Daily Maverick

In April 2026, Mozambican authorities announced a major crackdown that involved confiscating masses of chemicals used to make drugs. They also announced arrests, including of two individuals suspected of being Sinaloa Cartel members from Mexico. Mozambique borders South Africa, suggesting that the notorious cartel is on our doorstep. Now, there’s mounting evidence to suggest it’s actually much closer to home. Daily Maverick’s Caryn Dolley reports.

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The Joburg heritage area of Upper Houghton is facing severe pressure as historic homes are being vandalised, occupied and falling into disrepair. Daily Maverick’s Anna Cox explains.

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Can a man sentenced to five years’ imprisonment fairly participate in the appointment of the nation’s judges? Despite his recent stadium shooting conviction, Julius Malema retains his seat on the Judicial Service Commission, sparking a legal firestorm. In this episode, Greg Nicolson and Nonkuleko Njilo unpack the Helen Suzman Foundation’s high-stakes court bid to remove Malema and explore the fallout of having a convicted leader vetting the bench.

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SAA’s new acting CEO is facing strong headwinds to turn the business around from the cliff face it was about to crash into - but he is confident that he can do it, without a bailout.

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The Soweto Marathon promised prize money and prestige when it took place on 29 November 2025. But nearly six months later, the top finishers are still waiting to be paid. What should have been a routine payout has turned into a widening controversy, with unpaid athletes, conflicting explanations, and Central Gauteng Athletics stepping in to de-sanction the race altogether. Sports minister Gayton McKenzie has said his department plans to temporarily take over the Soweto Marathon. He will meet with the race organisers and Athletics South Africa to help restore governance structures. He also suggested his department would find the budget to pay the out-of-pocket athletes. Daily Maverick’s Annemieke Thomaidis explains.

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South African municipalities are sitting on goldmines of your personal data — ID numbers, addresses, billing details — and they are catastrophically unprepared to protect it. No skills, ancient tech, and bureaucratic red tape have left our local governments wide open to ransomware gangs and phishing attacks. And the thieves? They’re already inside the house. Daily Maverick’s Lindsey Schutters explains.

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President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to challenge the Section 89 report in court, a report that could ultimately result in his impeachment. At the same time, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula has announced plans to begin the process of establishing an impeachment committee to question the president over the theft at his farm. In this episode of Power Chat, Daily Maverick Associate Editor Ferial Haffajee and reporter Victoria O’Regan unpack the latest developments and examine what may lie ahead.

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Read more: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2026-05-11-ramaphosa-bets-on-legal-review-to-stall-phala-phala-impeachment-proceedings/?dm_source=blocks-grid-wide&dm_medium=card-link&dm_campaign=inform

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Minister of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Maropene Ramokgopa has also been accused of giving luxury donated Chinese SUVs to her family and loved ones without disclosing this. Daily Maverick’s Rebecca Davis explains. 

Reporting by: Rebecca Davis 

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South Africa’s latest crime statistics suggest a country getting safer, but that’s only part of the story. Commercial crime - fraud, scams, and financial exploitation - is rising, with cases doubling over the past decade. It’s a quieter crime, but one that targets ordinary South Africans directly, often through the very systems they rely on. Why has this surge escaped national attention? And what happens when victims try to fight back? Rebecca Davis, senior journalist at Daily Maverick, reports. 

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Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe told Parliament in February that she received two luxury SUVs as donations for the ANC Women’s League. Just one problem: the ANC doesn’t seem to know what she’s talking about. Daily Maverick’s Rebecca Davis explains.

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