METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
Justice on Hold: The Teenager Who Still Hasn’t Been Buried
Tonight, we bring you a heartbreaking story of justice delayed — and a family’s refusal to let their son’s memory be forgotten. Four years ago, 17-year-old Mmeli Ngcobo, a matric learner at Hillgrove Secondary in Durban, was kidnapped outside his school in front of horrified classmates. Days later, his burnt body was found near Cato Ridge. Since then, his remains have never been buried. His family has kept him in a state mortuary as a painful protest, demanding that those accused — including a police officer linked to the crime — face the full might of the law. For the Ngcobos, the thought of burying Mmeli while one of the very people sworn to protect them stands accused of his murder is unbearable. This is not just a story about a cellphone theft gone wrong — it’s about trust in justice, abuse of power, and a family’s fight for dignity.
Fighting Ghosts Online: Can a Cyber Commissioner Save South Africa from Digital Crime?
Cybercrime in South Africa has exploded – with over 100,000 banking breaches last year alone, costing ordinary South Africans more than R1.8 billion. Yet, shockingly, police recorded only 544 cases. The DA now says this is proof that our country’s systems are broken, and that government is leaving citizens defenceless against a growing threat. In response, the party has tabled a Private Members Bill calling for the establishment of a new Chapter 9 Institution – the Office of the Cyber Commissioner – to spearhead the fight against cybercrime. But while the proposal has been welcomed by academics and the private sector, government’s reception has been lukewarm. Tonight, we unpack whether this bold step could be the game-changer South Africa needs, or just another political promise.
Kenny Kunene’s Candidacy: Controversy, Crime Links, and the PA’s Gamble in Joburg
Controversy and politics often go hand in hand — but tonight’s development in Johannesburg takes it to another level. The Patriotic Alliance has announced its deputy president, Kenny Kunene, as their mayoral candidate for Joburg. This despite Kunene being suspended pending an investigation into his alleged ties to crime figure Katiso ‘KT’ Molefe. Kunene was even found in Molefe’s Sandton home during the police’s attempted arrest of Molefe in connection with the murder of popular DJ Sumbody. So, the big question: what does this say about leadership, credibility, and the state of Joburg politics?
Dry Taps, Broken Promises: Johannesburg’s Water Crisis in Coronationville and Beyond
Imagine waking up at midnight — not for work, not for study, but to catch a trickle of water before it disappears again. For nearly a decade, this has been the reality for families in Coronationville, Westbury, and Sophiatown. Children are missing school, hospitals are left without running water, and even fires cannot be contained because the taps are dry. Tonight, our After 8pm Topic asks: how is it that in Johannesburg — South Africa’s economic hub — residents are still living without one of the most basic constitutional rights: reliable access to water?
Fixing Local Government or Electioneering? ANC Unveils Action Plan for Municipalities
Service delivery failures, corruption, and communities losing faith in local government — these are the very challenges President Cyril Ramaphosa admits the ANC must urgently confront. This week, more than 6,000 ANC councillors and mayors are set to gather in Johannesburg as the party rolls out its new Action Plan for municipalities. The big question though: can the ANC really turn things around, or is this just another plan on paper ahead of the 2026 local government elections?
Luxury for Ministers, Neglect for Soldiers? Defence Travel Spending Under Fire
South Africa’s Defence Force is in crisis — underfunded, under-resourced, and soldiers left vulnerable, even unpaid for their sacrifices in the DRC. Yet, shockingly, while the men and women in uniform are struggling, the Ministry of Defence has been living large. ActionSA has revealed that since taking office, Minister Angie Motshekga and her deputies have blown over R20 million on travel alone — jetting off to Vietnam, Cuba, Malaysia, Japan and Turkey. The spending includes nearly R5 million on car hire, R5.6 million on domestic flights, and over R3 million on luxury accommodation. Add this to the R282 million the GNU has already spent on travel, and it paints a damning picture of a government gorging itself on perks while the defence of our nation suffers. Tonight, we ask: can such expenses ever be justified when soldiers on the frontline are underpaid, and the SANDF is said to be limping along with a funding crisis?
When Mama’s Boys Turn Toxic: Unhealthy Mother-Son Bonds and Their Impact on Relationships
A mother’s love is one of the most powerful forces in the world — it nurtures, protects and shapes us. But when that love crosses certain boundaries, it can become controlling, suffocating, and damaging. Across many South African households, we hear the stories: grown men unable to make life decisions without their mother’s approval, partners who feel second place to a mother-in-law, or sons who carry anger and confusion because of an overbearing bond. These are not just family dramas — they point to deeper issues about parenting, identity, and even masculinity in our society. Tonight, we’re exploring the darker side of the ‘mama’s boy’ phenomenon: what causes these unhealthy attachments between mothers and sons, how they impact adult life and relationships, and why so many men do not trust therapy or other avenues of help to deal with the fallout. So the big question is — when does love become toxic, and how do we begin to heal from it?
What’s in a Name? Court Rules Husbands Can Take Wives’ Surnames in Historic Gender Equality Ruling
Should a husband be allowed to take his wife’s surname? Until now, the law said no. But South Africa’s Constitutional Court has struck down that barrier, ruling that Section 26(1) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act is unconstitutional. The court found that barring men from taking their wives’ surnames unfairly entrenched patriarchal norms while denying men a choice that women have always had. The ruling comes after years of frustration for couples like Jana Jordaan and Henry van der Merwe, and Jess Donnelly-Bornman and Andreas Bornman, who argued that the current law was archaic, discriminatory, and out of step with constitutional values. In its judgment, the court reminded South Africans that in many African traditions, women historically retained their birth names and children often carried their mother’s clan names — practices that colonial systems erased. With this ruling, South Africa takes another step toward dismantling outdated gender stereotypes.
Private Prisons Under Fire: Parliament Demands End to G4S Contract After Inmate Deaths
It’s a bombshell development in South Africa’s prison system: Parliament’s Portfolio Committee on Correctional Services is demanding the immediate termination of the government’s contract with multinational security firm G4S, which runs the Mangaung Correctional Centre in the Free State. This comes after shocking revelations of cover-ups, dishonesty, and allegations of torture leading to the death of inmate Mpho Mkhumbeni earlier this year. The committee says G4S has been “a law unto themselves,” refusing to cooperate fully with investigations and even coaching officials to hide the truth. Tonight, we ask: should private companies be trusted to run South Africa’s prisons, or is this model failing the country?
EFF Pushes for Alcohol Ad Ban: Balancing Public Health, Economics, and Freedom of Choice
The battle over alcohol advertising has reached Parliament. The Economic Freedom Fighters have tabled a Private Member’s Bill that, if passed, would ban all liquor advertising, promotions, and sponsorships in South Africa. The party argues that alcohol is being glamorised and sold as a lifestyle, with slick adverts targeting even children, while the real costs — broken families, gender-based violence, road fatalities, and strain on the health system — are left for society to carry. The EFF says it’s time to put public health and social stability ahead of corporate profits.
Behind the Badge: Mental Health Crisis in South Africa’s Police Force
A hostage situation in Mamelodi has once again thrown the spotlight on the mental health crisis within our police force. A South African Police Service constable, armed and distressed, turned on his own family — holding them hostage in a house while negotiators and tactical teams scrambled to intervene. While the motives remain under investigation, this troubling incident raises deeper questions: how much strain are our officers under, and why do so many of them avoid seeking professional help within SAPS itself? Officers face trauma daily, from violent crime scenes to shootouts, yet reports suggest they often distrust the internal psychological support services provided to them. So, are we failing the very people tasked with protecting us? And what resources truly exist for police officers battling mental health challenges behind the badge?
Daveyton Shooting Puts Spotlight on Safety of Gauteng’s Crime Wardens
Violence erupted in Daveyton, Ekurhuleni, when a group of Gauteng crime wardens — deployed to help bolster community safety — were ambushed by armed men during a routine patrol. Five wardens were shot in the attack, one of them now fighting for his life in hospital, while three others remain under medical care. A fifth has since been discharged. Speaking outside Alberton Netcare Hospital, Premier Panyaza Lesufi praised the wardens’ courage but admitted the attack points to a far deeper problem — the alarming spread of illegal guns across the province. But beyond the Premier’s words, this incident raises a hard truth: are these crime wardens, often described as the ‘extra eyes and ears’ of our safety strategy, really prepared, trained, and resourced to face heavily armed criminals? Or are they being put in harm’s way without the tools to protect themselves or the communities they serve?
Baby Savers vs Government: The Fight Over Abandoned Infants and the Children’s Act
A battle over how South Africa deals with baby abandonment is now heading to court. Baby Savers South Africa, an NGO, is challenging the Gauteng Department of Social Development, arguing that parts of the Children’s Act are unconstitutional. At the centre of this legal fight are ‘baby savers’ — devices used worldwide to safely relinquish unwanted infants. The department has banned them, insisting they strip parents of responsibility and amount to abandonment. But Baby Savers SA says the ban is costing lives, pointing to over 280 infants found dead in just the past five years. The question is — do baby saver boxes protect children, or do they undermine their rights?
South Africa’s New Labour Reforms:
South Africa has entered one of its biggest labour shake-ups since the 1990s. The government has gazetted sweeping reforms that promise to change how employers and workers interact, particularly in the small business sector. At the heart of these changes is an attempt to balance worker protection with business flexibility — giving smaller firms, who lack the HR muscle of big corporations, more space to manage underperforming employees. From extending rights to gig workers, to adjusting dismissal rules, to giving start-ups regulatory relief, the reforms aim to modernise our workplace laws. But will they truly help reduce unemployment, or will they weaken protections for workers who already feel vulnerable?
South Africa’s Economy Expands by 0.8% in Q2 2025
South Africa’s economy has shown signs of life, expanding by 0,8% in the second quarter of 2025. This comes after a sluggish start to the year, when GDP grew by just 0,1%. The latest data from Statistics South Africa points to manufacturing, mining, and trade as the biggest drivers of growth, with consumer spending also giving the economy a boost. But while eight industries recorded gains, challenges remain in construction and transport — reminding us that this recovery, though welcome, is still uneven.
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.
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