Much like the rest of South Africa, the rivers and streams that flow through Gauteng are experiencing unprecedented levels of pollution. A broken sewer pipe in Pretoria is an indication of widespread systemic collapse.

Médecins Sans Frontières says thousands displaced by anti-migrant violence are struggling to access healthcare, shelter and medication, while the government insists conditions at repatriation centres remain humane.

In an unusually candid response to questions from Daily Maverick last week, Pikitup admitted it had spent years trying to run Johannesburg’s refuse collection service without enough money to replace trucks or pay suppliers. Mayor Dada Morero has announced additional budget allocations for Joburg Water and City Power, but on Pikitup, he’s said only that it is ‘next’ in line.

Two recent developments have started to lift the lid, just slightly, on how policy is really made in South Africa. While the main focus will continue to be on Resolve Communications, the recent spat over Eskom’s privatisation shows how entrenched the lack of transparency around policy development is. And has always been.

Announcing that her days as a ‘keyboard warrior’ are over, poet and podcaster Ntsiki Mazwai has thrown her hat into the ring in the race to become Johannesburg mayor in upcoming November elections. Despite lacking formal political experience, she argues her background as an outsider is exactly what frustrated voters need to rebuild the city.

The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure will deploy a team to formulate a plan of action to restore the notorious Algoa Park police flats.

Kabelo Kgobisa-Ngcaba was the COO of Tony Leon’s Resolve Communications until she entered Parliament as a DA MP. Then she spent more than six months asking questions that helped build a campaigning case for two of its clients.