The National Briefing

Guest: Dr Sebonkile Cynthia Thaba - academic, researcher, and higher education leader: University of Johannesburg

Guest: Canny Maphanga - SABC Reporter Eastern Cape Top Judge, Judge President Selby Mbenenge faces possible impeachment over the sexual harassment complaint against him by Mengo. The Judicial Service Commission has overturned the finding of “misconduct” to “gross misconduct”. The matter now heads to the National Assembly.

Market Brief with Ntaoleng Lechela - Business Reporter Economists say Treasury has room to extend fuel levy relief into May 2. Funding injection keeps Tongaat mills running, for now 3. Market update

Guest: Professor Mathole Motshekga - Founder of the Kara Heritage Institute and African Heritage Group The Reality Check: African Socialism - What are its building blocks? How does it contribute to indigenous economy?

The International Energy Agency signals tightening jet fuel market as supply risks buildNetflix shifts focus from subscriber growth to pricing and ads as profits riseMarket update

Guest: Thebe Ikalafeng - Founder and Chairman, Brand Africa | Founder and CEO, Brand Leadership Group, Chancellor, Sol Plaatje University As political parties ramp up campaigning ahead of key elections, new tactics are emerging. Recently, Helen Zille made waves by quite literally swimming in potholes, a bold attempt to spotlight service delivery failures and capture public attention. Is this political campaigning or theatrics?

Overnight, Israel and Lebanon engaged in ceasefire talks in Washington with a 10 day ceasefire agreement. Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators have announced that no date has been set for the next round of US-Iran negotiations. Guest: Prof. Andre Duvenhage - Professor of Research at the North West University

KwaZulu-Natal Public Works MEC Martin Meyer has blown the lid off disturbing allegations within the Expanded Public Works Programme, revealing that “sex for jobs” remains a shocking and ongoing reality. The Expanded Public Works Programme meant to uplift the most vulnerable is now under scrutiny, with reports of political interference, bribery, and exploitation of desperate job seekers. Guest: Martin Meyer - KwaZulu-Natal Public Works MEC

What happens now to the EFF seeing that its leader has been sentenced to direct imprisonment of five years? What does this mean for the party seeing that we are in an election year? Guest: Dr Levy Ndou - Political Analyst and lecturer in the Department of Public Management at the Tshwane University of Technology

Africa in Focus with Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher: Thabo Mbeki African School of Public & International Affairs: Unisa 17 April 2026 1. South Afrika – Benin Police in South Africa have arrested pan-African activist Kemi Seba, who is wanted in Benin for “inciting rebellion” after he supported a foiled coup in December. Seba, whose real name is Stellio Gilles Robert Capo Chichi, is known for his tirades against France and African governments allied with Paris. South Africa’s police said the French-born Beninese politician and his 18-year-old son were apprehended at a Pretoria shopping mall this week. 2. Kenya- Nairobi Kenya hikes fuel prices as supply tightens Kenya's energy regulator on Tuesday raised the prices of super petrol and diesel by 28.69 Shillings per liter and 40.3 Shillings per liter, respectively. Kenya sources nearly all of its fuel from Gulf suppliers in Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain. The Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) blamed a surge in imported fuel costs for the hikes. 3. Haiti- Port au Prince High fuel, food prices pile new pressure on families Haiti, the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere, has been hit the hardest by rising oil prices that experts warn will deepen a spiralling humanitarian crisis. The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has caused oil prices in the Caribbean nation to surge, disrupting critical supply chains, doubling transportation costs and forcing millions of undernourished people to cut back on already scarce meals. 4. Zimbabwe – Matobo District Nation Gears Up for Independence Day Celebrations Zimbabwe is set to commemorate its 46th Independence Anniversary tomorrow, with preparations now at an advanced stage for this year’s main celebrations to be held at Maphisa Growth Point in Matobo District. 5. In our historical archives, it was tomorrow, 18 April 1982, on the second anniversary of independence, when Zimbabwe renamed its capital city Harare, after the Shona chief Neharawa. The initial name of the capital was Salisbury, named after the British Prime Minister, the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury.

Guest: Mike Mayakhulu - Newly appointed Convenor of the KZN ANC Provincial Task Team The ANC has now announced that Mike Mabuyakhulu will be the new Convenor of the ANC KZN PTT replacing Jeff Radebe who will be redeployed elsewhere.

The Reality Check: How do we heal the divisions of the past? Guest: Prof Mathole Motshekga – Founder of the Kara Institute and African Heritage Group

Municipal Watch: What seems to be so difficult to deal with the water crisis in Hammanskraal and how long must residents keep waiting? Guest: Frans Boshielo - Tshwane MMC for Utility Services Guest: Tsholanang Tabane - Resident of Hammanskraal Guest: Jan Moremi - Zonal Chairperson of SANCO

Reports are circulating in the media of a possible very high petrol and diesel price increase. Some predict that we could be paying R40 rands per litre for diesel in May. How possible is this? Guest: Tshepo Mongoai - SABC Economics Editor

Despite the deployment of the South African National Defence Force to crime hotspots in Cape Town, deadly shootings and gang violence continue to grip communities, raising serious questions about whether the intervention is working. Is it too early to judge the deployment or if deeper systemic failures are once again being exposed? Guest: Dr Lennit Max - Former Western Cape Police Commissioner

The future of Tongaat Hulett hangs in the balance as the Durban High Court prepares to hear a crucial liquidation application that could have devastating consequences for thousands of jobs and the broader sugar industry. The South African Cane Growers Association is among several stakeholders opposing the move, warning that liquidation could cripple rural economies and wipe out livelihoods across KwaZulu-Natal. Guest: Andrew Russell, vice-chairman of SA Canegrowers

16 April 2026 1. Togo- United Nations General Assembly Togo will ask United Nations member states to adopt a world map that more accurately reflects Africa's true size and to ditch the 16th-century Mercator projection, its foreign minister said. Critics say the Mercator projection, which makes Greenland appear as big as Africa when the continent is about 14 times larger, reinforces perceptions of Africa’s marginality despite its vast size and population, shaping narratives in media, education and policy. 2. Cameroon- Yaoundé Cameroonian President Paul Biya signed a bill this week to restore the vice presidency to the country's government structure. This legislative move follows the parliament's earlier vote, a week earlier, to restore this crucial role. According to the new law, the president will now have the authority to appoint the vice president, a position that carries the responsibility of acting as head of state if the presidency becomes vacant or is otherwise unable to fulfil its duties. Cameroon is awaiting Biya's selection as its first vice president in more than four decades. Mozambique relies on Rwanda’s troops to fight terrorism: what happens if they leave? Rwanda has threatened to withdraw its troops from Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province, signalling a potentially decisive shift in the southern African country’s security architecture. The threat of withdrawal is driven by a European Union (EU) warning that it may stop funding the Rwandan Defence Forces’ mission in Mozambique in May 2026. 4. In our historical archives, it was on this day, 16 April1990 when Tata Madiba Rolihlahla Mandela, just after his release in 1990, says “thank you” to the world. At the Mandela Day 2 concert at Wembley Stadium in London, England, Nelson Mandela delivers a speech thanking the world for its widespread support for the anti-apartheid struggle. The concert's line-up includes world-famous artists and bands such as Simple Minds, Tracey Chapman, Peter Gabriel and South African Marah Louw.

China’s economy expands faster than expected in Q1The World Bank flags prolonged fallout from Iran conflict

The Global Brief: Escalating global conflicts are reinforcing instability rather than moving toward resolution, with severe human costs on the ground and shifting geopolitical alliances at the international level. How does South Africa navigate these shifting tides? Guest: Dr. Oscar van Heerden - Senior Research Fellow for the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg.