The Talking Point

Our next guest hails from the streets of Soweto. They grew up together and formed their group back in the early 1990s. After completing their studies in music college, they worked on their debut album which would change their lives forever: Sigiya Ngengoma (1995). Since then, they have been the pioneers of a genre that would become a quintessential part of South African music: Kwaito. Since then, they have shaped South African culture through Pantsula. This morning, we speak to the members of this group as they prepare to drop their new EP, “Pantsula 4 Life” (30 January 2026) and their lead single “Lilize...

Ever since the gun incident where the Bitou Deputy Mayor, Nokuzola Kolapi shot in the air during an Umgidi, there has been different interpretations regarding why she did that. The story brought in different arguments from people saying it’s normal practice in ceremonies where young boys return from circumcision to some saying she as a woman was not supposed to do that. What then is it about this incident that got so many interpretations? What is it that we don’t know about Umgidi and the correct rituals around it? To educate us on this, we are joined by…<...

Ugandan election, obvious outcome?

As Ugandans prepare for the upcoming elections on the 15th of January, the country’s government announced that it was banning live broadcasts of riots, 'unlawful processions' and other violent incidents ahead of an election in which President Yoweri Museveni is seeking to extend his 40-year rule. Let’s get the latest on the ground from Reuters…

For those who have been following Ugandan elections over the years, the script sounds the same. The attack on the opposition, closure of the internet, restrictions on age of voting. These are just some of the...

Thato Moncho and the battle to unlock access to healthcare

 Last week, Thato Moncho passed away after losing her battle with cancer (January 2, 2026). She was a prominent South African cancer activist best known for her brave fight against breast cancer and systemic failures in the public healthcare system. She was diagnosed with stage 2 inflammatory breast cancer in September 2020. Despite completing chemotherapy, she faced a four-year delay for radiation therapy due to departmental backlogs. Her cancer recurred and metastasized during this wait, eventually making her ineligible for radiation treatment.

Moncho became a symbol of the struggle f...

In an effort to prevent water shortage in the country, especially now that we are in the summer season where demand is likely to be high, the Water Research Commission has launched a nation-wide campaign they call “A WaterWise Nation”. It is aimed at changing how South Africans think about and value water. Dr Jennifer Molwantwa who is CEO of the Commission says that we are not just running out of water, but we are running out of time to change how we use it. She goes on to say that every litre we waste this summer, is a litr...

North West MEC for Education Viola Motsumi gives an update on why some of the ECD practitioners in the province have not been paid for all of 2025….

Guest: Viola Motsumi - North West MEC for Education

South Africa’s democracy may be holding, but public confidence remains fragile. The Institute for Justice and Reconciliation has released its 2025 South African Reconciliation Barometer, revealing that one year into the country’s Government of National Unity, trust in political leadership is still critically low — even as many South Africans express cautious support for government policies.

Based on more than two thousand nationally representative interviews, the survey paints a picture of a nation grappling with deep economic hardship, low interpersonal trust, and persistent inequality — with poverty and unemployment still seen as the biggest obstacles to reconciliation since 1994. While su...

Our next guests hail from the Mother City. Since 2002, the band has brought you hits like Doo Bee Doo, Nomvula, I’d Like, Fire Is Low, Pot Belly, Waka Waka and many more. After a five year hiatus, one of South Africa’s beloved ensembles are back with a new lead singer and their distinctive fusion of African and contemporary styles you love from them. This morning, two of their group members are joining us to share the new chapter of their musical journey. To tell us about their latest single: Jabula and their upcoming album: Take Me Home, we a...

Earlier this week, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi sent a policy directive to ICASA regarding the 30% local ownership rule through equity equivalent programmes. This has sparked renewed debate on Starlink and drawn backlash from political parties ANC and EFF who see it as undermining transformation. On 27 May 2025, the ad hoc committee for Communications and Digital Technologies asked the Minister what his engagement was with ICASA on appropriate course of action prior to the policy directive. Let us listen back to this….

In this hour, we discuss what are the implications of this policy di...

The killing of popular DJ and TV personality Warrick Stock on Tuesday has brought the spotlight back on the problem of hijacked buildings in the Johannesburg CBD. As investigations are still going on, some reports suggest that his company was contracted to protect some of the buildings in the city. So for this morning we thought to look at the challenges faced in dealing with hijacked buildings. For emergency workers, business, residents and other users, what is it like? To help us understand, we are joined by…

Guest: Robert Mulaudzi - Spokesperson for the Johannesburg Emergency Services (Wil...

This past Monday, the Commission on Khoi-San Matters began its Community Structures Investigation in the Eastern Cape. They are starting with the Korana who are identified as one of the main groups in the Traditional and Khoi-San Leadership Act. The Commission says that for the next three months, similar investigations will be conducted with the other groups like the Cape Khoi, Griqua, Nama and San. To try and understand why such a process in necessary and what they are hoping to achieve, also why they decided to start in the Eastern Cape with the Korana, we are joined by..<...

The 2025 Africa Visa Openness Index (AVOI) is a joint initiative of the African Development Bank and the African Union Commission that tracks  progress toward greater regional integration, economic cooperation, and free movement of people. The AVOI serves as a vital tool for the continent to monitor the remaining visa restrictions that contradicts its aspirations for a more connected and prosperous Africa. In this year's edition, visa openness score across Africa has plateaued despite individual country improvements. In the past 12 months, 20 countries changed their visa policies: 11 countries improving their scores and 9 countries becoming more restrictive. To help us understand the f...

Every year, the scientists and insitutions around the country help the South African National Biodiversity Institute to track the rich ecosystems, genetic diversity and species of our nation. This study provides evidence-based insights to guide policy, strengthen governance, and mobilise collective action across government, business, and civil society. This year marks the 20th anniversary of this National Biodiversity Assessment and highlights the importance of biodiversity as a national priority.

In this year's key cocnerns, the National Biodiversity Assessment outlined that climate change, unsustainable land and sea use, pollution, invasive alien species, reduced freshwater flows and illegal harvesting...

As we get closer to the festive break, the team thought to bring you a story that may spread festive cheer for our listeners who have a soft spot for pets.

Our next guest will speak to us about their work as an animal rescue and their latest collaboration with Lucky Hustle to house man's best friend into their forever homes. So far, two dogs (Buster and Oscar) have found their forever homes. There is just one more furry friend, Titan, that needs to find a home with just 10 days to Christmas. To tell us more about...

Last week the ANC’s National General Council resolved that those who are members of the South African Communist Party sitting in joint election structures, must recuse themselves. This follows the SACP’s decision to go it alone in the next local government elections. Let's take a listen to what ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa said regarding the issue at the NGC…

Speaking at the NGC moments after President Ramaphosa's announcement, SACP’s first deputy general secretary Mandla Masuku said that they welcome the announcement, but will still need to meet to iron out some of the grey areas…<...

Our next guest hails from the streets of Tembisa, Gauteng and started his journey as a volunteer at Tembisa Info Radio before joining the growing powerhouse, YFM. He brought us megahits, acted on several household TV favorites and found record labels.

He has become a cultural icon who juggles radio, entrepreneurship, writing new books and making music. This morning, he shares his latest EP: “Its My House: Chapter 1”. It is a double mixtape with Chapter 2 coming out on 16th Decembrr 2025. He also shares his upcoming books and latest corporate collaboration with VW. To tell us more about his...

As we begin to wrap the year, we reflect on the state of the public service. In 2025, we have seen multiple legal processes investigating failures within public entities. We have seen proceedings investigating the fitness of office for public officials. This is where we have heard testimonies reflecting the abuse of power, intimidation of junior officials, sexual harrassment/violence claims without any interventions made to protect victims and the decision-making of public servants. 

 In this hour, we wanted to unpack what role an organization such as the Public Service Cpmmission has when it comes to organizational culture of...

Last week we received a call from Javu Mthombeni who is a resident of Mukhomi village in Malumulele in the province of Limpopo. He was telling us about a road project taking place in his area without any of them knowing about it. The residents are suspicious because they say that the road is only along the mayor’s house and his second wife. 

Guest: Javu Mthombeni – Resident of Mukhomi Village in Malamulele

Guest: Colbert Mabasa - Chair of the Mukhomi Project Steering Committee (They liaise on behalf of community regarding projects)

Guest: Preno...

As we reflect on a successful G20 Leaders Summit in South Africa, we take a moment to bring you behind the scenes at the G20 Media centre where our very own Lerato Tsebe spoke to some of the powerful players at the global showpiece. She sat down with the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat on some of the economic breakthroughs made during South Africa’s G20 Presidency and how it has strengthened Africa’s position as a key global economic player. She asked Honourable Mene about the critical minerals agreement, how African member states are...

G20 WRAP: BTS OF THE LEADERS SUMMIT

During our time at the G20 Media Centre, we had a privilege to speak to some of the 42 foreign missions who had sent delegations to South Africa during the G20 Leaders Summit. On the sidelines of the Summit, our G20 correspondent Lerato Tsebe spoke to Ms Oh Hyun-Joo, a senior representative of the South Korean delegation that visited South Africa during the G20 Leaders Summit weekend. She is a senior principal official who oversees the Republic of Korea’s economic and security affairs. She reflected on the upcoming presidency of So...

The Transformation of South Africa’s Monetary Architecture Report

 A new research report from the National Planning Commission has unpacked South Africa's

complex financial ecosystem and proposes ways that it can be transformed to benefit more people as well as address inequality The concept of ‘monetary architecture’ is introduced as a means to understand the architecture of this complex financial ecosystem, providing a basis for recommendations to establish the macro-financial governance required to address key obstacles. It challenges the conventional policy division between public and private sector financing, arguing instead for a systemic approach that places m...

This morning, Bryan Hirsch is back!

This morning, Bryan will be discussing: If you are lucky enough to get a Christmas Bonus, what should you be considering?

Guest (STUDIO): Bryan Hirsch - Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch,Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited (www.bhca.co.za)

Our next guest will set the scene of this industrial fortress and share PRASA's vision for rail modernization. He will share why local manufacturing matters, impact on  commuters; strategic importance of the Gibela factory and their plans beyond 600 trains. To share their insight, we joined by…

Guest: Hishaam Emeran - Group CEO, PRASA

Let us bring you some of the people who get to experience this factory on a daily basis. Our next guests will share their personal journeys into engineering and what it is like to be part of this operation. They will talk about breaking barriers; how they overcame stereotypes; the impact this work has on surrounding communities and their future career aspirations. They will share their advice for young people with an interest in STEM. We are joined by….

Guest: Vanessa NDLOVU – Engineer: Methods and Process Industrial Quality 

Guest: Collins MBHOMBHI – Site Industrial Quality Manager 

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Our next guest is part of the supply chain industry and benefit from the footprint of the Gibela Factory. BFG Africa is a supplier of composite and fibreglass materials. Another company benefiting from Gibela's footprint in the community is Mbele & Sons which is a service provider from the local community. We welcome them to share their story...

Guest: Bongani Khoza - Managing Director at BFG Africa 

Guest: Ncane Mbele - Director of Mbhele and Sons

In an effort to restore Johannesburg to its former economic glory, the City of Johannesburg is rolling out what they call “Meet the City” Investment Retention Programme. The team spearheading this initiative fall under the City’s Department of Economic Development. Their aim is the fast-tracking and prioritization of projects through the strengthening of investor support mechanisms. The programme has already been launched in other regions which fall under the City of Johannesburg. To explain more on this and also what it is that business people who are listening to this interview should take from it, we are joined by...

As we continue our broadcast, we turn our attention to a Commemoration of another ANC stalwart: the 12th anniversary of former President Nelson Mandela's passing. Our next guest has penned an opinion piece on the legacy, the leadership failures, the crisis we are seeing amongst the political elite and the decline of the political party. He argues that many of South Africa's current issues stem from inadequate implementation of good policies and a strong constitution. He argues that this is a situation that contrasts with Mandela's focused approach to dismantling apartheid's legacy.

He analyzes how subsequent political...

Guest: Alita Miller - Country Head of UN Women South Africa

Prof. Thuli Madonsela, Professor of Law and the Law Trust Chair in Social Justice at Stellenbosch University.

Guest: Sindisiwe Chikunga, Minister in the Presidency for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities

Guest: Javu Baloyi, Spokesperson for the Commission for Gender Equality

Professor Siona O'Connell from the University of Pretoria directed a documentary entitled, UnRest which premiered in Europe focusing on the debate around human remains that were unearthed in 2003 believed to be of slaves and displaced individuals from the 18th and 19th century. The remains were found in Prestwich Street in Green Point, Cape Town and sparked debate between institutional archeologists and local communities who feel that they (remains) should be acknowledged as ancestors and not just scientific artefacts. Professor O'Connell says that the tension exposes how post-apartheid archeology failed to decolonise its epistemological frameworks. 

Guest: Professor Siona O...

Last week Friday on the eve of the G20 summit, President Cyril urged African leaders to unite and speak with one voice to improve sustainable development on the continent. He was speaking at a reception dinner hosted for African Heads of State where he went on to say that they need to use the G20 to advance the continent’s collective agenda. 

Guest: Dr Frank Lekaba - Senior Lecturer in the Wits School of Governance

Guest: Neo Letswalo - Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Southern Centre for Inequality Studies (SCIS)

Guest: Brian Tamuka Kag...

Our next guest hails from KwaZulu-Natal.At just 2 years old, hr lost his eyesight and has been making his way through life in complete darkness. However, his light of hope and refuge became music. His mother enrolled him into a music school for the blind and that is where his love for the guitar began.

He reached out to us on the open line to share his journey in music, limited opportunities to perform as a person with disability and his love of the guitar. At the end of the call, we said that we w...

According to the Statistics South Africa, gambling has become South Africa's dominant leisure expenditure, accounting for over half (55%) of household spending on recreation, sport, and culture. In the past 12 months, reports of people seeking rehabilitation has shot up by 55%. There is also human and social cost of gambling:  broken families, financial ruin, mental health issues, and increased crime.

Despite R75 billion in gross gambling revenue, operators paid only R6 billion in direct taxes last year. Only a small fraction (R74 million) went to rehabilitation and counselling for gambling addicts, leading to accusations that the industry's social costs o...

We are coming to you live from the Birchwood Hotel on OR Tambo Conference centre where civil society is organisations have gathered ahead of the G20 summit. They are calling on governments to prioritize among other issues, climate justice and debt reduction for low-income countries and poverty alleviation. 

Guest(OB): Munjodzi Mutandiri - Senior Programme Advisor at the Southern African Liaison Office, a South African-bases civic society organisation which contributes to building peace and security through dialogue

Guest(OB): Sharmilah Rajendran - From the ARROW Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women in Malaysia

...

Guest (OB): Nobuhle Mbuyisa - BCom Honours in Logistics Management student at the University of Johannesburg and participant in the first UNIPOD cohort

How the UNDP is partnering with the University of Johannesburg to launch UniPod — advancing innovation for sustainable development.

Guest: Prof Letlhokwa Mpedi - Vice-Chancellor & Principal, University of Johannesburg

Dr Mofokeng’s response to the HPCSA ruling

Focus: This morning we speak to Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng who is the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. She was found guilty of misconduct by the Health Professionals Council following her criticism on social media against Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over their action in Gaza. The complaint was lanched by the South African Zionist Federation which has welcomed the ruling. The EFF on the other hand has slammed it calling it baseless and politically motivated. Let's start off now with Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng to ge...

Our next guest is an international lawyer, specialised in human rights and the Middle East.
She is the author of prestigious publications and her academic works cover various aspects of the
Question of Palestine, the legal situation in Israel/Palestine and Palestinian forced
displacement. She is also part of a coalition of prominent regional and international experts and
scholars engaged in the issue of Israel/Palestine. Our next guest is set to make a keynote speech at the 23rd Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture this weekend in Sandton. The theme for this year'sannual lecture is “E...

Let’s start off now with the even that brought us here to find out what it’s all about, why Sanlam and Santam care. To tell us more, we are joined by..

Guest: Khoza

It was Nelson Mandela who said that education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. So let's use this opportunity to understand what we can expect to come out of this gathering and where this fits into the bigger G20 which we are hosting next month (November). Also what is the job of the G20 Education Working Group and what role is South Africa playing on it? To help us understand, we are joined by…

Guest(OB): Minister Siviwe Gwarube 

It was Nelson Mandela who said that education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world. So let's use this opportunity to understand what we can expect to come out of this gathering and where this fits into the bigger G20 which we are hosting next month (November). Also what is the job of the G20 Education Working Group and what role is South Africa playing on it? To help us understand, we are joined by…

Guest(OB): Buti Manamela - Minister of Higher Education and Training

Last night, Bafana Bafana made history by qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup to be held in Canada, Mexico and the USA. This is the first time South Africa's men senior team will make an appearance at the football showpiece in 24 years. Our last qualification to the global tournament was for the 2002 edition of the FIFA World Cup in South Korea. As one may remember, South Africa automatically qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup as hosts. Despite the heartbreak of narrowly missing the 2022 edition of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, our national team has turned it around with...

We continue our series on the G20 with Lerato Tsebe, looking at how South Africa uses this opportunity of being at the helm for 2025.

Guest: Lerato Tsebe - Independent African Researcher

This past week marked a crucial moment as thought leaders gather at the conference on Accelerating Equality in Food, Land, and Water Systems, addressing urgent challenges impacting millions worldwide. The event highlighted solutions to systemic inequality in resource access and sustainability, topics currently dominating the global news agenda due to climate change and food security concerns.

In South Africa, women only own 13% of farmable land and youth only have access to land through inheritance or rental schemes. Barriers for women and youth in South Africa's food, water, and land systems include unequal access to land, finance, markets...

Police Corruption 

On the back of proceedings at the Madlanga Commission and the SAPS Ad Hoc Committee, we wanted to have a discussion to reflect on what we have heard in evidence. What makes our men and women in blue vulnerable to corruption? Is it the salaries? Is it the working conditions? To share their insights, we are joined by….

Guest:  Mike Bolhuis - Specialist Investigator & Crime expert (former police officer) 

Guest (Telephone): Tahir Maepa - Secretary General of the Public Service and Commercial Union

This morning we thought to start the week by reflecting on some of the revelations that came out of the Madlanga commission and also Parliament’s As Hoc committee on corruption in our state security agencies. We've heard how senior management in the South African Police and politicians are said to be linked to criminal syndicates. The commission is expected to resume this morning after a week’s adjournment after head of intelligence Lieutenant General Dumisani Khumalo fell ill after giving testimony for one day. After having listened to what came out so far, what does it say about our...

Today (09 Oct) marks World Sight Day and we thought to talk dedicate this hour to highlight the plight of those who are visually impaired. What sort of challenges are they facing and also 31 years into our democracy what has improved? Often we get called from those who are visually impaired talking about a lack of job opportunities for them, what else is troubling them? To lead us in this conversation, we are joined by…

Guest: Lewis Nzimande - National Executive Director at the South African National Council for the Blind

Guest: Mustafa Lasiti - P...

Boardroom Dancing: Transformation Stories from a Corporate Activist

Our next guest grew up as a shopkeeper’s daughter in the Eastern Cape, studied at the University of FortHare. When she entered the workplace in 1990, she started as a graduate trainee at Woolworths. Over a career spanning 35 years, she has spearheaded programmes that ensure the development of women and marginalised communities in the workplace and society. She has raised in the corporate ranks at multiple JSE listed companies. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, she has earned a well-deserved reputation as a corporate activist.

Although Bo...

Many of you are aware that Bryan has been with SAfm radio programme for many years. Bryan is often requested to help listeners with financial problems that they have had, and he can sure many will attest that he has been lucky enough to be able to help them. The one area where Bryan has had no success relates to the government employee pension fund. Numerous calls and emails sent to them over the years have gone unanswered.

This morning, we are very fortunate to welcome Ephraim Kekana, the Director for Client Relations Management at the Government...

Guest: Rev Thabo Makgoba

Our next guest hails from Ulundi, Kwa-Zulu Natal and describes himself as a folk singer. He has recently been nominated for this year's South African Music Awards for Best African Contemporary Album. His nominated album, Indumiso YabeNguni is a profound musical journey that goes beyond mere entertainment. It is a collection of songs that delve into the depths of human emotions and experiences. Through its enchanting melodies and heartfelt lyrics, it invites listeners to contemplate their relationships, cultural heritage, and the value of preserving traditions.

Each track explores a unique theme, from love and deceit to unity...

Our next guest has written a new report on their recent partnership with furniture retailer, Coricraft. The report unpacks how a decision to shift their production of previously imported products back home and the impact this had on communities: creating jobs and improving local manufacturing competitiveness. More importantly, it showed what is possible given the uncertain economic outlook given recent tariff hikes and how Localisation support could help smaller businesses. To share their insights, we are joined by…

Guest: Irshaad Kathrada - Chief Executive OfficerLocalisation Support Fund.

Guest (Zoom): Greg Boulle - Chief Exe...

The Thrive by Five Index has revealed that South Africa’s youngest learners are falling behind before they even reach Grade R. The survey which is conducted every three years has assessed 5-thousand children across 1388 Early Learning Programmes in all nine provinces also revealed that too many young children start school without the skills needed to succeed. To help us interpret these figures and some of the reasons behind the outcomes, we are joined by..

Guest: Simone Beukes - Operations Lead at DataDrive 2030 (a South African based social enterprise that supports the collection and use of high-quality da...

Former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Joseph Kabila was sentenced to death yesterday (Wed) in absentia for war crimes and treason. The charges relate to accusations that he has been supporting rebel group M23 which is accused of terrorising the Eastern regional in the DRC. But then what does this mean for peace in that country? Also how much weight does Kabila carry in the politics of the DRC? To help us understand, we are joined by …

Guest: Nixon Katembo - African analyst

Guest: Ambassador Welile Nhlapo - For South African ambassador to th...

Nelson Mandela Bay an enabler of the automotive sector's sustainability. The Challenges and Opportunities

Guest: Cllr Babalwa Lobishe, Executive Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay

Guest: Themba Khoza, COEGA Development Corporation

NAAMSA: The Role of Special Economic Zones in the Automotive Sector

Scene setting of event tone. Rationale behind the Eastern Cape hosting SA AUTO WEEK.

Guest (OB): MEC Mlungisi Mvoko, Acting Premier of the Eastern Cape Province

State Theatre: Music of legends

Our next guest is running a theatre production featuring the music of legends like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Lucky Dube, and more. This is more than a show, it’s a journey through our heritage, memory, and identity. It is written and directed by Joel Zuma, with music direction by Victor Masondo & Joel Zuma and choreography by Lucky Cele. To share more about exciting projects, we are joined by…

Our next guest just addressed delegates in a speech titled: Intellectual Property - What they didn’t teach you in marketing school. He joins us to tell us about the legal implications of the marketing and the importance of protecting intellectual property in the creative process in business. To share his insights, we are joined by…

Guest: Craig Shapiro - Executive for Intellectual Property at ENS

Our next guest opened this prestigious event with a speech titled: “It's All in the Mind! The Business Mindset”. She is a lifelong marketer with a keen eye for what really matters in business and joins us to set the scene for this conference at a time where business. To share her work, we are joined by…

Guest: Dale Hefer - Chief Executive Officer of the Integrated Marketing Council (IMC)

Our next guest is a seasoned marketing professional with over two decades of experience, has demonstrated unparalleled expertise in brand development, campaign execution and team leadership. She joins us to share more information on the Realtime Video Challenge and how we navigate the attention economy. We are joined by…

Guest: Bridget Harpur - Head of Marketing at Volkswagen Group South Africa

We turn our attention to South Africa’s township property markets. Often deemed places that are often underestimated but are playing an increasingly important role in shaping the country’s housing landscape. Each township tells its own story.

In Soweto, sales values have hit record highs and middle-income buyers are driving new demand. In Umlazi, properties remains one of the most affordable. In Khayelitsha, rapid population growth and housing backlogs continue to push both formal and informal housing dynamics. We’ll be unpacking the numbers, the drivers, and the challenges.

Our next guests will look help u...

This morning, Bryan talks to us about National Wills week. Bryan will also revisit how money invested today will work in the years to come. We are joined by…

Guest (Studio): Bryan Hirsch - Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited (www.bhca.co.za)

President Cyril Ramaphosa has called on political parties especially his own African National Congress to deploy skilled and ethical candidates in the 2026 local government elections. He was speak at the ANC’s NEC meeting over the week in Boksburg. Let's take a listen to what else he had to say…

Guest: Stuart Morrison - Data Analyst with the Governance Insights and Analytics team at Good Governance Africa

Guest: Dr Dale McKinley - Independent Writer and Political Analyst currently based at the International Labour, Research and Information Group

Earlier this month, the Department of Trade and Industry proposed to amend the National Credit Act when it placed a draft proposal for public comment. The amendment would see higher education institutions hand over student information to creditors and put students at risk of blacklisting for student debt and the department argued that the intervention would protect consumer rights. There was widespread public outcry to this proposal. During the public comment period, over 20 000 submissions were sent to the Director-General rejecting the proposal prior to this past Friday's deadline. The Ministry has since released a statement  withdrawing this proposal and r...

This morning we are joined by Dr Mbuyisi Mgibisa who is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Conversation at the University of Johannesburg. He is going to share his thoughts on the idea of Azania and what it should mean rather than mere tokenism and symbolism. Post apartheid and now in a democratic era, what should Azania mean and how do we simplify it to the young generation? Dr Mgibisa joins us now to share his thoughts…

Guest: Dr Mbuyisi Mgibisa - Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Institute for Pan-African Thought and Co...

Soothing us into the weekend today is Phinda who is referred to by some commentators as South Africa’s beloved songstress. She will be performing at this year's Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival and she will be mesmerizing her audiences. Today she joins us in studio to talk about her musical journey…

Guest: Phinda - Phinda Matlala is a South African Afo-jazz singer, producer, writer and actress 

The Gauteng High Court in Pretoria has ordered that academics may be added as friends of the court in an application brought by Animal Law Reform South Africa, the EMS Foundation and Khoi chief Stephen Fritz. This case which has gained international attention is about the call to release three elephants from the Johannesburg Zoo. The Johannesburg Zoo, City of Johannesburg and the other respondents are opposing the application. To help us understand why the push for these elephants to released from the zoo, we are joined by..

Guest: Megan Carr - Lead on the Towards Freedom...

We go to Free State, this time around its residents of Greater Harrismith and Kestel that are threatening legal action after against the Municipal Demarcation Board after it refused to grant them permission to be removed from under the struggling Maluti-a-Phofung Municipality. Residents say that they are not getting clear answers from the Demarcation Board. Free State MEC for Cogta, Saki Mokoena reportedly made an announcement during a meeting with the board and SALGA in July this year saying that three municipalities would be set up in the province which will include Harrismith.

Guest: Cllr Leona Kleynhans...

The community of uMhlanga in KZN are this weekend having the annual walk to highlight why we need to have conversation about suicide. The walk organised by Survivors of Loved Ones’ Suicide under the theme: changing the narrative on suicide, is used to call on communities to break the silence on suicide around stigma and mental health. So for this morning we speak to someone who has lost their father to suicide and also those behind the walk to talk about why such initiatives are important and how communities can work together on such issues. Let's welcome now..

...

We continue our series on the G20 with Lerato Tsebe, looking at how South Africa uses this opportunity of being at the helm for 2025.

Guest: Lerato Tsebe - Independent African Researcher

As we transition our focus to Heritage Month, our next guest honoured Dr Esther Mahlangu as a heritage practitioner and promoting Ndebele art on the global stage. They celebrated the legacy of Dr. Mahlangu in heritage conservation as well as the role women can play through visual arts. We are joined by…

Guest:  Onkemetse Tlape - Nyatee Foundation Spokeswoman

The Global Exchange presents an opportunity to focus on leveraging innovation and international collaboration to create resilient, inclusive, and future-ready workforces for thriving municipal centers. Amidst service delivery gains made at local government level, the theme encapsulates the aim of the exchange to bridge global best practices with local solutions to address persistent complexities, which includes performance management gaps, frequent leadership changes, capacity and oversight shortfalls.

The Tshiamiso Trust which manages claims for mineworkers eligible for compensation due to contracting TB or silicosis has recently announced that they have paid out over R2.27 billion in compensation to former mineworkers and their dependents. They were speaking during their annual General Meeting where they also highlighted progress they’ve made by reaching out to some of the beneficiaries who are suffering from work-related silicosis and TB from mines. They are also reaching out to former mineworkers who are beyond our borders. To tell us more on this and also how some of the families can still come fo...

We start the week off by looking at this problem of unemployment in our country. The numbers keep increasing with young people losing patience. So many have qualifications, but can't fnd jobs in the fields they've studied for. Politicians on the other hand during election campaigning make all sorts of promises of how they will create employment should they be elected. Big companies are either retrenching or shutting down. One of the most recent examples is tyre manufacturer in the Eastern Cape Goodyear announcing that they are closing their Kariega plant. Last week hundreds of young people in the...

Our next guest will share their insights on Application Development and how this year's theme represents the next chapter of South Africa’s digital public service journey. We are joined by…

Guest: Sidima Ntsangani - Executive for Applications Portfolio at the State Information Technology Agency (SITA)

Our next guest announced its lead sponsorship of the GovTech 2025 conference, highlighting its ongoing commitment to supporting digital and AI transformation across South Africa’s public sector. As governments worldwide grapple with evolving citizen expectations, their participation highlights its role as a trusted partner in delivering secure, responsible and innovative technology solutions that enhance service delivery, boost citizen engagement and drive operational efficiency. To tell us more about how their commitment links to the GovTech theme, we are joined by…

Guest: Lerato Mathabatha - Public Sector Director at Microsoft South Africa

Our next guest grew up in a musical background family. He was well inspired by his father who played multiple musical instruments including Harp, Mbira, and Percussions. His music is derived from Tshivenda indigenous music fused with African Jazz. He has mastered the art of merging Tshivenda folk music (Malende

and Tshikona reeds dance) with contemporary music. To tell us more about his creative journey, his new single: Zwonaka and his upcoming performance at the Joy of Jazz, we are joined by…

Guest: Ailwei Netshivhale - Guitarist, Music Composer, Jingle Writer and Singer

In South Africa, the political party funding landscape is evolving as the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) released its annual report on political party funding. Overall, the DA and ANC attracted substantial contributions. Key legal developments include proposed increases to the private donation limit and disclosure threshold has been raised. Alongside this development, a call to criminalize quid-pro-quo donations tied to procurement tenders. Despite improved transparency, challenges persist. This includes limited compliance from some parties and the need for stronger enforcement of the Political Party Funding Act. 

Guest: Michael Atkins - Elections Specialist

Guest: J...

For our Municipal Watch feature this morning we try to get an understanding of what is actually happening with municipalities in the North West. This follows Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Cogta’s fact finding mission to find out why those municipalities are so rotten and performing poorly. For those of you who listen to this segment of the show will know how many of these municipalities we've been covering. So to get an understanding of what is going on there, we thought to start with the unions first so that they give us their perspective. We will then follow up...

Across South Africa, schools are collecting and handling vast amounts of sensitive information of 12 million learners. This includes ID numbers and addresses to academic results and even parents’ financial details. This data should be protected with the highest levels of care. Some questions are being raised by school governing bodies about whether our current systems, particularly SA-SAMS and its modernisation, are truly keeping this data safe. This morning, we’re asking: Who is really protecting our children’s information? Are schools being given the tools and freedom they need to manage data responsibly? Joining us to discuss this critical issue...

We continue our series on the G20 with Lerato Tsebe, looking at how South Africa uses this opportunity of being at the helm for 2025.

Guest: Lerato Tsebe - Independent African Researcher

In South Africa, "buy now, pay later" (BNPL) is a fast-growing payment option for both online and in-store purchases, with popular providers including Payflex, Happy Days PayJustNow, and Float. It allows you to receive your items immediately while splitting the purchase cost into several interest-free installments. However, none of these platforms have been regulated and falling outside the National Credit Act (NCA). What happens if you miss a payment?

Our next guest has raised some concerns regarding the terms of these agreements, particularly as many consumers across the country struggle with the cost of living crisis. To...

For our Citizens Corner this morning, we talk about vaping in schools and the dangers of this habit has on South Africa's youth. Professor Richard van Zyl-Smith who is a consultant pulmonologist at UCT and Groote Schuur Hospital says that the proposed Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill of 2022 must regulate the usage of  vaping in schools. He was making submissions at the public hearings conducted by the Health Committee on Tobacco and Related products in parliament. Let's take a listen to some of the concerns he raised…

Guest: Mothusi Leotlela - Anti-nicotine advocate committed to...

We are coming to you live again this morning from Melrose Arch in the north of Johannesburg for the second day of the M20 two-day summit. It ispart of the various summits related to the G20 brought together by Media Monitoring Africa and the South African Editors’ Forum. This is a platform to unpack the critical challenges affecting the media and information integrity ecosystems today. For today we turn our focus on challenges faced by the media on the African continent which most of the time has to do with democracy and freedom in general. Election periods are always to...

This morning, Bryan chat to us about how best to try and teach our children about good money habits. 

Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited (www.bhca.co.za)

We are coming to you live this morning from Melrose Arch in the north of Johannesburg where the M20 two-day summit is taking place. It ispart of the various summits related to the G20 brought together by Media Monitoring Africa and the South African Editors’ Forum. This is a platform to unpack the critical challenges affecting the media and information integrity ecosystems today. To talk about the importance of this gathering as we buildup to the G20 and also how the media navigates this misinformation era we find ourselves in, we are joined by…

Guest:  Khadija Patel, Inter...

These past few months we've seen a lot of violence again from the taxi industry, either killing each other or e-hailing drivers. The news of the killing of Siyanda Mvelase at the Maponya Mall in Soweto saw Soweto residents take the law into their hands by burning a minibus taxi. Last week five people were killed in the Western Cape while nine were injured in taxi-related violence. As South Africans we know that this is nothing new and a very common occurrence in this industry. So this morning we thought to speak to academics who have done studies on...

We go back to the Makana Municipality in the Eastern Cape’s Makhanda formerly known as Grahamstown. This time around the municipality is fighting issues of what they say is land invasions. Residents are protesting against what they say is the slow pace of housing developments, the municipality on the other hand feels that residents just want to build informal settlements on land they have invaded illegally. 

Guest:  Phumelelo Kate - Municipal Manager at the Makana Local Municipality

Guest: Siphosethu Ntshoko - One of the Grahamstown Residents behind illegal land invasions

For our Citizens Corner this morning, we talk part two about public calls being made for the death penalty to return in South Africa. Why is the call for the return of the death penalty question relevant now? Also as a country and the sort of past we come from, how should we approach the question of the death penalty? Two weeks ago, we did a panel discussion to look at this issue in an effort to balance the discussion. 

Guest: Edwin Cameron - Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services (2020 to present) and
a Retired Justice of t...