The National Briefing

The latest on the Ekapa Mine rescue trapped miners. Rescue efforts continue 54 hours since five miners were trapped underground at Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape. Guest: Ulrich Hendricks - SABCNews Reporter in Kimberly, Northern Cape 

Inflation eases in January  2. Retail sales growth slows during festive season  3. Market update

Suspended SAPS deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has accused KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of colluding with the MK Party to engineer his removal from office. Testifying before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, Sibiya claimed his suspension forms part of a coordinated political campaign, similar to events that led to his 2015 suspension...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Inflation eases in January  2. Retail sales growth slows during festive season  3. Market update  

ActionSA has publicly rejected the appointment of its Ekurhuleni councillor Xolani Khumalo as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in the City of Ekurhuleni. The party says it will not join what it describes as a “corrupt and failed administration” under Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza. Guest: Michael Beaumont - national chairperson of ActionSA   

The Free State High Court has ruled that Moroadi Cholota, former personal assistant to ex-Free State premier Ace Magashule, will stand trial in the R255 million asbestos corruption case. The judgment follows months of legal challenges centred on Cholota’s 2024 extradition from the United States and whether South African courts have jurisdiction to prosecute her.     Guest: Advocate Mthu...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 19 February 2026 1.    South Afrika – Zambia  The relatives of former Edgar Lungu have dismissed allegations that he was poisoned, as South African authorities pursue inquiries that have further delayed his burial months after his deat...

  Glencore remains open to M&A activity  2. Sibanye Stillwater warns of impairments in its lithium and gold operations  3. Market update    

Peace talks between Ukraine and Russia in Geneva have ended without a breakthrough, highlighting the deep divisions that persist four years after Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Guest: Dr Kingsley Makhubela - Director at RiskRecon    

A new study by the University of the Free State (UFS) has found that dozens of sanitary pads and pantyliners sold in South Africa contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) — even when marketed as “free from harmful chemicals.” The findings raise serious questions about product labelling, consumer safety and regulatory oversight, particularly give...

Uber and Bolt, could soon be operating illegally if they fail to comply with new government regulations under the National Land Transport Amendment Act. With the 180-day compliance deadline fast approaching, reports suggest that major platforms have yet to complete mandatory registration processes — raising uncertainty for drivers and passengers alike.     Guest...

Jesse Jackson, the veteran US civil rights leader, Baptist minister and two-time presidential candidate, has died at the age of 84, his family has announced. In a statement by the family, he was described him as a “servant leader – not only to their family, but to the oppressed, the voiceless, and the overlooked.”  Guest: Brooks Spector: Associate Editor: Daily Maverick &nbs...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter MTN makes official bid to acquire full stake in IHS towers 2. Industry players eye stake in AMSA 3. Market update  

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Unemployment rates dips to 31.4% in Q4 2. Afrimat says local macro conditions are weighing on growth 3. Market update  

Unpacking the latest developments and key revelations emerging from the Nkabinde Enquiry, as proceedings continue to shed light on critical issues under investigation.     Guest: Ofentse Setimo: SABC Reporter   

The fourth-quarter 2025 Quarterly Labour Force Survey (QLFS), released by Statistics South Africa and presented by Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke at Isibalo House in Pretoria, shows a second consecutive quarterly decline in unemployment. The official unemployment rate fell to 31.4%, with 44,000 net jobs created and employment rising to 17.1 million. Guest: Matshidiso Lencoasa, mem...

A search and rescue operation is underway at Ekapa Mine in Kimberley after five mine workers became trapped underground following a mudslide in the early hours of Tuesday morning. Management has confirmed that communication with the miners has been cut off, as emergency teams race against time to locate and reach them.     Guest: Joseph Mathunjwa: President, The Association of Mineworker...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 17 February 2026 1.    Ethiopia- Addis Ababa The African Union Mourns the Passing of Afrikan-Amerikan Hon. Rev. Jesse Jackson The Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, has joined leaders across the world in mourn...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Netflix grants Warner Brothers waiver to engage with Paramount 2. BHP strikes silver streaming deal 3. Markets update

Tensions between United States and Iran escalated sharply as Tehran announced temporary closures in parts of the Strait of Hormuz during military drills, just hours after indirect nuclear talks began in Geneva. Guest: Roland Henwood: Political Scientist: University of Pretoria  

A so-called “gold rush” has erupted in Payneville, an informal settlement in the Gugulethu section of Springs, where hundreds of residents have descended on a local kraal amid rumours of a gold discovery. Guest: Warren Beech: Chief Executive Officer of Beech Veltman Incorporated Attorneys & Mining Expert   

E-hailing drivers in Gauteng are intensifying calls for stronger safety protections following the brutal murder of a 22-year-old driver in Pretoria West — a crime that has once again exposed the daily dangers faced by platform-based transport workers. Guest: Melithemba Mnguni: Secretary General of the E-Hailing Partners Council 

Stellenbosch University has defended its 2026 admissions process following public allegations of unfair treatment after a rejected application sparked controversy. The dispute escalated after Parents for Equal Education South Africa, questioned whether coloured students were being disproportionately affected by admissions decisions within the university’s highly competitive selecti...

The Zulu Royal Chancellor, Inkosi Malusi Zondi, has vowed to defend the interests of black and emerging farmers following the collapse and pending liquidation of Tongaat Hulett, one of the largest sugar industry players in KwaZulu-Natal and the broader Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. Guest: Inkosi Malusi Zondi: The Zulu Royal Chancellor 

US tariffs push South African wine prices higher (in the states) 2. Trelidor bets on growth in the UK 3. Market update