From jaw-dropping political drama to celebrity chaos, 2025 delivered moments that made us collectively say, “Yoh!” more than once. Here are our top three moments:
🔹The Madlanga Commission: A soap opera unmasking criminal cops
Kicking off mid-year, the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry turned into the ultimate political thriller, revealing how criminal networks had infiltrated South Africa’s police service.
Testimony from senior police (like original whistleblower Lt‑Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi) has painted a disturbing picture: Thugs like the so‑called “Big Five cartel” allegedly colluding with senior officers, enabling drug‑trafficking, tender fraud, assassinations and political meddling.
Launched in June on Uncle Cyril’s command, the probe has exposed a “state capture 2.0” when it comes to law enforcement. But sunlight is the best disinfectant, and we’re just glad the process of accountability can now begin, and hopefully, cleaning up our police service.
🔹2025’s wildest romances 🔥
Most surprising coupling: Katy Perry & Justin Trudeau.
In a year when political drama and celebrity gossip collided, the pop‑star–ex‑Prime Minister pairing of Katy Perry and Canada’s Justin Trudeau took the cake for “Wait, what?!” in the romance department. On Saturday, Perry went Instagram‑official with Trudeau, confirming months of whispers about their whirlwind romance.
Most entertaining split: ColdplayGate’s kiss-cam
ColdplayGate erupted in July when a Boston concert’s kiss-cam caught Astronomer CEO Andy Byron cuddling his colleague and Chief People Officer Kristin Cabot, both married to other people! The video clip went viral within hours, sparking a fallout that led to Byron’s resignation and a messy divorce saga. In a brilliant marketing move, Astronomer contained the chaos by hiring Coldplay frontman Chris Martin’s ex‑wife, Gwyneth Paltrow, as a “very temporary” spokesperson, in a hilariously tongue‑in‑cheek video focusing on the data operations firm’s offerings.
🔹Trump and Musk’s unhinged SA obsession
Throughout 2025, Donald Trump lobbed repeated, baseless attacks at South Africa, from February’s social media threats to slash US aid over claims of mistreatment of white farmers, to November’s dramatic US boycott of the Joburg G20 and exclusion of SA from next year’s summit, hosted by the US. Poland has now been invited by the US to take our place at next year’s G20. But here’s the bright side: the global response. Poland said they won’t participate at SA’s expense. Other member states have agreed to warn Trump’s administration that sidelining SA comes at a great risk to the cohesion of the forum. And the international media has overwhelmingly shut down the myth of a white genocide in SA.
