Jacaranda FM Newswatch - Interviews

LUISTER: Elke gesprek is belangrik, op Wêreld Selfdood Voorkomings Dag

Die wêreld herdenk op 10 September Selfdood Voorkomings Dag en hierdie jaar is die boodskap dat elke gesprek tel. Die South African Depression and Anxiety Group, SADAG, sê daar is veral kommer oor die toename in mans wanneer dit by selfdood kom. In 2025, was sowat 80% van al die…

10 Sep 4AM 6 min

IEC’s new 36-hour code may not be enough to curb misinformation: R2K 

As South Africa prepares for the November 4 Local Government Elections, the Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has introduced a new Electoral Code of Conduct Countering Disinformation, aimed at curbing the spread of false and misleading information by political parties and candidates. The code comes amid growing concerns about…

9 Sep 7AM 7 min

Plastic Tax: Where does the money go?

Every time you pay for a plastic shopping bag, you’re paying a levy intended to help tackle pollution. But after more than two decades — and R6.56 billion collected — has the plastic bag levy delivered the environmental change it promised? In this episode, Jacaranda FM NewsWatch follows the money,…

9 Sep 3AM 11 min

South Africa records an increase in measles cases - should we be concerned?

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases, has confirmed an increase in measles cases nation wide. According the Institute's latest data, there have been 3 891 cases reported nationally between December last year, and August 2026. The Western Cape reported the highest number of new cases, followed by Limpopo, the Northern…

26 Aug 5AM 3 min

November election could be the last chance to save Joburg

The Centre for Development and Enterprise (CDE) warns that the Local Government Elections in November could very well be the decisive moment for the embattled City of Johannesburg. Once known as the City of Gold, Joburg owes creditors R25.2 billion, while its water infrastructure renewal backlog stands at R26.6 billion…

21 Aug 4AM 7 min

First a cold snap, now the heat - is this normal?

Last week, the northern and central parts of South Africa shivered as a cold snap pulled temperatures below 10 degrees in some places, and this week temperatures are expected to soar above 30. The South African Weather Service says although cold days in August aren't necessarily unusual, the past two…

20 Aug 3AM 4 min

Women's Day: A reminder of landmark moment in history

When around 20,000 women marched to the Union Buildings in Pretoria 70 years ago, something remarkable happened. They showed that women don't need men to highlight their struggles in society, but that they can do it themselves. Looking back at that March back in 1956, Professor Amanda Gouws from the…

9 Aug 6AM 6 min

Busting the myths around women in science in Africa

In women's month, we're shining the light on women making waves in their respective fields of work. When it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, there's still a long way to go to reach equality, but there is meaningful progress. Professor Nox Makunga, at the University Stellenbosch, is passionate…

7 Aug 1PM 10 min

How Artificial Intelligence helps determine and predict air pollution hotspots

Driving along the highways of Gauteng, it's hard to miss the blanket of dust and smoke hanging over the province in every direction, but where does it come from and where is it going? The South African Consortium of Air Quality Monitoring, is making air pollution their business. Their network…

3 Aug 8AM 20 min

Andrea Johnson tells key witness to 'leave the country' if called to testify at Madlanga Commission

Former Independent Directorate Against Corruption (IDAC) head Advocate Andrea Johnson is facing renewed scrutiny after the Madlanga Commission heard a cellphone recording in which she encourages State Advocate Drushanta Ramsamy to avoid testifying before the inquiry while also criticising the conduct of the commissioners.

30 Jul 10AM 6 min

6 July: A Year after the Mkhwanazi allegations - Episode 3

It is this week a year since a press conference led by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sent shockwaves through South Africa as he revealed serious allegations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, criminal networks, and alleged political interference within the country’s criminal justice sector. Jacaranda FM Newswatch journalist Anastasi…

8 Jul 12AM 10 min

6 July: A Year after the Mkhwanazi allegations - Episode 2

It is this week a year since a press conference led by KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi sent shockwaves through South Africa as he revealed serious allegations of fraud, corruption, money laundering, criminal networks, and alleged political interference within the country’s criminal justice sector. Jacaranda FM Newswatch journalist Anastasi…

7 Jul 12AM 17 min

6 July: A Year after the Mkhwanazi allegations - Episode 1

July 6, 2025, began like any other winter’s Sunday in South Africa: a quiet end to a cold weekend, with no indication that the day would soon become a defining moment in the country’s political and criminal justice landscape. By the end of that Sunday, the national conversation had changed…

6 Jul 12AM 14 min

The complexity of immigration: Law, solidarity and lived experiences

South Africa is once again in the midst of a heated national debate on immigration. Over recent weeks, anti-immigration protests have intensified across the country, with some groups calling for undocumented foreign nationals to leave. By: Anastasi Mokgobu Produced by: Emile Pienaar

29 Jun 4PM 9 min

The forgotten war of atrocities in Sudan enters its third year

It’s been three years of untold violence in Sudan, as the civil war between the army and the paramilitary group RSF rages on. Emile Pienaar takes you to the heart of a battle – of which the world knows very little. Doctors Without Borders, one of the few humanitarian organisations…

16 Apr 7AM 13 min

University of Pretoria unveils new handheld device to quickly detect TB

Chief Scientific Advisor at MARTI TB Diagnostics and an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology at the University of Pretoria, Jan Verschoor, said quick early diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) is recognised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as a priority. On Tuesday the United Nations commemorated…

24 Mar 10AM 15 min

Smart card ID now easier to get through joint venture with the banking sector

The Minister of Home Affairs, Leon Schreiber, says South Africans don't have to wait in long lines at Home Affairs Offices to get their smart ID Cards anymore. In an interview with Jacaranda FM Newswatch, Schreiber outlined how the department partnered with the country's big banks, to implement one of…

10 Mar 8AM 5 min

Iran war impact on South Africa wider than fuel prices

Iran, which controls an essential oil transport route known as the Strait of Hormuz, has since closed it as the war with the US and Israel rages on, making it impossible for some oil-producing nations to sell their oil. This has caused crude oil prices to skyrocket. Jacaranda FM Newswatch's…

5 Mar 11AM 12 min

Minister Willie Aucamp on 100 days in office

Listen in as Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Willie Aucamp, shared his vision with Jacaranda Newswatch's Nomfundo Twala for the department over the next 100 days. From science to sustainability, he aims to repair environmental damage, support communities, and rejuvenate South Africa’s tourism hotspots.

2 Mar 8AM 11 min

A crushing weekend ahead for vehicles left in Tshwane's impound

The Tshwane Metro Police Department has issued a warning to motorists: vehicles, trailers, caravans, or motorcycles impounded between 2001 and 2024 that are not collected by 28 February 2026 will be crushed. Owners or registered title holders who want their vehicles back, have to report to the TMPD Pound on…

27 Feb 4AM 7 min