Illustrative Image: Collen Mashawana. (Photo: Gallo Images / Oupa Bopape). | Money. (Photo: Istock) | Torn Paper. (Image: Istock) 
Inside Collen Mashawana’s ‘political connections’
/file/attachments/orphans/plm-idt_143889.jpg "Illustrative Image: Collen Mashawana. (Photo: Gallo Images / Oupa Bopape). | Money. (Photo: Istock) | Torn Paper. (Image: Istock)")
By Pieter-Louis Myburgh. Collen Mashawana, the ‘philanthropreneur’ at the heart of Daily Maverick’s investigative series on the Independent Development Trust, frequently mingled with top politicians. Were these innocent encounters, or do the optics betray hints of something more ominous? Read more.
Hermione Cronje, the NDPP candidate who could reform the NPA — but don’t bet on her cracking the nod
/file/attachments/orphans/WhatsApp-Image-2025-12-11-at-1229_187469.jpg "Adv Hermione Cronje appears as the first candidate on the second day of interviews before the Advisory Panel for the selection of the National Director of Public Prosecutions, chaired by Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, at the Auditor-General South Africa offices in Pretoria.
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<br>The Panel is mandated to assess and recommend suitable candidates for consideration by the President.
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<br> (Photo: GCIS / Wandile Ngaxa)")
The Panel is mandated to assess and recommend suitable candidates for consideration by the President.
(Photo: GCIS / Wandile Ngaxa)
By Rebecca Davis. If anyone is capable of turning around the National Prosecuting Agency, it might just be advocate Hermione Cronje — which is why her appointment may be too much to hope for. Read more.
Kingmakers, knives and numbers: The vote that could hand KZN to Zuma’s MK party
/file/attachments/orphans/Arde-KZN-confidencecopy_379399.jpg "Illustrative image | Jacob Zuma MK president. (Photo: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart) | Premier Thami Ntuli. (Photo: Gallo Images/Darren Stewart) | Leader of the National Freedom Party (NFP), Ivan Barnes. (Photo: Facebook/NFPofficialUpdates)")
By Greg Ardé. You couldn’t make this up if you tried: the biggest story that may or may not play out in KwaZulu-Natal – the MK party’s shot at taking the province. Read more.
Why South Africa is ending the 90-day visa exemption for Palestinians
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By Rebecca Davis. South Africa has established itself internationally as a staunch friend of the Palestinian people. So why is the Department of Home Affairs scrapping its visa exemption for Palestinians? Read more.
Joburg opens 37 pools for festive season — here’s the full list
/file/attachments/2985/BSwimmingPool-3L5A3498_146651_7febaf79116fe9ad749bb3a333a3ae09.jpg "Blairgowrie Residents’ Association members (from left) Harold Fleishman, Brad Montgomery and Marlies Bron take their first dip at the launch of the Blairgowrie public swimming pool on 1 September. (Photo: Alaister Russell / Our City News)")
By Yvonne Grimbeek. The Joburg municipality has opened 37 municipal pools for residents to enjoy this festive season, with plans for seven more before March. Here’s the full list, brought to you by Our City News, your service in city accountability. Read more.
New data points to solutions for SA’s child literacy woes
/file/attachments/orphans/Child-literacy_285576.jpg "Illustrative Image: Child reading (Photo: Freepik) | Cracked glass. (Image: Freepik) | (By Daniella Lee Ming Yesca)")
By Laura Grant. New research has highlighted both the depth of the problem with child literacy in South African schools – and pathways to solutions. Read more.
Better data, same emergency — the forest elephant crisis continues
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By Adam Cruise. A new report shows an increase in estimated forest elephant numbers, but this is a function of better surveying, and the species remains critically endangered. Read more.
Investment bankers step in to tackle N3 freight congestion
/file/attachments/orphans/AreachstackertransfersaloadedshippingcontainerontotheraillineduringcargohandlingoperationsattheEITFreightVillage_201922.jpg "A reach stacker transfers a loaded shipping container onto the rail line during cargo handling operations at the EIT Freight Village.
<br>(Photo: EIT Freight Village at Estcourt)")
(Photo: EIT Freight Village at Estcourt)
By Lindsey Schutters. South Africa is finally waking up to the rail revolution at an industrial scale, and doing road-to-rail swaps on the Great Escarpment makes so much sense it even lured investment bankers to the Midlands. Read more.
This festive season, join us in fighting child malnutrition in Nelson Mandela Bay
/file/attachments/orphans/WhatsAppImage2024-12-19at140112_34839f94_432057.jpg "This is part of the Bucket of Nutrition that will be given out by Daily Maverick and SA Harvest. (Photo: SA Harvest)")
By Estelle Ellis. Daily Maverick and SA Harvest have launched their third annual festive season campaign to combat hunger in the Eastern Cape. This year’s focus is on supporting three holiday programmes. These initiatives are crucial for keeping children safe and fed during the school break, especially since the regular school nutrition programme is suspended for the year. Read more.
Summer reads to ease you into the holidays
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By Joy Watson. Daily Maverick’s book editor-at-large, Joy Watson, shares a selection of stories to slip into as the holidays approach. Read more.
Roast leg of lamb with garlic, oregano and lemon
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By Tony Jackman. A roast leg of lamb holds a special place in my family kitchen, very often redolent of garlic and a single herb. Often that herb was rosemary, but on a recent visit to my family in Cape Town, Grandad Tones made it with oregano instead. Read more.
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