Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize; Violence erupts outside ConCourt: Today’s top 7 stories | News24

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- South African jurist and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has been awarded the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize.

- The Nobel Committee cited her work on international law, human rights and Gaza as the basis for the award.

- Pillay responded with disbelief, saying “I hope this is not a joke,” and questioned why courage would even be needed to speak the truth.

- About 300 anti-foreigner protesters gathered outside the Constitutional Court, burning tyres and setting a vehicle alight, with some attempting to storm the building armed with pangas.

- The court was placed on lockdown under a heavy police presence; officers later used stun grenades to disperse the crowd as it marched through the Johannesburg CBD, and one woman was arrested.

- The protest was sparked by a ConCourt matter related to a Home Affairs directive compelling refugee reception offices to accept asylum applications, following a July judgment on the issue.

- Blue Bells Cricket Club has refused to grant membership to 24-year-old Tristan Perez, who faces a murder charge in connection with the death of his girlfriend, Elana Brooke.

- The club acted following a public outcry over Perez’s intention to represent the club while facing the charge.

- The criminal case against Perez remains ongoing.

- Former president Jacob Zuma, 84, has been hospitalised in KwaZulu-Natal; his brother Khanya said “it’s not looking good” and that the family is praying for his recovery.

- A Zuma confidant confirmed he had “been sick these days,” though no specific illness or diagnosis was disclosed.

- Khanya Zuma also indicated that infighting within the MK Party is adding to the stress on the former president.

- DA mayoral candidate Helen Zille has said she will not lead a large, multi-party coalition dependent on the EFF to run Johannesburg following the 4 November 2026 municipal elections.

- Zille warned that the ANC uses entities such as the Joburg Property Company to financially “buy off” smaller coalition partners, citing the removal of former mayor Mpho Phalatse as an example.

- She said the DA would rather go into opposition than govern through an unworkable alliance, and proposed a high-profile commission of inquiry into corruption in the city.

- Pyramids FC coach Rhulani Mokwena believes the rivalry between Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates is the fire that’s fuelling South African football.

- The Brazilians and the Buccaneers will be battling for the MTN8 title on Saturday at Moses Mabhida Stadium when they meet in the final.

- Mokwena, who has worked at both clubs, says the competition between the two giants has laid the foundation for Bafana Bafana’s resurgence.

- The health impact of dairy may depend on the food’s wider nutritional “matrix”, not just its saturated-fat content.

- Research suggests milk, yoghurt and cheese are generally associated with neutral or potentially beneficial cardiovascular outcomes.

- Simply swapping dairy for lower-fat or non-dairy foods doesn’t automatically make a diet healthier – the nutritional value of the replacement is important.

These summaries were written with the support of Toqan AI.