The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has written to the parliamentary chief whip demanding the immediate implementation of the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Phala Phala matter. It has also called for parliament to urgently constitute an impeachment committee to consider the Section 89 independent panel report relating to President Cyril Ramaphosa. In its correspondence, the party refers to the Constitutional Court judgment delivered on Friday by Chief Justice Mandisa Maya. The judge ruled that the National Assembly’s decision not to refer the independent panel report for consideration by an impeachment committee was unlawful and invalid. The court further directed that the Section 89 report must be referred to an impeachment committee for proper parliamentary scrutiny. According to the EFF, parliament is constitutionally obliged to act without delay.  “We write to you with reference to the judgment of the Constitutional Court granted on Friday 08 May 2026, in terms of which the Court ruled that the decision of the National Assembly not to refer the report of the Independent Panel on whether President Ramaphosa should be impeached or not to a Parliamentary Impeachment Committee to be invalid.” The party emphasises the binding nature of the ruling, noting that “the Constitutional Court specifically ruled that the National Assembly must refer the Section 89 Independent Panel Report to an Impeachment Committee” and that parliament must take immediate steps to give effect to the judgment. “We write to you therefore to immediately initiate the process to constitute the Impeachment Committee to give effect to the judgment of the Constitutional Court.”   The party has also called for clear timelines from parliament on how and when the court order would be implemented, stating: “Kindly revert to us with clear timelines in which you will give effect to this judgment of the apex court in South Africa.” The matter arises from the long-running Phala Phala farm scandal that centres on allegations relating to the theft of undeclared foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s farm in Limpopo in 2020. The controversy has since become one of the most politically significant constitutional disputes of recent years, triggering parliamentary proceedings under Section 89 of the Constitution. The Section 89 independent panel, chaired by former Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo, previously found prima facie evidence suggesting that the president might have a case to answer.  Despite the finding, the National Assembly voted in 2022 against adopting the panel’s report, effectively halting the impeachment process at the time. The parliamentary decision was later challenged by the EFF, alongside the African Transformation Movement (ATM), leading to the Constitutional Court case that has now resulted in the ruling against parliament’s conduct. The EFF maintains that parliament’s initial refusal to proceed with the report represents a failure to uphold constitutional accountability.  In its letter, the party argues that the ruling restores the correct constitutional process and ensures that no public office bearer is shielded from scrutiny. “The Constitutional Court has made it plain that Parliament may not use procedure to shield power from constitutional scrutiny,” the party says, adding that the judgment reinforces the principle that accountability must apply equally to all holders of public office. To impeach Ramaphosa, parliament would require a two-thirds majority for the motion to succeed and for him to be removed as head of state. This means the EFF would need to secure support from other parties in parliament to reach the required threshold. If Ramaphosa were impeached, he would lose the benefits attached to the presidency, including a lifetime salary and VIP security protection. The ruling has prompted strong political reactions across the spectrum. The Democratic Alliance (DA) has confirmed that it will participate in the impeachment process. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the party would approach the proceedings guided by constitutional obligations and evidence, stating that “no person, no matter how high their office, should be placed above accountability”. ActionSA also welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “victory for accountability”. Party chairperson Michael Beaumont said parliament must implement the judgment, arguing that the court had confirmed the parliamentary rule used to block the report was invalid. The ATM said the judgment confirmed that no president or institution was above the Constitution. Its parliamentary leader, Vuyo Zungula, said the ruling restored the integrity of constitutional oversight, adding that parliament must ensure the impeachment committee was established without delay and that the process proceeded transparently and lawfully. The Good Party welcomed the court’s decision. Secretary-general Brett Herron said the ruling strengthened the rule of law and ensured that parliament could not avoid its constitutional obligations. He said the impeachment process must proceed openly, fairly and without political interference. While several state institutions, including the Public Protector of South Africa, the South African Reserve Bank and the National Prosecuting Authority, have previously cleared Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in certain aspects of the matter, opposition parties argue that unanswered questions remain regarding the circumstances of the Phala Phala incident. With the Constitutional Court’s ruling now in place, parliament is expected to establish an impeachment committee and set out clear timelines for implementing the court’s directive, marking the next phase in one of the most consequential political and constitutional processes in recent years.

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema has called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign and focus on his impeachment process. Malema was speaking to journalists outside the Constitutional Court after its ruling on Friday that parliament’s Phala Phala vote was invalid. “If we had a responsible president, he should be resigning to prepare himself to come and answer the impeachment process,” Malema said. “Remember even if he resigns, he must still come for impeachment.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mail & Guardian (@mailandguardian) After a 14-month delay, the apex court ruled in favour of the EFF and the African Transformation Movement when it found that parliament acted unlawfully when it voted in December 2022 to reject the Section 89 independent panel report on Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala scandal. The panel, which was led by retired Justice Sandile Ngcobo, found prima facie evidence that Ramaphosa may have committed serious constitutional violations, including undisclosed foreign currency of doubtful origin; active involvement in a private business in potential breach of Section 96(2)(a) of the Constitution; failure to report the theft to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation as required by the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Act; and abuse of office through a secret, unofficial investigation that included requesting assistance from the president of Namibia to apprehend a suspect. The court found that the National Assembly’s 214-to-148 vote to reject the panel’s findings was irrational and inconsistent with the Constitution. Malema said South Africa could not afford to have a president who was occupying office while being clouded by an impeachment process. “You cannot serve the two because one is going to suffer.  “He must go and concentrate on the impeachment process because it has got serious implications on him as an individual. If I were him, I would resign with immediate effect to concentrate on this matter.” To impeach Ramaphosa, parliament would need a two-thirds majority to ensure that he is removed as the first citizen of the country. This would mean that the EFF would need to lobby other parties in parliament to ensure that Ramaphosa is removed. If he is impeached as a president, it would mean his presidential perks would be removed, including a salary for life and his VIP protection. “If he is impeached, he is no longer a former president, he is just Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa; he became an ordinary man,” Malema said. “Then criminal investigations come in, Cyril is going to go to prison, the same way [Jacob] Zuma went to prison. I always tell you these things and they …happen. “We no longer have a president, we have a criminal. There is no criminal that must be treated with respect because that criminal has undermined the Constitution of theRepublic of South Africa.” Malema said his party would, however, not lobby any party in parliament. “We are not going to lobby anyone in the ANC or any other party. Let people use their conscience, like Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, and say: I’m for the Constitution and I’m not for an individual.” During the vote in parliament, Dlamini Zuma was the only ANC member who refused to vote with the party to protect Ramaphosa. This was in reference to her voting for the impeachment process to proceed. “Today, Mama Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma is vindicated and they should take a lesson from her to say these things they should not be factional and political all the time. We should always look at what is in the interest of the country,” added Malema. To survive the impeachment, Ramaphosa would need the support of the Democratic Alliance (DA) to gain a majority.  During the vote, Ramaphosa relied on the ANC’s majority support to shield him from impeachment. However, DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis said the party would not support corruption and would support the impeachment committee in having Ramaphosa removed if they voted to have him removed. “We will be guided by the facts, by the evidence placed before the committee and by our constitutional duty. We will not prejudge the outcome. But nor will we allow any person, no matter how high their office, to be placed above accountability. “South Africa’s democracy rests on the simple principle that public office is a public trust. Those who hold the highest offices in the land must be held to the highest standards of honesty, transparency and accountability,” he said.

Following the Constitutional Court's ruling on the Phala Phala scandal, the DA asserts its commitment to accountability, even if it strains its relationship within the Government of National Unity.

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A parliamentary briefing on audit outcomes for three KwaZulu-Natal and Free State municipalities has revealed a crisis of governance, crumbling infrastructure and billions in unresolved irregular expenditure, with little sign of improvement. Msunduzi shows modest gains, but structural rot remains The second-largest municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, Msunduzi, managed to improve its overall audit outcome to an unqualified financial opinion for the 2024-25 financial year, but auditors were quick to temper any optimism. Sharonne Adams, head of portfolio at the Auditor General of South Africa (Agsa), told the joint sitting of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) and the portfolio committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (Cogta) that the three municipalities audited “reflect a different spectrum on the continuum when it comes to performance accountability, transparency and institutional integrity”. The improvement at Msunduzi was largely procedural in nature. Nomalungelo Mkhize, the Agsa’s KwaZulu-Natal business unit leader, explained that the municipality’s performance report improvements came only after auditors permitted corrections. “It speaks to the fact that there is still reliance on the audit process in order for them to achieve the outcomes,” she said. Only 57.89% of the municipality’s key performance targets were achieved, barely above the halfway mark, while 88% of the budget was spent. High vacancy rates of up to 60% in technical units, ageing infrastructure and fragmented IT systems were cited as key contributors to service delivery failures. Msunduzi’s creditors wait an average of 191 days to be paid, against a legal requirement of 30 days, while at least R80 million in fruitless and wasteful expenditure is linked to unpaid Eskom and water board accounts alone. “Not dealing with this area has an impact on other areas such as financial health,” Mkhize warned, “particularly in the area of fruitless and wasteful expenditure.” Governance vacuum with a R1.4 billion liability gap The picture at Mafube Local Municipality in the Free State was considerably grimmer. The municipality received a qualified audit opinion for the third consecutive year, with disclaimer conclusions on its predetermined objectives. Presenting on behalf of the Free State business unit, Luthando Mbandazayo told the committee that Mafube achieved only 15% of its key performance indicators while spending 151% of its budget, a disparity that drew sharp questioning from members. The municipality’s liabilities exceed available cash by R1.4 billion, water losses stand at 71%, and it takes more than 2 300 days to collect outstanding debt from residents. “The municipality was put in administration around June 2022,” Mbandazayo noted, “but from then onwards we’ve not seen any major improvement in terms of the municipality.” A housing project worth R36.9 million which was intended to supply water storage capacity was stalled following a contractor termination dispute, and the Agsa identified a potential overpayment of R1.6 million on the project. Four material irregularities were issued, including one related to pension fund contributions that remain unpaid. “The municipality did not adequately implement the recommendation,” Mbandazayo said of the Agsa’s remedial action, with the municipality only responding months after the remedial notice was issued. A decade of disclaimers and a province forced to step in Masilonyana Local Municipality, also in the Free State, received its tenth consecutive disclaimer of audit opinion, the most severe possible outcome. Deputy business unit leader Sue Ellen Steenbock told the committee that 19 significant line items in the municipality’s financial statements were disclaimed, including assets, receivables, cash and grants. “We cannot ensure the financial sustainability of the municipality,” she said flatly, adding that “the council at Masilonyana could not exercise oversight of the municipality.” The municipality had no functional audit committee, did not prepare annual reports for five consecutive years, and its accounting officer failed to implement Agsa recommendations. 86% of the municipality’s cash comes from government grants, of which 55% is spent on salaries and councillors’ remuneration. The provincial government intervened under section 139(1)(b) of the constitution in December 2025. “The outcomes will not change through technical fixes alone,” Steenbock concluded, “but with decisive leadership, accountability and consequence management being implemented.” The accountability gap Committee members pressed the Agsa delegation on why consequence management consistently fails across all three municipalities. Adams acknowledged the systemic nature of the problem, noting that an amendment to the Municipal Finance Management Act is currently in circulation that would rethink how consequence management is driven at the municipal level. “There’s no proper consequence management,” she said. “It creates a culture of impunity as the transgressors are not being dealt with.” Cogta committee chairperson Dr Zwelini Mkhize echoed the frustration, calling for a coordinated response involving both provincial and national government. “These municipalities are suffering from a number of issues,” he said. “On their own, they can never really cure themselves of this kind of challenge.”

Makhumo Ngobeni and Thabang Mvuyane, the couple widely regarded as Married at First Sight Mzansi’s first love story that survived the show, have given their fans yet another reason to celebrate. The pair, affectionately known to fans as Khumo and Thabang, recently announced on social media that lobola has been paid in full, marking a significant cultural and personal milestone in their journey together. The announcement follows a string of happy updates from the couple, who have continued to defy expectations since their time on the Mzansi Magic reality series. They reportedly welcomed their first child together in August 2025, with social media reacting with an outpouring of warmth and disbelief given how rocky their television relationship appeared. However, neither Khumo nor Thabang have spoken or posted about having a child. The couple no one expected to last Against all odds and in full traditional dress, Khumo and Thabang make it official. Picture: Instagram/@khumoandthabang_uncensored Makhumo and Thabang were the least expected couple to survive the experiment, yet, two years after their season aired, they remained the only success story from Married at First Sight Mzansi Season 1. Their time on screen was marked by tension and drama. Their differing expectations, especially around gender roles, led to explosive fights that culminated in a dramatic breakup at the finale, where Thabang accused Khumo of cheating and stalking her ex while married to him. Ngobeni has said in a recent interview that their marriage success comes from “a lot of unlearning and re-learning,” and that she would endure the show’s “insults and public scrutiny” again just to be with her husband, even in the afterlife. Speaking about what drew her to Thabang, Khumo told journalist Keamogetswe Matlala: “Thabang is patient and gentle. I had never experienced a love that has room for trial and error.” For his part, Thabang said he fell in love with Khumo’s emotional intelligence, noting that no matter how intense the situation was, she’d always find a way to make him laugh. A love story formalised The lobola announcement places Khumo and Thabang in rare and celebrated company among MAFS Mzansi alumni. They follow in the footsteps of Season 2 couple Nelisa Ntabeni and Themba Khosa, who earlier this year held their own lobola ceremony, with Ntabeni describing Khosa as “a man who kept his promises and honoured my name and my family name.” That milestone was particularly notable given the controversy that had surrounded the pair: during the show, it was confirmed that Khosa had paid lobola for the mother of his children when he took part in the programme and had continued communicating with her during his marriage to Ntabeni. @nelisa_ntabeni A beautiful day with family, culture and love Grateful for moments like these that remind me marriage is not just about two people… it’s about families coming together. Makoti life looks good on me @Themba Khosa LLoboloCCoupleJourneySSouthAfricanCultureMMarriageJourneyMarriedLifeSA ♬ original sound – buhlebonkeNomvelo Despite it all, the couple held firm. Neither couple has announced a traditional wedding date, but if their respective track records are anything to go by, they will share that news in their own time and on their own terms.As for the third season of the hit show? It is reportedly in production after the selection of a new cast, and information about when the show will air will be announced in due course.

Former Sundowns and Kaizer Chiefs attacker Khama Billiat has revealed that he was well looked after while at Naturena. Billiar reveals Kaizer Chiefs earnings According to afrik-foot via Off The Pitch Chat, Khama Billiat was earning as well as was publicly reported while at Chiefs. The Zimbabwean joined from Sundowns in 2018 after a trophy-laden spell with the Brazilians. He left Chiefs in 2023. “They took care of me, and I really appreciate Kaizer Chiefs; they were there for me. I am not sure how much others were getting paid, but I was paid well, and I really appreciate it.” “They paid a couple of us very well. I believe Kaizer Chiefs pays everyone very well, and I was one of the highest paid at Kaizer Chiefs compared to a lot of other teams.” Khama Billiat on being the most paid player at Kaizer Chiefs. Indeed they really took care of him and he agrees.🙌 pic.twitter.com/3AxIbflhLH— Akani Nwanati (@AkanimiltonM) May 7, 2026 How did Billiat fare at Kaizer Chiefs? It feels like a helluva long time since Billiat was at the now-defunct Ajax Cape Town. 24 goals and 29 assists in 126 games was Billiat’s somewhat paltry return as a Kaizer Chiefs player. Those numbers, as well as his lack of accolades at Naturena, paled in comparison to what he achieved with Mamelodi Sundowns. At Chloorkop, he bagged 48 goals and 43 assists in 144 appearances, by far Billiat’s best strike ratio throughout his career. 0.34 goals per game is a respectable goal-scoring rate for a man who operated mainly in wide areas or behind a conventional striker, and this was most certainly the peak of Billiat’s career from a personal and physical perspective. He also scooped three Betway Premiership titles and the 2015 CAF Champions League in a glittering five-year spell with Masandawana. What’s next for Kaizer Chiefs? After a 1-1 draw with Sundowns on Wednesday, Chiefs know that five more points will guarantee third place in the Betway Premiership this term. Next up is a trip to Sekhukhune on Sunday, 10 May, kickoff at 17:30. The match will air on DStv channel 202. Three points here would put them within touching distance of CAF Confederation Cup qualification. Midfielder Siphesihle Ndlovu misses the match through suspension after his booking against Sundowns. There’s also talk of a new contract for Brandon Petersen.

Reality TV star Thobile Khumalo Mseleku recently opened up about her marriage during an appearance on the podcast Engineer Your Life with Lungelo. The television personality, who stars on the hit show Uthando Nes’thembu, spoke honestly about independence, intelligence and the challenges she faces in her marriage. Lungelo KM asked Thobile, one of businessman Musa Mseleku’s four wives, whether she believed she was “too independent” for her marriage. Her response immediately caught attention online because of how open and direct she was about her experiences. “I think in my marriage I would say, my marriage has this thing of not wanting you to be too independent or maybe too clever. It’s almost as though you respect more or you carry yourself better if you aren’t as clever,” she shared. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Engineer Your Life (@engineeryourlife_) THOBILE MSELEKU SPEAKS ABOUT INDEPENDENCE The reality TV star continued by explaining that she sometimes feels like her relationship does not always welcome intelligence and independence. “I’m being honest because sometimes the man that I’m married to doesn’t like being challenged. He’s a typical Zulu man,” she said. Her honest comments quickly grabbed attention from fans online, with many praising her for speaking openly about her personal experiences. THOBILE MSELEKU OPENS UP ABOUT FEELING LIMITED Thobile also explained that there are moments where she struggles with simply accepting certain situations because she naturally likes to think for herself and question things. “Some things aren’t about what you think instead it’s about what must happen. If you’re independent like I am you can get to the point where you feel like, but my brain is able to work. So, I can’t just accept everything. So, it does make you feel like you shouldn’t excel,” she added. Readers recently also admired the close bond between Thobile and her older sister after the duo left social media impressed with their beautiful pictures together. UTHANDO NES’THEMBU EXTENDS SEASON 9 Meanwhile, fans of Uthando Nes’thembu still have more drama to look forward to, with only two episodes left before Season 9 comes to an end. The popular reality show, which airs on Mzansi Magic every Wednesday and Thursday at 20:00, continues to keep viewers engaged with its ongoing family dynamics. This season has kept audiences entertained with emotional family meetings, therapy sessions, and rising tension within the Mseleku household. The shifting relationships and deeply personal conversations continue to draw viewers into the lives of the Mseleku family as the season heads toward its final episodes.

The economics of on-device computing have, for the first time in the PC’s long history, been broken by the data centre.

Airtel Africa has delayed its mobile money initial public offering to late 2026, citing war-driven margin pressures.