The Weekend View

The Border Management Authority is set to unveil new security measures to boost traveller verification and law enforcement at ports of entry. The authority says this move is part of the BMA's renewed push to enhance border operations. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority, Dr. Mike Masiapato ...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied owning a multimillion-rand Constantia mansion, saying the property belongs to his son-in-law and is privately owned. This comes after he listed two luxury homes in Constantia and Midrand in Parliament's latest Register of Members' Interests, raising eyebrows nationwide. The properties, valued at a combined R65 million, have reignited public concern over transparency and wealth among politicians. Mashatile, who earns just over R3 million annually, insists there's nothing untoward. This is the subject of our Sunday Morning Discussion and to discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Zwelinzima Vavi, SAFTU'S General Secretary, Rise Mzansi Chief Whip, Makashule Gana and Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University ..

The ANC is THIS WEEKEND holding its much-anticipated National Executive Committee meeting in Ormonde in southern Johannesburg. The meeting which, will end on Monday, comes in the wake of Police Minister Senzo Mchunu taking leave of absence following explosive allegations by KZN police commissioner Lt. general Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The meeting is also set to discuss the US-imposed tariffs which will essentially take effect on Thursday. The state of the fragile Government of National UNity - GNU - may also up for discussion. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC senior political reporter Ntebo Mokobo......

Booking a holiday online can be risky, warns a Cape Town beachfront property owner. Scammers are cloning venue websites, hijacking host accounts, and stealing luxury property images to lure unsuspecting travellers on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. These fake listings, often offering West Coast and Atlantic Seaboard stays at unrealistically low prices, are leaving potential holidaymakers in a bind. Naomi Marx, who owns beachfront holiday accommodation on the West Coast in Cape Town warns that if you're not booking with a sharp fraud radar, you're likely to become the next victim. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Naomi Marx

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he remains hopeful that ongoing talks with Washington will help ease new US tariffs on South African goods. This follows a 30% tariff introduced by US President Donald Trump, targeting multiple nations including South Africa as part of a wider global trade reset. Ramaphosa says South Africa has tabled a trade framework seeking exemptions and mutual investment opportunities. Ramaphosa further says Government is also finalising support measures for affected industries, while continuing diplomatic efforts to protect local jobs and strengthen alternative export markets. The New tariffs to essentially take effect in six days' time. For more on this, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Trade, Industry and Competition Ministerial Spokesperson, Kaamil Alli as well as Khaya Sithole, an independent economic analyst

Nearly 1,000 suspected zama-zamas mostly undocumented foreign nationals have been arrested at Sheba Gold Mine in Barberton, Mpumalanga. The raid, part of Operation Vala Umgodi involving SAPS and the SANDF, forced the miners to surface after food supplies ran dry. Police say those arrested face charges under the Immigration Act and for illegal mining. Authorities have vowed to dismantle criminal mining networks in the province. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Brigadier Donald Mdluli, Mpumalanga provincial police spokesperson

Major western nations are facing growing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, after France announced THIS WEEK that it will do so in September. President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that France intends to recognise a Palestinian state in September at the United Nations General Assembly. The announcement was predictably condemned by Israel and the US. Italy has suggested that the recognition of a Palestinian state must occur simultaneously with the recognition of Israel by the new entity. France will become the first major Western country to recognise a Palestinian state, potentially fuelling a movement so far dominated by smaller nations generally more critical of Israel. For reaction Jon Gericke spoke to Usuf Chikte, Chief co-ordinator at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign .....

Opposition parties in the Johannesburg council have called for a full-on investigation into allegations against Kenny Kunene and his alleged links to an alleged member of a murder syndicate, Katiso "KT" Molefe who was arrested in connection with the murder of Oupa Sefoka also known as DJ Sumbody. Kunene resigned as both MMC and a Patriotic Alliance councillor over the allegations. SABC reporter Phumzile Mlangeni filed a report on Kunene's resignation before Jon Gericke spoke to political strategist, Brutus Malada...

Legislation to review the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa has passed through a Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives- an early step in a long process of the bill actually becoming law. Authored and introduced by Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson in April, the U.S.- South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 is viewed as part of efforts to provide President Donald Trump with the tools necessary to impose sanctions on South African officials in government - and the ANC in particular - who choose to support American adversaries like China, Russia and Iran. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reported on the committee vote and how the process is likely to unfold before Jon Gericke spoke to Dr. Kingsley Makhubela, Former Diplomat & Conflict Resolution Expert as well as Mikatekiso Kubayi a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Global Dialogue.

A new DebtBusters survey shows that 70% of South Africans are still grappling with financial stress in 2025. The burden falls hardest on women, who report higher anxiety levels across home, work, and health. While inflation and loadshedding pressures have eased, according to the report most people still fear running out of money or missing debt payments. Middle-aged and high-income earners face mounting debt pressure, with many spending over 40% of their income just to repay loans. For more on this Jon Gericke spoke to Nosiphiwo Nxawe Payments & Collections Manager at DebtBusters

Its Day Two of the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit in Kempton Park, hosted by the ANC under the theme 'Defending the Liberation Gains. The summit unites six Southern African liberation movements, including SWAPO from Namibia, FRELIMO from Mozambique , and Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF. The ANC says the gathering will chart a new way forward around organisational renewal and strategic unity. Meanwhile, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania - PAC - says it will use the platform to stress that true liberation means land restitution and the full dismantling of colonial systems. Jon Gericke spoke to Apa Pooe PAC Secretary General .....

Ghana held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat Banyana Banyana and claim the bronze medal at the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations - WAFCON - in Casablanca LAST NIGHT. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the Black Queens triumphed 4-3 in the shootout at Stade Larbi Zaouli to seal third place in the tournament.The result will sting Desiree Ellis's squad, crowned champions in 2022, and had hoped to add a consolation medal to their cabinet. Instead, they will now return home empty handed and needing to rebuild their team for the next cycle. To review this game we are joined on the line by Mathews Mpete, SABC sports analyst ......

The EFF are to host it's 'Festival of the Poor" 12th anniversary celebrations at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium in Cape Town today. The celebrations come just seven months after the party elected a new leadership in December last year. It is the first birthday celebration since the resignation of former Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, former Chairperson Dali Mpofu, and spokesperson Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. The celebrations were initially set to take place in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, but were moved to Khayelitsha following devastating floods that claimed more than 100 lives in the area. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporter Sibahle Motha who is at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium in Cape Town .....

Wage talks between FlySafair and the striking pilots represented by Solidarity are set to continue THIS MORNING under CCMA facilitation. YESTERDAY's marathon negotiations stretched late into the night, with both sides reporting progress but failing to reach a final agreement. Pilots are demanding a 10.5% wage hike and improved schedules, while management is offering 5.7%. FlySafair has trimmed operations by 30% but says two-thirds of pilots are back at work. Talks resume this morning, with hopes high for a breakthrough to end the week-long strike. For more on this Jon Gericke spoke to FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordon

FlySafair pilots are set to down tools for 14 days starting tomorrow, Monday the 21st of July. Trade union Solidarity has extended the initial one-day strike after a deadlock in wage negotiations. This follows the airline's decision to lock out pilots for seven days. At the heart of the dispute is a rejected 5.7% wage offer and unmet demands for better working conditions. The union says pilots feel overworked, unheard, and undervalued by management. For the latest in this dispute Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the Deputy General Secretary at Solidarity union, Helgard Cronje.

Operation Dudula has vowed continue to fight for the rights of South Africans until the government intervenes. In recent weeks, clinics in Johannesburg and parts of Durban have been targeted, with the group denying access to undocumented foreign nationals.Their members claim their campaign also helps to ease the workload on nurses, and is welcomed by most South Africans. On THURSDAY Operation Dudula supporters marched to the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa offices in Braamfontein and to the South African Human Rights Commission offices to hand over a memorandum of demands. The organisation accused the SAHRC and SERI of supporting and protecting illegal immigrants. In our Sunday Morning Discussion Bongiwe Zwane hosted Operation Dudula president, Zandile Dabula. Thato Masiangoako, a researcher from SERI was invited to the discussion but was unreachable.

The Junior Springboks lifted the World Rugby Under 20 Championship trophy for the first time since 2012 after beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo,Italy, LAST NIGHT. Here at home South African rugby continued to shine with the senior team securing a comfortable 55 - 10 win over Georgia in Mbombela. Meanwhile defending champions of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Banyana Banyana, have advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament in Morocco after beating Senegal 4 -1 on penalties in their quarter-final match played in Oujda late last night. SAfm sports anchor, Janet Whitton joins us on the once again to review these games ....

Serious safety concerns, poor quality of materials and a lack of oversight are some of the reasons for the George building collapse on the sixth of May last year. These are part of the outcomes of an investigation by the Council for the Built Environment, which was released by the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, during a media briefing in the Western Cape town. Thirty four construction workers died and 28 others were injured when a multi-story building on Victoria Street collapsed while under construction. Tanya Krause reports...

It's a bumper sporting Saturday as the Springboks, Junior Boks and Banyana Banyana are all in action TODAY. After demolishing Italy, the Springboks now have their eye on Georgia who they face at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit this evening.The match kicks off at 17h10. Meanwhile the rugby rivalry between South Africa and New Zealand enters another chapter TONIGHT when the Junior Springboks face their New Zealand Under 20 counterparts in the final of the 2025 World Rugby U20 Championship in Rovigo, Italy. And in soccer, Banyana Banyana play against Senegal in the quarterfinal of the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations - WAFCON - at the Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco. Kick off is at 9pm...To preview all these games, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAfm sports anchor, Janet Whitton.

The Government of Eswatini THIS WEEK confirmed that the United States sent five immigrants convicted of various crimes to the country in the latest example of Donald Trump's ramped up deportation efforts. On Wednesday the US announced that five men – citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Yemen, Cuba and Laos – had been sent on a deportation flight to Eswatini after the Supreme Court cleared the way for the U.S. Government to deport migrants other than their own without offering them a chance to counter or dispute such actions. The deportees were recently convicted in The US of crimes ranging from child rape to murder. Eswatini Government's approval of these deportations has raised the ire of the country's opposition. The People's United Democratic Movement - PUDEMO is eSwatini's largest opposition party. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to its president, Mlungisi Makhanya.

Parents should keep an eye on their childrens whatsapp accounts. This is a warning coming from social media expert, Emma Sadleir ,founder of The Digital Law Company. She recently took to social media warning parents about the dangers of whatsapp channels and the harmful content children are exposed to . This week the company secured a court order demanding that Meta disable multiple accounts sharing illegal content on WhatsApp and Instagram and identify the individual(s) behind them. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC Technology Journalist, Sandile Hlangani

General elections held in South Africa on 26 May 1948 saw incumbent Prime Minister Jan Smuts, ousted by the National Party led by D. F. Malan, a Dutch Reformed cleric. Take a listen to DF Malan's speech broadcast on the SABC after his election victory that year.... OUTRO: That was National Party leader DF Malan in a 1948 speech broadcast by the SABC. That speech was the beginning of his pledge to implement a policy of strict racial segregation in all spheres of living in South Africa. The National party victory paved the way for the formalisation of apartheid.

On June 24 1995, the Men's Rugby World Cup saw the Springboks secure a historic 15-12 win against New Zealand in an emotionally charged final at a packed Ellis Park in Johannesburg. Take a listen..... OUTRO: That was Gerald de Kock, SABC rugby commentator and a colleague broadcasting the 1995 Rugby World Cup final in Johannesburg. South Africa's success resonated with a new generation of supporters, and on that day a young schoolboy and future star by the name of Bryan Habana happened to attend his first big game of rugby.

The Springboks secured a series triumph over Italy after winning the second Test 45-0 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium YESTERDAY evening. Rassie Erasmus' men made light work of the numerical disadvantage of the 21st-minute permanent red card shown to Jasper Wiese for a headbutt. The world champions ran in 7 tries to deliver a convincing victory over the Azzuri. To look at YESTERDAY's clash Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Renier Swart, SABC rugby commentator...

As the build up continues to mark 75 years of SABC news continues Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Steven Lang, former SAfm current affairs executive producer who worked with the station in the early 2000's...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to address South Africa this evening regarding the recent allegations levelled against political and South African Police Service leadership by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. In a media briefing last Sunday Mkhwanazi made the allegations against police minister Senzo Mchunu, his close associate Brown Mogotsi and Deputy National Commissioner for Crime Detection, Lieutenant General Shadrack Sibiya. He accused the officials of ties to crime syndicates , alleged interference in police operations, including the disbanding of a task team investigating political killings. In response , the presidency released a statement on Friday saying President Cyril Ramaphosa has been seized with this matter and following various consultations, he will take the nation into his confidence. Security experts say these accusations should be thoroughly investigated as they could erode public confidence in South Africa's police. To discuss how the president should act in this matter and whether he can restore trust in law enforcement Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Security analyst and former SA Interpol Crime Ambassador, Andy Mashaile and Dr. Levy Ndou, a political analyst

President Cyril Ramaphosa held an inaugural meeting with members of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group at the Union Buildings YESTERDAY. The President announced the appointment of the Eminent Persons Group to guide and champion the National Dialogue. The EPG consists of prominent individuals in society with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building. The preparatory task team has estimated that the national dialogue will cost the taxpayer an estimated 700 million rand. The costs of the dialogue have been met with criticism from various sectors of society. But Ramaphosa says while there has been criticism he knows South Africans want to be heard. .For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to member of the National Dialogue Eminent Persons Group, adventurer and motivational speaker, Sibusiso Vilane

Thousands of mourners, including international visitors, are expected in Mbombela THIS MORNING to pay their final respects to former Deputy President David Mabuza . Mabuza, passed away last week following a short illness at the age of 64. He will receive an Official State Category 2 Funeral with military ceremonial honours. His private burial service will then take place in Barberton. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the eulogy. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC News Senior Politics Reporter, Busi Bopela

Defending Women's Africa Cup of Nations champions, Banyana Banyana, drew 1-all against Tanzania LASTNIGHT at Honneur Stadium in Oujda, Morocco keeping their 2025 WAFCON dream alive. Desiree Ellis' team came from behind to level the score and salvage a point. Tsepiso Makwetla spoke to SABC sports reporter Vincent Sitsula ..

Lets take you back to April 25, 2002 when South Africa made space history. Take a listen to this story broadcast on SAfm on that historic day.. OUTRO: That story was introduced on SAfm by then presenter John Perlman on April 25, 2002. Mark Shuttleworth flew to the International Space Station as a member of the crew of Soyuz mission TM34, after a year of training in Star City, Russia. He spent approximately 20 million US dollars of his own money to buy a seat on the Russian spacecraft as a space tourist. Shuttleworth spent eight days aboard the space station, where he conducted scientific experiments for South Africa. He returned to Earth aboard Soyuz TM-33 on May 5, 2002.

INTRO: Let's take a listen to a news report broadcast on Radio South Africa on the eve of the first democratic election on 26th April 1994. SABC reporter Angie Kapelianis spoke to then ANC leader Nelson Mandela ahead of the landmark election OUTRO: That 1994 report by SABC reporter Angie Kapelianis, introduced by presenter Jeremy Dawes aired on Radio South Africa on 26th April 1994. The following day, on the 27th April 1994, Nelson Mandela joined millions of other South Africans to vote in elections that ushered in the county's democratic dispensation.

Take a listen to one of the earliest news bulletins broadcast by the newly established SABC News in 1950. Remember that this period was at the height of the apartheid system. The news reader is Bill Pritchard...

U.S. President Donald Trump will TOMORROW (Monday) host Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House as the U.S. president presses for a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. This as Israel has decided to send a delegation to Qatar for proximity talks with Hamas on the latest proposal for a ceasefire and hostage release deal. Israel ramped up its attacks on northern Gaza THIS WEEK in a military assault that has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. The war has displaced almost the entire 2.3 million population of Gaza and has plunged the enclave into a humanitarian crisis. To look at the prospects of the White House meeting Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Prof. Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Director for the Centre for Security, Peace, and Conflict Resolution at Nelson Mandela University.....

The 1st of July 2025 marked the start of the municipal financial year in South Africa and as a result , households in major metros across the country will see increases to monthly rates for electricity, water, sanitation, refuse removal and property rates. These hikes come as households are already under immense financial strain. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Wayne Duvenhage, OUTA Chief Executive Officer

The Springboks started their season in spectacular fashion YESTERDAY with a convincing 42-24 win over Italy in their first of two series tests. They had a solid 28-3 lead at half time in a thrilling match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Meanwhile South Africa will lock horns with Zimbabwe THIS MORNING in the 2nd Test of the two-match Test series in Bulawayo. Zimbabwe is looking to tie the series against the World Test Championship winners, after losing by 328 runs at the same venue last week. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC Sports reporter, Simon Burke

The Department of Basic Education has announced that Coding and Robotics will not become compulsory subjects in schools in the near future. It will now focus on improving literacy and numeracy in the early grades. The department cites serious systemic challenges, limited resources, and widespread foundational learning deficits. According to its updated Annual Performance Plan for 2025/26, the introduction of these subjects will be gradually implemented depending on available resources and the preparedness of the schooling system. The initial proposal or inclusion of coding and robotics was welcomed as a progressive step. At the time, the School Governing Bodies Federation (FEDSAS) said the subjects would assist and equip learners with 21st century skills and to prepare them for the 4th industrial revolution. On the Weekend View this morning we discuss the challenges , the solutions and the importance of Coding and Robotics in schools as a means of preparing future generations for a rapidly advancing technological landscape. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Lukhanyo Vangqa, Spokesperson for the Minister of Basic Education, Dr Juané van der Merwe, FEDSAS's Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Tshegofatso Dludla ,Chief Executive officer at African Code

Disruptive rainfall leading to flooding of roads and danger to life due to fast flowing streams over low-lying bridges is expected over the City of Cape Town, Cape Winelands, West Coast and Overberg Districts of the Western Cape TODAY.. Cape Town's disaster risk management centre has reportedly completed damage assessments and is now rolling out humanitarian aid to residents affected by inclement weather conditions. To get the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the centre's spokesperson, Sonica Lategan

Efforts to end the Ukraine war and Thursday's much hyped telephone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his United States counterpart, Donald Trump, made no progress with Putin insisting he would stick to his aims in the conflict and continue the war. The phone call, their sixth since Trump started his second term in January, came the day after the Pentagon confirmed it was halting some weapons deliveries to Kyiv, including air defence missiles and precision-guided artillery. Russia responded to the news by carrying out it's heaviest strike so far on Ukraine firing a record 550 drones and 11 missiles during a long night of bombardment that extended to YEASTRDAY morning. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Olesia Horiainova, co-founder of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Centre in Kyiv

Tributes from all corners of South Africa continue to pour in for former deputy president David Mabuza. Mabuza died on THURSDAY at the age of 64. He served as Deputy President from 2018 to 2023 under President Cyril Ramaphosa. Mabuza has been praised by his friends and foes alike for his lifelong activism, political acumen and commitment to South Africa. During his political career he earned the nickname "The Cat", a moniker derived from his political astuteness. Others however say Mabuza has left no particularly remarkable legacy that can be publicly and widely acclaimed.One of Mabuza's closet allies during his time in provincial politics was ANC MP and former North West premier, Supra Mahumapelo....

A more severe cold front is set to make landfall in the Western Cape TODAY and is expected to move to the Eastern Cape and Gauteng, bringing disruptive rain and very cold conditions across several provinces. Cold temperatures are also expected TOMORROW, especially in the southern parts of the country. The likely impact of this cold front include localised flooding over the southwestern parts, and damaging winds over the central parts of the Northern Cape, which could affect informal and formal structures. The City of Cape Town's Disaster Risk Management Centre is on high alert as the weather system comes after severe flooding and infrastructure damage hit the city just last week. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the centre's spokesperson Sonica Lategan

President Cyril Ramaphosa has launched a scathing attack on DA Leader John Steenhuisen. This for the decision to withdraw from the National Dialogue. Ramaphosa's rebuke comes in the wake of former President Thabo Mbeki's open letter to Steenhuisen. The aim of the much talked National Dialogue is to bring South Africans from all walks of life together to discuss the kind of South Africa they want. Speaking on the side-lines of the state visit by Austrian President, Alexander van der Bellen at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, Ramaphosa says the National Dialogue would probably be successful without the participation of the DA and its diversionary inputs. Our Politics Reporter Ntebo Mokobo has more.

One could be forgiven for feeling that every second call received these days is a SPAM call. As technology enables broader outreach and data breaches increase, the volume of unsolicited sales calls seems to follow. Although South Africa's Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) has been in force for some time, enforcement of the rules has been relatively limited thus far. To address the prevalence of spam calls, regulators have recently introduced changes to POPIA which specifically targets telemarketing practices. To find out more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Sadia Rizvi, Associate at the Corporate & Commercial practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr

As we have reached the halfway point in the year, many people may be feeling constant fatigue due to adding more tasks to their to-do list than crossing off. Mid-year fatigue is real. According to Karin Mitchelmore, Executive Head of Healthcare Consulting at financial advisory firm NMG Benefits, for many, the early-year energy has given way to fatigue. The end of the year feels far away, and it is taking a toll on employees and employers alike but says support from employers and proactive steps from employees can help turn things around. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Karin Mitchelmore, Executive Head of Healthcare Consulting at advisory firm NMG Benefits

Reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa are confident that their superior experience in the number of combined test caps and local knowledge, will be their allies when they take on Italy at the Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria TODAY. The Springboks will once again do without the leadership of Siya Kolisi who is nursing a tendon injury and will be captained by Jesse Kriel, who will become South Africa's 67th Test captain when he leads the Springboks. To look at today's clash Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Renier Swart, SABC rugby commentator...

As we come to the end of youth month... On the Weekend View this morning we put the spotlight on youth and underage drinking in South Africa. The Southern African Alcohol Policy Alliance (SAAPA) has expressed concern over the challenges that young people face through underage drinking. This due to the wide variety of alcohol distributors in many communities and the sale of alcohol to minors. SAAPA hosted a media discussion around the dangers of alcohol in communities, relating it to Youth Month and the impact that alcohol distribution has on children. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr Candice Groenewald - Chief Research Specialist in the public health, societies and belonging research division at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) , Mokebe Thulo-CEO at Aware.org and Ayanda Sishi Wigzell, social commentator

South Africans spent a staggering R1.1 trillion on gambling between April 2023 and March 2024, with gross gambling revenue surging by over 25% to R59.3 billion This is according to the national gambling board. Experts cite aggressive advertising and easy access as key drivers. Meanwhile The South African Responsible Gambling Foundation is urging early intervention to assist those harmed by gambling. Its latest initiative targets vulnerable groups with counselling and public awareness, aiming to highlight the devastating impact disordered gambling can have on individuals and their families. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Sibongile Simelane-Quntana, Executive Director at the South African Responsible Gambling Foundation

As the crisis in most of the countries municipalities continues unabated, government has introduced a review of the white paper on local government. This move is touted as one that could help change the face of local government, even possibly bringing down the number of municipalities. It also looks at another critical aspect of local government, the politicisation of local government, but of course all this depends on what you and I say as the process continues to try and resolve the crisis that continues to plague municipalities as the adverse audit outcomes reveal. So if you think this is another waste of time, let's tell you why this process matters. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Sabelo Chalufu, an independent consultant and a former Johannesburg councilor, director and executive support in the metro

As South Africa grapples with rising financial stress, Employment Law experts at law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr say the legal, psychological, and employment implications of over-indebtedness are increasingly impossible to ignore. Health experts have found that excessive debt has been linked to deteriorating mental health, impaired decision-making, and diminished functional capacity. The firm adds that these effects raise an interesting and important question for employment law. To find out to what extent can over-indebtedness constitute incapacity or serve as a mitigating factor in cases of employee misconduct, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Malesela Letwaba, Associate in Employment Law at CDH

A new report by WaterCAN reveals that nearly 40% of water samples tested at South African schools are unsafe to drink. The month-long project saw pupils from 95 schools test tap, tank, and river water, many showing contamination and low pH levels. The report further reveals that for many pupils, especially in rural and quintile 1-3 schools, water has become an item they carry from home, with some schools relying on streams or rainwater for daily use. For more on this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr Ferrial Adam, executive manager of waterCAN

Rwanda and the DRC have signed a US-brokered peace deal aimed at ending years of bloodshed in eastern Congo. Deadly clashes have ravaged the mineral-rich region, with the DRC accusing Rwanda of backing the M23 rebel group, a claim Kigali denies. While previous peace efforts failed, this new accord includes commitments to cease hostilities and disarm militias. Critics, however, warn it could become a cover for foreign interests to exploit the DRC's vast resources once again. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Africa analyst and Unisa researcher, Advocate Sipho Mantula

Mamelodi Sundowns suffered their first defeat at the FIFA Club World Cup after losing 4-3 to Borussia Dortmund at the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio YESTERDAY. Sundowns looked more ambitious and hungry in the early stages of the match, and their efforts were rewarded with an opener in the 11th minute. Despite the loss, coach Miguel Cardoso has hailed the teams brave display ahead of their key tie against Fluminense on Wednesday. To review the game Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC Sports analyst, Mathews Mpete