Author: Kgaogelo Magolego

The so called Government of National Unity is yet to take off as parties disagree over cabinet positions.The dispute is mainly between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance, the second largest party in the arrangement which is demanding among others a dozen or so cabinet positions including the position of deputy president or a ministry in the presidency with the powers of a deputy president. The stand-off has seen DA Federal Executive Chairperson Helen Zille engage in an exchange with presidential spokesperson Vincent Magwenya on social media platform X with the former Western Cape premier shooting down an argument that…

As the ANC and the DA disagree publicly about who can or can’t join the Government of National Unity being put together following the recent electoral stalemate, two more parties have indicated a willingness to join the pact. United Democratic Movement and Rise Mzansi indicated on Friday and Saturday respectfully that they intend participating in the power sharing arrangement dismissed by many as a DA-ANC coalition in disguise. The newly formed center right party Rise Mzansi campaigned on an anti-corruption often targeting the ANC with its messaging which was consistently concluded with “ we need new leaders” but the party,…

President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned political parties that have refused to be part of the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU) he’s forming and includes the DA, Patriotic Alliance, IFP, Good Party, National Freedom Party and the Pan Africanist Congress.Ramaphosa addressed a crowd at the Union Buildings gardens shortly after being inaugurated for a second term as President of the republic and said those who don’t want to work with him risk being isolated.“We want to work together to create a jobs, to bring development for our people but there are those who don’t want to cooperate and are pulling…

Despite what appeared like disapproval of the Government of National Unity among the ANC rank and file, the party’s supporters have come out in numbers to witness the inauguration of Cyril Ramaphosa as president of the republic as he takes up a second and last term of office.Supporters were bused in from different parts of the country with municipalities providing transportation.Those from far-flung areas spend the night on the road arriving in the capital in the early hours of Wednesday.“We had lists of collections from wards with myself and others coordinating the buses so obviously some people from remote areas…

Former President Jacob Zuma is hoping to get support from ordinary South Africans in his bid to have a re-run of the recent elections. Zuma is adamant that the polls were rigged to prevent his party from winning and has approached both the electoral court and the constitutional court in a bid to force a recount and ultimately fresh elections.Zuma announced during a media briefing held in Johannesburg on Sunday that the MK party’s 58 elected MPs would finally take up their seats in parliament where he said they will take the fight to the so called government of national…

Former President Jacob Zuma has vowed to intensify his fight against the recently formed Government of National Unity (GNU) which he also insists should instead be labelled a “ DA-ANC sellout coalition”, calling it ‘the worst betrayal of the African majority.’ Zuma briefed the media in Johannesburg on Sunday and said party will continue to protest peacefully, through court action, in parliament and through demonstrations to institutions he believes are complicit in the election rigging he alleges is being covered up. Zuma said the boycott of the first sitting of the National Assembly by MK MPs was a form of…

Panyaza Lesufi is set to run Gauteng province for another five years after being re-elected unopposed during the first sitting of the provincial legislature in the 7th administration.Lesufi was nominated by his party the ANC with the DA seconding while no other parties fielded candidates.The ANC provincial treasurer Morakane Mosupyoe and member of the DA’s federal executive Refiloe Ntshekhe were also re-elected unopposed in what the ANC believes is an indication that the Government of Provincial Unity is going to be a success.“You would have seen for yourself that the nomination of speaker was seconded by MK and there was…

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) said it will join a Government of National Unity (led) by the African National Congress (ANC). The announcement was made by party leader, Velenkosini Hlabisa, during a media briefing in Durban, after the Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The party garnered 33 seats at the National Assembly, and in two provincial legislatures. “The IFP will join a government of national unity that includes the ANC and the DA. In reality, the only options are to become part of the government or part of the opposition,” said Hlabisa.  Hlabisa emphasised that the decision was taken for…

The international community is watching South Africa closely as the deadline for the formation of government looms. Pretoria is a major player globally and the direction it takes matter not just for the markets but in diplomatic circles as well. For the entire week the ANC has been meeting with various political parties selling its idea of a Government of National Unity which has already been rejected by the Economic Freedom Fighters while the centre right Democratic Alliance is not just keen but also pushing for the exclusion of EFF and uMkhonto Wesizwe led by former President Jacob Zuma. The ANC…

The ANC has come under fire from its alliance partners South African Communist Party and the Confederation of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) who both accused the party of arrogance and of betraying the struggle against apartheid by contemplating a co-governing deal with the DA which the alliance partners view as “the enemy”.Leaders for the two organisations delivered hard hitting speeches at the policy conference of the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and affiliate of Cosatu organising in the mining sector and the union President Cyril Ramaphosa who is now at the centre of the alleged selling out if not…