The Alternative Breakfast

PARENTING: A conversation with Gareth Carter, Certified Case Manager Interventionist and Director at Change Addiction Rehab, on how families can intervene when a loved one is struggling with drug use in a way that shows love, sets boundaries, and leads toward recovery

OceanEL: Ocean El takes us through what’s trending on social media right now, breaking down the biggest conversations, viral moments, and what people are talking about online

ON THE SOCIALS: In this week’s On Socials segment, Ocean EL unpacks the biggest conversations dominating timelines — from the passing of Cynthia Shange and corruption debates to streaming culture, music drops, and the build-up to the legendary rivalry between Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates.

FEATURE : The Alternative Family Meeting : Freedom day - do you remember casting your first vote in 1994. We ask the listeners to recall their experience on the road to Democracy.

MONEY: In this week’s Money feature, The Alternative Breakfast explores whether it makes more financial sense to rent or buy property in 2026 as rising living costs, interest rates, lifestyle shifts, and economic uncertainty continue reshaping how people think about home ownership with  Cindy Kruger is a real estate agent at eXp South Africa

PARENTING: The Alternative Breakfast speaks to Boitumelo Aphane about whether modern parenting styles are raising emotionally aware but less resilient children — and whether society is protecting young people too much from failure, discomfort, and real-world challenges

NEWS ROUNDUP: The Alternative Breakfast speaks to Nco Dube about why expecting poor people to always make “rational” decisions ignores the psychological, historical, and structural realities of living under constant scarcity and inequality

As ballet collides with skateboarding, BMX, and hip hop in a bold new performance at Fourways, Dirk Badenhorst tells us more about how this unexpected fusion is pushing the boundaries of movement, creativity, and what we define as art.

LEGAL: We increasingly sign contracts, agreements, and financial documents online, this conversation with Cyberlex’s Avathar Soni-Naidoo breaks down the legal power of electronic signatures, the risks of digital fraud, and what it really means to “sign” in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Nco Dube leads a discussion on the contentious appointment of Roelf Meyer as ambassador to the U.S., weighing its diplomatic, political, and economic implications while exploring how South Africa can balance respect, strategic stability, and national interests in a tense international relationship

From Julius Malema’s sentencing developments to the escalating Judicial Service Commission findings against Judge President Selby Mbenenge, this week’s news roundup examines how accountability is being tested across both political and judicial power in South Africa with political analyst, Ongama Mtika. 

Elizabeth Phangela and Jabulile Hlatshwayo share their personal stories of loss in the Life Esidimeni tragedy, as the conversation confronts the ongoing pain, systemic failures, and the unresolved pursuit of justice and dignity for families still seeking healing

As South Africa continues to battle rising obesity, diabetes, and diet-related disease, this conversation with leading public health nutrition expert Prof Rina Swart unpacks how sugar, salt, and saturated fat in everyday packaged foods — and the way they are labelled — are shaping the nation’s health outcomes

As Sediba sa Banna prepares to host the 4th Amokari Games in Soweto, we explore how grassroots sport is creating powerful spaces for young girls to build confidence, challenge gender barriers, and redefine what opportunity looks like in their communities with Given Nhlapo, the Treasurer General at Sediba Sa Banna.

Weekend Family Meeting: We unpack socially acceptable and hidden addictions, and we explore workaholism, social media dependency, hustle culture, and validation-seeking GUEST:  MOTLATSI MAFATSHE – Actor  

Gue st : Nhlanhla Mthembu - Lifestyle Contributor When last did you do something purely for joy, not for productivity or obligation? Today we unpack how life’s demands work, responsibilities, and constant pressure have shifted us into survival mode. In that process, we often abandon the small, meaningful activities that once brought us genuine happiness, treating joy as a luxury rather than...