The Briefing Debate: South Africa is once again at the centre of a heated public health debate, this time over the proposed Control of Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Bill. 

Guest: Kurt Yeo - Co-Founder and Producer at Vaping Saved My Life (VSML) 

Guest: Professor Ayo-Yusuf - Executive Director: National Council Against Smoking (NCAS)

Guest: Prof Tshepo Madlingozi - Adjunct Professor at Nelson Mandela University and Extraordinary Professor at Stellenbosch University. Madlingozi is also a Commissioner at the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC) responsible for Anti-Racism, Education and Equality. 

1. Aspen secures regulatory nod for human insulin rollout 
2. New vehicle sales continue to soar in April
3. Market update

The Special Investigating Unit has uncovered what it describes as a “well-orchestrated syndicate” inside the Department of Home Affairs. High-profile religious figures like Shepherd Bushiri and Timothy Omotoso have been named in a probe linked to the alleged unlawful issuing of visas and permits, with shocking claims that applications were even processed via WhatsApp

Guest: Selby Makgotho - Spokesperson for the Special Investigating Unit  

The future of thousands of students hangs in the balance after the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) was placed under administration, a dramatic move aimed at stabilising the troubled institution amid ongoing governance and funding challenges. But what does this intervention really mean for students, universities, and the broader higher education system? 

Guest: Kagisho Mamabolo — former NSFAS spokesperson and now CEO of the Private Student Housing Association 

Motorists across South Africa are bracing for another major hit at the pumps, as fuel prices surge from today. 

Guest: Robert Maake - Director of Fuel Pricing Mechanism at the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources  

Debt Rescue has sounded the alarm, warning that this latest hike should be treated as a “red alert” for the country’s already strained households. With rising fuel costs driving up food prices, transport, and everyday essentials, millions are feeling the squeeze from every direction and for many, simply getting to work is becoming unaffordable. 

Guest:  Annaline van der Poel - Chief Operating Officer at Debt Rescue  

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again called for colonial era reparations in what he says is aimed at addressing the impact  of colonialism and slavery on the African continent.

Guest: Prof. Chitja Twala - Professor in the Department of History, University of South Africa 

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

06 May 2026

1.    Botswana – Rwanda 

President Kagame Heads to Gaborone to Deepen Rwanda-Botswana Bilateral Ties

President Paul Kagame is set to undertake a two-day working visit to Botswana beginning today, in a move that signals continued efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation between Rwanda and the Southern African nation.

2.    South Afrika – Mozambique 

Ramaphosa held bilateral talks with his Mozambican counterpart, Daniel Chapo, at Mahlamba Ndlopfu's official residence in Tshwane yesterday. “We are one people, and we've got to also pay heed to the security of those from other countries who are in South Africa, but also pay heed to the concerns that are being raised by South Africans.

3.    Zambia – USA 

After a months-long impasse, Zambia has detailed the reasons why discussions on a United States health funding deal have reached a deadlock. Harare said the talks stalled due to contentious terms linked to proposed critical minerals deals and concerns about data sharing. The announcement comes as Washington has been rolling out a string of tightly controlled health aid agreements across Africa, following the closure of its USAID agency.

4.    In our historical archives, it was on this day, 6 May 1975, when the then Apartheid South Afrikan government announced that its aim was to provide all Black children with free and compulsory education as soon as possible.

In Asia, there is a deepening energy crisis, triggered by ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is reviving a major consumer debt relief programme as he campaigns for re-election.

Guest: Khanya Vilakazi - Lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Mpumalanga