It was a simple question to a senior Cabinet member and head of the South African observer mission to the Zimbabwean election: "Why are you ignoring the custom of addressing whether elections were free and fair by only pronouncing on the freeness and being silent on the fairness of the election?"
Thirteen Harrismith residents allegedly involved in last year’s protest against their local council face sedition charges. Several lawyers described the charge as ”very serious”, adding that it could carry a minimum sentence of 15 years under the Criminal Procedures Act. The charge has prompted complaints that the state is out to intimidate protesters.
So South Africa’s most notorious journalist, Ranjeni Munusamy, has officially crossed the line. Munusamy was a conspicuous member of Schabir Shaik’s team at the Durban High Court last week where she was seen quarrelling with journalists about a leaked defence document. While her affiliation with the Shaik brothers is no surprise, it is harder to establish the exact service she provides.
The African National Congress is aiming to return disgraced Northern Cape provincial chairperson John Block to the provincial legislature — despite the fact that police are investigating him for fraud and corruption. The ANC provincial executive recently decided to rehabilitate Block.
Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang has reopened the bitter debate about the efficiency of anti-retroviral drugs and defended the work of controversial vitamin therapist Dr Matthias Rath. Rath has questioned the safety of anti-retrovirals and recommended the use of vitamins and micronutrients to treat HIV-positive people.
North West Premier Edna Molewa is likely to consolidate her position in the province when branches finally elect her as the African National Congress chairperson at the provincial congress on Sunday. Molewa is almost certain to succeed former premier Popo Molefe as chairperson, as she is the only nominee for the position.
The firing of Free State African National Congress chairperson Elias ”Ace” Magashule from the provincial Cabinet last week is seen as the first step in eliminating him from provincial politics. The Mail & Guardian was told this week that powerful figures are plotting to oust Magashule as Free State chairperson at the provincial congress in June.
Free State Premier Beatrice Marshoff has asserted her shaky authority by announcing a cabinet reshuffle, which includes the bold move of dropping the provincial African National Congress chairperson, Elias ”Ace” Magashule. A fortnight ago, Marshoff’s unpopular right-hand man, Noby Ngombane, was shot dead in the driveway of his home.
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On Thursday morning a confident Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s President since independence in 1980, predicted that his ruling Zanu-PF would reach the two-thirds threshold in the 2005 parliamentary poll and use its majority to change the Constitution. Zimbabwe’s president is likely to mend party factions, but has rejected reconciliation with the opposition.
Cracks have opened in a broad front of organisations formed to protest against human rights abuses and electoral skulduggery in Zimbabwe. The bone of contention is Zimbabwe’s land-reform programme, which the Landless People’s Movement — one of the social movements involved in the front — supports.