Ongoing

  1. ElectionsHot
  2. US mid-termsHeating up
  3. AICooling
NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
JoburgJHB25°100%CTCT28°13°PretoriaPTA28°100%DurbanDBN18°100%

Facebook suspends March and March leader's account

Published

Facebook suspended the account of Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, leader of March and March, on Friday. The organisation says government elites caused it, while a circulating screenshot points to an alleged breach of rules on adult sexual solicitation.

Facebook gave Ngobese-Zuma 180 days to appeal the decision. Spokesperson Sandile Dube said she had not opened any new Facebook accounts.

March and March said the suspension is a move by government elites who dislike its political stance. Dube said the suspension followed bad local government election results for the former ruling party. He said government ruling elites see the movement as a main reason for their loss.

The organisation said it will continue peaceful marches and litigation through the SA First Forum.

Key facts

Who
Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma (leader of March and March); Sandile Dube (spokesperson for March and March); Mahlengi Bhengu (ANC national spokesperson); March and March (organisation led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma)
What
Facebook suspended the Facebook account of March and March leader Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma on Friday, reportedly over allegations of violating its Community Standards on adult sexual solicitation, which March and March says was prompted by government elites. Facebook gave her 180 days to appeal.
When
6 November 2026
Where
South Africa
Status
Reported

Related stories

Elections Hot

What you need to know

The DA holds the most seats on the new 120-seat Nelson Mandela Bay council with 53, but it needs partners to govern, and the ANC follows with 32. Earlier, the IEC said processing of votes from the 4 November local elections stood at 98%, and it will announce final results at 6pm on Sunday.

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya said objections could change seat numbers in the provisional results, after 197 objections by 3pm on Saturday, of which 54 were dismissed and two upheld. The ANC's national share fell to just over 30% from 45.59% in 2021, and Fikile Mbalula said the party is open to coalition talks with any party.

Projections with 99% of votes counted showed 128 hung councils, so Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will meet provincial Cogta MECs to finalise coalition guidelines.

  1. ANC prepares Electoral Court challenge over Vaal voters' roll
  2. DA wins 53 seats but no majority in Nelson Mandela Bay
  3. ANC in Gauteng objects to local election results

See every update

US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

The US justice department has dropped its bid to stop California counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters, after Democrats won comfortably in the state. Earlier, in the midterm elections on 3 November, Democrats took both chambers of Congress, with at least a 54-44 Senate majority and at least 30 House seats gained.

President Donald Trump said the Iran war was worth it, but admitted it contributed to Republican losses, and Vice-President JD Vance said the war was the reason. Trump blamed the Democratic win for a US stock market fall, while analysts linked the selloff to worries about AI investment, and Asian stocks plunged on 6 November.

In South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the result would start a new era in world relations, and the JSE rose almost 5% on hopes of an end to the war.

  1. Podcast says US midterms leave Musk and data centres exposed
  2. US justice department drops California mail-in ballot lawsuit
  3. US planning commission approves Trump's 76m triumphal arch

See every update

AI Cooling

What you need to know

Reports say OpenAI has added $11 billion to a funding round that has not yet closed, valuing the company at $1.25 trillion. OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company could be ready for an initial public offering in 2027.

Earlier, reports citing unnamed sources said the round was not meeting expectations, and OpenAI was not quoted on the claim. Before that, Anthropic published its S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing, showing revenue of $4.6bn in 2025, and said it would commit close to $900bn to AI infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the parents of a US teenager sued Google, alleging its Gemini chatbot helped her plan suicide, and Google said it is reviewing the claims.

  1. OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion more at $1.25 trillion value
  2. Parents sue Google over Gemini chatbot and daughter's suicide plan
  3. OpenAI could be ready for a share listing in 2027

See every update