The National Pulse

Earlier today, Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton Mckenzie, briefed media on his 100 days in office at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg. SABC News Reporter, Mahudi Molapo was at the Market Theatre and joins me on the line to talk to us about some of the key points the Minister touched on…   GUEST: Mahudi Molapo, SABC News Reporter

The recent quest taken by the Department of Employment and Labour to clamp down on the employment of illegal foreigners has attracted significant attention. Employment Law experts at a commercial law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr report that approximately 80 employees working in restaurants across the country have been arrested for violating the provisions of the Immigration Act by failing to produc...

In conversation with Yasmin Sooka about the ongoing impact of generational trauma stemming from Apartheid and the critical role reparations play in addressing both the emotional and socioeconomic legacies of this period. Sooka also shares her thoughts on the National Reparations Conference that is currently taking place here in Johannesburg, focusing on practical steps towards justice and healing...

How should we go about the issue of changing street names in South Africa without coming across as being divisive? We ask this question after Sports, Arts and Culture Minister, Gayton McKenzie told Parliament yesterday that “street names should not be changed with the intention to “hurt white people”.   GUEST: Jackie Shandu, Political analyst

The Zimbabwean government has announced that it will compensate local and foreign white farmers who lost land under former President Robert Mugabe’s chaotic redistribution program in 2000. The move has attracted widespread criticism, especially because some who were politically connected became owners of multiple farms under the land redistribution that was meant to help the poor, and can now cash...

We hear from the Provincial Electoral Officer in Limpopo on their state of readiness to conduct voter registration scheduled for this coming weekend - in preparation for the by-elections that are due to take place in December this year. This follows the dissolution of the Thabazimbi municipality by the National Council of Provinces. GUEST: Nkaro Mateta, Provincial Electoral Officer in Limpopo

This coming weekend, South African actress and social activist Thandy Matlaila will take part in the Cape Town Marathon to raise funds for the youth division of the Run Alex Club, which caters for children who want to pursue athletics in Alexandra. According to Matlaila, every kilometre covered will directly impact the lives of the children in the community of Alex. She joins us now to tell us mor...

    Former ANC MP and party spokesperson Pule Mabe appeared in the Palm Ridge Specialised Commercial Crime Court on graft charges, alongside six others. The appearance was in connection with a R27-million tender his company, Enviro Mobi, scored from the Gauteng Agriculture and Rural Development Department in March 2017. SABC News Political Journalist, Ntebo Mokobo was in court and joins me on the...

The ANC Parliamentary Caucus had a media briefing earlier today led by the Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli. The briefing reflected on the work of the ANC Parliamentary Caucus and outlined some of the priorities of the caucus for the 3rd term of the year. ANC Parliamentary Caucus Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli joins me on the line to tell us more…   GUEST: Mdumiseni Ntuli, ANC Parliamentary Caucus Chief W...

Smartcall Technology Solutions have formally announced a three-year partnership with the South African Football Association (SAFA) that sees them become the Official Mobile Fan Engagement Partner to, Bafana Bafana, Banyana Banyana, the SA U21 and the SAFA Schools League via an App called PEFMO. To get more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Rory Anderson,

    Iranti House will host a transformative Intersex Awareness Day Screening & Celebration event on the 25th of this month. This is a significant event because intersex individuals globally, and particularly in South Africa and across Africa, face severe stigma and marginalization. To get more details on this event, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Peace Maquba, Intersex Rights Officer at...

A data investigation shows Johannesburg has already had 1,604 water cuts in October and 3,318 in September. The months-long investigation by Daily Maverick revealed how cadre deployment by the ANC and EFF is a key factor crashing Johannesburg’s water supply and raising the specter of a system collapse. Daily Maverick’s Ferial Haffajee joins me on the line to tell us more…   GUEST: Ferial Haffajee,...

Early next month, US voters will head to the polls to choose between two candidates – Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The pair represent two groups of voters who disagree on numerous policy issues. To help us look at those policies, we are joined by Dr Laurance Caromba who will share his thoughts around how Trump and Harris’ divergent approaches to foreign policy will undeniably have an effect on...

    EFF’s Member of Parliament Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane has announced that she's leaving the party, stating that “the past seven years have made me realise that our fight for freedom was in vain”. So how will her departure affect the politics of EFF and how vital was her contribution to the party? For more analysis on this, we are joined by……   GUEST: Dr Levy Ndou, Political analyst from Tshwan...

    Public health researchers and advocates working in tobacco control, alcohol control and sugar sectors are currently gathering in Cape Town to launch an alliance that will be known as Health Tax Alliance. The alliance will effectively combine their efforts across the sectors to collectively drive calls to the government for increases for health taxes. Joining us outline the objectives of this n...

As we observe World Food Day, we look at the pressing issue of malnutrition in South Africa and possible solutions to it. This as you may be aware that 63.5% of South African households’ face food insecurity. However though, our guest is of the view that in order for South Africa to address this problem, we need a systemic shift towards the equitable distribution of nutrient-dense foods, alongside...

Today we chat to another winner, Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude who recently won the 2024 FNB Art Joburg Prize. Through his artwork, Nyaude addresses social justice, freedom of expression and matriarchal and patriarchal systems in African traditions. GUEST (ZIM): Gresham Tapiwa Nyaude, Zimbabwean Artist  

The DA in Gauteng had a media briefing earlier today where DA Leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga alleged that the provincial government is withholding reports related to corruption. According to a statement released earlier today, the DA wrote to the Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, requesting that all completed forensic reports be made public. To give us more details on this story, I am joined on...

  The Interactive Advertising Bureau South Africa has launched the South African Content Creator Charter. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau South Africa, there is a need for a set of guiding principles that promote ethical and transparent practices in response to the meteoric rise of the South African creator economy. Lead of the Interactive Advertising Bureau South Africa Influencer...

The spat between ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi resulted in a silent demonstration outside Luthuli House yesterday in the midst of the ANC's “100 days of government of national unity” celebrations. As Mbalula called for the national anthem to be sung, a handful of party supporters hoisted placards saying: “Don't kill Chris Hani again” and “We are Panyaz...

The Special Investigating Unit saved the South African government approximately R8 billion in the 2023/24 financial year. These results stem from effective investigations, speedy litigation, and recovery processes. I’m joined on the line by the SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago to give us more details on how this happened…   GUEST: Kaizer Kganyago, SIU Spokesperson

Lerato Ngobeni held a series of oversight visits last week, with a keen focus on the Department of Home Affairs. According to her, “we are not tracking undocumented foreign nationals in our country. Home Affairs has no idea as to who is here or who is not.” She joins us now to tell us more about her oversight visits…..   GUEST: Lerato Ngobeni, ActionSA MP

Let’s now give you an update in terms of what’s happening in Sudan’s North Darfur region where the army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been locked in conflict for nearly 18 months now. We understand that medical charity MSF says it has been forced to suspend work in the vast camp for displaced people where famine has been confirmed, putting thousands of malnourished children at risk of de...

The Deputy Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, General Bantu Holomisa is currently in Ethiopia, attending the Program of African Defence Ministers Conference that commenced yesterday. The conference will among other things explore opportunities for capacity-building, joint military exercises, and sharing of expertise to address Africa’s unique security challenges. He joins us now to discuss...

In conversation with the Minister of Correctional Services Pieter Groenewald about his department’s assessment of the cell from which Facebook rapist Thabo Bester escaped from. According to him, his department’s assessment showed numerous security violations.     GUEST: Pieter Groenewald, Minister of Correctional Services