The National Briefing

Flash floods have killed more than 90 people across eastern Spain, according to the Spanish authorities, after a deluge of rain — in some places, several months’ worth — fell in less than a day. The flooding, which began with heavy rain on Monday, were some of the country’s deadliest in decades.   Guest: Prof Kaitano Dube - Faculty of Human Science Research Professor at the Vaal University of Tech...

The executive mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay metro, Gary van Niekerk, has resigned. The deputy executive mayor, Babalwa Lobishe, has also tendered her resignation. It is understood that there is an agreement that they will be voted into each other’s jobs.   Guest: Ongama Mtimka Political Analyst  

THE R350 social relief of distress (SRD) grant will come to an end in March next year as the government has no plans to extend it. This emerged from the 2024 Medium-term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) tabled in Parliament by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday.   Guest: Siyanda Baduza - Institute for Economic Justice Basic Income Researcher  

Ukraine says nine injured in Russia's 19th air attack on Kyiv in October. Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, on Monday said his country was ready to hold peace talks with Russia but believed President Vladimir Putin still camped on his untenable demand for Ukrainian surrender.   Guest: Steven Gruzd, head of the Africa-Russia Project at the South African Institute of International Affairs  

  Guest: Mlu Ndlovu: KZN Provincial Manager, The Public Servants Association (PSA)   

  Guest: Dr Nthabiseng Moleko – Economist at the Stellenbosch Business School  

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi pushing back on the idea of people being given a choice between land and money. He says people need both, and says this is a false choice. He has also come out clear that the idea that land restitution and redistribution can be achieved without touching privately owned land is nonsense. He gives figures of how much land the state owns that could potentially be redistributed if...

  Guest: Martin Snow - Research Chair in Space Weather at the South African National Space Agency (SANSA)  

  Guest: Thami Nuli – KZN Premier  

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana yesterday delivered his first Government of National Unity Medium Term Budget Policy Statement. Did he address the issue of the water crisis in the country?   Guest: Dr Ferrial Adam – WaterCANExecutive Director  

With the public sector’s financial expenditure plans under scrutiny ahead of the mid-term budget. how can financial institutions, especially in the private sector, protect themselves from the escalating frequency and sophistication of cyberattacks?   The use of AI for privacy and security measures in the financial services industry and why this is important to focus on in the same week as the coun...

  Afrika Update Report   31 October 2024  Botswana – Gaborone  Botswana counts votes after pivotal election  People in Botswana are waiting for results of Wednesday's election which could extend the Botswana Democratic Party (BDP)'s 58-year rule.  Earlier in the day, the main opposition Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) leader Duma Boko voiced concerns about the exercise.    Mozambique - Maputo...

  Guest: Annaline Van Der Poel – COO at Debt Rescue  

Clip: Blade Nzimande clip on why he continues to serve in the GNU when his party opposes it so much. Interestingly,  in the process of defending his participation in the GNU, Nzimande (who is the SACP national chairman) contradicts his General Secretary Solly Mapaila by rejecting the suggestion of an ANC coalition with the MKP and EFF, calling MKP a party of state capture.

    Guest: Kgosi Larmeck Mokoena: President of the Congress of Traditional Leaders of South Africa(Contralesa)

    Guest: Prof David Monyae is the Director for the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg

    Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi: General Secretary of the South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) 

  Guest: Natalie Zimmelman: CEO of WitsPlus

    Guest: Dr Joseph Maswanganyi the Chairperson of standing Committee on FinanceHendrick Makaneta: Education Activist

    Guest: Mbekezeli Benjamin: Researcher and Advocacy Officer of the Judges Matter

    Guest: Rev Thulasizwe Buthelezi - COGTA MEC in KZN

    Guest: Busisiwe Mavuso, CEO of Business Leadership South Africa (BLSA)

    Botswana – Gaborone Botswana decides today Southern Africa's diamond-rich nation of Botswana votes in general elections today, with the ruling party seeking to extend its nearly six-decade rule and hand a second term to President Mokgweetsi Masisi.   South Afrika – Namibia President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday hosted His Excellency President Dr Nangolo Mbumba of the Republic of Namibia for a wor...

    Botswana – Gaborone  As Botswana decides tomorrow what are the new economic challenges for a long-ruling party and new opposition parties?   Botswana votes in a national election this week that will decide if the ruling party extends a 58-year stretch in power in a southern African country that is a leading diamond producer and often held up as one of the most stable and least corrupt democrac...

    Guest: Brooks Spector - Associate Editor: Daily Maverick