The Best of Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

Bongani Bingwa speaks to EWN Associate Political Editor Tshidi Madia about President Cyril Ramaphosa’s high-stakes visit to Washington, where he aims to repair strained U.S.–South Africa relations following aid cuts and divisive immigration policies under the Trump administration. Touching down at St. Andrews Air Force Base, Ramaphosa faces what could be the defining diplomatic test of his presidency—a direct meeting with President Donald Trump. In a strategic move, he may turn to South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk for support, with Tesla and Starlink seen as possible bargaining chips. Tshidi unpacks whether this blend of diplomacy and tech ambition can bridge the growing rift between Pretoria and Washington.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

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See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Theana Olwagen, founder of Heart Beat Training, as part of the Standard Bank MyMoBiz Takeover campaign, an initiative spotlighting Gauteng’s boldest entrepreneurs. In partnership with 702, MyMoBiz is empowering small businesses with the chance to win a R50,000 cash boost, available exclusively to holders of a Standard Bank Business Account. Listeners are encouraged to share their growth ambitions at PrimediaPlus.com. Throughout the week, we’re profiling some of the most inspiring entries. Today, we meet one of the standout businesses in the running.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with acclaimed playwright Mike van Graan about The Good White, his provocative new production now showing at The Market Theatre. Set against the backdrop of the #FeesMustFall protests, the play explores race, privilege, and the shifting landscape of allyship through the story of a once-revolutionary white professor who becomes the symbol of the very system today’s youth are challenging.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with UK correspondent Adam Gilchrist for a global roundup of headline-grabbing stories . First, tensions escalate as Russia launches a fresh drone barrage, coinciding with reports of an upcoming phone call between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump raising eyebrows around the world. Then, shock in the U.S. as President Joe Biden is diagnosed with prostate cancer, prompting fresh conversations about leadership, health, and transparency. Finally, unrest in paradise: locals in the Canary Islands are protesting against mass tourism, claiming it's driving up living costs and pushing out residents.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to  Jonathan Khabazela about two trending stories: The first is a video that hits close to home, asking what it’s like living in the same complex or street as your family, with listeners debating the pros and cons of such proximity. The second is a feel-good “small world” story that triggered a flood of unbelievable coincidences, from random run-ins abroad to surprising mutual connections, proving just how interconnected our lives can be.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa honours the life and legacy of Issie Kirsh, the founder of Primedia and 702, who has passed away at the age of 92. A quiet revolutionary in South African media, Kirsh created a platform for truth during an era of heavy censorship, launching 702 in 1980 as a bold act of resistance and public service. He gave South Africans a voice when it was dangerous to speak and turned radio into a force for freedom and accountability. Chris Gibbons joins to reflect on Kirsh’s enduring impact.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg-based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa is joined by Michael Marchant from Open Secrets to unpack the troubling state of PetroSA and its role in the newly launched South African National Petroleum Company (SANPC). Formed through the merger of PetroSA, iGas, and the Strategic Fuel Fund, SANPC aims to secure South Africa’s energy future but how do failing entities lead to a winning strategy? Marchant highlights PetroSA’s long history of multi-billion rand losses, opaque deals, and unstable leadership, all while charging Eskom exorbitant fees for diesel

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to military and defence analyst Helmoed Heitman about the critical state of South Africa’s air defence systems. Reports reveals the country is effectively "flying blind" with radar systems outdated or non-functional, and only six working jets left to patrol the skies. Helmoed unpacks what this means for national security, the consequences of neglecting military infrastructure, and the potential threats the country may not even see coming. The conversation also touches on the broader collapse of defence planning, resource mismanagement, and the urgent need for political will to prioritise security.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa chats with comedian and friend of the show Stuart Taylor, Creative Director of the Laugh Africa Comedy Festival, about the much-anticipated Showmax Roast of Helen Zille, which premieres today (16 May 2025). Bongani, who stepped out of his comfort zone to join the lineup, shares behind-the-scenes laughs from the event, which took place from May 2–4 at the Sandton Convention Centre. Stuart unpacks what went into curating the roast, the comedians involved, and why the festival marks a bold new chapter for African comedy.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with UK correspondent Adam Gilchrist for a global roundup of headline-grabbing stories. In Mexico, the shocking murder of TikTok influencer Valeria Márquez, livestreamed from her beauty salon, has raised fears of cartel-linked violence and renewed focus on femicide in the region. Meanwhile, in the UK, a seemingly insignificant manuscript bought by Harvard Law School for just $27.50 in 1946 has been identified as a rare original Magna Carta from 1300, now potentially worth millions. And in Washington, Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen was arrested during a Senate hearing after protesting U.S. support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing lawmakers of prioritising military aid over healthcare for American children.

702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day 

Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa 

Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa broadcast on 702: https://buff.ly/gk3y0Kj 

For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/36edSLV or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/zEcM35T 
 
Subscribe to the 702 Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/v5mfetc 

Follow us on social media: 
 
702 on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702 

702 on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702 

702 on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkradio702/ 
702 on X: https://x.com/Radio702 
702 on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radio702 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.