The National Pulse

The bail application of Suspended Deputy National Police Commission, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya, resumed in the Randburg Magistrates Court today. Prosecutors added a sixth charge against Sibiya, relating to the alleged unlawful storage of a firearm. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Sashin Naidoo, SABC News Reporter  

Former Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says South Africa must move beyond investigating corruption and ensure that those found to have acted unethically face consequences. Let’s make sense of this loaded remark by the CJ who chaired the Zondo Commission… GUEST: Tebogo Khaas - Founder and Chairperson of Public Interest SA

The Gautrain is entering a new chapter following the appointment of a new operator for the next 15 years. With the transition now underway, there are questions around what this means for the future of the service, its passengers and the wider public transport network in Gauteng. I’m joined now by… GUEST: Albi Modise – Senior Executive Manager: Communications and Marketing at Gau...

South Africa’s energy future is being shaped by major changes at Eskom and the broader electricity sector, but there is also growing debate about what is fact and what is misinformation. Let’s discuss the challenges facing “Eskom 2.0” and whether the country’s energy ambitions are achievable. GUEST: Mteto Nyati – Eskom Board Chairperson  

Abandoned and hijacked homes in Johannesburg’s Kensington are driving residents out as illegal extensions, overcrowding and utility theft pile up costs and erode property values. Daily Maverick Reporter, Naledi Mashishi, looked into these properties and now joins me on the line to tell us more… GUEST: Naledi Mashishi, Daily Maverick Reporter  

The department of small business development has come under fire for its tender to appoint an external team to research why only some spaza shops succeed. According to Bheki Twala, founder and president of the Township Economic Commission SA, this data is available for free. GUEST: Bheki Twala, founder and president of the Township Economic Commission SA  

Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, briefed the media earlier today on findings from investigations finalised during the second quarter of the 2026/27 financial year, covering July to September. The briefing detailed outcomes of investigations into alleged maladministration, improper conduct and other complaints involving organs of state. For more on this, I am joined on the line by&hellip...

The Durban University of Technology will launch 18 newly established Research Institutes and 11 South African Research Chairs Initiative, or SARChI, Chairs. The event will also celebrate DUT’s achievement in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings, highlighting the University’s growing research excellence, innovation and commitment to addressing societal challeng...

   

The Durban University of Technology will launch 18 newly established Research Institutes and 11 South African Research Chairs Initiative, or SARChI, Chairs. The event will also celebrate DUT’s achievement in the 2026 Times Higher Education Sustainability Impact Rankings, highlighting the University’s growing research excellence, innovation and commitment to addressing societal challeng...

In its recent crackdown targeting food -safety the National Consumer Commission says it has uncovered widespread non-compliance issues. Let’s find out more with… GUEST: Hardin Ratshisusu - Acting Commissioner of the National Consumer Commission

Department of Employment and Labour, together with Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), through the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) and the National Empowerment Fund (NEF), have launched a R1 billion fund to provide seed capital and financial support to black-owned and black-managed businesses.  GUEST: Joel Mphela, Divisional Executive Venture Capital and Corporate Finance at the Nationa...

Yesterday, Zimbabwe President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, outlined a wide-ranging programme covering economic growth, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and legislative reform as Zimbabwe begins the Fourth Session of the 10th Parliament. Speaking during a State of the Nation Address at Parliament Building in Harare, the Zimbabwean President said his government had made progress in stabilising the ec...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a nationwide review of unresolved murders, rapes and serious sexual offences involving women and children, imposing deadlines on police, prosecutors and municipalities as he conceded that the government’s response to gender-based violence and femicide had “not been enough”. Amnesty International believes these measures came seven years too la...

September is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in South Africa, putting the spotlight on one of the country’s leading cancers among women. The latest National Cancer Registry data recorded more than 7,400 diagnosed cases in 2022. But beyond awareness and prevention, researchers are also exploring ways to make existing cancer treatment more effective. One such approach is hyperthermic oncology,...

The 2026 Local Government Elections Electoral Code of Conduct and Disinformation Pledge Signing Ceremony happened earlier today at Flamingo Casino in the Northern Cape. The programme brought together key election stakeholders for important discussions on the significance of the Electoral Code of Conduct, election preparations and the role of stakeholders in supporting a peaceful and credible elect...

At just 18, South African archer Danya Thompson is already a world champion. Now, the Grade 12 learner has added another milestone to her sporting career, earning national colours in water polo after representing South Africa internationally in Croatia. GUEST: Danya Thompson - Archer and Water Polo Player

GUEST: Lehlogonolo Masoga - Services SETA Administrator

Civil society groups are questioning the transparency of the government's plans to amend South Africa’s firearms laws. The debate centres not only on proposed changes to firearm regulation, but also on whether affected stakeholders have been meaningfully consulted and whether the evidence behind the proposed reforms has been made public. GUEST: Reece Clark - Spokesperson for Civil Society SA

A GroundUp investigation is raising questions about how the Gauteng Department of Social Development has handled allegations of corruption and mismanagement. The department has spent at least R3.2-million on forensic audits, but the investigation finds that action has been slow, while some organisations were defunded despite later being cleared. GUEST: Daniel Steyn – Investigative Journalist

The case against Suspended Deputy National Police Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lt-General, Shadrack Sibiya, who faces charges of rape, human trafficking and the sexual grooming of a minor, has been postponed to Thursday. Sibiya was in court for his bail application at the Randburg Magistrates’ Court. GUEST: Sashin Naidoo, SABC News Reporter

In one of the bloodiest weekends in recent South African history, mass shootings claimed the lives of at least 27 people, with another 26 wounded, in separate attacks. Questions are being asked about whether police intelligence gathering is hopelessly inadequate for tracking violent groups and providing early warning of such attacks. Even worse, there is concern policing incompetence is contributi...

Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, says he has examined the possibility of a US military attack against Canada. In an interview with The New York Times last week, Carney described an attack as an “extreme tail risk” – an event with a very low probability but potentially severe consequences.  GUEST: Brooks Spector, Associate Editor at The Daily Maverick

Today marks World News Day, a day that highlights the role of journalism in informing the public and holding power to account. But in an age where almost anyone can publish a video, post a claim or break a story on social media, what makes journalism different? Why does Journalism still matter today? GUEST: Professor Glenda Daniels – Professor of Media Studies at University of the Witwatersr...