Daily Maverick

Foot in mouth — politicians talk sh#t while South Africans live in it

Decaying municipalities, dry taps and raw sewage are now matched by public representatives’ open insolence, proving…

WELLNESS: Creatine: What works, what might work, and what is still unproven

Think creatine is just for gym-goers? While algorithms love pushing the latest wellness trends, research suggests this…

Saudi Civil Defense lifts warnings of potential danger in four cities

CAIRO, Sept 14 (Reuters) - The Saudi Civil Defense sent an all clear on Monday after issuing alerts for potential…

Trump says he is removing US tariffs on Irish whiskey

DOONBEG, Ireland, Sept 13 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said at the end of a visit to Ireland on Sunday that…

WORDS OF CAUTION: Ramaphosa urges caution on AI advancements, echoing developers

Speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit, President Cyril Ramaphosa called for the establishment of an international mechanism…

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Before their court battle, Andile Lungisa warned Mbalula of ‘electoral humiliation’

In an email to ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula before filing an urgent high court application over the removal of…

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Zille is targeting the ANC’s heartland in Joburg, but voters are doubtful

If the DA wants to win a majority in Johannesburg, it’ll need to improve in Soweto. The party has pockets of support,…

Carney pushes idea of making Canada ‘associate member’ of EU, WSJ reports

BRUSSELS, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney wants a closer relationship with the European Union…

Russia hits passenger train on Ukraine’s border with Poland, just misses ‘diplomatic train’

KYIV/MOSCOW Sept 13 (Reuters) - A Russian drone hit a passenger train on Ukraine's border with NATO member Poland on…

TREKKIE TOWN: SA goes boldly into space race despite technical black holes

South Africa is a country with the best intentions, but has massive blind spots in its vision. Space is no different.

Langa Massacre and SA in 1985 — Vignettes for resisting global authoritarianism

Excerpts from Mark Swilling’s new book, 1985: The Langa Massacre and the End of White Rule in South Africa, graphically…

LIVING IN FEAR: Too early to confirm link between four women found dead in Kempton Park

Police are investigating the deaths of four women in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, between July and September. They have…

UNCOOPERATIVE GOVERNANCE: Coalition partners snub NMB mayor’s State of the Metro Address

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Babalwa Lobishe’s State of the Metro Address – delivered at a gala dinner estimated to have…

Drought-hit Kenya should lift ban on GMO maize imports to prioritise its food security

Kenya is facing a maize shortage, but it may not be able to receive any from South Africa. It’s not because of a…

The $1.2-trillion desperation play — why Trump’s $5,000 midterm ‘bribe’ will backfire

Campaign trail theatre or not, Trump’s proposal of paying every US adult $5,000 if the Republicans win the midterm…

Stop funding failure: Why SA’s utilities need a radical economic reset

I’m not sure that our utilities have correctly figured out their place in economic society.

BUSINESS REFLECTION: Crossed Wires: Farewell Nobel prizes — is AI disrupting scientific discovery and ownership?

Beyond the drama surrounding OpenAI’s claim to the Navier‑Stokes solution and a whistleblower’s subsequent dispute over…

WHERE TO INVEST: Growthpoint has a V&A Waterfront valuation problem

The V&A Waterfront is thriving, but Growthpoint’s valuation isn’t. Strong Cape Town growth is offset by struggling…

ANALYSIS: Where is Paul Mashatile, and does the vanishing deputy act threaten his presidential ambitions?

The continued absence of Deputy President Paul Mashatile from South African public life is a mystery. This should be an…

EXTRA TIME: ‘Safa is a democratic organisation,’ says Danny Jordaan after 4th re-election as president

After his re-election as Safa president Danny Jordaan chastised journalists, declared his support for Fifa counterpart…

THE CONVERSATION: Global Justice Report offers bold ideas but misses the realities of 2 billion informal workers

The report’s understanding of how labour markets operate in the Global South demands scrutiny. A programme conceived in…

Market research: Layouts, lighting, music — The science behind your basket

Supermarkets and retailers leave very little to chance in their mission to maximise sales, according to two academics…

THE GATHERING 2026: Zille draws coalition red lines as DA targets Joburg majority

Helen Zille has ruled out coalitions with the EFF and MK party, arguing that ideological differences could undermine…

The man with ‘no filter’: The second coming of Pitso Mosimane to Bafana Bafana

Pitso Mosimane believes that he is the best. That’s why he has achieved so much. He’s never swayed by critics or the…

THE GATHERING 2026: Number of local coalitions to rise steeply after 4 November

Political scientist Susan Booysen says the number of local government coalitions will continue to increase, but it’s…

THE LOWLY NEWSPAPERMAN: When big parties fail, SA has smaller options — and it’s not a wasted vote

The answers to our challenges may not lie in the big parties, so we should allow voters to explore options, no matter…

LOCAL ELECTIONS 2026: Voters splinter among parties as support for the ANC plunges

New polling suggests voters are starting to favour smaller parties rather than rallying behind the DA as the ANC loses…

SIGNED AND SEALED: Balti-maul — Springboks win series 3-1 over All Blacks after US victory

The Springboks beat the All Blacks 43-28 (halftime 17-14) in the fourth Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series in…

The invisible border — how 9/11 reshaped global security and identity 25 years later

THE GATHERING 2026: A top urbanist’s guide to building modern South African cities

South Africa has delivered housing and infrastructure, but it has fallen short of building truly liveable cities.…

The Gathering 2026: Power to the people — Communities step up as municipalities fail

From lighting up the Nelson Mandela Bridge to reopening a Joburg Library and contesting local elections, communities…

THE GATHERING 2026: Fixing failing cities is in business’s own interest, leaders say

Business leaders say fixing South Africa’s struggling cities can no longer be viewed as charity, arguing that…

THE GATHERING 2026: Voters warned of ‘engagement farming’ ahead of local elections

Murmur Intelligence co-founder Kyle Findlay has urged voters to spot fake election messaging that seeks to undermine…

THE GATHERING 2026: ‘We are South African’: Imtiaz Sooliman urges citizens to take ownership of their country

In a conversation at The Gathering held in memory of Estelle Ellis, Gift of the Givers founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman…

THE GATHERING 2026: Transforming The Wilds from a no-go zone to a top-rated park

The Wilds was a neglected public park notorious for violent crime until artist James Delaney revived it with his…

THE GATHERING 2026: City of Cape Town denies it’s facing an ocean ‘sewage calamity’

In a lively session centred on nationwide water shortages and sewage pollution, moderator Pieter-Louis Myburgh…