The National Briefing

The DA ahead of the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement to get the party’s perspectives and expectations. Guest: Dr Mark Burke: Democratic Alliance ( DA) Finance Spokesperson X

South Africa has launched an investigation after 17 of its citizens, aged between 20 and 39, were found stranded in Ukraine’s war-ravaged Donbas region after allegedly being lured into fighting as mercenaries under false pretences of lucrative jobs. President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered a probe into how the men were recruited and has vowed to use diplomatic channels to secure their safe retu...

  The unemployment rate eases in Q3 2. Manufacturing output ticks slightly higher in September  3. Markets  

South Africa’s unemployment rate has eased slightly — down to 31.9% in the third quarter, from 33.2% in the previous quarter — offering a glimmer of hope in an economy long burdened by joblessness. According to Statistics South Africa (Stats SA), this translates to 17.1 million people employed, although eight million remain out of work. Guest: Kate Philip: is the Programme lead a...

A new report by the Bureau for Economic Research (BER) has sounded the alarm on South Africa’s booming online sports betting industry. While the sector continues to generate massive profits and reshape consumer spending habits, the BER warns it is also driving worrying levels of financial distress among households. Guest: Dr Hanjo Odendaal: Quant Economist (consulting on Data Science ap...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 12 November 2025 1.    Egypt- Sudan Egypt's Foreign Minister engages with Sudan's military leader in Port Sudan Egypt's top diplomat met with Sudan's military leader yesterday in a renewed push to advance a ceasefire plan, as the war-torn nation...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter SoftBank ditches its stake in Nvidia  2. Anglogold Ashanti plans to ramp up production in Tanzania  3. Markets  

A suspected pirate attack off the coast of Somalia has reignited fears of a resurgence in piracy along one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes. Armed assailants reportedly fired machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades at a Greek-managed oil tanker before boarding the vessel. While all 24 crew members are confirmed safe and sheltered in the ship’s secure citadel, the incident hi...

The South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC), the statutory body regulating the pharmacy profession in South Africa, celebrated #MedSafetyWeek from 3 to 9 November, raising awareness about the critical importance of reporting adverse drug reactions to improve the safety and effectiveness of medicines. Guest: Vincent Tlala: CEO, The SA Pharmacy Council (SAPC)   

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter The Competition Commission takes JSE to Tribunal over A2X complaint 2. Vodacom posts double digit earnings growth but stays silent on Makate settlement 3. Markets

South Africa’s R25-billion sugar industry is under severe strain as a 400% surge in Brazilian sugar imports threatens local production, jobs, and rural livelihoods. The crisis has already led to the loss of more than 20 000 jobs in the past seven years, prompting urgent calls from industry leaders for government intervention to protect one of the country’s oldest and most vital agricul...

The Minister of Transport, Ms Barbara Creecy, together with the Deputy Minister, Mr Mkhuleko Hlengwa, has announced the deferral of the implementation of the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act. Originally scheduled to begin on 1 December 2025, the national rollout will now commence on 1 July 2026.   Guest: Collen Msibi: National Transport Department Spokesperson ...

Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, pleaded not guilty in the Durban High Court on Monday as her high-profile trial began. She faces charges of incitement to terrorism and public violence linked to the July 2021 unrest in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng, which erupted after her father’s imprisonment for contempt of court. The case, certified trial-ready in August, is e...

Proceedings at the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into alleged interference in Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC)-related investigations stalled on Monday after the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) objected to the participation of the commission’s evidence leader, Advocate Ishmael Semenya. Guest: Kallie Kriel: CEO of AfriForum.   

The Gauteng Provincial Government (GPG) has strongly condemned a series of “malicious and seemingly coordinated” acts of vandalism targeting newly revamped infrastructure and G20 Summit signage in Johannesburg. Guest: Elijah Mhlanga: Spokesperson, Gauteng Provincial Government      

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Raubex remains upbeat despite a decline in earnings 2. Tiger Brands continues to offload non core assets  3. Markets  

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 11 November 2025 1.    Angola – Luanda Angola celebrates 50 years of independence or liberation as social inequalities and corruption persist amongst liberators and elites  Angola will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of its indepen...

After more than 40 days of deadlock, the U.S. Senate has taken its first major step toward ending the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. Guest: Anthoni van Nieuwkerk is a professor of International and Diplomacy Studies at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs   

  Botswana and Angola in talks as both eye greater control of De Beers 2. TFG posts decline in earnings 3. Markets    

South Africans across social media have turned their profile pictures purple in solidarity with a nationwide shutdown on the 21st of November, against gender-based violence (GBV) and femicide, led by the Women for Change organisation. Guest: Michael Benevolent-Masina: GBVF Activist Women For Change 

South Africa’s intelligence agencies have called for legislative changes that would allow them to intercept WhatsApp communications, citing frustration over their inability to access encrypted chats used by criminal networks. Guest: Lerato Ntwampe - Social Media Legal Consultant and Attorney.  

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter All eyes on Godongwana as he prepares to deliver the mid term budget 2. Prudential Authority slaps Discovery bank with a hefty fine 3. Markets  

Three men were shot dead in Delft, Cape Town, on Sunday morning in what police believe was a gang-related attack — the latest in a surge of gun violence sweeping through the Cape Flats. Guest: Reginald Jacob Hills: Delft Community Police Forum (CPF) Deputy Chairperson   

The eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement (ERPM) has unveiled its proposed manifesto ahead of the next local government elections, signalling its intent to move from activism to direct political participation. Guest: Asad Gaffer, chairperson of the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement  

The National Debt Counselling Association (NDCA) has submitted a key proposal to government, aimed at enhancing standards in the sector and preventing unregistered or unethical practitioners from posing as legitimate debt counsellors. Guest: René Moonsamy: Chairperson of the National Debt Counselling Association