listen to METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The Ashwagandha Boom: Miracle Herb or Wellness Trend?
From health shops and pharmacies to TikTok and gym locker rooms, one herbal supplement seems to be everywhere: ashwagandha. Once largely associated with traditional Ayurvedic medicine, the ancient herb has become one of South Africa's fastest-growing wellness trends. Supporters claim it helps reduce stress, improve sleep, boost energy levels, enhance gym performance and even increase testosterone. At a time when many South Africans are dealing with anxiety, burnout and financial pressure, it's not surprising that more people are looking for natural ways to cope. But as demand grows, so do questions about safety. Is ashwagandha really the stress-busting super herb it's marketed to be, or are consumers getting ahead of the science? Tonight, we unpack why South Africans are embracing ashwagandha, what the research actually says, and whether there are risks people should know about before adding it to their daily routine.
Johannesburg's Financial Crisis: Is the City Broke or Are Residents Not Paying? ( SCOPA CHAIRPERSON SONGEZO ZIBI )
South Africa's economic powerhouse is facing uncomfortable questions about its financial health. The City of Johannesburg has long battled service delivery failures, aging infrastructure, water shortages and deteriorating roads, but according to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts Chairperson, Songezo Zibi, the city's biggest problem may not be how much money it owes—it's how much money residents owe the city. The Auditor-General has painted a troubling picture of a municipality operating on what have been described as false assurances about its finances, while critical infrastructure projects have reportedly been delayed because of cash-flow constraints. So how does a city with one of the country's largest revenue bases find itself struggling to deliver basic services? Is the issue poor financial management, a culture of non-payment, or a combination of both? And what does this mean for the future of Johannesburg and other municipalities facing similar challenges across South Africa?
Petrol Pain, Diesel Relief ( MAMETLWE SEBEI - LECTURER IN THE COLLEGE OF LAW - UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA )
For millions of South Africans, the fuel price is more than just a number on a forecourt board — it determines how much it costs to get to work, transport goods, put food on shelves and keep businesses running. As June begins, motorists are facing a mixed bag. Petrol users are set to feel the pinch with a significant increase at the pumps, while diesel consumers will benefit from a substantial price cut. The latest adjustments announced by the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources paint a picture of how global events, from tensions between the United States and Iran to disruptions along one of the world's busiest oil routes, continue to have a direct impact on the pockets of ordinary South Africans. Tonight, we unpack what is driving these changes and what they could mean for inflation, transport costs and household budgets.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Is Therapy Failing Men?
Men are far less likely than women to seek professional help for mental health challenges, and when they do, many don’t stay in therapy for long. Some argue that traditional therapy was designed around communication styles and emotional expression that resonate more with women than with men. Others say the problem isn’t therapy itself, but the stigma that still surrounds men asking for help. So, is modern therapy meeting men where they are, or are men being left behind in the mental health conversation? We unpack the debate. Sabelo Melizwe Gumede - CEO Cloud therapist, Psychologist AmaZulu FC, SASCOC Committee Member Psychology of Performance, Board Chair Weskoppies Hospital.. BOINETTE SELOKELA - Social worker at Mental Health Organisation
Phala Phala Probe Back in Focus ( MAGASHUKE GANA - PHALA PHALA IMPEACHMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR )
The political battle over the Phala Phala saga has entered a new chapter. Rise Mzansi’s Makashule Gana has been elected chairperson of Parliament’s newly established Phala Phala Impeachment Committee, defeating ATM MP Dr Wonderboy Mahlatsi in a closely watched vote. The committee has been tasked with revisiting allegations linked to the theft of more than $580,000 from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala game farm and determining whether there are sufficient grounds to recommend his removal from office. With political parties divided on Gana’s appointment and the committee now officially constituted, questions are being raised about what this process means for accountability, Parliament’s oversight role, and the president’s political future.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: NEARLY HALF OF SOUTH AFRICAN CHILDREN LIVE WITH THEIR MOTHERS ONLY
South Africa's latest General Household Survey has once again highlighted a striking reality about family life in the country. According to Statistics South Africa, nearly 46% of children live in households with their mothers only. For many, this raises difficult questions about the role of fathers, the pressures facing families, and the impact that economic hardship, migration, and unemployment continue to have on households. While some see the figures as evidence of a growing fatherhood crisis, others argue they reflect broader social and economic challenges that have shaped South African families for generations. What does it mean for children to grow up without both parents in the same household? How does it affect their emotional wellbeing, sense of identity, and future opportunities? And what responsibility do men, communities, and society as a whole have in changing this picture? Tonight, we unpack what these statistics tell us about modern family life in South Africa and ask whether the country is doing enough to support fathers, mothers, and children alike.
GAUTENG'S NEW NGO FUNDING RULES AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SECTOR
A recent policy shift by the Gauteng Department of Social Development has introduced new funding rules for non-profit organisations in the province. Under the updated clauses, provincial grants may no longer be used to pay non-South African staff unless they are classified as scarce skills, and certain leadership roles in funded organisations are now required to be held by South African citizens. The department says the changes are intended to prioritise employment for qualified South African social workers and align funding with national skills and labour considerations. It also points to a significant number of unemployed social work graduates in the province. However, the new rules have raised questions within the non-profit sector about how they will affect staffing, service delivery, and the continuity of care for vulnerable communities who rely on these organisations. At the centre of the discussion is a broader policy question: how should government balance employment priorities with the operational realities of organisations delivering frontline social services? Tonight, we unpack the implications of Gauteng’s new NGO funding rules and what they could mean for the sector going forward.
HOW SAFE ARE ACTIVISTS WHO SPEAK OUT AND ORGANISE WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITIES IN SOUTH AFRICA TODAY? ( GIFT SIKISI MASHABA - Solidarity Action Committee Collective )
A leading community activist and member of the Solidarity Action Committee Collective, Mokoena Letsie, has been killed in what authorities are investigating as a targeted shooting in Potchefstroom in the North West. According to reports, the activist was shot multiple times, and the circumstances surrounding the killing are now part of an active police investigation. The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of outspoken activists in South Africa, with civil society groups pointing to a broader pattern of threats, intimidation, and violent attacks against community organisers in recent years. Another recent activist killing has also added to growing alarm about the risks faced by individuals involved in grassroots mobilisation and political or social advocacy. As investigations continue, questions are being raised about what protection exists for activists on the ground, and whether enough is being done to prevent politically or socially motivated violence. Tonight, we look at this case as it stands, and ask: how safe are activists who speak out and organise within their communities in South Africa today?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Armed And Unafraid? Women in South Africa arming themselves for protection
South Africa’s violent crime crisis is changing the way many women think about safety, survival and self-defence. From kidnappings and home invasions to gender-based violence and violent robberies, fear has become part of daily life for many South Africans — and increasingly, women are deciding they do not want to feel helpless anymore. For some, that means learning self-defence. For others, it means firearm training and legal gun ownership. Tonight we explore the growing number of women taking an active role in their own protection, and the difficult questions that come with it. Is firearm ownership becoming a form of empowerment for women in a country battling extreme violence? Or does putting more guns into civilian hands create even greater risks? We’ll also speak to GOSA Girls on Fire, a women’s empowerment initiative focused on turning victims into victors through practical skills, situational awareness and confidence-building. In a country where many women feel unsafe almost everywhere they go, what does true empowerment actually look like?
COMMUNITY RADIO AWARDS ( MOTSEKI MANNUYA FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE AWARDS )
Community radio has long been the soundtrack of everyday South African life — from township streets to rural villages, from local debates to breaking news that matters directly to communities. And now, the sector’s biggest voices, storytellers and behind-the-scenes champions are preparing for one of the industry’s biggest nights: the 2nd Annual Community Radio Awards. Returning after a successful debut in 2025, this year’s awards carry the theme “Lights, Camera, Radio!” — celebrating the growth, creativity and resilience of community broadcasting in an increasingly competitive media landscape. Organized by Boitumelo Media Group, the awards aim to honour the stations and individuals who continue to inform, educate and empower millions of listeners across the country. From presenters and producers to technical teams and current affairs programmes, the awards are shining a spotlight on the people who keep grassroots radio alive. Tonight we look at why community radio still matters in South Africa, and whether the industry is finally getting the recognition it deserves.
Missing Behind the System ( Amabhungane journalist Orrin Sigh )
South Africans are being confronted with a deeply unsettling question tonight: how can nearly 30,000 parolees and probation offenders simply disappear from the system? A damning investigation by amaBhungane has revealed that Correctional Services cannot account for thousands of offenders — including people convicted of violent crimes such as murder, rape, kidnapping and armed robbery. The investigation paints a picture of a criminal justice system under severe strain, plagued by overcrowded prisons, broken monitoring systems, collapsed tracing units and poor coordination between Correctional Services and the SAPS. AmaBhungane journalist Orrin Singh says authorities are effectively out of touch with what is happening on the ground. So what does this mean for public safety? Are dangerous offenders slipping through the cracks while government systems fail to communicate with one another? And perhaps most importantly — who should be held accountable when the state loses track of convicted criminals?
Paying the Party Price? ( Warrant officer Zinzi Hani )
The uMkhonto weSizwe Party is once again making headlines — but this time, it’s not about election rallies or political battles. It’s about allegations of fraud involving one of the party’s most senior parliamentary figures. MK Party chief whip Mmabatho Mokoena-Zondi has been arrested and is expected to appear in the Cape Town Magistrate’s Court after claims that she allegedly took more than R233 000 from party employees. According to allegations, staff members were instructed to hand over between 50 and 60 percent of their monthly salaries under the explanation that the money was needed to cover legal costs linked to party leader Jacob Zuma. Now, the arrest raises uncomfortable questions about power, loyalty, and political pressure inside emerging political movements. Were vulnerable employees manipulated in the name of party unity? And what does this scandal say about accountability in South African politics, especially in parties built around powerful personalities?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The Witchcraft Stigma Crisis: Can South Africa End Witchcraft-Related Violence?
Tonight we confront a disturbing reality that many believe belongs in the past — the brutal killing of elderly women accused of witchcraft. Despite South Africa’s democracy and constitutional protections, witchcraft-related violence continues to haunt rural communities, where fear, stigma, poverty and lack of education often collide. Why are vulnerable elderly women still becoming targets, and what will it take to stop these killings?
IEC LAUNCHES VOTER CAMPAIGN BUT WILL PEOPLE TURN OUT IN THEIR NUMBERS?
South Africa’s democracy was built on the promise that every voice matters — but more and more people are choosing silence at the ballot box. In the 2024 national elections, less than half of eligible voters actually voted, raising serious concerns about trust in the political system, confidence in leadership, and whether citizens still believe their vote can bring meaningful change. Tonight, we unpack the growing voter apathy in South Africa, what it says about the state of our democracy, and whether political leaders — and institutions like the IEC — have done enough to earn the public’s trust. We’re joined by Ground Work Collective CEO, Mbali Ntuli.
Living In Fear: Gauteng’s Kidnapping Crisis Deepens ( CRIMINOLOGIST UNISA PROFESSOR JACOB MOFOKENG AND CRIME EXPERT THABANG BOGOPA )
Tonight, we confront a terrifying reality unfolding in Gauteng — a province now recording an average of 27 kidnappings every single day. These are not random crimes anymore. Experts say kidnapping syndicates have evolved into sophisticated criminal businesses, targeting ordinary South Africans through hijackings, social media traps, dating apps, and even ransom schemes designed to drain victims’ bank accounts within hours. Tonight we ask: Why is kidnapping escalating so rapidly in South Africa? Are criminal syndicates outsmarting law enforcement? And how do ordinary citizens protect themselves in a society where fear is becoming part of daily life?
RISE Mzansi’s Joburg Gamble: Can Lukhona Mnguni Fix Johannesburg? (
Tonight, Johannesburg’s political battlefield takes another dramatic turn. RISE Mzansi has officially announced political analyst and public policy expert Lukhona Mnguni as its mayoral candidate for the City of Johannesburg. Known for holding politicians accountable from the outside, Mnguni now wants to step directly into the arena — promising ethical leadership, competent governance and a reset for a city battered by corruption scandals, collapsing infrastructure, water shortages, electricity failures and coalition chaos. But can an analyst successfully transition into executive leadership? And does Johannesburg still believe any politician can truly rescue South Africa’s economic hub?
KARABO KHAKHAU UNFILTERED
Tonight, we sit down with one of the Democratic Alliance’s most outspoken and fast-rising young voices in Parliament — Karabo Khakhau. Fearless, confrontational, and often controversial, Khakhau has become one of the loudest figures in the fight against alleged corruption inside South Africa’s SETA system — a battle that has placed her directly in the political spotlight. Over the past year, she has pushed aggressively for accountability around Sector Education and Training Authorities, accusing political elites of turning institutions meant to empower young South Africans into what she calls “cash cows for cadres.”
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: AFRICA DAY SPECIAL — IS XENOPHOBIA UN-AFRICAN?
Tonight, as millions across the continent marked Africa Day — a day meant to celebrate unity, liberation, solidarity and the dream of Pan-Africanism — South Africa once again finds itself confronting uncomfortable questions about who belongs, who is welcome, and whether the ideals of African unity still hold meaning in modern Africa. DR MALUSI MNCUBE - RESEARCH ASSOCIATE AND AUTHOUR - UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG DR KGOSI LETLAPE - ACTION SA MP MENZI KA GUDU MASEKO - REVOLUTIONARY CULTURAL ACTIVIST AND AFRIKOLOGIST
SECURITY UPGRADE IN KRUGER PARK AFTER KILLING OF TWO INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS ( Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp )
Earlier today, SANParks confirmed a major escalation in security operations within the Kruger National Park following the killing of two international tourists in the Pafuri Section. The couple’s bodies were discovered on Friday after they failed to return to their accommodation as scheduled, triggering a large-scale search operation that ended in tragedy. SANParks says it is now deploying additional rangers and strengthening surveillance and early warning systems across the park in response to the incident. Limpopo police have opened two cases of murder and hijacking, as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding the couple’s death. Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Willie Aucamp has extended his condolences to the grieving family, as authorities move to reassure both local and international visitors about safety in one of the country’s most visited tourism destinations.
SAPS Forensic Captain in Court After Early Morning Arrest Over Justice Obstruction Allegations ( SAPS NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON ATHLENDA MATHE )
Earlier this morning, a senior police captain attached to the SAPS Forensic Sciences Laboratory made a brief court appearance at the Pretoria Magistrates Court following a dramatic arrest that has sent shockwaves through the policing community. The officer was arrested at his home on Friday morning by the Madlanga Commission’s Recommendations Task Team, marking the first arrest to directly stem from testimony and findings linked to the commission. He faces charges of defeating the ends of justice in what investigators say are linked to several high-profile murder cases. During the arrest operation, authorities reportedly confiscated key state-related materials, including ballistic reports, ammunition, and other evidential items considered crucial to ongoing investigations. Police say the seizure forms part of efforts to establish whether there was interference or mishandling of critical forensic evidence. As we come on air tonight, the case is now firmly before the courts, with investigators tightening the net on what could be a deeper pattern of obstruction within the justice system.
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