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Daily briefing

Monday, 24 August 2026

The day across South African radio, cited to the broadcast minute.

locl.co.za / briefing / 2026-08-24

Daily briefing

Monday, 24 August 2026

The day across South African radio, cited to the broadcast minute.

Afternoon edition

Afternoon editionCovers Mon, 24 Aug 05:00 → 15:30 SAST

Afternoon edition · 5-minute listen

Politics dominated Monday's talk radio, with the ANC's manifesto launch and its unresolved mayoral candidate fight running as the day's connective tissue across every major station. The Madlanga Commission's refusal to postpone Vusimuzi Matlala's testimony, a reopened Steve Biko inquest and fresh arrests in the Zolani Tete murder gave newsrooms a heavy news load, while sport and the coming lunar eclipse offered lighter counterpoints.

  1. ANC manifesto launch and mayoral candidate stalemate

    The ANC's local government election manifesto launch at Riversand Park in Diepsloot ran on every talk station, with Cyril Ramaphosa pledging that councillors would have 100 days to show progress and outlining six priorities including infrastructure and ethical leadership. But the story that dominated follow-up analysis was the party's failure to announce mayoral candidates for key metros, cancelled at the eleventh hour. Deputy Secretary General Nomvula Mokonyane defended the vetting process on 702, while Power FM and SAfm callers questioned why Johannesburg has a shortlist of four and whether factional battles have overtaken competence. Announcements are now pushed to September.

    Heard on 702 · 07:16 SASTAsk locl about this: ANC manifesto launch and mayoral candidate stalemate, heard on 702

  2. Madlanga Commission refuses Matlala postponement

    The Madlanga Commission of Inquiry rejected an application by alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi Matlala to postpone his testimony, with Chairperson Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga ruling proceedings must continue. Matlala's counsel, advocate Fatima Missy, told the inquiry lead advocate Analyne Fanayeva was unwell and that consultations at Kgosi Mampuru C-Max prison had been repeatedly obstructed, leaving them unprepared. The commission is expected to hear evidence linking Matlala to Deputy National Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, former KZN Hawks head Lesetja Senona and dismissed Major General Richard Sibiri. 702, Power FM and SAfm all carried live crossings from the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College.

    Heard on Cape Talk · 12:11 SASTAsk locl about this: Madlanga Commission refuses Matlala postponement, heard on Cape Talk

  3. Steve Biko inquest reopens in Makhanda

    The reopened inquest into the death of Black Consciousness Movement leader Steve Biko resumed in the Makhanda High Court, nearly 50 years after he died in apartheid police custody in September 1977. The original 1977 inquest accepted the police version and no one was prosecuted. Power FM, Cape Talk and 702 framed the hearing as potentially long-awaited answers for the Biko family, examining whether any actions or failures amount to criminal offences. Azapo used the moment to accuse the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of a limited, ultimately betrayed attempt at justice and to demand accountability for any institutional cover-up.

    Heard on Cape Talk · 12:02 SASTAsk locl about this: Steve Biko inquest reopens in Makhanda, heard on Cape Talk

  4. Arrests mount in Zolani Tete murder

    Eastern Cape police confirmed further arrests in the killing of two-division world boxing champion Zolani Tete, who was shot dead as he arrived at his Mdantsane home on Friday night. By Monday, four suspects were in custody after three were picked up in Mdantsane and Scenery Park on Sunday, following an earlier arrest in Kokomboti on Saturday, bringing the total to seven people linked to the investigation. A 22-year-old appeared in the Mdantsane Magistrates Court. A 30-year-old woman travelling with Tete was released as a potential witness. Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said more arrests are expected.

    Heard on Power FM · 08:01 SASTAsk locl about this: Arrests mount in Zolani Tete murder, heard on Power FM

  5. SA Sports Awards crown Simbine and a rugby hangover

    Sunday night's SA Sports Awards at Sun City gave talk radio its main sporting talking point, with sprinter Akani Simbine walking away as SA Sports Star of the Year and pocketing half a million rand. Swimmer Pieter Coetze and Prudence Sekgodiso were named Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year, the Proteas Test side took team of the year and Temba Bavuma received a special honour. The mood was complicated by the Springboks' weekend thumping, prompting Simbine to appeal directly to fans tempted to switch allegiance to the All Blacks. Golden Arrows' 1-0 MTN8 win over Mamelodi Sundowns also drew heavy chatter.

    Heard on Power FM · 08:36 SASTAsk locl about this: SA Sports Awards crown Simbine and a rugby hangover, heard on Power FM

Morning edition

Morning editionCovers Sun, 23 Aug 05:00 → Mon, 24 Aug 05:00 SAST

Morning edition · 5-minute listen

Politics dominated the airwaves as the ANC's manifesto launch in Dipsloot — complete with an 11th-hour climbdown over mayoral candidates — ran across every major talk station. Corruption threaded through the day too, from the fifth anniversary of Babita Deokaran's assassination to fresh arrests of Emfuleni municipal officials. Sport delivered a Springbok gut-punch at Ellis Park, while lifestyle slots turned to South African women quietly reshaping the property market.

  1. ANC manifesto launch overshadowed by mayoral candidate U-turn

    Every major talk station led with the ANC's local government elections manifesto launch at Riverside Park in Dipsloot, where Cyril Ramaphosa unveiled a six-point action plan and conceded the party understood the frustration of millions who had lost faith in government. But the day was defined by an 11th-hour climbdown: instead of naming final mayoral candidates as promised, Secretary General Fikile Mbalula only revealed shortlisted finalists. SAfm, 702, Cape Talk and Power FM all framed it as factional paralysis, with a Social Research Foundation poll suggesting the DA could overtake the ANC in Johannesburg.

    Heard on 702 · 07:11 SASTAsk locl about this: ANC manifesto launch overshadowed by mayoral candidate U-turn, heard on 702

  2. Deokaran anniversary and the unfinished corruption fight

    Five years to the day since Gauteng health whistleblower Babita Deokaran was gunned down outside her Johannesburg home, acting Police Minister Firoz Cachalia told a commemoration that the architects of her murder remain protected by their positions of power. 702 and Cape Talk carried extensive coverage, noting six hitmen are jailed but the paymasters untouched, while the SIU has now placed the Tembisa Hospital tender network at over R2 billion. Former State Capture evidence leader Paul Pretorius separately told 702 that the Zondo-recommended anti-corruption procurement agency has still not materialised.

    Heard on 702 · 18:02 SASTAsk locl about this: Deokaran anniversary and the unfinished corruption fight, heard on 702

  3. Emfuleni municipal officials arrested in electricity fraud scheme

    Power FM, SAfm and 702 tracked the Political Killings Task Team's takedown of Emfuleni local municipality employees in Vanderbijlpark, with the arrest tally rising from five to seven by Sunday afternoon. The suspects, attached to the revenue and electrical departments, allegedly posed as authorised officials and instructed residents to pay directly into their personal accounts in exchange for illegal reconnections. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi praised the PKTT's work, noting the team is also reopening previously closed political killing cases. The accused appear in the Vanderbijlpark Magistrates Court on Monday.

    Heard on SAfm · 10:01 SASTAsk locl about this: Emfuleni municipal officials arrested in electricity fraud scheme, heard on SAfm

  4. Springboks stunned 33-16 by All Blacks at Ellis Park

    702 and Power FM led sports coverage with the Springboks' five-try demolition at the hands of New Zealand in the opening test of the Greatest Rivalry series at Ellis Park. Rassie Erasmus admitted his side was wasteful in the All Blacks' 22, produced a woeful handling performance and slipped into ill-discipline late on, conceding the only sustained dominance came at scrum time. Erasmus rallied his squad ahead of a must-win return in Cape Town next Saturday, invoking past comebacks against the Lions and Ireland. Injuries and a Tuesday turnaround complicate selection.

    Heard on 702 · 08:38 SASTAsk locl about this: Springboks stunned 33-16 by All Blacks at Ellis Park, heard on 702

  5. South African women overtake men as sole property owners

    Cape Talk's early-morning business slot turned to Lightstone data showing 1.4 million sole female residential property owners in South Africa, now outpacing roughly 1.3 million men, with black women driving much of the growth. Lightstone's Estiaan Marks told the station women are predominantly buying in the lower and middle price brackets, reflecting both affordability pressures and rising financial independence. The conversation tied into broader anxieties aired across 702 about cost of living squeezing even 50,000-rand earners, and hopes on Cape Talk that an interest-rate cutting cycle could finally revive a stagnant housing market.

    Heard on Cape Talk · 04:56 SASTAsk locl about this: South African women overtake men as sole property owners, heard on Cape Talk

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