The National Briefing

24 February 2026 1.    Botswana- Zambia Botswana, Zambia Leaders to Launch Kazungula Bridge Authority Today   President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko of Botswana and President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia will jointly officiate the launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority in Chobe.  The event marks a significant milestone in strengthening cross-border cooperation and...

Venezuelan lawmakers have passed a sweeping new amnesty law aimed at freeing hundreds of people prosecuted or convicted for political reasons during 27 years of authoritarian rule. Guest: Tendai Mbanje: PHD Candidate: University of Pretoria (UP) Centre for Human Rights 

How the Tongaat Hulett crisis could devastate South Africa's rural sugar economy Guest: Higgins Mdluli: Chairman of SA Canegrowers    

The Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Mr Gwede Mantashe, will today, 20 February 2026, undertake an oversight visit to the EKapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape, following a mudslide incident at the mine. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has expressed deep distress after a catastrophic mudslide left five mineworkers trapped underground since the early hours of Tuesday morning. G...

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved draft legislation that could extend the rule of President Emmerson Mnangagwa until at least 2030. Guest: Everisto Benyera: Professor of African Politics, UNISA      

The GCINAMASIKO Arts and Heritage Trust will tomorrow, 21 February, celebrate International Mother Tongue Celebration 2026 under the theme "See Me, Hear me, Let’s Dance." Guest: Dr Gcina Mhlophe - Executive Director of GCINAMASIKO Arts and Heritage Trust  

Four South African MK fighters have returned home from Russia’s war in Ukraine, bringing with them disturbing accounts of abuse, injury and trauma. Family members say the men described racist and degrading treatment at the hands of Russian officers — forced to burn their belongings, stripped of their identities and sent into combat without training. Guest: Ricardo Teixeira: Defense and...

The Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) remains in a state of uncertainty as it works to digitise South Africa and complete the long-delayed transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. A 15-year digital migration process has been repeatedly stalled — most recently by a court ruling — while infrastructure backlogs, funding constraints, and socio-economic b...

The Road Traffic Infringement Agency announced it would outsource the rollout to a private company — at an estimated additional cost of R1.2 billion. Citing financial constraints, the agency missed its third implementation deadline on December 1 and, shortly thereafter, issued a tender for a 60-month “turnkey solution” to design, build, and operate core Aarto systems. Guest: Wayn...

On Friday the 20th, students at the University of Cape Town (UCT) held a peaceful and silent demonstration to express their grief, disappointment, and anger at the growing failures within higher education and the way UCT continues to operate. This demonstration was both a cry and a call for meaningful change. Guest: Mfundo Azi Zondo: University of Cape Town(UCT) student  

Update on rescue efforts at the Ekapa Minerals Joint Shaft Mine in Kimberley, where hope is fading for five miners trapped nearly 890 metres underground. Guest: Tebogo Msimanga: SABC Reporter ( Northern Cape)

There are protest underway at Tembisa, City of Ekurhuleni. what's behind the people's grievances? Guest: Lele Lefakane, Chairperson of the Tembisa Community Forum    

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 23 February 2026 1.    Russia- Madagascar  Putin meets Madagascar's president at the Kremlin Russian President Vladimir Putin endorsed Madagascar's new leader during a Kremlin meeting last week, as Russia looks to strengthen its influence in...

  Trump raises global tariffs to 15% after Supreme Court setback 2. Northam secures R2 billion to fast track renewable energy drive 3. Market update    

Herman Mashaba has officially announced that he is stepping back into the race for Mayor of Johannesburg, setting up what is shaping up to be ahigh-stakes political showdown ahead of the upcoming local government elections. Guest: Herman Mashaba: Action SA President   

President Donald Trump has escalated his trade battle with the judiciary by raising global import tariffs to 15%, just a day after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down his sweeping trade levies. Guest: Iraj Abedien - CEO of Pan African Investment and Research Services

One year after the brutal murders of Pretoria-based journalist Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Mdhluli, the Africa Media and Communications Forum (AMCF) has condemned repeated court delays in the case and called for urgent intervention to prevent further setbacks. The matter, involving five accused men, has been postponed at least 14 times in the KwaMhlanga Magistrate&...

South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition has stepped in to safeguard jobs and restore investor confidence in the country’s film and television sector amid growing uncertainty over government incentives. The move follows engagements with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC) and industry stakeholders.     Guest: Mzwandile Masina: Chai...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Global central banks rally behind Powell amid DOJ probe 2. JPMorgan pushes back on Trump’s proposed cap on credit card interest 3. Markets    

The African National Congress (ANC) has decribed the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey released by Statistics South Africa, which shows a 0.5 percentage point decline in the country’s official unemployment rate as a “measurable improvement” and a sign that sustained government economic interventions are beginning to deliver tangible results.   Guest: Fèbe Potgieter: ANC...

  Global central banks rally behind Powell amid DOJ probe 2. JPMorgan pushes back on Trump’s proposed cap on credit card interest 3. Markets  

20 February 2026  1.    Niger – International Monetary Fund (IMF)  IMF approves $91 million in funding for Niger following programme review The International Monetary Fund has approved about $91 million in funding for Niger which includes support for climate resilience and sustainable development. Following the latest review of its programmes in the country, it...

Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for masterminding what a Seoul court described as an insurrection aimed at imposing military rule. Guest: Prof David Monyae - Director for the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg       

The National Gambling Board (NGB) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening responsible gambling awareness at tertiary institutions while safeguarding public education funds. Guest: Waseem Carrim: CEO of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) 

The People’s Water Forum is calling on the government to declare South Africa’s worsening water crisis a national disaster, citing widespread infrastructure collapse and chronic service delivery failures.  Guest: Ferrial Adam: Executive Director, WaterCan & Environmental Justice Activist