Latest news with #Nguni
Eyewitness News
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Faction of Zulu royal family optimistic SCA will uphold ruling setting aside Ramaphosa's recognition of Misuzulu as king
JOHANNESBURG - A faction of the AmaZulu royal family supporting Prince Simakade says it's optimistic that the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) will uphold a ruling that could set into motion the dethroning of King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. Tensions in the royal house reached breaking point after King Misuzulu was crowned as the Zulu monarch following the passing of his father, King Zwelithini and his mother, Queen Regent Mantfombi, in 2021. Prince Simakade, who is King Misuzulu's half-brother, believes he is the rightful heir to the throne, claiming customary protocols were ignored. In December 2023, the High Court in Pretoria set aside President Cyril Ramaphosa's recognition of King Misuzulu as king of the Zulu nation. Less than two weeks ago, the SCA reserved judgment in the appeal over the legitimacy of the kingship. Speaking on the matter on 702's Nguni programme, Siyaxoxa ku-702 , Prince Thokozani Zulu weighed in on what he believes needs to follow. 'We cannot take this matter back to the family for a resolution because there's a court ruling which says the Zulu family would not be able to mediate on the matter without intervention. That way, the President must step in and do what the law requires, by appointing a committee to probe and report back on the allegations that the identification process of Misuzulu was not done in terms of customary laws and customs.' ALSO READ:
The Citizen
6 days ago
- Business
- The Citizen
Zuma point man touted to replace Shivambu as MK party SG
The MK party is expected to appoint its sixth secretary-general (SG) soon. The MK party is expected to appoint its sixth secretary-general soon, and there are reports that it may be traditional leader and long-time Jacob Zuma loyalist Phumlani Mfeka. Zuma's MK party removed its current secretary-general, Floyd Shivambu, on Tuesday, following his recent visit to the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church, led by the controversial prophet and fugitive Shepherd Bushiri, in Malawi. Complaints Zuma said the national officials found that Shivambu's visit to Malawi contradicted the values and prescripts of MK and had implications for its image and principles. He said the party had received numerous complaints about its association with Bushiri. 'We have rules and people were talking, so we thought it was important to tell the country what is happening.' Shivambu said he accepted the decision. 'On behalf of me and everyone who is involved, we regret that the decision to go to Malawi was not consistent with the constitution of the MK party, as it is reflected in the statement.' ALSO READ: MK party removes Floyd Shivambu as SG Former SGs Shivambu's demotion comes less than a year after he left the EFF to join the MK Party. He was the party's fifth secretary-general since the formation of the party in December 2023. Former secretaries-general of the MK party include: Thanduxolo 'Gorbachev' Dyodo Sihle Ngubane Arthur Zwane Sifiso Maseko Floyd Shivambu Mfeka It is understood that Mfeka, who will be taking up the secretary-general position later this week, was personally lobbied by Zuma, according to News24. 'Mfeka is an intellectual that is revered for being able to develop strategies and tactics that advance progress. His capacity will assist the MKP to reconnect with its core constituencies and return to its values, traditions and culture of comradeship, brotherhood and revolutionary cause,' a document seen by the publication read. ALSO READ: Zuma pushes out Arthur Zwane as MK party SG Zuma point man Mfeka is regarded as Zuma's point man in traditional leadership circles within the MK party. Former DA member and Xiluva leader Bongani Baloyi and impeached former public protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane were also considered for the secretary-general position before Shivambu was axed. Mfeka, who is the founder of the Injeje YabeNguni, an organisation championing the interests of traditional leaders, healers and the Nguni people in general, resigned as both MPL and MK party member in February after making serious allegations against some senior party leaders However, three months later, he returned to the MK party in May, reigniting speculations of a possible reshuffle in the party's key structures. ALSO READ: Shivambu slammed for visiting and praising Bushiri in Malawi during Easter [VIDEO]
The South African
26-05-2025
- The South African
5 remote beach towns in South Africa worth the drive
South Africa's coastline stretches for thousands of kilometres, and while places like Cape Town and Durban grab the spotlight, it's the quiet, tucked-away beach towns that offer real escape. If you're ready to trade crowds for solitude and chain restaurants for local fish shacks, these five remote beach towns are worth every minute behind the wheel… Why go: Kosi Bay isn't just remote – it's wild. Think mangrove estuaries, ancient fish traps, and untouched sandbanks that stretch to Mozambique. What to do: Snorkel in the estuary, explore by canoe, or go turtle tracking under the stars. It's a nature-lover's dream. Getting there: A long haul from Durban (about six hours), but the payoff is pristine isolation. Why go: White-washed fishermen's cottages, windswept beaches, and a raw Atlantic backdrop. Paternoster feels frozen in time. What to do: Stroll barefoot along the shell-strewn beach, kayak with dolphins, or book a table at Wolfgat , one of the world's best restaurants hiding in plain sight. Getting there: About two hours north of Cape Town on the R27, it's an easy drive with zero city stress. Paternoster beach. Image: wikimedia commons. Why go: No signal. No traffic. Just rolling hills, empty waves, and the kind of peace that resets your brain. What to do: Surf, hike, or just lie back and watch Nguni cattle wander down the beach. This beach town is off the grid, both literally and spiritually. Getting there: A five-hour drive from East London with a 4×4 stretch at the end. Getting there is part of the adventure. Why go: Tucked at the mouth of the Breede River where it meets the Indian Ocean, South Africa's Cape Infanta is quiet, rugged, and seriously underrated. What to do: Go fishing off the rocks, swim in the estuary, or just watch the sun melt into the ocean. It's sleepy in the best possible way. Getting there: Around fours hours from Cape Town, the last stretch is gravel – adding to the sense that you're going somewhere secret. Cape Infanta, Western Cape. Image: wikimedia commons. Why go: If Mars had a beach, it would look like this! Stark. Isolated. Strangely beautiful. It's a beach town that time skipped. What to do: Explore shipwrecks, visit the unique 'Aristea' ruins, and stare into the night sky – it's some of the clearest stargazing in the country. Getting there: A mission from Cape Town (about six–seven hours), but if you're chasing solitude, Hondeklip delivers. 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.
Daily Maverick
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Maverick
Scant sympathy for ‘plight' of Afrikaner ‘refugees' at SA's premier farm show
If you share US President Donald Trump's view that South Africa's white commercial farmers — especially the Afrikaans flock among them — are a persecuted minority facing 'genocide' and land seizures, then you should visit the Nampo fairgrounds outside the Free State town of Bothaville. Daily Maverick journalists arrived on Tuesday morning for the first day of the annual Nampo Harvest Day (which runs for four days) and proceeded to the sprawling parking lot on the north side, which runs alongside the airstrip. About 20 private passenger planes were parked along the airstrip and others were flying in, while 10 helicopters stood on a nearby stretch of grass. The parking lot for vehicles was a sea of massive bakkies and SUVs, including many that carry seven-digit price tags. And for an agricultural show, there is the revealing presence of large stands representing South Africa's big banks. Refugees — or those who might be considered for such status — don't fly to such events in their own aircraft or drive there in Ford Raptors. And capital does not set up shop to greet them. Banks don't extend hundreds of billions of rands in credit to a population that is about to flee intolerable persecution. But the 59 white Afrikaans 'refugees' fleeing this alleged persecution, who arrived on a chartered flight on Monday, 12 May in Washington, was a topic addressed by one visiting black farmer to Nampo — President Cyril Ramaphosa. 'We must stay here and solve our problems. When you run away, you are a coward, and that's a real cowardly act,' said Ramaphosa. White South African farmers and agricultural officials who spoke to Daily Maverick at Nampo were open about the challenges they and the sector faced while dismissing absurd claims of persecution, land grabs or 'genocide' which Trump used. Problems 'We mustn't try and get away. There are problems and the government is not pro-farmer, so we've got problems, but we can overcome them,' Nico Harris, a diversified farmer whose surname belies his Afrikaans background, told Daily Maverick at the cattle stand where he and his wife were selling Nguni rugs and place mats. 'I think the refugees that have gone are not well-established family farming businesses like we are. I think they don't have an opportunity in the country and they might think that, 'This is an opportunity for us.' I don't think they're really fleeing because they are scared or worried, I think they see it as an opportunity, ' he said. Still, he admitted to a sense of hostility from the state regarding white farmers. 'I think there are racially discriminating laws against white farmers, and I think they have problems and haven't got sympathy from the government. But there are no real land grabs, and I don't think there are real threats. There are individual farm attacks, but it's more related to criminal activity. We just hope our government is going to wake up and realise that they need the [black and white] farmers.' The Expropriation Act that allows for the confiscation of land by the state without compensation — a policy that stirred the embers of Trump's crusade against South Africa — is certainly a major concern for farmers. 'Just the idea of expropriation with no compensation, the mere thought, scares people. And that is a reality that we need to keep in mind, especially when you look at the individual farmer. The land is his asset,' Tobias Doyer, the CEO of Grain SA, told Daily Maverick. Asked about the 'refugees', Doyer flashed an X message on his phone in Afrikaans that said, 'They'll miss Nampo'. A blip 'It's a blip on the radar screen. I don't know any farmer that's going to America, and we don't expect any of our members to go because of these guys going to America. I think it's overblown,' he said. Corne Louw, a senior economist at Grain SA, said there were problems confronting the sector that needed to be addressed. 'There are things that do not go right in South Africa and you will be like an ostrich with its head in the sand if you think everything is milk and honey,' he said. 'When we talk about agriculture in South Africa we talk about the things that do work and there are many things that we are in agreement with the minister and the President on. There are very positive stories we can tell about transformation.' Three decades after the end of apartheid rule, most farmland in South Africa remains white-owned, but there has been progress. About 25% is now black-owned according to the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa. Dr Steve Tlailane, a 34-year-old medical doctor and emerging black farmer from Mpumalanga who owns 17 cattle, said that he found the sector open to transformation and redress. 'Last year I came here to Nampo and I was inspired,' he said. 'The thing that I notice about South African white farmers is that they are always welcoming if you want to learn.'
