Stay informed with our essential overview of the key events and discussions set to shape the week in South Africa – covering developments in parliament, government, international affairs, and the economy.
Monday – 31 August 2026
- Municipal Election Campaigns Shift to Ground Game as Constituency Period Begins
With Members of Parliament and provincial legislatures entering their constituency period, political parties will spend the coming weeks focused on door-to-door canvassing and ground campaigns. This follows the submission of candidate lists to the Independent Electoral Commission last Friday, 27 August, ahead of the Municipal Election on 4 November.
- IFP President to Make Key Election Announcements in Durban
IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa will hold a press conference in Durban on Monday to make what the party describes as significant election-related announcements. The IFP faces a heated contest with the MK Party across KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the Municipal Election. KwaZulu-Natal remains one of the most contested and reputationally sensitive provinces heading into the local government poll.
- Parliament’s Third Term Closes Amid Phala Phala Impeachment Proceedings
Parliament’s short third term ends on Monday, with the Section 89 Enquiry Impeachment Committee receiving a legal opinion on President Cyril Ramaphosa’s objection to the appointment of Advocate Madonsela as evidence leader. The committee’s process forms part of the ongoing Phala Phala impeachment proceedings against the President. Continued procedural wrangling in the impeachment process sustains a degree of political noise and uncertainty around the presidency. While unlikely to have immediate market impact, reputational and governance developments may impact investor confidence in South Africa’s institutions.
Wednesday – 2 September 2026
- IEC to Release Preliminary Candidate Figures for Municipal Election
The Independent Electoral Commission reports that 519 parties submitted candidate names and lists by the 5pm deadline on Friday, 27 August. The IEC is currently verifying candidates and lists and is expected to release preliminary figures by midweek. The scale and composition of contesting parties will offer an early read on fragmentation risk in municipal councils, which has direct implications for coalition stability, governance continuity and service delivery in metros and municipalities where your organisation operates.
Tuesday – 1 September 2026
- Absa Manufacturing PMI for August Due
Absa will release its August Purchasing Managers’ Index on Tuesday morning. July’s reading of 46.8 points was the lowest since December 2025 and marked a second consecutive month of contraction, and August’s figure is not expected to differ materially despite easing price pressures. A manufacturing sector still in contraction points to subdued input demand, cautious inventory management and constrained hiring in the sector.
- New Vehicle Sales Data for August Due
The latest new vehicle sales figures will be released on Tuesday afternoon. July sales rose for a fourth consecutive month to 57,700 units, supported by stable interest rates and cheaper imports, with some analysts expecting August sales to approach the 58,000 mark. Sustained growth in vehicle sales is a useful proxy for consumer credit conditions and discretionary spending resilience. A continued upward trend would support a moderately constructive read on household balance sheets heading into the final quarter.
Thursday – 3 September 2026
- S&P Global South Africa PMI for August Due
S&P Global will release its August Purchasing Managers’ Index on Thursday morning. The June and July readings sat just above the 50-point neutral mark, reflecting weak growth amid easing price pressures, subdued business activity and weak employment growth, with August expected to remain close to 50. A PMI hovering near the neutral line signals an economy without clear momentum in either direction.