‘Cele shrugged off critical warning’ — Joe Ferrari talks taxi killings and a cartel

Extortion-accused businessman Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he put himself at risk when he gave the police minister at the time, Bheki Cele, critical information about taxi violence. Cele, meanwhile, knows suspected crime kingpin Vusimuzi ‘Cat’ Matlala, accused of trying to have Sibanyoni murdered.

What we know about the six South Africans missing in Nepal-Tibet floods

Gift of the Givers has released the names of the six South Africans missing after the Nepal-Tibet floods. One mother is anxious but holding out hope, saying her daughter ‘is a fighter’.

Idiocy is no longer the exception, it’s official policy in government

The country’s political circus is proof that, finally, there’s a project that unites us across party and racial lines.

Goodbye Dolly

Zuma’s architect ordered to repay R147m but ‘clearly did not act alone’

More than 10 years after the controversial Nkandla upgrades ballooned from a R27.8m security project to more than R216m, the SIU has secured a major victory, with architect Minenhle Makhanya now ordered to repay R147m for unlawful, wrongful and negligent conduct.

UPDATE: Eskom admits to R3-billion in payments ‘outside of contractual terms’

Eskom released the results of its 18-month investigation into R21-billion worth of diesel contracts, but failed to make a full and frank disclosure.

Watch – Inside NSFAS boss Mathebula’s R110,000-plus spending

Watch – Inside NSFAS boss Mathebula’s R110,000-plus spending

Inside the Joburg inner city school proving what central Joburg learners can achieve

Behind a bright boundary fence in central Johannesburg, CityKidz is shattering every misconception about inner-city education. Fuelled by dedicated teachers, parent collaboration, and whole-school commitment, this inner-city school pairs global Stem victories with a culture built on safety, kindness and character.

Safa still to announce new Bafana Bafana coach as 2027 Afcon qualifiers loom

The South African Football Association is in a tight spot as it negotiates with Pitso Mosimane to succeed Hugo Broos as Bafana Bafana boss. The federation has not moved quickly enough to find a successor for the Belgian, with the team set to begin African Cup of Nations qualification on 23 September.

Is Johannesburg too big to fail — or are we just pretending it is?

When suburbs are forced to build ‘shadow municipalities’ to sustain security, water and power service delivery, City leadership has failed – The Gathering: Cities Edition probes whether metros can be saved.

IDT hush money docket: 387 days, one video, no arrests

The former chief executive of a state entity that spends upwards of R4-billion a year, and her then spokesperson, put R60,000 in a Dior shopping bag on a table in front of a Daily Maverick journalist. We filmed it, published it and laid charges. More than a year later, the docket still isn’t trial-ready.

Put your knowledge to the test with the Maverick Mind quiz

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

Joburg ignores warnings and appoints ‘potential security risk’ to head Public Safety Department

A lifestyle audit conducted by the SIU classified former Gauteng Health boss Lesiba Malotana as ‘high risk’ and reported that he should be forensically investigated. Despite this, the City of Johannesburg has appointed him to head its Public Safety Department.

All Blacks eye first back-to-back Test wins over Boks in SA in three decades

All Blacks coach Dave Rennie vowed his team would be better in the second Test, sending a clear warning to the Boks for the crucial Greatest Rivalry showdown.

Students tell of going up to seven days without food

University students recount skipping meals, relying on friends and university aid to manage the financial burden of student living.

State property register essential to cutting wasteful government leases

A reliable Immovable Asset Register is key to unlocking public assets and strengthening municipalities.

Beware of the wounded Springbok

After a disappointing opening to the Greatest Rivalry series, I expect the Springboks to regroup, trust the process and beat the All Blacks in Cape Town.

Flying Squad’s wings clipped - no wheels for Nelson Mandela Bay rapid response cops

The Flying Squad is supposed to be Nelson Mandela Bay’s rapid response unit. Instead, its members have no operational vehicles and are sitting on the sidelines.

How documents, race and perceived value shape who is labelled a foreigner in SA

We love to celebrate cultural difference, until we start ranking it. Through the lens of Contra.Joburg’s Different Is Good festival theme, South Africa’s rising xenophobia is confronted, unpacking why some forms of foreignness are embraced, while others are forced to justify their existence.

The Boks are in a tight spot, which is where they thrive

Being 1-0 down in the Greatest Rivalry series was not where the Boks wanted to be, but it’s where they are. How they respond will tell us about the team’s future.

Former Hawks boss exposes factional rifts after chaotic ‘KT’ Molefe arrest

The evidence of former Hawks head Lt-Gen Godfrey Lebeya points to deeper fault lines within South Africa’s law enforcement agencies, where investigations and high-profile raids have become entangled in factional battles, competing interests and allegations of misconduct.

Pass the Popcorn

Hungry Lion latest victim in concerning rise of cyberattacks

You know the cybersecurity situation in SA is getting bad when not even Hungry Lion is safe. The threat group is asking for $50k ransom, and it’s the same crowd that got The Courier Guy. It’s getting bad.

Cape Town’s baboon crisis a last-chance conservation opportunity — fund coexistence before captivity

International funders could finance targeted Simon’s Town fencing, military fence repairs and Slangkop upgrades to keep Cape Town baboons wild and reduce human-baboon conflict.

Endangered monkeys on death row — the multibillion-rand industry that profits from primate pain

Long-tailed macaques face extinction as Charles River Laboratories profits from exploiting these intelligent primates for biomedical research, igniting a debate over the ethics of animal testing and conservation.

Corrupt police, broken prosecution: SA’s democratic foundations tremble

The consistent stream of damaging testimony from the Madlanga Commission has shown a criminal justice system in crisis, and the only hope is that serious recommendations address and strengthen an important pillar of the country’s democratic foundations.

ANC manifesto: Good to look at, nice to read — but hard to believe

The ANC acknowledges its failures, but can it fix the problems it created? We put its local government election pitch through our Manifesto Test.

Thousands of dead fish wash up on Gqeberha beaches — authorities investigate

Thousands of fish have washed up dead along Gqeberha’s beaches, with sardines making up most of the deaths. Scientists are investigating whether pilchard herpesvirus, an algal bloom or sudden ocean temperature changes are to blame, while experts warn the die-off could affect marine life and the fishing industry.

The End of Oak Street: The Spielberg-style sci-fi proving old-school blockbusters still work

For fans of Spielberg’s sci-fi and survival blockbusters, The End of Oak Street serves up throwback-style fun and thrills, making it the movie equivalent of a theme park ride.