The National Pulse

    South Africa has slipped down the latest Global Safety Index. According to the 2025 report from CS Global Partners, which assess 166 countries, South Africa has plunged 50 places in the global ranking for safety (sitting at 129th position to be precise). Escalating crime rates and concerns over corruption are some of the issues that inform this steep decline. For more analysis on thi...

    As South Africa approaches the 2026 local government elections, it faces a crisis of service delivery backlogs, infrastructure decay and financial failures. According to Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, these problems won’t be resolved without confronting the impact of councillor illiteracy across municipalities nationwide. She is arguing that South Africa must urgently adopt a minimum re...

Gauteng Department of Health head of department, Lesiba Malotana, has been placed on suspension with immediate effect. Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, announced Malotana’s suspension earlier today in light of revelations made regarding a procurement syndicate operating within the provincial health structures. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Madeleine Hicklin , DA...

With the release of about 2, 000 Palestinian prisoners today. We hear from Dr Zaheera Soomar who has been championing a global struggle to ensure justice for Palestine. She was part of the 450 activists that recently attempted to sail into Gaza to break Israel’s blockade. GUEST: Dr Zaheera Soomar, Member of the Global Sumud Flotilla  

    Today we are joined by an internationally acclaimed conference moderator, Nozipho Tshabalala. She is widely known for facilitating dialogues that largely focus on collective vision, strategic possibility and actionable change. Her personal journey, which is mainly characterised by resilience, overcoming challenges and achieving success, continues to serve as a powerful source of insp...

    Given the devastating human rights situation for women and girls in Afghanistan. We look at the People’s Tribunal that is currently underway in Spain. The tribunal aims to expose the Taliban’s crimes and document human rights violations committed under their rule. It has been set up by the Permanent Peoples Tribunal at the behest of a group of four Afghanistan civil socie...

A number of students have been arrested for public violence at two University of Free State’s campuses after students embarked on protests against the university’s proposed scrapping of provisional registration which comes into effect next year. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Phiwa Dlamini, University of Free State’s SRC member

  The National Treasury has unveiled the MzansiXchange Pilot, which will enable seamless online access to services, something that will enhance South Africa’s digital public infrastructure. This initiative forms part of MyMzansi, South Africa’s roadmap for digital transformation and it’s aimed at addressing key challenges pertaining to data fragmentation and a lack of intero...

Israel and Hamas have agreed to the first phase of a Gaza ceasefire deal. We understand that the two sides are now preparing for an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has welcomed the agreement, saying that the U.N stands ready to provide its full support. For more analysis on this, we are joined by…… GUEST: Naeem Jeena, Seni...

    Equal Education has welcomed the department of basic education’s decision to extend the deadline for public comments on the Draft Regulations on the Admission of Learners to Public Schools and the Draft Regulations on Minimum Uniform Norms and Standards for the Capacity of Ordinary Public Schools. They say this extension offers a crucial opportunity to genuinely listen to those...

    COSATU is observing a National Day of Action across the country. In Gauteng, they are holding a picket outside Thembisa Hospital, demanding accountability following the recent SIU report on the looting of 2 billion rand at the facility. There was also a march in the Cape Town and to tell us more about what was happening in the Western Cape, I am joined on the line by…   G...

    Various university researchers and key stakeholders from Free State Government departments are currently meeting to discuss the challenges and possible solutions that can be employed to bring about sustainable economic development and growth in the province. Joining us to outline the objectives of this year’s meeting is……   GUEST: Ketso Makume, Free State&rsq...

    There’s been an ongoing issue between the department of employment and labour as well as the department of basic education involving the payment of Education Assistants. Deputy Minister of the department of employment and labour, Jomo Sibiya, spoke to Thulasizwe Simelane this morning on The Morning Brief about this issue and this is what he had to say…   CLIP  ...

    We look at KZN’s disturbing reports about alleged instability in the public school system. Recent reports suggest that the province’s department of education is not doing well at all and this has left many questioning how quality education can be achieved when the department operates in crisis mode. For more on this we are joined by….   GUEST: Vee Gani, Chairp...

A new political party, Unite for Change, will be registered to contest the upcoming local government elections. Rise Mzansi, BOSA and Good have united to form this new party. The 3-parties will however continue to exist independently. Let’s get a sense of what this means for 2026 and beyond with… GUEST: Professor Steven Friedman, Political Analyst from the University of Johannesburg

The trial-within-a-trial into the theft of $580 000 at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm in Bela-Bela, Limpopo, has been postponed to Wednesday this week at the Modimolle Regional Court. To give us details on why this happened, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Pimani Baloyi, SABC Reporter in Limpopo

Following the merger of three political parties, namely GOOD party, Rise Mzansi and Build One South Africa, we ask - Can Unite for Change unite South Africans and what is it that they are offering that the country’s many political parties aren’t offering already? For more on this, we are joined by….. GUEST: Brett Herron, GOOD Secretary General

Reports coming from Nigeria suggest that the international community has shown little or no willingness to tackle the ongoing violence against Christian communities in the country. We understand that more than 50 000 Christians have been killed in the past 14 years. But what informs these killings? For more on this, we are joined by…   GUEST (Nigeria): Eniola Daniel, Reporter with Guar...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has successfully appealed the December 2023 judgment of the Gauteng High Court that set aside the recognition of AmaZulu King, His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. The Supreme Court of Appeal has set aside the High Court order. Let’s talk about this judgment with… GUEST: Melusi Xulu, Attorney and Legal Analyst from Donda Attorneys

Mandla Mbusi, SABC Regional Head: Eastern Cape  - SABC being the driver of these conversations  - The industry stakeholders support ( OB ) - The role SABC in informing the public about the transition trajectory of motor industry (from combustion engines to EV)

  The Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) has been a great source of support for some of the SMMEs at the Auto Week so let’s talk about this and how ECDC opens up opportunities to markets for Eastern Cape small businesses. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Vuyani Jarana, Chairman of the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC)

  We continue broadcasting from the naamsa Auto Week in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape. Such events bring in a lot of investment into the province so it’s only fitting that we look at what such events mean for organisations like COEGA. Let’s get more on this from someone responsible for driving investments into COEGA’s special economic zones… GUEST: Asanda Xawuka, Executive M...

guest: Deputy Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, Les Govender

  Yesterday, my colleague Cathy Mohlahlana spoke to Eastern Cape Province’s acting Premier, MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, Coega Development Corporation CEO, Themba Koza as well as the Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay, Cllr. Babalwa Lobishe about the province and Auto Week. The Eastern Cape has done all it can to create an enabling environment for the automotive industry. So, let’s get...