The National Pulse

    The DA put out a statement today condemning the department of international relations and cooperation’s stance on the Venezuela issue and they are not the only GNU partner who did that. The Freedom Front Plus issued its own statement, warning that the ANC cannot speak on behalf of South Africa regarding the events in Venezuela or its foreign policy. So why is it that GNU partne...

    We hear from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) on the progress the scheme has made regarding funding applications for this year. To date, 609,653 applications have been approved, with 203,731 applications currently in progress, and 16,862 applications have been cancelled. According to the organisation, a significant portion of applications were from vulnerable groups....

    A suspect has been arrested after 10 teenage boys were rescued in Mulbarton, south of Johannesburg. Police were alerted to a group of eight half-naked teenagers walking around. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Colonel Katlego Mogale, Hawks Spokesperson 

    In the next two hours, the United Nations Security Council’s members will debate the United States’ invasion of Venezuela. Many countries, including China, Russia, South Africa, and France, have condemned recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, arguing that the military intervention violates international law, specifically the UN Charter’s ban on using force against...

    The Economic Freedom Fighters has condemned the United States’ military operation in Venezuela as well as the US’ capture of Venezuela’s President, Nicolás Maduro. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Nqobile Mhlongo, EFF Member of Parliament that serves on the International Relations portfolio committee

    The Commissioner of the Border Management Authority (BMA), Dr Michael Masiapato, has provided an update on high traveller movement volumes across various ports of entry during the peak return phase of the festive season. According to him, the organisation managed to intercept a group of illegal migrants attempting to cross into South Africa from Zimbabwe, resulting in 25 arrests at t...

    ANC Johannesburg Regional Chairperson, Loyiso Masuku, won an urgent defamation case against her. The judgment was handed down by the Gauteng Division of the High Court in Johannesburg on 31 December 2025 after Masuku sought an interdict against political analyst and podcast host Phapano Phasha for making defamatory remarks about her in public. Let’s dive deep into the legalitie...

    Last night, about five swimmers were swept out to sea at Pennington Main Beach on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast after being caught in rough ocean conditions. Let’s get an update on the rescue operation with…   GUEST: Samantha Nerick, IPSS Medical Rescue Spokesperson

    The annual Ditrupa Festival is happening in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga, today. The annual festival brings the community of KwaMhlanga together through culture, music, and dance. Let’s get a sense of what was showcased today with…   GUEST: Nonhlanhla Ntshingila, SABC News Reporter in Mpumalanga

    The 2026 Local Government Elections will happen later this year so we thought we should look at what we can possibly see happening this year in politics. There was a change in leadership for the ANC in Johannesburg, Hellen Zille being announced as the DA’s Mayoral candidate in the City of Joburg, we’ve seen the work done by Action SA’s Dr. Nasiphi Moya as Tshwane Ma...

A dispute over the use of fireworks to ring in the New Year has resulted in the death of one person in the North West province. Police in Lethabong near Rustenburg have opened two dockets, one of murder and another of malicious damage to property following the incident. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Lieutenant Colonel Sam Tselanyane, North West Police Spokesperson

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has warned the public against consuming all shellfish, irrespective of whether they are washed or collected from shore. Let’s get more details on this from… GUEST: Steve Lamberth, Senior Scientist Inshore Resources at the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment

    The operator of South Africa’s last remaining manganese smelter, Transalloys (Pty) Ltd. says it may have to cut as many as 600 jobs as the company is unable to sustain its operations due to high power prices, current market conditions, including exchange-rate pressures against the US dollar and euro. So - what kind of interventions do they need in order for them to be able to r...

    Post the building collapse that resulted in three people losing their lives in Doornkop. The City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety, Dr Mgcini Tshwaku has revealed that the building had no approved plans with the city as required by building regulations.   GUEST: Dr Mgcini Tshwaku, t he City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Public Safety

    Following media reports that Iranian naval vessels are en route to South Africa to participate in the Mosi naval exercise alongside Russia. The DA’s spokesperson on Defence and Military Veterans, Chris Hattingh, says the presence of these sanctioned states contradicts the country’s stated foreign policy. He also warns that these exercises will strain crucial relations wit...

    Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been relocated from the C-Max facility, Kgosi Mampuru II Correctional Centre, to the super-maximum facility at eBongweni Correctional Centre in Kokstad, KwaZulu-Natal. Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo, said the transfer of remand detainees and sentenced offenders between correctional facilities is a standard operational pra...

A 19-year-old Grade 12 learner from Tiego Tawana Secondary School in the North West province has died after allegedly being taken forcibly to an initiation school shortly after completing his matric examinations in late November 2025. For more on this story, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Thabiso Moss, SABC News Reporter in North West

    The City of Johannesburg’s Emergency Management Services started rolling out intensified emergency and fire safety enforcement operations in the inner city today as part of a broader public safety drive during the festive season. To tell us more about this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Kagiso Phasha, City of Johannesburg EMS spokesperson

    The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Angie Motshekga, visited Komatipoort, Mpumalanga, today where two SANDF members were swept away by the Komati River. Yesterday, human remains believed to be linked to the Christmas Day incident were recovered near the Mozambique border. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Michael Mdluli, SABC News Reporter...

    China’s military has staged a second day of large-scale military drills around Taiwan as part of what it calls “Justice Mission 2025”, which is aimed at demonstrating its military might. Taiwan has condemned the drills, with the country’s President Lai Ching-te, stating that his territory would act responsibly by neither escalating conflict nor provoking dispu...

The City of Cape Town has renewed its call for water-wise behaviour after average daily water consumption exceeded the city’s summer usage target. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Councillor Zahid Badroodien, City of Cape Town’s Mayoral Committee Member for Water and Sanitation

Free State Premier, Maqueen Letsoha-Mathae, MEC for health, Monyatso Mahlatsi and other members of the Executive Council visited Maternity wards across the Free State province today to congratulate mothers and their new born babies. Let’s get a sense of how many babies were born in the Free State today with…

    The South African National Defense Force and the Border Management Authority intensified efforts to intercept illegal border crossings at Beitbridge today as the return phase begins and thousands of people are expected to re-enter South Africa. Let’s get a sense of what happened today at that port of entry with…   GUEST: Batseba Mabowa, SABC News Reporter in Limpopo

    Police in KwaZulu-Natal have launched a manhunt for four armed men who shot and killed four members of a family at their home near Mdweshule, near Port Shepstone on the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. The four people are believed to have been shot while celebrating the New Year. For more on this, I am joined on the line by…   GUEST: Colonel Amanda Funani, KZN Police Spokespers...

    As the world ushered into 2026, celebrations were also held at the Makoanyane Square in Maseru, Lesotho. Let’s get a sense of how Basotho in Maseru ushered into 2026 with…   GUEST: Rapelang Radebe, SABC News Correspondent in Maseru