19 April
2025
The Great Replacement, saucy AI, fake views, and Champagne for everyone! – it's all in this edition of News24's The Weekender!
This week, Gavin Evans looks at how race science fuels modern hate, Agri SA's Johann Kotzé talks to Anneliese Burgess about our farmers' passion, hating the limelight, and loving pigs, Jonathan Ancer discusses how AI went saucy, Andrew Thompson finds a host of fake travel photos, and Daléne Fourie introduces us to proper Champagne.
Happy reading, and share your feedback with us!
- Hanlie Gouws
THIS WEEK IN THE
'Great Replacement': How race science fuels modern hate... from Darwin to Musk
When Donald Trump announced that he'd cut off aid to South Africa because the country was confiscating land of "certain people", he was playing into the far-right race-based narrative of the "Great Replacement" that has frequently been expressed in violence. Gavin Evans traces its 150-year history in the eugenics movement.
Agri SA's Johann Kotzé on SA farmers' passion, hating the limelight, and loving pigs
In the heart of South Africa's agricultural landscape, Johann Kotzé is a paradoxical figure - a man who never wanted to be in the limelight now leads one of the country's most influential agricultural organisations. Anneliese Burgess spoke to him on his return from America, about Trump, misinformation, and what makes South African farmers so unique.
THIS WEEK IN THE
AI gets saucy with sick notes, calling your mom, and stoking trolling wars
From AI calling your mom to tripping up in science and stoking international trolling wars, AI's wild ride is reshaping technology one algorithm at a time. Jonathan Ancer unearths some AI tech bits, bytes and bots you can share around the braai.
THIS WEEK IN
Fake views: The travel marketing images that sell impossible, non-existent trips
Travel marketing has always relied on idealised imagery, but some companies are now taking it further - inserting ships and aircraft into scenic stock photos to sell routes that never existed. As AI tools advance and visual fakery becomes harder to spot, the line between inspiration and misinformation is quietly being crossed, writes Andrew Thompson.
Asstronaut Katy Perry, Ace's ACT of God... and SA's ghost diplomats
This week, asstronaut Perry is the menace, Magashule's ACT of God moment, and Dali SC nominated for a one-way trip to space.
THIS WEEK IN THE
Sunday lunch, everyday: Seven Colours Eatery serves nostalgia by the plateful
Warning: Entering Chef Nolukhanyo Dube-Cele's Seven Colours Eatery may cause severe nostalgia, spontaneous mmm-ing, and the irresistible urge to invite yourself to Sunday lunch forever, writes Noluthando Ngcakani.
Our caravan test: Impressive Invader Quattro X
You don't buy an Invader because you want a camper. You buy one because you want an Invader, writes Leon Botha.
THIS WEEK IN
Social media master Khaya Dlanga reveals dark secrets in new memoir
Khaya Dlanga's Life Is Like That Sometimes is another instalment of personal essays comprising musings of his childhood, coming of age, and his eventful journey towards the middle of life and career. He speaks to Karabo Kgoleng about what it means to be a man, and the men who shaped him.
THIS WEEK IN
The Champagne widows conquering Africa... and 5 bottles to try
Daléne Fourie provides a reader's guide to understanding Champagne through the pioneering women who shaped it - and the bottles you can drink right here in Africa.
THIS WEEK IN
Glam off, chill on: The Mommy Club's Mrs Sande on her weekend self-care secrets
While her appearances on Showmax's hit reality series The Mommy Club might have been a whirlwind of drama, weekends offer Jabulile Sande, better known as Mrs Sande, a sanctuary away from it all. Nestled in the comfort of her home, she embraces leisure and self-care alongside her loved ones. Speaking to Keitumetse Maako, the wife and mom shares how she spends her precious Saturdays.
Momentum's Aldert Brink on the wisdom of Jurgen Klopp and joy of adventure biking
Momentum Financial Planning CEO Aldert Brink talks to Ahmed Areff about the wisdom of former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, the need for passion, the joy of adventure motorcycling, and the integration of technology and human expertise in financial advice.
THIS WEEK IN
Matcha do about nothing? Rising demand for new 'superfood' meets global shortage
Matcha has transitioned from a niche health booster to a global superfood phenomenon, gaining attention for its versatile use in food, wellness, and beauty... but also raising concerns due to rising demand and potential side-effects, writes Marilynn Manuel.
SA youth deserve better than studying in murder zones
The death of one person at Walter Sisulu University during student protests highlights how our higher institutions of learning have fallen. Students should never have to risk their lives to secure humane living conditions, writes Nthabi Nhlapo.
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 Taco Kuiper Award winning journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha about his investigations into Gauteng's West Rand water woes, we assess the GNU's new Special Envoy to the US Mcebisi Jonas, cross to Bloemfontein for the Ace Magashule asbestos scam trial, and detail the harrowing case of a former pre-school teacher accused of child murder.
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News24 editor-in-chief: Adriaan Basson
Production Editor: Hanlie Gouws
Design: Sharlene Rood & Mihle Mdashe
Sub-editor: Glenn Bownes
Image credits: Drew Beamer | Unsplash; Gavin Evans | Supplied; Bloomberg | Getty Images; Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images; Deaan Vivier | Gallo Images; General Photographic Agency | Getty Images; Jason Andrew | Getty Images; Newspix | Getty Images; Chelsea Ogilvie | News24; Storm Simpson | News24; artKaisen | Canva; @formatoriginalphotos | Canva; 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; Noluthando Ngcakani | News24; sevencolours_eatery | Instagram; Luke Daniel | News24; Leon Botha | Go!; @PanMacmillanSA | X; @khayadlanga | X; Alfonso Nqunjana | News24; mrsjsande | Instagram; Supplied | Instagram; Momentum | Supplied; MomentumZA on Facebook; Arx0nt | iStock | Getty Images Plus; Annie Spratt | Unsplash; Mike Setchell | Unsplash; Wolf Zimmermann | Unsplash; Alona Horkova | Getty Images; Ksenia Chernaya | Pexels | Canva; Billion Photos | Canva; BooBoo Studio | Canva; Mlungisi Louw | Volksblad | Gallo Images.
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