The Lead

This is The Lead: Rewind to 6 October 2025. South Africa has been watching television for almost half a century. Yet with the SABC’s finances in the red, DStv haemorrhaging subscribers over its prices, while streamers stream in, we ask: what’s next for Mzansi’s traditional TV industry?  We change channels to TV trade journo Thinus Ferreira in this edition of The Lead. Later, the Patriotic Alliance heralds the return of the so-called Sushi King to his Jozi throne. Finally, we reflect on early 1994’s teething problems with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

The Springbok boys in green and gold go head-to-head with their old foes, the Japanese Cherry Blossoms this 1 November. Coach Rassie Erasmus has already named his squad for next month’s tour, with young Stormers breakout star Zachary Porthen tipped to make his debut. Taking stock post-Rugby Championship for The Lead is our News24 sport editor, Lloyd Burnard. Later, in our trending topic, Nicole McCain gives us the scoop on DJ Black Coffee’s R157 million Clifton villa, complete with cinema room. Finally, we recount Mzansi’s Boxing golden years with On This Day in SA History. Editor’s note: The Lead will resume normal programming Monday 3 November. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. To advertise in the show: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

On one hand, the ANC’s championing of broad-based black economic empowerment (BBBEE) has certainly succeeded in putting money into black people’s hands, a majority race excluded from enjoying the fruits of our country’s economy for centuries. But BBBEE’s critics, on the other hand, claim that the wealth this contentious policy has generated has often landed in the laps of a small elite group with strong political ties. So, in apartheid’s shadow, what could potentially take BBBEE’s place? The ANC’s government of national unity partner, the DA, claims to have the answer. And the journalist covering the party’s latest proposal is Siyamtanda Capa, our guest in this edition of The Lead. Later, in our trending topic, the plot thickens, with our investigations team detailing evidence that slain auditor Mpho Mafole’s work was hindered from within the City of Ekurhuleni. Finally, revelations of a double agent shocked the nation in 2003 with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. To advertise in the show: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Hunted. What was slain auditor Mpho Mafole and his team probing from within the City of Ekurhuleni when he was gunned down in Kempton Park this year? Find out by listening to this edition of The Lead with our senior investigative journalist, Sikonathi Mantshantsha. Later, in our trending topic, the PA unseats the ANC in a startling Soweto by-election. And finally, SA’s got a rich rail legacy with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

He’s been itching to tell his side of the story. Suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu has been emphatic to Parliamentarians this Thursday that there was no sinister ulterior motive in disbanding the Political Killings Task Team and that the unit was under review for a long time. Catch the very latest from Mchunu’s evidence before MPs, with our senior parliamentary correspondent, Jan Gerber, in this edition of The Lead. Later, the road to Springbok glory was difficult, with our regular segment, “On This Day in SA History”, at the end of the show. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Much of the Madlanga Commission’s focus has been on detailing the events leading up to the disbandment of KwaZulu-Natal’s Political Killings Task Team (PKTT) nearly a year ago and the alleged reasons behind the decision. But if we pause and consider the text-based evidence tabled before the commission regarding the PKTT’s effectiveness, has it been all that impressive and worthwhile? Jean Redpath is a senior researcher at the Dullah Omar Institute at the University of the Western Cape and argues in this edition of The Lead that the costs involved in the PKTT achieving so few convictions are perhaps not bang for SA’s buck. Later, in our trending topic, News24 football journo Tashreeq Vardien helps us take stock of where a draw against Zimbabwe leaves Bafana Bafana in its final bid to qualify for next year’s FIFA World Cup. Finally, we reflect on the country’s long LGBTQ+ journey with On This Day in SA History. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Die poppe is besig om te dans! Translated: the dolls are busy dancing! Which essentially means the chickens have come home to roost. While the SIU raids tender don Morgan Maumela’s Sandton mansion, and heavily armed officers swarm the Centurion home of suspended top cop Shadrack Sibiya, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi wrapped up his evidence before Parliament’s ad-hoc committee at midnight on Wednesday. Our senior Parliamentary journalist, Jan Gerber, has been burning the midnight oil to keep us abreast of any major Mkhwanazi takeaways there. Later in the show, we cross to our football aficionado, Tashreeq Vardien, in Durban for the critical Bafana Bafana Friday clash against Zimbabwe in the aftermath of Mokoena-gate. Finally, with “On This Day in SA History”, did you know a South African once traversed the famous Channel Tunnel wearing flip flops? You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

The smaller, minority political parties are easily the kingmakers in the City of Johannesburg. Now, though, it has emerged that some of them have suddenly exited their shared WhatsApp group. So where does this leave the current configuration of the government of local unity in Jozi? Could it spell more coalition uncertainty for a metro screaming out for proper service delivery? We catch up with our resident metro journalist in the council, Alex Patrick. Later in the show, KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi tells MPs that if Crime Intelligence revealed sensitive info about political party funding, “the country will burn”.Finally, we remember the Jozi gold rush pioneers with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

With the DA quick out of the gates to deploy one of its most senior members to run for Johannesburg’s mayoral chain, where does this leave the ANC? Does the party, wilting under its track record of corruption and poor service delivery rely on incumbent Dada Morero to take up the fight against Helen Zille in next year’s municipal polls? Or does it deploy a candidate no-one saw coming? With some answers for The Lead is our News24 journalist dabbling in local government politics, Siyamtanda Capa. Later in the show, a US-blacklisted Russian cargo plane touches down in Upington. Finally, we look back on Ian Smith’s last ditch attempts to keep white minority rule in Zimbabwe with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Please note that our top story in The Lead today may upset you. Listeners’ discretion is advised. In short, you’re going to meet the monster John Harris, as narrated by the veteran investigative journalist who unearthed the harrowing story, Jacques Pauw. Harris, 73, a British-born music teacher for schoolchildren who had frequented many towns up and down the Western Cape, was earlier this year sent to Paarl’s Alandale prison for the grooming, sexual assault and double rape of a 9-year-old girl. In fact, he preyed on several women and girls, some of whose experiences only came to light for the first time this week, thanks in part to Pauw’s reporting. We’d like to take this opportunity to urge anyone aware of child or women abuse in South Africa to please contact the South African Police Service at 10111 or call the national Childline toll-free helpline at 116. We end today’s show with ‘On This Day in SA History’. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

He’s been riding high in Lamborghinis, now eyed by investigators for asset seizure. Hangwani Morgan Maumela, the supreme tender don at the centre of the Tembisa Hospital tender scam, has since been pushing to get his foot in the door in the North West province too. But as investigative journalist Jeff Wicks reports, Maumela’s company couldn’t even bother to obtain a legitimate BBBEE certificate to win this lucrative hospital catering deal. Wicks tells The Lead that Maumela lost the bid but has since interdicted the tender. Later in the show, EFF leader Julius Malema loses his firearm case in the courts. Finally, the French back apartheid arms in our daily reflection with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

It is already week three of the Madlanga Commission in Pretoria, and we have witnessed some damning allegations of the criminal capture of the country’s justice system. The rot in the police is so bad that the senior men and women in blue have a name for the criminal syndicate that has infiltrated its heart: “The Big Five”. And with a new inquiry evidence leader, advocate Matthew Chaskalson SC entering the fray, how can we better make sense of the claims we are hearing right now? To navigate us through the noise in this edition of The Lead, you will hear from our News24 specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, live from the Pretoria inquiry, Mbekezeli Benjamin, a researcher and advocacy officer for non-profit group Judges Matter, as well as News24 investigations editor Pieter du Toit. Later in the show, French police are investigating the death of former long-time Cabinet minister Nathi Mthethwa at a Paris hotel. And finally, we remember Winnie Madikizela-Mandela with “On This Day in SA History” courtesy of SA History Online. You can send our host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on the show: 072 562 3179. Mail us: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

There are some signs that South Africa is heading down the Latin American route, following the recent assassinations of some key societal figures. From Babita Deokaran to Bouwer van Niekerk, global crime experts warn that the targeting of whistleblowers, prosecutors, activists, and even journalists weakens the very foundation of democracy. To take stock of the lessons one can learn from Mexico, for example, The Lead’s Graeme Raubenheimer interviews Julian Rademeyer, the East and Southern Africa director for the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime (GI-TOC). Later in the show, is SA/US trade dead in the water or is it all systems AGOA for a new agreement? And finally, we remember the Tulbagh earthquake of 1969 with “On This Day in SA History” courtesy SA History Online. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this live to 072 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

On day five of the Madlanga Commission sitting in Pretoria: South Africa’s police chief, Fannie Masemola, has alleged that his now-suspended deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, the now-suspended police minister, Senzo Mchunu, the mysterious associate Brown Mogotsi and the incarcerated tender don, Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala all, in turn, schemed to get rid of the Political Killings Task Team and halt investigations into the criminal underworld. But in this edition of The Lead, specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, cautions us to, pause, and take all this with a healthy dose of salt. Later in the show, the Patriotic Alliance clears its deputy president Kenny Kunene for any alleged wrongdoing over his presence at a police raid. Finally, we remember the mysterious Vela Incident from 1979 with ‘On This Day in SA History’ courtesy SA History Online. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this live to 072 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

It’s been day four of the Madlanga Commission with our second witness on the stand: national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who’s since insisted that the decision to disband the contentious Political Killings Task Team was “unlawful”. That’s not all: Masemola told the commission in Pretoria on Monday that he received a tip-off alleging that his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, may be linked to Gauteng’s criminal syndicates, in particular now-incarcerated tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who had been taking liberties with his alleged illegal connections to the police. Specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan joins The Lead’s host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, to break down all the juiciest bits from the day’s events. Later in the show, some Mpumalanga schools are forced to make thousands of costly photocopies of old textbooks to teach pupils. And finally, we remember Thabo Mbeki’s booting from office with “On This Day in SA History” courtesy SA History Online. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this live to 072 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Friday marks day three of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations of criminal capture of the country’s criminal justice system. Evidence of WhatsApp conversations between KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and an apparent associate and friend of now suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu has offered South Africans a glimpse inside the core of the claims being made thus far. Mkhwanazi believes it’s “strange” that the mysterious Brown Mogotsi has had unfettered access to SAPS Crime Intelligence information, knew about developments in the ranks, and even the details of the minister’s daily diary. Specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan joins broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer in The Lead’s hotseat to take us through the day’s proceedings thus far. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this live to 072 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

It’s day two of the Madlanga Commission and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has begun implicating more public figures for their alleged role in politically interfering in the country’s criminal justice system. Mkhwanazi alleges that National Coloured Congress (NCC) MP Fadiel Adams has been “reckless” in his alleged handling of classified Crime Intelligence information. Specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan, as well as Madlanga Commission Spokesperson, Jeremy Michaels, joined The Lead host, broadcaster Graeme Raubenheimer, for all the major talking points from the commission at the site of its hearings in central Pretoria. This was a live recording.

For the first time ever, News24’s The Lead has gone live from the source of the story. The News24 team has set up camp at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in central Pretoria for all the main talking points from Day 1 of the Madlanga Commission. Host, Graeme Raubenheimer has been in conversation with specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, discussing the foundational evidence brought by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who insists that if nothing urgent is done soon, the country’s criminal justice system will virtually collapse. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this live to 072 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Full editions drop Monday through Thursday at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

In a stunning admission rarely seen from any politician in South Africa today, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa conceded that DA municipalities, such as Cape Town, are outperforming those governed by the ANC. Ramaphosa told thousands of the ANC ward councillors attending roll call at FNB Stadium in Soweto this week that it’s high time they prioritise service delivery or watch their party perish. The Lead’s host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, is joined in our Randburg studios by News24’s deputy politics editor, Bongekile Macupe, who reckons the president’s frankness, like proper service delivery, are long overdue. We turn to the sport desk for editor Lloyd Burnard’s take on Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma’s current fitness ahead of the 50-over Cricket World Cup in 2027.Finally, we end off with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday, at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.

Four people continue to elude the Gauteng police’s grasp for the brazen murder of top Johannesburg insolvency attorney Bouwer van Niekerk. He was shot and killed in his law firm’s offices earlier in September. Since then, the questionable, multimillion-rand NTC Global Trade Fund that Van Niekerk helped place in business rescue has been provisionally liquidated. The fund’s partners are now, according to them, living in fear too as investors ask the courts to get their millions back.News24 investigative journalist Kyle Cowan joins The Lead broadcasting from the news team’s Randburg studios. Later in the show, the asset management industry raises eyebrows at the latest Public Investment Corporation board appointments. Finally, we end off with “On This Day in SA History”. You can send host Graeme Raubenheimer a voice note with your questions or thoughts on this episode to: +27 72 562 3179. Mail your comments to: thelead@24.com. Editions drop Monday through Thursday, at 19:00 on Spotify, Apple and YouTube.