--- title: "Weekend Wrap: Trump's G20 boycott; ‘signatures fraud’ scandal; and how to keep your brain healthy at any age" type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "Articles" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-14-trumps-g20-boycott-signatures-fraud-scandal-and-how-to-keep-your-brain-healthy-at-any-age/" published: "2025-11-14T00:00:00" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 889 --- # Weekend Wrap: Trump's G20 boycott; ‘signatures fraud’ scandal; and how to keep your brain healthy at any age Published 14 November 2025, 02:00 SAST ## Content ## The Weekend Wrap Trump snubs the G20 and SA; ‘signatures fraud’ at the Mashawana Foundation; plus how to keep your brain healthy at any age. All in the Weekend Wrap. ## [Exclusive investigation – Collen Mashawana Foundation in ‘fraudulent’ signatures scandal over unpaid workers’ salaries](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-10-exclusive-investigation-collen-mashawana-foundation-in-fraudulent-signatures-scandal-over-unpaid-workers-salaries/) The Collen Mashawana Foundation, named in Daily Maverick’s sensational video ‘sting’ exposé, allegedly forged hundreds of poor workers’ signatures in order to claim millions of rands from the Independent Development Trust. The workers didn’t receive their salaries, while some of them were forced to work at the Mashawana family’s private properties. By Pieter-Louis Myburgh ## [From GNU to GNB (good news budget) — 3 things to note](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-from-gnu-to-gnb-good-news-budget-3-things-to-note/) After a shaky start with three runs at the Budget earlier this year, the Government of National Unity seems to have found its way to common ground with the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement this week. By Neesa Moodley ## [What will it take? Three months of silence since Dior bag journalist bribe](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-10-what-will-it-take-three-months-of-silence-since-dior-bag-journalist-bribe/) Three months have passed since we publicly released damning video footage and audio recording Independent Development Trust CEO Tebogo Malaka and her spokesperson Phasha Makgolane offering a R60,000 cash bribe to Daily Maverick investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh. Yet no arrests have been made. What will it take? By Jillian Green ## The Weekend Wrap Trump snubs the G20 and SA; ‘signatures fraud’ at the Mashawana Foundation; plus how to keep your brain healthy at any age. All in the Weekend Wrap. ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/IDT_signatures_1.jpg?fit=720%2C360&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Collen Mashawana Foundation in ‘fraudulent’ signatures scandal over unpaid workers’ salaries](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-10-exclusive-investigation-collen-mashawana-foundation-in-fraudulent-signatures-scandal-over-unpaid-workers-salaries/) The Collen Mashawana Foundation, named in Daily Maverick’s sensational video ‘sting’ exposé, allegedly forged hundreds of poor workers’ signatures in order to claim millions of rands from the Independent Development Trust. The workers didn’t receive their salaries, while some of them were forced to work at the Mashawana family’s private properties. By Pieter-Louis Myburgh ## [From GNU to GNB (good news budget) — 3 things to note](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-from-gnu-to-gnb-good-news-budget-3-things-to-note/) Deputy Finance Minister Ashor Sarupen (Photo: Gallo Images / Misha Jordaan) By Neesa Moodley ![budget Ashor Sarupen](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ED_491339.jpg?fit=720%2C417&quality=89&ssl=1) ![Tebogo Malaka](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/idt-plm.jpg?fit=720%2C360&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [What will it take? Three months of silence since Dior bag journalist bribe](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-10-what-will-it-take-three-months-of-silence-since-dior-bag-journalist-bribe/) Three months have passed since we publicly released damning video footage and audio recording Independent Development Trust CEO Tebogo Malaka and her spokesperson Phasha Makgolane offering a R60,000 cash bribe to Daily Maverick investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh. Yet no arrests have been made. What will it take? By Jillian Green ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/HEADERReadiness-Report-EP25.jpg?fit=720%2C405&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Trump’s G20 boycott: A diplomatic power play unpacked](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-11-trumps-g20-boycott-a-diplomatic-power-play-unpacked/) As South Africa prepares to host the G20 and its presidency to the United States, President Donald Trump announced its decision to boycott the summit. In this episode of The Readiness Report, Redi Tlhabi speaks with Professor John Stremlau about the power play behind the boycott, the diplomatic fallout, and what it signals about an era where disruption is strategy. By Redi Tlhabi ## [Becoming a river: The Breede Expedition](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-becoming-a-river-the-breede-expedition/) Scientists from The Wilderness Project journey the Breede River from source to sea, testing water, tracking wildlife, and mapping every bend. Don Pinnock joins them — and barely survives to tell the tale. By Don Pinnock ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/headerDSD-TRIP-TO-NEW-YORK.jpg?fit=720%2C405&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [Watch – “Enough is enough” say Nelson Mandela Bay Church leaders to government](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-13-watch-enough-is-enough-say-nelson-mandela-bay-church-leaders-to-government/) When church leaders and NGOs spoke out about the collapse of Nelson Mandela Bay, they unleashed a storm — political abuse, spy allegations, and chaos in council chambers. But beneath the noise, one powerful question remains: Who really controls this metro? Daily Maverick’s Estelle Ellis explains. By Estelle Ellis ## [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) ## [Passion runs deep — mining marathoner Ledile Dikgale targets back-to-back Comrades after conquering underground race](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-passion-runs-deep-mining-marathoner-ledile-dikgale/) After taking her running journey to uncharted depths (pun intended), mining engineer and recreational runner Ledile Dikgale has her eyes set on another personal milestone at the 2026 Comrades Marathon. By Yanga Sibembe ![art](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Cameron-Lee-Olivier-2.jpg?fit=720%2C439&quality=89&ssl=1) ## [What did you come to steal? An emerging artist’s provocative portrait of Joburg](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-12-what-did-you-come-to-steal-an-emerging-artists-provocative-portrait-of-joburg/) Cameron-Lee Olivier in front of her exhibition Gold Thief City at the 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub. (Photo: Ezra Qua-Enoo / 223 Jan Smuts Creative Hub) By Naledi Mashishi ## [How to maintain good cognitive health at any age](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-10-how-to-maintain-good-cognitive-health-at-any-age/) Is it an achievable goal to remain mentally sharp while aging, or is it a pipe dream? It’s entirely possible if you cultivate habits throughout your life that are beneficial to brain function. By Benjamin Boller ![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/) ## [Uniting community and culture at Ko Cafe in Jersey City’s creative hub](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-14-uniting-community-and-culture-at-ko-cafe-in-jersey-citys-creative-hub/) In one of her final pieces as an intern with TGIFood, Naomi Campbell brings us a taste of one of her favourite spots in her home town of Jersey City. By Naomi Campbell ## [Uniting community and culture at Ko Cafe in Jersey City’s creative hub](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-11-14-uniting-community-and-culture-at-ko-cafe-in-jersey-citys-creative-hub/) In one of her final pieces as an intern with TGIFood, Naomi Campbell brings us a taste of one of her favourite spots in her home town of Jersey City. By Naomi Campbell ![Image](https://i0.wp.com/www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/PHOTO-2025-11-11-11-15-42.jpg?fit=720%2C405&quality=89&ssl=1) [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/)