RC 261005Power FMColleen Makhubele
Monday, 5 October 2026
Illegal mining, ward councillor reform and disability inclusion dominated the episode ahead of South Africa’s local government elections.
- 21:16
Illegal mining was linked to organised criminal networks and buyers beyond the people underground, with panellists calling for authorities to trace the broader supply chain.
- 21:38
South Africa has about 6,000 derelict and ownerless mines, but the department receives R140 million annually against an estimated rehabilitation cost of R35–40 billion.
- 22:30
Ward councillors carry community demands but lack administrative and budgetary authority; experts backed clearer responsibilities, stronger training and reforms to give ward structures a meaningful role.
- 23:30
No political party had meaningfully consulted the QuadPara Association, while election monitors reported inaccessible voting stations and concerns about secrecy for voters with disabilities.