--- title: "Iran standoff; ANC-DA face-off; and the South African behind Pixar’s iconic films" description: "Missiles over Doha, Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen face off, and one South African’s animated life at Pixar." 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/2025-06-28-iran-standoff-anc-da-face-off-and-the-south-african-behind-pixars-iconic-films/" published: "2025-06-28T09:00:12" updated: "2025-06-28T09:49:06" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 842 --- # Iran standoff; ANC-DA face-off; and the South African behind Pixar’s iconic films > Missiles over Doha, Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen face off, and one South African’s animated life at Pixar. By Daily Maverick · Published 28 June 2025, 11:00 SAST · Updated 28 June 2025, 11:49 SAST ## Key points - This weekend's highlights include a missile detour over Doha, a political showdown between Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen, and the animated adventures of a South African at Pixar—because who needs a quiet weekend when the world is on fire? - Missiles over Doha prompted flight diversions amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. - DA leader John Steenhuisen issues a 48-hour ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa, raising political stakes. - An exploration of elite networks reveals how connections influence government contracts in South Africa. - A call for sugar warning labels on 100% fruit juice highlights hidden health risks compared to sugary drinks. ## Content ## The Weekend Wrap Missiles over Doha, Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen face off, and one South African’s animated life at Pixar. ## [Watch – Iran standoff, NYC chooses new Dem candidate – and the media’s role](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-26-watch-iran-standoff-nyc-chooses-new-dem-candidate-and-the-medias-role/) In this episode, journalist and editor Tony Karon joins Redi Tlhabi on The Readiness Report to unpack the pressures facing newsrooms in the West, from censorship around Israel and Palestine, to the collapse of US foreign policy credibility on Iran. By Redi Tlhabi ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Readiness-Report-Article-Thumbnail-2-scaled.jpg) ## [Who will blink first in game of chicken between DA and ANC? Steenhuisen or Ramaphosa?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-26-who-will-blink-first-in-game-of-chicken-between-da-and-anc-steenhuisen-or-ramaphosa/) In a strongly worded statement in Parliament on Thursday, DA leader John Steenhuisen has given President Cyril Ramaphosa a ‘48-hour ultimatum’. But then what? By Rebecca Davis ## [How my Qatar Airways flight was diverted as missiles flew over Doha](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-24-how-my-qatar-airways-flight-was-diverted-as-missiles-flew-over-doha/) Announcing that my flight to Doha had been diverted to Istanbul, the captain said Qatar’s airspace had been closed because of the ‘political situation between Israel and Iran’. By Peter Fabricius ## [Behind the lottery licence — how elite networks shape government contracts](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-23-after-the-bell-behind-the-lottery-licence-how-elite-networks-shape-government-contracts/) All of this fits into what is becoming a prevailing narrative among the English-speaking chattering classes — that Paul Mashatile is linked to many businesspeople who win government contracts. And is able to benefit from these relationships. By Stephen Grootes ## The Weekend Wrap Missiles over Doha, Ramaphosa and Steenhuisen face off, and one South African’s animated life at Pixar. ## [Watch – Iran standoff, NYC chooses new Dem candidate – and the media’s role](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-26-watch-iran-standoff-nyc-chooses-new-dem-candidate-and-the-medias-role/) In this episode, journalist and editor Tony Karon joins Redi Tlhabi on The Readiness Report to unpack the pressures facing newsrooms in the West, from censorship around Israel and Palestine, to the collapse of US foreign policy credibility on Iran. By Redi Tlhabi ![Image](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Readiness-Report-Article-Thumbnail-2-scaled.jpg) ![Chicken](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Becs-Whitfield-analysis-copy-720x367.jpg) ## [Who will blink first in game of chicken between DA and ANC? Steenhuisen or Ramaphosa?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-26-who-will-blink-first-in-game-of-chicken-between-da-and-anc-steenhuisen-or-ramaphosa/) In a strongly worded statement in Parliament on Thursday, DA leader John Steenhuisen has given President Cyril Ramaphosa a ‘48-hour ultimatum’. But then what? By Rebecca Davis ## [Behind the lottery licence — how elite networks shape government contracts](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-23-after-the-bell-behind-the-lottery-licence-how-elite-networks-shape-government-contracts/) All of this fits into what is becoming a prevailing narrative among the English-speaking chattering classes — that Paul Mashatile is linked to many businesspeople who win government contracts. And is able to benefit from these relationships. By Stephen Grootes ![Paul Mashatile National Lotteries Commission](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ATB-Mashatile-Lottery2-copy-720x360.jpg) ## [How my Qatar Airways flight was diverted as missiles flew over Doha](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-24-how-my-qatar-airways-flight-was-diverted-as-missiles-flew-over-doha/) Announcing that my flight to Doha had been diverted to Istanbul, the captain said Qatar’s airspace had been closed because of the ‘political situation between Israel and Iran’. By Peter Fabricius ![Qatar flight](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/20250624_075044-720x454.jpg) ## [A war by other means — necropolitics and the creation of deathscapes in Gaza](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-06-26-a-war-by-other-means-necropolitics-and-the-creation-of-deathscapes-in-gaza/) Deathworlds or deathscapes allow for the ‘walking dead’, where people live under such appalling conditions that they exist in a state between living and dying. Necropolitics refers to the regulation of the body where those in power can take a decision to let some live and others die. By Amanda Gouws ![Amanda Gouws](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Amanda-2024-5-720x720.jpg) ## [Why 100% fruit juice should come with a sugar warning label](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-23-why-100-fruit-juice-should-come-with-a-sugar-warning-label/) Fruit juice can have as much — or more — sugar than soda or energy drinks. But unlike those drinks, juices won’t come with a warning label under SA’s latest draft regulations for food labelling. We did the sums to show you why they should. By Zano Kunene ![Donkey Day](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/7fd23750-82d4-426e-b187-c3105e7aacf4-720x479.jpeg) ## [Donkey Day brings hope — and help — to Makhanda’s beloved beasts of burden](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-24-donkey-day-brings-hope-and-help-to-makhandas-beloved-beasts-of-burden/) Philippa du Toit, through her organisation and funding from abroad, unknowingly brought back a much-loved annual celebration to the small town of Makhanda — bringing hope and renewed commitment from the community. By Nkosazana Ngwadla ## [What’s the difference between food poisoning and gastro? A gut expert explains](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-23-whats-the-difference-between-food-poisoning-and-gastro-a-gut-expert-explains/) If you’ve got a dodgy tummy, diarrhoea and have been vomiting, it’s easy to blame a “tummy bug” or “off food”. But which is it? Gastro or food poisoning? What’s the difference anyway? By Vincent Ho ## [Legging it through Hillbrow, the chaotic heart of Joburg on a journey of renewal](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-23-a-walk-through-hillbrow-the-chaotic-rekindled-heart-of-joburg/) Parts of the inner-city suburb are being revived through the efforts of residents, property owners and nonprofit organisations. Now a walking tour offers a glimpse of the renewal. By Bridget Hilton-Barber [![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/) ## [South African Ferdi Scheepers has an animated working life at Disney’s world-renowned Pixar studios](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-27-south-african-ferdi-scheepers-has-an-animated-working-life-at-disneys-world-renowned-pixar-studios/) With the release of Elio, Pixar’s next original animated adventure, we got the opportunity to interview Ferdi Scheepers, a South African effects artist who has worked on some of the studio’s biggest films over the past two decades. By Noelle Adams ## [How an American learnt to love the braai](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-27-how-an-american-learnt-to-love-the-braai/) While some tourists flood their bucket lists with museums and restaurants, I wanted something more exciting, something more local, something to set my heart ablaze that would make space for a new core memory to be locked in forever. That something is a braai. By Naomi Campbell [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/)