News today: 28 June 2025
In today's news update, the DA has escalated tensions within the GNU, withdrawing from the National Dialogue and resolving to vote against departmental budgets for what it terms 'corrupt ANC Ministers.'
Additionally, seven people were killed in a mass shooting on Saturday morning at a house in Gugulethu, Cape Town.
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News today: 28 June 2025
Leaving GNU would cause 'coalition of chaos', says Steenhuisen as DA escalates pressure
Leader of the DA John Steenhuisen (C) and Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille (R) hold a press conference on 28 January 2025. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has escalated tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU), withdrawing from the National Dialogue and resolving to vote against departmental budgets for what it terms 'corrupt ANC Ministers.'
DA leader John Steenhuisen announced the moves on Saturday, warning that leaving the GNU would create a 'coalition of chaos' but signaling his party's growing frustration with President Cyril Ramaphosa's leadership.
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Outrage after seven people killed in mass shooting in Gugulethu
Picture: iStock
Seven people were killed in a mass shooting on Saturday morning at a house in Gugulethu, Cape Town.
Police said they were alerted to the shooting in the early hours of Saturday morning.
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Malema promises urgent aid for Mthatha flood victims, calls on the wealthy to help
Julius Malema and King Dalindyebo addressing Mthatha flood victims. Image: EFF/X page
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has pledged to find urgent solutions for flood victims in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, following devastating floods that have claimed lives and destroyed infrastructure.
During a visit to the region on Saturday, Malema was welcomed by King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo at Nkululekweni Palace ahead of a briefing on the flood's impact.
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A dream come true: matric student Mollwane Madiba with his date, Tyla, at his matric dance. Picture: @BALUCIAGA/X
Dreams come true for those who are persistent and patient enough. These words hold true for matric student Mollwane Madiba.
After months of campaigning like a politician in election season and with a child-like conviction that was borderline delusional, Madiba's dream of having Grammy award-winning singer Tyla as his matric dance partner came true.
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Springbok wing Kurt-Lee Arendse in action against the Barbarians on Saturday. Picture: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images
The Springboks open their 2025 season with a match against the invitational Barbarians at the Cape Town Stadium on Saturday, with kick-off at 5.10pm.
The Boks will be captained by Jesse Kriel after regular skipper Siya Kolisi was ruled out of the match with an injury.
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2 hours ago
- IOL News
EDITORIAL: It's game over for the DA in the GNU
DA leader John Steenhuisen's announcement that his party, including ministers serving in Ramaphosa's Cabinet, will not take part in the upcoming National Dialogue, is immaterial, argues the writer. Image: Armand Hough/ Independent Newspapers THE DA now has little to no ground to argue against the perception that the ANC has reduced it to a mere bystander in the so-called Government of National Unity (GNU). That is why President Cyril Ramaphosa can fire a DA deputy minister from his executive without being concerned about the political implications for his decision. From the start, the ANC has always been firmly in control of the direction the government takes despite failing to secure enough votes to govern the country as a single party in last year's elections. Ramaphosa knows all too well that the DA's desperation to remain in government runs so deep that it will not retaliate with severe action even when he acts against DA members in the executive. The DA was always going to find it difficult to impose itself in the GNU because it entered the coalition government for the wrong reasons. Its stated objective of keeping the EFF and Zuma's MK Party out of government plays into the ANC's hands. ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula's utterances that the government won't collapse even if the DA leaves the GNU should be seen as a declaration that the DA's involvement in the GNU is immaterial. Just like DA leader John Steenhuisen's announcement that his party, including ministers serving in Ramaphosa's Cabinet, will not take part in the upcoming National Dialogue. The DA must leave the GNU with whatever little pride it still has. Its role in opposition benches was more effective than it is in this current government. The past 12 months have proved this. Almost all the policies and Bills it opposed remain firmly in place and some of them will be implemented on behalf of the ANC by their ministers. Leaving the GNU will allow it to make a head start in campaigning to win some of the key metros that remain hung. It's there that it should demonstrate its governing strength. It can find inspiration from renowned Pan-Africanist Professor Patrick Lumumba's words when he correctly points out that: 'No matter how good you are…if you stay for too long, you spoil it. A good dancer must know when to leave the stage.' CAPE TIMES
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Hlabisa urged to punish delinquent mayors and municipal officials
The DA has slammed the co-operative governance and traditional affairs ministry for neglecting oversight work at the coalface of service delivery centres. The DA made these remarks before the passing of the Cogta budget. 'It is due to this allowance of municipal top brass existing unchecked for the poor decisions that they make, that have resulted in dysfunctional municipalities and dilapidated services,' the DA said. In the National Council of Provinces, the DA's Dr Igor Stefan Scheurkogel led the charge, saying the collapse of local government stemmed from a crisis in political leadership. 'Of 116 municipalities, 68 have submitted unfounded budgets for three consecutive years. The auditor-general warned parliament that this fiscal recklessness has become systematic. 'Unfounded budgets are illegal under the Municipal Systems Act, which requires all municipal budgets to be based on a realistic anticipated revenue. These illegal budgets continue with zero accountability. The collapse of local government stems from political leadership. It simply doesn't care.' He told Cogta minister Velenkosini Hlabisa that he now has a chance to turn things around. The DA suggested the problems can be solved by going back to the basics. The party argued that real-time monitoring of revenue collection, early warning systems for deficits and cash flow issues, professionalisation of senior financial management roles and direct political accountability for overspending and irregularities were key to turning municipalities around. 'This is not a funding crisis. The crisis is of political will. The solution does not lie in a new funding model, it lies in the government crisis. Municipalities cannot continue with these illegal budgets, warning and evading consequences. What is missing is leadership, more for financial management and not policy smokescreens.' Scheurkogel told the NCOP that it was time municipal officials faced the music for their glaring failures. 'South Africans deserve budgets that deliver real services, roads that can be driven on, taps that deliver clean water, electricity that stays on, infrastructure that works and not politically convenient fiction. 'Yet, CFOs, HODs, have not been dismissed for unauthorised expenditure, no mayor has been held accountable, no measurable improvement has been seen. Instead, we see a government that knowingly budgets for failure and abandons communities to suffer the consequences.' He called the review of the white paper on local government a step in the right direction, saying, 'we must now commit to making local government work, because it is the sphere of government that touches the lives of South Africans every single day'. Hlabisa highlighted the comprehensive review of the 1998 White Paper on local government as a key focus area of his ministry, saying that it marks a crucial step towards a focused and fit for purpose local governance structures and that will result in efficient service delivery. 'This review is a testament to our collective commitment to addressing the challenges facing local governance and shaping a future that aligns with the aspirations of all South Africans. 'The review emphasises the need for local governments to adapt to a changing world characterised by urban growth, climate challenges, youth unemployment, and digital transformation, while embracing collaborations with traditional and Khoi-San leadership institutions. Hlabisa announced that he expected major collaboration across society as the review will function to influence governance, community engagement, and socioeconomic development. 'It reflects the government's commitment to improving local governance and service delivery, which are vital for effective democracy and citizen satisfaction. We prioritise inclusive engagement by ensuring all voices, especially those historically silenced, are heard. We aim to provide marginalised groups, like informal traders, women, youth, traditional and Khoi-San leaders, and rural communities, with the opportunity to participate.' He said the review aims to create a modern local governance structure that fosters capable, ethical and innovative municipalities, ultimately improving lives and strengthening democracy. The department has announced it has buckled to requests for more engagement, which has resulted in an extension of the deadline to July 2025. 'Our goal is to develop a responsive local government system that meets the needs of all South Africans and delivers quality services. We have made progress in implementing targeted interventions in distressed municipalities. These interventions include infrastructure maintenance and development support, enabling municipalities to address basic service delivery backlogs in water, electricity, roads and sanitation. 'We are also advancing critical policy and legislative reforms that lay the foundation for long-term stability and improved governance. Our interventions are guided by careful assessments of municipal needs, and we are committed to ensuring that our support is effective and sustainable.' According to the minister, his department's budget strategy introduces a package of targeted and differentiated interventions, guided by careful assessments of municipal needs. He said the department had identified 30 priority municipalities requiring support and intervention. Hlabisa said the department's focus areas include the Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) which will accelerate critical infrastructure projects, ensuring value for money. He added the ministry allocated R493.8m to support this initiative in priority municipalities. 'Second, integrated urban development for growth nodes will enhance urban planning and infrastructure investments. To support these initiatives, we have reallocated R244.7m from the MIG to the Integrated Urban Development Grant (IUDG).' The third priority is the strengthening of municipal systems and the District Development Model (DDM) which is expected to enhance intergovernmental planning and budgeting. Its figure will rise from R151.1m in 2025/26 to R165.3m in 2027/28, supporting municipalities in improving their systems. 'We're finalising a municipal debt relief framework with the National Treasury to help municipalities manage debt and enhance financial sustainability,' pledged the minister. Gauteng Cogta MEC Jacob Mamabolo said Hlabisa has made his job easy, showing full support for the budget vote. He said it will be very strange if any party or member were to deviate from a 'very profound address made by the minister'. 'This is a very strategic and correct line taken, that we as Gauteng embrace and endorse. We have launched a province wide turnaround strategy in October 2024 and we are pleased to report remarkable and significant progress in the municipalities.' Hlabisa announced that his department's budget amounts to R410.9bn — with 96% majority earmarked for intergovernmental transfers and entities. He believes this significant investment will enable his department to implement criticalinitiatives that deliver tangible and measurable improvements in the lives of citizens. The department has allocated traditional affairs R195,530m, with a portion earmarked for transfer and subsidies.
The Citizen
2 hours ago
- The Citizen
KwaDukuza mayor and deputy-mayor resign under provincial party pressure
KwaDukuza municipality mayor Ali Ngidi and deputy-mayor Sicelinjabulo Cele resigned this afternoon under pressure from the provincial African National Congress (ANC). The decision was announced at a briefing in KwaDukuza following the meeting of a high-level delegation of senior provincial leadership led by ANC provincial task team co-ordinator, Michael Mabuyakhulu. Ngidi and Cele had been in the roles for just under eight months after being elected on November 5 last year. They have both handed in their resignation letters but will continue to serve until new leadership is elected. 'The ANC has committed itself to rebuilding and renewal. We have said that we will act in the interests of our people and our decisions are informed by nothing else but the interests of our people,' said Mabuyakhulu. 'Anyone has the right to interpret our decision as they deem fit, but we are consistent in the message that we put our people first' The party had previously launched an investigation into misconduct allegations at KwaDukuza following a series of scandals, including the hiring of vehicles for over R1-million and a monthly personal security bill for the mayor of just over R173 000. Ngidi and Cele have been asked to repay a portion of the funds used for car hire. They will only settle the expenses incurred before council formally approved car hire for them. The mayor, who was supposed to use one of the cars as a backup, will also need to repay the expenses for that period. Aside from these scandals, Ngidi presided over a disastrous period for the municipality. During his tenure, the municipality experienced widespread electricity blackouts between December and February and the highly-publicised embezzlement of R35.7-million in January, as well as strikes from hundreds of workers more recently. Separate investigators from the Special Investigating Unit, Department of Co-Operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) and National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) are all also on site in KwaDukuza to look into alleged mismanagement. Growing calls for resignation from civic society have added further pressure. Combined, it made for an incredibly difficult period in office for Ngidi after taking over from Lindile Nhaca, who was axed at the end of September last year. No date has been announced for the mayoral and deputy-mayoral elections, nor any replacement candidates. It took just over a month between Nhaca's suspension and the election of Ngidi and Cele last year. Stay in the loop with The North Coast Courier on Facebook, X, Instagram & YouTube for the latest news. Mobile users can join our WhatsApp Broadcast Service here or if you're on desktop, scan the QR code below. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
