--- title: "GNU's top and flop ministers; and the unexpected versatility of biltong" description: "The GNU’s best and worst performers; and why biltong is more versatile than you think - 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/2025-06-14-gnus-top-and-flop-ministers-and-the-unexpected-versatility-of-biltong/" published: "2025-06-14T09:28:40" updated: "2025-06-14T09:30:43" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 912 --- # GNU's top and flop ministers; and the unexpected versatility of biltong > The GNU’s best and worst performers; and why biltong is more versatile than you think - All in the Weekend Wrap. By Daily Maverick · Published 14 June 2025, 11:28 SAST · Updated 14 June 2025, 11:30 SAST ## Key points - As the Government of National Unity celebrates its first birthday, the report card reveals a mixed bag of Cabinet performances, while biltong continues to prove it’s the real MVP of South African cuisine—who knew it could do more than just sit on a snack table? - The Government of National Unity celebrates its first anniversary, with mixed reviews on Cabinet performance highlighting both successes and failures. - Cape Town's Andre Naude, accused in a murder plot, is now a victim himself, raising questions about crime dynamics in the city. - President Ramaphosa's National Dialogue initiative aims to foster conversation among South Africans, but skepticism remains about its effectiveness. - A fact-check reveals that the World Bank and IMF's views on economic constraints differ from claims linking BEE to South Africa's growth challenges. ## Content ## The Weekend Wrap The GNU’s best and worst performers; and why biltong is more versatile than you think. ## [Cabinet clout – the GNU’s best and worst performers, one year in](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-12-cabinet-gnu-best-and-worst-performers-one-year-in/) As the Government of National Unity marks one year in power, Daily Maverick staffers give their take on who’s dithered and who’s delivered in Cabinet. [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GNU-ONE-YEAR-ONE_1200x1200-720x720.png)](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) ## [A live discussion](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) The Government of National Unity is one year old and reviews have been mixed. Join a group chat with our political journalists to get their inside take on the successes and failures of the GNU Cabinet. [Register here](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) ## [Murdered Andre Naude’s own words — ‘I’ve got a gun on my waist and a bulletproof car’](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-13-murdered-andre-naudes-own-words-ive-got-a-gun-on-my-waist-and-a-bulletproof-car/) Cape Town murder plot accused Andre Naude operated among several individuals who were suspected of crimes — and who went on to be assassinated. He previously claimed this arena was ‘not cowboys and crooks’, but his own murder now suggests otherwise. By Caryn Dolley ## [National Dialogue — Promising concept or an illusion of progress for SA?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-11-national-dialogue-promising-concept-or-an-illusion-of-progress-for-sa/) President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Tuesday night of a National Convention to start a National Dialogue is clearly meant to get South Africans talking to each other about solving our problems. Be careful what you wish for. By Stephen Grootes ## The Weekend Wrap The GNU’s best and worst performers; and why biltong is more versatile than you think. ![gnu best and worst](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/tori2-720x360.jpg) ## [Cabinet clout – the GNU’s best and worst performers, one year in](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-12-cabinet-gnu-best-and-worst-performers-one-year-in/) As the Government of National Unity marks one year in power, Daily Maverick staffers give their take on who’s dithered and who’s delivered in Cabinet. By Daily Maverick [![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/GNU-ONE-YEAR-ONE_1200x1200-720x720.png)](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) ## [A live discussion](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) The Government of National Unity is one year old and reviews have been mixed. Join a group chat with our political journalists to get their inside take on the successes and failures of the GNU Cabinet. [Register here](https://events.dailymaverick.co.za/events/2025/06/18/gnu-one-year-on-a-group-discussion) ## [Murdered Andre Naude’s own words — ‘I’ve got a gun on my waist and a bulletproof car’](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-13-murdered-andre-naudes-own-words-ive-got-a-gun-on-my-waist-and-a-bulletproof-car/) Cape Town murder plot accused Andre Naude operated among several individuals who were suspected of crimes — and who went on to be assassinated. He previously claimed this arena was ‘not cowboys and crooks’, but his own murder now suggests otherwise. By Caryn Dolley ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/naude-gangs-caryn2-720x360.jpg) ## [National Dialogue — Promising concept or an illusion of progress for SA?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-11-national-dialogue-promising-concept-or-an-illusion-of-progress-for-sa/) President Cyril Ramaphosa’s announcement on Tuesday night of a National Convention to start a National Dialogue is clearly meant to get South Africans talking to each other about solving our problems. Be careful what you wish for. By Stephen Grootes ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/NationalDialogue-Risks-Concerns-Grootes-720x360.jpg) ## [Trump has manufactured a national crisis that could come to define his presidency](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-10-trump-has-manufactured-a-national-crisis-that-could-come-to-define-his-presidency/) Protests in Los Angeles over ICE actions are the lead national news story. So far, there is no prospect that the crisis is at an end. Meanwhile, the Trump administration decided on a show of military strength — but has no plans for an endgame to the crisis. By J Brooks Spector ![LA](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/13115647-720x328.jpg) ## Fact-Check – Do the World Bank and International Monetary Fund say BEE is holding SA back? Recently, President Cyril Ramaphosa said in Parliament that the World Bank and the IMF had identified concentrated ownership of the economy, not BEE, as constraining South Africa’s economic growth. Was he right? Daily Maverick's Rebecca Davis fact-checks. [YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHhWIV8m7tY) ![gupta lynne brown anc state capture](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Ayanda-Zondo-eskom--720x450.jpg) ## [Gupta-era minister Lynne Brown returns to advise ANC — despite SA’s State Capture scars](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-09-gupta-era-minister-lynne-brown-returns-to-advise-anc-despite-sas-state-capture-scars/) Lynne Brown, the former Public Enterprises Minister deeply implicated in enabling Gupta-linked State Capture at Eskom, Transnet and Denel, is back in the ANC fold – this time helping strategise in the Western Cape. Her reappearance underscores the ANC’s blurred lines between renewal and regression, as no top State Capture figure has faced jail despite damning findings by the Zondo commission. By Ferial Haffajee ## [From Gansbaai to Indonesia: The astonishing 38,000km+ voyage of a misidentified white shark](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-13-from-gansbaai-to-indonesia-the-astonishing-record-38000km-voyage-of-a-misidentified-white-shark/) This shark tale almost sank through the mesh of history into the murky deep but through sheer happenstance it improbably surfaced from the depths and into the light of scientific discovery. By Ed Stoddard ## [SA’s resilient dryland species – from tortoises to toktokkies](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-11-sas-resilient-dryland-species-from-tortoises-to-toktokkies/) With its intricate, patterned shell, the near-threatened Karoo tent tortoise is a unique and hard-to-find resident of South Africa’s drylands. This is just one dryland species that conservation organisations, local communities and farmers are working to protect. By Kristin Engel ## [Talent pool — water polo’s grassroots revival kicks off in Nelson Mandela Bay](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-12-water-polos-grassroots-revival-begins-in-nelson-mandela-bay/) Organisers hope the new tournament will become the SA20 of water polo as it seeks to rebuild the sport from the bottom up. By Angela Daniels [![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/) ## [Coffee can interfere with your medication – here’s what you need to know](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-10-coffee-can-interfere-with-your-medication-heres-what-you-need-to-know/) Caffeine can speed up digestion, block drug absorption and even raise your heart rate when mixed with certain medicines. By Dipa Kamdar ## [How science and AI can help us build safer, fairer food systems](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-09-how-science-and-ai-can-help-us-build-safer-fairer-food-systems/) Science is evolving, and with it, new technologies offer a lifeline in tackling food safety. But it must leap off research papers and into the daily lives of farmers, vendors and consumers. By Manana Dlangalala and Lise Korsten ## [Biltong is more versatile than we think](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-13-biltong-is-more-versatile-than-we-think/) Beef or venison. Coriander seeds. Black pepper. Coarse salt. Vinegar. Ah, biltong: proof that the simple things in life are often the best. 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. 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