At least one person was reportedly burned to death and two others shot and wounded after two e-hailing vehicles were attacked at Maponya Mall in Soweto last night. The police have opened a case of murder, attempted murder and arson. The exact circumstances surrounding the incident are still unknown. Elvis Presslin spoke to Joburg MMC for Public Safety, Dr. Mgcini Tshwaku

Global rights groups, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have strongly criticized the U.S. State Department's annual Country Reports on Human Rights Practices. The groups accuse the reports of being politically driven, selectively documenting abuses in some nations while downplaying violations by governments the U.S. seeks to engage. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation, DIRCO has equally dismissed the U.S. report on the country as inaccurate and flawed. Elvis Presslin spoke to human rights lawyer Advocate Mametlwe Sebei

The Northern Cape Education Department has suspended an Upington teacher following a controversial incident at Duineveld High School last week. The teacher allegedly wore blackface during a school function, sparking widespread outrage after images went viral on social media. This marks the second racism-related incident at the school in two years. The EFF in the province have condemned the incident, demanding accountability and urgent anti-racism education in schools. Elvis Presslin spoke to EFF Northern Cape Provincial Chairperson, Shadrack Tlhaole, for more on this story

Over 100 learners from Gobisizwe Agricultural School in Ngqeleni, Eastern Cape, have been hospitalised following suspected food poisoning. Provincial health officials say the pupils were taken to Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital, Mthatha Regional Hospital and Ngangelizwe Community Health Centre. Several are receiving treatment on drips, while those in more serious condition were airlifted to hospital. Elvis Presslin spoke to Eastern Cape Provincial Health Spokesperson, Siyanda Manana

The Gauteng ECD Forum is set to march to the Premier's office in Johannesburg today, to raise concerns about the Early Childhood Development sector. After the ECD function shifted from the Department of Social Development to the Department of Basic Education in 2022, stakeholders say they're facing multiple challenges, including inadequate funding of just R17 per child per day for registered centres. Elvis Presslin spoke to Sisonke Early Childhood Development Forum Chairperson, Connie Mkhabela

As South Africa marks Women's Month, celebrating the resilience and achievements of women, advocacy group Embrace Dignity and survivors of prostitution have strongly opposed a recent proposal by EFF leader Julius Malema to legalise prostitution. Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, Co-founder of Embrace Dignity, expressed disappointment, stating that legalising prostitution would effectively endorse pimping, brothel-keeping, and the commodification of women's bodies for men's sexual gratification. She spoke to Elvis Presslin

The Solidarity Movement, including AfriForum and Solidarity, has announced its withdrawal from this weekend's first session of the national dialogue. The organisations claim the ANC has "hijacked" the dialogue to advance its own agenda. To elaborate further on the Movement's sentiments, Elvis Presslin spoke to Werner Human, Head of Operations at the Solidarity Movement

Tensions are high in Germiston, where evictions at council flats have sparked protests and accusations of municipal negligence. The Forum of South Africans (FOSA) has condemned the torching of Home Affairs offices and illegal occupations but points the finger at Ekurhuleni Municipality for allowing the crisis to escalate. FOSA claims corrupt municipal officials enabled illegal occupants to reside in the flats for over a decade, only for them to now face eviction for non-payment or unlawful tenancy. Elvis Presslin spoke to National Leader of the Forum for South Africa, Tebogo Mashilompane

Gauteng's unemployment rate has surged to 33.8%, according to the latest Quarterly Labour Force Survey. Over 2.6 million residents are without jobs and nearly 600,000 have given up searching. Alarmingly, 10.3 million young people across the province are neither working nor in education or training. Premier Panyaza Lesufi is pushing to revive the Nasi Ispani programme to boost youth employment. But the Democratic Alliance and other critics argue it's a band-aid solution, failing to address deeper issues like crime and corruption that deter investment. Elvis Presslin spoke to DA Gauteng Shadow MEC for Economic Development, Mike Moriarty

Political analyst Professor Susan Booysen warns that South Africa could see more provincial coalition governments after the 2029 general election. Speaking at the launch of the Coalition Barometer for 2023 to early 2025 by the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection, Booysen highlighted that coalitions have become a permanent feature of South African politics.Elvis Presslin spoke to Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra) Research Consultant, Professor Susan Booysen