Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

As the Urban 20 summit approaches this weekend, Johannesburg and Pretoria are facing pressing challenges posed by uncontrolled population growth. Executive mayors Dada Morero and Nasiphi Moya convened a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday, where they outlined the mounting pressures on infrastructure and the emergence of informal settlements that threaten the cities’ stability. Morero highlighted that while both cities are grappling with the implications of immigration, Johannesburg is bearing the brunt of the crisis. He cautioned that the unchecked influx of people, both legal and illegal, is considerably straining the already fragile municipal infrastructure. “We are seeing an overwhelming…

The Madlanga Commission, tasked with investigating systemic issues within South Africa’s criminal justice system, has announced that portions of the hearings will be conducted in secrecy to safeguard witnesses and sensitive information. The inquiry will officially commence on Wednesday, 17 September 2025, amid growing concerns over political interference and criminal infiltration within law enforcement agencies. During a media briefing held in Pretoria, Evidence Leader Mathews Chaskelson emphasised that witnesses who fear for their safety, or who are providing sensitive testimony involving state secrets, will testify in camera—meaning behind closed doors. “We understand the need for transparency but where state secrets…

The City of Tshwane is poised at a critical juncture, grappling with the leadership of Kleinfontein, a controversial whites-only settlement located in Pretoria. In a stark warning, officials have indicated that the ongoing stand-off could result in the township facing demolition if the current impasse persists.At a recent handover of title deeds in Extension 10, Soshanguve, Mayoral Committee Member for Human Settlement, Aaron Maluleke, expressed dissatisfaction with negotiations, noting the significant challenges posed by the Afrikaner-only enclave that has escalated the matter to the courts. “While we can engage with illegally established townships like Plastic View, it has been almost…

The South African government is facing an urgent housing crisis, as the waiting list for public housing continues to grow, compounded by widespread unemployment and the devastation of natural disasters. With over 4,000 informal settlements throughout the country and a backlog of three million housing units, Human Settlement Minister Thembi Simelane has announced a shift in strategy regarding public housing provision, moving beyond the traditional Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP) houses. During a recent title deed handover ceremony in Extension 10, Soshanguve, north of Pretoria, Simelane expressed concern over the compounding factors contributing to homelessness—particularly the ongoing floods in KwaZulu-Natal…

International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola has issued a stern warning to South Africans to brace for potential economic repercussions as the US Trump administration weighs its next moves. This caution follows reports suggesting that President Trump is contemplating removing South Africa from the international payment system SWIFT, a move that could significantly cripple the country’s economy. Amid heightened tensions, Lamola noted that while South Africa has been subject to various retaliatory measures from Trump, including harsh tariffs, the proposed removal from SWIFT remains uncertain and could be mere speculation. “What I’ve read in the media is what is alleged could…

In a move likely to spark debate across South Africa, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has voiced significant concerns over the unregulated podcast sector, arguing that it is damaging the moral fabric of society. Speaking at a media briefing in Johannesburg on Tuesday, Mbalula insisted that the content proliferated by these platforms is not only provocative but poses a risk to the younger generation who may be influenced by the unfiltered dialogue prevalent in many podcasts. “When you go out as a member of the ANC, deliberately wide open, you go out of your way,” Mbalula lamented, referencing ANC leaders,…

African National Congress (ANC), Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has accused the Democratic Alliance (DA) of using dubious polling methods to sway public opinion against the ruling party. Addressing the media in Johannesburg on Monday, Mbalula refuted claims stemming from recent polls suggesting a sharp decline in support for the ANC, particularly those conducted by the Institute of Race Relations. “Polls. We are not arguing with polls. But if, as newspapers, you take a DA poll and then you call it a DA poll, and then you say, the DA says no, poll says this, and I saw Helen Zille was…

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has issued a stark warning regarding the implications of foreign funding for South African political parties, expressing concern that such financial influences could endanger the country’s sovereignty. The warning came during a media briefing held in Centurion on Tuesday, where the commission underscored the need for corporate South Africa to boost contributions to the Multiparty Democracy Fund. Chief Electoral Officer Sy Mamabolo articulated that the current contributions to the fund are disappointingly low. He attributed this shortfall primarily to a lack of tax incentives for potential donors. “There have not been substantial contributions into the…

The City of Tshwane is re-evaluating its collaboration with the right-wing pressure group Afriforum, following a recent court decision that has led the municipality to halt the collection of a controversial cleansing levy. This monthly charge, introduced in July, targeted properties that do not utilise the city’s official waste management services but were still benefiting from local landfill sites, which the municipality described as an “undue benefit.” Afriforum successfully mobilised Pretoria residents and businesses against the levy, taking the matter to court and subsequently securing a ruling that bars the city from enforcing the charge. This setback has prompted the…

City of Tshwane The Executive Mayor Nasiphi Moya has described the state of the metro after the DA’s ouster as a mess. Moya and her mayoral committee members provided an update of what the new coalition government has achieved in the 8 months in office and said the municipality had almost collapsed. “ The fact that we inherited an unfunded budget that has not been funded forat least three years, it gives you an idea. The assets under construction to the tune of billions, it tells you that this was a mess,” said Moya of some of the problems she inherited.…