The National Pulse

Christmas came early for almost 800 Wits students who had their student debt cleared this week, amounting to R63 million collectively. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Jerome September, Dean of Student Affairs at Wits University

Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, accused President Cyril Ramaphosa and government officials of  “lying” and “distorting” talks between the two statesmen in a statement he posted on social media platform, X. Tebogo Ditshego, Ditshego Media’s CEO joins me on the line to help us analyse the tone, language and communication style used by the two Presidents… GUE...

Tensions were high at the Johannesburg Social Housing Company complex in Kliptown, Soweto, following a standoff between residents and police yesterday. To shed more light on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Nthabiseng Mphela, Communications and Marketing Manager

Rwandan President, Paul Kagame, reacted angrily to the warning issued by South Africa following the killing of 13 members of the SA National Defence Force who were part of the regional peacekeeping force. A tweet from the Rwandan President as well as video clips made rounds late last night on social media platforms. Sophie Mokoena, SABC International News Editor, Sophie Mokoena joins me on the lin...

Now let’s get more reaction on the SA Reserve Bank MPC announcement on interest rates in the country. Joining us for this conversation is……   GUEST: Dr Lumkile Mondi, Lecturer at the School of Economics and Finance @Wits Business School

Why are these two countries not seeing eye to eye and what precipitates mistrust and tension between them, and what made Rwanda not to follow diplomatic channels to express its concerns? We ask these questions, following a public spat between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Rwandan President Paul Kagame. GUEST (Rwanda): Yolande Makolo, Spokesperson for the Government of Rwanda

The South African Social Security Agency has made temporary arrangements with FNB to enable the 65 000 social grant recipients banking with Ithala to receive their money like all other recipients. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Paseka Letsatsi, SASSA Spokesperson

The Mk Party’s Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is expected to appear in the Durban Magistrate's Court tomorrow for her alleged involvement in the July unrest. Earlier on I spoke to Paul O’Sullivan, the man who opened a criminal case against her. MK Party spokesperson, Nhlamulo Ndhlela joins me on the line to talk to us about this issue… GUEST: Nhlamulo Ndhlela, MK Party Spokesperson

Aviation analyst Phuthego Mojapele weighs in on ACSA’s state of affairs, following yesterday’s press briefing where the organisation declared that it hasn’t recorded significant security incidents. ACSA also announced a 91% passenger traffic recovery. GUEST: Phuthego Mojapele, Aviation analyst

We look at the implications of the Trump administration’s unprecedented freeze almost on all foreign U.S funded aid programs. GUEST: Dr Fareed Abdullah, Director of the Office of AIDS and TB Research at the South African Medical Research Council  

Earlier this week, about 50 putco busses were torched in the Nkangala District of Mpumalanga . During the incident, several employees were attacked with one security guard sustaining a gunshot wound whilst others sustained some injuries after being reportedly assaulted. There’s an update on this story. Mpumalanga Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Donald Mdhluli joins me on the line to tell us m...

We outline the objectives of the proposed National Minimum Wage. Some of you may recall that in December last year, the National Minimum Wage Commission published its annual review report in the government gazette. The report recommends a 1.5% adjustment to the national minimum wage for 2025. It is widely expected that the Employment and Labour Minister will announce the new rate of adjustment nex...

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla’s pending court appearance   MK Party’s Member of Parliament, Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla is expected to appear before the Durban Magistrate’s court tomorrow for her alleged involvement in the July unrest that occurred in 2021. This after a criminal case was opened by Paul O’Sullivan in the wake of the 2021 riots. For more on this, we are joined by&he...

The Airports Company South Africa has reported a 91% year-to-date passenger traffic recovery with airports welcoming 3.55 million passengers between 1st December 2024 and 16th January 2025. Katlego Legodi, SABC News Economics Reporter, was in Kempton Park earlier today for the press conference and now joins me on the line to tell us more… GUEST: Katlego Legodi, SABC News Economics Reporter...

Earlier today, the DA had a press conference where the party was discussing recent political developments as well as outlining their preparations for the upcoming local government elections, following a meeting of the DA Federal Council. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Willie Aucump, DA National Spokesperson

After calling the national emergency number, 10111, in vain, the director of Miss Earth South Africa, Catherine Constantinides, found herself and her family in a dire situation after a fire on her home. To hear more about this story, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Catherine Constantinides, fire victim who was helped by a private company

As you’ve heard in the conversation I just had with Catherine Constantinides, private companies have pitched in to battle fires and saved lives across Gauteng’s three metro. Tshepo Motlhale, Head of the Gauteng Disaster Management Centre joins me on the line now to talk about the issue of fire trucks in Gauteng… GUEST: Tshepo Motlhale, Head of the Gauteng Disaster Management Cen...

Tensions remain high in the Democratic Republic of Congo as fighting continues between Congolese forces and the M23 rebels. We understand that the U.S and French embassies have been torched by angry protesters who are blaming these two nations for what’s going on in their country. The protesters are also calling for the international community to intervene. For more analysis on what’s...

Earlier today Stats SA released the results of the income and expenditure survey for 2022/2023. According to the findings of the survey, Western Cape households emerged as the wealthiest in terms of household consumption expenditure, while male-headed households across the country continue to earn significantly more compared to their female counterparts. GUEST: Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-Gener...

As we continue to bring you more coverage in terms of what’s happening in the DRC. We understand that President Cyril Ramaphosa held a telephone call with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda to discuss the recent developments in the DRC. The two heads of state have agreed on the urgent need for a ceasefire and the resumption of peace talks. But what is the state of our army - can they afford to...

Get ready for AI that is more natural and intuitive. The next evolution of Galaxy AI is here and it’s going to change the way you interact with the world every day. The new Galaxy S series is about to set the bar once again for mobile AI experiences now and into the future. Guest: Justin Hume, Vice President: Mobile Experiences at Samsung South Africa

The African Women in Dialogue session got underway today in Boksburg, in the City of Ekurhuleni. This is an inclusive platform of dialogue which seeks to unite African women from all walks of life under one roof to deliberate on issues of continental importance. SABC News Reporter, Khayelihle Khumalo-James was in Boksburg and he joins me on the line… GUEST: Khayelihle Khumalo-James, SABC Ne...

Nine SANDF members were killed in two days of fierce fighting with M23 rebels in Goma, eastern DRC, last week. One of these members was Louis Calvin Moagi, whose cousin, Kamogelo Rakgoale joins me on the line to tell us a bit more about the kind of person Louis Calvin Moagi was… GUEST: Kamogelo Rakgoale, SANDF member Louis Calvin Moagi’s cousin

This past Saturday, DA leader, John Steenhuisen, told the media that the party has invoked section 19.3 of the Statement of Intent of the Government of National Unity agreement that regulates the relations in the GNU amid differences over the Expropriation Act and other legislation. Steenhuisen says he has informed President Cyril Ramaphosa about their decision. To help us understand what this cou...

The Minister of Police, Senzo Mchunu, was at the Kings Park Athletics Stadium today, together with the National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, and top SAPS management to commemorate National Police Day. To find out how the event went and what the idea behind this day is, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Lieutenant General Tebello Mosikili, Deputy National Commissioner respo...