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Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24’s definitive podcast for in-depth reporting. Join us every Monday to Thursday at 19:00 SAST for candid conversations with our top journalists, and discover what they saw, heard, and uncovered in their relentless pursuit of the big story. Episodes drop on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube like clockwork. WhatsApp: 072 562 3179 or mail: thelead@24.com. This is The Lead, and this is the South African story.
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He’s the preferred candidate whose name is on the lips of many senior DA party members. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis sits down to lunch with The Lead’s Graeme Raubenheimer this Thursday.From student politics, his allegiance to Helen Zille, the George v Steenhuisen saga, and ambitions for the Union Buildings, the man vying to be DA leader bares all. We include the usual show segments, such as On This Day in SA History and Rauby’s Pointless Braai Quiz. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24’s editors.
The conflict situation in the Middle East is fluid. South Africans in Dubai and Bahrain tell of the terror of Iran’s retaliatory strikes after Israel and the US took out Iran’s supreme leader. The traveller’s airspace is chaotic. And Pretoria’s allegiance to Tehran will be tested further. We cross to global news correspondent and columnist, Phillip de Wet, to navigate this massive moment, marked both abroad and locally. In our trending topic, a Somerset West sting operation nabbed a brazen contractor attempting to bribe a City of Cape Town manager with a bag full of cash. Finally, the Cape has a long history of water scarcity and provision problems, with On This Day in SA History, our regular show segment. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24's editors.
Senior health department officials are facing the music for allegedly siphoning off around R1 million from the Global Fund, which is meant to assist in fighting HIV, TB and malaria, all to pay a so-called independent investigator to try and discipline an internal corruption whistleblower. Let our investigative journalist, Azarrah Karrim, fill in the blanks for you in this edition.In our trending topic, the so-called Facebook Rapist, Thabo Bester, will stay put in a supermax prison in KwaZulu-Natal. Finally, the apartheid SABC unbanned The Beatles, as part of On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24’s editors.
Oh, no, it wasn't a gift… That's the insistence from former Ekurhuleni city manager Imogen Mashazi, who in 2022 hopped on a R3.5-million, privately chartered jet for a shopping spree in central London. And who did she share the luxurious flight with? Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks explains why this matters in the next edition. In our trending topic, the Hawks circle three senior officials in the health ministry. Finally, Ladysmith Black Mambazo claimed SA’s first Grammy, with On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by News24’s editors.
Are they two sides of a similar coin? Parliamentarians have spent the past few weeks grilling the rather cryptic backgrounds of both investigator Paul O'Sullivan and information peddler Brown Mogotsi. The pair, in their own peculiar ways, have found themselves so embroiled in, or alleged in proximity to, all sorts of shadowy dealings with top criminal justice authority figures that it's becoming nigh impossible to believe who's telling the truth. Just ask our senior parliamentary reporter, Jan Gerber, our guest, next. Later in the show, we recall the deadly 1862 Birkenhead ship collision, with On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
Don’t worry, folks, it appears 2026 is a good news Budget. In a nutshell, Treasury has spared us the pain of universal tax increases, while also introducing increases on tax-free thresholds for several investments. The economy, as many continue to celebrate, is turning the corner, so much so that the annual growth projection stands at 1.6%. Specialist journalist Carol Paton gives the finance minister and his team three thumbs up out of five. Then, in our trending topic, you can now apply for an e-Visa to travel to the UK, but that’s about the only change to this expensive process. Finally, Madiba cooled some KZN tensions in On This Day in SA History, heard later in the show. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop on Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Monday through Thursday at 19:00. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
Coronationville, Westbury and Melville are among the Johannesburg suburbs still suffering from a perpetual water crisis. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has promised residents that long-term solutions are on the way. But metro journalist Alex Patrick tells us that, in the meantime, many infuriated locals are struggling to survive. In our trending topic: a fire at Cape Town International Airport delays global flights. Finally, a journalist of colour was sentenced to prison time for conspiring to break the apartheid Immorality Act, with On This Day in SA History, which is among our regular segments before Rauby’s Pointless Braai Quiz. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
Multi-millions of our hard-earned taxes have gone towards a mass Metrorail train refurbishment project but allegations of bribery between the contractors and the Passenger Rail Agency (Prasa) dog this deal, all while the trains gather rust, and are yet to leave any station. We mind the gap with investigative journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha, who faces legal threats for reporting on the matter. In other rail news, Prasa says the critical Kapteinsklip corridor in Cape Town is open again for Mitchells Plain Metrorail commuters. Finally, two well-known South Africans share their birthday, while progressive MP Helen Suzman made her mark, with On This Day in SA History, which is among our regular segments like Rauby's Pointless Braai Quiz. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
The opening of Parliament, albeit from Cape Town City Hall, is anything but a quiet affair. Let The Lead host, Graeme Raubenheimer, take you inside the spectacle that was the State of the Nation Address 2026. From politicians’ demands on the red carpet and a student protest to the president’s podium, Raubenheimer holds out his mic to gauge the moment. And, besides the perpetual water crisis, crime and corruption, Raubenheimer discovers across party political lines an undercurrent of concern over illegal immigration. This is The Lead, and this is the South African story. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
This is The Lead, and this is the South African story. Joining host Graeme Raubenheimer for a special roundtable discussion, asking whether or not President Cyril Ramaphosa has kept his 2025 State of the Nation Address promises, are News24 editor-in-chief Adriaan Basson, political analyst and media commentator Mpumelelo Mkhabela, and esteemed academic of the highest order, affiliated in various professor roles in UCT and Wits University, Richard Calland. Stay tuned to News24 for on-the-ball, expert coverage of the 2026 State of the Nation Address. We critique the president’s promises to help you better understand the direction in which our beautiful country is heading. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
KwaZulu-Natal has emerged as the epicentre of the current devastating outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle, with farmers, desperate for the new locally made vaccine, resorting to the worst to protect their livelihoods. We get a sense of the situation on farms with our roaming KZN reporter, Sakhiseni Nxumalo, who tells us farmers are shooting their infected livestock. Meanwhile, former DA leader Tony Leon offers John Steenhuisen’s eventual successor some strong pointers, and any guesses who his money is on? Finally, we tune in for our regular segments; On This Day in SA History and the ever-challenging Rauby’s Pointless Braai Quiz. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
We begin this late Tuesday edition of The Lead with breaking news: Johannesburg Water says an unprotected strike by some of its staff has been called off, following discussions with municipal union SAMWU. Note, please, that the rest of this show was compiled before this development. Meanwhile, the blame for the worsening water crisis in the City of Gold is being laid at politicians’ feet, reports News24 metro journalist Alex Patrick, who takes us deeper into the real reasons why Rand Water is slowing supply flow. Later, in our trending topic, Knysna and the Mother City are also grappling with their own water woes. Finally, the US conceded it needed to change tact with apartheid SA, with On This Day in SA History, heard later. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented, and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
They scored big contracts with the Gauteng government. And, according to News24 investigations, the Public Protector’s about to clear the province’s Infrastructure Development Department of any alleged wrongdoing in awarding these tenders to companies linked to the sons of Deputy President Paul Mashatile.But journalist Kyle Cowan fears that this Chapter Nine institution has failed to consider the glaring red flags that sprang up during the companies’ tender bid process. Later, in our trending topic, no, that does not appear to be the late Nathi Mthethwa in an alleged Epstein video. Finally, almost a century before Madiba was sent to Robben Island, there was Hlubi Chief Langalibalele, as heard later in On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
The Trump administration has now signed off on a new AGOA deal, allowing South Africa duty-free access to the US market. But do not celebrate too quickly, warns our seasoned business journo, Jan Cronje. Those pesky 30% Liberation Day tariffs remain, and our trade delegation’s yet to strike any new overriding deal. Finally…We remember Dr Neil Agett, with On This Day in SA History. Finally, can you crack Rauby’s pointless braai quiz? Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
In an about-turn, John Steenhuisen has decided to bow out as DA leader. It’s left the party’s upcoming elective congress all the more intriguing. We take stock of Steenhuisen’s tenure with News24 investigations editor Pieter du Toit, and assess Steenhuisen’s potential successors with journalist Velani Ludidi, in this special roundtable. Top political analyst Daniel Silke keeps the conversation flowing, arguing that the next DA leader should stick to being just that and avoid taking on a public office-bearer role. Finally, a bold attempt to fly from London to Cape Town began in 1920, as featured on On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
They are one of the most critical witnesses yet…In the Madlanga Commission’s view, the implicated police officer known as Witness F was the “go-between” for Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala and General Shadrack Sibiya. The commission, as legal journalist Karyn Maughan reports, is leading Witness F’s sensitive WhatsApp messages that also reveal talk of some sort of arms deal with the apparent nephew of the late former deputy president, David Mabuza. Later, in our trending topic, are these John Steenhuisen’s final days as DA leader? Some sources suggest so ahead of the party’s April elective congress. Finally, the historic ‘Wind of Change’ speech was delivered in Parliament, and On This Day in SA History, it was heard later. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
While the notorious Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala gunned for dodgy multimillion-rand payouts with the Tembisa Hospital extraction scandal, the police, and even tried to pilot a luxury private airport terminal, it has now emerged that his wife, Tsakane, landed a lucrative training tender from the City of Ekurhuleni almost overnight. None other than investigative journalist Jeff Wicks has the details in this edition. In our trending topic, we wrap up what we know so far regarding the latest Epstein files release and any reference the emails carry to South Africa. Finally, it is a major moment in time: On This Day in SA History, former president FW de Klerk announced the unbanning of the ANC and Tata Madiba’s imminent release. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
His son has links to a company that once raked in millions from a questionable Gauteng Health Department contract. Now, this business, tied to Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s lad, Thabiso, not only has a fat tax bill and changed its name to that of a major German city, but it’s no longer doing business with the South African state, either. Investigative journalist and author Kyle Cowan tells us why, in this edition, next. Finally, in Rauby’s Pointless Braai Quiz, we ask: Who’s the star of an upcoming documentary that’s now been pulled from SA cinemas? Find out after On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer, and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
The Madlanga Commission’s work deepens this week with KwaZulu-Natal Hawks boss, Lesetja Senona, coming clean on his and his son Thato’s proximity to The Cat – Vusimusi Matlala. Senona admits he sent the controversial tender don Bheki Cele’s contact details, and even the contentious Political Killings Task Team disbandment letter. But any insinuation, Senona claims, that there’s a corrupt business relationship between him, his son, and The Cat, is beyond the pale. Legal journo Karyn Maughan also dishes the details of Senona’s claims that outspoken KZN Police Commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, tried to strike a shadowy deal with Matlala. Later, in our trending topic, Jozi’s Ferndale residents are learning that brothels are difficult to shut down. Finally, SA gunned for Europe in World War 2, with On This Day in SA History. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer, and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
Say you’ve used only a quarter of an expensive data bundle, and its 30-day use period is about to expire? Well, the Independent Communications Authority of SA (Icasa) has quietly gazetted new rules that force major mobile companies to roll this unused data over to the following month so you don’t lose it. It’s just one of a handful of new cellphone regulations, discussed in detail, with business journo William Brederode. Later, in our trending topic, the Oscar season is upon us and we review the upcoming Rachel McAdams thriller, Send Help, with our resident movie critic, Joel Ontong. Finally, we recall one of the Mother City’s biggest veld fires in living memory, with On This Day in SA History, heard at the end of the show. Comment below and send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note: 072 562 3179. To advertise: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube. The show is fully produced, presented and edited by Raubenheimer, and quality-checked by Simon Sonnekus.
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