Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

ANC leaders have expressed a deep sense of loss following the passing of the party’s Gauteng spokesperson, Mzi Khumalo, who was laid to rest in Ruimsig, Johannesburg, on Saturday. Deputy President Paul Mashatile added his voice, describing Khumalo as a true servant of the people. “Comrade Mzi, as he was affectionately known, was a true servant of the people whose life was defined by humility, dedication and unwavering commitment to the betterment of his community and our nation,” said the Deputy President. “Throughout his service in government, Mr Khumalo embodied the values of service and stewardship. His work touched many…

A group that has installed itself as the leadership of Soweto-based community radio station Jozi FM is refusing to hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to formally elect a board of directors. This follows ICASA’s rejection of the group’s claim that it had removed the station’s properly constituted board and replaced it with a new one. Without providing supporting evidence, the group’s lawyer, Brian Dile, claims that ICASA’s insistence on a properly constituted AGM is unlawful. “I’m saying to you, I’m not sure if the people who are actually responsible for drafting those terms of reference probably had legal advice,…

There has been widespread rejection of attempts by right-wing groups in Europe to blame Morocco for last month’s invasion of Ceuta by tens of thousands of migrants. Anti-migrant pressure groups accused Morocco of relaxing security at its borders to benefit politically from the chaos that followed, when more than 70,000 people reportedly swam and marched into the enclave, overwhelming the border and outnumbering police officers. However, human rights groups and activist movements have hit back, criticising what they describe as Europe’s historical extractive dealings with Africa, which they argue have contributed to instability and state fragility across the continent. While…

The City of Tshwane has reached a significant milestone in its Electricity Stabilisation Plan following the completion of the installation of a new 40 MVA transformer at the Mamelodi 2 Substation. The new transformer replaces the existing 20 MVA unit and forms part of the City’s ongoing efforts to strengthen and modernise its electricity network, increase capacity and improve the reliability of electricity supply to Mamelodi and surrounding areas. The municipality said the Electricity Stabilisation Plan is focused on addressing capacity constraints, strengthening critical infrastructure and improving the resilience of the electricity network. The project involved extensive technical modifications, including…

Former DA, ActionSA and uMkhonto weSizwe Party member Abel Tau has set his sights on the City of Tshwane mayoral chain after resurfacing in a new political home. Tau, who briefly served as mayor between 2019 and 2020, has entered the race for the city’s top political position as the mayoral candidate for the newly formed United Progressive People’s Alliance (UPPA). Announcing his candidacy during a media briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, Tau said his experience as both an acting mayor and a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) put him in a strong position to lead the capital. Tau…

Despite acknowledging that he does not have evidence to substantiate his claims, IPID KZN Deputy Director for Investigations Len John is adamant that police in the province are involved in extrajudicial killings for which they are rarely held accountable. John testified at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry and claimed that KZN police often report killing suspects in shootouts, yet officers rarely sustain injuries. John based his allegations against KZN police on the claim that none of the officers involved in reported shootouts had sustained injuries. “Despite allegedly being shot at by five suspects, none of the members of the task…

The government is moving to repeal more than 100 apartheid-era laws in a bid to bring the country’s legislative framework in line with the Constitution. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi announced during a media briefing in Pretoria on Tuesday that outdated laws, including the Riotous Assemblies Act, which was used to suppress anti-apartheid activism, would be repealed. “Our laws have got to align with the current dispensation. Some of these laws that are being repealed were put in place in response to circumstances at the time, during apartheid. But now we have a rights-based Constitution, including the Bill of Rights,” Kubayi…

The Madlanga Commission is expected on Wednesday to turn its attention to alleged police hit squads operating in KwaZulu-Natal, with testimony set to focus on claims that members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) carried out extra-judicial killings while operating under the guise of a task team. Commission spokesperson Jeremy Michaels said on Tuesday that the new line of inquiry would examine allegations involving police members who allegedly targeted suspects in cash-in-transit (CIT) robberies, taxi operators and members of drug syndicates. “The Commission will today shift its focus to alleged hit squads operating in KwaZulu-Natal and consisting of members…

Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has slammed National Coloured Congress leader Fadiel Adams for showing disregard for the inquiry. This comes after the suspended MP failed to submit an affidavit in support of his testimony over a period of nine months. Adams only submitted his affidavit late on Sunday night and blamed a faulty computer for the delay, an explanation dismissed by the commission chairperson. “Parliament can confirm that I have a very problematic laptop and, actually, my laptop is either in for repairs or frozen.…

The ANC has a comprehensive offering to South Africans for the upcoming Local Government Elections that does not depend on individual mayoral candidates. This is according to Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula, who was briefing the media on the sidelines of the party’s Special National Executive Committee meeting in Boksburg. Mbalula said while each of its more than 10,000 councillor candidates was equal to the task, they should not be viewed in isolation, as the party placed greater value on its “people-centred” manifesto. He said the party would only announce its mayoral candidates in the lead-up to the manifesto launch, scheduled to…