The saga of the Nelson Mandela Bay city manager, who has been under suspension for three years, highlights systemic mismanagement amid persistent service delivery failures and is leading to voters losing confidence, analysts say

The EFF leader said the ANC should know that it would never win the elections outright in the foreseeable future

A former MK campaigner’s election to the EFF’s Nongoma leadership has triggered internal anger and renewed questions about party discipline in KwaZulu-Natal

The political parties are calling for judges to undergo lifestyle audits, citing accountability concerns, judicial overreach and the delayed Phala Phala judgment

Nkululeko Dunga is back in the provincial executive after the ANC agreed to an EFF MEC post, marking a major step in coalition politics before the 2026 elections

In a voice note obtained by the Mail & Guardian, a senior EFF leader is heard saying they would give councillors different coloured pens to identify how they voted and that councillors must come to council even if they were sick

The MK Party says it will oppose the Gauteng provincial budget after the ANC snubbed its requests on KwaZulu-Natal, while the EFF also withholds support over the insourcing of security staff

The EFF leader also questioned why Johannesburg residents would vote for Helen Zille, saying she is ‘old’ and ‘does not have teeth’

The red berets had previously threatened not to support any budgets tabled by the ANC after their speaker was removed in Ekurhuleni

Party internal sources say the DA is not fishing in the same pond with them and that the other parties are contesting its base

If the Democratic Alliance declined the position, the African Transformation Movement would be next in line, sources said

The EFF has rejected a renewed partnership, leading to ANC Ekurhuleni regional secretary Jongizizwe Dlabathi stepping down as finance MMC

Parties and labour organisations have slammed the 2026 Budget for failing to tackle low growth, high unemployment, and municipal distress, while cautiously welcoming tax relief and social grant increases

The Economic Freedom Fighters said it would take up a position on the council’s opposition benches instead

The Economic Freedom Fighters will be accommodated in the reshuffled committee, sources said

Party leader Julius Malema said the move signalled the president’s loss of confidence in the police

The EFF leader suggested that the United States might attempt to influence the elections over policy differences with South Africa

Residents were sceptical that anything would change after ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile’s visit to the area this week

Diplomacy, domestic strains and a test of political authority underlined this year’s presidency

A scuffle broke out when MK party members rejected the results, prompting the proceedings to be adjourned