26 April 2025
No one is coming to save us, no one is eating your pets, and someone spent a Sunday in Zurich – it's all in this edition of News24's The Weekender!
This week, Nickolaus Bauer reminds us that no one is coming to save us, Jozi my Jozi's Bea Swanepoel talks to Anneliese Burgess about their a non-profit "coalition of the willing" working to rejuvenate Johannesburg's inner city, Nokuthula Manyathi gives tips for spending a Sunday in Zurich, Andrew Thompson has some reassurance for paranoid pet owners, and Janine van der Post talks cars with Suidooster's Dean Smith.
Happy reading, and share your feedback with us!
- Hanlie Gouws
THIS WEEK IN THE
South Africans, we are on our own. No one is coming to save us
We've spent so long waiting for another political Messiah that we've forgotten the only way he succeeded was through the will of the people. But Nickolaus Bauer says no one is coming to save us. This is it. It's us. We are the plan. The only thing left to believe in is us. And the best way forward is radical communal self-reliance.
Read 'The Weekend Essay' here
Bea Swanepoel on saving Jozi, downtown jazz, and why she's 'the champagne lady'
Bea Swanepoel is the CEO of Jozi My Jozi, a non-profit "coalition of the willing" working to rejuvenate Johannesburg's inner city. Anneliese Burgess speaks to her about what has been achieved, why she likes to get lost in "weird precincts", and why your eyes need to be "on your feet" when you hit the city streets.
Read the exclusive interview here
THIS WEEK IN THE
While AI sucks power and robots run races, Mzansi wins the misery World Cup
From polite AI users funding eco-disasters to Finland's smug happiness and twins in sync, Jonathan Ancer's weekly news to share around the braai proves the world's as tjatjarag as ever - especially here at home.
Read this week's Braai Briefing here
Zurich pickings: How to spend a Sunday - and R2 000 - in Switzerland
Nokuthula Manyathi recently spent time in Zurich, Switzerland, and decided to see how much of the capital she could soak up in one day for R2 000 (or just under 100 euros).
Read here
THIS WEEK IN
Not fur real: Homeless people in Cape Town are NOT stealing and eating your pets
A Facebook post circulating in Cape Town pet groups claims that homeless people are stealing, killing, and eating pets. It may sound like a throwback to 2024, when Donald Trump made similar allegations about immigrants in the United States - but it fits into a longstanding, unsubstantiated narrative common to the darker corners of South African neighbourhood watch groups, writes Andrew Thompson.
Read the story here
Vance, Mashatile, the Pope, Shivambu and Bushiri walk into a...
This week, we focus on the lying of politicians, the essence of praying, and how our leaders are all singing kumbaya for VAT.
Read here
THIS WEEK IN THE
BITE CLUB | Cape Town's newest Mexican eatery brings the fiesta, but not all the flavours
Cape Town's newest Mexican Eatery Chingadas may not have blown Hannah Littlewood away with bold, unforgettable flavours just yet, but its magnetic energy is impossible to deny.
Read the review here
Suidooster's Dean Smith is madly in love with his sporty (if slightly messy) car
Dean Smith is quite the character in the much-loved local soapie, Suidooster, as Wade. But, the young actor and creative from Malmesbury who spends his days pretending to be someone else also comes across as a calm, cool and collected adult in real life, and he's just naturally hilarious without even trying. He talks to Janine van der Post about his beloved VW Polo.
Take a peek at his wheels here
THIS WEEK IN
All the Other Mothers Hate Me: Sarah Harman on her much-anticipated debut novel
The implosion of Sarah Harman's career in broadcast television paid out more dividends than the "recovering journalist" could ever have imagined. Turns out that the author's career derailment had her penning one of the most anticipated reads of 2025 – a sardonic ode to modern motherhood, writes Samantha Herbst.
Read more here
THIS WEEK IN
Scions of Sinai: The anatomy of a single-vineyard wine
Bernhard Bredell channels seven generations of Helderberg farming heritage into some of South Africa's most distinctive wines. Daléne Fourie takes a look at seven of their vintage releases from 2024.
Read more here
From Oklou, Internet Girl and Weed420... to prog rock by Pope Francis
Joel Ontong returns with his Weekender playlist which takes a look at the biggest hits from April and music that colours outside the lines.
Listen here
Are celebs making marriage an attractive option for women again?
For a long time, it seemed like women around the world, and in South Africa too, were put off by the idea of sharing their lives with men. But now, it appears celebrities are making marriage, or at least lifelong partnerships, attractive again, writes Nthabi Nhlapo.
Read 'This life with Nthabi Nhlapo' here
THIS WEEK IN
These must-see movies and series are on our radar this week.
Read here
PODCAST | Catch up with The Lead
Missed out on some of the biggest stories of the week? Join The Lead host Graeme Raubenheimer in candid and honest conversations with News24's leading journalists. In each 20-minute edition, you'll gain insight into what they saw, heard and uncovered in the pursuit of the big story. This week, we spoke to investigative journalist Jeff Wicks about a dodgy SAPS tender involving a businessman known only as "The Cat", turned to the News24 Disinformation Desk to debunk Malema and Trump's populist rhetoric, and waded into the alleged attempt on the life of Deputy President Paul Mashatile that never was.
Recap this week's podcasts on The Lead here
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Production Editor: Hanlie Gouws
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Image credits: Drew Beamer | Unsplash; nickolausbauer | Instagram; Deaan Vivier | Beeld | Gallo Images; Felix Dlangamandla | Foto24 | Getty Images via Gallo Images; Jekesai Njikizana | AFP; Sharon Seretlo | Gallo Images; Rosetta Msimango | News24; Storm Simpson | News24; artKaisen | Canva; @formatoriginalphotos | Canva; Alfonso Nqunjana | News24; Anadolu | Getty Images; Boris Breytman | Getty Images; lkpro | Getty Images; Janoka82 | Getty Images; Ricky Deacon | Getty Images; Manfred Gottschalk | Getty Images; Nokuthula Manyathi | News24; Wong Yu Liang | Getty Images; Frennez | Canva; Humblino | Canva; Grafinka | Canva; Kvasvector | Canva; Ralfschmitzer | Canva; Salbine B | Amaré Creative | Canva; MiroNovak | Getty Images; sparklestroke | Canva; Zainadria | Canva; Lana Veter | Canva; Arthur Campanholo | Pexels | Canva; Bite Club | Kelly Anderson; chingadas.za | Instagram; Hannah Littlewood | News24 contributor; Dean Smith | Supplied; Scions of Sinai Wine | Instagram; Bertram Malgas | News24; Lita from Lali | Canva; @sviridenko-anna | Canva; ibreakstock | Canva; Billion Photos | Canva; Annie Spratt | Unsplash; Mike Setchell | Unsplash; Wolf Zimmermann | Unsplash; Alona Horkova | Getty Images; Ksenia Chernaya | Pexels | Canva; Billion Photos | Canva; BooBoo Studio | Canva; Fani Mahuntsi | Gallo Images.
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New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Why Kylian Mbappe has invested in France's SailGP team: ‘I'm a very curious person'
Kylian Mbappe admits he knows next to nothing about sailing. At a breakfast on the top floor of a boutique Parisian hotel, just a stone's throw from Roland Garros where week one of the French Open is in full swing, the Real Madrid forward is talking about how he sees the sport as part of his legacy, how it can inspire the young people in his foundation. Advertisement The 26-year-old France captain, a World Cup winner at just 19 and one of the world's most feted soccer players, also helps clear up the predominant question of the day: why has he invested in the French SailGP team? 'Well, the first thing is that as a French person,' he tells The Athletic, 'I've always wanted to support my compatriots. I've always wanted to support French sport, so that was already a first factor. 'The second is because SailGP does a lot of things socially for children. And to have been able to involve my foundation (Inspired by Kylian Mbappe, IBKM) with SailGP is really something that fills me with joy because we share a lot of values and we have a lot of projects planned together for the future.' SailGP is a high-speed, close-to-shore international championship consisting of 12 national teams racing in identical carbon-fiber catamarans head-to-head over a 12-month season, which runs from November to November. 'I'm just starting out, I'm a beginner,' he says of his SailGP knowledge. 'I'm really trying grasp the basics for now to really understand what it's about. But learning new things, that's something I've always been passionate about, so I'm a good student.' Mbappe, who bought a stake in France's team in March, is one of many global stars associating themselves with a championship now in its fifth season. Four-time Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel was a founding investor in the German team. Last month, actor Anne Hathaway was named among the female-led ownership group of the Italian team, while on Thursday, it was announced Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds were the new co-owners of the Australian team. The U.S. team has a plethora of stars behind them, too, with former Milwaukee Bucks owner Marc Lasry last year leading a group of investors who acquired the team for $35million (£27.2m). Advertisement A factor not to be overlooked is the skyrocketing value of the national teams' franchises. This is a fledgling global circuit still just six years young, so when Sir Ben Ainslie bought the franchise for the British team in 2022, it's believed he paid less than $5m. Just three years later, SailGP founder and CEO Russell Coutts says he wouldn't sell a franchise for less than $50m. 'By the end of this season, we'll be seeing $100m valuations for teams,' he told The Athletic earlier this year. SailGP is running hot right now and despite no prior interest in sailing, it's not hard to see how Mbappe was convinced to invest in the French team headed by former Olympic sailor Quentin Delapierre. But Mbappe wants the association with Delapierre's team to run a lot deeper than pure financial play because he says he sees SailGP as an ideal vehicle for inspiring some of the 98 teenagers and young adults on his program. Gathered at the breakfast on Mbappe's return to his home city are eight IBKM members, aged 16 to 20. They are there to meet Delapierre for the first time, as he starts preparing them for a trip to New York, where they'll experience a SailGP grand prix at first hand, right in the core of the Big Apple. Mbappe sounded envious not to be joining them this weekend for the grand prix, which will be held on Upper New York Bay on Saturday and Sunday. 'I want them to have the freedom to create their own experience, their own memories, because they are the ones who will live it,' he says. 'They'll also learn the meaning of sacrifice, the meaning of hard work, because they'll see how much work it takes to get a result, seeing the preparation for a major competition. Of course, I don't know what they plan to do with their lives in the future, but they will see the mental preparation (of the sailors), seeing how much self-control and management of emotions (is involved).' Mbappe set up IBKM in 2020 to help young children forge a strong direction in life. Working closely with his mother, Fayza, who is also sitting in on The Athletic's interview, the forward, only the second man to score a hat-trick at a World Cup final, wants his legacy to be more than what he has achieved on the football pitch. Advertisement 'I wanted to reach out to young people around the world, just as someone once reached out to me, and give them the strength to believe in their dreams and write their own stories,' he says of the foundation. 'We want to inspire and support these young people through sport, education and culture.' While Mbappe won't be able to join his eight apprentices for the New York leg of the championship, he's planning to attend a grand prix at some point this season or next. 'Depending on my schedule, I will certainly try to see if it will be possible to be there, because it's another thing to see it for real rather than watching it on TV. Like any other sport, you want to feel the energy, the passion and the whole sense of sacrifice that's required when you're trying to achieve a result,' he says. When it's suggested that he could explore a second sporting career in sailing after he retires from football aged 40, he does a theatrical double-take. 'Forty? You think forty?' Mbappe laughs. 'But I'm a very curious person, and I'm trying to develop myself more and more to gain as much knowledge as possible. So it's really going to be a great learning experience for me because sailing is not an area I know very well. 'I never wanted to close any doors for my post-career. I never wanted to say no to anything, so we'll see, but I have a lot of work to do before considering what comes after my (footballing) career.' While at first glance there's not much obvious crossover between football and SailGP, Mbappe sees a lot of commonalities. 'The challenges in football and SailGP are different, but I think in the end, success is success, regardless of the discipline. It's the same thing because it provokes the same emotions, it requires the same workload, the same obsession with detail. The same idea of dedicating everything to trying to win.' Winning is something the French team hasn't manage to achieve yet this season. But even the straight-talking Coutts has talked of the France team as winners-in-waiting. Advertisement But Mbappe has given Delapierre a boost. The France driver having to pinch himself that he now finds himself trading thoughts and ideas with this French soccer icon. 'Honestly, Kylian has inspired me a lot, not only as an athlete but also as a human being,' he tells The Athletic. 'Even when he was really young and playing at Monaco, he spoke very clearly about where he wanted to go and what he wanted to achieve. It's really nice to have this conversation around high-level sports, but also what he wants to share with his youngsters. 'I hope at some point that I will be able to share my passion with Kylian on the F50 and see if he enjoys sailing. It will be super nice to have him on board with us.'
CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
Rising Uzbekistan secure soccer World Cup debut, first ever Central Asian nation to qualify
Uzbekistan qualified for its debut soccer World Cup on Thursday night, becoming the first ever Central Asian country to make it to the sport's global showpiece. A 0-0 draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi secured the White Wolves a top-two finish in Group A of Asian Qualifiers, and a ticket to the tournament next summer in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Uzbekistan goalkeeper Utkir Yusupov's six saves, including a last-second stop, guaranteed his team a priceless point, to proceed with one game of qualifying remaining. Fans celebrated the news across the soccer-obsessed nation, with people taking to the streets to cheer and march, with traditional music and songs. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev called qualification 'a brilliant result, which will be written in golden letters in the annals of our national sport,' in a statement posted online. He added that the players had brought 'a holiday gift' on the Islamic festival of Eid al-Adha, widely observed in the majority-Muslim nation. The team's historic achievement is no major surprise to followers of Asian soccer, given the burgeoning talent among its squad. The side's talented 21-year-old center back Abdukodir Khusanov now plays for Manchester City, having signed for the English giants in January for a reported £33.6 million (about $45 million). Striker Eldor Shomurodov has played in Italy's top league since 2020, while promising forward Abbosbek Fayzullaev, currently at CSKA Moscow, was named Asia's Youth Player of the Year two years ago. The breakthrough is the fruit of incredible recent performance in all age groups for the nation of 36 million people, which became independent in 1991 after the dissolution of the USSR. Its trophy cabinet includes the Under-23 Asian Cup in 2018 and the Under-20 Asian Cup in 2023, as well as this year's Under-17 Asian Cup. The team – currently ranked 57th in the world – also qualified for the Olympic Games for the first time in 2024, claiming one of Asia's three berths. The 2026 World Cup will for the first time expand from 32 teams to 48 teams, giving each continent, including Asia, additional spots, though qualifying automatically – with a game to spare – suggests Uzbekistan would have made it even under the previous format. While soccer has long been beloved across the Central Asian region, that popularity has never been matched by international success at senior level. With qualification secured, Uzbekistan's fans can celebrate on home turf when they face Qatar in the final match of the round, in the capital Tashkent on Wednesday. Just hours after Uzbekistan's triumph, Jordan become the next Asian country to make history, securing its first ever trip to the World Cup, defeating Oman 3-0. Elsewhere in the region, Japan, Australia, Iran, and South Korea – all World Cup regulars – have also booked their places at next year's finals.
News24
7 hours ago
- News24
News24 motoring podcast ‘Driving with J9' steers enthusiasts in the right direction
Calling all motorists and car enthusiasts – News24 has set up the perfect driver's guide to success through our latest podcast series: 'Driving with J9'. Hosted by News24's Motoring editor, Janine van der Post, the podcast sees a variety of motoring experts and enthusiasts exchange ideas and answers to the burning questions that float around the buyers' market. Van der Post says the creation of this all-things-motor-focused podcast was rooted in a desire to create added value to News24's motoring community and readership, while attracting new audiences looking for the answers they tackle in each episode. I also wanted to create authentic content by inviting guests one would usually think of to keep our readers informed and entertained, Janine van der Post, News24 Motoring Editor With more than two decades clocked in the motoring industry, Van der Post has witnessed the local landscape's evolution and appreciates how there's a chance to learn something new each day. 'That's the biggest driver here (on the podcast), and I want to share that experience with our readers,' she explains. The podcast, which is an offshoot and revival of News24's 'Driving with J9' article series, covers a broad range of motoring topics. Some of the former episodes have already touched on electric cars in the age of load shedding, the culture of car tunes, as well as buyer secrets the car salesperson won't tell you. 'A recent episode was with a former car salesman, and we had a very candid chat about what potential customers need to know before walking into a dealership,' Van der Post shares. The kind of information that might not necessarily be a secret, but it's most certainly not well-known. If car buyers can be more informed and empowered, they can make better decisions when making a serious investment, Janine van der Post, News24 Motoring Editor As for her favourite episodes, she enjoys it best when the guest brings a unique angle to the conversation around motoring and vehicles. While Van der Post admits she's biased and enjoys all the podcast episodes released so far, she does shout out some memorable and interesting moments behind the mic. 'I've always wanted to create a platform for South Africa's motorsport talents, and having our local MotoGP hero Brad Binder as our first guest to launch the Driving with J9 podcast was just so fulfilling,' she elaborates. 'I am also a massive fangirl and was almost a bit starstruck. But chatting to Brad and realising he's just a lekker South African bloke who is living his dream and is still so humble reminded me why he's such a great ambassador for our country.' She also enjoyed the episode that featured DJ Ready D and DJ Eazy, a duo she has known for 20 years, as she learnt new information from her longtime friends during that recording session. 'I didn't know half of the things we spoke about in that episode – especially hearing how the iconic Brasse Vannie Kaap group was created by their famous car song,' she adds. Image: Chelsea Ogilvie / News24 Image: Chelsea Ogilvie / News24 Image: Chelsea Ogilvie / News24 Image: Chelsea Ogilvie / News24 Other episode highlights include a conversation on navigating load shedding and the rise of electric cars, as well as the episode that featured female racing driver, Nashrene Schloss, who shared her journey of an accidental, but happy, stumble into the racing scene. If you're ready to start your car buyer journey on the right foot or are keen to learn something new about the motoring industry you didn't know before, check out all the podcast episodes here: As for what readers can expect next, here are a few podcast previews:
