Update@Noon

The United States is holding midterm elections today, with voters deciding control of Congress for the remaining two years of President Donald Trump's term. Opinion polls favour the Democrats in the battle for the House of Representatives, while control of the Senate remains uncertain. All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are being contested. A Democratic victory in either chamber could limit Trump's legislative agenda and increase scrutiny of his administration. Now for more on this Terence McNamee is a Senior Fellow of the Montreal Institute for Global Security

uMkhonto weSizwe Party has described Lastborn Shazi's death as a devastating loss to the party, his family and the community he served. The MK Party organiser was shot dead at his home in Umzumbe on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. Lastborn Shazi was reportedly shot and killed last night. MK Party in KwaZulu-Natal has called on the Provincial Killings Task Team to urgently investigate the incident. I earlier spoke to Mkhuseli Mlengane, the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Spokesperson and Elections Spokesperson for the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party).....

With the local government elections just hours away, several communities in Johannesburg are still facing a severe water crisis, with many of them experiencing prolonged water outages. Meanwhile, the South African Human Rights Commission says Water tankers, which are meant to provide emergency relief during water outages, are increasingly becoming a regular source of water for some communities in Gauteng. To discuss this further we are joined on the line by SAHrC Gauteng Provincial Manager, Zamantungwa Mbeki.....

The IEC says police are in search of one of two women who attempted to allegedly steal election material from Engcobo Police Station. The second suspect is understood to be in police custody as she is also a PR candidate in this election. This as the second day of special votes is currently underway across the country. For more on this we are now joined on the line by IEC's Manager for Electoral Matters, Kgosietsile Tshoke...

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research has reiterated it call for social partners to collaborate in order to combat the spred of  misinformation and disinformation, particularly during elections. This as election fever heats up ahead of the official election day tomorrow. Special votes have been ongoing since yesterday for successful applicants with the closing time for today being 7pm at all voting stations. The CSIS Manager for Strategic Partnerships, Dr Ndumiso Cingo....

As two days of special voting get underway ahead of Wednesday's Local Government Elections, the struggle for reliable water supply and inclusive service delivery remains high on the agenda in Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga. In Moloto, 60-year-old Linah Mthimunye, who has been blind since 2015, is appealing to the municipality to stop overlooking vulnerable residents and prioritise their basic needs. She says water shortages have added to her daily struggles and wants the incoming municipal administration to ensure that people living with disabilities are treated with dignity and have equal access to basic services. Nonhlanhla Ntshingila reports....

The United Nations has begun dismantling its 35-year peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara following Friday's failure by the Security Council to renew its mandate. But Secretary-General António Guterres has stressed that the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers does not diminish the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. The mission's closure follows a diplomatic confrontation between the United States and Russia over the future of the disputed territory, raising fresh questions about the prospects for a negotiated political settlement. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports....

Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero says joburg water is not in a crisis as the system remains stable.  Morero briefed the media on the city's water challenges, after the South African Human Rights Commission released it's report into the systemic failures in Gauteng's water and sanitation services. The SAHRC found ageing infrastructure, poor maintenance, leakages and weak accountability as some of the reasons for the city's water woes. It also raised concern about growing reliance on water tankers, warning that the practice may be benefiting service providers and municipal officials at the expense of communities. Musa Mhlongo reports....

The first day of special voting in the Free State has seen a mixed bag of experiences, with some voters encountering challenges at voting stations. Some voters reported receiving only one ballot paper instead of two, while others could not find their names on the voters' roll at the stations they visited. Political parties have raised concerns with the IEC over discrepancies in voting district boundaries and the special voters' register. The IEC says the reported issues are being attended to. More than 131-thousand voters have been approved for special votes in the province.Leboh ang Motshweneng reports…

Two of people in the Phala Phala game farm theft have been found guilty by the Modimolle regional court in Limpopo. Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph have been found guilty of stealing more than 580 thousand US dollars at President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm in February 2020. Magistrate Peter Manthata says cellphone records provided sufficient evidence linking the convicts, David and accused Floriana Joseph. The third accused, Ndilinasho Joseph, has been acquitted of all charges against him. Vutivi Maluleke has more...

The IEC is urging voters approved for special votes to make use of the opportunity today and tomorrow to avoid overcrowding and long queues on Wednesday, which is a public holidays. This as voting takes place today and tommorow with the IEC also conducting home visits for voters whose application have been approved. For more on this we are now joined on the line by SABC News Researcher, Maswele Ralebona...

That IEC is expected to address the media in relation to how special voting has been going so far. This as today and tomorrow have been earmarked for those who have applied for spcial votes. ANy other eligible voter can cast their ballot only on Wednesday which has been made a public holiday. For more on this we are now joined on the line by a man who is no stranger to the work of the IEC on such days, Terry Tselane who is now the Founder of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa...

The Independent Electoral Commission in the Western Cape says it is ready for the upcoming local government elections this week. The Commission officially launched its Provincial Results Operations Centre, in Century City. Special voting starts today until tomorrow.  Yamkela Mtshiyo reports...

uMkhonto weSizwe Party leader Jacob Zuma asked supporters to unite behind the organisation and work towards bringing change that will improve the lives of South Africans. Zuma was addressing thousands of supporters at the party's final election rally at Princess Magogo Stadium in KwaMashu, north of Durban. This was Zuma's first public appearance since he was hospitalised, last month. The MK Party is contesting its first local elections since its formation in December 2023, with the party seeking to consolidate its support ahead of Wednesday's polls. Nonjabulo Mntungwa-Makamu filed this report....

Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi says there's progess implementing the interventions aimed at tackling Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The interventions include deploying more than one-thousand GBV response teams across 122 high-risk areas, adding 56 social workers to strengthen the seven specialised sexual offences courts and improving support services for survivors. This follows a spate of women getting in Ekurhuleni between July and September, which prompted President Cyril Ramaphosa to call for urgent intervention. Our reporter, Luyanda Danca has the details…

Barberton Community Party President, Ayanda Magagula says the education sector will get the necessary support should they be elected into power in the local government elections. The party handed out stationery to children from needy families during their election campaign in Barberton. Magagula says a major problem is a lack of clean drinking water in many communities in the Ehlanzeni Region. Our reporter, Mthobisi Mkhaliphi has more ....

We are just a few days away to November 4, political parties are ramping up their campaigns ahead of this weekend's final election rallies. This year's local government elections is carrying a long list of grievances. These are unemployment which is above 30%, an unstable coalition era and decaying infrastructure. To discuss how critical issues like water scarcity (such as the Tshwane water crisis), uncollected refuse, non-functioning infrastructure, and financial mismanagement are dominating voter priorities. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Governance and Political Analyst Hlumelo Xaba, 

With just days to go before South Africans head to the polls on 4 November, the Electoral Commission says it is fully prepared for the 2026 Local Government Elections. More than 2.6 million special vote applications have been approved, while its results system has been declared fit for purpose. Provincial Results Operations Centres are also being activated. To tell us how prepared is IEC for the elections,  Sakina Kamwendo spoke to IEC general manager for electoral matters James Aphane

more at stake than the three Betway Premiership league points. Bragging rights at this stage of the season is just as important and the 94-thousand fans at the sold-out FNB Stadium in Soweto will be divided. The Soweto derby, one of the biggest football rivalries in Africa, will also be watched by a large audience globally. SAfm sports anchor Jon Gericke has more 

This Friday, SAfm’s radio anchor Sakina Kamwendo once again spoke to Martin Creamer, publishing editor of Engineering News & Mining Weekly, delving deeper into the world of mining and engineering.

Many political parties are wrapping up their 2026 Local Government Election  campaign this week. City of Johannesburg' mayoral candidate Mlungisi Mabaso took his campaign to Kokotela Informal settlement in the South. Mabaso says now it will be in the hands of the electorate to change their fortunes by casting their votes. Interacting with community members he called them to vote differently in  order to change their immidiate living conditions. SABC Reporter Ntlantla Kgatlhane has more....

Chants of frustration filled the air outside Festive Chicken at Clayville in Ekhurhuleni, as workers demanded an increase in wages, permanent employment and medical aid. The workers are calling for a salary increase of up to 13-thousand-500 Rand  which they believe is necessary to meet the rising cost of living. Asisipho Mpahleni filed this report....

The Labour Party has told its supporters in Botshabelo in the Free State, that their votes are enough to change their lives. The party says it will prioritise the fight for real jobs and do away with age restrictions.  It is calling for fair and inclusive policies that open doors rather than close them. The party is contesting 51 Wards in the Mangaung Metro Municipality. Makgala Masiteng reports...

The latest gross domestic product rebasing exercise by Statistics South has found that South Africa's economy is 4,9-percent larger than previously estimated. The benchmarking and rebasing exercise lifted the measured size of the economy in 2022 to 6,99-trillion.  Stats SA has indicated that the new benchmarking methodology prioritises reclassified industries and the non-observed economy which has added 8,7-percent to GDP among other considerations.  SABC Economics Reporter Naledi Mabitsela-Ngcobo filed this report.

With just days until America's midterm elections, President Donald Trump's grip on Congress is under threat. Democrats are leading national polls as Republicans fight to defend their majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. For voters, the cost of living is a central concern; for Trump, losing either chamber could mean investigations and roadblocks to his agenda during his final two years in office. More than 39 million Americans have already voted early, as both parties launch their final push in an election that could reshape Washington's direction — with consequences far beyond America's borders. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.

Build One South Africa (BOSA) leader Mmusi Maimane says the party is confident its message has resonated with voters, as it prepares to contest its first local government elections on the 4th of November. Maimane was speaking to the media in Finetown, Johannesburg, where the party was hosting its final rally ahead of the polls.  The party has named ethical leadership, economic growth and safety as its key priorities in securing stability in municipalities. Zara Groenewald reports….

The Film and Publication Board (FPB) has refused classification of the film "Hebrews to Negroes: Wake Up Black America". The Film board says Refused classification means the film is prohibited from creation, possession and distribution is South Africa.Jon Gericke spoke to Legal Officer at the Film and Publication Board (FPB), Andrew Sebapu....

Almost three decades into democracy, government is reviewing the policy framework that guides local government in South Africa. The 1998 Local Government White Paper laid the foundation for transforming municipalities, but government says the challenges facing local government have changed over the years. These include financial instability, deteriorating infrastructure, weak governance and persistent service delivery problems. SABC News specialist researcher Maswele Ralebona joins us to unpack the issues.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to remain caretaker leader following an inconclusive election. With nearly 86 percent of votes counted, his right-wing bloc was projected to win 53 seats, against 48 for the opposition. Arab parties were projected to secure 19 seats. Netanyahu has called for a right-wing government, while coalition negotiations continue. Voter turnout reached 77-point-7 percent, the highest in more than two decades. Jon Gerickes spoke to Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow and Director Afrasid. 

South Africans head to the polls on the 4th of November for the 2026 Local Government Elections. The SABC is preparing comprehensive election coverage, keeping voters informed about developments, voter participation and results. To discuss the public broadcaster's plans and coverage strategy, Jon Gericke spoke to SABC News Resources Head, Khutso Matlala.

African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced that plans are underway to address the water crisis in eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal. The province is facing a severe water crisis, with 13 out of 14 municipalities affected. This is due to ageing infrastructure, water losses and rising demand. Ramaphosa says over 44% of households in eThekwini experience water outages lasting two days or more, which is the highest proportion among South Africa's major metropolitan areas. Celumusa Zulu reports...

The United Nations General Assembly has overwhelmingly adopted a draft resolution titled the "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba". This is the 34th time the body has adopted this non-binding resolution since 1992, while the United States continues to reject such efforts. South Africa, for its part, has called for a resumption of stalled talks between Cuba and the United States in an effort to ameliorate the dire humanitarian conditions on the island nation. Today's vote, which included support from Pretoria, followed a day high drama in the Assembly on Tuesday, when the Cuban delegation engaged in a verbal clash while the U.S. envoy. Sherwyn Bryce-Pease reports...

Some municipalities in the North West are grappling with decaying infrastructure -- despite being allocated the municipal infrastructure grant (MIG) annually. The grant is earmarked for infrastructure development and maintenance. The Auditor-General's 2024/25 audit report raised compliance findings on the utilisation of the municipal infrastructure grant at three municipalities. They are Mamusa, Maquassi Hills and Kgetleng Rivier. The Auditor General said the municipalities didn't execute projects in line with the grant framework. Instead, municipalities prioritised payments for operating costs, like salaries and Eskom. SABC Reporter, Lebogang Pebe, has more ....

This Wednesday, SAfm anchor Sakina Kamwendo once again spoke to Anri Brink, Investment Strategist at Absa Investments, for the latest market update.

FNB Stadium is preparing for 90-thousand fans ahead of Saturday's sold-out Soweto Derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs. Stadium Management South Africa CEO Bertie Grobbelaar says security teams will target counterfeit tickets and people attempting to enter without tickets. He says organisers are also working to improve public transport options and manage congestion around the stadium. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Stadium Management South Africa CEO Bertie Grobbelaar 

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has named six uncapped players in a 37-man squad for the second leg of the Nations Championship in November.  Flyhalf Yaqeen Ahmed, wing Sebastian de Klerk, utility back Luan Giliomee, centre Markus Muller have all been involved in the Springbok set-up before. Junior Bok captain Riley Norton and loose forward Emmanuel Tshituka have also got the nod. They will feature alongside a settled group of players in a squad that tops the Nations Championship Southern Hemisphere table following victories against England, Scotland, and Wales. Injured players not considered include Cheslin Kolbe, Eben Etzebeth, Andre Esterhuizen, and Handre Pollard.  The Springboks' first match is against Italy in Turin on the 07th of next month, followed France and Ireland. SAfm sports anchor Jonn Gericke 

South Africans are heading to the polls in just under 10 days. As we approach this final stretch of preparations, we want to ensure that South African voters are ready for this important day and enjoy a smooth and seamless voting experience. A key priority during this last-mile is to remind voters who have applied for special votes to check the status of their applications by SMSing their ID number to 32711. Voters who will be casting their ballots on 4 November are also encouraged to SMS their ID number to 32810 to confirm their voting station before leaving home. This will help them determine their sequence number ahead of time, making the voting process more efficient and convenient when they arrive at their voting stations. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to IEC Manager: Electoral Registrations and Liaison Kgosietsile Tshoke 

City of Johannesburg employees affiliated to municipal workers union SAMWU are back on the city streets in protest over a wage dispute. The City and SAMWU entered a 10-billion rand wage agreement aimed at addressing historical salary disparities and remuneration inequalities dating back to 1996. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SAMWU Johannesburg Regional Chairperson, Lebogang Ndawo...

NUMSA has called an urgent Special National Executive Committee Meeting. This follows an escalating power struggle and legal standoff with long-serving General Secretary Irvin Jim and national leadership, whom are accused of failing to convene ordinary National Executive Committee meeting since early 2025. In a media briefing this morning Jim accused outside forces of trying to destabalise the union. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to by NUMSA Mpumalanga Regional Chairperson and NUMSA Central Committee Member, Nkosinathi Makhanya..... 

North-West businessman Suliman Carrim will remain in custody pending his other case in Musina, Limpopo where he faces charges of attempted motor vehicle theft, fraud, uttering and money laundering. Carrim was granted 100-thousand rand bail by the Pretoria Magistrate's Court today, in a matter relating to his failure to appear before the Madlanga Commission.Other conditions imposed on Carrim include surrendering his travel documents, residing at his verified Mahikeng address and report regularly to police. The state prosecutor requested that the matter be postponed to December. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News reporter Sibahle Motha  

The South African National Commision for UNESCO has indicated that they will not reach their 2030 vision for education. The vision aims is to ensure that everyone has access to inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. They have identified major disturbances in education, including poverty , limited access to resources, high drop out rates and insufficient funding for disadvantaged learners amongst others. In an effort to promote access and equity in primary and secondary education, they launched the 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday (27 October). Nandipha Plaatjie reports...

The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has officially opened seven refurbished railway stations along the KuGompo City rail corridor. The stations at Mtsotso, Fort Jackson, Panmure, Mdantsane, Arnoldton, Mount Ruth and Wilsonia had been damaged and vandalised, and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has since rehabilitated them. The minister says they have put proper measures in place to prevent vandalism from happening again. Ntombozuko Balintulo files this report... 

Parliament's Budget Office, says the fuel levy reduction announced by the Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, last week was a necessity. The PBO briefed Parliament's Finance committee on the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement delivered by Godongwana last week. The office was established to provide independent, objective and professional advice and analysis to Parliament on matters related to the budget and other money Bills. Last week Godongwana announced a drop in fuel levies – diesel will drop by three rand per litre and the petrol levy will drop by one rand-50 cents per litre on 4 November, before tapering down in December. Zalene Merrington reports…

The Electoral Court will head into next week's local government elections with a vacancy that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has failed to fill. The vacancy was not included in the JSC's October interviews because no suitable shortlist of candidates was compiled. As Sibahle Motha reports, concerns have been raised about the court's capacity to deal with election disputes.

It is time to elect a woman as the next United Nations Secretary-General. This was one of the sentiments expressed as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the United Nations Country Team co-hosted the 2026 United Nations Day Commemoration in Pretoria. Held under the theme, "Restoring Trust and Delivering Shared Prosperity Together in a Changing World", the event brought together government representatives, UN officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, academics, civil society and youth representatives to reflect on progress made and the work that still lies ahead. Bonolo Maribe compiled this report.

Several residents in Bloemfontein are appealing to the Mangaung Metro municipality for assistance after a storm damaged their homes. The roofs of about 100 houses were ripped off by strong winds, while other residents lost furniture and were left with damaged electrical appliances. This after rainwater flooded their homes. The South African Weather Service issued a Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in the area. Our reporter, Kamagelo Seekoei has the details... 

COSATU says its intensifying its election campaign and mobilisation ahead of the Local Government Elections on the 4th of November. The federation says the campaign is guided by the resolutions of the federation's 15th National Congress to support both the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party.  COSATU has emphasised that its responsibility is to ensure that workers' voices are heard in determining the direction of local government and the broader development path of the country.  SABC Economics reporter Naledi Mabitsela-Ngcobo filed this report.

Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a record-equalling third time, keeping the prize in Spanish hands for a sixth consecutive year. Putellas captained Barcelona to Champions League glory as part of a quadruple in 2025-26. She joins Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmati on three Ballon d'Or Feminin crowns. Harry Kane has become the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win the award. SAfm sports anchor Jon Gericke has more 

A 34-year-old man from Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, has been sentenced to two life terms in prison for the murder and rape of his four-year-old step daughter. The Johannesburg High Court described his actions as extremely brutal, saying he had destroyed the lives of children he was supposed to protect. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News reporter Musa Mhlongo 

The Construction Industry Development Board has stepped up its crackdown on contractors accused of misrepresentation and failing to meet registration requirements for state construction work. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says 15 more contractors are being removed from the national register this month, bringing the number targeted since he took office in June 2024 to 75. The move forms part of government's drive to tighten accountability in the construction industry and prevent companies that fail to meet required standards from securing public infrastructure work. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson