ANC’s apartheid indemnity deal, AI tags itself, and rattled Boks or ready Boks?

In Memoriam: Estelle Ellis, Daily Maverick’s ‘lisquito’-in-chief, is laid to rest

By Daily Maverick. ‘Estelle’s compassion shone through her writing and made me a more caring person too — her life was too short, but her memory will be a blessing!” Readers remember a journalist whom one calls the Mother Theresa of South Africa. An author, philanthropist, humanitarian and journalist, Estelle lived to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Long live Estelle’s spirit, long live. Read more.

Are the Boks rattled or rattling the cage, hungry to be let loose?

By Craig Ray. The build-up to the first Greatest Rivalry Test has lived up to the billing with words, but now it’s time for the teams to take the battle to the field. Read more.

ANC were favourable to offering indemnity to apartheid-era crimes

By Marianne Thamm. Minutes reveal former apartheid president FW De Klerk told his final Cabinet meeting that an agreement with Nelson Mandela and the ANC on indemnity for apartheid crimes was reached 48 hours before the 1994 election – igniting accountability questions. Read more.

Visits to alleged Big Five cartel boss cemented Carrim, Matlala business ties

By Caryn Dolley. While organised crime-accused Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry some details about his dealings with various police officers and controversial people, he has also held back, saying he does not want to incriminate himself. Read more.

Mining sludge surge triggers power cuts and contamination fears

By Ed Stoddard and Lerato Mutsila. A tailings dam collapse at Samancor Dikwena has cut access to nearby mine shafts, swept away vehicles, and knocked out Eskom power lines near Brits. Satellite analysis and experts point to delayed rainfall effects and potential structural over-deposition as potential causes. Read more.

SAA says CEO suspension unrelated to DA’s latest Daybreak Foods findings

By Lindsey Schutters. The DA wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking for a full SIU investigation into Daybreak Foods on the same day the SAA board suspended its former acting CEO. We asked SAA about it, and it says there is no link. Read more.

Watch — Manifesto test: DA’s local government plan eyes the private sector, devolving policing

The DA has promised to get rid of corruption in municipalities, ring-fence revenue for electricity and water, and to bring in the private sector to boost many service areas. Let’s assess its manifesto. Watch here.

Meet the woman who has been feeding Paarl’s hungry for 30 years

By Iman Allie. Elderly Magda Meyer uses donations and surplus food to feed the hungry in Paarl every day. Through Magda se Sopkombuis (Magda’s Soup Kitchen), she continues to connect with people and give back to her community. Read more.

Enter, the age of provenance — or the week AI started tagging itself

By Dean McCoubrey. AI models and platforms now tag and detect AI-generated content, forcing us to define authorship, disclosure and where human judgement must prevail. Read more.

Who makes the best boerewors? Tell us all about it

By Tony Jackman. Wherever you live in South Africa, there is boerewors. Some is good. Some is so-so. And some is dreadful. But who makes the best boerewors? We’re asking you to share your best boerie secrets. Read more.

Take a breather from your busy day and answer ten questions to see whether your well-read instincts are as sharp as you think. Play the August edition of the Maverick Mind quiz here, then head over to DMC to log your score and see how fared. DM