The ANC is not giving up on the electoral lists debacle. After the Electoral Court ruled in favour of the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC), upholding the IEC’s decision to discount lists the party failed to submit properly by its August 28 deadline, the ANC has taken the matter to the Constitutional Court. Here’s what else will be making news this week.
Politics
Special vote applications enter final week
Voters who cannot travel to their voting stations on November 4 or who require home visits have until next Monday to submit their applications for special votes. Applicants can apply online, by SMS or at their local Electoral Commission offices.
Con Court to hear ANC application
On Monday the Constitutional Court will hear the ANC’s urgent appeal against the Electoral Court’s dismissal of the party’s application to include candidates who were not submitted by the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s August 28 deadline. This is the last chance for the ANC to register candidates in municipalities where the party faces huge losses at the polls.
Parliamentary calendar
Most of the portfolio committees are on deadline to produce their budgetary review and recommendations reports (BRRRs) ahead of the medium-term budget policy statement on October 21. Much of the committees’ work over the next two weeks will be to analyse auditor-general reports, annual financial statements and findings from the standing committee on public accounts before compiling the BRRRs and sending them to the National Assembly, cabinet and the minister of finance.
Economics
S&P Global PMI (September 2026)
The August reading for the S&P Global Purchasing Managers’ Index was 50.5, little changed from July’s 50.3 but the third consecutive month of positive (albeit weak) growth. The index is expected to remain in positive territory for September on the back of firming business confidence.
Manufacturing production (August 2026)
July’s manufacturing production rose year on year for the first time in four months, bucking the contraction in the sector. August’s manufacturing output is expected to remain in positive territory, supported by the recovery in food and beverages manufacturing.