The Weekend View

Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana delivered the mid-year report card, also known as the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) this week,  announcing a temporary reduction in the fuel levy and revealing that government's finances have finally stopped deteriorating. However, economic growth is still too slow to make a real difference to most households. Therese Grobler, Head of Advice and Wealth Management at Momentum Financial Planning says the budget that will do the most to shape your financial future wasn't tabled in parliament. It's the one you manage at home.
For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Therese Grobler, Head of Advice and Wealth Management at Momentum Financial Planning

Water tankers supplying Bronkhorstspruit residents are now sourcing water from Cullinan, following the temporary shutdown of the Bronkhorstspruit Water Treatment Plant for rehabilitation after an E. coli contamination crisis. But the alternative supply has done little to reassure some residents, who question the safety of the tanker water and say the available trucks are insufficient. More than 400 people have been treated for gastrointestinal illness after drinking water that the City of Tshwane failed to chlorinate adequately. Sashin Naidoo has the details followed by an in-depth chat with local resident, Vusi Maridili and member of parliament's portfolio committee on Water and Sanitation, Stephen Moore says the water situation in the whole of Gauteng could be worse off than it is reported by officials. 

The IEC has extended an opportunity to submit candidate lists to 32 political parties it says were in a similar position to the ANC, ahead of the November fourth local government elections. The Commission says the decision is aimed at ensuring equal treatment of political parties following the Constitutional Court ruling in favour of the ANC. The IEC says the 32 parties had nominated compliant candidates and paid their election deposits but had not submitted their final candidate lists. IEC chairperson, Mosotho Moepya says excluding parties in similar circumstances would raise concerns about fairness in the electoral process. For today's discussion on this matter, Bongiwe Zwane caught up with Professor Sethulego Matebesi. Political Analyst from the University of the Free State, Former IEC deputy chair and now executive chair of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa, Terry Tselane together with legal expert and Senior Lecturer at the Wits School of Law, Dr Shadi Maganoe...

The Green Connection calls on the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) to reject Eskom's proposed 8.83% electricity tariff increase for the 2027/28 financial year. The eco-justice organisation, working closely with grassroots coastal communities and small-scale fishers, warns that another substantial increase will place an unacceptable burden on households already struggling with the rising cost of living. The Green Connection also calls on NERSA to extend and strengthen the public participation process, arguing that a single day of public hearings is insufficient for meaningful engagement on an issue with far-reaching consequences for millions of South Africans. Bongiwe Zwane earlier caught up with Community Outreach Ambassador at The Green Connection.  Neville Van Rooy

The Gauteng government has confirmed that it intends to open a criminal case against the Stellenbosch student who discovered flaws in the e-Panic Button App, a tool residents rely on in moments of danger. The computer science student allegedly discovered that the app exposed the most sensitive personal information of the users of the app to report crimes. Spokesperson for the Gauteng Provincial Government, Elijah Mhlanga says despite the student raising the alarm in highlighting the flaw, his actions remain an unauthorised access to the system...

South Africa's Finance Minister is expected to present the country's 2026 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) on Wednesday. The MTBPS is an important economic update from the government, and gives an indication of what it will do in future budgets. Ahead of the statement , the  Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC) argues that austerity, privatisation and monetary reforms are hollowing out the state and have made the state dysfunctional. They are calling for government to fix the state and not to sell it .....For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Aliya Chikte, Economic Justice Programme Officer at the Alternative Information & Development Centre (AIDC)

With South African public-school learners back at school for Term 4, attention now is on the final assessments and exams. For many families, the instinct at this point is to increase study hours. But experts suggest more time spent studying does not necessarily tell a learner what they need to work on.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Siyabonga Manana, Principal of SPARK Midrand High...

North West businessman Suliman Carrim's bail application has been postponed to Monday in the Pretoria Magistrate's Court. Carrim faces charges linked to his alleged failure to appear before the Madlanga Commission and provide requested documents. The State is opposing bail, citing concerns about his previous conduct and the accuracy of his residential address. The defence has accused the State of delaying proceedings. Carrim was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport on Thursday night. He remains in police custody with the hearing set to resume on Monday. Crime and security analyst Azaniah Mnisi says Carrim has stressed test the commission to a limit

INTRO : Despite fears that tensions in the Tripartite Alliance could mark the beginning of the end of the historical pact, political analysts believe the alliance can still be saved. The ANC, COSATU and SACP pact will be tested at next month's municipal polls. Tension among the alliance partners surfaced at the COSATU national congress earlier this week. ANC National Chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, walked out of the congress, protesting against the ANC being billed to speak before the SACP and SANCO. He insisted on speaking at the end, saying it's in keeping with the alliance's traditions. But newly-elected COSATU President, Mike Shingange, has warned the ANC and the SACP that the federation will actively lead the alliance, rather than follow passively. Ntebo Mokobo has more.

The Madlanga Commission has been named South Africa's Word of the Year for 2026 by PanSALB and media research company Focal Points. It accounted for 47% of coverage among six shortlisted terms, followed by gender-based violence at 15% and illegal immigration at 12%. "Clock It" won the social media category, representing 85% of coverage among seven shortlisted expressions. The South African Sign Language Sign of the Year is "Oh, I see". PanSALB says the initiative reflects issues shaping public discourse and promotes language diversity. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to PanSALB CEO, Dr Keaobaka Seshoka