POWER Zone

Tuesday, 3 November 2026

Local-election talk dominated Power Zone, with the US move to remove South Africa from AGOA and two special-voting incidents standing out alongside a councillor explainer and an open-line debate on social media regulation.

1. 00:04

   The Trump administration has notified South Africa and Rwanda it will remove them from AGOA, ending duty-free US market access from January 1, 2027. South Africa was the largest beneficiary, accounting for 54% of AGOA-related exports.

2. 00:01

   The IEC says the first day of special voting went largely to plan, with two unexpected incidents: a presiding officer died after collapsing at a Mahikeng voting station, and an IEC staffer was involved in a KwaZulu-Natal car crash.

3. 00:02

   Home Affairs extended office hours nationwide this week, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on election day, and temporarily suspended online booking to help voters obtain identity documents.

4. 01:05

   Ward councillors represent a specific geographic area and link residents to the municipality, while PR councillors represent political parties across the whole municipality, with neither more accountable than the other.

5. 00:05

   Experts at the Africa and Global South Water and Sanitation Dialogue in Durban later this month are calling for greater investment in wastewater treatment, water recycling and climate-resilient infrastructure.

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