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  2. US mid-termsHeating up
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NewsbriefSouth Africa, briefly.
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Weather service issues level 4 warning for Gauteng

Published

The South African Weather Service expects heavy rain, hail and strong winds over parts of Gauteng this weekend. Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services put its technical rescue teams on high alert.

The weather service said severe thunderstorms could cause flash flooding. It warned that homes and infrastructure could suffer damage, and that electricity and communications could be disrupted.

William Tladi, who spoke for the Ekurhuleni emergency services, said low-lying bridges and roads could also flood. The warning also covers the Mpumalanga Highveld.

Key facts

Who
William Tladi (Spokesperson (Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services, as…); Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services (Disaster and emergency management body that put its technical rescue teams on…); South African Weather Service (Issued the level four warning)
What
The South African Weather Service issued a level four destructive weather warning for heavy rain, hail and strong winds expected over parts of Gauteng this weekend. Ekurhuleni Disaster and Emergency Management Services put its technical rescue teams on high alert in response.
When
6 November 2026
Where
Gauteng, Ekurhuleni, Mpumalanga Highveld
Status
Reported

Elections Hot

What you need to know

The Electoral Commission (IEC) will announce the final 2026 local election results on Sunday evening, with more than 100 municipal councils hung. In Mpumalanga, the ANC's support fell to 43.6%, which reports describe as its lowest ever, and it lost Victor Khanye and Mbombela.

Before that, the IEC said objections would not delay results, with 197 received and 54 dismissed. Some parties dispute the count: the ANC in Sedibeng is preparing an Electoral Court challenge over the Vaal voters' roll, and the MK Party may go to court over Ethekwini.

Coalition talks come next, and the SACP says it will set strict conditions before it backs the ANC in hung councils.

  1. Ramaphosa urges parties to form councils without delay
  2. DA wins 91 seats in Johannesburg council, short of control
  3. IEC announces official local election results in Midrand

See every update

US mid-terms Heating up

What you need to know

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

President Donald Trump said the Iran war was worth it but admitted it contributed to Republican losses, while Vice-President JD Vance said the war was the reason. Markets reacted sharply: US equities lost more than $3tn, and South Korea's Kospi fell 8.5%, while Trump blamed the Democratic win and analysts pointed to worries about AI investment.

In South Africa, the JSE rose almost 5%, and senior US Democrats urged talks over the removal of AGOA trade preferences, which takes effect on 1 January 2027.

  1. Podcast says US midterms leave Musk and data centres exposed
  2. US justice department drops California mail-in ballot lawsuit
  3. US planning commission approves Trump's 76m triumphal arch

See every update

AI Cooling

What you need to know

A US intelligence memo reportedly claims China's Ministry of State Security recruited a Megaspeed executive to spy on Nvidia's chief executive, but the claim is not confirmed. Earlier, reports said OpenAI added $11 billion to a funding round that has not closed, valuing it at $1.25 trillion.

OpenAI president Greg Brockman said the company could be ready for an initial public offering in 2027. Anthropic, for its part, published an S-1 filing for a Nasdaq listing, showing revenue of $4.6bn in 2025 and a net loss of $80.7bn in the first half of 2026.

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. US memo claims China recruited executive to spy on Nvidia chief
  2. OpenAI reportedly raises $11 billion more at $1.25 trillion value
  3. Parents sue Google over Gemini chatbot and daughter's suicide plan

See every update