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South African Politics
South AfricaPresidency Signals Acting Appointment May Follow Masemola Charges
South AfricaMK Party's Makhubele exits politics after resigning as MP- South AfricaOpposition Intensifies Pressure on Ramaphosa Over Phala PhalaSouth Africa’s opposition parties amplified their criticism of President Cyril Ramaphosa, focusing on the unresolved Phala Phala farm cash scandal that has dogged his presidency and political standing. Members of Parliament from multiple opposition benches have accused the presidency of failing to…February 18, 2026

- South AfricaMalema warns Phala Phala scandal will never die in SONA debateEconomic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema warned President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday that the Phala Phala farm scandal would remain a live political issue for as long as the opposition party held seats in Parliament. Malema delivered the warning during a joint sitting of the National…February 18, 2026

- South AfricaMalema says he would welcome Ndlozi back to EFF, rules out Shivambu returnEconomic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema said on Thursday he would welcome former party heavyweight Mbuyiseni Ndlozi back into the fold, marking a shift in tone months after Ndlozi's departure amid factional turmoil. The conciliatory comments come as the EFF prepares for the 2026 local…February 5, 2026

- South AfricaMK Party: Mchunu’s leave not tied to Madlanga CommissionLawyers for the MK Party have told the Pretoria High Court that there is no rational link between placing Minister Senzo Mchunu on special leave and the outcomes of the Madlanga Commission. The party and its leader, former President Jacob Zuma, are challenging President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision…November 27, 2025

- South AfricaMadlanga Evidence Leader Accuses Brown Mogotsi of LyingAn exchange at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry on 19 November 2025 in Tshwane became tense when evidence leader Matthew Chaskalson questioned the credibility of witness Brown Mogotsi. The confrontation arose after Mogotsi alleged during his testimony that he had worked as an agent, prompting…November 19, 2025

- South AfricaMbalula announces Western Cape ANC leadership shakeupThe African National Congress reconfigured its Western Cape leadership structure Wednesday, establishing a Provincial Task Team with former premier Ebrahim Rasool proposed as convenor to rebuild party support in the province. Secretary-general Fikile Mbalula announced the move at a press briefing…October 29, 2025

- South AfricaFired deputy says she remains Afrika Mayibuye leaderNolubabalo Mcinga rejected her dismissal as Afrika Mayibuye Movement deputy president, insisting she remains in the position because the party failed to follow proper disciplinary procedures after firing her over an unauthorized meeting with Jacob Zuma. Mcinga told Newsroom Afrika on October 26…October 26, 2025

- South AfricaTony Yengeni joins MK Party as second deputy presidentFormer African National Congress heavyweight Tony Yengeni joined the uMkhonto weSizwe Party as its second deputy president on Thursday, marking a significant defection from South Africa's ruling party. Party leader Jacob Zuma announced the appointment at a media briefing in Durban, saying the move…October 23, 2025

- South AfricaSouth African opposition leader Julius Malema convicted on firearm chargesEconomic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema was convicted Wednesday on five firearm-related charges stemming from a 2018 political rally where he discharged a weapon before thousands of supporters. The East London Regional Court found Malema guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm and…October 1, 2025

- South AfricaChaskalson replaces Motau as lead advocate at South Africa inquiryAdvocate Matthew Chaskalson has been appointed chief evidence leader of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, replacing Advocate Terry Motau who stepped down less than two weeks after taking up the position, according to a statement from the commission on Monday. The commission said it "remains…September 30, 2025

- South AfricaHelen Zille named DA Johannesburg mayor candidate for 2026The Democratic Alliance named veteran politician Helen Zille as its mayoral candidate for Johannesburg on Saturday, positioning the 74-year-old former Cape Town mayor to challenge for control of South Africa's economic hub in 2026 local elections. DA leader John Steenhuisen announced Zille's…September 20, 2025

- South AfricaFormer MK women's leader joins Afrika Mayibuye MovementFloyd Shivambu has appointed Musa Dube to lead the newly formed women's wing of his Afrika Mayibuye Movement political party. The Afrika Mayibuye Movement leader named Dube, known as "Dr Nozi," as president of the Mayibuye Women's Movement. Dube previously served as convenor of the Gauteng…September 18, 2025

- South AfricaPhala Phala witness reveals how $580,000 hidden in couchFarm employee testifies he hid $580,000 in President Cyril Ramaphosa's couch for safekeeping before 2020 theft at Phala Phala game farm, telling court Monday cash from buffalo sale was moved from unsafe office to main house. The acting lodge manager, whose identity is protected by court order…September 15, 2025

- South AfricaShivambu's new party logo draws comparisons to former political homeFloyd Shivambu unveiled his Afrika Mayibuye Movement party logo on Friday, prompting immediate comparisons to the Economic Freedom Fighters emblem he helped design at his former party. The logo features a purple circle with an African map, a black fist holding what Shivambu calls a "spear-pen" and…September 7, 2025

- South AfricaFloyd Shivambu launches Afrika Mayibuye Movement partyFormer MK party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu launched the Afrika Mayibuye Movement as a political party on Friday, positioning the organization to contest South Africa's 2026 local government elections. The party will publish a restoration manifesto and has appointed national officials…September 5, 2025

- South AfricaMantashe Missed Important Meetings and Never Apologised: SACPThe South African Communist Party (SACP) claims it removed African National Congress (ANC) national chairperson Gwede Mantashe from its Central Committee for repeatedly failing to attend meetings without submitting apologies. The procedural decision follows a constitutional rule mandating that…September 1, 2025

- PoliticsMK Party Expels Former Secretary General Floyd ShivambuThe MK Party has expelled its former Secretary General, Floyd Shivambu, following his public criticism of the party and its leader, Jacob Zuma. The decision was announced at a media briefing by the party’s national chairperson, Nathi Nhleko, on Friday. Shivambu, who was demoted from his role as…August 8, 2025

- South AfricaMK Party denies authenticity of controversial letter targeting Duduzile ZumaJOHANNESBURG – Deepening rifts within the uMkhonto weSizwe Party have surfaced through disputed letters allegedly from deputy president John Hlophe criticizing Jacob Zuma's daughter and national spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela. The letter controversy exposes mounting tensions in South Africa's…July 1, 2025

- PoliticsMalema Urges DA to Exit GNU, Eyes EFF's EntryJulius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has called for the Democratic Alliance (DA) to exit the Government of National Unity (GNU), arguing it would pave the way for his party to join the coalition. His remarks follow the DA's threat to withdraw from the National Dialogue…June 30, 2025

- PoliticsFloyd Shivambu to launch new party after MK ousterMIDRAND, South Africa - Former uMkhonto weSizwe Party secretary-general Floyd Shivambu announced Thursday he will consult communities nationwide over forming a new political party, while maintaining his MK membership and wearing the party's cap at his Midrand press briefing. Shivambu's decision…June 19, 2025

- South AfricaShivambu Expected to Lose MK Party Top Job TodayDURBAN, South Africa – Jacob Zuma will hold a crucial press briefing today amid growing speculation about major leadership changes within his MK Party, including the potential removal of secretary-general Floyd Shivambu. Former South African President Jacob Zuma is set to address the media today…June 3, 2025

- South AfricaMK party denies Zuma letters threatening to fire KwaZulu-Natal MPLsThe Umkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has officially denied the authenticity of letters circulating on social media that purportedly show former president Jacob Zuma threatening to expel five KwaZulu-Natal provincial legislature members. National spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela dismissed the letters as…May 11, 2025

- South AfricaMalema denied UK visa for Cambridge Conference, blames political silencingEconomic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has expressed frustration after British authorities denied him a visa to attend the Cambridge Conference in the United Kingdom this weekend, just hours before his scheduled departure. Malema, who was waiting at OR Tambo International Airport on…May 7, 2025

- ZimbabweDA and PA MPs draw criticism for 'fact-finding' Israel visitMembers of Parliament from the Democratic Alliance and Patriotic Alliance have conducted a contentious visit to Israel, describing it as a "fact-finding mission" after the trip became public knowledge on Wednesday. The visit came to light following a statement by Good Party MP Brett Herron, who…April 10, 2025

- PoliticsMK Party Initiates Disciplinary Action Against Duduzile ZumaThe Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party has initiated disciplinary proceedings against MP Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla following her controversial social media attack on the party's Secretary-General, Floyd Shivambu. The announcement came during a party press briefing in Sandton on Monday (15:30 GMT). "In the…February 25, 2025

- South AfricaANC weighs options for KZN, Gauteng after election lossesRuling party's leadership meets to decide future of provincial structures following historic decline in support. The African National Congress (ANC) is deliberating the fate of its provincial leadership in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng following an investigation into the party's poor electoral…January 18, 2025

- South AfricaANC's Ramaphosa Asserts Continued Dominance at Party's 113th AnniversarySouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has robustly declared that the African National Congress (ANC) will retain its grip on state power, despite coalition challenges, during the party's 113th birthday celebrations in Cape Town. Addressing thousands at Mandela Park stadium in Khayelitsha…January 11, 2025
