---
title: "The year in video: Bribes, cartels, assassinations, and the politics behind them"
description: "This article first appeared as a Maverick Life newsletter. This year, Daily Maverick covered key 2025 South African events with video, including the Tebogo Malaka bribe and claims of a criminal cartel. In case you missed them (or simply want to see them again!), here is a selection of videos from those moments."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "ESCAPE NEWSLETTER"
author: "Daily Maverick"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/dailymaverick/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-29-the-year-in-video-bribes-cartels-assassinations-and-the-politics-behind-them/"
published: "2025-12-29T12:12:17"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 379
---

# The year in video: Bribes, cartels, assassinations, and the politics behind them

> This article first appeared as a Maverick Life newsletter. This year, *Daily Maverick* covered key 2025 South African events with video, including the Tebogo Malaka bribe and claims of a criminal cartel. In case you missed them (or simply want to see them again!), here is a selection of videos from those moments.

By Daily Maverick · Published 29 December 2025, 14:12 SAST

## Content

### 1: Politics, policing & a murder in Worcester: The story of Queeny Madikizela-Malema

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywFb_vK3bAU)

Queeny Madikizela-Malema, an alleged ‘informant’ with a murky past, has been murdered. Her story is tangled in claims of rogue state activity, a reported 'jailbreak' linked to Jacob Zuma, and alleged smear campaigns tied to Western Cape policing and politics. What really happened? We unpack the intrigue surrounding her life and death.

### 2: Cape Town’s accusation collision: JP Smith, gang boss accused Ralph Stanfield and the cops

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbjGkfgKaxU)

A raid on Cape Town’s city offices, a high-stakes investigation, and political accusations. Is it a criminal probe or a political attack? At the heart: murders with suspected ties to the notorious 28s gang. Daily Maverick's Caryn Dolley explains.

### 3:Mehdi Hasan: “Trump Administration is a sh\*t show”

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLccgVT20OU)

Redi Tlhabi sits down with broadcaster, journalist and Zeteo founder Mehdi Hasan for an [unflinching conversation](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLccgVT20OU) on global politics. From the chaos brought by Trump’s administration to the genocide in Gaza, Elon Musk’s DOGE distractions, and President Ramaphosa’s punchlines, no topic is off-limits.

### 4: Andre Naude: the multiple ‘murder attempts’ he survived before his assassination

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fvyl6eb-J18)

On June 12, 2025, Andre Naude was shot and killed. He had been accused in a murder plot and had previously spoken about apparent attempts on his life and the secret control of Cape Town's organised crime. Daily Maverick's Caryn Dolley explains.

### 5: Floyd Shivambu: Between Revolutions and Rejections

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdKHGFvUGQM)

Once a firebrand of the EFF, now a brief resident of Zuma’s MK party, Floyd Shivambu is re-emerging, this time with plans to launch his own political movement. But after being sidelined in yet another party power struggle, is this a comeback or just more political wandering?

### 6: Inside Mkhwanazi’s claims: South Africa held hostage by criminal cartel

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHGQNB8rB_4)

On 6 July 2025, KwaZulu-Natal’s Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi alleged that a criminal syndicate involving cops, prison staff, judges, and politicians is holding South Africa hostage.

### 7: Zimbabwe's Mothers, Global Care: The Price of a Future

[YouTube video: "YouTube video"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sibSQpl_a7A)

Video footage of Pieter-Louis Myburgh’s infamous meeting with Tebogo Malaka pours cold water on the suspended IDT CEO’s denials of her role in a highly publicised bribe attempt.[.](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-05-what-migrant-care-workers-from-zimbabwe-sacrifice-for-their-childrens-futures/?utm_campaign=Post-476&utm_medium=email&utm_source=CMS-23)

Find these and many more videos on our [YouTube channel](https://www.google.com/url?source=gmail&sa=E&q=http://googleusercontent.com/youtube.com/3)!

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