Hi there 🙋🏾‍♀️ Hope you’re keeping warm after this week’s icy cold snap. Here’s what we’ve got for you. The president wants the country to start talking – literally – with plans for a national dialogue. Will our collective yapping bring us together? Meanwhile, backing Helen Zille for Joburg mayor might not be as wild as it sounds. Also in this week’s wrap: a shocking school shooting in Austria, Elon Musk’s apology tour, and a major vaccination drive to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. Looks like John is hard at work. Now, 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: Keep scrolling 🔊 Voice note by Verashni: https://soundcloud.com/explain-za/zille-for-jhb-mayor-its-not-the-worst-idea-12-june-25 📰 Newsletter with pics: https://createsend.com/t/d-BFBBF0E399E40F7A2540EF23F30FEDED *▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BRIEFS* *NATIONAL* *1. President Cyril Ramaphosa launched a National Dialogue on Tuesday.* It’ll kick off in August to get South Africans talking about fixing the country’s crises. The dialogue will be guided by 31 high-profile South Africans from different fields - from rugby hero Siya Kolisi to ex-NP minister Roelf Meyer. It’s meant to mirror the Codesa talks of the ’90s. Critics worry it’s all talk. Organisers say it’s necessary with voter turnout at historic lows. *2. The DA wants parliament to ensure the likes of John Hlophe can’t serve again in public office.* The party’s Glynnis Breytenbach said this week they’re working on a bill, supported by NGO CASAC. A high court ruling last week barred the MK Party’s Hlophe from the JSC - the body that appoints judges. He was impeached as a judge last year over trying to sway ConCourt justices in favour of Jacob Zuma’s arms deal case. 😳 *3. After pushback, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe has dropped a controversial clause from a draft mining law.* It would have required BEE partners for all exploration rights, even before companies strike it rich. A second tweak frees listed firms from needing his nod for control changes. Still, critics worry a remaining clause could strip companies of empowered status after black shareholders sell their stakes. *4. A vaccination drive kicked off this week for 900,000 animals to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.* This follows outbreaks in Gauteng, KZN and Mpumalanga, while China has banned SA meat imports. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen blamed the country’s crumbling state veterinary institution, Onderstepoort, which can no longer produce vaccines. His department is looking at public-private partnerships. *5. Mamelodi Sundowns are in the US for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a club-based precursor to countries facing off next year.* It’s a weird time to be there for the African football giants. 👀 Trump’s travel ban that targets several African countries came into effect this week. Sundowns’ first match is at midnight SA time on Wednesday against Ulsan HD. Assistant coach Steve Komphela says the team is determined to represent all Africans. *INTERNATIONAL* *1. Elon Musk apologised on X yesterday for tweets aimed at Donald Trump, saying some went “too far”.* This reportedly follows a call between the two. Their public feud erupted last Thursday over Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which Musk called a “disgusting abomination”. Musk’s many jibes included an allegation that Trump appears in the Epstein files. Trump threatened to axe Musk’s government contracts. It was… a lot. *2. On Tuesday, a former student tragically killed 10 people in Austria’s deadliest postwar shooting.* The 21-year-old killed nine teenagers and a teacher at a high school before taking his own life in a bathroom. Armed with a legally-owned pistol and shotgun, he opened fire in classrooms, leaving 11 others injured, one critically. The tragedy has sparked a gun law debate in a country with high firearm ownership but rare violence. *3. TikTok superstar Khaby Lame was detained last week by immigration agents in Las Vegas.* The Italian-Senegalese influencer, considered the world’s biggest TikTok star, had allegedly overstayed his visa, but has since left without a deportation order.. The 25-year-old rose to international fame during the pandemic without ever saying a word in his videos, which would show him reacting to absurdly complicated “life hacks.” Will there be one about escaping ICE? 😅 *4. A cure for HIV could be a step closer.* Researchers at Melbourne’s Peter used mRNA tech, popularised during Covid, to deliver instructions to cells to reveal the virus. This exposes dormant HIV hiding in white blood cells, long seen as unreachable. Published in _Nature Communications_ last week, the findings are early-stage, with trials still years away. Still, it’s a game changer for 40 million people living with HIV globally. 🙌🏾 *5. The 2025 BET Awards, celebrating black entertainers, took place on Monday in LA amid protests.* More on this later. Kendrick Lamar snagged five awards while Mariah Carey, Snoop Dogg, Jamie Foxx, and Kirk Franklin received Ultimate Icon Awards. Over in New York, Sunday’s Tony Awards, which celebrate theatre, marked historic firsts with category wins for both an Asian American and a non-binary actor. *▁ ▂ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ BIG STORIES* *Helen Zille for Joburg mayor? Say what now?* In a plot twist nobody had on their 2025 bingo card, DA heavyweight Helen Zille is mulling a run for Johannesburg mayor. Yep, _that_ Helen Zille — the former Western Cape premier, ex-Cape Town mayor, DA leader, and current Federal Council chair. She’s considering stepping in to fix Jozi’s crumbling infrastructure, R200bn backlog and all. The announcement sparked a minor social media meltdown with strong reactions for and against. Zille told _City Press_ that she’ll do anything to “save the city,” painting a bleak picture of cadre deployment, failing services and administrative chaos. And, to be fair, the bar _is_ in the Mariana Trench. Since 2016, Johannesburg has cycled through 10 mayors in nine years, with most coalitions lasting about as long as a TikTok trend. But is Zille really the solution — or a symbol of the DA’s nostalgia for its glory days? Analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast told _explain_ Zille has proven chops, but warns of three red flags: she's past her prime politically, coalition politics in Joburg are a nightmare, and DA infighting could tank her chances before the race even starts. It’s also a risky PR move. Zille has a history of, let’s say, controversial tweets and comments on race — not ideal for leading one of Africa’s most racially and economically complex cities. Some activists have already raised red flags, warning that her leadership style could inflame tensions rather than bridge them. That said, there’s no denying she turned Cape Town around in the 2000s. So maybe she could repeat the magic? But Joburg isn’t Cape Town. And this isn’t 2006. The city needs fresh solutions, not just familiar faces. Is Zille the comeback queen who’ll fix Jozi — or just another veteran overstaying their welcome? We’ll know soon. But one thing’s clear: the race for Joburg mayor just got very interesting. _Let us know what you think: vote in our poll above and drop us your thoughts at [email protected]. We’ll be reporting back as part of our new community engagement feature._ 🙂 🏏 *Our boys at Lord’s: Proteas chase cricketing glory* History is on the line for the Proteas this week as they take on Australia in the ICC World Test Championship final — a showdown being hyped as our most important Test match since rejoining international cricket post-apartheid. As writer Darrel Bristow-Bovey put it on X: “It's just occurred to me that if we win this, we'll be test champions in both cricket and rugby at the same time. Surely that will make us the greatest sporting nation that ever existed?” The match kicked off on Wednesday at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground in London — a far cry from the potholed streets of Langa, Cape Town, where captain Temba Bavuma once played informal cricket. Now, he’s leading South Africa’s charge on the real deal. Talk about a full-circle moment! The match is expected to finish on Sunday, but that all depends on how the teams perform. The Proteas opted to bowl first in bowler-friendly conditions, and boy, did Kagiso Rabada deliver. The fiery fast bowler took five wickets, rattling through the Aussie lineup to help dismiss them for 212. But SA’s batting got off to a rocky start, slumping to 43/4 by stumps. Day two has so far seen Bavuma and David Bedingham begin to rebuild the innings with a gritty 64-run stand before Bavuma fell for 36 — a blow, but one that had the SA fans at Lord’s and online still buzzing with pride. This isn’t just a match; it’s a moment. Winning this would be South Africa’s first ICC trophy in the longer format — and with $3.6 million (yes, million!) in prize money on the line, there’s a lot to play for beyond pride. Meanwhile, the fans have shown up massively — both in London and online. As Bavuma said, “To get over the line would be a massive feather in our cap, not just for these players but for Test cricket and for the whole country.” Let’s go, boys! 🇿🇦 *LA is burning – and Trump’s fanning the flames🔥* What started as protests against immigration raids in downtown LA has exploded into a national moment. It began last Friday, when ICE agents raided the city’s garment district, targeting undocumented workers. Protesters quickly gathered, chanting, throwing eggs, and clashing with police. By the weekend, demonstrations had spread to working-class areas like Paramount and Compton, and law enforcement responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. Though many protests were peaceful, hundreds have been arrested, and police munitions have left demonstrators and journalists injured. By Sunday, Trump unilaterally and controversially deployed nearly 300 National Guard troops. The National Guard is a unique branch of the US military made up of part-time soldiers who usually live and work in their communities and serve both state (in this case, California) and federal governments (Trump). California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, who has emerged as a political contender to Trump after these events, opposed the move. On Monday, things escalated: officers used flash bangs, foam rounds and tear gas to push protesters from a federal building complex. President Trump on Tuesday doubled the National Guard presence to 4,000 and deployed 700 active-duty Marines, a move that seemed to provoke the Democratic state. That evening, LA Mayor Karen Bass imposed a 20:00 - 06:00 curfew after more violence and vandalism erupted. By Wednesday, the protests had entered their sixth straight day and spread nationwide — from New York to Chicago, Atlanta to Denver — with more actions planned in Seattle, St. Louis, and San Antonio. California is suing the federal government over what it calls an unconstitutional power grab. Critics say the deployment of active-duty troops on US soil is an unprecedented abuse of power. Trump has labelled the protesters “insurrectionists” and claims he’s acting to “liberate” LA. This isn’t just about raids anymore. It’s about what kind of country America wants to be — and whether a president can use the military to police its streets. With a military parade planned in DC this weekend, the stage is set for more tension — and possibly, more confrontation. *The ultimate human race, yet again 🇿🇦🏃‍♀️🏃* From elite champs to everyday heroes, the 2025 Comrades Marathon once again lived up to its title as the “Ultimate Human Race.” Over 22,000 runners braved the 89.9km down-run from Pietermaritzburg to Durban on Sunday — the biggest field in the race’s 98-year history. Two-time defending champ Tete Dijana made a triumphant return, crossing the finish in 5:25:27. The North West-born security guard-turned-running sensation had battled food poisoning last year, but came back strong to claim his third title. On the women’s side, Queen Gerda Steyn proved her dominance yet again, winning her fourth Comrades in 5:51:18. The Free State-born road warrior is based in Dubai and known for her speed, grace and infectious positivity — and is fast building a legacy as one of South Africa’s greatest athletes. Dijana pocketed R1.576 million, and Steyn took home R1.626 million, both a total for their wins across various categories. But the true spirit of Comrades lies with the masses. First-time runners described it as “forced meditation” and “an emotional cleansing.” For some, like Johannesburg novice Daniel Matusse, it was about remembering a late parent. Others, like newbie Fortunate Djokozela from Kimberley, ran to prove to himself that the impossible could be done — even when everything hurt. “I started cramping at 50 km, but pulling out was never an option, even if I had to walk here for the full 12 hours,” he told reporters. And history was made: Johannes Mosehla (83) became the oldest person ever to finish the Comrades — smashing his own record from last year. The retired teacher from Limpopo finished with minutes to spare, his steady stride a lesson in perseverance. Meanwhile, Louis Massyn, 74, crossed the line for a record 50th time, a feat unmatched in Comrades history. That’s half a century of ultra-marathoning — bonkers. It wasn’t perfect. One runner briefly went missing (she was found safe), and critics slammed the chaotic finish and botched gun start. “The race deserves better,” one column argued — pointing to Comrades’ growing pains ahead of its 100th edition in 2027. Still, no deaths were reported, and over R6 million was raised for charity. Not bad for a Sunday jog. ---------------------- 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 [email protected] for a quote. 🇸​🇺​🇧​🇸​🇨​🇷​🇮​🇧​🇪​ Remember to share the love. 💫 Tell your friends to sign up: 📩 Email: http://explain.co.za/subscribe 📲 Our new WhatsApp channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vac06yM8kyyLmOulb80J _Till next time, goodbye from the team_ ✌🏽