South African talk radio, in five minutes.

Afternoon edition

1. 01

   Mapisa-Nqakula takes the stand after discharge bid dismissed

   The Pretoria High Court's dismissal of Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula's Section 174 application dominated hard-news coverage on SAfm, 702, Power FM and Cape Talk. Judge Mashudu Munzhele ruled the state had established a prima facie case on both the corruption count and the money laundering count linked to renovations and New York purchases allegedly funded by contractor Nombasa Ndlovu. The former National Assembly Speaker and defence minister, facing 12 counts of corruption and one of money laundering, then took the witness stand in her own defence, describing her first encounters with Ndlovu — a rare moment of a figure of such stature testifying as an accused.

   Heard on SAfm · 12:12 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Mapisa-Nqakula takes the stand after discharge bid dismissed, heard on SAfm
2. 02

   Textbook tender standoff pits Gwarube against her own DG and Sadtu

   The suspension of the Foundation Phase textbook catalogue by Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube escalated into a full political row. Sadtu called on President Ramaphosa to sanction Gwarube, accusing her of political interference and going rogue after investigations reportedly found no wrongdoing in the grade 1-3 procurement process. The DA hit back, framing Sadtu's attack as politically motivated. SAfm carried the union's ultimatum while 702 and Cape Talk tracked the widening rift between the minister and her director general, with teachers saying they are sitting in limbo as the new school phase looms.

   Heard on SAfm · 08:03 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Textbook tender standoff pits Gwarube against her own DG and Sadtu, heard on SAfm
3. 03

   Service delivery anger and coalitions dominate local government election run-in

   With under 60 days to the local government elections, Power FM and SAfm focused on Joburg residents venting about broken street lights, potholes, water outages and steep rates, while parties finalised mayoral candidates. Analysts debated the Municipal Structures Amendment Bill's coalition thresholds, warning smaller parties may take it to the Constitutional Court as discriminatory. President Ramaphosa weighed in that Gauteng cannot reach its potential if local governance keeps failing. The IEC's Michael Atkins walked Cape Talk listeners through what happens if parties win more seats than candidates submitted — a live risk given ANC missed deadlines in some provinces.

   Heard on Power FM · 09:04 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Service delivery anger and coalitions dominate local government election run-in, heard on Power FM
4. 04

   Springboks' Ellis Park thriller and the Airlink flyover that went global

   The Springboks' win over the All Blacks in front of 86,000 at Ellis Park was the feel-good story crossing 702, Cape Talk and Power FM, with presenters describing goosebumps at the anthem and a festival atmosphere outside the stadium. But the conversation quickly pivoted to the SA Airlink low-level flyover before kickoff, which has gone viral internationally. Cape Talk's aviation contributor said opinion is split between those calling for it to be banned outright on safety grounds and those who see it as a 30-year tradition central to the theatre of South African rugby.

   Heard on 702 · 09:48 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Springboks' Ellis Park thriller and the Airlink flyover that went global, heard on 702
5. 05

   SA Sign Language adds African clan names for the first time

   For Deaf Awareness Month, SAfm's Full Circle spotlighted a milestone: African clan names are being incorporated into South African Sign Language for the first time. SASL specialist and educator Matro Muloto explained that around 99% of deaf South Africans are born into hearing families who cannot sign, meaning most only encounter the language at preschool and derive cultural identity from the deaf community rather than the home. The addition of izithakazelo and clan praise names, she argued, is a long-overdue step toward giving deaf South Africans access to a core marker of cultural belonging that hearing peers take for granted.

   Heard on SAfm · 13:34 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: SA Sign Language adds African clan names for the first time, heard on SAfm