The National Pulse

What exactly does the arrest of fugitives, Atul and Rajesh Gupta in the United Arab Emirates mean? The Ministry of Justice and Correctional Services was informed by UAE law enforcement officials that the pair had been arrested after a red Interpol notice was issued. The two are wanted for fraud and money-laundering. They have been implicated by many government officials in state capture and have b...

The University of Cape Town has beefed up security following the disruption of exams on Monday by people the university says are neither students nor employees. The disruption happened as part of a protest for insourcing of staff members by the university. A video showing men disrupting exams at UCT has been making rounds on social media since Monday. The men wearing t-shirts with political brandi...

The Special Tribunal has granted an order instructing Hamilton Ndlovu and his companies to pay back more than R160 million to the state. Ndlovu and the businesses scored contracts worth R172 million to provide personal protective equipment during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. Ndlovu has also been barred from doing business with the State. Guest: Adv Selby Makgotho, Spokesperson of the Speci...

A 17-year-old girl has died after allegedly being assaulted by a pastor near Port Edward on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The teenager was one of four girls who were tied up and beaten for four days, because they were accused of being possessed by demons. The girls' parents reportedly asked a local pastor to cast out the demons. The pastor has since been arrested. Let’s now speak to KZN Dep...

Last night, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson survived a no-confidence vote, securing enough support from his Conservative Party to remain in office. In a secret ballot, 148 of the 359 Conservative Party lawmakers voted against Johnson. At least 180 would have had to vote against Johnson for him to be removed. Following yesterday’s developments some commentators argue that his authority&n...

One of Gauteng’s most wanted criminal, Mbuso Ndabazovela Biyela has been killed in a shootout with police in a takedown operation of his arrest in Kwa-Zulu-Natal. Biyela is linked to several criminal cases between December 2017 and March 2022, including the murder of a police officer. He had been arrested murders in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in 2020 and 2021, but escaped from custody. For mo...

As we observe Men’s Health Month. The South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP) urges men to speak up before it’s too late, and break the stigma that it’s ‘unmanly’ and a sign of weakness should men reach out for help. This comes after a shocking revelation that shows that men are most likely to commit suicide than women in South Africa.   Guest: Dr Mvuyiso...

Parliament’s Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will deliberate on UDM leader, General Bantu Holomisa’s letter where he calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to temporarily vacate his position while the matter of the robbery that took place at his property is being investigated. Holomisa wrote to the Speaker asking for the matter to be investigated. He says this cannot go un-probed as it a...

Vaccinated people who are over the age of 50 are now eligible for an additional Pfizer Covid-19 booster shot. The shot is available to people who have completed four months since their last Pfizer or Johnson and Johnson jab from today. Before this, people were only eligible for one booster shot after getting their initial Pfizer double shot or the single dose Johnson and Johnson shot. For more on...

  Political Analyst Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi shares thoughts on the criminal complaint laid against President Cyril Ramaphosa, particularly looking at the possible political ramifications that this ongoing saga might have on Ramaphosa.   Guest: Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi, Political analyst

Yesterday, unknown gunmen attacked a Catholic church in Nigeria, killing several people including women and children. Nigeria has experienced an upsurge in violence in recent months. Kidnappings and attacks have been reported across the vast country. To talk to us about this unfortunate incident is….   Guest: Samson Omale, a Multi-Media Broadcast journalist based in Nigeria

As we continue to outline the objectives of the Entrepreneurship Centre of Excellence that was launched earlier today by the Free State’s Central University of Technology – we now tell you more about the significance of entrepreneurship development in higher education and why some deem it inevitable. Guest: Prof Alfred Ngowi – Free State’s CUT acting Vice-chancellor and Pri...

Today, Police Minister Bheki Cele and the management of the South African Police Service (Saps) presented the quarterly crime statistics to parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Police. The statistics cover crimes that occurred between January and March 2022 and the first three months of the year has seen more than 6 000 people murdered in SA, to tell us more, I am joined by…   Gue...

The ANC in Limpopo is hosting its 10th elective conference at The Ranch Resort today. Current chairperson Stanley Chupu Mathabatha and Public Works, Roads and Infrastructure MEC Dr Dickson Masemola will contest for the position of chairperson while former Vhembe Mayor, Florence Radzilani and Mopani Mayor Pule Shai will contest the deputy chair position. To tell us more about the conference, I am j...

Earlier on today, Free State’s Central University of Technology (CUT) launched its "Entrepreneurship Centre of Excellence" called CUT Entrepreneurship Development Unit (CUT-EDU). The unit will among other things offer short-learning programmes that will enable young people and women to use innovative education and technology in entrepreneurship and other socio-economic development-related fi...

Johannesburg Water has once again reminded Joburg residents that some parts of the City are going to experience a 24-hour water shutdown today. According to them, the shutdown is due to the installation of a new non-return valve on pumpset 20 at the Vereeniging Water Treatment Plant and it will take approximately 3-5 days for the system to adequately recover after supply has been fully restored. &...

Yesterday, the United Nations agreed to recognize Turkey’s new name after a request from the country's government, which means that Turkey will now be known as Türkiye. The country's rebranding campaign began in December last year when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued a memorandum asking other countries to use the name Türkiye. So are Turkish people excited about this new deve...

THE INNERVIEW: Today we speak to our former colleague Dr Noxolo Grootboom who was tremendously popular with viewers right here at SABC. We just want to acknowledge her excellent contribution to journalism and the important role that she played in the promotion and preservation of isiXhosa language, and by extension affirming the premier place of African languages in South Africa.   GUEST: Nox...

FNB Money Management feature: Today we talk about “Cash as a Diversification Tool”. Our topic is informed by the fact that people are always looking at ways to save and invest for their short, medium, or long-term goals. Joining us for this discussion is…. Guest: Stephanus Buys, Head of Channel Management at FNB Cash Investments

The e-hailing driver who was murdered by the community in Parkwood in Cape town has been identified. We spoke to IOL journalist, Robin-Lee Francke on Tuesday after the incident. 31 year old Abongile Mafalala was attacked by residents following allegations that he attempted to kidnap a child. However, police say there was no abduction or an attempt for that matter. They say he was a victim of a cri...

Following her preliminary investigation into Ismail Abramjee’s controversial text message. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane talks to us about her next move, this as she attempts to prove that Abramjee’s conduct if left unchallenged will only lead to the permanent undermining of the independence and integrity of our judiciary and democracy.   Guest: Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane,...

Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations officially begin today. Over the course of the weekend, a series of other events and parties are planned to mark the Queen's milestone, including a musical celebration at Buckingham Palace, and a four-act pageant telling the story of her reign. Royal biographer Ian Lloyd and Author of ‘The Queen: 70 Chapters in the Life of Elizabeth II&rs...

It seems there may be a looming deadlock between government and unions representing public servants, which may lead to a strike. Government finally moved from its initial zero percent stance to a 4.5 percent wage increase, but unions are not budging. They have asked negotiators to go back to the government and ask for more. Unions are demanding a 10 percent wage increase that will cost R66.5 billi...

Unisa’s political science professor, Dirk Kotze says there are still many flaws in the election bill aimed at paving the way for the inclusion of independent candidates. Parliament was given two years to amend the Electoral Act in 2020. That deadline expires next week and parliament has applied for a six months extension. Professor Kotze says some issues in the proposed legislation remain un...

Former Cope Youth Leader Anele Mda has written a supporting affidavit echoing political commentator and TV host, JJ Tabane’s claim that former finance Minister Trevor Manuel was involved in the formation of ANC breakaway party, Cope. Manuel has filed a defamation lawsuit against Tabane who made the claims in a podcast hosted by DJ and businessman Sibusiso Leope. Tabane stands by his claims a...