The National Pulse

As tomorrow marks World Intellectual Property Day. We look at the significance of Intellectual Property in fostering innovation and economic growth, also recognising how Intellectual Property has shaped the music industry and beyond. GUEST: Stephen Hollis, is a Partner @Adams and Adams, specialising in Intellectual Property  

The United Nations has urged both India and Pakistan to show maximum restraint and avoid any further deterioration following a deadly attack on tourists in Kashmir. Reacting to this week’s deadly attack, New Delhi announced a series of sanctions against Pakistan. On the other hand, Islamabad has denied any involvement, calling attempts to link Pakistan to the attack frivolous and vowed to re...

Post the budget impasse. Dr Ralph Mathekga argues that the undeniable message is that the status quo can no longer be sustained as we need to protect our economy from losing its competitiveness and productive capacity. GUEST: Dr Ralph Mathekga, The Speakers Firm’s thought leader in politics and economics, and a senior expert at the Lichtenstein based Geopolitical Intelligence Services (GIS)...

The DA, through a statement released late yesterday, confirmed reports that lawyers acting for the Minister of Finance approached their lawyers proposing an out-of-court settlement, in the matter the DA brought to interdict the VAT increase scheduled for May 1st 2025. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Karabo Khaukhau, DA National Spokesperson

The ACDP is another political party that welcomed Treasury’s announcement to rescind the proposed 0.5% VAT increase. ACDP is one of the parties that voted against the Fiscal Framework Revenue Proposals on the second of April 2025. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Wayne Thring, ACDP MP

Action SA on the other hand have been saying, even though they voted for the Fiscal Framework Revenue Proposals, there will be no VAT hike. Today the party called Treasury’s announcement, a victory for South Africa. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Michael Beaumont, Action SA National Chairman

Build One South Africa stated this morning that, despite a well-funded misinformation campaigns designed to discredit them, the party refused to be distracted or derailed in stopping the 0.5% point VAT hike. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, BOSA Deputy Leader

The ANC held a joint media briefing this morning with the Inkatha Freedom Party, Action-SA, Pan Africanist Congress, Rise Mzansi, BOSA, United Democratic Movement, Good Party, Al-Jamah as well as the Patriotic Alliance on the Fiscal Framework Revenue impasse. The media briefing communicated the outcomes of the parties’ discussions to resolve the fiscal framework. For more on this, I am joine...

The Freedom Front Plus released a statement earlier today stating that the party opposed any form of tax increase and welcomed the decision to scrap the proposed VAT increase. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Dr. Corne Mulder, Freedom Front Plus Leader

The party has criticised President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, arguing that he is not a legitimate president. Earlier on today, members of the MK Party staged a picket outside the Union Buildings in Pretoria, voicing out their disapproval of Zelenskyy’s visit. Joining us to elaborate further on why they didn’t want Zelenskyy to come...

Following the National Treasury’s decision to scrap the 0.5 percentage point VAT increase. The Economic Freedom Fighters have called for Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana and the Director General of the National Treasury to resign with immediate effect as they believe that the entire budget fiasco clearly demonstrated that both of them are out of depth and pose a threat to the economy stabil...

South Africa has been criticised previously for taking an ambiguous position in defining the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. This despite President Cyril Ramaphosa always arguing that our country’s non-aligned position puts it in a prime position to help bring about a peace deal with Russia. However though, today’s working visit by Zelenskyy focused on strengthening bilate...

The State IT Agency released a statement earlier today denying involvement in the procurement of overpriced laptops by Mpumalanga’s basic education department. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Tlali Tlali, The State IT Agency Spokesperson

The Department of Education in the Western Cape has received a record-breaking 164, 565 on-time applications for Grade R, 1 and 8 placements for next year’s school year. According to the department, this marks an increase of 12, 577 applications compared to the same period last year. Schools in the province will now consider all of the applications received to select successful applicants. F...

Earlier today, the Gauteng department of health said the City of Ekurhuleni's fire department was attending to “what looks like another fire incident” at the Tembisa Hospital. This was after the hospital's accident and emergency unit was hit by flames at the weekend. To get an update on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Lerato Makola, SABC News Reporter in Tembisa

The International Monetary Fund has slashed South Africa’s 2025 growth expectations by 0.5 percentage points to 1.0%, citing the negative impact the US tariffs will have on the country’s economic growth. So how should South Africa deal with this dilemma? For more on this, we are joined by…. GUEST: Dawie Roodt, Director and Chief Economist of the Efficient Group

As the country prepares for the local government elections that are due to take place next year. Earlier today, the Electoral Commission briefed the media on the developments within the commission as well as preparations for the upcoming municipal elections. During the briefing, the commission revealed among other things that it will persist with civic democracy drives targeting young learners and...

Activists and Citizens Forum released a statement reacting to the attempted assassination of Deputy President, Paul Matshatile. According to the forum, the story of an attempted assassination on the Deputy President, Paul Matshatile, sounds like a cooked up story from within the ANC factions. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Dennis Bloem, Spokesperson: Activists and Citi...

South Africans in the United Kingdom will this coming weekend join Operation Watershed’s protest against gender-based violence, which will take place in Trafalgar Square, London, in solidarity with the justice for CweCwe movement. According to Operation Watershed, the planned demonstration aims to amplify the voices of the countless survivors across South Africa and the diaspora. For more on...

Tomorrow, the South African Democratic Teachers Union will march to the offices of the National Treasury, Department of Basic Education and Department of Higher Education and Training against austerity measures in public education. The union is warning that the erosion of public education funding paves way for increased privatisation of the sector. GUEST: Mugwena Maluleke

Earlier on, we played a leaked voice recording posted by the Daily News, Durban and KZN’s leading afternoon newspaper. The leaked recoding revealed how former President Jacob Zuma and current leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) recently rejected overtures to join the Government of National Unity and the Government of Provincial Unity (GPU) in KwaZulu-Natal. For more on this, I am join...

The ANC in the Nortehrn Cape’s 10th provincial conference is underway in Kimberley. Outgoing chair, Zamani Saul made opening remarks to officially get the conference on the way. Also happening in the Northern Cape today, the EFF in the province marched to the Premier’s office asking for the abolishment of Orania. For more on these two events, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: U...

The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis’s funeral will be held this Saturday. According to a short statement, the funeral liturgy in St Peter’s square will be presided by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Sophie Mokoena, SABC News International Editor

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expected to visit South Africa on Thursday. Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, Wandile Sihlobo says South Africa and Ukraine should look at how best they can improve agricultural relations as both countries are net exporters of agricultural products. Sihlobo joins us now to elaborate further on this….. GUEST: W...

ANC KwaZulu-Natal Provincial task team convener Jeff Radebe has taken the witness stand at the inquest into the death of former ANC President Chief Albert Luthuli. SABC News Senior reporter, Ayanda Mhlongo is joining us live from the Pietermaritzburg High Court and she will give us an update in terms of the latest developments. GUEST: Ayanda Mhlongo, SABC News Senior Reporter