Hi there 🙋🏾♀️
Another week, another Wrap – and a lot has happened: political stunts, social media meltdowns, and meme-worthy moments🔥
🌍🚨 From Donald Trump’s latest stunt to spicy local politics, we’ve got you covered. 🌶️ Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s exit from the EFF has tongues wagging, while Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s Twitter tirade against Floyd Shivambu is exposing major cracks in the MK Party. And Ramaphosa’s SONA speech? Let’s just say everyone had a lot to say 👀
In sadder news, language-learning app mascot Duolingo has been declared dead after years of haunting users with aggressive notifications. “We told you to practise,” the owl reportedly whispered before vanishing.
Please also note we’ve slightly changed The Wrap structure, with The Big Story first, featuring the must-know story of the week, followed by something lighter to give us all a break. 😅
So, let’s dive into these stories and more in this week’s wrap, brought to you by Verashni Pillay and the explain.co.za team. 😄
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Format:
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. BIG STORY: Trump’s South Africa refugee mayhem: A political stunt gone wrong.
You’ve probably heard bits of this news already, as it’s dominated the news cycle. Donald Trump’s latest move on South Africa has sparked global outrage. Last Friday, he signed an executive order freezing US aid to SA and prioritising Afrikaners—specifically white ones—for refugee resettlement. His reasoning? He claims they face “race-based discrimination” under President Cyril Ramaphosa’s land reform policies, plus he takes issue with SA’s International Court of Justice case against Israel.
The order avoids the word “white”, but the racial undertones are clear. The White House statement refers to “ethnic minority Afrikaners” as victims of “race-based discrimination.” Afrikaners aren’t a monolithic racial group—many Afrikaans speakers are coloured. So, does Trump’s offer extend beyond those fitting a ‘white victimhood’ narrative?
SA has firmly rejected Trump’s claims. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation called it “misinformation,” while Ramaphosa correctly noted that no land has been illegally seized. Even AfriForum, a major Afrikaner civil rights group whose misinformation campaign is partly responsible for Trump’s obsession with this issue, opposed mass emigration. CEO Kallie Kriel warned it would “sacrifice Afrikaners’ cultural identity.”
This isn’t Trump’s first intervention in SA’s land debate. In 2018, he claimed white farmers faced “large-scale killings”—a claim debunked by crime data. The “white genocide” narrative has been widely discredited yet remains a far-right talking point, particularly in the US.
The coalition government is united in its rejection. DA leader and Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen warned of “grave consequences” if Trump’s misinformation spreads. While the DA opposes aspects of the Expropriation Act and is challenging it in court, Steenhuisen dismissed fears of mass land seizures as baseless.
As for Trump’s resettlement offer? It looks like most Afrikaners are staying put. The only real mayhem here is Trump’s latest political spectacle.
Read the full story here.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 2. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: Meme Central
We admit it: we spend an unhealthy amount of time reading the news, so you don’t have to. That ALSO means we come across some of the most laugh-out-loud responses to said news as we doomscroll peruse social media. Here are some of our favourites this week.
🔹“Elon Musk’s toddler son is putting up more of a fight against Trump than the Democratic Party.” – @blakeissweaty. A hilarious response to a video going viral of Elon Musk’s son joining his dad for a bizarre press conference in the Oval Office this week. A hot mic picked up the four-year-old whispering to Trump: “You’re not the President… go away” and “I want you to shush your mouth.” 🤣
🔹“Europeans heard Americans are trying to mess with their favourite holiday destination and said: ‘Not on my watch!’ [GIF] – @JayFromVenda. While the US Embassy in South Africa has doubled down on Trump’s lunacy, issuing a “fact sheet” on farm murders, the ambassadors of France, Germany and Italy and the EU’s deputy ambassador to South Africa clapped back. They published a heartening video on Tuesday labelled “United in diversity”, noting they share South Africa’s values of “solidarity, equality and sustainability” – a dig at the US Secretary of State who previously tweeted he won’t attend the G20 later this year in Johannesburg because it promotes those values. 🙄 It’s great to have the EU in our corner in these crazy times!
🔹“Guys please date people that like to defrost first. This man just woke up and spoke about America wanting to take Gaza. It’s 06:00…I don’t have the required English 😭😭😭” – @ukalamula. No explanation required here! 😂 Trump is even ruining our love lives.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS
3. SA’s political drama recap
If South African politics were a Netflix series, this week’s episode would be a spicy crossover special. Let’s dive in.
Ndlozi: From EFF darling to political free agent
After months of speculation, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has officially left the Economic Freedom Fighters – and, if his exit speech is to be believed, party politics altogether. The former EFF spokesperson says he’s stepping away to focus on academia and civil society, but let’s be real – no one in SA politics ever really retires.
According to Ndlozi, his troubles with the EFF started when he refused to snitch on his old comrade Floyd Shivambu, who defected to the MK Party. This silence reportedly angered Julius Malema, leading to Ndlozi’s suspension right before the EFF’s December conference – conveniently sidelining him from a leadership position.
The EFF’s official reason? Some mysterious “intelligence report” allegedly linking him to the MK Party. Ndlozi was quick to call the allegations nonsense, saying, “I think that whatever information they say they have was based largely on lies.”
With the EFF struggling post-elections – dropping from 10.8% in 2019 to 9.5% in 2024 – and the MK Party still figuring out if it’s a political force or a family business, the question is: where will Ndlozi land next? He denies any ANC ambitions as has been rumoured, but we’re not convinced, given his glowing tweets featuring ANC stalwarts recently…
Meanwhile, over at the MK Party: The Dudu vs Floyd showdown
If Ndlozi’s exit was a slow-burn drama, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s antics this week were a full-blown action thriller. In a furious X rant, Dudu unleashed hell on Floyd Shivambu, branding him “the worst thing that has happened to the MK Party” and throwing in a “F** you, Floyd” for good measure. If that wasn’t enough, she also accused him and his “minions” of ruining the party.
The reason? Shivambu, the EFF’s former deputy president, was swiftly promoted to MK’s secretary-general after joining last year. This didn’t sit well with Dudu and other MK old guards, who claim Shivambu has been sidelining them while failing to pay constituency staff and party office rent.
But before Dudu could claim victory, her father, Jacob Zuma, stepped in with a “sit down, young lady” moment. The MK Party issued a formal statement warning that she needed to apologise – or face expulsion. And just like that, the backtracking began.
Dudu’s apology, however, was as lukewarm as they come. She said she regretted airing grievances publicly but never once mentioned Floyd by name or deleted the tweets. Translation? Sorry, not sorry.
While the Dudu vs Floyd drama might seem like petty Twitter beef, it actually highlights a deeper struggle within the MK Party and extremist politics in SA in general. Together the EFF and MK Party represent a quarter of the vote, frightening stats for parties that hold such radical views. We’re watching closely.
4. Murder most fowl: Duolingo mascot murdered
Why do the (dubiously) good always die young? Condolences are in order after the language learning app Duolingo announced on Tuesday that their beloved (read: feared) mascot, the green owl Duo, had passed away. If you’re wondering how a digitally animated bird can die, same. 🤔
In a statement, the company revealed that Duo, real name, Duo Keyshauna Renee Lingo, had “probably died waiting for you to do your lesson” and said that it was investigating the owl’s cause of death, noting that “he had many enemies.
The case took a turn on Wednesday when the company posted a video to social media asking for help identifying the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that hit the owl mascot in a parking lot. Somehow, this case now involves Elon Musk—because of course it does.
The late owl lived an eventful life: hating Drake, walking in Berlin Fashion Week, and famously thirsting after pop star Dua Lipa, who mourned his passing on X, writing, “Til death duo apart.” We’re not crying, you are.
Before you panic, a Duolingo spokesperson confirmed that Duo’s demise is part of an elaborate marketing campaign. Classic. But it makes sense—Duolingo, founded in 2011, thrives on unhinged social media stunts, much like its 42 language offerings, which include High Valyrian (for Game of Thrones fans) and Klingon (Star Trek nerds, rise). The app and its late mascot are known for encouraging, nay, threatening users to do their daily language lessons.
The big questions remain: Will Duo rise from the ashes like a (bilingual) phoenix? Was Drake behind the Cybertruck wheel? And most importantly, did this stunt finally make you open the app? Until the autopsy results come in, one thing is clear—do your language lessons. It’s what Duo would have wanted..😌
5. A culture of corruption: It’s not just the politicians—it’s all of us
The latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has landed. With a score of 41 out of 100, South Africa’s score remains the same, reinforcing its reputation as a “flawed democracy.”
We may have thought the days of state capture and dodgy tenders were behind us, but the real problem? Corruption is baked into everyday life.
“It’s not just about big tenders,” says advocate Deborah Mutemwa, former Head of Legal and Investigations at Corruption Watch. “It’s the willingness of the man on the street to pay off a police officer. It’s an 18-year-old paying for a driver’s license rather than passing the test. Corruption is cultural. We’re all part of an ecosystem of justice that can fight corruption in small and big ways.”
And that’s the issue—when bribery becomes a normal part of getting things done, it stops feeling like a crime. Politicians dodge accountability, so why should ordinary people play fair?
Decades of political patronage, weak enforcement, and a disillusioned public have entrenched this mindset. The Zondo Commission exposed the rot, but many key players remain untouched. The government has talked a big game about strengthening anti-corruption institutions, but meaningful prosecutions are rare. Meanwhile, fresh scandals pop up like clockwork.
The impact extends beyond our borders. Corruption is now an environmental issue globally, with the CPI report highlighting how corruption impacts countries’ efforts to combat the climate crisis. This is an important one to watch in South Africa too, beyond the traditional corruption red flags of government tenders. Mean annual temperatures in South Africa have increased by twice the global average (0.7°C). Heat waves are more frequent, and dry spells last longer.
For many, corruption is less about greed and more about survival—paying a bribe just ensures they get services they should already be entitled to. But this normalisation is dangerous: it erodes democracy, weakens institutions, and makes voters disengage.
So, can we fix it? Experts say yes—through transparency, accountability, and actual consequences. Citizens must demand better governance, and leaders must start leading by example. Until that happens, corruption isn’t just a problem in South Africa—it is the system.
Read the full story here.
6. Valentine’s Day in the time of swiping: How social media is changing umjolo
It’s Valentine’s Day tomorrow! Once upon a time, finding love meant awkward chance encounters and actual conversations. Now? It’s all about swipes, likes, and the occasional TikTok thirst trap. In this Wrap brief, we’re talking about how social media hasn’t just changed dating—it’s completely rewritten the rules.
❤️ From Algorithms to ‘I Do’
Online dating isn’t as recent as you’d think —believe it or not, the first computer-assisted matchmaking happened in the 1950s! By 1995, South Africa had its own digital dating scene with Yid.com, a Jewish dating service. But nothing revolutionised dating quite like Tinder, which gamified romance with a simple swipe. Today, 61% of South Africans say they’ve used the app.
But dating has outgrown apps. A cheeky Instagram DM, a well-timed Twitter reply, or a flirty comment on TikTok can spark romance just as easily. Some even argue that social media is the new dating app—just without the bios full of “lover of life” and “fluent in sarcasm.” 😆
❤️ The Social Media Dating Minefield
While social media makes connecting easier, it’s also made relationships more complicated. Ghosting, breadcrumbing, orbiting—dating lingo now sounds like an episode of Survivor. Then there’s the pressure to showcase the perfect relationship. Between extravagant proposals and luxury-gift-giving partners, online love can look like a reality show. In reality? It’s just a highlight reel.
❤️ Blue Ticks, Red Flags
A UKZN study found that for many young South Africans, social media is both a love language and a surveillance tool. Some partners expect constant location updates. Others demand a full purge of “suspicious” followers. WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Instagram have gone from fun to forensic, where a seen message can spark a full-blown argument.
❤️ Love in the Age of Likes
So, has social media ruined dating? Not necessarily. While it’s changed how we connect, love is still about real human connection—whether that starts with a right swipe or a retweet. Just remember: curated Instagram love stories aren’t real. But mutual respect, trust, and maybe even a solid meme game? That’s timeless. 💕
Read the full story here.
7. SONA 2025: Ramaphosa stands his ground amid political jabs
We hit ‘publish’ on last week’s Wrap just before President Cyril Ramaphosa’s State of the Nation Address (SONA). In case you missed it, the night was all about pushing back against diplomatic spats. “We are a resilient people. We will not be bullied,” he declared, responding to growing tensions with the US. Ramaphosa didn’t flinch, standing firm on diplomacy in global conflicts, from Ukraine to the Middle East. But did South Africans buy it? It seems so.
Popular TV presenter and TikToker Dan Corder praised Ramaphosa’s speech in a video that garnered 1.7m views. “He did not back down on anything. No international pressure changed a single word of his speech,” he said, to much agreement from his followers.
Even EFF leader Julius Malema—usually Ramaphosa’s biggest critic—agreed that SA shouldn’t be bullied. But he had one pressing question… what’s the actual plan?
Meanwhile, the China Global Television Network also spotlighted Ramaphosa’s speech, sharing a snippet where he clapped back at Trump’s claim that SA was “confiscating” land. The online reaction? A wave of support in SA’s defence. Interesting, given China’s plans to step into the power vacuum the US is leaving on the global stage…
Parliament’s opposition parties spent this week responding to the president’s address. The debates have gone as expected and can be summarised as:
🟢 ANC: “We got this.”
🟡 MK Party: Zuma nostalgia central
🔴 EFF: Malema’s one-man show… given many of his most popular MPs have absconded 😆
🟠 FF Plus: ‘Ek is hier om te bly’. FF Plus leader Pieter Groenewald kept it simple: Afrikaners are part of SA’s DNA. He dismissed land expropriation and said the government should focus on making SA a country people want to stay in, not run from.
What’s next? Ramaphosa now responds… to the responses in the final SONA debate today. Stay tuned; we will keep you updated.
8. Sam Nujoma: The freedom fighter who built a nation
Namibia has lost a legend. Sam Nujoma, the man who led the country to independence and became its first president, has died at the age of 95. His passing on Saturday was met with an outpouring of tributes, with the Namibian presidency calling him “the most gallant son of our land.”
It’s hard to overstate just how much Nujoma shaped modern Namibia. Born in 1929 in a village in northwestern Namibia, Nujoma grew up under the rule of apartheid South Africa, which controlled Namibia after World War I. By the 1950s, he had become a fierce opponent of the system, helping to found the Owamboland Peoples Organisation, the independence movement that was the precursor to the country’s liberation movement and the current governing party SWAPO – a bit like our ANC.
Forced into exile in 1960, Nujoma travelled the world lobbying for Namibia’s freedom. He petitioned the United Nations and built alliances across Africa, securing support to launch SWAPO’s armed struggle and guerrilla campaign against apartheid South African rule in 1966.
It took over two decades of conflict and international pressure before Namibia finally gained independence in 1990. SWAPO won the country’s first democratic elections, and Nujoma became its president, serving three terms until 2005.
Nujoma was officially recognised as the “Founding Father of the Namibian Nation” in 2005—a testament to his role in shaping the country. He championed national unity under the slogan “One Namibia, One Nation” and prioritised reconciliation in a country still scarred by apartheid and German colonial rule.
But his leadership wasn’t without controversy. His intolerance of media criticism and his government’s response to the 1999 Caprivi conflict cast a shadow over his legacy. He also faced backlash for his views on the LGBTQ+ community, which he denounced as a “foreign and corrupt ideology.”
Despite this, many credit him for ensuring Namibia’s stability and laying the foundation for its democratic institutions. His death marks the end of an era, leaving behind a country that continues to build on the foundations he helped lay.
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That’s it from us at The Wrap, an award-winning product of explain.co.za – simple news summaries for busy people. 💁🏾♀
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