Morning edition

1. 01

   ANC races to electoral court over excluded candidates

   Every major talk station led with the ANC's dash to the electoral court after 181 of its councillor candidates in six municipalities were left off the IEC's ballot for the November poll. Secretary General Fikile Mbalula insisted there is no crisis, blaming a system glitch the IEC denies, while stressing the party is not attacking the commission. Analysts on Power FM and SMWX noted the stakes: in places like Port St Johns and Nyandeni there may be no ANC ballot at all, and a UDM precedent already rejected by the court hangs over the case.

   Heard on Power FM · 16:03 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: ANC races to electoral court over excluded candidates, heard on Power FM
2. 02

   SA economy slides back into contraction

   Stats SA's Q2 GDP print landed with a thud across the dial: the economy shrank 0.2%, ending six quarters of growth, with trade, manufacturing and mining all in the red. Statistician General Risenga Maluleke walked 702 and Cape Talk through the numbers, while economists on Power FM argued the Reserve Bank should now cut rates to give households and Sassa recipients breathing room. DA leader Geordin Hill-Lewis seized on the figures to demand Ramaphosa confront ANC blockers of reform, and listeners vented about fuel above R30 and runaway Eskom tariffs.

   Heard on 702 · 12:49 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: SA economy slides back into contraction, heard on 702
3. 03

   Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial and the Section 174 win

   The corruption trial of former Speaker and Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula was a running thread on 702 and SAfm. She took the stand to insist her dealings with contractor Nombasa Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu were entirely innocent, but hosts noted her visibly sobered demeanour after IDAC's Section 174 win the previous day — usually a strong signal of where a judge is leaning. Commentators underlined that without Ntsondwa-Ndhlovu coming forward, the state would have had no case, and that a conviction on any one of the 13 counts could send her to prison.

   Heard on 702 · 09:13 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Mapisa-Nqakula corruption trial and the Section 174 win, heard on 702
4. 04

   Anti-migrant marches, xenophobia and the state's response

   The Inter-Ministerial Committee on Migration briefing dominated afternoon bulletins, with Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi condemning vigilantism at Operation Dudula-style protests in KZN and SAPS confirming no special budget for the March and March movement's 30 September deadline. Deputy National Commissioner Tebello Mosikili pushed back on international claims that ten foreign nationals had been killed, putting the figure at four. On Aubrey Masango's evening show, a fierce debate broke out over whether South Africa should openly be labelled a xenophobic country, with callers comparing local hostility to Ireland, Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire.

   Heard on 702 · 23:49 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Anti-migrant marches, xenophobia and the state's response, heard on 702
5. 05

   Springboks name side for final All Blacks test

   Rassie Erasmus's team announcement for the fourth and final test against the All Blacks in what stations called Baltimore drew the day's sport focus, with Damian Willemse starting at fullback in place of the injured Cheslin Kolbe and Morne van den Berg partnering Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu at halfback. Erasmus admitted he had been worried heading into the series given injuries to Kwagga, RG, Lood and Franco Mostert, but told reporters he is now happy with the depth at lock and scrum half. SAfm listeners were already tipping a comfortable Bok win.

   Heard on Power FM · 16:42 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Springboks name side for final All Blacks test, heard on Power FM