South Africa's Electoral Commission (IEC) has confirmed that special votes will be available for eligible voters in the upcoming local government elections, scheduled for five months from now. These special votes allow certain individuals, such as those who are disabled, infirm, or heavily pregnant and unable to reach polling stations on election day, to cast their ballots up to two days prior. Officials will visit approved applicants at their homes. However, eligibility criteria apply, and those hospitalized outside their voting districts will not qualify. In other news, eight suspects accused of insurance-related killings, allegedly linked to a syndicate led by former police sergeant Rachel Kutumela, are continuing their bail hearing in Polokwane. Concurrently, President Cyril Ramaphosa is preparing to host Kenyan President William Ruto in Pretoria for a state visit aimed at bolstering trade, economic cooperation, and bilateral relations between the two major African economies, with discussions to include a business forum to foster investment.