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President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of Advocate Jan Lekgoa Mothibi as the new National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), following an open and transparent selection process overseen by an independent advisory panel. The appointment takes effect on 1 February 2026.

Guest: Lawson Naidoo: Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC)

 

The debate over Cape Independence has resurfaced sharply after President Cyril Ramaphosa firmly rejected any proposal for a referendum on the secession of the Western Cape.

Guest: Jack Miller: Cape Independence Party leader  

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

7 January 2026 

1.    Central African Republic – Bangui 

CAR's President Touadéra wins third term in office, provisional results show

Central African Republic’s President Faustin-Archange Touadéra has been re-elected to a third term, according to provisional results.

Touadéra won more than 76 per cent of the vote, the electoral authority said, while his opponent Anicet-Georges Dologuele came second with 15 per cent. Henri-Marie Dondra was third with three per cent.

 

2.    Uganda – Kampala

Uganda decides 2026

Uganda denies plans for election internet shutdown

Uganda has denied plans to shut down internet access during next week’s elections, dismissing reports of a possible blackout as unfounded.

The fears intensified since last week after satellite internet provider Starlink restricted its services in Uganda, following a directive from the national communications regulator.

3.    Somaliland- Israel 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar visited Somaliland after the contentious recognition of the breakaway territory.

The Israeli foreign minister said yesterday that Israel would soon open an embassy in Somaliland.

Israel's announcement on Dec. 26 that it had recognised Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state quickly drew condemnation from many countries.

More than 20 mostly Middle Eastern or African countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation rejected Israel’s move.

4.    In our historical archives, it was on this day, 7 January 1919, when the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union was founded under Lameck Koniwaka Kadali Muwamba, also known as Clement Kadalie

Formed in the stormy years after World War I with a membership of only twenty-four, the Industrial and Commercial Union made its first powerful impact when the Cape Town dock workers went on strike.

 

4.1   In our historical archives, it was on this day, 7 January 1959, when Peter Ramoshoane Mokaba was born, in Mankweng near Polokwane (then Pietersburg), where he did both his primary and secondary education. His mother is Priscilla Mokaba.

Mokaba served as an Educational Officer for the Northern Transvaal UDF Regional Youth Coordinating Committee. 

He was one of the founding members of the South African Youth Congress (SAYCO), which led to his appointment as the congress’s first president in 1987. 

Since Mokaba was seen as a freedom fighter amongst and for the youth, he became the president of the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL). He occupied this position during the period of 1991 and 1994 after various assassination attempts.

 Mokaba then served as a Member of Parliament in 1994 and again in 1999.

 

US President Trump administration’s National Security Strategy. Why is the United States now pursuing Greenland—and could Cuba be next? 

Guest: Ricardo Teixeira: Defense and National Security Analyst  

Johannesburg Water has confirmed its full operational readiness ahead of the final phase of Rand Water’s planned maintenance, scheduled to take place from 6 January 2026 at 04:00 to 8 January 2026 at 08:00. This critical intervention marks the concluding stage of Rand Water’s long-term infrastructure investment programme, aimed at strengthening system capacity, improving reliability, and safeguarding water security across Gauteng.

Guest: Gugulethu Quma: Acting Senior Manager: Networks, Johannesburg Water 

The Information Regulator has taken its battle with the Department of Basic Education (DBE) over the publication of matric results to the Supreme Court of Appeal, challenging a Pretoria High Court ruling that allowed results to be published in newspapers using examination numbers. 

Guest: Advocate Pansy Tlakula: Chairperson of the Information Regulator 

 

The Black Lawyers Association (BLA) has thrown its weight behind Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi’s call for mandatory lifestyle audits for prosecutors, saying the move is necessary to protect the integrity and credibility of South Africa’s justice system. 

Guest: Johannes Ramathe: Black Lawyers Association General Secretary  

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The South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) in Nelson Mandela Bay says the ongoing governance and service delivery failures in the metro are not simply the result of political infighting or administrative incompetence, but reflect a deeper, structural crisis in South Africa’s municipal funding and governance model.  

Guest: Mziyanda Macanda: Gqeberha Local Secretary of SAFTU