Lee Rondganger
Lee Rondganger is an award-winning journalist with a sharp eye for news. He has an interest in politics, international affairs and trying to make sense of the world we live in.
Auditor-General report exposes depth of local government decay that sunk the ANC
Lee Rondganger explores how the AG's report highlight the ANC’s municipal governance failures and how local service delivery crises contributed to the party’s electoral decline in South Africa’s 2024 general election.
BUDGET 2025 | VAT hike signals a fiscal time bomb for South Africa
The ANC government has made a habit of promising more than the country can afford. With this latest controversy over a proposed two-percentage-point increase in VAT, the maths is simply not mathing, writes Lee Rondganger.
'Galant fighters': Nine South African soldiers killed in fierce clashes with M23 rebels in DRC
Nine South African soldiers have been killed in intense clashes with M23 rebels in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) confirmed that their forces successfully halted the rebels' advance on Goma but at a heavy cost. News Story:
GNU on the brink as DA declares formal dispute over ANC’s unilateral decisions on Expropriation Bill, NHI
Tensions within the Government of National Unity (GNU) are reaching breaking point as the Democratic Alliance (DA) accuses the African National Congress (ANC) of sidelining coalition partners and undermining key agreements. The DA has formally invoked a dispute resolution mechanism, warning that the coalition could unravel if issues are not resolved.
Gauteng police rescue kidnapped nine-year-old Afghan boy - five suspects arrested
A nine-year-old boy who was kidnapped in Laudium, Pretoria, has been rescued by police and private security companies after a four-day ordeal. Five suspects, all foreign nationals, have been arrested and are set to appear in court.
How the Big Mac Index exposes South Africa's minimum wage crisis
What Does a Burger Reveal About the Cost of Living in South Africa? The Big Mac Index highlights stark economic disparities that challenge the notion of affordability.
2024: The year that changed South African politics forever
The 2024 South African elections marked a historic turning point, with the ANC losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 1994. A coalition government has emerged, while Jacob Zuma’s MK Party has redefined opposition politics.
A Leftist Vanguard: Can Jacob Zuma’s MK Party sustain its rapid rise?
Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has emerged as South Africa’s third-largest political force, sparking hope and controversy. As it grapples with internal dissent, financial instability, and Zuma’s dominant leadership, MK’s future remains uncertain.
BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump declares early victory in historic 2024 US presidential race
With this victory, Trump becomes only the second president in American history to serve non-consecutive terms, marking an unprecedented comeback following his initial defeat to Joe Biden in 2020.
US Elections 2024: Can Trump really make America more great?
The United States, once seen as a bastion of democracy, stands at a critical juncture, resembling a despotic country they were once accustomed to chastising for not accepting the will of the people.
BREAKING NEWS | Former Reserve Bank governor and Finance Minister Tito Mboweni dies at 65
His family released a statement late on Saturday night announcing his passing, after a brief illness.
BREAKING NEWS | Pastor Ray McCauley, founder of Rhema Bible Church dies
Ray McCauley, the founder of Rhema Bible Church and a prominent evangelical leader in South Africa, has passed away at the age of 75
Durban Rising: How eThekwini’s new Mayor, Cyril Xaba is leading the City’s rejuvenation
Mayor Cyril Xaba, who took over the mayorship of eThekwini Municipality in early July after the ANC removed Mxolisi Kaunda, is driving a renewed energy sweeping the City.
Chidimma Adetshina is still South African – and we must recognise that
Ancestry alone does not define national identity, and we must uphold South Africa's core values of inclusivity, justice, and humanity, the writer says.
What does it mean to be South African? Lessons from the Chidimma Adetshina saga
Amid a wave of Afrophobic comments questioning Chidima Adethshina’s right to represent our nation due to her Nigerian surname, we should remember the Freedom Charter and reject narrow nationalism.
The five MK Party MP’s who will take the opposition’s fight to Ramaphosa’s GNU
With the unveiling of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s new cabinet on the horizon, attention shifts to the opposition's role in South Africa’s seventh administration. This spotlight intensified as 58 members of Jacob Zuma’s MK Party were sworn into Parliament, declaring themselves the official opposition amidst ongoing electoral disputes.
‘An era of hope’: Ramaphosa calls for national unity after being re-elected president
President Cyril Ramaphosa, re-elected after a marathon National Assembly session, calls for unity and cooperation among South Africans in his first address.
BREAKING: ConCourt rules against Zuma’s MK Party’s bid to halt Parliament electing a new president
The Constitutional Court has dismissed the MK Party's urgent application to halt Friday's National Assembly session to elect a new president, ruling the party failed to justify its delay and lacked merit in its case.
Elections 2024: MK says it will only negotiate with parties willing to give Zuma a presidential pardon
The MK party says that any negotiation to form a government must be pegged on giving Zuma a presidential pardon so that he can take a seat in the National Assembly and be eligible for the presidency.
A hole in the road: A metaphor for why the ANC is losing the confidence of the electorate
Despite being entrusted with the responsibility of transforming South Africa over the past 30 years, the ANC has failed to deliver on its promises of a better life for all. From the mismanagement of basic services to rampant corruption and a stark disconnect between its leaders and the people, the party's shortcomings are laid bare.
Ramaphosa throws the dice for the ANC as he signs NHI Bill into law
On the morning of December 16, 2017, President Jacob Zuma made a bold move. Fast forward to May 15, 2024, and history seems to repeat itself.
Game of Thrones: How Jacob Zuma and uMkhonto weSizwe Party are positioning themselves as kingmakers
In a dramatic twist of political fate, Jacob Zuma, once ousted from the presidency, now leads the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) into a pivotal election. With predictions placing the MKP as a significant force in South African politics, Zuma's strategy could redefine the ANC's future and shake the very foundations of the nation's political establishment.
Why the breakthrough in the AKA and Tibz murder case should inspire hope in our police
With Police Minister Bheki Cele and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi revealing a saga of relentless pursuit and cutting-edge investigative techniques, the developments in the AKA and Tibz murder case stands as a compelling reminder of what is possible when dedication meets the right resources.
DA Manifesto 2024: How the DA plans to end load shedding and water shedding
Under the banner of rescuing South Africa, Steenhuisen articulated the DA's vision to overhaul the country's energy and water sectors, emphasising the failures of the current national government and the urgency of adopting new strategies to ensure stability and growth.
DA Manifesto 2024: John Steenhuisen presents bold plan to ‘rescue South Africa’
Highlighting the Multi-Party Charter as a game-changer for uniting opposition parties, Steenhuisen stressed the importance of a strong, central party for a stable government, positioning the DA as that anchor.