As a full bench prepares to hear conflicting rulings on asylum detention, the author argues that impoverished black South Africans are missing from the courtroom.Read the full article

After leaving the corporate world to pursue his passion, a South African private chef has travelled to more than 30 countries, drawing inspiration from global cuisines while showcasing local flavours.Read the full article

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) is adamant that it has passed its first stress test of a highly-anticipated election week. Special voting concluded at 5pm on Tuesday, with IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya stating the commission had been pleased by the enthusiasm of voters and IEC staff. Moepya said during the final IEC briefing before election day that the commission was “fully prepared” and eager to welcome millions of voters. The IEC will oversee 23 676 voting stations this week using over 188 000 officials deployed across the country. Moepya made an impassioned plea to the 29.2 million registered voters to get to the polls between 7am and 9pm. 451 000 home visits in two days The chairperson confirmed that as of the 5pm voting deadline, 1 425 942 voters cast their ballots across the two-day special voting period. Voting stations accommodated 974 852 voters, while IEC teams conducted 451 090 home visits over two days. Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape had the highest number of special voters with 264 898, 208 846 and 207 258, respectively. Moepya confirmed that the special votes cast were securely stored and would be counted after 9pm on 4 November. “This means that the voting station results will be tallied together with the rest of the results and announced as part of the overall election results per voting station,” he said. IEC CEO Sy Mamabolo had confirmed earlier in the day that there had been several security incidents, but Moepya stressed that all the vital resources were under lock and key. “All ballot papers and essential election material have been secured and distributed to voting stations with the necessary logistical, security and operational arrangements in place to support the peaceful conduct of the elections,” the chair confirmed. No more electioneering Voters have been inundated with election messaging for over a year, and Moepya placed a deadline on the final surge. “The commission reminds parties, independent candidates – all contestants – that campaigning for these elections ends at midnight tonight. “These measures are intended to provide voters with the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to choose freely without intimidation and interference,” he stated. Maepa said this extended to all canvasing, door-to-door visits, demonstrations and rallies. Party regalia, campaign materials, canvassing or any attempt to sway voters in the immediate vicinity of the voting station is not allowed on election day; however, voters may wear party shirts or regalia if they wish. Moepya concluded with a plea to be patient while queueing and to respect the rights of their fellow citizens and the IEC officials at voting stations. “Voters are encouraged to verify their registration details and confirm where they are registered before leaving their home to avoid unnecessary delays or inconvenience. “We appeal to every one of the registered voters to come out tomorrow. Your democracy, and indeed your country, needs you,” Maepa concluded.

Hours before South Africa goes to the polls in the 2026 local government elections, the province of KwaZulu-Natal waits in anticipation. There was a sense of calm over the province as The Citizen team arrived at the King Shaka International Airport this week. At the Durban International Conference Centre, some reporters and those with a role to play in the elections were collecting their accreditations. The Results Operation Centre (ROC) remained empty, with some reporters and political parties conducting their final checks. But the quiet before the storm quickly disappeared the closer we got to Durban’s townships. There, the tension was palpable with so much on the line. KwaMashu In KwaMashu, unemployed youth loitered on the streets, drunk men staggered to their destination, and evidence of poor service delivery was apparent in the sights, sounds and smells of the streets. It may have been the last day of special votes, but there were no lines at the voting stations, with some predicting only short ones when most people cast their ballots on Wednesday. uMlazi In uMlazi, concern was in the air as the national office bearers of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party) visited the area in response to death threats towards a ward 79 councillor candidate. Sources told The Citizen that MK Party leaders had been paying a visit to all their councillor candidates in eThekwini. In the same area, ordinary people on the streets questioned each other about who they would vote for when election time comes. While it did not erupt into violence, there was some tension in the air between those who support different parties. Different political parties have called for restraint and tolerance as the province approaches the day of the elections, with the IFP losing a number of councillor candidates due to assassinations in the build-up to the elections. Phoenix In Phoenix, life appeared to continue as normal. There was none of the excitement in the air found in KwaMashu and uMlazi, where political parties were belting out their party music from their speakers and pushing last-minute campaigning from the street. Polls Some polls indicate that the MK Party will have an advantage in different parts of KZN, especially eThekwini. This is the first time that the MK Party will be contesting local government elections since the party was formed in 2023. The ANC believes it will regain lost support in areas such as eThekwini. The party did not win outright in the last local government elections, forcing it into a coalition in the metro. They also lost their provincial majority in the 2024 local government elections, scoring 17% of the vote.

The SASSA review system has come under scrutiny yet again, as the agency vows increased stricter action in 2027. One reader of The South African, Rita Cronje, gives insight into what the process feels like from the queue. Her grant was stopped in August 2026, she says, so she emailed her Limpopo office. To which the reply was she had to report to a local branch for SASSA review. “I spent three days standing in the heat to finally query my August grant,” she said. Thinking the process was resolved, she received her September and October grants. However, August, the very month in question, is still to materialise in her bank account. The most frustrating part? The agency simply says she needs to return to a SASSA branch to rectify the original review. SASSA REVIEW STRUGGLES So, what exactly is happening with the SASSA review process? And why does the South African Social Security Agency appear to be so scattered on the matter? February 2026: SASSA told Parliament it had reviewed about 240 000 grants and suspended about 70 000. About 495 000 beneficiaries had been flagged by income verification technology. April to June 2026: SASSA put 105 600 beneficiaries under review and suspended 56 807, that’s about 54%. As ever, the agency insists it doesn’t cancel grants ‘abruptly.’ However, it appears the knock-on effect is that payments may become delayed over successive months. And it is this exact scenario that Cronje is tangled up in. NATIONAL TREASURY’S TARGET Finance Minister Gondongwana did not okay any October 2026 top-ups for the first time in two years. Image: File Moreover, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s October 2026 MTBPS counted R13 billion in expected savings from SASSA reviews. That and fraud detection make up the biggest part of a R38 billion budget adjustment over the medium term to 2030. Plus, the Treasury wants to see stricter verification cut ‘core’ beneficiary numbers from 17.8 million in 2026/27 to 17.1 million by 2029/30, saving a further R6.2 billion. Meanwhile, the Institute for Economic Justice (IEJ) say the SASSA review system is ‘arbitrary’ and in some cases ‘unconstitutional.’ They argue the process creates burden, so, are there better ways to do it? Why do one-time stokvel payouts and/or family gifts trigger suspensions? Should single, one-off lump-sum deposits be treated differently from regular income? Is there a faster digital route for SASSA review? SRD applicants can check status and appeal online, but permanent grant recipients can only travel to an office. Could there be a secure upload portal documents, with a reference number and call-back system? SASSA pretends in its promotional material that it pays grants to “reach the right people at the right time and place.” However, for pensioners like Rita Cronje, stuck in the heat for days with nothing to show for it, there doesn’t appear to be a ‘right time.’ But what do you think? Can the SASSA review process be handled better? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below …

More than 1.4 million South Africans have already cast their ballots in the 2026 Local Government Elections, with the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) declaring itself ready for Wednesday’s nationwide vote. The two-day special voting process concluded on Tuesday, 3 November, with 1 425 942 voters recorded as having cast their ballots. Of these, 974 852 voted at voting stations, while 451 090 cast their ballots through home visits. READ | Free coffees, beers, doughnuts and more: Outlets rewarding voters this Election Day Preliminary numbers The IEC said approximately 2.6 million voters had been approved for special voting because they would otherwise be unable to vote on Election Day. That means just under 55% of those who applied for a special vote actually ended up casting their vote. The figures are preliminary and were expected to be finalised on Tuesday evening. Gauteng records the most special votes Gauteng recorded the highest number of special votes, with 264 898, followed by KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape. The provincial breakdown was: Gauteng: 264,898 KwaZulu-Natal: 208,846 Eastern Cape: 207,258 Limpopo: 180,627 Mpumalanga: 149,714 Western Cape: 148,493 North West: 126,187 Free State: 75,946 Northern Cape: 63,973 The IEC confirmed that special ballots had been securely stored and would be counted alongside ballots cast on Election Day. They will form part of the overall results announced for each voting station. 29.2 million voters registered The IEC says it is operationally ready for Wednesday’s election, with arrangements in place across all nine provinces. A total of 29.2 million voters are registered to participate in the 2026 Local Government Elections, with 23 696 voting stations established nationwide. Approximately 188 000 IEC officials have been deployed to support the process. The Commission says ballot papers and essential election materials have been distributed, with logistical and security arrangements in place. Voting stations will open at 07:00 and close at 21:00 on Wednesday, 4 November. What voters need to take to the polls The IEC has reminded voters that they may only cast their ballots at the voting station where they are registered. Voters must present one of the following identity documents: A green bar-coded South African ID book A smart ID card A valid Temporary Identity Certificate issued by Home Affairs Voters can check their registration details, voting station and sequence number through the following channels: WhatsApp: 060 088 0000 IEC Contact Centre: 0800 11 8000 SMS: 32810 (R1 per SMS) Website: www.elections.org.za Providing a sequence number to election officials can help them locate a voter’s details more quickly. Campaigning ends at midnight Political parties, independent candidates and their supporters must stop campaigning at midnight on Tuesday, 3 November. Door-to-door campaigning, canvassing, demonstrations and political rallies will no longer be permitted after the deadline. The IEC also reminded contestants that campaigning and attempts to influence voters inside or in the immediate vicinity of voting stations are prohibited. Voters may wear party colours, however, provided they do not engage in prohibited campaigning or attempts to influence others. Important rules inside voting stations The Commission has urged voters to protect the secrecy of their ballots and follow the rules inside voting stations. Ballot papers must be marked privately in the designated voting booth. Taking photographs of completed or marked ballot papers is strictly prohibited. Voters must also avoid intimidating or obstructing other voters or election officials. Dangerous weapons are not permitted inside voting stations, and disruptive behaviour is prohibited. The IEC has further urged South Africans to verify election-related information through official channels before sharing it on social media, warning that false or misleading information can undermine confidence in the electoral process. The Commission has called on voters, political parties, independent candidates and observers to help ensure a peaceful and orderly Election Day.

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