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The Review Geek
09-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Review Geek
Mafia: The Old Country Guide: 'Prologue' Walkthrough & Collectibles
Mafia: The Old Country Guide: Prologue Introductions Back to top ↑ Welcome to our Mafia: The Old Country walkthrough guide! Just like in previous Mafia games, The Old Country is a linear, narrative driven experience, with a separate Explore mode for grabbing collectibles out in the wider world, free-roaming and causing mischief. That's probably just as well because Mafia: The Old Country has a total of 142 collectibles, split between Saints Cards (20), Photographs (23), Hidden Foxes (50) and Newspapers (50). For this guide, we'll be leading you through all the story chapters and grabbing any collectibles that pop up along the way, including letters and notes. While these notes aren't part of the collectibles in the game for trophies, they do help to flesh out more of the world and include useful info, like safe combinations or extra story lore. It's also recommended to turn the brightness up a little brighter than you normally would, given some collectibles are hidden in dark areas. If you don't want to play the game twice, you'll also need to crank the difficulty up to Hard in order to gain the Achievement: True Soldato when you finish. This trophy also can't be cheesed by just switching the difficulty to Hard at the very end of the game, but to be fair Hard difficulty isn't too difficult, all things considered. Just make sure you stay in cover and bide your time before shooting. With all that in mind, lets get cracking! Follow Gaetano Back to top ↑ As you take control of Enzo Favara, you'll need to follow Gaetano through the mines. It'll be a pretty linear pathway, with a few prompts along the way, including searching the rubble for the money by holding Square (X) and vaulting over obstacles with Triangle (Y). On the second vault, hold Square (X) to grab Notice: Mine Decommissioned. Just past this, you'll need to climb a few ladders, where the objective will change. Get to the surface Back to top ↑ Keep following Gaetano through the mines and after a brief cutscene, you'll need to carry a heavy basket of sulphur up a set of stairs until you reach outside. After dropping the basket, follow Gaetano along the linear path. Just before reaching the building with a caved roof, be sure to pray at the shrine (pictured below) to grab your first Saints' Card, Santa Barbara. At the bottom of the path, approach the house and to the left of the wooden door, you'll find Notice – Extra Shifts pinned on the wall. Take a right and at the front of the truck you'll find Drawing of Il Merlo on the ground (pictured below). Next, head to the main market and hold Square (X) to trigger a little cutscene. Sneak into the storehouse Back to top ↑ Follow Gaetano down the path and press R3 to crouch. For some reason crouching actually moves you faster than walking. Go figure! When you turn a corner, press X (A) to crouch behind the trunk and wait for the soldier to move back to his original spot. With both men gone, vault over the boxes and squeeze through the gap. Just to the left on a barrel, you'll find Note – Stakeholder Friction. Keep moving along the path, and under the cart, you'll find a soldier standing watch. Wait at the wall until he moves on, then continue forward. Continue along the linear track and inside the next building, you'll find a padlocked door. Approach and interact with it to then grab the knife on the adjacent workbench With the knife, hold O (B) to break the door open. Immediately on your left you'll find Letter – Board of Directors. On the right (in the same building) you'll find Delivery Invoice – Policardo Supplies. Grab the food from the trunk and then climb up and out the gap in the wall to trigger another cutscene. Follow Gaetano back up the path but in the back of the cart, you'll find another Note, Cutting Portions. Head back to the wooden door you originally found the note pinned next to (which you can grab now if you didn't already) and once grabbed, hold Square (X) on the door to complete this section. The Deep Mine Back to top ↑ We'll now be back in the mines again. Follow Il Merlo and descend the ladder. Grab the torch from the wall and follow Gaetano. On the way, just before you turn left at the wooden barricade, be sure to grab the Note – New Deposits – East Mine from the barrel. Continue along the linear path, until you curl round in a 180 and find a huge chasm down to the depths. As you get closer, you'll slide down. Directly in front of you, you'll find Note – Catarina's Letter. Just beyond this, you'll find another shocking discovery – the missing miners. With the mine collapsing, you'll need to run. Follow the path back whence you came and press L3 to sprint through the mine. Eventually, you'll trigger another cutscene and see Gaetano meet his demise. When you emerge from the mine, you'll find Il Merlo completely unsympathetic, causing Enzo to fly into a rage. Knife Fight – Il Merlo Back to top ↑ Throughout Mafia: The Old Country you'll find a number of knife fights with different opponents. These are a nice way of mixing up the melee skirmishes from previous Mafia games, and it works really well here. The first part of this fight serves as a tutorial of sorts. Press O (B) to slash, Triangle (Y) is to thrust and X (A) is used to to dodge attacks. There are extra components added in the chapters ahead, but for now this is all you need. It's also worth noting here that you don't need to get Il Merlo down to zero health either, as after a sequence of slashes knocking him down to about 60% health, a cutscene will trigger. Take it easy with this fight, press dodge when Il Merlo lunges forward and counteract with a few slashes of your own. Escape the Sulphur Mine In the next section, you'll just need to vault the brick wall then hop aboard your horse. Press L3 to gallop and continue until you exit the area, to trigger the title credits. In doing so, you'll also gain the Achievement: The Carusu and finish the Prologue.
IOL News
10-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Ex-Police Minister Bheki Cele silent as criminal allegations mount
Former Police Minister Bheki Cele remains tight-lipped as the controversy and scandals surrounding allegations of his collusion between high-ranking law enforcement officials and criminal syndicates continue to grip the country. Image: Bongani Shilubane / Independent Newspapers Former Police Minister Bheki Cele remains tight-lipped as the controversy and scandals surrounding allegations of his collusion between high-ranking law enforcement officials and criminal syndicates continue to grip the country. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi's explosive claims suggesting a disturbing nexus between law enforcement and organised crime. Mkhwanazi's allegations implicate several senior officials, including deputy commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, and Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, in a web of corruption that threatens to undermine the integrity of South Africa's policing institutions. Adding fuel to the fire, Mkhwanazi accused certain law enforcement agencies of collaborating with criminal syndicates involved in drug trafficking, the murders of prominent figures, and political assassinations. He further alleged that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) had refused to sign warrants for the arrest of top police officials and politicians linked to this sprawling criminal network, raising serious questions about the integrity of the country's justice system. Amid the turmoil, Bheki Cele has chosen to remain silent. When approached by IOL on Wednesday, Cele declined to comment on the allegations, asserting that 'the president is dealing with the matter' and that the public should await further developments. 'I won't say anything; the president is handling this,' Cele stated, refusing to be drawn into speculation. Asked whether he was concerned about his reputation or consulting legal counsel, Cele reiterated that only Ramaphosa could speak, emphasising the government's focus on managing the crisis. The allegations have prompted urgent investigations by parliamentary committees. On Wednesday, National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza refused to allow a debate on Mkhwanazi's remarks but appointed three committees to conduct a swift inquiry into the security concerns raised. Meanwhile, Cele's recent activities continue to be under scrutiny. It was reported that he stayed in a luxury penthouse suite owned by controversial businessman Matlala just days before Matlala's company was awarded a R360 million South African Police Service (SAPS) health services tender. According to media reports, the stay occurred at The Capital Menlyn Maine in Pretoria in January - a detail that raises eyebrows given Matlala's reputation and ongoing legal troubles, including attempted murder charges and links to corruption investigations. On Wednesday, Mchunu issued a statement denying any links to Matlala in response to the allegations. 'The Minister has never met Mr. Matlala, has never spoken to him, nor has the Minister ever requested or received anything from him. 'The Minister did, however, initiate a review of the SAPS tender awarded to him when suspicions of possible wrongdoing surfaced. It was the same tender that has since been terminated,' read the statement. General Sibiya, on Sunday, denied any links to organised crime, dismissing Mkhwanazi's claims.
IOL News
07-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Mkhwanazi vs Mchunu: Human Rights Commission calls for immediate inquiry
Chris Nissen, Chairperson of the South African Human Rights Commission said that the allegations levelled by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and high-ranking officials requires immediate attention. Image: BRENDAN MAGAAR Independent Newspapers The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to institute a short-term commission of inquiry into allegations of involvement in criminality against Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and high-ranking officials. This is after KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi shocked the nation during a media briefing on Sunday, when he made claims of corruption, political interference in investigations, and involvement with drug cartels against Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection Lt General Shadrack Sibiya. Mkhwanazi said Sibiya was acting on the instructions of the Minister of Police to disband the police's political killings task team. Both Mchunu and Sibiya have denied the allegations. Mchunu said he would not allow his integrity, that of the Ministry or the SAPS at large, to be 'undermined by insinuations made without evidence or due process,' from anyone, including Mkhwanazi. He added that he will review the statements and consider appropriate action. Sibiya said Mkhwanazi must stop behaving like a criminal and behave like a disciplined member of the police. 'Tell him to stop threatening people and talking about violence there. He must stop behaving like a warlord. He's a member of the police,' Sibiya told the SABC. Chris Nissen, Chairperson of the SAHRC, said that the allegations levelled by Mkhwanazi require immediate attention. Nissen said South Africans cannot wait for the many months that the commission of inquiry usually takes; they need to know the truth as soon as possible because this concerns their safety, which is a human right. 'The President must set up a short span commission of inquiry which will wrap up all its work in a matter of weeks,' Nissen told eNCA. At the centre of the controversy is the disbandment of the political killings task team, the freezing of posts for crime intelligence, which have left KZN with vacant positions, among others. Mary de Haas, a KZN Violence Monitor, said Mkhwanazi's conduct is "completely unacceptable". 'His conduct is posing a serious danger to security because he has been going out of his way to build up a good public image, and people are going to be angry about it and believe him. It's a dangerous move, but don't forget that the people he is supporting are facing serious criminal charges. I'm told there are others lined up, and yet he is taking the side of people who are under suspicion for committing serious crimes. 'It is completely out of order and against all protocols to publicly speak out about a minister, and it is dangerous, and I hope he will immediately face the consequences for it,' De Haas said.
IOL News
02-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
The changing landscape of rental applications in South Africa
Discover the latest findings from the PayProp Rental Index, revealing that over a quarter of South African rental applicants are classified as high-risk. This analysis explores the implications for landlords and rental agents in 2025. Image: Independent Newspapers. A detailed risk analysis in the latest PayProp Rental Index highlights a significant challenge for landlords and rental agents: more than a quarter of South African rental applicants were classed as high-risk in Q1 2025. Based on data from the Tenant Assessment Report, PayProp's market-leading tenant screening tool, 26% of prospective tenants fell into the scoring system's highest risk bracket, up from 25% a year ago. Landlords are seeing improved returns from healthy rental price growth in 2025, but it's important not to get complacent. Tenant affordability is lower due to the cost of living in many provinces, and with one in four applicants potentially presenting a payment risk, thorough vetting is non-negotiable. Traditional credit checks offer only part of the picture when it comes to assessing tenant payment reliability, as they score the applicant based on their debt repayment history but often don't take rental payments into account. In contrast, PayProp combines credit scoring with rental payment histories captured from the platform to reveal where tenants fall on the risk spectrum. Analysis by PayProp ahead of a recent training webinar found that it was 94% better at predicting bad tenant behaviour than a traditional credit score when applied to a sample of real tenant data. In Q1 2025, ● 39.6% of lease applicants were rated minimum-risk ● 20.0% were low-risk ● 14.5% were medium-risk ● 26.0% were high-risk Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ This distribution across the risk spectrum suggests that rental applicants are becoming more concentrated at both ends of the risk scale lately, making careful tenant selection more important than ever. Income trumps all as a risk predictor As can be expected, income is the strongest determinant of tenant risk. Among applicants earning R80,000 or more per month, 60.6% were classed as presenting minimum risk and just 12.2% as being high-risk. In the lowest income bracket (R10,000 - R20,000), only 23% qualified as minimum-risk, while 37% were high-risk. Affordability is one of the first things any agent will check, and this helps demonstrate why. It also means that careful vetting is even more essential for lower-priced properties, as applicants are more likely to fall into lower income brackets. However, there are high-risk and low-risk tenants in every income bracket, and using smarter tools helps agents identify low-income, low-affordability tenants who nevertheless have perfect payment records. Youth equals uncertainty Age also plays a clear role. The 20 - 29 age group showed the lowest share of minimum-risk tenants (29.6%), likely due to thinner credit files and shorter rental histories. However, despite being unknown quantities in normal credit scoring terms, this group tends to have more disposable income after debt and rent, making them potentially better prospects than raw scores may suggest. In contrast, 61.3% of applicants over 60 were classified as presenting minimum risk, and tenant risk declined sharply for all age groups over 50, which indicates a pattern likely linked to more stable financial positions and mature credit profiles. Debt dynamics by gender Interestingly, the report finds only slight gender-based differences in tenant risk, despite women earning roughly 80% of what men do, according to Stats SA. 40.1% of men were assessed as minimum-risk, compared to 39.1% of women. One possible explanation is that women spent 3.2% less of their income on debt repayments than men, improving their overall affordability profile.
Yahoo
23-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Scotland's papers: 'World holding breath' after Iran strikes and bus jobs hope
The Herald The Scotsman Daily Record The Scottish Sun Daily Mail Scottish Daily Express The Times The Telegraph The National The Courier The P&J Glasgow Times Edinburgh News
