Sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrates Court, Johannesburg High Court Judge Ramarumo Monama found former police officer Nomia Rosemary Ndlovu guilty on all six counts of murder on 22 October 2021. She was also convicted of attempted murder, defeating the ends of justice and defrauding insurance companies of nearly R1.4 million.

New political party ActionSA argued in the Electoral Court on 21 October 2021 following the decision by the Independent Electoral Commission to omit the party name from ballot papers ahead of the 2021 local government elections.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa introduced the governing party’s almost 10,000 candidates for the upcoming local government elections on 19 October 2021. Ramaphosa said the candidates have pledged to end corruption and fraud. He also said he is mandating candidates to fix municipal finances and provide basic services to the communities they have been elected to serve.

Gauteng Premier David Makhura and the provincial COVID-19 command council said on 18 October 2021 that 5.3 million people living in Gauteng had been vaccinated against COVID-19 and that 1.1 million people living in Johannesburg were fully vaccinated. However, Makhura said that townships, particularly in the south of Johannesburg, were lagging behind with vaccinations.

As the country heads towards the local government elections on 1 November 2021, ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa hit the campaign trail. On 15 October 2021 he and members of the governing party visited various wards in the Tshwane metro, but not everyone had good words to say about the party.

Scores of people gathered in Durban on 14 October 2021 for a prayer session and homecoming celebration for former President Jacob Zuma following his release from prison on medical parole.

Minister of Employment and Labour Thulas Nxesi reiterated that government is doing all it can to improve the high youth unemployment rate in the country. Nxesi was speaking on 14 October 2021 during the launch of the second phase of the employment stimulus. The employment stimulus was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 in response to the high number of job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase 2 of the Presidential Employment Stimulus has been launched, with a total of R11 billion allocated by National Treasury. The announcement was made on 14 October 2021 by Minister in the Presidency Mondli Gungubele. The stimulus was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa in October 2020 in response to the high number of job losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

KZN Premier Sihle Zikalala provided an update on COVID-19 in the province on 13 October 2021, reporting that there had been a decrease in new infections, hospitalisations and fatalities.

Members of the South African Cabin Crew Association (Sacca) and Numsa picketed outside the SAA headquarters in Kempton Park on 12 October 2021.

In the build-up to the local government elections set to take place on 1 November 2021, political parties are out in full force campaigning all over the country. ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa took the party's message to Kimberley, EFF leader Julius Malema campaigned in Mpumalanga and IFP president emeritus Mangosuthu Buthelezi and IFP leader Velenkosini Hlabisa were in Phoenix, Durban.

Speaking at a press briefing on 8 October 2021, Minister of Basic Education Angie Motshekga said that while there were still many schools without proper sanitation facilities, government was working on providing the necessary services.

South Africa’s Health Minister Dr Joe Phaahla said on 8 October 2021 that the COVID-19 infection rate in the country is dropping following a 33% reduction in the last seven days. Phaahla also said that there is a 19.3% decrease in hospitalisation rates.

The Department of Health officially launched the first phase of South Africa's digital COVID-19 vaccine certificate on 8 October 2021. Health Minister Joe Phaala said that the certificate was developed in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Speaking at the launch of the Women's Economic Assembly on 6 October 2021, President Cyril Ramaphosa said the economy needed to be more inclusive of women.

Thousands of workers marched from the Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown to the offices of the Metals and Engineering Industries Bargaining Council in Marshalltown on 5 October 2021. The striking workers are demanding an 8% salary increase, with Numsa general secretary Irvin Jim saying the strike was indefinite.

In defiance of COVID-19 regulations, thousands of Numsa members in the engineering and metals industry marched through the streets of Johannesburg on 5 October 2021 demanding nothing less than an 8% salary hike.

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Ramaphosa told the UN that there would be no peace and justice until Palestinians were free from occupation. He also said South Africa stood in solidarity with Cuba and the people of Western Sahara.