The National Briefing

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police has strongly criticized acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia and National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola for failing to attend a crucial committee meeting on Wednesday. Guest: Mr Ian Cameron: The Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Police 

African penguins have now been listed as Critically Endangered on the International Union Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species as scientists warn they could vanish from the wild by 2035. Guest: Pierre de Villiers: Senior Manager Marine and coasts at CapeNature 

South Africa is set to receive R2 billion in funding over the next six months from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support and sustain its existing HIV and Aids programmes. Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has also strongly defended South Africa’s public healthcare system amid growing criticism over specialist shortages and long waiting times. Guest: Aaron Motsoale...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter 1. Retail sales growth moderates in August  2. DHL earmarks R6 billion to invest in Africa  3. Markets

City Power has expressed serious concern following a violent armed break-in at its Alexandra substation on October 10, in which two on-duty security officers were attacked. The incident comes amid growing challenges faced by the utility, including infrastructure vandalism, cable theft, and the dangers of illegal electricity connections.  Guest: Isaac Mangena: City Power Spokesperson

After an oversight visit to several schools in the Free State province, the Portfolio Committee on Basic Education highlighted discriminatory hiring practices, language policy bias, decaying infrastructure, and severe staff shortages - all of which are undermining the quality of education, particularly for disadvantaged learners. Guest: Joy Maimela: Chairperson: Portfolio Committee on Basic Educat...

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 16 October 2025 1.    Kenya- Nairobi Kenyans mourn the death of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo “Baba” “Hummer” Odinga Kenyans and its political leaders took to the streets of Nairobi on yesterday to mourn the death of f...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter 1. LVMH posts surprise rebound in Q3 2. AECI CEO unexpectedly steps down 3. Markets

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Guest: Professor Lyall White: Faculty Member at GIBS  

More than 50 magistrates from the Durban magisterial district took to the streets in a peaceful lunchtime picket on Monday, protesting poor salaries, lack of benefits, and longstanding inequities in the judiciary. Organised by the Judicial Officers’ Association of South Africa (JOASA), the protest highlighted deep frustration among magistrates, who say their calls for reform have been ignore...

Bafana Bafana has officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.   Guest: Nkululeko Nkewu: Co-founder of iDiski Media 

Nearly 80% of township businesses in South Africa remain unregistered, limiting their access to finance, markets, and growth opportunities. This is one of the headline findings from Standard Bank’s first-ever Township Informal Economy Report, which casts a spotlight on one of the country’s most vital but underserved economic sectors.   Guest: Naledzani Mosomane: Head of Enter...

Gauteng Health Department Head of Department (HOD) Lesiba Malotana has been suspended with immediate effect, following explosive revelations about a procurement syndicate operating within the province's health structures.   Guest: Elijah Mhlanga - Spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Government  

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter   Mining production slips in August 2. Higher costs weigh on Bytes’ earnings  3. Markets

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter 1. Moody’s pegs SA growth at 1.6% in 2026 2. Business confidence ticks higher in September  3. Markets

Academic activities have been halted at the main campus of the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein. This amid ongoing protests by students over the cancellation of provisional registration. Students mobilised from Sunday night to completely shut down the campus.   Guest: Lacea Loader: Senior Director: Communication and Marketing, University of the Free State  

The Southern African Fraud Prevention Service (SAFPS) has launched an awareness campaign to help consumers recognise scams. According to the SAFPS, the scam in question involves fraudulent phone calls, commonly referred to as “vishing”, where criminals manipulate unsuspecting individuals into divulging sensitive banking information or clicking on malicious links. Guest: Manie Van Schal...

An urgent legal challenge by Daily Maverick and News24 is pushing back against a decision by the Madlanga Commission to hold a full week of its hearings behind closed doors. Guest: Jillian Green: editor in chief, Daily Maverick

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 15 October 2025 1.     Cameroon - Yaoundé Cameroon opposition candidate Issa Tchiroma Bakary claimed victory Tuesday in the Oct. 12 presidential election ahead of the release of official results, urging President Paul Biya, the world&rsquo...

1. M&A activity and upbeat equity markets boosts US banks’ Q3 earnings 2. Google plans to a build data centre in India  3. Markets

France is grappling with its worst political crisis in decades as President Emmanuel Macron’s latest government faces no-confidence motions from both the hard left and far right. Guest: Everisto Benyera: Professor of African Politics at Department of Political Sciences, UNISA

Johannesburg is set to host the 6th PASA International Payments Conference (PIPC 2025) from 16–17 October at the Sandton Convention Centre. With more than 780 delegates and over 70 expert speakers from around the world, the event will be a central platform for dialogue on the future of payments, innovation, and financial inclusion in South Africa and beyond.   Guest: Dr Arif Ismail: Head of...

In a sobering divergence from global health trends, South Africa’s life expectancy in 2023 was lower than it was over three decades ago, despite major gains in the fight against HIV/Aids. This reversal highlights the growing threat of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as stroke and diabetes, which are now among the country’s leading causes of death.     Guest: Charles Wiysonge...

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter   Boxer delivers strong sales growth  2. Lewis loses bid to block Pepkor-Shoprite furniture deal 3. Markets    

Guest: Oshebeng Alpheus Koonyaditse: Author Politics of South African Football and Broadcaster