The National Briefing

Latest  business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter China’s trade data surprises to the upside 2. Netflix seals a deal with Warner bros discovery to acquire its film studio and HBO 3. Markets    

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 1.    Benin- Porto Novo Benin says situation ‘under control’ after apparent coup attempt. It comes after soldiers announced the country’s president had been removed. Benin’s foreign minister says the government has regaine...

Indonesia is facing one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent history, after catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by a rare cyclone left widespread destruction across the country. Guest: Francois Engelbrecht: Professor of Climatology, Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand    

Today, we turn to the ongoing hearings at the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, where suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu took the stand to defend one of his most controversial decisions — the disbandment of the Political Killings Task Team, or PKTT. Mchunu insists his decision wasn’t driven by sentiment or politics, but by what he calls “honesty, reality, and the bigger picture...

  Shein and Temu dominate SA’s Black Friday as online spend  2. SA opens its first new underground gold mine in 15 years  3. Markets  

The Woolies bag has become the unexpected star of South Africa’s latest political soapie — and now it’s having a rebrand moment of its own. As businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala’s explosive testimony goes viral, Woolworths is finding itself dragged into a saga it never signed up for. With social media joking that the retailer has “distanced itself from the...

Western Cape Premier Alan Winde says the provincial government has not yet decided whether to support the deployment of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) to gang-violence hotspots. With crime levels rising sharply across Cape Town, Winde insists the decision must be based on data and evidence rather than public pressure.  Guest: Alan Winde: Western Cape Premier   

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter US layoffs pass one million for the year despite low unemployment rate 2. China’s leading chipmaker, Moore Threads goes public 3. Markets      

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 5 December 2025 1.    Uganda- United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) United Nations decries crackdown on opposition ahead of Ugandan elections. The United Nations has spoken out against what it said was an intensifying crackdow...

Australia is days away from enforcing one of the world’s toughest social media age restrictions — a full ban on under-16s using platforms like Facebook, Instagram and Threads. And ahead of the 10 December deadline, Meta has already begun shutting down accounts belonging to young teens. It’s a move that’s sparked support from parents, concern from digital rights groups, and...

A damning report by the Health Ombud has exposed severe negligence, misconduct, and systemic failures in two separate patient deaths in Gauteng and Limpopo. The findings, prompted by family complaints, reveal substandard care, falsified records, and inadequate clinical oversight in the public sector case, while also highlighting risks and gaps in the private healthcare system. The Ombud has issued...

MultiChoice’s long-running channel carriage battle with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has reached a breaking point. On Tuesday, MultiChoice confirmed that 12 WBD-owned TV channels — including Discovery Channel, CNN International, Cartoon Network and Food Network — will be removed from DStv on 31 December 2025, affecting subscribers in South Africa and across the Rest of Africa. Th...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Business confidence improves in Q4 2. US firm, Prudential eyes Alexforbes exit 3. Markets  

A new Ipsos Safety Index commissioned by Bolt reveals a significant shift in how South Africans perceive transport safety, with ride-hailing emerging as the preferred and most trusted option. The findings show overwhelming confidence in e-hailing — driven by safety features, convenience, and the platform’s ability to protect both riders and their loved ones.   &nbsp...

South Africa’s Department of Public Service and Administration has revealed new data showing that foreign nationals make up less than half a percent of the country’s public servants. While their presence is small, these workers are heavily concentrated in critical sectors such as education and healthcare — areas grappling with significant skills shortages and high staff turnover....

Suspended Ekurhuleni metro police deputy chief Brig Julius Mkhwanazi appeared before the Madlanga commission on Wednesday, where he denied allegations that he unlawfully authorised blue lights for vehicles belonging to attempted-murder accused businessman Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala. His testimony sought to counter a series of serious accusations...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 4 December 2025 1.    USA- Rwanda – DR Kongo   Trump to host Rwanda, DRC leaders at White House to sign peace agreement today USA President Donald Trump will host the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Hiring continues to slow in America 2. Airbus cuts its delivery guidance 3. Markets  

NATO’s new chief has issued a firm warning after Vladimir Putin claimed Russia does not want to fight Europe but is “ready” if necessary. Guest: Professor Abel Esterhuyse is a member of the Department of Strategic Studies in the Faculty of Military Science, Stellenbosch University     

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has defended his government’s renewed engagement with China while simultaneously warning that Beijing poses “national security threats” to Britain. Guest: Prof David Monyae - Director for the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg 

South Africa’s economy continued its steady rebound in the third quarter, expanding by 0.5% and marking the fourth consecutive quarter of growth. The latest GDP data from Statistics South Africa aligns with market expectations and shows broad-based improvements across key industries, with mining, agriculture, and trade leading the recovery.     Guest: Dr Bokang Vumbukani -&nbs...

Special needs schools across KwaZulu-Natal are on the brink of an unprecedented shutdown as unresolved funding, staffing and infrastructure crises threaten their ability to reopen in 2026. After an urgent meeting held on November 25 at Khulangolwazi Special School, the South African National Association for Special Education (Sanase) warned that the situation has reached a “high-risk”...

South Africa may soon see a major shift in its driving licence system, with the Department of Transport indicating that motorists are closer to receiving licences valid for eight years instead of the current five. According to departmental spokesperson Collen Msibi, the proposal is nearing completion, pending a final cost-benefit analysis and further consultation with key local governmen...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Sibanye seals a wage deal Accelerate notes improved leasing activity at Fourways Mall Markets  

Msunduzi Municipality’s troubled finances have again come under scrutiny after a high-level meeting with national and provincial treasury officials revealed that its voluntary financial recovery plan (FRP) has failed to deliver the expected turnaround. While municipal leaders insist the city is improving, treasury assessments, civic groups, and business leaders warn that Msunduzi&n...