Morning edition

1. 01

   Asylum directive withdrawn as anti-immigration violence spreads

   Thursday night's unrest led bulletins on 702, Cape Talk, Power FM, SAfm, Kaya 959 and 947. Ten cars were torched in Soweto and 14 in the Durban CBD, and foreign-owned shops were looted. On Friday morning Home Affairs withdrew its 28 September directive opening asylum applications after the Constitutional Court ruling. Minister Leon Schreiber said the process had become visibly impractical. The violence continued regardless. Police fired rubber bullets at protesters who had marched from the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. In Umbilo, Durban, three houses and a motorbike were torched, and police used stun grenades in Gqeberha.

   Heard on 702 · 12:09 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Asylum directive withdrawn as anti-immigration violence spreads, heard on 702
2. 02

   Navi Pillay wins the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize

   Breaking news at midday that Justice Navi Pillay had won the Nobel Peace Prize was carried on 702, Cape Talk, SAfm and 947. The 85-year-old is the fifth South African to receive the award. Bulletins traced her path from defending anti-apartheid activists in Durban to the Rwanda tribunal, where she helped establish that rape could be an act of genocide. She later became UN human rights chief. President Ramaphosa congratulated her, and she told the SABC of her utter surprise. SAfm noted that hours later the US moved against the International Criminal Court, where she once served.

   Heard on Cape Talk · 15:05 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Navi Pillay wins the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, heard on Cape Talk
3. 03

   Matric exams cleared to start despite flagged concerns

   With national senior certificate exams beginning on Monday, Power FM reported that quality assurer Umalusi has declared the system ready. More than a million candidates will write at over 9,000 centres. Umalusi said the outstanding concerns from its readiness audit are not systemic. On Cape Talk, the Department of Basic Education's Terence Khala outlined security arrangements and coordination with the IEC, since the exams overlap with the 4 November local government elections. 702 also reported findings on last year's paper breach, which was limited to 40 of about 600,000 candidates.

   Heard on Power FM · 07:32 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Matric exams cleared to start despite flagged concerns, heard on Power FM
4. 04

   Bad light halts Proteas' opening day against Australia

   The first Test between South Africa and Australia at Kingsmead got sport desks talking all morning. It is the first Test on home soil since January 2025. Kagiso Rabada was ruled out with a hamstring injury, opening the door for Anrich Nortje, and Temba Bavuma admitted to nerves. Storms and bad light ended play early, with Australia on 187 for six. Matt Renshaw (46) and Pat Cummins (33) steadied the innings after Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Nortje took two wickets apiece. Day two's second session will be extended.

   Heard on 947 · 16:05 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Bad light halts Proteas' opening day against Australia, heard on 947
5. 05

   A memoir of losing, and finding, a voice

   Cape Talk's early-morning book slot featured Hot Tea and Apricots, a memoir by South African industrial psychologist Kim Ballantyne. In 2004 a sudden medical condition took away her ability to speak. She described her daughter Natalie insisting that no information could be worse than their imaginations, which forced the family to communicate openly. She also recalled whispering a greeting to her doctor, Professor Joseph, who burst into tears. The conversation turned to trauma and how South Africans normalise it.

   Heard on Cape Talk · 04:46 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: A memoir of losing, and finding, a voice, heard on Cape Talk