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President Jacob Zuma says the Strategic Presidential Team will unify the MK Party's leadership, improve organisational effectiveness and drive implementation of the party's programmes, policies and electoral strategy.

South Africa’s local government sphere is perceived to be a highly contested terrain. The high level of political contestation in municipalities is often driven by something beyond the ambition to occupy a political office. Occupying a political office is rather seen as a gateway to accessing the financial resources which are at the municipality’s disposal. Whoever wields political authority subsequently dictates how the resources will be utilised, either to fulfil the primary function of a municipality by delivering sustainable services to the community, or for rent-seeking purposes that gratify personal interests. The latter has become a norm across the country, often leading to a scrambling of resources between political opponents which, in some cases, lead to political assassinations orchestrated by rival opponents. According to the 2024 Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, a total of 186 politically motivated assassinations were recorded in all South Africa’s election years since 2000. The report also says 56% (105) of these incidents occurred during municipal elections, while national and provincial elections account for 44% (81). These statistics are testament to the crisis that is confronting local government institutions. Furthermore, they expose a wider problem of how deeply rooted crime has become in politics. In July 2017, former ANC Youth League secretary-general and councillor at uMzimkhulu local municipality Sindiso Magaqa was assassinated because of his anticorruption stance in relation to the misuse of municipal funds. A similar incident occurred at Raymond Mhlaba Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape within the same month in 2017 when council speaker Thozama Njobe was assassinated. Njobe was also known as an anticorruption politician who spoke out against wrongdoing in the municipality. These are but a few out of the myriad political killings that have occurred in municipalities over the past decade, revealing a systemic problem that compromises institutional integrity and accountability at the expense of life. The recent killings of political activists Thato Molosankwe and Mokoena Letsie in North West, as well as those of Cape Town DA ward councillor candidate Sinovuyo Dyokwe and ANC ward councillor Sicelo Mleve in Nelson Mandela Bay, are illustrative of persistent political intolerance in local communities. The timing of these political killings occurs during an election year and this raises more concerns regarding the fairness of elections insofar as contestation is concerned, including the safety of candidates during this period. Moreover, these incidents corroborate the idea that ideology is not the only rationale underpinning contestation in local government, but having control over resources is another major factor which underlies contestation. Intraparty patronage subsequently leads to factions which ultimately cause fierce rivalry among politicians. This phenomenon has mostly manifested itself within the ANC where elective conferences, whether at regional, provincial or national level, are perceived as an agency to install a collective that will not only lead the party, but act as an intermediary between their followers and state resources. This is mainly due to the fact that whoever gets elected to the top echelons of the party’s structures subsequently gets deployed into government as historically proven, creating a network that enables a seamless extraction of resources from the state to benefit party loyalists through procurement contracts. This interrelation between government officials that are deployed by the party and their supporters within the party creates a toxic environment that causes political opponents to maliciously and proactively target one another in a ploy to eliminate each other permanently. The objective in these cases is to thwart an opponent from being in a position where they can have control over resources that will consequently not benefit those who are supporting a rival faction. Actions such as these undermine democratic processes and perpetuate rogue elements. Solving political killings in municipalities requires a multiperspective approach that will focus on dealing with systemic issues in the financial ecosystem of municipalities, as well as intragovernmental relations between politicians and administrators. Additionally, politicians need to develop a strong moral compass that will enable them to have a people-centred approach in the process of distributing resources.

Three Expanded Public Works Programme workers have been arrested in connection with the theft of 45 boxes of A4 printing paper from Johannesburg’s Hillbrow Community Health Centre. The suspects were handcuffed earlier this month following investigations into the incident. The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) strongly condemned the theft of public property at Hillbrow Community Health Centre. ‘Zero tolerance’ Spokesperson Steve Mabona said the case highlights Gauteng’s zero‑tolerance stance on corruption and the misuse of public resources. “The incident was reported on 7 July 2026 after a security officer discovered the theft of 45 boxes of A4 printing paper at the facility. The alleged theft involved three Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) workers, and a criminal case was immediately opened at the Hillbrow Police Station.” According to information received from the South African Police Service (Saps), the three suspects were arrested on 17 July 2026 in connection with the matter and released on bail on 20 July 2026. Theft Mabona added that during the police investigation, the suspects reportedly undertook to return the stolen items. “To date, only 21 of the 45 boxes have been recovered. The criminal matter remains before the courts. The Department has instituted internal processes and appointed an investigating officer to finalise the administrative investigation.” Disciplinary action Mabona added that appropriate action will be taken in accordance with the outcome of the investigation and the applicable legislative and disciplinary frameworks. “The theft of public resources intended to support healthcare service delivery is unacceptable. Every item procured by the Department is funded through public money and is intended to benefit patients. “Such criminal acts divert scarce resources from patient care, undermine service delivery and erode public confidence in the public health system,” Mabona said. Mabona added that the department will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement to ensure accountability while its internal processes are ongoing.

The new Betway Premiership campaign is almost upon us. Defending champions Orlando Pirates get their title defence underway against Milford FC. Orlando Pirates begin their title defence against Milford Milford FC are the visitors to Orlando Stadium on matchday 1 of the 2026-27 Betway Premiership season. The defending champions have lost several big names, although they are also looking to future-proof their squad by signing exciting youngsters. Pirates vs Milford kicks off on Saturday, 1 August at 15:30. Simphiwe Masilela has impressed for Pirates Pirates’ recent tour of Spain was an opportunity given to 22-year-old midfielder Simphiwe Masilela. Blessed with technical quality and the ability to play in several central midfield roles, Masilela has the potential to become a fan favourite and was spotted in the number 38 jersey. 20-year-old central defender Cristian Derbyshire and 18-year-old midfield maestro Mpho Padime were also on tour in the Iberian nation. Watch this space. Orlando Pirates exits New champions Orlando Pirates will be a new-look outfit next term after several high-profile departures, notably Relebohile Mofokeng. The following players have left the club: Thabiso Sesane Selaelo Rasebotja  Siyabonga Ndlozi  Gomolemo Khoto  Sonwabo Khumalo  Blessing Ngiba Seth Green  Thabiso Lebitso  Bandile Shandu Sipho Mbule  Tshegofatso Mabasa  Relebohile Mofokeng

The new Betway Premiership campaign is almost upon us. Kaizer Chiefs will kick things off against newcomers Kruger United. Chiefs travel to Mpumalanga in season opener Betway Premiership newcomers Kruger United, understandably, have been active in the transfer market. They’ve added several proven PSL players, including Fiacre Ntwari from Chiefs. Kruger United vs Chiefs kicks off on Saturday, 1 August at 20:15. Kaizer Chiefs fans don’t sound sure about Adolf In the comments sections on Facebook, there have been some scathing responses to the acquisition of Adolf Mtasingwa. Several supporters feel as though he’s not of the calibre required by the club. Meanwhile, Kabelo Nkgwesa was given a run-out in Chiefs’ first friendly match of the tour, a 1-1 draw against Scottish giants Rangers. After getting a taste of first-team football, the 19-year-old left-back, nicknamed ‘Festival’, wants more. Could Nkgwesa feature for Kaizer Chiefs this term? Kabelo Nkgwesa was given a run-out in Chiefs’ first friendly match of the tour, a 1-1 draw against Scottish giants Rangers. After getting a taste of first-team football, the 19-year-old left-back, nicknamed ‘Festival’, wants more. “I got to play 20 minutes in the first match and I got a sense of the difference in how they play compared to us, especially their physicality and endurance, which allowed them to finish stronger, so it is important that we earmark that as an area where we can improve,” he admitted, adding, “Also, it’s good to learn about game management, when to pass, the weight of the pass. Those seemingly small things can make a big difference in a match situation.” “This is my second pre-season with the first-team squad, and I am very happy and grateful to be here,” he says, before offering some motivational advice to any youth player wanting to make it in the game, “I would say to any ambitious youngster coming through the development academy that if they just keep working hard, stay dedicated and show character by stepping up every time when it matters, it is possible to get to here. You can be an individual sometimes but always be a team player.” “I want to thank our fans for their support. We know you are not here right now, but we can feel your love from home. We are very excited to come back and show what we have been working on in Spain.”

MultiChoice Group's delisting took DStv's subscriber numbers with it, and new owner Canal+ has not put them back.

South African staff are among those affected, but the crypto exchange will not say how many.