South African Politics

latest news & developments
MK Party leader Jacob Zuma. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

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.

Duty to voters: Geordin Hill-Lewis has defended his proposed changes to the party’s Government of National Unity deployment list. Photo: Supplied

DA keeps mayoral options open as coalition talks loom

The Democratic Alliance is keeping its options open regarding mayoral chains in key metros like Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni as political parties prepare for critical coalition…

Upcoming: On 27 November, The Brother Moves On marks 13 years since debut album, A New Myth, with a concert at Untitled Basement in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. Photos: Kagisano Seupe

‘There’s no such thing as apolitical music’: Siyabonga Mthembu on democracy, citizenship and Ngeke!

The Brother Moves On frontman Siyabonga Mthembu discusses why all music is political, the complexities of South African democracy, and why citizens must define the country's…

Voter turnout: The 2026 local government elections marked a recovery in voter turnout after the record low of 2021. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

15.9 million voters reshape local politics as coalitions loom

Voter turnout rebounded to 15.9 million in the 2026 local government elections, driven by middle-class frustration over service delivery failures as preliminary results point to…

Editorial: Why you needed to vote

As power and water outages struck Gauteng on election day, widespread voter apathy served only to protect the failing politicians responsible for crumbling municipal services.

In the Northern Cape, for the DA to bring the ANC below the 50% mark the governing party would need to lose more than 14% at the polls. (Skyler Reid/M&G)

DA wins back uMngeni by an increased majority, makes inroads in key KZN municipalities

The Democratic Alliance has secured a decisive victory in KwaZulu-Natal's uMngeni local municipality, retaining control with over 60% of the vote share.

Jacob Zuma addresses members of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party outside the high court in Johannesburg on April 11, 2024. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

Zuma makes plethora of promises as MK party takes early lead in KZN

Former President Jacob Zuma has pledged to aggressively tackle poverty and raise pensions as his uMkhonto weSizwe party secured an early lead in KwaZulu-Natal during vote counting.

Over the past four elections the smaller political parties have been losing votes hand over fist — except for the Freedom Front Plus (FF+). (David Harrison/M&G)

No water, no order: Sophiatown voter wants Freedom Front Plus to rescue SA

Frustrated by daily water cuts, uncollected rubbish, and urban decay, Sophiatown voter Joanna Moleko has cast her ballot for Pieter Groenewald and the Freedom Front Plus in…

Cyril Ramaphosa’s farm, Phala Phala. (Leon Sadiki)

Magistrate reads out judgement on Phala Phala stolen dollars used to buy luxury cars

The Modimolle Regional Court heard how $580,000 stolen from President Cyril Ramaphosa's Phala Phala farm was spent on luxury cars, jewellery, and property as judgment is handed…

MK Party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo

Ousted MKP secretary-general blames his downfall on internal detractors

Ousted MK Party secretary-general Sibonelo Nomvalo has accused a rogue internal faction, including former mayor Zandile Gumede, of manufacturing fake intelligence reports to…

EFF demands law-enforcement agencies probe R12-m State Security Agency slush fund

The Economic Freedom Fighters have called on multiple law-enforcement bodies to investigate claims that the State Security Agency spent R12 million on covert operations to…

Promises: Parties pledge to improve municipal water and sanitation infrastructure, repair leaks. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy

Fixing SA’s broken municipalities

As voters prepare to head to the polls, major political parties have unveiled competing manifestos to fix South Africa's collapsing municipalities, restore crumbling…

Possible coalition partners: The DA’s Helen Zille and ANC’s Cyril Ramaphosa. Photos: DA/My ANC

Inside the ANC-DA poll face-off

As municipal elections approach, polling suggests hung councils in Johannesburg and Cape Town that could force rivals ANC and DA into an uneasy local government coalition.

ANC’s last throw of the dice

Facing turbulent campaigns, internal divisions and surging rival parties, the ANC braces for crucial municipal elections that could see its support drop further into the mid-30s…