Podcast
The National Pulse
Hosted by SAfm · EN
Latest News, Trends, and light features for an afternoon commute- Business, Traffic, Weather and Sport
140episodes
Episodes
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Global Watch: No Progress In Cuba US Negotiations
1w ago00:07:28Tap to summarizeCuban Foreign Minister, Bruno Rodriguez, has described negotiations with the United States as hitting a wall, with no breakthroughs made towards ending sanctions against the Caribbean island. The Cuban President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, also said his country is 'not a threat to anybody' and will not give up their sovereignty after threats of military action from Donald Trump. GUEST: Professor John Stremlau, Honorary Lecturer in International Relations at Wits University
Transcribe →Inaction on Cannabis Regulations
1w ago00:08:11Tap to summarizeSouth Africa is underestimating the true financial cost of delaying full cannabis regulation. While government projects a multibillion-rand industry, the absence of coordinated policy, infrastructure, accredited testing systems and banking access is preventing the sector from functioning properly. He warns that licensing alone is not enough without a complete value chain. The result is lost investment, failed exports, job losses and reduced tax revenue, weakening South Africa’s potential cannabis economy. GUEST: Ras Thapelo Steven Khunou, Secretary of the Marijuana Board of South Africa (MBOSA)
Transcribe →My City, My Concern: Political Interference in the City Of Joburg
1w ago00:07:35Tap to summarizeThe DA Johannesburg Caucus has written to Cogta Gauteng MEC, Jacob Mamabolo, requesting an urgent investigation into the possible destabilisation of the City of Johannesburg and alleged political interference in the municipal administration. For more on this, I am joined on the line by… GUEST: Belinda Kayser-Echeozonjoku, DA Joburg Caucus Leader
Transcribe →2000 Shooting in the last 5 months
1w ago00:07:08Tap to summarizeIn Gauteng, South Africa, over a five-month period, more than 2,000 shooting incidents were recorded, yet police managed to arrest suspects in only 21% of cases. The report highlights growing concerns about gun violence, weak investigative capacity, and low conviction and arrest rates. Communities face rising fear as many cases remain unresolved, raising questions about policing effectiveness, resource constraints, and the justice system’s ability to respond to violent crime across affected communities. GUEST: Dr. Guy Lamb, Criminologist
Transcribe →Constitutional Court Blow to Rand Manipulation Case
1w ago00:07:38Tap to summarizeA landmark Constitutional Court ruling has dealt a significant blow to the Competition Commission's long-running case over alleged manipulation of the South African rand by local and international banks. The judgment raises important questions about the Commission's investigative powers, accountability in financial markets, and the future of competition law enforcement. GUEST: Ashely Seckel, Partner at SmitSew Incorporated
Transcribe →Big Issue: Youth Perspective on Inequality
1w ago00:14:23Tap to summarizeYouth see inequality as unequal access to education, jobs, safety, and opportunity shaped by where they are born. It persists due to structural unemployment, poor schooling outcomes, skills mismatch, and historical economic exclusion. To shift this, society needs quality education, job creation, digital access, fair hiring, and youth-led economic inclusion. Inequality is not only income—it is lived daily as limited future possibilities. GUEST: Irfan Manfera, activist, organiser, and community builder
Transcribe →ActionSA files complaint against Tony Leon’s Resolve Communications
1w ago00:10:24Tap to summarizeActionSA has filed a complaint with the Public Protector over alleged state capture-like conduct by Tony Leon’s firm, Resolve Communications. Let’s find out why from… GUEST: Michael Beaumont, ActionSA National
Transcribe →COSATU Concerned By Cabinet Changes
1w ago00:05:51Tap to summarizeThe Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), says they are concerned by and worry about the potential ramifications of the changes made to Cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa. GUEST: Matthew Parks, COSATU Parliamentary Coordinator
Transcribe →Malawian Nationals Still In Musina
1w ago00:05:57Tap to summarizeA number of Malawian nationals remain at camps in Musina, Limpopo, still awaiting processing for repatriation. Let’s get an update on what’s happening there with… GUEST: Katlego Nyoni, SABC News Reporter in Limpopo
Transcribe →Global Watch: Senegalese MPs move to clip presidential powers as tensions mount
1w ago00:07:41Tap to summarizeSenegal's lawmakers have passed a controversial constitutional reform that expands their powers while curbing those of the president, triggering protests outside parliament. The reforms were passed by an overwhelming majority after heated exchanges in parliament, underscoring an escalating power struggle between President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and his former ally-turned-rival, parliamentary Speaker Ousmane Sonko. GUEST: Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs at the University of South Africa
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