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.
Parliament questions Treasury over R13.5bn municipal funding freeze
Parliament has grilled National Treasury over its decision to withhold R13.5 billion in funding from struggling municipalities over financial mismanagement and unpaid debts. While 27 councils have had their funding restored and more are expected to receive payments, dozens remain without crucial funds as Treasury insists they meet strict financial…
CRL Rights Commission cracks down after 43 initiation deaths this winter
The CRL Rights Commission is stepping up efforts to tackle the ongoing crisis at initiation schools after 43 initiates lost their lives during this year's winter initiation season. The latest figures also reveal dozens of hospitalisations, abductions, illegal schools and criminal cases, prompting the commission to launch a special committee…
Private school accused of defying court order over excluded matric pupils
A Johannesburg private school is back in court after allegedly failing to fully comply with a High Court order to reinstate two Grade 12 learners who were excluded over unpaid school fees. While the pupils have returned to class, SECTION27 says they have not been fully reintegrated and remain unregistered…
Cat Matlala trial witness breaks down as Madlanga Commission hears fresh claims
Emotions ran high in the Johannesburg High Court as the first state witness in the trial of alleged underworld figure Vusimuzi "Cat" Matlala recounted the terrifying moment gunmen armed with AK-47s ambushed a Centurion Golf Estate in 2022. At the same time, the Madlanga Commission heard testimony from Investigating Directorate…
Spain crowned world champions after edging Argentina in dramatic final
Spain are world champions for the second time after defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in an enthralling FIFA World Cup final. Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time after Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez produced a series of outstanding saves to keep his side in the contest. The…
Middle East tensions escalate as US and Iran exchange fresh strikes
The conflict between the United States and Iran has intensified, with both sides launching new attacks that have raised fears of a wider regional war. Iran has targeted US allies in the Gulf following fresh American airstrikes, while fighting has disrupted shipping through the strategic Strait of Hormuz and driven…
Public Protector blames Gauteng municipalities for food safety failures
A damning Public Protector report has found serious weaknesses in Gauteng's food safety system, pointing to a severe shortage of environmental health practitioners and poor compliance by local government. The investigation followed a wave of food poisoning incidents in late 2024 that claimed the lives of at least 23 children…
Parliament cracks down on failing municipalities as funding freeze battle intensifies
Parliament has drawn a hard line against municipalities that repeatedly fail to meet financial and governance standards. At the centre of the dispute is National Treasury's decision to withhold funding from 69 defaulting councils, including the City of Johannesburg, over poor financial management and unpaid debts. While some MPs have…
Gauteng taxi licence row deepens as operators and MEC trade blame
A dispute is brewing between Gauteng's taxi industry and Roads and Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela. Taxi organisations SANTACO and the National Taxi Alliance accuse the MEC of delaying the release of operating licences, saying the hold-ups are hurting operators and disrupting business. The department rejects the claims, insisting more than…
Music Feature: Hip-Hop show in her honour of Sylvia Robinson (the mother of Hip-hop)
This week's Music Feature celebrates the legacy of Sylvia Robinson, widely regarded as the Mother of Hip-Hop. Dr Sheldon Rocha Leal takes us on a journey through the genre's evolution with classics and local favourites, featuring The Sugarhill Gang, 2Pac, Cassper Nyovest, AKA, Burna Boy, JR and more.
WHAT TO WATCH
Looking for your next watch? This week's What to Watch has you covered. Leroy Marc reviews the horror films Evil Dead Burn and Lockbox, now in cinemas, and previews Words and Nightmares, showing at Theatre on the Square from 21–26 July.
A Wrap of the Week's Top Stories
Missed the week's biggest news? Kaya News Anchor Katleho Sekhotho unpacks the stories that dominated the headlines, from dramatic developments at the Madlanga Commission and the latest in Pastor Timothy Omotoso's legal battle, to the Marble Towers settlement with the City of Johannesburg and tributes to legendary actor Seputla Sebogodi.
Judgment Reserved in Ramaphosa's Phala Phala Interdict
Will President Cyril Ramaphosa's bid to halt Parliament's Section 89 impeachment process succeed? Judgment has been reserved in the Western Cape High Court after two days of legal arguments. Phemelo Motene speaks to legal expert Mpumelelo Zikalala, who unpacks the key arguments and what the court's decision could mean for…
ANC says its recommendations were watered down in SAPS probe report
The ANC says some of its key recommendations have been left out or weakened in the draft report of Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee investigating allegations of political interference in the South African Police Service. ANC MP Khusela Diko argues the party’s position has not been accurately reflected, including its recommendations…
Mbalula sidesteps TRC compensation debate at Khampepe Commission
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has declined to weigh in on whether victims of apartheid-era crimes should receive compensation through the Khampepe Commission, saying he is unsure if that is the commission’s role. Appearing before the inquiry, Mbalula maintained that as former police minister, his responsibilities were limited to policy and…
Ramaphosa says impeachment inquiry should wait for court ruling, not be scrapped
President Cyril Ramaphosa is asking the courts to temporarily pause Parliament’s impeachment process, not stop it altogether. His legal team argues the inquiry should only continue once the courts decide whether the Section 89 panel report that triggered it is legally valid. The Western Cape High Court heard that the…
De Beers Venetia mine suspension puts more than 1,000 jobs at risk
More than 1,000 jobs could be on the line after De Beers announced it will suspend production at its Venetia mine for two years. The company says the decision is driven by weak global demand for natural diamonds, falling prices and growing competition from lab-grown stones. Venetia is South Africa's…
Could El Niño push up South Africa food prices?
As forecasts point to a possible El Niño-driven drought during South Africa's next summer crop season, questions are growing about what it could mean for food prices. While droughts typically reduce agricultural output and push up the cost of food, experts say this time the country may be better prepared…
Mashaba questions R121 million Shalazile electrification project
ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba has accused the City of Johannesburg of failing residents at the Shalazile Informal Settlement, despite spending R121 million on an electrification project. Following an oversight visit, Mashaba raised concerns over allegations of excessive spending, persistent power outages and poor living conditions, saying families continue to live…
More than 1,200 power outages hit Johannesburg in two weeks
Johannesburg is grappling with a deepening electricity crisis, with more than 1,200 power outages reported in just two weeks, leaving thousands of residents and businesses in the dark. Concerns are mounting over City Power's ability to respond, amid claims of idle repair teams, shortages of critical equipment and allegations of…