The National Briefing

Guest: Mpho Seopa: Coordinator of the National African Football Supporters Association    

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 24 December 2025 1.    Central African Republic - Bangui CAR Decides 2025  Distribution of voter cards underway ahead of the election In the Central African Republic, voter registration card distribution is well underway as the general elect...

The Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has welcomed President Cyril Ramaphosa’s confirmation of nominations to the National Dialogue Steering Committee, calling it a positive step toward inclusive, citizen-led engagement. However, the federation has cautioned that while dialogue is important, workers are demanding tangible action as South Africa grapples with deepening social and...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has strongly criticised a recommendation to increase the salaries of public office bearers by 4.1%, arguing that the proposal is out of touch with the country’s economic reality. The suggested increase, which would benefit politicians, senior government officials and judges, has sparked widespread backlash from labour un...

As search and rescue operations continue in Amanzimtoti for three people feared missing, KwaZulu-Natal Premier Thamsanqa Ntuli has begun oversight visits to flood-affected areas on the South Coast to assess the damage and coordinate government response efforts.   Guest: Thamsanqa Ntuli: KwaZulu-Natal Premier 

Rand West City Local Municipality has condemned a deadly mass shooting in Bekkersdal that left nine people dead and at least ten others injured. The municipality says the attack underscores a growing wave of violent crime allegedly linked to illegal mining activities and is now calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy the South African National Defence Force to the area. Guest: Cllr Nontombi...

South Africa’s High Court has delivered a stinging rebuke to Eskom and the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa), rejecting a behind-closed-doors settlement that would have saddled electricity consumers with an additional R54 billion in costs. The ruling reinforces the constitutional requirement for transparency and public participation in decisions that affect national electrici...

Japan has taken a decisive step toward reviving nuclear power, nearly 15 years after the Fukushima disaster, as Niigata prefecture’s assembly voted to back the restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant. The decision marks a watershed moment in Japan’s energy policy shift amid concerns over energy security, rising fuel costs, and growing electricity deman...

  23 December 2025 1.    Guinea- Conakry  Guinea Conakry decides 2025 in five days.  The December 28 vote, which Doumbouya once pledged not to contest, is expected to cement his grip on power in the West African country after key challengers were sidelined. A former special forces commander, believed to be in his early 40s, Doumbouya gained broad support after le...

The Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has warned that South Africa’s teenage pregnancy crisis is a clear sign of ongoing systemic failures across the education, health, and social protection sectors. Supporting the Department of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities’ declaration of teenage pregnancy as a national scourge, the Commission is calling for urgent, coordinated, and s...

New national reading benchmarks have laid bare the depth of South Africa’s early-grade literacy crisis, showing that fewer than half of children can read at the expected level by Grade 4. African-language learners are the worst affected, and while the Department of Basic Education has committed funding to extend mother-tongue teaching, its most effective intervention — teacher coaching...

The City of Cape Town says it will need an estimated R12 billion to overhaul its marine sewage outfalls as part of a long-term plan to protect the marine environment and public health. The issue has sparked political and public controversy, with opposition parties accusing the DA-run municipality of discharging raw sewage into the ocean and exposing beachgoers to serious health risks.     Gue...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 22 December 2025 1.    Egypt- Russia-Afrika Partnership Forum Second Ministerial Conference: Shaping Russian African Strategic Partnerships Last week, Egypt hosted the Second Ministerial Conference of the Russia-Africa Partnership Forum. It was t...

As South Africa heads into the festive season, a sobering picture of widespread financial distress is emerging. A new survey by Debt Rescue reveals that the vast majority of households are under severe financial pressure, forcing many families to scale back or abandon festive celebrations altogether.     Guest: Annaline Van Der Poel: Chief Legal Officer, Debt Rescue      

T he Department of Transport has reported that an average of 32 people are dying on South Africa’s roads every day since the start of December. While this marks the lowest daily fatality average in five years, Transport Minister Barbara Creecy says the death toll remains unacceptably high as the festive season reaches its peak.     Guest: Mkhuleko Hlengwa: Deputy Min...

The United States has seized a second oil tanker linked to Venezuela this month, escalating tensions after President Donald Trump announced a blockade on sanctioned Venezuelan oil shipments. The move has drawn strong condemnation from Caracas, which has accused Washington of piracy and vowed to take the issue to the United Nations.     Guest: Timothy Walker: Maritime Project Leader &...

More South Africans are moving between jobs, unemployment, and economic inactivity than they did five years ago, according to Statistics South Africa, pointing to a labour market that is becoming less settled. Is job stability declining in SA? Guest: Thembi Khowane: Talent Management Officer  

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Nedbank completes Ecobank exit 2. McCain plans to sell vegetable business to a US company  3. Markets  

The festive season is meant to be a time of joy, connection and celebration. But by the time January arrives, many people are running on empty. Beyond the physical hangover of the holidays, a growing number of South Africans are experiencing what experts call social fatigue     Guest: Cassey Chambers: Operations Director, South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG)     

What are some of the consequences of irresponsible and illegal gambling and what should people who want to gamble do to make sure they keep it responsible this festive season? Guest: Lungile Dukwana: Acting CEO, National Gambling Board     

  Producer prices remain unchanged  2. Renergen to delist from JSE next month  3. Markets  

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has arrested nearly 19,000 suspects and seized contraband worth more than R37 million in just one week as part of its nationwide Safer Festive Season Operation. The intensified clampdown forms part of Operation Shanela II and aims to curb serious and violent crime during the holiday period.     Guest: Brigadier Athlenda Mathe: National Police...

The Africa Cup of Nations returns at the end of 2025 with a historic twist. AFCON 2025 will be staged in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026, marking the first time the tournament is played across the Christmas and New Year period. How far will Bafana Bafana go in this tournament? Guest: Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse: Author of "Politics of South African Football" and Br...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter The Bank of Japan raises interest rates 2. TikTok sets up joint venture for US operations  3. Markets  

Provincial Commissioner of the Western Cape, Lieutenant-General Thembisile Patekile, has acknowledged that the loss of police officers and detectives, driven by poaching, semigration, and budget constraints, is severely straining crime-fighting efforts in the province.  Guest: Ms Anroux Johanna Du Toit Marais: MEC For Police Oversight And Community Safety Western...