Friday, 28 August 2026

The IEC set 5pm as the final deadline for political parties to submit local-election candidate lists, ruling out amendments or an extension except through judicial intervention or threats to free and fair polls.

The SIU said former Ngandla principal architect Minentle Makanya must repay R47 million to National Treasury after security-upgrade costs at Jacob Zuma’s residence rose from R7.9 million to R250 million.

Defence union secretary Piki Kriel warned that chronic underfunding has left soldiers without adequate accommodation, equipment, food and uniforms, with the SANDF potentially reduced to an armed border guard by next year.

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero apologised unconditionally for insulting a resident during a service-delivery meeting, accepting responsibility after callers debated whether public leaders may lose their temper.

Political analysts said opinion polls can indicate broad electoral trends but may mislead when parties commission them; local-government results remain difficult to predict because voters’ municipal experiences vary widely.