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Independent investigation finds no diesel missing, but identifies governance lapses – Eskom An independent investigation, commissioned by State-owned power utility Eskom, into diesel procurement and storage contracts under Tender MWP2197GX found no evidence that diesel paid for by Eskom is missing. The investigation did, however, confirm instances of non-adherence to Eskom processes concerning payments made to certain suppliers. These substantiated findings relate principally to payments outside contractual terms and emergency approvals that did not comply with Eskom's Delegation of Authority,
DA leads R116m party donations as non-compliant ANC faces IEC penalties The DA has emerged as the largest beneficiary of political party donations this quarter, while the ANC has been flagged for non-compliance. The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has published the political party donation disclosures for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year. Covering April 1 to June 30, the report revealed that political parties declared a total of R116.78-million in compliant donations. The commission said the surge in financial mobilisation coincides with the formal proclamation of Novembe
Cachalia says decline in serious contact crimes, but GBV a challenge Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia, on Friday, announced a downward trend in several of the country's most severe contact crimes during the release of the first-quarter crime statistics for the 2026/27 financial year. The data highlights a consecutive quarterly drop in murders alongside substantial reductions in highly feared, organised crimes. However, he emphasised that high-density violence and gender-based violence (GBV) remain critical challenges. Murder rates declined for another consecutive quarter and significant r
ANC welcomes failed no confidence motion against Didiza Following the failed motion of no confidence against National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza, brought by the EFF, the ANC parliamentary caucus welcomed the vote outcome, characterising the EFF's motion as a "groundless attempt to disrupt parliamentary operations". The motion was rejected by 282 votes to 101, which the ANC said confirmed the National Assembly's confidence in Didiza. "The motion brought by the EFF was nothing more than a calculated political gimmick designed to undermine democratic processes, generate media headlines and was
GOOD Party appeals R90 000 Electoral Court fine over funding violations The GOOD Party has announced its intention to appeal an Electoral Court judgment which found the party and its leadership in breach of the Political Party Funding Act. The court ordered the party and its secretary-general Brett Herron to pay a combined fine of R90 000 for failing to comply with national electoral funding regulations. The court judgment found that ahead of the 2021 Municipal Elections the GOOD Party, during August and September of that year, bought T-shirts and other political marketing material from Kairos
Dlamini-Zuma, Mbalula go head to head in court over vote-buying claims ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) member Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma announced she stands firmly by the substance of her concerns regarding financial corruption within internal party contests, as she confirmed that her legal representatives had on Tuesday filed a formal notice of intention to oppose ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula suit against her. This follows Dlamini-Zuma's remarks made during a recent appearance on an episode of the African Renaissance Podcast, a platform hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlo
Hill-Lewis urges Cachalia to engage on investigative powers for metro police Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis has expressed concern over what he says is a lack of engagement by Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia on the potential expansion of Cape Town Metro Police powers. Despite Cachalia's recent indication that he has an "open mind" on the matter, the City of Cape Town reports a month of silence following the lodging of an intergovernmental dispute. The city is seeking to amend the SAPS Act Amendment Bill currently before Parliament to allow Metro Police to investigate gang, gun, and dr
Lamola welcomes Dlamini-Zuma's retraction of vote-buying claims Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has welcomed a formal retraction by ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, of allegations linking him to illicit voice notes and vote-buying during internal party elections. The controversy erupted earlier this month following Dlamini-Zuma's appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast, hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. During the episode, the former Minister levelled explosive allegations against high-ranking ANC officials, claiming that illicit financi
ActionSA sues ANC's Maepa over alleged AI-faked claims ActionSA has launched coordinated actions against the ANC's Kgoši Maepa, lodging a formal complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) and preparing criminal charges over an alleged disinformation campaign targeting Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya. The dispute stems from public allegations that Tlopo Construction, a company doing business with the City of Tshwane, performed renovations at Moya's private residence using public funds. ActionSA believes Maepa's actions breach the Electoral Code of Conduct and contravene the Local G
DA welcomes former FF+ caucus leader to its ranks The DA on Tuesday welcomed to its ranks former Freedom Front Plus (FF+) Tshwane Caucus Leader Grandi Theunissen, a move that DA Tshwane mayoral candidate Cilliers Brink said bodes well for the blue party. Theunissen, a former FF+ regional chairperson for Tshwane, said he hopes to make a positive contribution to the DA and to the metro. "As I said, leaving a party of which I have been a member since 1994 is a difficult decision. As chairperson of the FF+'s largest region, I worked hard to grow the party. I also held a highly winnable position on
Parly flags R300m shortfall at Home Affairs following spike in deportations The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs has raised serious concerns over a R341-million financial shortfall facing the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), following intense anti-illegal-immigration protests on June 30 and a subsequent surge in immigration enforcement, deportations and repatriations. With its yearly deportation budget already fully depleted, the department faces severe operational risks if fiscal interventions are not approved, the committee warned. The DHA has officially requested R292-mill
CDE report says Joburg budget is 'disconnected from reality', with water failures biggest risk With unpaid bills owed to the City of Johannesburg rising from about R15-billion in 2014/15 to nearly R72-billion in 2024/25, the Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) cautions that the City's budget is "increasingly disconnected from reality". In the second issue of the independent think tank's new report series, 'Johannesburg Matters: Fixing South Africa's growth engine', which highlights the multiple crises confronting the City of Johannesburg and presents recommendations, the CDE warns that
Oversight tightens as McKenzie faces Parly committee grilling Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie will face an intense parliamentary committee on Tuesday as opposition parties gear up to demand accountability over a multimillion-rand overseas trip and allegations of political patronage in board appointments. McKenzie is scheduled to appear before the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture for a second time to account for a controversial R30.9-million taxpayer expenditure incurred by his department for a 151-member delegation to the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The DA has vowed to
Business, govt unanimous on economic growth plan, jobs target The Presidency and business organisation Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA) have united behind the plan, announced last week, to lift economic growth above 3% a year and contribute towards the creation of one-million new jobs by 2030, with both social partners agreeing that the focus must now shift from fixing the economy's structural weaknesses to unlocking its growth potential. The agreement forms the basis of Phase 3 of the Government-Business Partnership, launched at Summer Place, in Johannesburg, on August 20, with more th
ANC says it has learnt from past mistakes as it vows 'capable' municipal leadership ahead of elections The ANC has the capacity to lead municipalities effectively following a rigorous selection process for its local government election candidates, the party has promised. Speaking on Monday, a day after the launch of its election manifesto, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula emphasised that party did not choose just anyone to fill the mayoral seats. Instead, he said the ANC leadership invested time into analysing every prospective candidate to ensure they possessed the right qualifications, l
Border security top of SA-Zim BNC agenda as Ramaphosa hosts Mnangagwa President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for deeper bilateral cooperation between South Africa and Zimbabwe, urging both nations to modernise respective border systems, tackle trans-border crime, and correct a "massive" trade imbalance. Speaking at the fourth session of the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission (BNC) at the OR Tambo Building in Pretoria, Ramaphosa emphasised regional prosperity for neighbours with "vast shared potential, seamless migration and robust economic collaboration". Ramaphosa hosted Zimbabwean Pr
NPA drops corruption charges against top crime intelligence bosses amid Madlanga Commission revelations The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) has formally withdrawn all corruption charges against the Divisional Commissioner of Crime Intelligence Lieutenant-General Dumisani Khumalo, and six other high-ranking police officials. The legal turnaround follows a direct intervention by National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) Advocate Andy Mothibi. The NPA said the decision was triggered by "emerging, undisputed evidence of serious irregularities" in how the State handled the
ANC lays criminal charges against coalition partner's Mark Burke The ANC said on Friday it has pursued criminal charges against DA MP Dr Mark Burke, as well as the fintech company Kastelo, following a South African Reserve Bank (SARB) investigation into Kastelo, with which Burke is linked. On Wednesday, the DA removed Burke from Parliament's finance committee and stripped him of his title as the party's finance spokesperson, as the investigation unfolds. ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli said the party's decision to take Burke to court did not mean that it was "making findings" but rather that th
Parly champions coordinated regional strategy for migration governance, expansion of legislative dialogue Parliament must move beyond reactive measures and lead the charge in building robust governance systems, driving evidence-based policies, and leveraging parliamentary diplomacy to address the complex realities of continental migration. This according to Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation chairperson Supra Mahumapelo, following the conclusion of a multi-stakeholder workshop on migration governance and parliamentary diplomacy. The workshop, hosted wi
DA wants Parly hearing after scathing SCA ruling on Kusile pollution The DA has requested an urgent joint oversight hearing in Parliament following a landmark Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) judgment regarding ongoing pollution at Eskom's Kusile power station. The party describes the ruling as a damning indictment of the power utility and the regulatory bodies tasked with monitoring it. The SCA overturned a 2024 High Court dismissal, ruling that Eskom failed in its legal duty to control, minimise, and rectify water pollution flowing from Kusile into downstream water resources and neighbouring fa
South Africa consumer inflation slows more than expected in July South Africa's inflation rate slowed for the first time in five months in July, partly due to a steep drop in fuel costs, but analysts said it could soon climb again as renewed US-Iran hostilities had since driven global oil prices higher. Headline inflation in Africa's largest economy eased to 4.3% year-on-year, lower than the 4.5% predicted by economists polled by Reuters and June's 5.0% reading, Statistics South Africa data showed on Wednesday. The agency attributed the slowdown to three main factors: softer food inflation, lo
Ramaphosa objects to Thandazani Madonsela as Impeachment Committee evidence leader President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally objected to the appointment of advocate Thandazani Madonsela as the Chief Evidence Leader for the upcoming parliamentary impeachment inquiry, claiming conflicts of interest. The objection has forced the Section 89 Impeachment Committee to halt proceedings and seek urgent independent legal opinion. Ramaphosa argued that Madonsela has "clear conflicts of interest". And in his submissions, the President pointed out that he removed Madonsela from the Judicial Service Commission
DA removes Mark Burke from finance committee amid SARB probe The DA has removed Mark Burke from Parliament's finance committee and his role as the party's finance spokesperson following a South African Reserve Bank (SARB) investigation into a company, Kastelo Proprietary Limited, with which he is linked. While the party maintains a "strict stance on accountability" and awaits formal findings, it said it acted to avoid conflicts of interest, appointing Kingsley Wakelin as the new finance spokesperson. On Tuesday the party affirmed its commitment to due process and the independence of State inst
DA stands by 'due process' as MP Mark Burke addresses SARB probe The DA has affirmed its commitment to due process and the independence of State institutions following reports of a South African Reserve Bank (SARB) investigation into financial services company Kastelo Proprietary Limited, and which involves DA MP and party federal finance chairperson Mark Burke. DA Federal Council Chairperson Ashor Sarupen stated that the party will not interfere with or prejudge the ongoing central bank probe, adding the party maintains a "strict stance on accountability" but emphasised that decisions must be
Nene appointed Financial and Fiscal Commission chair President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed Nhlanhla Nene as chairperson of the Financial and Fiscal Commission (FFC) and Malijeng Ngqaleni as its deputy chairperson. Additionally, Bulelwa Nqadolo, Neo Tsholanku, Andrew Donaldson and Astrid Ludin have been appointed as members of the commission. The appointments are for a period of five years. The chairperson serves as a full-time member, while the deputy chairperson and the other members serve on a part-time basis, the Presidency says. The FFC's primary objective is to make recommendations to P
