HOGARTH | Ready, steady ... go home

Timeslive · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Aug 22, 2026 · 688 words · By Sunday Times Hogarth

ANC Internal Instability MK Party Opportunism Political Hypocrisy

headphones Listen to the eFinder podcast briefing

Generate a natural audio summary of this story

Daily briefing

What to know about ANC Internal Instability

The article discusses recent political developments in South Africa, focusing on President Cyril Ramaphosa's delay in announcing ANC mayoral candidates and the activities of the MK Party. It also mentions a legal dispute involving a fintech company and the Democratic Alliance.

Propaganda risk 60%

Claims checked 11

Techniques found 5

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center67%

Right33%

3 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Story audio is generated using AI They dressed up and flew in from all corners of South Africa, with high hopes for imminent great good fortune.

Why it matters

All of them had gone through gruelling interviews, answering tough questions from a panel of ministers and ANC veterans.

Common ground

So when they were invited to Johannesburg for the announcement of who had made it, their hearts were in the mouths.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Name Calling / Labeling, Smears: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this ANC Internal Instability story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that President Cyril Ramaphosa turned the occasion into one of those gatherings where everyone gets a consolation prize but no-one is actually declared a winner [instead of announcing who had been annointed as the ANC’s candidates for mayor in metros, cities and towns across the country, as scheduled]?
How does this story connect ANC Internal Instability with MK Party Opportunism over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://timeslive.co.za/opinion/2026-08-22-hogarth-ready-steady-go-home

analyticsAnalysis

60%

Propaganda Score

confidence: 95%

Significant concerns. Multiple propaganda techniques detected.

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 5 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 90% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Name Calling / Labeling 100% confidence

Attaching a negative label to a person or group to reject them without evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing name calling / labeling helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Smears 80% confidence

Using damaging allegations to undermine a person's reputation.

Why it matters: Recognizing smears helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Hypocrisy 85% confidence

Dismissing someone's argument because their behavior contradicts it.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to hypocrisy helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 11 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 6

help Insufficient Evidence 2

verified Verified By Reference 2

schedule Pending 1

check_circle

Claim 1: “President Cyril Ramaphosa turned the occasion into one of those gatherings where everyone gets a consolation prize but no-one is actually declared a winner [instead of announcing who had been annointed as the ANC’s candidates for mayor in metros, cities and towns across the country, as scheduled]”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web search results confirm that the ANC did not announce final mayoral candidates as expected, instead announcing a shortlist of candidates in an '11th-hour u-turn'.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Second cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa was the cabinet of the government of South Africa between 29 May 2019 and 19 June 2024. It was formed by President Ramaphosa after the 2019 general election and d…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_cabinet_of_Cyril_Ramaph…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The third cabinet of Cyril Ramaphosa, also known as the Government of National Unity (GNU), is the incumbent cabinet of the Government of South Africa. It was appointed on 30 June 2024 after the May 2…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_cabinet_of_Cyril_Ramapho…

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa (born 17 November 1952) is a South African businessman and politician who is serving as the fifth president of South Africa since 2018. A former anti-apartheid activist and t…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyril_Ramaphosa

+ 3 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 2: “the candidates for Johannesburg, Loyiso Masuku, Dada Morero and the Rev Frank Chikane”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that Loyiso Masuku, Dada Morero, and Rev Frank Chikane were named or interviewed as potential candidates for the Johannesburg mayoral post.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Frank chikane ommitted from anc joburg candidate list. The certified list places Loyiso Masuku at number one on the ANC’s proportional representation (PR) candidate list for the City of Johannesburg.
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/politics/frank-chikane-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Morero, Masuku and Reverend Frank Chikane were interviewed by ANC national officials — dubbed the top seven and led by President Cyril Ramaphosa — at the party’s headquarters Luthuli House.
https://www.sundaytimes.timeslive.co.za/politics/2026-07-10-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The ANC has named veteran Frank Chikane,, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and deputy mayor Loyiso Masuku as potential candidates for the city's top political post ahead of the November 4 local governme…
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-08-22-anc-names-chikane…

help

Claim 3: “he [Andile Mngxitama] decided to start his own outfit, Black First Land First”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results to confirm if Andile Mngxitama founded Black First Land First.

check_circle

Claim 4: “The Nkandla Crooner [Jacob Zuma] was in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, last weekend hoping to extend his MK Party power base”

CORROBORATED

Web results confirm Jacob Zuma visited Mthatha and the Eastern Cape to campaign for the MK Party and strengthen relations with traditional kingdoms.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mthatha is located in Eastern Cape.Mthatha has 2 major taxi businesses: Uncedo Taxi Association and Border Taxi Association. These associations had a feud over the R61 road from Mthatha to Libode and …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mthatha

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jacob Zuma, MK Party leader, lashes out at President Cyril Ramaphosa during Eastern Cape campaigning — calls him a crook and says he has done nothing for the people.Jacob Zuma’s MK Party visits Mthath…
https://www.tiktok.com/discover/jacob-zuma-in-mthatha

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The uMkhonto weSizwe Party leader, Jacob Zuma has embarked on a week-long courtesy visit to various traditional kingdoms in the OR Tambo district of the Eastern Cape. Zuma’s visit to the kingdoms seek…
https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/zuma-embarks-on-a-week-lon…

check_circle

Claim 5: “John Steenhuisen’s claim that another former leader, Tony Leon, used his proximity to the party to promote the interests of his PR clients”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that John Steenhuisen alleged Tony Leon used his PR firm (Resolve) and proximity to the party to benefit private clients.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Democratic Alliance's internal divisions have intensified after former leader John Steenhuisen alleged that Resolve Communications used its proximity to DA ministers in the Government of National …
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2026-07-07-ramaphosa-says-tr…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Tony Leon has denied allegations by fellow former DA leader John Steenhuisen that his communications firm, Resolve Communications, sought to influence DA ministers, saying the claims are false and tha…
https://www.polity.org.za/article/tony-leon-defends-communic…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Steenhuisen told News24 at the weekend that Leon used his public relations company Resolve’s proximity to DA leaders to set up meetings between DA ministers in the government of national unity and his…
https://www.businessday.co.za/politics/2026-06-30-tony-leon-…

schedule

Claim 6: “March & March met with AfriForum”

PENDING

This claim was extracted as a checkable statement from the article. eFinder labels it pending based on the available evidence and source context shown below.

verified

Claim 7: “a court battle between the South African Reserve Bank and Kastelo, a fintech company partly owned by the DA’s finance boss Mark Burke”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

While the South African Reserve Bank is a known entity, the provided search results do not mention a court battle with a company called 'Kastelo' or Mark Burke.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South African rand, or simply the rand, (sign: R; code: ZAR) is the official currency of South Africa. It is subdivided into 100 cents (sign: "c"), and a comma separates the rand and cents. The So…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_rand

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a list of commercial banks and other credit institutions in South Africa, as updated late 2024 by the Reserve Bank of South Africa.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_banks_in_South_Africa

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is the central bank of South Africa. It was established in 1921, through the promulgation of the Currency and Bank Act of 10 August 1920. It was created as a dire…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Reserve_Bank

+ 3 more evidence sources

verified

Claim 8: “The MK Party has an MP called Andile Mngxitama”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and news reports explicitly confirm that Andile Mngxitama is a Member of Parliament for the MK Party.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — John Andile Mngxitama is a South African politician serving as a member of Parliament for newly formed UMkhonto WeSizwe Party in the 7th Parliament.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andile_Mngxitama

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Andile Mngxitama and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma.Members finally take their seats in parliament. As previously reported by The South African, the MK Party ditched the first sitting, citing discrepancie…
https://www.thesouthafrican.com/news/zumas-long-time-ally-an…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — A new petition, with over 3,500 signatures calling for uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party MP Andile Mngxitama to be removed from Parliament for his call for the killing of whites, women, and children, has be…
https://iol.co.za/news/politics/2024-06-26-concerned-citizen…

help

Claim 9: “the MK Party working hard to recruit anti-migrant group March & March to its cause”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was found in the provided search results regarding the MK Party recruiting a group called 'March & March'.

check_circle

Claim 10: “Among those paraded on the stage as potential ANC mayoral candidates in Ekurhuleni were the incumbent, Doctor Xhakaza, and finance MMC Jongizizwe Dlabathi”

CORROBORATED

Evidence confirms Doctor Xhakaza is the incumbent mayor of Ekurhuleni and that Jongizizwe Dlabathi was a top mayoral candidate for the same city.

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Mzwandile Collen Masina (born 2 September 1974) is a South African politician from Gauteng who has represented the African National Congress (ANC) in the National Assembly since June 2024. He is the c…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mzwandile_Masina

menu_book

wikipedia NEUTRAL — Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza (born 1977) is a South African politician. He has served as the Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since April 2024. He is a member of the…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkosindiphile_Xhakaza

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Nkosindiphile Doctor Xhakaza is a South African politician. He has served as the Executive Mayor of the City of Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality since April 2024.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nkosindiphile_Xhakaza

+ 2 more evidence sources

check_circle

Claim 11: “finance MMC Jongizizwe Dlabathi, who was recently nearly fired by Xhakaza over the nomination process”

CORROBORATED

News reports explicitly state that Dlabathi was 'nearly axed' by Xhakaza amid tensions over the ANC's mayoral selection process.

menu_book

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Finance MMC Jongizizwe Dlabathi.Dlabathi’s resignation letter indicated that he would officially step down on Friday, 27 February. His resignation comes amid a fallout between the ANC in Ekurhuleni an…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/anc-in-…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Dlabathi, a top mayoral candidate, was nearly axed amid tensions over the ANC’s mayoral selection for Ekurhuleni. The ANC’s provincial task team deemed Xhakaza’s move premature, stressing that approva…
https://www.news24.com/politics/anc-gauteng-intervenes-as-ek…

+ 1 more evidence source

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.