Floyd’s MK party fall; middle-class school obsessions; and love in a time of Wi-Fi

The Weekend Wrap

How Floyd Shivambu caused his own MK party downfall; middle-class school obsessions; and love in a time of Wi-Fi — all in this Weekend Wrap.

How Floyd Shivambu caused his own MK party downfall

Floyd Shivambu’s refusal to back down on his visit to fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri led to his sacking as MK party secretary-general. But he had faced criticism since his arrival from the EFF.

By Nonkululeko Njilo

Same same — how State Capture has become SA’s greatest export

As Trump wipes away American history and redoubles down on thought crimes, he’d be horrified to know that the ANC has done it better, which is to say worse.

By Richard Poplak

Inside the mind of a monster — understanding the psychology of child abusers

With more than 13,000 child abuse crimes reported in 2023/24, experts warn that perpetrators often hide in plain sight as teachers, clergy and even parents. Daily Maverick explores who these perpetrators are and whether they can ever be rehabilitated.

By Kristin Engel and Lerato Mutsila

New documentary shines a light on the environmental damage caused by Elon Musk’s tech ambitions

In the broiling shadow of rocket flames and broadband dreams, the inconvenient truths of Elon Musk’s techno-utopia are being tidily shuffled out of frame.

By Rebecca Davis

The Weekend Wrap

How Floyd Shivambu caused his own MK party downfall; Middle-class school obsessions; and love in a time of Wi-Fi — all in this Weekend Wrap.

How Floyd Shivambu caused his own MK party downfall

Floyd Shivambu’s refusal to back down on his visit to fugitive pastor Shepherd Bushiri led to his sacking as MK party secretary-general. But he had faced criticism since his arrival from the EFF.

By Nonkululeko Njilo

Same same — how State Capture has become SA’s greatest export

As Trump wipes away American history and redoubles down on thought crimes, he’d be horrified to know that the ANC has done it better, which is to say worse.

By Richard Poplak

New documentary shines a light on the environmental damage caused by Elon Musk’s tech ambitions

In the broiling shadow of rocket flames and broadband dreams, the inconvenient truths of Elon Musk’s techno-utopia are being tidily shuffled out of frame.

By Rebecca Davis

Inside the mind of a monster — understanding the psychology of child abusers

With more than 13,000 child abuse crimes reported in 2023/24, experts warn that perpetrators often hide in plain sight as teachers, clergy and even parents. Daily Maverick explores who these perpetrators are and whether they can ever be rehabilitated.

By Kristin Engel and Lerato Mutsila

Power Chat – Maryana Iskander on trust, technology, and the future of Wikipedia

In this episode of Power Chat, Ferial Haffajee speaks with Maryana Iskander, CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation, about Wikipedia’s critical role in the digital information ecosystem. From the platform’s symbiotic relationship with tech giants to the legal and community frameworks that protect it, Maryana offers a candid look into the future of free knowledge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8LHZ8jT7Ug

After the Bell: What is it with our middle-class school obsession?

Many of us like to try to understand a person we are talking to, a person we have just met. We want to know more about them. We often want to place them in our context. There is a useful phrase to describe all of this. It’s often referred to as ‘class’.

By Stephen Grootes

Vienna’s Golden Hall: A journey of musical triumph and humbling embarrassment unfolds

An unforgettable experience has its embarrassing moment, though it won’t detract from the wonder of it all.

By Charmain Naidoo

Forget cats, forget traps — bring in the puff adders to revolutionise pest control

Africa’s coolest pest control agents have fangs, no overheads and a killer instinct.

By Don Pinnock

Jaden Hendrikse’s cheeky wink reminds us that rugby needs characters, not robots

Rugby's struggle for global superstars is evident, as seen in the contrasting reactions to Jaden Hendrikse's sly wink and Northampton's Henry Pollock's flamboyant celebrations. Rugby needs larger-than-life personalities to grow the game.

By Keanan Hemmonsbey

Love in a time of Wi-Fi: How couples cultivate connection online

For most, WhatsApp was the go-to. It was the easiest, most intimate platform — rich with voice notes, real-time messaging, and video calls. But the communication wasn’t just about logistics or surface-level check-ins.

By Angela Daniels

Get-rich-quick schemes, pyramids and ponzis: five signs you’re being scammed

Avoid ‘get-rich-quick’ schemes; they are, more often than not, bogus and fraudulent business ventures.

By Bomikazi Zeka and Abdul Latif Alhassan

Inner city comes alive with vibrant celebration of art and community at Hey Hillbrow!

For one magical afternoon, the streets of Hillbrow in Johannesburg were filled with otherworldly creations as a musical parade moved through in black and white. The event, coordinated by Shade Brixton director Tamzyn Botha and theatre-maker Daniel Buckland in collaboration with the Windybrow Arts Centre, celebrated the possibilities performance brings to public spaces, spreading energy, laughter and surprise.

By Felix Dlangamandla

Daily Mini Crossword Quickie

Play here.

A warming cup of the Karoo in the land of tumbleweed and moonshots

In the cold winter sunshine, colours burst, flavours are accentuated, and the world seems a better place because the Karoo is in it.

By Tony Jackman

Subscribe to First Thing to receive the Weekend Wrap in your inbox every Sunday morning.

If you value the work our journalists do and want to support Daily Maverick, consider becoming a Maverick Insider.

Support DM