The National Pulse

Political & Governance Analyst and Principal Consultant at Centre for Strategic Leadership, Sandile Swana, has produced a forecast on the local government elections 2026. According to this forecast, South Africa’s 2026 Local Government Elections will not produce a single national winner.  GUEST: Sandile Swana, Political & Governance Analyst and Principal Consultant at Centre for...

We turn to the growing controversy surrounding DA federal finance chairperson and MP Dr Mark Burke, whose company Kastelo is under scrutiny following a South African Reserve Bank investigation, with the issue coming into sharp focus this week after DA federal chairperson Ashor Sarupen publicly defended him. The allegations and the DA’s response are now raising questions about accountability,...

The Cape Peninsula University of Technology has closed all its campuses and ordered the immediate evacuation of student residences, following continued violent disruptions.  GUEST: YONDA MAGUBUDELA - SABC REPORTER

The army is once again being deployed to areas riddled with high crime in response to rising crime, but is military deployment really a sustainable solution to a problem that requires focused, long-term policing and community safety strategies? As the government repeatedly turns to the army when communities face escalating crime, questions must be asked about whether this approach addresses the ro...

Basic Education Minister, Siviwe Gwarube, has published three sets of draft regulations and a related draft notice under the Basic Education Laws Amendment (Bela) Act for public comment as the government continues implementing the legislation. Let’s find out more about this from… GUEST: Lukhanyo Vangqa, Ministerial Spokesperson and Media Liaison Officer for the Department of Basic Edu...

University rankings have become a fierce competition, with institutions increasingly judged by numbers, prestige and league tables. The constant battle over who is number one raises a bigger question about what rankings really measure. Shouldn’t our universities be competing over who is making the biggest impact on poverty, inequality and the quality of education in South Africa, rather than...

The latest data from Statistics South Africa shows that inflation has cooled from 5% in June to 4.3 % in July. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Patrick Kelly, Stats SA Chief Director responsible for Price Statistics

The Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, held a media briefing today, to outline South Africa’s Revised Electricity Pricing Policy. As the country moves past the era of load shedding, the affordability of electricity has emerged as the most pressing energy challenge for citizens, industries, and the government alike. GUEST: Tshepo Kgadima - Energy Expert

Defend Our Democracy is launching their fund as an observer initiative, an initiative that gives the public an opportunity to participate by Funding an Observer, supporting the recruitment and deployment of 5,000 trained, non-partisan citizen observers to polling stations, as part of Defend Our Democracy’s 2026 Election Watch Campaign. GUEST: Wade Manning, Defend Our Democracy Executive Dire...

Nearly 95,000 CyberTipline reports were linked to suspected online child sexual exploitation in South Africa in 2025, highlighting just how serious the digital threat facing children has become. As AI brings new risks such as deepfakes, sextortion and fake profiles, the question is: how can parents protect their children without simply taking away their phones and freedom? GUEST: Lerato Ntwampe -...

South Africa’s Victims’ Charter is designed to ensure that people who suffer crime are treated with dignity, given information and support, and protected throughout the criminal justice process. But with many victims still facing delays, poor communication and secondary victimisation, the big question is whether these rights are actually being delivered on the ground.  GUEST: Euni...

More than 2,000 mothers in the Western Cape have now enrolled in the Khulisa Care pilot, which is testing whether better nutrition and community healthcare support can give babies a stronger start in life.  GUEST: Mireille Wenger – MEC of the Department of Health and Wellness in the Western Cape

As the South African public broadcaster marks 90 years of connecting with audiences, the big question is whether it still holds its place in an age dominated by social media, podcasts and digital streaming. Our guest wrote a reflective piece on this, he joins us to unpack it… GUEST: Robert Kigongo – Sustainable Development Analyst and Writer based in Uganda

Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, released a Section 7(9) notice today, setting out findings of systemic deficiencies in the administration, governance, funding, co-ordination and oversight of student financial aid. According to findings cited by the Public Protector in an investigation into the National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), more than 40 000 students at 76 higher educat...

President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia has won the elections, giving him five more years in power. The Zambian economy has been performing relatively well, with the Zambian Kwacha often stronger than the South African Rand, a development most Zambians celebrate. Notwithstanding, Zambia remains poor and underdeveloped; Hakainde has a tremendous amount of work ahead of him. GUEST: Thembisa Fakude, S...

Shortly before proceedings got underway this morning, a fire alarm went off at the Brigitte Mabandla College where the Madlanga Commission is housed, sending commission officials, attendees and journalists outside as a precaution. The alert forced the temporary evacuation of the hearing venue just before alleged criminal kingpin, Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala, wa...

A large police contingent was deployed outside the Durban City Hall ahead of the march by the anti-undocumented immigration movement. March and March leaders are had a march to highlight their grievances over undocumented migrants to SADC leaders gathered at the International Convention Centre for the 46th SADC Summit. GUEST: Zanele Buthelezi, SABC News Reporter in KwaZulu-Natal

NSFAS running into a structural funding gap of about R15 billion, driven by rising demand for student funding while government allocations have not increased at the same pace. Higher Education Minister Buti Manamela has warned that government may have to reconsider how “free higher education” is funded if the gap continues growing. NSFAS approved funding for more than 660,000 students...

The alleged “beds-for-cash” system and claims of sexual coercion at Tshwane’s Kgosi Mampuru II prison have raised serious concerns about prison governance, inmate safety and human rights. Former inmates allege they were forced to pay for beds, while overcrowding and poor conditions remain major challenges. The Department of Correctional Services says the allegations are serious a...

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has taken an early lead in the country’s presidential election, putting him on course for a possible first-round victory. With results from 135 of 226 constituencies counted, Hichilema had secured 1,544,140 votes (58.87%), ahead of his closest challenger, Brian Mundubile, who had 1,030,662 votes. A candidate needs more than 50% of valid votes to avoid a r...

Small businesses can experience serious cash-flow problems even when they appear to be growing. Increased sales do not always translate into money in the bank, particularly when customers delay payments, stock absorbs working capital, or the business takes on new expenses before receiving revenue. A recent Xero South Africa report highlighted the scale of the problem, finding that 91% of South Afr...

Thembisile Hani Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has completed a R5.27-million road construction project in Mthombomuhle, Ward 26, using its own internal capacity rather than appointing an external contractor. According to the municipality, the project commenced in March 2026 and was completed in August. The reported project value comprises R2 million from the Municipal Infrastructure Gr...

Peet Viljoen has been denied bail and will remain in custody after appearing in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court on Monday, 17 August. The court deemed him a flight risk, which was a key factor in refusing bail. His case involves more than 400 charges linked to an alleged multimillion-rand property fraud scheme. GUEST: Mike Bolhuis, Specialist Investigator

Following vote day, which was on 13 August, Zambia’s Electoral Commission has suspended the counting of votes and announcement of election results nationwide following reports of violence targeting election officials in some districts.  GUEST: Dr Tendai Mbanje – Governance and Elections Expert at the University of Pretoria

Gaming has grown into a powerful social and entertainment space, with communities that already exist both online and in the real world. We look at how brands can engage these audiences authentically by creating experiences that add value, rather than simply placing their logos on something popular. GUEST: Christie Stanbridge - Hyprop’s Brand and Campaigns Marketing Manager.