Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit

Lester Kiewit speaks to [Guest Name] from the Soul City Institute for Social Justice about the devastating impact of the reinstated Global Gag Rule. They discuss how this policy restricts U.S. funding for organizations that provide or even discuss abortion services, severely limiting access to essential reproductive healthcare in South Africa and beyond. The conversation highlights the broader consequences for maternal health, HIV prevention, and gender-based violence support, with a call for stronger local and global action to protect reproductive rights and gender equity.

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Khoisan revivalism challenges the long-held myth of extinction by reclaiming identity, history, and land in post-apartheid South Africa. In Khoisan Consciousness, Rafael Verbuyst explores how this movement, rooted in resistance and decolonization, navigates the complexities of indigeneity, leadership disputes, and recognition in a society still shaped by colonial and apartheid-era classifications.

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Dr. Sanah Ahsan spoke to Lester Kiewit from Cape Town about their new book, which blends Quranic verse, psychology, and the hip-hop of their childhood. They discussed themes of faith, queerness, intergenerational suffering, and the politics of healing, highlighting the impact of society's gaze on our sense of self. Dr. Ahsan’s thought-provoking insights encourage us to embrace emotional complexity and reclaim queer love as sacred.

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Donald Trump has weighed in on the Washington DC air crash that left 67 dead, saying the cause remains unknown and suggesting the helicopter was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. Meanwhile, eight more hostages held by Hamas in Gaza have been released amid chaotic scenes as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel. And music and film icon Marianne Faithfull has passed away at 78, remembered not just for her talent but also for her high-profile romance with Mick Jagger. Verity Geere, standing in for Adam Gilchrist, shares the details with Lester Kiewit.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Buhle Booi, head of political organising at Ndifuna Ukwazi, about the announcement by Minister of Infrastructure, Tertius Simmers, that the contested Tafelberg site in Sea Point will be used for affordable housing. It is what housing activists have been calling for, for years. But could it just be clever political point scoring? 

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Dr. Etienne Mutabazi, spokesperson for the exiled Rwanda National Congress, about South Africa’s escalating tensions with Rwanda. The deaths of 13 South African soldiers in the DRC have reignited a war of words between Presidents Ramaphosa and Kagame, with accusations over Rwanda’s alleged support for M23 rebels. Mutabazi, a legal expert and former UN investigator, discusses what to expect from Kagame and why the conflict in the DRC is worsening.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Mervyn Abrahams, Programme Coordinator at Pietermaritzburg Economic Justice and Dignity about what impact the 12 percent electricity tariff hike approved by Nersa will have on consumers. Just how much electricity does your R100 get you now, compared to previous years?

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Lester Kiewit spoke to Katie MacDonald, our correspondent in Australia, for this week’s Pacific Dispatch, covering key stories from the region. As antisemitic incidents rise in Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed that perpetrators will be "hunted down and locked up," though many question whether he’s up to the task. Meanwhile, New Zealand is making moves to attract global talent by relaxing visa rules for digital nomads, positioning itself as a remote work hub. And in a landmark decision, Mount Taranaki has been granted the same legal rights as a person, following in the footsteps of the Whanganui River in recognizing the deep cultural and spiritual significance of natural landmarks.

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Lester Kiewit speaks to Nick Perchard, the director of community at the Premier League, and former Charlton Athletic striker, Shaun Bartlett, about the development of the beautiful game in South Africa.

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30 people have tragically died in a crowd crush at India’s Kumbh Mela festival, raising concerns over safety at the massive religious gathering. Meanwhile, dodgy financial dealings at Chelsea FC are under scrutiny, with fingers pointing at former owner Roman Abramovich. And in the U.S., questions swirl around the new health secretary - just how wacky is Robert Kennedy Jr.? Adam Gilchrist unpacks these stories with Lester Kiewit.

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