The clock is ticking for South Africa’s political parties as they face a 14-day deadline to form coalitions in 127 hung councils, while only 86 councils secured an outright majority following last week’s local government elections. South Africa’s political landscape has been permanently altered. A country once dominated by a single liberation movement has officially transitioned into a highly fragmented and competitive multi-party system. Coalition talks are officially under way following the formal declaration of the election results by the…

The use of Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s abandoned plea deal statement at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has sparked a legal dispute, with his defence warning that the ruling allowing the document could undermine future plea negotiations with the state. Matlala’s legal representative, Annelene van den Heever, has indicated that the defence intends to challenge commission chairperson Mbuyiseli Madlanga’s decision permitting questions about the statement, which was prepared during negotiations with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac). The statement, which was…

EFF leader Julius Malema has told the party’s newly elected councillors and activists that it can no longer rely on its opposition status as an excuse for poor service delivery, insisting that communities in areas where the party won must see tangible improvements, starting with access to water. Speaking at the National Results Operations Centre in Midrand following the 2026 Local Government Elections, Malema announced a 100-day service delivery programme targeting all EFF-controlled wards and voting districts. “Why should people…