For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: Lamola welcomes Dlamini-Zuma’s retraction of vote-buying claims; ActionSA sues ANC’s Maepa over alleged AI-fake claims; And, son of Uganda's president says he will stand for top job in 2031

Lamola welcomes Dlamini-Zuma’s retraction of vote-buying claims

Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has welcomed a formal retraction by ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, of allegations linking him to illicit voice notes and vote-buying during internal party elections.

The controversy erupted earlier this month following Dlamini-Zuma’s appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast, hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

During the episode, the former Minister levelled explosive allegations against high-ranking ANC officials, claiming that illicit financial influence heavily dictated internal election outcomes.

Following the broadcast, Lamola issued a strong legal demand to Dlamini-Zuma, instructing her to publicly retract the claims linking him to the 2017 vote-buying allegations.

Dlamini-Zuma issued a statement on social media to correct the record.

ActionSA sues ANC’s Maepa over alleged AI-fake claims

ActionSA has launched coordinated actions against the ANC’s Kgoši Maepa, lodging a formal complaint with the Independent Electoral Commission and preparing criminal charges over an alleged disinformation campaign targeting Tshwane Mayor Dr Nasiphi Moya.

The dispute stems from public allegations that Tlopo Construction, a company doing business with the City of Tshwane, performed renovations at Moya's private residence using public funds.

ActionSA believes Maepa’s actions breach the Electoral Code of Conduct and contravene the Local Government: Municipal Electoral Act of 2000, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to ten years.

ActionSA national chairperson Michael Beaumont stated that these rumours had been "shopped around" to media houses since July by political opponents.

Beaumont accused Maepa of doubling down on the claims via social media, despite Moya reportedly providing journalists with financial proof that the work was paid for privately and completed by a different contractor.

Specifically, ActionSA alleges that Maepa shared posts on X using AI-generated WhatsApp chats to manufacture incriminating conversations between the Mayor and a contractor.

ActionSA’s formal complaint asks the IEC to investigate whether Maepa's conduct violates the Electoral Code of Conduct, which prohibits the publication of false or defamatory allegations against a party's candidate.

Simultaneously, the party is initiating criminal proceedings under the Municipal Electoral Act.

And, son of Uganda's president says he will stand for top job in 2031

Uganda's military chief Muhoozi Kainerugaba, who is also the son of the country's long-ruling President Yoweri Museveni, said he would run for president in 2031.

Kainerugaba has long been touted as a possible successor to his ageing father and is well known for his fiery social media posts including threats to behead the leading opposition leader Bobi Wine.

He played a key role in securing his father's re-election in the last polls in January by ordering a crackdown on opponents and cutting the internet.

Kainerugaba, who leads a political pressure group called the Patriotic League of Uganda, had previously declared he would stand in the last election in January but ultimately backed out.

Museveni, who heads the ruling National Resistance Movement, has ruled Uganda since 1986 and critics have accused his government of a range of human rights violations including torture, kidnappings and arbitrary detentions. The government denies the allegations.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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