RC 260831Power FMMondli Makhanya
Monday, 31 August 2026
Election politics dominated, with the SACP’s independent local-election bid, Johannesburg’s mayoral race and the state of South Africa’s defence force taking centre stage.
- 10:03
The SACP will contest November’s local government elections independently of the ANC, submitting 4,418 ward candidates and proportional-representation lists that include non-members.
- 11:10
Former Gauteng premier Mbazima Shilowa said every vote diverted from the ANC to the SACP could hurt it in council contests, though the scale of the impact remains uncertain.
- 10:14
Bosa Johannesburg mayoral candidate Nobuntu Webster prioritised leadership, a functioning city, financial recovery and economic growth, citing a municipal infrastructure backlog exceeding R200 billion.
- 10:26
Webster said a Bosa-led Johannesburg administration would review the city’s 13 municipal entities, potentially bringing functions under the city manager to improve coordination and accountability.
- 09:15
The Air Force was described as being in severe decline: no squadrons could reportedly be assembled for national defence, while 170 of 672 aircraft were dysfunctional.