listen to METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: What Would Chris Hani Make of South Africa Today? ( LINDIWE HANI )
More than three decades after the assassination of Chris Hani, his name continues to occupy a unique place in South Africa’s political history. He was remembered not only as a commander of Umkhonto weSizwe and a leading figure in the liberation struggle, but as a man who was seen by many as principled, disciplined, humble and deeply committed to the ordinary South African. Hani spoke openly about inequality, poverty, corruption and the responsibility of those in power to serve the people — issues that remain painfully relevant today. And perhaps that is why, in the South Africa of 2026, there is renewed value in looking back at what became known as the Hani Memorandum — his reflections on the direction of the liberation movement and the kind of society he believed South Africa should become. We are grappling with unemployment, poverty, inequality, a cost-of-living crisis, failing public services and growing frustration with political leadership. So the question is not simply what would Chris Hani have thought of South Africa today? It is whether some of the principles and warnings contained in his political thinking still offer us a mirror for where we are — and perhaps a roadmap for where we should be going. Today, we speak to Lindiwe Hani, Chris Hani’s daughter, about the man behind the revolutionary icon, the values he instilled in his family, and what she believes his legacy means in a country still struggling with many of the socioeconomic challenges he fought against.
ANC Candidate-List Battle: Election Readiness, Localised Manifesto and the Fight for the Metros ( ANC Deputy Secretary-General Cde Nomvula Mokonyane )
The ANC’s preparations for the local government elections have been clouded by a battle with the Electoral Commission over its candidate lists. The party has been fighting to have its candidates accepted, raising questions about its internal processes and readiness for an election in which every municipality and ward will be closely contested. At the same time, the ANC has chosen to localise its election manifesto, tailoring its promises to the particular challenges facing different municipalities and metros. So, why was this approach necessary, what is the party’s strategy for the metros, and can a more locally focused manifesto help it reconnect with voters? We’re joined by the ANC to unpack the candidate-list battle, its manifesto and its broader strategy going into the local government elections.
ZERO ALCOHOL LIMIT: CAN SA REALLY ENFORCE IT? ( Kashifa Ancer - campaign manager - Rethink Your Drink -the DG Murray Trust )
South Africa is moving closer to a zero-alcohol limit for motorists, with government pursuing amendments to Section 65 of the National Road Traffic Act. The proposed changes would effectively mean that drivers cannot legally consume any alcohol before getting behind the wheel. The Transport Department says the move is necessary to tackle drunk driving, which remains a major contributor to road deaths. Between March and the end of August this year, more than 18,000 people were arrested for drunk driving, accounting for around a third of all traffic arrests during that period. But while there is broad support for tougher action against drunk driving, the big question is whether South Africa has the capacity to enforce a zero-tolerance law consistently. Government itself has acknowledged that effective road safety depends heavily on having enough traffic officers, resources and visible policing, particularly at night when many crashes occur. So, is changing the law enough — or could a zero-alcohol limit become another regulation that looks good on paper but proves difficult to enforce on the ground?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: City Life, Alcohol and Unborn Lives: Is Urbanisation Changing South Africa’s FASD Crisis?
Today is World Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Day — a day observed globally to raise awareness about the lifelong impact of alcohol exposure during pregnancy. FASD is entirely preventable, yet it remains a significant public-health challenge, particularly in South Africa, where some communities have among the highest recorded rates of FASD in the world. But as our cities grow and more people move into urban areas, are we paying enough attention to the social pressures that can influence alcohol use during pregnancy? Does rapid urbanisation — with its unemployment, poverty, stress, changing social networks and greater availability of alcohol — create conditions that could put more unborn children at risk? Today, we're asking whether the FASD crisis is also becoming an urbanisation story.
POLITICALLY HOMELESS: WHO REPRESENTS SOUTH AFRICANS?
South Africa is heading towards another crucial local government election, with more than 500 political parties registered in the country. On paper, that sounds like democracy offering voters more choice than ever before. But a new Ipsos survey suggests that more choice does not necessarily mean more representation. According to the Ipsos Khayabus: Pulse of the People study, 47% of South Africans say there is no political party that represents their views. Almost half the country, in other words, feels politically homeless. And this comes at a time when many communities are becoming increasingly frustrated by the very issues local government is supposed to address — water, electricity, roads, housing, jobs and basic service delivery. Only 38% of respondents believe their local municipalities are doing their jobs well, while 38% of eligible voters say they have no interest in politics or elections at all. Yet, despite the frustration and disconnection, there is still a remarkable contradiction: 64% say they want to vote in the upcoming local government elections. So, if South Africans are unhappy with political parties, distrustful of institutions and disappointed by municipalities — why do so many still want to vote? Are voters losing faith in politicians, but not necessarily in democracy itself? And perhaps most importantly: who exactly represents the millions of South Africans who feel politically homeless?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Can South Africa Read Its Way Out of Crisis? World Literacy Day Puts Africa's Education Emergency Under the Spotlight
Today, as the world marks International Literacy Day, South Africa is being forced to confront a difficult question: what does it mean to have millions of children in school, but still have far too many struggling to read and understand what they are reading? Literacy is more than recognising words on a page—it is the foundation upon which education, employment, economic participation and social mobility are built. Yet South Africa's reading crisis has repeatedly raised alarm, particularly following the PIRLS 2021 results, which highlighted the serious learning challenges facing the country's children. On International Literacy Day, the conversation is therefore not simply about celebrating the ability to read and write, but about confronting the consequences of a generation that may move through the education system without acquiring the foundational skills needed to succeed in school, the workplace and an increasingly digital world. Government literacy programmes, including adult education initiatives such as Kha Ri Gude, have attempted to widen access, but the challenge remains enormous.
“They Can Kill Me”: Transport Department whistleblower Esethu Hasane on alleged irregularities ( Esethu Hasane )
A senior government official has made chilling allegations about what he describes as questionable spending within South Africa's Department of Transport—and now, he says, he fears for his life. Research Director Esethu Hasane is blowing the whistle on communications contracts allegedly worth around R15 million, including livestreaming services that he claims cost the department hundreds of thousands of rand, despite attracting very few viewers. Hasane alleges that some procurement processes may have been structured in ways designed to avoid scrutiny, and says his attempts to raise objections internally have resulted in threats and hostility. Now, his warning is deeply concerning: “They can kill me.” But the Department of Transport has rejected allegations that he was victimised and says an independent investigation into the financial irregularity allegations is already underway. So tonight we ask: What protection do whistleblowers really have when exposing alleged corruption—and why do so many say speaking out comes with a personal cost?
After 8 is After 8: CORRECT THE MAP: HAS THE WORLD MADE AFRICA LOOK SMALL?
For generations, we’ve looked at the world through maps and accepted what we see as reality. Europe appears enormous, Greenland looks almost as big as Africa, while the African continent often appears smaller than it actually is. But what if the map we grew up with has been giving us a distorted picture of the world? The United Nations has now backed a push to promote map projections that represent Africa’s size more accurately, reigniting a much bigger conversation about how the continent has been portrayed to the rest of the world. Because this is not only about geography. Maps are powerful. They influence how we understand countries, continents and their importance in the global order. And for a continent with more than 1.4 billion people, vast natural resources and 54 countries, the question is whether Africa has also been made to look smaller in our minds than it really is. So, if the map has distorted Africa’s physical size, have we also underestimated its political, economic and geopolitical significance? And perhaps the bigger question is: has Africa been made to feel small for far longer than it has actually been?
South Africans are earning, but increasingly struggling to keep up ( Andiswa Sibhukwana - Competition Commission Economist and Co- author of the report )
The cost of simply getting through the month is becoming increasingly expensive for South Africans. Electricity and water prices are climbing, fuel and transport costs are putting pressure on household budgets, and those increases are filtering through to the price of basic goods and services. The latest Competition Commission Cost of Living Report paints a worrying picture — showing that many of the essentials households cannot live without are rising faster than overall inflation. Electricity prices, for example, increased by 8.1% in the year to July, while water tariffs rose by 10.1%. And this is not just about paying more at the till or a higher municipal bill. When the cost of fuel rises, it affects transport, distribution and ultimately the price of the goods we buy. So, as incomes struggle to keep pace, the question is: how much more pressure can the average South African household absorb before the cost of living becomes simply unaffordable?
After 8 is After 8: Spring Day Celebrations gone too far?
Spring Day is meant to signal a new season — warmer weather, brighter days and, for many young people, the familiar tradition of splashing water. But this year, celebrations in parts of Tshwane have sparked serious concern after videos showed people being targeted without consent, vehicles being stopped, public transport damaged and commuters caught in the chaos. The issue took a tragic turn in Refilwe, Cullinan, where 21-year-old Tshepang Nyathi was allegedly stabbed to death after an altercation involving a 53-year-old man who was allegedly targeted with water. The suspect has been arrested and is expected to face a murder charge. Tshwane Bus Service says two buses were put out of operation after the celebrations, affecting more than 300 passengers, including pupils and students. So, has a harmless tradition crossed a line? Should water-splashing games be banned, regulated through designated spaces, or is the real issue a lack of respect for consent, public property and safety? Let’s talk about it.
SA sisters arrive home after Malawi trafficking ordeal (Dr Tebogo Mabe - Director for Adoptions and International Social Services - Department of Social Development)
Tonight, we turn to a harrowing case that has shaken communities in South Africa and beyond. Two young South African girls, aged nine and 15, have finally returned home after nearly two years of alleged trafficking in Malawi. According to authorities, the children were lured across the border by perpetrators who had gained their family’s trust, only to have their passports confiscated and be confined in a house under mistreatment. While their mother and grandmother were released earlier this year, the girls remained in Malawi until they were rescued by local authorities in July. Today, Social Development Minister Dina Pule received them at OR Tambo International Airport, calling their return a critical step toward healing and family reunification. The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation is now handling the criminal probe, with officials urging the public to treat this not as a missing persons case, but as alleged child trafficking and exploitation. As the girls begin their recovery, we ask if our country is winning the war against human trafficking. What are the warning signs? Are authorities doing enough and how communities can help protect vulnerable children.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: What About the Boys? Are We Failing South Africa’s Boy Child?
We spend a great deal of time, and rightly so, talking about the challenges facing the girl child. We talk about gender-based violence, teenage pregnancy, abuse, safety and the need to empower young women. But in the middle of all these important conversations, there is another child we need to ask about: the boy child. What is happening to South Africa’s boys? Because behind the school uniforms, the bravado and the insistence that “boys will be boys”, there are young boys dealing with bullying, violence, peer pressure, absent or emotionally unavailable fathers, substance abuse, gangs and mental-health struggles. And too often, when a boy is hurting, we don't ask what's wrong. We tell him to toughen up. When he cries, we tell him to stop. When he is bullied, we tell him to fight back. And when that pain eventually comes out as aggression, we punish the behaviour without always asking where it came from. So, have we forgotten to check in on our boys? Are we raising boys who know how to communicate, process rejection, deal with anger and ask for help—or are we simply raising boys who have been taught that vulnerability is weakness? Today, we put the boy child under the microscope and ask a difficult question: If we don't invest in the emotional, social and mental wellbeing of boys today, what kind of men—and ultimately what kind of society—are we creating tomorrow?
THE ANC IN KZN ASKING FOR ANOTHER CHANCE ( Mayor of eThekwini Cyril Xaba )
The election season is officially heating up, and in KwaZulu-Natal, the ANC has now put its promises on the table. The party launched its provincial election manifesto in Cornubia, in the eThekwini region, outlining what it says it will do to improve the lives of communities ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections. But manifestos are easy to launch; delivering on them is another matter entirely. For residents of eThekwini and KwaZulu-Natal, the questions are deeply personal: Will there be reliable water? Will roads be fixed? Will young people find jobs? Will municipalities finally deliver basic services? And perhaps most importantly, can the ANC convince voters that it has learnt from the failures that have cost it public trust over the years? The party says its programme is focused on issues including service delivery, job creation, youth development and rebuilding trust in government. But what exactly does that mean for ordinary residents, and how will these promises be implemented? We are joined now by Cyril Xaba of the ANC to unpack the party's manifesto and what the ANC is promising the people of KwaZulu-Natal.
After 8 is After 8: When the Child Becomes the Parent
A child is supposed to worry about homework, friendships, school trips and what they're going to wear tomorrow. They are not supposed to worry about whether there is enough food in the house. They are not supposed to be checking whether their mother has taken her medication, making sure their younger siblings have eaten, cooking dinner, getting them ready for school or wondering what will happen if the electricity is cut off. And yet, for many children, this is their reality. When a parent is seriously ill, living with a disability, struggling with addiction, or simply unable to cope, children can quietly step into the role of caregiver. They become the responsible one. The one who doesn't cause problems. The one who knows when Mom is having a bad day. The one who comforts their younger siblings. And sometimes, they become so good at being the adult that nobody stops to ask whether they're still getting the chance to be a child. Today we're asking: What happens to a child who grows up taking care of everyone else? Does it make them resilient — or does it force them to carry emotional responsibilities that can follow them into adulthood? And perhaps most importantly: when a child becomes the caregiver, who is caring for the child?
The 19-year-old who went from MK youth leader to starting her own political party
Imagine being 19 years old and already having a political history. Before most young people have even figured out their first career move, Kwanda Summers had already entered the political arena. Growing up in Nkandla, she met former president Jacob Zuma and, as a teenager, approached him with an idea to get young people more interested in politics. That idea eventually became the MK Teens and Learners Command, with Kwanda at the helm. She says she mobilised thousands of young people, but became frustrated when she felt the youth structure wasn't being taken seriously or getting the national recognition she believed it deserved. So she walked away — and when the young people who had followed her asked where they should go next, she decided to build a political home of her own. Today, at just 19, Kwanda is the founder and leader of the Next Generation Political Party, which she says already has around 7,000 members and plans to contest municipalities including eThekwini, uMsunduzi and uMngeni. So, what happens when a young person who was once being mentored and encouraged within one of South Africa's newest political movements decides she doesn't want to wait her turn? Tonight, we meet Kwanda Summers — and ask whether South Africa's next political generation is already knocking on the door.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Postpartum Mental Health — The Lindsay Clancy Trial and South Africa
When a mother gives birth, we expect joy. The baby arrives, the congratulations pour in, and everyone asks about the newborn. But sometimes, beneath the smiles and the pictures, a mother is falling apart. The trial of American mother Lindsay Clancy has put one of the darkest sides of maternity back into the spotlight. Clancy is accused of killing her three children in 2023, with her defence arguing that she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. Whatever the outcome of that trial, it has forced a difficult conversation about what happens when severe maternal mental illness goes unrecognised — and what can happen when a mother’s cry for help is missed. And that conversation is not as far away from home as we might like to think. South Africa has its own deeply worrying warning signs. Research has found high rates of infant homicide in the country, with mothers accounting for a significant proportion of neonaticide cases, while gaps in mental health, reproductive and social services leave many women without the support they need. So, how do we know when the exhaustion of new motherhood has become something more serious? And are we asking mothers how they are really doing — or are we only checking that the baby is healthy? South African author Kim Vermaak knows that battle personally. Her new book, Taming the Monster of Postpartum Depression, combines her own experience with research and the stories of other women. She joins us now to talk about the mothers who are struggling silently — and why we cannot afford to wait for a tragedy before we start listening.
FILL UP OR PAY UP: FUEL PRICE SHOCK HITS SOUTH AFRICANS
South African motorists are being given one last chance to fill up before another painful fuel-price increase kicks in. From Wednesday, petrol will cost R1.34 more per litre, while diesel motorists face an even bigger shock — with increases of up to R3.15 a litre. And the pain won’t stop at the petrol station. Higher fuel costs feed into the price of transporting food, goods and people, putting yet more pressure on households already battling the rising cost of living. The increases are being driven by higher international oil prices, supply pressures and the cost of moving oil through the Strait of Hormuz. A stronger rand has offered some relief, but not enough to prevent the hike.
IFP PUTS MKHULEKO HLENGWA FOR ETHKWENI — CAN HE WIN DURBAN?
The race to control eThekwini is heating up ahead of the 4 November local government elections, and the Inkatha Freedom Party has now put one of its biggest political names on the ballot. The IFP has named 39-year-old Deputy Transport Minister and party spokesperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa as its mayoral candidate for eThekwini — a significant move for a party seeking to challenge the ANC's grip on KwaZulu-Natal's economic powerhouse. Hlengwa has been an MP since 2012 and previously chaired Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, giving him extensive experience in national government and public oversight. But this election is about more than a political title. eThekwini is facing deep challenges around service delivery, infrastructure, municipal finances and public confidence. The IFP says it wants to restore accountable, people-centred governance and believes Hlengwa has the experience to lead that turnaround. The party has also announced businessman Sizwe “Mavava” Skhakhane as its deputy mayoral candidate, describing the pairing as a “two-horns” strategy. So, what exactly is the IFP promising Durban voters — and can Hlengwa translate his national political profile into enough support to take control of eThekwini?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: South Africans Are Running on Empty – But Can’t Afford to Stop
We often talk about burnout as though it’s simply a matter of working too hard — take a holiday, switch off your phone, get some sleep and come back refreshed. But what happens when the reason you can’t switch off is bigger than your workload? What happens when your salary is paying the rent, the bond, groceries, petrol, electricity, school fees and debt — and the idea of leaving an unhealthy workplace is simply not financially possible? A recent report highlighted just how trapped many South Africans feel. A SADAG employee survey of 963 people found that 75% struggled to stop thinking about work when they were off duty, while 61% said they wanted to leave their jobs but couldn’t afford to. Four in ten were also worried about losing their jobs. So, are we looking at a burnout crisis that is no longer just about the workplace, but about the cost of surviving in South Africa? Are people working longer hours, answering WhatsApps after hours and checking emails on weekends simply because they are terrified of what happens if that income disappears? And at what point does being financially secure come at the expense of your mental and physical wellbeing? Today, we want to ask: Are South Africans running on empty because our workplaces demand too much — or because the cost of living leaves us with no choice but to keep going?
The ANC says: “Clock it” — but will voters? ( ANC NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON - MAHLENGI BHENGU-MOTSIRI )
The ANC has put its 2026 local government election manifesto on the table, and on paper, it appears to acknowledge something South Africans have been saying for years: too many municipalities simply aren’t working. The party itself concedes that communities are dealing with unreliable water, ageing infrastructure, sewage spills, financial distress, corruption and weak leadership. But that admission raises a much bigger question: if the ANC knows exactly what is broken, why should voters believe that it can now fix it? The manifesto promises a turnaround, including a 100-day programme targeting potholes, streetlights, water leaks, sewage spills and illegal dumping, as well as measurable targets and deadlines for municipalities. And that is where the political debate begins. Critics have described the manifesto as full of familiar promises that are difficult to believe given the ANC's record in local government. The Daily Maverick's Manifesto Test, for example, questions whether the party can realistically fix problems that have developed under its own watch. So, is this genuinely a new approach to local government — or are South Africans being asked to believe the same promises one more time? We're putting that directly to ANC spokesperson Mahlengi.
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