Published: 9 August 2026 at 00:33 SAST Last Updated: 9 August 2026 at 05:03 SAST
South Africa begins Sunday’s public holiday with National Women’s Day at the centre of the national agenda, 70 years after the historic 1956 march to the Union Buildings. A strong winter system is also moving across the country, bringing risks of damaging wind, rough seas, flooding and snow. Meanwhile, police are searching for the gunmen who killed two Anti-Gang Unit officers and two women in Reiger Park, and the campaign for the 4 November local government elections is gathering pace.
Here is what is making news in South Africa today, based on information available early on Sunday morning.
Women’s Day marks 70 years since the Union Buildings march
President Cyril Ramaphosa is due to deliver the keynote address at the national Women’s Day commemoration at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday.
This year’s event marks seven decades since at least 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings on 9 August 1956 to oppose the apartheid government’s extension of pass laws to women. The commemoration is being held under the theme “Empowered Women Empower The Nation”, with a particular emphasis on women’s access to quality healthcare.
The anniversary is both a celebration of one of South Africa’s defining acts of resistance and a measure of the work still required on gender equality, economic participation and gender-based violence. An Associated Press report published ahead of the anniversary noted that women continue to face disproportionately high unemployment, unpaid care responsibilities and violence.
EBNewsDaily has a standalone preview of the 2026 Women’s Day commemoration. Ramaphosa’s address and any new policy commitments will be among the most important developments to watch during the day.
Strong cold front brings snow, flooding and travel risks
Government has urged the public to remain vigilant as a cold front makes landfall over the Western and Northern Cape before moving eastwards and further inland.
The South African Weather Service expects cold to very cold, wet and windy conditions, rough seas and snow over mountainous areas. Snow is also forecast over high-lying parts of the Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga, with a lower chance of light falls in some other elevated areas.
The system may cause localised flooding, damaging winds, hazardous seas and travel disruption. Motorists have been advised to check road and weather conditions before leaving, especially around mountain passes, and never to cross flooded roads or fast-flowing water. Farmers should ensure that livestock have adequate shelter from the cold.
The weather system is expected to spread rain and showers across central and eastern parts of the country, with scattered to widespread rain over southern areas on Monday. Readers should follow official warnings and the latest updates on the EBNewsDaily weather page.
Police hunt gunmen after deadly Reiger Park ambush
Police are appealing for information after two Anti-Gang Unit officers and two women were killed in Reiger Park on the East Rand on Friday night.
According to police information reported by Eyewitness News, the officers were on patrol when they heard gunfire and drove towards the scene. They were ambushed when they arrived. The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain under investigation, and the search for those responsible was continuing early on Sunday.
Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe called on witnesses and anyone with information to assist investigators. The case is likely to renew concern about attacks on police officers and the long-running effects of gang and drug-related violence in communities on the East Rand.
Because the investigation is developing, unverified claims about the motive or identities of the attackers should be treated with caution. Further police updates are expected.
Local election date is fixed as parties intensify campaigns
South Africans will vote in local government elections on 4 November 2026 after Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa formally proclaimed the date in the Government Gazette on Friday.
The proclamation closed the voters’ roll. The IEC said about 1.7 million people interacted with the commission during the final registration weekend on 1 and 2 August. That included 291,806 first-time registrations and more than 1.5 million people who updated or confirmed their details.
Political parties are now moving rapidly into campaign mode. The Democratic Alliance launched its manifesto at Mary Fitzgerald Square in Johannesburg on Saturday, promising stronger consequence management, transparent procurement, ring-fenced utility revenue and reduced red tape for small businesses in municipalities it governs.
The ANC’s national executive committee was also meeting to finalise its municipal election priorities. The governing party is expected to announce mayoral candidates on 15 August and launch its manifesto on 23 August, with service delivery likely to dominate the campaign.
The next three months will put water, electricity, roads, billing systems, municipal finances and coalition stability under close scrutiny across the country.
New $500 million loan targets basic services in metros
South Africa has secured a $500 million loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank to support improvements in metropolitan water, sanitation, electricity and solid-waste services.
The financing supports the Metro Trading Services programme and is co-financed with the World Bank as part of a broader $3 billion government initiative. National Treasury says the programme is intended to improve municipal governance, financial management and operational performance while supporting climate-smart investment.
The programme targets a reduction in non-revenue water from 41% to 28% by 2031 and a fall in electricity losses from 22% to 12%. The funding is significant, but the public-interest test will be whether reforms translate into more reliable services, better maintenance and stronger financial controls in participating metros.
The agreement is the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s first investment in South Africa. It comes as municipal performance and basic-service reliability move to the forefront of the local election campaign.
Sundowns and Pirates survive MTN8 extra-time tests
Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates booked their places in the MTN8 semi-finals after two dramatic quarter-finals on Saturday.
Sundowns beat Polokwane City 3-2 after extra time at Lucas Moripe Stadium. Polokwane scored first, but Teboho Mokoena and Antonio van Wyk turned the match around before Tidimalo Molokwane forced extra time. Cassius Mailula struck the decisive goal in the 113th minute.
At Orlando Stadium, defending champions Pirates beat 10-man Durban City 2-1. Patrick Maswanganyi converted a first-half penalty, Jean Lwamba equalised after the break and Ghampani Lungu scored with a volley in the 120th minute.
Supporters can follow fixtures and results through the EBNewsDaily Match Centre and live scores page. EBNewsDaily also has existing coverage of government’s call to support Banyana Banyana during their WAFCON campaign.
What to Watch Today
- President Ramaphosa’s Women’s Day address: Watch for new commitments on women’s healthcare, economic participation and the response to gender-based violence.
- Weather warnings and road conditions: The cold front is expected to move east and inland, with snow, flooding, wind and rough seas posing risks to travel and vulnerable communities.
- Reiger Park investigation: Police may release further information on the hunt for the gunmen who killed two officers and two women.
- Local election campaigns: The DA will begin selling its newly launched manifesto while the ANC finalises the programme it plans to launch later this month.
- Municipal funding reforms: Details of which metros qualify for the new infrastructure financing, and the conditions attached to it, will be important for residents and ratepayers.
