Daily Maverick

114 stories

Visit website

Russia arrests Swedish man over alleged Ukraine drone plot
The FSB detains a 35-year-old Swede it says trained with Ukraine's Aidar Battalion to carry out sabotage using FPV drones inside Russia.
Reuters · 1m
Bollywood actor told to leave India over protest
Imran Khan, a US citizen and Bollywood actor, has been ordered to leave India by October 28 after joining a rally against the election commission chief.
Reuters · 1m
Boko Haram kills 10 soldiers in Borno base assault
Suspected Boko Haram fighters attacked an army base in northeastern Nigeria on Tuesday night, killing at least 10 soldiers and wounding more than 20 others.
Reuters · 1m
Pakistan school roof collapse kills 28
A private school roof collapsed during classes in Peshawar, killing at least 27 students and a teacher, with authorities warning the death toll could rise.
Reuters · 1m
Test your general knowledge with the Maverick Mind quiz
Daily Maverick invites readers to answer ten questions and check how sharp their general knowledge really is.
Daily Maverick · 1m
New suspect joins Nelson Mandela Bay crime syndicate
A seventh suspect linked to prosecutor Tracy Brown's murder appears in court.
Riaan Marais · 1m
Cosatu breaks with ANC for left-wing pact
Cosatu president Mike Shingange calls for unity with ANC and SACP after breaking exclusive support.
Naledi Mashishi · 1m
Sibiya wiped phones before arrest, court hears
Former deputy police commissioner Shadrack Sibiya's bail hearing enters its third week as prosecutors reveal destroyed evidence and alleged victims oppose his release.
Sikelelekile Pahlana · 2m
ANC faces voter anger over services in Ekurhuleni
Deputy President Mashatile campaigns in Vosloorus as residents demand the party fix corruption, unemployment and failing municipal services before they vote again.
Lunga Simelane · 3m
South Africa's fractured politics finds no dominant voice
Three weeks before local elections, no single narrative dominates national debate as society splinters into separate conversations.
Stephen Grootes · 2m
How Chris Hani smuggled weapons into South Africa
A new biography reveals how the ANC commander built underground networks from Lesotho to move arms, guerrillas and money across borders using tourist minibuses and young operatives.
Zakes Mda · 4m
Mnguni's Johannesburg: one city, not fragments
Rise Mzansi's mayoral candidate pitches a Johannesburg where services and safety reach every neighbourhood, not just the wealthy ones.
Jan Bornman · 2m
Pensioner builds home while government stalls
After three years with no progress on a government housing project, a 67-year-old in Eastern Cape used her pension to build her own house.
Nombulelo Damba-Hendrik and Yamkela Ntshongwana · 2m
Suspended SAA CEO sues airline over permanent job
Matshela Seshibe challenges South African Airways after being excluded from the permanent CEO recruitment process while facing unresolved disciplinary charges.
Lindsey Schutters · 1m
Zapiro marks World News Day with King Kong cartoon
Daily Maverick's cartoonist revisits his World News Day cartoon from September in a new video.
Zapiro · 1m
Middle East war reshapes global power
The US-Israel conflict with Iran is destabilising markets and forcing middle powers to unite for diplomatic solutions in a fractured world order.
Mohamed Cassimjee · 3m
Jake White takes Fiji to 2027 World Cup
Former Springbok coach Jake White has been appointed to lead Fiji to the Rugby World Cup in Australia, with ambitions of going beyond the quarterfinals for the first time.
Craig Ray · 2m
Why your run always starts so hard
The first 10 to 15 minutes feel brutal because your muscles and oxygen system are out of sync. Here's what's happening and how to ease it.
Richard T. Longoria · 2m
Mauritius closes schools after police shooting unrest
A police sergeant provisionally charged after shooting a 27-year-old woman sparks protests and school closures across the island.
Reuters · 1m
Did our baboon series give you the full picture?
Daily Maverick asks readers whether its five-part investigation into Cape Town's baboon conflict provided enough information to form an informed view.
Daily Maverick · 1m
Waiver arrives too late for visa rule victims
South Africa's home affairs minister has waived a rigid 60-day visa filing rule, but thousands already face years of administrative harm from its mechanical application.
Claudia Pizzocri · 2m
Delhi shuts metro as opposition protests voter list purge
Six metro stations close and traffic restrictions imposed as opposition parties march to court demanding the resignation of India's chief election commissioner over a controversial voter list revision.
Reuters · 1m
China sanctions Paraguay and Belize ministers over Taiwan
China punishes two countries' foreign affairs officials for maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan, calling them pawns of separatism.
Reuters · 1m
Mining boom masks wealth inequality crisis
South Africa's extraordinary mining profits have concentrated wealth among the richest while leaving mining communities poor and excluded, raising questions about who really benefits.
Christopher Rutledge · 4m
Cape Town's data centre choice: growth or residents first
The mayor must decide whether to approve a US tech giant's massive data centre that would claim as much power as 250,000 households.
Daniel Hartford · 2m
Houthis strike Saudi airports again after killing 13
One dead and eleven hurt in a new attack on Riyadh airport, a day after Yemen's Houthis killed 13 in a strike that exposed Saudi defence gaps.
Reuters · 2m
Smith's four catches set Test record as Australia dominates
Steve Smith takes four catches on day three to surpass Joe Root's all-time record, helping Australia build a 139-run lead over South Africa in Durban.
Yanga Sibembe · 1m
North Korea fires missiles after South's hypersonic test
North Korea launched multiple ballistic missiles on Monday, its fourth launch in a month, days after South Korea publicly tested a hypersonic weapon.
Reuters · 1m
Who Can We Trust? Prosecutors Fear Safety
Prosecutors say safety concerns remain unresolved over a year after Tracy Brown's murder.
Riaan Marais · 1m
Can spekboom farming save the Eastern Cape?
Mass-planting a drought-tolerant succulent could repair damaged farmland and generate carbon credits, but questions loom over who profits and whether the science holds.
Leonie Joubert · 3m
Outlaw bikers and cartels rev up in South Africa
A Pretoria shooting kills one biker as police uncover massive drug factories and suspect international outlaw gangs are moving in.
Caryn Dolley · 3m
Penguins won the case but lost the fish
South Africa's landmark court agreement to protect African penguins from starvation is unravelling as sardines die and fishing continues.
Adam Cruise · 3m
Student debt crisis forces universities to demand upfront payments
Rhodes University's new fee protocol sparks protests, but experts say the real problem is how funding systems are run, not how much money exists.
Siyabonga Goni · 2m
Court ruling twisted into anti-foreigner rage
A narrow asylum judgment was distorted online into false claims about citizenship and jobs, fuelling anti-foreigner mobilisation in Durban.
Kyle Findlay and Aldu Cornelissen · 2m
Home Affairs' asylum chaos of its own making
A court ruling on asylum procedures sparked xenophobic riots, but the real failure lies in years of closed offices and rejected applications.
Laura Freeman · 2m
Vote for the psychopath, Joburg needs it
Anton Harber argues Johannesburg's next mayor needs ruthlessness and manipulation to fix a broken city.
Anton Harber · 1m
Sharks and Lions face early playoff tests
South African derbies this weekend will show whether the four franchises can sustain a title push through a gruelling season.
Jon Cardinelli · 2m
South Africa's disaster resilience depends on connecting institutions
Dr Haseena Majid argues that South Africa must link its existing disaster management systems with grassroots communities and local knowledge to build true resilience.
Haseena Majid · 2m
71,000 Western Cape learners at risk as bus operators strike over fuel
School transport operators in the Western Cape have suspended a strike pending Friday talks with the education department over soaring diesel costs.
Velani Ludidi · 1m
South Africa's mining deaths surge to 52 in 2026
Minister Gwede Mantashe warns of a deeply concerning regression in mine safety, with fatalities on track to nearly double last year's record low.
Ed Stoddard · 2m
Picture of the day submissions open
Daily Maverick invites First Thing subscribers to share their photographs for weekly publication.
Daily Maverick · 1m
SA helps feed China’s huge desert fish-farming boom, and the sea is paying the crippling price
South Africa’s seafood exports to China surge as Xinjiang’s desert fish farms face sustainability challenges.
Ian Urbina · 2m
The hidden cost of farmed seafood
Fishmeal production that feeds farmed salmon and shrimp exported to South Africa drives overfishing, forced labour, pollution and food insecurity in poorer countries.
Ian Urbina · 3m
High court orders ANC to reinstate Lungisa
A judge rules the ANC unlawfully removed mayoral candidate Andile Lungisa from its Nelson Mandela Bay list weeks before elections.
Nonkululeko Njilo · 1m
Court ruling on asylum seekers sparks violent protests
A Constitutional Court decision on refugee processing triggered riots in Durban and Soweto, fuelled by misinformation about what the ruling actually does.
Reitumetse Pilane · 3m
Crown Prince of Kruger convicted of rhino poaching
A decade-long trial ends with the conviction of a rising ranger and veterinary technician for killing a white rhino in 2016.
Fred Kockott · 2m
Anti-immigrant mob threatens to burn women and children in Pretoria
Violent protests force Home Affairs to reverse its decision to reopen asylum offices after a Constitutional Court ruling.
Seth Thorne, Joseph Bracken, Tsoanelo Sefoloko and Joseph Chirume · 2m
Nortje's return gives Proteas edge in first Test
South Africa's fast bowler Anrich Nortje took two wickets on his return after three years away, helping reduce Australia to 187-6 on day one at Durban.
Yanga Sibembe · 2m
US sanctions ICC hours after Pillay wins Nobel Prize
The Trump administration punishes the International Criminal Court on the same day a former judge receives the Nobel Peace Prize for championing international law.
Reuters · 1m
US to livestream military firing squad execution
The Pentagon will broadcast the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan by firing squad on December 3, an unprecedented move for a US execution.
Reuters · 2m
Coyote sues Acme in Looney Tunes courtroom comeback
After nearly being erased by a tax write-off, Coyote vs. Acme finally reaches cinemas with live-action and animation hybrid comedy.
Sam Spiller · 2m
Plan ahead for business shares after a partner dies
Without a buy-and-sell agreement, a spouse may inherit business shares they cannot sell or manage.
Kenny Meiring · 1m
Why Africa’s agricultural crisis is a matter of race, class and epistemicide
Africa’s agricultural crisis stems from colonialism, land inequality, and the erasure of indigenous knowledge systems.
Nazeer Sonday · 1m
Do survey numbers match the persecution narrative?
A South African social cohesion survey finds most white and Afrikaans-speaking respondents report stability or improvement, challenging international claims of widespread persecution.
Daryl Swanepoel · 3m
Fire destroys Mayfair home, displaces 20 people
A blaze in an overcrowded Johannesburg house exposes the dangers of illegal wiring and unregulated subletting in inner-ring suburbs.
Jamie Ho · 3m
Anti-immigrant mob fuels attack on South Africa's constitution
Xenophobic activists are using immigration anger to undermine constitutional democracy and judicial independence, echoing tactics from the Zuma era.
Mondli Makhanya · 2m
Poland hit by second school attack in two days
A 15-year-old killed one person and injured two at a Polish school on Thursday, the second such attack in as many days.
Reuters · 1m
Proteas prepare for Australia Test clash after Rabada injury
South Africa's Proteas face Australia in Test series after Kagiso Rabada ruled out.
Yanga Sibembe · 1m
University tackles South Africa's homelessness policy void
With no national framework and minimal government action, the University of the Free State is leading a task team to build coordinated responses to homelessness in Mangaung.
Jean-Paul Pophaim · 2m
Britain keeps Jerusalem mission open under new name
After Israel ordered its closure over UK sanctions on settlements, Britain and Israel reach a compromise to keep a scaled-down diplomatic presence.
Reuters · 1m

Daily Maverick

Russia arrests Swedish man over alleged Ukraine drone plot

Bollywood actor told to leave India over protest

Boko Haram kills 10 soldiers in Borno base assault

Pakistan school roof collapse kills 28

Test your general knowledge with the Maverick Mind quiz

New suspect joins Nelson Mandela Bay crime syndicate

Cosatu breaks with ANC for left-wing pact

Sibiya wiped phones before arrest, court hears

ANC faces voter anger over services in Ekurhuleni

South Africa's fractured politics finds no dominant voice

How Chris Hani smuggled weapons into South Africa

Mnguni's Johannesburg: one city, not fragments

Pensioner builds home while government stalls

Suspended SAA CEO sues airline over permanent job

Zapiro marks World News Day with King Kong cartoon

Middle East war reshapes global power

Jake White takes Fiji to 2027 World Cup

Why your run always starts so hard

Mauritius closes schools after police shooting unrest

Did our baboon series give you the full picture?

Waiver arrives too late for visa rule victims

Delhi shuts metro as opposition protests voter list purge

China sanctions Paraguay and Belize ministers over Taiwan

Mining boom masks wealth inequality crisis

Cape Town's data centre choice: growth or residents first

Houthis strike Saudi airports again after killing 13

Smith's four catches set Test record as Australia dominates

North Korea fires missiles after South's hypersonic test

Who Can We Trust? Prosecutors Fear Safety

Can spekboom farming save the Eastern Cape?

Outlaw bikers and cartels rev up in South Africa

Penguins won the case but lost the fish

Student debt crisis forces universities to demand upfront payments

Court ruling twisted into anti-foreigner rage

Home Affairs' asylum chaos of its own making

Vote for the psychopath, Joburg needs it

Sharks and Lions face early playoff tests

South Africa's disaster resilience depends on connecting institutions

71,000 Western Cape learners at risk as bus operators strike over fuel

South Africa's mining deaths surge to 52 in 2026

Picture of the day submissions open

SA helps feed China’s huge desert fish-farming boom, and the sea is paying the crippling price

The hidden cost of farmed seafood

High court orders ANC to reinstate Lungisa

Court ruling on asylum seekers sparks violent protests

Crown Prince of Kruger convicted of rhino poaching

Anti-immigrant mob threatens to burn women and children in Pretoria

Nortje's return gives Proteas edge in first Test

US sanctions ICC hours after Pillay wins Nobel Prize

US to livestream military firing squad execution

Coyote sues Acme in Looney Tunes courtroom comeback

Plan ahead for business shares after a partner dies

Why Africa’s agricultural crisis is a matter of race, class and epistemicide

Do survey numbers match the persecution narrative?

Fire destroys Mayfair home, displaces 20 people

Anti-immigrant mob fuels attack on South Africa's constitution

Poland hit by second school attack in two days

Proteas prepare for Australia Test clash after Rabada injury

University tackles South Africa's homelessness policy void

Britain keeps Jerusalem mission open under new name