The National Pulse

Why are we failing to deal with the issue of illegal mining and the role of zama-zamas in South Africa? A multi-disciplinary team made up of Tactical Response Teams (TRT), Hawks, SAPS Crime Intelligence, K-9 unit and private security companies carried out a sting operation and managed to arrest at least 20 illegal miners in Randfontein this morning. Police Minister Bheki Cele has also assured the...

The US has killed the leader of al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in a drone strike in Afghanistan. US President Joe Biden confirmed this yesterday, also revealing that al-Zawahiri was killed in a counter-terrorism operation carried out by the CIA in the Afghan capital Kabul on Sunday. According to the US officials al-Zawahiri and the late Osama Bin Laden plotted the 9/11 attacks together, and he was o...

It was a very busy and important weekend for the ANC. The ruling party sat in Nasrec to make policy resolutions. Some of those include their call for the Reserve Bank to be nationalized. They also propose the introduction of a wealth tax that will fund the basic income grant. Another big story making news today, is the decision to allow people to have access to their pension funds once a year. For...

How is the City of Ekurhuleni going to respond to the issues that have led to violent protests in Tembisa? Residents have been frustrated by lack of service delivery as well as increasing electricity tariffs, however, they feel like they are not being heard. We are now joined by City of Ekurhuleni’s MMC for Finance, Fanyana Nkosi.  

Yesterday, the department of health announced that it will no longer carry out daily Covid-19 reports due to the reduced severity and transmissibility of the disease, coupled with declining Covid-19 cases. So what has changed and what have we been doing right to get to this point? Joining us for this conversation is… Guest: Dr Lesley Bamford, Head of Child Health Unit at the Department of Health

The gang rape of eight women in Krugersdorp by a group of men while shooting a music video has sent shockwaves across the country. Some arrests have been made and police are still planning to arrest more suspects, however, many feel there is no actual plan to deal with rape in the country as incidents keep getting more gruesome. President Ramaphosa mentioned his shock at the incident during the AN...

The Tembisa Hospital has had to reschedule some of its surgeries as over 100 staff members could not pitch for work due to a protest in the area. The area has been completely shut down following a violent clash between police and residents who are protesting over high electricity tariffs and lack of service delivery. A second person has died in the crossfire. We are now joined by Tembisa Hospital...

Last year, the Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) and the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) revealed that women whose partners were regularly alcohol intoxicated were almost six times more likely to experience gender-based violence. As part of responding to this problem, the Liquor Traders Association of South Africa will soon host Tavern Dialogues that are aimed at educ...

What is Christian nationalism and how is it different from Christianity? We tackle this issue after over 12,000 Christians in the US signed a petition condemning Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene's embrace of Christian nationalism. Those who are opposed to this idea are saying it is unchristian and unpatriotic. But what is it exactly and what are its objectives? For more on this, we are...

Yesterday, AfriForum submitted its written comments rejecting the proposed amendments to regulations which increase Covid-19 grants – arguing that the expansion of Covid-19 allowances is not a solution to poverty, because citizens who qualify for the allowances still find themselves far below the upper poverty line of R1 335 per month.     Guest: Reiner Duvenage, AfriForum’s Campaign Officer for S...

An ostrich that caused traffic on the N14 on Thursday has died. A team from the Owl Rescue Centre spent about six hours trying to recapture the large bird, but it died from stress.  It was spotted by motorists on the N14 highway between Krugersdorp and Pretoria on Thursday. The team managed to restrain it, however, it was too late.  Guest: Brendan Murray, manager at the Owl Rescue Centre.     

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially opened the party’s 6th policy conference. In his speech he highlighted many things the party needs to address through policy, including unemployment, gender based violence, and corruption. Ramaphosa says the party needs to be intentional about the distribution of land to those who work and need it. He also spoke about the importance of making the ANC yo...

As monkeypox cases surge globally. The World Health Organization has advised men at risk of catching monkeypox to consider reducing how many sexual partners they have. According to WHO, the virus spreads primarily through skin-on-skin physical contact, but it can also be transmitted by touching objects like sheets or towels that may have been used by somebody with monkeypox, as well as through clo...

Demonstrators in the volatile eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have called for the immediate withdrawal of the United Nations peacekeeping mission. Recent protests in Butembo-Beni, Goma, Bukavu and Uvira turned into deadly attacks against the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). So far we are told that the deat...

Guest: Andile Bloko, Numsa’s Regional Secretary in the Eastern Cape .  

Earlier on today, the Labour Court dismissed metalworkers union Numsa’s application for leave to appeal its interdict against convening the national congress that is currently underway in Cape Town. Judge Graham Moshoana ruled that the union‘s decision to go ahead with the conference was unguided and unwise. However, to counter this morning’s ruling NUMSA has since lodged an application for direct...

Following last week’s state visit by the Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara. Last night, President Cyril Ramaphosa when addressing the ANC’s Business Gala Dinner revealed that South Africa and Ivory Coast intend to build a massive chocolate production factory that will benefit both countries, and this will make Africa the centre of global chocolate production and distribution. Guest:  Sakaria Kon...

Following Monday’s announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that South Africa will now import power from Botswana and Zambia, as part of addressing the country’s energy crisis. The Botswana Power Corporation has welcomed this announcement also stating that they have already commenced negotiations with Eskom to purchase the excess electricity supply in order to ensure that surplus electricity has...

AgriSA is warning that there could still be major challenges in the shipment of imported grain, despite the deal between Russia and Ukraine to reopen Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. The deal is to minimise food insecurity by restoring grain exports from Ukraine and Russia. Agri-SA says the deal is good news, however, it is unlikely that food prices will reach pre-conflict levels anytime soon. 30% of So...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa is carrying is holding its congress. The trade union’s special central committee resolved to convene the congress after a successful interdict by its suspended members at the Johannesburg Labour Court. The union says halting the congress would have had huge financial implications as the venue had already been paid for and delegates had already flo...

South Africans can expect some relief at the fuel pumps next month. Yesterday, the ministry of mineral resources and energy released a statement, confirming that there will be a sizeable reduction in fuel prices, including paraffin. According to the Automobile Association, fuel prices for August could be reduced by R1.07 per litre for 93 octane, 90 cents per litre 95 octane, while diesel could dro...

Two regions have walked out of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa’s congress in Cape Town. The congress has been marred by delays. It was interdicted by suspended members of the trade union, however, it is going ahead with the congress, citing financial implications. Why did these two regions walk out? We are now joined by SABC News Reporter, Atule Joka.

Former Chairperson of the South African Airways Board, Dudu Myeni has been fined R120 000 for disclosing the identity of a protected witness during her testimony at the Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. Myeni has entered into a plea agreement with the state. Guest: Cynthia Stimpel, (whistle-blower) and former group treasurer of SAA

Yesterday, Lesotho director of public prosecutions dropped charges against former Prime minister Thomas Thabane and his wife Maesaiah Thabane over the murder of his ex-wife in 2017. Lead prosecutor Gareth Leppan withdrew the charges because a key witness in the case was no longer available. To furnish us with more details on this, we are joined by….    Guest: Rapelang Radebe, SABC Corresponded bas...

It never rains by pours for South Africans. The Tyre Importers Association of South Africa has announced it is expecting a massive price hike if the country’s four largest producers of tyres succeed in their duty application on vehicle tyres. The taxi industry will be the hardest hit as taxi tyre prices will increase by 41% while small vehicle tyres will increase by 38-40% and truck and bus tyres...