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The MK Party on Tuesday celebrated the swearing-in of Brumelda Zuma, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, as she joins the party's caucus in Parliament.
The move has sparked discussions about the party's image as a family business, yet party leaders insist that Brumelda's credentials and activist background stand on their own.
Chief whip Colleen Makhubele defended the appointment, emphasising Brumelda's qualifications and her commitment to the party’s vision and political mandate.
“Yes, Brumelda is President Zuma's daughter. She has got a degree in public administration and is an activist in her own right and she has been doing a lot of work since the inception of our MK Party to be what it is today," Makhubele said.
“I think in her own right, she has made a mark, and her path in politics is here to unfold, and we trust that she will add a lot of value to the caucus, especially in our committee of public service administration. That is where her strength lies,” Makhubele added.
Brumelda, alongside fellow newly sworn-in MPs — former deputy minister Bongani Mkongi, former Lekwa municipality Speaker Makhosazana Radebe, and Pumlani Kubukeli of the Umkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association — took the oath of office in a ceremony officiated by National Assembly deputy Speaker Annelie Lotriet.
The quartet fills positions left vacant by recent resignations, including that of Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, who stepped down amid alleged involvement in enlistment of 17 men in the war between Ukraine and Russia.
Brumelda expressed delight at being sworn in as an MP.
“Ours is to execute the people’s mandate and ensure that the people of South Africa have access to public services. What I studied for is aligned to that,” she said in a brief interview posted by the party on social media.
Her profile shared by the MK Party highlights her educational background in public administration and a history of engagement in student politics, reflecting a deep commitment to serving the public. “She values a deep understanding of government and legislative systems as key to delivering people-centered services,” the profile states.
Mkongi, who resigned from the ANC to join the MK Party, expressed that he believes the former liberation movement has lost its relevance.
“It is not a viable vehicle today to be a leader of society. The mistake that the ANC has committed is a political blunder to the people in general, therefore, the birth of uMkhonto weSizwe to replace the ANC and make sure that we are taking our people to a total liberation,” he said.
Mkongi said his focus on his return to Parliament was on changing the fundamentals of the lives of the people.
“My contribution is to make sure that Mkhonto weSizwe makes its mark in the delivery of service for our people,” he added.
Meanwhile, Makhubele would not be drawn to comment on the complaint she reportedly lodged against suspended parliamentary leader John Hlophe.
“We don't talk about our party processes outside of the party structures, and those issues are dealt with by national officials, so I cannot comment on any of those issues that you have placed,” she said.
Makhubele also said they were at the happy occasion to welcome their new members.
“The focus should be on how we make sure that they are integrated,” she said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
The 43-year-old Zimbabwean national arrested after police found 582 passports and more than R147,000 in cash hidden in a bakkie has appeared before a court in Mpumalanga, where he was remanded in custody.
Provincial police spokesperson, Captain Mpho Nonyane-Mpe said Edward Chitaizvi briefly appeared before the Waterval Boven Periodical Court, where he was remanded behind bars while authorities continue with verification processes linked to the investigation.
"The accused, Mr Edward Chitaizvi is remanded in custody for verification of the address. He will appear at Belfast Magistrate's Court on Monday,15 December 2025," she said in an update.
Recent cases have highlighted how corrupt border officials have been accused of charging foreign nationals to stamp their passports. Last year, IOL reported that an immigration officer in Mpumalanga appeared in court after allegedly stamping a Tanzanian national’s expired passport in exchange for a R1,000 bribe.
On Wednesday, Nonyane-Mpe, said a multi-disciplinary team — comprising the Middelburg Flying Squad, Nkangala District Anti-Hijacking Team and Waterval Boven SAPS — intercepted a white Chevrolet Utility with Gauteng registration plates on Monday, at about 1 pm, after acting on information received.
During a search of the vehicle, officers uncovered hundreds of passports — some containing cash — hidden in a concealed compartment. They also found about R20,000 wrapped in a black plastic bag, bringing the total seized cash to roughly R147,300.
“Investigation thus far suggests that the driver was probably going to meet someone the next day to have the passports stamped. Police are of the view that the recovered cash was meant for payment,” said Nonyane-Mpe.
The bakkie was confiscated for further investigation.
Meanwhile, acting provincial commissioner of police in Mpumalanga, Major General Zeph Mkhwanazi, welcomed the arrest and warned that additional arrests may follow.
“We are following up this matter and will not leave any stone unturned. At this stage, the possibility of more arrests cannot be ruled out. We will ensure that those who are involved are brought to book,” he said.
Last year, IOL reported that an operation conducted by the Border Management Authority (BMA) led to the arrest of a man who was carrying 34 passports and a significant amount of money in cash.
BMA spokesperson Mmemme Mogotsi said border guards discovered the passports during a routine inspection. “Of these 34, 32 belonged to Mozambican nationals, and two were identified as belonging to Angolan nationals,” she said.
A case of possession of suspected stolen property was opened, and investigations into the origins of those passports are ongoing.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube is expected to address the media on Thursday following the identification of an examination breach during the marking process for the Grade 12 National Senior Certificate examinations.
The matric exam marking process is currently underway in provinces across the country.
The Department of Basic Education (DBE) said in a short statement on Wednesday that the breach was detected through the department's internal monitoring and oversight systems.
“Minister Gwarube will outline the immediate interventions and the measures being implemented to safeguard the integrity and credibility of the 2025 NSC examination results,” the DBE said.
Teachers' union Suid-Afrikaanse Onderwysersunie (SAOU) or the South African Teachers' Union recently raised concerns about incidents affecting matric exam integrity including an incident in KwaZulu-Natal where a teacher allegedly supplied answers to 52 candidates in advance.
The union has also raised concern about the welfare of pupils during exams.
In an opinion piece, Adel Jacobs, head of department for SAOU Professional Services said while the Department of Basic Education said the exams were largely disruption-free, there were incidents that were concerning.
The union suggested reforms to deal with the issues it had outlined.
The matric results are expected to be released in the second week of January 2026.
*This article was first published by IOL News
The ANC is not in crisis and will bounce back stronger in the 2026 local government elections, aiming to secure more than 50% of the vote, this is according to the party’s secretary general Fikile Mbalula
“The ANC will come back, and the ANC can get 50%. Leave that to what we are going to do for the campaign and winning back support. We know that we need to win big in Gauteng,” he said.
“We need to win big in KwaZulu-Natal, no doubt about it. We can have an in-depth discussion about the strategy of coming back and winning above 50% in the next election.”
His comments come as the 2026 elections approach and the party attempts to renew its image and regain public trust after years of corruption scandals, governance failures and deteriorating service delivery in ANC-led municipalities.
The ANC performed poorly in the May 2024 general elections, losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994.
This led to the formation of the government of national unity with former rivals the DA and Freedom Front Plus.
Mbalula said the party is committed to rebuilding.
“What we are doing in this National General Council and beyond will account for the kind of work we are going to do. That includes the conduct of ANC structures and the work we are doing on the ground,” he said.
“We will not get above 50% if our preoccupation is fighting over scrambles.”
He added that the organisation was tightening discipline.
“There are characters who are ill-disciplined, but there are not many, as you can see now. They are disappearing because of the interventions that have been made,” he said on Wednesday at the ANC’s National General Council (NGC) meeting at the Birchwood Hotel in Ekurhuleni.
The NGC is reviewing the organisation’s performance.
However, political analyst Solly Rashilo argued the ANC is “definitely in a crisis”.
“The ANC is currently in a state of profound, multi-layered crisis, confirmed by both internal reports and external analysis,” he told IOL News.
“The crisis is driven by organisational decay, rampant factionalism, an unresolved integrity crisis due to corruption scandals, and a consistent electoral decline.”
Rashilo said the 2026 local elections would be a crucial test.
Speaking with IOL News on the sidelines of the NGC, the party’s second deputy secretary-general, Maropene Ramokgopa, also dismissed claims of a crisis.
“The organisation cannot be in crisis because what makes the organisation are the branches of the ANC. We have constantly been dealing with organising itself, looking at branch functionality,” she said.
She pointed to the party’s branch functionality document, saying it helps ensure branches are active and rooted in communities, not just present for conferences.
Ramokgopa acknowledged ongoing financial difficulties, including unpaid staff, but said the party was working to improve its resources.
“We won’t be able to run an organisation if we are not resourced enough and if the people who are supposed to be serving us are not paid,” she said.
On Monday, unpaid ANC staff, represented by Nehawu, protested outside the venue. The ANC said discussions with the union were ongoing.
Meanwhile, Rashilo warned that the SACP’s decision to contest the 2026 local elections independently could further weaken the ANC.
“The party faces a highly challenging environment, with a fractured tripartite alliance and significant threats from new rivals like the MK party,” he said.
SACP general secretary Solly Mapaila has strongly criticised the formation of the GNU, arguing that the inclusion of the DA does not represent the interests of black people and workers.
The SACP says it will contest elections independently but will not withdraw from the tripartite alliance.
Rashilo said the ANC’s long-term future depends on its ability to execute its “renew or perish” agenda.
“The most probable path is one of managed decline, where the party remains the largest but continues to slowly lose support, ruling through increasingly fragile coalitions. Fragmentation into multiple, competing factions remains a serious risk,” he said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
Despite an assurance by ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula on Sunday that unpaid salaries for ANC employees have been resolved, the start of the ANC's 5th National General Council (NGC) got off to a disruptive start.
This comes as a small group of unpaid ANC employees picketed outside the Birchwood Hotel on Monday over unpaid salaries for November, with some reports indicating that this is the fourth time this year that the party has failed to pay its staffers.
One of the protesters reflected the pain of having to work without being paid their salaries, suspended medical aid and unpaid pension contributions.
Nombuso Mthembu, one of the affected workers holding placards airing their grievances said they were on duty at the National General Council (NGC) despite not being paid.
"We have decided to just start off here despite of our frustrations amid the delays in our salary payments. The salaries are not the only issue; some of us have outstanding pension fund payments and medical aid. We have members here with chronic medical illnesses, whose medical aid has been suspended," she said.
The group also enjoyed support from the ANC Youth League and the National Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU), who stood in solidarity with the affected employees.
Reacting to the cries of the unpaid employees, ANC Youth League leader Collen Malatji saying those 'responsible for the mess must be held accountable'.
"We’re going to hold everyone accountable because the workers have families to take care of. They must buy clothes, and they must prepare for December. We cannot be eating while ANC workers and their children go hungry,'' he said.
NEHAWU deputy secretary at the Luthuli House branch, Dan Semenya, said it was important for the union to show its support to unpaid ANC workers.
"This matter of unpaid salaries is not limited to November, as it has been a recurring issue. I can remind you that in 2022, during the policy conference, picketing was on the basis of the same issue. We are here today, three years later, and we are still dealing with the same issues,” he stated.
On Sunday, during his pre-NGC press briefing, Mbalula said the issue has been resolved, with top management being the only group that has not been paid their November salaries.
Mbalula said he was aware of intended protests but said the salary matter for junior staff had been resolved, with only payments to senior managers, including himself, outstanding.
"The component of staff not paid is management, starting with me, the Secretary-General. All our staff below that level have been attended to in terms of salaries. We are working on resolving the issue through rigorous fundraising efforts to ensure our staff bill is settled," he said.
*This article was first published by IOL News
