Polity Audio Articles

Families, survivors of apartheid crimes fight Zuma, Mbeki's court bid A crucial legal battle is set for the Constitutional Court on June 29, when 25 families and survivors of apartheid-era crimes, alongside the Foundation for Human Rights (FHR), will formally oppose an application lodged by former Presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki. The high-stakes hearing marks the latest hurdle in a decades-long struggle for truth and accountability. In March, the Gauteng High Court dismissed the application brought by Zuma and Mbeki to withdraw retired Justice Sisi Khampepe as chairperson of the Commission investigating alleged political interference in the prosecution of apartheid era crimes, known as the TRC Cases Inquiry. Zuma and Mbeki are seeking direct leave to appeal the majority judgment. The High Court originally threw out the former Presidents' review applications because they failed to get prior consent to sue a sitting or retired judge, a strict requirement under Section 47(1) of the Superior Courts Act. In response, Mbeki and Zuma bypassed regular appellate channels to file an urgent application directly with the Constitutional Court, alongside conditional applications in the Supreme Court of Appeal. The families and the FHR will ask the apex court to dismiss the former leaders' applications, arguing that they failed to establish a genuine basis for an urgent hearing, and that their case does not meet the strict legal criteria required for direct appeal or direct access to the Constitutional Court. The families say the merits of both the appeals and the underlying recusal review lack legal substance, noting that granting further delays deeply harms a process that has already been stalled for generations. The TRC Cases Inquiry was established after landmark Constitutional damages litigation launched by apartheid-era victims' families and the FHR in January 2025. The families argued that their constitutional rights were actively violated because the State failed to investigate and prosecute apartheid-era crimes. They alleged that successive administrations used political interference to unlawfully suppress the work of the National Prosecuting Authority and the Hawks. A partial settlement in that lawsuit led President Cyril Ramaphosa to officially establish the Commission on May 29, 2025. While the families respect the constitutional right of any citizen to approach the courts, they warn that strategic litigation is actively harming aging survivors and relatives. For these families, this is not an abstract academic exercise or a political chess match, they said, but a painful process concerning the State-sanctioned deaths, disappearances, torture, and systemic suffering of their loved ones. The families emphasise that the Commission has already lost significant momentum owing to ongoing court battles.

SAPS urges taxi industry to use influence to prevent disruption ahead of June 30 march The South African Police Service (SAPS) has called on the country's taxi industry to reject any attempts to destabilise South Africa or disrupt economic activity ahead of a planned nationwide protest against undocumented immigration on June 30. Acting National Commissioner Lieutenant-General Puleng Dimpane made the appeal during high-level engagements with South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) president Abner Tsebe and his leadership team. The meeting was prompted by the upcoming march demanding that undocumented foreigners leave the country. Highlighting the massive influence of the taxi industry, Dimpane urged operators to stand firmly with law enforcement and the public. "The taxi industry is the backbone of public transport in South Africa. Every day, millions of people rely on taxis to get to work, school, hospitals and places of business. It is for this reason that we are appealing to every taxi association, every taxi owner, every operator and every driver across the country to ensure that June 30 remains business as usual," she said. SAPS has specifically requested that taxi operators maintain normal transportation routes for all commuters; reject any calls to block national, provincial, or local roads; and to prevent criminal elements from "hijacking the industry for unlawful gains". The SAPS urged the taxi industry to actively oppose any form of passenger or driver intimidation. Dimpane expressed optimism following the engagement, noting that Santaco's leadership responded positively to the security briefing. "Our economy must continue to function. Our people must continue to go to work," Dimpane added, thanking Santaco for adding its voice to calls for peace and respect for the rule of law. She assured citizens that nationwide security deployments are finalised. While the SAPS will protect the constitutional right to peaceful and lawful protest, a zero-tolerance policy will be enforced against lawlessness, she stressed. Security forces remain on high alert to handle any attempts at infrastructure damage, public transport blockades, or violence.

Pretoria pushes back against US criticism on diplomatic engagements South Africa has issued a formal rebuke following critical remarks made by U S Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III regarding the African nation's foreign policy alignments. On Thursday, the country's Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) delivered a firm message clarifying its sovereign stance and the strategic distinction between non-alignment and passive neutrality. The friction escalated after Bozell III took to social media to criticise South Africa's active diplomatic engagements with China and Iran. "The Government of South Africa rolls out the red carpet for Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, while Deputy President Paul Mashatile is in Beijing deepening ties with China. Pretoria calls this 'non-alignment'. We call it what it is: a choice. The South African people deserve an honest conversation about who their government is choosing to stand with. #NotSoNonAligned" he posted on X. International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola's Spokesperson Chrispin Phiri said while government purposefully avoids public disputes with resident envoys, the ambassador's remarks required an immediate reaffirmation of the country's foundational foreign policy. "As a sovereign nation, South Africa pursues an independent foreign policy firmly anchored in the principle of non-alignment," Phiri said. Pretoria explicitly challenged the premise of the American critique by drawing a sharp line between being non-aligned and being neutral, saying it refuses to be drawn into contemporary superpower contestations or be forced to choose sides. The State prioritises inclusive, global dialogue, international peace, and its own national interests above external strategic agendas, Phiri said. Pretoria pointed out that it reserves the right to cultivate and maintain bilateral relations across the entire global spectrum without external validation. A central pillar of South Africa's pushback was pointing out what it terms an inherent contradiction in US foreign policy communication. The Ministry noted the irony of South Africa being publicly scrutinised by Washington for engaging with Beijing and Tehran, when the U S government maintains highly active, direct interactions and formal channels with China and Iran. Last week, Lamola had publicly welcomed a bilateral Memorandum of Understanding signed directly between the United States and Iran aimed at fostering regional stability, highlighting Washington's own pragmatic engagements with the nations it critiques others for hosting. The diplomatic rift underscores a broader, ongoing tension between Pretoria and Washington, which has faced multiple structural strains over international legal disputes, trade terms, and differing global alliances. Moving forward, the South African government reiterated its unwavering commitment to using established, formal diplomatic channels to engage with the U S. The Ministry called for mutual respect, expressing trust that proper diplomatic protocols will be strictly upheld by resident envoys in the future.

Outa warns of entrenched S African municipal crisis, as no metro achieves clean audit Not a single metropolitan municipality in South Africa achieved a clean audit for the 2024/25 financial year, according to the latest Auditor-General (AG) reports, with the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (Outa) warning that this failure points to an entrenched crisis in local government. Metros represent 54% of total local government expenditure and serve millions of citizens, therefore, Outa says their financial regression directly threatens both community service delivery and the national economy. While 61% of municipalities achieved unqualified audits, severe underlying issues persist. Outa highlights a "toxic combination" of over-reliance on external consultants, poor budget execution, and a systemic lack of consequence management. The AG's report reveals a severe lack of financial and performance discipline across the country. Only 39 out of 257 municipalities achieved a clean audit status, 17 municipalities received unqualified opinions with findings, leading to complacency rather than improvement and 225 municipalities spent a combined R1.61-billion on financial reporting consultants. The report also highlighted major flaws in compliance and performance reporting. Outa executive Julius Kleynhans notes that the AG report exposes problems far deeper than poor financial administration. The steady erosion of institutional capability explains why service delivery deteriorates despite rising municipal budgets, he says. Municipalities routinely bypass internal capacity in favour of expensive private contractors. Spending R1.61-billion on financial consultants highlights a failure to build internal skills. This practice creates a cycle of dependency without fixing underlying accounting errors, Kleynhans says. He points to a weakening culture of transparency and institutional integrity that plagues local leadership and allows compliance failures to go unpunished. He adds that without automatic consequence management for officials who ignore laws or lose public money, financial drift remains the norm. Further, many local governments fail to implement credible, funded, and service-delivery-based budgets and traditional budgeting structures allow bloated historical costs and wasteful contracts to be rolled over annually without review, Kleynhans notes. SOLUTIONS To make clean audits the standard rather than the exception, Outa advocates for immediate review of all expenditure categories and existing contracts from scratch to eliminate waste. Outa wants to mandate immediate legal and disciplinary action against officials and contractors who abuse procurement systems, and to fill critical vacancies with qualified professionals to eliminate dependency on external financial consultants. The organisation wants the urgent deployment of sustained provincial and national intervention teams to monitor metropolitan expenditure. Without rebuilding basic institutional capability and enforcing strict discipline, any future audit improvements will remain entirely superficial, it warns.

Surge in registrations for S Africa's 2026 local elections The Electoral Commission of South Africa recorded 2.9-million new registrations during the first voter registration weekend on June 20 to 21. This drive increased the national voters' roll to 28.5-million citizens ahead of the local government elections on November 4. However, political parties balanced optimism over youth turnout with deep alarm over localised violence and procedural integrity. ActionSA expressed dismay over the targeted killings of political figures during the registration drive. Cape Town mayoral candidate Dereleen James noted that five councillors and candidates lost their lives across the country over the weekend. The reported casualties included two political candidates killed in Cape Town, another two on the West Rand and the murder of a ward councillor in Gqeberha. James emphasised that political violence threatens active citizen participation and undermines constitutional democracy. The party called on the South African Police Service and other law enforcement agencies to prioritise these investigations swiftly. The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs raised urgent concerns regarding electoral integrity. A social media video surfaced showing an IEC official allegedly holding multiple identity documents at the Okela Primary School registration station. Committee chairperson Mosa Chabane warned that such incidents risk undermining election credibility. The committee directed the IEC to urgently investigate the station, submit a formal report outlining remedial actions, and deliver a comprehensive review of lessons learned from the weekend. SURGE IN YOUTH REGISTRATION Meanwhile, both the ANC and the IFP found encouragement in the high turnout of young citizens. Registrants between the ages of 16 and 29 accounted for 785 078 of the total transactions. IFP national spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa stated the numbers show a growing awareness among youth. He urged party structures to intensify mobilisation before the second voter registration weekend on August 1 and 2. The ruling party called the weekend a victory for democratic resilience. The ANC congratulated the IEC staff and volunteers, while reaffirming its focus on strengthening service delivery at municipal level.

Family of Zambia's ex-leader should choose his burial site, South Africa court says A South African appeals court ruled on Tuesday that the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu should decide where he is buried, overturning a lower court's order that Zambia's government could repatriate Lungu's body for a state funeral. Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa a year ago while undergoing medical treatment. His body has remained in South Africa since, as his family and the Zambian government have wrangled over whether he should be buried at a site designated for Zambia's former presidents in the capital Lusaka, or privately in South Africa as his family prefers. Lungu and his successor, current President Hakainde Hichilema, were longstanding political rivals, and his family says Lungu would not have wanted Hichilema to be present at his funeral. In its judgment on Tuesday, South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal said the Zambian government had failed to show it had a legal right under South African law to override the family's wishes on where and how Lungu should be buried. It also rejected Zambia's argument that a binding agreement had been reached with the family over the funeral, saying that evidence pointed to ongoing negotiations rather than a final deal. Zambia's Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha did not answer a phone call seeking comment on Tuesday's ruling. South Africa's government has said it has an obligation to respect the wishes of Lungu's family, but it also said it felt a state burial in Zambia would be the most fitting outcome for the former leader. Lungu drove Zambia deeply into debt during his roughly six years in power. The country defaulted on its international debt in 2020, precipitating his election loss. Hichilema will seek re-election for a second five-year term at an election in August.

Police deployed as anti-migrant deadline looms South Africa will deploy more police this week to deter possible violence before a June 30 deadline set by xenophobic protest groups for foreigners to leave the country. "There has been mobilisation around this issue over a period of time and we expect it to continue after June 30, so we have plans in place," Firoz Cachalia, the acting police minister, said in an interview with State-owned broadcaster SAfm on Monday. Vigilantes have in recent weeks carried out attacks on foreign nationals in several parts of the country, prompting Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe to help more than 3 000 of their citizens to return home. More protests by anti-immigrants groups are planned in South Africa's eastern KwaZulu-Natal province on Monday. The demonstrations have stoked fears of a recurrence of violence in KwaZulu-Natal and the commercial hub of Gauteng in July 2021 that followed the jailing of former President Jacob Zuma. The week of deadly riots marked the worst civil unrest in South Africa since the end of White-minority rule in 1994, leaving more than 300 people dead and thousands of businesses looted or burned down. "We don't want a repeat of that, so we're not going to take any chances," Cachalia said. "We have good information about the levels of mobilisation and the places of mobilisation around this issue." Xenophobic attacks are a regular occurrence in South Africa, with foreigners being blamed for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. Gross domestic product in the continent's largest economy expanded by an average of less than 1% annually over the past decade, and the country's jobless rate is among the highest in the world. In addition to deploying officers to potential hotspots, police ministry officials will meet with provincial and city leaders, private security companies and community policing forums to ensure that "the political leadership and the leadership in civil society is prepared for any eventuality," Cachalia said.

Home Affairs extends hours for voter registration weekend The Department of Home Affairs will extend its operating hours nationwide this weekend to support the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC's) Voter Registration Weekend. All Home Affairs offices across the country will open on Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 to 17:00. Citizens are urged to visit their nearest branch to apply for a new card or collect their ready documents. More than 370 000 Smart ID cards currently sit uncollected at Home Affairs offices. Minister of Home Affairs Dr Leon Schreiber emphasised that this initiative aligns with the department's long-term "Home Affairs @ home" vision to make services more accessible. "By extending operating hours nationwide during Voter Registration Weekend, Home Affairs is making it easier for citizens to obtain the Smart ID Cards they need to register and participate in our democracy. We are bringing services closer to the people while advancing our commitment to delivering dignity for all," Schreiber said. The Electoral Commission has confirmed total readiness across all 23 706 voting stations nationwide, with 22 718 permanent stations, 960 temporary stations and 28 mobile stations for remote communities. The national voters' roll has grown to 28-million registered voters, up from 27.7-million during the 2024 general elections. While online registration remains a vital growth driver, physical registration is crucial for the upcoming local government elections. In local government elections, voters must vote at the specific voting district where they are registered. There is no legal mechanism to vote outside your registered district. The IEC urges all citizens to use this weekend to update their address details, and ensure they are placed in the correct ward segment.

Dean Macpherson urges police to find xenophobic agitators Public works and infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson called on law enforcement agencies to act against those responsible for violence against migrants, warning that the attacks are tarnishing the country's international reputation. "We have duty and responsibility to protect the vulnerable, we have a duty and a responsibility to enforce our immigration laws," Macpherson told reporters at a Foreign Correspondents' Association of Southern Africa event at Bloomberg's office in Johannesburg on Friday. "But we also have a duty and responsibility to find those that are agitating for violence and hatred, and of course, international perception is important." South Africa's cabinet is due to discuss the matter on Friday as a June 30 deadline set by anti-immigration protesters for foreigners to leave approaches. The tensions have prompted Malawi, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria and Zimbabwe to assist more than 3 000 of their citizens to return home. The unrest reflects a broader rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, with foreigners increasingly blamed for unemployment, crime and pressure on public services. At 32.7%, South Africa has one of the highest jobless rates in the world. The demonstrations have stoked fears of violence on a scale that erupted in South Africa in 2008, when 62 people died and more than 50 000 others were forced to flee their homes in a wave of xenophobic attacks. It has also sparked anger across the continent and calls for retaliation against South African businesses. "We've seen some statements, fairly or unfairly against South Africa, but you know we have to deal with that, and we also have to protect the image of the country" Macpherson said. President Cyril Ramaphosa on June 7 announced plans to clamp down on illegal immigration. Over the past month at least 7 400 undocumented migrants have been arrested for contravening immigration laws. "We have to allow the law enforcement authorities to drive law enforcement and not individual citizens of the country," Neville Matjie, Brand South Africa chief executive officer, said at the same event.

ANC slams DA's proposed GNU reshuffle as 'populist, contradictory' The ANC on Thursday launched a scathing attack on its coalition partner the DA, claiming its recent Cabinet reshuffle proposals expose "deep political contradictions and a selective respect" for South Africa's Constitution. The political friction erupted following a request by DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis for President Cyril Ramaphosa to execute a reshuffle of the DA's team within the Government of National Unity (GNU). On Wednesday Hill-Lewis asked Ramaphosa to remove John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture and replace him with Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Minister Willie Aucamp. Hill-Lewis requested that Ramaphosa move Steenhuisen to the role of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition (dtic); David Maynier to the position of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment; and Alexandra Abrahams to Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy. Hill-Lewis also wants Yusuf Cassim to be appointed as Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, and Jack Bloom to take up the position of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation. The ANC countered the DA's public announcement, reminding it that appointing and removing members of the national executive is the sole constitutional prerogative of the President. The party stated that executive deployments are not subject to the directives of opposition parties, lobby groups, or coalition partners. According to the ANC, by framing these internal deployment decisions as a direct expectation for presidential action, the DA is showing a "selective and opportunistic respect" for the Constitution. This public reshuffle has raised serious questions within the ANC regarding the DA's genuine commitment to the GNU's foundational Statement of Intent, the party warned. The ANC emphasised that all parties entering the GNU agreed to respect the country's constitutional architecture. It argued that the DA cannot claim to commit to the GNU while ignoring the authority and responsibilities of the President. The ANC expressed deep concern over the DA's willingness to use vital economic portfolios to settle internal party friction. Specifically, the ANC criticised the proposal to move Steenhuisen to the dtic, explaining that the dtic is a critical engine for industrialisation, job creation, investment, and economic transformation, and it should not be treated as a "convenient dumping ground for political under-performers or factional opponents". Moreover, the ANC took the opportunity to stress that government's foremost responsibility is "true equal opportunity", which cannot exist without dismantling the structural barriers left behind by centuries of colonialism and apartheid. It slammed the DA's ongoing opposition to broad-based black economic empowerment and other transformation frameworks, accusing the party of actively trying to reverse South Africa's progress toward a non-racial and inclusive society. While Ramaphosa reflects on these proposed adjustments, the ANC maintains that it remains committed to engaging parliamentary parties to ensure national stability, growth, and nation-building.

Labour unions urge workers to shun anti-migrant protests South Africa's biggest labour unions on Wednesday urged workers not to participate in anti-immigrant protests that have seized the country, and said they could face consequences if they skip work to attend. South Africa is on edge ahead of a June 30 deadline which anti-immigrant groups have given for all undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Protests and potential civil unrest are expected, after weeks of sometimes violent xenophobic attacks. Four major unions including the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), which represents around 2-million people, said in a statement that workers would not be protected if they do not go to work on June 30. "We urge workers to report for duty and not place their employment at risk," they said. The unions echoed President Cyril Ramaphosa's call on Tuesday not to scapegoat migrants for South Africa's problems. "Removing foreign nationals from workplaces, communities or public spaces will not reopen factories, repair municipalities, strengthen public healthcare or create sustainable jobs," said the unions COSATU, FEDUSA, SAFTU and NACTU. Africa's largest economy has more job opportunities than many other African countries and has long attracted large numbers of foreign workers. Some politicians have seized on the issue in recent months to blame such migrants for widespread poverty and crime. South African media outlets reported on Wednesday that clashes had erupted between police and thousands of Malawians awaiting repatriation in the coastal city of Durban. Police fired stun grenades and teargas after a crowd became agitated, said News24. Malawi said earlier in the week that 10 000 of its nationals were in distress and hoping to return from South Africa. While the country has been organising buses to bring them home, it put out a public call for donations to assist with the effort. "Government is resolute in its commitment to bring home every Malawian who wishes to return from South Africa," the government said. "However... the scale and urgency of the operation have created unprecedented financial, logistical, and humanitarian demands." Other countries including Ghana, Nigeria and Mozambique have also repatriated citizens due to safety concerns.

DA reshuffles GNU team: Aucamp replaces Steenhuisen as Agriculture Minister DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis has officially requested that President Cyril Ramaphosa remove John Steenhuisen as Minister of Agriculture, in a reshuffling of the party's Government of National Unity (GNU) team, with Willie Aucamp proposed to take over Steenhuisen's role. Aucamp moves from the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment to become the Minister of Agriculture. Hill-Lewis said his immediate focus would be to resolve ongoing legal proceedings relating to Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) and accelerate market expansion for agricultural exports. Steenhuisen will assume the role of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition. Meanwhile, David Maynier will take up the position of Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, stepping in to fill the vacancy left by Aucamp. Alexandra Abrahams moves from Trade, Industry and Competition to take up a key position as Deputy Minister of Electricity and Energy. Yusuf Cassim is appointed as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Training, bringing his extensive background in student politics to the post, while Jack Bloom, a veteran of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, will take up the position of Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation. In his formal correspondence to Ramaphosa, Hill-Lewis emphasised that these structural adjustments followed a careful assessment of the DA's executive team performance. "It is my judgement that the renewed team announced today will strengthen the DA's contribution to government and give better effect to the mandate received from 3.5-million voters," Hill-Lewis explained. He added that public office required high performance, absolute integrity, and responsiveness to create an open, opportunity-filled society for all South Africans.