The National Pulse

Kelly Smith and her co-accused have been convicted of kidnapping and trafficking Joshlin Smith. The Western Cape High Court has found that the state proved beyond reasonable doubt that Smith, her boyfriend, Jacquen Appollis and Steveno van Rhyn sold the then six -year-old. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Gugu Xaba, Save The Children South Africa

Some of you may be or may not be aware that last month was World Autism Acceptance Month. Our guest, Sisanda Maqina is disappointed that not much noise was made to raise awareness about persons with Autism. She is challenging South Africans to understand the daily lives of people living with Autism. GUEST: Sisanda Maqina, founder and Chairperson of Autistic Gifted and Awesome NPO  

Let’s move to KZN now where civil society organisations, together with some political parties led a march to Durban City Hall, demanding urgent government action to protect employment in the country and also reminding authorities that foreigners are a contributing factor to high unemployment in the country. GUEST: Kenny Kunene, Deputy President for Patriotic Alliance  

Protest over SA job Crisis: Is it fair to always blame foreign nationals for South Africa’s unemployment crisis? To respond to this is…..   GUEST: Bongani Mazwi Mkhwanazi, Executive Secretary for Media and Publicity for Africa Diaspora Forum

Buang Basadi organised a prayer session in Bloemfontein today to comfort families who are battling to find closure after 3 police officers lost their lives in Centurion while travelling to Limpopo last week. SABC News Reporter, Kamo Tsotetsi, was at the prayer session and joins me on the line… GUEST: Kamo Tsotetsi, SABC News Reporter

Police have found the car of the three Constables whose bodies were found this week at the Hennops River in Centurion. To give us a wrap on this tragic story is….. GUEST: Monique Lewis, SABC News reporter

A fire beneath the M1 South in the Johannesburg CBD disrupted traffic on the highway earlier today. City of Johannesburg Emergency Management Services and Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department were on the scene. To get an update on what was happening there, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Robert Mulaudzi, Joburg EMS Spokesperson

We unpack the outcomes of the T20 Africa High Level Dialogue which was recently held under the theme “Strengthening African Agency in the G20 within the Emerging Global Order”. The event concluded yesterday and it was attended by policymakers, leading African think tanks, academics and international experts. One of those experts is Dr Olayinka Ajala from Leeds Beckett University. GUEST...

South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) marked the International Workers’ Day with a rallying cry for solidarity against government austerity measures, proposed labour law amendments, and the widening inequality gap. For more on this, I am joined in the line by… GUEST: Zwelinzima Vavi, SAFTU General Secretary

As we celebrate May Day. We chat to Professor Mthunzi Mdwaba and our discussion focuses on the challenges facing the working class in South Africa and what needs to be done legislation wise to address them. Our theme for today is “31 Years of Freedom and Democracy - What’s the state of the working class in South Africa”. One of the key issues that a democratic South Africa needs...

Renowned labour analyst and educator, Terry Bell reflects on trade unionism and politics in South Africa, and is of the view that the future of trade unions is uncertain as the union movement is weaker today and more fragmented. GUEST: Terry Bell, Labour analyst & Educator

Now that the proposed VAT hike has been scrapped. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has urged SARS to consider taxing the wealthy more than the poor, particularly those who evade taxes. They argue that this will boost government revenues. GUEST: Matthew Parks, Cosatu’s Parliamentary Coordinator

Earlier on, I spoke to the Michael Bagraim, the DA’s Spokesperson on Employment & Labour about the party’s constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Duma Gqubule, Economic Analyst

In a first in the City of Cape Town, an EFF councillor has jumped ship to join the DA. Yesterday, Lungiswa Ntshuntshe was welcomed to the party by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of the City of Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa will establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe whether there were attempts to obstruct the investigation or prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the NPA. For more on this, I’m joined on the line by… GUEST: Lukhanyo Calata, Fort Calata’s son

US President Donald Trump has reached the 100-day mark of his presidency. Many of you may recall that during his election campaign, he made a lot of promises but most importantly he made it very clear that his second term in the White House will be all about putting the interests of the American people first. While some may argue that most of his promises have been achieved through executive order...

The Democratic Alliance has launched a constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act. The party is arguing that in its current form, the Act gives the minister of labour unwarranted authority to enforce rigid national race quotas in the workplace. GUEST: Michael Bagraim, DA MP and the party’s Spokesperson on Employment and Labour

The trial into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith continued at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay today. The state prosecutor Advocate, Zelda Swanepoelin, says the case is the first of its kind in South Africa based on the set of facts. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Andile Mbanjwa, SABC News Reporter

Police have recovered bodies suspected to be those of three missing SAPS officers: What’s the latest news? Let’s find out from……   GUEST: Horisani Sithole, SABC News reporter

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa released the Easter Weekend road safety report at a media briefing earlier today. Last month, government launched the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign. Launched on 20 March, the campaign will run until 2 May 2025, under the theme: “It begins with Me.” For more on this, I am joined on the line by&...

Police have recovered bodies suspected to be those of three missing SAPS officers: What’s the latest news? Let’s find out from…… GUEST: Horisani Sithole, SABC News reporter

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa released the Easter Weekend road safety report at a media briefing earlier today. Last month, government launched the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign. Launched on 20 March, the campaign will run until 2 May 2025, under the theme: “It begins with Me.” For more on this, I am joined on the line by&...

Action SA has formally submitted an application last week, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), to obtain the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) report on the theft that took place at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Michael Beaumont, Action SA National Chairperson

Former minister in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet and former general secretary of Cosatu, Mr Jay Naidoo shares thoughts on “31 years of democracy: what next for South Africa and how do we ensure that we don’t fail those who fought and died for the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today”. GUEST: Jay Naidoo, Author, activist & former General Secretary of Cosatu

In a surprising turn of events. Police have confirmed that a fourth body has been recovered as the search for the missing police officers took a twist this morning. Police national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has also revealed that the identities of the three bodies that were retrieved from the Hennops river in Centurion have not yet been confirmed. GUEST: Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Poli...