Local Government Elections

ANC to appeal Electoral Court ruling over 181 excluded candidates

The African National Congress (ANC) is taking its fight over 181 candidates excluded from the local government election ballot to the next level. The party says it will appeal an Electoral Court ruling dismissing its application to have the candidates from six municipalities included in the IEC’s Online Candidate Nomination System after the 28 August deadline. The ANC approached the court earlier this month, seeking an extension after arguing that […]

September 16, 2026 12

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Majodina apologises after vulgar outburst as ANC faces backlash

Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina, has received mixed reactions to her apology following a heated exchange with a member of the public in Kouga. Some have welcomed the apology, arguing that ministers are human and can make mistakes, while others have criticised Majodina, saying she should have learnt from a similar incident involving Johannesburg Mayor, Dada Morero. Majodina was heard using derogatory language on 9 September during the launch […]

September 15, 2026 12

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Gauteng police arrest over 14,000 undocumented foreign nationals in Operation Shanela

More than 38 000 people have been arrested in Gauteng during the second phase of Operation Shanela, as police intensify crime-fighting operations across the province. Briefing the Gauteng Legislature on Friday on crime statistics for the first quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, Provincial Police Commissioner, Tommy Mthombeni, said 38 584 people were arrested during the operation, which began in June 2025. According to Mthombeni, 14 256 of those arrested […]

September 11, 2026 284

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Majodina’s conduct speaks to the social distance between the governors and the governed: Analyst

Political analyst,Professor Sam Koma, says Water and Sanitation Minister, Pemmy Majodina's, conduct during a community engagement in the Eastern Cape speaks to the growing social distance between those in power and the people they govern. Majodina finds herself in hot water after making derogatory remarks to a resident during a ministerial visit in Kouga, Eastern Cape. A video of the incident has since gone viral on social media, showing Majodina […]

September 11, 2026 55

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November 4 declared a public holiday

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially declared Wednesday, 4 November 2026, a public holiday. Millions of South Africans will head to the polls to elect councillors, mayors and municipal representatives who will govern the country's 257 municipalities for the next five years. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has announced that a total of 142 072 candidates have been nominated to contest 10 526 council seats across municipalities. The commission has also […]

September 9, 2026 34

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ANC, IEC legal spat over nominations goes to Electoral Court

The African National Congress (ANC) says any relief granted by the Electoral Court over disputed candidate nominations should also apply to other political parties that allegedly experienced similar technical problems with the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s (IEC) electronic submission system. The party has taken its dispute with the IEC to the Electoral Court, insisting it is not fighting only for its own affected candidates. Speaking during a briefing on […]

September 8, 2026 32

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Crime stats have improved, but bloodshed persists, says Cachalia

Acting police minister, Firoz Cachalia, says while the decreases in crime stats are encouraging, they do not erase the reality that too many South Africans continue to lose their lives to violent crime. Cachalia released the first-quarter crime statistics today, which he says confirm that crime is highly concentrated. Murder cases fell by 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year, while robbery with aggravating circumstances went down by 14.7%. […]

August 28, 2026 29

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IEC employs over 22,000 young people ahead of registration weekend

The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says it has employed over 22 500 young people as it prepares for the nationwide voter registration weekend on the 20 and 21 June. Eligible voters will be able to update their details ahead of the November 4 local government elections. The commission says,71% of its 48 212 staff members are women. IEC CEO, Sy Mamabolo, says more than 34 000 of those employed are […]

June 18, 2026 66

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