Latest news with #AfricanNationalCongress
Eyewitness News
3 hours ago
- Business
- Eyewitness News
Budget 2025 expected to be settled when Parly sits to vote for Appropriation Bill
JOHANNESBURG - The Budget 2025 mayhem is expected to be settled on Wednesday when Parliament sits to vote on the Appropriation Bill in the last step to finalise what has been a contentious process. The Appropriation Bill sets out allocations to departments from the national budget. A parliamentary legal opinion suggests that the Appropriation Bill can only be passed if all departmental votes have been agreed to. But it won't be fiscal policy in the spotlight on Wednesday, with months of political tensions between the African National Congress (ANC) and the Democratic Alliance (DA) overshadowing legislation. Every February, the minister of finance presents a package of budget documents to Parliament, including the fiscal framework and revenue proposals, the Division of Revenue Bill and the Appropriation Bill. Parliament must consider these budget instruments and money bills in that order and according to stipulated timeframes. In the past, it's been a largely seamless process, with the ANC's seats enough to pass all the bills even when the opposition rejected some of them. But after losing its House majority at the last general elections, it's now taken a lot more negotiation to get the budget over the line. After some hiccups with the initial budget speech, the fiscal framework was approved with the DA's buy-in almost two months ago. The Division of Revenue Bill that allocates money to the three spheres of government got the thumbs up, just before new tensions were sparked between the two main coalition parties after the DA's Andrew Whitfield was axed as deputy trade minister. This impasse led the DA to once again put out its bargaining chips, calling for ministers implicated in corruption to be fired or it would reject the Appropriation Bill at Wednesday's sitting. While Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane is out, Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane remains. The DA said Nkabane's firing is sufficient for it to back the budget. What happens in the next few hours will likely be another defining moment for the Government of National Unity (GNU) and the country.
Ya Biladi
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
ANC urges Morocco to «apologize» for use of South African flag during Jacob Zuma visit
After several days of silence, South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, has finally responded to former President Jacob Zuma's show of support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. Zuma, who now heads the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, had sparked controversy with his position. «We condemn the opportunistic involvement of Jacob Zuma, who has aligned himself with efforts that erode South Africa's standing in the international commuity and betray the principles of non-alignment, peace, and anti-colonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold», the ANC said in a statement. «It is shameful that a former leader of a liberation movement s betraying our historical mission and showing his true colors as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa and world that is more humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free». The ANC concluded this section of its statement, addressing Zuma's visit to Morocco, by reaffirming its position: «We reiterate our call for the completion of the decolonization process in Africa, in order to safeguard the right to self-determination for African peoples still under colonial rule. The ANC calls upon all progressive forces within the continent and around the world to intensify their solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination». The South African Flag and a Diplomatic Incident The party also expressed «deep concern over a troubling situation involving the Kingdom of Morocco». It condemned the use of South Africa's national flag during a bilateral meeting with an opposition figure «who does not represent the democratically elected government of South Africa». «This reckless and provocative act constitutes a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and constitutes an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs. It is a dangerous attempt to delegitimize our constitutional order and discredit the authority of a democratically elected government», the ANC stated. «The inclusion of our national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign powers is not only misleading but part of a broader agenda of foreign interference», Ramaphosa's party added. The ANC has called on the South African Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a formal diplomatic protest to Morocco and to demand immediate clarification and an official apology from Moroccan authorities. This diplomatic protest, however, 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. In South Africa, Jacob Zuma's MK party, now the country's third-largest political force, has positioned itself as a leading opponent of President Ramaphosa's administration. Political tensions have been mounting in recent weeks. On Friday, MK supporters held a demonstration outside the presidential palace in Pretoria, calling for .
Morocco World
2 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
ANC Lashes Out at Zuma's Morocco Visit, Demands Apology Over Flag Use
Marrakech – South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has unleashed a bitter attack against former president Jacob Zuma for his recent visit to Morocco, where he boldly recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The ANC also furiously demanded that Morocco issue a formal apology for displaying the South African flag during meetings with Zuma, who now leads the opposition UMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. In a scathing statement released July 19, the ANC blasted what it called Zuma's 'opportunistic involvement' with Morocco, accusing the former president of betraying South Africa's 'principles.' The African country has historically touted a hardline anti-Moroccan stance on the artificial, prolonged dispute in the Sahara. 'We condemn the opportunistic involvement of Jacob Zuma, who has aligned himself with efforts that erode South Africa's standing in the international community and betray the principles of non-alignment, peace, and anti-colonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold,' the ANC fumed in its statement. The party further attacked Zuma's actions as 'shameful,' declaring that 'a former leader of a liberation movement is betraying our historical mission and showing his true colors as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa.' The controversy erupted after Zuma's July 15 meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, where his MK party publicly endorsed Morocco's legitimate sovereignty over its southern provinces. This position directly challenges South Africa's increasingly outlier and ideologically rigid stance in backing the Polisario Front's separatist claims. This posture has grown geopolitically untenable as global support for the militants – which are on the brink of being designated as a terrorist group – crumbles. The ANC exploded with particular rage over Morocco's use of the South African flag during the meeting, calling it a 'reckless and provocative act' that constitutes a 'flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs.' The party has ordered South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation to issue a 'formal diplomatic protest' and demand an 'immediate explanation and apology from the Moroccan authorities.' This diplomatic tantrum unfolds amid deepening political turmoil in South Africa. The MK party, which emerged as the country's third-largest political force in recent elections, has aggressively campaigned for President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation. On July 18, MK supporters stormed the area outside the presidential palace in Pretoria, demanding Ramaphosa step down after giving him a two-day ultimatum earlier that week. The separatist agenda is counting its final days The ANC's venomous reaction to Zuma's Morocco visit reflects the party's panic as its influence in the Western Sahara dispute rapidly disintegrates. Morocco continues to secure overwhelming diplomatic victories across Africa, decisively shifting the continental balance in favor of its territorial integrity. South Africa's antagonistic stance toward Morocco dates back to 1976 when the ANC, then still a liberation movement, aligned itself with the Polisario Front in a gesture of ideological solidarity rooted in Cold War-era polarization. Upon assuming power in 1994, the ANC entrenched this position by unilaterally recognizing the self-declared 'SADR' in 2004 under President Thabo Mbeki, despite South Africa having no historical, geographic, or strategic stakes in the dispute. This alignment, driven by outdated ideological loyalties rather than pragmatic diplomacy, has rendered South Africa more and more isolated on the continental stage The ANC's hardline position has already caused internal fractures within the party. In October 2024, the ANC brutally punished senior member Obed Bapela, stripping him of his duties as Deputy Chairperson of the ANC National Executive Committee Sub-committee on International Relations after he met with Moroccan officials and called for strengthening economic ties between the two countries. This crackdown sparked protests in December 2024, when disgruntled ANC members gathered outside the party's Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg. Protesters, led by activist Teboho Maake, submitted a memorandum to the party leadership demanding recognition of Morocco's historical support during South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and calling for normalized relations with the North African country. 'We are dissatisfied over the ANC's stance against Morocco, and there exists an urgent need for clarity on how we plan to develop our bilateral relationships with them,' Maake declared during the demonstration. Morocco's aggressive Africa diplomacy is bearing fruit Morocco's diplomatic campaign has been particularly successful in anglophone Africa, which was once considered impenetrable territory firmly aligned with anti-Moroccan positions. Kenya, a longtime backer of the Polisario Front, executed a dramatic diplomatic reversal in May by recognizing Morocco's Autonomy Plan as 'the only credible, serious and sustainable approach' to resolving the dispute. Ghana similarly suspended relations with the self-proclaimed 'SADR' in June, while Zambia, Malawi, and Eswatini have opened consulates in Morocco's legitimate southern provinces. Meanwhile, Algeria – the chief sponsor of the Polisario separatists – finds itself ever more cornered and politically strained, as it continues to squander billions of its hydrocarbon rent on hosting, arming, and diplomatically propping up the group. Unlike South Africa's symbolic support, Algeria's fixation has translated into a costly and unsustainable geopolitical obsession, further exacerbating the regime's diplomatic isolation and diminishing its leverage across both regional and international arenas. As international support for the separatist cause collapses, Algerian authorities have resorted to begging for support from marginal allies like Zimbabwe, whose president visited Algeria on Saturday to reaffirm support for the failing separatist group. According to observers, the Algerian regime has lost all political and diplomatic cards it used for decades in managing the regional dispute with Morocco over the Sahara file. They note that Algeria now resorts to marginal states – either lacking influence in African decision-making or grappling with severe economic crises – in a bid to buy support and manufacture relevance. The sharp decline in support comes as global momentum builds to label the Polisario Front a terrorist organization. In June, US Congressman Joe Wilson officially introduced a bipartisan bill to classify the separatist group as a foreign terrorist organization, spotlighting the group's violent past and ongoing threats to regional stability. Despite these crushing setbacks, the ANC stubbornly clings to its outdated position, concluding its statement by reiterating 'its call for the completion of the decolonization process in Africa' and urging 'all progressive forces within the continent and around the world to intensify their solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination' – a narrative the United Nations itself quietly abandoned long ago. Read also: South African Party Recognizes Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara Tags: Cyril RamaphosaJacob ZumaMorocco and South AfricaWestern sahara
Eyewitness News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
ANC labels Zuma a sellout over MKP's position on Western Sahara conflict
CAPE TOWN - The African National Congress (ANC) has labelled its former president, Jacob Zuma, a sellout, for his party's position on the Western Sahara conflict, signalling his shift in policy. Zuma recently travelled to the North African region to show solidarity for Morocco's control over the disputed territory. The ANC has always advocated for the independence of the area for the Sahrawi people, including when Zuma was president of the party. Speaking on the sidelines of a national working committee meeting in Cape Town on Sunday, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula hit out at Zuma for the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party's bilateral with Moroccan officials, calling the about-turn unsurprising. 'Jacob Zuma represents everything that's wrong, that is pursued by sellouts and that's what it is. We as the ANC will fight side-by-side for the self-determination of the Sahwari people. We are in solidarity with them, and Morocco must stop the occupation of Western Sahara.' Mbalula has also accused Zuma of stealing ANC assets to form his own political party, which has since become the main opposition in Parliament. 'To divide our people, weaken the ANC for his own personal aggrandisement is what he's been. He will be remembered for that by history.'
The South African
2 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Malema, Mbalula agree: Former president 'is a sellout'
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says former president Jacob Zuma is a sellout for supporting the kingdom of Morocco. The sentiment comes as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader visited the Moroccan Foreign Minister in Rabat and endorsed the country's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines at the East London Magistrate's Court on Monday, 21 July, Malema weighed in on Zuma's recent visit to the North African country. 'On Morocco, that was a complete sell-out position. Now there is maneuvering; they are no longer emphasising their party position on Morocco. They are saying, no, a former head of state can visit any country and have interactions with those people. 'No one is questioning that. We are questioning his position and that of his party concerning Morocco. We are very clear. We are for the people of Western Sahara, and we must make sure that they too realise their freedom in their lifetime,' he said. Malema's comment comes as the African National Congress (ANC) also criticised Zuma at the weekend for the visit. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also told journalists that the recognition of Morocco by Jacob Zuma is not a surprise. Mbalula said Zuma represents everything wrong, which is pursued by sell-outs. 'We, as the ANC, will fight side by side for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people. We are in solidarity with them, and Morocco must stop the occupation of Western Sahara. Zuma is no messiah. He's a sell-out of note. For whatever reason that he's doing all of this, it's no surprise to us. 'The very decision to steal the assets of the ANC to form a political party and call it what it is, to divide our people, weaken the African National Congress for his aggrandisement, is what he has been. He will be remembered for that by history,' Mbalula said. It has been reported that Morocco controls approximately 80% of Western Sahara and has pushed for its authority over the territory to be officially recognised. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, controls the remaining 20% as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SARD). The African Union recognises the SARD as a full member. The Western Sahara, a sparsely populated desert region on Africa's northwest coast, was a Spanish colony before its annexation by Morocco in 1975. This has led to a protracted territorial dispute between Morocco and the indigenous Saharawi people, represented by the Polisario Front, IOL reported. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
