Author: Kgaogelo Magolego
For the upcoming local government elections, some South African voters will have to choose their preferred political parties from double-column ballot papers. The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) attributes the new ballot configuration in some municipalities to the unusually high number of contestants expected to participate in the elections. A total of 136,790 candidates are set to contest the upcoming elections, with 10,478 local council seats up for grabs. Most of the candidates are standing under the banners of political parties. Deputy Chief Electoral Officer Masego Sheburi said the double-column ballot papers would be necessary in metropolitan municipalities where…
Police are investigating the death of a woman whose body was discovered in Dawn Park, Boksburg, on Thursday morning, bringing to nine the number of women whose bodies have been found across parts of Ekurhuleni since July. The latest victim was found half-naked and wrapped in a sheet beside a road in Dawn Park. Her identity has not yet been released. The discovery has heightened concern among residents, with communities in Boksburg and surrounding areas calling for answers and increased efforts to protect women. Police, however, have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the deaths before investigations are completed. Authorities have…
Chairperson of the Commission of Inquiry into Criminality, Political Interference and Corruption in the Criminal Justice System, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, has raised concern that allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi appear to be supported by evidence emerging before the commission. Madlanga made the observation during brief remarks on Thursday to mark the first anniversary of the commission’s establishment. “Unfortunately, what is emerging from the evidence is that there are indications of serious criminality within the criminal justice system and that this is the result of the infiltration of, and undue influence on, the criminal justice system by elements…
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) says a record number of candidates have registered to contest the November 4 local government elections. The commission briefed the media at its Centurion headquarters on Wednesday, where it revealed that 136,790 candidates are set to contest the upcoming elections, with thousands of local council seats up for grabs. “An unprecedented 136,790 candidates have satisfied the statutory requirements to contest seats across the eight metropolitan municipalities, 44 district municipalities and 205 local municipalities throughout the country,” the IEC said. “There are cumulatively 10,526 seats to be contested across the board. To put these numbers into…
President Cyril Ramaphosa has formally declared 4 November 2026, the date of the Local Government Elections, a public holiday. The Presidency made the announcement in a statement on Wednesday. “President Cyril Ramaphosa has, in terms of Section 2A of the Public Holidays Act of 1994, declared Wednesday, 4 November 2026 – the date for the Local Government Elections – a public holiday throughout the country,” the Presidency said. The move is aimed at allowing millions of registered voters to cast their ballots in the only elections in which residents directly elect ward-based representatives. “The President calls on all registered voters…
The South African government says it has successfully relocated the last group of migrants who had gathered outside the Department of Home Affairs offices on Che Guevara Road in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. The Department of Home Affairs announced on Wednesday morning that the 274 migrants had arrived safely in Gauteng and were being settled at the Lindela Repatriation Centre in Krugersdorp. The department had initially arranged to relocate all 278 migrants, but four opted to remain in Durban, where they hope to return to the communities in which they previously lived. “278 individuals had initially agreed to be transferred, but four…
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya of threatening Gauteng’s water security by disconnecting electricity to a Johannesburg Water reservoir in Centurion. DA spokesperson on water and sanitation Stephen Moore said the decision by the City of Tshwane’s coalition government to “unilaterally” disconnect electricity to the reservoir, while Gauteng is experiencing widespread water outages, was “deeply reckless and irresponsible”. Moore’s comments come as Rand Water deals with disruptions to pumping operations at its Vereeniging water treatment plant following a power outage in Emfuleni Municipality. The disruption has affected several water supply systems. “The issue is not the…
ActionSA is facing criticism over its approach to election debates after party leader Herman Mashaba withdrew from at least two public engagements involving other mayoral candidates. The latest development has prompted the party to announce its own Gauteng Metro Mayoral Candidate Townhall, featuring several of its candidates in what it describes as a debate. Mashaba’s decision not to participate in debates has drawn criticism from political opponents, including former Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille, who is among the candidates contesting the City of Johannesburg mayoral race. Mashaba previously said he would not share a platform with Zille, whom he…
South Africa has reacted with outrage following the discovery of the body of a sixth woman in Ekurhuleni. The latest victim was found on the side of a road in Kwa-Thema, Springs, on Tuesday morning. She was reportedly found partially clothed, raising concerns that she may have been sexually assaulted, similar to allegations surrounding some of the women whose bodies were discovered in the Kempton Park area over the past two months. Police have yet to confirm whether the latest death is linked to the other cases. President Cyril Ramaphosa has condemned the killings and called for swift action by…
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has heard that members of the public are allegedly too afraid to report misconduct by Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) officers, amid claims of widespread criminal activity within the force. Superintendent Elmarie de Beer, Head of the JMPD Internal Affairs Unit, told the commission that there is significant under-reporting of alleged misconduct because complainants fear retaliation from armed officers. De Beer was the first witness to testify when the commission resumed public hearings following a brief recess. She said some members of the public would rather lose money or property than pursue complaints against JMPD…