listen to METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: THE BIG FAMILY MEETING: CAN WE REBUILD THE FAMILY?
The family as we once knew it is changing — and perhaps changing faster than we are prepared to acknowledge. More relationships are ending, more children are growing up between two households, single-parent families are becoming increasingly common, and blended families are creating new and sometimes complicated dynamics. We have parents trying to co-parent with former partners, step-parents trying to find their place, grandparents stepping in to raise grandchildren, and children often caught in the middle of adult conflict. But rather than simply asking what went wrong with the family, today we want to ask a more difficult and perhaps more important question: Can we rebuild the family? What does a healthy family look like in 2026? And how do we create family structures where children feel loved, supported and secure, even when relationships between adults have broken down? Today, we’re calling a Big Family Meeting — an honest conversation about what is happening to the modern family and, more importantly, what we can do to change the trajectory.
The Sacred Power of Womanhood ( Pratiba Daya National co-ordinator of the brahma kumaris Gauteng )
Today we explore a deeply inspiring theme, “The Sacred Power of Womanhood.” Womanhood carries within it a unique spiritual strength — qualities such as compassion, intuition, resilience, gentleness, emotional wisdom, and the ability to nurture and uplift. These qualities are not only powerful; they are sacred. They shape families, communities, and the emotional fabric of society. Joining us today is [NAME] from the Brahma Kumaris World Spiritual University. She will share profound insights on how feminine qualities influence our emotional wellbeing, our relationships, and our inner world — and how embracing these qualities can help us live more peaceful, balanced, and meaningful lives. And we’d love for you, our listeners, to be part of this conversation. Send us your questions, reflections, or personal experiences as we explore the sacred power of womanhood together. You can WhatsApp us — text or voice note — on [INSERT NUMBER] and share your thoughts with us. The Brahma Kumaris is a worldwide spiritual organization founded in 1937. With centers in more than 110 countries, it focuses on meditation, self-transformation, and promoting peace.
THE PHALA PHALA POLICE FILES ( ACTION SA CHAIRPERSON Michael Beaumont )
The Phala Phala saga is back in the spotlight — this time with questions being raised about the police officers tasked with investigating the controversial farm burglary. ActionSA is taking on the South African Police Service, challenging what it describes as a flawed disciplinary process that cleared Major General Wally Rhoode and Brigadier Hennie Rekhoto of wrongdoing linked to their handling of the investigation. The party says the SAPS findings contradict conclusions previously reached by independent oversight bodies, including IPID and the Public Protector. ActionSA says it has obtained records of the disciplinary process and believes there are serious unanswered questions about how evidence was considered — including why some allegations raised by oversight bodies were not properly addressed. So, what exactly happened inside this disciplinary process? Was due process followed, or does this raise fresh questions about accountability within the police service? Tonight, we unpack ActionSA’s legal challenge, the allegations surrounding the SAPS findings, and what this could mean for the long-running Phala Phala saga.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: WOMEN IN AVIATION: BREAKING THE GLASS CEILING OR FIGHTING THE BOYS’ CLUB?
Aviation is an industry built around precision, discipline and some of the most highly trained professionals in the world. But behind the polished uniforms, aircraft, airports and flight decks is an industry that has historically been dominated by men. Today, more women are entering aviation as pilots, engineers, air-traffic controllers, executives, mechanics and other professionals. But getting through the door is only one part of the journey. For some women, the bigger challenge is navigating an environment where they may still be one of very few women in the room. And that raises difficult questions about the culture of the industry. What happens when women challenge the old ways of doing things? Are women given the same opportunities to rise through the ranks? What role does sexism, sexual harassment, discrimination and the abuse of power play? And when women do speak out, are they genuinely protected — or do they risk damaging their careers in an industry where networks and reputations matter? Recent controversies and scandals have once again brought questions about conduct, accountability and workplace culture in aviation into the spotlight. So tonight, we're looking beyond the cockpit and asking a much bigger question: What does it really take for a woman not just to enter aviation, but to survive, succeed and reach the top in an industry where men have traditionally held most of the power?
Nelson Mandela Bay 2026: Can the EFF’s Sinawo Thambo Win the Metro?
As South Africa heads towards the November 2026 local government elections, the battle for Nelson Mandela Bay is likely to be one of the closely watched contests. The metro is strategically important, not just to the Eastern Cape, but to South Africa’s broader economy. It is home to a major automotive manufacturing industry, the Coega Special Economic Zone and two important commercial ports, making it a critical hub for investment, manufacturing, logistics and international trade. But alongside that economic potential are serious challenges. Many residents continue to grapple with unemployment, poverty, infrastructure problems and concerns about the delivery of basic municipal services. The big question is how the metro can translate its economic assets into real opportunities and better living conditions for the people who call Nelson Mandela Bay home. The Economic Freedom Fighters have put forward Sinawo Thambo as their mayoral candidate, and the party will be hoping to persuade voters that it can offer a different approach to governing the metro. So, what is his assessment of the state of Nelson Mandela Bay? What would an EFF administration prioritise, and how would it use the metro’s enormous economic potential to create jobs and improve the lives of residents? We’re joined now by Sinawo Thambo, the EFF’s mayoral candidate for Nelson Mandela Bay.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: We Unpack the Evidence and ask whether South Africa needs to rethink how and where Alcohol is Sold
Could the number of taverns and liquor outlets in a community — and how late they’re allowed to trade — have an impact on gender-based violence? New research across Southern Africa is examining the link between alcohol outlet density, trading hours and incidents of GBV. The study raises an uncomfortable question: are we looking at GBV only as a problem of violent individuals, when the environments in which people drink could also be contributing to the problem?
LIEUTENANT COLONEL AMANDA VAN WYK - SAPS SPOKESPERSON
A major international investigation into the sexual exploitation of children has reached South Africa, with a 16-year-old from Malmesbury facing 11 serious criminal charges. The teenager was arrested following an operation involving the South African Police Service, the FBI and US Homeland Security, after allegedly being linked to an international child exploitation network known as “764”. The case raises serious questions about the dangers facing young people online, how international criminal networks recruit or influence minors, and what parents need to know to protect their children. We’re joined by the South African Police Service to unpack the investigation and, importantly, what South Africans should be looking out for.
VERONICA PILLAY - EXECUTIVE MANAGER: INVESTIGATIONS AT THE PUBLIC PROTECTOR OFFICE
The Public Protector has raised serious concerns about systemic failures within South Africa’s student financial aid system, following an investigation into NSFAS, the Department of Higher Education and Training and institutions of higher learning. The investigation found recurring problems including delays in funding and allowances, difficulties with appeals, poor communication and governance instability — failures which have left some students struggling with food insecurity, accommodation and even accessing their qualifications. According to information reported by the SIU to Parliament, investigations identified more than 40,000 students across 76 higher education institutions who had been improperly funded. The estimated value was approximately: R5.1 BILLION.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: WHEN THE PERSON YOU KNOW BECOMES YOUR KILLER
We tend to think of murder as something that happens in the shadows — a stranger, a random encounter, a criminal targeting an unsuspecting victim. But sometimes, the person who takes a life is not a stranger at all. For the Mngomezulu family, Linamandla Mngomezulu was a son, a loved one and a young man with a life ahead of him. That life was cut short, allegedly at the hands of someone he knew. And now his family is left asking a question that is difficult to comprehend: how does someone you know, someone who is part of your world, become the person accused of taking your life? South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, but behind those numbers are relationships — friendships, neighbourhoods, families, acquaintances and conflicts that sometimes turn deadly. Today, we look beyond the statistics and ask: how prevalent is murder by someone known to the victim, why do these relationships become violent, and are there warning signs we can recognise before it is too late?
ANC Calls for DA MP Mark Burke’s Removal Amid Reserve Bank Allegations
The ANC Parliamentary Caucus is calling for the immediate removal of DA MP and Federal Finance Chair Mark Burke from Parliament’s finance-related committees. It follows serious allegations contained in a South African Reserve Bank affidavit involving Kastelo, the fintech company founded by Burke. The Reserve Bank says its investigators have identified a reasonable suspicion of exchange-control contraventions involving around four-billion rand. The allegations include the alleged use of third parties’ foreign investment allowances to move funds out of the country, transactions allegedly conducted without clients’ knowledge, and concerns about information submitted to the Reserve Bank. Burke and Kastelo are entitled to defend themselves, and the investigation is still ongoing. But the ANC says it is untenable for an MP facing allegations of this nature to remain involved in parliamentary oversight of the very financial institutions investigating the matter.
The diplomatic dilemma - Can South Africa expect other countries to reimburse the costs of repatriating their citizens?
South Africa is facing an increasingly expensive immigration problem — and taxpayers are picking up the bill. Government says it has spent around R185 million repatriating foreign nationals to their countries of origin. That includes the costs involved in getting people who are in the country unlawfully out of South Africa and back home. But now comes the difficult part: government wants to recover that money. The question is — from whom? Can South Africa expect other countries to reimburse the costs of repatriating their citizens? And if those governments refuse to pay, what diplomatic or legal options does South Africa have? Beyond the money, this also raises bigger questions about how South Africa manages undocumented migration, how it works with neighbouring countries, and whether our current repatriation system is financially sustainable. We’re looking at the diplomatic battle behind South Africa’s R185 million repatriation bill, and what it could mean for the country’s foreign relations.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The Funding Gap: Why Is It Still So Hard for Women to Get Money?
Entrepreneurship is often sold as the great equaliser — have a good idea, work hard, build a strong business and the money will follow. But for many women entrepreneurs, getting the money to turn that idea into a viable business can be one of the biggest hurdles they face. From bank loans and venture capital to government funding and private investors, women continue to navigate a financial system where access to capital can be difficult. And the challenge isn't always about whether the business is viable — sometimes it's about collateral, networks, credit history, the size of the business, or whether investors believe a woman-led company can scale. So, during Women’s Month, we're asking a difficult question: is the funding system genuinely gender-neutral, or are women still having to prove themselves more before someone is willing to put money behind their businesses? Are investors unconsciously more likely to see male entrepreneurs as ambitious, scalable and investment-ready? And what role do property ownership, access to wealth and existing financial networks play in determining which entrepreneurs get a seat at the table? Today, we're putting the entrepreneur and the funder across from each other — to ask where the gap really lies, and what needs to change to ensure that a woman's business idea isn't held back simply because she can't access the capital to grow it.
ALLEGED KZN POLICE HIT SQUADS: COMMISSION HEARS CLAIMS OF TARGETED KILLINGS
The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry has turned its attention to KwaZulu-Natal, and the evidence being presented is raising deeply troubling questions about the conduct of some police task teams. The commission has heard allegations of police hit squads targeting suspects linked to cash-in-transit robberies, drug syndicates and taxi violence — with claims that some suspects may have been deliberately killed rather than arrested and brought before the courts. IPID Deputy Director for Investigations Len John has told the commission that three KZN task teams, dealing with CIT robberies, drugs and taxi violence, were particularly associated with these allegations. He says officers often failed to notify IPID promptly when suspects were killed in police shootings, and in some cases could not even provide the identities of the deceased or evidence that they were responsible for the crimes they were allegedly being pursued for. The testimony raises a fundamental question: were these genuine law-enforcement operations that went tragically wrong, or were some police officers effectively operating outside the law, deciding who should live and who should die?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: DIABETES: SOUTH AFRICA’S SILENT KILLER
Diabetes is no longer just a chronic condition that South Africans are being warned to manage — new mortality figures show that it has become the country’s leading underlying natural cause of death. Stats SA data shows that diabetes accounted for 27,692 deaths in 2023 — about 5.8% of all recorded deaths — overtaking HIV and TB. But perhaps the most troubling part of this story is that experts say many of these deaths could be prevented. Late diagnosis, inadequate screening, poor diets and an unhealthy food environment are all contributing to a growing crisis. South Africa is estimated to have millions of people living with diabetes, many of whom may not even know they have it. So what has gone wrong? Why has diabetes become such a major killer — and are we treating it with the urgency it deserves? We’re unpacking the numbers, the causes and what can be done to reverse this trend.
EMFULENI: FROM CRISIS TO RECOVERY?
Emfuleni has been battling years of financial pressure, failing infrastructure and poor service delivery, from sewage and water problems to potholes and irregular refuse collection. But in his State of the Municipality Address last week, Executive Mayor Councillor Hassan Mako declared that the municipality is now moving from what he calls an era of excuses to decisive action. He points to the R7.6-billion water and sanitation intervention, the replacement of collapsed sewer lines, improvements to wastewater treatment works and a new municipal fleet aimed at strengthening service delivery. But Emfuleni still faces significant financial challenges, including billions in unauthorised, irregular and fruitless expenditure, while its current collection rate stands at just 70%. So, how much has actually changed — and can residents finally expect to see the turnaround on the ground?
Your Voice, Your Law: South Africans Invited to Comment on Major New Bills
South Africans are being urged to take part in shaping four pieces of legislation that could have significant implications for how the country deals with illegal mining, the legal profession, trusts and incitement to commit serious crimes. Justice Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi says the proposed laws are aimed at closing loopholes, strengthening accountability and bringing some legislation in line with the realities facing the country today. Among the most significant proposals are dramatically tougher penalties for certain illegal mining offences, including fines of up to R100 million and prison sentences of up to 30 years. There are also proposals to strengthen oversight of trusts and repeal the apartheid-era Riotous Assemblies Act. Three of the Bills are now open for public comment — so what exactly is being proposed, and how can South Africans have their say?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: PUBLIC URINATION: WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT US?
JMPD has issued a warning to people urinating in public, saying those caught could face fines, arrest and even criminal prosecution. It’s a problem we see in many of our cities — on pavements, next to buildings, around transport hubs and in other public spaces. But beyond the embarrassment, the smell and the frustration of seeing someone relieve themselves in public, perhaps there’s a more uncomfortable conversation we need to have. What does our willingness to urinate in a public space say about our sense of right and wrong? Is it simply a practical decision by someone who needs a toilet and cannot find one? Is it a failure by municipalities to provide enough clean, accessible public facilities? Or, in some cases, is it a question of morality — of whether we still feel a responsibility to respect spaces that belong to all of us? Because perhaps the real issue isn't just whether someone breaks a by-law. It's whether we have reached a point where we only do the right thing when we know someone is watching. And if the answer is yes, can a fine or a CCTV camera really change our behaviour — or does meaningful change have to come from something deeper? We’re reflecting on public urination, personal responsibility, dignity and the moral choices we make in shared spaces with Dalu Cele, Founder and CEO of Clean City SA.
SA Unemployment Crisis Deepens as Jobless Rate Climbs to 33.6%
South Africa’s unemployment crisis is deepening, with the official unemployment rate climbing to 33.6% in the second quarter of 2026, up from 32.7% in the first quarter. That means another 345,000 people have joined the ranks of the unemployed, taking the total number of unemployed South Africans to about 8.5 million. And behind these numbers are people who are looking for work, graduates struggling to get their first opportunity, parents trying to provide for their families and young people questioning whether the economy has a place for them. Employment actually declined slightly during the quarter, while more people entered the labour market looking for opportunities. So what is driving this persistent jobs crisis? Why are we struggling to create employment at the scale needed — and what needs to change if South Africa is to get millions of people into work?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: THE SILENT VOICES THAT FAIL WOMEN: WHY DO WE KEEP LOOKING AWAY FROM GBVF?
GBVF doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Behind many cases are people who knew something was wrong but chose to remain silent; friends who looked the other way, men who refused to challenge other men, women who sometimes protect abusive partners, and institutions that fail victims when they need help most. We often ask why perpetrators continue to abuse — but perhaps we also need to ask what happens around them that allows that abuse to continue. If we all say we are against gender-based violence, why do we so often remain silent when we see it happening?
FROM HEALTH ADVOCATE TO CITY HALL: CAN TLALENG MOFOKENG LEAD JOHANNESBURG?
The EFF has entered the race for Johannesburg with a candidate who comes from outside traditional party politics. Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng has been announced as the party’s mayoral candidate for the City of Gold, following the EFF’s manifesto launch in Thohoyandou over the weekend. Mofokeng is a medical doctor and prominent public-health advocate, who has worked extensively on HIV and AIDS, neonatal health, gender equality and the right to health. She also recently completed her term as the first African to serve as the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health. Now she is making the move into active politics — and into one of the country’s biggest political battles. She will go up against candidates including Helen Zille of the DA and Herman Mashaba of ActionSA, while the ANC is yet to announce its candidate. Dr Tlaleng Mofokeng joins us in studio to unpack her decision to enter politics, her vision for Johannesburg and why she believes she is the right person to lead the city.
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