Hi there 🙋🏾♀️
Well, folks, we’ve made it to the end of the year. What a year it’s been! Heads up: This is the final edition of The Wrap for 2024.
You know who didn’t have a great year? Julius Malema and the EFF. We unpack why 2024 might just go down as Juju’s annus horribilis. Meanwhile, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour wrapped up, breaking records—and leaving trails of cash and jet fuel fumes in its wake. Speaking of music, the industry’s #MeToo moment continues, with Jay-Z now being linked to some of Diddy’s alleged shenanigans.
Back home, we’re tackling education, basic or otherwise, as the GNU remains shaky over the BELA Bill, while the SIU has clawed back over a billion rand from NSFAS. In the Middle East, Syria has banished a dictator, but tensions are still high. Meanwhile, scientists have discovered that moths avoid “crybaby plants”—it turns out even nature has its drama queens. Oh, and Judy Garland’s ruby slippers fetched a price that would make even Cyril’s sofa stash blush. We close things off by delving into the murky world of zama zamas.
As we sign off for the year, we wish you and yours a wonderful and safe festive season filled with laughter, love, and joy. We’ll be back on 9 January 2025 with more news that’s as empowering as it is easy to understand.
Let’s dive into your final weekly update of the year, brought to you by Verashni Pillay and the explain.co.za team. 😄
Format:
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▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ OUR TAKE: Annus Horribilis: How 2024 was a year to forget for the EFF
As the EFF prepares to hold its national conference on 11 December, Julius Malema finds himself navigating one of the most challenging periods of his political career. The conference represents a crucial juncture for the EFF leader, who must consolidate his base and reaffirm his leadership after a turbulent year.
🔹Et tu, Floyd? High-profile defections rock the EFF
The resignations of prominent figures such as Dali Mpofu and, more damagingly, Floyd Shivambu have created a perception of disarray within the party. Shivambu’s exit particularly represented a serious loss of intellectual talent.
Particularly painful for Malema is that his former comrades have joined the MK Party, which was founded by former president Jacob Zuma, who has a troubled history with the EFF leader. 😬
🔹 Poor performance in the national elections
After years of steady growth, the EFF experienced a significant setback in the national elections this year, dropping from 44 seats in the National Assembly to 39, or 9.52% of the vote. The party, like the ANC, was seemingly caught off guard by the arrival of the MK Party, which took 15% and forced the ANC into a coalition with the DA.
While Malema still enjoys substantial support, the national conference will test his ability to unify a party rocked by instability.
🔹 Can Malema renew the organisation?
The conference will examine the future of the party’s structures, with a significant structure overhaul, including the possible collapse of some regional branches and the student command, reportedly on the program. Such measures acknowledge the organisational weaknesses that have hampered the party’s effectiveness but could exacerbate the instability issues.
For Malema and the EFF, the stakes could not be higher. With the local government elections looming in just over a year, there is very little time to correct things and put the party back on the rise it enjoyed over the first 10 years of its existence.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BIG STORY: The Gwarube dilemma and the BELA Act showdown
The coalition honeymoon is definitely over. President Cyril Ramaphosa faces growing internal pressure from the ANC to fire Siviwe Gwarube, the Minister of Basic Education, over her handling of the contentious Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act. But the DA has made it clear: touch our minister, and the Government of National Unity (GNU) is over.
The BELA Act, signed into law three months ago, has sparked heated debates. Two controversial clauses—dealing with school admissions and language policies—have been withheld for further consultation. Gwarube, acting in line with DA policy, facilitated discussions with the union Solidarity through Nedlac (National Economic Development and Labour Council), leading to a settlement.
Last week, we told you about Gwarube’s announcement of a supposed breakthrough on the BELA Act after negotiations at Nedlac. While hailed as a victory at the time, the announcement quickly unravelled as key players in the GNU expressed outrage over being left out of the loop.
DA leader John Steenhuisen is fuming over suggestions that Gwarube could be fired. “The DA rejects any attempt by a faction of the ANC to influence the president to fire Minister Siviwe Gwarube, or any other DA minister, for doing their jobs. Doing so would signal an end to the Government of National Unity (GNU),” Steenhuisen said in a statement released by his party on Sunday.
Steenhuisen accused the ANC of misinformation, emphasising that the Nedlac engagements were mandatory under law to avoid strike action. “The fact that the Presidency has distanced itself from this legislated process, which they were party to, is as disgraceful as it is confusing,” he said.
The ANC faction calling for Gwarube’s removal alleges she prematurely claimed an agreement with Solidarity on the Bela Act, leading to public rebukes from Ramaphosa and Deputy President Paul Mashatile. In a statement to IOL, Nedlac executive director Lisa Seftel clarified that the agreement only binds the minister and Solidarity.
For now, the ball is in Ramaphosa’s court.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS
Three takeaways from Taylor Swift’s history-making Eras tour
Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour wrapped up this week after touring six continents, breaking records, and captivating over 10 million fans. While Africa was notably absent from the so-called world tour schedule, the 18-month journey left an indelible mark on music, business, and culture. Here are three key takeaways:
🔹 An economic boom
Cities that hosted her shows saw their economies booming as Swifties flocked in, booking hotels, eating out, shopping, and getting those friendship bracelets. Local businesses thrived, and the buzz around her concerts turned quiet seasons into goldmines.
In London, three shows in June and five in August brought in an estimated R6.8 billion for the local economy. This was based on 700,000 people attending the concerts, leading to increased flight and hotel bookings.
In Singapore, her six shows generated between R4.6 billion and R6.7 billion in tourism revenue. With Singapore being the only Southeast Asian stop, 70% of concertgoers flew in from other countries.
🔹 Taylor became a billionaire
By November 2023, she became the world’s richest female musician, with a net worth of R28.5 billion.
While we’re not sure there’s such a thing as an ethical billionaire, Taylor proved you can treat workers well. (We’re looking at you, Jeff Bezos). Over two years, she gave her team R3.5 billion in bonuses. Everyone, from truck drivers to caterers, riggers, lighting crews, and wardrobe stylists, got a piece of the pie. In 2023, she made headlines for giving each truck driver a R1.8 million bonus after wrapping up the US tour. She also donated generously to food banks in the cities her tour visited.
🔹 Concerns over environmental impact
Her personal use of a private jet for seemingly frivolous trips outside of her tour has previously raised concerns, as has her legal team’s attempt to silence a college student who used publicly available information to publish her jet use.
Nonetheless, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour was truly one for the history books.
4. What is happening in Syria, and what it means for the Middle East?
The world looked on in shock this week at the sudden fall of Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad after five decades of his family’s dictatorial rule. On 8 December, Assad fled to Russia following rapid rebel advances, leaving behind a power vacuum with far-reaching implications for the region.
The roots of Syria’s turmoil can be traced back to the Arab Spring in 2011 when peaceful protests demanding reforms were met with brutal crackdowns by Assad’s regime. This heavy-handed approach escalated tensions into a full-blown civil war. Despite maintaining control for years with backing from Russia and Iran, Assad’s regime grew increasingly vulnerable. Russia is now preoccupied with the war in Ukraine, while Iran grapples with military challenges across the region.
The recent surge in rebel activity, led by the opposition group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, proved decisive. Their military campaign, dubbed “Deterrence of Aggression,” saw rebels capture key territories, including Aleppo, Idlib, and Hama. The fall of Aleppo, a symbolic and strategic city, dealt a severe blow to Assad’s control. On Sunday, Damascus was taken unopposed, and the infamous Sednaya Prison was stormed, freeing thousands of political dissidents and detainees.
What does it mean for the region? Neighbouring Israel is particularly alert to the changes. It has intensified military operations, including airstrikes in Syria, to prevent weapons from falling into its enemy’s hands. On 7 December, Israel temporarily seized the demilitarised Golan Heights buffer zone, citing security concerns. While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said these actions are temporary, their impact on regional stability remains unclear.
The fall of Assad’s regime also signals a shift in long-standing geopolitical alignments. Both Russia and Iran have relied heavily on Assad’s rule to maintain influence in the Middle East. With their focus divided by other conflicts, the power vacuum in Syria could further destabilise the region. The United Nations has already started reducing its presence, citing safety concerns as the country faces an uncertain future.
For Syrians, there is a palpable sense of relief at the fall of an authoritarian regime that ruled for more than five decades. However, the road ahead is far from stable. While the end of Assad’s rule signals hope for change, being governed by rebels with their own agenda could bring about new challenges.
5. Dorothy’s ruby slippers fetch a pretty penny
How much would you be willing to pay for a prop from your favourite movie of all time? A mysterious bidder bought the iconic ruby slippers Judy Garland wore in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz at an auction in Dallas, US, for an eye-watering $28 million (R500 million!)
This all happened as we’ve been holding space (inside fan joke!) for the movie’s prequel, Wicked, which is taking the world by storm.
The previous record holder for the most expensive movie prop ever sold was Marilyn Monroe’s famous white dress from The Seven Year Itch (1955), which sold for $4.6 million (R82 million) in 2011.
The shoes worn by Garland have a storied history. Let’s walk the yellow brick road to find out more:
👠In the original book, the slippers are silver, not ruby red. When the movie was released in 1939, a new technology, Technicolor, was emerging, and silver just didn’t translate that well on screen. So they gave them a pop of red, and the rest is history.
👠 Designed by Gilbert Adrian, MGM’s chief costume designer at the time, it’s believed that six or seven pairs were made for the film. Only four are accounted for today: the ones that recently broke the record, a pair kept at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC, a pair in a private collection, and another pair at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
👠The recently sold pair was stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, where the actress was born. They weren’t found until 2018, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recovered them in a sting operation.
While the bidder’s name hasn’t been released, someone owns a part of film history somewhere out there (over the rainbow?)
6. NSFAS in crisis: R1.7 billion recovered by SIU
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), a lifeline for thousands of students, is under fire again. On Friday, the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) revealed that it had recovered a staggering R1.7 billion in misallocated funds. The funds, unaccounted for between 2016 and 2021, shine a glaring spotlight on NSFAS’s broken financial systems and leave us wondering: how can it truly support South African students if it can’t get its house in order?
Some background: President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the green light for the SIU investigation in 2022, and it didn’t take long to uncover the root of the problem: NSFAS didn’t have proper systems in place to match the money it handed out with what registered students actually needed.
These unallocated amounts, often caused by students receiving multiple funding sources or changes in study costs, were left sitting unused at various institutions.
According to SIU spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago, “The investigation revealed NSFAS failed to design and implement controls that would ensure annual reconciliation between the funds disbursed to institutions and the funded list of registered students.”
Among the institutions returning millions in unallocated funds are:
- University of Witwatersrand: R450 million
- University of the Free State: R438 million
- University of Pretoria: R400 million
- University of Johannesburg: R312 million
The revelations come on the heels of the April 2024 dissolution of the NSFAS board, which was placed under administration. Experts say further structural reforms are needed.
“NSFAS faces unpaid loans from graduates, reduced funding for current students, and an ongoing corruption crisis,” said Sakhiseni Joseph Yende, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of the Western Cape.
NSFAS cut ties with its direct payment service providers in May to curb further financial mismanagement. These providers had left thousands of students stranded when their allowances failed to come through. However, this offers little comfort to students still grappling with unpaid stipends and administrative failures.
While the recovery of R1.7 billion offers a glimmer of accountability, it also serves as a stark reminder of the work still needed to transform NSFAS into a reliable safety net for South Africa’s students.
7. How crying plants influence moth behaviour
Ever heard of a crying plant? No, we’re not talking about tears rolling down leaves. When some plants are stressed through dehydration or other hardship, they release tiny ultrasonic clicks. Humans can’t hear them, but some insects, like moths, can. And here’s the twist: moths might listen to these plant “cries” to decide where to lay their eggs.
For female moths, deciding where to lay their eggs is serious business. Their babies need a healthy plant with plenty of food to survive. Dr Rya Seltzer, an entomologist at Tel Aviv University, and her team put this to the test. They set up an experiment with two tomato plants. One was hydrated and quiet. The other was also healthy but emitting recorded “cries” from a stressed tomato plant. Guess what? The moths flocked to the quiet plant.
This shows that moths don’t just hear these clicks. They also figure out what they mean. They’re saying, “Thanks for the warning, stressed-out plant. We’ll pass.”
Scientists believe this is just the beginning. Many insects hear ultrasonic sounds, and many plants release these sounds under stress. This type of communication likely happens more often than we realise, helping insects make important decisions about where to live, eat, or lay eggs.
Experts like sensory ecologist Jodi Sedlock and zoologist Francesca Barbero are excited about these findings but say more research is needed. How do moths mix these plant sounds with other signals, like smells? And does this happen in the wild, or is it just a lab thing?
One thing’s for sure: the idea of plants “talking” to insects with sound is wild—and opens up a whole new world of nature’s hidden conversations. Who knew moths were such good listeners?
8. Shock reactions to Jay-Z rape allegations
The music world is reeling after news broke on Sunday that a civil lawsuit had been filed against entertainment mogul Jay-Z, accusing him of raping a 13-year-old alongside fellow hip-hop star Sean Combs, aka Diddy.
The original complaint did not initially name Jay-Z, real name Shawn Carter. But the updated lawsuit filed Sunday dropped the bombshell that the previously named “Celebrity A” was, in fact, Jay-Z.
The complaint makes the explosive allegation that the pair repeatedly raped a minor at an afterparty following the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) back in September 2000. “Another celebrity stood by and watched as Combs and Carter took turns assaulting the minor. Many others were present at the after party but did nothing to stop the assault,” the complaint reads.
Following legal action against several big names in music of late, such as R Kelly and Combs, speculation has been rife that Jay-Z was next.
Texas-based lawyer Tony Buzbee brought the case under New York’s Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act.
Within hours, the rapper released a statement via the Instagram account of his company, Roc Nation, slamming Buzbee and accusing him of a pattern of blackmail in these sorts of cases.
Buzbee issued his own response to Jay-Z via Twitter within minutes, noting that Jay-Z had previously attempted to silence the victim.
This is the latest in a series of similar cases brought against previously untouchable figures in the US music industry.
As we’ve told you before, Jay’s co-accused has experienced a major fall from grace as allegations against him mount. Combs was arrested on 16 September 2024 and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. This was all linked to his notorious “freak off” parties.
This new case is another in a string aimed at powerful Hollywood men who have acted like they have absolute power over everybody under them and have abused it. Finally, they are facing justice. Even for the most powerful and famous, the era of impunity is over.
9. Everything you need to know about Zama Zamas
You might have seen the term ‘zama zama’ everywhere in recent weeks and wondered what it means.
As we’ve reported previously, informal miners, aka zama zamas, have been trapped for weeks in an abandoned mine in Stilfontein, fearing arrest from the South African Police Service’s (SAPS) Operation Vala Umgodi, sparking legal action.
Today, we help you unpack the history, implications, and the way forward for the unfolding artisanal mining crisis in South Africa.
Illegal artisanal miners, known as zama zamas, are a growing concern in South Africa, extracting gold and other precious metals from abandoned or operational mines. The name comes from IsiZulu, meaning “to try” or “take a chance,” a reflection of their daily dangerous conditions.
Many zama zamas are undocumented migrants from neighbouring countries like Lesotho and Zimbabwe, drawn by South Africa’s mining opportunities but left with few legal options for work. Others are South Africans affected by the decline of the mining sector, which lost over 9,600 jobs in the first half of 2024 alone. This mix of poverty, unemployment, and desperation fuels an illegal industry estimated to cost the country over R70 billion annually.
When a mine shaft becomes unprofitable, mining companies will seal or abandon it, leaving these shafts vulnerable to zama zamas.
Organised crime syndicates play a major role in these operations, profiting immensely while workers endure inhumane conditions. Recent cases have exposed the human cost: in Mpumalanga, 154 miners were rescued from a disused shaft, where many were held against their will. Violence, forced labour, and fatalities are common in zama zama communities.
Globally, experts argue that legalising artisanal mining could help. Organisations like the World Bank suggest formalising this sector could integrate zama zamas into the legal economy, improving their safety while reducing crime. As North West Community Safety MEC Wessels Morweng put it outside Stilfontein, “There’s a plan to see how best we can help people to mine. Those ones will be considered because they are not criminals.”
Solving the zama zama crisis requires addressing unemployment, inequality, and corruption. While syndicate bosses drive the illegal mining economy, the workers are often just trying to survive. A balanced approach—focusing on dismantling criminal networks while offering sustainable opportunities for miners—could be the key to lasting change.
That’s it from us at The Wrap, an award-winning product of explain.co.za – simple news summaries for busy people. 💁🏾♀
The Wrap is sponsored by explain’s agency division. We specialise in content marketing for purpose-driven organisations, often with a pan-African reach. Mail info@explain.co.za for a quote.
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