This week, South Africa's parliament will reconvene from its constituency period, coinciding with the opening of applications for special votes ahead of the November 4 local government elections. Registered voters who will be unable to vote at their voting station on election day due to qualifying circumstances can apply from September 21 until October 12. This allows voters with physical infirmity, illness, or disability to apply for a home visit, while those who can travel but will be unable to vote on November 4 can apply to vote early at their registered voting station.
Parliament's return on Tuesday brings MPs back to the national legislature as parties enter the final weeks before the local government elections. The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) will hold an investigation into gendered power dynamics within the administrative environment of the Eastern Cape provincial legislature. This investigation will examine institutional culture, workplace dignity and safety, and concerns including bullying, harassment, intimidation, and sexual harassment.
On Monday, Correctional services minister Pieter Groenewald will launch Corrections Week 2026 in Cape Town. The week-long event, running from September 20 to 26, will be launched at the Goodwood Art Gallery under the theme, “Correcting offending behaviour, restoring dignity and rebuilding communities through arts and crafts”. The department of correctional services will open its nine arts and crafts galleries to the public during the week, showcasing products made by offenders.
The CGE will also hold an accountability session on the plight of women farm workers in the Eastern Cape on Tuesday. This session will bring together farm workers, government departments, farm owners and employers, organised labour, municipalities, civil society, and human rights institutions. The engagement follows CGE outreach work in the Sarah Baartman District, which identified concerns including gender inequality and labour rights.
On Wednesday, North West MEC for co-operative governance, human settlements, and traditional affairs Gaoage Oageng Molapisi will brief the media on municipal governance, service delivery, and human settlements. The briefing in Mahikeng will cover municipal performance and accountability, infrastructure development, and human settlements delivery. Molapisi will outline the human settlements MuniMEC programme scheduled for the same day.
The main national event of the week will take place on Thursday, when South Africa marks Heritage Day. The national Heritage Day celebration will take place in Thembalethu, George, in the Western Cape, under the theme, “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us”. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to participate in the national programme, highlighting South Africa’s cultural heritage and the role of living traditions in strengthening social cohesion and national identity.
Special votes for the local government elections will be cast on November 2 and 3. Voters are encouraged to apply for special votes if they are unable to vote at their designated polling station on November 4. This process aims to ensure that all eligible voters can exercise their right to vote in the upcoming local government elections.
Key points
- Applications for special votes ahead of the November 4 local government elections open on September 21.
- The Commission for Gender Equality will investigate gendered power dynamics in the Eastern Cape provincial legislature.
- South Africa will mark Heritage Day on Thursday, celebrating the country's cultural heritage and living traditions.
