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Mail & Guardian - 19 December 2025

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In this issue

The Mail & Guardian, formerly the Weekly Mail, is a South African weekly newspaper and website, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, local arts, music and popular culture. It is a quality investigative and comment news publication, based on a culture of editorial independence and excellence.

Batohi exits NPA on a sour note

Outgoing national director of public prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi’s testimony at the Nkabinde inquiry has cast a shadow over her seven-year tenure and suggests she was too quick to delegate to her subordinates during her leadership of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

3 mins

ANCYL 'will sell its votes to highest bidder', insiders say

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) is likely to support the highest bidder for its vote at the party's 2027 national elective conference, according to senior party leaders.

4 mins

AG warns of deepening water crisis

A special audit has exposed failing infrastructure, high losses and mismanaged municipal water services

5 mins

Ramaphosa's tumultuous 2025

Diplomacy, domestic strains and a test of political authority underlined this year's presidency

3 mins

The politics of literacy

South Africa knows how to teach children to read. What's missing is the political will to do it

4 mins

Mother-tongue education is failing

The data reveals the gap between policy ideals and classroom realities. Jane Viedge and Rod Amner report on some promising solutions

5 mins

Padel Promises fuels youth grit

The organisation wants to develop future stars in the fastest growing sport

4 mins

The real estate year in review

Ask Ash

5 mins

Malawian state's rhetoric belies reality

Communities grapple daily with failing health services, entrenched corruption and gender inequality, leaving women and girls literally walking for survival

2 mins

SA 2025: Scenic route from G20 to NGC

This was the year that was — South Africa's chequered 2025, a year that ends not with resolution, but with reckoning.

5 mins

Great Lakes strife calls for no bias

US partiality towards one party risks subverting mediator role in Washington Process

3 mins

Batohi must be held accountable

National director of public prosecutions (NDPP) Shamila Batohi's decision to walk out of the inquiry probing South Gauteng prosecutions boss Andrew Chauke's fitness to hold office raises questions about her own suitability for the top job.

1 mins

Gearing to meet SDG goals

Sustainable Development Goals’ state of play: Why humanity is failing on the journey to 2030

5 mins

The billionaire house of cards

The 99% are done waiting. Billionaire fortunes hit a record high and the G20’s effort on inequality has been deleted

3 mins

From s***holes to summits

To call Mogadishu 'garbage' while extolling Botswana's diamonds in the same sentence is not diplomacy; it is duplicity

5 mins

High cost of US decoupling from China

Tariffs were meant to punish Chinese exporters and encourage American manufacturing; instead, they have raised prices for US consumers

4 mins

The ANC's heritage under siege

The African National Congress's (ANC) battle to reclaim the sacred name Umkhonto weSizwe from Jacob Zuma's party is nothing less than a defence of its very soul and heritage.

6 mins

Subtle magic of an itinerant statesman

Rasool is perhaps one of the few South African political figures able to articulate the global consequences of misused narratives

5 mins

Journey through Côte D'ivoire

Abidjan announces itself as a city shaped by water, movement and confidence.

3 mins

Exhibition and café experience by Veuve Clicqout

This December, Veuve Clicquot brings a radiant sensory experience to Youngblood Gallery with Emotions of the Sun, an exhibition created with the legendary Magnum Photos agency.

1 mins

The hustler, the dancer, the dreamer

From Soweto streets to global screens, Mr NT blends hustle, heart and heritage — turning dance into a vehicle for opportunity, community and impact

6 mins

Netflix reimagining December viewing

For many years, South African television has been dominated by festive entertainment rooted in Western culture.

4 mins

An invigorating chat with Uniquely Toned

Our aim is to help people take control of their health before problems get worse

2 mins

Navigating ethics and art

Stephen Cohen's retrospective Long Life at Iziko exposes tensions between curatorial freedom, institutional responsibility, and the ethics of display in South Africa's national museums

5 mins

25 years of empowering educators, strengthening resilience, building sustainability

Honouring selfless and dedicated teachers who give their time and energy to shape South Africa's future.

3 mins

DBE strengthens teacher support through New Teacher Induction Programme

South Africa's Department of Basic Education (DBE) has rolled out the New Teacher Induction Programme (NTIP), a nationwide initiative aimed at easing the transition of newly qualified educators into the profession.

1 mins

Excellence in Teaching Life Skills

Ammarah Ford-Pieters believes in using teaching approaches that make the subject resonates with the learners' real life experiences.

1 mins

Boosting township and rural learners' performance in mathematics and science

STEM Education

2 mins

Read all Stories from Mail & Guardian

Mail & Guardian Description:

Publisher: Mail-And-Guardian-media-limited

Category: Newspaper

Language: English

Frequency: Weekly

The Mail & Guardian is a South African weekly newspaper, published by M&G Media in Johannesburg, South Africa. It focuses on political analysis, investigative reporting, Southern African news, local arts, music and popular culture.