Farmers from across South Africa have marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, demanding urgent land reform, improved rural safety and stronger government support for the agricultural sector. The march is being led by the Izwi Labantu Forum, with backing from the South African Communist Party.  

Guest: Bennie Van Zyl: Leader, Transvaal Agricultural Union  

 

 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has welcomed the interim report of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry, accepting its recommendations and calling for urgent action by law enforcement agencies to investigate serious allegations of corruption, criminality and political interference within the criminal justice system.  

Guest: Lebogang Ramafoko: Executive Director at Corruption Watch 

 

The RasTafari Nation Council (RNC) formally demands a public apology from the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, for remarks made through social media that Rastas are a “dirty people”, by uttering the short statement “dai vuil Rasta” which translates to that dirty Rasta.   

Guest: Thau Thau Haramanuba (Deputy Chair), The RasTafari Nation Council (RNC) 

 

 

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

30 January 2026

1.    Niger- Niamey 

The Nigerian military government says gunmen attacked an air force base in the capital, resulting in heavy gunfire, explosions

 Armed men attacked a Nigerien Air Force base in the capital city overnight into yesterday morning, resulting in loud explosions and heavy gunfire, the state broadcaster announced to the nation.

The motorcycle-riding gunmen invaded the air base within the premises of the Diori Hamani International Airport but were repelled by security forces, Niger’s state television said, in the latest cycle of violence in the conflict-hit country.

2.    Ethiopia – Tigray 

Flights from the capital to Tigray have been cancelled as tensions mount

As fears of a return to conflict mount in Ethiopia, passenger flights between the capital and cities in the northern Tigray region have been halted.

It comes as a peace deal agreed four years ago has been thrown into jeopardy amid mounting tensions over disputed territory, ahead of elections this summer.

3.    Mozambique – Cabo Delgado- TotalEnergies 

TotalEnergies relaunches $20 billion Mozambique gas project 5 years after jihadist attack

Five years after being shut down by a devastating jihadist attack, French petroleum giant TotalEnergies is relaunching a massive gas project in northern Mozambique.

4.    Ghana – USA 

 Mixed reactions after the government grants a passport to IShowSpeed

Ghana’s issuing of a passport to American streamer Darren Watkins Jr, popularly known as IShowSpeed, has prompted mixed reactions among Ghanaians.

Some have criticised the decision as rushed and questioned the motive behind granting Watkins Jr. a passport.

One social media user said of the decision, ‘So the Ghanaian passport is that cheap. All you need to do is be a celebrity (…), whole citizens need to provide birth certificates.

5.    In our historical archives, it was on this day, 30 January 1985, the then Pretoria Supreme Court ordered the South African Medical and Dental Council (SAMDC) to hold an inquiry into the conduct of the two doctors who treated Bantu Steve Biko for five days before he died. Biko was detained by Port Elizabeth security police on 18 August 1977 and held for 20 days.

Sometime between 6 and 7 September, Biko was beaten and tortured into a coma. According to allegations made at the time, surgeon Ivor Lang, along with chief district surgeon Benjamin Tucker, collaborated with the police and covered up the abuse which led to Biko's death from his injuries on 12 September 1977. 

5.1 In our historical archives, it was on this day, 30 January 1990, that Clayton Sithole, the last political activist to die in Apartheid police detention. He died in John Vorster Square police station just 12 days before the release of former president Nelson Mandela. 

At the time of his arrest, Sithole was in a relationship with Zindzi Mandela, the daughter of Nelson and Winnie Mandela, and had fathered her son, who was less than a year old at the time of his death.

 

The appointment of the first female Archbishop of Canterbury marks a historic moment for the Church of England. Bishop of Reading, the Right Reverend Mary Gregory, has said Dame Sarah Mullally will lead in a way that shows a “different face” of the Church, reflecting a more human and open style of leadership at a pivotal time for the institution.  

Guest: Anglican Archbishop Thabo Makgoba: The Anglican Church of Southern Africa  

 

 

 

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As illegal mining continues to intensify across South Africa, its impacts on community safety, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion are becoming increasingly visible and harder to ignore.

Guest: Collen Dlamini: Head of Public Affairs at Mining Indaba 

 

A new report by the Zero Dropout Campaign warns that South Africa’s efforts to reduce school dropout will continue to fall short unless psychosocial wellbeing is treated as a core pillar of the education system. Despite record-breaking matric pass rates, nearly 40% of learners who start school in Grade 1 still exit before completing Grade 12. 

Guest: Merle Mansfield: Programme Director, Zero Dropout Campaign