The National Pulse

Now that the proposed VAT hike has been scrapped. The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) has urged SARS to consider taxing the wealthy more than the poor, particularly those who evade taxes. They argue that this will boost government revenues. GUEST: Matthew Parks, Cosatu’s Parliamentary Coordinator

Earlier on, I spoke to the Michael Bagraim, the DA’s Spokesperson on Employment & Labour about the party’s constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Duma Gqubule, Economic Analyst

In a first in the City of Cape Town, an EFF councillor has jumped ship to join the DA. Yesterday, Lungiswa Ntshuntshe was welcomed to the party by Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of the City of Cape Town

President Cyril Ramaphosa will establish a Judicial Commission of Inquiry to probe whether there were attempts to obstruct the investigation or prosecution of apartheid-era crimes referred by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the NPA. For more on this, I’m joined on the line by… GUEST: Lukhanyo Calata, Fort Calata’s son

US President Donald Trump has reached the 100-day mark of his presidency. Many of you may recall that during his election campaign, he made a lot of promises but most importantly he made it very clear that his second term in the White House will be all about putting the interests of the American people first. While some may argue that most of his promises have been achieved through executive order...

The Democratic Alliance has launched a constitutional challenge to Section 15A of the Employment Equity Amendment Act. The party is arguing that in its current form, the Act gives the minister of labour unwarranted authority to enforce rigid national race quotas in the workplace. GUEST: Michael Bagraim, DA MP and the party’s Spokesperson on Employment and Labour

The trial into the disappearance of seven-year-old Joshlin Smith continued at the Western Cape High Court sitting in Saldanha Bay today. The state prosecutor Advocate, Zelda Swanepoelin, says the case is the first of its kind in South Africa based on the set of facts. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Andile Mbanjwa, SABC News Reporter

Police have recovered bodies suspected to be those of three missing SAPS officers: What’s the latest news? Let’s find out from……   GUEST: Horisani Sithole, SABC News reporter

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa released the Easter Weekend road safety report at a media briefing earlier today. Last month, government launched the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign. Launched on 20 March, the campaign will run until 2 May 2025, under the theme: “It begins with Me.” For more on this, I am joined on the line by&...

Police have recovered bodies suspected to be those of three missing SAPS officers: What’s the latest news? Let’s find out from…… GUEST: Horisani Sithole, SABC News reporter

Transport Minister Barbara Creecy and Deputy Minister Mkhuleko Hlengwa released the Easter Weekend road safety report at a media briefing earlier today. Last month, government launched the 2025 Easter Season Road Safety Arrive Alive campaign. Launched on 20 March, the campaign will run until 2 May 2025, under the theme: “It begins with Me.” For more on this, I am joined on the line by&...

Action SA has formally submitted an application last week, in terms of the Promotion of Access to Information Act (PAIA), to obtain the Independent Police Investigative Directorate’s (IPID) report on the theft that took place at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Michael Beaumont, Action SA National Chairperson

Former minister in Nelson Mandela’s cabinet and former general secretary of Cosatu, Mr Jay Naidoo shares thoughts on “31 years of democracy: what next for South Africa and how do we ensure that we don’t fail those who fought and died for the freedom and democracy that we enjoy today”. GUEST: Jay Naidoo, Author, activist & former General Secretary of Cosatu

In a surprising turn of events. Police have confirmed that a fourth body has been recovered as the search for the missing police officers took a twist this morning. Police national spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe has also revealed that the identities of the three bodies that were retrieved from the Hennops river in Centurion have not yet been confirmed. GUEST: Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, Poli...

Last week, you may have listened to our interview with Salman Khan, following the attack on civilian tourists in Kashmir. Well, today we are joined by someone who is based in New Delhi who will give us an update and to a certain extent India’s perspective in terms of how the country’s authorities are handling this matter and what informed their initial response post the attack. What we...

South Africa’s iconic musical group, Ladysmith Black Mambazo joins us to talk about their musical journey as they are celebrating their 65th anniversary in the music industry. The multi-award winning group was formed in 1960 by the late Dr Joseph Shabalala and they are known for their powerful isicathamiya performances. As part of celebrating this incredible milestone, the group will embark...

Gauteng Education MEC Matome Chiloane confirmed that a fire broke out at Riverlea High School on Sunday evening, 27 April 2025, destroying 11 classrooms. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Steve Mabona, Gauteng Education Spokesperson

National Police Commissioner, General Fannie Masemola, says they have issued a reward of R350 000 to anyone who has information that will lead to a breakthrough in the disappearance of three police constables. The three missing police constables disappeared on Wednesday while travelling to Limpopo for their deployment. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Brigadier Athlenda...

he Border Management Authority executed one of its most extensive deployments to date across all 71 Ports of Entry during this year’s Easter period. This was revealed by the organisation’s commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato earlier today. According to him, the organisation’s officials managed to intercept and detain over 6000 individuals who were attempting to enter the country il...

As we continue to observe Freedom Day. We chat to Nombulelo Malinga, a young entrepreneur who joins us to discuss ‘a new kind of freedom’ that has allowed her to actively shape her career. According to her, South Africa’s political liberation alone is not enough and it is incomplete without social, economic and environmental freedom. She joins us now to elaborate further on this...

The Western Cape High Court has ruled that a proposed increase in the Value Added Tax rate be suspended. The court order also sets aside the adoption by the National Assembly and the National Council of Provinces of the report of the standing and select committees of finance of the fiscal framework. So what lessons can be learned from the budget debacle going forward? GUEST: Khaya Sithole, Indepen...

Today we chat to Professor Thenjiwe Meyiwa who was recently appointed as the new Vice-Chancellor of the University of Mpumalanga. Those who know her well always argue that her leadership skills and spirituality are the two outstanding qualities that make her unique. Another interesting thing about her is that she is a National Research Foundation rated scholar with extensive experience in higher e...

This week was a defining moment in the history of the North-West University after the launch of the North-West University Desmond Tutu School of Medicine. This was a profound moment for North-West University as the institution launched and named the North-West University School of Medicine. Professor Petra Bester, Research Director at the University of the North West joins me on the line to tell u...

Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has apologised to Bergview College principal, Jaco Pieterse, for falsely identifying him as a suspect in the alleged rape of a child that attends the school in Matatiele in the Eastern Cape. In a letter to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit, Mchunu says he has “human and personal empathy” for Pieterse and any other person “wrongly fingered&rdq...

AfriForum has just confirmed that Police Minister, Senzo Mchunu has apologised to Bergview College principal, Jaco Pieterse, for falsely identifying him as a suspect in the alleged rape of Cwecwe. The organisation’s private prosecution unit has welcomed Mchunu’s apology, also emphasising the importance of following due process when handling sensitive matters. For more on this, we are j...