HOT 1027 NOT BREAKING NEWS

From children emptying their piggy banks to businesses digging deep, HOT1027 listeners have shown just how powerful generosity can be! Our annual Teddython wrapped up with a whopping R38.3m pledged for Hot Cares — almost twice our original target. HOT1027's Tara Penny has more...

After years of dry taps, broken roads and growing frustration over failing services, Johannesburg residents have made their voices heard at the ballot box — and many are daring to believe that better days lie ahead. And while the votes are being counted, there's already a sense of optimism among residents who believe change is possible. HOT1027's Tara Penny reports...

Today, Johannesburg residents have an opportunity to help decide the future of their city. After years of crumbling roads, dry taps, power outages and mounting frustration over failing services, voters are heading to the polls to choose who will represent them for the next five years. And while political parties have made plenty of promises, it’s important that Joburgers focus on what's actually a...

Johannesburg is battered, bruised and struggling — but its future is far from decided. Tomorrow, voters will have an opportunity to influence who runs South Africa's economic powerhouse for the next five years. And after weeks of examining the city's crumbling infrastructure, failing services and political dysfunction, HOT1027 news is turning attention to what COULD still be possible. Civic organi...

Imagine running a business where customers owe you almost as much as your entire annual budget. That's something close to the predicament facing Johannesburg. And with local government elections taking place tomorrow, the city's next council will inherit a formidable financial challenge. HOT1027's Jeremy Maggs takes a look ...

Johannesburg's electricity and water crises aren't just making life miserable for residents — they're costing people their livelihoods. Small businesses, particularly in townships, are being forced to turn customers away because they simply can't operate without reliable basic services. And with local government elections taking place tomorrow, civic activists are warning that the city's infrastru...

Johannesburg voters are holding a powerful hand of cards ahead of the local government elections — but are they playing them? With just 1 day to go before South Africans head to the polls, democracy activists are reminding residents that their power extends far beyond making a cross on a ballot paper. And after years of broken promises and deteriorating services, they're urging voters to take owne...

Johannesburg voters could be heading for another five years of political instability — unless parties change the way they approach coalition government. That's the warning from governance experts who say the city's revolving leadership and political deal-making have helped undermine service delivery. And with no single party guaranteed an outright majority in the municipal elections, the question...

Running water, working traffic lights, safe streets and politicians who actually care about the people they're supposed to serve. That's what's topping the wish list for Johannesburg voters ahead of the local government elections on the 4th of November. HOT1027 News has been speaking to residents across the city — and while their frustrations range from potholes and power cuts to crime and politic...

Johannesburg's hijacked buildings have become a disturbing symbol of a city that's lost control of some of it’s vital parts. Illegal immigration, criminal exploitation and the failure to enforce building and safety regulations are all part of a growing debate about how to reclaim the CBD. With elections just days away, civic activists are demanding tougher action, while those working to restore th...

If you've driven into a pothole, had your water cut off or spent another evening without electricity, you know Johannesburg has problems. But have you ever wondered what it would actually cost to fix them? The answer makes for sobering reading ahead of next week's municipal elections. HOT1027's Jeremy Maggs takes a look...

Thousands of litres of chicken manure are helping community gardens feed hungry families, an animal welfare organisation caring for more than 2,000 dogs and cats is getting a helping hand, and young people are discovering the joy of making music — all thanks to the generosity of HOT1027 listeners. And with Teddython 2026 now just 7 days away , we’ve had another rewarding week making a meaningful d...

Johannesburg managed to put on a much cleaner face for the world's leaders during the G20 summit — so why can't it do the same for the people who live here? That's the question civic activists are asking ahead of the local government elections on the 4th of November. HOT1027's Tara Penny has more…

Johannesburg's water and electricity crises aren't just about broken infrastructure — they're also about the people appointed to run the city's most important services. With just days to go until Joburgers vote, The Centre for Development and Enterprise is raising serious concerns about the technical expertise on the boards of the utilities in charge of our water and electricity. HOT1027's Tara Pe...

What if Joburg voters stopped waiting for politicians’ promises and told them exactly what they expect? Ahead of next week's local elections, some communities are drawing up their own manifestos and demanding commitments from candidates before deciding who deserves their votes. Democracy activists say it could change the relationship between politicians and the people they serve. HOT1027’s Tara Pe...

A South African stroke survivor who spent months desperately searching for help after losing his ability to walk and speak is now launching a free app to make sure others don't have to face that same struggle. George Scola suffered a stroke at just 37 and went on to establish the Stroke Survivor Foundation. Now he's launching “Stroke Focus” to coincide with World Stroke Day. The global platform is...

A South African man who suffered a devastating stroke at just 37 is warning that surviving is often only the beginning of a much bigger battle. George Scola lost his business, his marriage and his independence in the months after his stroke — and says he struggled to find anyone who could help him rebuild his life. Now 55, he's the founder of The Stroke Survivor Foundation and is using World Strok...

Johannesburg is budgeting for money it may never receive — and residents are paying the price. That's the warning from the Centre for Development and Enterprise, which says the city's finances are built on unrealistic assumptions about how much money it can collect from households, businesses and government departments. And with municipal elections just a few days away , experts are questioning wh...

Johannesburg's councillors hold meetings, debate problems and make decisions — but residents are still dodging potholes, sitting without water and navigating streets with broken traffic lights. So what exactly is being achieved inside the council chamber? That's the question civic activists are asking ahead of the local government elections on the 4th of November. And governance experts say Johann...

When your water disappears, your streetlights stop working or a pothole threatens to swallow your car… who are you supposed to call? Your ward councillor should be one of the people helping you get answers. But what exactly are councillors responsible for — and how do you hold them accountable when things go wrong? With Johannesburg heading to the polls on the 4th of November, it's worth understan...

You may have seen the faces of Johannesburg's would-be mayors plastered across election posters. But here's something every voter should know. On the 4th of November, you're NOT actually voting for a mayor. You're voting for the councillors who will represent you in Johannesburg's City Council — and THEY will decide who becomes mayor. It's an important distinction, particularly when it comes to ho...

Johannesburg may be battered and bruised — but it's far from beaten. After years of crumbling infrastructure, unreliable services and political turmoil, there's a growing movement of residents, businesses and civic organisations determined to help bring the city back to life. And while the challenges are enormous, those working on the ground insist Joburg's decline is reversible. HOT1027's Tara Pe...

Why bother voting when the roads are still crumbling, the taps keep running dry and politicians seem to make the same promises every election? It's a question many frustrated Johannesburg residents will be asking themselves ahead of the local government elections on the 4th of November. But civic organisations warn that staying away from the polls won't fix the problems — and that making your mark...

With the local government elections fast approaching, voters are once again being asked to put their trust in politicians who say they can turn the city around. Joburgers know that every election comes with promises...better roads, reliable water, cleaner streets and an end to corruption. But for many , those promises have become painfully familiar — while the problems persist. And HOT1027's Tara...

A mother of three is getting help to continue her life-saving dialysis, a teenage sporting champion is getting vital rehabilitation, and a young woman has been awarded a life-changing bursary — all thanks to the kindness of HOT1027 listeners. And with Teddython 2026 just around the corner, Hot Cares has been busier than ever — making a meaningful difference to the tune of R607,000 this week alone....