The National Briefing

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 11 March 2026 1.    Egypt- Cairo-  Many Egyptians are fretting over price hikes that have driven up the cost of everyday goods. It comes after the government increased fuel prices, blaming soaring global energy markets due to the U.S.-Israel...

Tencent accelerates its AI strategy  Weaver’s bet on fintech continues to bear fruit Market update  

  Mercedes mulls joint production with China’s GWM at its SA plant 2. Santam steps up international strategy  3. Market update

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 10 March 2026 1.    Kenya – Mara and Talek River Kenya evacuates tourists as death toll from flooding rises Tourists and staff were airlifted from a national reserve in Kenya following severe flooding in the east African country. “A f...

Tensions briefly disrupted proceedings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry after an altercation broke out between lawyers representing ANC-linked businessman Suliman Carrim and the commission’s secretary. Guest: Canny Maphanga: SABC News Reporter   

South Africa’s border authorities are intensifying their fight against corruption after more than 50 officials were dismissed for misconduct at ports of entry.  Guest: Dr Michael Masiapato: The Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner      

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter President Trump says Iran war could end soon 2. World Bank back SA’s infrastructure plans 3. Market update  

A major clash is unfolding between Silicon Valley and the Pentagon over how artificial intelligence should be used in warfare. At the center of the dispute is Anthropic, the developer of the Claude AI system, which has refused to allow its technology to be used for fully autonomous military targeting or mass domestic surveillance. Guest: Sizwe Snail Ka Mtuze, Attorney at Snail...

Guest: Leslie Adams, Sales Director at Reach Africa — a leading Connected TV (CTV) and streaming specialist 

TEACH South Africa is a leading non-profit and social enterprise addressing the critical shortage of qualified STEM teachers in under-resourced schools. By recruiting, training, and placing top STEM graduates into classrooms that need them most, TEACH SA is not only improving education outcomes but also creating sustainable community impact. Guest: Nthabiseng Shongwe - Head of Partnerships at Teac...

Former ANC MP Vincent Smith has been sentenced to seven years direct imprisonment by the Johannesburg High Court, following a plea and sentence agreement with the state. Guest: Samkelo Maseko - SABC Senior politics reporter  

The Economic Freedom Fighters are calling on South Africans to actively participate in the legislative process of the proposed Insourcing Bill. Guest: Omphile Maotwe - EFF Treasurer General

Caller, Bra Moro from Cape Town

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that parts of South Africa’s Value-Added Tax (VAT) Act are unconstitutional because they give the Finance Minister the power to change the VAT rate without Parliament’s approval. Guest: Matshidiso Lencoasa, budget analyst at SECTION27 and member of the budget justice coalition  

Minister of health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi briefed the media on the findings of the research study on sanitary pads, published by the Free State University in February 2026 which detected endocrine-disrupting chemicals in sanitary pads used in South Africa.   Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi – Minister of Health  

The Department of Water and Sanitation has launched the Water Sector Anti-Corruption Forum, aimed at strengthening collaboration between government, law enforcement and civil society to tackle corruption that undermines water infrastructure and service delivery. Guest: Dr. Ferrial Adam – Executive Director, WaterCAN    

09 March 2026 1.    Guinea – Conakry  Guinea has dissolved 40 political parties, including its three main opposition groups, via a late-night decree, in the latest crackdown on civil liberties under longtime strongman Mamady Doumbouya. Doumbouya, who came to power in a 2021 coup, was elected president in late December in a vote in which all major opposition leaders w...

On Saturday morning, February 28, 2026, dozens of girls gathered at the “Shajareh Tayyebeh” (The Good Tree) school in the city of Minab in southern Iran when Israel and the United States began initial strikes on the country. Guest: Dr Ntando Sindane, Senior Lecturer, Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Law. He teaches International Law and Legal Philosophy.   

Firstrand says geopolitical tensions may delay SA rate cuts 2. Private education players Stadio and Advtech expect to deliver double digit earnings growth  3. Market update

1. Business confidence ticks higher in Q1 2. Cashbuild posts upbeat results but remains concerned about a price sensitive consumer  3. Market update

City Power Surpasses R1 Billion in Revenue Enhancement as Financial Sustainability Drive Gains Momentum. Guest: Thami Mathiso, Chief Commercial Officer City Power

The Western Cape High Court heared a landmark constitutional challenge to a provision of the Criminal Procedure Act that prevents the public naming of an accused person in a rape or sexual offence case before they have formally pleaded. Guest: Kuhle Mavuso - Senior Associate at Webber Wentzel  

5 March 2026 1.    South Afrika – SADC Council of Ministers Meetings  The meeting will be held under the theme, “Advancing Industrialisation, Agricultural Transformation, and Energy Transition for a Resilient SADC” which was adopted at the 45th SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government in Antananarivo, Madagascar.  The SADC Council of Ministers wi...

The renaming of East London to KuGompo City and other geographical name changes across the country. Does the renaming of towns matter? Guest: Johnny Mohlala – Chairperson, South African Geographical Names Council

The KwaZulu-Natal High Court in Durban has ruled against a former Transnet employee who repeatedly posted defamatory videos about the company on social media. what lessons can individuals and employers can draw from this case? Guest: Lerato Ntwampe - Social Media Consultant and Attorney