The National Pulse

Earlier today Transport Minister Barbara Creecy, released the road safety report for the 2024/2025 festive season in Pretoria. According to her, the number of South Africans who were killed on the country’s roads during the festive season rose by more than 5% compared to 2023. She also revealed that 87% of crashes happened because of human behaviour. Joining us to react to the latest statist...

After weeks of deliberations regarding the party’s poor performance in last year’s general elections. The African National Congress has decided to reconfigure its Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal provincial executive committees. The reconfiguration means that new people may be appointed to the top five leadership positions in the two provinces. But what type of people is the party going to ap...

Former Israeli hostage negotiator, Dr Gershon Baskin chats to us about the ceasefire deal reached between Israel and Hamas. He has been consistently saying that there are no winners in this ongoing conflict. Baskin is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. So far three hostages and 90 Palestinian prisoners have been released as...

Today we chat to another great South African who is widely respected for her remarkable contribution to the aviation industry, and that is Poppy Khoza. Throughout her career, Khoza has won several prestigious international and continental awards for her outstanding contribution and leadership in civil aviation.   GUEST: Poppy Khoza, Director of Civil Aviation at the South African Civil Aviati...

The transition of becoming a teacher often comes with many challenges that extend beyond the delivery of the curriculum and newly qualified teachers require guidance on how best to navigate those challenges so that they can prioritise the outcomes of their learners. Sarah Koopman, Head of Partnerships & Advocacy at Jakes Gerwel Fellowship joins me on the line to talk about ways teachers can be...

Government departments led by the Department of Trade Industry and Competition are engaging Arcelormittal to try and avert the closure of the company's Newcastle and Gauteng facilities. Today, was the first meeting with the Labour and Employment minister, Nomakhosazana Meth, to try and come up with interventions to save jobs. Thobeka Magcai, Ministry of Employment and Labour Spokesperson joins me...

A 20-second video clip of a man making a fish drink beer went viral this week. Another disturbing video of the same man also popped up, and showed the man holding two fish and makes them kiss while he smiles and laughs. Some social media users were not pleased by this and now the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating the case. For more on this, I am joined on t...

The SA Reserve Bank’s Prudential Authority announced yesterday that it has applied for the provisional liquidation of Ithala, following revelations by the Repayment Administrator that Ithala is technically and legally insolvent. However, the KZN Economic Development and Tourism Portfolio Committee is against this decision and they are of the view that it undermines the ongoing efforts to res...

We examine Joe Biden’s legacy, analysing his successes and failures, with a particular focus on his administration’s foreign policy. The big question that we are asking today is - Did he steer his country in the right direction? What about his decision to support Ukraine - his hasty withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 - his administration’s failure to provide sound leadership in...

The issue of non-South Africans accessing healthcare in our country has once again reared its ugly head, sparking widespread debate and outrage after a video of the incident went viral on social media. The footage shows how the entire altercation ensued after the patient demanded a transfer letter to another doctor after repeatedly not receiving adequate assistance. To react to this is….. G...

The South African government held a World Economic Forum breakfast in Johannesburg this morning. Ministers and business leaders met to discuss the message Team South Africa will convey at the annual meeting in Da Vos next week. SABC News Economics Reporter, Katlego Legodi was at the breakfast in Sandton and he joins me on the line to tell us what was discussed there.. GUEST: Katlego Legodi, SABC N...

At least 78 dead bodies have been pulled from an illegal gold mine in Stilfontein in the North West as rescue operations wind down. A total of 216 survivors, some of them emaciated and disorientated, have been brought to the surface and immediately arrested for illegal mining and immigration. … joins me on the line to share a roundup of the rescue operations and overall impressions of what...

With today being day 2 of the 2025 academic year, a number of parents in Gauteng still don’t know which schools their kids will go to this year. There’s also reports that many parents are still dissatisfied with the schools their children have been placed in. GUEST: Steve Mabona, Gauteng Department of Education Spokesperson

Cape Town has been named 2025’s Best City in the World by Time Out, climbing to the top of the global list from second place last year. The Mayor of the Best City in the World, Geordin Hill-Lewis joins me on the line to talk about this achievement… GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, City of Cape Town Mayor  

AfriForum, Solidarity and the Solidarity Support Centre for Schools have started with legal action against the promulgation of the Bela Act. According to these organisations, President Cyril Ramaphosa acted irrationally and in breach of various agreements, as well as a recommendation by the Minister of Basic Education, Siviwe Gwarube, by promulgating the Bela Act in its entirety. To tell us more,...

TikTok plans to shut down US operations of its social media app used by 170-million Americans this Sunday. This is happening because of a federal ban that is set to take effect on Sunday, barring a last-minute reprieve. I am joined on the line by Brandon Peterson, tech editor of Reframed to tell us how the shutdown could affect global users and maybe even share a possible last-minute reprieve&hell...

Outgoing U.S President Joe Biden recently announced plans to lift the U.S designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, also revealing that his administration will ease economic restrictions as part of a deal for the release of political prisoners. Cuba has welcomed this decision, labelling it a step in the right direction. To expand more on this, we are now joined by… GUEST: Bryan B...

After more than 15 months into the conflict in Gaza. Israel and Hamas have finally reached a ceasefire agreement, which will see Israeli hostages held in Gaza released in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel. Officials from the U.S and Qatar said the deal would begin on Sunday. GUEST (Jerusalem): Anne Herzberg, Legal Advisor of NGO Monitor - a Jerusalem based Research Institu...

What does the deal mean for the war in the Gaza Strip and why did it take so long for the two parties to reach this significant agreement, and why are we not seeing a long term political resolution to the conflict?   GUEST(UK): George Galloway, British politician, Broadcaster and Writer

Earlier on, I spoke to Gauteng Premier, Panyaza Lesufi, about something he’s been asking for since he was education MEC in the province; one set of exams for all Matrics in the country. To get a bit of understanding of how practical this call is and what problem this will potentially address, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Professor Mary Metcalfe, Education Specialist

The president of Rwanda, Paul Kigame, together with the former president of Ethiopia, Hailemariam Dessalegn, launched the African School of Governance that they both co-founded. The presidents appointed Professor Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, a renowned Nigerian technocrat to be the first president and Vice-Chancellor of the school. Professor Moghalu joins me on the line to tell us more about the schoo...

Action SA announced a merger with political party, Forum 4 Service Delivery, to form a single organisation. The merger was announced during a media briefing in Johannesburg earlier today. To get more details on the merger, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Michael Beaumont, Action SA National Chairperson  

The Bishop Lavis Action Community planned a protest with a placard demonstration today following the cut of teaching posts in the Western Cape. Bishop Lavis in the Metro North District, is set to lose 16 teachers due to these cuts. Amanda Davids, Bishop Lavis Action Community’s Media Liaison Officer joins me on the line to tell us about today’s protest and what they are hoping it will...

As part of its back to school campaign. Yesterday, the department of transport in KwaZulu-Natal inspected 245 buses, taxis and minibuses that provide scholar transport in the province. Disturbingly, a total of 47 buses were found to be unroadworthy and were immediately prohibited from transporting learners. Joining us to explain the significance of these inspections is…… GUEST: S&rsq...

What next for Mozambique - now that Daniel Chapo is officially the country’s new president, despite weeks of deadly protests over the hotly disputed election results? Taking an oath earlier today, Chapo promised that he is going to defend human rights, democracy and the well-being of the Mozambican people. But what about the issue of national unity - will he be able to bring about peace and...