Maj-Gen Feroz Khan, suspended SAPS Crime Intelligence deputy head, was shot in an apparent assassination attempt in June 2026 days before scheduled Madlanga Commission testimony. His evidence was postponed multiple times citing recovery and medical certificates, with the next appearance set for 28 September. The cartoon mocks the pattern of delays as a convenient scheduling of relapse.
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula attributed the party's failure to submit candidate lists on time to a technical glitch in the Independent Electoral Commission system. The claim came as the party faced internal disarray ahead of upcoming elections. The cartoon portrays the excuse as a transparent attempt to mask organizational failure and buffoonery.
Fadiel Adams, an MP, told the Madlanga Commission his parliamentary laptop froze or broke daily since he received a witness request. The claim follows a pattern of delays in high-profile inquiries involving political figures. The piece highlights the excuse as the latest in a series of avoidance tactics, underscoring skepticism toward repeated claims that stall accountability processes.
A lawyer named Suliman Carrim is depicted carrying clients who offer dramatic excuses to avoid testifying before a commission. The scene highlights repeated efforts to delay or evade official proceedings through claims of illness and danger. The editorial position criticizes the use of such tactics to obstruct accountability.
The cartoon by Monte Wolverton shows Donald Trump operating a bulldozer labeled Clearing the Way for Midterms. The vehicle crushes a woman and flattens the Election Assistance Commission desk while scattering papers and figures. It responds to ongoing debates over election administration and midterm preparations as of July 2026. The image uses the bulldozer as a metaphor for aggressive efforts to reshape election processes.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa seeks a court interdict to halt impeachment proceedings tied to the Phala Phala farm scandal. The June 2026 cartoon depicts him warning of reputation damage while a Swiss-cheese figure highlights alleged forex issues, stalled investigations and ConCourt ruling delays that echo Jacob Zuma tactics.
A witness at the Madlanga Commission testifies that events from long ago prevent accurate recall and requests the question be repeated. Two standing uniformed figures point handguns directly at the seated man from either side of the table. The image captures the tension of the ongoing inquiry session dated around mid-June 2026.
