The MEC resigned last month, citing improper interference by Saul in the works of the department.

The African National Congress (ANC) in the province – which held a special PEC meeting on Thursday – also refused to accept Makatong’s resignation.

Analysts say a rupture within the party, with the local elections looming, could further hurt the party at the polls.

Makatong’s resignation took the provincial cabinet and the ANC in the Northern Cape by surprise. Both are adamant that they’ve not yet accepted the resignation.

Luthuli House has, meanwhile, dispatched ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC) members to the province in an attempt to diffuse the fires in the top five.

Nelson Mandela University political analyst, Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast says, “Interestingly both of them they seem to be enjoying the support of the different factions of the HQ [Luthuli House]. Because it’s an open secret that Zamani Saul enjoys the support of the dominant faction of the Ramaphosa [ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa] faction of the Mbalula [ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula] faction. So it’s got the backing but also Fufe Makatong enjoys the support of the other faction.”

Makatong hails from the John Taole Gaetsewe district – an ANC stronghold – and an important electoral base for the party.

“This is going to have a spill over effect on the electoral performance of the ANC at local government level in the Northern Cape. You must remember that the ANC did not perform well previously in the general election and the question is whether the ANC is going to have an upward electoral trajectory or is it going to have a download electoral trajectory. If this situation does not change it means that the ANC will not perform well given the fact that it doesn’t function as a unified force,” adds Breakfast.

Makatong is not the first MEC to resign in the province during the seventh administration. Last year, former Health MEC and ANC deputy secretary Maruping Lekwene also resigned. His resignation was also a surprise to the party, who tried unsuccessfully to reverse the decision.

Fufe Makatong resigns as Northern Cape Roads and Public Works MEC

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This comes after Adams told the Madlanga Commission on Tuesday that his parliamentary laptop was persistently faulty for 18 months, resulting in delays in submitting his witness statement to the commission.

However, Parliament has refuted the allegations stating that its ICT service desk records do not support Adams’ claims.

Nkosi says if the commission finds that a witness misrepresented the reason for a delay, there are possible legal consequences.

“There are offences that the witness can actually commit. One of them is perjury, which will then be lying under oath. It has to be understood that at this particular level, he filed the affidavit on the eve of his attending the hearing.”

“However, there are two options. He may be charged with perjury if it is shown that he has lied under oath. Alternatively, he may be held in contempt of the commission because as a member of Parliament, as a witness, he has that duty to come and testify,” adds Dr Nkosi.

Below is the full interview with Dr Bongani Nkosi

On Tuesday, Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo said there was no evidence showing that hardware failures, freezing tickets were lodged.

“Following these remarks, Parliament checked its ICT [Information and Communication Technology] service desk records for technical support provided to Mr Adams during the period concerned. The records do not show a persistent problem with his laptop, repeated hardware failures or freezing, or the device being repeatedly booked in for repairs.”

VIDEO | Adams’ Madlanga Commission testimony postponed

This will be the first cabinet reshuffle since the seventh administration took office.

Mokgosi will reveal his new team and outline progress on key service delivery commitments during a media briefing.

The announcement comes as the provincial government reports on progress in implementing its service delivery programme.

The Premier is widely expected to highlight key initiatives aimed at improving service delivery, creating employment opportunities for young people and driving economic growth.

He will also account for progress on commitments made during the State of the Province Address (SOPA) and departmental budget speeches.

VIDEO | North West on a drive to combat unemployment

Adams was scheduled to start testifying from Tuesday, but told the commission that he had missed crucial information due to technical challenges with his laptop, which he said had persisted for about 18 months.

He told the commission that this resulted in late submission of his statement.

MP ADAMS’ COMMISSION TESTIMONY ON ICT SUPPORT PROVIDED BY PARLIAMENT

Parliament, Tuesday, 11 August 2026 – Parliament has noted statements made by National Coloured Congress Member of Parliament Mr Fadiel Adams during his appearance before the Madlanga Commission this morning,…

— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) August 11, 2026

Parliament spokesperson Moloto Mothapo says no evidence shows that hardware failures, freezing tickets were lodged.

“Following these remarks, Parliament checked its ICT [Information and Communication Technology] service desk records for technical support provided to Mr Adams during the period concerned. The records do not show a persistent problem with his laptop, repeated hardware failures or freezing, or the device being repeatedly booked in for repairs.”

VIDEO | Adams’ Madlanga Commission testimony postponed

The residents are living in a stench from a nearby de-commissioned landfill site and raw sewage is flooding their streets and yards.

Community leader Reverend Modise Molefe says they expect a lot from their votes.

“My vote is a demand for basic dignity. Our votes are not a trade-off for empty election promises. President Ramaphosa uses this buzzword human dignity but the reality at the grass-root here is incredible indignity. Let’s trade-off Mr. President, come here and spend two hours and have lunch here President Ramaphosa and can you do that Minister Manyier?

The residents say their complaints about a stench from a nearby de-commissioned landfill site and a raw sewage flooding their streets and yards have fallen on deaf ears. One of the community members Kenny Giba says the terrible smell has adversely affected his family.

“The stench of this toxic waste has been affecting our lives. I have lost both of my parents, the contributory factor is this environmental hazard and then I am suffering from short breath and my sons too are experiencing the same thing. So, the community at large is suffocating not by choice.”

VIDEO | Emfuleni Municipality residents say the sewage stench is adversely affecting their lives:

The two were charged with common assault following an altercation between them and Daniels’ former wife in Belhar over the weekend.

The matter relates to an alleged custody matter of a five-year-old boy.

The court heard that the child ran to the father’s car and when he held the child the mother tried to grab him away. The state alleges that Daniels did not comply with a custody agreement

. Daniels was granted bail of a R1 000, while his wife got bail of R500.

The matter has been postponed to the 21st of September for witness statements.

The proposed General Mining Laws Amendment Bill would also criminalise illicit mining activities, expand police powers to conduct enforcement operations and increase maximum prison sentences for certain mining offences from 10 to 30 years.

Kubayi says government wants tougher laws to address what it describes as gaps in South Africa’s legal framework.  She says four Amendment Bills are aimed at strengthening the law, protecting the public and ensuring that legislation keeps pace with changing circumstances.

“Reviewing and changing legislation ensures that laws remain fair, useful, and ensures equality before the law. It allows governments to fix outdated rules, adapt to new technology and respond to changing social and political values. Without updates, laws can become inefficient, fail to protect citizens or create legal confusion.”

Kubayi says illicit mining is linked to a range of serious crimes, including kidnapping, human trafficking, rape, murder and corruption.

“Illicit mining has negative effects on communities in and around mining towns, damages the infrastructure of affected areas such as underground water pipes which then affects water security and poses a serious threat to the safety and security of the affected communities, in many instances where we saw sinkholes. Severe harm done to affected communities by illegal miners has increased due to illicit mining.”

The proposed legislative changes also cover the management of trusts. Kubayi says government wants greater transparency and accountability from trustees, warning that poorly regulated trust structures can be exploited for money laundering and other criminal activities.

“There have been reports of trustees misappropriating these funds through excessive fees, improper investments or outright misuse of the money. The bill proposes in such circumstances a court must, before granting an order for the creation of a trust, satisfy itself that a trust is an appropriate mechanism to hold the funds, the interests of the child or the person with disability are adequately protected in the draft trust instrument. The draft trust instrument does not contain provisions that may be detrimental to the child or the person and the draft trust instrument makes provision for the remuneration of the trustee.”

But the proposed changes are not only focused on tougher enforcement. The Justice Department says access to justice is also being expanded through the Small Claims Court. The court’s monetary jurisdiction was increased in July from R20 000 to R30 000. Kubayi says the Small Claims Court provides a fast and affordable way for people to resolve minor civil disputes without the need for a lawyer.

Proceedings can also be conducted in all official languages.

“The small claims court provides a fast, affordable, and informal way to resolve minor civil disputes without using a lawyer.”

Three of the four Amendment Bills are now open for public comment, with submissions closing on the 11th of September. The fourth Bill — dealing with conspiracy, instigation and incitement will be tabled in Parliament for processing and adoption.

The Justice Department is urging the public, civil society, business and labour to participate in the process.

WATCH | Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi is briefing the media on 4 Cabinet-approved bills that form part of the 2026 legislative programme and is calling for public comment on the proposed laws. pic.twitter.com/alQ9K6TLC5

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 11, 2026

-Reporting by Nonhlanhla Ntshingila 

He visited the home of 59-year-old Sibusiso Khwela, who was gunned down on Thursday in Klaarwater, west of Durban, by an unknown assailant.

ICYMI | The ANC in eThekwini is calling on the municipality to tighten security for councillors and municipal buildings. The party’s regional task team made the call in the wake of the killing of ANC councillor Sibusiso Khwela.https://t.co/rKhRn7UBo3 pic.twitter.com/k3xSBVfETW

— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 8, 2026

The Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) is investigating the murder.

Premier Ntuli says they are hopeful that the PKTT will make an arrest soon. He adds that the continued attacks on councillors and municipal employees is concerning. He pledged to work with all relevant stakeholders to tighten efforts aimed at cracking down on killings in the province.

“Although we don’t know the motive, we cannot say the motive is political but we are worried because since 2021 local government elections, we have lost almost 18 councillors in the province of KZN and the epicenter of these killings is eThekwini. That is where we have lost a number of councillors through assassination. It’s not only councillors who are victims but also officials, employees of government are victims. So, we really want to work together with safety structures as you see that they are here in their numbers.”

He told the TRC Cases Inquiry on day 69 of its public hearings taking place in Newtown, Johannesburg, that he threw his energies into ensuring that the NPA has the resources and capacity required to pursue the investigation and prosecution of TRC cases.

@TRC_inquiry
Min Lamola: During my tenure, The TRC Cases matters were the most successful period in the post democratic SA.

— TRC_inquiry (@TRC_inquiry) August 11, 2026

Besides getting more money from Treasury for personnel, he says he actively collaborated with the then-NDPP Shamila Batohi to ensure the assignment of investigators from the Hawks to work on the cases, through a decentralised model of prosecution. Lamola, who served as Justice Minister from May 2019 to June 2024, says that the data bears out his claim.

Lamola says he also authorised the reopening of inquests into the killings of several anti-apartheid activists by the apartheid government including Chief Albert Luthuli, Griffiths Mxenge, Neil Aggett, Hoosen Haffejee and the Cradock Four amongst others.

“Thirteen additional prosecutors were appointed, bringing the total to 23 dedicated prosecutors, working on these cases in collaboration with 34 dedicated DPCI investigators, who were appointed to strengthen the investigative capacity as a result of these measures. Fifty three cases were receiving active attention nationwide by April 2021. By March 2022, that number had increased to 115 matters under investigation. These cases were identified from the TRC report. Evidence presented before the TRC reports from family members of the deceased persons and audits of deaths in detention.”

VIDEO | TRC Cases | Khampepe Commission of Inquiry: 11 August 2026