Politics – Trendsdail.co.za

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.

Breaking news: Former Pres. Jacob Zuma disbands MK Party

News Update — Sun, 17 May 2026 14:04:57 +0000

Former president Jacob Zuma has announced a major restructuring of the MK Party ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

The shake-up includes the disbanding of the party’s National High Command and the creation of a new MK Party Institute that will oversee the movement’s political and organisational direction.

The party held a press briefing on Saturday at Coastlands Skye Hotel in Ridgeside, uMhlanga, where details of the restructuring and the party’s new direction were outlined.

In a lengthy statement issued afterwards, Zuma said the restructuring followed an 18-month organisational and ideological assessment of the party and that the new Institute would become the movement’s central strategic and administrative authority, with all organisational structures reporting directly to it.

The Institute will be politically led by party deputy president Dr Mandlakayise Hlophe and includes senior party figures such as spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela, General Manana, Oupa Mathebula, Dr Khanyisile Litchfield-Tshabalala and Lindelani Mbambo.

As part of the shake-up, Zuma announced that the MK Party Institute would immediately begin identifying and forming a new National Executive Committee (NEC), while what was previously known as the National High Command would be disbanded.

The party said the changes were aimed at transforming the MK Party from a conventional political party into what it described as a broader liberation movement.

“The liberation of our people cannot be reduced to slogans, conferences, parliamentary speeches, or election campaigns,” the statement read.

The party also indicated that it wanted South Africa to have a new constitutional conversation rooted in African traditions, values and identity.

According to the statement, the current Constitution remains heavily influenced by Roman-Dutch law and does not fully reflect the aspirations of the African majority.

The MK Party further stated that it would continue advocating for a review of the Constitution while pushing for what it called African restoration and total liberation.

The new structures will focus heavily on preparing for the 2026 local government elections and the 2029 national elections through grassroots mobilisation, activism and community-based campaigns.

Breaking News: ANC Premier Confirmed dead in

News Update — Sun, 17 May 2026 12:53:59 +0000

Former North West premier Kaobitsa “Bushy” Maape has died, aged 68.

The news of his passing was confirmed on Sunday morning, 17 May 2026.

It was announced that the ANC veteran died “surrounded by his children and family” on Saturday after a short illness.

“He was a loving, humble, kind-hearted, and respected man whose presence brought warmth, wisdom, and strength to those around him.

“Bushy will be remembered for his caring nature, his laughter, and the love he shared with family and friends.

“His memory will forever remain in our hearts. and his legacy will continue through the lives he touched,” a statement from the family reads.

ANC hails Bushy Maape

The ANC also honoured Maape as a “freedom fighter” who was imprisoned on Robben Island for his political activism during apartheid.

“Comrade Maape dedicated his life to the struggle for liberation, the advancement of the people of South Africa, and the empowerment of communities through education, serving the movement with discipline, humility, and unwavering commitment throughout his life,” ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said in a statement on Sunday.

“The ANC dips its revolutionary banner in honour of comrade Bushy Maape and extends its heartfelt condolences to the Maape family, his comrades, friends, and the people of the North West province.

“His life remains a testament to a generation of cadres who sacrificed greatly for freedom, democracy, education, and development in South Africa and yet are not in formal leadership structures.

“May his revolutionary soul rest in eternal peace,” the statement further reads.

Background

Maape, a former ANC regional leader in Kgalagadi, led the North West province as premier from September 2021 to May 2024, taking over after Job Mokgoro stepped down.

Before his tenure, he held senior roles in the provincial government, including overseeing RDP programmes and strategic planning in the premier’s office.

His academic background includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Economics from the University of South Africa (Unisa) while imprisoned on Robben Island.

He later completed honours degrees in Developmental Studies and Economics at the University of the Western Cape (UWC).

‘This impeachment must come quickly’: SACP General-Secretary takes on Ramaphosa

News Update — Sun, 10 May 2026 18:45:30 +0000

South African Communist Party (Sacp) general secretary has cast doubt on the fitness of President Cyril Ramaphosa as the country’s head of state.

This comes after the Constitutional Court on Friday ruled that parliament’s decision to protect Ramaphosa from facing an impeachment inquiry was unconstitutional.

This comes as an independent inquiry had found that Ramaphosa has a case to answer in relation to the robbery on his Phala Phala farm in 2020, where $580 000 was stolen – some of the money was found stuffed inside furniture.

In 2022, parliament stopped Ramaphosa from facing an impeachment committee by using a vote in which a majority of ANC parliamentarians voted against the adoption of the independent report.

Mapaila expressed his concern with this judgment at a Sacp event held in Mpumalanga on Sunday.

“We welcome this Constitutional Court judgement…this impeachment must come quickly, it must come quickly because if it delays, we will not have any government infrastructure, everything will be sold.

“There are people who are running operation Vulindlela, these are business people that are sitting right inside the Presidency, they are sharing the resources of this country, a new state capture.

“They are now even trying to sell water to the people,” he said.

Mapaila’s comments come at a time when opposition parties such as the ATM and the EFF are calling on Ramaphosa to step down and clear his name in the impeachment committee.

Parliament’s credibility

In a scathing media statement on Saturday, the Sacp appeared to be criticising the ANC’s decision to use its majority in parliament to protect Ramaphosa from being held accountable.

“Given the fact that parliament is the primary law-making body in our system, it is notable and concerning that there have been a handful of Constitutional Court decisions that have placed parliament on the wrong side of the law in terms of both its processes and decisions.

“If the Republic cannot count on Parliament to be the best performing institution in upholding the laws, it means our system is in precarious waters.

“While we recognise the separation of powers between the branches of government, we also must hold parliament to a much higher standard of accountability regarding interpretation and application of the law,” said the party’s Mbulelo Mandlana.

What will the DA do?

Mandlana also criticised the DA’s reaction to the court’s ruling.

“The DA’s continued participation in the government of national unity (GNU) and its apparent condemnation of Phala Phala reflect a crisis of conscience for them.

“The opportunism manifested by this posture spells out their longstanding crisis of inconsistency: to pose on one side as law-abiding liberals and continue seeking power and positions even in conditions that contradict their supposed law-abiding principles on the other.

“The best manner to express their displeasure and alignment with those that criticise the Phala Phala scandal following this case is a total withdrawal from the GNU. However, we all know that the DA will not do that because it doesn’t stand on any real principle but seeks to position itself for parliamentary advantage,” said Mandlana.

Breaking News: ANC And The DA At War Over over R9bn in

News Update — Sat, 09 May 2026 07:05:18 +0000

A war of words has erupted between the DA and ANC in Limpopo after the province’s 10 municipalities blew more than R9 billion in unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditure during the previous financial year.

This led to the DA in Limpopo submitting questions to the MEC for cooperative governance, human settlement and traditional affairs (Coghsta), Rogers Basikopo Makamu to explain this massive expenditure.

“It is clear that the mandatory municipal Section 71 reports by the accounting officer and the quarterly Section 52(d) reports by mayors to set out the state of financial affairs of their municipalities, and which further act as an early warning system, is not worth the paper it is written on, either because of a lack of transparency on municipal balance sheets, or the lack of scrutiny by Makamu’s department, or both,” DA Limpopo chairperson, Lindy Wilson said in a statement on Friday.

Financial instability in Limpopo’s municipalities

Wilson said a recent report from the Limpopo Treasury paints a bleak picture of the lack of financial stability within Limpopo’s municipalities and the imminent danger of financial collapse.

“Eleven of our 27 municipalities have unfunded budgets with Makhado and Fetakgomo-Tubatse municipalities’ budget found to be unfunded after the adjustment process, which is indicative of the ANC politicians’ demagoguery. The unfunded municipalities are Greater Letaba, Ba-Phalaborwa, Mopani district, Musina, Makhado, Vhembe district, Thabazimbi, Mogalakwena, Modimolle-Mookgopong, Waterberg district and Fetakgomo-Tubatse,” explained Wilson.

She said R9.72 billion of unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditure was incurred by 10 municipalities.

“It is concerning that the embattled Mopani district municipality accounts for 39.7% of the UIFWE in the province in the amount of R3.86 billion. Despite several requests by the DA, the Limpopo ANC government is yet to place Mopani district under administration. This despite the district’s increasing inability to provide water and sanitation to its nearly 1.2 million populace.”

Wilson, who is also a member of the Limpopo provincial legislature in Lebowakgomo, said Thabazimbi municipality, still fraught by ANC factionalism, incurred unauthorised, irregular and wasteful expenditure of R1.57 billion, followed by Modimolle-Mookgopong with R1.25 billion.

The DA Limpopo chairperson said her party will request details of interventions by the department and the municipalities to address the Auditor General’s negative audit findings.

“We will further recommend to the portfolio committee for Coghsta to engage with the portfolio committee for Treasury to effect a collaboration to revive sound financial governance in our municipalities,” she said.

Municipalities told to improve funding

In response, Makamu’s department said it will, together with the Limpopo Provincial Treasury, assist municipalities in the development and implications of revenue enhancement strategies and financial recovery plans.

“Municipalities were advised to develop budget funding plans that will assist in improving the funding position of their budgets,” said departmental spokesperson Tsakani Baloyi on Friday.

Baloyi said the office of the Auditor General of South Africa (AGSA) indicated that one of the reasons for the irregular expenditure is legacy contracts that have not come to an end yet. She said municipalities also face cash-flow constraints due to excessive interest and penalties imposed by creditors such as Eskom.

“Findings on unauthorised expenditure are mainly due to municipalities with unfunded budgets (low revenue collection or limited revenue streams).”

Pres. Ramaphosa Finally Speaks Following His Impeachment Proceeding Announcement

News Update — Fri, 08 May 2026 15:05:41 +0000

The Presidency has noted the judgment of the Constitutional Court in the case brought by the Economic Freedom Fighters challenging the National Assembly’s decision with respect to Section 89 proceedings against the President.

President Cyril Ramaphosa respects the Constitutional Court’s judgment and reaffirms his commitment to the Constitution, the independence of the Judiciary and the rule of law.

President Ramaphosa has been consistent in providing his full assistance to the various enquiries into this matter.

President Ramaphosa maintains that no person is above the law and that any allegations should be subjected to due process without fear, favour or prejudice.

The President calls on all South Africans to respect the Constitutional Court judgment and all judicial institutions.

Julius Malema Blows Says Pres. Ramaphosa Must Be Impeached

News Update — Fri, 08 May 2026 10:41:59 +0000

Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema has welcomed the Constitutional Court decision to set aside the National Assembly vote on Phala Phala.

Speaking outside court after the judgment, Malema said they were “very happy” that the Constitution had won, adding that the impeachment process must kick in immediately.

On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament’s vote was invalid and unconstitutional.

In December 2022, a majority of Members of Parliament — 214 — voted for the report to be rejected and for Parliament not to proceed with the process.

The vote followed a report by the Section 89 independent panel, led by retired Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, which found that President Cyril Ramaphosa may have violated Sections 96(2)(a) of the Constitution and Section 34(1) of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities (PRECCA) Act in relation to a robbery at his Phala Phala game farm in 2020.

“We cannot wait any longer. We have been waiting for too long,” Malema said, calling for Ramaphosa to do himself “a favour” and resign.

“If we had a responsible president, he should be resigning to prepare himself to come and answer. And even if he resigns, he must still come for impeachment.

“You cannot have a president who is preparing for an impeachment process and then occupying the office of the president at the same time,” Malema said, adding that the impeachment process must kick in with immediate effect.

“He should go and concentrate on this impeachment process because it has serious implications on him as an individual.”

“How do you tell your bodyguard to investigate a crime that happened at your farm?. That is abuse of power. There is nothing special about Cyril Ramaphosa; he should have gone to the police station.”

Malema said, among other things, the EFF would demand that the impeachment committee visit Phala Phala as part of the process.

“We want to see how those people opened the hole and how they sneaked in and stole the money. We want to know how the money came in.

“All of the nonsense that was said by the Public Protector, SARS and the Reserve must be exposed. We want the exit evidence of the buffalos and a declaration of those dollars,” he added.

He said his party would use its resources to assemble a large legal team to support the impeachment committee.

“We want to appeal to the Speaker of parliament that her conscience must come back. She must know that this is for the country. They must use their conscience like Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and take a lesson from her. We should always look at what is in the interest of the country.”

Malema said the EFF would not lobby political parties to vote with them.

“They will have to choose a crime over the Constitution. Let them choose crime over the Constitution, even if it means we must walk alone, we will choose the Constitution.”