With 69 parties contesting eThekwini’s proportional-representation ballot, the metro’s election will test the MK Party’s local support and whether rival parties can form a stable administration.

Bernard Parker has released a statement clearing the air after an Instagram Story post announced his breakup from businesswoman Kacha Stepanovic.

I know that when it comes to Kaizer Chiefs, things are always blown out of proportion because of the stature of the club. However, the latest blunder involving Faiz Abrahams is an embarrassment of monumental proportions that raises serious questions about the club’s internal communication and management. Chiefs must hold someone accountable Someone needs to be held accountable because this unfortunate episode disadvantaged the technical team ahead of their Betway Premiership encounter against Stellenbosch FC. It cannot be business as usual when someone within the management structure fails to inform the coaching staff that Abrahams, who is on loan from Stellenbosch, cannot play against his parent club. These are the kinds of administrative details that should be dealt with long before matchday, not moments before kick-off. Abrahams was initially named in the starting XI for Tuesday’s encounter against Stellies before a comedy of errors resulted in his removal from the line-up, with Mduduzi Shabalala coming in as his replacement. Amakhosi assistant coach Dillon Sheppard was left to explain the last-minute change before the game against the Cape Winelands outfit. He conceded that he did not know much about Abrahams’ situation and that the team had prepared for the match with him in the starting XI. If this does not scream incompetence, then I do not know what will. Someone needs to take responsibility because there is very little room for these types of errors if Chiefs are serious about challenging for the league title this season. The match eventually ended in a 1-1 draw, with Shabalala making the most of Abrahams’ misfortune by scoring the equaliser in the 58th minute after Stellenbosch had taken the lead shortly after the break. An unnecessary adjustment We will never know what might have happened had Abrahams started the game or how his late exclusion affected the coaches’ tactical approach. What we do know, however, is that Chiefs were forced to make an unnecessary adjustment at a crucial stage of their preparations. Results elsewhere only made matters worse for Amakhosi. Their rivals in the top four, Mamelodi Sundowns, Orlando Pirates and AmaZulu, all picked up maximum points, while Chiefs stumbled to a draw at FNB Stadium in front of their home supporters. The honest truth is that everyone at Naturena needs to be pulling in the same direction. Based on this latest embarrassment, there are legitimate questions about whether that is happening behind the scenes. These seemingly small mistakes also risk eroding supporters’ trust in the people running the club. Chiefs appear to be moving at a frustratingly slow pace in their quest to restore the club to its former glory. For Amakhosi to rejoin the elite and compete for major silverware, they need excellence across the board, from management and recruitment to the players and technical team. Every department must understand its responsibilities and deliver accordingly. If something as straightforward as a loan agreement prohibiting a player from facing his parent club can be overlooked, it begs the question: what else might be slipping through the cracks, particularly in the highly competitive world of player recruitment? Chiefs cannot afford to keep shooting themselves in the foot. Restoring the club to its rightful place requires more than ambition, it demands accountability and attention to detail.

The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and police in KwaZulu-Natal rejected March and March Movement claims of imminent arrests on 15 October 2026. The denials come approximately two weeks before the 4 November local government elections. The NPA said no arrest warrant had been issued for movement leader Jacinta MaNgobese Zuma or SA First Forum acting chief executive Xolani Zuma. The South African Police Service (Saps) dismissed the claims as rumours. What the NPA said about the claims According to the NPA, it did not take instructions from political parties or public office holders. “The NPA makes independent and impartial prosecutorial decisions, guided only by the constitution, legislation and evidence,” the NPA said. It said it does not normally comment on possible arrests before the law enforcement process is complete. “Once a matter is enrolled in the courts, the charges and reasons for prosecution will become known through the normal judicial process,” the NPA said. The authority urged people and organisations to stop making unfounded allegations that could undermine the justice system. “The NPA remains dedicated to discharging its functions without fear, favour or prejudice,” the NPA said. Police say no case exists against the two leaders Saps on Thursday also said it did not usually respond to baseless allegations. It said it spoke out because the claims could cause panic among residents. “As a matter of fact, police do not have a trace of any case registered against the two,” Saps stated. Police encouraged activists to be responsible and avoid statements that could incite violence. “No amount of public statements will derail police from enforcing the law,” Saps said. According to Saps, anyone who suspected a warrant had been issued against them should contact police to verify whether it existed. “Police do not engage in a witch hunt and do not target anyone,” Saps said. What March and March alleged In a statement dated 14 October 2026, the March and March Movement said it had received reports that a warrant would be executed on or before Friday, 16 October 2026. It claimed that prison space had already been prepared for activists. The movement linked the alleged arrests to the elections and the Presidency. “The March and March Movement views this reckless, politically motivated move as a deliberate strategy from the Presidency to plunge the country into chaos, intimidate civil society, and avoid the political embarrassment faced by the former ruling party ahead of the November elections,” the movement said. It called on the president to respond. “President Cyril Ramaphosa must publicly distance himself from this reckless move and political interference,” the movement said. Movement vows to keep marching According to the movement, it would not be deterred. “We are being intimidated for fighting for what is just and noble,” the movement said. It demanded that the South African National Defence Force be deployed to illegal mining hot spots. It also renewed its calls for mass deportations and stronger border control. “We call on our people to remain focused and continue to march peacefully until victory is achieved,” the movement said. The movement said its Thursday marches would go ahead. “The March and March Movement reaffirms its resolve to proceed with its scheduled Thursday peaceful marches aimed at putting pressure on the government to prioritise South Africans, secure our borders, and restore law and order.”

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it will comply with the Constitutional Court’s ruling in favour of the African National Congress (ANC) in a dispute over candidate lists for the 4 November local government elections. The ruling follows the ANC’s failure to complete the final submission of its candidate lists for six municipalities before the prescribed deadline. The ruling, handed down on Thursday, 15 October, follows the ANC’s appeal against an Electoral Court judgment that upheld the IEC’s decision to exclude the candidates from the ballot. IEC NOTES CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING ON ANC CANDIDATE LISTS The South African previously reported that Constitutional Court Justice Rammaka Mathopo said the IEC’s decision to reject the ANC’s candidate lists in the six municipalities had been set aside. “The first respondent, which is the IEC, is directed to do all things necessary to include the party lists and ward candidate nominations mentioned in paragraph four of this order, and the lists and nominations onto the ballot papers and all other relevant processes for the purposes of the 4 November 2026 local elections,” he said. The IEC said it respects the authority of the Constitutional Court as the final arbiter and will give effect to its order. IEC spokesperson Kate Bapela said the Commission’s position throughout the legal proceedings had been guided by its interpretation of the applicable electoral legislation and the need to ensure the consistent application of prescribed electoral processes. However, she said the IEC recognised its constitutional obligation to implement the Court’s decision. “The IEC will communicate further details regarding the implementation process once the necessary assessments have been completed. All political parties and stakeholders are urged to cooperate with the Commission during this period. “The Commission reassures the public that preparations for the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections remain a priority. It will continue to discharge its constitutional mandate independently, impartially and in accordance with the law,” Bapela said. Meanwhile, elections analyst, Michael Atkins told the SABC that he was surprised but not shocked by the Constitutional Court’s ruling. “It was quite clear that the ANC pointed out very calmly that the wording and regulations of the Act was not entirely clear and in my view the IEC didn’t argue the case as crisply as they might have done,” he said. “Although I believe that the ANC’s interpretation in the end in my own view was not correct, but the case was reasonable. For me the bottom line is that those regulations need to be amended because the system works the way it should work but if the regulations of the law doesn’t spell it out then the law is what counts. It isn’t what a user manual counts,” he added. ANC VS IEC | Elections analyst Michael Atkins says he is surprised by the Constitutional Court's ruling, arguing that the regulations may need to be amended. He adds that the IEC could have presented its case more persuasively. pic.twitter.com/I27DzYJpoy— SABC News (@SABCNews) October 15, 2026 OVER 2000 CANDIDATES MISSED DEADLINE On 2 September, the IEC revealed that cumulatively, there are 2 274 candidates who were captured but not finally submitted on the Online Candidate Nomination System by the set deadline. Political parties and independent candidates intending to contest the upcoming elections had until 17:00 on Friday, 28 August, to submit their candidate nominations. “This phenomenon affects 480 PR and 1 794 ward potential candidates. The unique number of political parties in this situation is 45. The Commission’s position is that, in practical terms, these potential candidates have not been submitted to the Commission and therefore are not in contention for this election,” the IEC said at the time.

A debate over the value of the Older Persons Grant has divided South Africans, with some demanding a dramatic increase and others reminding them what the grant is meant to be. The discussion played out on The South African’s Facebook page, where users weighed in on whether government can afford to pay pensioners more. The case for R5 000 Michael Watkins was firm in his view that the government should significantly increase the grant. “The government needs to increase pension grants to R5 000 per month. There is no excuse as to why they cannot,” he wrote. His comment drew several reactions, showing that many South Africans share his frustration. Supporters of a higher grant point to rising food, electricity and transport costs, which have made it harder for older persons to stretch their monthly payment. For many pensioners, this is their only income. Some also use it to support unemployed adult children and grandchildren living under the same roof. A grant, not a pension Not everyone agreed with the call for R5 000. Rolleen Melanie Jacobs pushed back with a pointed reminder. “It is a grant, not a pension plan” she wrote. Her comment touches on an important distinction. The Older Persons Grant is a social assistance payment funded by taxpayers. Unlike a private pension or retirement annuity, it is not built from a person’s own contributions over their working life. Those who share her view argue that it was designed as a safety net rather than a full income, and that a sharp increase would put more pressure on an already stretched national budget. The debate shows how differently South Africans view the role of social grants. While some see them as a right that should match the cost of living, others believe they should remain a basic safety net. Win R2 000 in the South African SASSA grant survey If you receive a SASSA grant and want to share your story, we want to hear from you. Take part in our survey and stand a chance to win R2 000. Your responses help us tell the stories that matter.

Paratus Zambia has connected 18 Family Legacy schools in Lusaka using Starlink satellite internet.

Cybersecurity has moved from a technical matter to a question of national security, writes DCDT's director-general.