Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has slammed what he argues is misrepresentation of the announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa relaxing visa restrictions for Nigerian nationals wishing to travel to South Africa to do business or as tourists. Ramaphosa announced the decision this week while hosting his Nigerian counterpart Bola Tinibu sparking outrage from some opposition leaders and the general public largely because of the country’s immigration crisis and in particular perceptions of the involvement of Nigerians in criminal activities. “There’s been a complete distortion to create an impression that the President said Nigerians should just come here walking and without…

The Road Accident Fund has vowed to fight back strongly against lawyers, doctors, actuaries and other professionals it says are engaged in a campaign to frustrate any attempts to transform it. RAF CEO Collins Letsoalo addressed the media on Thursday and accused the legal fraternity of playing a leading role in a conspiracy to block systematic changes that if implemented, the institution would pay claimants directly and therefore not need lawyers. Under current law (Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996) a victim essentially has to sue the state to access a social benefit. Letsoalo said there was absolutely no…

In an impassioned march organised by Action SA, South African spaza shop owners rallied on Wednesday in a bid to protect their livelihoods amid an ongoing government registration process intended to formalise the sector. The initiative aims to address health concerns linked to food contamination, particularly with regards to spaza shops operated by foreign nationals. But for many local shopkeepers, the government’s efforts simply do not go far enough. “Most of us South Africans running tuck shops are known and registered, and then there are the illegal immigrants that the government has allowed into our townships,” said Gugu Zikalala, who…

Herman Mashaba, the leader of Action SA, recently took to the streets of Jabulani, Soweto, to advocate for local ownership of spaza shops. This march, held on Wednesday, aimed to raise awareness around the contentious issue of foreign nationals running these small shops in South Africa, which have faced increasing scrutiny amidst rising public health concerns. With a haunting reminder lingering from a tragic incident in Soweto where a grandmother and her grandchild reportedly lost their lives after consuming a soda from a spaza shop run by an immigrant, Mashaba’s call to action is resonating with those who have been…

The African National Congress (ANC) is facing a critical juncture in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, following a dismal electoral performance that saw the ruling party lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in history. As the party grapples with declining support—dropping from 62% nationally to just 17% in KwaZulu-Natal and 38% in Gauteng—the fate of the provincial executive committees hangs in the balance amid ongoing intervention by the party’s leadership. In a crucial meeting held on Monday in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, the ANC’s National Working Committee (NWC) met with the Provincial Executive Committee of KwaZulu-Natal. A similar session with Gauteng’s provincial…

The African National Congress (ANC) is grappling with significant electoral challenges in KwaZulu-Natal, where support has plunged to a historically low 17%. As the party’s National Working Committee convenes with the provincial executive committee, speculation about potential internal dissent grows, particularly regarding accusations that some members may be aiding the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP). However, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri made it clear that the party is not inclined to pursue a witch-hunt against those suspected of disloyalty. Bhengu-Motsiri addressed the media on the sidelines of the meeting, emphasising a democratic ethos that precludes the party from targeting its…

The government has moved swiftly to deny claims by US President that BRICS+ could dump the dollar for another currency or even start their own. Chrispin Phiri who is the spokesperson for international relations minister took social media platform X to respond to US President Donald Trump’s post in which he threatens imposing 100 percent tariffs on BRICS countries should they stop using the dollar. Phiri said: “BRICS was not discussing an alternative currency but merely sought to level the playing field of international trade. “Recent misreporting has led to the incorrect narrative that BRICS is planning to create a…

A tempest brews within the African National Congress (ANC) as the party gears up for a heated dialogue between its National Working Committee and the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Executive Committee. This pivotal meeting arises amid growing concerns regarding the steep decline in electoral support that has gripped the party, particularly in the wake of recent provincial elections. The ANC’s national support has dramatically dipped from a robust 62% to a mere 39%, while in KwaZulu-Natal, the party has been reduced to a disheartening 17%. This downturn has largely been attributed to the rise of the uMkhonto Wesizwe Party (MKP), founded by…

As the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gears up for its third National People’s Assembly, the party is poised to adopt a resolute stance on foreign affairs, calling for South Africa to strengthen its political and economic alliances with nations such as China and Russia—key partners within the BRICS+ framework. This shift in policy comes amid concerns that the current Government of National Unity may dilute South Africa’s established position regarding the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and its response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Marshall Dlamini, the party’s Secretary General, has expressed alarm at the perception that South Africa’s government is…

UMkhonto Wesizwe Party has denied claims that it is plotting to liquidate the Economic Freedom Fighters whom it displaced from being the third largest party in parliament. As it plans its first anniversary celebration MKP has been actively recruiting EFF leaders leading to the red berets’ leader Julius Malema declaring the party an enemy. Former EFF leader and prominent lawyer Dali Mpofu who recently defected to MK and was immediately promoted to its National High Command was accused by Malema of pushing for the dissolution of the EFF even before MKP was registered but he denied the claim. On Wednesday…