For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, I’m Halima Frost.

Making headlines: FF+ Tulbagh deputy chair defects to DA ahead of local elections; RISE Mzansi, GOOD to merge at ‘earliest opportunity’; And, Zambia's president appoints new mines minister in cabinet changes after election

FF+ Tulbagh deputy chair defects to DA ahead of local elections

The DA in Witzenberg has welcomed FF+ Tulbagh deputy chairperson Piet Boer and several other party members into its ranks, just six days ahead of the November 4 local government elections.

This move follows a similar political shift in the municipality last week, which saw multiple members from the FF+ and the PA ditching their respective parties to join the DA.

DA Witzenberg constituency head Wendy Kaizer-Philander received the new members, emphasising the strategic importance of their defection as the party pushes for a full majority in the region.

According to Kaizer-Philander, consolidating votes behind the DA is critical to moving Witzenberg away from unstable coalition politics, which she argues could stall progress over the next five years.

The DA's campaign strategy in the final stretch focuses heavily on community building, local economic growth, and direct service delivery.

Kaizer-Philander noted that an outright majority would allow the incoming government to focus entirely on resident needs rather than the political demands of minority coalition partners.

RISE Mzansi, GOOD to merge at ‘earliest opportunity’

As political parties make their final pledges for change ahead of next week’s local government election, RISE Mzansi is campaigning on the need for systemic change to solve South Africa’s most pressing issues.

Speaking exclusively with Polity, RISE Mzansi leader Songezo Zibi highlighted the importance of spatial justice, accessible public transport and ensuring that people live as close as possible to their places of work.

He explained that what defines both the legacy of the ANC and the DA is that they tend to speak about these things as totally disconnected things.

He also noted the importance of having “quality people” solving “dysfunction” in the country.

Sharing the ideals and policies of RISE Mzansi, the GOOD Party will be contesting the 2026 election with Zibi’s party.

He explained that in Gauteng, GOOD Party candidates are campaigning under the banner of RISE Mzansi, while in the Western Cape RISE Mzansi are on the GOOD Party list.

Zibi described both parties as socially democratic, with “exceptionally few differences”.

And, Zambia's president appoints new mines minister in cabinet changes after election

Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema today appointed Brenda Tambatamba as the Southern African copper-producing country's new mines minister, among cabinet changes after he won a second term in August's election.

Tambatamba served as labour minister in Hichilema's previous cabinet.

Before entering politics, she worked as a sustainability manager at Barrick's Lumwana mine.

Africa's second-largest copper producer is targeting annual output of 3-million metric tons, nearly triple current levels, as it seeks to capitalise on growing demand for the metal used in EV, power networks and construction.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today

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