As 2025 draws to a close, South Africa finds itself in that familiar place, somewhere between disbelief, irritation, pride, and occasional awe. The year has thrown everything at the nation, from police corruption scandals and healthcare failures to violent crime and floods that reminded us just how small a paper boat can feel in a storm. And yet, amid the chaos, there were bright spots, moments of ingenuity, and victories that made us sit up and say, Okay, we can do this.
Let us start with the story that had everyone shaking their heads and muttering under their breath: the South African Police Service (SAPS). Allegations that parts of the police are for sale dominated headlines all year. KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi did not hold back, claiming that criminal syndicates had wormed their way into police structures and elements of the justice system.
KwaZulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has gained support after a media briefing he held on July 6. Investigations blocked, dockets disappearing, and certain officials apparently untouchable. If there were a handbook for how not to run a police service, SAPS might have been featured in bold italics.
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Then there is Cat Matlala, who somehow keeps cropping up in stories about wealth, influence, and crime. Alleged links between Matlala and organised crime, though contested, placed him at the centre of reporting on the blurred lines between big money and law enforcement. For journalists, he is less a person and more a recurring plot twist, the one character who refuses to leave the story quietly.
Coverage of Matlala highlighted just how tangled the networks are that allow crime to flourish under apparent protection, a cautionary tale for anyone who thinks the phrase “follow the money” is optional. Healthcare was no less dramatic. Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital made headlines for all the wrong reasons: procurement irregularities, staff intimidation, and funds that seemed to evaporate faster than a summer puddle.
The legacy of whistleblower Babita Deokaran loomed over reporting, reminding the nation of the cost of speaking truth to power. Yet even here, progress peeked through. Exposure of inefficiencies prompted reforms, and some departments began showing signs of life.
It turns out that sunshine can sneak through the cracks even in the darkest days. Vusumuzi “Cat” Matlala almost did not appear at the committee on Wednesday after his lawyers requested a postponement. Matlala didn’t expose this network. He merely confirmed it existed.
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