First Take SA

American voters have delivered a sweeping rebuke to President Donald Trump, handing Democrats control of both houses of Congress in a midterm election that has redrawn the political map in a fundamental way. Republican strongholds from Texas to Kansas have fallen, as anger over the high cost of living and the war with Iran helped drive Democratic victories. Trump now faces a Congress empowered to investigate his administration, block his nominees and challenge his agenda during his final two years in office. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports from New York...

A number of political party leaders have cast their ballots in different voting stations in Cape Town today at the start of the local government elections 2026. DA leader and the Mayoral Candidate for Cape Town, Geordin Hill-Lewis, voted at Edgemead Primary School while Good Party leader Patricia De Lille voted in Pinelands. Al Jama-Ah President, Ganief Hendricks also cast his vote in Pinelands High School. Meanwhile, NCC leader and MP, Fadiel Adams, cast his ballot in Mitchells Plain, while the FF Plus leader, Corne Mulder, had his vote in Melkbos. Abongwe Kobokana reports. RADIO HEADLINES IN 8 WORDED Headlines on

Political parties have praised the smooth voting process at their respective voting stations on Wednesday. This as millions of South Africans went out to cast their votes in the local government elections. 546 political parties and over 130 000 candidates are competing for the country's over 10 000 council seats. SABC News spoke to the leaders of the country's opposition parties – the DA, Umkhonto weSizwe, EFF, IFP, FF Plus, ActionSA and the Patriotic Alliance – about the voting process. Sibahle Motha reports...

Political analyst SABC News researcher Maswele Ralibone says early election results point to more hung councils across the country. He says 13 councils are already hung, compared with 70 in 2021In Gauteng, he highlights the DA's early lead in Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni, while ActionSA leads in Tshwane. He also notes the EFF's absence from the top three in these municipalities. Elvis Presslin spoke to is Dr Piet Croucamp Political Analyst and Associate Professor, Political Studies and International Relations at the NW University and Maswele Ralebona , SABC News Researcher

Police in Mpumalanga are investigating a murder after a 57-year-old man was shot and killed outside a voting station in Boikhutso, Bushbuckridge, in the early hours of Thursday morning. The incident happened at around quarter past midnight while a group of people were celebrating outside the station, waiting for the election results. Police say two unknown suspects opened fire before fleeing the scene. The victim was rushed to hospital but was declared dead on arrival. No arrests have been made, and the motive remains unknown.