The ANC in eThekwini has condemned the defection of two former councillors, David Ngubane and Marco Mbambo, to the Democratic Alliance (DA), calling them “deadwood” and accusing them of having already been rejected by their communities. The two councillors, who previously served as representatives in Ward 16 and Ward 8 respectively, joined the DA ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections, according to an announcement made by the DA in Durban on Tuesday. This move marks a notable shift in political allegiance within the eThekwini metropolitan area, which is one of the largest and most politically active regions in KwaZulu-Natal. Thanduxolo Sabelo, the ANC eThekwini Regional Task Team (RTT) coordinator, dismissed the DA’s claim that the councillors had left the ANC due to dissatisfaction with its governance. Instead, Sabelo emphasized that both men had been rejected by their communities during the ANC’s candidate selection process. According to Sabelo, Mbambo, the former Ward 8 councillor, failed to meet the required threshold for re-election and was ultimately expelled from the ANC after the community clearly rejected his continued leadership. The ANC worked alongside the community to nominate new candidates for the ward. Similarly, Ngubane, the former Ward 16 councillor, was also rejected by his community despite attempting to appeal the decision. Sabelo claimed that Ngubane had been repeatedly denied re-election in subsequent rerun processes and was still struggling to retain his position. He accused the DA of rushing to announce Ngubane’s defection before the ANC could complete its formal expulsion procedures. Sabelo alleged that the DA had known about Ngubane’s internal investigations and sought to publicize his departure prematurely to bolster their political image. Sabelo further suggested that the primary motivation behind the councillors’ defection was not a desire to serve their communities, but rather a personal quest for employment. He argued that both men were likely to be excluded from future ANC deployments and thus turned to the DA in search of alternative opportunities. “These two traitors defected to the DA not because they yearn to serve communities in their respective wards; they are desperately seeking employment as they will clearly be without deployment from the ANC in the coming months,” Sabelo said. In response, the DA’s KwaZulu-Natal leader, Sithembiso Ngema, defended the decision of the two councillors, stating that their alignment with the DA’s values, fairness, accountability, and effective governance, had led them to switch parties. Ngema noted that the defections represented a significant political shift in the eThekwini metro and underscored the growing discontent with the ANC’s performance. He also expressed confidence that the DA was well-positioned to attract more supporters and gain traction in the upcoming municipal elections. Ngema highlighted that the ANC in eThekwini had not only lost the trust of its voters but also the confidence of its internal structures. He pointed to the broader trend of disillusionment among local leaders and residents, suggesting that the DA’s presence in the region was becoming increasingly influential. The DA has identified eThekwini as a strategic priority in its campaign for municipal control, emphasizing its commitment to delivering better services and fostering inclusive governance. Meanwhile, the ANC has vowed to maintain its presence in Wards 8 and 16 until the elections. Sabelo assured residents that committed ANC members would be deployed to ensure continuity in essential services. He reiterated that the ANC would not allow the defection of the two councillors to disrupt community operations, reaffirming the party’s dedication to serving the people of eThekwini.
5 reports
Justice must always be blind, says Jeff RadebeJeff Radebe, a senior member of South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) and former Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development, testified before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) Cases Inquiry. He denied any involvement in or interference with the progress of TRC-related cases during his tenure from 2009 to 2014. Radebe emphasized that prosecutorial decisions were solely the responsibility of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and that he had no influence over them. He highlighted his awareness of past political interference in prosecutions under apartheid and stated that he did not attempt to shield ANC members from legal consequences. Radebe mentioned specific cases involving ANC figures like John Block, who was prosecuted for corruption, but noted that he could not recall other instances of ANC politicians facing legal action. He also discussed his role in TRC-related ceremonies, including the reburial of fallen activists.
Bias read (Center): The article presents Radebe's testimony in a neutral manner, focusing on his denial of interference in prosecutorial matters and his emphasis on the independence of the NPA. The framing does not show clear bias toward either the ANC or opposition parties, nor does it favor one side in the ongoing TR
Why factuality (90): The article accurately reports on Jeff Radebe's testimony before the TRC Cases Inquiry, referencing specific cases and officials. It cites the NPA and provides details about past prosecutions, which are factual and corroborated by public records.
Why objectivity (85): The article maintains a neutral tone, presenting Radebe's statements without apparent bias. It focuses on reporting the content of his testimony rather than expressing personal opinions, though it includes quotes that may carry subtle implications.
ANC hits back after eThekwini councillors Ngubane and Mbambo join DA, labels them ‘deadwood’The African National Congress (ANC) in eThekwini has criticized two former councillors, David Ngubane and Marco Mbambo, who defected to the Democratic Alliance (DA), calling them 'deadwood.' The ANC claims the councillors were already rejected by their communities during the party's candidate selection process before joining the DA. The DA's KwaZulu-Natal leader, Sithembiso Ngema, stated the councillors aligned with the DA's values and would enhance service delivery in the area. However, ANC regional task team coordinator Thanduxolo Sabelo countered that the councillors failed to gain community support and were effectively expelled. He accused the DA of announcing the defections prematurely and suggested the councillors defected due to lack of future ANC assignments.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the ANC's criticism of the defectors as justified and highlights the DA's perceived opportunism. While the ANC is portrayed as losing trust, the article emphasizes the DA's positive spin on the councillors' contributions. The language used by the ANC, such as 'deadwood' and 'trait
Why factuality (85): The article accurately reports the defection of ANC councillors to the DA and quotes both ANC and DA officials. It provides details about the timing, the reasons given by the DA, and the ANC's response. However, it lacks direct reference to the primary source document, which focuses on the IOL app r
Why objectivity (70): The article presents the ANC's perspective as more detailed and critical, while the DA's statements are summarized. There is some emotional language such as 'deadwood' and 'traitors,' which may bias the reader's perception. The tone leans slightly towards the ANC's viewpoint despite presenting both
Whither the DA? Understanding its political landscape and futureThe article discusses the Democratic Alliance (DA) in South Africa, analyzing its political position and future prospects. It notes that while the DA has benefited from the ANC's decline, particularly after the ANC's loss in the 2024 elections, the DA remains a minority party due to the country's demographic composition. The author argues that the DA is primarily led by whites and follows a liberal, centrist ideology favoring free markets and individual freedoms. Despite the ANC's recent drop in support, the author predicts that racial considerations will continue to influence voting patterns, preventing the DA from becoming the dominant party. The article also mentions potential challenges for the ANC in upcoming local elections, citing dissatisfaction among Black voters over service delivery and the Phala Phala scandal involving President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Bias read (Center): The article presents a balanced view of the political situation, discussing both the ANC's decline and the DA's limited prospects without overtly favoring either side. While it acknowledges the ANC's corruption issues and voter discontent, it does not frame these as definitive outcomes but rather as
Why factuality (80): The article provides demographic data and historical context about the DA and ANC, citing StatsSA and referencing the 2024 election results. These are factual claims supported by available data. However, it makes predictions about future election outcomes, which are less verifiable.
Why objectivity (65): The article takes a clear position on the DA's potential rise and the ANC's decline, using terms like 'stark decline' and 'disgruntlement.' This suggests a somewhat partisan perspective, particularly in discussing the impact of the Phala Phala scandal on voter sentiment.
Councillors who defected to the DA were deadwood rejected by their own communities, says ANCTwo ANC councillors in eThekwini, South Africa, defected to the Democratic Alliance (DA), according to the ANC's regional coordinator, Thanduxolo Sabelo. The councillors, David Ngubane and Marco Mbambo, were reportedly rejected by their local communities during ANC candidate selection processes. Mbambo was expelled for secretly campaigning for the DA, while Ngubane attempted to appeal the rejection but was denied again. The ANC claims the defections are motivated by personal gain rather than genuine service to the community, as both councillors face potential non-deployment from the ANC. The DA views the defections as a positive development, signaling a loss of trust in the ANC and positioning itself to gain more support ahead of the 2026 municipal elections.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the ANC's perspective as the legitimate voice of the community, emphasizing the 'traitors' label applied to the defectors and suggesting their motivations are self-serving. The ANC is portrayed as having lost trust and internal control, which is a common narrative in left-leaning,
Why factuality (80): The article confirms the defection of the councillors and includes quotes from both the ANC and DA. It mentions the rejection by communities and the ANC's internal processes. While it doesn't directly reference the primary source document, it aligns with the factual claims made in the first article.
Why objectivity (65): The article uses emotionally charged terms like 'deadwood' and 'traitors' when referring to the defectors, which suggests a biased tone. While it presents both perspectives, the language used gives more weight to the ANC's criticism, affecting overall objectivity.
ANC claims DA snapped up 'ANC rejects' in eThekwiniThe ANC in the eThekwini region reports that two former ANC councillors, Marco Mbambo and David Ngubane, have defected to the Democratic Alliance (DA). Both councillors were rejected by their communities during candidate selection processes. Mbambo failed to meet the required threshold in ward 8, while Ngubane was rejected twice despite attempting to appeal. The ANC accuses the DA of hastily recruiting these individuals, claiming they seek employment rather than genuine service to communities. The ANC expresses confidence that the DA will suffer from their defections and assures residents that committed ANC councillors will continue providing services until elections.
Bias read (Progressive): The article frames the defection of the two councillors as a betrayal of the ANC and the communities they served, using strong language such as 'traitors' and 'desperately seeking employment.' It portrays the DA as opportunistic and dismissive of the councillors' true intentions. The tone suggests a
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