The Wednesday Wrap | 8 May 2026
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In this week's episode
What’s UP @ Tuks?:
Researchers at the University of Pretoria, working with the hearX Foundation, have created a free hearing health training programme that runs on WhatsApp using artificial intelligence. The programme helps teachers spot hearing problems in children early. Hearing loss is the most common sensory issue in kids, and many cases are missed until a child struggles to read, write, or concentrate. Around 90 million young people worldwide have hearing loss, but over 60% of cases can be prevented or treated if caught in time. The AI chatbot guides teachers through simple lessons, using pictures and voice notes. More South African languages will be added later.
· Di Polotiki tsa Mzansi (SA Politics):
The show argues that attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa are not just xenophobia – they are Afrophobia, or hatred of fellow Africans. We point out that Nigeria gave huge support during apartheid, including an estimated $61 billion, but today South Africans burn shops of Nigerians and other Africans. Meanwhile, wealthy Westerners are welcomed as investors and buy up property in Cape Town. The message is that attacking African neighbours while praising white foreigners is “doing the coloniser’s work for free.”
· Current Affairs:
A spaza shop owner from Vosloorus, Mazwi Kubheka (27), went missing amid fears that he refused to sell his business to foreign nationals. Another shop owner from Soweto, Tumelo Gaillele, was reportedly shot dead for refusing to leave his shop, though police could not confirm his death. Residents in Vosloorus protested, saying they would close all spaza shops until Kubheka is found. Police have opened a missing person case and questioned two people, but no arrests have been made. Political leaders have handed a memorandum to the acting Police Minister calling for action on illegal immigration.
· Madlanga Commission:
The commission has spent over 80% of its R147 million budget and asked for more money. In Tshwane, evidence including WhatsApp messages suggested a tender was manipulated to favour a relative of a suspended police deputy chief. A man named Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi, described as a political fixer, has asked for the lead lawyer to be removed from the case, claiming bias. A hearing on this request will happen soon, so Mogotsi’s testimony is on hold. The commission has also added the City of Johannesburg to its investigation.
· Crime and Courts:
The Public Protector found that the City of Tshwane used a flawed process to appoint Moshema Mosia as Chief of Emergency Services. A complaint said Mosia’s degree was not relevant to fire services and that he had an undisclosed criminal record. The Public Protector also said the city ignored a previous investigation and repeated mistakes in job advertisements, making the process unfair and unclear.
· International Scoop:
US-Israeli war on Iran: A fragile ceasefire is in place after two months of fighting. President Trump rejected Iran’s peace offer and is planning a long-term naval blockade. In response, Iran is blocking a key oil route, which has caused oil prices to rise and pushed millions of people into poverty worldwide. Over 1,700 Iranian civilians have reportedly been killed, and the war has cost the US up to $35 billion so far.
Botswana decriminalises homosexuality: Botswana removed old colonial laws that banned same-sex relationships. This is seen as a big win for human rights in Africa. South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and the Seychelles have also removed similar bans. However, Senegal, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia still have harsh laws against LGBT+ people.
What’s UP @ Tuks?:
Researchers at the University of Pretoria, working with the hearX Foundation, have created a free hearing health training programme that runs on WhatsApp using artificial intelligence. The programme helps teachers spot hearing problems in children early. Hearing loss is the most common sensory issue in kids, and many cases are missed until a child struggles to read, write, or concentrate. Around 90 million young people worldwide have hearing loss, but over 60% of cases can be prevented or treated if caught in time. The AI chatbot guides teachers through simple lessons, using pictures and voice notes. More South African languages will be added later.
· Di Polotiki tsa Mzansi (SA Politics):
The show argues that attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa are not just xenophobia – they are Afrophobia, or hatred of fellow Africans. We point out that Nigeria gave huge support during apartheid, including an estimated $61 billion, but today South Africans burn shops of Nigerians and other Africans. Meanwhile, wealthy Westerners are welcomed as investors and buy up property in Cape Town. The message is that attacking African neighbours while praising white foreigners is “doing the coloniser’s work for free.”
· Current Affairs:
A spaza shop owner from Vosloorus, Mazwi Kubheka (27), went missing amid fears that he refused to sell his business to foreign nationals. Another shop owner from Soweto, Tumelo Gaillele, was reportedly shot dead for refusing to leave his shop, though police could not confirm his death. Residents in Vosloorus protested, saying they would close all spaza shops until Kubheka is found. Police have opened a missing person case and questioned two people, but no arrests have been made. Political leaders have handed a memorandum to the acting Police Minister calling for action on illegal immigration.
· Madlanga Commission:
The commission has spent over 80% of its R147 million budget and asked for more money. In Tshwane, evidence including WhatsApp messages suggested a tender was manipulated to favour a relative of a suspended police deputy chief. A man named Oupa “Brown” Mogotsi, described as a political fixer, has asked for the lead lawyer to be removed from the case, claiming bias. A hearing on this request will happen soon, so Mogotsi’s testimony is on hold. The commission has also added the City of Johannesburg to its investigation.
· Crime and Courts:
The Public Protector found that the City of Tshwane used a flawed process to appoint Moshema Mosia as Chief of Emergency Services. A complaint said Mosia’s degree was not relevant to fire services and that he had an undisclosed criminal record. The Public Protector also said the city ignored a previous investigation and repeated mistakes in job advertisements, making the process unfair and unclear.
· International Scoop:
US-Israeli war on Iran: A fragile ceasefire is in place after two months of fighting. President Trump rejected Iran’s peace offer and is planning a long-term naval blockade. In response, Iran is blocking a key oil route, which has caused oil prices to rise and pushed millions of people into poverty worldwide. Over 1,700 Iranian civilians have reportedly been killed, and the war has cost the US up to $35 billion so far.
Botswana decriminalises homosexuality: Botswana removed old colonial laws that banned same-sex relationships. This is seen as a big win for human rights in Africa. South Africa, Namibia, Angola, Mozambique and the Seychelles have also removed similar bans. However, Senegal, Uganda, Ghana, Kenya and Zambia still have harsh laws against LGBT+ people.
