The countdown to South Africa’s 2026 local government elections has begun. With the municipal council term in South Africa expiring on 1 November 2026, the preparations for the next general elections are underway. On 10 March 2026, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced that voter registration for the 2026 local government elections will take place   read more »

Welcome to the February issue of Mbalo Brief, our first issue for 2026. February is widely recognised as the month of love, but it is also a time to celebrate something equally powerful, our languages. On 17 November 1999, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) declared 21 February as International Mother Language   read more »

South Africa gears up to host the Group of Twenty (G20) Summit, placing the nation firmly on the global stage. The G20 is an international forum that brings together the world’s major economies to discuss and coordinate global economic and financial priorities. The forum consists of 19 countries and two regional bodies—the European Union and   read more »

Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) compiles data on economic activities within each province, producing provincial gross domestic product (GDP) figures. The provincial GDPs estimates add to national GDP with each province contributing depending on their respective dominant industries such as manufacturing, agriculture and mining among  others. On 18 September 2025, Stats SA published Provincial gross   read more »

In South Africa, legally and traditionally, when a woman marries, she has the option of changing her maiden surname to that of her spouse, or she can choose to use a double-barrel surname by combining both surnames. However, for men, the same right does not apply, as it is not legally possible for a husband   read more »

On 31 July 2025, the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) lowered the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7%, which became effective from 01 August 2025, marking its lowest level since November 2022. This reduction effectively brings the prime lending rate down to 10,50%. The repo rate, or repurchase rate, is the interest rate   read more »

The 2030 Agenda acknowledges that eradicating poverty in all its forms and dimensions, including extreme poverty, is the greatest global challenge and an indispensable requirement for sustainable development. The first Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) aims to end poverty in all its forms and reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children   read more »

The scourge of child abuse and neglect is rampant in South Africa and affects many children across the country. A recent study found that one in three girls and one in five boys in South Africa have experienced some form of violence before turning 18. Moreover, the Department of Social Development (DSD) reported more than   read more »

On 6 May 2025, the Constitutional Court of South Africa made an important decision about a law that caused some South Africans to lose their South African citizenship. The court said that part of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995(Act No. 88 of 1995), specifically section 6(1)(a), is unconstitutional, which means it goes against the   read more »

In South Africa, many newborns die, with thousands failing to breathe at all and many others dying within days of birth, showing a significant public health concern. The latest report from Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), Perinatal Deaths in South Africa, 2016–2020, published on 31 March 2025 highlights that stillbirths have more than doubled since   read more »