Former South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol has been sentenced to life in prison for masterminding what a Seoul court described as an insurrection aimed at imposing military rule.

Guest: Prof David Monyae - Director for the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg 

The National Gambling Board (NGB) and the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening responsible gambling awareness at tertiary institutions while safeguarding public education funds.

Guest: Waseem Carrim: CEO of National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) 

The People’s Water Forum is calling on the government to declare South Africa’s worsening water crisis a national disaster, citing widespread infrastructure collapse and chronic service delivery failures. 

Guest: Ferrial Adam: Executive Director, WaterCan & Environmental Justice Activist 

The latest on the Ekapa Mine rescue trapped miners. Rescue efforts continue 54 hours since five miners were trapped underground at Ekapa Mine in Kimberley, Northern Cape.

Guest: Ulrich Hendricks - SABCNews Reporter in Kimberly, Northern Cape 

• Inflation eases in January 
• 2. Retail sales growth slows during festive season 
• 3. Market update

Suspended SAPS deputy national commissioner Shadrack Sibiya has accused KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi of colluding with the MK Party to engineer his removal from office. Testifying before the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, Sibiya claimed his suspension forms part of a coordinated political campaign, similar to events that led to his 2015 suspension as Gauteng Hawks head. 

Guest: Canny Maphanga: SABC Reporter 

Latest business news with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter

• Inflation eases in January 

• 2. Retail sales growth slows during festive season 
• 3. Market update

ActionSA has publicly rejected the appointment of its Ekurhuleni councillor Xolani Khumalo as a Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in the City of Ekurhuleni. The party says it will not join what it describes as a “corrupt and failed administration” under Executive Mayor Nkosindiphile Xhakaza.

Guest: Michael Beaumont - national chairperson of ActionSA 

The Free State High Court has ruled that Moroadi Cholota, former personal assistant to ex-Free State premier Ace Magashule, will stand trial in the R255 million asbestos corruption case. The judgment follows months of legal challenges centred on Cholota’s 2024 extradition from the United States and whether South African courts have jurisdiction to prosecute her.  

Guest: Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga: NPA National Spokesperson 

Africa Update Report with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa

19 February 2026

1.    South Afrika – Zambia 

The relatives of former Edgar Lungu have dismissed allegations that he was poisoned, as South African authorities pursue inquiries that have further delayed his burial months after his death.

Lungu died in June last year at the age of 68 while receiving treatment in Pretoria, South Africa. His remains are still being held at a morgue amid a complex dispute involving his family, the Zambian government, and investigators.

2.    Gabon – Libreville 

Social media platforms in Gabon have been suspended “until further notice,” the country’s media regulator announced this week.

A spokesperson for the High Authority for Communication said “defamatory, hateful and insulting content” is stoking conflict and division in society.

3.    Mozambique – International Monetary Fund

 IMF Breaks Chapo's Hopes and Sets the Course for Hard Times

Chapo's hopes for IMF approval were dashed this week by the IMF Executive Board, with no discussion of a new loan or programme. President Daniel Chapo has publicly placed his hopes in a new loan and programme, triggering investment and aid.

4.    In our historical archives, it was on this day, 19 February 1976, when the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government in Angola was recognised by most countries of the world.   

4.1    In our historical archives, it was on this day 19 February 1990 when Tata Nelson Madiba Mandela was issued with his first South African passport on 19 February 1990, 8 days after he was released from prison.