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Local Government Elections

latest news & developments
AI-driven: New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani provides one of the clearest examples of how digital mobilisation and targeted online engagement can outweigh traditional displays of political strength. Photo: Supplied
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

AI and the battle for SA’s 2026 elections

This does not necessarily mean that physical campaigning will disappear. Politics remains fundamentally human. Voters still value personal interaction, community engagement and…

  • Mandla J Radebe
6 min read
Ethekwini mayor Cyril Xaba. Photo: City of eThekwini
ANC

eThekwini corruption scrutiny could hurt ANC in November elections, analysts warn

The ANC faces mounting political pressure in eThekwini after municipal leaders were grilled by Parliament’s Scopa over R6.4 billion in irregular expenditure, governance failures…

  • Brian Sokutu
4 min read
Floyd Shivambu welcomes Papa Penny to the Afrika Mayibuye Movement (Mayibuye). (Floyd Shivambu/X)
4 NOVEMBER

Penny Penny joins Mayibuye as party gears up for local polls

The Xitsonga musician resigned as an uMkhonto weSizwe Party MP on Friday, citing internal conflict before joining Afrika Mayibuye Movement

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
2 min read
The Presidents’ men – and women: The ANC has always used its parliamentary majority to close ranks behind its president and party interest, rather than adhering to the Constitution and making decisions in the interest of South Africa. Photo: Supplied
AFRICAN TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT ATM

Ramaphosa’s Constitutional Court dilemma

Ramaphosa’s decision to pursue a judicial review and the Constitutional Court’s call for Parliament to start an impeachment inquiry, will create tensions in the GNU

  • William Gumede
9 min read
Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi. (@mmkubayi/X)
ACTIONSA

Mmamoloko Kubayi dismisses ANC suggestion that she run for Johannesburg mayor

Sources close to Kubayi said the approach was not genuine but ‘malicious’ and meant to disrupt her

  • Lunga Mzangwe
3 min read
The elections announced for 4 November will have a consequential impact on our body politic as municipal polls often project how national elections will turn out. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)
4 NOVEMBER

Remember, Remember the 4th of November

As unpredictable as elections may be, the best outcome for voters in the 4 November local government elections would be an electoral system which incentivises and rewards…

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
3 min read
Mosotho Moepya, chairperson of IEC South Africa. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
ELECTORAL COMMISSION

IEC warns it will prosecute voters who use fake addresses

IEC chairperson Mosotho Moepya has emphasised that the commission will investigate registration irregularities

  • Lyse Comins
3 min read
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
ANC

ANC to headhunt capable mayoral candidates in push to regain metro majorities before local elections

The ANC also warns against the ‘parachuting’ of leaders into municipal positions without proper organisational processes

  • Mandisa Makgakga
2 min read
On the job: Maluti-a-Phofung municipal workers attending to electricity connections in the area. Photo: Maluti-a-Phofung Communications
CORRUPTION

Thugs cut power, demand villagers pay

Criminals are allegedly extorting residents when the FS municipality fails to cough up for work they submitted claims for but that was never done

  • Lunga Mzangwe
3 min read
ELECTION DATE

IEC calls for early election date announcement

The IEC has set 20 and 21 June 2026 as a national voter registration weekend and urges an early election date announcement to ensure voters can register correctly

  • Mandisa Makgakga
3 min read
Outgoing federal council chair Helen Zille. Photo:(@Our_DA/X)
CITY OF JOHANNESBURG

Zille pledges 200 000 new jobs in Johannesburg

Joburg mayoral candidate Helen Zille said the DA-run Cape Town gained 69 000 jobs in the past three months while Johannesburg shed 49 000 jobs

  • Nkateko Joseph Mabasa
4 min read
Water crisis: Residents of Johannesburg protest outside a Joburg Water depot against water outages that have been taking place in the city. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
2025 CITIZENS PERCEPTIONS AND EXPECTATIONS SURVEY

What South Africans think of municipalities

Reports have highlighted that a significant number of elected councillors struggle with basic literacy and comprehension

  • Nyasha Mpani
6 min read
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba. (File photo)
ACTIONSA

Former mayor Mashaba throws his hat into Joburg’s mayoral race

ActionSA leader joins the likes of DA’s Helen Zille to claim city’s top post

  • Lunga Mzangwe
2 min read
The Mail & Guardian understands that mayor Dada Morero did not make it onto the list submitted to Luthuli House for interviews for the mayoral position. File photo: X
AFRICAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

New deputy mayor post set to cost Joburg over R1.28 mln annually

Councillors approved a deputy mayor position for the first time in the city’s history, with 107 voting in favour

  • Mandisa Makgakga
4 min read
Uncertainty: Despite party members showing full support for EFF leader Julius Malema in public, party leaders have said in private that his conviction has unsettled Red Beret supporters. Photo: Delwyn Verasamy
ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

EFF to weigh options amid Malema woes

The weekend plenum will tackle leadership succession and priorities, amid growing unease over the party leader’s pending sentencing and its implications for stability and elections

  • Mandisa Makgakga
7 min read