Point of View with Phemelo Motene
Point of View with Phemelo Motene, delves into the day’s current affairs, touching on real issues and sharing expert advice on the audience questions between 8pm to 10pm Mondays to Thursdays.
Legal Matters: From Courtroom Contempt to Hospital Hazards
This week on Legal Matters, Nthabiseng Dubazana breaks down some intriguing cases, including a hospital visitor pricked by a used needle, the controversy over speaking IsiXhosa in court, and the latest on Schedule 6 bail applicants. She also answers listeners’ burning legal questions, making sense of the law in everyday…
Joburg Water strike ends after bonus dispute, services resume
An unprotected strike by Johannesburg Water workers has officially ended after days of disruption linked to unpaid December bonuses and disputes over deductions. The action, which began on Friday, coincided with Rand Water throttling supply to Joburg and Tshwane due to excessive usage, compounding pressure on an already strained system…
Book feature: Tribute To My Mother In Law
Author Hope Pooe joins Phemelo to discuss her book Tribute to my mother-in-law, a heartfelt and practical reflection on one of the most delicate family relationships. Drawing from lived experience, Pooe offers guidance, perspective and emotional insight into building understanding between a mother-in-law and her son’s wife.
‘Declare a disaster’: WaterCAN warns Joburg edging towards ‘Day Zero’
As taps run dry across parts of Johannesburg, advocacy group WaterCAN is calling for the city to be declared a disaster area. Areas including Emmarentia and Parktown have endured water outages for more than 20 days, linked to a crack in the Hursthill Reservoir 2 that has been under repair…
Bekkersdal gripped by illegal mining violence, oversight visit launched
Illegal mining has turned Bekkersdal into what lawmakers describe as a zone of lawlessness, fear and organised violence. The Gauteng Legislature’s Portfolio Committee on Community Safety has condemned the surge in shootings, kidnappings and criminal activity linked to zama zama operations. A December mass shooting at an illegal tavern left…
Joburg water crisis worsens amid go-slow at Johannesburg Water
Johannesburg residents face worsening water shortages as Johannesburg Water staff stage a go-slow, leaving bursts unrepaired, sewage uncleared, and tankers undelivered. The Democratic Alliance warns that the manmade drought could deepen unless city executives step in. Areas from Midrand to Melville and Crown Gardens to South Hills have endured prolonged…
Health Feature: Reproductive Awareness Month
Kicking off Reproductive Awareness Month, fertility specialist Dr Tebogo Deo joins Phemelo to demystify reproductive health. They discuss fertility, common causes of infertility, and practical prevention tips, helping listeners make informed choices about their reproductive wellbeing.
This week in international news
Phemelo is joined by Africa Asia Dialogues senior research fellow Thembisa Fakude to unpack key global stories: the racist video depicting former President Obama, South African troops returning from the DRC, and the landmark SA-China trade deal aimed at boosting exports and investment.
Feast for the top brass, famine for frontline soldiers
While prisoners enjoy three full meals a day, South Africa’s border soldiers are battling hunger, illness, and crumbling infrastructure. From torn tents to broken equipment and idling military vehicles due to fuel shortages, troops say conditions are dire. Yet the defence leadership is set to spend R370 million on this…
Gauteng health MEC under fire for “patients prefer sleeping on floor” remark
DA Gauteng shadow MEC for health, Jack Bloom, is calling for the firing of Gauteng Health MEC Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko after she claimed some patients “prefer” sleeping on hospital floors. Bloom says her comments reveal a shocking disconnect from the reality in public hospitals, where patients often wait days in casualty…
Music feature: Spotlight on the Grammys
Musicologist Dr Sheldon Rocha Leal reflects on this year’s Grammy Awards, featuring standout tracks from Tyla (Push to Start), Kendrick Lamar (Luther) and Olivia Dean (Dive).
Didiza blocks subpoenas for Mogotsi and O’Sullivan
National Assembly Speaker Thoko Didiza has declined a request by Parliament’s ad hoc committee to subpoena businessman Brown Mogotsi and forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan to appear in person. Both men cited serious security threats and asked to testify virtually, but the committee rejected this. The probe centres on alleged corruption…
What To Watch: Theatre and film picks
This week’s entertainment guide with Leroy Marc highlights cinema releases Dracula, Send Help and Moses the Black, alongside the ballet Giselle, showing at Joburg Theatres from 12–15 February.
Waterkloof Hoërskool principal dismissed after grooming allegations
The principal of Pretoria’s Waterkloof Hoërskool has been dismissed following serious allegations of sexual grooming first uncovered by Kaya News last year. Concerned parents accused the 50-year-old of inappropriate conduct towards pupils, including unsolicited physical contact and suggestive remarks about school uniforms. The matter was formally reported to the Gauteng…
Steenhuisen bows out: “Mission accomplished” - but questions linger
John Steenhuisen says he’s stepping aside on his own terms. But his quiet exit from the DA leadership race, a tightly managed speech, and a swift departure without taking questions have left many wondering what really happened behind the scenes. Framing his tenure as a success that delivered the Government…
Legal Matters: Safari injury, off-duty misconduct and a Covid lockdown arrest
This week on Legal Matters, Nthabiseng Dubazana breaks down three striking cases: a court ruling after a tourist was injured on safari; the dismissal of an employee for alcohol-related misconduct while off duty; and a woman’s arrest during the Covid-19 lockdown for selling alcohol in defiance of disaster regulations.
‘I have loved leading the DA,’ says Steenhuisen, exiting leadership race under party pressur
Director of Research at the Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute Angelo Fick
Book Feature: Your Health Starts in Your Gut – Part 4
Dietician and author Mpho Tshukudu returned to conclude her series on gut health, drawing from her book Your Health Starts in Your Gut. In the final instalment, she focused on the role of key vitamins, including collagen, in supporting overall health, while also answering listeners’ pressing questions on how to…
Kenny Kunene on Rea Vaya suspension and Johannesburg’s transport underspending
MMC for Roads and Transport in the City of Johannesburg Kenny Kunene has called for Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero to resign over the suspension of Rea Vaya bus services in Soweto, describing the move as a costly “unilateral decision” that is draining the city’s finances. Kunene speaks to Phemelo about…
Tribunal finds Judge President Mbenenge’s conduct ‘dishonourable’, but not gross misconduct
Eastern Cape Judge President Selby Mbenenge has avoided a finding of gross misconduct but has been sharply criticised by a Judicial Conduct Tribunal for behaviour deemed unbecoming of a judicial officer. The tribunal found that his “flirtatious relationship” with a court secretary during work hours violated the Code of Judicial…