Point of View with Phemelo Motene
Point of View with Phemelo Motene, delves into the day’s current affairs, touching on real issues and sharing expert advice on the audience questions between 8pm to 10pm Mondays to Thursdays.
Rotavirus season: Protect your children
The 2026 rotavirus season is underway, with a sharp rise in cases reported in Pretoria and one death recorded. Parents are urged to make sure children are vaccinated and to watch closely for signs of dehydration, especially when vomiting and diarrhoea occur. Phemelo spoke to NICD Centre for Enteric Diseases…
Tshwane city manager cleared in Rooiwal tender probe
Tshwane City Manager Johann Mettler has been cleared of all 21 charges in an investigation into the controversial multi-million-rand Rooiwal Wastewater Treatment Plant tender. The EFF had accused Mettler of shielding officials implicated in the tender and obstructing efforts to recover irregular expenditure. Phemelo spoke to ANC councillor and MMC…
South Africa accuses Israel of breaching ICJ orders
South Africa has filed a dossier with the International Court of Justice, alleging that Israel continues to violate binding orders aimed at protecting Palestinians in Gaza. The submission calls for Israel’s full compliance with the court’s provisional measures as the genocide case continues. Phemelo spoke to University of Johannesburg Senior…
‘We’re prisoners in our own homes’ - Westbury residents
Westbury residents say they are living in fear as gang violence and gun battles continue to grip the Johannesburg community, with shootings increasingly spilling into broad daylight. Residents, community leaders and officials gathered this week to confront the crisis and find ways to curb the violence. Phemelo spoke to Gauteng…
Zuma and Mbeki lose bid to remove Khampepe
Former presidents Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki have failed in their bid to have retired Justice Sisi Khampepe removed from the inquiry into alleged political interference in apartheid-era TRC cases. The Constitutional Court has allowed Khampepe to remain as chair, while granting Zuma and Mbeki leave to appeal parts of…
EFF bid to oust National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza defeated
The EFF’s bid to remove National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has been defeated by 282 votes to 101. Julius Malema accused Didiza of protecting President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC. The motion was supported by MKP, ACDP, ATM, NCC and UAT. Phemelo speaks to Legal Expert Bophelo Seleke and EFF…
South Sudan President Salva Kiir in SA for official visit
South Sudan President Salva Kiir is in South Africa for high-level talks with President Cyril Ramaphosa, as the country prepares for elections later this year. The visit comes amid concerns over violations of the revitalised peace agreement and tensions with the main opposition. Phemelo speaks to Africa correspondent Nixon Katembo.
R370 SRD grant rules challenged
The future of the R370 SRD grant is under scrutiny as government appeals a High Court ruling that found it should be treated as a permanent social grant. The Institute for Economic Justice says government must justify limits on who qualifies and ensure fair access. Phemelo speaks to IEJ Senior…
Ramaphosa calls for political unity to tackle SA water crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa can tackle its water crisis through the same coordinated approach used to address load shedding. He says the National Water Action Plan targets poor infrastructure, municipal failures, corruption and criminality. Phemelo speaks to WaterCan Executive Director, Dr Ferrial Adam.
Home Affairs warns deportation costs could hit key programmes
The Home Affairs Committee is concerned that R341 million spent on increased deportations could force the department to divert funds from planned programmes. It says the department’s annual deportation budget is already depleted and is calling for a sustainable plan to address the pressure. Portfolio Committee Chairperson Mosa Chabane joins…
Joburg settles R5.25bn Eskom debt
The City of Joburg has paid Eskom more than R5.25 billion in overdue electricity bills, averting the threat of power cuts. The payment follows mediation between the city, City Power and Eskom to resolve long-standing billing disputes. Phemelo speaks to Joburg Mayor Dada Morero about the settlement and what comes…
US-Canada Trade War Escalates
Trade tensions between the US and Canada have intensified after Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Canada has vowed to retaliate dollar-for-dollar from 8 September, targeting sectors including steel, dairy, agriculture and electronics. The move follows the collapse of trade talks, with Canadian Prime…
Madlanga Commission Rejects Cat Matlala Postponement
Vusimuzi “Cat” Matlala has been ordered to continue testifying at the Madlanga Commission after commissioners rejected his lawyers’ second bid for a postponement. His legal team cited difficulties consulting with him in prison and threatened further legal action. Matlala is also expected to invoke his right against self-incrimination during his…
SANDF Finally Gets R823m for Operation Prosper
The SANDF has finally received the R823 million allocated for Operation Prosper, five months after the deployment began. The funding delay has raised questions about government planning and the risks of deploying soldiers without timely financial support. Phemelo speaks to Standing Committee on Appropriations chairperson Mmusi Maimane about the funding…
Santarama Miniland Hijacked for Private Gain
Once a major Joburg tourist attraction, Santarama Miniland at Wemmer Pan has been stripped of its famous miniature landmarks and allegedly taken over as a private events venue. Parties, corporate functions and picnics are reportedly being hosted on the municipal-owned property, with the City allegedly receiving no rental or service…
ANC Reheats Election Promises in 2026 Manifesto
The ANC has launched its 2026 local government election manifesto, promising to fix struggling municipalities, improve service delivery and tackle corruption. But with support falling to 45.59% in 2021, the party is under pressure to turn familiar promises into action. President Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged the ANC’s shortcomings, while using “clock…
The Places That Honour: Recognising Women’s Contributions Through Geographical Names
How do we preserve women’s contributions to South Africa’s history through the names of our streets and public spaces? Phemelo speaks to Lorraine Shabangu of the Gauteng Geographical Names Committee about the significance of geographical naming, including the recent naming of Winnie Mandela Drive, and the importance of public participation.
Adv. Madonsela Rejects Ramaphosa’s Impeachment Committee Objections
Advocate Thandazani Madonsela SC has rejected President Cyril Ramaphosa’s objections to his appointment as evidence leader for Parliament’s Impeachment Committee. Legal expert Bophelo Seleke unpacks the President’s concerns around an alleged conflict of interest, Madonsela’s response and what this could mean for the committee’s work.
Legal Matters: Medical negligence, licence centre bribes and fraudulent court orders
On this week’s Legal Matters, Nthabiseng Dubazana unpacks cases involving prescription and medical negligence, “cold drink money” at a driver’s licence centre, and fraudulent court orders. She also answers some of your burning legal questions.
City Power warns of planned power cuts as Alexandra residents urged to pay for electricity
City Power has warned of planned electricity interruptions across several Johannesburg suburbs from 17 to 23 August as it carries out maintenance to improve network reliability. Meanwhile, Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero is urging Alexandra residents to pay for electricity as the city tackles frequent outages, illegal connections and overloaded infrastructure…