The National Pulse

A Tiger’s Milk restaurant has apologised after a woman’s Tik Tok video showing the names of notorious killers inside its bathrooms sparked outrage, with the controversy unfolding as SA grapples with yet another wave of fears around violence against women. The video showed names including convicted South African murderer and rapist Thabo Bester and American serial killer Ted Bundy displ...

As South Africa heads towards the 2026 Local Government Elections, the FF Plus has ruled out coalition agreements with the EFF, MK Party and PAC. With coalition governments expected to remain a feature of South African municipalities, we examine what these political red lines mean for post-election negotiations, governance and service delivery. Could ideological differences make coalition-building...

Johannesburg’s finances and service delivery remain under scrutiny as National Treasury prepares a three-year intervention aimed at stabilising the metro’s finances and improving basic services. The plan raises questions about revenue collection, infrastructure maintenance, financial management and accountability. With local government elections approaching, what will the intervention...

The RMB National Rowing Team has just returned from a high-level international competition in Amsterdam, where they tested themselves against some of the world’s best rowers. We’re catching up with the team’s coach to unpack their performance, the lessons from the competition and what lies ahead for South African rowing.  GUEST: Andrew ‘AJ’ Grant - National Head...

Police in KZN have launched a manhunt after a 19-year-old learner was shot and killed inside school premises in KwaNdengezi on the west of Durban. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Zanele Buthelezi, SABC News Reporter in KZN

Cemetery management has entered the digital age, with the South African Local Government Association (Salga) and Emfuleni Municipality launching a new online Digital Cemetery Management Platform to streamline burial services, digitise records and improve access for communities. Let’s find out more… GUEST: Nondumiso Twalo, SALGA Senior Manager: Community Development and social cohesion...

MMC Maluleka is the leader of Business Government in the City of Tshwane. In his role, he has pushed for the registration of informal traders to ensure that they are operating in accordance with the approved bylaws. Pushed for improved tourism to ensure that the city attracts tourism. Ithuba youth economic development program. GUEST: Aaron Maluleka, Leader of Business Government in the C...

The past few days have been an emotional rollercoaster for the family of Elizabeth Tsontso Moselakgomo. They had tirelessly searched for Elizabeth and circulated missing-person flyers in the hope that information would lead to her safe return. As of about an hour ago, there’s an update from the family… GUEST: Dawn Gounden, Spokesperson for the MoselakgomoFamily

On Friday last week, Indlulamithi SA Scenarios released the 2026 edition of its Barometer for the 2035 Scenarios. Indlulamithi’s Perception Survey shows that respondents who fall in the “under 30 years” category, are more hopeful that South Africa is a nation on the path to renewal, compared to the older participants. This contradicts the Barometer result that shows that squabbli...

Child protection groups are raising alarm over alleged rape cases involving police officers, with concerns about the abuse of authority and the impact on vulnerable children. We speak to Dr Shaheda Omar of the Teddy Bear Foundation about the psychological trauma suffered by child victims, barriers to reporting abuse, and how the justice and child-protection systems can better safeguard children wh...

The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing its worst Ebola outbreak on record, with more than 7,000 cases reported and thousands of deaths. The outbreak, driven by the Bundibugyo strain, has spread across seven provinces, raising concerns about containment and regional transmission. We take a look at the factors driving the outbreak, the response on the ground, the lack of an approved vaccine or t...

Fourteen of Gauteng’s 45 government-funded housing projects have been illegally occupied, leaving legitimate beneficiaries waiting for homes amid project delays and costly eviction processes. We speak to the Gauteng Department of Human Settlements and housing experts about the causes of these invasions, beneficiary-list management, project delays, and what government is doing to protect publ...

The South African Police Service has responded to speculation about a possible serial killer after a fifth woman’s body was found in Kempton Park this morning. National police spokesperson Brigadier, Athlenda Mathe, said that while there were similarities in the way some of the victims were found, it was premature to say the deaths were the work of a serial killer. Let’s get some under...

The first ministers of Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland met in Cardiff today to discuss ways of "working more closely", including on constitutional issues. The leaders of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland say the future of their nations "belongs in the European Union" as they call for independence from the UK. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Professor Patrick Bon...

South African amputee Mqondisi “King Nipho” Ntshangase is walking 5,000km across the country on a prosthetic leg to advocate for disability inclusion, social cohesion and Ubuntu. Having already covered more than 2,000km, his journey highlights the challenges faced by people living with disabilities and the need for greater access to prosthetics, rehabilitation, mobility support and inc...

Ahead of the upcoming 18th BRICS summit, you penned an op:ed in which you argue that BRICS is helping shift the global balance of power but beyond summits, declarations and diplomatic rhetoric, what concrete evidence do we have that BRICS is actually weakening the dominance of the traditional Western powers and creating a genuinely new global order? GUEST: Dr Rajendran Govender is a Social Anthrop...

As South Africa heads towards the upcoming local government elections, disability rights activists are raising concerns about the continued exclusion of people with disabilities from political leadership and meaningful participation. We find out more on this issue with Guest: Patrick Mahlakoane - The Disabled People South Africa National Chair

The reopened inquest into the death of struggle icon Steve Biko has been halted in the Gqeberha High Court. This followed an application by Biko's family for a temporary postponement to allow them more time to properly prepare. We find out more details with… GUEST: Lubabalo Dada - SABC NEWS Reporter  

Political Intelligence and Risk Advisory, Rebone Tau, penned an interesting opinion piece about the ANC and the issues the party has been facing particularly with the Eastern Cape list. According to Rebone, The biggest problem in the Eastern Cape is a political problem more than an administrative problem. Let’s find out more… GUEST: Rebone Tau - Political Commentator

March and March Movement is marching outside the Department of Home Affairs Refugee Reception Centre in eThekwini, protesting against the group of displaced refugees and asylum seekers camped outside the centre. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Celumusa Zulu, SABC News Reporter in eThekwini

Cornelius Kekana, the chairperson of Burkinabee community development centre in Zebediela, under the Lepelle Nkumpi Municipality in Limpopo got in touch with us about water challenges in their ward. Let’s get the full story from… GUEST: Cornelius Kekana, Chairperson of Burkinabee Community Development Centre

We continue with our conversations in celebrating and commemorating the 40 years of the Teddy Bear Foundation legacy, I’m now joined by to reflect on the importance of the work of the foundation… GUEST: Dr Shaheda Omar – Director of the Teddy Bear Foundation

We now take a moment to look ahead at the next 40 years with… GUEST: David O Sullivan – Patron

President of the MK Party, Jacob Zuma, has removed Zandile Hlophe-Mkhwanazi as the mayoral candidate for the City of eThekwini days after she was announced as the face of the party in that metro. Hlophe-Mkhwanazi is reportedly under investigation for allegedly manipulating councillor candidate lists that were submitted to the IEC. The party has also removed her and Sibonelo Maphumulo from the Nati...

GUEST: Patrick O Flaherty – Teddy Bear Foundation Chairperson