Severe weather warning for South Africa today, and free Wimpy, Spur and Krispy Kreme for anyone who votes
As South Africans head to the polls for the 2026 Local Government Elections, markets are assessing the implications of losing AGOA, and waiting to see who comes out on top in the municipalities.
The rand softened ahead of election day, trading around R16.60 to the dollar. Investors are looking for signs of shifting voter sentiment over concerns about corruption, crime and public services.
The South African rand softened on Tuesday ahead of municipal elections, while investors assessed the implications of Washington’s decision to suspend the country from a key US trade programme from 2027.
The election is taking place amid a crisis for many incumbent leaders, particularly in the City of Johannesburg, which has been hit by a water crisis.
South Africa has also been put on notice by the United States over the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), with Washington officially moving to boot the country from the programme.
The economic impact is likely to be less severe than headlines suggest, ETM Analytics said in a note, adding that markets had largely priced in the move, limiting the rand’s reaction.
South Africa’s trade ministry said late on Monday it would support sectors affected by the decision and continue pursuing trade, investment and broader economic opportunities with the US.
Separately, the petroleum department said diesel prices would fall in November while petrol prices would be little changed after the government announced fuel-tax cuts in a mid-year budget review.
All these issues have hit just as South Africans head to the polls.
Anger over corruption, crime and failing public services is threatening to deal another blow to the African National Congress.
The party of Nelson Mandela dropped below 50% support for the first time in the 2021 municipal elections, and could plunge below 40% this time, according to polls.
With no other party large enough to take its place, many cities in South Africa are heading for unsteady coalition governments that have been partly blamed for failing to deliver basic services including water and electricity.
The outcome of the election will set the stage for the next national election in 2029, and could influence the succession race within the ANC as President Cyril Ramaphosa approaches the end of his term as party leader in 2027.
Control of Johannesburg, South Africa’s commercial hub, will be the largest prize and is still up for grabs after an energetic campaign for mayor by Democratic Alliance candidate Helen Zille, who is projected to win the most votes but fall short of a majority.
Other metro areas to watch include Tshwane, home to the administrative capital Pretoria, and eThekwini, which includes the port city of Durban and where former president Jacob Zuma’s uMkhonto weSizwe party is strong.
The DA is heavily favoured to retain control of Cape Town.
Local governance has been a weak point for the ANC, which was forced into a coalition with the DA and smaller parties after it lost its national majority in 2024.
Although the party still enjoys loyalty from some voters due to its role in ending apartheid, growing numbers of South Africans are fed up with problems such as power cuts and water shortages — even in Johannesburg.
High unemployment and poor public safety are also major concerns. [Reuters]
5 important things happening in South Africa today
Severe weather warning: The South African Weather Service has issued severe weather alerts for South Africa on voting day, flagging extreme heat in the Cape and dangerous thunderstorms in the central and eastern provinces, which could put voters under strain. South Africans have been urged to take precautions. [SAWS 1, 2]
Free goodies for voters: Many companies, including Wimpy, Spur, Krispy Kreme, Vovo Telo, and Sorbet, are promising South Africans who vote on 4 November 2026 free products. A list of products on offer can be found on Newsday. [Newsday]
Bad to worse for DStv: MultiChoice’s revenue has continued to decline, with new owner Groupe Canal+ highlighting lower subscription revenue in South Africa as the main driver of the pay-TV business’ continuing slide. [MyBroadband]
Kruger Park devastation: South Africa’s iconic Kruger National Park faces a substantial funding shortfall to repair severe flood damage, restricting visitor numbers. The wildlife reserve suffered major damage to roads, bridges and accommodation following torrential rains in January. [Daily Investor]
Whole province under investigation: The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) investigated the whole Gauteng province over the state of water and sanitation service delivery. The investigation identified widespread systemic failures across all nine of the province’s water service authorities. [BusinessTech]
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