The National Pulse

The South African Human Rights Commission has raised concerns about alleged “water mafias” exploiting municipal water shortages through corruption, infrastructure sabotage and the manipulation of emergency water-tanker contracts. The SAHRC says tanker provision can become a breeding ground for profiteering, while communities continue to face unreliable water supplies. We speak to the S...

The Madlanga Commission marks one year today, we take a moment to reflect on a year of evidence, testimony and intense public scrutiny as its work continues to examine serious allegations within South Africa’s criminal justice system. GUEST: Jeremy Michaels – Madlanga Commission Spokesperson

As the Madlanga Commission marks one year, we now turn our attention to look at the process through the eyes of civil society and the public, and what its work has meant for the fight against corruption and accountability. GUEST: Tebogo Khaas - Founder and chairperson of Public Interest SA

Suspended KZN Correctional Services boss Mnikelwa Nxele’s R14 million BOSASA fraud case has been postponed. The matter involves allegations of fraud and corruption linked to contracts and payments involving BOSASA. What is significance of the postponement, docket disclosure and centralisation, the legal process ahead, and what the case means for accountability and governance within Correctio...

The rand has shown resilience despite signals of tighter US monetary policy, with stronger commodity prices, particularly gold and platinum, providing support. What is driving the currency’s recent performance, the impact of the US Federal Reserve’s stance on South Africa, and whether the rand’s strength can be sustained? What are the implications for inflation, interest rates, b...

Following the increase in attacks and hijackings targeting social workers in Khayelitsha , we speak to the MEC for Social Development about staff safety and continued service delivery… GUEST: Wendy Kaizer-Philander - MEC for Social Development in the Western Cape

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness month and the numbers in SA remain stark. Prostate cancer is now South Africa’s most common cancer with one in four Black men and one in eight White men being diagnosed.  GUEST: Andrew Oberholzer - CEO of Prostate Cancer Foundation

South Africa has today unveiled its First Wave of green hydrogen projects and launched the country’s inaugural Green Hydrogen Deal Book at the Africa Green Hydrogen Summit in Cape Town.  GUEST: Dr. Rebecca Maserumule, Programme Director of the Presidency’s South Africa Just Energy Transition IP Green Hydrogen Programme Management Office

The Congress of South African Trade Unions(COSATU) has adjourned its 15th National Congress after a dispute over the status of first Deputy President, Mike Shingange contributed to the federation failing to reach a quorum, leaving the leadership elections unresolved. The congress, which began in Midrand on Monday, was scheduled to run until tomorrow, with delegates expected to elect new national o...

The Gauteng Department of Health has shared that Gauteng’s public health system is facing a shortage of nurses, with more than 1,200 nursing posts now being recruited following the lifting of the provincial moratorium. But is this enough to address the province’s staffing crisis? We’re now joined by a nursing staffing solutions expert to unpack the challenges and what needs to ch...

Following the discovery of eight bodies in Ekurhuleni, the ANC Women’s League marched in Kempton Park yesterday, calling for stronger action against violent crime and renewed debate on the death penalty.  GUEST: Nomvula Mokonyane – ANC Women's League Secretary – General

Hundreds of refugees were transported by bus from Durban to Lindela in Gauteng, but around 150 chose to remain behind. Siyafana Sonke has been advocating on behalf of the refugees and has now committed to helping rehouse those who stayed.  GUEST: Nasiha Soomar - Legal Convener of the Legal Task Action team and Member of Siyafana Sonke Action Campaign.

Yesterday, Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the US was announcing a new visa restriction policy targeting some foreign nationals from South Africa as US President Donald Trump’s administration continues to cool ties with the country. The Trump administration has criticized South Africa over a range of issues including actions aimed at addressing racial inequality that Trump claims hurt...

Electoral Commission CEO, Sy Mamabolo, briefed the nation earlier today on the finalisation of candidates contesting the 2026 Local Government Elections and also highlighted the next phases in the Election Timetable. The Electoral Court also dismissed the ANC’s appeal against the IEC today. The party sought to have the court compel the Commission to capture the candidates it had already uplo...

A sixth woman's body has been found on the East Rand, this time on the side of a road in KwaThema, Springs. The body was found this morning. The discovery brought to six the number of women's bodies found in and around Kempton Park since July. All six were found lying in the open, on roadsides, in veld or behind buildings with most partially clothed and bruised… GUEST: Brigadier Athlenda Ma...

A Tiger’s Milk restaurant has apologised after a woman’s Tik Tok video showing the names of notorious killers inside its bathrooms sparked outrage, with the controversy unfolding as SA grapples with yet another wave of fears around violence against women. The video showed names including convicted South African murderer and rapist Thabo Bester and American serial killer Ted Bundy displ...

As South Africa heads towards the 2026 Local Government Elections, the FF Plus has ruled out coalition agreements with the EFF, MK Party and PAC. With coalition governments expected to remain a feature of South African municipalities, we examine what these political red lines mean for post-election negotiations, governance and service delivery. Could ideological differences make coalition-building...

Johannesburg’s finances and service delivery remain under scrutiny as National Treasury prepares a three-year intervention aimed at stabilising the metro’s finances and improving basic services. The plan raises questions about revenue collection, infrastructure maintenance, financial management and accountability. With local government elections approaching, what will the intervention...

The RMB National Rowing Team has just returned from a high-level international competition in Amsterdam, where they tested themselves against some of the world’s best rowers. We’re catching up with the team’s coach to unpack their performance, the lessons from the competition and what lies ahead for South African rowing.  GUEST: Andrew ‘AJ’ Grant - National Head...

Police in KZN have launched a manhunt after a 19-year-old learner was shot and killed inside school premises in KwaNdengezi on the west of Durban. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Zanele Buthelezi, SABC News Reporter in KZN

Cemetery management has entered the digital age, with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and Emfuleni Municipality launching a new online Digital Cemetery Management Platform to streamline burial services, digitise records and improve access for communities. Let’s find out more… GUEST: Nondumiso Twalo, SALGA Senior Manager: Community Development and social cohesion...

MMC Maluleka is the leader of Business Government in the City of Tshwane. In his role, he has pushed for the registration of informal traders to ensure that they are operating in accordance with the approved bylaws. Pushed for improved tourism to ensure that the city attracts tourism. Ithuba youth economic development program. GUEST: Aaron Maluleka, Leader of Business Government in the C...

The past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for the family of Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo. They had tirelessly searched for Elizabeth and circulated missing-person flyers in the hope that information would lead to her safe return. As of about an hour ago, there’s an update from the family… GUEST: Dawn Gounden, Spokesperson for the MoselakgomoFamily

On Friday last week, Indlulamithi SA Scenarios released the 2026 edition of its Barometer for the 2035 Scenarios. Indlulamithi’s Perception Survey shows that respondents who fall in the “under 30 years” category, are more hopeful that South Africa is a nation on the path to renewal, compared to the older participants. This contradicts the Barometer result that shows that squabbli...