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 […]

It is difficult to escape the sense of an endgame in progress, not between the ruling ANC government and its assorted opposition, but within the ANC. Thus the cleavages between parties has now finally come out in the open inside the ruling party, too. Between the forces of modernism and tribalism, populism and order, radicalism […]

The American republic survived Richard Nixon. South Africa’s will survive Jacob Zuma. Of that John Campbell sounded confident when I spoke to him this week about his new book. He has called it Morning in South Africa. No “u”. If you’re looking for a Washington establishment view on South Africa, Campbell is a good place […]

President Jacob Zuma, accompanied by Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, arrived in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday for a State Visit. (Both are seen in the photo below arriving at Hamad International Airport). The visit is intended to strengthen and elevate bilateral relations between South Africa and the State of Qatar. According to a statement from the Presidency, these […]

Today’s Sunday Times newspaper in South Africa reports that Public Protector Thuli Madonsela fears for her life after being informed that a hit had been put out on her. Madonsela, who has become a popular heroine in the country due to her bravery in standing up to and exposing corruption, allegedly received a tip off last […]

President Jacob Zuma has condemned the burning of 23 schools in Vuwani in Limpopo in protests that have turned violent and which he describes as suspicious. Today it has been reported that 50 schools in the area have been closed indefinitely, affecting almost 30,000 pupils (26,987 to be exact). The South African president said: “I wish […]

The North Gauteng (Pretoria) High Court has Friday found that the NPA’s decision to drop 783 charges of corruption against President Jacob Zuma was irrational, and have added that the South African president should face his charges. A full bench of judges – led by Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba – gave the go-ahead for […]