The National Pulse

The South African Civil Aviation Authority says it is investigating Airlink’s flypast over Cape Town Stadium and have pulled out the flyover for the third rugby test. GUEST: Phuthego Mojapele - Aviation Expert

Earlier today, Statistician-general, Risenga Maluleke, released the Victims of Crime report from the Governance, Public Safety and Justice Survey 2025/2026 in Tshwane. The report provides important insights into experiences and perceptions of crime and feelings of safety among households and individuals in South Africa.  GUEST: Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-general of South Africa

The death toll in Nepal from devastating floods on the border with Tibet has crossed 1000, according to the country's disaster agency. More than 3900 people remain missing - of whom more than 600 are workers believed to be trapped in a vast network of mud-filled tunnels at hydropower sites along Trishuli River. Let’s get the latest from… GUEST: Aakriti Dotel, National Network Coordina...

GUEST: Jon Foster-Pedley is Dean and Director of Henley Business School Africa and associate pro vice-chancellor, global engagement (Sub-Saharan Africa)

South Africa is spending billions on higher education, but the government admits it cannot properly track which degrees lead to jobs and which lead to unemployment. Graduate unemployment has climbed from 10.3% to 12.4%. The big question is: are we funding qualifications that the economy simply doesn’t need? Let’s unpack this with… GUEST: Khaya Sithole - Independent Analyst and D...

The Constitutional Court is set to hear a landmark case involving MTN and East Asia Consortium, with EAC seeking US$4.2 billion in damages over alleged bribery and corruption linked to Iran’s first public telecommunications licence. With Open Secrets admitted as a friend of the court, the case raises a bigger question: can South African corporations be held accountable in South African court...

South Africa has found SA’s “second Springbok squad” consisting of 23 ordinary people who look remarkably like the country’s rugby stars. The campaign turns these lookalikes into a mock Bok team, celebrating rugby culture and giving fans a chance to find their own Springbok double. The search is still open. GUEST: Kutlwano Lekgoane – Senior Brand Manager at Klipdrift

The Legal Practice Council says there is a warrant of arrest issued for disbarred advocate, Malesela Teffo. This comes after Teffo made a surprise appearance at the Johannesburg High Court yesterday, during the attempted murder trial of alleged kingpin Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala and four others, where he tried to address the presiding judge.  GUEST: Kabelo Letebele, Senior Manager: Co...

Two men from Gumbani village near Malamulele in Limpopo have developed a free educational app aimed at supporting learners and teachers, particularly in rural areas. Malungelo Mathonsi and Khongelani Shibambu created the app, called Novar, which offers lessons in subjects such as Mathematics and Science.  GUEST: Malungelo Mathonsi, NOVAR App Co-Founder

Guest: Nokwanda Molefe, Senior Manager: Governance, Compliance & Enforcement at CSOS

South Africa is putting its artisans in the spotlight, as finalists for the 2026 South African National Artisan Awards prepare to compete for national recognition across fields including engineering, construction, electrical, plumbing and mechanical trades. With the theme “Changing Artisanal Identity and Status,” the awards also raise a bigger question: can changing perceptions of arti...

In business, having a brilliant strategy is only half the battle without effective execution, even the best ideas can remain trapped in boardrooms and PowerPoint presentations. So, what does it take to turn strategy into action, hold people accountable, measure progress and adapt when things don’t go according to plan? GUEST: Thuto Motsie CA (SA) – CEO of Thamani

x37-year-old Stefan Joel Govindraju appeared in the Specialised Commercial Crimes Court sitting at the Palm Ridge Magistrates’ Court. He faces charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering. Stefan Joel Govindraju was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Friday after returning from overseas. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Culvin Mabasa, SABC News Repo...

The Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane is today closing the 2026 Women’s Month by hosting a Women in the Human Settlements Sector Dialogue. Convened under the theme, “Value Chain Opportunities for Women in the Human Settlements Sector “Empowered Women, Empower the Nation”, the Dialogue will provide an evidence-based platform for reflection, recognition and forwar...

The Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane is today closing the 2026 Women’s Month by hosting a Women in the Human Settlements Sector Dialogue. Convened under the theme, “Value Chain Opportunities for Women in the Human Settlements Sector “Empowered Women, Empower the Nation”, the Dialogue will provide an evidence-based platform for reflection, recognition and forwar...

The Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane is today closing the 2026 Women’s Month by hosting a Women in the Human Settlements Sector Dialogue. Convened under the theme, “Value Chain Opportunities for Women in the Human Settlements Sector “Empowered Women, Empower the Nation”, the Dialogue will provide an evidence-based platform for reflection, recognition and forwar...

South Africa made international headlines on Saturday before the second Test of Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the Springboks and the All Blacks, when there was a daring double jet flyover above Cape Town Stadium. Two Airlink Embraer 190 passenger jets performed what many critics described as one of the lowest flyovers yet recorded, just 12m above the stadium’s roof. GUEST: Phut...

The Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane is today closing the 2026 Women’s Month by hosting a Women in the Human Settlements Sector Dialogue. Convened under the theme, “Value Chain Opportunities for Women in the Human Settlements Sector “Empowered Women, Empower the Nation”, the Dialogue will provide an evidence-based platform for reflection, recognition and forwar...

KZN Hawks colonel, Deena Govender, has told the Madlanga Commission that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu was behind an alleged push to implicate KZN provincial police commissioner, Lt. General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, in 172 shootings. Govender testified today that Mchunu, speaking through his associate Mavuso Ntandani, allegedly instructed him to claim Mkhwanazi had ordered all the shootings. Let’s...

The Acting Minister of Police, Firoz Cachalia, the Deputy Ministers of Police, Cassel Mathale and Dr. Polly Boshielo, together with the Acting National Commissioner of Police, Lieutenant General Puleng Dimpane, presented the quarterly crime statistics, reflecting on crimes that occurred during the first quarter of the 2026/2027 financial year. GUEST: Dr. Mxolisi Mathebula, Independent Crime and Po...

Earlier this week, we had a call from Anonymous in Mamelodi complaining about unauthorised debits on their grant. Let’s quickly get anonymous on the line to briefly remind us what the issue is before hearing from SASSA… GUEST: Anonymous from Mamelodi GUEST: Dr. Paseka Letsatsi, SASSA General Manager for Communications

The devastating flash floods in Nepal have once again raised questions about how natural hazards become disasters and whether communities are adequately prepared for extreme events. We unpack the key factors that increase disaster risk and its impact on society and communities… GUEST: Prof Jasper Knight - Physical Geography at the University of the Witwatersrand

The Special Investigating Unit has uncovered a visa racket involving fake students, fake retirees and alleged bribery, raising serious questions about weaknesses in South Africa’s immigration and visa systems. Our conversation looks at how the scheme allegedly operated, who may have benefited, and what this reveals about corruption, oversight and the integrity of South Africa’s visa sy...

Premium brands are increasingly looking and sounding the same, raising an important question: what really makes one premium brand stand out from the rest? Today, we explore why quality and polished advertising are no longer enough, and how brand distinction can drive customer loyalty, preference and ultimately, the willingness to pay more. GUEST: Nomaswazi Phumo, Head of Strategy of Leagas Delaney...

Joburg Mayor, Dada Morero, is facing criticism for using a swear word in response to a resident who called him a criminal during an imbizo in Tshepisong. In the video clip, which went viral on social media, the mayor repeatedly told the community member “Don’t call me a criminal”. Several social media users condemned the mayor’s remarks, citing a lack of professional restra...