Hi there 🙋🏾‍♀️

We don’t know about you, but we’re counting down the hours to the Easter long weekend.

Quick heads up: The Wrap will be taking a short break from 1 to 8 May 2025. We’ll be back in your inbox on 15 May 2025, fresh(ish) and caffeinated.

Now, on to the news. Last week, we told you the GNU was hanging by a thread — well, they’ve booked themselves into couples therapy. Fingers crossed it works.

Elsewhere, Tyla owned Coachella, and Trump declared war on… regulations, universities, and maybe common sense itself. Plus, SA’s new envoy to Washington — will he calm the waters, or rock the boat?

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: 

💬 WhatsApp msg

🔊 Voice note by Verashni

📰 Newsletter with pics

🇳​🇪​🇼​🇸​

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 1. BIG STORY: The GNU is in therapy, and it’s looking good

The ANC and DA are deep into couples counselling mode, trying to salvage their rocky relationship after the bruising VAT fallout that nearly brought down the Government of National Unity (GNU). After a round of meetings with nearly every party in the coalition, the ANC may drop the controversial 0.5% VAT hike — a move no one wanted to support, the Sunday Times reported earlier this week. 

The DA’s leadership met with President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula on Saturday in what both sides called a constructive engagement. 

At the centre of their conversation is a big idea: resetting the GNU. The DA’s Helen Zille said they agreed on the need for a rules-based coalition, starting with last year’s statement of intent. The ANC agrees in principle, with party officials confirming to Daily Maverick that a special National Executive Committee meeting will soon decide whether to officially scrap the VAT hike and reconfigure the GNU. 

It all sounds very mature and exactly what we need as a country.

Meanwhile, the Division of Revenue and Appropriation Bills — key budget laws — still need to pass. Smaller players like ActionSA and Bosa are holding their support hostage, demanding the ANC explore alternatives to the VAT hike within 30 days.

Enter: a new poll by the Institute of Race Relations (IRR) released Tuesday, which has sparked headlines by showing the DA narrowly overtaking the ANC for the first time — with 30.3% support vs. the ANC’s 29.7%. The poll, conducted at the peak of the budget drama, also showed DA support among black voters rising from 5% to 18%.

That said, caution is warranted. The IRR is not exactly objective, and its polling methodology and sample sizes aren’t as robust as longstanding election sentiment surveys like those offered by the Human Sciences Research Council election polls — which typically polls more than 20,000 potential voters versus the IRR’s 807 for this poll. The IRR’s communication head, Hermann Pretorius, emphasised its poll was not a prediction of future election results but a snapshot in time of sentiment among registered voters. 

Pretorius also noted that we shouldn’t write the ANC off just yet. “The ANC is still competitive, if it returns to an era of Mbeki-era pragmatism…, it could reclaim public trust and electoral strength.”

Stay tuned: GNU 2.0 is in session.

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ 2. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE: AI dolls, Coachella queens and space tourists

We scroll so you don’t have to. Here are the most deeply unserious reactions the internet had to offer this week.

Okay then, sir!  👀 He’s referring to Katy Perry’s and five other women’s trip on billionaire Jeff Bezos’s Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket on Monday, marking the first all-female flight since 1963, as we mentioned last week. Perry said: “Space is finally going to be glam…We are going to put the “ass” in “astronaut”’. That’s a sentence if there ever was one.

For a whole 11 minutes, from takeoff to touchdown, they weren’t afraid to “take up space” as the group put it. But while those on board celebrated this as encouraging women to reach for the stars, social media nailed it as a performative classist ego trip.

Mzansi’s Queen of Popiano, and apparently our collective niece, made her debut at global music’s premium festival, Coachella, last Friday. She’s blessing us with a second round tomorrow as well. 🎶

Fans, attendees and the internet alike are Bacardi dancing in joy since the Water-hitmaker was supposed to perform last year but had to cancel due to an injury, much to her and fans’ immense disappointment at the time. Yay for second chances!

A new day, a new trend = turning yourself into an Action Figure Doll — personalised, in its original packaging with mini lattes and laptops included. You’ve probably seen it. It’s flooded everyone’s timelines, and there are some (okay, a lot 🫠) who aren’t too pleased. Reactions range from “You’re killing the planet” (thanks to the enormous resources it takes to run an AI query) to “This is cringe”. 

▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS:

3. Trump’s America descends into further chaos 

America’s not just in crisis — it’s starting to dismantle itself in real time.

This week, The New York Times reported that Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) have turned their chainsaw from decimating government agencies towards a historic gutting of US regulations. From food safety to mining rules and nursing home care, DOGE is tearing through decades of protections, often without public input. One memo, literally titled “DELETE, DELETE, DELETE,” laid out the plan.

It’s the most aggressive regulatory rollback in modern US history — and it’s happening quietly. Legal scholars warn it could instantly erode protections Americans take for granted, from clean water to safe meat, plane safety and minimum wages. 

Trump also launched a full-blown assault on Harvard, after the elite university refused to comply with government instructions on hiring, admissions and course content — demands widely seen as an attack on academic freedom. In a powerful statement, Harvard President Alan Garber wrote: “No government… should dictate what private universities can teach.”

The Trump administration responded by freezing $2.2 billion in federal grants and contracts, and is now considering revoking Harvard’s tax-exempt status despite being barred from meddling with the tax authority. The New York Times editorial board praised Harvard’s defiance, calling it a “vital path to fighting President Trump’s war on the independence of higher education” — and a possible spark for broader resistance. It’s needed, as law firms and universities are bullied, the judiciary defied, visa notices revoked with little to no notice or explanation, and one man deported erroneously to a notorious El Salvador prison and forgotten. 

All this comes just days after Trump flip-flopped again on his global tariff regime, as we told you previously. After sending markets into a panic with massive import taxes (30% for SA), he backtracked with a 90-day suspension and a flat 10% tariff— except for China, who faces tariffs up to a mind-bending 245% (for now 👀).

So yes, it’s a mess. Gutted citizen protections, academic censorship, economic whiplash — and it’s just Thursday. But with protests growing and institutions like Harvard refusing to bend, the resistance is finally finding its voice.

4. Rory McIlroy finally gets his Green Jacket – and golfing immortality

It’s been a long time coming – 14 years to be exact – but Ireland’s Rory McIlroy has finally won the US Masters, becoming just the sixth male golfer in history to achieve the elusive career Grand Slam. That means he’s now won all four of golf’s major tournaments: the US Masters, the US Open, the Open Championship (aka the British Open), and the PGA Championship. He joins the likes of Tiger Woods and SA’s own Gary Player in the sport’s most elite club.

But it wasn’t easy. McIlroy started the final round with a slim lead, only to double-bogey the first hole. He bounced back with some birdies, building a solid four-stroke lead by the 13th hole. Then came the nerves – a double bogey and more dropped shots wiped out his advantage. He ended the round tied with England’s Justin Rose, forcing a sudden-death playoff. 

For the non-golfers: birdie = one shot under par; bogey = one over; double bogey = two over. A par is the predetermined number of strokes a golfer is expected to take to complete a hole or a round.

In the playoff, both returned to the 18th. McIlroy nailed a near-perfect shot and sunk a birdie putt. Rose couldn’t match him. Cue tears, a cheering crowd, and McIlroy dropping to his knees in relief.

It’s a moment that’s haunted him since 2011, when he had a big lead in the final round but crumbled under pressure. He’s picked up four other majors since then, but the Masters kept slipping away – until now.

“This is my 17th time here,” he said. “I started to wonder if it would ever be my time.”

The win also breaks his 11-year drought in major titles. “I’ve carried that burden since August 2014,” he admitted. But this time, he held his nerve.

For McIlroy, this win isn’t just about a trophy – it’s the fulfilment of a lifelong dream. “I have literally made my dreams come true,” he said, with a message for fans: work hard and anything’s possible. (Except maybe overcoming the structural inequalities of late stage capitalism 😆)

Read the full article here.

5. Joshlin Smith case: All eyes on confessions as trial hits key point 

It’s been almost two months since the trial into six-year-old Joshlin Smith’s disappearance kicked off in the Western Cape High Court (sitting in Saldanha Bay), and South Africans are still glued to proceedings. Her mom, Racquel “Kelly” Smith, her mother’s boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis, and their friend, Steveno van Rhyn, are on trial for allegedly selling Joshlin to a sangoma for R20,000. All three have pleaded not guilty.

The court is now tackling a crucial question: Should two confessions—made by Appollis and Van Rhyn—be allowed as evidence? If yes, it could be game-changing. If not, the prosecution may have a tougher time.

The two men made statements implicating Smith and themselves, claiming they handed Joshlin over to someone known as “Makalima” on 19 February — the day she disappeared. But now they’re saying police forced those confessions out of them.

Appollis told the court he was assaulted by cops who put a plastic bag over his head and told him, “Today you will die.” He says they told him what to write. Van Rhyn claims his statement was also coached, and a video of him confessing shows him supposedly half-asleep and out of it. His lawyer argues he didn’t fully understand what was happening.

The police have denied allegations of forcing and torturing the two accused. As the trial continues, the court must decide whether the confession statements will be admitted as evidence. This trial-within-a-trial could shape the direction of the case moving forward. As Judge Nathan Erasmus put it, this part of the trial “can make or break this case.”

We’ll keep you posted as the case unfolds.

Read the full story here.

6. Down the rabbit hole: Where does Easter come from? 

The Easter long weekend is here – cue the hot cross buns, pastel colours and, for many, a bit of church and family time. But what’s really behind all the eggs, bunnies and “He is risen” messages?

At its core, Easter is a Christian holiday that marks Jesus’s resurrection, three days after his crucifixion. It’s one of the most important days in the Christian calendar. But over the years, the religious origins have gotten tangled with other, more colourful traditions.

One popular internet theory is that the word Easter comes from Ishtar, a Mesopotamian goddess of war and fertility, whose symbols allegedly included eggs. Sounds juicy – but there’s no historical proof for this link. Sorry, TikTok theologians.

The more likely, but still shaky, theory is that the word Easter comes from Eostre, a supposed Germanic goddess celebrated in spring. But we don’t have any shrines, altars, or ancient texts confirming she was even worshipped. Academic vibes, but not quite convincing.

And the bunny? Blame Germany again. The Oschter Haws, or Easter Hare, was said to lay colourful eggs for well-behaved children – a tale dating back to the 1500s. Honestly, it sounds straight out of a Brothers Grimm fairytale. 💀

As for eggs and bunnies, both are old-school symbols of new life – a neat fit with spring and the idea of resurrection. But no, there’s no gospel verse where Jesus hands out chocolate.

So, whether you’re celebrating the resurrection, the changing season, or just enjoying a four-day weekend, now you know where it (kind of) comes from. Happy Easter! 🐣

7. A new chapter – or a misstep? Jonas appointed amid US-South Africa tensions 

South Africa’s new special envoy to the US, Mcebisi Jonas, hasn’t even started yet — and already the heat is on. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed the former deputy finance minister and state capture whistleblower last week, calling it a strategic move. 

Appointing Jonas as special envoy instead of an ambassador lets SA sidestep formal processes like credential approvals, giving Jonas more flexibility — and Ramaphosa some room to manoeuvre around a volatile Trump White House that’s grown increasingly hostile.

Since his return in January, Trump has slashed aid, imposed tariffs (then froze them), and threatened to skip the G20 in Joburg — all while pushing debunked conspiracy claims about land seizures and “white genocide”

But the appointment sparked backlash almost immediately over comments Jonas made in 2020, calling then-President Donald Trump a “racist, homophobe” and “narcissistic right-winger.”

Local right-wing figures, including AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel and Solidarity’s Jaco Kleynhans, say Jonas’s Trump comments disqualify him. Former EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi even warned that the US may reject Jonas outright, as they did with former ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, who was declared persona non grata after describing the MAGA movement as “supremacist.”

Still, the outrage feels selective. As journalist Redi Tlhabi noted, Trump himself has weathered worse insults from his own appointees. Brent Bozell, Trump’s newly appointed ambassador to South Africa, once called Trump “a charlatan and a shameless self-promoter.” If that didn’t disqualify Bozell, why should Jonas be held to a different standard?

Meanwhile, Jonas has acknowledged the “complex situation” and asked South Africans for patience. “There are no quick fixes,” he said. “But the US relationship is fundamentally important for the national agenda.”

Jonas is a respected political figure, a business heavyweight as chair of MTN Group, and someone with credibility in both government and corporate circles. Political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast notes he “knows how to sell SA to the markets” — and perhaps, to Washington too.

With over 600 American companies operating locally and major trade on the line, South Africa can’t afford a diplomatic freeze. But maybe, just maybe, Jonas is the right man for an impossible mission. 

Read the full article here.

8. Vusi’s latest drama? A courtroom clash 

Motivational speaker and serial headline-grabber Vusi Thembekwayo is back in the spotlight—only this time, it’s not for one of his TED Talk-style rants about success. Instead, he’s being sued. For over R13 million. Eish!

His former business partner, Rovian Justin Naidoo, says Thembekwayo ghosted him on a deal they had for the company My Growth Fund Venture Partners. Naidoo claims he negotiated a sweet rental deal for the company and was promised a 50% stake in return. That never materialised, so now he’s lawyered up.

Vusi says the fraud claims are “untrue, baseless, and sensationalist” and insists Naidoo should open a criminal case if he really thinks fraud was committed. 

If you’ve been keeping tabs on Mr Thembekwayo, you’ll know this isn’t his first public fallout. Let’s rewind:

🔹 Messy divorce drama: In 2021, his ex-wife Palesa Mahlolo accused him of assault. The charges were later dropped after Palesa couldn’t recall key details. They also tussled over a fancy Steyn City property. Messy doesn’t even begin to cover it.

🔹 Mentorship or moneymaking? Radio host Sizwe Dhlomo has had beef with Thembekwayo for years, calling his mentorship programmes “enrichment schemes”. They’re now in court over defamation.

🔹 Those degrees though? Dhlomo also accused Vusi of faking his Hult Business School qualifications, which allegedly led to him being booted from a key industry board. Yikes.

One thing’s for sure—Vusi Thembekwayo’s brand of hustle sure knows how to stir a headline. As Biggie once said: mo’ money, mo’ problems.

Read the full article 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://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vac06yM8kyyLmOulb80J 

_Till next time, goodbye from the team_ ✌🏽

+ posts