The National Pulse

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa has revised its wage increase demand for striking Gautrain workers to 9%. Earlier today, aggrieved employees affiliated to the union downed tools at the Maintenance Workshop Depot in Midrand, initially demanding a 13% hike. Last week, NUMSA served the Bombela Operating Company, which operates the Gautrain, with a 48-hour strike notice. Workers hav...

    Development Action Group is concerned about exposure to extreme weather conditions in the Cape area, as cold, wet, and windy conditions batter the region. The organisation has a long history of working in informal settlements and continues to work closely with organisations and community partners on the ground. The NGO is currently reaching out to new cabinet ministers, to make suggestions on...

The New Popular Front in France has surprised many as it has managed to prevent the far right from gaining power. While President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition came second. However though, with no outright majority winner, it simply means that France is going to have a hung parliament, something that may destabilise the country – depending on how it’s handled? For more analysis on this, we...

This afternoon, the Public Service Commission (PSC) hosted a media briefing on the Quarterly Bulletin titled: The Pulse of the Public Service for the period: 01 January to 31 March 2024. Among other things, the report focused on Non-payment of government suppliers; and overall number of complaints and grievances handled by the PSC up to 31 March 2024. To unpack the outcomes of the report, we are j...

The Global Watch: Post the UK’s recent elections - we hear from Jeremy Corbyn, who made history after he was re-elected in Islington North as an independent candidate, the constituency he has represented since 1983. Corbyn was blocked from standing as a Labour candidate in March 2023 by Keir Starmer, but announced soon after the election was called that he would be standing as an independent, lead...

Imagine the Bill of Rights explained in 15 relatable tweets using local slang! That’s exactly what We the People SA have done with the #BillOfTweets campaign! GUEST: Mbali Baduza, CEO of We The People South Africa

Six civil society organisations have written to National Assembly speaker Thoko Didiza expressing deep concern about the possibility of impeached judge John Hlophe becoming one of the assembly’s representatives on the Judicial Service Commission. Earlier today, the sunrise team spoke to CASAC’s Dan Mafora and he said… GUEST: Mbekezeli Benjamin, Researcher at Judges Matter, a watchdog over the judi...

After being inspired by his two-year-old daughter, Mukondleteri Dumela created an app for kids to learn African languages. The App, Mahlahle, named after the Xitsonga word for planet Venus, is a vibrant app designed for children aged two to eight.   GUEST: Mukondleteri Dumela, Founder of Angula, the company that created Mahlahle App

Hendrick Makaneta, Education Activist

After a disturbing video showing a pensioner being beaten made rounds on social media yesterday. Earlier on today Luvo Ngqaza, the 19-year-old suspect made his first appearance at the Kuilsriver Magistrate’s Court in Western Cape following his arrest. On the other hand, the Ministry of Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities has also welcomed Ngqaza’s swift arrest while also strongly condemning...

I’d like to start the next conversation by quoting Mark Gerzon: “Leading through conflict means believing in the possibility of what does not yet exist. It requires focusing on the luminous opportunity that lies at the end of the tunnel of obstacles.” Whether it is a GNU, multi-party coalition or GPU, different parties had to come together after the 2024 elections and lead together through whateve...

Water experts gathered in Durban for the Water Institute of Southern Africa’s 2024 Biennial Conference & Exhibition in June to talk about, amongst other things, a fundamental shift in mindset that is urgently needed among citizens, officials and the broader Southern African region to address South Africa’s looming water security challenges.   GUEST: Shafick Adams, Executive Manager responsible...

TshiVenda and siSwati have been added to Google Translate, bringing the number of locally supported languages to nine. This expansion also represents the largest addition of African languages, with about a quarter of the newly supported languages coming from the African continent. To explain the significance of this latest move is….   GUEST: Siya Madikane, Google SA’s Communications Manager  

Still on the UK elections. Interestingly Rishi Sunak has wasted no time in announcing that he will step down as Conservative leader once the arrangements for selecting his successor were in place. Take a listen to what he had to say earlier on today……. GUEST: KG Moxwale, Communications and Political Campaign Strategist

Sir Keir Starmer has officially been appointed by King Charles after his party won yesterday’s general election with a landslide victory. Labour is returning to power after 14 years following a collapse in support for the Conservatives. Kindly listen to Sir Keir Starmer’s acceptance speech…… GUEST: Musa Mdunge, Political analyst & PHD candidate at the University of Dundee

Today the SABC launched the new and improved SABC Plus. The newly improved platform comes with a sleek interface, personalised features, and unbeatable content. If ever there was a time you needed to jump on this platform, IT IS NOW!!! GUEST:  Abongile Cokie, SABC Over The Top Services Manager

An injection containing the antiretroviral drug lenacapavir is highly effective at preventing HIV infection for six months per shot. This is according to top-line study findings announced last week by the pharmaceutical company Gilead. Detailed study findings have not yet been presented at a major scientific conference or published in a reputable scientific journal. To get more details about the e...

Newly appointed Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, says she is itching to get stuck into her role and will soon outline some of the key priorities for her department. On Tuesday this week, Gwarube posted on X thanking well-wishers, adding that being appointed the minister of basic education was a massive responsibility she does not take lightly. GUEST: Siviwe Gwarube, Minister of Basic E...

The 2023 corruption perceptions index by transparency international shows that South Africa continues to be negatively perceived as corrupt, failing into the category of “flawed democracies”. How do we fix the way the world sees our beautiful country? To help me answer this question, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Ugljesa Radulovic, Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Jo...

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, has confirmed that while the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, is facilitating a smooth ushering-in of both the Executive and Members of Parliament for the 7th Administration, by providing work offices and residential accommodation, there will be no procuring of any new housing stock or offices for both the Executive an...

Recently, new Co-operative Governance MEC Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi placed the city of eThekwini under administration as things haven’t been going well there for quite some time. DA caucus leader Thabani Mthethwa has welcomed the intervention, saying that it’s been long overdue as Durban has been in a constant downward spiral. GUEST: Thabani Mthethwa, DA’s Caucus leader in the city of eThekwin...

Tomorrow marks 100 days without loadshedding. The elongated suspension of load shedding has been widely welcomed by citizens and businesses across South Africa. So what is it that the power utility has been doing right? Joining us for this conversation is…. GUEST: Daphne Mokoena, Eskom spokesperson

In conversation with Mr Mzwanele Nyhontso who was recently appointed as Minister of Land Reform and Rural Development. This as it is widely known that land ownership in South Africa remains a divisive issue – but can we expect a different approach from him and what are the limitations in terms of the GNU agreement – can he implement his party’s policy on the land question?   GUEST: Mzwanele Nyhont...

The African National Congress (ANC) says it has noted “a growing narrative of uncertainty” among South Africans about policy in the government of national unity (GNU). The party’s acting spokesperson Zuko Godlimpi has also made it clear that no political party is entitled to pursue its own policies within the Government of National Unity.   GUEST: Professor Andre Duvenhage, Political analyst at No...

Nkululeko Tselane, Legal Analyst from the Institute of Election Management Services Africa