The National Briefing

Former apartheid-era operative Eugene de Kock — widely known as “Prime Evil” — has taken the stand in the ongoing Cradock Four inquest at the High Court in Gqeberha. While admitting to leading operations against anti-apartheid activists, De Kock denies an 25.03.2026 8:18 ↓

  Guest: Lukhanyo Calata: Son of the Cradock Four’s Fort Calata  

 A Fire broke out after 18h00 on Tuesday evening at the Botha Sigcau Building (Owen & Leeds St, Eastern Cape), affecting key government departments. 25.03.2026 5:54 ↓

Olwethu Mabovula - King Sabata Dalindyebo municipality Spokesperson

The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Tshwane has now presented its submission to the Madlanga Commission, following a DA-led investigation into alleged large-scale corruption in municipal tenders. 25.03.2026 6:49 ↓

Guest: Jacqui Uys: DA Tshwane Chief Whip   

The current conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel marks a significant escalation in Middle Eastern geopolitics, with global implications for energy markets, diplomacy, and regional stability. 25.03.2026 6:51 ↓

Guest: Itumeleng Makgetla: is a Political Analyst at the University of Pretoria 

As Human Rights Day was commemorated, domestic workers across the country said there was little to celebrate. Members of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union, supported by Congress of South African Trade Unions, marched in Cape Town 24.03.2026 7:28 ↓

  Guest: Thuli Maphumulo: Deputy Secretary General, South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) 

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy has reported encouraging progress in South Africa’s road safety efforts in early 2026, highlighting a notable decline in crashes and fatalities. Speaking at the launch of the ArriveAlive Campaign Easter Road Safety Campai 24.03.2026 8:10 ↓

Guest: Simon Zwane: Spokesperson, Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) 

Nelson Mandela Bay is once again grappling with a deepening electricity crisis, as collapsing high-voltage pylons leave large parts of the metro without power for weeks. The latest outages have exposed years of neglected maintenance, severe budget shortfa 24.03.2026 8:10 ↓

  Guest: Cllr Ziyanda Mnqokoyi: Mayoral portfolio head for Electricity and Energy, Nelson Mandela Bay   

The Gauteng provincial government has committed to urgent reforms at Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital following the tragic death of a psychiatric patient in a fire. The intervention comes after a damning report by Health Ombud 24.03.2026 10:20 ↓

Professor Taole Mokoena uncovered serious systemic failures in patient care, safety, and governance.    Guest: Professor Taole Mokoena: Health Ombud  

South Africans commemorated Human Rights Day this past weekend, a tragic turning point that underscored the brutality of apartheid and ignited a global call for justice. Why does SA still remain an unequal society? 24.03.2026 7:55 ↓

Guest: Dr Trevor Ngwane: Director at the Department of Sociology at the University of Johannesburg

Donald Trump has announced that the United States has held “productive” talks with Iran about a potential “complete and total resolution of hostilities” in the Middle East 24.03.2026 7:29 ↓

Guest: Siphamandla Zondi - Professor of Politics and International Relations at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) 

The cost of food in South Africa is shifting in a troubling way: while some staple items are getting cheaper, meat prices are soaring, turning a once-regular item like a braai pack into a luxury for many households.    23.03.2026 9:30 ↓

Guest: Mervyn Abrahams: Programme Coordinator at the Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity Group.  

South Africa’s worsening crime crisis has reached what lawmakers describe as “war-like” levels, with over 26,000 murders recorded in a single year. 23.03.2026 11:35 ↓

Guest: Dakota Legoete: Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Defence and Military Veterans  

The Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders expresses its profound indignation and unequivocal condemnation following reports of an alleged coronation of a so-called “king” linked to a Nigerian community event in kuGompo, a jurisdiction tha 23.03.2026 11:22 ↓

Eastern Cape authorities have strongly rejected the reported “installation” of a foreign king in the province, with Zolile Williams distancing the government and traditional leadership structures from the incident. Guest: Inkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso: the Chairperson of the Eastern Cape Provincial House of Traditional Leaders    Guest: Zolile Williams: Eastern Cape Cooperative Govern...

As South Africa marks Human Rights Day and reflects on the tragedy of the Sharpeville Massacre, Julia Nzimande offers a deeply personal perspective on her father’s legacy. Her father, Nyakane Tsolo, was among the leaders of the Sharpeville protest — and h 23.03.2026 7:10 ↓

Guest: Julia Nzimande: Daughter of Nyakane Tsolo, Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) member & Led Sharpeville Massacre   

An open letter addressed to UN Women at the 2026 Commission on the Status of Women raises urgent concerns about the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (AU CEVAWG). While intended as a landmark treaty, the letter argues tha 20.03.2026 8:34 ↓

Guest: Sibongile Ndashe: Executive Director, Initiative for Strategic Litigation in Africa  

At the inaugural National Transport Conference held in Midrand, urgent concerns about violence and instability in South Africa’s taxi industry took centre stage. Following a deadly shooting at a Delft taxi rank in Cape Town, Dr. Siyabulela Fobosi of the U 20.03.2026 7:18 ↓

Guest: Dr. Siyabulela Fobosi: a senior researcher at the department of public and constitutional law at the University of Fort Hare 

The African National Congress calls on all peace-loving and patriotic South Africans to unite for The People’s March in Defence of Our Sovereignty and Democratic Gains on Saturday, 21 March 2026, commemorating Human Rights Day. 20.03.2026 6:00 ↓

Guest: Fébé Potgieter-Gqubule: ANC NEC Member 

The African Transformation Movement (ATM) has called for urgent government intervention following reports of the coronation of a Nigerian “king” in the Eastern Cape. The party warns that such an event could undermine South Africa’s legal framework, cultur 20.03.2026 6:29 ↓

Guest: Zama Ntshona: The African Transformation Movement (ATM) National Spokesperson  

 A growing number of schools across Gauteng are facing electricity disconnections due to unpaid municipal bills, exposing deep financial strain within the education system. With dozens already cut off and many more at risk, the crisis is disrupting teachi 20.03.2026 5:27 ↓

Guest: Steve Mabona: Spokesperson to the MEC for Education in Gauteng   

The recent decision by Confederation of African Football (CAF) to strip Senegal of hosting rights for the Africa Cup of Nations and award them to Morocco has reignited debate about governance, consistency, and credibility in African football. What does th 20.03.2026 3:59 ↓

Guest: Thebe Ikalafeng: Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa  |  Founder and CEO, Brand Leadership Group, Chancellor, Sol Plaatje University  

The escalating conflict in the Middle East is triggering a renewed energy crisis in Europe, exposing vulnerabilities that many believed had been addressed after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.Guest: 20.03.2026 5:48 ↓

John Stremlau: Wits University Honorary professor Of International Relations 

The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) has strongly condemned the vandalism of the gravesite of its founding president, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe. This disgraceful act comes in the wake of a historic mass march led by the PAC, alongside community memb 19.03.2026 9:03 ↓

Guest: Apa Pooe: The Pan Africanist Congress of Azania (PAC) Secretary General 

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) is urging the Government of South Africa to negotiate equitable licensing terms with Gilead Sciences for the groundbreaking HIV prevention drug lenacapavir, or to consider issuing a compulsory licence that would allow local p 19.03.2026 7:38 ↓

Guest: Alison Best. HIV/HCV Access Communications Advisor, South African Medical Unit, Doctors Without Borders (MSF Southern Africa)  

The unbundling of Eskom and Eskom Green. What is the state of the electricity in South Africa? 19.03.2026 19:39 ↓

Guest: Mteto Ntati: Eskom Chairperson   

Bus commuters across South Africa could face travel disruptions over the Easter weekend as wage negotiations between bus operators and the South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) reach a deadlock. 19.03.2026 6:58 ↓

Guest: Jack Mazibuko - General Secretary of The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (Satawu)