quarter-final match of the MTN8 2026 tournament, held on a Saturday at the Orlando Amstel Arena stadium, Orlando Pirates defeated Durban City 2-1 after extra time, securing their place in the MTN8 semi-finals.

The key moment was a goal by Gampani Lungu in the 120th minute, which allowed Orlando Pirates to overcome significant difficulties and beat Durban City while playing with ten men.

MTN8 Tournament

In the first half, the match was marred by an incident committed by Durban City midfielder Brooklyn Poggenpole. He failed to control a pass within his penalty area, losing the ball to Tshepanga Moremi. Following this, the player fouled a Pirates forward, forcing the referee to award a penalty and show Poggenpole a red card in the 35th minute.

Patrick Maswangani calmly converted the penalty, allowing Pirates to take the lead. With the numerical advantage, the 'Bucaneers' took control of the game and dominated possession in front of the home crowd. In the first 45 minutes, Pirates created nine scoring opportunities but were unable to increase their lead, leaving Durban City within striking distance.

The hosts faced another problem during halftime when captain Nkosinathi Sibisi was forced off the field due to injury. His absence apparently disrupted Pirates' defensive organization and gave Durban City renewed confidence, despite being outnumbered.

The visitors capitalized on this eight minutes into the second half. Jean Lvamba found himself in the right position in the box and finished the ball after excellent work down the flank by Gaston Cirino, leveling the score.

Pirates increased the pressure, but the defensive resilience of Durban City continued to frustrate the defending champions. Durban City, playing with ten men, held firm until the end of regular time, forcing the quarter-final into extra time. Hopes for a major comeback grew with each passing minute, as Pirates struggled to break through.

However, it was Lungu who ultimately decided the outcome of the dramatic confrontation. The substitute scored the decisive goal in the 119th minute, allowing Pirates to advance to the final. This victory helps Abselam Waddu's team maintain hopes of winning the MTN8 title for the fifth season in a row.

iol.co.zaAugust 8, 18:00

Mangaung's Return Shocks Johannesburg, Tshwane Becomes Division A Leaders

The Mangaung team demonstrated an impressive confrontation, surprising Johannesburg, while Tshwane established itself as the leading team in Division A.

National Netball Championship

The hosts, Johannesburg, suffered a narrow defeat with a score of 59-52 against Tshwane A on Saturday, interrupting their winning streak. During the match at Spar in Cape Town, Mangaung managed a dramatic comeback, closing the nine-point gap and securing a draw of 48-48 thanks to the last action of the game.

This result left the four-time title defenders, Johannesburg, with one win, one loss, and one draw after three matches. Meanwhile, Tshwane became the only undefeated team in the top Division A after defeating the Cape Town hosts with a score of 59-52.

At the start of the game, Johannesburg looked confident against Mangaung, leading the match in the fourth quarter with a score of 39-30, but the Free State team managed a remarkable comeback to split the points at the end of the match.

Johannesburg's coach, Elshe Jordaan, admitted that her team missed opportunities. 'I was very disappointed. I thought we were controlling the game,' said Jordaan. 'A few silly decisions that didn't go our way. We will have to study this. But we had enough chances—we should have capitalized on them.'

Nevertheless, she highly praised Mangaung for not giving up. 'Well done Mangaung for coming back from behind. Moments of pressure like these make players great, and we need more of that.'

For Mangaung's coach, Carly Pretorius, this result was a testament to the team's resilience, even if the performance did not meet their standards. She noted that every pass, every goal matters.

Pretorius emphasized: 'It wasn't our best game, but we fought again and managed a draw, which is better than a loss.' She believes that the ability to recover from difficulties is ingrained in the team's identity. 'I think it's just how you are raised in the Free State—standards. So often, when you don't play well, we know it's not us. It's just about pulling together.'

Mangaung's task now is to turn this fighting spirit into a more complete execution. 'We have confidence, we have players, and we have strategies to do everything right. It's about execution,' said Pretorius. 'We need to find a way to make it a confident 60-minute performance.'

For Johannesburg, this draw serves as a warning that in an increasingly competitive elite division, no advantage is guaranteed. Tshwane's victory over Cape Town further highlighted this point, placing the undefeated team at the top of the table after four matches.