South Africa votes in the local government elections on Wednesday 4 November, but the weeks around it hold other dates that will shape the news: a fuel price adjustment, a Reserve Bank rate decision, a commission returning to public hearings and several court appearances.
Here is the calendar as reported so far, with what is confirmed and what is still a projection.
This week: 2 to 6 November
- Monday 2 November: special votes begin. The Nkohla-Mabandla murder trial returns to the Wynberg court, and the DJ Warras murder case returns after being postponed to this date.
- Tuesday 3 November: second day of special votes.
- Wednesday 4 November: local government elections. A fuel price adjustment is also due; projections point to cuts, but official prices have not been announced.
- Friday 6 November: the Durban High Court case against Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla resumes. She faces three charges linked to the July 2021 unrest, denies them and is presumed innocent. An application for her discharge is pending.
Next week and the rest of November
- Monday 9 November: the Madlanga Commission is due to resume public hearings, five days after the elections.
- Tuesday 10 November: Ndodana Tshuma returns to the Johannesburg magistrate's court for further consultations on a plea agreement on firearm and immigration charges. He also faces extradition proceedings on a UK request.
- Thursday 19 November: the Reserve Bank announces its rate decision. Economists are split on whether it will raise rates again.
- Monday 23 November: sentencing of Bafana Mahungela, convicted of murdering teacher Kirsten Kluyts, at the Johannesburg High Court.
- Monday 30 November: the end of the deployment of 510 soldiers approved for KwaZulu-Natal.
