--- title: "Afrikaner 'refugees'; a JHB mayor without a plan​; and the science of grounding" description: "Afrikaner refugees; a JHB mayor without a plan​; and the science behind grounding - all in the Weekend Wrap." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "THE WEEKEND WRAP" author: "Daily Maverick" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-17-afrikaner-refugees-a-jhb-mayor-without-a-plan-and-the-science-of-grounding/" published: "2025-05-17T10:21:07" updated: "2025-05-17T10:22:59" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 1086 --- # Afrikaner 'refugees'; a JHB mayor without a plan​; and the science of grounding > Afrikaner refugees; a JHB mayor without a plan​; and the science behind grounding - all in the Weekend Wrap. By Daily Maverick · Published 17 May 2025, 12:21 SAST · Updated 17 May 2025, 12:22 SAST ## Key points - This weekend's headlines bring us a motley crew of Afrikaners auditioning for a victimhood role in Trump's reality show, a Joburg mayor floundering without a script, and a budget teetering on the edge of a financial black hole that could swallow us whole. - Afrikaners are framed as victims in a political narrative, with Trump's executive order facilitating their emigration, but critics argue they are mere extras in a larger scheme. - Joburg's Mayor Dada Morero struggles with leadership, revealing a lack of control as the city descends into despair amidst unfulfilled promises. - South Africa's Budget 3.0 faces a critical juncture, with looming cuts necessary to avoid economic collapse as the National Treasury stares into a financial abyss. - The Public Investment Corporation's Daybreak Foods investment highlights the dangers of accountability-free remedies, as the company nears collapse, raising concerns about governance in black empowerment initiatives. ## Content ## 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-13-lets-not-call-these-afrikaners-refugees-theyre-background-extras-in-magas-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-14-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-13-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 ![Trainspotter](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Poplak-Trainspotter-Afrikaners-copy-720x360.jpg) ## [Let’s not call these Afrikaners refugees — they’re background extras in Maga’s noisy scam](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-13-lets-not-call-these-afrikaners-refugees-theyre-background-extras-in-magas-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 mayor service delivery](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Joburg-Mess-Morero-Grootes-copy-720x361.jpg) ## [Joburg — a city losing hope, a mayor without a plan](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-14-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-13-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 ![black hole budget](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/iStock-1449205729-720x461.jpg) ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Tutu-Memorial_033.jpg) ## [Enough is enough! Talk to everyone! Include everyone! We are Afrikaans! I am an Afrikaner!](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-05-14-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-13-power-chat-ferial-haffajee-speaks-to-ancs-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. [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nX_to2I1YWo) ## [PIC’s Daybreak disaster shows that remedies without accountability won’t work](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-15-pics-daybreak-disaster-shows-that-remedies-without-accountability-wont-work/?dm_source=dm_block_list&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=business-maverick) 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?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-15-people-in-pain-how-long-will-you-and-i-be-silent/?dm_source=dm_block_list&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=maverick-life) 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-16-africas-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-14-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-14-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 ![after the bell farewell](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ATB-tim-farewell-720x479.jpg) ## [Omissions from world champion Bok alignment camp are not unusual but they do hint at future](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-16-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-14-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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-16-rediscovering-nepal-trekking-the-himalayas-through-forgotten-film-negatives/?dm_source=dm_block_grid&dm_medium=card_link&dm_campaign=maverick-life) 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-12-what-is-grounding-and-could-it-improve-my-sleep-heres-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 [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_04_24_CROSSWORDS-GIF-TEST3-1.gif)](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/mini-crosswords/) ## [Daily Mini Crossword Quickie](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/mini-crosswords/) [Play here.](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/mini-crosswords/) ## [It’s time to kick off — let’s take on the world with our prime steakhouses](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-16-steakhouse-vuur-blockman/) 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 [Subscribe to First Thing](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/edit-my-profile/) 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](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/insider/)