The Springboks are bracing themselves for an epic Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris tonight. Head coach Jacques Nienaber this week made five changes to his match-day squad from their one-point semi-final victory against England, with two in the starting 15 and three on the bench. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard replaced Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who are out of the matchday squad. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi is also in the starting line-up after World Rugby found insufficient evidence to charge him over the racism allegations made against him by England's Tom Curry. The All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made one change to his starting 15, Brodie Retallick replacing Sam Whitelock in the second row. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke SABC Sports anchor Simon Burke in Paris and SABC rugby commentator, Renier Swart in JHB ....

The Springboks are bracing themselves for an epic Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris tonight. Head coach Jacques Nienaber this week made five changes to his match-day squad from their one-point semi-final victory against England, with two in the starting 15 and three on the bench. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard replaced Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who are out of the matchday squad. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi is also in the starting line-up after World Rugby found insufficient evidence to charge him over the racism allegations made against him by England's Tom Curry. The All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made one change to his starting 15, Brodie Retallick replacing Sam Whitelock in the second row. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Braam Van Straaten, who played for the Springboks between 1999 and 2001...

Mike Johnson was this week elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives, ending weeks of chaos and Republican infighting on Capitol Hill. Johnson's success in the hard-fought Speaker battle is seen as a victory for the ideologically right-wing, Donald Trump-aligned faction of the Republican Party and a loss for its moderates. The new speaker promised that the first bill he would introduce would be in support of Israel. Like many in the right wing of his party, Johnson is also against further US aid to Ukraine. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brooke Spector, former career US diplomat in Africa and East Asia and  Associate Editor at Daily Maverick...

Many businesses are trying to go green in an effort to minimise their impact on the environment and the property sector is no different. The green agenda in the property sector in Africa is taking centre stage as the continent joins the rest of the world to cut carbon emissions.  The International Finance Corporation has introduced EDGE ( Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), to help the property sector in Africa to improve their green strategies. A South African company, Novare Holdings is amongst those that were awarded EDGE Championship status. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Novare Holdings Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer, Lerato Kumalo...

Aid was finally allowed into Gaza from Egypt YESTERDAY, for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago . Only 20 of the over 200 trucks carrying vital aid queuing outside the closed border were allowed into Gaza. Life inside Gaza has become  more challenging for hundreds of thousands of Gazans as supplies of food, water and fuel run dangerously short.  Meanwhile, a group of UN agencies has said conditions in Gaza are "catastrophic" and has again called for a ceasefire. They say the aid that has been let trhough is too little to make a difference. Hanin Barghouti is the representative of aid organisation, Gift of the Givers in Palestine. She sent us this message early this from Ramallah in the West Bank.

National Student Financial Aid Scheme - NSFAS - CEO Andile Nongogo has until tomorrow (Monday)  to plead his case with its board on why he should not be dismissed . The funding scheme's board revealed this week that Nongogo had breached multiple procurement processes in the appointment of service providers for the NSFAS direct payment system. Nongogo who is now on a leave of absence, is accused of irregularly awarding contracts to eZaga and other service providers which will now be terminated. NSFAS beneficiaries nationwide have brought institutions of higher learning to a standstill by protesting against eZaga and its exorbitant charges. For their reaction to this saga we spoke to Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa ....

Corruption Watch (CW)  is tomorrow releasing a report on Land and Corruption in Africa . titled:  "Story of the Marginalised", the research report  addresses the link between land, corruption, and discrimination.  Corruption Watch's work on Land and Corruption in South Africa focuses on the plight of people who live and work in farming communities, specifically in the Western Cape. We spoke to Melusi Ncala, Senior Researcher at Corruption Watch...

Yesterday was a good day at the office for South African sport. World champions South Africa emerged victorious at the Stade de France to set up a 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand next weekend. They narrowly beat England 15-16 to set up an epic final clash with the All Blacks. One of them will win a record fourth Rugby World Cup. At the  crickert world cup in India, the Proteas also delivered an outstanding all-round performance to hand England their heaviest defeat ever in one-day international cricket. The Proteas secured a 229-run victory over the defending champions in a World Cup match in Mumbai.
Joining me on the line to discuss these result is SABC Sports anchor Simon Burke in Paris and SAfm Sports anchor Janet Whitton in JHB ...  

Today is Africa Human Rights Day.The day marks the coming into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the founding treaty of the African Human Rights System more than 40 years ago. The African Charter affirms the continental legal architecture, the pan-Africanism conviction that fundamental rights and freedoms should apply to all human beings. For more we spoke Ras Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs ......

Several world leaders will today attend the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt to discuss the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the urgent need for humanitarian support and make a call for the resumption of the peace process. Among them will be President Cyril Ramaphosa. The leaders of the US and UK earlier this week visited Israel and were both clear in their support of Israel's war against Gaza. Here at home president Ramaphosa condemned all violence against civilians but also stressed South Africa's support of the aspirations for self-determination of the people of Palestine, not endorsing any particular leader or faction. He also declared South Africa's willingness to play whatever mediating role that might advance lasting peace. John Stremlau, Professor of International Relations, at WITS University believes Ramaphosa's offer to mediate in Israel must not be ignored. Prof Stremlau joins us on the line