Can they strike a deal? This is perhaps the big question on the lips of geopolitical and economic analysts as President Cyril Ramaphosa and US counterpart Donald Trump meet in Washington, DC, this week. Some South African products, like citrus and car parts, enjoyed duty-free access to the US market until the Trump administration implemented an unprecedented tariff regime. The meeting comes amid an unprecedented push to lure more South African farmers to the US under the guise of a controversial so-called “refugee” programme. While the local chicken sector won’t be hard hit by the possible exclusion of South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), even poultry giant Astral says it’s concerned. News24’s Nick Wilson has the story: “The fear is more the wider fallout, and that’s on citrus. It ultimately affects the SA economy, it affects jobs… and you’re not going to have money for poultry and other SA products.” Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer relays figures revealing that more South Africans are seeking asylum abroad than one would think. And finally, rising Varsity Cup rugby star Ntokozo Makhaza gets a shock phone call from coach Rassie Erasmus. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  

He is languishing in a prison cell for an attempted hit on his former lover, and now the walls are closing in on tender don, Vusimusi ‘Cat’ Matlala, for a now cancelled R360-million SAPS health services tender allegedly unduly awarded to his company, Medicare 24 Tshwane District in 2024. Matlala’s bail proceedings on Monday in connection with allegedly orchestrating the failed attempt on actress Tebogo Thobejane’s life in 2023 have been postponed to 30 May. In the meantime, officials with the Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) are delving into the legalities of the allegedly corrupt police tender that saw R18.5 million paid into the Cat’s accounts, despite his company’s “sustained underperformance”. News24 investigative journalist, Jeff Wicks, has been on the Cat’s tail for months now: “This is a tender process perverted. What this really shows is a patent lack of due diligence and now there must be accountability”. You can read his full article here. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer catches us up on an Eastern Cape coastal town’s fight against sand mining. And finally, an early Winter cold front promises a dusting of snow on our mountaintops this week. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  

Youth unemployment, crumbling municipal infrastructure, persistent power cuts and escalating crime levels remain South Africa’s reality. Yet President Cyril Ramaphosa finds himself increasingly pulled into global conflict scenarios. In the aftermath of Ramaphosa labelling the first group of “Afrikaner refugees” leaving for the US on Sunday as “cowards” and “colonialists”, News24 assistant editor for investigations Pieter du Toit reckons the president’s tour to Washington DC next week could prove to be a “fool’s errand”. “Ramaphosa’s going on a rescue mission, but I don’t know whether it’s even possible to change Trump’s perspective (about SA)”. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer updates us on the Dunoon public protests over the City of Cape Town’s demolishment of structures. And finally, a hot new proudly SA geyser promises to slash your electricity bill. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa described the first group of so-called “Afrikaner refugees”, who took up the US Trump Administration’s invitation to resettle in the states as “cowards” who’ll soon return to South Africa. The president surprised many South African farmers attending this week’s NAMPO agriculture expo in Bothaville in the Free State. Our man-on-the-beat there, Nick Wilson, doorstopped Ramaphosa, who was shopping, in his capacity as a fellow farmer. Ramaphosa told Wilson of the “refugees’” departure: “That’s a real cowardly act. I expect every South African to stay here and work together and we solve our problems.” Wilson says farmers he spoke to made no indication they’ll follow the 59 “refugees” soon but are pleading with Ramaphosa to sort out SA’s crime situation. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer tells us how the DA’s being roasted for a comedy festival fundraiser. And finally, Kirstenbosch Gardens gets the global nod as among the world’s 25 best. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.  

Whatever you'd like to call them; the "49ers", the "Amerikaners", the "Afrikaner refugees", they've officially discarded Madiba's Rainbow Flag for Eisenhower's Stars and Stripes. Their departure, facilitated by the Trump Administration, has generated intense debate over the Afrikaners' place in this world. But for News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson, two things have never been more crystal clear. One is that he's certain of his heritage: "I consider myself an Afrikaner. I identify as an Afrikaner. Firstly, I'm a South African," says Basson. And two is that he's not a refugee. "We can discuss ultimately what led to these Afrikaners leaving South Africa now but Afrikaners are not refugees, Afrikaners belong in South Africa, this is our home, this is where we're from," adds Basson. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer reveals that the US Episcopal church refuses to resettle the "Amerikaners". And finally, in true Mzansi style, our comedians teach the world a lesson or two about load shedding. Mail us: [email protected]

The annals of SA/US relations are at a watershed. They’ll historically show that in early May 2025, after a run of public holidays celebrating South Africa’s hard-fought transition to democracy, the first group of Afrikaners took up the Trump Administration’s offer to relocate to the United States as official “refugees”. And they flew out of Gauteng for Virginia with not so much as a song or dance. News24 journalist Alex Mitchley had no luck getting any of them to agree to an interview, but observed the mood and tone of it all: “You did see one or two jovial conversations between different families. There were one or two who, I suppose, understandably, were unhappy with the media attention. But all in all, a far more reserved atmosphere among the group,” says Mitchley in this edition of The Lead. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer relays how the Finance Minister has rubbished any prospect of taxing the rich more. And finally, SA’s sprinters dominate at China’s World Athletics Relays. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Between the headlines on disaster, corruption, and crime are stories that delight South Africans. In fact, some of the most read articles on News24 over the past month have been good news stories. News24’s Good News Editor Paul Herman talks to us about how a Kraaifontein man used his R350 grant to build a vegetable produce business, how budding Springbok star Siphosethu Mnebelele overcame the loss of his parents to make the national junior side, and how a Mitchells Plain man came from humble beginnings to be a fine dining head chef. Later, host Graeme Raubenheimer reports that the Joburg Mayor’s calling in the “Bomb Squad” of governance experts, not the Springboks, to fix the City of Gold. And finally, the City of Cape Town says there’s no budget to complete the iconic, unfinished Foreshore freeway bridge. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. 

He’s sometimes referred to as the “Sheriff of Cape Town”. A senior DA politician who’s occupied a top City post for 16 years. The City’s Safety and Security Mayoral Committee Member, JP Smith, is challenging the validity of a SAPS raid on his city council offices in January, claiming it was all meant to tarnish his political credibility. The raid follows a construction corruption trial implicating Smith’s ex-colleague and housing mayco member, Malusi Booi, and alleged gang boss Ralph Standfield. News24’s Marvin Charles joins us in this edition of The Lead to help unravel the latest papers Smith has filed in court. “Smith is demanding that all electronics seized during the operation be returned. He’s basically challenging the validity of those warrants that were issued in January,” says Charles. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer discusses the PetroSA corruption case implicating an ex-FIFA official. And finally, Motown icon, Smokey Robinson, faces a multi-million rand rape lawsuit. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. 

Considered one of South Africa’s deadliest construction disasters, May 6, 2025, marks a year since 34 people were killed in the George residential building collapse in the Western Cape. As their families, friends and the 28 survivors pause to hold a memorial, justice in the wake of evidence of poor workmanship remains elusive.  “It was really a somber moment. We heard beautiful songs by some of the local choirs, and in the background, you could hear the family members breaking down and them wailing,“ News24 journalist Nicole McCain tells The Lead. No one’s been held criminally liable for the deaths as yet. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer looks at the government’s promise to shield a massive black business fund from corruption. And finally, Trump vows to make Hollywood great again. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. 

At the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, the City of Johannesburg's Property Company entity shelled out more than R18 million in what's understood to be inflated payments, all for deep cleaning and sanitation at its premises. The Special Investigating Unit soon smelled a rat. Still, the entity's CEO, Helen Botes, became the city's acting operations executive (COO). And even got the backing of senior advocate Pule Seleka to claim the SIU's investigation into her dodgy contract awarding "lacked evidence”. But News24 investigative journalist Khaya Koko says the SIU doesn't buy Seleka's claim: "The SIU says that's impossible because the municipal regulations are (still) the municipal regulations”. Later in the show, host Graeme Raubenheimer tells us how funds struggle to find their way to the Eastern Cape’s school feeding scheme. And finally, Cape Town Comic Con organisers say the festival is among the world's most popular. Mail your comments and voice notes to [email protected]. Editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube.