Hi there 🙋🏾♀️
The Madlanga Commission resumed this week, and we’re currently moving at a 100 yohs a minute with everything being revealed.
Meanwhile, Lucky Montana has gone toe to toe with SARS, and it’s been hilarious (and cringe) to watch. Not so lucky after all, huh? The President is looking for the next head of the NPA. Find out who’s on the panel and why we’re side-eyeing the entire process. 👀
Could AI root out tenderpreneurs? Treasury seems to think so. We also unpack who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and why Trump isn’t a fan. In sports, siyaya e America after Bafana Bafana qualified for the World Cup after 23 years (on their own merit)!
Globally, it’s been a week since the ceasefire in Gaza, and there’s developments to talk about. We end off with mourning the loss of former Kenyan prime minister Raila Odinga and the 42 passengers who passed in a bus crash.
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:
🔊 Voice note by Verashni
📰 Newsletter with pics
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS
NATIONAL
- SARS has called Tshepo Lucky Montana’s bluff. In his battle with the taxman, the former Prasa boss accused SARS of faking a court judgment. If he was hoping taxpayer confidentiality would protect him, he was wrong. Citing a legal clause allowing it to counter “false statements,” SARS released court papers alleging he failed to declare over R36 million between 2009 and 2019, racking up a R55 million tax bill. If he’s declared insolvent, it could cost his seat as an MK MP. 👀
- At least 42 people were killed in Limpopo on Sunday in a bus crash. The cross-border vehicle, travelling from South Africa’s Eastern Cape to Zimbabwe and Malawi, veered off a mountain road near Makhado and plunged into a ravine. More than 30 others were injured as rescue teams worked through the night to find survivors. The bitter irony? It happened during Transport Month, meant to promote road safety.
- Ramaphosa has kicked off the search for South Africa’s next top prosecutor, but his chosen selection panel is already under fire. The team, chaired by Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi (who’s not a lawyer), will shortlist candidates to replace NPA boss Shamila Batohi when her term ends in early 2026. Critics, including the DA, say the panel doesn’t have enough hands-on legal or prosecutorial experience… which matters when you’re picking someone to lead the country’s entire criminal justice system. 👀
Read our full explainer here. - The National Treasury plans to use artificial intelligence to spot dodgy tenders and curb corruption in government contracts. 🤖 Announced this week, the move is part of a five-year plan to digitise South Africa’s entire procurement system by 2030. The new e-procurement platform will automate much of the tender process, speeding up approvals and improving transparency. Treasury says human oversight will still be key for complex decisions — but if done right, AI could be the public sector’s new corruption watchdog.
- Big news in the fight against HIV: South Africa is set to roll out the world’s first twice-yearly prevention jab in April 2026. 💉 The shot, called lenacapavir, only needs to be taken every six months and could dramatically reduce infection rates. Funded by international and local grant organisations, the first rollout will cover about 456,000 people across six provinces. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says it’s “groundbreaking”, but warns supply will be tight at first.
INTERNATIONAL
- Madagascar’s military has hijacked youth-led protests to seize power in the island nation. The anti-government demonstrations saw President Andry Rajoelina lose control, leading to his impeachment by parliament on Tuesday. But the military took advantage of the instability to overturn the democratic process. Colonel Michael Randrianirina led a takeover and was sworn in as president on Friday, saying the army would rule for up to two years before elections. It’s the sixth Francophone African nation under military rule since 2020. 😕
- Kenya’s former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, sadly passed away on Wednesday. 🇰🇪 The 80-year-old political heavyweight suffered a heart attack while receiving treatment in India. Often called the “father of Kenya’s democracy,” Odinga spent decades pushing for multiparty rule and ran for president five times. President William Ruto hailed him as “a beacon of courage” and declared a week of national mourning. A state funeral with full honours will follow for the man who defined modern-day Kenyan politics and inspired generations.
- The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday. Yup, US President Donald Trump fell short despite his aggressive lobbying. He wasn’t really eligible time-wise, but insisted all those wars he (often inaccurately) claims to have ended meant he should have won anyway. Machado eased tensions by thanking Trump for his support under Nicolás Maduro’s despotic rule. Following Machado’s win, Maduro’s government closed its embassy in Norway, citing “restructuring” and branded Machado a “demonic witch.” Charming.
- Elon Musk and Trevor Noah are at it again, proving South African exports don’t always get along abroad. 🇿🇦 Musk slammed Noah on X this week after the comedian joked about the assassination of US commentator Charlie Kirk, pointing out the irony: “The guy was shot while defending guns.” The billionaire called Noah “a libtard cuck” who “needs to get the woke virus out of his brain.” It’s not their first clash either — Noah once called Musk a “con artist.” 😳
- Move over steel — the future might just be wooden.🪵 This month, US startup InventWood officially launched Superwood, a new material 10 times stronger than steel and six times lighter. Developed over a decade of research, the material is made by chemically treating and compressing real wood. It’s so tough it could replace metal parts in furniture and even buildings. The kicker? It emits 90% less carbon than steel. Could wooden skyscrapers be the next big thing?
▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BIG STORIES
1️⃣Gaza Ceasefire: A week of breakthroughs and brewing tension
After two devastating years of war, the guns in Gaza finally fell silent last Friday.
It is the first major reprieve in the conflict since Hamas’s October 2023 attack triggered Israel’s devastating military response.
How did it happen?
At the beginning of September, an increasingly cocky Israel carried out a targeted strike in Qatar against Hamas leaders. The problem this time? Qatar is a key US ally. Israel had majorly misstepped. “Trump, who has a longstanding relationship with the Qataris, issued a surprisingly sharp rebuke of the Israeli attack,” reported Politico.
The strike also galvanised Arab leaders into action. On the sidelines of the recent UN General Assembly, they presented Trump with a detailed peace proposal.
For Trump, who reportedly lost interest in the Ukraine–Russia war and has been desperate to polish his “global peacemaker” image (and, yes, chase that elusive Nobel Prize), it was the perfect stage. Once focused, he acted like a bulldozer, leaning hard on Israel while Arab leaders pressed Hamas to play ball.
So, what does the ceasefire deal actually involve?
🔹Hostage exchange: Hamas handed over the last 20 living Israeli hostages on Monday, after 738 days in captivity. In exchange, Israel freed nearly 2,000 Palestinian detainees, including 250 serving life sentences.
🔹Ceasefire and aid access: Both sides agreed to stop attacks and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The UN began ramping up relief efforts for the hundreds of thousands displaced.
But by Tuesday, the cracks were showing. Here’s what’s threatening to unravel the fragile truce:
🔹Hostage body confusion: One of the bodies returned to Israel turned out not to be a hostage, sparking outrage. Hamas claims some remain buried under rubble (a consequence of Israel’s brutal bombings throughout Gaza ); Israel accuses them of stalling.
🔹Aid restrictions: Netanyahu has cut daily UN aid convoys from 500 trucks to just 300, excluding fuel and gas, and kept the crucial Rafah border closed.
🔹Violence on the buffer zone: Israeli troops opened fire on “suspects” near the designated no-go zone, killing nine Palestinians, in the first lethal breach since the truce began.
Talks are now underway in Egypt on “Phase Two” of the plan. The next steps? Hamas must disarm (which they have only partially agreed to), a new Palestinian technocratic government may take shape (former British PM Tony Blair’s name is oddly in the mix), and a full Israeli withdrawal could follow.
As for the people of Gaza, many are already moving back into the wreckage of their former homes, while the UN scrambles to roll out humanitarian relief. With over 67,000 Palestinians dead and 78% of buildings reduced to rubble, the road ahead is long and fragile.
2️⃣The Madlanga mayhem continues: Security concerns and anonymous testimonies
Hearings kicked off again on Monday at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, and it’s continuing to turn heads and uncover explosive truths.
Established in July 2025 by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the inquiry is on a mission to root out corruption, criminal syndicates, and political interference that have infiltrated South Africa’s justice system. Chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, the investigation has laid bare shocking evidence of systemic rot across policing.
Evidence leaders pushed for closed-door “in-camera” sessions through the week to shield sensitive witnesses from retaliation by the very syndicates they’re naming (and shaming).
Media giants like News24 and Daily Maverick fought back hard, arguing it slammed the door on press freedom and public transparency. Justice Madlanga brokered a compromise: Witnesses could testify anonymously and remotely, with voices masked and answers relayed through an evidence leader like Advocate Thabang Pooe. Transcripts and exhibits would drop publicly afterwards to keep the light on.
Enter “Witness X” on Tuesday, the star of the show, dropping intel on ongoing probes into syndicate infiltration tied to the shadowy “Big Five” cartel. But technical glitches nearly blew their cover, risking exposure of their identity and sparking a frantic security breach alert. Proceedings ground to a halt mid-testimony on Tuesday and remained postponed yesterday, with the commission scrambling to patch the holes.
Still, “Witness X” brought receipts, WhatsApp chats showing top brass like KZN Hawks head Major General Lesetja Senona, crime expert Calvin Rafadi, and Ekurhuleni Metro Police chief Julius Mkhwanazi allegedly chasing payouts from underworld kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.
Earlier bombshells dropped by figures like Mkhwanazi and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola have detailed shocking abuses of power, including illegal task team dissolutions and cartel protection.
Running parallel to the Madlanga Commission’s sweeping judicial probe, Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee on the SAPs has also been grabbing headlines this week. The committee has been juggling many of the same allegations, but has a narrower oversight power. Today and tomorrow, suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu will face questions about his ties to shady underworld figures, with former police minister Bheki Cele slated to follow.
Both inquiries are peeling back layers on a justice system that’s more sieve than shield. As more witnesses step forward, including potentially President Ramaphosa, the pressure is on.
3️⃣Bafana are going to the World Cup – for real this time!
It’s official! Bafana Bafana have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, after a crucial 3-0 victory against Rwanda at Mbombela Stadium on Tuesday. For the first time since 2002, South Africa will be playing at the global showpiece on merit. (We hosted in 2010 and automatically qualified, remember?)
South Africa has joined nine other African countries who’ve already booked their tickets to the United States, Canada and Mexico, where next year’s World Cup will be jointly hosted. With one spot remaining for an African team, Nigeria, Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Cameroon (runners-up in their respective groups) will have to battle it out at the CAF 2026 World Cup playoffs in Morocco, with semi-finals set for 13 November 2025 and final on 16 November 2025.
It hasn’t been an easy road for Bafana Bafana and national coach Hugo Broos. During the African FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, which started back in November 2023, Bafana competed in Group C alongside Rwanda, Nigeria, Benin, Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Bafana started off strong, managing to win five, draw three and lose two games, but faced setbacks that threatened to derail their campaign to the World Cup.
First, FIFA docked the team three points after fielding an ineligible player, Teboho Mokoena, in their 2-0 victory over Lesotho. Additionally, Hugo Broos’ side struggled in their last two qualifiers, when they drew 1-1 with the second-placed Nigeria and 0-0 against Zimbabwe, who finished last in group C.
However, Bafana bounced back in style, topping their group with 18 points and reawakening Mzansi’s long-lost football pride.
Under Broos’ leadership, SA have managed to restore a sense of pride in South African football, having also finished third in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
This qualification signifies a historic moment for South Africa and brings back hope to the country. It’s time for Bafana Bafana to return to the world stage after 16 years. 🙌🏾
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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