First Take SA

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a sweeping overhaul of local government, admitting too many municipalities are failing to deliver basic services. Speaking in Boksburg yesterday, he said the revised White Paper marks a bold reset of the 1998 blueprint to tackle corruption, infrastructure decay and collapsing services. The South African Local Government Association, SALGA has welcomed the blueprint, calling it a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild local government. We spoke to SALGA Deputy President, Xola Pakati.

The way municipalities are funded and managed is set to change significantly. Government has set in motion moves to overhaul the local government system. This, with the launch of the Cabinet-approved revised White Paper on Local Government 2026. SABC News Economics Reporter, Nosipho Radebe, has more

Finance Minister, Enoch Godongwana, has hit back at accusations that the announced temporary fuel levy relief is a political stunt aimed at winning votes ahead of next month's local government elections. ​Some opposition parties criticised the Minister's Medium Term Budget Policy Statement, claiming the timing of the three-Rand per litre diesel reduction and one-Rand-50 petrol relief-set to take effect on the 4th of November was strategically linked to the upcoming polls. ​Speaking yesterday (Thursday 22 October 2026) at the RMB Post-MTBPS breakfast in Cape Town, Godongwana clarified that fuel price changes always take effect on the first Wednesday of every month, and the date alignment was coincidental. Economics Reporter, Nothando Magudulela, reports.

The uMkhonto weSizwe Party has removed Sibonelo Nomvalo as its Secretary-General. The party says the decision relates to concerns including internal factionalism and dual remuneration. Nomvalo is the eighth person to hold the position since the party was formed in 2023. Lindiwe Mtshali has been appointed as acting Secretary-General. SABC News reporter Samkele Maseko spoke to Oliver Dickson

A case of attempted theft of motor vehicles, fraud and uttering against a North West businessman Suliman Carrim has been postponed to the 30th of this month at the Musina District court in Limpopo. Carrim joined his two employees who were arrested at the Beitbridge border in July. The two were trying to take two vehicles that allegedly belong to Carrim to Zimbabwe, using fraudulent documents. Carrim's lawyer Jean-Pierre Venter says they were ready to proceed with the case today but couldn't as the court was busy with other matters. Rudzani Tshivhase reports