The Weekend View

Opposition parties in the Johannesburg council have called for a full-on investigation into allegations against Kenny Kunene and his alleged links to an alleged member of a murder syndicate, Katiso "KT" Molefe who was arrested in connection with the murder of Oupa Sefoka also known as DJ Sumbody.  Kunene resigned as both MMC and a Patriotic Alliance councillor over the allegations. SABC reporter Phumzile Mlangeni filed a report on Kunene's resignation before Jon Gericke spoke to political strategist, Brutus Malada... 

Legislation to review the bilateral relationship between the United States and South Africa has passed through a Foreign Affairs Committee in the House of Representatives- an early step in a long process of the bill actually becoming law. Authored and introduced by Republican Congressman Ronny Jackson in April, the U.S.- South Africa Bilateral Relations Review Act of 2025 is viewed as part of efforts to provide President Donald Trump with the tools necessary to impose sanctions on South African officials in government - and the ANC in particular - who choose to support American adversaries like China, Russia and Iran.  Sherwin Bryce-Pease reported on the committee vote and how the process is likely to unfold before Jon Gericke spoke to Dr. Kingsley Makhubela, Former Diplomat & Conflict Resolution Expert as well as  Mikatekiso Kubayi a Senior Researcher at the Institute of Global Dialogue.  

A new DebtBusters survey shows that 70% of South Africans are still grappling with financial stress in 2025.  The burden falls hardest on women, who report higher anxiety levels across home, work, and health. While inflation and loadshedding pressures have eased, according to the report most people still fear running out of money or missing debt payments. Middle-aged and high-income earners face mounting debt pressure, with many spending over 40% of their income just to repay loans. For more on this Jon Gericke spoke to Nosiphiwo Nxawe Payments & Collections Manager at DebtBusters 

Its Day Two of the 2025 Liberation Movements Summit in Kempton Park, hosted by the ANC under the theme 'Defending the Liberation Gains. The summit unites six Southern African liberation movements, including SWAPO from Namibia, FRELIMO from Mozambique , and Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF.  The ANC says the gathering will chart a new way forward around organisational renewal and strategic unity. Meanwhile, the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania - PAC -  says it will use the platform to stress that true liberation means land restitution and the full dismantling of colonial systems. Jon Gericke spoke to Apa Pooe PAC Secretary General  ..... 

Ghana held their nerve in a dramatic penalty shootout to defeat Banyana Banyana and claim the bronze medal at the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations - WAFCON - in Casablanca LAST NIGHT. After a 1-1 draw in regulation time, the Black Queens triumphed 4-3 in the shootout at Stade Larbi Zaouli to seal third place in the tournament.The result will sting Desiree Ellis's squad, crowned champions in 2022, and had hoped to add a consolation medal to their cabinet. Instead, they will now return home empty handed and needing to rebuild their team for the next cycle. To review this game we are joined on the line by Mathews Mpete, SABC sports analyst ......

The EFF are to host it's 'Festival of the Poor" 12th anniversary celebrations at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium in Cape Town today. The celebrations come just seven months after the party elected a new leadership in December last year. It is the first birthday celebration since the resignation of former Deputy President Floyd Shivambu, former Chairperson Dali Mpofu, and spokesperson Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. The celebrations were initially set to take place in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, but were moved to Khayelitsha following devastating floods that claimed more than 100 lives in the area. Jon Gericke spoke to SABC reporter Sibahle Motha who is at the Khayelitsha Rugby Stadium in Cape Town .....

Wage talks between FlySafair and the striking pilots represented by Solidarity are set to continue THIS MORNING under CCMA facilitation. YESTERDAY's marathon negotiations stretched late into the night, with both sides reporting progress but failing to reach a final agreement. Pilots are demanding a 10.5% wage hike and improved schedules, while management is offering 5.7%. FlySafair has trimmed operations by 30% but says two-thirds of pilots are back at work. Talks resume this morning, with hopes high for a breakthrough to end the week-long strike. For more on this Jon Gericke spoke to FlySafair spokesperson Kirby Gordon

FlySafair pilots are set to down tools for 14 days starting tomorrow, Monday the 21st of July. Trade union Solidarity has extended the initial one-day strike after a deadlock in wage negotiations. This follows the airline's decision to lock out pilots for seven days. At the heart of the dispute is a rejected 5.7% wage offer and unmet demands for better working conditions. The union says pilots feel overworked, unheard, and undervalued by management.  For the latest in this dispute Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the Deputy General Secretary at Solidarity union, Helgard Cronje. 

Operation Dudula has vowed continue to fight for the rights of South Africans until the government intervenes. In recent weeks, clinics in Johannesburg and parts of Durban have been targeted, with the group denying access to undocumented foreign nationals.Their members claim their campaign also helps to ease the workload on nurses, and is welcomed by most South Africans. 
On THURSDAY Operation Dudula supporters marched to the Socio-Economic Rights Institute of South Africa offices in Braamfontein and  to the South African Human Rights Commission  offices to hand over a memorandum of demands. The organisation accused the SAHRC and SERI of supporting and protecting illegal immigrants.

In our Sunday Morning Discussion Bongiwe Zwane hosted Operation Dudula president, Zandile Dabula. Thato Masiangoako, a researcher from SERI was invited to the discussion but was unreachable.

The Junior Springboks lifted the World Rugby Under 20 Championship trophy for the first time since 2012 after beating New Zealand 23-15 in Rovigo,Italy, LAST NIGHT. Here at home South African rugby continued to shine with the senior team securing a comfortable 55 - 10 win over Georgia in Mbombela. Meanwhile defending champions of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Banyana Banyana, have advanced to the semi-finals of the tournament in Morocco after beating Senegal 4 -1 on penalties in their quarter-final match played in Oujda late last night. SAfm sports anchor, Janet Whitton joins us on the once again to review these games ....