The National Briefing

Major-General Feroz Khan has been dismissed from the South African Police Service, bringing another dramatic chapter in the career of the former Crime Intelligence deputy head.  His legal team disputes the fairness of the process and has indicated that they will challenge the dismissal in court. So, was Khan’s dismissal procedurally fair, and what are his chances of successfully ch...

Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 1.    UNGA- TOGO UN General Assembly adopts new world map that shows Africa's true size The United Nations General Assembly on Friday endorsed a new world map that represents Africa more accurately by showing it at a larger scale, a culmination of a r...

South Africans could be facing another hefty electricity bill shock. NERSA has gazetted Eskom’s proposed 8.83% tariff increase for 2027. That comes after the 8.76% increase already implemented this year. Eskom says higher tariffs are critical to its financial sustainability, but consumers and businesses are already dealing with rising costs. Guest:  Professor Vally Padayachee - power an...

The Department of Basic Education is developing new guidelines for how teachers and learners communicate on WhatsApp, following growing concerns about inappropriate online interactions and the lack of clear boundaries on digital platforms.  Guest: Likho Bottoman, Director of Social Cohesion in Schools at the Department of Basic Education     

Team South Africa heads to India with a big commercial agenda at the BRICS Summit this week. Intra-BRICS merchandise trade is already worth an estimated US$1.17 trillion, highlighting the scale of the market South African businesses are trying to tap into. Business leaders are now targeting opportunities in advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, digital services, agro-processing and renewable en...

The Global Briefing: The Iran conflict is increasingly becoming a political issue for Donald Trump as the US heads towards November’s midterm elections. Diplomatic tensions are resurfacing between Britain and Argentina over the Falkland Islands, with President Javier Milei renewing Argentina’s claim to the territory At the United Nations, a new resolution supporting maps that more accu...

1. OPEC+ holds oil output steady as Iran war disrupts supply 2. US labour market beats expectations, lifting rate bets 3. Market update  

Today, the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria is expected to deliver judgment on former National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula’s Section 174 discharge application. Her defence argues that the State has failed to present sufficient evidence to justify putting her on trial for the corruption charges she faces. Mapisa-Nqakula is accused of soliciting millions of rands in bribes while ser...

Built in Mzansi: How Farming in Heels has built a movement dedicated to empowering women in agriculture. It exists to celebrate and support the women driving food production in South Africa (across dairy, livestock, poultry, and crop farming). The Farming in Heels initiative also brings them together to connect, learn, collaborate, and grow.  Guest: Comfort Tshisikule - Youth and Le...

The Department of Basic Education is developing new guidelines to regulate the use of WhatsApp between teachers and learners, following concerns around inappropriate online communication and the lack of clear boundaries on digital platforms. What should official digital communication between schools, teachers, parents and learners look like, and how can technology support teachers withou...

The Global Briefing: United Kingdom Prime Minister Andy Burnham has met French President Emmanuel Macron in London, with irregular migration and the ongoing small-boats crisis across the English Channel high on the agenda. Venezuela is opening its oil industry to significantly greater international investment, with energy companies including Chevron and Italy's Eni agreeing to expand projects in t...

The legal battle over President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm robbery is back in the spotlight, with the Western Cape High Court questioning whether there is enough evidence linking the stolen cash to allegations that the President conducted prohibited paid work. The court has also raised concerns about how the Section 89 panel reached some of its conclusions, including whether Ramaphos...

The Competition Commission says township and rural malls could face investigations if they are found to be shutting out smaller businesses from formal retail space. Its new Rural and Township Economy Project 2026 report highlights high rental costs, exclusivity clauses, landlords' preference for established brands, and a lack of information as barriers preventing township and rural entrepreneurs f...

As South Africans are still reeling from the latest petrol price hike, early fuel price recovery data for October shows that the pain for motorists is not yet over. This will no doubt increase the food price and other entities as consumers are tightly squeezed. Public transport is also feeling it as they have to increase their prices. Guest: Lindokuhle Xulu – Spokesperson for the Putco&...

Reality Check with Dr. Wally Serote: The Future – Can We Rebuild the African Renaissance?  Guest: Dr. Wally Serote - Writer and Poet   

Two young girls, aged just 9 and 15, are coming home to South Africa after being trafficked across the border into Malawi. The Department of Social Development says the girls have been identified as victims of human trafficking, and their return forms part of an ongoing repatriation process that has so far brought 22 children back to South Africa. what more needs to be done to prevent trafficking...

Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 1.    Egypt- China Cairo hails visit by China's Xi Jinping as boost to global stability Chinese leader Xi Jinping's state visit to Cairo this week has been hailed as a much-needed boost to bilateral relations by Egyptian officials. The two-day trip sa...

Volkswagen plans to cut more jobs as it accelerates restructuring initiatives  2. Lululemon struggles to win back shoppers as demand weakens 3. Market update  

Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa Israel – DR Congo Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Democratic Republic of the Congo President Félix Tshisekedi in Jerusalem this week, with the two leaders agreeing to strengthen economic and security relations between their countries. Netanyahu...

US inflation holds at 3.7% as growth outlook strengthens 2. Nvidia doubles down on AI as spending spree accelerates 3. Market update    

Built in Mzansi: How Red Cap is part of an association committed to driving collaboration, knowledge-sharing and innovation across the local wind energy sector. One of their significant innovations is the development of  Impofu Wind Cluster, which was later sold to Enel Green Power. Guest: Mark Tanton - CEO of Red Cap and a board member of the South African Wind Energy Association&n...

Reality Check with Dr. Wally Serote: The abandonment of the African Renaissance and why we are taking steps back - The Voice of the Renaissance  Guest: Dr. Wally Serote - Writer and Poet  

KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli is calling for province-wide compliance operations targeting undocumented foreign nationals and businesses that are breaking the law. This follows a joint operation in Pietermaritzburg where 29 undocumented foreign nationals were arrested, while officials also uncovered businesses allegedly paying workers as little as R100 a day for long working hours, as well as...

The Electoral Commission has moved to clarify the candidate nomination process for the 2026 Local Government Elections, following concerns raised by the ANC over the submission of its nominated candidates. The IEC says it did not allow, nor does it intend to allow, any party or independent candidate an additional opportunity to capture nominations after the statutory deadline of 28 August at 5pm....

Gas prices, security of supply and the looming “gas cliff” are becoming increasingly important for South Africa’s energy-intensive industries. NERSA has approved Sasol Gas’s maximum price for the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, at a time when gas supplies from Mozambique are expected to decline. Guest: Azwindini Magoda - Head of department: Gas Pricing and Tariffs, Ner...