Dirty water, raw sewage and bad audits: see how your town is doing
Use our interactive map to see how your municipality scores on drinking water, sewage and its audit before you vote on 4 November
Text by Steve Kretzmann. Data by Daniel Steyn.
Analysis | 30 October 2026
Activists picket outside Cape Town Civic Centre
13 organisations raised numerous concerns, including housing and safety and the planned construction of data centres and the N2 wall
By Abonge Chiya and Laney Van Wyk
Brief | 30 October 2026
SASSA’s Umlazi office declared unsafe, shuts down
Hundreds of beneficiaries now forced to find their way to alternative offices
By Tsoanelo Sefoloko and Joseph Bracken
News | 30 October 2026
Government’s new anti-misinformation chatbot generates misinformation
RSA Facts falsely claimed the SRD grant would increase. But it did say the ANC government is corrupt.
By Joel Cedras
News | 30 October 2026
UCT food bank offers science students peace of mind
Funded by donations, Student Outreach and Support has helped more than 70 students in two years
By Alice Scott
News | 30 October 2026
Here’s how many people receive a SASSA grant
25% of the population received a grant in 2006. Today, it is about 41%.
Chart by The Outlier. Text by Marecia Damons.
Charts | 30 October 2026
Seven years and R44-million later – Nigel’s water reservoir remains unfinished
“They expect us to vote in the coming elections, yet we do not have water” says Alra Park resident
News | 29 October 2026
Bad audit opinion for Gauteng Department of Social Development
Irregular expenditure and insufficient controls are a persistent problem
By Seth Thorne
News | 29 October 2026
Lesotho dam authority must pay M90-million in long-overdue compensation
Massive win for Lesotho communities affected by the Lesotho Highlands Water Project
Feature | 29 October 2026
Videos
Photo Essays
In photos: Joburg’s first Queer Festival celebrates freedoms won over decades
In photos: PAGAD protest outside suspected drug dealer’s Cape Town house
Thousands march in Cape Town for freedom in Palestine
Enable Through Dance: breaking barriers for dancers with disabilities
In photos: Artists’ stories of heritage and migration
Joburg city streets come alive for Women’s Day weekend
What happens when a shack appears in a gated community?
In photos: Princess Vlei revived after decades of neglect
Charts
Features
Border? What border? This is what South Africa’s frontier with Zimbabwe looks like
Taps dry as Eastern Cape town waits for water works upgrade
Elections 2026: Polokwane is pouring sewage into two rivers
Life as an asylum seeker in SA’s broken immigration system
Elections 2026: Midlands municipality claws back millions in electricity revenue
A brilliant example of the state succeeding
Elections 2026: Affordable housing – has the City of Cape Town done enough?
Chris Hani’s killer could become a Polish MP
Our Editorials
Gauteng government thinks we are hackers. We are not
March and March has delivered nothing but suffering
Blaming immigrants for our problems is a fool’s game
SANEF should do better than this
How criminal cops escape justice
We should not be playing war games with Iran, Russia and China
Judges should respect press freedom
Why we need a right to be informed
Most Read
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Our answers to your questions
- I have a PTO for rural land. Do I need approval before I can start building my house?
- I have an Lesotho Exemption Permit to study in South Africa. Would I be breaking the law if I taught English online as a freelancer?
- I left school in grade 6 and would like to complete my education. Where do I start?
- I got injured in a car accident in 2009. Can I still claim from the road accident fund?
- I have been living on an allotment for many years and I have a PTO certificate from 1969. Can I claim this land?
Selected letters to the editor
What about District 6?
The housing provided by CoCT is admirable, but every time I drive into the City, I have to look at … Read more
Carguard exploitation
Please investigate the daily R35 fees reportedly charged to car guards in Port Shepstone. Guards ma… Read more
More info, less alarm and generalisation
This article is interesting and somewhat alarmist. What's missing is that any pain meds (prescribed… Read more
Pretoria's water supply: TooLate
This matter is seriously a big concern. Let me put it this way: this is not a problem from yesterda… Read more
Bellville SASSA Office
I visited the Bellville office today and found the same two people sitting there who appear in your… Read more