Reading Time: 2 minutes Following the announcement of the results of the first democratic election 30 years ago, the first Parliament under the democratic dispensation assembled. At the time, it comprised seven political parties. They were the African National Congress (ANC), which received 252 seats, the Democratic Party (DA), Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), National Party, African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), FF-Plus and the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) shared the remaining 148 seats. The National Assembly’s public gallery was packed to capacity by those who witnessed this mome ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes The African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula has praised former party President Thabo Mbeki and assured him that the renewal of the party has seen the bad potatoes leaving. Former ANC President Thabo Mbeki was launching “The ANC Today Letters” which he wrote during his tenure. Mbeki has called on the ANC to go back to its roots of communicating its message without ambiguity and use all platforms available. Mbalula says Mbeki is one of the best leaders to be produced by the governing party. “He is a man of such high caliber and he is a sharp intel ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) President, Mzwanele Nyhontso, says his party has been changing people’s lives, especially those in rural areas even though they are not in government. The PAC of Azania took its campaign trail to Centane in the Eastern Cape. Nyhontso says his party can do even more if voted into power. The PAC held a horse racing event to garner support in in the area of Centane. An area facing service delivery challenges including water shortage and poor road infrastructure. Nyhontso says his party will focus on fixing these issues. “You could see ther ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes The African National Congress (ANC) is determined to gain more support in the Democratic Alliance (DA)-led Western Cape in the upcoming general elections. The party’s national Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, campaigned in the DA stronghold of Mossel Bay in the Garden Route region. Mossel Bay is a popular holiday town, but a lack of housing, unemployment and poverty is still rife in the township of KwaNonqaba. ANC National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe is leading a door to door campaign at KwaNonqaba in Mossel Bay ahead of next month’s general elections.#sabcnews pic.twitter ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader, Julius Malema, says prisoners have better access to basic services as opposed to the people of Alexandra township in the north of Johannesburg. Malema was addressing thousands of EFF supporters as the country reflects on 30 years of democracy on Freedom Day. He lamented the fact that prisoners enjoy better living conditions than the residents of Alex. “No water in Alex, water in prison. No electricity in Alex, electricity in prison. Load shedding in Alex, no load shedding in prison. No food in Alex, food in prison. There is no ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Some political experts say the expulsion of some of the senior uMkhonto WeSizwe (MK) Party members will not have an impact on the upcoming general election. This comes after the party’s national leadership announced the expulsion of Jabulani Khumalo, the man who registered the party in September last year, together with four other members. In a statement, the party said external forces’ attempts to destabilise the MK Party prompted its decision. Earlier this month after appearing in court, Zuma made it clear that the current leadership was on an interim basis. Zuma had ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes The United Democratic Movement (UDM) Leader, Bantu Holomisa says crime and corruption continue to undermine democracy. Holomisa was speaking during a prayer session for crime at New Brighton in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape. The party is on a campaign trail in Nelson Mandela Bay. Saturday marks 30 years since the country went to its first democratic election. But the UDM leader says escalating crime levels and corruption continue to undermine this democracy. Various church leaders and community members gathered under one roof to pray for crime in Nelson Mandela Bay. Holo ..read more

Reading Time: < 1 minute Eskom has called on political parties to stop putting up election campaign posters on its electricity structures. These includes electricity poles, electricity towers, meter boxes and mini substations. Eskom says in the past there have been incidents where people have been electrocuted when putting up posters. It says attaching posters on their infrastructure is in contravention of the law and only authorised personnel are allowed to climb or work on electrical structures. Eskom spokesperson, Daphne Mokwena explains: “Attaching posters to an electrical structure is ..read more

Reading Time: 3 minutes Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, addressed Democratic Alliance (DA) supporters in Cape Town on Saturday and asked them to reflect on what freedom means to them. Winde says the jubilations, hopes and dreams of 1994 have all but faded, because of the high crime rate, high unemployment numbers, and poverty in South Africa. He asked DA supporters to think about what good freedom is, when they can’t feed their kids. Winde compared the 30 years of democracy in the country, to the 15 years the DA has been running the province. He reflected on what he called the success gained ..read more

Reading Time: 2 minutes Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters have gathered at the Alexandra Stadium north of Johannesburg to listen to party leader Julius Malema reflect on 30 years of democracy on Freedom Day. Popular artists are entertaining the crowds ahead of Malema’s address. Alexandra is one of the oldest townships in Johannesburg. Freedom Day | EFF commemorates the day in Alexandra: It has been the recipient of over a billion rand in government funding but residents are still lacking housing as well as adequate water and sanitation due to maladministration. Also, the Democratic A ..read more