The National Briefing

We unpack the Council for Medical Schemes’ guideline, what goes into the calculation, and what it means for medical aid members. To break it down, we’re joined by Mondi Govuzela from the CMS. Guest: Mondi Govuzela - Senior Manager: Benefits Management at Council for Medical Schemes

Trump and Xi’s meeting has drawn attention for its spectacle, while New Zealand heads towards an election with no clear frontrunner. And in Europe, officials are working to ease fears that political shifts could affect support for Kyiv. To unpack these developments and what they mean, we’re joined by Professor Patrick Bond, International Relations Expert from the University of Johannes...

A racist outburst in Norwood has sparked condemnation, the opening of a criminal case and a complaint written to the SA Human Rights Commission. The incident took place earlier this week (Monday, 21 September 2026) in a dispute between two motorists. This has once again raised questions about racism, religious tolerance, accountability and social cohesion in South Africa Guest: Terry Oakley-Smith...

Trump–Xi meeting extends trade truce but leaves big disputes unresolved City Therapeutics looks to tap US biotech listing boom Market update

As we count down to the 4th of November local government elections, we reflect on the state of the municipalities, the politics and those who will be sitting in the driving seat. Coalition governance seems like a permanent feature in both our national and local governments, especially with the current list-submission debacle the ANC is facing. How did we get here, and where are we headed under the...

How did Shaka Day become Heritage Day — and what does that history mean for South Africans today? The origins of 24 September have been the subject of debate, from its links to King Shaka and Zulu heritage to its adoption as a national day celebrating the diverse cultures of South Africa. Is the story of Heritage Day fully understood, or is there more to the history?  Guest: Professor M...

Reality Check with Dr Thebe Ikalafeng: Heritage cannot be a day - Culture is what we live, not what we commemorate  Guest: Dr Thebe Ikalafeng -  Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa; Founder and CEO of Brand Leadership Group; and Principal of the Africa Brand Leadership Academy. 

Pitso Mosimane is back in charge of Bafana Bafana, and his first match since returning as head coach will see South Africa face Guinea. While many supporters are welcoming his return, there are also questions about whether he can deliver the results expected of him. To look at Mosimane’s return and what South Africans can expect.  Guest: Nkululeko Nkewu, broadcaster and founder of iDisk...

The Global Briefing: Australia is investigating a cybersecurity incident involving an OpenAI agent that gained unauthorised access to public and non-public files on a government Medicare statistics portal in June. European officials are warning that Russia is intensifying cyberattacks, sabotage and other hybrid operations that they believe are intended to undermine European support for Ukraine. Pa...

Reality Check with Dr Thebe Ikalafeng: Culture, Identity and Africa's place in the World - Why Culture must create value  Guest: Dr Thebe Ikalafeng -  Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa; Founder and CEO of Brand Leadership Group; and Principal of the Africa Brand Leadership Academy. 

The Global Briefing: The United States and Iran have held their first talks since a ceasefire collapsed in June, with discussions taking place through mediators on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York Almost a decade after Catalonia's failed independence bid, the region's political debate is increasingly being shaped by immigration, crime and housing. Taiwan is closely...

As South Africa marks Heritage Month, a long-running dispute over the authorship of the 1994 national flag is being taken to international academic spaces. Our next guest is travelling to Mauritius to seek academic cooperation on research into the flag’s origins. The research centres on artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi, who says he submitted five designs during the public process, while the o...

As South Africa marks Heritage Month, a long-running dispute over the authorship of the 1994 national flag is being taken to international academic spaces. Our next guest is travelling to Mauritius to seek academic cooperation on research into the flag’s origins. The research centres on artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi, who says he submitted five designs during the public process, while the o...

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) hereby advises motorists, residents, and commuters of major road closures, highway disruptions, and traffic diversions taking place on Thursday, 24 September 2026, due to the ABSA Run Your City 10km Race. Guest: Xolani Fihla - Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) Spokesperson  

The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) has briefed Parliament on plans to overhaul South Africa’s power market, make electricity more affordable, and ensure security of supply. From April 2027, the first new participants in South Africa’s electricity markets will officially join Eskom, the department said.  Guest: Prof Vally Padayachee - Power and Energy expert (a former e...

The Monetary Policy Committee decided to raise the policy rate by 25 basis points, to 7.25%, effective from 25 September. The decision was unanimous. The committee agreed that the global environment remains challenging and uncertain, with global supply chains disrupted by intensifying conflict in the Middle East as well as the Russia-Ukraine war. The global shocks continue to hurt the South Africa...

The ANC is taking its battle over 181 councillor candidates to the Constitutional Court, after the Electoral Court upheld the IEC’s decision to exclude them from the 4 November local government election ballot. What does this reveal about the administrative vulnerabilities in the electoral process and the ANC’s internal organisation?  Guest: Michael Atkins, independent election an...

South Africa – Cape Town Oudtshoorn to host 2026 National Heritage Day Celebration The 2026 National Heritage Day celebration will take place in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Thursday, 24 September 2026, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, has announced. The national celebration was originally planned for KwaZulu-Natal, where it would have been held together with uMkh...

Guest: Erick Mohlapamaswi – COPE Mayoral Candidate for  Polokwane Municipality Guest: Adolph Rapetswa – ANC Mayoral Candidate for  Polokwane Municipality Guest: Miyelani Holeni - Group Chief Advisor at Ntiyiso Consulting Group  

Guest: Phuti Choshi - ACDP Mayoral Candidate for Polokwane Municipality Guest: Victor Mothemela – ActionSA Mayoral Candidate for  Polokwane Municipality Guest: Lawrence Mapoulo - EFF Mayoral Candidate for  Polokwane Municipality Guest: Miyelani Holeni - Group Chief Advisor at Ntiyiso Consulting Group  

Guest: Kabelo Motheane, Regional Head for Gold Business at FNB Business. 

Guest: Dr Thebe Ikalafeng -  Founder and Chairman of Brand Africa; Founder and CEO of Brand Leadership Group; and Principal of the Africa Brand Leadership Academy. 

Guest: Colonel Robert Netshiunda - provincial spokesperson for the South African Police Service (SAPS) in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) is at the scene

Guest: Adv Brenda Madumise-Pajibo, Director of Wise4Afrika  

  Guest: Mbizeni Mdlalose, SASSA KZN Spokesperson