El Niño is no longer a forecast, it’s here. As forecasters warn this could become a powerful “Godzilla El Niño” with major implications for southern Africa, Daily Maverick’s Ed Stoddard has tracked the story from the earliest warnings to its official arrival and what it could mean for South Africa’s weather, food security and economy. Here’s our essential coverage.

Instead of easing the pressure on referees as was the hope, it appears that the introduction of VAR has placed extra pressure on match officials – especially at major tournaments such as the Fifa World Cup.

Portia ‘Posh’ Anyamba, a former South African Air Force brigadier general recently sentenced to jail in the US for being a foreign agent for this country, has a deep history connected to the fight against apartheid. Former president Thabo Mbeki apparently even called her once to say he was proud of her.

Last weekend, the Springbok Women made history with their first victory over the USA since 2011. They will look to back up that performance and complete a series sweep when the teams meet again at Loftus this Saturday.