By: JN Reporter
The ANC’s Xhariep region is in disarray, crippled by intensifying factional battles and a deepening leadership vacuum that has effectively brought the organisation’s operations to a standstill.
The most recent blow came when a long-awaited Regional Executive Committee (REC) meeting collapsed shortly after it began, exposing the extent of internal divisions and political dysfunction that threatened to engulf the region.
Frustrated party members have allegedly issued an ultimatum to the leadership: disband the REC or face an internal revolt—at the risk of losing the upcoming elections. They cite entrenched divisions, ineffective leadership, and a total breakdown of trust in the current regional structure.
Members accuse the REC of blatantly flouting the party’s constitution by failing to convene regular Regional Working Committee (RWC) and REC meetings. They also claim the leadership is exploiting municipalities to consolidate power, sidelining communities and further undermining service delivery—damaging the ANC’s credibility in key battleground areas.
“Unless urgent action is taken to restructure the leadership or dissolve the entire REC, currently led by Chairperson Paki Dlomo and Secretary Shakes Mphako, the organisation’s electoral fortunes in the region will continue to nosedive. We can’t sit and fold our arms while that happens,” said a concerned party member, who requested anonymity.
“We have engaged the Provincial Executive Committee (PEC) on our challenges. Now it’s up to them to act—or face our revolt.”
Another frustrated party member revealed that tensions in the region have escalated due to Dlomo and Mphako’s recent attempts to remove certain deployees from municipal positions without proper consultation.
“There have been efforts to remove comrades from their positions in municipalities, and the regional structure was completely sidelined in the process. We only learned about these developments after they were presented to the PEC as if they were official REC resolutions,” the member said.
He said Mphako attempted to orchestrate the removal of Letsemeng Local Municipality Speaker Xolani Mthukwane, Chief Whip Abram Lebaka, and Mohokare Municipality Chief Whip Pule Mahapane.
According to the member, despite clear constitutional requirements for regional leaders to convene regular meetings, only Dlomo and Mphako allegedly hold secret meetings and make decisions on behalf of the entire REC.
The ANC constitution stipulates that the REC must meet as soon as possible after its election to elect the RWC, and thereafter at least once a month (rule 21.6.1). Rule 21.10.3 further mandates the RWC to meet at least every two weeks.
“I can tell you now that the REC has only met twice in the past 12 months. Yet decisions are being presented to the PEC and municipalities as though they are legitimate REC resolutions,” he said. “The most recent attempt to convene a meeting—scheduled for June—collapsed shortly after it began. That would have been only the third meeting in a year.”
His claims are corroborated by a letter written by REC member Mthetho Lalu to Provincial Secretary Polediso Motsoeneng this week, as well as a petition addressed to both the regional chairperson and secretary raising alarm over the non-sitting of REC and RWC meetings.
Journal News is in possession of both documents.
In his letter—confirmed as authentic by Lalu, though he declined further comment and referred the matter to the party’s communications office—he accuses Dlomo and Mphako of bypassing the REC and unilaterally conveying mandates to the PEC and ANC caucuses in the region.
“Things cannot go on like this, comrades, where a few individuals meet and take major decisions on behalf of the organisation without consulting the elected regional structure,” the letter reads in part.
Lalu urged Motsoeneng to intervene urgently, warning that failure to act would force them to rebel against decisions made without proper consultation.
A petition signed by 13 REC members in May—including Lalu—issued a further warning: if the current failure to hold meetings continues, “the organisation is going to die, as it is already dead in the region—and we cannot allow that to happen.”
Journal News spoke to both Mphako and Dlomo, who dismissed the allegations as baseless and described them as “malicious rumours” spread by ill-disciplined members.
When asked to respond to the accusations, Mphako declined to comment in detail, saying he would not entertain rumours in the media.
“Just as you won’t reveal your sources, I’m not obliged to explain myself to you. These are rumours being spread by a comrade in a letter that’s now circulating everywhere. I’m not aware of the issues you’re referring to, including the petition,” said Mphako.
Dlomo, however, dismissed Lalu’s claims, accusing him of ill-discipline and of advancing a personal agenda within the organisation.
“Firstly, there are established organisational processes and channels that every member is expected to follow when raising grievances. Comrade Lalu’s actions amount to ill-discipline. What he fails to explain is why he does not attend meetings or submit apologies for his absence. The organisation cannot be held to ransom by individuals pursuing personal agendas. These are malicious rumours being spread by Lalu and those aligned with him,” said Dlomo.
Attempts to get a comment from ANC provincial spokesperson Thabo Meeko were unsuccessful.
However, this publication has reliably learned that upon receiving Lalu’s letter, that is also sent to Motsoeneng, Mphaka issued a memorandum on Friday to convene a meeting with the regional leadership, scheduled for Tuesday in Reddersburg.
Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald says his department is moving ahead with the roll-out of bakeries across its facilities. He says this will save the department billions of rands in outsourcing fees.
So far 13 bakeries have been introduced in prisons.
Dr. Groenewald was at the Westville Prison in Durban to open one of the bakeries.
Fifty inmates are working shifts, producing over 3 800 loaves a day. The facility produces bread at a cost of R8 a loaf, compared to R23 they pay service providers.
Groenewald says the bakeries will be self-sustainable and will depend less on state funding.
“This bakery will be R3 million annually for the taxpayer. If you add all the other activities, for self-sufficiency, the previous year, we have saved the taxpayers about half a billion rand. We’ll be producing our own vegetables. We have spike trees and abattoirs. I want to see that we enhance that because we must remember that the budget of correctional services was cut by R11.7 billion over the previous 5 years,” he adds.
Inmate, Mlindeni Xaba is happy to be part of the team working in the bakery. He says he is thankful to the officials that assisted them to choose better, now he will be able to open his business once released from prison to support his family
*This article was first published by SABC News
President Cyril Ramaphosa will meet Chief of the South African National Defence Force, General Rudzani Maphwanya, within the next week regarding his “ill-advised” trip to Iran.
The Presidency on Thursday night said President Cyril Ramaphosa was unaware of the “ill-advised” visit by South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Chief Rudzani Maphwanywa to Iran.
Addressing the media, Ramaphosa’s spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said Ramaphosa did not sanction Maphwanya’s visit.
He stated that it was Defence Minister Angie Motshekga, not Ramaphosa, who approved Maphwanya’s travel.
“As much as the president is the appointing authority and the commander-in-chief, he does not get involved in supervising the general’s travel. That process sits with the minister. So the president did not know.”
Maphwanya was quoted by Iranian media as pledging “common goals” with Iran and said his trip carried “a political message”.
Magwenya said there was a concern about Maphwanya’s trip.
“At this period of heightened geopolitical tensions as well as conflict in the Middle East, one can say the visit was ill advised and more so the expectation is that the general should have been a lot more circumspect with the comments he makes, which delve into the area of foreign policy that only the president, as well as the Department of International Relations, are responsible for.”
Maphwanya’s trip took place amid tensions between South Africa and the US President Donald Trump imposed 30% tariffs on South African goods, which were implemented this month.
Magwenya said South Africa was in a process of resetting diplomatic and political relations with the United States, as well as balancing the trade relationship in a mutually beneficial manner between the two countries.
“Of resolving the relationship or resolving issues around the relationship with the US, you then have senior government or military officials in statements that will further inflame the situation. It is not helpful at all,” he said.
Both the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the Defence have distanced themselves from Maphwanya’s remarks, citing that Ramaphosa and DIRCO were custodians of foreign policy.
Magwenya said Ramaphosa will meet Maphwanya within the next week regarding his “ill-advised” trip.
“I can't say when that meeting will happen, but there will be an engagement between the president and the general. So it's still early to say what the outcome of that engagement will be.”
He would not comment on the possible consequence, if there was to be any, for the defence’s chief amid calls by the DA for him to be hauled before a court martial.
“It is also difficult to speak to. One must consider what constitutes the grave nature of charges or accusations that would require a court-martial,” Magwenya said.
Deputy Defence Minister Bantu Holomisa told Newzroom Afrika that he was unaware of the visit.
“I don’t know what the purpose of his visit was. It is only the minister who will be in the know. If he did not ask for permission to leave from the minister, then he will have to swim in his stew,” he said.
Holomisa also said such visits outside the country were authorised by Motshekga.
“The last word has been said by the Presidency, and the Presidency is the custodian of our foreign policy. There is nothing one can contest on that, but what we should be waiting for is either to hear the minister herself addressing this issue or alternatively wait for General Maphwanya to come back and tell the nation how he went there, what was the purpose.”
He said since the matter was in the open, Maphwanya should be allowed to respond openly and be transparent about it.
Holomisa added that it was too early to say what would happen to Maphwanya.
“If he went abroad without permission from the president or the minister, he will have to face the music and explain on what basis he had to utter such words, which are creating controversy,” he said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
A recent poll has found that close to 96% of South Africans believe that alcohol consumption is a national problem and 73% are deeply concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence.
The poll results are contained in a statement released by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs on behalf of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) and other organisations.
The statement said that the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance in South Africa (SAAPA-SA), in partnership with the NHTKL and supported by the RESET Alcohol Initiative, have launched a nationwide campaign to address the devastating impact of alcohol in South Africa.
The parties recently held a discussion on the matter. "The urgency of the discussion was underscored by newly released SAAPA-SA poll findings on alcohol consumption and harm in South Africa, revealing a sobering reality," said the statement.
It said these findings included that:
96% of South Africans believe alcohol is a national problem.
83% say alcohol is easy to access, and 55% say it is relatively inexpensive.
66% have personally experienced, or know someone who has experienced, alcohol-related harm, most commonly linked to health issues (61%) and violence (59%).
73% are deeply concerned about alcohol-fuelled violence, including domestic violence (90%), child abuse (89%), and male-on-male violence (84%).
91% link alcohol to road crashes and injuries.
It said the human cost is staggering, highlighting that:
Alcohol harm costs the economy between 10–12% of GDP annually.
South Africa records 102 alcohol-related deaths daily.
59% of car crash drivers test positive for alcohol.
60% of reported gender-based violence (GBV) cases involve a male partner who had been drinking.
Young adults aged 25–34 are at the highest risk of dying from alcohol-related injuries.
The country has the highest recorded rates of foetal alcohol spectrum disorders globally.
Kgoshigadi Ntwampe, Executive Member of the NHTKL, affirmed the House’s commitment to tackling alcoholism and its associated devastating social consequences.
Dereleen Elana James, Deputy Chairperson of the Multi-Party Women’s Caucus, said: “We have normalised the abnormal.”
The discussion also spotlighted the draft Liquor Amendment Bill of 2016, which has been under consideration for almost a decade, as a critical legislative tool with the potential to curb alcohol-related harm. The poll results further show overwhelming public demand for stronger alcohol policy measures:
80% believe addressing alcohol-related harm is a government responsibility.
85% support raising alcohol taxes if the revenue funds poverty reduction and housing initiatives.
78% back raising the legal drinking age.
67% support restricting alcohol advertising and sponsorships of sports, music, and cultural events.
Nomcebo Dlamini, SAAPA-SA campaign manager, emphasised the significance of the partnership with traditional leadership: “The NHTKL has hit the ground running on this issue. This is not just a public health crisis; it is a societal emergency that requires collective, urgent action.”
The statement said through this partnership, SAAPA-SA, the NHTKL, and civil society are calling on the government to urgently strengthen alcohol taxation and implement evidence-based measures as part of a comprehensive approach to saving lives, reducing violence, protecting children, and building healthier communities.
*This article was first published by IOL News
A young e-hailing driver, Siyanda Mvelase, 27, was shot and burned at Maponya Mall on Wednesday.
Mvelase was killed on Wednesday evening, August 13, when unknown gunmen attacked e-hailing drivers outside Maponya Mall.
Gauteng police spokesperson Colonel Dimakatso Nevhuhulwi said one vehicle was seen stopping at the entrance when four men approached and opened fire on the driver before setting the car alight.
“Another vehicle nearby was also shot at, but the driver managed to flee. That vehicle was also torched,” Nevhuhulwi said.
A passerby and the second driver sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to the hospital.
A case of murder, two counts of attempted murder, and arson has been opened for investigation.
The South African Police Service (SAPS) and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) were deployed to the scene, with police saying the violence is suspected to be linked to ongoing tensions in the taxi industry.
IOL News previously reported that the township of Pimville came to a standstill on Thursday as angry residents vowed to shut down Maponya Mall for seven days.
The protest was in response to the attack on e-hailing drivers. In retaliation, one minibus taxi was burned by community members.
The violent clash follows months of rising tensions between traditional taxi operators and e-hailing services, which have increasingly become flashpoints in South African public transport disputes.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi expressed outrage over the attack, describing it as both a criminal act and a violation of democratic values.
“The lives of innocent people were put in danger when bullets flew around Maponya Mall,” said Kubayi.
“This is not only a matter of criminality but an affront to our constitutional rights. As a daughter of Soweto, I stand in solidarity with the community.”
Kubayi also called for swift justice and a coordinated government response through the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster.
In addition, the South African National Taxi Council (SANTACO) urged the government to expedite the implementation of amended National Land Transport Act (NLTA) regulations.
SANTACO spokesperson Rebecca Phala said the delay in enforcing the new regulations has created a “regulatory vacuum”, leading to an unchecked influx of unlicensed e-hailing operators.
“This unregulated environment is fuelling safety risks, including hijackings, abductions, and violent crimes linked to the sector,” said Phala.
“SANTACO cannot remain silent. The government must act swiftly to enforce the revised NLTA regulations to ensure the safety of all commuters and operators.”
*This article was first published by IOL News
By: Abigail Visagie
Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has publicly rejected all allegations of racism levelled against him, sparking widespread debate online, with both his supporters and detractors weighing in on the controversy.
Social media users unearthed a series of old posts on X - formerly known as Twitter - where McKenzie allegedly used derogatory terms against Black people on several separate occasions. These resurfaced posts have fueled the ongoing backlash and intensified public scrutiny.
Addressing both his political party and the public on Sunday evening, 9 August 2025, McKenzie firmly denied the allegations, claiming they are “fabricated lies” aimed at discrediting him.
In a statement released across his social media platforms, he asserted that a full-scale campaign had been launched to brand him as a racist against Black people.
“I have fought my whole life for Coloured and Black unity. I am the son of a Black mother. I was born to different races,” McKenzie stated.
“Coloured people are not supposed to stand up and fight back - we are expected to be insulted and crawl back into our corner. My crime was leading the protest against those racist young people,” he continued.
Mckenzie added that despite being met with hatred, anger, and serious accusations, he would not be deterred from his mission. He also criticised the role of certain podcasters, arguing that their influence on public perception revealed their “prejudice” towards the Coloured community.
“You are more offended by our outrage as Coloured people against the vile racism directed at us. You make excuses for these young people who hurt an entire race. You are encouraging future racists instead of nipping this in the bud. We are not you,” he said.
The sports minister stressed that he harbours no racism and has consistently worked toward racial unity.
“This is why I’m proud to be part of the Patriotic Alliance. I don’t have a racist bone in my body. I have always advocated for unity among all races.
“I’m writing this to tell you to fight racism wherever and whenever it shows up. We are one nation under God,” McKenziee concluded.
