The National Pulse

GUEST: Melusi Xulu, Legal Analyst from Donda Attorneys

Protesters in Albania have fought with riot police on the seventh consecutive day of violent clashes. The protesters, many of them high school and university students, are trying to oust embattled Prime Minister Edi Rama. Official figures said 295 people have been injured, 186 of whom are police officers, before yesterday's violence.  GUEST: Dr. Garth Benneyworth, Head of Department: Heritage...

Blind SA is taking the Trade Minister to court over delays in South Africa joining an international treaty on accessible books. We’ll unpack why ratification is being delayed, what the legal challenge seeks to achieve, and what happens next. GUEST: Christo de Klerk – President of Blind SA

GUEST: Lufuno Mashau - Acting Group Head: Revenue Shared Service Centre

On our Champion feature, we speak to human rights activist Mark Heywood, who has recently received an award from Stellenbosch University's Social Justice Centre, recognising his contribution to social justice and human rights.  GUEST: Mark Heywood – Social Justice and Human Rights Activist

Five Limpopo police officers accused of corruption and defeating the ends of justice are appearing at the Polokwane magistrate’s court. The officers, stationed at the Polokwane International Airport, allegedly contravened the Immigration Act by helping undocumented immigrants evade arrest.  GUEST: Vutivi Maluleke, SABC News Reporter

Last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa officiated the launch of the Free State Catalytic Investment and Industrialization Project in Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality. The ceremony took place at the Phuthaditjhaba Multipurpose Centre, Free State Province. The high-level ceremony was hosted by the Premier of the Free State Province, MaQueen Letsoha-Mathae, Maluti-a-Phofung Local Municipality and th...

More than 1,300 South Africans seeking help for gambling-related harm were identified at high risk of suicide in 2025/26 in a recent survey produced by the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation.  GUEST: Lebogang Seoheng - Advocacy & Communications Manager at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation

Public Interest SA welcomes President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to lift the precautionary suspension of South African Police Service National Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, following the National Prosecuting Authority’s withdrawal of all criminal charges against him.  GUEST: Tebogo Khaas, Public Interest SA Chairperson

France's Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is holding a crisis cabinet meeting today to assess a weekend of violence and looting across the country, in what were some of the worst scenes of public disorder in modern French history. On Saturday over half a million mainly peaceful protesters demonstrated against rising living costs and dwindling access to decent public services, including a...

The Active Citizens Movement has launched a voter guide and candidate scorecard urging South Africans to scrutinise promises, competence and integrity before the 2026 local government elections.  GUEST: Robert Thema - Active Citizens Movement Leader

On today’s edition of Grow My Business, I’m joined by Andile Khumalo, author of Things I Wish I Knew, a candid account of building and growing businesses, drawing on lessons from his own entrepreneurial journey. GUEST: Andile Khumalo – Entrepreneur and Author of Things I Wish I Knew

Controversial North West businessman, Suliman Carrim, continued his bid for bail in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court today. Carrim made his first appearance on Friday after his arrest at OR Tambo International Airport. He’s facing a charge of contravening the Commission’s Act for repeatedly failing to appear at the Madlanga Commission.  GUEST: Sibahle Motha, SABC News Reporter

Today marks 49 years since Black Wednesday, as Unisa and the National Press Club host the 16th Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture, examining the SABC’s independence ahead of elections. GUEST: Prof Rofhiwa Mukhudwana, Chair of the Department of Communications Science at Unisa and a part of the organising committee for the Annual Percy Qoboza Memorial Lecture

GUEST: Mandy Pearson - Founder and CEO of The ReStory Foundation

Former North West ANC treasurer, Suliman Carrim, was arrested yesterday at the O.R. Tambo International Airport moments before boarding an international flight. He has come under scrutiny over financial dealings with controversial businessman Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala.  GUEST: Sibahle Motha, SABC News Reporter

The South African Democratic Teacher's Union is marching in Durban against government non-filling of teacher posts in KwaZulu-Natal.  GUEST: Mlondi Radebe, SABC News Reporter in Durban

As South Africa commemorates World Food Day, millions of households still struggle to access adequate, nutritious food, despite the Constitution recognising food as a fundamental human right. This afternoon we look at the gap between constitutional promises and lived realities, and what the government must do to ensure that the right to food translates into meaningful action and accountability. Gu...

The South African Police Service in Mpumalanga has arrested a couple, a man (59) and a woman (58), this morning following the discovery of a premises where approximately 200 people were allegedly being kept.  Guest: Brigadier Donald Mdhluli - Mpumalanga police spokesperson

The Loeries, held last week, celebrated excellence in brand communication, advertising and creativity across Africa and the Middle East. We unpack the ideas shaping the industry. Guest: Preetesh Sewraj - CEO of The Loeries

The Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Mosotho Moepya, addressed the nation on the outcome of the Constitutional Court judgment and outlined the way forward.  GUEST: Mosotho Moepya, IEC Chairperson

As the world marks World Food Day, SA Harvest celebrates seven years of rescuing surplus food and delivering millions of meals. We discuss its school holiday campaign to help families facing hunger. GUEST: Ozzy Nel – CEO of SA Harvest

Let’s now get an analysis on how today’s Constitutional Court ruling in favour of the ANC as well as some of the things the party’s Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, had to say particularly on their GNU relationship with the DA.  GUEST: Professor Susan Booysen, Political Analyst from Wits University

The SABC is currently conducting research into the use of AI music so we thought we should probe the use of AI music with someone in that space and get a sense of what exactly is AI music.  GUEST: Siya "Umlilo" Ngcobo, An innovative genre and gender-bending multi-disciplinary artistic director and founder of future Kwaai

Can South Africa create more first-job opportunities for young people without spending more money, by making better use of existing resources? YES CEO Ravi Naidoo joins us to explore practical policy changes that could help businesses and government tackle youth unemployment. Guest: Ravi Naidoo, CEO of the Youth Employment Service