South Africa in February 2026: the most important developments in politics
South Africa's politics in February 2026 were marked by turmoil in the ANC and the opposition, and by a busy foreign policy. In Ekurhuleni, Xhakaza reshuffled the mayoral committee amid tension between the ANC and the EFF; the EFF rejected the committee posts, saying the reshuffle seeks to undermine the party, and an ANC official resigned amid the municipal turmoil. John Steenhuisen withdrew from the Democratic Alliance leadership race and said he would not seek re-election as party leader. Ward by-elections brought wins for the DA, IFP and ANC in Johannesburg, KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo.
On foreign affairs, South Africa expelled an Israeli envoy; the United States criticized the move and accused South Africa of poor foreign policy choices. Later in the month South Africa called on UN member states to recognize Palestinian statehood and said a US-Israeli attack violates international law. A new US ambassador, Leo Brent Bozell III, arrived on 16 February, and South Africa accepted him. President Ramaphosa secured Putin's support for the return of 17 South Africans caught in the war in Ukraine and on 24 February thanked Putin for their release. He also redirected the probe into why Iran took part in a January naval exercise to his own office.
In Parliament, the EFF opened a case against O'Sullivan after a walkout, and an ad hoc committee said it will call O'Sullivan back. MPs accepted findings that opened the impeachment process against Judges Parker and Makhubele, and the government raised military and judiciary spending.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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