News24 | The Story

This weekly news podcast by News24, takes listeners on a journey into the newsroom and to the heart of the week’s biggest story. Every week, journalists from our newsroom are interviewed, about a story that dominated headlines. During these intimate and candid conversations, the listener is given tasty titbits about the week’s biggest story. We also speak to the newsmakers as well as experts on the matter.

Weekly English South Africa News · News Commentary

99 Episodes

52 – 72

PODCAST | The Story: The increasing politicisation of judicial appointments

On Monday, the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) recommended the exact same candidates they originally put forward for appointment as judges to the Constitutional Court. CASAC challenged the legality of the JSC's April process, and as a result the high court ordered a rerun of the April interviews. But, the result…

8 Oct 2021 17 min

The Story: Report into Digital Vibes scandal finally released by the President

This week on The Story, we take a look at the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)’s damning report into the R150 million Digital Vibes saga. The department of health initially contracted Digital Vibes for the National Health Insurance (NHI) campaign in 2019, which was when former health minister Zweli Mkhize reportedly…

1 Oct 2021 15 min

PODCAST | The Story: Spotlight on filicide - what triggered Lauren Dickason? And how to get help

Pretoria mother, Lauren Dickason, allegedly killed her three daughters last week in New Zealand. Lauren, her husband Graham and their 2-year-old twins Maya and Karla and 6-year-old daughter Liane immigrated from South Africa at the end of August. This week on The Story, we talked to Parent24 editor Elizabeth Mamacos…

24 Sep 2021 17 min

PODCAST | The Story: Zuma, the untouchable?

Former president Jacob Zuma dominated the headlines this week after the Correctional Services department announced his release on medical parole. It's since emerged that the medical parole advisory board did not recommend his release, but that decision was overruled by Correctional Services boss Arthur Fraser.

10 Sep 2021 12 min

PODCAST | The Story: Babita Deokaran's death and the risks of being a whistleblower

On Monday, six men appeared in the Johannesburg Magistrate's Court in connection with the murder of Gauteng health department finance official Babita Deokaran. A further two suspects were arrested on Thursday and subsequently released. Deokaran was a key witness in multimillion rand tender fraud investigations. Her death has turned the…

3 Sep 2021 13 min

PODCAST | The Story: Nosicelo Mtebeni's death and the never-ending scourge of gender-based violence

The brutal killing of women in the country has again come under the spotlight. This, after the recent murder of University of Fort Hare student Nosicelo Mtebeni. The case has sparked public outrage, but experts say that will not be enough to tackle the problem.

27 Aug 2021 13 min

PODCAST | The Story: Jason Rohde appeal - what does his future hold?

Former Lew Geffen Sotheby's CEO Jason Rohde appealed his conviction and sentence in the Supreme Court of Appeal. Join us as News24's specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan explains what is likely to happen next.

20 Aug 2021 12 min

PODCAST | The Story: Vaccine hesitancy threatens to prolong Covid-19 pandemic

Vaccine hesitancy is becoming a growing concern for the South African government, as the country tries to make its way back to pre-Covid times. If not enough people are vaccinated, it will prolong the pandemic. In South Africa, only 17% of the population has been vaccinated.

13 Aug 2021 16 min

PODCAST | The Story: Is Ramaphosa reshuffling deck chairs on the Titanic?

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday night announced changes to his executive - in his very first Cabinet reshuffle. Ministers who got the chop include Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and Tito Mboweni – who asked to be "excused". Ramaphosa also announced the resignation of suspended health minister Zweli Mkhize.

6 Aug 2021 13 min

PODCAST | The Story: Surviving Covid-19 and #UnrestSA - will our economy ever recover?

South Africa is one of the most beautiful countries globally - with its beaches, the iconic Table Mountain, wine regions and wildlife. Yet, its unlikely to be one of the top picks for international tourists any time soon due to the recent unrest and looting sprees and the impact on…

30 Jul 2021 16 min

PODCAST | The Story: Why did SA’s security agencies fail to avert the looting chaos?

South Africa's governmental security agencies have come under the spotlight since the chaos that ensued after the arrest and jailing of former president Jacob Zuma on 7 July. The public has been fed mixed messages about what triggered the unrest and who, exactly, was behind it.

23 Jul 2021 16 min

PODCAST | The Story: Scenes of anarchy grip KZN and Gauteng as shops are looted and burnt down

Protests began in Northern KZN after the jailing of former president Jacob Zuma, last week. What started as seemingly politically motivated unrest escalated into full-scale looting across parts of KZN and Gauteng.

16 Jul 2021 18 min

PODCAST | The Story: Covid-19 third wave gains momentum as Western Cape braces for worst

The Covid-19 third wave is gathering speed fuelled by the Delta variant. The health system in Gauteng, the epicentre, has been buckling under a spike of infections and hospital admissions. In the Western Cape, the province which has been recording the second highest rate of infections, authorities are in a…

9 Jul 2021 19 min

PODCAST | The Story: From president to prisoner - Zuma remains defiant in wake of ConCourt judgment

The Constitutional Court on Tuesday found former President Jacob Zuma guilty of comtempt of court for failing to appear before the Zondo Commission. He has been sentenced to fifteen months behind bars. But, he's fighting back.

2 Jul 2021 17 min

PODCAST | The Story: Gauteng health system buckles as Covid-19 infections reach record highs

The Gauteng health system seems to be buckling under the pressure as a third wave of Covid-19 infection continues to rise.

25 Jun 2021 15 min

PODCAST | The Story: Racism rife in South African schools

A private international school in Cape Town is at the centre of the latest allegation of racism. Parents and pupils protested outside the Deutsche Schule Kapstadt, a German school on the slopes of Table Mountain, this week. The teacher at the focus of their anger was suspended, but reinstated after…

18 Jun 2021 15 min

PODCAST | The Story: Mkhwebane's fate hangs in the balance

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane's application to have the impeachment rules for a Chapter 9 head declared unconstitutional and invalid started in the Western Cape High Court on Monday.

11 Jun 2021 13 min

PODCAST | The Story: Pressure mounts on Zweli Mkhize amid Covid-19 corruption scandal

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize is under pressure to quit after being linked to a Covid-19 corruption scandal involving R150 million rand. This week on The Story, we unpack the allegations and the implications for the health ministry and the Presidency itself.

5 Jun 2021 16 min

THE STORY | A series of botched surgeries - The heartbreaking claims against Dr Beale

This episode was first published on 25 October 2019, and has been amended since publication. He was suspended from practicing at Mediclinic hospitals in 2016 and, now, is barred from Netcare theatres too. Prominent Johannesburg paediatric surgeon Dr Peter Beale, 73, stands accused of negligence that led to the deaths…

30 Sep 2020 13 min

THE STORY: Dodgy PPE tender procurements land government officials in hot water

This week on The Story, we take an in-depth look at the cloud of controversy hanging over the Gauteng health department as allegations of tender corruption surfaced.

1 Aug 2020 13 min