listen to METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: WHERE IS YOUR UMBILICAL CORD BURIED? THE TRADITION, THE LAND AND THE MEANING OF HOME.
WHERE IS YOUR UMBILICAL CORD BURIED? And does that place still connect you to where you come from? For generations, in some African families and communities, the umbilical cord wasn’t simply something that was cut away and discarded after birth. It could be buried in or around the family homestead — returning a part of the newborn to the earth and symbolising a connection to family, ancestry, land and home. But as childbirth has moved increasingly into hospitals and clinics, that practice has changed. The cord is often treated as medical waste, and for many families, there is no longer a physical ritual connecting the newborn to a particular piece of land. So tonight, we’re asking whether something meaningful has been lost — or whether our understanding of home and belonging has simply evolved. Where is your umbilical cord buried? What does that place mean to you? And what happens to that connection when you are born in Johannesburg, raised in Durban, your parents come from Limpopo or Zimbabwe, and you may never even live on the land where your cord was buried?
WHAT DOES THE FUTURE OF WARFARE LOOK LIKE — AND IS AFRICA READY FOR IT?
The way countries prepare for conflict and security threats is changing rapidly. Drones, artificial intelligence, autonomous systems and electronic warfare are no longer things we only associate with science fiction or distant wars. We are seeing relatively small and inexpensive unmanned technologies being used in real conflicts, changing how surveillance, intelligence and military operations are carried out. But what does this technological shift mean for Africa? Many countries on the continent already face serious security challenges, while also operating with limited defence budgets. Can African countries afford to fall behind technologically, and should we be investing more in developing our own defence technologies rather than relying heavily on equipment from other countries? We’re having that conversation today — looking at how technology is changing modern warfare, what South Africa’s role could be, and whether our defence industry can become part of both our security and economic future.
RECORD FUEL PRICES: HOW MUCH MORE CAN SOUTH AFRICANS AFFORD?
South African motorists are heading into October facing the prospect of the most expensive petrol prices in the country’s history — and the latest numbers suggest the pain at the pumps could be even greater than initially expected. Data from the Central Energy Fund at the end of September shows an under-recovery of R3.12 a litre for 95 petrol and R2.93 for 93 petrol. If those figures were carried through to the final adjustment, petrol could rise by around R3 a litre, potentially pushing the price of 95 petrol to around or above the R30-a-litre mark. Diesel is also facing significant increases, with under-recoveries ranging between R2.73 and R3.13 a litre. And this comes after motorists have already endured a succession of fuel-price shocks this year. Petrol 95 reached a record R28.06 a litre inland in June, before easing in July and August, only to climb again in September. So what does another R3 increase actually mean for the average South African household? How much more will it cost to fill a family car? What happens to people who have no choice but to drive to work every day? And with diesel prices also under pressure, could we see the impact spreading into the cost of taxis, buses, food deliveries and the goods sitting on supermarket shelves? Tonight, we unpack what is driving this latest fuel shock — and what South Africans should expect when they fill up in October.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: RAMAPHOSA’S FOUR-POINT GBVF PLAN: ACTION OR ANOTHER PROMISE?
The President has acknowledged what many women’s rights organisations and activists have been saying for years: the response to gender-based violence and femicide has not been enough. Following the discovery of 11 women’s bodies in and around Ekurhuleni since July, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced four immediate interventions — a national audit and recovery operation for stalled cases, a plan to tackle forensic backlogs, safety audits in every municipality, and stronger action around alcohol-related violence. But the question tonight is not simply what did the President announce? It is whether these measures address the failures that have allowed women to remain unsafe in the first place. The President has put government on deadlines — with measures requiring action within 60 and 90 days — but South Africans have heard commitments to fight GBV before. So what should we be looking for this time? Are these interventions targeting the right problems, and where are the gaps? We speak to analysts and women's rights organisations to unpack what was announced, what is missing, and what accountability should look like.
Funeral Cover: Know Your Rights Before You Sign ( Mr Lyndwill Clarke )
Funeral cover is one of the financial products that many South Africans have — sometimes more than one policy. But having funeral cover doesn't necessarily mean that consumers understand exactly what they're paying for, what they're entitled to, or what their responsibilities are. And there are some fairly common questions: Can I have multiple funeral policies? What happens if I miss a payment? Can I ask for cash instead of a funeral service? And what do I do if I discover that a funeral policy has been taken out in my name without my knowledge? Tonight, we're unpacking the rights and responsibilities of funeral policyholders — and what consumers should know before they take out a policy or when something goes wrong.
Firearms Control Amendment Bill: Is Government Targeting Law-Abiding Gun Owners?
South Africa is once again debating how the country should regulate civilian firearm ownership, at a time when gun violence remains a major concern. The proposed Firearms Control Amendment Bill seeks to tighten the rules around firearm ownership, including changes affecting the licensing of firearms for self-defence. But the South African Gunowners’ Association, or SAGA, argues that the proposed approach focuses too heavily on people who legally own and license their firearms, rather than on the illegal guns being used in violent crime. SAGA trustee Shaun Lyle says restricting lawful ownership will not address the weapons already circulating illegally. The organisation is instead calling for stronger enforcement against illicit firearms, specialised task teams to tackle illegal guns, and improvements to the Central Firearms Registry. So tonight, we want to unpack this debate: what exactly is the amendment bill proposing, why does SAGA believe it targets the wrong group, and what should be done about the illegal firearms driving violent crime?
Siyazenzela: Can Citizens Take Back Power? Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s Call for a New Batho Pele Convention
For almost three decades, South Africans have been told that democracy means having the right to vote, choosing political representatives and expecting those representatives to deliver on the promises made during election campaigns. But what happens when citizens lose faith that the system is actually working for them? What happens when a broken streetlight stays broken, when a pothole becomes part of the landscape, when communities struggle with water, crime, unemployment and failing public services — and the response from government feels like another promise to fix it tomorrow? It is from this frustration that Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi has put forward what he calls “11 Theses on the Call for Batho Pele Convention: Siyazenzela.” At the heart of his argument is a fundamental challenge to the way South Africans understand power. He argues that citizens have been reduced to what he calls “professional petitioners” — people who continuously ask government to solve problems they already have the collective capacity to confront themselves. His proposal is the Batho Pele Convention: a permanent, non-partisan, membership-funded grassroots movement built around self-sufficiency, citizen agency and Ubuntu. The idea is not simply to protest when government fails, but to organise communities to act — to fix, build, produce and create systems that respond directly to the needs of the people, while simultaneously holding those in power accountable. But that raises some difficult questions. If citizens begin building their own schools, fixing their own roads, finding their own solutions to water and security — are we witnessing the birth of a more powerful form of citizen participation, or are we simply allowing the state to retreat from responsibilities it is supposed to fulfil? And if the ballot every five years is no longer enough, what does democracy look like between elections? Tonight, we take those questions to Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi, as we unpack his 11 Theses, the idea of Siyazenzela, and his call for South Africans to move from waiting for change to becoming active agents of change.
Tseliso Mohlomi ( Senior Director, Office of the Vice-Chancellor & Principal Institute for the Future of Work (IFOW), Tshwane University of Technology )
There is a new reality confronting young South Africans entering the world of work: the jobs they are looking for are changing at the same time that they are struggling to find jobs in the first place. South Africa’s youth unemployment rate for those aged 15 to 34 has climbed to 47.4%, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey, with 5 million young people unemployed in the second quarter of this year. And now, artificial intelligence is adding another layer to an already difficult labour market. AI can automate certain tasks, change the way businesses operate and alter the skills employers look for — but it can also create new opportunities in areas such as data, cybersecurity, cloud computing, software, digital services and AI itself. So what does this actually mean for a young person sitting at home with a degree, diploma or matric certificate and struggling to get that first opportunity? Are our universities and TVET colleges teaching young people the skills that the economy needs? Are employers doing enough to give young people workplace experience? And importantly, can AI become part of the solution to South Africa's youth unemployment crisis rather than another barrier to entering the economy? We’re asking these questions tonight as the Institute for the Future of Work prepares for its annual dialogue on how AI and technological change are reshaping the future of work. Joining us is Tseliso Mohlomi, Executive Director of the Institute for the Future of Work at Tshwane University of Technology.
Ekurhuleni’s Femicide Crisis: After Parliament’s Debate, What Changes on the Ground? ( DA MP LISA SCHICKELING )
Gender-based violence and femicide took centre stage in Parliament today, after the Democratic Alliance called for an urgent debate on the escalating killings of women in Ekurhuleni. The debate comes against the backdrop of a growing number of women found murdered across the region since July, with another woman killed in Tembisa on Monday bringing the reported number to 12. The issue has moved beyond the question of individual criminal cases to one of policing, accountability and the state’s response to GBV. The DA’s Lisa Schickerling argued that Parliament needed to confront what she described as an urgent failure to protect women, while government and police have pointed to interventions already underway, including additional police deployments and an oversight visit to Ekurhuleni police stations. And the debate comes at a particularly significant moment: a national inquiry into GBVF began in Johannesburg yesterday, examining how victims are supported, how cases are reported and investigated, and the challenges within the criminal justice system. So, after today’s parliamentary debate, the question for us tonight is: what happens beyond Parliament? What changes for women living in communities where they say they still do not feel safe?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: When Women Write Their Own Stories: From Survival to Social Change
For generations, many of the stories about Black South Africans — our families, our struggles, our communities, our women and our history — have been told by someone else. Often, those stories have been written through the lens of politics, academia, journalism or history books. But what happens when the people who lived those experiences pick up the pen and tell the story themselves? Today, we bring together three women who have done exactly that. Zodwa Zwane, who spent years working alongside Winnie Mandela and has written My Boss, Mrs Mandela; Lulama Mali, author of Held: Portrait of the Black Family, which explores family, memory and the historical forces that have shaped Black families; and Dr Vathiswa Papu-Zamxaka, whose own journey from difficult circumstances to becoming a Deputy Vice-Chancellor is documented in Greatness Undeniable. Their stories are personal, but they also speak to much bigger questions about inequality, opportunity, education, family, history and the socioeconomic realities that continue to shape people's lives. So today, we ask: what happens when women take ownership of their narratives? Can telling our own stories become a form of resistance, preservation and social change? And why does it matter who gets to write the first draft of our history?
When a Night Out Turns Into a Massacre: 27 Lives Lost in Two Separate Shootings
It was supposed to be an ordinary weekend in South Africa — people gathering at taverns, shisanyamas and entertainment venues, meeting friends, listening to music and simply trying to enjoy a Saturday night. But within hours, two separate shooting incidents in Gauteng and the Western Cape turned places of leisure into crime scenes. In Wedela, on the West Rand, gunmen opened fire at a tavern on Saturday night. Police say 17 people were killed and 15 others injured, with eight armed suspects reportedly involved. Then, in the early hours of Sunday morning, another shooting took place at a shisanyama and entertainment venue in Lwandle, near Strand. Ten people were killed and 11 others wounded. Police have established a multidisciplinary team to investigate, while initial reports have pointed to a possible business rivalry as one line of inquiry. Two provinces. Two different locations. Two separate investigations. But one deeply disturbing question: what is happening to the safety of the places where South Africans go to socialise? And why are heavily armed gunmen able to walk into or around entertainment spaces and unleash this level of violence? Today, we look beyond the shock and grief — at the gun violence, the criminal networks, the safety of taverns and entertainment venues, and what these repeated mass shootings tell us about the state of public safety in South Africa.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: FROM KRAALS TO CONCRETE: IS URBANISATION CHANGING HOW WE CONNECT WITH OUR HERITAGE?
For generations, the idea of “home” for many South African families has meant more than the house where you grew up. It could mean the rural homestead — the place where your grandparents lived, where family rituals were performed, where the umsamo was kept, where the kraal formed part of the homestead, and where children were taught customs and traditions by the elders around them. But South Africa has changed dramatically. Millions of us now live in cities, far away from those rural homes. We have moved for education, work and better opportunities, and many of our children are being raised in apartments, townhouses and suburban homes where some of the physical spaces associated with traditional practices simply don't exist. So what happens to our relationship with culture when we are physically separated from the places where that culture has traditionally been practised? Can you maintain a strong connection to your heritage when the ancestral home is hundreds of kilometres away? And what happens to practices like imbeleko, family rituals and the role of the umsamo when there is no longer a rural homestead at the centre of everyday family life? Today, we're asking whether modernisation and urbanisation are changing not only where we live, but how we understand, practise and pass on our heritage to the next generation.
Financial Sector Conduct Authority ( Ms. Alicia Moses - Designation: Manager: Consumer Education, FSCA )
For millions of South Africans, the Two-Pot Retirement System has changed the way we think about our retirement savings. Since 2024, members have been able to access a portion of their retirement savings when they need financial relief. And when you're dealing with debt, school fees, household expenses or simply trying to make it through the month, that money can be very tempting. But accessing your retirement savings isn't simply a case of taking money that is sitting there waiting for you. There are tax consequences, there may be fees, and every withdrawal potentially reduces what you will have available when you retire. And beyond withdrawals, consumers also need to know whether the money being deducted from their salaries is actually being paid into their retirement funds. So, how do you know when a withdrawal is worth considering, what are you actually giving up when you take that money now, and what should you do if the numbers on your payslip don't match your retirement fund records? Today, we're unpacking what every retirement fund member should know before making that decision.
REVISITING THE FLAG DEBATE ON HERITAGE DAY ( Bandile Magibili )
Every time we see the South African flag flying, particularly during Heritage Month, we’re reminded of the country we became in 1994 — a country emerging from apartheid and attempting to build a new national identity. But how much do we actually know about the history behind the flag itself? The official historical account credits the late State Herald Frederick Gordon Brownell with designing the flag that was unveiled in 1994. But an independent researcher, Bandile Magibili, has spent years investigating the process that led to the flag’s adoption, and he says there are still questions that deserve closer examination. Among them: what happened to the designs submitted by members of the public during the transition to democracy, how were those submissions assessed, and how exactly did the final design emerge? At the centre of his research is Eastern Cape artist Thembani Hastings Mqhayi, who maintains that he submitted five designs during that public process. Magibili is now taking the research into international academic spaces, including Mauritius, arguing that the documentary evidence should be subjected to independent scholarly scrutiny. So today, we're asking a fascinating question about one of the most recognisable symbols of our democracy: what does the evidence actually tell us about the origins and authorship of South Africa's national flag?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: HOW ARE WE GRIEVING AS A COUNTRY?
South Africa is a country that has experienced a tremendous amount of loss. We lose people to illness, accidents, crime, suicide and violence — and for many families, one loss can come before they have even had the opportunity to process the one that came before it. Yet life carries on. We go back to work, we raise our children, we pay the bills and somehow, we are expected to keep functioning. So what does all of this loss do to us emotionally? Are we actually processing our grief, or have we become accustomed to simply carrying it? And is there such a thing as a country becoming collectively exhausted from grief? Today, we want to look at how we are grieving as a nation — the ways we deal with loss, the things we don't talk about, and whether some of us are carrying unresolved grief without even realising it. We're joined by psychologist, author and mental-health advocate Dr. Better, whose new book Reflections of a Grieving Therapist draws on her years of helping people navigate pain and loss, as well as her own experience of grief.
Mpox Cases Rise to 22 in South Africa: What You Need to Know
South Africa’s confirmed Mpox cases have now risen from 18 to 22, with four new laboratory-confirmed infections recorded as of Tuesday. The majority of the cases are concentrated in the Western Cape, which accounts for 18 of the 22 cases, while Gauteng has recorded three and KwaZulu-Natal one. One of the newly confirmed cases is a 47-year-old man from Cape Town who had travelled to Spain earlier this month and was initially classified as a probable case while authorities waited for laboratory results. The other new infections include two imported cases involving a German and a Norwegian citizen. The Department of Health says it is working with the NICD, the WHO and provincial health authorities on contact tracing and enhanced surveillance. So, while the numbers remain relatively small, authorities are watching the situation closely, particularly because cases are being detected across more than one province. What does this increase mean for the public, how does Mpox spread, what symptoms should people be looking out for, and at what point should someone seek medical attention?
Political Parties sign IEC’s Electoral Code of Conduct. Can it restore trust?
With just 42 days to go before South Africans head to the polls for the local government elections, political parties and independent candidates have now put pen to paper, committing themselves to the IEC’s Electoral Code of Conduct. On the face of it, signing a code may sound like a routine part of the election calendar — but this is essentially a commitment about how political parties conduct themselves between now and Election Day. The Code requires contestants to reject political violence, intimidation and threats, respect voters and opponents, and campaign in a way that allows South Africans to make their choices freely. And this year, there is another major issue on the table: disinformation. The IEC’s new provisions require parties and candidates to verify information before sharing it and to correct false or misleading information within 36 hours of becoming aware of it. So, what does this commitment actually mean for political parties on the ground? What happens when a party or candidate crosses the line? And, importantly, in an election increasingly fought on social media, how do we distinguish robust political debate from misinformation and deliberate attempts to mislead voters? Those are some of the questions we’re putting to our guest today.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Are Our Screens Changing Our Eyes? The Global Rise of Myopia
We spend hours looking at screens — our phones, tablets, laptops and televisions. And for children, that screen time is increasingly happening from a very young age. But could the way we live — spending more time indoors and focusing on things close to our faces — actually be changing the way our eyes develop? We’re talking about myopia, or short-sightedness, where people can see things close up but struggle to see clearly in the distance. It is becoming increasingly common around the world, particularly among children and young people. One widely cited global projection estimates that by 2050, almost half of the world’s population could be myopic — close to five billion people. And this isn't simply about needing a stronger pair of glasses. Severe myopia can increase the risk of serious eye conditions, including retinal problems and retinal detachment. So, as we mark Eye Care Awareness Month, we're asking: are we raising a generation that is becoming increasingly short-sighted — and what can parents and adults do about it?
Dr Bandile Masuku, Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety
What does it tell us about crime in Gauteng when one precinct records 76 kidnapping cases in a single quarter? And perhaps more importantly, what sits behind that number? The latest SAPS statistics show that Kempton Park recorded 76 kidnappings between April and June 2026, compared with 48 in the same period last year. At provincial level, Gauteng recorded 2,367 cases — the highest provincial total in the country for that quarter. The Gauteng Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety says kidnapping cannot be viewed in isolation. Its stakeholder engagement heard about cases involving hijacking-related kidnappings and ransom demands, including a reported R5-million demand in Bekkersdal and R3-million demand in Roodepoort. That points to a broader criminal ecosystem involving organised crime and the exploitation of victims for financial gain. But for residents, statistics ultimately translate into a much more basic question: how safe are we, and what is being done differently now that these hotspots have been identified? The committee is calling for stronger intelligence gathering, better coordination between law-enforcement agencies, targeted operations and greater engagement with communities. So, what does an effective response actually look like — and why has kidnapping become such a significant challenge in Gauteng? We're joined by Dr Bandile Masuku, Chairperson of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature's Portfolio Committee on Community Safety.
CAN CAPE TOWN UNLOCK MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS? ( Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis )
The housing crisis in Cape Town is about more than simply building houses — it is also about where people can afford to live, how close they are to jobs and whether the city has enough affordable rental stock to keep up with demand. Today, Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis says the City wants to use its Township Development Fund to support small-scale developers who are already building rental accommodation in informal settlements. The idea is to help these developments become safer, legal and properly connected to municipal services, including sewerage. The announcement comes as the city grapples with rapid population growth and growing pressure on housing and infrastructure. The City says there is a pipeline of more than 14,000 affordable housing units on land being released or packaged for development, while it estimates that around 70% of future housing demand will fall within the affordable bracket. So, can supporting township-based and micro-developers help address the housing shortage — and crucially, can it create housing that working-class Capetonians can actually afford, in areas where they can access jobs and transport? And what happens to people already living in informal settlements while these longer-term developments are being planned?
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