RC 260826Cape TalkClarence Ford
Wednesday, 26 August 2026
The episode focused on South Africa’s social and institutional pressures, from the SRD grant appeal and municipal reform to infrastructure, energy policy and women’s unpaid economic contribution.
- 09:53
The IEJ said government defended the SRD grant system mainly on affordability, despite conceding that online applications and inaccurate income checks exclude deserving people, including around two million applicants.
- 10:40
SALGA CEO Sitole Mbanga identified five municipal turnaround priorities: economic development, climate resilience, improved financing, spatial transformation and stronger leadership across councils, administrations and communities.
- 10:22
The Green Connection urged Parliament to withdraw the gas bill, arguing internationally priced gas will not lower electricity costs, could create stranded assets and worsen climate impacts on affected communities.
- 11:15
Infrastructure executives said South Africa must move from discussing projects to executing them, with private-sector participation adding accountability; the government’s construction pipeline was cited as potentially creating millions of jobs.
- 11:37
Feminist economics highlights unpaid care and informal work excluded from GDP, while women face time poverty and a reported 15% to 25% pay gap; change should begin inside households.