The National Briefing

The Johannesburg Metropolitan Police Department (JMPD) has announced the swift apprehension of three suspects involved in a distressing video that went viral on 29 July 2025. The video depicted a young boy lighting drugs in a bottle neck for his mother, w 31.07.2025 6:26 ↓

    Guest: Phinah Kodisang: Soul City Institute CEO

Gauteng’s public healthcare system is under scrutiny after newly released data revealed a nearly fourfold spike in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) last year. According to Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko, 7,743 patients contracted infections 31.07.2025 5:03 ↓

    Guest: Dr Angelique Coetzee: Vice Chair, the Unity Forum of Family Practitioners

The FlySafair pilots' strike has entered its second week, with no resolution in sight as the airline and Solidarity, the union representing its pilots, remain deadlocked over working conditions. 30.07.2025 5:53 ↓

  Guest: Helgard Cronjé: deputy general secretary at Solidarity

Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has released the findings of a high-stakes forensic investigation into the controversial R800 million PSA Oxygen Plant tender awarded by the Independent Development Trust (IDT). The report show 30.07.2025 8:47 ↓

  Guest: Dean Macpherson: Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure 

MTN has now introduced its new App to drive digital transformation and empower South Africans to live a modern, connected life. This is a critical step in MTN's ambition to simplify, secure, and improve mobile customer experience. 30.07.2025 9:26 ↓

  Guest: Gareth Murphy: MTN SA General Manager: Digital Enablement 

South Africa’s e-hailing industry is bracing for disruption as drivers across the country prepare for a national strike over what they call exploitative working conditions and government inaction. The warning comes from the National E-Hailing Federation o 30.07.2025 4:22 ↓

  Guest: Elijah Uhuru Lekgowane: President of The National E-Hailing Federation of South Africa (NEFSA) 

The Department of Justice and Constitutional Development has revealed that the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of political interference within the South African Police Service (SAPS) is projected to cost R147.9 million over six months. Th 30.07.2025 5:30 ↓

  Guest: Jeremy Michaels: Madlanga Commission Spokesperson 

South Africa's police have made headlines for sweeping arrests under Operation Shanela—a crime-fighting initiative launched in 2023 targeting violent and drug-related offenses. But while arrest numbers continue to soar, only a small fraction lead to convi 30.07.2025 10:07 ↓

  Guest: Kgomotso Ramolobeng: Chairperson of the Parliament’s Correctional Services Committee 

The Presidency on Monday, 28 July 2025, released the latest progress report on the implementation of actions arising from President Cyril Ramaphosa's response to the recommendations of the State Capture Commission, showing significant progress across both 30.07.2025 12:49 ↓

  Guest: Adv Paul Pretorius: Senior Counsel, Head of Legal Team, Judicial Service Commission & State Capture Commission former Evidence Leader  Guest: Vincent Magwenya: Presidency Spokesperson 

Public Interest SA notes, with cautious relief, the decision by Bain & Company to discontinue its consultancy business in South Africa. The group suffered immense reputational damage alongside other consultancies and global companies like McKinsey & Co, S 30.07.2025 8:43 ↓

  Guest: Tebogo Khaas: Chairperson of Public Interest SA

French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France intends to formally recognise a Palestinian state in September—making it the first permanent Western member of the UN Security Council and the first G7 nation to do so. 30.07.2025 5:40 ↓

    Guest: Dr Kingsley Makhubela: Director at RiskRecon

The University of Cape Town (UCT) has made a decisive move in the global education debate on artificial intelligence (AI) by officially adopting a university-wide framework that sets out how AI technologies should be integrated into teaching, learning and 29.07.2025 5:35 ↓

  Guest: Sukaina Walji, the Director: Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching (CILT) at the University of Cape Town.

The highly anticipated trial of six men accused in one of South Africa’s most brutal mass killings began yesterday, under a special sitting of the Eastern Cape Division of the High Court at the Lusikisiki Magistrate’s Court. The accused face multiple char 29.07.2025 5:19 ↓

  Guest: Nomzwanele Mngoma: SABC News Reporter, Eastern Cape

The Constitutional Court will on Wednesday hear a high-stakes and politically charged urgent application brought by the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party and its leader, former president Jacob Zuma. The case pits them against President Cyril Ramaphosa over his 29.07.2025 7:10 ↓

    Guest: Nhlamulo Ndhlela:uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party 

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has found no evidence to support allegations made by Lesotho authorities that military-style training camps for Basotho nationals are operating on South African farms. 29.07.2025 6:50 ↓

    Guest: Willem Els: Senior Training Coordinator on terrorism and explosives, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) 

A former senior official of the Umzimkhulu Municipality has been arrested by the South African Police Service’s Political Killings Task Team in connection with the murder of Sindiso Magaqa, the former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) secreta 29.07.2025 7:03 ↓

    Guest: Lwazi Magaqa: Family Spokesperson (Sindiso Magaqa's Brother)

Deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, chairperson of the commission of inquiry probing allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system, briefed the media on Monday.  29.07.2025 8:07 ↓

    Guest: Lawson Naidoo: Executive Secretary of the Council for the advancement of the South African Constitution

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 29.07.2025 6:03 ↓

    29 July 2025 1.    Cameroon- Yaounde  There has been outrage in Cameroon over the disqualification of opposition leader Maurice Kamto from October’s presidential election.  Of the 83 applications submitted to Elecam – the country’s election oversight body – only 13 were approved.   Rejected candidates had 48 hours to contest...

As Gaza enters another devastating month under siege, humanitarian conditions have reached an unprecedented level of catastrophe. Food has disappeared from shelves, aid trucks are barely moving, and starvation is now a leading cause of death. 29.07.2025 5:46 ↓

    Guest: Cassandra Dorasamy: Campaigner, Amnesty International 

The Count Me In Movement has raised the alarm over what it terms the "systematic exclusion" of South African spaza shop owners under the current regulatory framework. 28.07.2025 7:26 ↓

  Guest: Bishop Makhubo: Count me in movement organiser 

Journalists reveal their concerns  that they may have been snooped on as the Rica Act gets challenged in court.   28.07.2025 6:04 ↓

  Guest: Sam Sole: Journalist and Managing Partner of the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism 

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) has taken decisive action against Anushka Bogdanov, a former director of EOH Holdings, imposing a fine of R500,000 and a 10-year disqualification from holding any director or officer role in a JSE-listed company. This 28.07.2025 6:07 ↓

  Guest: Prof. Busani Ngcaweni: principal of the National School of Government  

President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen are set to meet in Scotland amid high-stakes negotiations that could result in a sweeping U.S.-EU trade deal—or escalate into a damaging trade conflict. 28.07.2025 6:01 ↓

  Guest: Anthoni van Nieuwkerk - professor of International and Diplomacy Studies at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs 

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 28.07.2025 6:44 ↓

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa

The South African Police Service (SAPS) is intensifying operations to dismantle organised crime networks and address cross-border security threats following allegations from Lesotho’s Police Commissioner, Advocate Borotho Matsoso. These include claims of 28.07.2025 8:30 ↓

  Guest: Brigadier Athlenda Mathe: National Police Spokesperson