The National Briefing

The housing costs in Cape Town have npw risen far faster than wages over the past decade. Why is this? Guest: Prof Francois Viruly: Emeritus Prof (UCT) (retired) and Property Economist

Business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Cashbuild’s trading update disappoints investors  2. Spear REIT bets on Western Cape’s office property market 3. Market update    

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Big win for consumers as Icasa bans data expiry rules 2. Higher gold prices give Pan African resources a boost 3. Market update  

After weeks of fear, displacement and official silence, the Gauteng government has finally intervened in the crisis facing residents of the Sporong informal settlement on the West Rand, who were violently driven from their homes by zama-zama activity.  Guest: Mr William Matsheke: Executive Mayor, Rand West City Local Municipality   

KwaZulu-Natal’s acting deputy police commissioner, Maj-Gen Anthony Gopaul, has told the Madlanga Commission that suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu unlawfully interfered in a politically sensitive murder investigation in a manner that appeared to advance ANC interests.  Guest: Canny Maphanga: SABC reporter  

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter China’s industrial profits return to growth in 2025 2. Meta eyes subscription plans for Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp 3. Market update

Gauteng is expanding its network of smart driver licence testing centres (DLTCs) into townships and underserved areas as part of a push to cut long backlogs, curb corruption, and make licensing services faster and more accessible.  Guest: Kedibone Diale Tlabela: Gauteng MEC for Roads and Transport

A senior German soccer federation official has called for discussions about a potential boycott of the 2026 World Cup, citing concerns over U.S. President Donald Trump’s foreign policy actions and their implications for global stability and democratic values.  Guest: Kelvin Watt Nielsen: Chairman of Nielsen Sports SA Head

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 27 January 2026 1.    Namibia – Windhoek  Namibia Rides Rising Uranium Tide Namibia stands to benefit from growing global demand for uranium, as countries look to nuclear power to meet clean-energy goals. This is according to the 2026...

DA leader John Steenhuisen is calling for an urgent foreign policy lekgotla, arguing that while the GNU is relatively stable, there is no shared understanding of what constitutes South Africa’s national interest on the global stage.     Guest: Sanusha Naidu: Senior Research Associate with the Institute for Global Dialogue 

Alexander Hayes thought she had found stability in a small garden cottage in Heathfield. Instead, the 30-year-old single mother was forced out when the property was converted into a short-term holiday rental. Now couch-surfing with her two-year-old, Hayes’ story highlights the human cost of Cape Town’s deepening housing crisis — where rising rents, limited supply, and the rapid g...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Finmin Godongwana rules out new tax hikes in next months budget Valterra platinum expects earnings to double on higher pgm prices Market update    

South Africa’s National Treasury says its proposal to raise alcohol excise duties is aimed at curbing excessive drinking — not boosting state revenue — even as the alcohol industry warns that steep tax hikes could fuel the illicit liquor trade.     Guest: Kurt Moore: CEO of South African Liquor Brand Owners Association (SALBA)   

The African National Congress (ANC) Greater Johannesburg Regional Conference ballot boxes have been found in a house in Pretoria. They are believed to be linked to  the controversial conference which elected Loyiso Masuku as regional chair  and saw the defeat of Dada Morero, the current Johannesburg mayor.  Guest: Samkele Maseko - SABC Politics Reporter 

Chery to take over Nissan’s Rosslyn plant 2. MTN hit by governance fallout after reported dismissal of Iran subsidiary CEO  3. Market update  

Zulu King Misuzulu kaZwelithini has entered the national debate over the admissions crisis at Addington Primary School in Durban, linking recent tensions to broader concerns about illegal migration and social cohesion. Speaking during the 147th commemoration of the Battle of Isandlwana in northern KwaZulu-Natal, the monarch called for dialogue, restraint, and leadership-led solutions following cla...

There are now reports that the DA Chairperson of Federal Council, Helen Zille  has now endorsed the election of billionaire Patrice Motsepe to become ANC president Guest: Helen Zille: DA Federal Council Chair      

Shocking new statistics released by the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (Ipid) have revealed that at least 97 South African police officers were accused of rape or sexual violence in the 2024/2025 financial year, raising serious concerns about accountability, institutional culture, and public trust in law enforcement.   Guest: Fatima Shaik: Executive Director, People Opposin...

Gold hits another record high 2. Intel’s soft guidance spooks investors  3. Market update    

26 January 2026 1.    Ivory Coast – Abidjan  Ivory Coast’s President Alassane Ouattara continues the family dynasty and makes his brother deputy PM in a reshuffle- so we say in the Name of the Elder Brother and His Younger Brother.  Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara announced a government reshuffle on Friday in which most ministers retained their pos...

A deadly shooting involving a U.S. Border Patrol agent is under intense scrutiny in Minneapolis, as new video and sworn witness statements appear to contradict federal officials’ claims about what led to the killing of a 37-year-old man during a large-scale immigration enforcement operation.     Guest: Sherwin Bryce-Pease: UN/US Correspondent: SABC News

Gauteng opens 2026 with unstoppable momentum. Bold, buzzing and determined, South Africa’s economic heartbeat and cultural capital welcomes dreamers, doers and first-timers alike. From Johannesburg to Tshwane, Ekurhuleni, Sedibeng and the West Rand, the Golden Province invites visitors, residents and investors to plug into a destination where ambition thrives an...

As smartphone prices continue to rise and household budgets remain under pressure, South Africans are rethinking how they replace and upgrade their devices. Cash-upfront purchases are no longer the default. Instead, consumers are exploring affordability-led alternatives that better align with everyday financial realities.  Guest: Shaun Durandt: Head of Business Development at&n...

Motorists found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol could face a lifetime ban from holding a driving licence under severe new sanctions proposed by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Transport. Following the release of the 2025/26 festive season road safety statistics, lawmakers are calling for urgent legislative intervention and a strict zero-tolerance approach to alcohol...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 23 January 2026 1.    Switzerland- Afrika and South Afrika 56th Davos annual meeting “The Spirit of dialogue or monologue” 2026: African Heads of State, Public Agendas, and Strategic Engagement. As the World Economic Forum convenes in...