The National Pulse

As South Africa is currently experiencing serious energy constraints. President Cyril Ramaphosa says the country can learn a lot from Portugal when it comes to the deployment of renewable energy. He made these remarks after welcoming his Portuguese counterpart President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa, who is on a state visit to South Africa. For more on this, we are joined by….   GUEST: Khayelihle Khumal...

Let’s now speak to Francois Rodgers who will advance reasons as to why the Democratic Alliance in KwaZulu-Natal wants this matter to be probed.   GUEST: Francois Rodgers, DA KZN Leader

Two teachers and a principal have been suspended following allegations of sexual abuse against school girls at Bonkolo High School in Dutywa in the Eastern Cape. Parents allege this has been happening for years, and one of the girls is now pregnant. They also say their cries for help with the issue were not heard until recently. We’re now joined by Petros Majola, Executive Director at Khula Commun...

Today we celebrate Siba Mtongana as she was recently presented with Best Hotel Restaurant and the Excellence Award at the Luxe Restaurant Awards

The University of Fort Hare has beefed up security following last night’s violent protest by students who set two buildings alight. It is alleged this was an attempt to halt examinations as the timetable was too congested. 12 students have been arrested and face different charges, including malicious damage to property. Exams went ahead, despite the disruption. The institution moved morning exams...

The Special Investigating Unit will soon investigate allegations of corruption and maladministration at the Umgeni Water Board, following a proclamation by President Cyril Ramaphosa that authorises the unit to go ahead with its investigative work. The proclamation covers allegations of unlawful and improper conduct that took place between 01 March 2018 and 2 June 2023.   GUEST: Kaizer Kganyago, Sp...

Following Cape Forum’s decision to launch a court bid aimed at overhauling policing powers in the Western Cape. We speak to Advocate Lennit Max about the crime situation in the province and what needs to be done to improve policing in the region.   GUEST: Advocate Lennit Max, former Provincial Police Commissioner in the Western Cape

Things are slowly getting back to normal in the streets of Dakar, after clashes that erupted last week following the sentencing of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. The violence resulted in at least 16 deaths and more than 350 wounded. To give us more analysis on what caused political tensions in the West African country is…..   GUEST: Izak Khomo, African affairs commentator

Dr Makhosi Khoza, President of the Bantu Languages Development Institute

Limpopo police are searching for a gang of eight people that opened fire at a tavern in Malamulele, killing two people and wounding eight. Police say the assailants fled the scene in two double cab vehicles. They found sseveral cartridges fired from a pistol. The motive of the killing is not known yet. We’re now joined by Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malesela Ledwaba.

Gauteng MEC for Transport and Logistics Kedibone Diale-Tlabela has strongly condemned the attacks on e-hailing drivers and burning of cars at Maponya Mall in Soweto. This comes after an alleged confrontation that occurred last night between minibus taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers where it is alleged that minibus taxi drivers attacked e-hailing drivers and burnt three vehicles and damaged four o...

Activists in eSwatini have condemned the guilty verdict on incarcerated pro-democracy Members of Parliament, Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube. The two MPs were demanding democratic reforms in the country and were arrested on politically motivated terrorism charges, and they face up to 20 years in prison.   GUEST: Zweli Martin Dlamini, Managing Editor of Swaziland News

THE INNERVIEW: We’re doing our Innerview a bit differently this week. We always speak to experts on this platform and get their analysis on pressing issues, however, we hardly take time to see, hear and learn about the human being behind the expertise. Today we have Nixon Katembo, an Africa affairs analyst and producer on Channel Africa. How did a former child soldier, refugee and car guard make h...

Manufacturing activity contracted for the fourth consecutive month in South Africa in May, it is it expected to continue declining. The Absa Purchasing Managers Index was 49.2 in May, down from 49.8 in April. This is below the 50-point mark separating expansion from contraction. The bank says this is the most pessimistic respondents have been about the near-term outlook since the strictest phase o...

The issue of Ingonyama Trust Board is causing some serious divisions in KwaZulu-Natal as some amakhosi in the province under the banner of ‘Abakhuseli Besihlalo’ say they are not in support of the new Ingonyama Trust Board that was recently announced by the minister of Agriculture, Land reform and Rural development, Ms Thoko Didiza. To explain their objection to the new board is…..   GUEST: Prince...

Earlier on today, several organisations marched to the Union Buildings to protest against undocumented and illegal foreign nationals. The organisations are saying that South Africa is facing a myriad of challenges such as crime and many social ills and that foreign nationals are worsening the situation. They are calling on President Cyril Ramaphosa to take urgent action and remove illegal foreigne...

The Meeting of the BRICS Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Relations is currently taking place in Cape Town. The ministers are expected to discuss a number of issues in preparation of the upcoming BRICS Summit that is due to take place in August this year. Among other things that they are going to look at is the whole issue of local currency trading and the ongoing conflict between Ru...

Our salaries continue to shrink, while the cost of living increases. BankServe Africa’s Take-home Pay Index shows the average take-home pay spiralled downwards in April 2023, reversing recent gains, and dipping again below the level of a year ago. It also shows the number of salary payments has fallen as the economy continues to shed jobs in some industries. The average nominal take-home pay was R...

It is World No-Tobacco Day. The day is used to raise awareness about the harm cause by tobacco products to people, public health, communities and the environment. Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Health was briefed on the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill earlier today. Among other things, the aim of the bill is to regulate the sale and advertising of tobacco product...

It is common knowledge that residents near mines are often ignored. To change this narrative, Impala Rustenburg recently handed over four significant Social and Labour Plan projects to the North West Departments of Health and Education. These projects, which were undertaken at an investment of over R53 million, are aimed at providing lasting benefits to the residents in Impala’s mine-communities....

The ANC has given its former secretary general Ace Magashule seven days to make presentations as to why he should not be expelled from the party. This after the party's national disciplinary committee found him guilty of contravening the organisation's constitution when he attempted to suspend President Cyril Ramaphosa two years ago. For more on this, we are joined by…. GUEST: Samkele Maseko, SABC...

Auditor General Tsakane Maluleke is calling on government to urgently build a culture of accountability to improve the state of local governance and service delivery in municipalities. She says many municipalities are failing on almost every metric of good governance and integrity and local governance is characterised by a crumbling municipal infrastructure and financial mismanagement. She present...

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has just announced that Zimbabwe will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections on August 23 this year. Joining us now to talk about his party’s state of readiness is Advocate Nelson Chamisa, leader of the CCC who has been calling on Mnangagwa to announce a date as he felt that Zimbabweans needed to start preparing for the upcoming elections.     GUEST (ZIMBABW...

Former MEC for Economic Development in KwaZulu-Natal Mike Mabuyakhulu is now a free man after he was found not guilty by the Durban High Court judge Mahendra Chetty. Judge Chetty granted a discharge to all 16 accused in the case. GUEST: Mike Mabuyakhulu, former KZN MEC for Economic Development