This weekend the ANC’s National Executive Council meets to, among other things, discuss the future of their tainted commander in chief.

*stands and applauds*

The immediate response to Mantashe’s announcement that he will not be seeking any leadership position in the upper echelons of the ANC was speculation about who would succeed him.

I’m new to South Africa, but you know what really made me feel at home? Finding out everyone else here detests him too.

The Loyal Opposition’s knee-jerk response to Zuma’s cabinet shuffle was to request a No-Confidence motion. But as the days rolled by, awaiting the return of the House Speaker from a trip to Asia, the question of a secret vote came under scrutiny.

You don’t say…

No, really!?

Are men really TRASH?

Rejoice: Our economy is junk, and our men are trash.

The BlueWhale game that’s causing mass hysteria has actually been debunked, but the damage it’s doing to mental health campaigners is worrying.

Ramaphosa is on the up, Zuma and his allies… not so much.

What needs to be made clear is that the debate around “white monopoly capital” and “radical economic transformation” is about much more than statistics and definitions.

Oppression and manipulation go hand-in-hand. An under-educated electorate is easily fooled by blaming the state of poor governance through the use of a vicious, populist and indefensible attack on a (dwindling) racial minority.

Strong and stable. I repeat, strong and stable.

While Super Rugby lurches from one insipid match to the next, with the odd cracking game rearing its head infrequently, the lobbying and infighting occurring in the boardrooms by the “faceless men in suits” – a wonderful phrase coined by Wallabies’ flanker Scott Fardy – continues to be the sideshow in an otherwise irrelevant season.

Afrikaans is very much a black language. The apartheid government’s ploy to construct it as a “white language”, with a “white history”, denied the commonality of the language across race and class.

Despite a growing chorus of deniers, white monopoly capital continues to be a South African reality that shapes the country’s political, economic and social life.

Jabu Mabuza has a clear message for those in government pushing the white monopoly capital and radical economic transformation agenda: learn from history or it’ll be to the detriment of all South Africans.

While civil society organisations and opposition politicians have taken to the streets to try and remove the president, former ANC MP-turned whistleblower Vytjie Mentor came up with her own formula for deposing the man she calls a “monster.”

Sisulu’s refreshing brand of channelled aggression and forthright honesty was on show as she opened a new ANC branch in King William’s Town this weekend.

The narcissism is strong with this one. Hlaudi claims that the only thing stopping him from running is that he wouldn’t want to contest a woman… seriously?

Mystic who predicted Trump’s rise to power has now set a date for World War Three… anyone know a Doomsday Prepper we can call?

Two weeks ago, a meme did the rounds amongst South Africans the world over depicting Jacob Zuma super-imposed on a screenshot from Pornhub with the simple title, “man f*cks entire country at once.”

The new Minister of Police talks tough about reducing crime. Here are a few benchmarks to measure his success by.

Dear Mr Jackson Mthembu. Suffice to say that I was an ANC activist at university, subsequently in the ANC “junior leadership” programme and in 1994 stepped back but remained a loyal ANC voter.

Dear Mr President. I write this letter because I feel angry. And confused. Angry, confused and betrayed. I am writing to you, Mr President, in desperation as a young South African citizen, deeply concerned about the direction our country is heading in under your leadership.

New finance minister Malusi Gigaba’s key advisor over the weekend published an opinion piece advocating for the nationalisation of mines, insurance companies and the banks, leaving Treasury with a PR disaster on Tuesday.

Imagine for a moment we finish off Easter weekend with a special announcement on Monday evening: the president has stepped down, what do you think he’ll say in his last ever letter as president?

A network of EU experts helps monitor food safety, banking conduct and medicines. And no-one seems to have a plan for replacing them.

The latest backlash against South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma sees demands for his removal grow wider and deeper than ever before.

Dear Mr President, I write this letter representing a concerned group of young people in South Africa.

S&P Global Ratings is the world’s most trusted provider of independent credit ratings and after the recent cabinet shuffle, they have, not to put it too finely thrown us on the world economic s**t heap.

Bad news: Zuma won’t fall soon. Good news: he doesn’t need to for you to continue being an active citizen.

It’s funny, but also serious. Listen.

With each day that passes, being ‘proud’ to be a South African gets harder. Elected leaders would rather serve one Indian family than its 55,000,000 residents… and the crime rate rises as the Rand plummets.

Send your letters to the editor via: editor@thesouthafrican.com

A vibrant democracy on the brink of something truly extraordinary or too little too late?

The removal of South Africa’s finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, is the greatest threat to public finances experienced in the post-1994 era.

This is the day a teacher was handed the Finance portfolio. Downgrades will follow the turbulence. The Rand already lost 5% just overnight.

On March 30 president Zuma once again played musical chairs with his cabinet, in the process firing finance minister Pravin Gordhan and capturing Treasury for his mates. But this is no victory for Zuma, and especially not for the ANC.

23 million. No, that’s not the number of times Lance Armstrong lied. And it’s not the number of women Charlie Sheen has bedded (I think that’s around 8000, actually).

Will the UK have to pay a vast sum of money to the EU in order to leave it – or will it get cash back?

If it were a popularity contest Zuma would have lost.., oh wait, it is.

Five principles of bargaining to help you understand what’s going on in the Brexit negotiations.

Western Cape Premier Helen Zille ‘s Twitter rant about colonialism caused an uproar as it brought back memories of a brutal and violent time in South Africa.

Jacob Zuma’s loyalists might see his renewed vigour in helping capture Treasury as a sign of strength, but they’ve got this one catastrophically wrong.

The rising talk about ‘white monopoly capital’ as an obstacle to economic inclusion in South Africa is a red herring.

Following an uncharacteristically aggressive NEC meeting over the weekend and a declaration of war from the presidency against the finance ministry, the Rand just couldn’t hold out.

The economic transformation discussion document released by South Africa’s governing party, the ANC, fails to be radical.

This criminal was clearly met with a big surprise.

It seems that everyone is talking about the recent incident that took place this weekend at the Spur in The Glen in Oakdene.

If US President Donald Trump is the consummate dealmaker he purports to be, he should find the low risk, high returns of greater US-China-Africa cooperation irresistible.

I was born in a racist country, with a racist president, and racist laws. My neighbour was a racist.

It’s easy to ignore many of the complex layers to this incident.

In the two years since student protests kicked off at South Africa’s universities, people have become increasingly interested in what decolonisation means. This stems from students’ calls for university curricula to be decolonised. People want a precise definition. But it’s not that simple.

South Africa’s Constitutional Court has repeatedly stepped in to protect vulnerable people and to perform what former deputy chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke calls its “transformative role”.

As South Africa marks Human Rights Day and the 20th anniversary of its constitution it’s a good time to reflect on the problems it faces in making constitutional rights a reality.

‘If you don’t like the weather in Cape Town, you don’t have to move… just wait twenty minutes’

South Africa’s social grants fiasco begs the question: was it orchestrated to undermine the judiciary and the constitution and hide sheer incompetence on the part of government?

Corruption is leading to instability in South Africa, which in turn poses a threat to the country’s national security.

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland’s first minister, has indicated that the country will again seek independence – this time against the backdrop of Brexit.

The growing incidence of racism on social media in South Africa suggests that there are consequences. Whether there ought to be criminal sanctions remains an ongoing debate.

Women have borne the brunt of government austerity policies since 2010.

The phrase, “The more things change, the more they stay the same,” describes the difficult situation President Jacob Zuma finds himself entangled in, as a social grant crisis unfolds, much to the panic of 17 million recipients as to whether they would get paid come 1 April.

Representation is everything.

This is election year for several African countries and there’s a need to ensure social media isn’t used to incite violence. But can governments be prevented from restricting citizens’ rights?

It’s hard to award a prize to esteemed former leaders when so many are determined to die in office.

South Africa’s social compact is at breaking point and the country may need a dialogue similar to its 1994 political transition talks to get out of the crisis.

There’s no doubt South African universities need to undergo a real shift. But are the country’s current intellectual and academic forces up to the task?

In Africa, the idea of a post-truth era – which by implication fundamentally presupposes the existence of an era in which ‘truth’ was self-evident – is folly.

As I urge you to rethink your position, I implore you to take the President with you in the event you decide to do the right thing. Your project with him will fail because we will not let it happen.

Rant alert. Fikile and Tubby… how do you buggers do it?

The extreme scenario: dams and rivers are dry and conventional piped water and sewerage systems no longer flow. Then what?

I am really angry tonight. I have tried to keep out of this but I am really so sad tonight. 

According to economics expert Andre Roux, finance minister Pravin Gordhan’s plan for the next 12 months could end up as nothing but a hollow speech should he be removed afterwards.

The decision to give former Eskom CEO, Brian Molefe, a seat in the country’s parliament comes with the potential to cause great economic pain for South Africa.

A lot more goes into the making of South Africa’s final national budget than many people realise. The process involves extensive legalities designed to ensure public oversight.

Allow me to indulge you in a bit of courtroom drama for a minute…

It’s important that South African teachers, lecturers and professors develop curricula that build on the best knowledge skills, values, beliefs and habits from around the world.

President Zuma’s speech is historically meaningless in that it is not a milestone of any professed historical mission.

The president had had a jam-packed speech, but looking at the ANC government’s track record it’s much of a muchness really.

Dear Riaan, Denver and Friends: The irony is that through your hate towards white people, you are denouncing the existence of coloured people.

If you are expecting a baby, or if you are adopting one, you will be able to stay at home for an entire year, most likely on full pay, and raise your child. That is, if you live and work in Croatia.

The BRICS bloc of states have resolved to establish an alternative credit rating agency to counter western dominance in the financial markets. Will it work?

The story of the ‘red bakkie guy’ has South Africans celebrating the small acts of kindness that can change a person’s day, people’s perceptions, and potentially a nation.

The planting of messages and countering narratives in the media is not new. It’s part and parcel of contemporary politics especially during elections. The internet simply makes an old problem worse.

The reality is that the move to introduce a sugar tax in South Africa is necessary because of the scourge of non-communicable diseases and obesity in the country.

White nationalist Richard Spencer was punched in the middle of a TV interview on inauguration day.

The slow pace of transformation in post apartheid South Africa is a reflection of persisting racism that has infected formal corporate institutions.

Despite talking up her visit to the White House, the British PM has been remarkably quiet on the biggest issue of the moment.

Rhodesia’s white supremacists appealed to the white electorate by taking a stand against African liberation. Similarly, Donald Trump appealed to white Americans who feel overwhelmed by globalisation.

Dlamini-Zuma is an ambiguous, ambitious figure, an operator and bureaucrat with good credentials. But, she offers nothing new and can’t shake off claims that she’s just a shoe-in for her ex-husband.

Understanding the best food option is getting complicated. Enter the new flexitarians.

I can already hear the intense Capetonian eye roll all the way from my lovely Jozi-based bed.

It’s not the end of Brexit but parliament could give the government a rough ride.

The SADC’s credibility is at stake. Its lack of political will in acting decisively against despots is at odds with the African Union’s goal of promoting legitimate governance on the continent.

Donald J. Trump is the new man in charge of the US, and Africa seems to have little cause for celebration. But what does the new Commander-in-Chief really think of the continent?

Donald Trump will preside over a new American reality as it takes shape. How can we understand it?

After Brexit, Theresa May says the UK will ‘take back control of our laws’.

It was with much shock – at least initially – when I heard of Kyle Abbott and Rilee Rossouw’s departure from the Proteas’ set-up in order to pursue long-term Kolpak county contracts in the UK.