The National Briefing

The appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury marks a historic moment for the Church of England. Bishop of Reading, the Right Reverend Mary Gregory, has said Dame Sarah Mullally will lead in a way that shows a “different face” of the Church, reflecting a more human and open style of leadership at a pivotal time for the institution.     Guest: Anglican Archbishop Tha...

  Telcos companies continue to push back against stricter Icasa data rules 2. PayInc data shows South Africans’ salaries are keeping pace with inflation 3. Market update

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Vukile sells Spanish retail park portfolio  2. Holiday shopping gives Mr Price a boost 3. Market update

As illegal mining continues to intensify across South Africa, its impacts on community safety, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion are becoming increasingly visible and harder to ignore. Guest: Collen Dlamini: Head of Public Affairs at Mining Indaba   

A new report by the Zero Dropout Campaign warns that South Africa’s efforts to reduce school dropout will continue to fall short unless psychosocial wellbeing is treated as a core pillar of the education system. Despite record-breaking matric pass rates, nearly 40% of learners who start school in Grade 1 still exit before completing Grade 12.  Guest: Merle Mansfield: Programme...

Sakeliga says that the Minister of Agriculture’s public statement on Tuesday responding to their letter of demand served to him on Monday this week falls short of complying with their requirements. He has until Friday, 30 January 2026 by close of business to comply. Guest: Piet Le Roux: Sakeliga CEO  

KwaZulu-Natal Hawks head, Major-General Lesetja Senona, has come under intense scrutiny at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, facing sharp criticism from commissioners over his relationship with criminally accused tender tycoon Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala.  Guest: Canny Maphanga: SABCNews Reporter   

East London will officially be renamed KuGompo City, while Graaff-Reinet will become Robert Sobukwe Town, following the approval of 21 geographical name changes by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie. The changes, which followed nationwide public consultations, will be gazetted in the coming weeks and form part of South Africa’s ongoing programme to transform and decolonise p...

The South African Local Government Authority (SALGA) has called for a fundamental overhaul of South Africa’s municipal funding model, warning that local government is set up to fail under the current fiscal framework. Guest: Councillor Bheke Stofile: President, The South African Local Government Association (SALGA)   

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 29 January 2026 1.    Zambia- International Monetary Funds (IMF) IMF approves final review for loan to Zambia, unlocking $190 million The International Monetary Fund’s IMF has approved the final review of Zambia's lending program. This is t...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter The US Fed keeps rates steady 2. Samsung’s Q4 performance beats market expectations  3. Market update    

US–Iran tensions are escalating after President Donald Trump warned Tehran that “time is running out” to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme, as Washington builds up a significant military presence in the Gulf. While Iran says it is open to dialogue, both sides are trading sharp rhetoric, raising fears of further confrontation in an already volatile region.     Gu...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter GEPF expands coastal property exposure in Cape Town 2. AVI expects to deliver topline growth despite struggling with a tough consumer environment  3. Market update

The new school year is already a few weeks underway, yet hundreds of learners across the country remain without confirmed school placements. For many families, this ongoing uncertainty brings anxiety, disruption, and difficult questions about their children’s education and future.     Guest: Louise Schoonwinkel: Managing Director of Impaq 

According to Statistics South Africa’s International Tourism and Migration statistics released on Tuesday, nearly four million travellers passed through the country’s ports of entry and exit during the month, underscoring the scale of seasonal movement despite changes in key overseas markets.     Guest: Tshifhiwa Tshivhengwa: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the TBCSA (Touris...

The Portfolio Committee on Transport has raised serious concerns over the stalled Integrated Public Transport Network (IPTN) programme in Pietermaritzburg’s Msunduzi Local Municipality. The programme, commonly known as the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, was intended to improve public transport, stimulate economic growth, and create employment opportunities. However, despite s...

The City of Tshwane has confirmed receipt of more than R90-million from the national Department of Public Works, a development it has described as a “constructive step forward” amid mounting tensions over its aggressive Tshwane Ya Tima revenue collection campaign. The payment comes as national and provincial departments push back against what they say are heavy-handed, inaccurate and p...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter   SA weighs higher tariffs on Chinese and Indian vehicle imports 2. Chinese car boom squeezes South Africa’s used-car market 3. Market update

The escalating feud between Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero and the City’s MMC for Finance, Loyiso Masuku, has burst beyond local politics, drawing in the ANC’s provincial and national leadership. This after, t he African National Congress (ANC) Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference ballot boxes were found in a house in Pretoria. Guest: Prof Bheki Mngomezulu: Director: Centre for the...

From January next year, South Africa’s telecommunications companies will be required to allow consumers to roll over unused mobile data bundles. Guest: Arthur Goldstuck: Tech Expert and Founder of World Wide Worx and Gadget Magazine  

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 28 January 2026 1.    Sudan - UK Sudan, UK Conclude Talks On Security and Bilateral Relations Sudanese-British talks concluded this week in Port Sudan, with both sides underscoring the importance of sustaining constructive dialogue and expanding...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter LVMH beats expectations as Chinese luxury spending stabilises 2. Amazon’s ‘accidental’ email sparks job cut fears 3. Market update  

Meta, TikTok and YouTube are facing a pivotal legal test in the United States as a California court hears arguments that their platforms are contributing to a youth mental health crisis. The case, brought by a 19-year-old woman who says she became addicted to social media as a child, could set a precedent for how Big Tech is held accountable for harm to young users.     Guest: Emma Sadli...

Security experts are warning that South Africa is edging toward becoming a war zone if the surge in mass shootings and targeted killings is not urgently addressed, following another deadly attack in Pretoria.  Guest: Chad Thomas: Crime expert and director of IRS Investigations

Positioning Nedbank Mid Corporate as the purpose-built banking partner for South Africa’s mid-corporate businesses (‘the missing middle’), and unpacking the operating realities, opportunities and constraints facing this segment in the current economic environment.  Guest: Herman de Kock:Managing Executive: Mid Corporate. Nedbank Business Commercial Banking