Daily Maverick

US, Iran exchange fire in flare-up; Bessent signals more sanctions

WASHINGTON, Aug 30 (Reuters) - U.S. forces struck two rocket launchers on Iran's Larak Island on Sunday, a U.S.…

AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Probe into IGI alleged misconduct stalled as secret-fund millions remain without scrutiny

Very little to no progress has been made into the investigation of alleged misconduct by suspended Inspector General of…

AGE OF ACCOUNTABILITY: Zuma’s personal ‘Superspy’ Dlomo and the information peddlers who weaponised SSA’s secrecy against itself

In late 2025, when the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption arrested Thulani Dlomo, the elusive former…

TRUMP PRESIDENCY: The narcissist in the White House heads for ever more dangerous waters

Trump’s ego-driven, loyalty-first approach has weakened Nato ties, favoured personal allies like Putin, and escalated…

Niger says it regains control of airbase after soldiers mutiny

NIAMEY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Niger's army regained control of a key military airbase on Sunday after it was attacked by…

Nasa launches powerful Roman Space Telescope, a spy satellite turned to the stars

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Nasa began a new mission to probe some of the biggest mysteries in…

EXPERTS SCEPTICAL: SA’s crime rates fall, but do stats tell the whole story?

The statistical drop in South Africa’s murder rate should be scrutinised more closely so that the root causes of…

MUNICIPAL DYSFUNCTION: City debt and procurement negligence paralyse Joburg’s driving licence centres

The chaos at City licensing centres is a direct fallout of a 13-month financial standoff in which the City admits it…

‘FAILED THOSE IN NEED’: City demands R31m in accounts from Joburg Society for the Blind

The City of Johannesburg has wiped off R8m in phantom water and power charges but is still demanding R31.5m from the…

COASTAL EPIC: 50 years, 244km and countless stories — gruelling surf ski race gets its own book

Stories of human endurance, lasting camaraderie and the beauty of the Eastern Cape coastline are captured between the…

RED ALERT: ‘It was hopeless’ – Gqeberha family waits 12 hours as emergency calls go unanswered

Nelson Mandela Bay’s ambulance crisis is deepening, with a family forced to wait half a day for emergency medical help…

COLOSSAL FAILURE: Slimes dam collapse raises safety and transparency issues anew

The tailings dam at a mine near Brits, North West, was hiding in plain sight, unregistered and showing signs of the…

BUSINESS REFLECTION: Crossed Wires: A novel way to legalise insider trading

There is a tantalising possible answer to the insider trading conundrum which may not completely eliminate unfairness,…

WHERE TO INVEST: Inside the mind of Redefine: A bold Poland push and a lesson in active asset management

The property group balances South African retail, industrial and office plays with more exposure in Poland, using…

Conservation without inclusion: Why iSimangaliso protests reflect a governance crisis

The fever tree felling, fence cutting and road blockades at iSimangaliso are not random acts of criminality but an…

ROBOCASH : The ‘Terminator’ has surprising implications for SA’s platinum group metals industry

Humanoid robots – if forecasts for their production and commercialisation play out – could potentially play the same…

SYSTEMS CHANGE: Zaheera Mohamed brings public finance savvy to the fight for ECD systems change

Zaheera Mohamed, chief executive of Ilifa Labantwana and former National Treasury director, is using her deep expertise…

SA is wasting talent by putting the wrong hands at the till

South Africa’s failure to recognise and develop ability is wasting talent, weakening institutions and keeping the…

Courts are clear — Unisa bid to gag journalist had to fail

An attempt to silence a reporter through a High Court interdict has become part of a familiar pattern in South Africa…

EYE UP ABOVE: The Cape Town shark spotter who keeps surfers and swimmers safe

Most mornings, Dennis Chikodze can be found inside a wooden lookout hut high above False Bay, keeping a close eye on…

UNEARTHING HISTORIES: Kruger Park archaeological dig reveals local trade with Southeast Asia long before Van Riebeeck

In the Pafuri region of the Limpopo Valley, archeologists have painstakingly uncovered pottery sherds, glass beads and…

NON-ENGAGEMENT PACT: Rassie seethes at Rennie’s accusations as All Blacks get away with negative scrum tactics

Bok coach Rassie Erasmus flashed with anger when he was informed that All Blacks coach Dave Rennie was unhappy with the…

THE LOWLY NEWSPAPER MAN: Biko inquest delay deepens drift towards collective amnesia about apartheid horrors

We live in an angry nation that has not fully come to terms with the trauma of our past. The governors of our land are…

THE GREAT UNRAVELLING: ANC devours itself from within as voters steadily turn their backs

Factional warfare, patronage battles and years of electoral decline have left the party on its last legs as it heads…

BOKS BOUNCE BACK: Springboks roar back into series with victory over All Blacks in Cape Town thriller

The Springboks secured a 33-26 (halftime 24-14) win over the All Blacks in the second Test to level the Greatest…

Watch – Zapiro present: Haka (Feat. Butterfingers)

CHANGE MAKER: Young people are Jozi’s new gold

Student leader Melusi Khumalo sees youth participation as key to Johannesburg’s inner-city revival.

CRIME STATS: Murder drops 5.9%, but political killings spike ahead of local government elections

The latest police crime statistics show an overall 2.3% drop in contact crimes and a sharp decline in robberies.…

PRAYERS FOR LOVED ONES: 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…

I have a picture for you! 22 August-28 August 2026

The First Thing newsletter's Ever-lasting Subscriber Photo Gallery.

MADLANGA COMMISSION: ‘Cele shrugged off critical information’ – extortion accused Sibanyoni talks taxi killings and a cartel

Extortion-accused businessman Joe ‘Ferrari’ Sibanyoni has told the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry that he put himself…

AFRICAN INNOVATION: The sweet lessons of a family’s rotten tomatoes

Four years ago, young Ugandan engineer Shifra Ainomugisha set up a climate-smart business. This year, the Commonwealth…

WAITING IN THE WINGS: 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…

WEEKEND WRAP: IDT bribe sting one year on, Madlanga revelations and women’s sport boom

This edition of the Weekend Wrap looks at the IDT hush-money saga, 383 days after a bribery sting with no arrests, and…

AMABHUNGANE: 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…

HIDDEN GEM: 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…