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The world’s most powerful man (and his chubby-cheeked sidekick) just kicked a wartime president while he was down—yes, we’re talking about Trump vs. Zelensky. Meanwhile, JD Vance became the meme of the moment, proving himself the most useless VP since Spiro Agnew (shoutout to Futurama for that reference).  

On the local front, a former Real Housewife of Durban spills on her failed romance with Jacob Zuma, while Dylan Naidoo makes history as the first South African golfer of colour to win the SA Open!  It’s a poignant victory, given how another winning golfer of Indian descent was treated by the apartheid government.

Elsewhere, the DA has met with US officials, a Chinese company threatens to fire single employees, and scientists bring us one step closer to resurrecting woolly mammoths—starting with woolly mice.

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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🔊 Voice note by Verashni

📰Newsletter with pics

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▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. BIG STORY: The Trump vs. Zelensky showdown that echoed around the world: What you need to know

What happens when a wartime president, a megalomaniac, and a vice president with the charisma of a beige wall walk into the Oval Office? Absolute chaos, of course.

You’ve no doubt heard by now about the meeting between US President Donald Trump, his VP JD Vance (who we’d forgotten about until now), and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, which quickly spiralled into a diplomatic disaster. What was meant to be an important chat about Ukraine’s rare earth minerals and peace talks with Russia turned into a shouting match.

🔥 The fallout

Trump accused Zelensky of disrespecting the US and warned him he was “gambling with World War III.” Zelensky asked for security guarantees before negotiating a ceasefire with Russia, citing Moscow’s long history of breaking promises. Trump’s response? “You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out.” Classic Trump.

Despite the dramatic confrontation, which included demands he say thank you and insults over what he was wearing, Zelensky called it “regrettable” and agreed to move forward with the minerals deal with the US—one that would grant America preferential access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals, which are crucial for high-tech and military production. However, Trump has since ordered a halt to intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine, leaving many wondering what kind of partnership this is. Talks are apparently ongoing. 

🇪🇺 Europe steps in

While Trump played hardball, European leaders rushed to back Ukraine, with most tweeting their support in the aftermath. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made it clear they stand with Zelensky, with Macron stating bluntly: “There is an aggressor, which is Russia.” The EU and UK doubled down, pledging more military aid to Ukraine and warning the US against turning its back on its allies.

💰 Trump’s trade war escalates

Meanwhile, Trump has finally gone ahead and slapped hefty tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The EU wasn’t impressed, calling the move a threat to global trade. Canada retaliated with its own tariffs, while China took the fight to the World Trade Organisation. The stock markets took a hit, and analysts are now bracing for a global economic slowdown.

🇿🇦 And South Africa?

Mzansi, usually Switzerland-level neutral on these issues, has finally invited Zelensky for a long-overdue state visit. It’s a big deal, considering SA’s tricky balancing act between Russia and the West. How our BRICS buddies in Moscow will react remains to be seen, but one thing’s for sure—Ukraine’s people are in an incredibly tough spot.

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █  2. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE:  This week’s most meme-able stories 

From meme-worthy moments in politics to Joburg’s road drama and reality TV tea, here’s your catch-up on everything that had social media buzzing this week.

If you’ve scrolled through X lately, you may have come across some surreal images of US Vice President JD Vance. His face has been looking rounder than usual, not because of a sudden diet change but because the internet has declared a Photoshop war.

It all started after Vance’s remark during the White House meeting with Zelensky, which we told you about above, where he infamously said, “Have you ever said thank you once?”. The public’s response? Blow up JD’s face to moon-sized proportions and slap on captions like “pwease” and “tank you.”

The meme storm is still raging, and honestly, at this point, we’re just waiting for an AI-generated music video featuring “Fat JD Vance.”

Nothing unites Joburgers like the shared experience of swerving potholes. Mayor Dada recently admitted that the city is only prioritising road and traffic light repairs along routes where international dignitaries will be travelling for the G20 summit and associated events that SA is hosting this year. The backlash was so fierce that Morero had to backtrack in a radio interview, claiming it was all just a “question of language” and that the city is addressing all infrastructure issues. 🙄

This tweet comes after award-winning TV presenter and reality star Nonkanyiso ‘LaConco’ Conco opened up like never before in the first episode of her new YouTube show about her much-talked-about relationship with former president Jacob Zuma. She took viewers down memory lane, recalling how she first met Zuma in 2011 at a function and how their relationship blossomed after he reached out to her weeks later.

LaConco opened up about the challenges of being in a polygamous marriage, admitting that she was young and naive. 

Now the streets of X are debating whether she was really in love. Some pointed out the massive age gap between her and Zuma; she was just 18 when he started to pursue her and 23 when she and the then 74-year-old former president started dating. We’re all for speaking your truth, but given Zuma’s general vibe towards women, it’s giving ick. 🤮

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS:

3. SA’s parties come together to break budget impasse

The GNU lives to see another day! With T-6 days till Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana must deliver our country’s 2025 national budget, our coalition government has finally reached an agreement. 

In a special meeting on Monday night, the GNU Cabinet gave Godongwana the go-ahead to choose from a set of options for the budget. 

This was according to a statement issued by the ministry in the presidency on Monday night, without delving into what the options were.

As we told you before, Godongwana was supposed to present the budget on 19 February, but that was derailed after the DA and other GNU members refused to back his plan for a two-percentage-point VAT hike, which would have taken VAT to 17%. 

So what might be the options that were presented to Godongwana to choose from? We don’t know for sure, but the DA, SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter, and labour federation Cosatu have come up with some really good proposals to plug the R60bn hole in the fiscus without resorting to a VAT increase. These include: 

  • A 50% cut in government advertising budgets
  • A 33% reduction in travel and catering expenses for government departments
  • A hiring freeze on non-essential public sector positions for 12 months
  • A national audit to eliminate ghost employees in the public sector
  • Improving tax compliance—from the current 63% to 67%.
  • Selling underutilised state-owned land and properties, which could raise at least R10 billion, according to the DA.
  • A payment holiday for government contributions to the Government Employees Pension Fund, which would free up more than R60 billion for the financial year 2025/26. 

But the ANC has been pretty insistent on a VAT hike previously, saying critical government programmes—including social grants and school nutrition schemes—will be in jeopardy otherwise. The Sunday Times even reported sources saying the party would ram through a 0.75% increase with the EFF’s voting help in parliament if the GNU refused to cooperate. However, the EFF swiftly denied any such talks and has also been against VAT hikes.

For now, we wait and see what Godongwana will present come March 12. 

Read our full story here.

4. Dylan Naidoo upholds Papwa’s legacy as first South African SA Open winner of colour

On a rain-soaked Sunday this past week at Durban Country Club, Dylan Naidoo etched his name into South African golf history. The 27-year-old claimed a dramatic playoff victory over England’s Laurie Canter to win the 114th Investec South African Open, one of the oldest golf championships in the world. He became the first South African player of colour to lift the prestigious trophy.

After his pitch shot left him just four feet from the pin on the first playoff hole, he calmly rolled in the birdie putt to secure the biggest win of his career.

“It feels like a dream,” said Naidoo on Sunday, still trying to process the magnitude of his achievement. 

The symbolism of Naidoo’s win was not lost on anyone. He triumphed at Durban Country Club, the same course where, in 1963, Sewsunker “Papwa” Sewgolum became the first player of colour to win a professional golf tournament in South Africa. 

Sewgolum, of Indian heritage, famously received his 1963 Natal Open trophy outside the clubhouse in the rain because apartheid laws forbade him from entering. Within a year of that victory, he was banned from playing golf by the government. The apartheid government even withdrew the golfer’s passport. Now, decades later, Naidoo stood in the same place, holding a trophy. Sewgolum’s career was stolen from him, but his legacy lived on.

“For what this means in terms of Papwa Sewgolum, and him having won the Natal Open here, it’s incredible. I feel like he was with me here today,” said Naidoo.

With Durban’s large Indian community, Naidoo was the crowd favourite all week. When the rain finally cleared, the crowds came. They filled the grandstands, they lined the fairways, and they roared as Naidoo stepped onto the 18th tee. 

For Naidoo, the journey is only beginning. His win secured him a DP World Tour card. Up next is the Joburg Open, another chance to build on this momentum. But no matter what comes, from Papwa to Naidoo, the story of South African golf has a new, inspiring chapter.

5. The DA’s Washington adventure & the AfriForum treason drama

The DA is back this week from a trip to Washington, D.C., with MPs Emma Powell and Andrew Whitfield meeting key US policymakers. Their mission? To figure out how to de-escalate tensions between South Africa and the US—but also to understand what the Americans want in return. 

They reported back that the US wants South Africa to take “action” on the Expropriation Act and so-called “race-based laws”, plus reassess its friendships with America’s “enemies” (think: Iran). Powell described the meetings as “transactional,” which is how Trump is treating the entire world right now: bullying allies and foes alike into his preferred course of action. The DA argues that while South Africa must act in its own national interest, it’s crucial to understand where the US stands before the GNU decides its next steps.

This is as Team Trump is already punishing SA. An executive order previously halted US aid, and another offered Afrikaners refugee status. That’s on top of ongoing threats to boot SA from AGOA, the trade deal that gives African countries tariff-free access to US markets. The Trump camp is pushing the narrative that land reform is a “land grab”, even though SA’s Expropriation Act—which we explained—is nothing of the sort.

The official GNU delegation to eventually meet US officials in response to Trump’s actions will also include DA members. But they didn’t want to wait, arguing the situation was too urgent. Their visit has ruffled some feathers within the GNU, with some coalition partners accusing them of going rogue. 

Meanwhile, the Afrikaner lobby group AfriForum may face consequences locally for helping to fuel Trump’s aggressive stance against SA.🤭

The MK Party and some private citizens have filed treason complaints against AfriForum. They accuse the group of deliberately spreading disinformation to undermine SA’s sovereignty and influence US policy against us.

The Hawks are now investigating four cases of high treason. AfriForum’s CEO, Kallie Kriel, isn’t sweating it, dismissing the charges as “absurd.” Meanwhile, social media conspiracy theories are running wild, with some claiming that the government is using state machinery to target Afrikaners. But here’s the thing: the government didn’t actually open these cases—private complainants did. And the Hawks have no choice but to investigate once a case is filed.

Whether the National Prosecuting Authority will take it further is another question. Treason is hard to prove.

Ultimately, with a volatile Trump presidency likely to be hostile towards SA, the GNU needs to tread carefully. Diplomacy, trade, and economic stability are all at stake in a foreign affairs world suddenly gone mad. 

6. Get married or get fired? The backlash against choosing to be child-free

Apparently, choosing not to have kids is now a global scandal. From tech billionaire Elon Musk to US Vice President JD Vance, powerful men are pushing the idea that declining birth rates spell doom for society. Musk falsely warns of “population collapse” and has fathered 14 (known) children to do his part. Demographers and experts have repeatedly said Musk’s assessment is incorrect. Meanwhile, Vance suggested parents should have more voting power than child-free citizens. Democracy, but with baby bonuses?

In China, the pressure is more intense. A chemical company told employees to get married and start a family by September—or get fired. The backlash was swift, forcing the company to withdraw the policy, but the country’s population crisis remains dire. Birth rates have dropped for three years straight, and the government is panicking. 

The one-child policy, along with the cultural preference for sons, caused a significant sex imbalance in China. By the end of 2024, there were 104.34 men to every 100 women. The one-child policy has also sped up the aging of China’s population. 

Policies like banning pricey betrothal gifts (think lobola) and lowering the legal marriage age are being floated in Chinese companies and government to encourage family-making.

This push isn’t limited to China. Russian lawmakers have banned “child-free lifestyle propaganda,” and Turkey’s President launched the “Year of the Family” with financial incentives for parents. Critics argue that these policies ignore real issues—like rising living costs, work pressures, and shifting social norms—that make having children less appealing.

Musk, for example, champions reproduction while his companies demand brutal work hours. And Vance’s voting plan? Many see it as an attack on democracy, implying those without kids care less about the future.

So, will forced marriages and guilt-tripping boost birth rates? Unlikely. Experts say making parenthood more affordable and work-life balance more manageable would be a better approach. But for now, the pressure is on—just hope your boss doesn’t start asking about your wedding plans.

Read our full story here.


7. Joshlin Smith trial exposes SA’s kidnapping crisis

The chilling trial into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith is underway in the Western Cape High Court, shining a harsh light on SA’s spiralling kidnapping epidemic.

ICYMI, little Joshlin vanished from her home in Saldanha Bay’s Middelpos informal settlement about a year ago. She was left in the care of her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis. Weeks later, blood-stained clothing—believed to be hers—was found nearby.

Her mother, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, now stands accused of kidnapping and human trafficking alongside Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn. A fourth accused, Lorentia Lombaard, has since flipped, turning state witness. Another initial suspect, sangoma Phumza Siqaqa, had her charges dropped due to lack of evidence and has since gone into hiding.

The accused have pleaded not guilty, but the state has made damning claims: Prosecutor Aradhana Heeramun alleges that Joshlin’s mother was in on a plan to sell her daughter. According to Lombaard, Smith was seen talking to an unknown woman in a white car the day before Joshlin disappeared—allegedly receiving something from her. Later that day, Smith, Appollis, and Van Rhyn reportedly discussed how they’d split the money.

Meanwhile, the defence is pushing back hard, with Appollis and Van Rhyn claiming they were tortured into making false statements. In court, Van Rhyn detailed harrowing allegations of police brutality, including being suffocated with a plastic bag, beaten, and threatened with execution. Authorities have yet to respond to the allegations. 

A national crisis

Joshlin’s case is just one in a growing wave of kidnappings across South Africa. Over the past decade, cases have soared by 264%, from 4,692 in 2014/15 to a shocking 17,061 in 2023/24, according to SAPS crime stats. Between July and September 2024 alone, an average of 50 kidnappings were reported daily—an 8% increase from 2023.

Gauteng remains the kidnapping capital, accounting for 51% of cases, followed by KwaZulu-Natal (20%), the Western Cape (6%), and Mpumalanga and the Eastern Cape (5%).

The trial is ongoing. We’re rooting for justice for Joshlin and an end to this scourge in our country.

8. Lab mice just got a mammoth upgrade – and they’re adorable 

Just when you thought science couldn’t get any weirder, researchers have genetically modified mice to grow woolly mammoth-like fur, The Guardian reported. Yep, tiny, fluffy, prehistoric-looking rodents now exist in a lab. 

The scientists behind this bizarre breakthrough are part of an effort to bring back the woolly mammoth, which went extinct thousands of years ago. The idea is to resurrect the species Jurassic Park-style (minus the inevitable disaster, hopefully).

To test their mammoth-making skills, researchers at the US biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences modified an existing gene in the mice (the one responsible for hair growth) to mimic the effect of mammoth fur. This resulted in adorable little floof balls, or, as the new species is known: the woolly mouse. These chilly bois are now rocking thick, shaggy coats—perfect for winter in Siberia or a surprise career in mouse fashion modeling. 

So, what’s next? The research has not yet been peer-reviewed, but scientists hope the first calf will be born by the end of 2028. There are critics, though. “My overall concern is whether this is a sensible use of resources rather than spending the money on trying to prevent species becoming extinct,” said Robin Lovell-Badge, head of stem cell biology and developmental genetics at the Francis Crick Institute in London. He noted there are no results on whether the modified mice are indeed cold-tolerant.

For now, though, we’re stuck with adorable woolly mice—a tiny, fluffy reminder that science can be both incredible and just a little bit terrifying. 🐭🦣

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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. 💁🏾‍♀ 

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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