South African Politics
latest news & developments
Horse trading as coalition talks kick into gear
As coalition talks gather pace across hung South African municipalities, the ANC explores whether the SACP could transfer council seats to rescue mayoral candidates in…
ANC presidents live in wards run by rival parties
Several prominent South African leaders, including President Cyril Ramaphosa and former presidents Jacob Zuma, Thabo Mbeki, and Kgalema Motlanthe, now reside in municipal wards…
Big votes but bigger hurdles for MK Party
Despite winning the largest vote share in 19 hung councils across KwaZulu-Natal, the MK Party faces tough coalition negotiations to avoid being sidelined once again into the…
South Africa should start preparing for a white president
As voting patterns shift in response to poor service delivery and stalled economic transformation, an analysis explores how the failure of black political leadership could…
The election we celebrated, the women we forgot - South Africa's gender transformation in reverse
While South Africa's 2024 elections ushered in a new democratic coalition era, female political representation suffered a significant decline, highlighting the urgent need for…
Thuthukile Zuma resigns from Johannesburg ANC leadership amid disciplinary row
Thukukile Zuma has resigned from the ANC's Johannesburg regional executive committee, accusing party leaders of silencing dissent following disciplinary threats over her duties…
MK party lays down ground rules, warns municipal deployments are not entitlement or personal reward
The uMkhonto weSizwe party has warned its members against public infighting over municipal council deployments, reminding them that public office is a responsibility rather than…
ANC embarks on recovery plan after KZN electoral bloodbath, says not all is lost
Despite a severe electoral setback and losing major strongholds like eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC maintains that recent gains in vote share mark the beginning of its…
‘No time for petty squabbles’, says Ramaphosa as coalition tensions brew
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on political parties to negotiate in good faith to form functional municipal councils, warning that infighting must not hinder basic service…
ANC barely hangs on as DA and ActionSA make gains in final IEC results
The IEC has finalised the 2026 local government election results, showing the ANC clinging to a national lead with just 30.76% of the vote amid significant gains for the DA and…
Municipal Coalitions Bill - Why it is important
The parties in South Africa's Government of National Unity must unite to pass the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill, establishing vital framework rules for stable local…
MK Party will not rescue parties rejected by voters, says Duduzane Zuma
Duduzane Zuma says the MK party will not rescue political parties rejected by voters, as coalition talks loom over hung municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal.
The ANC is still the largest party, but its mandate is shrinking
Despite remaining South Africa's largest party, voting-station data reveals the ANC lost nearly 700,000 votes while voter turnout rose, pointing to a shrinking mandate ahead of…
MK Party sets coalition rules as it prepares to negotiate after local elections
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has established a national negotiating team to guide post-election coalition talks, maintaining that it will not compromise its principles to enter…
DA and ActionSA face coalition test as Gauteng metros hang in the balance
The DA and ActionSA face high-stakes coalition talks as hung councils in major Gauteng metros leave the future of municipal governance hanging in the balance.