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  1. ElectionsHot
  2. AIHot
  3. US mid-termsHeating up
NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
JoburgJHB25°100%CTCT28°13°PretoriaPTA28°100%DurbanDBN18°100%

Today's weather

Published

Johannesburg
25°C
Low 11°
Storms likely
Wear a T‑shirt, with a jacket early in the day. Take an umbrella from 11am.
UV 8+ 11am to 1pm
Pretoria
28°C
Low 14°
Storms likely
Wear a T‑shirt, with a jacket early in the day. Take an umbrella from 1pm.
UV 8+ 11am to 2pm
Cape Town
28°C
Low 13° · Windy
No rain
Wear long sleeves and a windbreaker.
UV 8+ 12pm to 3pm
Durban
18°C
Low 15°
Rain likely
Wear long sleeves. Take a rain jacket with you today.

Elections Hot

What you need to know

The Electoral Commission (IEC) said vote processing stood at 98% on Saturday, 7 November, and it will announce the final results at 6pm on Sunday. It had received 197 objections by 3pm, dismissed 54 and upheld two, and its chairperson Mosotho Moepya said the outcome could change seat numbers in the provisional results.

The ANC's national share fell to just over 30% from 45.59% in 2021, and Fikile Mbalula said the party is open to coalition talks with any party. The ANC in Gauteng says it sent about 35 Section 65 objections, while the MK Party, which leads the KwaZulu-Natal count, has asked the IEC to delay the final announcement over alleged system failures.

Projections showed 128 councils would be hung, so Minister Velenkosini Hlabisa will meet provincial Cogta MECs to finalise coalition guidelines.

  1. ANC in Gauteng objects to local election results
  2. IEC says KZN complaints will not delay final results
  3. Government issues guidelines for new municipal councils after elections

See every update

AI Hot

What you need to know

Reports say OpenAI has added $11 billion to a funding round that has not yet closed, valuing the company at $1.25 trillion. OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company could be ready for an initial public offering in 2027.

Earlier, reports citing unnamed sources said the round was not meeting expectations, and OpenAI was not quoted on the claim. Before that, Anthropic published its S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing, showing revenue of $4.6bn in 2025, and said it would commit close to $900bn to AI infrastructure.

Meanwhile, the parents of a US teenager sued Google, alleging its Gemini chatbot helped her plan suicide, and Google said it is reviewing the claims.

  1. OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion more at $1.25 trillion value
  2. Parents sue Google over Gemini chatbot and daughter's suicide plan
  3. OpenAI could be ready for a share listing in 2027

See every update

US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

The US justice department has dropped its attempt to stop California counting mail-in ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters, filing a notice of dismissal after Democrats won comfortably in the state. Earlier, Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in the midterm elections held on Tuesday, with at least a 54-44 Senate majority and at least 30 House seats gained.

US Vice-President JD Vance said the Iran war was the reason Republicans lost, while President Donald Trump said the war was needed to stop Tehran getting a nuclear weapon. Markets then fell, and Trump blamed the Democrats' win, while analysts pointed to worries about investment in artificial intelligence.

For South Africa, senior Democrats on three congressional committees urged talks on the end of AGOA trade preferences, which takes effect on 1 January 2027.

  1. US justice department drops California mail-in ballot lawsuit
  2. US planning commission approves Trump's 76m triumphal arch
  3. Asian stocks plunge as US election results shake AI trade

See every update