Daily DispatchDaily Dispatch

Opinion

Why local elections matter to your finances

South Africans are at the polls for the local government elections.
PremiumEditor's Choice

Today, South Africans must decide

Millions of South Africans take to the polls today for the 2026 local government elections, testing voter turnout against growing apathy as councils…

The launch of the Result Operation Centre (ROC) at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium took place on Sunday evening. Picture: WERNER HILLS
Premium

INSIGHT | Protecting the ballot starts on your phone screen this election season

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. This year it arrived in the Eastern Cape with a deadline — on November 4 residents vote in local…

DD021126 Asipheamandla

DISPATCH DIALOGUE | Real test begins after the elections

Over the weekend, the major political parties staged their final rallies before South Africans vote on November 4. The DA held its national closing…

First day of special voting taking place with some stations experiencing queues while others hardly any feet passing through the door. Picture: EUGENE COETZEE

INSIGHT | The real winners must be the residents

INSIGHT | Failing metro: Vote for accountability and service delivery

As the November 4 local government elections rapidly approach, the citizens of Buffalo City Metro find themselves at a critical historical…

EDITORIAL | Time for excuses over in scholar transport failures

Despite court orders and repeated promises, over 40,000 Eastern Cape pupils remain without school transport. The provincial government must end the…

The IEC says it is ready to administer this week's local government elections.
About 3.6-million registered voters in the province are expected to cast their ballots at 4,979 voting stations between Monday and Wednesday.

Nkosikhulule Xhawulengweni Nyembezi | Voting is the ultimate protest

Today marks the commencement of voting in this year’s local government elections, a pivotal moment for renewal. As we take part in this democratic…

Nomakwezi Dlali is a proponent of mother tongue-based bilingual education.

INSIGHT | Flawed transitions and severe resource gaps undermine mother-tongue policy

South Africa's mother-tongue education model faces severe hurdles, including early language transitions and deep resource disparities. Exploring…

African boxing champs flop exposes futility of chasing Olympic dream

The dismal performance of SA boxers at the African Championships in the Democratic Republic of Congo has again raised questions on whether they are…

Premier Oscar Mabuyane and health MEC Ntandokazi Capa unveiled a state-of-the-art R416m Dr Laura Mpahlwa Oncology Unit at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha on Thursday.

Milestone R416m oncology unit must not fail

On Thursday, a R416m oncology unit was officially opened at the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthatha, a milestone that deserves celebration.…

LUVUKO NKWENKWE | Hope, promises is not enough — voters want delivery

South Africa’s political parties are gearing up for the 2021 local government elections.

JACOB MTHEMBU | A silent majority decides nothing

The outcome of South Africa's 2026 local government elections will not hinge on rally crowds, opinion polls, or social-media sentiment, but on the…

Transport minister   Barbara Creecy was in KuGompo City on Tuesday for the unveiling of seven refurbished railway stations.
Premium

Refurbished railway stations must be protected and maintained

A R115m refurbishment of vandalised railway stations brings renewed hope for commuters, but sustainable security and community vigilance remain…

Voting booths

SIBONISE MABENGWANA | Your child's future is on the ballot

On November 4, South Africans will elect the people who will run their municipalities. Councillors decide whether your street is tarred, your tap…

Some of the charred remains after a fire destroyed the SAPS building in Fort Jackson.

Police must explain why sensitive documents left in abandoned office

Police in KuGompo City are renting offices around Mdantsane and in the CBD. While the charges for the rented offices could not be ascertained, it is…

SA's 2026 local government elections are set for November 4.

INSIGHT | The Irish coffee test: Will coalitions serve residents or politicians?

As South Africa prepares for the 2026 local government elections, an Irish coffee metaphor highlights the crucial test facing coalition politics:…

Former Buffalo City Metro chief of marine services Siani Zahn.

READER LETTER | Aquarium standards must not slip

The resignation of Siani Zahn (née Tinley) after 30 years at the East London Aquarium should concern every Buffalo City Metro resident who values…

Premium

Bavuma staking his claim as one of SA's cricket greats

Biological Inflation: Why Food Security Without Nutrition Is a Mirage

South Africa may celebrate record-breaking harvests of maize and grain, but full silos do not guarantee healthy citizens. Despite producing ample…