Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement as Parliament breaks for local government election campaigning.
Monday 19 October
President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the keynote address at the two-day Bana Pele Leadership Summit in Sandton, aimed at accelerating universal access to quality early childhood learning by 2030.
President Ramaphosa and Mozambican President Daniel Chapo commemorate the 40th anniversary of the plane crash that killed Mozambique’s first president, Samora Machel, and 34 others, at Mbuzini in Mpumalanga.
Deputy Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Narend Singh leads the South African delegation at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17) in Yerevan, Armenia.
National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola resumes duties after President Cyril Ramaphosa lifts his suspension following the withdrawal of charges linked to a R360 million police healthcare tender.
The Protea Village Community hosts a site visit in Bishopscourt, Cape Town, to mark progress on a historic land restitution project that will see 86 families return to their ancestral land. Attendees include Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and representatives of the departments of Public Works and Infrastructure and Land Reform and Rural Development.
The World Bank Group’s Global AI and Digital Summit opens in Seoul.
The 13th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention against Transnational Organised Crime opens in Vienna.
Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta holds a non-binding referendum on whether to remain part of Canada or begin the legal process towards a future vote on independence.
The second Test between the Proteas and Australia continues at St George’s Park, Gqeberha.
Tuesday 20 October
The National Assembly enters a three-week constituency period, running until 6 November, as MPs campaign ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Minister of Transport Barbara Creecy addresses the Southern African Railways Association’s 15th Rail Conference and Exhibition in Sandton as part of National Transport Month.
RISE Mzansi outlines its plan to make municipalities work at a campaign event in Rosebank, Johannesburg, ahead of the 4 November local government elections.
Open Secrets launches Who Owns South Africa: Private Media, an investigative report examining the ownership of the country’s five largest private media houses, at the Homecoming Centre in Cape Town.
The Institute of Waste Management of Southern Africa hosts the three-day WasteCon 2026 conference at Emperors Palace in Johannesburg, focusing on sustainable waste and resource management.
Stats SA releases its business insolvency statistics for September 2026.
Wednesday 21 October
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana tables the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement during a hybrid sitting of the National Assembly in Cape Town, outlining government’s revised fiscal outlook.
EFF national chairperson and Cape Town mayoral candidate Nontando Nolutshungu addresses the Cape Town Press Club on her vision for the city should she be elected.
The Centre for Early Childhood Development hosts a debate with City of Cape Town mayoral candidates on early childhood development, education and support for families, at Lentegeur Hospital in Mitchell’s Plain.
Stats SA releases the Consumer Price Index for September 2026.
The African Union marks African Human Rights Day.
The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC, hosts a discussion on the role of artificial intelligence in the US midterm elections, including data centre development, national security and election interference.
King Charles III, Queen Camilla and Prince William visit Aberfan in Wales to mark the 60th anniversary of the colliery disaster that killed 144 people, including 116 children.
Thursday 22 October
President Cyril Ramaphosa launches the revised White Paper on Local Government, which Cooperative Governance Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa says will end cadre deployment in municipalities and introduce merit-based appointments.
President Cyril Ramaphosa also addresses the SA National Leadership Convening on Youth Employment in Sandton.
Heads of government from the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) meet in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the bloc’s 25th summit.
American rapper Macklemore performs in Denver, Colorado, in his first concert since being dropped from Ed Sheeran’s tour following pro-Palestinian remarks onstage.
Friday 23 October
Former President Thabo Mbeki participates in a public conversation hosted by the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs at Unisa in Pretoria.
Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana briefs Parliament’s Standing and Select Committees on Finance and Appropriations on the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement during a virtual meeting.
Hungary marks the 70th anniversary of the 1956 revolution with a day of commemorations in Budapest.
The UN Security Council and the African Union Peace and Security Council hold their 20th Annual Joint Consultative Meeting in New York.
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, goes on sale.
Saturday 24 October
Former US President Barack Obama campaigns with Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson at a rally in Detroit.
Springbok Women face Ireland Women in the WXV at Athlone Stadium, Cape Town.
Sunday 25 October
eNCA releases the results of its MarkData local government election poll for Tshwane and eThekwini, examining voting intentions, preferred coalition partners and mayoral candidates ahead of the 4 November elections.
Brazil holds the second round of its presidential election, with incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva facing Senator Flávio Bolsonaro following a closely contested first round.
Bulgaria holds the first round of its presidential election, with incumbent President Iliana Iotova seeking a five-year term.
Serbia holds early parliamentary elections called in September by Aleksandar Vučić, who resigned as President to seek the premiership.
The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix takes place in Austin, Texas.
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