The uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party has officially announced the nomination and swearing of nine new Members of Parliament (MPs) to the National Assembly to fill vacant seats, but excluded former secretary general Floyd Shivambu.
On Saturday, Colleen Makhubele, the MK Party's chief whip, announced that the new members will be sworn in on Wednesday in the Speaker’s Boardroom in the Parliament of South Africa.
The incoming MPs are Mr Lungisani Graduate Shangase, Mr Jeffrey Bhekumndeni Mtolo, Mr Zibuse Khayelihle Abednego Cele, Mr Siphetho Witness Mkhize, Ms Philisande Mkhize, Mr Gift Motaung, Ms Noma Buthelezi, Ms Ntandoyenkosi Nkosentsha Shezi, and Ms Khanyisile Litchfield
According to the MK party, these individuals bring diverse experience and dedication, poised to bolster the party’s efforts to serve South Africans and uphold the core values of democracy, equality, and justice.
Makhubele said the party is committed to effective representation and pursuing policies that benefit all citizens.
"These new members exemplify our commitment to building a better future for South Africa. We look forward to working with them as we continue to advocate for the rights and interests of our people," she said.
Meanwhile, Shivambu, who was demoted as party secretary general and promised a seat as an MP, has taken a different path.
On Thursday, Shivambu held a press briefing revealing plans to initiate a nationwide consultation with various church leaders and community stakeholders.
*This article was first published by IOL News
By Julius Malema
The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) categorically rejects the grotesque and wasteful plan by the so-called National Dialogue Preparatory Task Team to spend R700 million on what they are calling a “National Dialogue” because we know that it has no bearing on the lives of ordinary South Africans.
In a country ravaged by poverty, joblessness, and a collapsing public infrastructure that continues to fall prey to climate change, it is not only irresponsible but deeply immoral to even contemplate such an exorbitant budget for a talk shop for elites. The timing of this announcement is also indicative of an uncaring government that is out of touch with the majority of the citizens of this country.
The proposed dialogue with an inordinate price tag is said to involve only two national conventions and an unspecified number of public engagements. The entire project reeks of cronyism and self-enrichment that is deceptively packaged in the language of nation-building in an attempt to fool the public. But the EFF recognises this for the farce that it is. Dialogues do not cost R700 million. What we are currently witnessing is the return of the very same gravy train that stripped this country and its people of its dignity and robbed deserving South Africans of an opportunity to progress out of poverty. The difference is that now it is dressed up in what is being sold as a democratic consultation. Not on our watch!
This absurd plan is being tabled at a time when our country is buckling under the weight of an unforgiving cost-of-living crisis. We have just emerged from a battle with Treasury over its callous and illegal attempt to increase VAT by a staggering 2% when the national budget was initially presented. It was a move that would have hit the poor and working class the hardest but failed because the EFF fought for the people and justice prevailed. However, on the horizon looms a fuel levy increase, which will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the price of food, transport, and essential goods. This again will hit the poor and marginalised people of this country the hardest solely because we are led by a government that has made it its mission to cushion the elite whilst exploiting the poor.
Yet in these trying times the same government wants to allocate almost a billion rands for a dialogue. A dialogue with no defined outcomes, no constitutional mandate, and no meaningful connection to the urgent crises our people face. This is the epitome of tone-deaf. It is a slap in the face to millions of South Africans who go to bed hungry, study in dilapidated schools, queue at under-resourced clinics, and live in constant fear of crime in communities where police are severely understaffed. The government of Ramaphosa and his GNU can fund a dialogue but cannot implement solutions that will improve the lives of our people.
The EFF supports genuine efforts at public engagement and democratic consultation, but we vehemently reject with contempt the idea that close to a billion is required in order for a dialogue to be classified as credible and meaningful. The government is clearly not serious about public involvement because if it were, it would invest that money into capacitating local clinics and building schools, so our kids are given quality decolonised education at all levels irrespective of their backgrounds. A caring government would focus on rebuilding our ailing infrastructure and resuscitating closed factories and industries as suggested by the EFF because that would lead to a working economy that can absorb young people who are currently jobless.
Only an ANC government that is aloof with its DA partners can think democracy can be reduced to conferences in Sandton that will entail inflated invoices and no consequences. The EFF does not share those sentiments because we know that our people face more pressing needs. Our people need jobs, and they need them now. Our people need quality healthcare and safety in their communities. Our people need bold action and a country that prioritises the redistribution of wealth and land without compensation. They need action on load shedding and infrastructure collapse, not panel discussions on theoretical unity.
This R700 million dialogue proposal is nothing but a vanity project of this failing government. It is looting of public funds. It is a national parade of misaligned government programs. Inflating prices for a dialogue whilst failing to employ doctors or pay educators. It is further enrichment for the elite and their networks who will benefit through tenders and consultancy fees. The near billion-rand price tag is an insult to struggling South Africans and our unemployed youth.
The EFF demands full public disclosure of the dialogue budget, line by line. We will not allow this to happen behind closed doors while our people starve. Furthermore, the EFF is exploring legal options to challenge this wasteful expenditure and to prevent it from proceeding. We are also calling on civil society, labour unions, and all patriotic South Africans to reject this abuse of public funds.
The EFF will continue to fight for economic justice, for an end to wasteful expenditure, and for a government that places the interests of the poor and marginalised at the centre of its agenda. This country does not need a dialogue as we all already know what our problems are. We need implementation. We need jobs, land, housing, education, healthcare, and safety. We need a government that works for the people, not one that hosts conferences to congratulate itself while the country burns.
Julius Malema is the leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters
*This article was first published by IOL News
JN Reporter
The African National Congress (ANC) in the Free State has officially fired Elias Ntlebi as Speaker and councilor of the Nala Local Municipality with immediate effect. In a statement signed by the party's provincial secretary, Polediso Motsoeneng says Ntlebi has ceased to be a member of the ANC and a vacancy has been declared. It's alleged that the speaker has been working with the opposition parties to divide the ANC councillors within the Nala municipality. The municipality has since faced numerous instances of unrest and a shutdown that affected teaching and learning and
local businesses in the area. Ntlebi was placed under precautionary suspension pending the disciplinary hearing which found him guilty of abusing his oath of office for personal gain. On the 10th of June, the Free State Provincial Executive Committee visited the municipality to meet with party branches and communicate its decision to redeploy the speaker. This follows numerous engagements with the community.
In May Workers from Nala municipalities downed tools calling for the removal of the current administrator. The municipality has been placed under administration for failing to meet its financial obligations. In a letter from the Free State Department of Cooperative Governance, MEC Saki Mokoena, the administration intervention seeks to investigate fraud and corruption charges levelled against some municipal officials.
Amongst others, the letter also highlighted prolonged suspensions of employees without following due processes, leading to
unfair labour practices. Alleged irregular payments made to service providers and third parties, including Vaal Central Water. The political instability has led the municipality to the brink of collapse. Nala’s provincial intervention comes at a time when the auditor general's report has red-flagged some municipalities for mismanagement of funds and lack of accountability. Nala is also amongst the municipalities that owe the power utility, Eskom millions of rand.
The ANC has now declared a vacancy in the post until another councillor is elected.
The municipality is still facing serious challenges on issues of service delivery such as consistent water supply and provision of electricity.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says there has been a general improvement in the management of unclaimed bodies in allstate mortuaries in provinces, as the number stood at 2,858 in February 2025, compared to 3,186 in August 2024.
The number of unclaimed bodies at state mortuaries is showing signs of improvement, with figures reported at the end of February, revealing that the tally has dropped to 2,858, a decline from the 3,186 recorded in August 2024.
This was disclosed by Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi when he stated that there was a total of 3,819 pauper burials between April 2024 and April 2025 when he responded to parliamentary questions from ANC and Rise Mzansi parliamentarians.
Motsoaledi said the total number of unclaimed bodies in state mortuaries due to next-of-kin being unknown stood at 2,858 as at the end of February.
“There has been a general improvement in the management of unclaimed bodies in all provinces. The total number of unclaimed bodies stood at 2,858 in February 2025, compared to 3,186 in August 2024,” he said.
Motsoaledi stated that the number of unclaimed bodies did not remain static since families come forward to claim their loved ones, or the unclaimed bodies were buried as paupers.
“To date, the total number of pauper burials conducted in all provinces between 30 April 2024 and 30 April 2025 stood at 3,819.”
He named Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, North West, Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape as the provinces that have made progress in the management of unclaimed bodies.
Motsoaledi’s responses showed that KwaZulu-Natal recorded 695 uncollected bodies in February, down from 1,527 recorded six months earlier, while the North West reduced the unclaimed bodies from 166 to 132.
The Eastern Cape reduced its numbers from 526 to 485, and the Western Cape decreased the uncollected bodies from 299 to 176.
The Free State also showed a decrease in uncollected bodies from 93 to 65, while Limpopo recorded a decrease from 315 to 267.
However, Gauteng saw an upsurge from 176 uncollected bodies to 868 during the same period, Northern Cape recorded an increase from 31 to 71, and Mpumalanga’s numbers increased from 53 to 99.
Motsoaledi said the management of unclaimed bodies remained a collaborative effort between the Departments of Health and the SAPS, which was responsible for the identification of the unknown bodies and the tracing of the next of kin, and the municipalities that allocated burial sites and conducted pauper burials.
The situation of uncollected bodies was complicated by illegal foreign nationals who sometimes provided wrong names when attended to in healthcare facilities.
Motsoaledi also said the National Forensic Pathology Services committee continuously monitored the progress in the management of unclaimed bodies and engaged with all the necessary stakeholders.
“Provinces are encouraged to form provincial stakeholder forums which include the SAPS and municipalities so that the management of the identification processes and the pauper burials can be attended to with urgency,” he said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
It is believed the soldiers had an altercation in the early hours of Saturday morning before the fatal attack.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has revised its earlier statement on the death of members at the Macadamia Military Base near Komatipoort, in Mpumalanga, saying only two members have been stabbed and killed by a colleague.
The colleague then tried to take his own life but failed.
It is believed the soldiers had an altercation in the early hours of Saturday morning before the fatal attack.
It is not yet known what the SANDF members were arguing about; however, investigations are underway to establish what transpired
SANDF spokesperson Prince Tshabalala has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased.
“The SANDF, in conjunction with the South African Police Service, has launched a full investigation into the matter. The circumstances surrounding the matter remain subject to ongoing enquiry.”
*This article was first published by Eye Witness News
Written by Abigail Visagie
The mother of 16-year-old Machaka Radebe, who was kidnapped and brutally murdered in December 2023, has passed away.
Allegations suggest that Selloane Radebe collapsed during a funeral she attended in Welkom. The Brebner High School pupil was reported missing on 2 December 2023 by her family after her phone was answered by a stranger who demanded ransom in exchange for Machaka’s life.
A passerby contacted the Bloemspruit Police Station after discovering a lifeless body in Phase 9, Bloemfontein, with multiple stab wounds. The police then confirmed on 4 December 2023 that it is indeed Machaka’s body.
Initially, two suspects were arrested, but the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) withdrew charges of kidnapping and murder against one of the suspects, Ntlantla Jozi, after insufficient evidence against him was found.
The case is still ongoing.
