The Weekend View

New research from Discovery Insure on holiday driving trends has highlighted a worrying 26% increase in speeding during the festive season, with many drivers exceeding speed limits by at least 10km/h. The study focuses on key routes in KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng, and the Western Cape, revealing that January 2 sees peak traffic as travelers return to Johannesburg from Durban. The Insure warns that speeding does little to save time but greatly increases accident risks. For more on this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Discovery insure's Chief Commercial Officer Precious Nduli ....

There has been very little contestation for the Top 6 positions of the EFF at the party's 3rd National People's Assembly taking place at the Nasrec Expo Centre in Soweto. EFF Julius Malema has overwhelming been elected to serve a third term as the party's President and will lead a top 6 team of officials that have all been nominated uncontested and duly elected. Jon Gericke spoke to analyst, Sandile Swana and  SABC news reporter, Sibahle Motha 

The SACP's 5th Special National Congress ended in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg, yesterday with the ANC agreeing to not stand in the way of their alliance partner's wish to contest the 2026 elections independently.  In an address to congress, ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile said they had agreed that even if they differ sharply on some of the issues, the ANC and SACP must work to strengthen the alliance. Jon Gericke spoke to our senior political reporter Ntebo Mokobo who covered the congress and analyst, Sandile Swana

EFF leader, Julius Malema, yesterday warned delegates at the party's 3rd National People's Assembly that with the decline in the party's support suffered at the May polls, the promise of economic freedom could be delayed for generations to come. Malema addressed approximately three thousand branch delegates, guests, and observers attending the first day of the party's elective conference. The EFF leader reflected on the internal and external challenges facing the 11-year-old party, urging members to ensure that through their deliberations and committment, they strengthen the organisation. The theme of the conference is "defending, rebuilding and advancing the struggle for economic freedom".  Busi Chimombe filed this report and Jon Gericke spoke to analyst Sandile Swana

The second day of the EFF's  National People's Assembly gets underway this morning here at the Nasrec Expo Centre in the south of JHB with the highlight of the day being the nomination and election of the party's new TOP 6 leadership. Jon Gericke spoke to our reporter Sibahle Motha who is covering the assembly and analyst, Sandile Swana

Yesterday marked the deadline for parties within the government of national unity to resolve their impasse over clauses 4 and 5 of the BELA Act. These clauses concern the authority to determine school language policies and the procedures governing school admissions. The South African Democratic Teachers' Union - SADTU - believes President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to postpone the implementation of the two contentious sections of the Basic Education Laws Amendment Act  - BELA Act - was purely for political expediency, based solely on the objections of the Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube and her political party, the DA. In a rare show of defiance, the union, an affiliate of the ANC, this week also informed Ramaphosa in a letter that it will legally challenge his decision if he does give the green light for the implementation of the two sections, and also embark on a strike. Jon Gericke spoke to SADTU Media Officer, Nomusa Cembi and analyst, Sandile Swana

The festive season is a time for celebration, but for current students, and Matrics preparing to start their studies next year, it's also a time to prepare for the year ahead. This includes registering with a higher education institution or college, securing accommodation and transport, sourcing textbooks, purchasing educational tech such as laptops, and more. Unfortunately, the student journey specifically has over the past few years become a lucrative new source of potential victims for scammers, which is why young people need to be especially alert to potential bad actors these next few months. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Adrian Garden, Acting Dean of Academics at Rosebank College

Black Muslims from different countries across Africa have gathered at the first mosque in Soweto to talk about the different challenges their communities face. The weekend meeting also witnessed the inaugural South African Townships Madrasah Competition, an event that celebrates the rich diversity and Islamic education within township communities. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Soweto Muslims Association spokesperson,  Moulana Dawood Ndlovu, 

Former SACP leader Chris Hani's killer Janusz Walus has been deported back to his home country, in Poland. In November 2022, the Constitutional Court found that then Justice minister Ronald Lamola's decision at the time , to refuse to grant Walus parole in 2020 had been irrational. The court then set the decision aside paving the way for the release of  Walus from prison, after 28 years in prison.  The South African citizenship of Polish-born Walus was revoked in 2017. But he was granted residence after his release to enable him to serve his two-year parole period in South Africa. On Friday government said that since Janus Waluz  no longer holds any South African enabling documents, the Department of Home Affairs will be deporting him. There's been a lot of reaction on the matter with some saying this could have ended differently and the South African Communist Party calling for an inquest into Hani's death, saying that without it, justice was incomplete. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  we are now joined on the line by Dr Sithembiso Bhengu, Director at the Chris Hani Institute and Advocate Malose Monene, from the Limpopo Bar 

Syria's armed opposition is THIS MORNING saying they have captured the capital, Damascus, and that President Bashar al-Assad has fled the country. The announcement comes after rebels seized the city of Homs in a lightning offensive hours earlier. Before that rebels announced they had gained full control of the key city of Homs after only a day of fighting, leaving Assad's 24-year rule dangling by a thread. Assad long relied on allies to subdue the rebels. Russian warplanes conducted bombing while Iran sent allied forces including Hezbollah and Iraqi militia to reinforce the Syrian military and storm insurgent strongholds. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Naeem Jeenah from the Mapungubwe Institute For Strategic Reflection (MISTRA). H joins us from Doha in Qatar...