The National Pulse

According to the DA Gauteng health spokesperson and member of the Gauteng legislature, Jack Bloom, what could become yet another Life Esidimeni episode is festering at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital cardiothoracic unit. The heart surgery mortality rate at the facility is said to have reached an alarming rate, with Gauteng authorities allegedly trying to cover up the matter. GUEST:...

The Menstruation Foundation ran an awareness campaign in the STAR newspaper as part of its donation drive. The advertisement featured newspaper pages stained red to resemble blood, with the final page carrying the message: “A newspaper can absorb blood, but not the shame.” We speak to the advertising agency behind this campaign to unpack its message and intended impact… Guest: A...

The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) has resolved to request the Secretary to Parliament to lay a criminal charge against Collins Letsoalo after he failed to appear before the committee in November 2025. Guest: Advocate Justin Erasmus - Chairperson of the Personal Injury Plaintiff Lawyers Association

We continue with conversations around youth unemployment, and this afternoon we speak to South Africa’s National Youth Development Agency on the role it plays… Guest: Tshepo Moloi: Head of Research and Economics at the National Youth Development Agency

President Cyril Ramaphosa and Health Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, launched the injectable HIV prevention drug, Lenacapavir, at the Lilian Ngoyi Stadium at Secunda, in Mpumalanga today. GUEST: Mia Malan, Founder and Editor in Chief of Bhekisisa

In an address to Council on 27 May, City of Cape Town Mayor, Geordin Hill-Lewis, announced the city’s proposed further widening of rates relief for all residential properties up to R8m GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, Executive Mayor: City of Cape Town

The South African Police Service officially dismissed Major General Richard Shibiri, former head of Organised Crime, following internal disciplinary proceedings. He was found guilty of misconduct for bringing the police service into disrepute by associating himself with a known criminal. GUEST: Andy Mashaile, Security Strategist

GUEST: Dr Chrispine Mphande a Political history scholar from Mzuzu University in Malawi

GUEST: Kgomotso Anthea Ramolobeng, Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services Chairperson

GUEST: Anthony Waldhausen, CEO: Msunduzi Association of Residents and Ratepayers

GUEST: Mbekezeli Benjamin - Legal researcher at Judges Matter

Guest: Dr Tendai Mbanje – African Governance Expert with the Centre for Human Rights

Guest: Prof Alex Antonites is from the Department of Business Management at the University of Pretoria

GUEST: Sherwin Bryce-Pease, SABC News UN/US Correspondent

GUEST: Khayelihle Khumalo-James, SABC News International Reporter

GUEST: Dr. Mxolisi Mathebula - Independent Crime and Policing Expert

Economist and Strategist, Xhanti Payi and the co-founder of payment platform, getsly.ai, Simukayi Mukuna, wrote an interesting piece on the South African National AI policy for Business Day last week. GUEST: Xhanti Payi, Economist and Strategist at Inani Strategies

Public Interest South Africa’s Tebogo Khaas penned an open letter to Warrant Officer, Tebogo Khaas, after his testimony at the Madlanga Commission. In the letter, Tebogo Khaas says institutions are strengthened when courageous officers like Sander are heard not silenced or sidelined. GUEST: Tebogo Khaas, Public Interest South Africa Chair

Our guest this afternoon penned an opinion piece arguing beyond inflation as the reason for food price increases. Guest: Wesley Niemann of the Department of Business Management at the University of Pretoria

The University of Witwatersrand has been crowned the top university in Africa in the 2026 Centre for World University Rankings (CWUR), outperforming thousands of institutions worldwide and securing a place among the global elite.  Guest: Dr Samia Chasi - Head of Internationalisation and Strategic Partnerships

We continue with conversations around youth unemployment, and this afternoon we draw in a perspective from an organisation that works with youth entrepreneurship and skills development to understand where the gaps are and how they, among other organisations, work to close those gaps. Guest: Tiyani Mohlaba - Chief Operations Officer at Afrika Tikkun

Nearly three years after South Africa launched its genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice, the court has set a new timetable that will keep proceedings before judges in The Hague until at least 2029. The Presidency announced yesterday that the ICJ has given South Africa until 22 November 2027 to file its Reply to Israel’s Counter-Memorial, submitted in March this...

Let’s get a response on what Groundup News Deputy Editor, Daniel Steyn, just spoke to us about… GUEST: Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma, March and March Leader

Groundup News Deputy Editor, Daniel Steyn, wrote a piece looking at some of the claims made by March and March leader, Jacinta Ngobese-Zuma at a press conference last week. Daniel’s piece looked at the claim vs what the facts say… GUEST: Daniel Steyn, Groundup News Deputy Editor

Ethiopia is holding their parliamentary and regional elections today. Analysts expect Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's party to win in ​a landslide, despite significant unrest in much of the country. GUEST: Dr. Seife Tadelle Kidane, Director: Centre for Governance and Inter-Africa Trade in Africa