The best of POWER Talk

Contrary to popular belief, municipalities are not underfunded. In 2010, collective municipal revenue was about R154-billion. By 2024 this figure had ballooned to R517-billion, representing an average annual increase of 9%.As of May 2026, South Africa's municipal landscape is in a state of deep crisis, with 63% of municipalities deemed to be in financial distress, largely driven by a systemic...

Correctional Services Minister, Dr Pieter Groenewald, who tabled the department’s Budget Vote in Parliament on Wednesday says, the Department of Correctional Services will continue pursuing its self-sufficiency model in the face of R683.4 million budget reductions over the current Medium-Term Expenditure Framework. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 30 years with only Transnet Freight Rail running trains, SA now has 12 operators on the network. That’s real competition in rail for the first time. Mesela Nhlapo, CEO for Railroad Association and Andrew Thorburn, CEO of Galison, a freight Wagon Manufacturer and underground mining equipment manufacturer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The BCA was formed in May 2005 specifically because black conveyancers were locked out of the conveyancing industry after apartheid. Right now, their fight is 3 things: Access to government conveyancing work. The problem: Before 2020, government conveyancing work went directly to black firms through the Office of the State Attorney and provincial departments. That changed when it got centrali...

Controversial Crime Intelligence officer Feroz Khan and Gauteng Hawks head Ebrahim Kadwa have been arrested and, along with their sidelined national police commissioner boss, Fannie Masemola, are among 15 high-ranking cops scheduled to appear in Gauteng courts this week. There is a vacuum in leadership but all the events unfolding are a concern when it comes to fighting crime. Former commissioner...

It is now official…the Government Employees Medical Scheme (GEMS) has announced a further 2% reduction in member contribution increases for this year, effective from July 1, 2026. GEMS Principal Officer, Dr Stan Moloabi says the decision upholds GEMS’ founding mandate of providing public service employees with equitable access to affordable, comprehensive, and high-quality healthcare...

The South African Local Government Association (SALGA) calls on the public to actively participate in the process of redefining the next phase of local governance by submitting inputs into the Reviewed Draft White Paper on Local Government. This call follows the publishing of the draft document for public comment by the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Mr. Velenkosi...

The Public Service Commission (PSC) has sounded the alarm regarding what it characterizes as a blatant misuse of public funds, highlighting a staggering financial drain on the state. Recent data released by the Commission reveals that the South African government spends approximately R800 million annually on salaries for public servants who are currently under suspension. Mondli Makhanya spoke to...

The rapid evolution of technology has brought about a parallel increase in the risks associated with large-scale data collection. If these vulnerabilities are not addressed with a sense of urgency, the resulting fallout could lead to severe reputational damage for major organizations. More alarmingly, it poses an even greater threat to ordinary citizens, whose sensitive personal information is bec...

This week marked a significant milestone for the pan-African reparations movement as the Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF), the Université Populaire Africaine en Suisse (UPAF), and the Ligue Panafricaine–UMOJA (LP-U) concluded the Geneva Forum on Reparative Justice & Colonial Accountability. The event culminated in two major developments: the formal launch of the PPF-D Justice T...

Thirty years after the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the production, offers a searing reflection on South Africa’s ongoing struggle for justice, accountability, and meaningful change. Having toured internationally to critical acclaim in London, Los Angeles, Germany and Singapore, Commission Continua continues to resonate globally as a bold interrogation of bureaucracy, memory, and the...

The Ngcobo panel in 2022 found Ramaphosa had a prima facie case to answer for serious misconduct and possible constitutional violations over the burglary cover-up. Parliament, with an ANC majority, voted it down in December 2022 without a full inquiry. EFF and ATM argued that’ the process is irrational — once a panel finds a case to answer, Parliament must investigate. Parliament says...

Despite the chronic water shortages plaguing various regions of the country, South African municipalities have failed to utilize a staggering R1 billion in Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grants (RBIG) over the past five years. This significant sum was ultimately returned to the National Treasury, a revelation made by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Lerato Phasha - Portfol...

South African employers are facing a mounting wave of legal risk due to the intersection of established laws and recently gazetted regulations. According to Workforce Healthcare, a prominent provider of occupational health and wellness services, the gap between statutory requirements and current corporate practices has reached a critical point. With an extensive network of 101 clinics and nine mob...

The Black Business Council (BBC) has formally declared its unwavering support for the Legal Sector Code, standing in solidarity with a broad coalition of legal and governmental bodies. This collective defense, recently tested in court, underscores a unified commitment to transforming the legal landscape in South Africa. By aligning with these organizations, the BBC reinforces its dedication to ens...

For the second time in less than a year, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana has issued a stern warning to Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero, declaring the City’s budget unfunded and the municipality in a state of severe financial distress. In a letter dated 24 April 2026, the Minister ordered an immediate halt to the implementation of a massive wage deal with municipal workers, demanding a clear...

Fronting has evolved significantly since the early days of democracy. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it often took the form of "window dressing," where black employees were given impressive titles but no actual authority. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Tshediso Matona BEE Commissioner. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa’s e-commerce landscape has transitioned into a pivotal new era. According to the South Africa Cross-Border E-commerce Market Outlook 2025—a collaborative report by Mustang Pay and the South African International Ecommerce Association (SAIEA)—the industry's primary catalysts have shifted. Mondli Makhanya spoke to Zandile Nzalo Founder and CEO of Zanenza. See omnystudi...

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria was filled to capacity on Monday as the nation’s preeminent legal experts gathered to debate the merits of the Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Legal Sector Code (LSC). Despite the intense public interest and the presence of high-profile legal teams prepared to argue both for and against the code, formal proceedings were delayed. Mondli Makha...

Amnesty International South Africa has issued a firm call to the government, demanding tangible progress on the promises of dignity and equality first established during the transition to democracy in 1994. In a statement marking Freedom Day, the human rights organization reflected on the persistent service delivery failures that continue to plague the country’s most impoverished areas, noti...

In an ironic turn of events, the Draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy for South Africa was formally withdrawn on Sunday, April 26, 2026, by the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi.  The withdrawal followed a scandal involving what has been termed a "fictitious AI policy framework," where it was discovered that the document cited academic sources an...

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) has officially began exploring the integration of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) into the national power grid. By issuing a formal Expression of Interest (EOI), Necsa is inviting private sector players to provide critical data on the technical specifications and logistical feasibility of deploying these portable units locally. This move signals a...

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has expressed growing concern regarding security vulnerabilities and smuggling risks at OR Tambo International Airport following a series of high-profile, back-to-back drug arrests. According to national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe, these recent incidents are a direct result of intensified operations aimed at dismantling sophisticated international tr...

Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE) Ownership Share Schemes, particularly Employee Share Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and Broad-Based Schemes, are designed to move beyond "narrow-based" empowerment toward a model that distributes equity to workers and communities. While the policy faces ongoing debate regarding its macro-economic impact, several specific positive outputs have emerged from w...

Freedom Day in South Africa is the annual celebration of the country's first non-racial democratic elections held on April 27, 1994. This historic event marked the formal end of over three centuries of colonialism, segregation, and white minority rule under the apartheid system. Before this date, the majority of South Africans were denied basic human rights and the ability to participate in the go...