METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Does faith demand activism, and have our church leaders become too silent?
South Africa is a country wrestling with deep challenges — poverty, inequality, unemployment, corruption, and communities that often feel abandoned by those in power. In moments like these, many people look to the church for moral leadership. Over the weekend, President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke at the funeral of American civil rights icon Jesse Jackson, praising his legacy of faith-driven activism. Jackson stood in the tradition of Martin Luther King Jr. — clergy who didn’t just preach on Sundays but challenged injustice head-on. But it raises an uncomfortable question here at home: have South Africa’s church leaders lost their prophetic voice? In a nation battling corruption, gender violence, and crushing inequality, should pastors and bishops be speaking louder — even if it means confronting political power? Tonight we ask: does faith demand activism, and have our church leaders become too silent?
Labour Laws Amendment Bill – What It Means for South Africans
South Africa’s labour laws could soon see one of the biggest overhauls in years — and the public now has a chance to weigh in. Government has published the Labour Laws Amendment Bill for public comment, proposing sweeping changes to how workplaces operate, from retrenchement pay and parental leave to protections for gig workers like Uber drivers and delivery riders. Supporters say the reforms will modernise labour laws and extend protections to workers in today’s changing economy. Critics warn some changes could make it easier for companies to dismiss employees or raise costs for employers. So tonight we ask: will these changes protect workers — or make it harder for businesses to create jobs?
Hundreds of Prisoners Escaping Police Custody in South Africa
More than 200 suspects who escaped from police custody in South Africa are still on the run tonight. That’s according to figures presented to Parliament, showing that 284 detainees escaped police cells between April and December last year — and only 82 have been caught again. Which raises some uncomfortable questions: how do hundreds of people simply walk out of police custody? Are our holding cells failing, are police overstretched, or is something else going on inside the system? Tonight we ask: when suspects escape before their day in court, who is accountable — and what does it mean for public safety?
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Young People, Alcohol and The Rise of The Sober-Curious Generation
For decades, alcohol has been woven into South Africa’s social fabric — from celebrations and braais to weekend nights out with friends. But a quiet shift appears to be happening among younger people. More and more are choosing to go sober, and they’re documenting the journey using apps that track every alcohol-free day, every rand saved and every health improvement along the way. It’s part of a growing global movement often called the “sober curious” lifestyle. But what’s driving it here at home? Is it about protecting mental health, escaping the pressures of hangover culture, or simply the reality that nights out have become too expensive? In a country often described as a drinking nation, the rise of sober young people could signal a deeper cultural shift in how the next generation socialises, spends money and takes care of their wellbeing.
Supporting Whistleblowers
It’s a case that shocked the country — and one that many felt had gone quiet for far too long. Today, there has finally been movement in the murder of businessman and whistleblower Marumo Eric Phenya, who was gunned down in 2022 after exposing alleged irregularities in a multi-million rand Home Affairs tender. Earlier today, a 30-year-old man, Minenhle Mthembu, appeared before the Randburg Magistrate’s Court facing a charge of conspiracy to commit murder. You may remember that last year, we brought you an exclusive interview with Phenya’s widow, who spoke about the threats they received before his assassination and the painful wait for justice. Now, with this arrest, some might say the wheels of justice are finally turning — but this is only the beginning. The Phenya case has once again shone a harsh light on the dangers faced by whistleblowers in South Africa and across the continent. If it took years for even one arrest in such a high-profile case, the question we must ask tonight is: are we truly protecting those who risk everything to expose corruption?
Political Analyst Boitumelo Senokoane
Well… it seems the flight has landed and the apology has arrived. Controversial forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan made a return to Parliament this morning after last week’s rather dramatic exit — the kind where he stood up mid-questioning, grabbed his bag and headed for the door because, according to him, there was a flight to catch. The problem? The committee hadn’t dismissed him yet. Cue a tense standoff with MPs, including EFF leader Julius Malema telling him to sit down, while others warned a case could be opened. Fast-forward to today and O’Sullivan is back before the ad hoc committee, apologising in a letter sent overnight and ready to finish his testimony. The question now is whether this return will bring closure to the drama — or simply the next act.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Sibling Support: Duty, Law or Ubuntu?
We’re diving into a story that hits at the heart of family, culture, and the law. Many South Africans have been following the sibling maintenance debate — a legal question about whether one sibling can be compelled to financially support another. But beyond the courts, there’s a deeper question: from an African perspective, guided by Ubuntu, aren’t we all morally obliged to care for one another? We explore where cultural duty ends and legal responsibility begins. Is the law simply formalising a tradition that has always existed in our communities, or is it asking siblings to carry a burden that goes beyond what’s expected? Stay with us as we unpack this compelling issue and hear what it really means for families across South Africa.
BUSINESS PROFILE: NUZTEK - MUZI XABA
Specialises in IT consulting, software development, and training solutions for SMMEs. ThunaPoint, the company’s current SaaS product, is a comprehensive cemetery management system designed to streamline operations for memorial parks. Building on a foundation of successful web development projects for individuals and startups, NUZTEK now focuses its expertise on providing software solutions for SMMEs and local governments.
Insourcing or Overload? Parliament Considers EFF’s Bold Proposal ( MATTHEW PARKS - COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator )
If you clean a government hospital, guard a public building, fix a municipal road or provide IT support to a department — but you’re not actually employed by the state — this story could change your life. The EFF has introduced an Insourcing Bill in Parliament that could force government departments to stop outsourcing essential services and instead hire workers directly. The party argues this will end exploitation, cut out middlemen, and clamp down on tender corruption. But critics warn it could put even more strain on an already stretched public wage bill.
From Robben Island to the Union Buildings: Remembering Mosiuoa ‘Terror’ Lekota
South Africa continues to mourn the passing of veteran freedom fighter and political leader Mosiuoa “Terror” Lekota, who died at the age of 77 following a period of illness. Lekota was a towering figure in the country’s liberation struggle, spending years imprisoned on Robben Island for his anti-apartheid activism before emerging to help shape South Africa’s democratic future. In the years after 1994, he served in several key leadership roles, including as the first Premier of the Free State, Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, and later Minister of Defence. In 2008, he co-founded the Congress of the People after breaking away from the African National Congress, marking a significant moment in post-apartheid political history. As tributes continue to pour in from across the political spectrum, many are remembering Lekota not only as a seasoned politician, but as a man whose life spanned the darkest days of apartheid and the hopeful dawn of democracy.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Security Guards, Non‐Compliance, and Workers’ Struggles in South Africa
They stand at our gates. They patrol our streets. They protect our homes, our malls, our office parks — often in the dead of night while the rest of us sleep. But behind the uniform and the badge, many private security guards in South Africa are fighting a silent battle of their own. Across the country, allegations of non-compliance by some private security companies are leaving guards exposed — working long hours for modest pay, only to discover that no contributions were ever made to their provident fund or UIF. That means when injury strikes, when contracts end, or when retirement comes knocking, there is nothing to fall back on. Tonight, we ask: who is protecting the protectors?
PAUL O’SULLIVAN PARLIAMENT WALKOUT ( EFF MP SHARON LETLAPE )
Parliament’s SAPS Ad Hoc Committee met yesterday to deliberate on the dramatic walkout by forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan during last week’s hearings into allegations linked to Police Commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. The committee is now considering its next steps after O’Sullivan abruptly left proceedings while still under oath, before being formally excused by the chairperson. Some Members of Parliament are calling for him to be subpoenaed to return and complete his testimony, arguing that his departure undermined Parliament’s oversight process. Others maintain that while his conduct was controversial, it may not amount to a criminal offence.
ORMONDE BUILDING COLLAPSE ( DEPUTY MINISTER OF EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR JOMO SIBIYA )
Questions of accountability are mounting after a building collapse in Ormonde, south of Johannesburg, claimed the lives of eight people. The City of Johannesburg has confirmed that the structure will be demolished after it was found to be unsafe and built without approved plans. Mayor Dada Morero says the city is still trying to identify and trace the owners of the building, which he says flouted city by-laws and building control regulations. An independent investigation is now under way, and the city has announced it will lay formal charges against those responsible, including the construction company. As authorities investigate what led to the deadly collapse, families of the victims — including foreign nationals from Lesotho — have yet to be located. We unpack what went wrong and what steps the city says it will take next.
AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The spotlight is on mothers across South Africa who are taking a bold stand against systemic failures in maternal healthcare
Tonight, the spotlight is on mothers across South Africa who are taking a bold stand against systemic failures in maternal healthcare. Known as #LaundryDay, this growing movement sees women and activists bringing their stories directly to the National Department of Health in Pretoria. Hospital bedsheets, bearing testimonies of abuse, neglect, and humiliation experienced during childbirth in public facilities, are being displayed outside the department’s offices — a powerful, visual call for urgent reform. Led by Embrace, the Movement for Mothers, and supported by civil society organisations, the picket coincided with Reproductive Health Month. It comes ahead of the release of South Africa’s first prevalence study on obstetric violence, which found that six in ten women who gave birth in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal over the past ten years experienced some form of mistreatment. The activists are calling on the Department of Health to acknowledge obstetric violence as a systemic problem, implement Respectful Maternity Care across all facilities, and strengthen accountability mechanisms for mothers’ safety and dignity. #LaundryDay is more than a protest — it’s a movement turning women’s lived experiences into data-driven demands that cannot be ignored. We speak to organisers and mothers leading #LaundryDay to hear firsthand why this movement is growing and what change they hope to see in South Africa’s maternity wards.
Business Review: KHOSI ZWANE - FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PHIKELA KHOMUNICATIONS
Our Business Review special feature follows four entrepreneurs as they walk us through differing aspects of their industries and the world of entrepreneurship. In this cycle of our conversations with the entrepreneurs, they’ll be telling us how they market their business in a digitally driven environment. Back on Metro FM Talk this evening is KHOSI ZWANE - FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR OF PHIKELA KHOMUNICATIONS.
Israel–Iran Conflict: International relations expert DR Oscar van Heerden AND TANYA JACKSON - SOUTH AFRICAN STUCK IN UAE
Tensions in the Middle East have escalated sharply following direct military exchanges between Israel and Iran, marking one of the most serious confrontations between the two regional powers in recent history. After years of indirect conflict fought through cyberattacks, covert operations and regional allies, recent strikes and retaliatory attacks have raised fears of a wider regional escalation. The situation has drawn in global powers and heightened international concern about security, energy markets and diplomatic stability. But how did relations between Israel and Iran deteriorate to this point, who are the key actors involved, and what are the broader geopolitical stakes? And closer to home, what could this mean for South Africa — from economic impacts such as fuel prices and trade, to our diplomatic positioning on the global stage? We’re joined now by international relations expert DR Oscar van Heerden to help us unpack the origins of this conflict, the main players involved, and what developments we should be watching closely.
2026 METRO FM MUSIC AWARDS NOMINEES EVENT!
METRO FM Talk is coming to you live from Sandton this evening as we reveal the nominees for the 2026 METRO FM MUSIC AWARDS! Musically, the country has a lot to celebrate, as our artists continue to release world class music that can be heard across the globe! I’ll be chatting to some executives this evening on what all this means, and I’ll also be wearing a bit of a different hat this evening, catching up with some of your favourite artists and personalities. Get ready for a night of celebrating music, artistry and your favourite station - METRO FM!
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS & CIVIL ORGANISATION REACTION
MAPHEFO SIPULA - DEVELOPMENT ECONOMIST & HEAD OF RESEARCH & IMPACT AT PROPERTY POINT PROF ANDRE ROUX - ECONOMIST AT STELLENBOSCH BUSINESS SCHOOL
REACTION TO BUDGET SPEECH FROM POLITICAL PARTIES
- MK PARTY: DR. THANTI MTHANTI UMKHONTO WESIZWE PARTY (MK PARTY) CHAIRPERSON OF THE ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION SUB-COMMITTEE. ATM: VUYO ZUNGULA, AFRICAN TRANSFORMATION MOVEMENT (ATM) PARLIAMENTARY LEADER - RISE MZANSI - SONGEZO ZIBI, RISE MZANSI LEADER & NATIONAL ASSEMBLY CHAIRPERSON OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
GWEN RAMOKGOPA, ANC TREASURER GENERAL
REACTION TO BUDGET SPEECH FROM POLITICAL PARTIES
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