--- title: "Minister under fire for family hire; yellow card for Sport Minister; and when accountability kills" type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Articles" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-13-minister-under-fire-for-family-hire-yellow-card-for-sport-minister-and-when-accountability-kills/" published: "2025-09-13T00:00:00" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 893 --- # Minister under fire for family hire; yellow card for Sport Minister; and when accountability kills Published 13 September 2025, 02:00 SAST ## Content ## The Weekend Wrap Minister under fire for family hire, Gayton McKenzie’s delivery problem, and when accountability kills. All in the Weekend Wrap. ## [Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe keeps it in the family with new Chief of Staff](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-minister-of-social-development-sisisi-tolashe-keeps-it-in-the-family-with-new-chief-of-staff/) The Chief of Staff to Minister Tolashe is allegedly a close relative of her favoured special adviser. By Rebecca Davis ## [‘Scarily predictable’ — Joburg water crisis reaches boiling point as tyres burn and rubber bullets fly](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-11-scarily-predictable-joburg-water-crisis-reaches-boiling-point-as-tyres-burn-and-rubber-bullets-fly/) Residents in the Johannesburg suburbs of Coronationville and Westbury have endured years of unreliable water supply. This week, protests escalated into road blockades and police stand-offs, leaving people injured and communities demanding answers from city officials. By Julia Evans ## [Yellow card for Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie and his delivery problems](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-yellow-card-for-sport-minister-gayton-mckenzie-and-his-delivery-problems/) Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has been in office for more than a year, making many promises, fulfilling some while neglecting most. By Keanan Hemmonsbey and Yanga Sibembe ## [Joburg’s solar cemetery proposal — power over the dead](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-joburgs-solar-cemetery-proposal-power-over-the-dead/) Joburg is fast running out of burial land, and Mayor Dada Morero believes the city must confront an uncomfortable new reality – some cemeteries may need to be repurposed, not destroyed or abandoned, but transformed into sites that serve the living while preserving the dignity of the dead. His most radical suggestion — converting dormant cemeteries into solar farms. By Anna Cox ## The Weekend Wrap Minister under fire for family hire, Gayton McKenzie’s delivery problem, and when accountability kills. All in the Weekend Wrap. ## [Minister of Social Development Sisisi Tolashe keeps it in the family with new Chief of Staff](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-minister-of-social-development-sisisi-tolashe-keeps-it-in-the-family-with-new-chief-of-staff/) The Chief of Staff to Minister Tolashe is allegedly a close relative of her favoured special adviser. By Rebecca Davis ![Lesedi Mabiletja](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Becs-Employee4.jpg?fit=720%2C360&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [‘Scarily predictable’ — Joburg water crisis reaches boiling point as tyres burn and rubber bullets fly](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-11-scarily-predictable-joburg-water-crisis-reaches-boiling-point-as-tyres-burn-and-rubber-bullets-fly/) Residents in the Johannesburg suburbs of Coronationville and Westbury have endured years of unreliable water supply. This week, protests escalated into road blockades and police stand-offs, leaving people injured and communities demanding answers from city officials. By Julia Evans ![water](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/ED_572794.jpg?fit=720%2C457&quality=89&ssl=1) ![sport mckenzie promises](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/TL_2253328.jpg?w=720&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Yellow card for Sport Minister Gayton McKenzie and his delivery problems](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-yellow-card-for-sport-minister-gayton-mckenzie-and-his-delivery-problems/) Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has been in office for more than a year, making many promises, fulfilling some while neglecting most. By Keanan Hemmonsbey and Yanga Sibembe ![swimmij](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Avalon_cemetery_02a.jpg?fit=720%2C480&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Joburg’s solar cemetery proposal — power over the dead](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-joburgs-solar-cemetery-proposal-power-over-the-dead/) Joburg is fast running out of burial land, and Mayor Dada Morero believes the city must confront an uncomfortable new reality – some cemeteries may need to be repurposed, not destroyed or abandoned, but transformed into sites that serve the living while preserving the dignity of the dead. His most radical suggestion — converting dormant cemeteries into solar farms. By Anna Cox ![Bouwer van Niekerk](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/becs.jpg?fit=720%2C360&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Rising death toll of SA corruption-busters like Bouwer van Niekerk highlights cost of accountability](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-07-rising-death-toll-of-sa-corruption-busters-like-bouwer-van-niekerk-highlights-cost-of-accountability/) We cannot afford to look away from the assassination of lawyer Bouwer van Niekerk – the latest in what appears to be an escalation of threats and attacks against lawyers, investigators, auditors, whistleblowers and journalists. By Rebecca Davis ## [Boks to show tactical hand in two New Zealand ‘finals’ in Auckland and Wellington](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-29-boks-to-show-tactical-hand-in-two-new-zealand-finals-in-auckland-and-wellington/) Coach Rassie Erasmus has marked the end-of-year tour matches against Six Nations champions France and northern rivals Ireland as season-defining, but the next two Tests in Aotearoa may well shape this great team’s legacy. By Jon Cardinelli ![Springboks face the All Blacks](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/TL_2119588.jpg?fit=720%2C465&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [The electricity pricing farce continues, but something’s about to give](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-08-after-the-bell-the-electricity-pricing-farce-continues-but-somethings-about-to-give/) I’m sure there are going to be all sorts of grand promises over the next few months about power prices. But one simple fact remains: our electricity tariff system is creaking because we just can’t afford it anymore. Something’s about to crack, big time. By Stephen Grootes ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Opinionista-George-AbaloneTW.jpg?fit=720%2C720&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [A CITES listing for dried abalone is critical to the survival of the species](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2025-09-08-a-cites-listing-for-dried-abalone-is-critical-to-the-survival-of-the-species/) Wild abalone populations have plummeted by 90% across their range, with even protected areas like the Betty’s Bay Marine Protected Area reduced to a mere 1% of their pristine levels. By Dion George ## [Rabble-rousers, rebellion and rights — conservative activist Charlie Kirk passes into history](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-11-rabble-rousers-rebellion-and-rights-conservative-activist-charlie-kirk-passes-into-history/) The death of Charlie Kirk illuminates the nature of US history even as it promises more strife between ‘his people’ and the people of ‘the woke’. By J Brooks Spector ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/GettyImages-2234490835.jpg?fit=720%2C480&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [A new Banksy mural is scrubbed from London wall](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-11-a-new-banksy-mural-is-scrubbed-from-london-wall/) Moving, tragic, surprising, inspiring, terrifying, shocking… This is a selection of images from our planet, over the past seven days. By Maverick Life Editors ## [Is it okay to boil water more than once, or should you empty the kettle every time?](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-is-it-okay-to-boil-water-more-than-once-or-should-you-empty-the-kettle-every-time/) You may have heard that re-boiling water is not good for you. Here’s the truth. By Faisal Hai ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023_04_24_CROSSWORDS-GIF-TEST3-1.gif?fit=400%2C217&ssl=1) ## [Daily Mini Crossword Quickie](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/mini-crosswords/) [Play here.](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/mini-crosswords/) ## [The humble Karoo bloom that went global, transforming window boxes around the world](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-10-the-humble-karoo-bloom-that-went-global-transforming-window-boxes-around-the-world/) A willing plant from Meiringspoort in the Karoo left our shores in the early 1700s to become a botanical superstar, launching a million brightly coloured window boxes in Europe and elsewhere. By Julienne Du Toit ## [How two food vendors serve culture, community and cuisine](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-09-12-how-two-food-vendors-serve-culture-community-and-cuisine/) In a verdant courtyard, two vendors are proving that food trucks and vendors can bring authenticity, community and culture to the plate. 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/)