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‘Mistake’: Former security minister Ayanda Dlodlo. Photo: Luba Lesolle/Gallo Images

How spies shape South Africa’s political path

From Mbeki to Zuma to Ramaphosa, the facts and fictions of the intelligence networks have shadowed political players and settled power struggles

President Cyril Ramaphosa. (Photo by Michele Spatari/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Arthur Fraser opens criminal case against Ramaphosa

ANC’s step-aside rule mean charges, which include kidnapping, money laundering and bribery, could affect President Ramaphosa’s re-election campaign at the end of the year

South African National Defence Force soldiers and South Africa Police Services (SAPS) members line up in front of the Phoenix Police Station in Durban, on July 21, 2021. File photo by Marco Longari/AFP via Getty Images

Hearings into July unrest expose dismal state of security cluster

As the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) concludes its first leg of the inquiry into the July unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, the testimonies have laid bare the…

Former national commissioner of correctional service Arthur Fraser. (Photo by Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Jaco Marais)

Zondo dismisses Fraser’s application to cross-examine witnesses

The former head of the State Security Agency and Zuma ally did not come close to complying with the state capture inquiry’s rules for cross-examination, Zondo said

A dearth of consequences: Ajay and Atul Gupta skipped South Africa for Dubai along with brother Rajesh and their families two days after then-president Jacob Zuma stepped down. (Photo by Gallo Images/Business Day/Martin Rhodes)

Zondo commission: 10 unanswered questions

Zuma went to jail rather than testify. Some who did told blatant lies. Who decided Cabinet appointments and how much money was carried out of Saxonwold?

President Cyril Ramaphosa conceded on August 11 2021 there had been rampant state corruption while he was deputy to former president Jacob Zuma, but said he did not resign as that would have stymied his efforts to fight the rot. (Photo by Sumaya Hisham/Pool/AFP)

The recent past subverts Ramaphosa’s line of plausible denial at Zondo commission

The president was presented with evidence about state capture that it was hard to believe escaped the attention of those in power, including himself

Events of the past week have proven that the Zondo commission investigating state capture cannot conclude its work without former president Jacob Zuma’s honest testimony. (Gallo)

A despot’s time to face democracy

Events of the past week have proven that the Zondo commission investigating state capture cannot conclude its work without former president Jacob Zuma’s honest testimony

Arthur Fraser, as director general of the State Security Agency (SSA), personally signed off on payments of R20-million to the African News Agency (ANA) as part of a covert operation code-named “Project Wave” to co-opt the media during the last years of the Zuma era. (Jaco Marais/Netwerk24/Gallo)

Zondo commission: Fraser personally signed off on SSA payments to ANA

Journalists who received payments from the state security agency will be named only once the Zondo commission has notified them in writing

Former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser goes on the offensive as allegations mount against him at the inquiry into state capture. (Felix Dlangamandla/Media 24)

Ms K describes ‘separate and discrete’ SSA command structure to protect Zuma

Ms K’s and Mr Y’s affidavits and testimony have alleged a picture going back to 2008 of how the former president and his aides worked — and allegedly abused the SSA

During the Zuma era, the State Security Agency (SSA) fought factional battles in the ANC, provided covert election support to the governing party and served the personality cult of the president to the point of unlawfully detaining one of his spouses suspected of poisoning him.

RECAP: New allegations of how the former head of the ANC, the party and others benefited from the SSA

Day two of State Security Agency testimony at the Zondo commission birthed more revelations that point to the former head of state and agents breaking the law

Domestic bliss:  Nompumelelo Ntuli, one of former president Jacob Zuma’s wives. Photo: Yunus Mohamed/ Foto24/Gallo

Spy boss tells how agency was used to detain Zuma’s wife after poisoning claims

Day two of State Security Agency testimony at the Zondo commission birthed more revelations that point to the former head of state and agents breaking the law