The National Briefing

Guest: Nkosithethile Bonga - SACP Gauteng spokesperson   The South African Communist Party (SACP) in Gauteng welcomes the cabinet reshuffle by Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi    

Four people have now been killed in Mitchells Plain, City of Cape Town. These incidents occurred exactly one week after the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was deployed to the area to curb escalating gang violence. What then does this say about the presence of the military there? Guest: Norman Jantjies - Spokesperson and Deputy Chairperson of the Mitchell's Plain United Resi...

08 April 2026 1.    South Afrika - Tshwane President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa will today receive Letters of Credence from Heads of Mission-Designate from the 20 countries at a Credentials Ceremony to be held at Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse, and our focus is Afrika and its diaspora.  This tradition is centuries old and remains a key part of international protocol...

Oil falls below 100 dollars on US-Iran two week ceasefire 2. Global airlines continue to hike fares and cut flights on rising jet fuel prices (yes, oil has eased but has the damage been done??) 3. Markets update - reflecting on how stocks closed, many indicies closed before Trumps deadline

Guest: Dr Kingsley Makhubela -  Former South African diplomat, international relations expert and Risk Analyst 

In a new segment, Built in Mzansi is a feature that highlights solutions, innovations and progress stories from across South Africa. We are tracking how everyday South Africans are making a real impact in their communities. In our first segment, we speak about a STEM innovator who helps young people in rural areas by building access to a national innovation pipeline, teaching STEM research methods...

Guest: Toby Chance - DA Member of Parliament   Guest: Duma Gqubule - Independent Economic Analyst  Guest: Tshediso Matona - Commissioner at the BBBEE Commission 

Guest: Prof. Barney Pityana - anti-apartheid stalwart    

While the government has taken steps to cushion petrol prices last week, it has not provided similar relief for paraffin. As of 1 April 2026, the wholesale price of illuminating paraffin surged by R11.67 per litre. This surge will affect 2 million people or up to 500,000 households who rely on paraffin for basic survival. Our next guest has recently highlighted the severe impact of paraffin price...

The Minister of Finance, in consultation with the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, is implementing a temporary R3.00 per litre reduction in the general fuel levy. The relief measure runs from 1 April 2026 to 5 May 2026. What is the national outlook for fuel reserves in the country? Guest: Jacob Mbele, Director-General at the Department of Minerals Resources and Energy

We take a moment to reflect on what impact the fuel has on associations within the fuel industry who monitor logistics including regional shortages and panic buying. The industry stakeholders also face higher transport costs, increased working capital, and margin pressure. The associations also reported tight supply, particularly for diesel, exacerbated by panic buying and limited road tanker avai...

The Madlanga Commission will resume this morning after a short Easter break. The Commission is currently in Phase 2 and focuses on responses from individuals implicated in initial allegations. Prior to the Commission recess, recent testimony has scrutinised the flow of funds to security service providers and municipal governance corruption. This morning, the Commission is set to continue hearing t...

AFRICA IN FOCUS WITH ADV. SIPHO MANTULA – Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: UNISA

In our Global Brief, we focus on the US-Iran conflict and the developments emerging from the weekend. US President Donald Trump has threatened fresh strikes on Iran if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as tensions continue to escalate. Meanwhile, the ongoing blockade of the strait is now sparking fears of a global food crisis, with the World Trade Organization warning fertiliser shortages c...

The African National Congress Youth League in Gauteng has come out strongly against Premier Panyaza Lesufi’s recent cabinet reshuffle, describing it as a political misstep that undermines the ANC’s authority. Guest: Nelisiwe Nkomo - Provincial Executive Committe Member of the ANCYL in Gauteng

South Africa’s water sector is facing a deepening crisis, as highlighted in the 2025 Green Drop, Blue Drop, and No Drop reports released by Water and Sanitation Minister Pemmy Majodina. While the reports show pockets of improvement, they paint an overall picture of systemic decline in wastewater treatment, growing risks to drinking water, and massive losses of treated water. Guest: Ayesha La...

As South Africans mark Family Day, a time rooted in togetherness and care, many are also confronting the often-unspoken financial strain of “Black Tax.” While supporting extended family reflects the spirit of Ubuntu, nearly half of households are carrying the burden of one income supporting multiple dependants—placing growing pressure on personal finances. Guest: Sharon Mmitsi: D...

Chaos erupted at a public hearing on the Constitutional Amendment Bill in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare, as tensions flared between attendees, disrupting proceedings and highlighting deep divisions over the proposed changes. Guest: Advocate Fadzayi Mahere: Constitutional Lawyer

The Competition Commission has now released its second Cost of Living (COL) Report. what’s driving the squeeze on household budgets since 2020 and where the pressure is coming from now? Guest: James Hodge: Chief Economist, Competition Commission of SA  

A looming waste management crisis is unfolding in Gauteng, where landfill sites across its three major metros are projected to reach full capacity within four years. A report by AfriForum warns that without urgent intervention, the province—South Africa’s economic hub—could face a complete breakdown in waste management services. Guest: Marais de Vaal: Afriforum environmental affa...

In a media briefing on public service delivery and governance, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi emphasized his administration’s commitment to ensuring equitable water supply across the province. He also announced changes to his executive, appointing Lebogang Maile as the new MEC for Education, Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, and EFF Gauteng Chairperson Nkululeko Dunga as MEC for Finance a...

Schools in Cape Town are reportedly turning to drastic measures to protect their property, with some paying protection money to criminals to avoid vandalism and theft. According to Basil Manuel of the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa, the issue is largely hidden—but may be more widespread than currently known.  Guest: Basil Manuel: Executive Director, Nationa...