The 06:00 Brief: storm warnings on the last day of special votes, Tuesday 3 November 2026
Weather first: five SAWS storm warnings and a Red Level 10 veld fire warning are in force. Then the seven stories that matter on election eve.
By Staff Reporter · Published
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
- Johannesburg: rain showers, high 26°C, low 15°C.
- Pretoria: light rain showers, high 29°C, low 17°C.
- Ekurhuleni: rain showers, high 26°C, low 15°C.
- Cape Town: partly cloudy, high 28°C, low 17°C.
- Durban: rain, high 24°C, low 21°C.
- Gqeberha: partly cloudy, high 21°C, low 19°C.
- East London: partly cloudy, high 23°C, low 17°C.
- Bloemfontein: partly cloudy, high 30°C, low 15°C.
Nation Watch SA forecast data (MET Norway model, CC BY 4.0), updated 13:49 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.
A storm warning names voting as a possible casualty
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)
79 potentially harmful election posts logged in a week
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)
IEC says a presiding officer died at her post in North West
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)
Cape Town’s late start to special voting
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; Cape Times)
Phala Phala: two convicted, one acquitted
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)
Lottery licence award set aside, but draws continue
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)
Mkhwanazi and the Hawks: Cabinet still to decide
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. Staff Reporter.
How we make our journalism: every article is checked, edited and approved by our Editor-in-Chief before publication, and SAWS is credited for every warning we report. See our editorial policy.
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