The National Pulse

Today we chat to one of the most respected journalists in South Africa, Zubeida Jaffer, who is also an accomplished author. Jaffer is someone who has reconciled her identity as both a journalist and an activist. Today we learn a little bit more about her life and what informs her fearlessness as a journalist and a civil rights activist. GUEST: ZUBEIDA JAFFER, Award-winning South African Journalist...

Last night, there were reports that a power station in Kwagga in the City of Tshwane exploded leaving the Pretoria City Centre, Pretoria West, Atteridgeville, Pretoria North and Soshanguve without electricity. The Mayor of the City of Tshwane, Dr. Nasiphi Moya visited the substation this morning with the Electricity Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. The mayor joins me on the line to give us an...

Eight people have been killed in a collision between a car and a truck on the N2 near Mandeni in KwaZulu-Natal north coast this morning. SABC News Reporter, Jayde-Leigh Paulse has the details on this story… GUEST: Jayde-Leigh Paulse, SABC News Reporter

Umalusi CEO Dr Mafu Rakometsi has reiterated that cheating is a no-go area for any self-respecting candidate, also emphasising that it does not pay. More than 1.1 million learners are set to participate in the 2024 end of year exam and earlier on today Umalusi provided an update on the state of readiness of examination bodies. GUEST: Dr Mafu Rakometsi, CEO of Umalusi  

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has criticised the NPA for declining to prosecute anyone in relation to the Phala Phala farm case. Yesterday, the NPA revealed that the decision not to prosecute was taken after a careful assessment of all available evidence presented to the prosecutors by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation. For more on this, let’s speak to….. GUEST: Vuyo Zun...

Are the reasons furnished by the NPA not to pursue the Phala Phala matter strong enough to withstand any legal scrutiny? We find out from Nthabiseng Dubazana as it is public knowledge now that the NPA won’t pursue this issue anymore as there is no reasonable prospect of a successful prosecution. GUEST: Nthabiseng Dubazana, Attorney and Director @Dubazana Attorneys

We touched on the story of a Limpopo police sergeant who was arrested this morning for allegedly being involved in at least 6 insurance-related murders which saw her pocket close to R10 million. This has once again brought to light a conversation around the reality of people killing for insurance payouts. To help us understand why this happens and how rife a problem this is, I am joined on the lin...

I’m now joined on the line by Political Analyst, Dr. Ntsikelelo Breakfast to breakdown some of the statements made by EFF leader, Julius Malema this afternoon… GUEST: Dr. Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Political Analyst  

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month. It is observed globally to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity. A number of organisations will host awareness campaigns to encourage the people of South Africa to be aware and look closely before sharing any personal information or clicking on links online. We’ve invited Doreen Mokoena, CEO of Cybersec Clinique to talk to us abo...

SECTION27, representing Blind SA, has launched an urgent application in the Constitutional Court against President Cyril Ramaphosa for failing to sign the Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB). This follows two years after the Constitutional Court handed down judgment in a matter also brought by Blind SA, challenging the constitutionality of the Copyright Act for infringing on the rights of blind and vis...

According to the latest Clean Creatives South Africa report, fossil fuel companies like Sasol still contribute three quarters of the pollution driving global warming. The report also highlights how South Africa’s advertising and PR industry is not only failing to align with clean energy trends but is actively working to protect the fossil fuel industry from accountability. This report, which focus...

Aspiring parliamentary candidate for Goodhope-Mmathethe constituency in Botswana, Peggy Serame is our guest this afternoon. This as you may be aware that Botswana will be heading to the polls at the end of this month. Serame is part of the Botswana Democratic Party that has been in power since independence from Britain in 1966. In 2021, she became the country’s first female Minister of Finance aft...

Earlier today, police in Limpopo arrested a fellow officer who allegedly killed six people for insurance claims purposes. The officer, stationed at the Senwabarwana police station, allegedly claimed more than R10 million. She had insured the lives of the six deceased and cashed out upon their murders. For more on this, let’s speak to….. GUEST: Athlenda Mathe, SAPS National spokesperson  

Today we celebrate Ntombozuko Mkizwana, Deputy Principal from the Mandela School of Science & Technology in Mvezo village in the Eastern Cape, after she was named the Best Teacher of the Year at the 2024 National Teaching Awards that took place in Boksburg this past weekend. GUEST: Ntombozuko Mkizwana, Deputy Principal @ the Mandela School of Science & Technology in the Eastern Cape

We’ve so far spoken to Action SA and the DA in Tshwane on the election of Action SA’s Dr Nasiphi Moya as the new Tshwane Mayor. ANC supported this candidate. ANC Tshwane Regional Secretary, George Matjila joins me on the line to shed some light on the decision to support the Action SA candidate…   GUEST: George Matjila, ANC Tshwane Regional Secretary  

Mineral and Petroleum Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe said petrol and diesel should cost R14 per litre and that his department is in discussions with the National Treasury to decrease fuel prices. Mantashe made these comments during the 2024 Africa Oil Week Conference, where he delivered the keynote address. AA spokesperson, Layton Beard joins me on the line to discuss the possibility of our pet...

My colleague, Cathy Mohlahlana is in Cairo, Egypt for the 9th meeting of experts on credit ratings. The African Peer Review Mechanism convened this meeting of expert on credit rating to function as a consultative platform and reference group for technical review of the implementation of the AU program on support to Member States in the field of credit ratings. Let’s cross to Cathy Mohlahlana to fi...

The City of Tshwane has its fourth mayor in three years, Action SA’s Dr Nasiphi Moya. I spoke to Action SA’s Herman Mashaba when the show started just to get reaction from him about the new mayor. We’ll get reaction from ANC Tshwane after 5PM. For now, DA Tshwane spokesperson, Kwena Moloto joins me on the line to react to the election of the new mayor… GUEST: Kwena Moloto, DA Tshwane Spokesperson

It seems water issues in the Hammanskraal area have gone from bad to worse. It has been widely reported that the Tshwane metro has temporarily shut down the Temba Water Treatment Plant that supplies water to Hammanskraal and surrounding areas, due to water quality challenges from the Leeukraal Dam. WaterCAN Executive Manager, Dr. Ferial Adam joins me on the line to discuss the impact of this move...

Voting is currently underway in Mozambique with the ruling Frelimo party expected to extend its 50-year grip on power. Nearly 17 million voters are registered to participate to elect their next president. Voters are divided along promises of change from the competing candidates Daniel Chapo and Ossufo Momade. Joining us to give us an update in terms of how things are going is…. GUEST (Mozambique):...

ActionSA’s Dr Nasiphi Moya has been elected as the new mayor of the City of Tshwane. Moya has been the acting mayor of the City of Tshwane since Cilliers Brink was removed in a vote of no confidence. She received 122 votes, to 86 for the DA’s Cilliers Brink. For more reaction on this, let’s speak to…. GUEST: Herman Mashaba, President of ActionSA  

Post this year’s Eskom Expo International Science Fair. We chat to Salusiwe Mxayiya, a Grade 11 learner at Luhlaza High School in the Cape Town Region, who was recently presented with the Best Development Project award for investigating the population dynamics and infection rates of Hector’s lantern fish.   GUEST: Salusiwe Mxayiya, Grade 11 learner from Luhlaza High School

Earlier on I spoke to Action SA eThekwini Councillor, Zwakele Mncwango, about the party’s plan to audit foreign-owned spaza shops in eThekwini. From the conversation, it seems not all parties in the region are in-support of the planned audit of foreign-owned spaza shops. In fact, Zwakele Mncwango says the ANC in KZN has rejected the recommendation to investigate foreign-owned spaza shops. We reach...