The gangsterisation of SA's politics, and a new era for higher education

The Weekend Wrap

The gangsterisation of SA's politics, and a new era for higher education — all in the week's wrap.

The Weekend Wrap

The gangsterisation of SA's politics, and a new era for higher education — all in the week's wrap.

Kenny Kunene and the growing gangsterisation of our politics

The discovery of Johannesburg councillor and deputy Patriotic Alliance leader Kenny Kunene in the company of the person wanted for paying for DJ Sumbody demonstrates the growing criminalisation, or some might call ‘gangsterisation’, of our politics.

By Stephen Grootes

Many of my staff can’t work because they are starving, says Gaza City hospital director

The director of Gaza’s largest hospital says that many of his colleagues had been admitted to hospital in the past 48 hours because of severe malnutrition, as starvation grips the region.

By Victoria O'Regan

Joining the dots — SAPS infighting casts a long shadow

The lid seems to have been blown open on an intricate web of criminality in both the SAPS and among those with links to law enforcement.

By Yeshiel Panchia 

When the trucks stop: How a broken fleet is fuelling Emfuleni’s waste problem

Garbage is piling up next to schools, homes, and clinics in Emfuleni because some of the municipality’s waste collection trucks and equipment are broken and idle. This photo essay captures the mounting crisis, and the communities left to live in its aftermath.

By Felix Dlangmandla

When the trucks stop: How a broken fleet is fuelling Emfuleni’s waste problem

Garbage is piling up next to schools, homes, and clinics in Emfuleni because some of the municipality’s waste collection trucks and equipment are broken and idle. This photo essay captures the mounting crisis, and the communities left to live in its aftermath.

By Felix Dlangmandla

Joining the dots — SAPS infighting casts a long shadow

The lid seems to have been blown open on an intricate web of criminality in both the SAPS and among those with links to law enforcement.

By Yeshiel Panchia

The Promise — how a hardened Cape Flats gangster beat the recidivism trap

South Africa has one of the world’s highest recidivism rates, but some offenders manage to break free of the spiral of release and rearrest.

By Vincent Cruywagen

New era for higher education as Buti Manamela takes charge

Buti Manamela takes over as the new minister of higher education and training after serving for years in government departments. Manamela is set to drive the Post-School Education and Training sector after allegations against Nobuhle Nkabane of corrupt appointments to Seta boards.

By Siyabonga Goni

‘Choose your own adventure’ – Cape Town Silent Book Club brings novel twist to age-old pastime

The Cape Town Silent Book Club is part of a movement that’s re-writing the rules of reading groups. Since its inception in mid-2024, it has held gatherings for large groups of readers in public spaces across the city, including beaches, parks and the Southern Line train.

By Tamsin Metelerkamp

ZEP rejections expose legal uncertainty in SA’s general work visa regime

For Zimbabwean Exemption Permit holders who have lived in uncertainty for years, this is just the latest wrinkle in their plight.

By Luke Oosthuizen

The optics of Jannik Sinner reappointing the fitness trainer he fired after doping scandal are not good

World No 1 Jannik Sinner has rehired a coach he fired after a doping offence.

By Craig Ray

Garden of hope: Pensioners transform dumping site into thriving community hub

In Khayamnandi, Despatch, a group of women has transformed a former illegal dumping site into a thriving community garden and daycare centre. Without electricity or running water, they grow vegetables to feed children.

By Nkosazana Ngwadla