Media and civil society fight secret trial of Zuma’s ‘superspy’ Thulani Dlomo

Media groups are challenging the ‘blanket secrecy’ in the R12-million State Security Agency trial, seeking open proceedings and evidence-specific restrictions to protect national security without undermining public access.

Borders, ballots, court clashes — how the anti-immigrant movement is setting SA’s elections agenda

The anti-immigrant movement regained dominance in South Africa’s online political conversation before the 4 November local elections, driven by the government’s asylum policy reversal and controversy surrounding activist Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma. Meanwhile, the Constitutional Court’s decision to reinstate ANC candidates intensified political disputes, while suspected undisclosed paid campaigns increasingly targeted individual politicians rather than just state entities.

Did Suliman Carrim tailor his evidence? Magistrate wants transcripts before bail judgment

Suliman Carrim faces another eight days in a Kgosi Mampuru prison cell before learning whether he will be released on bail, as the magistrate takes a closer look at claims that he changed his story under cross-examination.

‘Who do I vote for?’ Reader questions answered on coalitions, councils and voting

With the 4 November elections approaching, we answer Daily Maverick readers’ key questions about local government, coalition stability and municipal accountability.

Madlanga’s sting: Airport arrests, assassinations, panic attacks, dishonourable discharges

Never before has South Africa faced a commission of inquiry which has acted with such swift determination – in just over a year – rounding up significant numbers of individuals who have turned up in evidence and allegedly linked to extensive organised crime networks and law enforcement agencies.

Rhino DNA and cartridge cases — the evidence that nailed Kruger Park ranger Landela

Once regarded as the ‘crown prince’ of Kruger’s rangers, Rodney Landela has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing a rhino in 2016. The conviction rested on extensive forensic evidence that turned a wild dog cover story into an open-and-shut guilty verdict.

Escaping the debt trap could set SA on the road to fiscal victory

Paying down debt could eventually free South Africa’s finances and improve its credit rating, but austerity, fuel price relief and ANC resistance threaten progress.

Jetting Off

Analysis — Cape Town ‘gang boss’ Ralph Stanfield’s courtroom showdown looms

Ralph Stanfield and his wife Nicole Johnson will appear in the Western Cape High Court this week alongside 12 co-accused on charges of murder, attempted murder, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition as well as robbery. However, their courtroom history shows that the odds are stacked against the State, with previous criminal charges either withdrawn or the courts acquitting the two.

The ANC-DA national coalition will survive the elections, and could grow stronger

These local elections were always going to provide probably the toughest test for the parties in the national coalition. Despite signs that campaigning is testing the current arrangement, the longer-term interests of the ANC and the DA mean the national coalition is likely to survive for some time yet.

AI cannot predict SA’s 2026 elections outcome, but it may influence November 4 polls

AI models do not know how South Africans will vote on 4 November 2026. Yet people increasingly use them to understand the world, and their answers can help shape the reality they merely appear to describe.

Why Donald Trump’s quest for the Nobel peace prize was a dangerous delusion

The 2026 Nobel peace prize will go down in history as one of a kind. Not just the laureate but the committee, the domicile country and the International Criminal Court are all in hot water because of the outrage of a sore loser.

Why are we so obsessed with true crime? It’s not just morbid curiosity

From Netflix documentaries to podcasts, true crime turns fear into relief, teaches audiences about risk and survival, and connects strangers through collective interpretation.

La Rochelle players and fans honour Hyron Andrews’ memory with compassion and class

French fans and the La Rochelle club did their country proud on an emotional day of Champions Cup matches played in the shadow of tragedy.

Wits and SA universities must cut fossil fuel ties to champion climate action

South African universities, particularly Wits, lack transparency and independence because of the fossil fuel industry’s influence through funding, research partnerships and investments. They need to disclose industry ties, divest from fossil fuels and champion a just transition to clean energy.

As climate shocks intensify, SA pushes for more money to adapt at COP31

With extreme weather events hitting much of the developing world, including South Africa, throughout the year, the government is set on moving beyond mitigation and barreling toward adaptation at this year’s climate talks.

Unfairly dismissed worker takes on Aspen Pharmacare in man-alone fight for job

After nearly a decade fighting to clear his name, Roderick Munnick thought he could finally put his unfair dismissal behind him when the labour court ruled in his favour. Aspen Pharmacare’s decision to appeal has plunged the father of two back into uncertainty, but he is ready to keep fighting.

South Africa keeps its fiscal ship afloat as Trump’s America takes on water

It is instructive to compare South Africa’s economic rebound with the US’s decay as Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement on Wednesday.

Sibiya and Selebi — two very different paths to power and disgrace

We should not read too much into the trajectories of the two former top cops – one whose career began in the apartheid police, while the other was a stalwart of the liberation struggle.

Cops on a hot tin roof: how scandals pummel SAPS’s plans

As corruption accusations spread among officers, SAPS bosses are scrambling to address a recruitment crisis, overworked detectives and the growing threat of transnational organised crime.

From Malmesbury to Umhlali, SA has now seen both faces of nihilistic violent extremism

Two cases this year show that nihilistic violent extremism is no longer a foreign phenomenon. The more recent incident in Umhlali carries the hallmark characteristics of nihilistic violent extremism, a threat which other countries are already addressing.

Test your general knowledge with the Maverick Mind quiz

Take a breather from your busy day and answer 10 questions to see whether your well-read instincts are as sharp as you think.

Johannesburg’s junior mayor race put youth mental health and civic duty centre stage

Two Johannesburg teenagers campaign for junior mayor, putting youth mental health, civic duty and equal opportunity at the centre of their visions for the city.

NHI delay and denial — why the constitutional imperative for universal healthcare will triumph

The ongoing judicial reviews may delay implementation of the National Health Insurance, but the Constitution is clear on citizens’ fundamental right to quality healthcare.

Underground tour reveals scale of problems plaguing Joburg’s power infrastructure

After weeks of anger over prolonged blackouts, Johannesburg property owners taken underground by City Power at Central Substation have seen first-hand the scale of cable theft and ageing infrastructure. But across the city, repeated lengthy outages continue to drive tenants away and frustrate paying residents.

Tshwane needs better freight rail to become SA’s automotive capital

If everyone involved was being honest, Pretoria’s location made it a bad place to set up a carmaking hub. But it can become the gateway to Africa if all the stakeholders, especially the state, work at it.

Watch — How a narrow court ruling became a week of anti-foreigner posts

Watch — How a narrow court ruling became a week of anti-foreigner posts

Joburg mayoral candidate Tlaleng Mofokeng on balancing grief and her political vision

The medical doctor, activist and EFF candidate explains why she decided to continue campaigning despite her husband’s death, but stresses that she’s not in it to build a political career – she wants to change things and move on.

Carrim says doctors backed Dubai trip despite commission no-show

Too ill to return to the Madlanga Commission but well enough for an overseas pilgrimage, Suliman Carrim faced tough questions in court about whether he could be trusted to stand trial if released on bail. For now, he will spend the weekend behind bars alongside Shadrack Sibiya and Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, whose names have also featured at the commission.