Polity Audio Articles

Surge in registrations for S Africa's 2026 local elections The Electoral Commission of South Africa recorded 2.9-million new registrations during the first voter registration weekend on June 20 to 21. This drive increased the national voters' roll to 28.5-million citizens ahead of the local government elections on November 4. However, political parties balanced optimism over youth turnout with dee...

Ekurhuleni budget passed after major ANC concessions The DA used its voting leverage to force major budgetary concessions from the ANC in Ekurhuleni after three failed budget votes threatened a provincial administration takeover. Key budget concessions secured by the DA include increased property rates to be capped at just 1.5%, legal protection for infrastructure funding for roads, electricity, w...

Family of Zambia's ex-leader should choose his burial site, South Africa court says A South African appeals court ruled on Tuesday that the family of former Zambian President Edgar Lungu should decide where he is buried, overturning a lower court's order that Zambia's government could repatriate Lungu's body for a state funeral. Lungu, who led Zambia from 2015 to 2021, died in South Africa a year...

Salga demands intervention in political attacks ahead of local elections The South African Local Government Association (Salga) has issued an urgent call for stronger measures to curb political violence and killings following a bloody weekend that left four politically affiliated individuals dead across three provinces. The attacks come as the country prepares for the 2026 local government electio...

Police deployed as anti-migrant deadline looms South Africa will deploy more police this week to deter possible violence before a June 30 deadline set by xenophobic protest groups for foreigners to leave the country. "There has been mobilisation around this issue over a period of time and we expect it to continue after June 30, so we have plans in place," Firoz Cachalia, the acting police minister...

Ramaphosa urges African health sovereignty, self-reliance in wake of Ebola outbreak President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the critical need for African nations to establish self-reliance during health emergencies. Stressing that health security is deeply tied to economic development, Ramaphosa believes Africa can no longer afford to be at the "back of the global queue" for vital medical supplies,...

Home Affairs extends hours for voter registration weekend The Department of Home Affairs will extend its operating hours nationwide this weekend to support the Electoral Commission of South Africa's (IEC's) Voter Registration Weekend. All Home Affairs offices across the country will open on Saturday and Sunday from 08:00 to 17:00. Citizens are urged to visit their nearest branch to apply for a new...

ANC hails 'milestone' as Post Office applies to exit business rescue The ANC has welcomed the South African Post Office's (SAPO) application to exit business rescue, hailing the move as a critical turning point in restoring the State-owned entity to operational health. The decision marks a significant step in a broader turnaround strategy designed to ensure SAPO can fully discharge its national po...

Dean Macpherson urges police to find xenophobic agitators Public works and infrastructure minister Dean Macpherson called on law enforcement agencies to act against those responsible for violence against migrants, warning that the attacks are tarnishing the country's international reputation. "We have duty and responsibility to protect the vulnerable, we have a duty and a responsibility to enforce...

Floods inflict record R9bn damage on Cape Recent flooding in South Africa's Western Cape province, which includes the tourist hub of Cape Town, caused more than R9-billion of damage, a total that's expected to rise once final assessments are completed. "Our infrastructure budget for this year is 10 billion rand and the cost of the storm damage means that the whole provincial budget will have to be...

ANC slams DA's proposed GNU reshuffle as 'populist, contradictory' The ANC on Thursday launched a scathing attack on its coalition partner the DA, claiming its recent Cabinet reshuffle proposals expose "deep political contradictions and a selective respect" for South Africa's Constitution. The political friction erupted following a request by DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis for President Cyril Ramaph...