Acting President Gwede Mantashe has used his Freedom Day speech to call out racial tensions and warn against romanticising South Africa’s violent past to score political points. In his keynote address during the National Freedom Day celebration held at AJ Swanepoel Stadium in Ermelo, Mpumalanga, the Energy and Mineral Resources Minister also decried the alleged use of the country’s wounds by those who seek to score cheap political points. Mantashe, speaking on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, who could not…

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has defended his decision to use a private yacht belonging to a Cape Town businessman who has scored lucrative state tenders. He says he did not use the luxury yacht to galavant but for party work since he had a busy schedule during his trip to Robben Island.  Mbalula claims his decision to use the yacht was neither a gift nor evidence that he is somewhat linked to corruption.  The embattled head of the governing party’s…

The ANC Integrity Commission (IC) released a statement condemning the media, opinion makers, and commentators for seeing it as “toothless.” This statement issued by the Chairperson of the Integrity Commission, George Mashamba, warrants a closer examination.  The statement citing its Terms of Reference reiterates that “it is the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson who are authorised and entrusted with full responsibility to engage the media and release any media statements on the work of the Commission.” It states, “Neither of them…

A South African energy expert has warned that the full powers signed over to the Minister of Electricity in the Presidency, Dr Kgosientso Ramokgopa, will come at a high price for the end users of electrical energy. The warning comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa just concluded the signing of a proclamation that transfers “certain powers and functions” to Ramokgopa in line with the Electricity Regulation Act. In the past few months, Ramokgopa had become a laughing stock because he was…