Forecasts for the metros and the Vaal, the latest SAWS warnings and the news that matters, updated every morning and through the day.
Tuesday 3 November 2026 · By Tebogo Mokwena
Storms. SAWS has a Yellow Level 4 warning in place for severe thunderstorms with heavy downpours, hail and excessive lightning over northern KwaZulu-Natal (valid until 23:59) and the Mpumalanga Highveld and parts of Sekhukhune in Limpopo (12:00–21:59). In the eastern Free State, including Van Reenen, Bohlokong, Warden, Reitz and Frankfort, a Yellow Level 2 warning for severe thunderstorms applies from 14:00 to 21:59. SAWS lists “localised and short term disruption to municipal services and voting activities/processes” among its expected impacts.
Fire. The South African Weather Service (SAWS) has issued a Red Level 10 warning for veld fire conditions in Thulamela (including Thohoyandou), Musina, Blouberg (including Alldays) and Lephalale, valid from 10:00 to 18:59 on Tuesday 3 November. Level 10 is the highest level on SAWS’s impact-based warning scale.
Election day. As of 10:35, SAWS had not issued any warnings for Wednesday 4 November.
Metro outlook for today
Nation Watch SA forecast data (MET Norway model, CC BY 4.0), updated 13:05 3 November. A model forecast, not a SAWS forecast or warning. How our forecasts work
Source: South African Weather Service warnings data and CAP feed. Follow every update on Storm Live.
SAWS’s Yellow Level 2 warning for parts of North West and the Free State lists disruption to “voting activities/processes” as an expected impact. As of 10:35 it had issued no warnings for Wednesday. (SAWS)
The Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change (CABC) logged 79 such posts between 22 and 29 October, 77 of them on X. It said its classifications were provisional and did not establish organised intimidation or impending violence. (CABC factsheet)
The IEC said a presiding officer in North West collapsed at her post on Monday and died. It also confirmed that a deputy presiding officer was hit by a car in uKhahlamba district. (IEC)
Late delivery of special-vote ballots delayed the opening of 217 voting districts in 33 wards in the Cape Town metro on Monday, according to IEC figures reported by The Citizen and Cape Times. The IEC said all affected stations later opened and stayed open. (IEC; The Citizen)
Magistrate Peter Manthata in the Modimolle Regional Court convicted Imanuwela David of conspiracy, housebreaking with intent to steal and theft, and money laundering, and convicted former farm worker Froliana Joseph of conspiracy to commit housebreaking with intent to steal. Her brother, Ndilinasho Joseph, was acquitted, and the case returns on Friday 13 November for pre-sentencing proceedings. (IOL; eNCA)
Judge Davis in the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria set aside Minister Parks Tau’s award of the fourth National Lottery licence to Sizekhaya Holdings. Ticket sales, draws and prize payments continue as normal. (The National)
Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia has asked Cabinet to concur with the appointment of Lt Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi as head of the Hawks. As of 10:45 on Tuesday, Cabinet had not announced a decision. (Government statement)
Five men are due in the Ventersdorp Magistrate’s Court on charges including house robbery and attempted murder over the attack on farmer Donovan Marx, police said. We will report the outcome only once police, the NPA or the court confirm it.
Compiled from checks completed by 10:50 on Tuesday 3 November 2026. Edited by Tebogo Mokwena, Editor-in-Chief.
SAWS has five severe-thunderstorm warnings and a Red Level 10 veld fire warning in force today. One storm warning lists disruption to “voting activities/processes” among its expected impacts.
Every SAWS warning in force today with its expiry time, a newest-first stream of time-stamped updates, and what to do if a storm reaches you.
Several reports say the minister has 12 months. The court’s order, as reported, works in two six-month periods, and 12 months is the total, not the deadline for a new decision.
Yellow, Orange and Red, Levels 1 to 10, and where veld fire warnings fit in. A plain guide to South Africa’s weather warnings, using today’s election-week storms as the example.
Vereeniging and Meyerton are under a SAWS Yellow Level 2 storm warning from midday, and Sasolburg from 14:00. Here is what that means for water, power, roads and farming.
Updated 13:05, Tue 3 Nov · compiled automatically from the latest forecast model run
This briefing is a forecast outlook based on model data, not a warning. Official warnings come only from SAWS.
Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark, Sasolburg and Meyerton
Johannesburg, Cape Town and Bloemfontein, also provincial capitals, are listed under metros. All forecasts by province
Forecast data: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0), latest model data 3 Nov 11:22. Compiled automatically; not an official SAWS forecast. How our forecasts work
The Centre for Analytics and Behavioural Change says one post urged people to gather at voting stations on 4 November to prevent foreign nationals from voting. It stresses that its findings are provisional.
· Tebogo Mokwena
The Electoral Commission reported the death in its statement on the first day of special voting.
· Tebogo Mokwena
The IEC says every affected station later opened. It blamed the delay on reprinting 33 million ballots after a Constitutional Court ruling added candidates.
· Tebogo Mokwena
One figure says 348,971 special votes were approved in KwaZulu-Natal; another says 362,878. Both come from the IEC. The difference is timing.
· Tebogo Mokwena
The Modimolle Regional Court convicted Imanuwela David and Froliana Joseph over the theft of $580,000 from President Cyril Ramaphosa's farm. Ndilinasho Joseph was acquitted.
· Tebogo Mokwena
Temporary relief on the General Fuel Levy starts on Wednesday 4 November. The final pump prices are still to come from the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
· Tebogo Mokwena
