SA News Highlights — 24 September 2026 (Heritage Day).
Top Headlines
- Rates bite hard: SARB hiked the repo rate to 7.25%; the IEJ warns higher policy rates mean higher unemployment, and homeowners and car owners are already facing bigger monthly repayments going into the festive season.
- ANC's last throw on the ballot: The ANC has gone to the Constitutional Court to force 181 of its councillors onto the local election ballot, while the DA takes MK, the EFF and ActionSA to the Electoral Court over candidate lists.
- Voter trust warning: The IEC admits trust in elections is falling as parties sign a local election code of conduct — and an ANC ward councillor has dumped the party ticket for the Service Delivery Party over a candidate dispute.
- SIU: R2bn+ in defence contracts flagged: The Special Investigating Unit has flagged more than R2 billion in irregular defence contracts and is lining up mass referrals for prosecution.
- Police leadership under fire: Experts are picking apart the power dynamics in the rape case against Shadrack Sibiya, the MK Party wants Ramaphosa to end Fannie Masemola's suspension, and Parliament's police committee is challenging SAPS over 'inaccurate' women's crime data.
- Mass shootings still rolling: Ntuli and SAPS are meeting the KwaMakhutha community after 11 people were killed in KZN; a Sydenham massacre suspect has been arrested after five years on the run; and a petition is demanding a permanent serial-crime task team after the Kempton Park murders.
- Fraud busts: Three people arrested over R16 million in Limpopo security tender fraud, and 13 suspects nabbed in a R700,000 UIF fraud operation — both Limpopo.
- US pressure — Lamola holds the line: Lamola is refusing a policy retreat as US pressure intensifies, while US ambassador Bozell says his offers to help with rural safety were ignored by government.
- Joburg wipes R1.2bn in debt: The City of Johannesburg is ready to write off R1.2 billion in customer debt — applications are open.
Madlanga / Justice / Accountability
- Taxi boss Oupa Sindane is fighting his Madlanga Commission subpoena again: his lawyer Thabani Masuku told the Commission he is too sick to testify and cited a ‘spiritual retreat’ — the Commission wants that medical claim properly tested.
- The NPA is reviewing IDAC dockets and lifestyle audits have been ordered; Fannie Masemola has been cleared, which is why the MK Party is pushing for his suspension to end.
- In the courts: a TMPD officer accused of robbery and kidnapping was granted bail; a Klerksdorp woman got R4,000 bail over an alleged fake property auction; North West municipalities were grilled over unspent infrastructure grants; and a Limpopo teacher is back in court over the alleged rape of a schoolgirl.
- Also today — Heritage Day: Shaka Day commemorations in Umlazi, and the NSRI warning of strong spring tides along the coast this long weekend.
Why it matters: the rate hike and the IEC court fights hit voters' pockets and their ballots on the same day — while the police, IDAC and NPA leadership is still being sorted out on the fly. The accountability machinery is the story behind every headline above.
Source: IOL, Mail & Guardian, SABC News, The Citizen, Moneyweb, TechCentral, Sunday World — 24 September 2026.