METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: KZN Education Department announces funding for special schools, 38 closed since the term started
The KwaZulu-Natal department of education has paid subsidies to special schools which had been delayed. Schools had been closed by parents and the South African Association for Special Education (SANASE) in protest against the late payment. Parents and SANASE say the schools will remain closed until their other demands are met.
JOMO SIBIYA EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR DEPUTY MINISTER
“Dusk of night” joint inspection blitz nets two employers, 47 illegal workers and leads to closure of no-compliant factory A joint large-scale inspection blitz by Department of Employment and Labour in partnership with the Department of Home Affairs and the South African Police Service (SAPS) last night (Tuesday) led to the closure of a clothing/textile factory, the arrest of two employers and 47 illegal workers.
JULIA FISH, REGIONAL MANAGER AT JOBURGCAN, A DIVISION OF NON-PROFIT PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION, OUTA
The Joburg City Council has once again re-appointed Floyd Brink as the City Manager. Brink has been ousted from the same position twice before, after the courts ruled that his 2023 and 2024 appointments were irregular. A selection panel, which recently interviewed 10 candidates for the post, once again, recommended Brink for the position. The city said his appointment is a strategic move that is "testament to the city’s commitment to robust leadership". He is expected to start his latest tenure on 1 November 2025.
SIBAHLE MOTHA/SABC NEWS REPORTER
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations of criminality, political interference and corruption in the criminal justice system goes into its eighteenth day of hearings with a new witness on the stand. The witness, Brigadier Mishak Mkhabela, is SAPS National Head of the Ballistics Section, stationed at the Forensic Science Laboratory in Silverton, Pretoria. Two forensic analysts, including one deployed to the political killings task team, are expected to take the stand on Tuesday at the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: We Explore The Drug Cartel in South Africa
Massive cocaine bust: R20 million drugs destined for Cape Town seized in Midrand raid. A crime intelligence-driven operation has led to the discovery of R20 million worth of cocaine at a smallholding in Midrand, Gauteng. According to the South African Police Service (SAPS), the operation took place on Tuesday evening, 28 October 2025, when a multidisciplinary team led by crime intelligence followed up on information about drugs being stored at a plot in Blue Hills, Midrand. Today we explore the drug cartel in South Africa
PRESIDENT SINCE 1982: CAMEROON'S 92-YEAR-OLD PAUL BIYA RE-ELECTED AS AU CALLS FOR CALM
At 92, Paul Biya (born Paul Barthélemy Biya'a bi Mvondo) has secured another seven-year term as president of Republic of Cameroon — a victory that extends his rule into its fifth decade and could see him remain in power until the age of 99. The African Union Commission (AUC) has congratulated Biya on his re-election but coupled its message with a pointed appeal for national dialogue, following reports of violence, repression, and arrests in the aftermath of the 12 October 2025 vote.
Critical Skills Crunch Deepens in South Africa as Companies Battle to Fill Top Roles
An increasing number of companies in South Africa are struggling to recruit critically skilled professionals and are being forced to look beyond the country's borders compared to 2024. In addition to this rise in demand, the severity of shortages is deepening in the most sought-after roles, particularly in engineering and ICT. According to Marisa Jacobs, Managing Director at Xpatweb, the findings of the 2025 Critical Skills Survey, released today [28 October 2025], reveal that 84% of large corporations and multinational companies experience challenges in sourcing highly skilled talent, a jump from 79% in 2024.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Unsafe to Live In: The Hidden Crisis of Dangerous Buildings in South Africa’s Cities
A tragedy in Durban has once again laid bare the deadly cost of South Africa’s housing crisis. Two young siblings fell into a lift shaft in a city building — one losing their life, the other now fighting to survive. Behind the heartbreak lies a broader, more haunting truth: unsafe, overcrowded buildings have become the last refuge for thousands of South Africans trapped by poverty and a lack of affordable housing. Across our cities, families are living in high-rises riddled with broken infrastructure, faulty wiring, and no safety systems — buildings that were never meant for people to call home. This raises urgent questions: who is accountable for these unsafe spaces, and how many more lives must be lost before our cities take responsibility?
South Africa’s Entrepreneurial Crisis: How Red Tape and Weak Policy Are Choking Innovation
South Africa is facing an entrepreneurial emergency — a quiet crisis that’s stifling innovation, growth, and opportunity. According to the latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, the country ranks near the bottom worldwide in new business creation, with fewer South Africans starting and sustaining ventures than almost anywhere else on the continent. Add to that the OECD’s finding that South Africa’s regulatory framework is among the most restrictive in the developing world, and the picture becomes even clearer: red tape, rigid policy, and weak institutional support are throttling the very spirit of enterprise. Entrepreneurs are trapped in a system that punishes initiative instead of rewarding it — raising a critical question: can South Africa ever unlock its entrepreneurial potential if its own policies keep locking the doors?
Lesufi Under Fire: The Political and Legal Fallout of the AmaPanyaza Scandal
The political storm around Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi continues to intensify. This week, Lesufi says he remains defiant after a scathing Public Protector report found that his flagship community safety project — the AmaPanyaza wardens — was illegally established. Speaking on the sidelines of an anti-drug abuse campaign in Tembisa yesterday, Lesufi said the wardens’ disbandment will happen in phases, insisting they have not been abandoned but will be repurposed as traffic officers. Meanwhile, opposition parties are divided over the Democratic Alliance’s motion of no confidence against the Premier — a move that now appears destined to fail as the EFF, MK Party, and ActionSA all distance themselves from the DA’s push.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: School bullying in South Africa - where are we falling short as a country?
School bullying in South Africa is no longer a whisper behind the scenes—it has become a systemic crisis. Already this year, the Department of Basic Education has recorded over 500 cases of bullying in just the first few months, with provinces such as Limpopo leading with the highest numbers. From physical violence in classrooms to relentless cyber-harassment, children are facing threats to their safety, learning and mental health. Tonight, we unpack why this surge is happening—and what must change.
Mamelodi East Double Murder – Cousins Tshiamo and Baleseng Moramaga
Tragedy has struck Mamelodi this past weekend. Two young women, cousins aged 21 and 22, were found shot dead on a roadside in Mamelodi East, their lives cut short in the early hours of Sunday morning. Both victims suffered gunshot wounds to the head, and police say the motive remains unknown. Families and neighbours are left in shock, demanding answers, while authorities scramble to piece together what led to this brutal act of violence. Tonight, we bring you the latest on this heartbreaking story and speak to those affected by the tragedy
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8 - BOOST MOTIVATION FOR MATRICS STUDENTS
IT’S crunch time for South Africa’s matriculants, with exams just around the corner and thousands of learners feeling the pressure like never before. From late-night cramming to balancing school, family expectations, and the stress of thinking about the future, the matric journey is anything but easy. Tonight, we dive into practical exam preparation tips, strategies to manage stress, and ways to stay motivated, so learners can face their exams with confidence. We’ll also hear from teachers, psychologists, and past top achievers about how to survive matric madness and still perform at your best.
The Silent Crisis Behind the Badge
It’s October — Mental Health Awareness Month — and behind South Africa’s police badges and paramedic uniforms lies a silent crisis. Every week, on average, one police officer in this country takes their own life. Fifty-four members of the SAPS have died by suicide in just the past year — a painful reminder of the emotional toll carried by those who protect and serve. From violent crime scenes to fatal road accidents, first responders face trauma daily, yet many suffer in silence. Experts warn that the lack of mental health support, combined with stigma and under-resourced wellness programmes, is pushing our first responders to breaking point. Tonight, we ask: Who is looking after those who look after us?
The End of AmaPanyaza: Lesufi’s Crime-Fighting Dream Collapses Under Legal and Political Pressure
In a dramatic turn of events, Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced that the province’s controversial AmaPanyaza crime-prevention wardens will be disbanded — just over a year after they were launched with great fanfare as part of his anti-crime campaign. The decision follows a damning finding by the Public Protector, which ruled that the wardens were operating illegally, without a proper legal framework or legislative backing. Over the next 18 to 36 months, the unit will be phased out, with some members set to undergo formal training to become part of the Gauteng Traffic Police or other official law enforcement structures. The move comes amid rising concerns about poor training, accountability gaps, and incidents of abuse linked to the wardens. Tonight, we unpack what went wrong — and what the future holds for Lesufi’s flagship safety initiative.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Foreign Claims, Local Burden: The R546 Million RAF Controversy
South Africa’s Road Accident Fund — already battling accusations of mismanagement — is once again under the spotlight. Acting Transport Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has revealed that in just one financial year, the RAF paid out a staggering R546 million to foreign nationals injured on South African roads. That’s part of a total R42.9 billion paid across more than 128 thousand claims. But here’s what’s raising eyebrows — out of 222 foreign claims, only 17 have actually been settled. The rest are still pending, disputed, or flagged as duplicates. Opposition parties say taxpayers are footing the bill for foreigners’ medical costs while the RAF drowns in corruption scandals and financial strain. Tonight, we unpack what this means for the future of the Fund, its obligations to foreign nationals, and whether legislative reform could be the solution.
Ghosts on the Payroll: Government Launches Verification Drive
South Africa’s government is tightening its belt and cleaning its books. The National Treasury and the Department of Public Service and Administration have launched a massive national verification drive to physically confirm the existence of more than one million public servants across national and provincial departments. The move comes amid growing concern about ghost employees draining state resources and worsening the public wage bill. Do you believe ghost employees are a serious problem in South Africa’s public service? Have you ever suspected ghost workers or salary fraud in your department or municipality?
South Africa Among Early Trial Hosts — Yet Left Out of HIV Prevention Drug Manufacturing Licensing
A new HIV prevention breakthrough is being celebrated globally — but not in South Africa. While the country was among the first to test Lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injection that could revolutionize HIV prevention, drugmaker Gilead Sciences has denied South African manufacturers the right to produce a generic version. The move has raised questions about pharmaceutical justice, access, and equity, especially for a nation that remains at the epicentre of the HIV epidemic.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Debt of Liberation: Remembering the Frontline States
During apartheid, frontline states were the unsung heroes of South Africa’s liberation, offering sanctuary, support, and unwavering solidarity at immense cost. Three decades later, South Africa faces tough questions: how much should history influence how we manage borders, migration, and regional collaboration? On tonight’s programme, we explore the balance between honoring past sacrifices and addressing present-day national challenges, while considering how the spirit of Pan-Africanism can still guide us.
Maths Matters: Schools Warned Over Dropping Pure Maths
South African schools have been issued a stern warning by the Department of Basic Education: every learner in Grades 10 to 12 must have the option to take either mathematics or mathematical literacy. This comes after reports that hundreds of schools are sidelining pure mathematics, particularly in historically disadvantaged areas, effectively limiting pupils’ academic and career choices. Tonight, we unpack why this is happening, the systemic challenges driving it, and what it means for the future of South Africa’s learners.
Save video to ...
