This is The Lead: Rewind to 6 October 2025. South Africa has been watching television for almost half a century. Yet with the SABC’s finances in the red, DStv haemorrhaging subscribers over its prices, while streamers stream in, we ask: what’s next for Mzansi’s traditional TV industry?  We change channels to TV trade journo Thinus Ferreira in this edition of The Lead. Later, the Patriotic Alliance heralds the return of the so-called Sushi King to his Jozi throne. Finally, we reflect on early 1994’s teething problems with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

The Springbok boys in green and gold go head-to-head with their old foes, the Japanese Cherry Blossoms this 1 November. Coach Rassie Erasmus has already named his squad for next month’s tour, with young Stormers breakout star Zachary Porthen tipped to make his debut. Taking stock post-Rugby Championship for The Lead is our News24 sport editor, Lloyd Burnard. Later, in our trending topic, Nicole McCain gives us the scoop on DJ Black Coffee’s R157 million Clifton villa, complete with cinema room. Finally, we recount Mzansi’s Boxing golden years with On This Day in SA History. Editor’s note: The Lead will resume normal programming Monday 3 November. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. To advertise in the show: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

On one hand, the ANC’s championing of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) has certainly succeeded in putting money into black people’s hands, a majority race excluded from enjoying the fruits of our country’s economy for centuries. But BBBEE’s critics, on the other hand, claim that the wealth this contentious policy has generated has often landed in the laps of a small elite group with strong political ties. So, in apartheid’s shadow, what could potentially take BBBEE’s place? The ANC’s government of national unity partner, the DA, claims to have the answer. And the journalist covering the party’s latest proposal is Siyamtanda Capa, our guest in this edition of The Lead. Later, in our trending topic, the plot thickens, with our investigations team detailing evidence that slain auditor Mpho Mafole’s work was hindered from within the City of Ekurhuleni. Finally, revelations of a double agent shocked the nation in 2003 with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. To advertise in the show: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Hunted. What was slain auditor Mpho Mafole and his team probing from within the City of Ekurhuleni when he was gunned down in Kempton Park this year? Find out by listening to this edition of The Lead with our senior investigative journalist, Sikonathi Mantshantsha. Later, in our trending topic, the PA unseats the ANC in a startling Soweto by-election. And finally, SA’s got a rich rail legacy with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

He’s been itching to tell his side of the story. Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been emphatic to Parliamentarians this Thursday that there was no sinister ulterior motive in disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and that the unit was under review for a long time. Catch the very latest from Mchunu’s evidence before MPs, with our senior parliamentary correspondent, Jan Gerber, in this edition of The Lead. Later, the road to Springbok glory was difficult, with our regular segment, “On This Day in SA History”, at the end of the show. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

“The outdoors is screaming for you. Time to listen,” Who said that? Our very own Riaan Manser, of course, News24’s outdoors editor, a man of many firsts, including traversing the entirety of Africa on a bicycle. He joins us on The Lead alongside our Good News editor, Paul Herman, regaling us with fantastic tales from across the globe. Later, 3-0 baba! Mzansi’s celebrating Bafana’s booking in next year’s FIFA World Cup. We celebrate with football journo Njabulo Ngidi from Mbombela. Finally, we turn back time to when the ANC’s Robben Island prisoners were released with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

He is accused of being one of South Africa’s best-known conmen. A larger-than-life diamond trader-turned-alleged-Ponzi scheme mastermind, the notorious Louis Liebenberg is currently languishing in a Pretoria remand prison cell. And from this week, the heavy, earth-moving construction gear Liebenberg’s mine operated out of Koingnaas in the Northern Cape will go under the hammer. The journalist breaking this story in The Lead is our very own Jan Cronje. Later, in our trending topic, is there a pre-festive season fuel pump price present under the tree this year? Finally, we reflect on the Truth and Reconcilliation Commission’s gains and setbacks with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Much of the Madlanga Commission’s focus has been on detailing the events leading up to the disbandment of KwaZulu-Natal’s Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) nearly a year ago and the alleged reasons behind the decision. But if we pause and consider the text-based evidence tabled before the commission regarding the PKTT’s effectiveness, has it been all that impressive and worthwhile? Jean Redpath is a senior researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute at the University of the Western Cape and argues in this edition of The Lead that the costs involved in the PKTT achieving so few convictions are perhaps not bang for SA’s buck. Later, in our trending topic, News24 football journo Tashreeq Vardien helps us take stock of where a draw against Zimbabwe leaves Bafana Bafana in its final bid to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Finally, we reflect on the country’s long LGBTQ+ journey with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Die poppe is besig om te dans! Translated: the dolls are busy dancing! Which essentially means the chickens have come home to roost. While the SIU raids tender don Morgan Maumela’s Sandton mansion, and heavily armed officers swarm the Centurion home of suspended top cop Shadrack Sibiya, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi wrapped up his evidence before Parliament’s ad-hoc committee at midnight on Wednesday. Our senior Parliamentary journalist, Jan Gerber, has been burning the midnight oil to keep us abreast of any major Mkhwanazi takeaways there. Later in the show, we cross to our football aficionado, Tashreeq Vardien, in Durban for the critical Bafana Bafana Friday clash against Zimbabwe in the aftermath of Mokoena-gate. Finally, with “On This Day in SA History”, did you know a South African once traversed the famous Channel Tunnel wearing flip flops? You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

The smaller, minority political parties are easily the kingmakers in the City of Johannesburg. Now, though, it has emerged that some of them have suddenly exited their shared WhatsApp group. So where does this leave the current configuration of the government of local unity in Jozi? Could it spell more coalition uncertainty for a metro screaming out for proper service delivery? We catch up with our resident metro journalist in the council, Alex Patrick. Later in the show, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi tells MPs that if Crime Intelligence revealed sensitive info about political party funding, “the country will burn”.Finally, we remember the Jozi gold rush pioneers with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: [email protected]. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.