The National Pulse

Following the announcement by The Department of Basic Education of having met its 2018 SAFE initiative objectives, education and children’s rights activists have come out to say more work still needs to be done. We now speak to department on… GUEST: Lukhanyo Vanqa – Spokesperson for the Minister of Basic Education 

In today's edition we look at South Africa’s Organised Crime Challenge. Can the state regain control? Guest: Chad Thomas: IRS Forensic Investigations CEO

Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed into law legislation that extends his ‌term in office by two years to 2030, government spokesperson Nick Mangwana said on Tuesday. GUEST: Dr Tendai Mbanje - Africa Governance expert with the University of Pretoria

Recent high-profile government raids on clothing factories in KwaZulu-Natal unveiled “sweatshop conditions” and high numbers of undocumented immigrant labour. Despite this there’s been no real accountability and we speak to… GUEST: Sean Christie – Journalist who wrote the article in GroundUp 

As South Africa continues to grapple with climate change, energy insecurity and persistently high youth unemployment, the cleantech sector is emerging as one of the country's biggest economic opportunities. South Africa is under increasing pressure to create inclusive economic growth while transitioning to a more sustainable future, the development of a skilled cleantech workforce has never been m...

The Constitutional Court has upheld a Western Cape High Court ruling that found parts of South Africa's refugee laws unconstitutional and invalid. At the centre of the case are rules that allowed asylum applications to be rejected on procedural grounds. GUEST: Chanel van der Linde, Senior Researcher: Helen Suzman Foundation  

The University of Pretoria (UP) has officially launched the Degrees Delivered campaign, a three-year fundraising initiative that aims to unlock opportunities for graduates whose qualifications remain inaccessible because of outstanding historical student debt. We speak more on this with… GUEST: Rikus Delport is the Director of Institutional Advancement at the University of Pretoria.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD)’s latest data has revealed an increase in lab confirmed measle cases. We speak more on this…GUEST: Dr Lesley Bamford: Child Health Specialist and Acting Chief Director for Maternal & Child Health: National Health Dept

The Commission for Gender Equality has released a report on the last local government elections and we unpack the report with… GUEST: Mokgadi Eurika Mogane - Commissioner at the Commission for Gender Equality   

Corruption and the Criminal Justice SystemWhy high-profile corruption cases often take years to conclude and whether South Africa is winning the fight against corruption. GUEST: Lebogang Ramafoko -  Executive Director of Corruption Watch 

Former State Security Minister, Ayanda Dlodlo, has been named as South Africa’s ambassador to France by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Dlodlo will succeed Nathi Mthethwa, who died in September last year after serving as ambassador since 2024. Xhanti Payi, Economist and Strategist at Inani strategies says this appointment is an excellent signal in the direction of economic diplomacy. GUEST: Xhant...

Dozens of Malawian nationals spent another night sleeping outside Durban’s old drive-in after only one bus transported part of the group to Musina yesterday. More than 300 people remain stranded as community leaders continue searching for more buses. GUEST: Gcinokuhle Malinga, SABC News Reporter in Kwa-Zulu Natal 

A joint operation is currently underway at the Losberg Kloof Mine in Westonari, west of Johannesburg as part of the ongoing action on illegal mining and organised crime. We cross over to SABC REPORTER… GUEST: Nonhlanhla Ntshingila - SABC Reporter

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) concluded its Annual General Meeting this past weekend, in which a new executive leadership was selected. We speak to the newly appointed chairperson… Guest: Katy Katopodis – SANEF Chairperson

The National Dialogue faces a legitimacy challenge as there are allegations that properly nominated steering committee members were side lined while the presidency failed to issue formal appointment letters to participants already involved in the process. GUEST: Sibongile Mpanza, Community Liaison of the Immigration Sector  

The March and March movement has adopted what it has termed as plan of action for the next three months which aims to address South Africa’s migration irregular complexities. The plan includes ‘peaceful demonstrations, picketing, and blitz countrywide in all key and strategic centres of the economy. We unpack this further with… Guest: Dr Trevor Ngwane - Activist and Research Ass...

ATM’s Vuyo Zungula has written a letter to the portfolio committee on justice and constitutional development to summon the public protector to account why parliament hasn’t received a report into Senzo Mchunu. He joins us… Guest: Vuyo Zungula - ATM parliamentary leader

From allegations of corruption within SAPS to rising organised crime and declining public confidence, South Africa's criminal justice system is under intense scrutiny. This week’s BIG ISSUE we will look at where the cracks lie, who should be held accountable, and what meaningful reform could look like. Today we start with the genesis of the problem…  GUEST: Amb Andy Mashaile - Re...

According to a ⁠senior US official, US President, Donald Trump, will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, while in Turkey this week for a Nato summit and make a renewed push to end the war in Ukraine. GUEST: Thembisa Fakude, Senior Research Fellow at Africa Asia Dialogues (Afrasid)  

Processing continues at the temporary repatriation centre set up in Musina to accommodate undocumented foreign nationals who are being deported or voluntarily returning to their home countries. GUEST: Rudzani Tshivhase, SABC News Reporter in Limpopo  

It has been a year since KwaZulu‑Natal police commissioner, Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi stunned the country with revelations politicians and criminal networks had infiltrated South Africa’s criminal justice system. On 6 July 2025, Mkhwanazi addressed the media in Durban in full combat uniform, alleging a transnational drug syndicate, aided by politicians, senior police officers, prosecuto...

South Africa cannot grow its economy while its children are being left behind. As Youth Month draws to a close, South Africa has spent weeks reflecting on the future we want for our young people. We speak about creating jobs. We debate education outcomes. We discuss youth unemployment, entrepreneurship and economic growth.GUEST: Jenny Martin - Managing Director at Compact Food Solutions

Cuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, has described negotiations with the United States as hitting a wall, with no breakthroughs made towards ending sanctions against the Caribbean island. The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, also said his country is 'not a threat to anybody' and will not give up their sovereignty after threats of military action from Donald Trump. GUEST: Professor John Stre...

South Africa is underestimating the true financial cost of delaying full cannabis regulation. While government projects a multibillion-rand industry, the absence of coordinated policy, infrastructure, accredited testing systems and banking access is preventing the sector from functioning properly. He warns that licensing alone is not enough without a complete value chain. The result is lost invest...

The DA Johannesburg Caucus has written to Cogta Gauteng MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, requesting an urgent investigation into the possible destabilisation of the City of Johannesburg and alleged political interference in the municipal administration. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Joburg Caucus Leader