Update@Noon

The South African National Commision for UNESCO has indicated that they will not reach their 2030 vision for education. The vision aims is to ensure that everyone has access to inclusive, equitable and quality education and lifelong learning opportunities, regardless of their background or circumstances. They have identified major disturbances in education, including poverty , limited access to resources, high drop out rates and insufficient funding for disadvantaged learners amongst others. In an effort to promote access and equity in primary and secondary education, they launched the 2026 Global Education Monitoring Report at Nelson Mandela University in Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday (27 October). Nandipha Plaatjie reports...

The Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, has officially opened seven refurbished railway stations along the KuGompo City rail corridor. The stations at Mtsotso, Fort Jackson, Panmure, Mdantsane, Arnoldton, Mount Ruth and Wilsonia had been damaged and vandalised, and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) has since rehabilitated them. The minister says they have put proper measures in place to prevent vandalism from happening again. Ntombozuko Balintulo files this report... 

Parliament's Budget Office, says the fuel levy reduction announced by the Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, last week was a necessity. The PBO briefed Parliament's Finance committee on the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement delivered by Godongwana last week. The office was established to provide independent, objective and professional advice and analysis to Parliament on matters related to the budget and other money Bills. Last week Godongwana announced a drop in fuel levies – diesel will drop by three rand per litre and the petrol levy will drop by one rand-50 cents per litre on 4 November, before tapering down in December. Zalene Merrington reports…

The Electoral Court will head into next week's local government elections with a vacancy that the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has failed to fill. The vacancy was not included in the JSC's October interviews because no suitable shortlist of candidates was compiled. As Sibahle Motha reports, concerns have been raised about the court's capacity to deal with election disputes.

It is time to elect a woman as the next United Nations Secretary-General. This was one of the sentiments expressed as the Department of International Relations and Cooperation and the United Nations Country Team co-hosted the 2026 United Nations Day Commemoration in Pretoria. Held under the theme, "Restoring Trust and Delivering Shared Prosperity Together in a Changing World", the event brought together government representatives, UN officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, academics, civil society and youth representatives to reflect on progress made and the work that still lies ahead. Bonolo Maribe compiled this report.

Several residents in Bloemfontein are appealing to the Mangaung Metro municipality for assistance after a storm damaged their homes. The roofs of about 100 houses were ripped off by strong winds, while other residents lost furniture and were left with damaged electrical appliances. This after rainwater flooded their homes. The South African Weather Service issued a Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms in the area. Our reporter, Kamagelo Seekoei has the details... 

COSATU says its intensifying its election campaign and mobilisation ahead of the Local Government Elections on the 4th of November. The federation says the campaign is guided by the resolutions of the federation's 15th National Congress to support both the African National Congress and the South African Communist Party.  COSATU has emphasised that its responsibility is to ensure that workers' voices are heard in determining the direction of local government and the broader development path of the country.  SABC Economics reporter Naledi Mabitsela-Ngcobo filed this report.

Spain midfielder Alexia Putellas won the Ballon d'Or Feminin for a record-equalling third time, keeping the prize in Spanish hands for a sixth consecutive year. Putellas captained Barcelona to Champions League glory as part of a quadruple in 2025-26. She joins Spain team-mate Aitana Bonmati on three Ballon d'Or Feminin crowns. Harry Kane has become the first English player to win the Ballon d'Or since Michael Owen in 2001. The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker is the fifth Englishman to win the award. SAfm sports anchor Jon Gericke has more 

A 34-year-old man from Eldorado Park, south of Johannesburg, has been sentenced to two life terms in prison for the murder and rape of his four-year-old step daughter. The Johannesburg High Court described his actions as extremely brutal, saying he had destroyed the lives of children he was supposed to protect. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC News reporter Musa Mhlongo 

The Construction Industry Development Board has stepped up its crackdown on contractors accused of misrepresentation and failing to meet registration requirements for state construction work. Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson says 15 more contractors are being removed from the national register this month, bringing the number targeted since he took office in June 2024 to 75. The move forms part of government's drive to tighten accountability in the construction industry and prevent companies that fail to meet required standards from securing public infrastructure work. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson