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Will the Proteas finally lose their choker rep? Are pet donkeys really that happy? And are we ever going to get a cabinet, or are we stuck in an eternal pre GNU-dawn? Answers to all these questions and more on this edition of the wrap!
South Africa really is a movie, you guys. We also unpack how disgraced judge, John Hlophe, went from being impeached to being sworn in as the leader of the opposition. 😳
And we bring you the important international news you need to know.
So, let’s dive into your weekly update of empowering and easy-to-understand news, brought to you by Verashni Pillay and the explain.co.za team. 😄
Format:
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▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. OUR TAKE: The latest in the ANC-DA negotiations
Where are things with the Government of National Unity (GNU), and why hasn’t a cabinet been announced yet? Well, it seems that negotiations between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) are SUPER tough. Leaked letters have been flying back and forth all week, with the DA initially demanding at least ten ministries and the ANC offering six.
But if a leaked letter from John Steenhuisen dated 24 June 2024 is to be believed, they’re close to a deal, with the ANC offering some rather meaningful posts, including:
🔹Home Affairs
🔹Basic Education
🔹Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC)
🔹Public Works and Infrastructure
🔹Communications and Digital Technologies
🔹Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
However, the latest reports indicate the ANC was annoyed by the DA demanding two more posts in response and may be withdrawing the offer of DTIC.
The DA also:
🔹Disagree with what proportional representation within cabinet means
🔹Want carte blanche to cancel previous tenders
🔹Seem movable on their previous demands to be deputy president, which would just be politically untenable within the ANC and risk a split
🔹Want to fire the previous Director Generals in the portfolios assigned to the DA while hiring their own
This last one is a big one, raising plenty of public ire. As senior journalist Qaanitah Hunter has written:
“The DA’s demand is precisely the ANC’s reasoning when it came into power after apartheid. The ANC developed its cadre deployment policy to deal with old Nats who remained in the state… They then repurposed and corrupted a good intention to have a full grip on the state.
Now… The DA wants to disregard the Public Service Act and… install its own people in government. It sounds very cadre deployment-like to me!”
Meanwhile, the GNU keeps growing!
As of now, this coalition includes a whopping ten parties. Rise Mzansi and Al Jama-ah are the latest to sign up.
They join the ranks of the ANC, DA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), Patriotic Alliance (PA), Good, the Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), Freedom Front Plus (FF+) and the United Democratic Movement (UDM). There are now almost enough parties to give the ANC a majority even if the DA pulled out – without the “doomsday” options of MK or EFF. But it would make for a very unstable coalition with so many small parties to manage.
Yet it’s gratifying to note that many of these parties, like the FF+ and newbies Rise Mzansi, view this coalition as a prime opportunity to influence policy rather than just securing cabinet positions.
“Positions are not a condition and if offered such, our structures will consider if those positions will serve our policy ideals and electorate,” FF+ party head Wouter Wessels told Daily Maverick.
As the nation awaits President Ramaphosa’s cabinet announcement, the stakes are high. We’re hopeful the GNU will succeed, prefacing much-needed change for South Africa.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 2. BIG STORY: Proteas break semifinal curse, storm into T20 World Cup final
South African cricket has done it! The Proteas FINALLY made it to their first ICC T20 World Cup final. This historic moment came on the back of a resounding nine-wicket victory over Afghanistan on Thursday morning.
The Proteas, long plagued by semifinal heartbreaks, finally exorcised their demons with a clinical performance that left Afghanistan in disarray.
Opting to bowl first, South Africa began chipping away at the Afghanistan batsman. By the tenth over, Afghanistan found themselves reeling at 20-4, a position from which recovery seemed improbable. Bowlers Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi then joined the party, mopping up the tail to restrict Afghanistan to a measly 56, marking the lowest total ever in a men’s T20 World Cup semifinal.
Despite an early setback with Quinton de Kock’s dismissal, the Proteas secured the victory in the ninth over.
Reflecting on the momentous occasion, Aiden Markram applauded his team’s collective effort, especially the bowlers who set up the win. “One more step. It’s an exciting challenge for us and we’ve never been there before. But it’s nothing to be scared of, it’s an opportunity that we’ve never had, and we’ll be really excited about that opportunity,” said Markram.
The Proteas will now face either India or defending champions England in the final, which will be played in Barbados this coming Saturday.
For South African cricket enthusiasts, this victory marks a long-awaited breakthrough and a chance to rewrite the narrative of past disappointments in global tournaments. With an undefeated streak in the tournament thus far, the Proteas now stand on the cusp of greatness, poised to seize their first-ever T20 World Cup title. Let’s hope they finally shed the dreaded “chokers” tag that has haunted South African cricket for far too long.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ *BRIEFS*
3. John Hlophe’s new role as MK Party chief whip
Disgraced Judge John Hlophe has landed a leading role as parliamentary chief whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
Hlophe was impeached earlier this year over a 2008 case involving then-president Jacob Zuma. This week he made a surprise debut as a senior leader in Zuma’s new party, being sworn in as a member of Parliament belatedly with the rest of the caucus, despite not being associated with the party previously or on the MK’s list of candidates.
Hlophe will probably take on the important role of official leader of the opposition in parliament as the MK is now the largest party in opposition with the DA joining the GNU.
Once the Judge President of the Western Cape High Court, Hlophe’s tenure was marred by numerous controversies. But his shocking attempts to sway judges in favour of Zuma back in 2008 eventually led to a historic removal with 305 MPs voting to impeach him this year, making him the first judge to be dishonourably discharged from service in our democratic history.
Exactly how Hlophe was able to land a new gig without so much as a campaign poster is another issue.
The MK party secured 58 seats in Parliament. But as we previously told you, the party boycotted Parliament’s first sitting, on 15 June, where MPs were sworn in. At the time they insisted it was because of their (unrefuted) claims the election was rigged. But the party subsequently made a u-turn and its 58 MPs were sworn in this week. Why?
As Sunday Times editor Sthembiso Msomi put it: “It would seem that the “boycott” was a ruse; the party was buying time while it tried to fix its candidates list. In the run-up to the polls it had submitted to the Electoral Commission a haphazardly compiled list of individuals who would make no meaningful contribution to the debates in the House… the MK Party suddenly found itself in line to be the official opposition — but without MPs with the requisite skills and experience to do so.”
The party then made a whopping 21 changes to its original list of 58 MPs, including Hlophe.
He effectively replaces both Jacob Zuma and Jabulani Khumalo as the leader of the party in parliament due to Zuma’s ineligibility to stand as an MP due to a criminal conviction.
Hlophe has led calls to “Africanise” the legal system and revisit land ownership laws—not particularly constitutional. A front-page headline by The Sowetan this week captured the irony brilliantly, contrasting the MK manifesto call to “scrap” the constitution alongside their oath to be faithful to it, punctuated by the words “So help us, God.” Indeed.
PS. Also sworn in belatedly for the ANC was corruption-accused Zizi Kodwa. We celebrated with you when he recently stepped down as minister of sport, arts and culture, in keeping with the ANC’s “step aside” rule. How annoying that they’re trying to sneak him back into a position of leadership. However, pressure is mounting to have him removed.
4. A donkey, a dog and honouring Sir David Attenborough
The idea of a pet donkey running away to lead a herd of wild elk is living rent-free in our heads. 😆 Here’s more on that and other nature news that caught our attention this week.
🔹Diesel the donkey went missing five years ago, spooked by a cougar (not that kind!) while hiking with his owner, Dave Drewry. A few months later, he was spotted on a trail cam, but that was the last anyone heard of Diesel.
That was until three months ago when a hunter named Max Fennell made a surprising discovery. Fennell shared on his Instagram that during a hunt in Auburn, California, he saw a herd of elk (a type of deer)… with a donkey as the leader. “I can’t get over seeing it, and I’m amazed that the donkey looks happy and healthy,” Fennell said. Drewry confirmed that the donkey was indeed Diesel. Speaking to Inside Edition, Terrie Drewry said they were happy to see him alive but would leave him to his wild life. “The fact of the matter is, he’s running wild and free out there with that elk herd. He’s earned his freedom at this point,” she said.
It speaks to a larger issue around pets needing to actually just be animals, as addressed in a recent New York Times article. It’s a complex topic so give the full article a read if you’re interested in the research – WhatsApp readers can find the link in our newsletter version linked above.
🔹Speaking of wild things… Meet Wild Thang, an eight-year-old Pekingnese recently crowned The World’s Ugliest Dog. With a face only a mother could love, Wild Thang, from Coos Bay, Oregon, beat seven other ugly doggos to clinch the title. This is Wild Thang’s fifth time entering, and we guess the fifth time’s the… charm? Well done to Mr Thang. We still think you’re adorable, though.🐶
🔹Finally, the man who taught millions about the wonders of nature, Sir David Attenborough, was honoured with a portrait commissioned by the Royal Society on Tuesday. The portrait was painted by Johnathan Yeo, who also painted King Charles’s (slightly vampiric) first official portrait.
The painting shows Sir David in a sea of green, sitting on a chair with his hands clasped around his knees, as though he’s about to tell us about marsupials. The Royal Society commissioned Yeo to create the piece to celebrate 40 years of Sir David being a fellow.
The 98-year-old Sir David expressed gratitude to natural history filmmakers and the many dedicated scientists who willingly shared their work with him and the world. “To spend so much of my life looking at the natural world and attempting to convey to others its amazing complexity, beauty and increasingly its fragility has been a great privilege,” he said. 💚
5. William Ruto withdraws controversial finance bill after protests rock Kenya
“The people have spoken.” These were the words of Kenyan President William Ruto after retracting a controversial finance bill that fuelled deadly protests in Kenya.
The bill proposed serious tax hikes, a blow for citizens already struggling to make ends meet.
Initially, the bill called for a 16% and 25% sales tax on bread and oil, respectively, an annual vehicle tax of 2.5% of the vehicle’s value, and a tax increase on financial transactions.
Many felt betrayed by Ruto, who pledged to reduce the cost of living when he came to power in 2022. Protests against the bill were initially peaceful, but after it was passed by parliament on Tuesday, things turned violent as protestors tried to gain entry into the country’s parliament building, burning parts of it. Police fired live ammunition and tear gas, leaving several people dead and dozens more injured. Ruto’s government then deployed the military and called protestors “treasonous”, a drastic change in rhetoric after Ruto praised the young protestors on Sunday.
After an international outcry, Ruto agreed not to sign the 2024 finance bill in a televised address on Wednesday afternoon.
Quick explainer: A bill is passed by Parliament but only becomes law when a president signs it off. Ruto not doing so stalls the process, and he seems to want to go back to the drawing board and have a national conversation, committing to engaging with the youth. “I propose an engagement with young people of our nation to listen to their issues and agree with them on their priority areas of concern,” he said. But shouldn’t this have happened in the first place, instead of people dying before they could be heard? The entire thing was poorly handled.
Many, including the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops, have condemned the killing of protestors. We agree.
6. Hair raising study finds toxic chemicals in wigs, weaves
Is your wig or hair extension making you sick?
According to one study out of Nigeria, it might be.
A team of researchers from the Department of Biotechnology at the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria has found that synthetic hair made in Nigeria, China, Ghana, and the US contains high levels of heavy metals and pesticides. These include silver, cadmium, chromium, Nickel, Vanadium and lead.
The study, published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Public Health, found that synthetic hair made from plastic contained significant levels of heavy metals that are harmful to humans. An example is lead compounds, which prevent heat, light, or wear and tear from breaking down PVC. They are often used in synthetic hair and make it easier for the wigs to form into shape.💀 The metals used to stabilise the polymer are not bound to it, so they can leach out over time or when exposed to light. So when women wear synthetic hair, whether as attachments, weaves, wigs or fake eyelashes, they risk exposure to lead and other heavy metals.
Exposure to heavy metals and the amounts of pesticides found in synthetic hair has been linked with various diseases in people, such as kidney, liver and lung damage and certain types of cancers.
But what solutions are available? The researchers call on manufacturers, particularly in Nigeria, to consider using “high-quality synthetic fibres such as hiperlon instead of plastic fibres.” Then there are plant-based alternatives. As noted by the founder of Rebundle, Ciara Imani May, sustainable products tackle the scalp irritation often associated with synthetic hair and the ever-increasing plastic pollution problem. “We wear it, we toss it out, we get it redone, and we go on about our lives, but the need for more sustainable options has been apparent for some time,” May told The Cut last year. Beauty doesn’t have to be deadly!
7. The Putin bromance nobody is ready for
Russian President Vladimir Putin sits in the driving seat, a cheeky grin on his face as he turns the steering wheel. Alongside him, North Korea’s “supreme leader” Kim Jong Un laughs, presumably trying to make peace with not being in charge for once.
No, it’s not a politically-inspired bromance remake of Thelma & Louise.
This scene really happened during Putin’s recent trip to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, which has heightened tensions between these two and the US.
This was Putin’s first visit to the isolated nation in 24 years, and Kim was there to meet Putin in person.
Last week, the two leaders met in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, to discuss and sign a mutual defence pact. This pact, a significant development in international relations, will see the two countries support each other in the event of potential aggression and sanctions from the West. The Kremlin said the pact would replace previous declarations signed in 1961, 2000 and 2001. Kim has also pledged to support Russia in the ongoing war against Ukraine. 😧
As Russia and North Korea get closer, the US and its allies area also putting on a performance to show them who’s boss, heightening tensions even further. The South Korean Navy revealed that the USS Theodore Roosevelt, the US aircraft carrier, is in South Korea for joint military exercises with South Korea and Japan.
The Navy said in a statement that the carrier’s arrival demonstrates “the strong combined defence posture of the South Korea-US alliance and their firm resolve to respond to the escalating threats from North Korea.” The three countries agreed in August 2023 to hold annual joint military drills.
As the relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow evolves, the implications for global security and international relations remain uncertain. One thing is clear, however: the West is watching with keen interest, and the stakes are high.
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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