Cutting Edge

In South Africa, thousands of children face sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy each year, often at the hands of adults they trust. Yet, many cases go unreported, leaving victims without justice and communities grappling with silence, stigma, and fear. STOP RAPING investigates this hidden crisis, exposing the devastating human toll and systemic failures that allow abuse to continue. Central to the documentary is the case of a 12-year-old girl from Laudium, a quiet suburb in Pretoria, who became a victim of alleged statutory rape. Through her story, the film highlights the gaps in reporting, protection, and accountability, revealing the urgent need for societal and institutional change. The documentary also follows the experiences of a pregnant teenager and her mother, offering a deeply personal perspective on the emotional, social, and psychological challenges that come with teenage pregnancy. Their journey illustrates the pressures faced by young women and the critical role of family support in navigating these circumstances. To contextualize these personal stories, STOP RAPING features insights from leading experts and organizations working to protect children and prevent abuse. Interviews with representatives from the Teddy Bear Foundation, the Department of Health, and the Department of Basic Education provide authoritative perspectives on prevention strategies, the importance of sex education, and the mechanisms available to support victims and hold perpetrators accountable. Through these voices, the documentary explores the importance of peer-led education, community engagement, and open conversations about consent, contraception, and healthy relationships. It challenges societal norms, demands accountability, and calls on communities to break the silence around child sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy. STOP RAPING is both a stark exposé and a call to action—urging viewers to recognize the scale of the crisis, confront uncomfortable truths, and work toward a safer future for South Africa’s children. For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

It’s been five years since Dan Tloome was established as a government “mega housing project” designed for integrated living. But for the families relocated here from across Johannesburg, the promise of a better life remains unfulfilled. With no schools, No clinic, and no police station, Dan Tloome isn’t a community yet- it’s just a collection of houses in the middle of nowhere. For these residents’ integration feels more like isolation.

The storry looks into the dangers of taverns operating in school's proximity in some of the communities in the Eastern Cape- something that lures minors to allegedly abuse alcohol. The story emanates from a recent incident where minors were seen consuming alcohol infront of their parents. The question is, are authorities doing enough to curb the scourge of alcohol abuse?

A night out that turned deadly. A young life lost to the shadows of trust and manipulation. Cutting Edge uncovers the tragic story of Vuyelwa Kubheka, a teacher brutally killed after meeting a stranger at a Soweto pub. Her story exposes the dark reality of gender-based violence in SA.

Rebuilding After the Floods ,Mpumalanga & Limpopo In the wake of devastating floods in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, families who lost homes, belongings and livelihoods are trying to rebuild from the ground up, often with little more than donated food parcels and temporary shelter. This story follows flood-affected communities as they navigate damaged roads and bridges, unsafe water sources, and the slow process of restoring schools, clinics and basic services. At the centre are ordinary residents who say recovery is not just about fixing infrastructure but restoring dignity and stability, especially for children, the elderly and those living in rural villages cut off from help. As government and aid organisations roll out relief and repair plans, questions remain around how quickly assistance reaches the most vulnerable, what “rebuilding” really looks like months later, and whether these provinces are becoming more prepared for extreme weather events that keep returning For more news, visit sabcnews.com and #SABCNews on all Social Media platforms.

Baleni: Salt of the Earth follows the women of Baleni in Limpopo who have harvested salt by hand for generations. It looks at their traditional methods, the spiritual value of the land, and the challenges threatening the future of this sacred practice as support declines and younger people lose interest.

We spoke to the people who felt Thabo Bester’s power the most - inmates, wardens, and families. Their stories lay bare the violence, the silence, and the secrets they say Mangaung Prison tried to bury. This is the real cost of knowing Bester.

In the lead-up to the 2025 G20 Summit in Johannesburg, the city launches a massive crackdown on inner-city informal traders, suddenly enforcing long-ignored bylaws and introducing a strict verification and new permit system. Hundreds of street vendors – many of whom have traded legally for years – are forcibly removed from prime spots such as De Villiers and King George streets, accused of trading illegally or lacking proper facilities. The episode follows several traders, including Mama Felani Kheswa (a food vendor with a valid city-issued permit and certificate of acceptability) and Miriam Gabone, who are bewildered and financially devastated after being barred from their usual pitches despite holding documentation. At the heart of the story is the politically charged verification process ordered by the High Court: thousands of traders – especially non-South Africans – simply do not come forward, fearing deportation or because they lack the required paperwork. The programme exposes the growing influence of nativist movements: Patriotic Alliance activist Victoria Mogoba openly calls for mass deportation of African migrants, while Operation Dudula’s Thabo Moeketsi (of the now-banned “SA Standard” TikTok account) is shown blocking foreign nationals (including parents with sick children) from accessing public clinics in Soshanguve – actions later interdicted by the Gauteng High Court. Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero insists the clean-up is purely about bylaw enforcement and creating a “clean, safe city ahead of the G20, rejecting claims it is an anti-foreigner campaign timed for political gain before the 2026 local elections. Yet the South African Informal Traders Forum accuses him of using the operation to counter the rising popularity of Operation Dudula and parties like the Patriotic Alliance. With nationalist rhetoric surging, foreign nationals increasingly scapegoated for crime and unemployment, and traders left unable to feed their families, “Traders” asks whether Johannesburg’s historic promise of hope and opportunity – the very essence of the City of Gold – is being permanently rewritten in favour of a narrower, more exclusionary vision.

They thought they were buying homes, not confusion. Sectional title or Full title? The truth behind Windmill Park’s ext. 17 housing disputes

A 20-year-old rape victim from Tsolo in the Eastern Cape recounts her ordeal after she was allegedly raped repeatedly by her pastor, who was also a teacher. The teacher impregnated his victim and allegedly gave her pills to terminate the pregnancy without her knowledge. He continued to rape her while using protection afterwards and only stopped after the victim’s family eventually opened a case at the Tsolo Police Station early in 2025. Police say the arrest is looming. The victim has been granted permission by Rhodes University to study from home so that she can attend psychological therapy sessions, as she has been diagnosed with depression. In the second case study, a learner from St John’s College in Mthatha says she contemplated taking her own life after she was allegedly offered a lift by a teacher—older than her father—who touched her inappropriately along the way. The teacher allegedly demanded a hug and a kiss before allowing her to leave. The incidents occurred in 2022 and 2023 respectively. A case has been opened, and investigations are underway. Seven teachers have been suspended from St John’s College alone, accused of engaging in sexual relationships with learners—an act that is unlawful under the Educators’ Act of 1998. Learners from St John’s College recently raised alarm over an increasing number of such incidents, alleging that some of these relationships were non-consensual. A teacher from Ngangelizwe High School is among those suspended by the Eastern Cape Department of Basic Education after he allegedly lured a learner to his house and raped her. SADTU in the province has condemned the implicated teachers, saying their actions bring the profession into disrepute. Children’s Rights Organisation KHULA has called on the Department of Education to ensure that both the SACE Code of Ethics and the Department’s regulations are fully implemented to dismiss those found guilty of misconduct

In the Eastern Cape, broken roads and missing bridges have cut communities off from the world. After years of empty promises, one village took matters into its own hands and built its own bridge. A story of struggle, resilience, and survival.

Since the dawn of democracy, South Africa has established numerous commissions of inquiry — from the historic Truth and Reconciliation Commission to the forthcoming Madlanga Commission. But what function do these commissions truly serve? Are they legitimate tools in the pursuit of justice, or mechanisms that can be manipulated to protect those in power?

"Where are our children?” From shocking confessions to unanswered police questions, Cutting Edge investigates South Africa’s unresolved cold cases of missing people

The pain behind botched circumcision in the Eastern Cape and why the Penile Reconstruction Program to save young li lives was suddenly stopped.

The episode takes you inside the Diepkloof Hostel, following the recent protests that saw residents take to the streets, burning tires and looting trucks. We'll delve into the heart of the community to shed light on what drove these hostel dwellers to protest and what they are fighting for.

Kidnappings are on the rise. A businessman vanishes- his name linked to alleged kingpin Vusi "Cat" Matlala. What really happened?