Top 10 most-read 702 articles of the week that you might've missed

1. He’s done 36 Two Oceans, 27 Comrades… Let’s help Sidney Cleophas get to Boston Marathon!

Sidney Cleophas's (66) story is one of true South African grit.

Cleophas worked full-time as a technician at Telkom in Cape Town while bartending part-time to boost his income before recently retiring.

Between all this, Cleophas also clocked over 150 marathons, including 36 Two Oceans (31 of these Two Oceans were done consecutively), and 27 Comrades finishes - one of only 22 runners in the world to achieve that.

Now, he is lacing up for something new - his first international race: the world-renowned Boston Marathon, which he is self-funding.

Friends and family have launched a BackaBuddy campaign to help support his journey to Boston titled: 'Run Sidney Run.'

2. WATCH: Identical twins go viral for speaking in unison during interview about hijacking

Australian twins Bridgette and Paula Powers’ synchronicity has social media baffled.

In a recent viral video, the identical twins recount a hijacking incident.

Without looking at the video, you would think it was one person speaking with an echo, when it is, in fact, two women.

3. 5 ways to earn money on TikTok in South Africa

TikTok's Creator Rewards Program is not yet available in Africa, but there are still ways for creators to make money on the platform. 

Five ways creators can utilise the platform to earn money:

• LIVE gifts – creators go live on TikTok and enable the LIVE gifts feature. Viewers can send virtual gifts, which are exchanged for real money
• Video gifts – monetising pre-recorded content
• Effect creator rewards – creators can create AI art or interactive game effects that other users can interact with
• Subscription model – building loyal communities with subscriptions that offer exclusive perks and unique experiences for a monthly fee
• Work with artists – promote your favourite artist’s song and earn some cash

4. Govt is nowhere to be seen as SA's HIV programme collapses

The US has abruptly suspended almost all foreign development assistance globally, including the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) research grants.

Two decades ago, South Africa’s HIV crisis was defined by denialism and delay. Then President Thabo Mbeki and the late Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang presided over a period in which scientific consensus was rejected and the rollout of antiretroviral medicines was obstructed, and preventable deaths spiralled into the hundreds of thousands. Their names are now linked to one of the worst public health failures in modern history.

The consequences of today’s inaction will also be deadly.

5. 'As much as people have big plans when they play the Lotto, when they do win they need help, particularly emotionally'

Last week the R110 million Powerball jackpot was claimed by an apparently hesitant healthcare worker.

To most of us, a life-changing amount of money sounds like a dream come true, but it comes with its own set of new problems.

Naledi Msibi, public relations and communications director of Greysun Media, the communications agency for Ithuba, says the national lottery operator has a highly-trained team in place to help winners.

"As much as people would have all these big plans when they play, when the moment does come it requires some assistance, particularly psychologically and emotionally," she says.

6. WATCH: Anele Mdoda, Bonelela Mgudlwa tie the knot in intimate traditional ceremony

947’s Anele Mdoda tied the knot to Xhosa Prince Bonelela Ngubengcuka ka Mgudlwa over the weekend. 

Social media is buzzing with pictures and videos of the couple’s beautiful Lobola ceremony with friends and family. 

Anele looked stunning in intricately beaded Xhosa regalia with Bonelela in a matching ensemble. 

Congratulations to the happy couple!

7. Did someone try to assassinate Deputy President Paul Mashatile? Investigations are underway

Investigations are underway after one of Deputy President Paul Mashatile's official vehicles, equipped with high-grade bulletproof glass, was shot at earlier this month.

The incident occurred while Mashatile was travelling home from an African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng.

8. WATCH: Give that girl an ice cream! Kid’s hole-in-one goes viral

This little girl’s reaction to getting a hole-in-one at mini golf has social media laughing.

She goes for the shot, hitting the ball in no time at all and by some luck, lands the ball in the hole.

Needless to say, she was chuffed with her performance.

“I’m getting an ice cream for that,” she laughs. 

9. Quiet firing is real: 7 signs to look out for

Quiet firing refers to reducing a company’s workforce without having to formally fire employees. 

Circumstances will lead employees to resign, and employers won’t need to pay severance packages or formally restructure.

Here are signs that quiet firing is being implemented: 

• Withholding increases and promotions
• Isolating employees
• Assigning mundane or undesirable tasks
• Increasing micro-management
• Pushing back on promises
• Withholding feedback or support
• Overwork or underwork

10. You can now translate messages on WhatsApp

Here's how:

• Press and hold the message you want to translate and tap 'Translate'.
  
• Choose the language you want the message to be translated from or to, then tap. Once you download a language, it will be saved under downloaded languages for future translations.
• Tap 'Translate'.

You can use this feature to translate messages within WhatsApp chats, individually and in groups.

Sign up for our newsletters below to stay updated.