The National Briefing

The Allure of the Tsotsi  Number One Tsotsi, A Township Star : The appearance of Cat Matlala before Parliament reignited debate about the romanticisation of tsotsis in township culture. From KwaMashu to Mitchells Plain, hardened criminals are often admired for their style, wealth, and defiance of authority — blurring the line between fear and aspiration. Historically, figures like the M...

The race to replace Shamila Batohi as National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP) has entered a decisive stage, with six candidates shortlisted by the advisory panel appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Batohi retired in January 2026, ending her term as head of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA). The shortlist includes: Andrea Johnson – Head of the Investigating Directorate Agai...

RIGHT OF REPLY: Hartbeespoort Human Rights Report  The South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) has released its final investigative report into allegations of racial discrimination in Hartbeespoort. The complaint, lodged by the Hartbeespoort Community Development Initiative, accused the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) of systematically excluding black applicants from leasing st...

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane has sounded the alarm on South Africa’s escalating first-year university dropout rate, revealing that 35% of students fail to progress beyond their first year of study. Speaking at a summit of principals, education leaders and higher-education partners held at the Regenesys School of Education in Sandton, Chiloane warned that the transition from high sch...

World AIDS Day, observed annually on 1 December, is a global call to action in the fight against HIV/AIDS. It highlights progress made, ongoing challenges, and the importance of solidarity with people living with HIV. In South Africa, where HIV remains a major public health issue, Minister of Health Dr Aaron Motsoaledi will reflect on: The country’s progress in expanding access to antiretrov...

President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the nation last night following South Africa’s successful hosting of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg — the first time the gathering was held on African soil. In his speech, Ramaphosa highlighted: Historic milestone: Africa’s central role in shaping global economic and political agendas. Key outcomes: Commitments from world leaders...

Hawks nab fifth suspect in ‘recruitment’ of South Africans for Russia war Another suspect has been arrested by the Hawks’ Crimes Against the State in relation to the ongoing investigation into how several South Africans were facilitated into involvement in the Russia/Ukraine war. The suspect will join the other four on Monday, 01 December 2025 in the Kempton Park Magistrate&rsquo...

The patrols will involve: Continuous monitoring of major highways and accident-prone routes. Collaboration between traffic officers, SAPS, and emergency services. Focus on high-risk behaviours such as drunk driving, speeding, and overloading. Public reassurance that visible enforcement is in place to protect lives during peak travel. This move underscores government’s concern about the annua...

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday’s meeting in Florida between U.S. and Ukrainian officials was “very productive,” marking another step in an intense period of diplomacy aimed at ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. The discussions, attended by Ukraine’s new chief negotiator Rustem Umerov and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focused on both the co...

  1 December 2025 Welcome Reconciliation Month and Sobukwe and Mandela Week. DR Kongo- Rwanda- M23 Congo, Rwanda leaders set to sign peace agreement amid M23 tensions Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi will travel to the United States this week to sign a final peace agreement with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, aimed at ending the long-running conflict in eastern Congo.  The...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 28 November 2025 1.    Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau soldiers announce Gen. Horta N’Ta as junta leader Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau yesterday announced a new junta leader for the country, cementing a forceful takeover of power that began after t...

A political and diplomatic storm is unfolding after Ukraine’s Ambassador to South Africa, Olexander Scherba, alleged that prominent South Africans helped lure 17 South African men to Russia, where they are now reportedly fighting in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf. The claims come amid a formal police investigation involving members of the Zuma family and other individuals accused of recrui...

All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA) have now blocked the N3 bfore Tugela plaza, they are against AARTO impementation by government because it will only affecting SA citizens and not foreign drivers  Guest: Gugu Sokhela - National Inter Secretary-General of the All Truck Drivers Forum and Allied South Africa (ATDF-ASA)  

A landmark partnership between two national government departments and Jozi My Jozi has opened the door to an ambitious revitalisation of the Johannesburg High Court precinct on Pritchard Street. This month, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi, Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Mpumi Zikalala, and Jozi My Jozi Chair Prof Maurice Radebe formalised an...

Chief Justice Mandisa Maya has raised serious concern about the growing number of complaints lodged against judges and the broader implications for public confidence in the judiciary. Speaking at the launch of the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 Judiciary Annual Reports, she outlined the achievements of the courts, the challenges facing the judicial system, and a range of reforms being introduced to stren...

Today, former President Jacob Zuma and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) will return to the Pretoria High Court to continue their legal challenge against what they argue was the unconstitutional conduct of President Cyril Ramaphosa on 13 July 2025. After earlier attempts in both the Constitutional Court and the High Court were dismissed on technical grounds, the MK Party insists that the matter mus...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Tiger Brands shareholders set for major payout after strong results  2. Vukile lifts full year guidance on improving retail performance 3. Markets    

Alleged crime boss and murder suspect Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala delivered explosive and often confrontational testimony before Parliament’s ad hoc committee probing corruption and criminal infiltration within the South African Police Service (SAPS). Testifying from the Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison — where he is detained and denied bail for the murder of his girlfriend — Ma...

A heated parliamentary confrontation has erupted in South Africa over Minister Pieter Groenewald’s call to consider reintroducing corporal punishment for certain offenders. Members of the portfolio committee on correctional services sharply rebuked the minister, arguing that the country’s painful history, constitutional commitments, and human rights obligations make any return to physi...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter UK budget delivers tax shock as South African corporates watch exposure 2. Apple set to overtake Samsung as world’s top smartphone maker for first time since 2010 3. Markets    

Record-breaking floods are devastating large parts of Thailand and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries, triggering widespread displacement, infrastructure damage, and mounting casualties. Guest: Prof Guy Midgley: Climate Change Researcher and Acting Director of the School for Climate Studies, Stellenbosch University   

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 27 November 2025 1.    Guinea- Bissau Post election developments and Military take over  Military officers say they have taken full control of Guinea-Bissau Soldiers in Guinea-Bissau appeared yesterday on state television saying they have ta...

Tensions between South Africa and the United States escalated sharply after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that South Africa would be barred from participating in the 2026 G20 summit in Miami. The move follows a diplomatic dispute surrounding the handover of the G20 presidency at the conclusion of this year’s summit in Johannesburg and comes amid Trump’s renewed promotion of wid...

Local banks expect strong spending this Black Friday  2. Tsogo Sun bets on online gaming 3. Markets  

The latest Recorded Live Births (RLB) data from Statistics South Africa shows that parents in 2024 gravitated toward names that embody joy, resilience, spirituality, and cultural pride. What's in a name?