Morning edition

1. 01

   Matlala admits R550,000 to Sibiya, seeks in-camera testimony

   Alleged crime kingpin Vusimuzi Matlala's testimony at the Madlanga Commission led bulletins on 702, Cape Talk, SAfm, 947, Power FM and Kaya 959. Matlala admitted giving former Deputy Police Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya R550,000 in total: R500,000 towards his son's wedding and R50,000 at a SAPS awards ceremony. He denied expecting anything in return and asked to give part of his testimony in camera, citing fears for his family. He also blamed psychiatric medication for earlier statements. A heated row erupted over whether a consultation with commission investigators had been off the record.

   Heard on 947 · 18:01 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Matlala admits R550,000 to Sibiya, seeks in-camera testimony, heard on 947
2. 02

   Coalition talks begin in hung councils

   Cape Town was the only metro with an outright winner, leaving about 138 hung councils, and coalition arithmetic consumed airtime across stations. The ANC told its provincial and regional structures they may hold localised talks with other parties. On 702, News24's Adrian Basson said negotiating each council on its own merits within two weeks sounded close to impossible. In Johannesburg, the DA called removing Helen Zille as mayoral candidate a non-starter, and ActionSA would not drop Nasiphi Moya. Julius Malema's lawyers also demanded that Zille retract claims about Herman Mashaba, and she gave a crisp no.

   Heard on 702 · 03:50 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Coalition talks begin in hung councils, heard on 702
3. 03

   Unemployment edges up to 33.7%

   Stats SA's third-quarter labour force survey put official unemployment at 33.7%, up 0.1 of a percentage point. Employment rose by 101,000 while the number of unemployed rose by 97,000 to 8.6 million. Stations from SAfm to Power FM and Kaya 959 unpacked the numbers. Young people remained hardest hit, with 63.6% unemployment among 15- to 24-year-olds and about 3.7 million young people not in employment, education or training. Statistician-General Risenga Maluleke warned of the long-term economic cost of youth disengagement. Five provinces recorded increases, led by the Free State.

   Heard on 702 · 00:03 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Unemployment edges up to 33.7%, heard on 702
4. 04

   Bafana prepare for Benni McCarthy's Kenya

   Bafana Bafana assembled in camp for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Kenya. The first match is at home on Friday, followed by the return leg in Nairobi next Tuesday, and both Cape Talk and Power FM previewed the fixtures. The subplot is Kenya coach and former Bafana forward Benni McCarthy, who is reportedly under pressure to save his job. Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane warned that this makes the Harambee Stars dangerous, saying his side must be "very careful of playing an emotional team and especially when they have nothing to lose."

   Heard on Power FM · 17:35 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Bafana prepare for Benni McCarthy's Kenya, heard on Power FM
5. 05

   Alice in Wonderland debuts at Joburg Theatre panto

   SAfm's midday show turned to festive theatre after correcting an on-air slip. The station had said Alice in Wonderland was returning to the Joburg Theatre pantomime for another season. Janice Honeyman pointed out that it was Beauty and the Beast and Pinocchio that had played there before, and that Alice in Wonderland is in fact making its debut season. The award-winning theatre writer and director then joined the show to discuss the new production. It was a rare stretch of arts coverage on a day dominated by politics and commission hearings.

   Heard on SAfm · 13:30 SASTAsk locl about this ↗: Alice in Wonderland debuts at Joburg Theatre panto, heard on SAfm