Questions are multiplying as the police delay action against sacked spy boss Billy Masetlha — despite unequivocal findings by the inspector general of intelligence that Masetlha and others were involved in criminal activity around the hoax e-mail scandal.

The African National Congress is facing an unprecedented revolt over some of its mayoral choices, with councillors opting to vote for their preferred candidates and overlooking provincial nominees. In the Eastern Cape alone, councillors have voted for seven "self-chosen" mayors and speakers.

Jacob Zuma’s core supporters still believe that, with his accuser’s credi­bility in doubt, he will go on to clear himself of rape charges and re-establish his chances of becoming the next African National Congress president. And they stress that Zuma’s deepening woes do not necessarily strengthen President Thabo Mbeki’s position, because grassroots ANC members hold Mbeki responsible for engineering them.

The South African National Civics Organisation (Sanco), a long-standing but lately dormant ally of the African National Congress, has made a political intervention that seeks a constitutional amendment to allow President Thabo Mbeki to serve a third term as the country’s president.