Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has dismissed the perjury charges brought against higher education minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane by the Democratic Alliance as “performative politics”. On Monday Mbalula briefed the media in Johannesburg and came out strongly in the minister’s defense arguing she never lied to parliament as alleged by the former opposition party and now key player in the Government of National Unity. Mbalula said Nkabane provided parliament with information that contained errors, a mistake he said she has since owned up to. “We reject, in the strongest terms, the Democratic Alliance’s opportunistic laying of criminal charges against the…

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula says it is up to President Cyril Ramaphosa to decide the fate of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu who has been implicated in serious wrongdoing by the police’s Kwazulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Mkhwanazi alleged during a media briefing on Sunday that Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya were among those captured by criminal groups and had been using their positions to undermine criminal investigations. “Issues that General Mkhwanazi raised yesterday are matters that are very serious and will be attended to by the President,” said Mbalula indicating that the party is deeply concerned about…

South African politicians continue to share interesting accounts of their dealings with the late former deputy president David DD Mabuza who was pronounced dead on thursday following a long battle with illness. On friday comrades and former colleagues of Mabuza took turns visiting his home in Brynston Johannesburg where a large press contingent camped outside for the entire day. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi said he was unable to honour a request for a meeting made by the former Mpumalanga Premier shortly before his passing. “I got a message that he wants to see me when I was about to leave last…

David DD Mabuza has been hailed as a principled leader and unifier by those who worked alongside him in the ANC in the ANC government. Deputy President Paul Mashatile was first to visit the home of his predecessor in Brynston Johannesburg and reflected on Mabuza’s insistence on unity whenever the ANC was divided alongside factional lines. “DD was a unifier. if he said he’ll do something he’ll do exactly that so after agreeing on something I wouldn’t have sleepless nights worrying about whether he’ll stick to his word or do something else. I spent a lot of time with him…

The ANC has confirmed that its former deputy president David Mabuza, who also served as the country’s number two has passed on at the age of 64. Mabuza earned a reputation as a strongman during successive terms as Mpumalanga ANC Provincial Chairperson and Premier. ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed Mabuza’s passing through a post on X. “It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we learn of the passing of former Deputy President of the Republic and stalwart of our movement, Comrade David Dabede Mabuza,” said Mbalula in the post. Mbalula said Mabuza, affectionately known as DD…

Following a long day marked by endless caucus breaks the City of Joburg finally got a new Council Speaker. The African Independent Congress’ Margret Arnolds who until the thursday meeting was serving as the Mayoral Committee Member responsible for Finance was elected to the position defeating candidates from both the Democratic Alliance and the United Democratic Movement. Arnolds replaces Action SA’s Nobuhle Mthembu who was ousted through a motion of no confidence. Arnolds was previously a Speaker in the City and expressed confidence as she returns to the position. “It was also difficult when I had to leave the speaker…

Acting Joburg Mayor and deputy president of Patriotic Alliance Kenny Kunene has slammed the South African Human Rights Commission rejecting its argument that illegal immigrants be allowed to access government services citing the constitution. Kunene was leading a raid at suspected criminal dens in Randburg, North of Johannesburg when the SAHRC issued a statement condemning organisations that had been visiting health facilities demanding that illegal migrants not be assisted adding it reminds South Africans that everyone in South Africa is guaranteed a right to health even if they were in the country unlawfully. The commission said the constitution guaranteed the…

The City of Joburg is targeting buildings dilapidated buildings that are illegally accessing services as part of its cleanup efforts in the Johannesburg CBD (Central Business District).  On Tuesday the Acting Executive Mayor Kenny Kunene led a crackdown on such buildings in Marshalltown where scores of undocumented immigrants were arrested and illegal connections to the electricity grid were dismantled. Kunene said the city could not successfully reclaim hijacked buildings if those occupying them unlawfully continued to live in comfort with access to amenities. “This is a multi-departmental programme. We’ve got transport and JRAs also here. We are going to look at…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has come out strongly in defense of South Africa’s transformation laws which have become subject of contestation including within the Government of National Unity. The Democratic Alliance is currently pursuing several cases in court against transformative laws that it claims among others discourage investment and in the case of the National Health Insurance which it claims will collapse the country’s private healthcare sector. Other concerns raised was the requirement for foreign investors to allocate a stake to a local firms in line with the country’s Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment policy and Ramaphosa has dismissed the apprehension.…

uMkhonto weSizwe party has raised concern about the arrest of two of its members of parliament on corruption charges. Brian Molefe and Siyabonga Gama handed themselves over on Monday morning and were released on bail (R50 000 each) following an appearance at the Palm ridge Magistrate Court. The charges against the two stem from a locomotive deal of just under a million rand entered into by Transnet which they served as chief executives on different periods. The two were implicated in alleged wrongdoing at the state capture commission and had been out of the public space until their recent deployment…