JacPod

South Africans will this week remember the announcement of five years ago that brought lockdown and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic into our lives. It was the week in March 2020 when we scrambled to buy masks, hand sanitizer, and groceries and prepared for the unknown while confined to our homes. In this first episode of our original mini podcast series, the Jacaranda FM News Team reflects on that initial shock and coping with what was to come …….

Constitutional Court Judge Kate O'Regan shares her journey from growing up in apartheid-era South Africa to becoming a champion of human rights, labour law, and land rights.

Justice O'Regan reflects on her early exposure to social injustices and her transition from journalism to law. She discusses her work with trade unions and communities facing eviction, her appointment to the Constitutional Court in 1994, and the power of law to drive change, even within restrictive systems. She also explores the challenge of ensuring laws have real-world impact and the ongoing struggle against inequality in South Africa.

Justice O'Regan shares insights into landmark cases, including the certification of the 1996 Constitution and New National Party v Government of the Republic of South Africa. Now the director of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights at Oxford, she reflects on her continued commitment to justice, equality, and the evolving role of international institutions like the ICJ in addressing global conflicts.

00:41 Early life and influences of Judge Kate O'Regan

02:01 Journey into law and activism

04:03 Focus on Labour Law and land rights

06:06 Challenges and achievements in legal practice

14:28 Reflections on the Constitutional Court

19:36 Significant judgments and legal philosophy

31:43 Current work and perspectives on human rights

35:29 Continuing activism and hope in new generation

36:37 South Africa vs. Israel: The ICJ case

39:31 Concluding thoughts and legacy

More about Kate O’Regan:

Professor Kate O’Regan served as one of the first judges of the Constitutional Court of South Africa (from 1994 – 2009) and as an ad hoc judge of the Supreme Court of Namibia (from 2010 – 2016). Since 2016, she has served as the inaugural Director of the Bonavero Institute of Human Rights in the Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. She has also served (and continues to serve) as a judge on several international tribunals and on the boards of NGOs working in the fields of democracy, the rule of law, human rights and equality. Her research is in the fields of comparative constitutional law and human rights. She is the chairperson of the Mandela Rhodes Foundation, a director of SAFLII npc and a member of the Oversight Board Trust.

Image credit: Mandela Rhodes Foundation

Former Springbok assistant coach Johann van Graan made the tough move to the bottom of the English Premiership log, Bath, two years ago. It seemed like a mountain to climb. This past weekend, he led the club to their first trophy in 17 years, and they are also on course to win the Premiership.

He joined "To The Last Drop" to talk about his journey, settling in Bath, and where he thinks rugby needs to go in the future.

Late afternoon on Monday, 10 March, the Van Aswegen family was on their way home after the children’s school activities. A car in the oncoming lane lost control and crashed head-on into the Van Aswegen family's vehicle. Little Karlu died on impact, and their mother, Karin, succumbed to her injuries on Tuesday evening. Power Build recently hosted its annual Golf Day, where funds were raised to support the community. From these proceeds, Power Build will donate R100,000 to Jurie van Aswegen to help him and Junique start anew during this difficult time. GMA webpage

The Covid Chronicles: 5 years after masks, thermometers and 'My Fellow South Africans'

In this special limited podcast series, the Jacaranda FM News Team reflects on the dawn of the Covid-19 pandemic in South Africa. It was in the last week of March 2020 that we experienced a lockdown for the first time.

Die oggend van 21 April 2015 was soos enige ander vir Jayde Panayiotou – sy het langs die straat gestaan en wag vir haar vriendin om haar te kom oplaai sodat hulle kon saamry werk toe. Maar binne vyf minute het Jayde spoorloos verdwyn voor die ingang na die kompleks waar sy en haar man gebly het. Min het haar familie en die land geweet dat die man naaste aan Jayde die een sou wees wat haar moord gereël het. Dié episode vertel die ware web van leuens wat aan die lig gekom het toe Christopher Panayiotou vir sy vrou se moord aangekla is ….. Webpage · Find more from JacPod

Justice Albie Sachs’ life reads more like a fable than a conventional biography—a tale of courage, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in justice. In this opening episode of season 2 of Legal Luminaries, the former Constitutional Court judge takes us through his extraordinary journey, from his early activism in the anti-apartheid struggle to helping shape South Africa’s democratic foundation.

With characteristic warmth and insight, Justice Sachs reflects on the pivotal role of the Constitutional Court in upholding human dignity, including its landmark ruling on same-sex marriage. He shares the inspiration behind The Albie Collection, an archive preserving the tensions and triumphs of South Africa’s constitutional journey, made possible by an award from Amal and George Clooney.

Through his philosophy of soft vengeance, he reveals why justice is more powerful than retribution. From poetic judgment writing to the global influence of South Africa’s legal system, this episode offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a man who turned personal loss into a lifelong pursuit of reconciliation, justice, and hope.

Key moments:

00:14 Meet Judge Albie Sachs

01:36 The Albie Collection and its Impact

05:09 South Africa's Constitutional Court and Global Influence

08:55 Early Life and Activism

16:37 Soft Vengeance and Restorative Justice

21:38 Human Rights and Legal Contributions

31:20 Reflections on Law and Advice for Aspiring Lawyers

34:54 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

"Every animal deserves a life free from suffering." That's the motivation behind WanderVet, a registered NPO that exists purely to assist struggling communities in better caring for the pets they love so much. Good Morning Angels assisted WanderVet with the funds to sterilise 100 animals—that's a donation of R50,000! GMA webpage

Die eerste episode van True Crime South Africa - die Afrikaanse weergawe se Seisoen 3 vertel die verhaal van die Stander Bende en die polisie beampte wat in die 1980s sy vrye tyd gebruik het deur banke te beroof. Die legende van André Stander en sy bende het die hele land – en later selfs tot in Amerika – mense se verbeelding vas gevang. Dis ’n storie waarmee gewilde Afrikaanse sanger, Joe Black, ook in sy huis groot geword het omdat albei sy ouers aan die voorpunt was van misdaad bekamping. In hierdie spesiale episode, leen Joe sy stem om dié ware misdaad verhaal te vertel….. Webpage · Find more from JacPod

Die nuwe seisoen van dié bekroonde podgooi is terug met weeklikse episodes oor van die land se mees berugte misdaad intriges.

Seisoen 3 skop af met ’n spesiale episode waarin bekende sanger Jo Black, help vertel aan die storie oor die Stander Bende.

Die ander ware misdaad verhale strek van die Wes-Kaap tot in Modimolle in Limpopo.

Luister weekliks van 11 Maart 2025! Webpage · Find more from JacPod