South Africa's Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) has named deputy minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa as its candidate to lead its mayoral bid for eThekwini, the metropolitan municipality that includes Durban. According to TimesLIVE, the party unveiled what it calls a "two-horns" strategy, pairing Hlengwa with Sikhakhane at the helm of the campaign. The announcement positions the IFP's leadership team ahead of its push to contest control of the key KwaZulu-Natal metro.

ActionSA has expanded its presence in the eThekwini Municipality by adding 18 new members, according to the party's president. The party aims to position itself as a key player in the municipality following the upcoming Local Government Elections (LGE).

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is preparing to host a peace summit bringing together political parties and the Independent Electoral Commission ahead of the Local General Elections, according to SABC. The talks aim to promote calm and cooperation in the province during the election period. Details of the summit's date, agenda, and participating parties have not been disclosed.

Parts of KwaZulu-Natal are facing extreme fire danger as the week begins, with weather conditions impacting the region. The forecast also covers the Free State and North West, indicating potential challenges for outdoor activities on Monday, according to The South African.

Kenya's ruling UDA party and the opposition ODM have made progress on a joint manifesto and coordinated public messaging ahead of the 2027 General Election, but disagreements over electoral zoning remain unresolved. According to the Eastleigh Voice, negotiations on whether to adopt zoning arrangements in the Coast and Nyanza regions have emerged as a major hurdle in the talks between the two parties.

Dan Aibangbe examines how United Capital's expansion is influencing investment banking in various African markets, highlighting its impact on regional growth in this sector. The analysis focuses on the company's strategic moves and their implications for investment banking across the continent.