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IOL News
5 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
Activists demand repatriation of Edgar Lungu's body as court reserves judgment
(From left) Mthetho Ngcukayitobi, Lebogang Shovhote, and Bonang Sepoloane of Progressive Forces of South Africa sitting next to Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress, demanding that the body of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu be repatriated to his home country. Activists under the Progressive Forces of South Africa are calling for the repatriation of the late former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu's body, as the Pretoria High Court reserves judgment on the landmark case until later this week. This follows the death of former Zambian president Edgar Chagwa Lungu on June 5 at Mediclinic Medforum in Pretoria, which has since triggered a tense standoff between his family and the Zambian government. Authorities in Zambia are pushing for the repatriation of former President Edgar Lungu's remains for an official state funeral, a move firmly rejected by his family, who insist he be laid to rest in South Africa after failed negotiations. The dramatic court ruling was delivered just moments before a private burial was due to take place on 31 July. Lungu served as president from January 25, 2015, until August 24, 2021. Following his departure from office, he faced a series of legal challenges and political isolation. His family, including his wife, Esther Lungu, and their children, have been implicated in various corruption charges, including allegations of money laundering and proceeds of crime. Esther Lungu has pleaded not guilty to charges of stealing cars. Lebogang Shovhote, Secretary General of the Progressive Forces of South Africa, voiced strong opposition to Edgar Lungu being laid to rest in South Africa. She pointed out that the country already struggles with ongoing land claim disputes, where burial sites are sometimes exploited to support land ownership claims. Shohote warned that permitting Lungu's burial in South Africa could set a troubling precedent, making the nation a refuge for those escaping legal consequences. 'The Lungu family has committed offences in Zambia and now wants to use South Africa as a place of refuge,' she said. Shovhote further alleged that Lungu entered South Africa using a passport under a different name, raising serious concerns about discrepancies in his documentation. 'Even hospital records don't reflect that Edgar Lungu was ever admitted to any South African facility,' she claimed. She added that burying Lungu in South Africa could set a dangerous precedent, potentially encouraging other African leaders accused of crimes in their home countries to view South Africa as a refuge to escape justice and avoid facing consequences for their actions. Shovhote emphasised that they are hopeful the court will order the Lungu family to repatriate his body to Zambia. The Pretoria High Court has reserved judgment, with Deputy Judge President Aubrey Ledwaba stating that a ruling will be delivered before the end of the week. The Star
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Edgar Lungu: Activists claim Zambian leader used Zimbabwean passport in South Africa
(From left) Mthetho Ngcukayitobi, Lebogang Shovhote, Bonang Sepoloane of Progressive Forces of South Africa sitting next to Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress demanding that the body of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu be repatriated to his home country. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL Activists under the umbrella of Progressive Forces of South Africa insist they have it on good authority that the late Zambian former president Edgar Chagwa Lungu was using a Zimbabwean diplomatic passport during his stay, before he was admitted and later died in a Pretoria hospital. The allegations have been widely reported in different countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) following the death of the former president in June. Lungu passed away on June 5 at the private Mediclinic Medforum hospital in Pretoria CBD. A bitter cross-border wrangle has since erupted with the Zambian government seeking to repatriate his remains for an official state funeral. However, Lungu's family has, on the other hand, insisted on burying him in South Africa following a collapse of engagements. Allegations have swirled around Lungu's sojourn in South Africa, where he eventually passed away. Amid the reports of Lungu's apparent obscure identity, the government of Zimbabwe rubbished the reports alleging that Lungu held a Zimbabwean diplomatic passport. Earlier this month, Zimbabwe's Permanent Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Nick Mangwana, entered the fray, describing the widespread reports as "mischievous falsehoods". 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 ✕ Ad loading We wish to categorically state that the late former Zambian President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu did not hold a Zimbabwean passport or nationality. Any such suggestions are just mischievous falsehoods. — Nick Mangwana (@nickmangwana) July 1, 2025 'We wish to categorically state that the late former Zambian President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu did not hold a Zimbabwean passport or nationality. Any such suggestions are just mischievous falsehoods,' Mangwana wrote on X. The reports claimed Lungu had travelled to South Africa on a Zambian diplomatic passport, but he quickly switched to a Zimbabwean diplomatic passport under the alias 'Tendai Munyaradzi' even when he was admitted to the Pretoria hospital. Allegations are that Lungu used the Zimbabwean passport to fly out and return to South Africa, before he was admitted to the hospital. On Thursday, Progressive Forces of South Africa activists rekindled the allegations at a media briefing held in Midrand, adding that they have contacted the Department of International Relations (Dirco) and Home Affairs for clarity. The media briefing on Thursday was also addressed by multiple community organisations, including the Confederation of South Africans Unity represented by Cosmos Motha; Rea Aga Committee led by Michael Kgosana, and the Thembelihle Residents Association represented by Mary Tati. Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's death has triggered a bitter dispute between his family and the Zambian government led by President Hakainde Hichilema. Image: File 'It has now come to light, to us, that the former president Edgar Lungu was allegedly admitted into a Pretoria hospital under a false name. That forces us to ask critical questions on our own government. Who did South African authorities officially declare dead?" said Mthetho Ngcukayitobi, leader of the Progressive Forces of South Africa movement. 'This is not a trivial question. When a former head of state dies on South African soil, there are protocols and national guidelines and the national population register processed but in this case, none of these processes were properly followed. 'Instead, we are left with secrecy, irregularity and the risk of a diplomatic crisis unfolding on our watch. Why is our government so silent on this? Let us not forget why this matter is so sensitive for the people of Zambia,' he said. Ngcukayitobi claimed that when Lungu arrived in South Africa on January 19, he was picked up from the airport by an Audi Q7 vehicle owned by a Zambian businessman based in South Africa. IOL reported on Thursday that the Progressive Forces of South Africa activists are demanding that Lungu's body be repatriated to Zambia for burial, not in South Africa as Lungu's family wishes. 'Our duty is to protect the country from internal and external threats. On the issue of Mr Edgar Lungu, this comes as a threat to South Africa as a nation. The question is, when a person of the stature of Mr Lungu is being buried, whose flag is being lowered? Is it our South African flag, or is it a Zambian flag? This is not anybody,' said Rachel Makhubele, secretary of Defend South Africa. 'He deserves dignity as the former president of Zambia. The issue of the family, as Defend SA we stand for transparency and accountability. The family should go back home and account for those crimes that we hear. South Africa is not a country where we harbour criminals. The government should try to control the level of criminals that are entering our South African country. 'We have the issue of illegal immigrants in South Africa, it is not a lie. We are dealing with this issue. If a person of Mr Lungu's status is buried in South Africa, it will encourage many Zambian citizens to come here, saying they are coming to see their president's grave. At the end of the day, they end up staying in South Africa,' she said. Makhubele insisted that she was not being xenophobic, but her organisation is 'trying to protect what belongs to us'. IOL reported last month that the government of the Republic of Zambia said it will abide by the ruling of South African courts in the tense standoff over the burial of the mortal remains of the country's former president. One of Africa's deepest episodes of political rivalry and animosity is playing out before South African courts, with Lungu's family saying one of the former president's dying wishes was that his successor and political nemesis, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, should not go anywhere near his body. However, state funeral arrangements made in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, had Hichilema at the center, as the commander-in-chief of the Zambian Defence Forces. The Zambian government had planned State funeral arrangements in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, with Hichilema at the center of the ceremony. Bonang Sepoloane, national organiser of Progressive Force of South Africa, said the family of the late president has to go back to Lusaka and answer the charges before the courts. 'As South Africans, we know very well, we have the issue of land since colonisation and also apartheid. We have land claims that are being claimed via ancestry lineage. Graves are part of the instruments that we use when we want to claim the land. In the future, we are going to have an issue of Lungus in the generation to come and claim land in South Africa, pointing to their grandfather's grave. She acknowledged that Zambia played a pivotal role towards the independence of different African nations, including South Africa. Zambia still has graves of several South African freedom fighters who were exiled during apartheid. Some of the skeletal remains of the freedom fighters have recently been repatriated back to South Africa. 'We are not fighting the Zambians. What we will not allow is the current African leaders who loot coffers of their people, to come and enjoy the loot in peace, in South Africa. We know very well that African leaders have been looting their countries, and going to enjoy these resources in Europe and the West. 'With this case, we have now found that there are more looters who have found a haven in our country South Africa,' said Sepoloane. Indigenous monarch King Khalo la Bataung Jacob Hlalele of the Bataung ba Hlalele Royal Kingdom sent condolences to the Lungu family and the people of Zambia. He however insisted that Lungu's body must be buried in Zambia. 'I am saying, it will be a taboo if we can let the Zambian president be buried here. Everybody, according to the traditions, culture and rituals, must be buried where the elders' bones and graves are. No negotiations. I do not need to say anything. This is our people and this is what we know,' he said. 'Let the Zambian president go and be buried where his ancestors are close.' Indigenous monarch King Khalo la Bataung Jacob Hlalele of the Bataung ba Hlalele Royal Kingdom with Mthetho Ngcukayithobi of the Progressive Forces of South Africa at a media briefing on former president of Zambia Edgar Lungu. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress also added his voice, saying Lungu should be buried amongst his people, particularly in the designated area reserved for leaders. "It cannot be that people come from foreign countries to bury their presidents here in South Africa," he said. Last month, IOL reported that the High Court in Pretoria had unexpectedly halted the family's plans to bury the former president in South Africa. The court ruling was delivered just moments before a private ceremony was set to commence on Wednesday. The court ruled that a full hearing on the merits of the case will take place on 4 August. IOL News
IOL News
18-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Activist Mthunzi Luthuli announces #CyrilMustFall protests in Pretoria
Mthunzi Luthuli of the Preogressive Civics Congress said permission has been granted for the #CyrilMustFall march set to hit the streets of Pretoria on Friday. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL Different civic rights groups have announced the #CyrilMustFall protests which are set to hit the streets of Pretoria on the International Nelson Mandela Day, on Friday. Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress told reporters in Midrand that marchers will walk from Marabastad to the Union Buildings, demanding an immediate resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa. 'This initiative of this march is an initiative of Defend SA but it is a march supported by UCM, which stands for United Civics Movement, an umbrella federation for civic movements. My organisation Progressive Civics Congress is part of UCM. We are making this announcement on behalf of Defend SA and UCM,' he said. On Friday (today) the symbolic Nelson Mandela Day, thousands of determined South Africans from across all provinces will gather in Pretoria for the #CyrilMustFall march to the Union Buildings. This national protest is a bold declaration by the people against the ongoing decay of leadership, governance and accountability under President Cyril Ramaphosa.' 'Cyril Ramaphosa's rise to the Union Buildings has been characterised by corruption, from the very beginning, starting with his irregular election as ANC president at the Nasrec conference in 2017. The process was bankrolled by the controversial CR17 campaign fund, the details of which remain sealed and hidden from public scrutiny,' he said. 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 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. Next Stay Close ✕ Luthuli said while at the helm of South Africa, Ramaphosa has failed to account for the Phala Phala scandal. He insisted that South Africa is in crisis mode, with unemployment at an all-time high. 'Illegal immigration is out of control, and service delivery has collapsed. The recent explosive revelations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi have only confirmed what South Africans already know, that this administration is corrupt to the core and that our institutions have been captured by political and private business interests at the expense of public safety, justice and national pride. He said the protesters will be demanding an 'immediate resignation' from Ramaphosa, and firing and prosecution of corrupt police officers and politicians. On Wednesday, IOL reported that the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has formally delivered a letter of demand to President Ramaphosa, calling on him to resign from office by 9am on Friday. In the letter seen by IOL, among other things, the MK party tells Ramaphosa that the decision to appoint Professor Cachalia as Acting Minister of Police is in contravention of the Constitution, because the academic is not a member of Cabinet or the National Assembly. MK party national spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela, said Ramaphosa must resign in honour of Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding commander-in-chief of uMkhonto weSizwe - the military wing. 'Should Ramaphosa fail to heed this call, the MK party will pursue a range of lawful and peaceful actions, including constitutional litigation, a motion of no confidence in Parliament and rolling mass action nationwide,' said Ndlela. 'These steps reflect the will of the people, who, through democratic means, delivered a decisive electoral verdict against the African National Congress under Ramaphosa's leadership.' He said, despite the 'clear message' from the electorate, the will of the people has been undermined by opportunistic political alliances. IOL News
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
Zambians will flock to SA if Edgar Lungu is buried here, says Progressive Forces of South Africa
Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress sitting next to Rachek Makhubele, secretary-general of Defend South Africa as several civic organisations gathered under the umbrella of Progressive Forces of South Africa, demanding that the body of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu be repatriated to his home country. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL The body of former president, Edgar Chagwa Lungu must be repatriated to his home country and buried among his people. This was the overall sentiment expressed in Midrand on Thursday as several South African civic movements gathered for a joint media briefing under the banner of Progressive Forces of South Africa. 'Our duty is to protect the country from internal and external threats. On the issue of Mr Edgar Lungu, this comes as a threat to South Africa as a nation. The question is, when a person of the stature of Mr Lungu is being buried, whose flag is being lowered? Is it our South African flag, or is it a Zambian flag? This is not anybody,' said Rachel Makhubele, secretary-general of Defend South Africa. 'He deserves dignity as the former president of Zambia. The issue of the family, as Defend SA we stand for transparency and accountability. The family should go back home and account for those crimes that we hear. South Africa is not a country where we harbour criminals. The government should try to control the level of criminals that are entering our South African country. 'We have the issue of illegal immigrants in South Africa, it is not a lie. We are dealing with this issue. If a person of Mr Lungu's status is buried in South Africa, it will encourage many Zambian citizens to come here, saying they are coming to see their president's grave. At the end of the day, they end up staying in South Africa,' she said. Makhubele insisted that she was not being xenophobic, but her organisation is 'trying to protect what belongs to us'. 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 ✕ Ad Loading (From left) Mthetho Ngcukayitobi, Lebogang Shovhote, Bonang Sepoloane of Progressive Forces of South Africa sitting next to Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress demanding that the body of former Zambian president Edgar Lungu be repatriated to his home country. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL The government of the Republic of Zambia last month said it will abide by the ruling of South African courts in the tense standoff over the burial of the mortal remains of the country's former president. One of Africa's deepest episodes of political rivalry and animosity is playing out before South African courts, with Lungu's family saying one of the former president's dying wishes was that his successor and political nemesis, Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, should not go anywhere near his body. However, state funeral arrangements made in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, had Hichilema at the center, as the commander-in-chief of the Zambian Defence Forces. The Zambian government had planned State funeral arrangements in Zambia, in anticipation of receiving the former president's mortal remains in Lilongwe, with Hichilema at the center of the ceremony. Bonang Sepoloane, national organiser of Progressive Force of South Africa, said the family of the late president has to go back to Lusaka and answer regarding the charges before courts. 'As South Africans, we know very well, we have the issue of land since colonisation and also apartheid. We have land claims that are being claimed via ancestry lineage. Graves are part of the instruments that we use when we want to claim the land. In the future, we are going to have an issue of Lungus in the generation to come and claim land in South Africa, pointing to their grandfather's grave. She acknowledged that Zambia played a pivotal role towards the independence of different African nations, including South Africa. Former Zambian President Edgar Chagwa Lungu's death has triggered a bitter dispute between his family and the Zambian government led by President Hakainde Hichilema. Image: File Zambia still has graves of several South African freedom fighters who were exiled during apartheid. Some of the skeletal remains of the freedom fighters have recently been repatriated back to South Africa. 'We are not fighting the Zambians. What we will not allow is the current African leaders who loot coffers of their people, to come and enjoy the loot in peace, in South Africa. We know very well that African leaders have been looting their countries, and going to enjoy these resources in Europe and the West. 'With this case, we have now found that there are more looters who have found a haven in our country South Africa,' said Sepoloane. Indigenous monarch King Khalo la Bataung Jacob Hlalele of the Bataung ba Hlalele Royal Kingdom with Mthetho Ngcukayithobi of the Progressive Forces of South Africa at a media briefing on former president of Zambia Edgar Lungu. Image: Jonisayi Maromo/IOL Indigenous monarch King Khalo la Bataung Jacob Hlalele of the Bataung ba Hlalele Royal Kingdom sent condolences to the Lungu family and the people of Zambia. He however insisted that Lungu's body must be buried in Zambia. 'I am saying, it will be a taboo if we can let the Zambian president be buried here. Everybody, according to the traditions, culture and rituals, must be buried where the elders' bones and graves are. No negotiations. I do not need to say anything. This is our people and this is what we know,' he said. 'Let the Zambian president go and be buried where his ancestors are close.' Mthunzi Luthuli from the Progressive Civics Congress also added his voice, saying Lungu should be buried amongst his people, particularly in the designated area reserved for leaders. "It cannot be that people come from foreign countries to bury their presidents here in South Africa," he said. Last month, IOL reported that the High Court in Pretoria had unexpectedly halted plans by the family to bury the former president in South Africa. The court ruling was delivered just moments before a private ceremony was set to commence on Wednesday. The court ruled that a full hearing on the merits of the case will take place on 4 August. IOL News
