Illustrative image, from left: President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan) | KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. (Photo: Gallo Images / Darren Stewart) | Minister of Police Senzo Mchunu. (Photo: Gallo Images / Volksblad / Mlungisi Louw) 
The Weekend Wrap
Ramaphosa faces a trio of crises; the strange campaign around Senzo Mchunu; and how to survive SA’s annual tax return season.
Ramaphosa returns to a trio of crises — and then there’s Helen Zille waiting in the wings
President Cyril Ramaphosa returned from the BRICS meeting in Brazil to face multiple crises: new US tariffs, a police minister under fire, and another challenge to the Budget.
By John Matisonn
Senzo Mchunu crafted a clean image — KZN’s top cop has blown it up
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is seen as a hero in a province ravaged by crime and political killings. His sights are set on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with Mchunu’s presidential ambitions – and the ANC’s electoral fortunes – on the line.
Five key takeaways from Minister Motsoaledi’s budget vote address
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s budget vote address laid out spending priorities for the 2025/26 financial year, including infrastructure, National Health Insurance, and gaps left by Donald Trump’s canning of Pepfar funding.
By Tamsin Metelerkamp
The Weekend Wrap
Ramaphosa faces a trio of crises; the strange campaign around Senzo Mchunu; and how to survive SA’s annual tax return season.
Ramaphosa returns to a trio of crises — and then there’s Helen Zille waiting in the wings
President Cyril Ramaphosa returned from the BRICS meeting in Brazil to face multiple crises: new US tariffs, a police minister under fire, and another challenge to the Budget.
By John Matisonn
Senzo Mchunu crafted a clean image — KZN’s top cop has blown it up
KZN Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi is seen as a hero in a province ravaged by crime and political killings. His sights are set on Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with Mchunu’s presidential ambitions – and the ANC’s electoral fortunes – on the line.
By Cyril Madlala
Five key takeaways from Minister Motsoaledi’s budget vote address
Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi’s budget vote address laid out spending priorities for the 2025/26 financial year, including infrastructure, National Health Insurance, and gaps left by Donald Trump’s canning of Pepfar funding.
By Tamsin Metelerkamp
The clicks, the scans, the scams – how to survive SA’s annual tax return season
As Sars prepares to unleash its auto-assessment magic, don’t forget to double-check those pesky discrepancies and dodge the scammers lurking in the shadows.
By Neesa Moodley
Thanks for the letter, Donald. We’ll think about it
While South Africa must deal with the fallout from Donald Trump’s latest round of tariffs, we might have some strengths to play with.
By Stephen Grootes
Damned if you do, dismissed if you don’t – when the (labour) law is an ass
A recent Labour Court ruling should serve as a wake-up call for lawmakers and judges alike, and sends a chilling message to employees throughout the country — you are on your own when faced with impossible choices between competing duties.
By Marthinus van Staden
Springbok Women inspire Zwide pupils in touching homecoming visit
The Springbok Women’s team visited Ndzondelelo High in Zwide, inspiring young players. Local stars Byrhandrè Dolf and Sanelisiwe Charlie returned home, sharing their journeys from township dreams to national pride – proving to pupils that greatness can rise from familiar ground.
By Nkosazana Ngwadla
The strange campaign around Senzo Mchunu
Senior journalist Rebecca Davis highlights a disturbing trend on South African social media: fake accounts, copy-paste tweets, and manufactured praise for politicians. From the ANC to ActionSA, online manipulation is simulating public support and it’s already impacting political discourse. With the 2026 elections around the corner, this could be a threat to democracy.
Reporting by: Rebecca Davis
Giraffes under siege: The silent crisis of trophy hunting and its threat to survival
On the savannas of Africa’s vanishing wilderness, the world’s tallest mammal is being quietly driven towards extinction – not by habitat loss alone, but by the insatiable appetite for trophies that turn gentle giants into rugs and flywhisks.
By Don Pinnock
Daily Mini Crossword Quickie
No signal, a storm and the Springboks: A Karoo weekend with heart
When a group of friends heads to a remote Karoo farm for their annual hunting trip, there’s one non-negotiable: watching the Springboks play. With no signal, muddy roads and freezing rain, the men of Britzkraal Jagvat prove that where there’s gees, there’s always a way — even if it means turning an abandoned sheep shelter into a makeshift sports bar.
By Riaan Marais
No signal, a storm and the Springboks: A Karoo weekend with heart
When a group of friends heads to a remote Karoo farm for their annual hunting trip, there’s one non-negotiable: watching the Springboks play. With no signal, muddy roads and freezing rain, the men of Britzkraal Jagvat prove that where there’s gees, there’s always a way — even if it means turning an abandoned sheep shelter into a makeshift sports bar.
By Riaan Marais
A chemical cocktail and feeling safe — the quest to feel ‘love’
Dr Eve, a family therapist, sex therapist and expert in intimacy trauma, brings years of experience and academic training to her therapy room. In this column she offers a candid exploration of the deep-seated issues surrounding intimacy, loneliness and connection in today’s world.
By Dr Eve
Evangelist’s walk from Cape Town to Israel, and more from around the world
Moving, tragic, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking... This is a selection of images from our planet, over the past seven days.
By Maverick Life Editors
The accidental carnivore: How a soup party broke my vegetarian streak
From veggie vows to rotisserie regrets — how one innocent soup party turned a proud vegetarian into an accidental carnivore, sparking a dry comeback in the kitchen.
By Ray Mahlaka
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