Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has attributed his party’s strong showing in the local government elections to its decision to support the removal of Cilliers Brink as Tshwane mayor, a move that paved the way for Nasiphi Moya to take over and win the support of residents. Mashaba briefed the media at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand after his party emerged in fifth position as election results continued to trickle in. Mashaba believes that supporting Brink’s removal was one of the best political decisions the party has made. “I think our decision in 2024 to remove that arrogant celebrity…
As results from the 2026 Local Government Elections trickle in, showing the liberation movement losing wards to the DA, ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance, the ANC insists it is not on its deathbed. This is the assertion of the party’s First Deputy Secretary-General, Nomvula Mokonyane, who was speaking at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand. Mokonyane likened the ANC to left-wing movements in Central and South America that lost power, regrouped and returned stronger. “Critics must look at Brazil, look at Nicaragua. This is not going to be the demise of the ANC. It is, in actual fact, part…
With election results trickling in, the ANC is still hopeful it can recover some lost ground — including maintaining control of Buffalo City and Mangaung, the only metros where it had outright majorities. With 15% of the votes counted, South Africa is heading for its closest-ever local election. Nationally, the ANC is on 31.7%, the DA on 31.0%, and the MK Party on 5.1% — a gap of just 0.7 percentage points between the two leading parties. In the metros, the picture is shifting fast — particularly in Gauteng. In Johannesburg, the DA is leading with 48.2%, followed by ActionSA…
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has called for legal reforms to prohibit businesses from trading on election day, arguing that declaring the day a public holiday is not enough to ensure equal access to voting. The party believes many people from poorer communities choose to work on election day to earn additional income, making it difficult for them to cast their ballots. EFF Treasurer-General and Tshwane mayoral candidate Omphile Maotwe made the remarks while speaking to the media in Montana, Pretoria, where she had cast her vote. Maotwe said the lower participation of black voters was not necessarily only a…
The honeymoon phase is over for the three major political parties that form part of the outgoing coalition government of the City of Tshwane, as they prepare to compete against one another in Wednesday’s local government elections. The ANC, EFF and ActionSA came together two years ago to topple then-mayor Celliers Brink, ending nearly a decade of Democratic Alliance control of the capital. During their relatively short time in government, the new coalition managed to stabilise the city’s finances and restore services to black townships. The financial improvements included better payments to Eskom and water boards, the settlement of a…
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it is satisfied with the conclusion of the first day of special voting for the 2026 Local Government Elections, with more than 750,000 people turning out to cast their ballots. During a media briefing on Monday evening, the commission confirmed that voting stations closed at 17h00, with the process proceeding relatively smoothly across the country despite isolated operational challenges. Earlier in the day, the IEC reported delays at some voting stations in the City of Cape Town following the late distribution of ballot papers. However, the commission’s latest update confirmed that all…
Anti-immigration political movement Operation Dudula has vowed to rid wards under its control of undocumented foreign nationals if elected in South Africa’s November 4 local government elections, placing immigration enforcement at the centre of its campaign. The organisation, which has experienced internal divisions and leadership changes since transitioning into a political party, is seeking to regain political relevance by appealing to South Africans frustrated with illegal immigration and pressure on public services. Operation Dudula president Sbongile Maseko confirmed that the party would contest in several major metropolitan municipalities across three provinces, including Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane, eThekwini and Cape Town. “Operation…
Calls for large-scale reparatory justice have intensified at the Second Africa and African Diaspora Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa. Delegates highlighted the longstanding effects of historical injustices, particularly the transatlantic slave trade and colonialism, which they identified as major contributors to present-day inequalities. The conference began on Monday and is expected to conclude on Friday under the theme, “The Return to Africa”. It brings together delegates from across the African continent, the Caribbean, Asia and Latin America. The gathering serves as a unifying platform dedicated to advancing African sovereignty, reparatory justice and sustainable solidarity between the continent and its global…
The government is calling on the private sector to join efforts to modernise and optimise the country’s public transport system, which it believes is currently underused and not functioning as effectively as it should. A high-level round-table discussion was held in Pretoria as part of efforts to secure private-sector support. Acting Deputy Director-General in the Department of Transport, Khibi Manana, told stakeholders that an overhaul of the public transport system was long overdue. The government is already investing close to R50 billion in the revitalisation of public transport, with funding allocated to areas including infrastructure and subsidies. Manana shared the…
The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has pledged transparency in the counting and verification of election results, assuring the public that votes will be captured in the presence of political party agents, observers and the media. The commission made the announcement during the launch of the National Results Operations Centre, where IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya outlined the measures in place to safeguard the integrity of the results process. Moepya said ballot papers would be counted at each voting station immediately after voting closes, with the counting and determination of results conducted in the presence of party agents, observers and…