METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
Russia’s Cancer Vaccine: Breakthrough or Out of Reach for South Africa? ( PROFESSOR CAROL BENN RENOWNED SURGEON AND BREAST CANCER SPECIALIST )
In what could be one of the biggest breakthroughs in modern medicine, Russia has announced the development of a cancer vaccine called EnteroMix. Built on the same mRNA technology that powered Covid-19 vaccines, this new shot reportedly shrinks tumours, slows their growth, and avoids the devastating side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Early trials suggest a 100 per cent success rate against colorectal cancer, with more versions in the pipeline for brain and skin cancers. But as the world watches closely, the big question for us here in South Africa is this: will such a breakthrough be available and accessible to countries like ours, or will it remain out of reach?
The NSFAS Dilemma – Why Aren’t Students Paying Back, and What Does It Mean for the Next Generation?
Billions of rands in NSFAS loans remain unpaid — money that was meant to open doors for young South Africans, and money that could help the next generation get to university. Now, heated debates are erupting over whether students who benefited but haven’t paid back should be held accountable — even if it means blacklisting them. With youth unemployment at record highs, many argue repayment is simply impossible. But others say, if we don’t pay back, who funds the next student in line? Tonight, we ask: why aren’t students paying, and what does this mean for the future of higher education in South Africa?
Childhood Stolen: Eastern Cape Faces Alarming Surge in Underage Pregnancies ( SIYANDA MANANA - SPOKESPERSON - EASTERN CAPE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH )
Tonight, we shine a spotlight on a crisis that has left the Eastern Cape reeling. In just five months, 85 girls — children as young as 10 years old — have given birth in the province’s public hospitals. These shocking statistics, confirmed by the Department of Health, lay bare the scale of a problem that goes far beyond numbers. At the heart of this crisis are stories of abuse, neglect, poverty, and the failure of systems meant to protect our children.
Sell-Out or Survivor? Challenging the Township Mentality Trap
Imagine growing up in a community that pushes you to succeed — to “make it out.” But the moment you do, the cheers turn into whispers: “You’ve changed.” “You think you’re better.” Suddenly, your success feels like betrayal. This is the complex reality of township mentality — where personal growth can be seen as abandoning your roots. In communities shaped by struggle and solidarity, one person’s rise can feel like everyone else’s loss. This conversation isn’t about blaming the township. It’s about unpacking the trauma, the scarcity mindset, and the identity battles that make success feel so complicated. How do we grow without leaving people behind — or being made to feel like we have?
Brick by Brick: Lilian Ngoyi Street’s Costly Rebuild Sparks Political Showdown ( JRA CEO Zweli Nyathi )
After more than two years of detours and delays, Johannesburg’s Lilian Ngoyi Street is finally taking shape again. Mayor Dada Morero says the road, damaged by a gas explosion in 2023, has been rebuilt and resurfaced — not with traditional tar, but with paving bricks. The City insists the design will improve both the look and feel of the CBD, while also making the street friendlier for pedestrians. But not everyone is impressed — the Democratic Alliance is calling for a forensic audit into the R82-million already spent on the project.
Justice on Hold: The Battle Over KZN’s Political Killing Dockets ( SAPS NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON ATHLENDA MATHE )
Political killings in KwaZulu-Natal have haunted South Africa’s democracy for years, with councillors, traditional leaders and party members gunned down in a cycle of violence that shows no sign of slowing. Now, a tug-of-war over the investigation files has raised new questions about justice and accountability. SAPS has confirmed that copies of the 121 dockets — including more than a hundred murder cases — will be given to the Madlanga Commission, while the original files return to KZN investigators. But this move follows allegations of political interference, the disbanding of the specialist task team, and warnings from the Presidency itself. Tonight, we unpack what this means for the families of victims still waiting for answers.
The Right to Die: Should South Africa Legalise Assisted Dying?
It’s one of the most difficult questions any society can face: should terminally ill people have the legal right to choose the time and manner of their death? In South Africa, that right does not exist. But as more voices push for change, the pressure is mounting on lawmakers and the courts to re-examine what it means to die with dignity. Around the world, countries like Canada, the Netherlands, and several US states allow physician-assisted dying under strict conditions. Here at home, the debate is fierce, shaped by ethical, legal, and deeply personal arguments. Tonight, we unpack this ethical dilemma with Dignity South Africa, the organisation leading the charge to change our laws — and to give South Africans the right to die with dignity.
Boy Mamabolo on Breaking Away from the ANC
He was once a loud and unapologetic voice in Parliament under the ANC banner. Today, Boy Mamabolo is making headlines again — this time, for walking away from the ANC and preparing to launch his own political home. His new movement, now called Born To Win, is positioning itself as the party for ordinary South Africans — the so-called ‘ground forces’ overlooked by the elites. But can Mamabolo’s party really eat into the support of giants like the ANC and the EFF? Tonight, we speak to Boy Mamabolo about his resignation, his battles with the ANC, and whether Born To Win can live up to its name.
Vhembe’s Centenarians: South Africa’s Own Blue Zone
Picture this: you walk through a village in Limpopo’s Vhembe District, and it’s not unusual to meet someone who is 100 years old — still planting in their gardens, cooking for their families, or walking to greet their neighbours. In fact, more than 2 000 centenarians live here, with over 500 in the Thulamela Municipality alone. It’s a community where age doesn’t just mean survival — it means thriving. Today, we explore what Vhembe can teach the rest of South Africa, and even the world, about living longer, healthier lives.
Target or Scapegoat? The Lumka Oliphant Suspension Saga
South Africa’s Department of Social Development is facing heavy scrutiny after reports that it spent R3-million on a two-week trip to New York. In the middle of this storm is the department’s long-serving Chief Director of Communications, Lumka Oliphant — now suspended with full pay pending an investigation. Oliphant insists she is being unfairly targeted, accused of leaking information to the media because of her past as a journalist and her professional history with publications like City Press. Tonight, she joins us to respond to these allegations, to unpack the politics inside the department, and to ask an important question: when scandals break, do government spokespeople take the fall for their bosses and institutions?
Spring Cleaning South Africa: Sweeping Out the Old, Planting the New
Today marked Spring Day — a time many of us associate with blossoms, sunshine, and new beginnings. But what if we thought about Spring in a different way? Imagine taking the idea of ‘spring cleaning’ beyond our homes and into our society. In a country weighed down by corruption, unemployment, and crime, what would it mean to sweep out the systems, habits, and practices that no longer serve us? And just as importantly — what new seeds of hope could we plant for the future? This evening, we’re opening up that conversation with voices from politics, community, and everyday life. Together, we’ll explore what a real ‘fresh start’ for South Africa might look like.
Masemola Allegedly On Thin Ice: The SAPS Docket Storm
Tonight, we turn our attention to the leadership of the South African Police Service, where National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has found himself under fire for a decision that has sent shockwaves through government and policing circles. At the heart of the backlash is his move to return 121 investigation dockets on political killings back to the KwaZulu-Natal Task Team — cases tied to allegations of political interference within the SAPS. The timing has raised eyebrows. These very allegations form part of the upcoming Madlanga Commission of Inquiryinto police corruption, and both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia have reportedly expressed concern. While some believe Masemola acted to ensure continuity and justice for victims’ families, others see it as a dangerous misstep that could compromise the integrity of the Commission itself.
Lottery in Limbo: Barney Pityana’s Sudden Exit and the Future of the NLC
Barney Pityana’s departure from the National Lotteries Commission has raised eyebrows across the country. The 80-year-old respected academic and human rights advocate took over the NLC in 2022 after years of damaging scandals, looting and widespread allegations of corruption. His arrival, alongside Commissioner Jodi Scholtz, helped bring stability and begin the process of restoring integrity to an organisation long mired in controversy. But just two years into his five-year term, Pityana has tendered his resignation to Trade and Industry Minister Parks Tau. His reason for stepping down remains unclear — leaving many to wonder what this means for the future of the Commission, still grappling with the shadow of over R2 billion in questionable projects under investigation by the Special Investigating Unit.
SHE SPEAKS: THE LEGACY OF WOMEN DRIVING EXCELLENCE
Powerhouse Panel Dr Babalwa Maholwana Dr Pulane Modiha Ifeoma Agu Azande Ralephenya
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Criminologist Ian Allis - Willem Els - Institute for Security Studies
Every year, millions of South Africans face the trauma of crime — from housebreakings and robberies to fraud and personal theft. Yet what’s just as shocking as the numbers themselves is how few victims ever report these crimes to the police. The latest Stats SA survey shows that more than 60% of household crimes go unreported, and in the case of personal theft, nearly seven out of ten victims never set foot in a police station. Behind the statistics lies a deeper crisis: ordinary citizens no longer believe the police can or will protect them. This silent crisis of trust is reshaping how people live, forcing them to rely on private security, gated communities, and self-imposed curfews.
MONEY SMART WEEK SOUTH AFRICA 2025
"From 25 to 31 August, South Africans are once again invited to take part in the annual Money Smart Week initiative – the country’s biggest financial literacy campaign under the 2025 theme of Smart Money: Financial Foundations for a Resilient Future. Joining us now to tell us more is [Representative’s Name], from the National Consumer Financial Education Committee."
City Power Spokesperson Isaac Mangena
In Alexandra, the desperate search for shelter has collided head-on with the city’s aging electricity infrastructure — and the result has left hundreds of families in the dark for years. Johannesburg City Power says illegal housing developments on top of critical power networks have made it impossible for technicians to access pylons, locate faults, and carry out urgent repairs. In some parts of Extension 7, Tsutsumane, and Extension 8, entire communities have lived without electricity, trapped between the dangers of unsafe building practices and the city’s struggle to balance human need with infrastructure safety.
COSATU PROVINCIAL CHAIRPERSON MOTLATSI TSUBANE
South Africa’s social workers, who stand on the frontline of protecting the country’s most vulnerable, are themselves coming under attack. The Western Cape Department of Social Development has revealed that in just the last 16 months, 54 incidents of social workers being attacked have been recorded. The Congress of South African Trade Unions, COSATU, says the situation is deeply worrying and reflects a lack of coordination between government departments and security agencies. The federation’s provincial chairperson, Motlatsi Tsubane, has stressed that the safety of social workers is not just an employee issue — but a community issue, because when social workers are under threat, entire communities lose essential protection and support.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The Experiences of Black African Women in South African Newsrooms
For decades, South Africa’s newsrooms have been described as the mirror of our society – yet for many black African women journalists, that mirror reflects back exclusion, double standards, and barriers that go far beyond the stories they cover. They are often the majority in newsrooms as reporters and producers, but almost invisible in top editorial roles. And when they do rise, they face a level of scrutiny and disrespect their male or white counterparts rarely endure. Today we’re joined by Bongekile, a journalist who has lived through these dynamics, to unpack what it really means to be a black African woman in South Africa’s media spaces – the triumphs, the traumas, and the difficult choices that many are forced to make.
SANDILE SWANA ( POLITICAL ANALYST )
POLITICAL ANALYST
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