The National Pulse

Development on reposts on Minister Sisisi Tolashe The Department of Social Development has pushed back against the reporting of Minister Sisisi Tolashe stating that the department is undergoing reforms. We are joined by a journalist to unpack the Department’s warning and what it means for media freedom, public trust, and the role of accountability in holding government officials accountable&...

To react to the Gauteng department of education state of schools and education crisis is… Guest: Hendrick Makaneta - Education Activist

Gauteng education has released statistics that paint a dire picture on school infrastructure in the province. We find out more on the report and its impact on the quality of education in the province… Guest: Lebogang Maile - Gauteng Education MEC

The son of former Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe has been sentenced to a fine of R600,000 or two years in prison after violating firearms and immigration regulations whilst his cousin has been sentenced to an effective prison term. To understand better the sentencing we speak to… Guest: Adv Modidima Mannya - Legal Expert

Today marked day two of March and March Movement’s demonstrations in Gauteng. Today the civic movement led a march to the Gauteng Legislature to submit a second memorandum of demands. Action SA is one of the political parties that joined the movement in today’s demonstrations in Joburg CBD. GUEST: Herman Mashaba, Action SA

In the past week, South Africa has seen a rise in attacks against foreign African nationals, this resulted in Ghana summoning South Africa’s High Commissioner and the United Nations Secretary-General condemning the violence. At a recent Freedom Day event, President Cyril Ramaphosa responded more cautiously, showing a gap between global concern and the government’s tone. This raises que...

Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi withdrew the country's Draft National AI Policy after it was found to contain 'various fictitious sources'. An Artificial Intelligence (AI) expert has cautioned that South Africa’s withdrawal of its draft AI policy should be seen less as a damaging blunder and more as a pivotal lesson in governance. GUEST: Professor Rendani Mbuvha, AI expert and associate P...

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) is calling for the toning down of hostilities between its alliance partners, the ANC and the SACP. GUEST: Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator

The Eastern Cape department of health says it has noted a decline in teenage and child births in the province. The province has been for the longest time being in the top provinces struggling with this crisis, we find out more from the department… Guest: Ntandokazi Capa - The Eastern Cape Department of Health MEC

Minister of Basic Education Siviwe Gwarube has asked the National Treasury to investigate alleged irregularities in the procurement of school textbooks that were awarded to Lighthouse Publishers. We find out more with… Guest: Siviwe Gwarube - Minister of the Department of Basic Education

South Africa’s fastest-growing food rescue NGO says hunger in the country is not a question of charity, but a failure of systems. As findings from the South African Human Rights Commission food inquiry are expected, the organisation warns that food insecurity has reached record levels despite sufficient food being produced nationally. We discuss how this crisis can be addressed… Guest...

Two opposition parties in the City of Johannesburg have expressed concern about the metro’s reliance on loans to fund service delivery projects. According to the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), the city has borrowed R5 billion from financial institutions in the past 12 months to fund infrastructure-related projects. GUEST: Chris Rohlssen, Councillor for the African Christian Democ...

The March and March movement, led by Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, is staging a demonstration in Pretoria, Gauteng, today. The organisation has blamed the government for allegedly not doing enough to deal with undocumented foreign nationals in the country. GUEST: Nonhlanhla Ntshingila, SABC News Reporter

The Border Management Authority has announced a huge project that will change border management in South Africa. There will be a strategic redevelopment of six key points of entry. GUEST: Dr. Michael Masiapato, Border Management Authority Commissioner

With the evolution of technology, and the take-over of AI in all spaces including education, a tech NPO is taking teachers along the journey. The AI + Me pathway forms part of Digify Africa’s broader vision to build Kitso as a WhatsApp-based learning, development, and support platform for teachers across South Africa. Guest: Polly Sekwala - ILizwe Lam Project Manager at Digify Africa

The Inkatha Freedom Party, led by its President, Velenkosini Hlabisa, together with members of the Party’s National Executive Committee, commemorated Freedom Day at the Banquet Hall in Westonaria, Gauteng, today. GUEST: Inkosi Mzamo Buthelezi, IFP Deputy President

The Gauteng Geographical Names Committee believes Freedom Month should be more than about a reflection on the country’s transition to democracy and political milestones, but also include a reflection on the spaces we inhabit and the names that define them. GUEST: Lorraine Shabangu, Advocacy Subcommittee Chairperson, Gauteng Geographical Names Committee

The City of Cape Town has allocated a record-breaking R6.8 billion to its Safety and Security Directorate for the 2026/27 financial year, representing its largest-ever investment in crime prevention and public safety.  Guest: JP Smith - Mayoral Committee Member (MMC) for Safety and Security in the City of Cape Town

Guest: Dr Tendai Mbanje - African Governance Expert at University of Pretoria (UP) Center for Human Rights

A missing person’s case was opened on the 05th of April after 27-year-old Mazwi Mpumelelo Kubheka went missing on the second of April 2026 in Marimba Gardens, Vosloorus, Ekurhuleni. GUEST: Nomhle Kubheka, Mazwi Kubheka’s Sister

Civil Society Organisation, Forum for South Africa, marks this Freedom Day with deep reflection and growing concern over the widening gap between the promise of 1994 and the lived reality of millions of South Africans today. GUEST: Tebogo Mashilompane, National Leader of Forum for South Africa

This afternoon President Cyril Ramaphosa held a media briefing in which he announced the placement of National Commissioner General Fannie Masemola, and the appointment of new acting National Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Puleng Dimpane. To help us make sense of this decision is… Guest: Prof Sethulego Matebesi - Political Analyst with University of the Free State

    Marked globally on 23 April, World Book and Copyright Day promotes reading, publishing and intellectual property awareness, as stakeholders reflect on literacy challenges and progress. In South Africa, where a persistent literacy crisis affects learning outcomes, we speak this afternoon with a reading project leader on why the day matters, how initiatives are tackling the problem, an...

    WaterCAN’s Schools Water Testing Project revealed alarming findings, with nearly a third of participating schools recording high levels of E-coli in their drinking water.   GUEST: Dr. Ferrial Adam, WaterCAN Executive Manager

Last night, the Zambian government took possession of the body of former president, Edgar Lungu, after what the government described as the family’s inability to continue with their appeal case. This morning, there were reports that the Lungu family has secured an urgent interdict to have his body returned to the Two Mountains mortuary. Let’s make sense of all of this… GUEST: So...