The ANC’s election campaign is in danger of becoming a legal campaign, with candidate disputes keeping the party in court as election day approaches. There’s plenty else on the agenda this week, from special-voting deadlines to the latest economic data.
Politics
ANC to prioritise court cases instead of election campaign
With just over three weeks until the local government elections, the ANC will be spending a significant amount of time in court instead of on the campaign trail. On Monday the Constitutional Court will hear the party’s appeal against the Electoral Court’s decision to disqualify more than 180 ANC candidates from contesting the election.
The party also plans to appeal the Joburg high court ruling to reinstate Andile Lungisa on the Nelson Mandela Bay candidate list. The court found last Friday that ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula had acted unlawfully and unconstitutionally by unilaterally removing Lungisa from the list.
Applications for special voting to close on Monday afternoon
The Electoral Commission of South Africa will close applications for special voting at 5pm on Monday afternoon. Applicants can still submit their online applications before the deadline. Special voting will be held on November 2 and 3.
Zuma’s health under scrutiny as rumours abound
Former president and MK Party leader Jacob Zuma remains in hospital after being admitted last Tuesday after feeling unwell after a campaign event. While party leaders maintain that Zuma was admitted for a regular check-up, some family members and hospital staff have contradicted these claims.
The government has sent a specialist medical team to KwaZulu-Natal after Zuma’s family refused a request to airlift him to a military hospital in Pretoria. It is unclear what effect Zuma’s health problems will have on MK’s campaign and election fortunes.
Parliamentary calendar
While the standing committees continue to finalise their review of their respective departments’ performances, other important hearings continue this week. On Tuesday the standing committee on appropriations will be briefed by Eskom on proposed tariff reforms and municipal debt owed to the utility, including a proposal to allocate indigent budgets directly to Eskom.
Economics
Mining production (August 2026)
Stats SA will release the latest mining figures on Tuesday morning. July’s year-on-year production contraction was -7.5%, the lowest output growth in 1½ years. This extended the downturn in the sector to three consecutive months. Analysts expect a fourth month of contraction in August, albeit smaller than July’s.
SACCI business confidence index (August 2026)
The South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry business confidence index will be released on Wednesday. July’s index figure was 125.4, the highest level in four months but materially down from the readings between November 2025 and March 2026, which were all north of 130 points.
Higher producer inflation linked to the US-Iran war continues to depress business confidence, and August’s reading is not expected to be much different from July’s.