For many young South Africans, the journey to education is becoming increasingly dangerous. The Citizen reports that the Gauteng Department of Education has identified 245 high-risk schools plagued by violence, bullying and drug abuse. The department warns that these schools are facing a serious safety crisis, raising urgent questions about whether learners can truly thrive in environments where fear and insecurity have become part of the school day. 

Guest: Onwabile Lubhelwane: Gauteng Education Spokesperson 

Muhammad Hussein argues that while the youth of 1976 confronted a visible enemy in apartheid and its oppressive machinery, young South Africans today are grappling with challenges that are far less clear-cut. Unemployment, inequality, mental health pressures and economic uncertainty present formidable obstacles—but without a single system or structure to rally against. So, how do today's young people identify the forces holding them back, and what lessons can they draw from the generation of 1976? 

Guest: Muhammad Hussein: News 24 Journalist 

What began as a search for work ended in tragedy. A family in Kranskop, northern KwaZulu-Natal, is mourning the loss of 44-year-old Sihle Makhaye, who was allegedly lured abroad with promises of employment, only to become entangled in Russia’s war in Ukraine. Yesterday, his remains were finally returned home, bringing some closure to a grieving family while raising fresh questions about the recruitment of South Africans into foreign conflict zones. 

Guest: Zanele Buthelezi: SABC News Reporter

Guest: Siboniso Duma: KZN MEC of Human Settlements

The Public Sector Association is proposing that civil servants be allowed

to work-from-home for part of the time. The PSA says the rising cost of living is putting increasing pressure on workers, and the public service ought to give particular workers the option of a hybrid working model.

Guest: Reuben Maleka: Spokesperson of the Public Service Association

(PSA),

Claims of a looming 30 June immigration deadline and warnings of R100,000 fines have sparked anxiety among employers across South Africa. But according to immigration law experts, much of what's circulating online is misleading. While employers already have a legal duty to verify that workers have the right to work in South Africa, there is no government-imposed 30 June deadline, and the hefty fines being widely discussed are part of proposed legislation that has not yet become law. 

Guest: Stefanie de Saude Darbandi, Immigration Lawyer at DSD Immigration Attorneys Inc.

The municipal workers' strike in Pietermaritzburg continues to take its toll, with critical repairs to power infrastructure stalled and residents and businesses in several suburbs left without electricity for days — in some cases, more than a week. 

Guest: Anthony Waldhausen, of the Msunduzi Association of Residents, Ratepayers and

Civics (MARRC)

Guest: Cllr Ross Strachan:DA Caucus Leader, Msunduzi Municipality

Guest: Bongi Gule: Samwu Mafika Mshengu Regional Secretary

The debate over sex work in South Africa is heading back to the courts, reigniting one of the country's most contested social and legal issues. Later this year, the Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT) will challenge the government, arguing that sex work should be fully decriminalised. At the same time, advocacy group Embrace Dignity and its allies are set to enter the legal battle with a different approach, setting the stage for a significant showdown over the future of sex work, human rights, public safety and the law in South Africa. 

Guest: Nosizwe Madlala-Routledge: the Executive Director of Embrace Dignity

Counterfeit goods are costing South Africa hundreds of billions of rand, draining revenue from the economy and undermining legitimate businesses. Now, authorities are intensifying the fight against illicit trade. The operation forms part of a broader crackdown aimed at disrupting the growing counterfeit market and protecting consumers, businesses and the fiscus. 

Guest: Siphithi Sibeko: SARS Spokesperson

South Africa's illicit cigarette market has reached crisis levels, with new research revealing that nearly six out of every 10 cigarettes sold in the country are illegal. The findings raise serious concerns about lost tax revenue, organised crime, and public health, while exposing a dramatic shift in the tobacco industry. 

Guest: Dr Nicole Vellios, a Senior Research Officer at University of Cape Town’s Research Unit on the Economics of Excisable Products,

Lorato Trok, Executive Director of the Nal'ibali Trust speaks to Joanne Joseph on literacy, education, child development and community wellbeing across the continent.