Morning edition

1. 01

   Mini-budget brings temporary fuel levy relief

   Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's medium-term budget dominated morning bulletins on Cape Talk, Power FM, 702 and others. The fuel levy will be cut by R3 a litre for diesel and R1.50 for petrol from 4 November to 1 December, with smaller cuts continuing until 5 January 2027. Higher-than-expected tax collection helped pay for it. Stations also noted that debt-to-GDP is stabilising at 78% and that debt service consumes 21 cents of every tax rand. The Fuel Retailers Association said the package softens upcoming hikes but offers little real relief.

   Heard on Cape Talk · 05:17 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Mini-budget brings temporary fuel levy relief, heard on Cape Talk
2. 02

   Public Protector probes Bronkhorstspruit water crisis

   More than 400 people have been treated for gastrointestinal illness after Tshwane's Bronkhorstspruit plant supplied unchlorinated water. Kaya 959 reported that the plant ran without chlorination from 24 September to 14 October and that residents were not warned. The Public Protector has launched an investigation into alleged maladministration, and the SAHRC unveiled a tracker covering all 144 water service authorities. Tshwane Mayor Nasiphi Moya pulled out of a 702 election debate, citing a governance crisis. Separately, sewer contamination at Finlay Reservoir forced Pretoria CBD onto an alternative supply.

   Heard on Cape Talk · 19:01 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Public Protector probes Bronkhorstspruit water crisis, heard on Cape Talk
3. 03

   Proteas crush Australia to level Test series

   South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park, levelling the three-match series 1-1. Power FM, 947, Cape Talk and 702 all carried the result. Temba Bavuma's 179 earned him player of the match. Marco Jansen's career-best 5 for 33 had bowled Australia out for 99 in their first innings. Despite a two-hour rain delay on the final day, Kagiso Rabada and Wiaan Mulder bowled the visitors out for 295 in the follow-on, even with Travis Head's 121 and a long, stubborn innings from Scott Boland. The decider is at Newlands next week.

   Heard on Power FM · 17:37 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Proteas crush Australia to level Test series, heard on Power FM
4. 04

   Foreign national beaten to death in Durban CBD

   Police opened a murder case after a man, believed to be a Ugandan aged around 40, was beaten to death in the Durban CBD on Thursday morning. Reports said two men left a march through the inner city and confronted him, and a group of about 50 people then joined in. Cape Talk, 702 and SAfm all carried the story. On SAfm, callers turned it into a wider argument about illegal immigration and the Home Affairs department. Police said the man's family had not yet been located.

   Heard on Cape Talk · 12:09 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Foreign national beaten to death in Durban CBD, heard on Cape Talk
5. 05

   Pastors, churches and state procurement

   Power FM's evening show took on the growing number of pastors caught up in tender corruption cases, with a historian and political analyst and Apostle Amos Mbiza in studio. The host listed a string of cases: pastors arrested by the Hawks over R114 million in education tenders in February, others over construction tenders in April, and clergy linked to the City Power R500 million scandal. The discussion asked what these court appearances are doing to public trust in religious institutions.

   Heard on Power FM · 21:15 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Pastors, churches and state procurement, heard on Power FM