The National Pulse

Guest: Bernice Loxton, Spokesperson: Education Labour Relations Council A nationwide verification project, Integrated School Data Collection Platform, was presented in parliament in May this year. The project’s Executive Summary presented by the Education Labour Relations Council uncovered thousands of undocumented pupils, hundreds of public servants allegedly employed by more than one depar...

The IEC's latest disclosure report, covering January to March 2026, shows that political parties declared a combined R97.2 million in funding, with the DA receiving the largest share by a wide margin. GUEST: Matsobane Nkoko, IEC Party Funding Manager  

The SACP-organised Conference of the Left concluded yesterday. Former  Statistician-General of South Africa, Dr. Pali Lehohla was one of the people who presented at the conference and his presentation focused on the state of our economy. GUEST: Dr. Pali Lehohla, Former  Statistician-General of South Africa

Today we are unpacking how small businesses can move beyond survival mode and start building strong operational systems that drive growth, efficiency, and long-term sustainability. Guest: Graham Mitchell - CEO of Grow Coaching 

As the country marks Youth Month, this week’s ‘Big Issue’ turns its focus to South Africa’s deepening youth unemployment crisis, to provide context with what the numbers look like is… Guest: Risenga Maluleke - Statistician-General of South Africa  

Rise Mzansi MP, Makashule Gana, has been elected chairperson of the 31-member impeachment committee which is set to determine President Cyril Ramaphosa’s fate in the Phala Phala farm saga. Let’s talk to the newly-elected Chairperson… GUEST: Makashule Gana, Rise Mzansi MP and newly-elected Chairperson of the 31-member impeachment committee

The Impeachment Committee on the Section 89 Enquiry held its inaugural meeting to elect a Chairperson today. The committee was established following the Constitutional Court judgment, which directed Parliament to investigate whether there are valid grounds to recommend the President’s removal from office. GUEST: Professor Andre Duvenhage, Political Analyst from the University of the North We...

As South Africa marks National Child Protection Week taking place from May 29 to June 5 under the 2026 theme, “Working together in ending violence against children”, we unpack why protecting children requires more than policy and awareness campaigns. Guest: Tshegofatso Komape - Child Protection Officer at SPARK Schools

The Department of Small Business Development and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition had a media briefing earlier today to provide an update on the implementation of the R500 million Spaza Shop Support Fund. This initiative is designed to support qualifying spaza shop owners across South Africa. So, is it working? Let’s get a sense of this with… GUEST: Sibongile Mpanza,...

This is why the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) has awarded its New Frontiers Research Award for 2026 to mycologist Professor Cobus Visagie, an associate professor at the Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnology Institute. To tell us more on the award, his research and the field of mycology is… Guest: Professor Cobus Visagie, an associate professor at the Forestry and Agriculture Biotechnolo...

Shops reportedly belonging to foreign nationals have been looted in Estcourt, KZN today. SABC News reporter, Dries Liebenberg, was on the ground and now joins me on the line to tell us what happened… GUEST: Dries Liebenberg, SABC News Reporter

The Supreme Court of Appeal heard former Zambian President, Edgar Lungu’s family’s appeal against the Gauteng High Court in Pretoria’s judgment, which found that Zambia is entitled to repatriate Lungu’s remains for the purposes of a State funeral and burial. Let’s get more details on what happened in court today with… GUEST: Masiteng Makgala, SABC News Reporter

The South African Communist Party (SACP) has convened in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg for Conference of the Left. We catch up with SABC reporter to speak more on the conference, and issues that arose in the lead up to today’s sitting Guest: Ntebo Mkobo – SABC Reporter

KZN SAPS held a media briefing this afternoon following the looting of alleged foreign owned shops in Escourt this morning. We hear more from… GUEST: Colonel Robert Netshiunda - KZN SAPS Spokesperson

Today, Rand Water began a massive maintenance project affecting Johannesburg’s water systems. This will also affect water supplies to hospitals in Gauteng. Gauteng Department of Health spokesperson Steve Mabona joins me on the line to outline provisions put in place by the department during the water maintenance period. GUEST: Steve Mabona, Gauteng Department of Health Spokesperson

From today until Sunday 31 May 2026, South African organisations of the left will be at the Birchwood Hotel, in Boksburg, for a national Conference of the Left, convened under the theme “Building a Left Movement for Working Class and Popular Power”. The ANC has however, decided it won’t be part of the conference.  GUEST: Professor Bheki Mngomezulu, Political Analyst from the...

The chief whip of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party in the National Assembly, Mmabatho Mokoena, has been arrested on fraud charges. Mokoena appeared before the Cape Town Magistrates Court today and was released on R30 000 bail.   GUEST: Sibonelo Nomvalo, MK Party Secretary-General

As we observe World Blood Cancer we are reminded that more than one South African is diagnosed with blood cancer every hour, over 21,000 people are currently living with the disease, and nearly 5,000 die from it each year. This afternoon we take a moment to understand this type of cancer… Guest: Palesa Mokomele – Head of Community Engagement and Communications at DKMS Africa

The US military has carried out strikes on Iran, targeting a military site in Bandar Abbas, a strategic port city. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted a US air base, without providing details of its location. GUEST: Na’eem Jeenah, Senior Researcher, Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection at the University of the Witwatersrand

The Border Management Authority says it has arrested three people after intercepting a drug consignment worth nearly R1 billion at the Beitbridge border post between South Africa and Zimbabwe earlier today. GUEST: Mmemme Mogotsi, Deputy Assistant Commissioner: Communications and Marketing

As South Africa observes Child Protection Week 2026, there is growing recognition that child safety can no longer be understood only in physical terms. Increasingly, young people are experiencing emotional harm, intimidation, exploitation and social pressure within digital spaces. We discuss this with… GUEST: Dumisani Tshabalala – Head of Academics at OWLAG (Oprah Winfrey Leadership A...

South Africa’s Correctional Services system is under renewed scrutiny following a damning investigation by amaBhungane. We find out more on what this investigation revealed with… GUEST: Orrin Singh – amaBhungane Investigative Journalist

Ekurhuleni officials are intensifying inspections of spaza shops in the East Rand following weeks of protests and community complaints over alleged unsafe food handling and undocumented business operations. Residents have called for stricter enforcement and accountability. We find out more… Guest:Ramatolo Tlotleng – Spokesperson for the Mayor of the City of Ekhuruleni

Last week, the Minister of Transport, Barbara Creecy, was on the show after the Transport Department’s Budget Vote at the NCOP. We got a number of questions, particularly on public transport, RAF and ehailing services. GUEST: Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Deputy Minister of Transport

Let’s get reaction on today’s repo rate decision from… GUEST: Elize Kruger, Independent Economist