HOT 1027 NOT BREAKING NEWS

A group of Joburg moms who once cheered from the sidelines are now making sporting history — proving it’s never too late to start something new. They’ve gone from complete beginners to competing in a national water polo tournament — in a division that, until now, didn’t even exist for women. HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more…

A group of South African teenagers is heading to one of the biggest robotics stages in the world — and they’re not just chasing another title, but helping to reshape tech education back home. The Western Cape team has just clinched its sixth straight national win and is now preparing to take on more than 300 teams from around the globe in Texas. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…

Today would have been Marvin Gaye’s 87th birthday. He was a Motown legend whose music moved between protest, passion and pain — and his life was as complex as the songs he left behind. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…

Today marks the 58th birthday of global superstar Celine Dion — a record-breaking performer whose Las Vegas shows have become some of the most successful in music history. After years of quietly battling a rare neurological condition that forced her off stage, she made a breathtaking return at the Paris Olympics — and now, a full comeback may be within reach. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp takes a look.....

A teenager with profound hearing loss will hear clearly again, a Joburg mom battling long-term COVID complications can finally breathe easier -- and an animal welfare organisation is now safer from crime — all thanks to the incredible generosity of HOT1027 listeners. It's been another rewarding week here at HOT1027 making a meaningful difference to the tune of R242 000. HOT1027's Tara Penny has mo...

Today marks the 57th birthday of global superstar - Mariah Carey — one of the most recognisable voices in music history. Bursting onto the scene at just 20 years old….. she quickly became one of the biggest stars in the world. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp has more...

Today, Diana Ross turns 82 — and few artists have shaped popular music quite like she has. From a little girl in Detroit’s Brewster housing projects to Motown royalty, movie stardom and a solo career packed with global hits, Ross didn’t just perform the soundtrack of an era — she helped create it. HOT1027’s Tara Penny has more...

It’s autumn on the Highveld — and cosmos flowers are once again blooming in their thousands. No one plants them. No one tends them. They simply appear, year after year. But these delicate flowers aren’t indigenous — and not many people know their roots her in South Africa trace back to war. HOT1027’s Al Prodgers takes a look...

Elton John turns 79 today. From “Rocket Man” to “Your Song”, Elton John has given generations the soundtrack to love, heartbreak, reinvention and survival. But behind the glitter, the fame and the piano hooks was a man searching for something much more human. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look...

Today, one of the smoothest voices — and most unmistakable guitarists — in music turns 83. From the streets of Pittsburgh to global superstardom, George Benson changed the sound of jazz, soul and R&B forever. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…

Today would've been the 67th birthday of singer and actress Irene Cara — the voice behind two of the most iconic movie songs of the 1980's. From "Fame" to "Flashdance"...her music helped define the sound of an era — winning her an Oscar and a Grammy. She died in 2022 at the age of 63 — after a career that never quite reached the heights many believed it should've. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp takes a l...

When you hear the word "shebeen", you probably picture an informal tavern in a South African township. But would you associate it with Ireland’s national holiday, St Patrick’s Day? HOT1027’s Al Prodgers explains the surprising link...

A former paramedic battling kidney failure can now continue his life-saving dialysis, a nine-year-old girl with cerebral palsy will soon move independently in her own wheelchair and a hardworking grandmother raising her grandchild has the tools to keep her small business going — all thanks to the generosity of HOT1027 listeners. It's been another rewarding week here at HOT1027making a meaningful d...

Today is World Sleep Day — and specialists are warning many South Africans may be sacrificing their health by not getting enough rest. Doctors warn that poor sleep doesn’t just leave you tired the next day — it can weaken your immune system, affect productivity, and increase the risk of serious diseases later in life. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look …

Four South African adventurers are about to tackle South Africa's coastline on jet skis - to highlight the mental health pressures facing our farmers. The ongoing foot-and-mouth disease crisis continues to devastate parts of our country's livestock industry, with many farmers unable to sell cattle and facing mounting financial losses. HOT1027's Tara Penny takes a look...

Today would have been Chris Rea’s 75th birthday. The singer , songwriter and guitarist passed away just a few days before Christmas last year, leaving behind a legacy of soundtracks that still land as well today as they did when he wrote them. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…

Today is World Hearing Day — and South Africa has something extraordinary to celebrate. A Pretoria-based surgeon is being recognised around the world for pioneering a world-first procedure that can cure certain types of deafness. HOT 1027’s Al Prodgers reports...

Coldplay frontman...Chris Martin....turns 49 today. From early criticism to global stadium tours — his band has become one of the biggest in the world. HOT1027’s Natasha Thorp takes a look...

Singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka has died in Los Angeles at the age of 86. His career spanned six decades and spanned a variety of musical genres. HOT1027's Simon Marks has more...

Avalon Cemetery in Soweto is the final resting place of everyday residents, alongside giants of South Africa’s struggle like Hector Pieterson, Joe Slovo and Lilian Ngoyi. But It's also home to a memorial for 616 brave South Africans who have no grave except for the cold sea — they are the men of the SS Mendi who died on this day back in 1917. HOT1027’s Al Prodgers has the story....

A Joburg mom raising 4 children after losing her sister is getting urgent support, a determined matric pupil can now attend the academic camps that could change his future, and more than 200 vulnerable animals in Joburg South will continue to be cared for — all thanks to the generosity of HOT1027 listeners. It's been another rewarding week making a meaningful difference with Hot Cares here on HOT1...

A Cold War-era space station hidden in the Magaliesberg is still shaping the world — and even your daily commute. About 50km north-west of Johannesburg, on the R400, stands the giant dish of the Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory. HOT1027’s Al Prodgers takes a look...

In 1896, only 10 years after the discovery of gold, one of the largest single non-nuclear explosions in history, reverberated across Johannesburg. On this day, 130 years ago, a train loaded with dynamite destined for the mines, blew up in Braamfontein. The blast rattled windows in Pretoria and was heard 200km away in Klerksdorp. HOT1027’s Al Prodgers reports…

Parents are being warned that YouTube Kids is not the safe digital babysitter many believe it is. Experts say disturbing, violent and even sexualised content is slipping past filters often disguised as popular children’s cartoons - and it’s happening fast. HOT1027’s Tara Penny takes a look…

Thousands of runners are nursing stiff legs this morning after crossing the finish line at Joburg’s toughest half marathon. It was a brutal test of endurance yesterday - at the Pirates 21k -powered by Medshield - where an impressive new record was set. HOT1027’s Tara Penny reports...