The Democratic Alliance (DA) returned from its US visit emboldened, declaring itself a “steadfast and credible advocate for South Africa’s national interests on the international stage” despite its junior role in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The ANC asserted that foreign policy remains the “preserve of the executive,” exposing the fragility of South Africa’s fragmented governance system, which internal divisions and global right-wing shifts strain. DA MP Willie Aucamp’s demand for ANC concessions on foreign policy, suggesting that the…

In an unprecedented move since the dawn of democracy in 1994, the South African government has cancelled Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s 2024/2025 budget speech due to policy disputes within President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity (GNU). The governing African National Congress (ANC) and its grand coalition main partner, the Democratic Alliance (DA), could not agree on the proposed 2% increase in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) from the current 15% to 17%.  The postponement, announced during a Parliamentary sitting in…

The expropriation bill, which President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law on Thursday, has pitted the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Dean Macpherson, against his deputy, Sihle Zikalala. This was after the two expressed contradictory views on X (Twitter) today, 24 January 2025, with Mcpherson dismissing Zikalala’s eagerness to implement the expropriation law as nothing more than a personal “opinion.” The Expropriation Act is the latest policy battleground between the DA and the ANC, Mcpherson and Zikalala’s political homes,…

ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s foray into Khayelitsha township in Cape Town turned into a political disaster when a resident tried to eject him and his party’s delegation conducting a door to door campaign ahead of the January 8 rally. The embarrassing spectacle was beamed live on Newzroom Afrika on Tuesday, January 7, as the 24-hour news channel was tailing Mashatile and his ANC delegation in the area. The governing party is set to hold a rally at the Nelson…

South African Communist Party (SACP) General Secretary Solly Mapaila has defended the party’s decision to dump the ANC and contest elections independently, saying they sought to protect the revolution rather than act as observers when the Democratic Alliance (DA) has more influence in government than the communist party. He says the SACP wants to “tackle capital directly”, improve the lives of South Africans and strengthen the ANC-led alliance rather than weaken it, as critics claim. Mapaila spoke at the Avalon…

Despite threats and grumblings by the DA, one of his Government of National Unity (GNU) partners, President Cyril Ramaphosa has fully signed the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act (BELA) into law. In a statement released by the Presidency on Friday, December 20, Ramaphosa said he signed the new law and instructed Basic Education Minister and DA member Siviwe Gwarube to implement the BELA Act fully.  The first part of the act was signed in September this year, but two portions…

Long snaking queues in the baking sun formed around Eskom offices and service centres in many black working-class areas. Many people arrived at the offices the previous night sleeping over to avoid the stampede, including the elderly, frail and sick. A man died in Orlando Community Hall. He was 59-year-old Joseph Fikile Busakwe, he was number 486 in the queue. Like all the other people standing in line, he had gone in a panic to make sure that his electricity…

The proposal by the DA that the G20 Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) – which includes DA Ministers John Steenhuisen, Siviwe Gwarube, Solly Malatsi, and Dion George –  must become South Africa’s GNU foreign policy engine room has been met with harsh criticism from the presidency. This is after Ryan Smith, the DA’s International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) expert, wrote to President Cyril Ramaphosa regarding the proposal. In his letter, Smith said his party advocates for a foreign policy that is both…

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has criticized members of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet for allegedly lacking executive accountability, claiming they have failed to adequately respond to parliamentary questions. Julius Malema’s party said Cabinet ministers had failed to respond to half of the questions within the stipulated time. In some instances, they did not even bother entertaining written questions from Members of Parliament.  In a statement released on Tuesday, November 05th, the EFF accused GNU Ministers…

Democratic Alliance (DA) Leader John Steenhuisen’s claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa represented himself when he described Russian Leader Vladimir Putin as South Africa’s “valuable ally” are “silly” and show that the party is still pursuing the apartheid government’s foreign policy. According to Andre Thomashausen, a Professor Emeritus of International and Comparative Law at the University of South Africa (Unisa) and the former Head of the university’s Department of Public, Constitutional and International Law, Steenhuisen’s assertions also proved that South Africa’s…