WEATHER ALERT
Former South African president Zuma faces expulsion from the ANC after joining a rival party
Read full article: Former South African president Zuma faces expulsion from the ANC after joining a rival partyFormer South African President Jacob Zuma’s disciplinary hearing with the African National Congress has been postponed for more arguments, as he faces expulsion for campaigning against the organization he once led as head of a new political party.
South Africa's surprise election challenger is evoking the past anti-apartheid struggle
Read full article: South Africa's surprise election challenger is evoking the past anti-apartheid struggleFormer South African President Jacob Zuma is the wild card in Wednesday’s election for Africa’s most advanced country.
Former South African President Jacob Zuma criticizes top court over election disqualification
Read full article: Former South African President Jacob Zuma criticizes top court over election disqualificationFormer South African President Jacob Zuma has criticized the country’s highest court and his former allies in the ruling African National Congress over his disqualification from next week’s election.
Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?
Read full article: Who is Jacob Zuma, the former South African president disqualified from next week's election?Former South African President Jacob Zuma has been barred from running in next week’s national election over a previous criminal conviction, the latest twist in his return to politics.
Ex-South African leader Zuma, now a ruling party critic, is disqualified from next week's election
Read full article: Ex-South African leader Zuma, now a ruling party critic, is disqualified from next week's electionFormer South African President Jacob Zuma has been disqualified from running for a seat in Parliament in next week's national election because of a previous criminal conviction.
Former South Africa leader Zuma promises jobs and free education as he launches party manifesto
Read full article: Former South Africa leader Zuma promises jobs and free education as he launches party manifestoFormer South African President Jacob Zuma has lamented the high levels of poverty among black South Africans and promised to create jobs and tackle crime as he launched his new political party’s manifesto ahead of the country’s much anticipated elections.
South Africa's election might be a defining moment — with new complications. Here's what to know
Read full article: South Africa's election might be a defining moment — with new complications. Here's what to knowSouth Africa’s election will determine how weary the country has become of the ruling African National Congress party, which has been in power since the end of apartheid 30 years ago.
South Africa braces for what may be a milestone election. Here is a guide to the main players
Read full article: South Africa braces for what may be a milestone election. Here is a guide to the main playersAfter 30 years of dominating South African politics, the ruling African National Congress will face its toughest election this month as most opinion polls predict it will lose its parliamentary majority for the first time.
South African police investigate if former president's party forged signatures to contest elections
Read full article: South African police investigate if former president's party forged signatures to contest electionsSouth African police are investigating if former President Jacob Zuma’s new political party forged supporters’ signatures to register for national elections next month.
How South Africa's former leader Zuma turned on his allies and became a surprise election foe
Read full article: How South Africa's former leader Zuma turned on his allies and became a surprise election foeSouth Africa faces an unusual national election this year, its seventh vote since transitioning from white minority rule to a democracy 30 years ago.
A South African court overturns ban, rules that former leader Jacob Zuma can run in the election
Read full article: A South African court overturns ban, rules that former leader Jacob Zuma can run in the electionSouth Africa’s Electoral Court has ruled that former President Jacob Zuma can run for office in the upcoming general election, overturning an earlier decision that had barred him from contesting the polls.
South Africa's ruling ANC takes rival party to court in fractious buildup to election
Read full article: South Africa's ruling ANC takes rival party to court in fractious buildup to electionSouth Africa’s ruling African National Congress is taking the independent electoral body and a rival political party fronted by the country’s former leader to court.
Why South Africa is facing a turning point in May's national election and who the major players are
Read full article: Why South Africa is facing a turning point in May's national election and who the major players arePolls suggest South Africa faces a historic turning point in a national election in May.
South Africa's ANC launches election manifesto as president highlights party's achievements
Read full article: South Africa's ANC launches election manifesto as president highlights party's achievementsSouth Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has highlighted the achievements of his ruling African National Congress, which has ruled the country for all of its 30 years of democracy, as it heads into a tight race in May’s election.
South African president defends 30 years of ANC rule in speech to Parliament ahead of elections
Read full article: South African president defends 30 years of ANC rule in speech to Parliament ahead of electionsSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa confronted some of his country’s deep problems in his annual State of the Nation speech in Parliament on Thursday.
South African ex-President Jacob Zuma denounces the ANC. He pledges to vote for a new party
Read full article: South African ex-President Jacob Zuma denounces the ANC. He pledges to vote for a new partyFormer South African President Jacob Zuma has denounced the governing African National Congress party and announced that he will vote for a newly-formed political formation in the country’s general election next year.
South Africa to build new nuclear plants. The opposition attacked the plan over alleged Russia links
Read full article: South Africa to build new nuclear plants. The opposition attacked the plan over alleged Russia linksThe South African government has announced plans to build new nuclear power stations to generate more electricity amid an energy crisis in the continent’s most advanced economy.
Former South African President Zuma taken back to prison and released again within 2 hours
Read full article: Former South African President Zuma taken back to prison and released again within 2 hoursFormer South African President Jacob Zuma was taken back to prison after his parole was ruled invalid, only to be released again within two hours under a new program to reduce overcrowding in jails.
South Africa deploys army over burning of trucks, braces for unrest over ex-president's court case
Read full article: South Africa deploys army over burning of trucks, braces for unrest over ex-president's court caseSouth Africa has deployed the army in four of its provinces after at least 21 trucks carrying goods were set on fire on national roads in various parts of the country in the span of five days.
South Africa's ruling party expels former top official accused of corruption
Read full article: South Africa's ruling party expels former top official accused of corruptionSouth Africa’s ruling African National Congress party expelled its former secretary-general on Monday for misconduct and other breaches of party rules.
South Africa ex-President Zuma's graft trial postponed again
Read full article: South Africa ex-President Zuma's graft trial postponed againThe corruption trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma has been postponed again as he seeks to have the lead prosecutor removed from the case by claming he is biased.
South Africa: Fallout over power utility CEO's graft claims
Read full article: South Africa: Fallout over power utility CEO's graft claimsSouth Africa’s troubled state-owned power utility Eskom has appointed an interim chief executive after a fallout with its outgoing head over a media interview he gave alleging ongoing corruption at the company linked to the ruling party.
South Africa leader fights for political future over scandal
Read full article: South Africa leader fights for political future over scandalThe president of South Africa is fighting for his political future in a dramatic reversal of fortunes for an anti-apartheid icon once admired for tackling the problems of Africa’s most developed economy.
EXPLAINER: Why South Africa's president might lose his job
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Why South Africa's president might lose his jobSouth Africa’s president might lose his job as he faces possible impeachment over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars stashed inside a couch on his farm.
South Africa's Ramaphosa denies money-laundering allegations
Read full article: South Africa's Ramaphosa denies money-laundering allegationsSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has denied allegations of money laundering while being questioned by lawmakers over a scandal that threatens his position and the direction of Africa’s most developed economy.
South Africa's beleaguered Zuma open to return to politics
Read full article: South Africa's beleaguered Zuma open to return to politicsBeleaguered former South African President Jacob Zuma has said he is ready to make a surprise return to politics by standing for a top position when the ruling African National Congress holds a conference in December.
South Africa in electricity crisis, nationwide blackouts
Read full article: South Africa in electricity crisis, nationwide blackoutsSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has an urgent meeting scheduled with his Cabinet to discuss an electricity crisis which has led to unprecedented levels of nationwide power blackouts.
Long a haven for wealth, Dubai will enforce UK court rulings
Read full article: Long a haven for wealth, Dubai will enforce UK court rulingsThe United Arab Emirates has called on its courts to begin enforcing the judgements of British courts, in a move that could affect the city of Dubai’s status as a haven for the world’s wealthy.
South African president hit by tough questions in parliament
Read full article: South African president hit by tough questions in parliamentSouth African president Cyril Ramaphosa faced a grilling by lawmakers in Parliament as they demanded answers from him on his handling of the theft of millions of dollars from his farm.
Leading official of South Africa's ruling ANC party dies
Read full article: Leading official of South Africa's ruling ANC party diesSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has paid tribute to the long-serving deputy secretary-general of his ruling African National Congress party Jessie Duarte, who died Sunday after a long battle with cancer.
EXPLAINER: The scandal engulfing South Africa's president
Read full article: EXPLAINER: The scandal engulfing South Africa's presidentSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa could face criminal charges and is already facing calls to step down over claims that he tried to cover up the theft of millions of dollars in U.S. currency that was hidden inside furniture at his game farm.
South African president grilled in Parliament on farm theft
Read full article: South African president grilled in Parliament on farm theftSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa was confronted in Parliament Thursday by opposition politicians who pressed him to step down from office pending a criminal investigation into allegations that he covered up a theft from his rural game farm.
Dubai arrests 2 Gupta brothers over South African fraud case
Read full article: Dubai arrests 2 Gupta brothers over South African fraud caseDubai police say they have arrested two brothers from the Gupta family wanted in connection with a corruption case involving former South African President Jacob Zuma, the latest high-profile extradition case involving the United Arab Emirates.
South Africa's president confronted by daunting challenges
Read full article: South Africa's president confronted by daunting challengesSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces daunting political challenges including being defied within his party over his anti-corruption drive and derided as ineffective by the opposition.
Corruption trial delayed against South Africa's ex-president
Read full article: Corruption trial delayed against South Africa's ex-presidentThe corruption trial in South Africa of former President Jacob Zuma has been postponed again pending the outcome of the ex-leader’s appeal to get the state prosecutor removed from his case.
Another report alleges corruption by ex-South African leader
Read full article: Another report alleges corruption by ex-South African leaderAnother damning report into government corruption in South Africa has recommended further investigations and the possible prosecution of former President Jacob Zuma for allegedly receiving bribes to influence the awarding of state contracts.
South Africa's Ramaphosa to speak about nation's challenges
Read full article: South Africa's Ramaphosa to speak about nation's challengesSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa will Thursday outline how his government will tackle the country’s pressing problems including corruption, nationwide power cuts, high unemployment, a troubled economy and the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
South Africa's ruling party must regain support, says leader
Read full article: South Africa's ruling party must regain support, says leaderSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa said the ruling party, the African National Congress, must work to regain popular support after being embroiled in corruption scandals and divided by bitter factional rivalries.
South Africa's ruling party marks birthday amid divisions
Read full article: South Africa's ruling party marks birthday amid divisionsSouth Africa’s ruling party, the African National Congress, is to celebrate its 110th anniversary this weekend amid deep divisions, graft allegations and broad challenges that saw it perform dismally in local government elections last year.
South Africa's president is urged to root out corruption
Read full article: South Africa's president is urged to root out corruptionExperts in South Africa say President Cyril Ramaphosa is challenged to take decisive action against the corruption documented in a judicial report presented to the leader and made public.
Booker winner Damon Galgut laments South Africa's gloom
Read full article: Booker winner Damon Galgut laments South Africa's gloomSouth African author Damon Galgut won the Booker Prize for fiction on Nov. 3 for his novel “The Promise,” the story of a white South African family in decline in the years before and after the end of the racist apartheid system.
Report: Corruption at S Africa health ministry during COVID
Read full article: Report: Corruption at S Africa health ministry during COVIDA report into dealings by senior officials at South Africa’s health ministry during the coronavirus pandemic has revealed corruption, fraud and the misappropriation of millions of dollars meant to aid the fight against COVID-19.
South African president testifies at inquiry into corruption
Read full article: South African president testifies at inquiry into corruptionSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday said he tried to combat corruption he saw as the country’s deputy president during former President Jacob Zuma’s controversial time in power.
South Africa's jailed ex-President Jacob Zuma in hospital
Read full article: South Africa's jailed ex-President Jacob Zuma in hospitalFormer South African President Jacob Zuma has been admitted for observation at a hospital near the Estcourt Correctional Center where he is currently serving a 15-month prison sentence.
South Africans protest killings in Durban suburb in rioting
Read full article: South Africans protest killings in Durban suburb in riotingSupporters of South Africa’s leftist opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, have demonstrated against the killings of 36 people in Phoenix, a suburb of Durban, during the recent violent riots in KwaZulu-Natal province.
South Africa's vaccination drive regains pace after unrest
Read full article: South Africa's vaccination drive regains pace after unrestSouth Africa’s acting health minister says the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign is regaining momentum after being disrupted by a week of riots sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.
Corruption trial of South Africa's ex-president is postponed
Read full article: Corruption trial of South Africa's ex-president is postponedThe corruption trial of former South African president Jacob Zuma, who is currently in prison, has been postponed to August 10 while it is decided whether he must be physically present in the courtroom or can appear via video from where he is in detention.
Graft trial resumes for South Africa's jailed ex-president
Read full article: Graft trial resumes for South Africa's jailed ex-presidentThe corruption trial of former South African President Jacob Zuma resumed Monday, more than a week after his imprisonment for contempt of court in a separate case set off rioting in parts of the country.
South Africa's leader vows to restore order, catch plotters
Read full article: South Africa's leader vows to restore order, catch plottersSouth Africa's leader has gone to Johannesburg’s Soweto township to view badly damaged shopping centers where people were trampled to death in rioting sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.
Leader backs order in South Africa, vows to catch plotters
Read full article: Leader backs order in South Africa, vows to catch plottersSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed to restore order to the country after a week of violence set off by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.
25,000 troops deployed to quell South Africa riots, 117 dead
Read full article: 25,000 troops deployed to quell South Africa riots, 117 deadSouth Africa’s army has begun deploying 25,000 troops to assist police in quelling weeklong riots and violence sparked by the imprisonment of former President Jacob Zuma.
'I was in tears': South Africans take stand against rioting
Read full article: 'I was in tears': South Africans take stand against riotingSouth African police and the army are struggling to bring order to impoverished areas of South Africa rocked by weeklong unrest and days of looting sparked by the imprisonment last week of ex-President Jacob Zuma.
Violence erupts over jailing of South Africa's ex-president
Read full article: Violence erupts over jailing of South Africa's ex-presidentSupporters of former South African president Jacob Zuma are protesting his imprisonment, burning trucks, commercial property and blocking major roads in KwaZulu-Natal province.
South Africa's ex-president Zuma says he'll appeal jail term
Read full article: South Africa's ex-president Zuma says he'll appeal jail termFormer South African President Jacob Zuma told hundreds of supporters gathered outside his rural estate that he is appealing his 15-month prison sentence and impending arrest by police.
South Africa's ruling ANC tries to defuse standoff over Zuma
Read full article: South Africa's ruling ANC tries to defuse standoff over ZumaSouth Africa’s ruling African National Congress party has sent some of its top leaders to defuse rising tensions over the pending arrest of former President Jacob Zuma.
South Africa's Zuma doesn't say if he will comply with jail
Read full article: South Africa's Zuma doesn't say if he will comply with jailFormer South African president Jacob Zuma has denounced the 15-month prison sentence he has been given by the country’s highest court and has not said if he will voluntarily comply with the order to turn himself over to the police.
South African court orders ex-president to jail for contempt
Read full article: South African court orders ex-president to jail for contemptSouth Africa’s former President Jacob Zuma has been found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to 15 months in prison for defying a court order to appear before an inquiry probing wide-ranging allegations of corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018.
South Africa finalizes treaty to extradite fugitives in UAE
Read full article: South Africa finalizes treaty to extradite fugitives in UAESouth Africa says it has finalized an extradition treaty with United Arab Emirates, allowing it to bring back members of an Indian family accused of involvement in high-level state corruption to face trial.
South Africa's president suspends party secretary-general
Read full article: South Africa's president suspends party secretary-generalSouth African president Cyril Ramaphosa has intensified the country’s anti-corruption drive with the suspension of his African National Congress party’s secretary-general, who is facing corruption charges in court.
Ramaphosa denies wrong in raising election campaign funds
Read full article: Ramaphosa denies wrong in raising election campaign fundsSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa has claimed there was “nothing sinister” about the funding for his 2017 political campaign to become president of the ruling party, the African National Congress.
South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma must pay legal fees
Read full article: South Africa's ex-president Jacob Zuma must pay legal feesFormer South African president Jacob Zuma has been denied state funding for for his legal fees in an upcoming corruption trial and has been ordered to pay back an estimated $2 million in lawyers’ charges that he has received over the years.
South Africa's ex-president should be jailed, argues lawyer
Read full article: South Africa's ex-president should be jailed, argues lawyerJOHANNESBURG – Lawyers for a commission investigating corruption in South Africa have asked the country’s highest court to jail former president Jacob Zuma for two years for failing to cooperate with its probe. For this contempt of court, Zuma should be convicted and sentenced to two years in prison, Tembeka Nqcukaitobi, a lawyer for the commission, argued Thursday at the Constitutional Court. As a former head of state, Zuma has a duty to abide by the constitution, said Nqcukaitobi. The judges of the constitutional court said they will deliberate on the matter and deliver a decision, but they did not specify when. About 20 of Zuma’s supporters braved rain in Johannesburg on Thursday to demonstrate in front of the Constitutional Court to show their unwavering support for him.
South Africa's Zulu king is buried amid praise, controversy
Read full article: South Africa's Zulu king is buried amid praise, controversyPrince Mbonisi Zulu attends the memorial service for his brother Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini, in Nongoma, South Africa, Thursday, March 18, 2021. (AP Photo/PhilL Magakoe)JOHANNESBURG – The traditional leader of South Africa’s 12 million Zulu people, King Goodwill Zwelithini, has been laid to rest in a private ceremony early Thursday. Reigning for more than 50 years, Zwelithini was the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu nation, the largest ethnic group of South Africa's 60 million people. Historically, the Zulu nation gave early resistance to British colonialism under the leadership of King Shaka Zulu from 1816 to 1828. Zwelithini was a proponent of traditional Zulu customs and the most influential of South African traditional leaders, who do not hold political office but have considerable influence, especially among South Africa's rural people.
Hope that South Africa's COVID-19 corruption inspires action
Read full article: Hope that South Africa's COVID-19 corruption inspires action(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe, file)CAPE TOWN – There's some hope in South Africa that this time the outrage against corruption inspires effective action. The new charges of the misuse of public money earmarked to fight the COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to be a turning point, say those experts. AdIt would be shocking, corruption experts say, if graft hadn't already been deeply entrenched in South Africa. “I get the outrage but not the surprise," said David Lewis, executive director of Corruption Watch in South Africa. South Africa was in recession even before the devastating effects of the virus.
South Africa's Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini dies, aged 72
Read full article: South Africa's Zulu King Goodwill Zwelithini dies, aged 72(AP Photo/File)JOHANNESBURG – King Goodwill Zwelithini, the traditional leader of South Africa's Zulu nation, has died aged 72 after being hospitalized for more than a month, his family announced Friday. Zwelithini, the eighth Zulu king, reigned for more than 50 years, making him the longest-serving Zulu monarch. King Zwelithini was an outspoken critic of the government’s planned land redistribution policy, which could affect large tracts of land belonging to the Zulu nation. Opposition politicians also expressed their condolences to the Zulu nation. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family, the Royal House and the Zulu nation in this time of loss.
South African ex-president's corruption trial set for May
Read full article: South African ex-president's corruption trial set for MayA South African judge said he will file a criminal complaint against former South African president Jacob Zuma after he staged a dramatic walkout while attending a commission of inquiry looking into corruption during his tenure from 2009 to 2018. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)JOHANNESBURG – Former South African president Jacob Zuma’s corruption trial is set to begin in May, more than 16 years after he was first implicated in the graft allegations. Zuma, South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, is accused of receiving bribes from French arms manufacturer Thales. Both Zuma and Thales deny the charges against them, which include corruption, fraud, racketeering, and money laundering. Zuma's trial and the order for him to appear before a judicial inquiry into graft are seen as tests of President Cyril Rampahosa's campaign against corruption.
South Africa's president fights own party over corruption
Read full article: South Africa's president fights own party over corruptionSouth African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives at a hospital in Khayelitsha, Cape Town, South Africa Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, to receive a Johnson and Johnson vaccine. It's in defiance of Ramaphosa and ANC policy that officials facing corruption charges should step aside until their criminal cases are finalized. I’ll prove (it) in court," Magashule said outside the courthouse, where people wearing green and yellow ANC T-shirts gathered in support of him. Both Zuma and Magashule have challenged Ramaphosa since he replaced Zuma as ANC leader in 2017 and became South Africa's president in 2018. AdThat scandal further angered South Africans who have been inundated with allegations of high-level corruption during the state corruption commission, which is probing Zuma's time as president from 2009-18.
South Africa's former president is warned to appear in court
Read full article: South Africa's former president is warned to appear in court(AP Photo/Themba Hadebe/File)JOHANNESBURG – A legal showdown is looming in South Africa where former president Jacob Zuma is refusing to obey court orders to testify at a judicial inquiry into corruption charges against him. Zuma has been warned that he is not above the law after he publicly stated that he intends to defy a court order to appear at the inquiry. It is a test of whether President Cyril Ramaphosa will be able to follow up on his promises to take decisive action against pervasive corruption. President Zuma is a South African. AdZondo warned Zuma of further action against him if he refuses to abide by an order of the Constitutional Court to testify at the commission.
South African ruling party official charged with corruption
Read full article: South African ruling party official charged with corruptionMagashule is charged in connection with the looting of $13.8 million when he was premier of the Free State province from 2009 until 2018. (AP Photo)JOHANNESBURG – A top official of South Africa's ruling party, the African National Congress, has been charged with 21 counts of fraud and corruption, a significant step in President Cyril Ramaphosa's drive against graft in the country. He was cheered by hundreds of supporters who gathered outside the courthouse, showing that many within the ruling party do not support the anti-corruption campaign. This demonstration was despite the party’s call that people should only support Magashule as individuals, not under the banner of the party. The demonstration to support Magashule shows that there are many within the ANC who do not support Ramaphosa's anti-corruption drive.
South African president grilled over COVID-19 graft scandals
Read full article: South African president grilled over COVID-19 graft scandalsJOHANNESBURG South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday faced tough questioning by lawmakers over COVID-19 corruption scandals, days after he asked ruling party members to refrain from stealing money meant for the poor. Many South Africans have been dismayed to see the country's widespread graft problem infiltrate efforts to stop the spread of the coronavirus. This week his letter to ANC party members cited clear progress since the election, but he scolded: Today, the ANC and its leaders stand accused of corruption. The COVID-19 corruption scandals dominated Thursday's session with lawmakers, but Ramaphosa also was taken to task over the scourge of gender-based violence in South Africa and the countrys dire economic situation. South Africa slipped into recession before the pandemic lockdown that started in March, and its unemployment rate is now above 30%.