METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Mirror, Mirror: The Hidden Struggle with Body Dysmorphia
Across mirrors, screens, and selfies, a quiet battle is unfolding — one that doesn’t always leave visible scars. It’s called Body Dysmorphic Disorder, or body dysmorphia, a condition where people become fixated on flaws in their appearance — flaws that often don’t exist or are so small, others don’t notice them at all. Experts describe it as a distortion of self-image — the mind convincing you that your nose is too big, your skin too uneven, your body too imperfect. For the person living with it, that distorted reflection becomes reality, often leading to depression, obsessive behaviours, and isolation. In South Africa, more young people are being diagnosed with body dysmorphia than ever before. Psychologists warn that social media filters, celebrity beauty standards, and the constant comparison culture are fuelling a silent mental-health crisis — especially among men and women under 30. So tonight, we ask: what happens when the mirror becomes your enemy? We’ll speak to mental-health experts, survivors, and social media influencers about what it means to live in a world where self-image is currency — and how to reclaim your reflection from the lies your mind tells you.
Court Slams the Door on Hate: Operation Dudula Ordered to Stop Blocking Foreigners from Public Services
A major legal blow has been dealt to Operation Dudula, the anti-migrant movement accused of intimidating foreign nationals at hospitals, clinics, and schools. The Johannesburg High Court has ruled that the group must stop blocking migrants from accessing public health care and education — calling their actions illegal and unconstitutional. For months, Dudula members have been picketing outside clinics in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal, demanding ID documents and preventing non-South Africans from entering. But the court says this conduct violates basic human rights and the rule of law. Judge Leicester Adams also barred the group from spreading hate speech, unlawfully evicting migrants from homes or trading stalls, or inciting others to do so. The organisation says it’s disappointed and plans to appeal the ruling. Tonight, we unpack what this judgment means for migrant rights, community tensions, and South Africa’s broader struggle with xenophobia.
Shots Fired or Smoke and Mirrors? The Curious Case of Brown Mogotsi ( SAPS NATIONAL SPOKESPERSON ATHLENDA MATHE )
Controversial businessman and political fixer, Brown Mogotsi, claims he survived a shooting in Vosloorus on Monday night — a supposed hit that left his red Chevrolet riddled with bullet holes. But witnesses say there were no other cars nearby when the shots rang out. Police, too, are not ruling out the possibility that the attack may have been staged. Mogotsi, who is already under investigation by both the Madlanga Commission and Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee, was due to open a case with the Vosloorus police — but never showed up. Now, his name sits at the center of yet another storm, as investigators try to separate fact from fiction. So tonight, we ask: Was this really an assassination attempt — or a desperate act to shape a political narrative? And what does this tell us about power, protection, and corruption in South Africa’s security circles?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Rising Property, Rising Opportunities: What Limpopo’s Housing Boom Reveals About South Africa’s Shifting Economy
Limpopo — once known mainly for its agriculture and wildlife — is fast becoming South Africa’s new property hotspot. Recent data shows the province’s residential market has surged by more than 12% in value — outpacing Gauteng and even the Western Cape. Behind this boom are powerful forces: infrastructure development, affordability, and a growing economy driven by mining, tourism, and trade. But beyond the numbers, Limpopo’s rise tells a bigger story — about shifting investment patterns, regional growth, and how opportunity is spreading beyond the country’s traditional urban centers. Today, we unpack what’s fueling this surge and what lessons other provinces can learn from Limpopo’s property success.
The Bushiri Extradition Blow: What Malawi’s Court Ruling Means for Justice and Diplomacy in Southern Africa
In Malawi, a dramatic legal twist has once again stalled efforts to bring back self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary to South Africa. The High Court in Lilongwe has blocked their extradition, declaring the process “legally unsound and procedurally unfair.” The couple, who fled South Africa in 2020 while out on bail for fraud and money laundering charges exceeding R102 million, are now protected from return — at least for now. The court ruled that the extradition proceedings violated their constitutional right to be heard, relied on hearsay evidence, and failed to guarantee their safety if sent back to South Africa. The judgment, delivered by Justice Mzonde Mvula, has raised serious questions about the quality of South Africa’s case and the diplomatic tensions that could follow.
THE COUNCILLORS WHO CAN'T READ ( POLITICAL ANALYST BOITUMELO SENOKOANE )
While South Africans continue to demand clean water, working roads, and reliable services — it seems some of the very people meant to deliver them are struggling with a much deeper problem. The Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs has revealed that over 300 councillors in KwaZulu-Natal cannot read or write. The revelation has reignited debate over the quality of leadership at local government level — and whether political parties are doing enough to train and empower those they deploy to serve communities. Analysts say this speaks to a bigger failure of South Africa’s education system, and of the political culture that rewards loyalty over competence. Tonight, we ask: What does it mean for democracy when those in charge of service delivery can’t read the very documents they sign?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER: Hustle vs. Rules: Street Hawkers and the Role of By-Laws in Johannesburg
Johannesburg’s streets are no stranger to hustle, but now the city has found itself in court after enforcing by-laws against street hawkers. For many residents, street vending is a daily reality — a lifeline for traders and a source of goods for the community. Yet, municipal by-laws exist to balance public safety, traffic flow, and urban planning. The clash in court is more than a legal battle; it raises a critical question for South Africans: do we understand why these rules exist, and how enforcing them affects both vendors and the broader community?
THE WATER THAT WORRIES HAMMANSKRAAL
In Tshwane, fears are mounting once again over the safety of the city’s water. Health authorities have confirmed a rise in typhoid fever cases in Hammanskraal and Bronkhorstspruit, with at least 13 patients, most of them children, treated at local hospitals. The City of Tshwane says it is intensifying investigations to determine the source of the outbreak — but so far, tests have not found the bacterium Salmonella Typhi in the city’s treated water.
THE PRICE OF WATER ( NEWS 24 INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALIST SIPHO MASONDO )
In KwaZulu-Natal, a water project meant to bring relief to the South Coast has instead raised serious questions about corruption and accountability. The uMngeni-uThukela Water Board has paid nearly R390 million to a company reportedly linked to one of its own board members — for a pipeline that experts say should have cost a fraction of that amount. Awarded in 2020 and still unfinished four years later, this project is now a symbol of how public funds — and the promise of clean water — are being drained away.
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.
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