Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

The Gauteng provincial government has officially rejected mounting media speculation about its financial stability, asserting that it is not on the brink of bankruptcy. Finance MEC Lebogang Maile addressed the press in Johannesburg on Tuesday, announcing the province’s commitment to fulfilling all financial obligations amid an environment of fiscal restraint. Maile’s briefing comes in the wake of persistent concerns raised by critics over the province’s financial health, which has been under scrutiny since the start of the sixth administration. The Finance MEC reiterated that, while operating under stringent resources, there is no imminent risk of bankruptcy for Gauteng, which boasts…

Tensions between South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the South African Communist Party (SACP), have reached a pronounced peak amid a longstanding fallout over their divergent views on alliances in the political landscape. With both parties grappling with an increasingly fragmented political environment, their latest interaction has revealed just how far apart they have drifted. The two leaders, who have largely avoided engagement in recent months, found themselves on the same platform during an emotional commemoration ceremony for late struggle icon and former SACP leader Joe Slovo at Avalon Cemetery in Soweto. The event, intended…

As 2023 draws to a close, a coalition of activists has stepped to the fore, demanding a significant shift in South Africa’s political landscape. With the festive season upon us, demonstrators took to the streets of Pretoria on Christmas Eve, urging President Cyril Ramaphosa to dissolve the Government of National Unity (GNU) and prioritise alliances with African parties that align with leftist ideologies.Organised by Thuto Mashaba, the protests aimed to spotlight a discontent that resonates deeply within the black majority, who feel increasingly marginalised by the GNU’s existing alliance with the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Freedom Front Plus (FF+).…

The future of South Africa’s so-called ‘Progressive Caucus’ teeters on the brink as internal rivalries deepen, marked by intensifying tensions between the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the newly formed uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP). Even with Parliament currently in recess, the struggle for political supremacy continues unabated, played out fiercely on social media as supporters on both sides take the battle public. At the heart of this conflict is a series of incendiary accusations. The EFF has alleged that MKP is luring its prominent leaders away, citing the departures of key figures such as Floyd Shivambu, the former Deputy President…

The South African government has identified heavy alcohol consumption as a key factor contributing to the alarming rise in road fatalities. Recent statistics reveal a troubling increase in fatal accidents, prompting law enforcement agencies to boost their presence on the country’s most hazardous roads. On Friday, Deputy Minister of Transport Mkhulekwa Hlengwa and Gauteng’s MEC for Roads and Transport, Kedibone Deiale-Tlabela, led a coordinated initiative at the Grasmere Toll Plaza near Enadale, south of Johannesburg. This operation aimed to curb the growing fatalities on the roads, as 439 fatal crashes have been recorded this year—up 3.1% from 426 during the…

South African parties that identify as black and progressive are rallying to secure a two-thirds majority in parliament. Their primary agenda is centered around amending the constitution to facilitate the expropriation of land without compensation, alongside other sweeping reform initiatives aimed at addressing historical injustices. The largest entity within this coalition is uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP), which has positioned itself as the official opposition since the Democratic Alliance assumed executive roles. Following a contentious result in the May 29 elections—where the MKP emerged as the third-largest party—former President Jacob Zuma declared that the elections were “rigged.” He emphasised that the…

There’s renewed hope for political parties that identify as black or African to unite and form a government with two-thirds parliamentary majority. The past weekend saw some of the main leftist parties hold crucial events where they vowed to fight the Government of National Unity until it collapses and to confront big capital over alleged refusal to transform the economy for the benefit of the majority. Former President Jacob Zuma told thousands during the MK Party’s anniversary celebration in that black South Africans had compromised a lot with the “white ruling class” giving nothing in return. “We must come together.…

Amid escalating geopolitical tensions, political parties in South Africa, particularly those with socialist leanings, are making fervent calls for the nation to deepen its ties with Russia. Recent conferences held by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) have spotlighted what these groups describe as the imperialist aggression of the West, particularly the United States, in regions like Ukraine and the Middle East. Their leaders argue that aligning more closely with Russia may be in the best interest of not only South Africa but also the broader African continent. In his political report, EFF leader…

A buoyant Malema who has been re-elected unopposed to lead the party for a 3rd five year term said his party had demonstrated its capabilities in many ways including through work in coalition governments it was involved in and the very event that renewed his mandate, the 3rd National People’s Assembly, which was a spectacle. “You proved them wrong with this NPA. You organised a flawless event. Everything went smoothly, no delays, no disruption, no chaos. We are the most organised organisation. We are a well oiled machine and that is why they are targeting us. Go out and win…

Julius Malema, the polarising figurehead of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), has secured another five-year term in an unopposed re-election during the party’s 3rd National People’s Assembly. The assembly convened under the resonant theme “Defend, Rebuild and Defend,” signalling a critical juncture for the red berets as they seek to consolidate their power amidst recent challenges. Alongside Malema, key senior officials were also re-elected without contest, including Deputy President Godrich Gardee, Secretary General Marshall Dlamini, Deputy Secretary General Leigh-Ann Matheus, National Chairperson Noluthando Nolutshungu, and Omphile Maotwe, who is returning for a second term as Treasurer General. The smooth electoral…