The Weekend View

Tensions within the Tripartite Alliance have escalated, with the South African Communist Party confirming it will contest the 2026 local government elections independently. The African National Congress has pushed back - saying it cannot allow members to belong to parties that compete against it. The developments mark one of the most significant strains in the alliance in recent years. The SACP says its decision follows a breakdown in engagements with the ANC, including failed attempts to agree on how alliance partners should approach the 2026 elections. It has accused the ANC of issuing ultimatums and taking what it calls an "anti-communist" stance. For analysis Jon Gericke spoke to Political Analyst , Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast from the Nelson Mandela University 

South African vaccine manufacture, BIOVAC, is on track to create the largest vaccine manufacturing facility in Africa. It has secured a financing package of one-point eight Billion rands from the International Finance Corporation, the European Commission, and European Investment Bank to build Africa's first end-to-end multi-vaccine manufacturing site in Cape Town. This is aimed at advancing self-reliance in vaccine production for South Africa and the African continent after huge gaps were identified during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the subsequent race to produce and distribute vaccines globally. The Weekend View caught up with  with BIOVAC CEO. Dr. Morena Makhoana to unpack the significance of this deal.. . Meanwhile, the The AIDS Healthcare Foundation has issued a stark warning to the European Union, urging it to stop blocking equity provisions in the final stages of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Pandemic Treaty negotiations starting next week Monday in Switzerland, Geneva. Jon Gericke spoke to Dr Nombuso Madonsela, the country programme director of the AHF 

The National Consumer Commission  welcomed the amendment of Regulation 4 of Section 11 (3) of the Consumer Protection Act No. 68 of 2008 (CPA), as gazetted by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, this week.  For too long, consumers have been exposed to intrusive and unwanted direct marketing communication now industry experts say this gives South Africans stronger protections against unwanted spam calls and marketing messages by placing stricter obligations on organisations that process personal information. For more Jon Gericke spoke to Phetho Ntaba, Spokesperson for the National Consumer Commission 

The Public Investment Corporation,  South Africa's state-owned asset manager and a key investor in social infrastructure, has released a new research paper proposing a transformative, investment-led approach to revitalising the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector. South Africa's education system faces a structural bottleneck, with the number of matriculants surpassing the intake capacity of conventional tertiary institutions. The PIC says while the TVET sector presents a viable alternative pathway, it remains underutilised due to persistent challenges, including misalignment between training programmes and the needs of the economy. To unpack this report Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Zanele Mocumi, the Sector Specialist for Social Infrastructure at the PIC and the author of the paper as well as Professor Wayne Hugo, lecturer and researcher in the school of Education and development at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal

The Department of Social Development in KwaZulu-Natal has removed 19 children from a controversial religious group at KwaMaphumulo, which has been accused of violating the rights of children and isolating its members from society. The removal of the children was confirmed during a visit to the farm, where the group is based, by a delegation from government and the Commission for the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities. Bongiwe Zwane caughts up with both Suhayfa Bhamjee, Senior Lecturer at the UKZN School of Law and Thuba Vilane, spokesperson for the KZN Department of Social Development 

South Africa's Constitutional Court has delivered a significant judgment tightening the requirements for constructive dismissal, confirming that employees must exhaust internal grievance procedures before resigning and claiming dismissal. Constructive dismissal happens when an employee is forced to resign due to unbearable or hostile working conditions created by the employer. Although it is the employee who formally resigns, the law treats it as dismissal by the employer.  According to experts in the employment law practice at commercial law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH), the Court's determination clarifies that claiming constructive dismissal is a matter of last resort and should not be for the taking AND adds that that informal complaints alone are not enough. Bongiwe Zwane caught up with Lee Masuku, Senior Associate in Employment Law at law firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr  

Education experts encourage schools to move beyond traditional measures of success in order to prioritise creativity, resilience and human-centred learning. This as artificial intelligence continues to reshape how knowledge is accessed, especially within the education system. Deputy Head of Academics at Reddam House Waterfall, Keegan Skinner says we are living in a time where access to information is limitless and that AI can instantly generate essays, solve equations and simulate reasoning. Yet, he argues, what remains unequivocally human is our capacity for imagination, empathy and creative problem-solving. Bongiwe Zwane caught up with Skinner for further details...

The Prevention of Illegal Eviction and Unlawful Occupation of Land Amendment Bill of 2026 could see those who incite people to unlawfully occupy land face a fine of about two Million rands or imprisonment not exceeding two years or both. That's according to Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane who has called on everyone to come forward to give input through public comment consultations which will kick start early next month. This follows a growing trend of unlawful land grabs and occupation of land and hijacked building occupations across the country resulting in prolonged court battles over the provision of alternative accommodation for settlers. Bongiwe Zwane caught up with Minister Simelane to expand more on this...

The over two-thousand delegates at the DA Federal Congress have adopted at least six of the 15 policy proposals. The congress is under way at the Gallagher Convention Center in Midrand, Johannesburg. The delegates are today voting for new party leadership and finalizing policy proposals. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sibusiso Dyonase from Gauteng are contesting the party leadership position. Hill-Lewis is widely seen as a front-runner to succeed John Steenhuisen. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to DA member and Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Solly Malatsi

The over two-thousand delegates at the DA Federal Congress have adopted at least six of the 15 policy proposals. The congress is under way at the Gallagher Convention Center in Midrand, Johannesburg. The delegates are today voting for new party leadership and finalizing policy proposals. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis and Sibusiso Dyonase from Gauteng are contesting the party leadership position. Hill-Lewis is widely seen as a front-runner to succeed John Steenhuisen. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Xolelwa Kashe-Katiya, project lead at the Indlulamithi Scenarios Trust