Jacaranda FM Newswatch - Interviews

It is this week a year since a press conference led by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sent shockwaves through South Africa as he revealed serious allegations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, criminal networks, and alleged political interference within the country’s criminal justice sector. Jacaranda FM Newswatch journalist Anastasi Mokgobu speaks to Gerda de...

It is this week a year since a press conference led by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sent shockwaves through South Africa as he revealed serious allegations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, criminal networks, and alleged political interference within the country’s criminal justice sector. Jacaranda FM Newswatch journalist Anastasi Mokgobu speaks to Gerda de...

July 6, 2025, began like any other winter’s Sunday in South Africa: a quiet end to a cold weekend, with no indication that the day would soon become a defining moment in the country’s political and criminal justice landscape. By the end of that Sunday, the national conversation had changed. A press conference led by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi would send shockwa...

South Africa is once again in the midst of a heated national debate on immigration. Over recent weeks, anti-immigration protests have intensified across the country, with some groups calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave. By: Anastasi Mokgobu Produced by: Emile Pienaar Latest news on our website

It’s been three years of untold violence in Sudan, as the civil war between the army and the paramilitary group RSF rages on. Emile Pienaar takes you to the heart of a battle – of which the world knows very little. Doctors Without Borders, one of the few humanitarian organisations still operating in the region, provides a rare glimpse of what’s happening in the so-called Forgotten War of Atrocitie...

Chief Scientific Advisor at MARTI TB Diagnostics and an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, Jan Verschoor, said quick early diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a priority. On Tuesday the United Nations commemorated world TB day with the focus on the estimated 1.2 million pe...

The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, says South Africans don't have to wait in long lines at Home Affairs Offices to get their smart ID Cards anymore. In an interview with Jacaranda FM Newswatch, Schreiber outlined how the department partnered with the country's big banks, to implement one of its most significant reforms in the department's history. LISTEN TO THE FULL INTERVIEW HERE: Cust...

Iran, which controls an essential oil transport route known as the Strait of Hormuz, has since closed it as the war with the US and Israel rages on, making it impossible for some oil-producing nations to sell their oil. This has caused crude oil prices to skyrocket. Jacaranda FM Newswatch's Emile Pienaar spoke with Daniel Silke, Director of the Political Futures Consultancy in Cape Town. Latest ne...

Listen in as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, shared his vision with Jacaranda Newswatch's Nomfundo Twala for the department over the next 100 days. From science to sustainability, he aims to repair environmental damage, support communities, and rejuvenate South Africa’s tourism hotspots. Latest news on our website

The Tshwane Metro Police Department has issued a warning to motorists: vehicles, trailers, caravans, or motorcycles impounded between 2001 and 2024 that are not collected by 28 February 2026 will be crushed. Owners or registered title holders who want their vehicles back, have to report to the TMPD Pound on Madiba Street in Pretoria Central, with a valid ID and vehicle registration documents. Howe...

The recent study by the University of the Free State about the safety of sanitary products in South Africa, has caused concern among women over their health and safety. The study detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) substances that can interfere with hormones in nearly 16 brands of sanitary pads and eight panty liners available on the South African market. According to Professor Deon Vis...

Johannesburg City Power CEO, Tshifularo Mashava has tendered her resignation on Wednesday to the chairperson of the board. The board is expected to sit down and discuss the succession for the CEO position. Mashava confirmed in her resignation letter that its time for her to search for a new source for her personal and professional power. She will leave her office at the end of March. Mashava has l...

Rand Water already pumping 'more than licence allows’ amid supply crisis Rand Water spokesperson Makenosi Maroo spoke with Jacaranda FM Newswatch's Emile Pienaar. This comes as large areas of Johannesburg are still without water, and parts of Tshwane are also struggling with erratic supply. Maroo said Rand Water is currently pumping more water to municipalities than it is licensed to, but the prob...

United States President Donald Trump has repeatedly said America “has to have” Greenland for the country's national security. This has been met with fear, confusion and anger from the Greenlandic people. Emile Pienaar spoke with Lena Kleist Timmermann, a nurse with a Master's in Clinical Nursing who currently lives in Denmark but grew up in Greenland. Latest news on our website

The newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions, Advocate Andy Mothibi, has assured South Africans that the National Prosecuting Authority will continue to prioritise cases from the State Capture Commission. Latest news on our website

Midrand residents have voiced their immense frustration over the area’s ongoing water supply disruptions, saying the situation is making daily life almost impossible. Johannesburg Water has blamed rapid development in the area, saying it is placing significant strain on existing water infrastructure. Residents, however, say this excuse holds little water. Latest news on our website

British American Tobacco’s decision to shut down its only manufacturing plant in South Africa has raised concerns about the growing scale of illicit trade in the country. The company will cease cigarette production locally by the end of the year. Area Head of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs Johnny Moloto and Lesedi Local Municipality representative Mluleki Nkosi say the closure will have signific...

As South African pupils and teachers are preparing for the beginning of the new academic year, Teacher's Unions, continue to advocate for better working environments for their members ---- be it infrastructure, violent behaviour from school children or mental health. Nomfundo Twala posed some of these questions to Basil Manuel. He told her, that no teacher should be ashamed when they experience vi...

The thrill of online gambling has hit South Africa. Its popularity has surged, especially among young people. According to official data presented by the National Gambling Board to Parliament in October, the total gambling turnover for the 2024/25 financial year reached R1.5 trillion. November is recognised as Gambling Awareness Month in South Africa. Chanel September has more... Latest news on ou...

The humanitarian organisation Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, said the healthcare system in Gaza has been destroyed. MSF's International President, Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, has called on world leaders to drastically increase the number of medical evacuations from Gaza. Emile Pienaar spoke with MSF's Emergency Coordinator in Gaza, Jacob Granger. Latest news on ou...

Artificial Intelligence is trickling into every part of our daily lives, and the classroom is no exception. AI is here to stay, and although a bit of initial hesitance could be valuable, avoiding it completely could become a significant setback for both teacher and educator. Latest news on our website

Die fotograaf Wim van den Heever, gebore en getoeë hier in Suid-Afrika, het die wêreld aan die gons. Sy foto van ‘n bruin hiëna in Kolmanskop, Namibië het daartoe gelei dat hy aangewys is as die Natural History Musem in Londen wildlewe- fotograaf van die jaar. Dis basies fotograwe se Oscars. Dit het hom tien jaar geneem om dié wenfoto vas te lê in Namibië se spookdorp. Van den Heever het vroeër di...

The grandson of former President Nelson Mandela, Mandla Mandela has recalled the harsh conditions they experienced while detained at Israeli prison. The group of South African activists who formed part of the Global Sumud Flotilla returned to home soil on Wednesday after being prevented from accessing Gaza and subsequently deported from Israel. Latest news on our website

On Monday the Nobel Prize for Physiology was awarded to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell and Shimon Sakaguchi for their discoveries on how the immune system functions and how autoimmune disease work. Emile Pienaar spoke with the Head of Medical Research in School of Medicine at the University of Pretoria, Botle Damane, to unpack the real world impact of this discovery. Latest news on our website

Paediatric Oncologist Professor Mariana Kruger at Stellenbosch University explained that there is a vast population in rural areas where it takes longer to get to primary medical facilities and secondary hospitals. Latest news on our website