South Africa News: Local Elections Loom as Fuel Relief, the Mini-Budget and the GBV Response Dominate the Week

Local government elections: what to know before 4 November

The 2026 local government elections will decide the councils that run South Africa’s municipalities for the next five years. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the date in April, and Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa later proclaimed it. Campaigning has now entered its final days, with coalition politics in the big metros again the main storyline.

Special votes: Monday 2 and Tuesday 3 November

The Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) says it is ready for the first wave of voters. Special voting is only open to people whose applications were approved; the application window closed on 12 October, so anyone who did not apply cannot cast a special ballot.

Voting day basics

• Vote at the station where you are registered; you cannot switch on the day.
• Take your valid South African ID.
• Check your registration status with the IEC before you leave home.

Mini-budget: finances steadier, growth still weak

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tabled the 2026 Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) in Parliament on 21 October. The mini-budget reported that public debt has stabilised at about 78.4% of GDP, helped by stronger tax collection and higher commodity prices that Treasury expects to fade over time.

Treasury also released draft fiscal anchor legislation for public comment and plans to table it in 2027. The Sunday Times editorial board judged the numbers a disappointment on growth, the area it considers matters most. Treasury’s own forecast shows growth below 2% until the end of the decade.

Fuel levy relief: what motorists will pay in November

Alongside the budget, Godongwana announced about R10bn of temporary fuel levy relief after months of record pump prices. Wholesale diesel hit R33.29/l and inland petrol 95 reached R30.25/l in October, and a further hike was projected for November before the cut.

Industry projections suggest the cut turns a diesel increase into a decrease, while petrol could edge down only slightly. Final adjustments depend on the official announcement, so treat projected figures as estimates. The Automobile Association says a temporary measure is not enough, while the minibus taxi body Santaco welcomed it. Commentators have also asked whether the timing, days before the vote, is political; Treasury presents it as cost-of-living relief.

More South Africa headlines

GBV crisis: national plan after the Ekurhuleni killings

Police have been investigating the killings of 11 women in and around Ekurhuleni since July, and a specialised team was assembled amid concerns about a possible serial offender. In a televised address on 29 September, Ramaphosa conceded that government efforts had not been enough, despite gender-based violence and femicide being declared a national disaster in 2025.

• Police and the National Prosecuting Authority must review unresolved murder, rape and other GBV cases within 90 days.
• Five ministers have 60 days to propose a plan to curb alcohol-fuelled violence.
• The National Council on GBVF is now operational to coordinate the response.
• The mini-budget adds R3.8bn to recruit more than 3,500 social workers.

If you or someone you know is in danger, contact the SAPS on 10111. The national GBV Command Centre (0800 428 428) offers free, round-the-clock support.

What to watch next week

• Turnout and queues at special voting on 2–3 November.
• Voting day on 4 November, followed by counting and results.
• The first pump prices with the levy relief applied.
• Coalition talks in hung councils once results are declared.

Frequently asked questions