The Weekend Wrap
Afrikaner refugees; a JHB mayor without a plan; and the science behind grounding
Let’s not call these Afrikaners refugees — they’re background extras in Maga’s noisy scam
Bathing these Boers in the language of victimhood, Trump has fast-tracked their exodus through an executive order and welcomed them in.
By Richard Poplak
Joburg — a city losing hope, a mayor without a plan
While Joburg’s leaders make promises to residents, they are simply not in control of what they are doing. The mayor, the ANC’s Dada Morero, has now revealed his obvious desperation and small but important errors show that no one is really in charge.
By Stephen Grootes
Loaded for Bear: Budget 3.0 faces an ‘event horizon’ that could suck SA into a black financial hole
An event horizon looms and the laws of economic gravity will not be defied. Staring into the abyss of a black hole will require National Treasury to make significant expenditure cuts if it does not want to be sucked into the void.
By Ed Stoddard
The Weekend Wrap
Afrikaner refugees; a JHB mayor without a plan; and the science behind grounding
Let’s not call these Afrikaners refugees — they’re background extras in Maga’s noisy scam
Bathing these Boers in the language of victimhood, Trump has fast-tracked their exodus through an executive order and welcomed them in.
By Richard Poplak
Joburg — a city losing hope, a mayor without a plan
While Joburg’s leaders make promises to residents, they are simply not in control of what they are doing. The mayor, the ANC’s Dada Morero, has now revealed his obvious desperation and small but important errors show that no one is really in charge.
By Stephen Grootes
Budget 3.0 faces an ‘event horizon’ that could suck SA into a black financial hole
An event horizon looms and the laws of economic gravity will not be defied. Staring into the abyss of a black hole will require National Treasury to make significant expenditure cuts if it does not want to be sucked into the void.
By Ed Stoddard
Enough is enough! Talk to everyone! Include everyone! We are Afrikaans! I am an Afrikaner!
It is dangerous for the governing party to only meet with one group whose mother tongue is Afrikaans who call themselves Afrikaners — a group who enjoy all the privileges from the previous dispensation.
By Marlene le Roux
Power Chat – Ferial Haffajee speaks to ANC's Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli
In this episode of Power Chat, author and Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffajee sits down with ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli to unpack the state of South Africa’s Government of National Unity. As questions grow about the strength and stability of the GNU, Haffajee asks whether it’s becoming a space of problems and pitfalls. Ntuli responds directly, saying the Democratic Alliance is responsible for the challenges within the coalition. Listen to this conversation about power-sharing, political fault lines, and the future of South Africa’s governing alliance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX_to2I1YWo
PIC’s Daybreak disaster shows that remedies without accountability won’t work
Daybreak Foods, a poultry business once hailed as a beacon of black empowerment in agriculture and the PIC portfolio, is now spiralling toward collapse. Unfortunately, it’s just the latest in a line of poor investments by the Public Investment Corporation.
By Lindsey Schutters
People in pain — how long will you and I be silent?
Because our flat screens don’t spill blood, don’t emit the stench of death, muffle the piercing cries of real loss, leave the scene of the crime, we are led to think that pain is painless. In this way those of us who are safe for the moment insulate and inoculate ourselves from feeling pain.
By Mark Heywood
Africa’s hottest decade on record — how this affects you
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s ‘State of the Climate in Africa 2024’ report, last year was either the warmest or second-warmest year recorded in Africa, depending on the dataset. The past decade, as a whole, has been the hottest since records began.What does it take to run the Comrades Marathon 50 times? Guts.
By Julia Evans
In Ukraine, there is no option but to feel South African shame at our war stance
Hearing firsthand stories from Ukrainians about Russian atrocities can’t help but leave you ashamed of Pretoria’s stance on this awful war.
By Rebecca Davis
After the Bell: Casting off — my last Bell at Daily Maverick
My most enduring, most heartfelt thanks goes to the readers of this column who have been fabulously thoughtful, reactive, instructive and supportive of some views which at times have strayed, I’m proud to say, into the hyperbolic.
By Tim Cohen
Omissions from world champion Bok alignment camp are not unusual but they do hint at future
The omission of Stormers No 8 Evan Roos, among others, from the Springboks’ second alignment camp of 2025 does raise eyebrows.
By Craig Ray
From ruins to resilience: Gazan medical students triumph against adversity in South Africa
Twenty-seven students from Gaza will be heading back home after arriving in 2024 to complete their practicals for medical studies at UCT and Wits university following the destruction of their medical schools during the Gaza war.
By Siyabonga Goni
Rediscovering Nepal: Trekking the Himalayas through forgotten film negatives
Photographer and Daily Maverick subeditor Ian Wolstenholme trekked across Nepal’s Himalayas with a film camera in hand. Decades later, he digitised the forgotten negatives — revealing a vivid, time-capsule view of Kathmandu, Pokhara and the iconic mountain trails of Langtang and Everest. All photographs were taken by Ian Wolstenholme.
By Ian Wolstenholme
What is grounding and could it improve my sleep? Here’s the science behind this TikTok trend
Social media is awash with content promoting grounding mats and sheets. Could they really help you sleep better?
By Dean J. Miller Charlotte Gupta
Daily Mini Crossword Quickie
It’s time to kick off — let’s take on the world with our prime steakhouses
It’s time to have a bit of a barney with Australia and the world. The current score: Aussie 17, SA 2. It’s great to have something on the board, but nowhere near good enough. Let’s scorch our way through their tally next year with a searing victory over their steakhouse successes in the global rankings.
By Tony Jackman
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