More than 2,000 delegates from across South Africa are expected to gather for what the party describes as its largest congress to date. The key item on the agenda is the election of new federal leadership, including the positions of Federal Leader and Federal Chairperson.

Incumbent leader John Steenhuisen is not seeking re-election. Among the frontrunners for Federal Leader are Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sedibeng councillor Sibusiso Dyonase. The congress will also elect a new Federal Chairperson, with contenders including Western Cape MEC Ivan Meyer and Tshwane Mayor Solly Msimanga.

The gathering comes just months ahead of the local government elections scheduled for November 2026. Delegates are expected to debate and finalize policy positions as the DA positions itself within the Government of National Unity while preparing its campaign strategy for the polls.

The event is being closely watched as a signal of the party’s direction in the lead-up to the municipal vote. Proceedings continue on Sunday.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post DA Kicks Off Largest-Ever Federal Congress in Midrand appeared first on MDNtv.

His Majesty King Buyelekhaya Zwelibanzi Dalindyebo, alongside the royal household, extended warm and heartfelt congratulations, describing the achievement as a moment of pride not only for the kingdom but for the broader legal and academic community.

Dr. Mpahlwa’s journey to this accomplishment has been one of dedication and deep intellectual commitment. Over the past decade, his research has focused on how language is used within South African courtrooms—an area that plays a critical role in ensuring fairness and justice. His work pays particular attention to forensic linguistics and the lingering effects of linguistic inequality.

Recent events in South Africa’s legal system have highlighted just how important his research is. In one instance, translation challenges during proceedings required direct intervention to correct interpretations, raising concerns about the accuracy of courtroom communication. In another case, a police officer admitted to recording statements in a language he was not fully fluent in, leading to inconsistencies in evidence presented before the court.

Against this backdrop, the AbaThembu Royal Family believes Dr. Mpahlwa’s expertise will make a meaningful impact. His work is expected to contribute to improving the integrity of language use in the justice system, ultimately strengthening trust in legal processes.

Beyond his academic success, Dr. Mpahlwa is widely respected for his discipline, professionalism, and commitment to service. As a senior Royal Advisor, legal practitioner, and scholar, he continues to uphold values that reflect positively on both the legal profession and the AbaThembu Kingdom.

The Royal Family expressed deep pride in his achievement, offering words of encouragement for the future: may his success inspire others to pursue excellence and contribute meaningfully to society.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post A Royal Celebration of Academic Excellence and Service appeared first on MDNtv.

The Mazibuko family confirmed his passing in a statement released on Monday, bringing sadness to fans, fellow musicians, and the nation at large.

The group also officially confirmed the news, marking the end of an era for one of South Africa’s most celebrated and globally recognised musical acts.

Mazibuko joined Ladysmith Black Mambazo in 1969 after being invited by its founder, the late Joseph Shabalala. His contribution helped shape the group’s signature isicathamiya sound, which would go on to earn international acclaim and multiple awards.

Over the decades, Ladysmith Black Mambazo became a cultural ambassador for South Africa, performing on global stages and collaborating with international artists, while preserving traditional Zulu music.

Mazibuko’s legacy will be remembered not only through the music he helped create, but also through the profound cultural impact he and the group had across generations.

Further details regarding memorial and funeral arrangements are expected to be announced by the family in due course.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post South Africa Mourns The Passing Away Of Ladysmith Black Mambazo Co-Founder Albert Mazibuko appeared first on MDNtv.

Instead of a ‘Clash of Titans’ at FNB Stadium, the national team will face Panama in two friendly encounters – first in Durban this Friday and then in Cape Town next Tuesday.

According to Broos, the decision came down to a flinch from a cash-strapped Safa when faced with appearance fees nearing R100 million.

Broos laid out the cold, hard numbers presented to Safa Chiefs Executive Officer Lydia Monyepao:

Brazil’s Price: Approximately $5m (R84.4m) to bring the Seleção to South African shores.

Argentina’s Price: A whopping €5m (R97.9m) to see Lionel Messi and Co. play in Johannesburg.

“It’s easy to say, ‘yeah, why not?’ but we don’t have that money,” Broos admitted.

“Safa made a big effort just to have Panama here; they are not coming for free either.”

Broos argued that a sold-out FNB Stadium (90 000 capacity) would likely have covered the costs, but the financial risk was deemed too high for the association.

While fans may be disappointed, Broos insists that 33rd-ranked Panama is the perfect tactical surrogate for South Africa’s World Cup opener against Mexico on June 11.

Panama employs the same aggressive, high-tempo Central American style as Mexico.

“It will teach us a lot about that style of playing,” Broos said. “The results are not that important, but I don’t want two defeats.”

These matches represent the final Fifa date before the tournament begins, making them the ultimate dress rehearsal for the clash at the Estadio Azteca.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Broos explains why Safa failed to secure Brazil/Argentina friendlies appeared first on MDNtv.

Chaine has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Betway Premiership this season, leading the league with 14 clean sheets in 21 matches and conceding just nine goals.

But that was not enough to secure his place.

Speaking after announcing his squad for upcoming friendlies against Panama, Broos made it clear that national team selection is not based on reputation or statistics alone.

“Everybody has to be worried when they don’t perform, and I’m not saying that Sipho is not performing,” said Broos.

“But everybody has to be worried. It’s not a charity. It’s something that is very serious.”

The Belgian coach emphasised that the national team is highly competitive, especially with the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching.

Instead of Chaine, Broos opted to include Sekhukhune United goalkeeper Renaldo Leaner, alongside captain Ronwen Williams and Ricardo Goss.

The decision appears to be part of Broos’ plan to assess new options, particularly for the third-choice goalkeeper role ahead of the World Cup opener against Mexico.

While fans have questioned the move, pointing to Chaine’s impressive statistics, Broos has consistently prioritised players who fit his tactical system.

The coach looks beyond numbers, focusing on attributes such as distribution, decision making and the ability to command the penalty area under international pressure.

The omission of Chaine has now become one of the biggest talking points ahead of Bafana Bafana’s upcoming fixtures, highlighting the tough selection calls as South Africa builds towards the World Cup.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Hugo Broos Breaks Silence on Sipho Chaine Snub Despite League Leading Form appeared first on MDNtv.

In a statement, the department said it has introduced strict measures to deal with the growing number of land invasions across the City of Johannesburg.

According to JMPD, a multi-disciplinary operation was successfully carried out on Tuesday morning in Ennerdale Extension 11 to remove illegal structures.

The operation involved a specialised team made up of the By-Laws Management Unit, Public Order Policing (POP), Operations Unit, K9 Unit and Tactical Response Unit.

During the operation, 50 illegal structures were demolished and building materials were removed without any resistance.

JMPD said the action followed a tense incident at the same site last week, where officers were allegedly violently attacked by a mob while carrying out their duties.

The department praised the officers involved in that earlier incident for what it described as a tactical retreat, saying their actions demonstrated restraint and professionalism.

JMPD said had officers retaliated, the situation could have resulted in a catastrophic loss of life. Instead, their withdrawal helped prevent a major disaster.

With the increased presence of the Public Order Policing unit during Tuesday’s operation, the department said enforcement procedures were carried out properly while ensuring the safety of both officers and the community.

“The JMPD will not be deterred by acts of lawlessness. It is unacceptable for officers to be shot at while lawfully enforcing city bylaws. We urge the community to cooperate with law enforcement and resolve land and housing issues through legal means rather than resorting to violence,” the statement said.

The department added that it will continue monitoring Ennerdale Extension 11 and other identified hotspots to prevent the re-erection of illegal structures.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post JMPD Removes Illegal Land Invasion Structures in Ennerdale appeared first on MDNtv.

Section 301 gives the US authority to impose tariffs or other measures on countries it considers discriminatory or unfair to American interests. Policies such as Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) and uncertainties over property rights under the Expropriation Act could come under scrutiny.

Tensions have risen after South Africa rejected US conditions for improving trade relations and maintained strong ties with countries like Iran and Russia. Public hearings for the investigation will begin in April and could lead to new tariffs or affect AGOA trade benefits.

Experts warn that such measures could threaten thousands of jobs in export-reliant sectors, including automotive manufacturing, agriculture, and mining—an alarming prospect for a country with unemployment exceeding 40%.

Freedom Front Plus leader Dr. Corné Mulder said the party’s warnings about the dangers of placing ideology above economic reality are now confirmed. “South Africa cannot afford to gamble with its economic future in the name of a reckless foreign policy,” he said.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post US Trade Investigation Highlights Risks of South Africa’s Current Foreign Policy, Freedom Front Plus Warns appeared first on MDNtv.

She says the proposed regulation of churches could criminalise pastors and lead to church closures, warning it may create restrictions similar to those in Rwanda and Angola.

Pastor Mukhuba, speaking at a large march currently underway in Durban organised by the South African Church Defenders (SACD), says the CRL Rights Commission, led by Thoko Mkhwanazi‑Xaluva, is pushing for measures that would regulate how churches operate.

She argues that such legislation could infringe on constitutional rights, including freedom of religion, worship, expression, and association, and said the commission is overstepping its mandate to protect these rights.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post Pastor Mukhuba says Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva should be removed as chairperson of the CRL Rights Commission, arguing she is not impartial and unfit to lead a Chapter 9 institution appeared first on MDNtv.

Trent appeared before the Parliamentary Ad Hoc Committee on Thursday and Friday where she presented testimony about the alleged role of private actors who have embedded themselves within South Africa’s criminal justice system.

The committee is probing allegations made by SAPS KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

During the weekend a statement purporting to be from the University of South Africa circulated widely on social media claiming that Trent had never studied at the institution.

The statement claimed that the university had no record of any student by the name Sarah Jane Trent ever registering or graduating with a law degree from the institution.

However on Monday the University of South Africa issued an official statement confirming that the circulating message was false.

UNISA confirmed that Sarah-Jane Trent is indeed a graduate of the institution and holds a Bachelor of Laws degree which she obtained in May 2013.

The university also condemned the manipulation and misuse of its templates and official logo which were used to create the misleading statement circulating online.

UNISA further indicated that the relevant units within the institution will investigate the origin of the false statement and take appropriate legal action against those responsible.

The clarification comes amid heightened public interest in Trent’s testimony before Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations raised by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post UNISA Confirms Sarah-Jane Trent Holds Law Degree After Fake Statement Sparks Social Media Storm appeared first on MDNtv.

Your Excellencies,

Friends,

The people of South Africa are with you today as you lay to rest a great man and celebrate a remarkable life that altered the moral direction of a nation and inspired the conscience of the world.

We are here to join you as you say farewell to a man who carried the message of hope from the streets of Chicago to the streets of Johannesburg.

Today we are also here, as South Africans, to claim Reverend Jesse Jackson as one of our own. We lay claim on him today because he laid claim on us first.

You may ask: how can a son of South Carolina belong to the people of Soweto?

How can a man born into the segregated American South be claimed by the people of a faraway land that was bedevilled by a racist system of apartheid?

We will tell you how. We will tell you why.

Belonging is not determined by the soil on which you were born.

Belonging is determined by the soil on which you choose to join the fight against an evil racist and oppressive system.

In the long and painful years of our struggle, when the voices of our people were often silenced, Jesse Jackson chose to belong to us by raising his voice against apartheid on our behalf.

When our cause was ignored, and many would look away he stood firm in solidarity with us.

He looked at a people he had never met and said: their pain is my pain. Their chains are my chains. Their struggle for freedom is my struggle.

And for this, the people of South Africa remember him not as a distant friend, but as a brother in the struggle for justice and freedom.

That is why we proclaim that he is ours too.

Jesse Jackson was an African. We lay claim to him because he was an African. Pledging his solidarity with our struggle made him one of us.

An African. An African American.

He epitomised the image that was depicted by one of the key founders of the African National Congress, Pixley ka Isaka Seme, who delivered a most famous speech in 1906 when he was a student at Columbia University.

He said: “I am an African, and I set my pride in my race over against a hostile public opinion… The brighter day is rising upon Africa. Already I seem to see her chains dissolved.”

That speech captured the spirit of African pride and hope. This is what Jesse Jackson meant to South Africa and Africa. Hence we stand here today and say he also belongs to us.

Jesse Jackson stood with the people of South Africa during our darkest hour. He told the world that the struggle for dignity in the United States of America was inseparable from the fight against apartheid and injustice in South Africa.

When Jesse Jackson reminded the United States that its strength lies not in exclusion, but in the beautiful diversity of its people – black and white, rich and poor, urban and rural, workers and farmers, immigrants and the forgotten – we were inspired by his message and embraced the universal values of diversity, inclusion and equity that he preached.

Nelson Mandela and his comrades were hugely inspired by Jesse Jackson whilst they were serving life sentences on Robben Island as they observed how he carried our struggle for justice beyond the borders of the United States.

He was a voice — a voice that refused to be silenced when silence would have been easier. A voice that preached a message of hope from the streets of Chicago to the dusty streets of Soweto, that justice was not a privilege for the few, but a birthright for all.

His rallying call “Keep hope alive” became a compass for our struggle and gave us hope for victory over the evil of system of apartheid exclusion, division and oppression.

Jesse Jackson expressed his solidarity with the people of South Africa when he first visited South Africa in 1979, two years after the callous killing of Steve Biko in apartheid police cells. He drew massive crowds at rallies in Soweto, where he famously declared that: “This land is changing hands.”

When the Reagan administration chose “constructive engagement” – diplomatic language for doing nothing – Jesse Jackson chose unconditional solidarity with the oppressed majority in South Africa.

He became the most visible American political figure advocating for comprehensive pressure and economic sanctions against South Africa.

By placing South Africa at the centre of American electoral politics during his presidential election campaign, Jesse Jackson influenced millions of voters to confront apartheid as their moral responsibility too.

He led many marches here in the United States and in 1985 was arrested with his two sons, Jesse Jr. and Jonathan, outside the South African Embassy. As they were arrested, they sang “We shall Overcome”. It was a song that became part of our struggle and from which we drew inspiration.

He took the fight against apartheid global.

On the 2nd of November 1985, he marched with then ANC President Oliver Tambo, Anti-Apartheid Movement President Trevor Huddleston and more than 150,000 people – in what was one of the largest anti-apartheid demonstrations ever held in Britain – to demand sanctions against South Africa and the release of Nelson Mandela.

Not only did he march in the streets; he walked into the corridors of power.

He personally lobbied Pope John Paul II to visit South Africa and hasten change. He pressed Mikhail Gorbachev to cut all Soviet diplomatic ties with Pretoria. He challenged Margaret Thatcher to her face. She refused to budge, but he did not stop.

When Nelson Mandela finally walked free in 1990 after 27 long years of imprisonment, Jesse Jackson was there in Cape Town, witnessing a moment the world would never forget. He described the atmosphere as a “release of glee and joy,” as millions celebrated not only the freedom of a man, but the rising hope of a nation.

In 1994, he was present when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of South Africa. Jackson kept returning after 1994, when many of his contemporaries moved on.

We claim Jesse Jackson as one of our own because he never saw the struggle in South Africa as a distant or foreign cause, but as a struggle that belonged to him as well.

His greatest gift to the oppressed people of South Africa was the courage he gave us to believe that we must never surrender hope, that justice would prevail, and freedom would come.

He encouraged us not to lose hope in the face of oppression.

Not to lose hope in the face of injustice.

To have hope that ordinary people, standing together, would write their own history of triumph against apartheid.

The life of Reverend Jesse Jackson reminds us that the struggle for justice is never the work of a single lifetime. It is a long and noble journey carried forward across generations. It is a relay in which the torch of freedom is passed from one courageous hand to another.

Martin Luther King Jr. lifted that torch and gave the world a dream of justice and equality.

Jesse Jackson carried that dream forward with hope, keeping its flame alive in the hearts of those who refused to surrender to injustice.

And Nelson Mandela carried that dream into freedom, helping to build a rainbow nation where dignity and liberty could belong to all.

And so today that torch still burns. It is now in our hands – to guard it, to carry it forward, and to ensure that the dream of justice continues to light the path for generations yet to come.

Now we must ask ourselves how we can honour the life and memory of Jesse Jackson.

We honour him by carrying forward the values he lived for: justice, dignity, equality,

By committing to a lifetime of service to others.

By showing up when others look away from injustice, when they fear to stand up to power and when they walk away from suffering.

By pledging solidarity and using every opportunity to support the just struggle of others.

By ensuring that there is justice for all.

By keeping hope alive, as Jesse Jackson taught us.

Today we honour a man whose voice stirred the conscience of leaders and ordinary people, whose courage strengthened movements across the world, and whose faith never wavered even when the road was long.

To our mother, Mrs Jacqueline Jackson, to Santita, Jesse Jr., Jonathan, Yusef, Jacqueline, Ashley and the entire Jackson family:

We, the people of South Africa, are here to say thank you.

The African National Congress, with which Jesse Jackson worked closely, thanks you.

We are here not only in mourning, but in gratitude.

Deep, abiding, unrepayable gratitude.

You gave us your husband. Your father. Your patriarch.

You shared him across an ocean, across continents.

Across marches and prison gates and inauguration days.

When South Africa needed a friend in the corridors of power you allowed Jesse Jackson to be that friend.

His support meant that when our people were tear-gassed in Soweto someone in America was weeping with us.

It meant that when our leaders sat in prison cells on Robben Island, someone was standing in the capitals of the world, in Washington and in London, saying: Nelson Mandela and his comrades are not terrorists or criminals. They are freedom fighters. The world must listen and act.

We are grateful that on the day Nelson Mandela walked free – on that historic and miraculous day – Jesse Jackson was standing in the sunlight with us.

Not because it was required of him. But because it was in him to witness the emergence of the South Africa he had campaigned for, been arrested for, struggled for and prophesied about in Soweto in 1979.

We honour him for his enduring commitment, his expression of real love, sacrificial love.

The commitment he displayed did not wait to be invited. It made him simply show up.

Jesse Jackson showed up for South Africa.

Again. And again. And again.

Long after the cameras moved on.

Long after the sanctions were won.

Long after apartheid had been defeated and relegated to the ash heap of history he kept coming back.

To express its gratitude as a free nation, South Africa awarded him the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo.

But no medal, no honour, no citation is wide enough to express what Jesse Jackson gave and meant to us.

What he gave to us cannot be framed and hung on a wall.

It lives in our Constitution.

It lives in our freedom. It lives in the hearts of our people.

That is why we are here today: to carry of Jesse Jackson’s spirit home with us.

For the hope he nurtured, the courage he inspired and the solidarity he showed to our people must not end with this moment.

It must continue to inspire us in our shared journey to build a better life for all our people.

So, on behalf of sixty-two million freedom loving South Africans, we say thank you.

Go well, Reverend. Go well, Mkhulu.

The ancestors – Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela, Oliver Tambo, Winnie Mandela and many others both here and in South Africa – have been waiting to embrace you.

And we, the people of the rainbow nation that you helped to build, salute you and we say: Amandla. Power to the People.

Rest in eternal peace.

Visit MDNtv YouTube Channel for our video content

The post TRIBUTE BY PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA AT THE HOMECOMING CELEBRATION OF REV JESSE JACKSON appeared first on MDNtv.