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The South African
an hour ago
- The South African
Two days on one charge: Why the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a writer's best friend
Home » Two days on one charge: Why the Samsung Galaxy S25 is a writer's best friend Samsung Galaxy S25 in mint. Image: Samsung South Africa I recently spent time with Samsung Galaxy's newest addition to the S series – the S25 – I have a simple verdict: it's a beast of a device and you should buy it you are a journalist, writer or publisher who is pressed for time. While it does not look too different from its predecessor, the Galaxy S24, it packs ease, smart features, speed and reliability that made my life and work easier. Let's start with the battery life, by far the most impressive offering of the Samsung Galaxy S25. I fully charged the phone at 17:00 on 11 June and by 16:30 on 13 June, it still had 13% left. That's nearly two full days of regular use – scrolling social media, instant messaging, taking pictures, checking emails and using WordPress – all without needing a charger. It's perfect for people always on the move (and a klutz like me who loses power banks and always forgets to pack a charger). The speed and responsiveness is just as impressive. Apps open quickly. Switching between apps or opening web links from another app is quick and seamless. I gave it a Herculean test by using the WordPress app – usually heavy and temperamental on Android devices – but it passed with flying colours, which means I didn't have to swear at it. One of the coolest features is the Circle to Search. Although not new to the Galaxy S series, it is a wonder to use on the S25. You just draw a circle around an element on your screen – be it an object, image or text, and the phone instantly (and I mean instantly) searches for it. It's quick, smart and surprisingly accurate. To give you an example, I took a picture of a CNN guest's face on my TV, long pressed the home button to bring up Circle to Search, encircled the woman's face and boom – I had her name (Pam Bondi), designation and credentials in my hand. All of this in less than 10 seconds. Speech-to-text and transcriptions The speech-to-text feature has improved significantly in terms of accuracy. I first used it with the Samsung Galaxy S21+ and the results were poor. However, with the S25, it is a vastly improved experience. I recorded quotes by Floyd Shivambu, former uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general, during his exit press conference in June, and it picked up his 'revolutionary English' with incredible accuracy. This is very useful if you're not adept at speedily taking notes. When it comes to photos and videos, the S25 does the job. Granted, I wasn't outside taking pictures of beautiful sunsets, but where it came in really handy was when I wanted to shoot pictures or footage from a TV screen, which usually ends in blurry mess. With the S25, my images were crisp and clear, with colours popping and motion handled well. See below The Samsung Galaxy S25 is a reliable, powerful smartphone that handles everything, from AI features to heavy apps, like a champ. It's fast, smart and keeps going without needing a charge every few hours. For South Africans looking for a solid premium phone that won't let you down, the S25 is well worth it. Processor CPU Speed CPU Type 4.47GHz, 3.5GHz Octa-Core Display Size (Main Display) Resolution (Main Display) 156.4mm 2340 x 1080 (FHD+) Technology (Main Display) Colour Depth (Main Display) Dynamic AMOLED 2X 16M Max Refresh Rate (Main Display) 120 Hz Camera Rear Camera – Resolution (Multiple) Rear Camera – F Number (Multiple) 50.0 MP + 10.0 MP + 12.0 MP F1.8 , F2.4 , F2.2 Main Camera – Auto Focus Rear Camera – OIS Yes Yes Rear Camera – Zoom Front Camera – Resolution Optical Zoom 3x, Optical quality Zoom 2x (Enabled by Adaptive Pixel sensor) , Digital Zoom up to 30x 12.0 MP Front Camera – F Number Front Camera – Auto Focus F2.2 Yes Main Camera – Flash Video Recording Resolution Yes UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @30fps Slow Motion 240fps @FHD, 120fps @FHD, 120fps @UHD Storage/Memory Memory (GB) Storage (GB) 12 256 Available Storage (GB) 223.5 Network/Bearer Number of SIM SIM size Dual-SIM Nano-SIM (4FF), Embedded-SIM SIM Slot Type Infra SIM 1 + SIM 2 / SIM 1 + eSIM / Dual eSIM 2G GSM, 3G WCDMA, 4G LTE FDD, 4G LTE TDD, 5G Sub6 FDD, 5G Sub6 TDD Connectivity USB Interface USB Version USB Type-C USB 3.2 Gen 1 Location Technology Earjack GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, QZSS USB Type-C MHL Wi-Fi No 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be 2.4GHz+5GHz+6GHz, EHT320, MIMO, 4096-QAM Wi-Fi Direct Bluetooth Version Yes Bluetooth v5.4 NFC PC Sync Yes Smart Switch (PC version) OS Android Sensors Accelerometer, Barometer, Fingerprint Sensor, Gyro Sensor, Geomagnetic Sensor, Hall Sensor, Light Sensor, Proximity Sensor Physical specification Dimension (HxWxD, mm) Weight (g) 146.9 x 70.5 x 7.2 162 Battery Video Playback Time (Hours) Battery Capacity (mAh, Typical) Up to 29 4000 Removable No Audio and Video Stereo Support Video Playing Format Yes MP4, M4V, 3GP, 3G2, AVI, FLV, MKV, WEBM Video Playing Resolution Audio Playing Format UHD 8K (7680 x 4320) @60fps MP3, M4A, 3GA, AAC, OGG, OGA, WAV, AMR, AWB, FLAC, MID, MIDI, XMF, MXMF, IMY, RTTTL, RTX, OTA, DFF, DSF, APE Services and Applications Gear Support Samsung DeX Support Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Galaxy Buds2 Pro, Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Buds+, Galaxy Buds3, Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds, Galaxy Buds FE, Galaxy Fit3, Galaxy Fit2, Galaxy Fit e, Galaxy Fit, Galaxy Watch FE, Galaxy Watch Ultra, Galaxy Watch7, Galaxy Watch6, Galaxy Watch5, Galaxy Watch4, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active Yes Bluetooth® Hearing Aid Support SmartThings Support Android Audio Streaming for Hearing Aid(ASHA) Yes Mobile TV No Price R19,999.01 Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. 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The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Dead body found in a bush in Umlazi H
A dead body was found on the side of a railway line in a bush in Umlazi H, Durban, on Monday, 14 July 2025. Community members and security officers patrolling the railway discovered the dead body and immediately informed the police, who made their way to the area. Forensics were also summoned to the scene, where they examined the body and discovered that the deceased was a female believed to be in her teenage years. DEAD BODY DISCOVERED IN UMLAZI H The deceased was found half-naked with both her hands and legs tied by a rope. There was also a bruise on her forehead with a pinch of blood drooling down her face. The South African reached out to the police for comment but they were unable to provide feedback at the time. Durban authorities arrive in Umlazi to collect the dead body found in the bush next to the railway line. IMAGE: Nomndeni Ndlovu. Sicelo Ntanzi, a community member who lives nearby, said that he did not hear any noise or see suspicious activity, as there was also load shedding. He says, 'To be honest with you, this comes as a shock because I did not hear anything at all. To make matters worse, there was also load shedding in the area in the past few days, so it was dark and it would have made it challenging for anyone to see anything.' The area has been plagued by a string of crimes in the past few months. Nomzamo Gwala, a resident, says that there was a shooting incident in the area a few months ago. 'This other time at the beginning of the year, there was a group of drunk men who were walking on the railway at night, who started fighting and swearing at each other. Their fight quickly escalated into a deadly gunfight when they started shooting at each other.' 'This area is really bad and we have tried multiple times to protect this area and even tried to form a Community Policing Forum (CPF), but it did not work,' says Gwala. Former security officer and CPF member, Bhekisizwe Mkhabela, said that they did start a policing forum in the area, but it ended up not working as they did not receive enough support. 'You know, when we started this, we had high hopes of bringing change in our community, as many people had lost hope in the police, but then things went astray.' 'There was a meeting held where we were told that we were going to be assisted with vehicles that would patrol in the area, but that did not happen. More and more people started leaving as they felt like they were not receiving support,' Mkhabela explained. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
Jayden-Lee Meek's heartbreaking Mother's Day message to mom revealed
Just three days after Jayden-Lee Meek gifted his mother a handmade Mother's Day card to his mother Tiffany Nicole Meek, he was found dead, allegedly by her doing. On Monday, 14 July, his mother appeared in Roodepoort Magistrate's Court on charges of murder, defeating the ends of justice, and crimen injuria. The 11-year-old died of a blunt force head injury. His body was discovered on the stairs of his apartment complex in Fleurhof, Johannesburg. The 31-year-old has been remanded in custody and will next court appearance on Friday. On Mother's Day – 11 May – Jayden-Lee Meek gifted his mom, Tiffany Meek, a Mother's Day card. The contents of the handmade card – which was originally shared on her Facebook account – has since been made public after Tiffany's first appearance in court on charges of murder. The heartbreaking message in the card read: 'Happy Mother's Day, mom 'I hope you have an amazing day, and I will try to make you breakfast in bed . 'Thank you for being the best mom in the world and always taking care of me, and putting me before yourself' On the envelope of the card, Jayden-Lee Meek drew the shape of a heart, with words inside that read: 'Home is where my mom is'. Days later, Jaden went missing from his apartment complex in Fleurhof. A few hours later, his body was discovered on the steps of the building. @larrybyday #greenscreen Jayden-Lee Meek Update 14 July 2025 #jaydenleemeek#tiffanynicolemeek #crime#news#larrybyday ♬ There Is a Place – Deeper Soaking Worship According to a charge sheet, Jayden-Lee Meek was allegedly killed by his mother, Tiffany, who struck him on the head with an unknown object, which resulted in a blunt force head injury. Hours before, Tiffany reported her son had gone missing from school. She reportedly led a small search party to look for her son and instructed police not to look inside her apartment. She later spent the night at her mother's house. Forensic evidence revealed that Jayden-Lee's blood was found on his bed and his school clothes. It suggested he may have been harmed in his home, which he shared with his mother. Jayden-Lee Meek in happier times. The 11-year-old was allegedly murdered by his mother, Tiffany Nicole. Image via Facebook. The charge sheet read: 'The accused wrongfully and intentionally reported the now-deceased child as missing in not having returned home from school and where the accused, when she acted as aforesaid, well knew and intended that her actions would have the following results or consequence: she, would not be suspected and her premise would not be searched and whereas, as a result, of the actions of the accused did obstruct the administration of justice'. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 . Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp , Facebook , X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
The South African
3 hours ago
- The South African
'Cruel hobby': Ex-footballer slammed for killing South African sable
Former professional American football quarterback Jay Cutler's recent hunting trip in South Africa has garnered hate online. The 42-year-old posted multiple photos proudly displaying the sable antelope he killed, sparking widespread outrage on social media. Cutler captioned one of the posts, 'Kicked off the Africa hunt with a beauty. Sable down, and described his day as great. The sable antelope, known for its striking appearance, is classified as a vulnerable species by the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI). The species faces threats from climate change, habitat loss, and poaching. Siyabona Africa also reports that sable antelopes typically live in Kruger National Park and other protected reserves where conservationists have reintroduced them. Social media users widely criticised Cutler, an avid hunter. Instagram user @bradleyhides commented, 'I went to Africa on a safari and saw the most incredible wildlife and never once thought about murdering them.' @MatthewPaulTurner added that Cutler had 'nothing to brag about.' Another user, @reed52804, wrote: 'What a cruel 'hobby,' Jay. Shame on you for killing this beautiful animal. It breaks my heart.' Some users also referenced Cutler's personal life, suggesting that his ex-wife, Kristin Cavallari, made the right decision in divorcing him. The couple officially ended their marriage in 2022, citing inappropriate marital conduct. In 2024, police arrested Cutler in Franklin, Tennessee, after he rear-ended another vehicle and charged him with driving under the influence and illegal possession of a firearm. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
The South African
3 hours ago
- Business
- The South African
SASSA reassures beneficiaries: NO grant payments suspended
The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has reassured beneficiaries of social grants that no payments have been suspended or halted due to the ongoing social grant review process. Addressing the media on the current social grant review process on Monday, SASSA CEO, Themba Matlou, emphasised that all valid approved grants remain valid, and payments continue to be processed. 'Any beneficiary with an active and valid grant remains entitled to receive their payment,' Matlou said. Matlou explained that SASSA derives its mandate from the Constitution of the republic of South Africa and SASSA Act, which is to administer, manage and payment of social grants to eligible beneficiaries. He also highlighted that SASSA conducts regular reviews, as required by Regulation 30 of the Social Assistance Act, to ensure that every person receiving a social grant remains eligible based on their current circumstances. 'Section 14(5) of the Social Assistance Act requires beneficiaries to notify SASSA of any material change in their circumstances, including financial, marital as soon as reasonably possible. This obligation is also stated in the approval letter each beneficiary receives,' Matlou said. As a result of this legislation, Matlou said that in April 2025, SASSA announced its plans for reviews for the 2025/26 financial year. The targeted reviews aim to ascertain the eligibility of beneficiaries for whom the agency have obtained information that their circumstances have changed, and as a result, may no longer qualify for a social grant. Matlou also noted that the agency has this year introduced and implemented a fourth payment date to its payment schedule, where beneficiaries targeted for a review are paid on the fourth day of the payment cycle, to ensure that they receive their payment after the necessary review, 'without prejudicing the general payment cycle for others.' 'We believe this strategy is better than previous rounds where beneficiaries who do not receive their notifications only find out that they have been placed on review when they get suspended; at which time it is too late to have their payment for the month re-instated. 'Those beneficiaries who have not received a notification and are getting their payments on the normal pay dates (between the 2nd and 5th of the month), do not have to contact the agency,' Matlou said. On the complaints about access to SASSA offices, the CEO acknowledged the challenges during the month of June, where few beneficiaries came forward, except in some offices in KwaZulu-Natal and the Free State. However, he said the numbers have increased significantly in the month of July. He assured that the agency is constantly monitoring the numbers, and will adjust its operational plans accordingly, to ensure that 'it remains within our capacity.' Matlou stressed that the review of social grants helps identify beneficiaries who may no longer qualify due to changes in their financial, medical, or legal circumstances. The review also serves as a confirmation of life or existence, ensuring that grants are not paid out to deceased individuals or those who have relocated without updating their records. The reviews further allow SASSA to detect and prevent cases where individuals continue receiving grants despite being listed on payroll systems of other entities, including public or private. 'This is being done to safeguard the integrity of the social assistance system [and] to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries receive support, preventing fraud and misuse of public funds. 'SASSA is undertaking the social grants review process for the better good of the government fiscus, thus ensuring that grants are paid to eligible beneficiaries and all the fraudulent elements are rooted out,' Matlou said. SASSA Executive Manager Grants Administration, Brenton Van Vrede, noted that with the reviews, the agency is not targeting the most vulnerable but those that have multiple sources of income. 'If the mother of the child receives child maintenance from the father or an Older Person's Grant beneficiary receives some sort of support from their child/children, it is unlikely to suspend the grant. If so, they will need to alert SASSA for assessment,' Van Vrede said. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
