Political killings have become something of a norm in some parts of the country, mainly in Kwazulu-Natal during elections campaigning season. This year alone six people have reportedly been killed in politically related killings in the province. Meanwhile, Police Minister Bheki Cele says more police officers have been deployed to hotspots of political killings in the country. Cele was in Pietermaritzburg in KwaZulu-Natal where an EFF ward candidate was shot dead while returning from a campaign meeting in Dambuz, Herwood. Cele says a Political Task Team is investigating the murders. The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has described the late Zibuse Mlaba as a person who promoted peace and development for his clan. Mlaba was shot and killed on Thursday at Cato Ridge west of Durban by two armed men as he was entering his office. My colleague Luyanda Maome caught up with Mary De Haas from Violence monitor and discuss this matter of killings particularly in KZN

The Auditor General's report for 2019-2020 financial year…Shows that only 27 out of 278 municipalities in SA received a clean audit… It further shows… 26 billion rand in irregular expenditure…. What our AG also showed us is that…. Our municipalities by and large are still heavily dependent on Consultants… and that less than a quarter of municipalities can actually show that what they spent had the desired outcome…. In other words… the people we elect to local government and the beaurocrats who add deed to their deliberations… have combined to give us poor service delivery in the main…Beyond that… the current administration inherited….33 clean audits…. but delivered only 27…. Which means that even with all the reprimands…and suggestions made to improve adherence to the Municipal Finance Management Act….even Fewer Municipalities have taken heed and improved matters… 

People with Disability say politicians use them to get votes whilst government use them as a front to meet disability employment quotas. They say they are continuously ill-treated and discriminated against when they go out to seek government services and assistance, including by law enforcement and health care workers. A newly established political party will be contesting the November 1st municipal elections with the express aim of fighting for the rights of people with disability

The ANC in KwaZulu-Natal has called on police to arrest those responsible for what appears to be politically motivated killings in the province. The call comes after a councillor candidate and a party member were killed in their vehicle after a door-to-door campaign in Cato Crest near Durban.  Friday night's incident was the second fatal attack ahead of the Local government elections.  Last month three women were killed in a drive-by shooting during an ANC meeting to elect a ward candidate

Government has strongly condemned the alleged hostage drama that occurred last night at a hotel in Irene, Pretoria. Defence Minister,  Thandi Modise, her deputy, Thabang Makwetla, as well as Minister in Presidency, Mondli Gungubele were allegedly held against their own will by former military veterans whilst having a meeting with them.  The hostage drama had to be defused by police

With load-shedding suspended since Thursday, Eskom says we are not out of the woods yet as a significant risks to the power system remains and load-shedding could again be implemented at short notice. The power utility says the recent loadshedding was due to some power units going offline due to breakdowns. However energy expects have criticised Eskom's poor maintenance planning with claims of systems not being serviced as per regular 7 year cycle on things like oil. Energy Expert Ted Blom says plant explosions and unit breakdowns are happening faster than maintenance work

In our ongoing roundtable discussion ahead of the local government we host the National freedom party. Who are dedicating this election to their later leader Zanele Ka Magwasa Msibi. But after missing out on the last local elections what make the party tick and what are they promising to do for you you.

The City of Johannesburg's plan to take over distribution from Eskom faces several costly hurdles, including R7.5 billion in outstanding consumer debt and R4 billion to take ownership of distribution infrastructure. Electricity supply has turned into a critical election issue in Gauteng, where communities have borne the brunt of 'load reduction' by Eskom

The eThekwini Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal says there has been an alarming rate of new HIV infections among girls and young women between 13 and 19-years old. The municipality has launched a programme to help reduce the rate of HIV infections and sexually transmitted diseases. adding to the problems.... Many people also stopped their HIV treatments when health services were disrupted by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The recently updated Food Poverty Line Indices report shows a growing or worsening state of poverty in South Africa... With the poverty line now sitting at R624 per capita a month... And if you consider that ther average child support grant sits at 460 per month per child or that the Emergency SRD grant sits at R350 rand per month..., then it does not take a rocket scientist to figure out that both of them sit below the Food Poverty line in this country... Year on year...the average cost of a basket of food....for the average household... In SA has also increased by R361 a month... An increase of almost 10 percent... SO how do the poorest of South Africans afford to eat... And what is this reality doing to the levels of inequality in South Africa.