Trump’s g20 tantrum; Zuma’s mercenary flop; and why science says 60 is your peak

South Africa delivered at the G20, Trump delivered a tantrum

By Redi Tlhabi. Trump may believe he can single-handedly rewrite the rules of geopolitics with threats and hashtags. But the G20 is bigger than him. The world is bigger than him. And South Africa’s leadership is already proving that. Read more.

‘I cried for the first time because of gambling’: A 24-year-old’s struggle with addiction

By Lerato Mutsila. As South Africa’s gambling revenue soars to R59.3bn, Jaylen’s descent into online gambling addiction revealed the human cost behind the boom. His account shows how easy access, targeted advertising and rising social pressures are pulling young people into dangerous cycles. Read more.

Selfie safari crisis as social media drives dangerous, unethical wildlife tourism

By Robyn von Geusau. Millions of tourists flock to private and public wildlife reserves in Africa every year. But this unrelenting desire for social media footage — and accompanying bad behaviour — comes at a price. Read more.

How Dudula’s anti-migrant actions are reaching global attention in refugee applications

By Caryn Dolley. The impact of Operation Dudula, which a high court recently described as ‘one of the most visible and violent proponents of xenophobia’, is increasingly international. Courts in other countries are hearing about alleged Dudula assaults targeting migrants who sought safety in South Africa. Read more.

Jacob Zuma’s failed mercenary ambitions — from China to Russia, the road is littered with abandoned recruits

By Marianne Thamm. A group of 17 South Africans allegedly duped into joining the notorious Russian mercenary group Wagner by Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla are not the first to be abandoned by the Zuma family wannabe-junta. Read more.

Proteas claim historic win in India, their first in 25 years

By Keanan Hemmonsbey. South Africa 489 (Senuran Muthusamy 109, Marco Jansen 93, Kuldeep Yadav 4-115) and 260 for 5 decl. (Tristan Stubbs 94, Tony de Zorzi 49, Ravindra Jadeja 4-62) beat India 201 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 58, Washington Sundar 48, Jansen 6-48) and 140 (Jadeja 54, Simon Harmer 6-37) by 408 runs. Read more.

Retailers shift Black Friday strategy as shoppers demand value and convenience

By Kara Le Roux. Huge discounts are no longer the centrepiece of Black Friday. Retailers are leaning into logistics, data, flexible payments and the battle for the grocery basket. Read more.

Worried about turning 60? Science says that’s when many of us actually peak

By Gilles E. Gignac. You might assume that getting older means slowing down, but research says otherwise. New research suggests that psychological functioning peaks between ages 55 and 60. Read more.

Daily Maverick People of the Year 2025- Cast your vote

Hello readers! The calendar is turning, the year is winding down, and once again it’s time to look back at the people, movements and entities who shaped our world. From readers and our newsroom, we’ve gathered all the nominations for Daily Maverick’s People of the Year 2025, spotlighting those who stood out across the categories here.

Khoisan leader Crawford Fraser dies, leaving legacy of activism and community leadership

By Riaan Marais. The paramount chief of the Korana House championed the plight of his people and community with a smile on his face, and made sure the fight would go on after predicting his own death. Read more.

Wicked: For Good is a darker, emotionally charged conclusion to the Oz saga

By Noelle Adams. The year-long intermission is over, and it’s time for Wicked: For Good to deliver the epic conclusion to this musical Wizard of Oz spin-off, based on the beloved stage show. While shorter on uplifting magic than Part 1, For Good is far more emotionally powerful. Read more.

Chef Mahlomola is Johannesburg’s Jack of all Trades

By Naomi Campbell. Chef, judge, world traveller and culinary coach, Chef Mahlomola Thamae is a jack of all trades. With 30 years of culinary experience, he is still learning, reinventing his culinary skills, and, most importantly, inspiring aspiring chefs. Read more.