South Africa's African National Congress is taking its dispute with the Electoral Commission of South Africa over candidate lists to the Electoral Court, according to IOL. The party said it would provide an update on its candidate nominations and preparations for the November local government elections following the court challenge. The dispute centres on the party's candidate list submissions ahead of the municipal polls.

Political parties are campaigning in municipalities across KwaZulu-Natal ahead of South Africa's Local Government Elections, which are scheduled to take place on November 4. According to SABC Politics, parties are on the campaign trail in the province as they seek voter support in the upcoming municipal polls.

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.

Indian voters in KwaZulu-Natal communities such as Phoenix, Chatsworth, Tongaat and Merebank are reportedly considering new political options ahead of the 2026 local elections, according to political analysts and community leaders cited by IOL. Voters are said to be increasingly focused on service delivery and representation. However, analysts disagree on whether newer parties will be able to dislodge the Democratic Alliance's established support base among Indian voters in the province.

A TimesLIVE editorial argues that a high-stakes blunder by South Africa's ANC has exposed internal disarray within the party and could threaten the credibility of upcoming elections. According to the editorial, the ANC has blamed the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) for a missed deadline, setting the stage for a showdown in the Electoral Court. The piece frames the dispute as evidence of dysfunction within the governing party as it faces mounting political and organisational pressure.

A TimesLIVE poll asks whether South African voters can trust the ANC to manage their municipalities if the party cannot correctly compile its election candidate lists. The question comes amid growing concerns over service delivery, as the governing party reportedly struggles with basic election procedures ahead of local polls. The poll invites readers to weigh in on the ANC's administrative competence and its implications for municipal governance.