Hi there 🙋🏾♀️
Happy almost long weekend! Friday is Human Rights Day. We commemorate the Sharpeville Massacre, in a world where human rights are increasingly under threat under a shifting global order.
Speaking of which, our relationship with Washington has fractured further after our ambassador to the US was deemed persona non grata for his views on Trump. Then there’s the ongoing wars in the Ukraine and Gaza, which we fill you in on below. Then we hop into the fast lane with an update on our record-breaking sprinter Bayanda Walaza, plus the bid to bring Formula One back to Mzansi.
And we won’t be getting high this long weekend since the government has banned the sale of cannabis edibles. Find out why and what political parties have said about this buzzkill move.
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. 😄
_____________________________
Format:
🇳🇪🇼🇸
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. BIG STORY: South African ambassador Rasool expelled from the US. What happens next?
The big news this week is, of course, South Africa’s Ambassador to the US, Ebrahim Rasool, being expelled from Washington. 👀
Rasool said Trump was leading a global white supremacist movement during a webinar for local thinktank, the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection. He noted Trump’s hostility toward SA stemmed from its anti-apartheid legacy. Right-wing US media seized on his remarks, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio taking to social media (because apparently, this is where international diplomacy takes place in 2025) to call Rasool a “race-baiting politician” who “hates America”. Within hours, Rasool’s diplomatic status was revoked.
Tensions between South Africa and the US have been on a downward spiral since Trump’s return to office. Washington has criticised Pretoria’s stance on Palestine, BRICS ties, and land reform policies. Trump has also cut US aid to South Africa and backed white Afrikaner interest groups, accusing the government of discrimination.
Pretoria is taking a cautious approach. The government called Rasool’s expulsion “regrettable” but is working to smooth things over. International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola took issue with “Twitter diplomacy”, while his spokesperson, Chrispin Phiri, emphasised that South Africa wants a “mutually respectful and beneficial” relationship with the US.
Rasool’s comments may seem unwise. But it’s worth noting that Rubio himself said much worse about Trump when he ran against him for the presidency back in 2016, as pointed out by former US Ambassador to South Africa, Patrick Gaspard. He and other international figures, including a former Greek finance minister, have urged South Africa to stand firm in the face of the US’s bullying.
With Rasool gone, South Africa needs a new ambassador—fast. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) has three candidates shortlisted.
In an interview with explain, John Stremlau, Associate Director of International Relations at the Rockefeller Foundation and Visiting Professor at Wits University, sees this as part of a broader problem under Trump’s leadership and is not sure engaging with the administration is worth it.
“The throwing out of Rasool was typical of the cavalier and undiplomatic approach of the Americans under Trump,” said Stremlau, adding that “South Africa is the only adult in the room”.
Read our full story on the site.
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 2. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE
The news is dire, so laughing about it helps. Here’s this week’s reactions and social media posts that got us chuckling.
Motsumi really thought saying 'it didn’t cost a million' would make us feel better. Sisi, R900K is just a million that went on a diet —still fat!
— In A Nutshell🥜 (@Markosonke1) March 19, 2025
North West Education MEC Viola Motsumi is under fire for skipping an inquiry into the dire state of school transport in her province to attend the Special Olympics Winter Games in Italy—a trip that cost taxpayers a reported R1 million, even though no athletes from her province competed. Motsumi’s defence during a SABC interview on Tuesday that the trip cost closer to R900k, below the tender threshold, didn’t go down particularly well. 😆
"Currently vacationing in, of all places, South Africa." His wife is South African….so🤦🏾♀️. And South Africa is exquisite, as all the "genocide" victims will attest. pic.twitter.com/xPkMS8V3h8
— Redi Tlhabi (@RediTlhabi) March 17, 2025
Donald Trump is back on his revenge tour, and this time, he’s coming for Hunter Biden’s security detail. The former first son was on holiday in Cape Town when Trump yanked his Secret Service protection, noting Biden was “vacationing in, of all places, South Africa”, citing the country’s alleged “human rights concerns” (aka, Trump’s misinformed obsession with white farmers). Naturally, the internet is asking: does Trump really think Hunter is safer without security, or is he just mad that South Africa won’t let him build a golf course here?
kim kardashian fully committing to the nazi bit because she perceives it to be in vogue is not surprising but still a deeply upsetting sign of the times https://t.co/AtIxbMy5xh
— matt (@mattxiv) March 15, 2025
Kim Kardashian is being slammed for her latest Tesla-themed magazine photoshoot, featuring her draped over a Cybertruck and cuddling a robot. This is as owner Elon Musk faces growing backlash for decimating the US government, allegedly furthering his own access to state contracts and subsidies. As another commenter put it, “Iconic! (If that truck was on fire!)” referencing Tesla’s stock tanking and its cars literally being set on fire across the world in protest over Musk’s actions. 😝
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS:
3. The Joshlin Smith trial: The testimony that’s shocked the nation
The country has been gripped by the ongoing trial into the disappearance of six-year-old Joshlin Smith, with shocking details emerging daily. The trial kicked off in earnest earlier this month. Joshlin’s mother, Kelly Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial for her kidnapping and suspected trafficking. The trio have pleaded not guilty in the Western Cape High Court, where chilling new details have emerged.
Here are the three big revelations so far:
🔹Constable Yanga Gongotha told the court on Monday, 3 March, that surprisingly, during the frantic search on the day Joshlin went missing, 19 February 2024, Kelly was more concerned about the whereabouts of her boyfriend and not the child. Eventually, when they arrived at her boyfriend’s house, she was relieved that she had found him.
🔹Local evangelist Nico Steven Coetzee, on Wednesday last week, testified that Kelly had previously spoken about selling her children for R20,000 each, or even as little as R5,000. When he asked where the children would be sent, she allegedly did not answer.
Joshlin’s former teacher, Edna Maart, also took the stand, also revealing on Wednesday last week that Kelly confided in her about receiving a cryptic phone call from a Nigerian man. According to Maart, Kelly claimed the caller told her Joshlin was inside a shipping container bound for West Africa.
🔹Another witness, Lourentia Lombaard, initially a co-accused but now turned state witness, testified that a sangoma specifically wanted Joshlin because of her light skin and striking blue-green eyes. Lombaard claimed she was present when Kelly allegedly discussed handing her daughter over in exchange for money.
As the trial continues, the court will hear more evidence linking the accused to a suspected child trafficking ring. Meanwhile, the search for Joshlin, whether for answers or her whereabouts, continues. 💔
Read our full story here.
4. South Africa’s Grand Prix dream: Can F1 roar back to Mzansi?
It’s been more than three decades since Formula One engines last screamed around a South African circuit, but the country is revving up for a comeback. The race to bring F1 back to the continent is in full swing, with two potential tracks battling it out: the historic Kyalami circuit near Johannesburg and a proposed Cape Town street circuit.
The Kyalami circuit, which last hosted an F1 race in 1993, is tantalisingly close to meeting the required FIA Grade 1 certification. According to Toby Venter, CEO of Kyalami, the track is “90 percent there” and will be fully certified by the end of 2025. Meanwhile, Cape Town is proposing a stunning street circuit that would snake through Green Point, around the DHL Stadium, and boast ocean views. Cape Town Grand Prix CEO Igshaan Amlay even claimed the city’s track would “outclass Monaco.” 🏁
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, has been vocal about F1’s need to return to Africa. “We can’t be adding races in other locations and continuing to ignore Africa,” he said last August. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie responded: “Lewis Hamilton, you said you had a dream to race in South Africa. We will not rest until that dream is a reality.”
Liberty Media, which owns F1, has made it clear that expanding to every continent is a priority.
South Africa isn’t the only African country eyeing F1 glory. Rwanda is also in the mix, with President Paul Kagame formally announcing their bid for a 2027 Grand Prix back in December 2024. The East-Central African nation has made a name for itself in sports sponsorships—backing Arsenal and PSG—and is pushing for a futuristic F1 track near Kigali. However, political tensions in the region could complicate Rwanda’s bid.
Pulling off a grand prix isn’t cheap—it takes billions in investment and serious infrastructure. Kyalami is almost ready, but Cape Town’s street race would need major development. Still, South Africa pulled off the 2010 FIFA World Cup, so don’t count us out just yet.
Read our full story here.
5. The Gautrain is breaking down. What went wrong?
Remember when the Gautrain was all shiny and new, and we couldn’t wait to ditch Joburg traffic for a smooth, air-conditioned ride? Those were the days. Lately, though, commuters are dealing with constant delays, technical issues, and even train breakdowns, leaving them stranded or packed into overcrowded carriages. What was once the gold standard of public transport in South Africa is now looking a little rusty. 😬
The Gautrain launched in 2010 as a public-private partnership between the Gauteng government and the Bombela Concession Company, which operates the system. But with Bombela’s contract expiring in 2026, the province has to find a new operator, and questions are mounting over whether the system is being properly maintained in the meantime.
Meanwhile, critics argue that the train primarily serves wealthier commuters while billions are spent expanding it instead of fixing the broken public transport system for the majority. The Automobile Association has been particularly vocal, calling the Gautrain a “white elephant” and strongly opposing Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s plan to invest R120 billion into expansion.
And then there’s the operational chaos. Around 300 Gautrain bus drivers were recently fired for refusing to drive allegedly unroadworthy buses without permits, leading to major disruptions. In February, a Killarney resident’s botched borehole drilling caused a section of the railway between Park Station and Rosebank to be shut down.
Commuters, meanwhile, have taken to the Gautrain mobile app and social media to vent their frustration, reporting that delays have become a daily occurrence. The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse has warned of potential corruption in the contract handover and is demanding a transparent process for selecting the next operator. The Gauteng government has a reputation for dodgy procurement, given its historical and current association with the so-called “Alex Mafia”. Gauteng’s government accounted for the highest number of reported corruption cases, according to Corruption Watch’s annual corruption report in 2022.
Still, the Gauteng government insists the Gautrain expansion is necessary to connect areas like Soweto, Fourways, Mamelodi, and Lanseria. The question is whether this will finally make the train a service for all—or just an expensive status symbol for a lucky few.
Read our full story here.
6. Edibles ban leaves consumers (not) high and dry
Say it isn’t so! 😭 Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi quietly banned the sale, import, and manufacture of cannabis-infused food products earlier this month, leaving edible lovers feeling pretty bleak. The new regulations, gazetted under the Foodstuffs, Cosmetics, and Disinfectants Act of 1972, outlaw any food containing cannabis, hemp seed oil, or hemp seed flour.
The Department of Health says the move is about consumer safety, noting edibles should be regulated under the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority rather than as food. Some argue the cannabis industry has itself to blame. Attorney Richard Anthony Chemaly says lax enforcement and reckless consumption of edibles made a crackdown inevitable. Case in point: in 2023, 90 Pretoria schoolchildren were hospitalised after eating drug-laced muffins.
The ban has sparked backlash from industry leaders, who argue it stifles economic growth. Myron Krost, CEO of Canna Trade Africa, warned that investors might flee South Africa’s budding cannabis sector. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance is calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to overturn the decision, saying it threatens thousands of jobs. The GOOD Party went further, accusing Motsoaledi of “smoking his socks.”
South Africa has a complicated history with cannabis, from its use in traditional healing to its criminalisation under colonial laws. While the 2018 Constitutional Court ruling made private consumption legal, regulation remains a mess. Instead of clearing things up, this ban just adds to the confusion.
So, if you were planning to enjoy a THC-laced brownie this weekend, tough luck. Guess it’s back to regular brownies—just hold the fun.
Read our full story here.
7. Global war roundup: Escalations in Gaza and Ukraine as diplomatic efforts falter
Both Gaza and Ukraine saw intensified fighting this week as diplomatic efforts to broker peace made little progress.
🔹Gaza: 🇵🇸 Israeli forces have intensified their ground and air assaults, flouting the conditions of a fragile ceasefire that lasted nearly two months. Over 400 Palestinians were killed in a single night, making it one of the deadliest days in the ongoing conflict. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called this “only the beginning” of Israel’s latest military offensive against Hamas, but critics argue this is more about politics than security.
The embattled Israeli leader is facing mounting domestic pressure, including corruption trials and backlash over his move to dismiss the head of Shin Bet, Israel’s domestic intelligence agency. Alon Pinkas, former Israeli ambassador to the US, said Netanyahu’s renewed attacks were about “survival politics” rather than strategic military gains.
Hamas, which still holds 59 Israeli captives, has rejected any agreement that does not include a permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal of Israeli troops.
The renewed attacks have enraged families of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement, asking: “Why aren’t you fighting in the negotiations room? Why have you backed out of an agreement that could have brought everyone home?”
Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza is nearing catastrophic levels. Aid agencies warn of severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies as Israel continues to restrict deliveries to areas under heavy bombardment. The UN has called for an immediate truce to prevent further civilian casualties.
🔹Ukraine: 🇺🇦 Russian forces have launched their most intense missile strikes in months, hitting key infrastructure in Kyiv, Sumy, and Bucha. Ukrainian officials say Russia is attempting to weaken the country’s energy grid, resulting in nationwide blackouts. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s counteroffensive has slowed significantly, with reports suggesting Russian troops are reinforcing occupied territories.
As diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Russia unfold over the war in Ukraine, mixed signals are emerging about a possible ceasefire. Despite a high-profile call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Ukrainian cities have faced renewed attacks, raising doubts about Russia’s commitment to de-escalation.
Diplomatic efforts remain stalled, with NATO countries debating whether to send more advanced weaponry, including long-range missiles and additional air defence systems. Russia, meanwhile, has warned of “severe consequences” if Western military support escalates further. French President Emmanuel Macron recently suggested the possibility of sending European troops to Ukraine—a move that was swiftly condemned by Moscow as a direct provocation.
With global powers struggling to mediate, the wars in Gaza and Ukraine are set to drag on, with devastating consequences for civilians caught in the crossfire.
Read our full story here.
8. Bayanda Walaza smashes records and books his ticket to Tokyo
Nineteen-year-old South African sprinting sensation Bayanda Walaza is proving that he’s a force to be reckoned with. Over the past week, he has smashed records and secured his spot at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo later this year. 🏃🏾
At the Athletics Gauteng North Provincial Championships in Pretoria on Saturday, Walaza became the ninth South African in history to run the 100m in under 10 seconds, clocking an electrifying 9.99 seconds. If that wasn’t impressive enough, just days later, on Wednesday night, he broke the national Under-20 record in the 200m at the Athletics South Africa Grand Prix in Johannesburg, clocking 20.08 seconds. Not bad for a first-year university student.
With qualification for the World Championships secured, Walaza is now setting his sights on the South African national championships in Potchefstroom in April.
Walaza’s rise has been meteoric. After clinching Olympic silver in the 100m relay in Paris last year and dominating the World Athletics Junior Championships in Peru with a double gold in the 100m and 200m, expectations were high for him this season.
For Walaza, excelling in just one event isn’t enough—he’s determined to dominate both the 100m and 200m. Having already secured qualification for the World Championships in both races, he is now focused on refining his strategy for the double.
With his confidence soaring after breaking records, Walaza knows the road to Tokyo will require careful planning: “We’ll see as the year goes [on] because it’s still a long [time]… I believe that I’m strong enough, I can do double.”
Walaza’s journey is just beginning, and if this past week is anything to go by, South Africa has a future sprinting superstar in the making. 🙌🏾
Read our full story here.
————–
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. Email info@explain.co.za for a quote.
🇸🇺🇧🇸🇨🇷🇮🇧🇪
Remember to share the love. 💫
Tell your friends to sign up:
📩 Email: https://explain.co.za/subscribe
📲 Our new WhatsApp channel: https://tinyurl.com/4v6mn8aw
_Till next time, goodbye from the team_ ✌🏽
