The National Pulse

My AI Lawyer has launched in South Africa, offering an affordable artificial intelligence legal advisor you can access online and at any time. Available on the web and via WhatsApp, the platform provides you with practical, on-demand guidance on everyday legal questions. But how does it work? To answer this, I am joined on the line by…  GUEST: Darren Cohen, Head of Distribution and Mar...

The ANC launched their local government elections manifesto at Riverside Park near Diepsloot in Johannesburg yesterday. Party President , Cyril Ramaphosa outlined six areas of focus for the party over the next five years. Ramaphosa also said representatives would have 100 days to show real progress in tackling the most pressing issues in their municipalities and those ANC mayors and councillors wh...

Family and friends of murdered whistleblower, Babita Deokaran, gathered yesterday to remember her life and renew their call for justice. Five years after she was gunned down outside her home, and 1 823 days after the hitmen were arrested, one question continues to haunt them: who ordered the hit? GUEST: Rakesh Deokaran, Babita Deokaran’s Brother

Seven Emfuleni Municipality employees have been arrested by the PKTT in Gauteng for alleged fraud, theft and tampering with essential infrastructure. We find out more on the case with GUEST: Thabiso Radebe – SABC Reporter

Following a two-day oversight visit the Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister Dr Jack Bloom is calling on eThekwini Metro to urgently strengthen its response to persistent water and sanitation challenges affecting communities across the municipality.  GUEST: Dr Jack Bloom - Water and Sanitation Deputy Minister

Google is backing South African entrepreneurs using artificial intelligence to solve real-world problems, with applications now open for the 2026 Google for Startups Accelerator South Africa.  GUEST: Siyavuya Madikane - Communications and Public Affairs Manager at Google South Africa

Alleged crime boss, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s lawyer believed it was unfair for proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry to continue in the absence of his lead counsel. Advocate Fatima Missi appeared on behalf of Advocate Annelene van der Heever, who is said to be unwell.  GUEST: Nthabiseng Dubazana, Founder and director of Dubazana Attorneys

Andy Burnham is marking his first foreign visit as UK Prime Minister with a trip to Kyiv. The Prime Minister’s visit will include a hand over of blueprints so Ukraine can build its own long-range missiles. The UK Prime Minister will also chair his first meeting of the "coalition of the willing", set up by the UK and France under his predecessor, Sir Keir Starmer. In addition to that, the UK...

Professor Brian Williams released a statement yesterday strongly rejecting claims that the late General Andre Lincoln advised or encouraged suspended MP and National Coloured Congress leader, Fadiel Adams, to pursue criminal charges against senior crime intelligence officials.  GUEST: Professor Brian Williams, Lifelong friend of General Andre Lincoln

A suspected multimillion-rand crystal meth manufacturing operation has suffered a major setback following an intelligence-driven operation in Limpopo. The operation was conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks), in collaboration with the South African Police Service, the South African Narcotics Bureau Head Office, the Crime Intelligence Head Office, Hawks Limpopo, the S...

Johannesburg will host the second Africa and African Diaspora Conference this coming October, bringing Africans and people of African descent together to advance reparations, racial justice and Pan-African unity. The gathering comes amid growing global backlash against these gains, raising questions about how Africa and the diaspora can protect progress and build collective power. GUEST: Rev....

Parliament has tabled the Coalitions Bill as South Africa heads towards the local government elections, but concerns are growing over the compressed 76-day timeline. My Vote Counts is questioning whether Parliament can meet its constitutional obligation to ensure meaningful public participation while trying to fast-track the legislation. GUEST: Joel Bregman -Project Lead: Money in Politics at...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is hosting his Zimbabwean counterpart, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, in Pretoria for the Fourth Session of the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission. The meeting is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral relations and cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.  GUEST: Sophie Mokoena - SABC News Specialist Correspondent

Paid partnerships and influencer marketing are everywhere, but are creators and brands being transparent about what is sponsored? The IAB South Africa’s new Influencer Disclosure Toolkit offers guidance on disclosure across major platforms, following an ARB ruling that even gifted products must be disclosed. GUEST: Casey Mantle - Head of Digital - Special Effects Media South A...

South Africa and Zimbabwe have moved to strengthen cooperation in correctional services. Correctional Services Minister Pieter Groenewald and Zimbabwe’s Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, held a meeting on Wednesday this week ahead of the South Africa-Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission and the signing of a memorandum of understanding today. The agreement is e...

US Treasury chief, Scott Bessent, said the United States will impose "the toughest sanctions in history" on Iran, a move he suggested would lessen the need for new major military operations. Bessent's comments followed US President, Donald Trump's threat of "Economic Warfare" and warning of economic consequences against any country that provided "any type of lifeline to Iran."  GUEST: Brooks...

Advocate Thandazani Madonsela who has been recommended for appointment as evidence leader in Parliament’s Impeachment Committee, has described President Cyril Ramaphosa’s objection as irrelevant to his recommendation. President Ramaphosa cited conflict of interest as the basis of his objection. GUEST: Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South Af...

The Free State Department of Health celebrated Matlakala Radebe, the owner of Qualicon Construction, after the national recognition of the state-of-the-art, Borwa Clinic in Tweespruit, was spotlighted at the cidb Empowerment and Recognition of Women in Construction Awards at the Houghton Hotel on Tuesday this week. This project stands as a great example of excellence in women-led infrastructure de...

Opinion polls have become a major part of elections worldwide, shaping how voters and political parties understand the race before a single ballot is cast. As South Africa heads towards the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, we ask: how reliable are these polls, what influences their predictions, and should voters take them seriously? GUEST: Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu - Director of the Centre...

Eric Miyeni was born in Soweto, South Africa. He holds a BA Law degree. He is an actor, writer and filmmaker. He is best known for his TV role as Darryl Malgas in the TV series Molo Fish and as Absalom Khumalo in the movie Cry, the Beloved Country. Miyeni’s work as an author comprises several non-fiction titles, including the best-selling The Only Black at a Dinner Party. He is also the auth...

Former Knysna mayor and ANC councillor Ndoda Aubrey Tsengwa was shot dead on Wednesday, we find out more on the story with… GUEST: Sagree Chetty – SABC REPORTER

Yesterday we got a call from Mkhonde in the Eastern Cape. He had an issue he wanted addressed regarding Nkanga Clinic in the Libode District under Nyandeni Local Municipality in OR Tambo. We reached out to the Eastern Cape Department of Health after speaking to him off air and they responded. So, let’s hear what the issue was from Mkhonde and then get to the health department’s respons...

The Malmesbury teenager arrested in an FBI-tipped raid for ordering American children to sexually abuse themselves and mutilate animals struggled so badly at school that a psychometrist recommended he be excused from writing his third-term exams in 2024. Let’s get an understanding on what parents can lookout for in such situations, what to do when kids struggle at school and general behaviou...

The department of Public Works and Infrastructure has released the findings of four investigations conducted by the Council for the Built Environment that looked into the causes behind the building in Red Verulam, Doornkop, Sea Point and Ormonde. GUEST: Dr. Msizi Myeza - The CEO of the Council for the Built Environment

Lobby group AfriForum and civic organisation March and March have formed an alliance which they say will look past institutional differences and address government failure and uplift South African communities at the grassroots level. The meeting, held between March and March founder, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma and AfriForum CEO, Kallie Kriel, yesterday, established a framework for cooperation on critica...