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Dark clouds are gathering for Mzansi. ๐ The Government of National Unity is teetering on the edge after Parliament passed a budget vote with a 0.5% VAT hike kicking in next month. To make matters worse, US President Donald Trump has slapped the country with 30% tariffs โ a move likely to hurt our fragile economy.
Back home, South Africans are taking to the streets, demanding justice for Cwecwe and for all women and children who continue to face violence in this country. Tensions escalated further with the acquittal of controversial pastor Timothy Omotoso โ a case the NPA fumbled despite serious allegations of rape and human trafficking.
But itโs not all doom and gloom. This week, we also saw three moments that made us chuckle โ including a few well-played April Foolsโ pranks. Thereโs also an uplifting show of sportsmanship after a local football fan rescued a visitor from falling at Loftus. Plus, Formula 1 updates and a fun new study that finds chimpanzees might be dabbling in basic engineering. Donโt worry, humans โ your jobs are safe for now.
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โ โ โ โ โ โ โ 1. BIG STORY: Budget drama and DAโs potential GNU exit
South Africa is reeling after the political events over the last few days.
Following the ANCโs last-minute about-face on budget negotiations with the DA, the future of the GNU hangs in the balance, with talks of the blue party leaving.
Remember how we told you about the budget delays after most parties opposed the 2% VAT hike in February? Finance minister Enoch Godongwana tried again on 12 March, proposing a 0.5% hike in a new budget, but this too was rejected. Cue: frantic negotiations, particularly between the two biggest parties in the GNU and parliament, the ANC (40%) and DA (22%), ahead of this weekโs deadline to pass the budget in Parliament.
Over the past weekend, it seemed that negotiations, while tense, had been successful.
But by Tuesday, things fell apart. Instead of scrapping the 0.5% hike as the DA had asked for – and frankly, is best for our country, the ANC made a last-minute deal with ActionSA to pass the budget as is in parliamentโs Standing Committee on Finance – they were able to do this with the IFP โ the three hold a majority in the committee. This meant it could move to the next stage โ voting in the larger national assembly. Fast forward to yesterday, and despite a chaotic sitting and the DA, EFF and MK (the three biggest parties after the ANC) voting against the budget because of VAT hikes, the ANC got its way. The budget was passed thanks to support from most smaller parties.
ActionSA has come under a lot of fire for its role. Herman Mashabaโs party are not part of the GNU and has opposed VAT hikes previously. The party claims their actions as a victory as they passed a recommendation along with the budget that the government should rework the budget within thirty days to avoid VAT hikes. However, experts agree this recommendation has no legal standing. The party was either incredibly naive or trying to get one up on their rivals, the DA. Either way, they enabled a very damaging VAT hike to pass.
What happens now? The DA is heading to court over the hike. But more importantly, the partyโs continued participation in the GNU is in danger. ANC leaders are all saying the DA has self-selected itself out of the GNU by not endorsing this budget. The DA, meanwhile, are meeting today about what to do next.
This is not good news, any way you look at it. While the ANC can hold a slim majority without the DA, they will be held hostage by any small party. Plus, whether you like the DA or not, investors do, and their inclusion in the GNU was putting our fragile economy back on track.
Weโll keep you updated on what happens next.
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ 2. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The world may be falling apart, but the internet stays undefeated. Hereโs our pick of the funniest, sassiest and surprisingly deep responses to the news this week.
US President Donald Trump let loose on โLiberation Dayโ yesterday โ a new date he literally made up โ by slapping a minimum of 10% tariffs on all imported goods. Trump says the move will โreclaim Americaโs independenceโ from the horrors of affordable foreign stuff like cars, electronics and… citrus fruit. Stocks tumbled, and trade partners are fuming.
Economists say this could seriously hurt emerging markets like ours โ and ordinary Americans, too. We’ll dig into what this all means for SAโs economy later in the Wrap. ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐
Given the state of current world leadership, I think this is as good a year as any to finally retire April Fools Day, on the grounds it's no longer possible to tell what is a joke and what is real.
— Neil Stone (@DrNeilStone) April 1, 2025
With actual news headlines reading like parody these days, April Foolsโ Day had stiff competition. Still, brands and celebs gave it a go โ and South Africans got in on the fun, too. Crocs introduced โfeet crocsโ (literally shoes in the shape of feet), and Heinz was apparently launching Dubai-inspired canned baked beans with a pistachio filling. Elsewhere, a UK nappy brand unveiled singing diapers, while Hyundai Motor promoted โtaxi-styleโ pay-as-you-go loos.
The Great Grok War of March 2025. ๐I think the lesson here is not to spread disinformation. Use it, donโt use it. Great job everyone. Never let lies about South Africa stand. Ever. Fist bumps all round. And thanks to the MVP, @grok. Grokzito. Grokzin. MaGrozizo. mGrokana. pic.twitter.com/kZuJAI20Lz
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) March 31, 2025
South African X users have been living for the brutally honest, fact-based responses by Grok, Elon Muskโs X-exclusive chatbotโ especially when it clashes with Muskโs own views (and his fave politician, Trump). In whatโs now jokingly dubbed the โGrok War of March 2025โ, the bot understands vernac, answers complex questions about the โwhite genocideโ and US politics with more clarity than some analysts, all while dropping casual township slang and even picking sides between the MK vs EFF (spoiler: it chose EFF). Oh, and itโs also been asked to predict soccer match results โ because this is South Africa and, well, priorities.
Globally, Grokโs doing the same โ from dropping Hindi sass in India to channelling Gen Z snark in the US while combatting misinformation. Weโre here for it. ๐ฅ๐ฟ๐ฆ๐ค
โ โ โ โ โ โ โ BRIEFS:
3. Omotoso walks free: bungled prosecution sinks major rape case
After nearly eight years behind bars, Nigerian televangelist Timothy Omotoso has shockingly been acquitted on all 32 charges of rape, sexual assault, human trafficking and racketeering. The Gqeberha High Courtโs ruling has sparked national outrage โ not only because of the gravity of the allegations but also due to the bungling by the National Prosecuting Authority that led to the acquittal.
Omotoso, head of the Jesus Dominion International church, was arrested in April 2017 in dramatic fashion at a South African airport. Alongside co-accused Lusanda Sulani and Zukiswa Sitho โ alleged recruiters of victims โ he was accused of grooming and abusing girls, some as young as 14, by luring them to locations in South Africa, Nigeria and Israel.
Judge Irma Schoeman said that while the accusedโs explanations were โimprobableโ, the State had failed to disprove them. Crucially, the prosecution’s case was riddled with issues: โThe cross-examination was shallow and lacking intention to uncover the truth,โ she noted. In some instances, cross-examinations lasted less than a morning. Yikes.
The trial saw multiple prosecutors come and go. Advocate Nceba Ntelwa even encouraged witnesses to omit certain parts of their testimony. He eventually withdrew, but not before the damage was done. The drawn-out case also led several witnesses to withdraw entirely, reducing the charges from 63 to 32.
Despite graphic testimony from complainants – including Cheryl Zondi, the only one to testify throughout โ the State failed to provide corroborating evidence like phone records or timelines.
Womenโs rights groups have slammed the ruling. Sonke Gender Justice called the prosecution โgrossly incompetent,โ while activist Lisa Vetten labelled it โa travesty of justice.โ Zondi, tearful in a TV interview, said: โItโs knowing he is not going to stop. This verdict is enabling to him.โ
Omotoso, who will be deported to Nigeria, said only: โI thank God.โ The NPA says it’s studying the judgment to explore possible next steps. But for now, the justice system has a serious black eye – and survivors, once again, are left without closure.
4. โฝ When football turns ugly โ and one fan steps upย
Mamelodi Sundowns’ 1โ0 win over Tunisiaโs Esperance on Saturday shouldโve been a celebration. Instead, the CAF Champions League clash at Loftus Versfeld ended in chaos. Bloody scenes broke out after the match as supporters from both sides clashed, with stadium barriers broken and punches thrown. Hereโs what went down.
The trouble reportedly started when some Esperance fans hurled objects and tried to storm the Sundowns supporters’ section. What followed was pure mayhem โ captured in several videos that quickly spread online.
But amid the violence, a moment of grace: Sundowns supporter Siboniso Masango became an unlikely hero when he saved a Tunisian fan from falling after the man got caught on a barrier while trying to flee the chaos. The dramatic moment captured on camera showed Masango pulling the stranded fan to safety. โI didnโt want to see a man die in my presence because of football,โ he later said. โWe were both crying.โ
CAF hasnโt yet commented, but with tempers flaring and injuries reported, disciplinary action could be on the cards. One thingโs clear: no matter how passionate, football should never come to this. Respect to Masango for showing what true sportsmanship looks like. ๐๐ฟ๐ฆ
5. #JusticeForCwecwe: A nation demands answers
South Africans from all walks of life took to the streets this week โ with explain on-site for one in East London on Tuesday, 1 April โ dressed in black and united in anger. Their rallying cry? Justice for Cwecwe, an eight-year-old girl who was allegedly raped at Bergview College in Matatiele, Eastern Cape last year.
The protest was led by the feminist non-profit organisation, the Loyiso Lindani Foundation. Speaking to explain while holding back tears, the organisationโs chairperson and founder, Loyiso Lindani, said she was โanxious that it is just a matter of time before something even more graphic and horrific happens to another woman or child.โ
Her concern is sadly backed by grim stats: in the last five years, Gauteng alone saw over 5,000 child rape casesโbut only 4% led to convictions.
Cwecweโs ordeal began in October 2024 when her parents noticed that she was in pain. A doctor’s visit and medical examinations confirmed that she had been raped.
Despite reporting the case to both the school and police, her family faced silence and dismissalโironically, even though her mother works for the police.
Social media pressure helped amplify the case, and now the spotlight is firmly on SAPS and the school. Three suspects have been identified, including school principal Jaco Pieterse. Two suspects underwent DNA testing, while Pieterse initially refusedโuntil police confirmed this weekend that he is a suspect and has since been tested.
AfriForum, controversially representing Pieterse via its private prosecution unit, denied he was ever a suspect. But SAPS contradicted that assertion, insisting all suspectsโincluding Pieterseโare under investigation.
While the Eastern Cape Education Department had decided to deregister Bergview College, the decision has since been withdrawn. Meanwhile, SAPS has escalated the case to the national level. Specialist units are now handling the investigation, promising to leave โno stone unturned.โ
As the case unfolds, the #JusticeForCwecwe movement has become more than one childโs cry for justiceโitโs a symbol for all survivors failed by the system.
Read our full story here.
6. Formula 1 heats up: McLaren surprises, Ferrari stumbles
Formula 1 is back on track, and things are getting spicy. With two races down and a third coming up in Japan this weekend, nowโs a great time to hop on the F1 bandwagon โ especially as South Africa eyes a 2027 return to the calendar at Kyalami. Weโve told you that SA is bidding to host a race for the first time since 1993, with two circuits in the mix: the nearly FIA-certified Kyalami near Johannesburg and a flashy proposed street track in Cape Town.
McLaren has kicked off the 2025 season with a bang. After years of Red Bull dominance, the team is suddenly in pole position โ literally. Lando Norris snatched victory in a rain-drenched Australian Grand Prix, followed by Oscar Piastri taking top honours in China. Thatโs McLarenโs 50th-ever one-two finish. If they keep this up, Max Verstappen might actually have a real challenge on his hands for the first time in years.
Red Bull isnโt out of the running, though. Theyโre still fast and furious, but McLaren’s recent momentum could make for a more competitive season than fans have seen in a while.
Over at Ferrari, itโs not so rosy. Both Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton were disqualified in China โ Leclercโs car was underweight, while Hamiltonโs car failed the โskid blockโ test. Those slip-ups cost Ferrari 18 points in the Constructorsโ Championship, a major blow early in the season.
Drama isnโt just for the front of the grid. Criticism of Norrisโs driving in China raised eyebrows, with former driver Giedo van der Garde saying Norris might not have the nerves for a world title. Meanwhile, Alpineโs Pierre Gasly also got booted from the Chinese Grand Prix for โ you guessed it โ being underweight.
As we head to Japanโs iconic Suzuka Circuit, expect more twists, turns and maybe even rain. All eyes are on McLaren to see if their hot streak continues while rivals scramble to keep up. Buckle up โ itโs going to be a wild ride.
Read our full story here.
7. International Round-Up: Tariffs, Earthquakes, and Political Turmoilย
๐นTrump’s tariff tirade
Tariff is the โmost beautiful word in the dictionaryโ, according to US President Donald Trump. And heโs officially gone tariff mad on what heโs declared as Liberation Day, 2 April.
Yesterdayโs much-anticipated announcement unveiled sweeping new taxes for foreign-made goods being sold to US consumers. Starting 5 April, a universal 10% tariff will hit all US imports. From 9 April, it gets even more intense, with around 60 countries singled out for more extreme measures. No surprise, South Africa is one of them, with 30% levied on our exports. (Others include 34% on China, 20% on the European Union, 46% on Vietnam and 32% on Taiwan.)
He claimed these tariffs would boost local manufacturing and protect American jobs, even as economists warned they could do the opposite. Trump justified the tariffs by citing longstanding US trade deficits, where the country imports more than it exports, arguing the US has been โlooted, pillaged, raped and plundered by nations near and far, both friend and foe alike.โ
His administration says the new levies were calculated based on the size of each country’s trade surplus with the US โ the bigger the gap, the higher the tariff.
The SA Presidency expressed concern in a statement issued this morning and is still trying to talk up its commitment to โa mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United Statesโ. The US is South Africaโs second-largest export market, accounting for almost a tenth of our total exports.
๐นMyanmar’s earthquake aftermath
A devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar on 28 March, with the death toll now surpassing 3,000 and thousands injured. Rescue efforts are ongoing. China has stepped up as a major aid contributor, providing medical teams and supplies worth 100 million yuan (13 758 750 million USD). In contrast, the US pledged 2 million USD but faced delays in deploying assessment teams due to visa issues.
๐นTurkish turmoil: Mayor’s arrest sparks unrest
Turkey is facing protests after Istanbul’s Mayor, Ekrem ฤฐmamoฤlu, a prominent rival to strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdoฤan, was arrested on 19 March on charges of corruption. The timing of the arrest raised suspicions, as it occurred just before Turkeyโs main opposition party, the Republican Peopleโs Party, or C.H.P., officially named him their presidential candidate.
His arrest has triggered Turkeyโs biggest protests in over a decade, with many accusing the government of using the courts to silence opposition. Protesters are demanding his immediate release, calling it a threat to democracy.
Read our full article here.
8. Ape clever: Chimps are picky toolmakers, and thatโs kind of a big deal
Move over, engineers โ the chimps are coming for your brand! OK, not really. But new research shows that our closest living relatives are way more tool-savvy than we give them credit for.
A study published in iScience reveals that wild chimpanzees in Tanzaniaโs Gombe Stream National Park arenโt just using tools โ theyโre selecting materials for their flexibility when termite fishing. In other words, theyโre low-key applying engineering principles to get their snack on.
Led by Alejandra Pascual-Garrido from Oxfordโs School of Anthropology and Museum Ethnography, the research is a big deal in the world of human evolution. It involved brainy folks from across the globe โ including Germany, Portugal and Tanzania โ and sheds light on a mystery: how early humans picked materials for their own tools, especially the ones that didnโt survive in the fossil record.
โThis is the first comprehensive evidence that wild chimpanzees select tool materials… based on specific mechanical properties,โ said Pascual-Garrido, whoโs been studying these clever apes and their toolkit for over a decade.
Weโve known chimps use tools since Jane Goodall spotted it in the 1960s, but this study ups the ante. It suggests not just tool use but material preference โ a level of decision-making that hints at serious cognitive chops.
Theyโre not alone. Tool use has also been observed in crows, capuchin monkeys and even whales โ proving intelligence isnโt just a human or land-based thing.
So, while chimps probably wonโt be building bridges anytime soon, theyโre definitely helping us bridge gaps in our understanding of evolution. Howโs that for full circle?
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Thatโs it from us at The Wrap, an award-winning product of explain.co.za – simple news summaries for busy people. ๐๐พโโ
The Wrap is sponsored by explainโs 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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