On the eve of President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2025 State of the Nation Address, Lester Kiewit hosts a panel discussion with Tshidi Madia, Judith February, and Dr. Kgosi Letlape to explore key issues shaping the year ahead. The conversation tackles South Africa’s progress on economic recovery, governance, and healthcare policy, offering sharp analysis and candid debate on the challenges and priorities the President is expected to address.

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Swedish police say around 10 people have died in school shooting; Australia takes action against Chinese A.I.; Hardest Geezer Russ Cook’s new challenge after “running Africa”. Adam Gilchrist shares details on these stories with Lester Kiewit.

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We know that Cape Town is water-scarce and that we have essentially reached our limit in terms of being able to build dams along our rivers, but is a permanent desalination plant something that we need to start working on immediately? Lester Kiewit speaks to Dr Kevin Winter, Emeritus Professor at UCT’s Department of Environmental & Geographical Science and the Future Water Institute.

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Lester Kiewit speask to Tania Koen the lawyer for Alison Botha, who was stabbed and raped by Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger in 1994. The two men were released on parole after 28 years behind bars, but the Correctional Services Minister has now ordered this be canceled and they continue serving their sentence.

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An oil slick has polluted almost 40 kilometres of beaches along the Cape West Coast, threatening sea bird colonies and the Olifants River estuary; an early childhood development centre in Heideveld will be made out of 5000 tyres and other recycled waste; and a photo exhibition to remember the fishers of KalkBay. Lester Kiewit gets the details on these stories from Barbara October, Deputy Editor at GroundUp.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Zanele Sabela, Cosatu national spokesperson about the new draft code of good practice on dismissal, and what it means for workers employed in small businesses.

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We start our new Africa Report with The Continent, “a newspaper without the paper”. The free service is based in South Africa and has a network of journalists that cover the continent of Africa to get the news out weekly via WhatsApp, Signal, Telegram or email. In this first crossing, Lester Kiewit speaks to Communities Editor Kiri Rupiah about Venancio Mondlane’s return to Mozambique from self-imposed exile; Armed Forces Day / M23 overview; and some good news from West Africa.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Shaun Shelly - Executive Director of Harm Reduction International, and also a researcher with the University of Pretoria – about a “warning” being forwarded between concerned parents about a new drug which looks and smells like sweets and being handed out in school playgrounds. There is no truth in it and is a hoax which has been circulated around the world for years.

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Donald Trump delays Canadian and Mexican tariffs; a Greek island on alert after tremors; China’s fake zoo tigers with painted stripes. Adam Gilchrist shares details on these stories with Lester Kiewit.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Greg Clifton, the founder of the charity organisation PayItForward. Clifton has been engaging with the community of Saldanha Bay, as well as the suspects accused in the disappearance of Joshlin Smith almost one year ago and has a strong belief that Joshlin is out there somewhere, and alive.

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