POWER Breakfast

Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development Mmamoloko Kubayi has announced a list of convicted sexual offenders and Gender-based violence (GBV) perpetrators will be made public by the end of February. The minister addressed the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation’s 365 Days Against GBV Awareness Campaign in Soweto on Tuesday. The campaign, which was adopted in 1998, is a year-round effort to end gender-based violence in the country. Thabiso Tema spoke with Mmamoloko Kubayi, Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The national energy regulator (Nersa) announced on Thursday afternoon that it has approved a 12% tariff increase for Eskom in the 2025/26 financial year. This is one-third of what the utility had asked for. Thembani Bukula, chairman of Nersa,  said they had also approved an 11% increase for the 2026/27 financial year and a 9.1% hike for 2027/28. For 2025/26 the increase will provide R384-billion in revenue for Eskom and will kick in from 1 April. Witnesses before the extensive hearings held by Nersa testified that a 36% rise would mean they would have to choose between electricity and food. Thabiso Tema spoke with Kgosientso Ramokgopa, Electricity Minister  and Brian Sechothlo - Head of Electricity Pricing & Tariff. Department .

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fall of Goma to March 23 Movement (M23) rebels has sent shock waves through the region and risks triggering a wider regional war. Memories remain fresh of the devastating Congo Wars of the late 1990s and early 2000s in which 7 African militaries intervened, and 5.4 million Congolese are estimated to have died. The development is particularly alarming because it is widely recognized that M23 is backed by the Rwanda Defense Force (RDF) in support of  Rwandan interests in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Thabiso Tema spoke with Ricardo Teixeira , defence analyst and Junior Editor at ProtectionWeb.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has extended the submission deadline for the Request for Expression of Interest (RFEOI) for South Africa’s Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix bid to 18 March 2025 The decision was taken in collaboration with the Bid Steering Committee (BSC). McKenzie’s spokesperson, Stacey-Lee Khojane, said the extension is aimed at giving stakeholders additional time to submit “comprehensive, well-structured proposals in line with RFEOI requirements. Thabiso Tema spoke with Thami Masemola, Motorsports Analyst . 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Cabinet Lekgotla is convening in Pretoria for the two days, bringing together ministers from the Government of National Unity (GNU) to discuss priorities and plans for the year ahead of the State Of the Nation Address (Sona). The two-day meeting comes amid rising tensions among GNU partners over several Bills enacted by President Cyril Ramaphosa recently. Thabiso Tema spoke with Prof Susan Booysen, professor emeritus Wits University, and research consultant.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police watchdog – the Independent Police Investigative Directorate (IPID) – says each of its investigators is assigned about 300 cases a year, making its job of oversight tough. The directorate recently released its latest annual report. The report covers the period between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 IPID has 167 investigators on its books, spread across the country. While they were able to complete investigations into 4,667 cases in the financial year under review - they still have a backlog of over 15,000 cases. Thabiso Tema spoke with Annah Moyo- Kupeta, Executive director at the centre for the study of violence and reconciliation 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The lives of millions of people are at risk as the US halts foreign aid, including funding to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest fund dedicated to fighting a single disease.  In a statement released on Sunday, the US state department says “foreign assistance funded by or through the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)” will be paused for review. Thabiso Tema spoke with Prof Linda Gail Bekker - Chief Executive Officer at Desmond Tutu Health Foundation. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 ANC Secretary General, Cde Fikile Mbalula, alongside ANC NEC members, briefed the media on the outcomes of the #ANCNECLekgotla, outlining the movement’s key strategic priorities. Central themes included ANC Renewal, stabilising Eskom and investing in renewable energy to ensure Energy Security, driving Infrastructure Development to stimulate economic growth, and addressing unemployment through Economic Transformation and the creation of sustainable jobs. Thabiso Tema spoke with Dumiseni Ntuli, ANC Chief Whip. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The trade, industry & competition department will scrape together R100bn from the private sector to finance a fund set up to assist black-owned businesses. Funds will be derived from the implementation of the broad-based BEE (BBBEE) codes of good practice and the Competition Commission’s public interest requirements, according to trade, industry & competition minister Parks Tau. Thabiso Tema spoke with Yamkela Fanisi, spokesperson for the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, and Khulekani Mathe, CEO of Business Unity South Africa.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Four more SA National Defence Force (SANDF) members have died in escalating conflict between Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, bringing the total number of SA casualties to 13.  Thabiso Tema spoke with Darren Davids, Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) who covers political, security, and macroeconomic developments in the DRC, Uganda, Guinea, Benin, and Cameroon. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.