2024 is done and dusted! The news highlights from January to June

EXACTLY 20 years ago, on January 2, 2005, at 08:00 in the morning, I was staring at Die Burger’s front page at a farmstall just beyond Plettenberg Bay. The main photo depicted bloated bodies of holidaymakers strewn across a beach at Phuket, Thailand’s major tourist destination. It was a most macabre scene.

They were among the missing tourists washed ashore following the devastating tsunami that had struck the island and the entire region eight days earlier, on December 26, 2004. Ultimately, 230 000 people in 27 countries perished.

January

We start at the rock bottom – with the FF Plus

The year gone by, aka 2024, thankfully did not begin on such a low note. From the perspective of a journalist in a newsroom, however, it felt like it because there was nothing to write about!

The first semi-scandal only made it to the papers by January 7, but at least it wasn’t devoid of entertainment value.

Johan Eybers reported in Rapport that the provincial deputy leader of the DA in Gauteng, Kobus Hoffman, had reported a Kempton Park FF Plus councillor, Jean Kriek, to the federal executive management for trying to boost his online profile through a “massive scam”.

The rosy-cheeked Kriek, with his shaggy beard and the lingering disappointment of adolescence still visible in his bright blue eyes, allegedly used photos of Russian online models to create fake profiles of Afrikaans girls, who would then praise Kriek on his Facebook profile.

Katja Gloesjenko supposedly became Leresha Kritzinger, Irinaa Way became Rudene van Greuning, Crystal Storm turned into Alushke van Biljon, and so on.

Hoffman claimed these Afrikanerised Russian models would flatter Kriek with remarks like: “Jean, you’re a champ – thank you for fixing my water meter!” Hoffman further alleged Kriek hid the women's true identities simply by flipping the photos so that an image search wouldn’t detect them.

What can one say about such a debacle? Well, far out, FF Plus, far out!

How not to handle a young cricket player

What could have been a great opportunity for some wiser, older men in South African cricketing and coaching circles to mentor a talented young man – teaching him about realpolitik and the responsibility of gracefully representing all South African communities as a young cricket leader – turned into a demonstration of harshness, dishonesty and poor leadership from Cricket South Africa (CSA).

On 12 January, David Teeger, then captain of the U/19 Proteas, was stripped of his captaincy just weeks before the U/19 World Cup tournament. The official explanation was that he posed a security risk and could attract protesters.

In October 2023, Teeger had dedicated an award he received at a Jewish event to the “young soldiers" of Israel. Following an investigation by CSA, he was found not guilty of violating CSA's code of conduct. While it may not have been his wisest moment, one would think that youth teams are the ideal environment to train a future senior captain in the art of diplomacy and discretion, rather than driving him into the arms of another country’s national team. After all, most of us still repeat the language of our parents and our upbringing at 18 years old.

Will Bekfluitjie survive another year?

Almost everything about the ongoing saga involving the Wilgenhof Residence for Unmarried Young Men – with the “discovery” of two rooms filled with “gruesome” paraphernalia linked to punishment, initiation and hazing rituals – was predictable. This included the university’s almost comically clumsy handling of the matter and the rector’s shocking interference in the investigative process. Even for Wim de Villiers’s supporters, it’s clear he is not beyond reproach.

What was not predictable, was the intensity of the conflict among those involved and how it dragged on. In hindsight, it’s evident that this incident sits precisely at the crossroads of two dominant forces shaping Stellenbosch University’s future – the conservative, proprietary stream of old donors, alumni, and language interests, and the progressive forces seeking to harness the university’s excellence for broader development.

Let the two sides continue to challenge each other. It’s for the best.

Zuma and Jesus part ways

In South Africa's biggest 2024 political story, the ANC's executive committee finally found its backbone on January 29 and expelled former state and ANC president Jacob Zuma from the party.

Zuma had openly challenged Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa's extremely cautious diplomatic approach, designed to avoid turning Msholozi into a martyr, by giving his support to a new political party in December 2023. The party, boldly named uMkhonto We Sizwe, brazenly appropriated the ANC's intellectual and emotional legacy.

Zuma forced the ANC to make a move, one whose significant cost they would only realise later in the year.

February

Coach stumbles into scandal

A small bombshell exploded in the declining Good Party in the Cape early in February when a woman filed a police complaint against former Springbok coach Peter de Villiers, a member of the Western Cape Legislature.

The woman claimed De Villiers had offered her a lift home to Kalbaskraal, near Malmesbury, after which he tried to kiss her at her home. The woman, who later identified herself as 69-year-old Patricia Lopez, told Rapport that she'd fought him off with all her strength and forced him out of the house.

The Sunday Times reported in March that the Good Party expelled De Villiers after a disciplinary hearing.

Judge rebukes white advocates for being white

A judge in the Pretoria high court, Justice Mandlenkosi Percival Motha, criticised four white advocates over the lack of transformation in a case about black economic empowerment. Two of the advocates represented PERI Formwork Scaffolding Engineering, and the other two the Commission for Black Economic Empowerment.

The judge required each team to make submissions on the lack of black advocates involved in the case, citing section 9 (the equality clause) of the constitution. While some legal professionals expressed sympathy for Motha’s indignation, his conduct was widely condemned as inappropriate for a judge, as it turned him into a litigant and an applicant in a case where he was supposed to act as a neutral arbiter.

Motha referred even in his judgment to the racial composition of the teams of advocates and said a black advocate would have provided him with the unique perspective that was necessary for delivering a verdict. While this may hold some truth, it was not the fault of the other advocates!

March

Cameron finds new platform for his boundless energy

A man who had already made a name for himself – first in AfriForum and later supporting the poorest communities in their fight against crime through his NGO, Action Society – threw in his lot with the DA and was promptly made an MP.

Ian Cameron gained national attention when he stood with impoverished women in the community and publicly held police minister Bheki Cele accountable during a meeting in Gugulethu. This led to a spectacular tantrum by Cele, who had Cameron thrown out of the meeting. The incident earned Cameron credibility among many South Africans and softened liberal prejudices over his prior involvement with AfriForum.

Cameron also got involved in addressing delays in the murder case of Rev. Liezel de Jager, pressuring authorities until her former husband, Werner de Jager, was arrested.

Cameron’s no-nonsense attitude and determined expression have already made him a hero to many South Africans. He has vowed to continue his anti-crime work, now with the DA’s networks and systems to support him. He has already made significant progress as chairperson of the police portfolio committee.

MK surprises SA early on

In early March, when the first political polls since the MK Party's inception were released, everyone was stunned by their 28% support in  KwaZulu-Natal. This meant they had already outperformed the ANC and IFP in the province, solidifying Jacob Zuma’s position as the strongest politician in KZN. Few, however, anticipated they would secure about 45% of the province’s support during the election later in the year.

The heartbreaking Joshlin story

The story of Joshlin Smith, a six-year-old girl presumed to have been abducted after going missing on February 19 at Middelpos near Saldanha, captured national attention in early March. Her mother, Kelly Smith (33), friend Lourentia Lombaard, two men – including her boyfriend, Boeta (Jacquen Rowhan) – and a local sangoma, Phumza Sigaqa, were arrested.

The state alleged that the accused had sold the child and they were charged with human trafficking. Bail was denied for all except the sangoma, who was released the next day. Charges against Lombaard have since been dropped, and she is now a state witness. The case will proceed in January 2025 in the Cape Town high court.

The incident sparked unprecedented community involvement, particularly vocally from the Patriotic Alliance. Oom Biza gave fiery speeches outside the court, and party leader Gayton McKenzie offered a reward of R1 million for any information leading to Joshlin’s discovery.

April

Mapisa-Nqakula appears in court

Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, former speaker of parliament and minister of defence, appeared in the Pretoria magistrate’s court in early April on multiple corruption charges, primarily involving soliciting and accepting bribes. The case was well covered by the media, though it lacked dramatic fireworks or mass protests, despite her being one of the most senior politicians to face corruption charges thus far.

This development is not seen as a significant milestone in the fight against corruption. Many argue that the real question is why numerous other politicians, named in the Zondo Commission's report and deeply implicated in corruption, have not faced justice. Mapisa-Nqakula’s appearance feels more like a symbolic scapegoat offered by the ANC - at most a minimal gesture.

The charges revolve around two payments of over R2 million each, allegedly as bribes, from a supplier during her nine-year tenure as defence minister that ended in 2021. The supplier, Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu, reportedly paid the first amount in small instalments, but the second was never paid. Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu is testifying for the state.

After Afrikaner action, no satisfaction

In April, a group of prominent Afrikaners from the white and conservative fringes of society issued a declaration committing themselves to a series of democratic values already embraced by most Afrikaans speakers for the past 30 years.

The group included notable figures like Kallie Kriel and Dirk Hermann of AfriForum, Flip Buys of Solidariteit, representatives from Akademia and the Afrikanerbond, and independent right-wingers like Schalk Burger Sr. The convenor and spokesperson was Theuns Eloff.

The declaration stated that they were an indigenous cultural community of Africa that wished to remain in the country and contribute positively. While the Thabo Mbeki Foundation, where the idea for the declaration originated, welcomed it with enthusiasm, the rest of the world responded with indifference or confusion.

In response to their second point, “We want to stay here and contribute to the well-being of the country and all its people,” Vrye Weekblad columnist Mercy Kannemeyer quipped: “Thanks?”

A culinary giant passes away

Arguably the only person more significant in the history of Afrikaans cuisine than Peter Veldsman was Louis Leipoldt. Veldsman passed away on April 9 at the age of 82. To many South Africans, he was more than a culinary expert – he was a leader and philosopher too. As a food journalist, chef, restaurateur and trainer of chefs, he left an indelible mark on South African gastronomy.

Major crypto fraudster dies

From the sublime to the ridiculous: Johann Steynberg, one of South Africa’s and indeed the world’s biggest cryptocurrency fraudsters, died while under house arrest in Brazil on April 22 at age 40, reportedly from a blood clot in his heart. Steynberg fled South Africa in 2020 when his scheme, Mirror Trading International (MTI), collapsed, revealing the full extent of his fraud.

He abandoned his wife, Nerina (who was also involved in the business) and soon remarried in Brazil. Steynberg was arrested by Brazilian authorities, charged, and sentenced to three and a half years in prison for entering the country with a forged passport. He swindled around R8 billion from investors, leaving his ex-South African wife with a mountain of debt.

Rassie Erasmus takes rugby to the next level

Major rugby news in April was that Rassie Erasmus appeared to be moving away from the era of safe, predictable rugby that brought the Springboks four World Cup titles. He had recruited two new overseas coaches, former All Black flyhalf Tony Brown as attack coach and former Irish hooker Jerry Flannery as defence coach.

Brown, known for his creativity on the field, signalled a transformation in the Springboks’ backline play over the next few years. Fans can expect a new dimension to Bok rugby.

May

When truth and fiction are intertwined

A 58-year-old Scottish woman, Fiona Harvey, who claimed to recognise herself in a film “based on true events", vowed revenge on the filmmaker, Richard Gadd. Baby Reindeer, didn’t need the extra publicity, as it had already exceeded expectations at the box office.

Ironically, the film revolves around Harvey’s character, Martha, who becomes obsessed with Gadd’s character, Donny Dunn, a struggling, stuttering club comedian. Martha, portrayed by Jessica Gunning, is depicted in an unflattering light, both in appearance and behaviour. Harvey’s claims caused such a stir that she was invited to appear on the Piers Morgan Uncensored talk show, which boasts a massive international audience.

Her appearance was a mistake, as she failed to convincingly argue that she was not an obsessive stalker. Harvey is now pursuing a defamation case against Netflix, demanding $170 million.

Massive tragedy as building collapses

On May 6 South Africa witnessed what was likely to be its worst construction disaster when a five-story apartment building under construction in George collapsed. About 62 people were on site at the time, and 34 lost their lives in the incident.

The rescue and recovery operation lasted 260 hours, involving more than 1 000 personnel. Investigations by the South African Police Service, the department of labour, the provincial government, and the Engineering Council led to the suspension of consulting engineer Athol Mitchell, who was linked to the collapse.

Journalists revealed that some of Mitchell’s previous projects had been demolished due to structural inadequacies.

Rand Water repeatedly warns of water shortages in Gauteng

The state water agency for Gauteng, Rand Water, issued repeated warnings in May (and throughout the year) about the critical risk of water shortages for 14 million people. The warnings were directed at politicians, businesses and ordinary users, urging them to heed the agency’s calls to action.

Rand Water stated it was already extracting more water from the Vaal River system than its licence allowed. The situation was exacerbated by severe losses from leaks in ageing pipelines and delays in completing the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, now expected to only be operational by 2028.

Zizi Kodwa in the dock

The minister of sport, arts and culture and a former ANC spokesperson became the next high-profile ANC politician to face corruption charges when he was summoned to court in early May. He immediately resigned from his ministerial position.

The allegations involved bribes from his brother, businessman Jehan Mackay, to influence a tender during Kodwa’s tenure as ANC spokesperson. Mackay appeared alongside him, and both were released on R30 000 bail.

Kodwa allegedly received cash payments, luxury accommodation and a Jeep vehicle from his brother in 2015 and 2016 to monitor the tender process. However, the case was withdrawn in November due to slow progress with the investigation.

Zuma officially barred from election

On May 20 the Constitutional Court permanently disqualified Jacob Zuma from participating in the general election, citing the 15-month prison sentence he received for contempt of the Constitutional Court. However, Zuma continued to act as leader of his party, spearheading its campaign.

June

Winners and losers in the 2024 general election

The general election on May 29 proceeded peacefully and smoothly. The headline was the ANC’s support dropping to 40,19%, signalling the end of its outright majority era and heralding a future of coalition governments for South Africa.

Another major development was Jacob Zuma’s MK Party securing 14,59% of the vote in the National Assembly, making it the largest player on the left of national politics. The party also became the largest in the KZN legislature (45,35%) and garnered nearly 10% in the Gauteng legislature.

Surprisingly, the EFF under Julius Malema performed poorly, falling below 10% nationally, primarily due to the MK Party’s rise. This triggered an exodus of leaders from the EFF post-election.

Gayton McKenzie’s Patriotic Alliance also surprised many by securing 2,06%, outperforming the FF Plus, ACDP, UDM, RISE and Bosa.

The official opposition, the DA, maintained its position with 21,81%. Even before the results were fully announced, coalition negotiations had begun behind the scenes.

Intense courtship between the ANC and DA

The Ramaphosa camp quickly realised that forming a coalition with the official opposition, the DA, under the guise of a government of national unity (GNU), was the only way to preserve the presidency. A broad left coalition was not feasible as the MK Party refused to participate in a coalition or GNU and was too chaotic as a whole. The EFF also declined involvement with the GNU.

The DA and ANC were under immense pressure to finalise an agreement on how the GNU would operate before the opening of parliament on June 14. The negotiations went down to the wire before a deal was reached.

Key sticking points included the definition of “sufficient consensus” and disagreements over the principle of “broad proportionality”, which would determine the allocation of cabinet positions based on vote share. The ANC ultimately prevailed on this issue, resulting in the DA receiving fewer and less significant cabinet positions than they had hoped for.

Cyril’s final offer to the DA

By June 30 the GNU had begun to take shape as the back-and-forth negotiations over cabinet positions concluded.

The DA was offered the key position of minister of agriculture, excluding land reform, which they accepted. Other posts included:

• Forestry, fisheries and environment
• Home affairs
• Basic education
• Public works and Infrastructure
• Communications and digital infrastructure

Additionally, six deputy ministerial posts were on offer:

• Finance
• Trade, industry and competition
• Energy and electricity
• Higher education
• Small business development
• Water and sanitation

When the DA accepted this offer, the GNU was finalised that very day. That evening, Ramaphosa announced the new cabinet.

Key appointments included:

• Paul Mashatile (ANC) as deputy president
• John Steenhuisen (DA) as minister of agriculture
• Siviwe Gwarube (DA) as minister of basic education
• Pieter Groenewald (FF Plus) as minister of correctional services
• Leon Schreiber (DA) as minister of home affairs
• Mzwanele Nyhontso (PAC) as minister of land reform and rural development
• Dean Macpherson (DA) as minister of public works and Infrastructure

Read Part two.

♦ VWB ♦

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