The Best of Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Marrianne Merten, Associate Editor at Daily Maverick, about the tough questions emerging from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s 2026 State of the Nation Address. In a sharply argued opinion piece, Merten questions whether the President’s strong rhetoric on crime and the deployment of the South African National Defence Force reflect genuine urgency and political will or whether government is falling into a familiar pattern of bold announcements without meaningful accountability. They unpack opposition criticism, public frustration, and whether the state’s response matches the scale of South Africa’s crime crisis.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Adam Gilchrist about the global stories making headlines. They begin in the United States, where an avalanche near Lake Tahoe in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains has left eight backcountry skiers dead and one missing, marking one of the deadliest incidents of its kind in U.S. history.In France, nine people have been arrested following the fatal assault of 23-year-old Quentin Deranque, who died after being beaten in Lyon during an event linked to the left-wing party La France Insoumise, sparking national outrage and political debate. They also look at growing concern in India over a deadly outbreak of the Nipah virus in West Bengal, with several countries tightening airport screening to prevent further spread.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Terrence McNamee, international relations specialist, and Dr Kingsley Makhubela, former ambassador and policy analyst, about the arrival of newly appointed U.S. Ambassador Brent Bozell in Pretoria. With relations between Washington and Pretoria under scrutiny amid tensions over land reform, human rights and differing global positions, they assess whether this appointment could reset diplomatic and trade ties or signal continued strain in the bilateral relationship.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Mashudu Malabi-Dzhangi, spokesperson for the Limpopo division of the NPA, about a Limpopo murder case that has sparked debate around cultural beliefs and criminal accountability. A traditional healer was sentenced for his role in the killing of education official Malekutu Johannes Mehlape, after allegedly convincing the victim’s daughter that her father caused her mother’s death through muthi. They unpack how the law handles cases where belief intersects with serious crime.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Corporates That Care, we explore a programme making a real difference for young South Africans looking to start their own businesses. Metropolitan Collective Shapers is helping youth entrepreneurs move from merely “getting by” to building sustainable businesses that create jobs, strengthen families, and uplift communities. From agriculture in KwaZulu-Natal to food and hospitality in Tshwane, the initiative provides mentorship, training, financial guidance, and market access, offering young people the tools to grow rather than just a handout. Joining the conversation is Lindiwe Gumede, Chief Marketing Officer at Metropolitan, to explain how the programme works and why it matters for the future of youth entrepreneurship in South Africa.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Gilchrist looks at the global stories making headlines, beginning with tributes pouring in for civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, who has died at the age of 84. A towering figure in the struggle for equality, Jackson worked closely with Martin Luther King Jr., championed voting rights and economic justice, ran for U.S. president in 1984 and 1988, and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by Bill Clinton in 2000; he also founded the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, cementing a legacy of empowerment and social justice. The focus then shifts to escalating tensions involving Russia and Ukraine, as diplomatic efforts unfold in Geneva amid reports of Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s Ilsky oil refinery in the Krasnodar region, underscoring mounting logistical strain and pressure on supply lines. Finally, there’s intrigue in the United States over the possible release of long-awaited government files linked to UFO investigations, fuelling speculation about what a presidential disclosure could reveal.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani speak to Khabazela unpacking two viral moments doing the rounds online first, the Australian Finance Minister’s awkward “nett versus gross” exchange that has reignited debate about whether leaders should simply admit when they don’t know something, and why saying “I don’t know” can feel politically or personally risky; and second, the light-hearted but relatable Kinder Joy Egg moment that has parents divided over sugar rules at home, sparking a nostalgic look back at the special treats many of us grew up treasuring asking how we balance discipline, indulgence and memory-making with our own children today.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa is joined by Johan Kotze, CEO of Agri SA, to unpack the growing impact of foot-and-mouth disease following the first-ever confirmed case in a Western Cape dairy herd. No longer a distant agricultural issue, the outbreak is now affecting everyday staples such as milk, cheese, yoghurt and even baby formula. As infected animals produce less milk, exports face restrictions and supply chains tighten, pressure is building across the entire food system — from farmers to retailers to households, raising serious concerns about food security and the rising cost of living. What was once viewed as a farm-level challenge is fast becoming a broader economic issue, with urgent questions about the severity of the outbreak, how long it may last, and what interventions are needed to protect both producers and consumers.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Sindiswa Mzamo, Director and Global President of the Circle of Business Women about women’s health with a focus on uterine health, from menstrual wellbeing to overall reproductive function and the ability to carry a pregnancy,  an issue affecting millions of women across the continent, yet still too often spoken about in whispers. On the sidelines of the African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, South African health leader Dr Vivian Mokome, alongside Fatima Moyane, led a high-level discussion calling for women’s health to be recognised as a core part of primary healthcare rather than an afterthought, underscoring the importance of dignity, early detection and improved access to quality care, and reinforcing the need to place women’s health at the centre of Africa’s development agenda in line with Agenda 2063, arguing that economic growth and sustainable progress are impossible without prioritising the health and wellbeing of women.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Adam Gilchrist brings us the latest global headlines, starting in the Middle East where the USS Abraham Lincoln has been positioned in the Arabian Sea, roughly 700 kilometres from Iran, as Washington increases pressure on Tehran over its nuclear ambitions and internal crackdown on protesters, ahead of scheduled talks between US and Iranian officials in Switzerland. He also reflects on the death of Hollywood legend Robert Duvall at the age of 95, the Academy Award-winning actor celebrated for iconic roles in The Godfather and Apocalypse Now, who passed away at his home in Virginia. And in Australia, police in Sydney are appealing for information after 85-year-old Chris Baghsarian was allegedly abducted from his home in what authorities believe may have been a case of mistaken identity, with investigators urging the public to assist in efforts to secure his safe return.

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/@radio7

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.