Zuma is a sellout
He's called the former president a sellout.
Mbalula is accusing Zuma of stealing Umkhonto We Sizwe.
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The Herald
an hour ago
- The Herald
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe pulls mayoral committee members into line with gag order
Nelson Mandela Bay mayor Babalwa Lobishe has issued a gag order on members of her mayoral committee, instructing that all media inquiries go through her office as the 'official spokesperson' of the municipality. In the correspondence sent to all members of the mayoral committee on Monday, Lobishe told them she had taken the decision to ensure there was no contradictory messaging going to the media and public. 'As mayco, we each play a pivotal role in advancing the collective vision and strategic priorities of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. 'In line with this collective leadership, it's important that our communication to the public, media and stakeholders reflects one clear, united and consistent message. 'In my capacity as executive mayor and in accordance with established governance protocols, [I] serve as the chief spokesperson of the municipality,' Lobishe wrote in the letter. The ANC governs in the coalition with the EFF, DOP, UDM, NA, AIC, PAC and AIM. Lobishe said as the spokesperson of the city, she was responsible for safeguarding the institutional voice of the council and ensuring that the metro's public communication was accurate, co-ordinated and aligned with their shared agenda. 'To this end, we are implementing a streamlined communication and media management process that will [ensure] all official media engagements, press briefings and public statements issued on behalf of the municipality are centralised through the office of the executive mayor,' she said. According to Lobishe, the process was intended to ensure message coherence across all mayoral committee portfolios, prevent mixed or contradictory messaging in the public domain and enhance public trust and confidence through clear, co-ordinated leadership communication. Moving forward, Lobishe said all media briefings and interviews had to be approved and co-ordinated through her office. She wrote that media statements, including from mayoral committee members, had to be submitted to her office for review and alignment before release and inquiries received directly by MMCs should be redirected to the office of the mayor for a co-ordinated response. Lobishe said public engagements with a media presence must be communicated in advance to her office to ensure alignment and support. DOP president Ruphus Mphahlele said as a party with its own mandate, they would not be told what to do. 'That partisan mayor is not well upstairs," Mphahlele said . 'We did not agree on this, let alone being told about it. 'Unfortunately for her, we won't be dictated to on what to do or say. 'As members of the government of local unity we come from different parties which have their own mandates given to its councillors. 'It's not going to happen, we don't take instructions from her," Mphahlele said. NA president Gary van Niekerk said mayco members were not happy with the decision. 'The general feeling from other members is that the matter should've been discussed in the government of local unity (GLU) first which it wasn't. 'I have called for calm and requested that we discuss this further in the GLU and we are meeting tomorrow morning [Tuesday] for this purpose." AIC councillor Thsonono Buyeye declined to comment saying the matter was still being discussed internally. UDM councillor Luxolo Namette said it was strange for Lobishe to take the decision unilaterally without consulting members of the GLU. 'As a party we feel as though the mayor is trying to kill the identity of the individual parties represented in the GLU. 'We are not an extension of the ANC and therefore we should be consulted before such decisions are taken. 'Members have called for a GLU meeting but there's no confirmation yet if it will actually convene," Namette said. The Herald
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
IFP stands firm on KwaZulu-Natal's controversial decision to place ANC-led municipality under administration
IFP president Velenkosini Hlabisa has defended KwaZulu-Natal government's decision to place the ANC-led municipality under administration. Image: Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs / Facebook The IFP has vowed to defend the KwaZulu-Natal government's decision to place the struggling ANC-led Umkhanyakude District Municipality under administration despite the ANC's defiance. In a media briefing on Monday afternoon, President Velenkosini Hlabisa dismissed ANC's assertion that the provincial government is targeting municipalities under its leadership for political reasons. There was a drama last week when IFP's Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi was physically prevented from entering the premises of the municipality, in the north of the province, to formally introduce the appointed administrator, Bamba Ndwandwe. Hlabisa stated that the government's decision remains firm and will not be influenced by political pressures. 'This is not a political intervention. This is a Cabinet decision. As long as municipalities are passing unfunded budgets, Section 139 will apply. You can go and check the financial audit outcome of that municipality. It is not good; therefore, it qualifies for an intervention of this kind,' said Hlabisa. Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli, who was at the briefing, said there was a unanimous decision in the Cabinet with all MECs, including the three from the ANC; therefore, he did not understand why the leadership is challenging it. He said Umkhanyakude was placed under administration alongside two IFP-led district municipalities, so the assertion by the ANC that it is targeting its municipalities was unfounded. 'We removed an ANC-led Mooi Mpofana Local Municipality from the administration in the same Cabinet meeting, so we do not understand why the ANC is complaining in Umkhanyakude,' said Ntuli. He also announced that the municipality has taken the government to court for the matter. In a statement last week, the ANC said it vehemently rejected the unwarranted and politically charged decision by MEC Buthelezi to invoke Section 139(1)(b) of the Constitution in the uMkhanyakude District Municipality. It said the so-called intervention is nothing short of abuse of constitutional provisions for political gain, adding that it lacks merit, rationale, and integrity. 'The ANC is appalled by the continued misuse of Section 139(1)(b) by the MEC, who has turned what should be a last-resort mechanism into a political weapon, one that is selectively and cynically deployed against ANC-led municipalities, regardless of their performance. 'The uMkhanyakude District Municipality has made tangible progress in governance, financial recovery, and service delivery. There is no objective basis for this draconian step, which appears designed not to improve governance, but to score narrow political points and destabilise a functional administration,' read the statement. The party said it stands with the Council of uMkhanyakude District Municipality in resisting the opportunistic, mischievous, and dangerous actions of a power-mongering MEC who is hell-bent on destabilising a functional municipality and undermining service delivery to communities. It vowed to actively mobilise its supporters and communities to resist the advances of an MEC who the party described as having clearly defined himself outside of the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU). There are fears that the continued souring of relations between these two major partners of the GPU may create instability in the province, which is known for its political complexities. [email protected].
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
MKP supports Zuma amid accusations of betrayal from ANC and EFF
Former president Jacob Zuma's Morocco visit has sparked controversy over Western Sahara. Image: Itumeleng English / Independent Newspapers The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has responded to accusations from the ANC and the EFF that their leader, Jacob Zuma, is a 'sellout' following his recent visit to Morocco. The controversy stems from Zuma's expression of support for Morocco's control over Western Sahara during his visit on July 16, 2025, where the South African flag was displayed alongside the Moroccan flag. The ANC recently condemned the use of the South African flag in Zuma's meeting with Moroccan officials, stating it was a 'reckless and provocative act' that constitutes a 'flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms'. The party demanded that Morocco apologise for the incident and called on the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to issue a formal diplomatic protest. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ During the ANC's National Working Committee meeting in Cape Town on Sunday, Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula accused Zuma of stealing ANC assets to form the MK Party. Mbalula said Zuma would be remembered for further dividing the ANC, labelling him a 'sellout' for his visit to Morocco. 'Zuma is no messiah. He is a sellout. For whatever reason, he is doing this; it is no surprise to us,' Mbalula added. However, the MKP defended Zuma's right to visit other African nations, with Treasurer-General Thanti Mthanti highlighting his role as a statesman. Mthanti specifically acknowledged Zuma's efforts in negotiating peace and ending political killings in KwaZulu-Natal during the 1993 conflict between the ANC and the Inkatha Freedom Party. Earlier this week, the MKP released a policy position advocating for stronger bilateral relations between South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco, saying it is a stance that is rooted in shared principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and African unity. 'The MKP's identity is deeply rooted in the historic Struggle for liberation and dignity in South Africa. Similarly, Morocco's history is marked by its resistance to colonial domination and its determined pursuit of national unity. 'Both nations were shaped by their anti-colonial struggles — South Africa from apartheid and Morocco from French and Spanish rule. 'In this regard, Morocco has played a pivotal role in supporting South Africa through its fight for liberation. Morocco was the first country to lend financial and military support to Umkhonto weSizwe in 1962.' During his visit to Morocco, Zuma said: 'Our party recognises the historical and legal context that underpins Morocco's claim to Western Sahara.' The MKP's policy supports Morocco's efforts to regain its territorial integrity, viewing it as consistent with the party's dedication to upholding the sovereignty and unity of African nations. The Moroccan embassy's phone rang unanswered on Monday. However, a diplomatic source close to the country defended Morocco, having displayed the South African flag during Zuma's visit, suggesting that the ANC's reaction is hypocritical. 'This diplomatic protest comes as a surprise. The South African flag was visibly displayed, alongside the Algerian flag, during a meeting in December 2023 between the ANC's secretary-general and Salah Goudjil, the former president of Algeria's Upper House. The flag was also present during talks between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and senior ANC officials,' a diplomatic source said. EFF leader Julius Malema has also criticised Zuma's position on Morocco, calling it a 'sellout position'. Malema reaffirmed the EFF's support for the Sahrawi people's struggle for independence in Western Sahara. 'On the issue of Morocco, that was a complete sellout position,' he said on the sidelines of his court appearance at East London Magistrate's Court, in Eastern Cape, on Monday.
