Politics – Trendsdail.co.za

GAUTENG PKTT ARRESTS SUSPECTS IN MURDERS OF EFF MEMBER

News Update — Mon, 03 Aug 2026 16:09:34 +0000

GAUTENG PKTT ARRESTS SUSPECTS IN MURDERS OF EFF MEMBER AARON MAKOLA AND ANC WARD COUNCILLOR THABANG MASEMOLA

The Acting National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS), Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, has commended the newly established Gauteng Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) for making significant breakthroughs in investigations into the murders of political party members and ward councillors in Gauteng.

In the first case, GP PKTT recently arrested two suspects for the murder of Thabang Masemola, an ANC ward 10 councillor in the City Of Tshwane.

Masemola was murdered on 08 July 2025 in Mamelodi East.

The two suspects arrested include the alleged hitman and a woman who is believed to have played a role in planning the murder of the councillor.

The pair will reappear before the Mamelodi Magistrate’s Court where the PKTT will link the hitman, 41-year-old Vusimuzi Champ Gebuza to two additional cases of murder and attempted murder of two other individuals. These cases all took place in Mamelodi in 2023 and 2024.

In the second case, following the discovery of the body of EFF member Aaron Makola by the PKTT, investigators from the Gauteng PKTT tracked down and arrested his alleged killers.

Over the weekend, three suspects, aged 40, 42 and 44, were arrested and are expected to appear before the Delmas Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday,05 August 2026, on charges of murder, kidnapping and robbery.

Lieutenant General Dimpane has praised the dedication and professionalism of the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team.

“These breakthroughs demonstrate SAPS’ unwavering commitment to ensuring that those who commit violent crimes are tracked down and brought before the courts. We commend the Gauteng Political Killings Task Team for their tireless efforts and assure the families of the victims, as well as the people of Gauteng, that we remain resolute in our fight against violent crime and politically motivated killings.”

Breaking news: Huge Trouble Erupts in the ANC Over

News Update — Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:07:21 +0000

ANC Limpopo chairperson Phophi Ramathuba has issued a stern warning to underperforming councillors and mayors ahead of the 4 November local government elections.

Ramathuba has made it clear that poor performance will not be tolerated.

Addressing supporters at the ANC’s Mandela Legacy Rally at Makwarela Stadium in Thohoyandou, she said the governing party is prepared to recall deployees who fail to deliver, even if it means making changes on the eve of the elections.

The rally took place just a short distance from Thohoyandou Stadium, where the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) launched its local government election manifesto.

While the timing and proximity sparked speculation of political point-scoring, the ANC has dismissed claims that it deliberately staged the event to counter the EFF.

Instead, the party says the focus remains on strengthening governance and improving struggling municipalities across Limpopo.

Ramathuba revealed that the ANC has already begun reconfiguring its provincial management teams, with several mayoral changes aimed at placing skilled and capable leaders in municipalities where performance has been lacking.

She stressed that accountability remains central to the party’s renewal efforts, saying the ANC cannot expect to win elections if it fails to hold its own deployees accountable.

According to Ramathuba, those who are unable to perform will be redeployed to positions better suited to their abilities, making way for leaders who can deliver.

ANC National Executive Committee member Enoch Godongwana echoed that message, saying effective leadership and reliable service delivery are critical to fixing local government.

Godongwana said municipalities need leaders who are equipped to meet the challenges facing communities and ensure that essential services are delivered where they matter most.

The rally also highlighted growing political tensions between the ANC and its long-time alliance partner, the South African Communist Party (SACP), following the SACP’s decision to contest the November local government elections independently.

Ramathuba acknowledged that the ANC had accepted the SACP’s decision, although it was not the party’s preferred outcome. She said the ANC remains focused on securing a decisive victory in Limpopo, adding that the SACP would have to contest the elections on its own.

Despite the political shifts, Ramathuba expressed confidence that the ANC will retain control of all 27 municipalities in Limpopo when voters head to the polls in November.

Its Victory or death says Julius Malema To His Followers

News Update — Sun, 26 Jul 2026 16:40:06 +0000

The Economic Freedom Fighters have joined their 13th anniversary celebrations with the party’s election manifesto launch in Thohoyandou.

Party leader Julius Malema said victory is certain for the Red Berets and municipalities would not get the much-needed change without the EFF. He said they would achieve this by providing quality jobs with medical aid and pension funds.

He unveiled their plans and saying these are the following as their key focus points:

Service Delivery Focus

Commitment to jobs, water, electricity, proper food, and reliable services for youth in Vhembe and Limpopo.

“We want proper food. We want water, we want electricity, and not just electricity. We want reliable electricity.

“We don’t want tenders. We want people to work directly, have an appointment letter,

have a medical aid, have a pension fund and also have leave days,” he said.

Municipal Accountability

Addressing collapsed municipalities, corruption, and demanding more funding for local government to serve people directly.

“Our municipalities have collapsed. That’s why they steal from the poor.

Employment & Economic Opportunities

Creating jobs locally, supporting small businesses, and ensuring land for both settlement and economic development.

“There is no one who will liberate Polokwane and give the children of Polokwane quality jobs that are paying with medical aid and pension fund except the EFF.”

Infrastructure & Dignity

Building houses with proper toilets, fixing potholes, establishing 24-hour clinics, and ensuring sanitation and waste collection.

“There can be no real freedom without a functioning municipality.”

Gender Equality & Safety

Policy ensuring equal employment for men and women; stopping crime and sexual exploitation by officials.

“Our children must go and study even at night without any fear of being raped by rascals on the way to the library.”

Youth-Centred Approach

Youth at the forefront of all initiatives, addressing unemployment and crime that affect them most.

“We want the youth of Vhembe, the youths of Limpopo to succeed in their own right. And therefore the only organisation that will make the youth succeed is the EFF.”

Malema also pointed to what he described as the party’s successes in coalition governments as a sign it is ready to take over.

Malema said the Red Berets have improved service delivery in Ekurhuleni and transformed Tshwane into a cleaner city.

“The EFF has worked very hard. The EFF in Ekurhuleni has made sure that it gives our people dignified sanitation and water. The EFF stabilised the finances of Ekurhuleni.

“Once they removed our MMC in Ekurhuleni, the finances of Ekurhuleni collapsed. It is the EFF that is known for giving people houses, because the EFF cares about our people.

“Today, Tshwane is clean. You will mistake it for London, because those who came before, they are used to staying in dirty places. The best MMC when it comes to cleaning a town comes from the EFF, and he is found in Tshwane, and his name is over again. We can learn one or two from him if we want a better government.”

Without mincing his words, Malema said it is crunch time for South Africa and that the upcoming election will be one for the books.

“Comrades, today South Africa is confronted with a choice that can no longer be postponed. It is a choice between victory or death. The collapse of our municipalities and the failure of local government in South Africa is not just about broken pipes, port walls, refuse collection, water and electricity supply,” he added.

You Won’t believe Who is on EFF’s 2026 mayoral candidates

News Update — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 15:38:37 +0000

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) have announced the names of those who will stake the party’s claim for mayoral leadership positions across the country.

Leader Julius Malema made the announcement on Saturday at the EFF’s manifesto launch and 13^th birthday bash at Thohoyandou stadium.

The 2026 local government elections are less than four months away, with Malema making several promises about the economy, service delivery and issues affecting the poor.

Malema on Ekurhuleni and Tshwane

The EFF leader said municipalities had collapsed, but argued that municipalities should be given more funds to solve service delivery issues.

“We want more money for local government, because it is local government that deals directly with our people,’ Malema said.

Malema highlighted several successes that he believed underpinned the party’s suitability to run a municipality.

“The EFF in Ekurhuleni has made sure that it gives our people dignified sanitation and water.

“The EFF stabilised the finances of Ekurhuleni. Once they removed our MMC in Ekurhuleni, the finances of Ekurhuleni collapsed.

“It is the EFF that is known for giving people houses because the EFF cares about our people.

“Today, Tshwane is clean, you would have mistaken it for London. The best MMC when it comes to cleaning a town comes from the EFF,” said Malema.

EFF mayoral candidates

The EFF’s candidates to run the Ekurhuleni and Tshwane metros will be former Ekurhuleni Speaker Nthabiseng Tshivenga and parliamentarian Omphile Maotwe.

Here are the EFF’s mayoral candidates for the other 6 metropolitan municipalities.

Johannesburg: UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng
Cape Town: EFF National Chairperson Nontando Nolutshungo
eThekwini: EFF inaugural deputy secretary-general Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi
Mangaung: National Assembly whip Sam Matiase
Nelson Mandela metro: National Assembly member Sinawo Thambo
Buffalo City: Parliamentarian Mkhululi Dlevu

Malema also announced several candidates for other “strategic” municipalities, including Lawrence Mapoulo for Polokwane, Godrich Gardee for Mbombela, Israel Monaise for Rustenburg and Lerato Tito for Sol Plaatjie.

“Where the EFF is in government, we have proven that political conviction alone cannot fix infrastructure or rebuild institutions.

“Accountability and being of service to the people is what matters,” the party stated.

Julius Malema Drops Another Revelation about the ANC

News Update — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 11:44:20 +0000

EFF leader Julius Malema says the ANC-led government has betrayed the dreams of young people in South Africa.

Malema was speaking at the Onkgopotse Tiro Memorial Lecture at the University of Limpopo on Thursday. He lamented the high rate of youth unemployment and the living conditions most young people in the country endure.

“You watch people with political connections receiving opportunities while you remain unemployed, you watch tenders being awarded to the connected while your own small business is struggling to survive, you watch billions disappear through corruption while you are told that there is no money for education, no money for accommodation, no money for youth development and no money for employment.

“There is a young person in this country [who] stopped applying for jobs because rejection has become so routine that they no longer expect a positive response; there is a young person who no longer believes that their qualification will change their life because they have watched graduates remain unemployed for years,” said Malema.

Challenges facing South African youth

Malema described the challenges facing South African youth as a political crisis.

“When hope is systematically destroyed, you do not simply become unemployed; you become alienated from society, you begin to withdraw from politics, you begin to believe that elections are meaningless, that politicians are all the same, that participation cannot change your circumstances,” he said.

Malema said because of these challenges, young people have turned to drugs, alcohol and crime while some become depressed.

“Some leave the country because you no longer believe South Africa has a future for you, and others remain here, but they are psychologically defeated. We must not condemn you without first asking what society has done to you. You have been told that your time will come. But for millions of young people every year that passes is another year of unemployment, another year of debt, another year of dependence and another year in which potential is wasted,” he said.

Call to action by Malema

Malema encouraged young people to be courageous and become more active in fighting against systemic injustice and oppression.

“You must learn that the first victory of the oppressor is to convince the oppressed that they are powerless. From 1976, you must learn that fear cannot be allowed to determine the limits of resistance and from Fees Must Fall you must learn that even in a democracy you must continue to organise when institutions reproduce exclusion,” he said.

He said the EFF exists to represent the struggles of young people. Malema encouraged all youth to attend the 13^th anniversary celebrations of his party in Thohoyandou on Saturday. He also encouraged them to register to vote in the upcoming local government elections.

Breaking News: Patrick Motsepe Finally Reveals Plans For

News Update — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:52:10 +0000

South African mining magnate Patrice Motsepe on Wednesday ruled out a future in politics, dismissing speculation that he could one day run for the country’s Presidency.

The 64-year-old billionaire and head of African football has been repeatedly mentioned in the South African media as a potential successor to his brother-in-law, President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose second and final term ends in 2029.

“South Africa does not need me to go into politics,” Motsepe told reporters in Johannesburg.

“There are many very capable and good leaders in this country,” he said.

Motsepe also ruled out a bid to succeed Gianni Infantino as FIFA chief, saying he remained focused on his role at the helm of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

“I have no desire or ambition to be president of FIFA. That doesn’t excite me,” he said. Motsepe’s current CAF term runs until 2029.

South Africa’s succession debate has intensified within the governing ANC as Ramaphosa navigates a turbulent second term, after the party’s worst electoral performance forced it into an uneasy coalition government.

The President has also faced renewed pressure over a cash-heist scandal, in which $580,000 was stolen from his private game farm.

The ANC blocked impeachment proceedings against Ramaphosa over the scandal in 2022, but the Constitutional Court revived the process in May.

Motsepe brushed aside suggestions that he could be drawn into the contest to succeed Ramaphosa.

“The only problem I have is I’m not part of any group,” he said.

“That’s why even some of my friends say things which are not flattering, because somebody said to them that somebody might persuade me to change my view.”

In December, Motsepe attended the ANC’s national general council meeting, where some delegates wore T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan “PM27”, a reference to a possible Presidential bid in 2027. A lobbying website bearing the same name has also been launched.

He founded and owns mining company African Rainbow Minerals and is Africa’s eighth richest person, with a personal wealth estimated at $4.3 billion, according to Forbes magazine.

In 2012, Motsepe made the Forbes billionaire list.

He also owns CAF Champions League winners Mamelodi Sundowns.

Breaking news: Top ANC Politician Arrested

News Update — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 18:17:41 +0000

A Limpopo councillor was arrested for allegedly offering a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigator R70 000 to “close one eye” and disregard evidence in a corruption investigation related to a tender in Mahikeng.

The SIU and members of the South African Police Service (Saps) arrested a sitting councillor from Thulamela Local Municipality in Limpopo for allegedly attempting to bribe an SIU investigator with R70 000.

Trying to bribe SIU investigator with R70k

Netshivhumbe Gumani, 44, was nabbed for allegedly obstructing justice in the investigation into the Mahikeng Local Municipality, North West. He is facing charges of corruption.

SIU spokesperson Selby Makgotho said the arrest was a joint entrapment operation by the SIU and Saps, specifically the Mmabatho-based Serious Corruption Investigation, Serious Commercial Crime Investigation, and the Mahikeng Tactical Response Team of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.

Makgotho said the SIU is investigating allegations of maladministration and corruption relating to the procurement or contracting of goods and services related to two tenders by or on behalf of the Mahikeng Local Municipality.

The tenders were a lease agreement dated 15 December 2015 and a full maintenance lease agreement dated 23 February 2016.

“The SIU’s forensic analysis revealed suspicious financial flows from the municipality’s service provider to unrelated companies and individuals,” Makgotho said.

Gumani approached three investigators

According to the SIU, during the investigation, Gumani initially approached one SIU investigator, who refused outright.

The councillor then allegedly targeted a senior investigator, offering to “close one eye” and disregard evidence.

“On 18 June 2026, during a meeting in Mahikeng, the suspect handed over R10 000 in cash as part of the bribe,” the SIU said.

“Gumani also approached a third SIU official from the SIU’s head office last weekend.”

The SIU alerted the police and the Hawks, who authorised an entrapment operation.

Authorities arrested the suspect immediately after he allegedly handed over the cash, which was seized and counted in the presence of officers.

Entrapment operation

Councillor Gumani appeared in the Molopo Magistrates’ Court in Mahikeng, and his case has been postponed to 29 June 2026 for a bail application.

“The SIU emphasises that its investigators uphold the highest standards of integrity. This case sends a strong deterrent message: corruption will not be tolerated, and those who attempt to corrupt SIU investigators will face the full might of the law,” Makgotho said.

Trouble Continues For Ramaphosa As impeachment committee to sit for first time

News Update — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 05:47:35 +0000

For the first time in South Africa’s democratic history, a committee established to consider impeaching a president will sit on Monday.

The 31-member committee will only have one order of business: to elect a chairperson.

The impeachment committee was established a week ago after the Constitutional Court in May compelled Parliament to take steps to consider misconduct allegations against President Cyril Ramaphosa.

This relates to events that unfolded at his Phala Phala farm in 2020 following the theft of more than half a million United States (US) dollars that had been stuffed in a couch.

A decision by the African National Congress (ANC) majority to vote down a 2022 report that suggested Parliament hold an impeachment inquiry is now coming back to haunt the institution.

Despite Ramaphosa last week applying for that report to be put under judicial review, Parliament will be sticking to the instructions of the Constitutional Court and the House rules that require a committee to hold its first meeting within five working days of being established.

However, it’s not expected that the committee will get down to any serious business soon.

Last week, political parties were still to submit proposals on how such a committee should conduct its business.

Parliament’s 2017 impeachment rules only broadly outline the process, but do not specify how an inquiry should be carried out.

It’s unclear whether the ANC will be scrambling to chair the committee, with some party members ostensibly reluctant to prosecute its own president.
Opposition parties will no doubt be champing at the bit to nominate their own candidate to ensure the president is not shielded from full accountability.

And, if they band together, they could get their way, despite the ANC’s majority on the committee.

Big Blow For Zuma & Mk Party As Its Top Chief Is Arrested For

News Update — Thu, 28 May 2026 09:11:08 +0000

The chief whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), Mmabatho Nthabiseng Mokoena-Zondi, has reportedly been arrested in Cape Town on Thursday.

She is reportedly facing fraud and extortion charges.

It is alleged that Mokoena-Zondi demanded a portion of MPs’ salaries each month for them to remain in their positions.

She is expected to appear at the Cape Town Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Mokoena-Zondi replaced Colleen Makhubele as MKP’s Chief Whip in February.

This is a developing story

Huge Legal Trouble Hits The ANC that could change everything

News Update — Fri, 22 May 2026 09:23:17 +0000

As the national ANC officially inaugurated the party’s Eastern Cape provincial task team (PTT) at the City Hall in KuGompo City late on Thursday, fresh warnings of legal action against the troubled party again emerged.

Unsurprisingly such warnings are again coming from disgruntled party members who had previously warned and went on to successfully interdict the party’s provincial elective conference, over alleged branch meeting irregularities, ahead of the aborted March conference.

This time the three disgruntled party members threatened to go to court as soon as next Tuesday if party bosses do not reverse their decision to appoint a now 40-member interim structure, which was officially announced late on Thursday.

This was a day after a letter from ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to the province, containing the list of all those appointed, started circulating and was publicised early on Wednesday.

Initially Mbalula’s correspondence contained 39 names, with that of social development MEC Bukiwe Fanta missing. It was later amended and she made the list, taking the total number of PTT members to 40.

The provincial ANC structure was dissolved by the party’s national executive committee (NEC) last week after its four-year term lapsed earlier this month.

On Thursday outgoing provincial chair Oscar Mabuyane was officially unveiled as the PTT’s convener, and former provincial deputy secretary Helen Sauls-August was announced as provincial co-ordinator.

PTT ‘illegal and unconstitutional’: attorneys

While hundreds of jovial party members from across the province had gathered in song at the city hall, patiently waiting for an address by Mbalula, and to witness the official unveiling of the PTT, a letter from lawyers representing the disgruntled three members emerged.

Addressed to Mbalula, the letter instructed Luthuli House to reverse its move to appoint an interim structure in the province, or face prospects of having to defend such party decisions in court.

The “threatening” letter from Sinawo Makangela of Makangela Mtungani Inc, attorneys representing Lwazi Rotya, Sinethemba Mpande and Nompumelelo Mzothwa, stated the three will have no option but to go back to court if the decision to appoint this PTT is not reversed.

“As you are aware, our clients were the applicants in the matter in which the Eastern Cape provincial conference was interdicted,” states the letter.

“Pursuant to that application, two further applications in which our clients remain the applicants are being pursued, being the application for contempt of court against Mr Fikile Mbalula, Ms Mammoloko Kubayi and Mr Oscar Mabuyane, and the application to compel the production of further documentation for the hearing of the final relief application.

The PEC may not be dissolved without reason and without a fair and lawful process being followed. We are not aware of any reason for a dissolution or any procedure followed before any dissolution decision could be taken

— Attorneys Makangela Mtungani Inc

“Both applications remain uncompleted because of the failure of the respondents to file their answering affidavits, except for Ms Kubayi, in the contempt of court application.

“While your clients remain in default of their obligations in the litigation, it is apparent to our clients that they have continued to disregard the law in other important respects that infringe our clients’ rights under section 19 of the Constitution and the constitution of the ANC.

“It has come to our clients’ attention that a document purporting to have been written by the secretary-general has been widely shared and reported in the media containing names of persons alleged to have been appointed into the ‘provincial task team’ of the ANC in the Eastern Cape.”

Their gripe, they wrote, was that “no decision has been communicated, to our clients’ knowledge, to any of the members of the existing provincial executive committee (PEC) that a decision has been taken to dissolve the structure or to appoint an interim structure under the aegis of the so-called PTT.”

The trio asked Mbalula to confirm by no later than Friday if the PTT has been appointed, and whether such was the party’s NEC decision. They argued it was “illegal and unconstitutional for anyone to appoint a PTT without dissolving the PEC”.

“The PEC may not be dissolved without reason and without a fair and lawful process being followed. We are not aware of any reason for a dissolution or any procedure followed before any dissolution decision could be taken.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula greets party members at the City Hall in KuGompo City on Thursday night with provincial task team convener Oscar Mabuyane and other officials. (THABANG MASEKO)

“The mere fact that the PEC’s term of office has lapsed does not mean that it must be dissolved. As a matter of law, it is entitled to remain in office until the election of a new PEC, unless lawfully dissolved, after a fair and proper process has been followed.

“The NEC has the final say in both the decision to dissolve a PEC and the appointment of a PTT, including the identification of the persons to constitute the structure, but we are not aware that any decisions were taken by the NEC regarding these matters.”

The ANC was ordered to reverse its decision to appoint the PTT before 5pm next Tuesday or face court action.

“Each individual member of the PTT will be cited and cost orders will be sought against anyone opposing the application.

“Our clients do not wish to litigate against their own organisation unnecessarily. But they are compelled to bring the application because it is plain to them Mr Mbalula’s brazen and reckless attacks to the constitution of the country, the constitution of the ANC and the values of the ANC cannot be contained through internal mechanisms, but only through the legal system.”

The trio said any final decision to bring an application to court, would be caused by the ANC’s own failure to respect its constitution and the rights of the members”.

“We trust the intended legal action can be avoided, but we make it clear that our clients will approach a court of law if their concerns are dismissed and ridiculed, as it has become customary for Mr Mbalula to do.”

Makangela could not be contacted late on Thursday.

No disunity in the province: Mbalula

Speaking to the media, Mbalula poured cold water on the legal action threats, saying the party was within its rights to dissolve the provincial executive and to replace it with a task team.

He said he had seen Makangela’s letter and the party was applying its mind to it.

The appointment of the task team was an “operational mandate” from the party’s NEC, he said.

“Most of these comrades in the PTT come from the old PEC and have led this province towards a provincial conference and beyond. We did not broaden the scope other than to focus on the people who had been leading the province for quite some time,” Mbalula said.

Everything we have done in relation to the processes we have followed are permissible in terms of the ANC constitution

— Mbalula

“We are delighted such work has been delivered. It’s all hands on deck. They have a clear task they will have to perform to consolidate the work of the organisation and prepare our structures.”

Asked about the latest court threat, Mbalula said: “I’ve seen that letter so we will deal with it as it comes. We will have to deal with it in the context of the law. We are capable of defending ourselves, and that is what we will do.

“Things that are brought to court for one reason or another, we are there to defend ourselves. There is no court that has ruled against the ANC in terms of its processes. What the court had ordered the ANC to do, the ANC has looked into that, and the legal advice we got, we will settle the matters in court.

“It is very clear to us, and we know where all this is coming from. It is something we are dealing with and are seized with. Everything we have done in relation to the processes we have followed are permissible in terms of the ANC constitution.”

The party’s planned March conference was marred by a marathon court process leading to it being interdicted and later aborted and placed in “abeyance” on the third day of its schedule, and while thousands of delegates were around the conference venue.

Mbalula said the conference was “stopped legally because the writing was on the wall”.

“There is no such thing as disunity or divisions in this province. Structures here are united. There is no problem of disunity in the Eastern Cape. It is being manufactured. We do not have a crisis in this province.”

He later said he did not want to comment any further about matters before court.