The National Pulse

A third suspect in the ongoing Steinhoff case, Gerhardus Burger, pleaded guilty to insider trading after selling over 39,000 Steinhoff shares before the company's collapse. Gerhardus Burger appeared before the Pretoria Specialised Crimes Court earlier today, following his arrest by the Hawks. Author of Steinheist, Rob Rose joins me on the line to unpack this…   GUEST: Rob Rose, Journalist and auth...

The Gauteng Health Department has come under fire for paying R3.9 million to seven Cuban doctors who had already left the country, continuing to receive salaries for an entire year due to a glaring administrative blunder. DA Shadow MEC for Health in Gauteng, Jack Bloom joins me on the line to give us more details on this… GUEST: Jack Bloom, DA Shadow MEC of Health in Gauteng

President of the Democratic Republic of Congo Felix Tshisekedi has urged the global community to impose sanctions on Rwanda for allegedly supporting M23 rebel group. Tshisekedi made this call yesterday when addressing the 79th UN General Assembly in New York. But is he likely to receive any form of support on this? To help us unlock the complexities surrounding the DR Congo, Rwanda and M23 rebel g...

With our country’s Government of National Unity having recently marked its 100th day in office. We hear from the National Council of Provinces as its members are currently gathering in Sandton, hosting its strategic planning session as part of planning for the 7th Parliament priorities. Joining us to outline the objectives of the National Assembly and NCOP strategic planning sessions is……   GUEST:...

    As we are about to wrap up Heritage Month. We chat to Christian Martin about the status of the Khoi and San communities in South Africa. Martin argues that the Khoi and San communities continue to face socio-economic exclusion as they are not considered Black or African under the Employment Equity Act and other statutes such as BBB-EE.   GUEST: Christian Martin, Khoi and San activist

Cilliers Brink: motion of no-confidence (Reaction from DA in Tshwane)   City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink faced yet another motion to remove him from office after the ANC in Tshwane filed a motion of no-confidence against him, saying it has lost confidence in the ability of the Executive Mayor to lead the metro.     GUEST: Kwena Moloto, DA Tshwane Spokesperson

    ANC in Tshwane filed a motion of no-confidence against City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink.   GUEST: George Matjila, ANC Tshwane Regional Secretary

The Department of Basic Education faces a national funding crisis that impacts teaching posts. Recently, provincial Education Departments countrywide have complained about imposed budgetary cuts. This has led to several of them having to release their contracted teachers and being unable to fill vacant posts. In a media briefing earlier today, Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube deemed this a...

Tax guru and published author, Andre Bothma has put together a business guide which he shared with 100 people to help with their small businesses. The book essentially shares basic information you need to get started in business in South Africa.   GUEST: Andre Bothma, Tax Guru and published author

The South African government has acknowledged that while the process of repatriating political activists and freedom fighters who died in exile has been slow, progress is being made in exhuming and returning their remains to their homeland.   Guest: Jaki Seroke, PAC National Secretary for Finance & Veteran

One person was found dead in the aftermath of a fire at the Broadwalk Urban Village complex in Midrand. Johannesburg emergency services spokesperson, Xolile Khumalo joins me on the line to give us an update on the scene… Guest: City of Joburg EMS Spokesperson

Khaya Khumalo gives us an update on the remains of the activists and freedom fighters who passed away in Zimbabwe and Zambia. The repatriation of the remains forms part of the Resistance and Liberation Heritage Route Project. GUEST: Khayelihle Khumalo, SABC News reporter

Earlier today, the Pretoria Magistrates court sentenced former South African National Defence Force member Leon Santos Conga to life imprisonment for rape, and 10 years for attempted murder. AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit has welcomed the sentencing of Conga as they have been representing his victim, sergeant Antoinnete Ndishishi since 2018. Conga was accused of knowingly infecting Ndishishi...

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane is today appearing before the ANC’s Integrity Commission over her alleged involvement in the VBS bank scandal. It is now public knowledge that while serving as the mayor of Polokwane in 2016, Simelane took a loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions, the company that brokered millions of unlawful investments into VBS bank on behalf of the Polo...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reiterated Africa’s demand for permanent representation in the UN Security Council. Addressing the UN General Assembly yesterday, Ramaphosa said the UN Security Council must be reformed as a matter of urgency, also emphasising that it must become more inclusive so that the voices of all nations are heard and considered. However, our guest Professor Anthoni Van Nieuwke...

In conversation with Palesa Mokubung as she celebrates 20 years in fashion. Some of you may recall that Mokubung made history in 2018 when Mantsho became the first African brand to collaborate with Swedish retailer H&M. So she will tell us more about her journey and what keeps her going and of course she will also discuss the upcoming SA Fashion Week and what to expect from her in the future....

The City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality is under fire after announcing that it is proposing to rename the popular street Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive, but Action SA says the name change offers zero benefits to the residents of the city.   GUEST: Cllr Ramatamo Sehoal 

The Economic Freedom Fighters put out a statement earlier today stating that Heritage Day cannot be reduced to braais and traditional outfits while the majority of South Africans still bear the brunt of colonial and apartheid legacies. Celebrating the day under these circumstances would be a mockery the statement continued to say. EFF member, Sharon Letlape joins me on the line to talk about this…...

    In the spirit if promoting and preserving the heritage of the diverse people of Gauteng, the provincial department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation is currently hosting the Annual Indigenous Games Festival at the Eesterus Stadium in Tshwane.   GUEST: Nomazwe Ntlokwana from the provincial department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Gauteng  

As we observe Heritage Day we ask, what does this day mean to you? This year’s Heritage Day coincides with our 30 years of democracy and freedom but do you think that our country is doing justice when observing and celebrating this day? Mzwakhe Mbuli joins us to share some interesting insights about Heritage Day celebrations.   GUEST: Mzwakhe Mbuli, popularly known as ‘The People’s Poet’

We look at the ongoing protests against economic hardships in Ghana. We understand that these protests are largely fuelled by the citizens frustration over environmental destruction caused by illegal mining and perceived economic mismanagement by the government. So how should this problem be resolved going forward?   GUEST (Nigeria): Dr Christian Ani, Senior Researcher and Project Coordinator at t...

According to Eskom in the Western Cape, some areas in the region are without electricity due to illegal connections, theft and vandalism. Just how rife is this problem and how is the power utility responding to this issue? GUEST: Zama Mpondwana  

Today we tell you more about JiK’iZinto, a new movement representing a generation determined to rewrite their future and overcome the challenges they face today. They use innovative ways to reach out to young people. To tell us more about the objectives of this new movement is…   GUEST: Lebo Leitch, JiK’iZinto’s Creative Lead Girl Effect

South Africa's new government marked its 100th day in power yesterday, seeing the rand strength 5.8% against the dollar over the same period. The first 100 days are critical to demonstrate whether the Government of National Unity can prove its mettle. I’m joined on the line by … political analyst to give us an analysis of the first 100 days of the GNU…   GUEST: Professor Dirk Kotze, Political Anal...

Earlier on, I spoke to David Van Wyk, a lead researcher at the Benchmarks Foundation about the issue of illegal mining and why it refuses to go away. This comes after the multi-disciplinary task team behind Operation Vala Umgodi recently arrested several individuals allegedly involved in illegal mining activities in the North-West province. We going to take a second bite at this conversation and t...