Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
As the sixth administration nears the end of its term of office, the government has defended President Cyril Ramaphosa’s performance saying he has delivered on most of the promises he made when he got into office in 2019. Presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya briefed the media at the Union Buildings in Pretoria and among others shot down suggestions that investors may be losing confidence in South Africa. Magwenya cited the proposed BHP Billiton proposed takeover of Anglo-American as an example of baseless negative reporting about South Africa’s investment prospects. “The presidency has noted with concern the emerging narrative around the BHP…
Political parties used this year’s Freedom Day to intensify campaigning for the upcoming general elections with senior leaders deployed to various parts of the country to galvanise support. In Gauteng which is the most contested province following the ANC’s loss of support in the 2021 local government elections. While president delivered his official address from the Union Buildings while his deputy Paul Mashatile was campaigning for the ruling party in the Westrand. The EFF on the other hand used the day to demonstrate its organising ability with its Gauteng chapter holding massive rallies in Alexandra and Soweto and both addressed…
Former President Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto Wesizwe party has cited infiltration by external forces as reasons for the expulsion of founder Jabulani Khumalo who was party leader until he was recently replaced with Zuma. “In light of external attempts to destabilise the MK party who’s aim is to advance a revolution of the people,the National Leadership Core has taken a decision to expel the following comrades,” reads the statement.Among those who have been booted out alongside Khumalo is National Treasurer Lebo Moepeng, Ray Khumalo, Bheki Manzini and Rochelle Davidson. Zuma recently warned the party would weed out ill-disciplined elements and alleged…
The DA has singled out unemployment as the biggest problem in South Africa which it says was created by the ANC through poor policies and mismanagement of the economy. The party also accused the ruling party of creating an impression that the current high levels of joblessness were created by a “force of nature” and tabled its economic offer ahead of the much-anticipated general elections scheduled for May 29. Leader of the official opposition John Steenhuisen led the presentation of the policy offer alongside the party’s first deputy chairperson of the DA Federal Council Ashol Sarupen, Dion George, the party’s…
Former President Thabo Mbeki has expressed confidence that the ANC will be returned to power during the upcoming National and Provincial elections. Mbeki started his election campaign for the ruling party at Jabulani Mall after a decade and half absence since his removal from office in 2008. There was pandemonium when the former president went on a walkabout at the mall with shoppers pushing each other trying to get a glimpse of him amid heavy security presence. Mbeki was particularly confident that residents of Soweto will vote for the ANC in numbers. “I am here distributing these pamphlets and to…
The ANC has warned opposition parties that their hopes of taking over the province in the upcoming general elections will be dashed. Provincial Secretary TK Nciza spoke to Newsnote on the sidelines of the IEC code of conduct signing ceremony and dismissed the messaging of the opponents of the ruling party.“Everyone is campaigning on the basis that they must remove the ANC, not campaigning on the basis of what is it they can do for our people. That on its own is a weakness from their side but I don’t think they’ve picked it up,that they’ve been doing the same…
The ANC has vowed to appeal the Durban High Court ruling dismissing its application to have the Jacob Zuma led uMkhonto weSizwe party from using the current logo which the ruling party alleges is its own trademark. Monday’s ruling is a third crucial court case won by the new party having previously had the electoral court reverse an IEC decision to stop Zuma from standing as a candidate and had the same court thwart an ANC attempt to deregister MK. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula briefed the media on Monday and expressed confidence the Durban High Court decision could be…
As voting day for the 2024 National and Provincial Elections draw closer political parties are out in full force trying to court as many potential voters. The election is expected to have a record number of parties and for the first time will feature independent candidates. One of the debutants, Arise South Africa launched its manifesto at a bookshop in Rosebank, Johannesburg on Thursday and is promising to bring an innovative approach to some of the country’s most pressing challenges such as unemployment, electricity crisis and corruption. The event was also used to launch the book of founder and party…
The MK party has threatened to approach the courts if IEC Commissioner Janet Love does not resign from the commission.The league accuses Love of being biased against its leader, former President Jacob Zuma who survived an attempt to have him removed from the ballot paper for the May 29 National and Provincial Elections.Scores of the league’s members marched on the electoral body’s headquarters in Centurion on Friday also demanding that the commission make public its dealings with NGOs and media companies the league believe are questionable as well as that it not count the votes electronically. “We demand that IEC…
Opposition parties in the City of Tshwane have accused the metro’s DA led coalition government of evading responsibility for the mismanagement of municipal funds. The City, now cash strapped, has earned a series of negative audit reports from the Auditor General. Mayor Celliers delivered his State of the City address on Thursday and defended the qualified report the institution obtained saying its a marked improvement from the adverse opinion it got for the previous year but opposition parties rejected the assertion and accused those in charge of the coalition government of acting busy when all they are doing is preside…