JOHANNESBURG (Updated at 15h45 local time.) – As the votes are tallied South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), is currently leading in Johannesburg and Nelson Mandela Bay but has dropped to a tie with the ANC in Tshwane. All three are key districts which were previously held by the African National Congress (ANC). The ANC […]

PRETORIA – The first lot of votes has been counted in South Africa’s fifth democratic Municipal Elections, which have been described as the most hotly contested since 1994. By 1am, the African National Congress (ANC) had secured 53.47 percent of the votes, the Democratic Alliance (DA) had received 32.95% and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) had only 5.03 percent. […]

It was inevitable that the rumour mill would go into overdrive in the lead up to the Elections today in South Africa, with different parties trying to discredit each other. Two of the biggest stories – that are still being erroneously shared today – involve Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane, and 80,000 stolen ballot papers. […]

PRETORIA – On the eve of Election Day as a first time voter or not, you might still be unsure about how to go about voting in the Municipal Elections. Here are some guidelines… As a registered voter you need not be anxious about the voting process. What is important to remember is that you […]

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) could lose major cities at local elections this week, including places it has held virtually unchallenged since the end of white-minority rule 22 years ago, Mana Rabiee reports for Reuters. Corruption allegations and massive unemployment are said to be largely to blame for voters becoming disenchanted with the ruling ANC. […]

PRETORIA – The Electoral Commission (IEC) says the stolen ballot papers in Soweto will have no impact on the integrity of the elections. The ballot papers, which were stored in boxes, were stolen out of a delivery truck in Dobsonville on Thursday night. The Electoral Commission has established that the boxes contained ballot papers for Ward […]

It’s been a weekend of red, blue, green and yellow as South Africans were wooed by political candidates in the final weekend before the municipal elections on Wednesday 3 August 2016. (Special Voting takes place today and tomorrow.) Here’s a wrap up: African National Congress (ANC) South Africans were out in force at the ANC’s Siyanqoba (we […]

Time magazine in the USA has featured an in-depth interview with Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane (36), in an article entitled “Meet the South African Politician Who’s Been Compared to Barack Obama—But Prefers Bill Clinton”. The article by Aryn Baker – in the lead-up to the municipal elections on 3 August in South Africa […]

Government has condemned in the strongest terms the killing of South Africans who have been nominated by their parties as candidates for the 2016 Municipal Elections. “These crimes, ahead of the elections, fly in the face of the democratic principles South Africa has entrenched in our vibrant, multi-party democracy since 1994,” said the Inter-Ministerial Committee […]

PRETORIA – The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced that all voters who are on the voters’ roll for a voting station WILL be allowed to vote, whether they have an address listed or not. Home Affairs Extends Hours And with just 11 days to go until the first votes are cast in […]

Johannesburg is apparently awash with blue as Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters have gathered for the unveiling of the ‘Jobs Not Jets’ billboard, which ANC supporters had allegedly attempted to halt… even throwing rocks. The DA reported an hour ago that the “atmosphere is INCREDIBLE at our billboard unveiling in Joburg. South Africans want JOBS, NOT […]

Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa launched an Anti-Racism Song on Wednesday to “tackle the continuing salience of race and racism and the negative role social media has played in spewing the racial bigotry”. Speaking at the Birchwood Hotel in Boksburg yesterday the Minister said music can play an important role in fostering social cohesion and building a non-racial society. In […]

The National Treasury of South Africa has confirmed in a media statement this afternoon that it has submitted its report to the Constitutional Court (ConCourt), in line with the Court’s order, regarding the SA President’s homestead in Nkandla. On 31 March 2016 ConCourt ordered that: “The National Treasury must determine a reasonable percentage of the costs of […]

Twenty-one nominations have been received to fill the Office of the Public Protector, the Ad Hoc Committee, established to facilitate the appointment, announced this week. Dr Makhosi Khoza, the chairperson of the committee, said nominations had largely come from members of the public. “The Ad Hoc Committee has thus far received 21 nominations and applications […]

Dispute over ANC mayoral candidate Residents of Atteridgeville confront some of the ANC’s Gauteng leadership during a town hall meeting held in an attempt to restore calm to the township of Atteridgeville. Angry residents torched trucks and buses and blocked roads into various Tshwane townships after the naming of Thoko Didiza as the ANC’s Tshwane mayoral candidate. […]

“I want you to get up right now. Go to your windows. Open them and stick your head out and yell: I’m as mad as hell and I’m not gonna take this anymore! Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad! You’ve got to say, I’m as mad as hell, and I’m […]

The South African government recently outlined several measures to cut its running cost. This includes a R7 billion reduction in the public sector wage bill over the next three years as well as a reduction in travel costs, entertainment budgets, catering expenses and restrictions on conferences. The cuts come in the wake of a weakened […]

Judging by the looks on the faces of President Jacob Zuma and Minister of Finance Pravin Gordhan, there’s a lot to smile about regarding the state of South Africa’s economy. The two politicians, and their teams, met today to discuss the economy. The Presidency’s office released these photos (on this page) of the meeting. The South […]

When South Africa goes to the polls for the next municipal elections on 3 August, a record number of voters will be eligible to cast their ballots, 11 percent more than in 2011 – or 26.3-million. The increase of 2.68 million voters means that 77 percent of eligible citizens are now registered to vote, according to Mosotho Moepya, the […]

JOHANNESBURG – The United States warned its citizens on Saturday of possible attacks by Islamist militants on U.S. facilities or shopping malls in South Africa during the upcoming month of Ramadan, but the South African government said the country was safe. It was the second such warning in under a year from the embassy, which issued […]

South African Minister of Tourism Derek Hanekom was awarded with the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at a ceremony in South Africa yesterday evening. German ambassador, Walter Lindner said the award – which is the highest bestowed by the German government to individuals for services to the nation – is “well deserved”. […]

In a heated and sometimes odd exchange with the South African journalist Jane Dutton on Al Jazeera, SA’s Minister of International Relations and Co-operation said she had a hole in her head from carrying water buckets when she was a child, that she had a lot of respect for President Jacob Zuma, and expressed disinterest in the […]

The short-lived minister of finance, appointed by President Jacob Zuma to take over from Nhlanhla Nene, has been staying at a luxury boutique hotel in Pretoria with his family since the beginning of the year – at a cost so far of R500,000 – according to a news report on Friday. Even though Des van […]

The uproar created in the media over the past few days over the news that some R9 million had been spent from the police budget to buy cars for President Jacob Zuma’s four wives has got a quick reaction from him. His office announced on Friday that there will be a review of these policies, […]

The South African high commissioner to Australia, who is facing charges of corruption and fraud, has been recalled by the government, according to news reports on Wednesday. Sibusiso Ndebele, South Africa’s former transport minister, has been charged with corruption for allegedly accepting more than R10 million in kickbacks, according to news reports. Ndebele, who was a […]