AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: WHY DATING IS CHANGING AS MORE AND MORE PEOPLE STRUGGLE TO FIND THAT SPECIAL PERSON

A lot of data is pointing towards major changes in how we relationship. We’re more single than ever and we’re getting married later, so it seems that finding that special someone seems to be getting harder as we move away from traditional courtship toward a more complex, digital, and isolated, "situationship" culture. Dating is undergoing a significant transformation in today's world, driven largely by technological advancements, shifting societal norms, and changing economic landscapes.

MATTHEW PARKS - COSATU PARLIAMENTARY COORDINATOR

WILL MORE LABOUR INSPECTORS MEAN BETTER LAW ENFORCEMENT The Department of Employment and Labour has given further insight into the President’s plan to bolster the department with an additional 10,000 new labour inspectors. In making the announcement, Ramaphosa made it clear that businesses failing to comply with immigration requirements will face serious consequences. In his response to the president’s SONA, Deputy Labour Minister - Jomo Sibiya said “The additional capacity will assist in improving inspections from 300,000 workplace visits annually to about 1.6 million.

PROF. NTSIKELELO BREAKFAST - POLITICAL ANALYST

These are turbulent times for the coalition in Ekurhuleni The EFF has rejected the Ekurhuleni Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza’s decision to reshuffle his Mayoral Committee. The EFF’s announcement followed ActionSA’s rejection of the appointment of its mayoral candidate and councillor, Xolani Khumalo to take over Community Services and By-Law Enforcement. The EFF says Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza took the decision to remove and reshuffle its councillors without consultation and says it will now assume opposition benches. ActionSA’s Herman Mashaba has also criticised Xhakaza for appointing Khumalo without consultation, saying Khumalo will not take the position.

BUSINESS REVIEW

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The challenges of being overqualified in the world of work

While pursuing post-graduate studies such as a masters or PhD is a great achievement it can sometimes become a weakness when it comes to one’s employability or ability to further up the corporate ladder. This evening we take a look at being overqualified and how it can impact your career prospects. MONICA MURAVHA - HR SPECIALIST & SKILLS DEVELOPMENT PATISA NOMBAKUSE - CAREER & LIFE COACH CHENGETAI MYEZWA - TRANSFORMATION SPECIALIST AND FOUNDER OF OKIRU

UFS study detects hormone-disrupting chemicals in menstrual products sold in South Africa

A study by the University of Free State has found hormone-disrupting chemicals in every sanitary pad and pantyliner tested from brands sold in South Africa. They include those labelled organic or chemical-free. The university’s scientists have warned that millions of women face regular exposure. They have called for clearer labelling, tougher safety regulations, and urgent further research. PROF DEON VISSER - A PROFESSOR IN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FREE-STATE NOKUZOLA NDWANDWE - MENSTRUAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST AND FOUNDER OF TEAM FREE SANITARY PADS

RIKUS BARDENHORST - DA WHIP IN THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF PROVINCES AND MEMBER OF THE JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF PARLIAMENT

The pressure continues to mount on Parliament Secretary Xolile George who’s salary allegedly increased by more than 88% since 2022! Earlier in the month, the Democratic Alliance (DA) requested the President, the Office of the Public Protector as well as Parliament to probe allegations of maladministration and abuse of power at Parliament. In another twist in the story, Public Protector Kholeka Gcaleka has recused herself from the investigation due to her “personal relationship” with George.

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Operation Outrage: Social media’s negativity bias and its real world impact

The psychological tendency to prioritize, share, and react more strongly to negative information over positive information—is actively magnified by platform algorithms that prioritize engagement (likes, shares, comments). We tend to doom scroll negative news, outrage, and fear, which spreads faster and farther, resulting in significant, detrimental real-world impacts on mental health, social cohesion, and our politics.

BUSINESS REVIEW

RUSSELL RENSBURG - PROGRAMME DIRECTOR OF TB ACCOUNTABILITY CONSORTIUM

Calls continue to be made for government to integrate TB and HIV services, this follows President Ramaphosa’s announcement of plans for a massive roll-out the HIV prevention drug - Le-na-ka-pa-veer (lenacapavir), a 6-monthly injection that is used to prevent the transmission of HIV. While the TB Accountability Consortium (TBAC) welcomes the renewed focus on HIV prevention and the civil rights organisation says that more needs to be done to integrate TB and HIV care as more than 54% of people who have TB are coinfected with HIV.

RISENGA MALULEKE - STATISTICIAN-GENERAL OF SOUTH AFRICA

The country’s unemployment rate remains severely high at 31.4% despite a decrease of 0,5% between the third and fourth quarter of 2025. - this is according to the latest numbers from Statistics South Africa. The Stats SA numbers further revealed a worrying number of people who have simply given up on the job market with an increase in the number of discouraged job-seekers going up to 3,7 million people, an increase of 233 000.

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: MILITARISED SOCIETY: THE PROS AND CONS OF MILITARY DEPLOYMENT

The order by President Ramaphosa to deploy the South African Defence Force in parts of the country that are battling crime, has been celebrated by many civilians and leaders alike, with many believing this would be a solution for bringing lasting peace in crime-ridden communities. However, some civil society groups and experts are questioning the intent of the deployment and highlighting the risks carried by domestic military deployment, including excessive force, civil-military tension, and mission creep. Is a militarised society the answer to dealing with crime in the country?

SCHOLAR TRANSPORT OPERATORS AT ODDS WITH GP TRANSPORT DEPARTMENT

Private scholar transport operators in Gauteng seem to be back at work following protests late last week as the operators marched against what they deemed unfair treatment by the Gauteng Roads & Transport Department. Transport MEC Kedibone Diale-Tlabela says her department together with the Education Department are responsible for ensuring that scholar transport operators have proper operating permits. The MEC met with operators this weekend to discuss safety compliance issues, as a number of operators fail, with estimations that only about 10% of the scholar transport operators have applied for operating licenses.

JUSTICE MINISTER CALLS FOR LIFESTYLE AUDITS AT THE NPA

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister, Mmamoloko Kubayi, is once again calling for the National Prosecuting Authority - NPA - to prioritise life style audits within the organisation even though these audits have been mandatory since 2021. The minister has previously called for urgent reforms within the NPA to safeguard the integrity of the country’s justice system, questioning why the NPA had not proactively introduced lifestyle audits, adding that resistance to such scrutiny should be viewed as a warning sign. Lifestyle audits were made mandatory for public servants, including the NPA, in 2021 by the Department of Public Service and Administration.

SONA 2026 ( State Of The Nation Adress ) ANALYSIS

THE EVE OF SONA 2026 ANALYSIS

PROF. NTSIKELELO BREAKFAST - POLITICAL ANALYST OMPHILE MAOTWE - EFF TREASURER GENERAL & MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MZANDILE MASINA - MEMBER OF THE ANC NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COUNCIL (NEC) & MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MUZI XABA: FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF NUZTEK VISVIN REDDY - MK PARTY MEMBER AND MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT JAN DE VILLIERS - DA SPOKESPERSON JASON HAMILTON - GUEST LECTURER IN CORPORATE AND DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AT STELLENBOSCH BUSINESS SCHOOL

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: STUDENT ACTIVISM: CHALLENGES ON CAMPUS AND ARE WE HARNESSING YOUTH LEADERS?

Student activism in South Africa has a powerful history and has often been a militant force driving social change, with a legacy rooted in fighting the injustices that occurred in this country. In recent years we’ve seen students campaign for free, decolonized education and financial aid. A long list of issues continues to have an impact on many students across the country and this evening we’ll be talking about the issues faced by students and where student activism finds itself in today’s world? Are we harnessing youth leaders?

O’SULLIVAN FINALLY FACES PARLIAMENT ( LULAMA MATYA - SABC NEWS SENIOR REPORTER )

The Parliament’s Ad Hoc Committee heard a heated exchange between the private investigator Paul O’Sullivanand Members of Parliament – after he told the commission that while he had taken an oath to tell the truth, he was not obliged to answer every question if doing so could place his family at risk. The remarks drew a sharp response from MPs, who expressed dissatisfaction and demanded that O’Sullivan amend or clarify his statement. MPs pushed for fuller cooperation, including answers about his time in South Africa during and before 1990. O’Sullivan has denied allegations of being a spy. He faced several allegations, including having undue influence over the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID), the South African Police Services (SAPS) and the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA).

TWO ASTON MARTINS, TWO FERRARIS, AND A ROLLS-ROYCE LINKED TO MAUMELA TO BE RETURNED BY THE SIU ( KAIZER KGANYAGO - SIU SPOKESPERSON )

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) is pouring cold water over an order by the Special Tribunal that it release luxury vehicles believed to be owned by corruption-accused tenderpreneur - Hangwani Maumela who’s been linked to the alleged R2 billion fraud at Tembisa Hospital. The SIU obtained a preservation order, in September last year, to seize the supercars from the Omar dealership in Witbank, which the SIU believes is linked to Maumela. Last week, the SIU handed over evidence against Maumela to the National Prosecuting Authority.

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: THE EMOTIONAL RECESSION: THE IMPACT OF DECLINING EQS ON SOCIETY, THE ECONOMY AND OUR FUTURE

Research seems to be indicating that the world is experiencing a sustained, multi-year decline in emotional intelligence (EQ). Some studies and academic analyses have identified this trend as an "emotional recession," characterized by decreasing abilities to recognize, understand, and manage emotions, alongside falling levels of empathy, well-being, and resilience.