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South Africa’s annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased to 4.5%  in September 2026, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) said on Wednesday.

“Annual consumer price index (CPI) inflation edged higher in September 2026, rising to 4.5% from 4.4% in August 2026 and 4.3% in July 2026. The index increased by 0.4% between August and September, up from 0% recorded between July and August,” it said.
This as consumer inflation rose for a second straight month.

Transport (10.8% and contributing 1.5 percentage points); housing and utilities (5.2% and contributing 1.3 percentage points); and insurance and financial services (5.4% and contributing 0.6 of a percentage point) were the main contributors to the 4.5% annual inflation rate.

In its Weekly Monitor economic commentary, Nedbank forecast headline consumer inflation to accelerate from 4.4% in August to 4.8% in September.

“The main driver will remain higher transport costs stemming from a rise in fuel prices. Petrol prices rose by 5.3% mom [month-on-month] following a jump in global oil prices (about 14.1%) and a depreciation of the rand against the US dollar (about 1.7%). Consequently, fuel inflation is expected to rise from 20% to around 27%,” it said in the document dated 17 October 2026.

It added that food inflation is expected to continue its moderate increase off a low base.
“The contribution from housing and utilities will also increase, driven by actual rentals for housing and owners’ equivalent rent, as well as wages for domestic workers and public transport fares, as surveyed in September. 

“Core inflation is also expected to firm, rising from 4.0% to 4.4%, as the indirect effects of higher fuel costs continue to filter through to a broader range of goods and services, suggesting mounting underlying inflationary pressures,” said Nedbank.

The data was released ahead of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana’s tabling of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday afternoon.

READ | All systems go for Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement
–SAnews.gov.za

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has welcomed a High Court judgment dismissing an application for a declaratory order on fees imposed on property practitioners by residential estates and related bodies.

The Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg dismissed the application brought by the Residential Communities Council (NPC) and the Association of Residential Communities CC on Tuesday, 20 October 2026.

The applicants had sought broad relief relating to residential estates, homeowners’ associations, body corporates, and governing bodies across the country.

In its judgment, the court found that the applicants had not established sufficient grounds for the relief sought. It also recognised that the lawfulness of the contested conduct depends on the specific circumstances of each case, including the nature of the organisation concerned, the functions it performs, the nature of the fees charged and the circumstances under which those fees are imposed.

The Court further acknowledged that such practices may, depending on the facts, disadvantage property practitioners, restrict consumer choice and create barriers to entry into the property sector.

Simelane said the dismissal of a declaratory order enables the department, through its entity, the Property Practitioners Regulatory Authority (PPRA), to continue advancing for a fair, transparent, and inclusive property sector in which property practitioners can operate within the law and consumers are afforded appropriate protection.

“The Authority will continue to exercise its regulatory responsibilities in accordance with the Property Practitioners Act and applicable regulations, with due regard to the facts and merits of individual matters, and drive initiatives aimed at transforming the sector,” Simelane said.

The PPRA opposed the application, arguing that fees imposed on property practitioners may, depending on the circumstances, constitute an undesirable business practice under Regulation 35 of the Property Practitioners Regulations, 2022, read with sections 62 and 63 of the Property Practitioners Act 22 of 2019.

The Authority’s position was informed by its statutory mandate to regulate the conduct of property practitioners, promote compliance with the legislative framework and protect consumers against undesirable practices in the property market.

The Minister said this historic judgment represents a significant development in the ongoing debate concerning fees imposed on property practitioners by residential estates as a condition for marketing and selling properties within their developments.

“The judgment also reinforces the importance of examining practices in the property market against the objectives of the legislative framework, including fair access to the market, consumer protection and the transformation of the property sector,” Simelane said. – SAnews.gov.za

President Cyril Ramaphosa will on Thursday launch the Cabinet-approved Revised White Paper on Local Government (WPLG), 2026, aimed at addressing persistent challenges in municipal governance, financial management, institutional capacity and service delivery.

The launch, to be held at the Birchwood Hotel and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, will take place under the theme: “Every Municipality Must Work: From Policy to Collective Action”.

The Revised White Paper builds on the national dialogue on the future of local government, including resolutions of the 2022 Presidential Local Government Summit, stakeholder consultations and government’s ongoing efforts to reform the local government system.

The policy provides a framework for a differentiated approach to municipalities, recognising that metropolitan, secondary-city, rural and small-town municipalities have different capacities, challenges and development needs.

The launch follows President Ramaphosa’s commitment in the 2026 State of the Nation Address to finalise a revised White Paper to reimagine the local government system and address its structural and operational challenges.

The event will also introduce the Implementation Plan and Transition Management Body, which will support the transition from policy development to implementation. The White Paper will be accompanied by a Research Compendium consolidating the research that informed the policy review.

The launch is expected to bring together the political and administrative leadership of all 257 municipalities, national and provincial government, Parliament, oversight institutions, organised local government, traditional and Khoi-San leadership, organised labour, business, civil society, academia and development partners.

The engagement will seek to strengthen stakeholder ownership of the revised policy and reinforce the shared responsibility of government and wider society in building capable, accountable and developmental municipalities that deliver reliable services and respond to community needs. – SAnews.gov.za

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is calling on 5 500 young South Africans under the age of 35 to step forward, embrace the challenge and join the men and women in blue as police trainees during the 2026/2027 financial year.

The nationwide online recruitment drive opens today, 21 October 2026, and closes on 13 November 2026.

“This is an opportunity for young, patriotic and service-driven South Africans aged 18 to under 35 to turn their passion for making a difference into a meaningful career in policing. 

“If you are disciplined, physically fit, committed to serving your community and determined to help build a safer South Africa, this could be your moment,” the South African Police Service said in a statement.

Take the first step – apply online

Eligible applicants, who have no criminal records or pending criminal cases, are encouraged to apply via the official SAPS eRecruitment portal: http://www.erecruitment.saps.gov.za/.

The online application process, introduced in 2025, makes it easier for young people from all walks of life to apply for entry-level police trainee posts.

“To apply, prospective applicants must create a profile on the portal and verify their accounts using a code sent to their email addresses. Once verified, they can follow the step-by-step process to apply for available trainee posts. A QR code providing direct access to the portal will also be shared on SAPS’s official social media platforms,” the police said.

Your qualifications could open specialised career pathways

The SAPS said it was looking for more than just a uniform – young people who can bring knowledge, skills, fresh perspectives and a commitment to excellence in the fight against crime.

As part of its targeted recruitment drive, SAPS will identify suitably qualified applicants with specific skills for consideration in specialised policing environments. 

Graduates in Law, Policing, Criminology, Law Enforcement, Forensic Investigation and Information Technology may be considered for placement within the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), also known as the Hawks, Detective and Forensic Services and Crime Intelligence.

The targeted recruitment process will also seek to identify suitably qualified young people from underrepresented racial groups, who meet the prescribed requirements.

Rigorous screening

Every applicant will undergo a rigorous selection process, including fitness, psychometric and integrity testing, a medical evaluation and an interview. These assessments are designed to ensure that those selected possess the physical fitness, mental resilience, discipline and integrity required to serve and protect the people of South Africa.

Successful recruits, who hold a relevant NQF Level 6 or higher qualification, will undergo six months of training at a SAPS training academy, while those without such qualifications will complete the standard nine-month training programme. All police trainees will receive a monthly stipend of R5 000 during their training.

“Joining the SAPS is more than choosing a career. It is choosing to stand against crime, protect vulnerable people, support communities and contribute to a safer future for all South Africans,” the police said.

Don’t miss your change to make a difference

Applications close on 13 November 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply early and ensure that they meet all the prescribed requirements.

The SAPS emphasised that applications are free of charge and that no police trainee position is for sale. Applicants must remain vigilant against fraudsters who may demand money in exchange for employment or promise to influence the recruitment process. – SAnews.gov.za

Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Jack Bloom has reiterated his call for greater community participation in tackling river pollution.

Bloom made the call at the official opening of an innovative set of litter traps on the Kaalspruit in Olifantsfontein, Ekurhuleni, where he joined residents and volunteers in a river clean-up operation.

Tuesday’s event highlighted efforts by environmental activist and artist Willem Snyman, founder of the Fresh NGO (Fountain River Environmental Sanctuary Hennops), to prevent plastic waste from flowing downstream into major river systems.

Over several years of trial and error, Snyman has installed eight polystyrene traps and seven lines of plastic-bag traps along the river and canyon. Most are suspended from 100-metre cables, with the installations spanning more than 800 metres.

The traps collect large volumes of waste, including polystyrene discarded by recyclers and illegally dumped building rubble. On some days, Snyman’s team fills a 30-cubic-metre skip with the collected material.

The project has also created employment opportunities for people from the surrounding community, who help clear the traps and remove the accumulated waste. Snyman has funded much of the initiative himself.

The Kaalspruit flows through Tembisa, with significant plastic pollution accumulating in the Olifantsfontein area before the river feeds into the Hennops and Crocodile rivers, which flow into Hartbeespoort Dam and eventually the Limpopo River.

Bloom highlighted the importance of intercepting waste close to its source to prevent further pollution, particularly during periods of heavy rain when litter can be carried downstream.

Once plastic waste spreads through river systems, he said recovering it becomes increasingly difficult, making interventions such as the Kaalspruit litter traps important in protecting water resources.

Bloom commended the partnership between Fresh NGO and the City of Ekurhuleni, which approved the installation of the traps on municipal land.

However, he warned that the traps need regular maintenance to remain effective, and that full traps could overflow or become blocked if they are not cleared.

“A litter trap only works, however, if someone empties it. Once a trap is full, it can overflow or block, so Fresh NGO needs volunteers and partners to keep the traps clear.”

The Deputy Minister called on residents, schools, businesses, and estate agencies in the area to support the initiative by volunteering, sponsoring the project or adopting a litter trap.

“Use the bins, do not dump, and report illegal dumping to the city. We must all be part of the solution to cleaning up our precious rivers.”

The initiative also carries a social message. Snyman is working on a memorial park for young women who were murdered in the area, including a victim whose body was found in one of the litter traps.

Bloom drew a connection between the pollution of the river and the scourge of gender-based violence, calling for efforts to restore both the natural environment and the safety and dignity of communities.

“It is not just litter that is dumped here. Serial murders of young women have taken place near here, and the body of one of the victims was found entangled in one of these litter traps. We need to cleanse this river, and we need to cleanse society of the evil of gender-based violence,” he said.

Bloom thanked Snyman and the Fresh NGO team, volunteers from the Clean Environment and Clean South Africa non-profit organisations, City of Ekurhuleni officials, and residents who participated in the clean-up.

“It is said that you eat an elephant one bite at a time – this is what we need to do with our polluted rivers, one section at a time, stopping the pollution at its source,” Bloom said. – SAnews.gov.za