With just weeks to go before the 31 August deadline, Postbank is making a final appeal to millions of social grant beneficiaries to replace their SASSA Gold Cards with the new Postbank Black Cards. The bank warns that beneficiaries who fail to make the switch risk disruptions to their grant payments once the Gold Cards are phased out.

Guest: Thami Cele, Postbank Chief Commercial Officer 

Built in Mzansi: How Teboho Twala built the first contactless payment wearable built specifically for the service, gig, and informal economic sectors. The innovation allows independent workers—such as waiters, car guards, delivery riders, hotel staff, and informal traders—to receive instant digital tips and payments directly on their wrists without a card machine.

Guest: Teboho Twala - Founder of Zakhaa Pay

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

1.     ECOWAS- NIGERIA- GHANA- SOUTH AFRICA

South African Diplomacy reaffirms its commitment to Pan-African solidarity, the rule of law, and continental dialogue on migration, following the final communiqué issued at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government.

1. UN Security Council – DR Kongo

U.N. chief says natural resource control and extraction fuelling conflict

Secretary-General António Guterres said that the control and exploitation of natural resources are dramatically altering the causes, dynamics, and outcomes of conflict. He reiterated, “No more exploitation. No more plundering.”

Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo, spoke to the Council in her national capacity. Her government holds the Presidency of the Council in July. She said, “Our ambition is clear: to transform our natural resources from a source of vulnerability into a driver of transformation, stability, and shared prosperity.”

1.    South Afrika – Ethekweni 

The University of South Africa (Unisa), under the leadership of Prof Puleng LenkaBula, in partnership with the Simiso Nkwanyana family, is hosting the 4th Simiso Nkwanyana Memorial Lecture today at 6 pm, 24 July 2026.

The lecture will be delivered by Honourable Thoko Didiza, National Assembly Speaker and former Cabinet Minister, who will reflect on the theme: "Land as a Catalyst for Rural Economic Development in South Africa."

1. In our historical archives, it was on this day, 24 July 1986, when the former and late Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda accused former British Foreign Secretary Geoffrey Howe of “kissing” apartheid

Kenneth Kaunda publicly rebuked Britain's foreign secretary, Geoffrey Howe, accusing him and President Reagan of supporting South Africa’s apartheid government.

• Oil tops $100 as Middle East conflict intensifies
• 2. ECB stands pat on rates
• 3. Market update

The Global Briefing: The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a landmark civil nuclear agreement that could reshape the balance of power in the Middle East.

Families in Guyana are demanding answers after one of the country's deadliest maritime disasters

Greece is walking a diplomatic tightrope as it tries to maintain support for Ukraine while protecting its vital shipping industry from tougher sanctions on Russia.

Guest: Dr Joan Swart - Researcher in Military Science at the University of Stellenbosch 

Guest: Moeletsi Mbeki - Chairperson of the South African Institute of International

Fake sick notes are costing South Africa an estimated R18 billion every year, raising serious concerns about workplace fraud, medical ethics and public trust in the healthcare profession. what is being done to protect the integrity of the medical profession and restore confidence in legitimate medical certificates?

Guest: Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa, Chairperson of the South African Medical Association  

Guest: Ntsiki Biyela -  Founder of Aslina Wines 

Municipal Watch: The OR Tambo District Municipality is again in the news for water problems, and this time around, it’s over them buying more water tankers instead of fixing the problems. Early in June, their officials were hauled before the South African Human Rights Commission to explain the water crisis and were also given 14 days to address the problem. The local business chamber has expressed frustration, saying that water tankers should never serve as a substitute for permanent infrastructure.

Guest: Cllr. Mesuli Ngqondwana - Executive Mayor of the OR Tambo District Municipality   

Guest: Dr. Eileen Carter - Eastern Cape Provincial Manager for the South African Human Rights Commission

Guest: Moeletsi Mbeki - Chairperson of the South African Institute of International Affairs