The National Pulse

Belgium plans to open a vast colonial-era geological archive on the Democratic Republic of Congo, containing almost 500 metres of mining records from the colonial era. These files could help the DRC identify unexplored mineral deposits, attract investors, and strengthen its control over a mining sector valued at $24 trillion.GUEST: Olamilekan Okebiorun, Business Insider Africa Journalist

July 18 the country collectively honours and observes the birthday of the late stateman Nelson Mandela by giving back to the community. We speak to one organisation that has launched the ‘hands-on-heroes’ campaign for the day… GUEST: Danny Diliberto - CEO and founder Ladles of Love 

Public Interest SA has lodged a criminal complaint with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) against a senior SAPS Officer, alleging possible contraventions of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA). The complaint centres on the controversial R360 million SAPS Medicare24 Tshwane contract. For more on this, I am joined on the line by GUEST: Tebogo Khaas, Public Interest SA cha...

South Africa’s municipalities are confronting the growing and uncomfortable reality that the number of households requiring state support is rising sharply, while the financial capacity of local government to meet that need is increasingly constrained. However some experts have raised concerns with this system… GUEST: Nicholas Maweni - Munsoft CEO  

Chairpersons of Parliament’s governance cluster oversight committees this morning addressed the media and stakeholders as part of the 7th Parliament’s Committee Cluster Media Engagement programme. We speak this afternoon to… GUEST: Jan De Villiers - Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Public Service and Administration  

On today’s edition we look at Public Trust and Community Safety – Why confidence has eroded.Public perceptions of safety, community policing, vigilantism and the rise of private security. GUEST: Frans Kgasago - Limpopo CPF Provincial Chairperson 

The Kingdom of Eswatini has confirmed the arrival of 11 more third-country nationals deported from the United States, marking the fourth group of migrants transferred to the southern African kingdom under a controversial bilateral agreement that continues to attract sharp criticism from international human rights organisations. GUEST: Wandile Dludlu, The People’s United Democratic Movement (...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended the Madlanga Commission’s deadline to 16 November 2026. This is to allow the commission to hear all evidence related to its terms of reference. The Commission initially had until 31 August 2026 to submit its report. Let’s get an understanding of this extension as well as what  GUEST: Sibahle Motha, SABC News Reporter

A teenager’s alleged Telegram manifesto revealed chilling new details about a failed bomb attack at Ballito Junction Regional Mall, where an improvised explosive device emitted smoke instead of detonating. The 15-year-old Zimbali resident, who cannot be identified as he is a minor, allegedly placed the device in the mall’s crowded food court on Sunday, March 29. The potentially deadly...

Frustrated residents of Parkmore, Sandton, have taken it upon themselves to provide the much-needed services they claim the City of Johannesburg is failing to deliver. The residents have long expressed frustration that the Johannesburg Roads Agency has not been maintaining road markings, stop signs, traffic lights, and potholes in the area. GUEST: Lori Klein, Parkmore Community Association Suburb...

Built in Mzansi: How Original Grain Company has partnered with Implats and the Mcambalala Maize Project to build a project that transforms the lives of 70 rural farmers who are responsible for white maize production across 50 hectares of communal land in the Eastern Cape. Guest: Ryan New – Managing Director at the Original Grain Company 

Guest: Ogalaletseng Gaarekwe - Deputy-Director General: Intergovernmental Relations for National Treasury RSA Guest: Dumisani Magagula – General Secretary of the South African Municipal Workers’ Union  Guest: Thabiso Ndebele - Managing Director of Ntiyiso's Revenue Consulting division  

Reality Check with Abongile Xhantini: Difference Compassion as DNA of true Diversity - What if compassion is not an emotion, but the architecture of a thriving society?  Guest: Abongile Xhantini - Founder Veritas Inclusion Advisory 

South African police have arrested more than 200 suspected illegal miners during a major operation at the Losberg Shaft in Westonaria. The operation, involving police, the SANDF and mine security, also led to the seizure of ammunition and supplies allegedly used underground.  Guest: David van Wyk, Director of the Benchmark Foundation  

A long-awaited investigation into the deaths of six healthcare workers in KwaZulu-Natal has found no evidence directly linking the deaths to workplace bullying. But the report paints a troubling picture of South Africa's public health system, highlighting severe staff shortages, mounting workloads, poor infrastructure and inadequate support for frontline healthcare workers. Guest: Russell Rensburg...

The winter initiation season in the Eastern Cape has once again been overshadowed by tragedy, with seven initiates losing their lives and 18 people arrested for allegedly operating illegal initiation schools. Authorities say many of these deaths could have been prevented through better compliance with safety measures, proper medical care, and adherence to the law. Guest: : Zolile Williams - MEC fo...

The Legal Practice Council has approached the High Court in Johannesburg seeking to have former Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane struck from the roll of advocates. The LPC argues that she is no longer a fit and proper person to practise, citing findings related to her conduct and her impeachment from office in 2023.  Guest: Ignatius Briel -  Director of the Gauteng Legal Pra...

The winter initiation season in the Eastern Cape has once again been overshadowed by tragedy, with seven initiates losing their lives and 18 people arrested for allegedly operating illegal initiation schools. Authorities say many of these deaths could have been prevented through better compliance with safety measures, proper medical care, and adherence to the law. Guest: Inkosi Gwebingqe...

The tension between Ghana and South Africa.  Kenya Sovereign Wealth Fund and Dangote are building a oil refinery in Kenya  

Fed minutes reveal deep divide among policymakers over interest rate path 2. China’s consumer prices slow while producer prices hit a near 3 year high 3. Market update  

The Global Briefing: NATO leaders are meeting in Ankara under renewed pressure after US President Donald Trump reignited disputes over Greenland Cuba is once again taking its decades-long campaign against the US embargo to the United Nations Australia has condemned China's long-range missile test over the Pacific as destabilising Guest: Khanya Vilakazi - Lecturer in the Department of Political Sci...

Earlier today, US President Donald Trump said the ceasefire with Iran was “over” after the two sides traded fire, but added that negotiators could keep talking to Tehran. Trump blasted Iran as “scum” and “cuckoo” after Washington launched strikes on the Islamic Republic overnight and Iran’s Guards said they had targeted US bases in the Gulf. GUEST: Brooks...

ActionSA president Herman Mashaba believes the latest assault on democracy in Zimbabwe will lead to more Zimbabweans fleeing to South Africa for a better life. This comes after reports that Zimbabwe’s president Emmerson Mnangagwa has signed constitutional amendments into law that prolong his stay in office and delay the general elections until 2030. GUEST: Herman Mashaba, ActionSA President...

The Portfolio Committee on Home Affairs undertook a two-day urgent oversight visit to temporary repatriation centres in Musina, Limpopo, as well as the Beitbridge Port of Entry. The oversight visit follows developments arising from the 30 June 2026 deadline issued by various anti-immigrant groups, which have resulted in an urgent humanitarian and administrative situation affecting Malawian nationa...

The Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (DENOSA) has raised concerns about deteriorating working conditions for employees in the public health system. DENOSA provincial chairperson Sibonelo Gumede says the organisation has received numerous complaints relating to working conditions in public health facilities. GUEST: Sibonelo Gumede, DENOSA Provincial Chairperson in KZN