Category: Podcasts/News

In what has been a hotly contested 2024 elections in the country, Umkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party led by former statesman Jacob Zuma is leading by a large margin in the KwaZulu-Natal province and doing well in the national tally.   In the national results, so far the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is leading followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) and in the third place it is the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP).   The total number of votes counted in KZN stands as 132 371 which amounts to 7%.   The results show a possibility of the IFP taking second position with the ruling ANC taking the third position.    Umngeni Mayor Chris Papas said the results depicts the beauty of democracy and he said without a doubt we will see coalition between two or more political parties because MK has taken a lot of EFF and ANC supporters.   He also added that the EFF is not going to grow as expected while cautioning that it is still early days.   Papas who was campaigning for the premiership said by Saturday we will have a clear picture of what the final results are going to be.    The Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) is expected to have a hive of activities with many politicians and media houses gathering until the IEC declare the results.   So far the IEC officials are busy as the results score board is being constantly updated.    The official results will be released by the IEC on Sunday. 

Former Democratic Alliance (DA) and CEO of Ground Work Collective Mbali Ntuli has warned those who are not going to vote that nothing will change while encouraging the youth to go out and exercise their democratic right. South Africans are going to vote for the seventh administration on 29 May 2024 to elect a new National Assembly as well as the provincial legislature in each of the nine provinces. Ntuli said she gets angry when people don’t want to vote because voting is just the beginning as they also have to exert pressure to those elected to deliver their promises.  She was speaking to the Voice On The Move Radio where she said shared that she decided to form her organisation out of frustration as what should have been done by politicians to change people’s lives was not done.    She said it was an easy decision for her to leave politics as she is not defined by occupying a high position but she enjoys working with people especially those who are in the disadvantaged communities which are lacking a lot of resources.    Ground Work Collective aims to address the issue of food production and access to water.   Secondly, it is  upskilling entrepreneurship and to help the youth to get access to employment opportunities.   Thirdly, she said her organisation engages the communities about civic participation and democracy where they teach the communities about how the government operates and how they can in turn use that to empower themselves.   Her organisation has been helping with encouraging the South African youth to register since last year.   She encouraged those who are not familiar with the government processes to visit her website for more information so that they will be empowered.   Ground Work Collective has observers across the country who will also be making sure that “we are protecting our democracy without leaving that to the political parties to do so”.   One of the organisation’s independent observers is anti-racism activist Zulaikha Patel who became a symbol of the fight against Pretoria Girls High School’s policy regarding black girls’ hair in 2016 at the age of 13.     Ntuli is inviting South Africans who are willing to work with her organisation to fill in their details via  www.groundworkcollective.co.za 

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has warned against using social media posts that could spark violence ahead of the elections following  a trending video on alleged “vote rigging” in eThekwini Municipality.   The circulating video shows unknown individual entering the warehouse without authorisation and filmed their unauthorised activities at Commission’s storage sites in Chesterville and Hammarsdale.  The newly formed MK party led by former statesman Jacob Zuma has accused the IEC of vote “rigging”  but the IEC set the record straight and explained that the “videos depict our planned logistical arrangements and storage of election materials as we prepare for the first day of special voting on 27 May 2024”. The IEC explained that such videos show legitimate and authorised arrangements for the distribution of ballot papers and other bulk material.  The National Joint OperationsI and Intelligence Structure (NATJOINTS) has also warned the public against using social media platforms irresponsibly and said their dedicated teams to cybercrime are on the lookout for those who are trying to “spark” violence. The IEC further warned of its staff being threatened by the members of the public as one staff member in eThekwini Municipality was woken up in the middle of the night about bulk material stored at the Baptist Church voting station in Chesterville.  It went on to explain that bulk material in question is voting booths, voting station signage/banners and new unfolded ballot boxes.  This material was taken to Cato Manor police station in eThekwini. “We want to assure the public that additional measures have been implemented to secure these various storage sites across the country. We confirm that the Commission has possession of all election materials shown in these videos. This electoral material is being prepared for distribution to voting stations in time for the special votes tomorrow 27 May 2024, “ said the IEC.  The Commission is contemplating measures against the party and the individuals involved  because they have violated the Code of Conduct and other electoral prescripts. Commenting on the recent incidents, Umngeni Mayor Chris Papas who is hoping to govern KwaZulu-Natal expressed concerns that Umkonto Wesizwe has done in parts of the province. “The DA can assure voters that we will do everything in our power to make sure that the integrity of the vote is maintained. We call on the SAPS and the IEC to do their jobs and to make sure that the results of the 29th of May are credible, free and fair, ” said Papas.                                                     

Abantu Batho Congress (ABC) leader and Umvoti Mayor Philani Mavundla was stripped of his mayoral chain and his speaker Mfundo Masondo was removed on Tuesday, eight days ahead of the anticipated 2024 National and General elections in the country. The pair was removed during a meeting which resolved to appoint Inkatha Freedom Party’s (IFP’s) Gabriel Malembe following the IFP and ANC coalition agreement. The IFP is however distancing itself and has since ordered Malembe to resign with immediate effect as the party is campaigning to unseat the ANC ahead of the elections. The meeting which was held in Greytown under heavy security presence amid the South African Police Services (SAPS) was called by the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) following a joint motion of no confidence by the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the ruling African National Congress (ANC). IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa has said that “the mayor that was elected has been informed to submit a resignation letter, because he can’t do what he did without the mandate of the IFP”. The IFP is campaigning with a hope to secure its stronghold of KwaZulu-Natal as well play an impactful role in Gauteng after the elections. It has been reported that Masondo filed an urgent request with the Pietermaritzburtg High Court to push that the motion be tabled after the elections fearing for his life. Meanwhile, ABC leader Mavundla has said the meeting was illegal and informal and also accused the ANC of abusing its powers. ANC and ABC party members as well as the members of the public were also present. In a statement the ABC President who is currently the Mayor of Umvoti Municipality has accused Cogta of disregarding the High Court order. “We can confidently confirm that the Cogta appointment was tasked with the mission to remove both Mavundla and Masondo at any cost, and this directive was carried out despite the existing circumstances, ” said the party. updates: The President of the ABC Mr Mavundla and its chairperson Mr Masando are still running Umvoti municipality as Mayor and Speaker this was conformed by Mr Masondo on the interview with VM Radio on wednesday.