News24 The Lead

Diplomatic dilemma: Trump nominates new SA ambassador

Loading player...
It's an extraordinary time for Pretoria and Washington. Both cities' embassies await new diplomats after SA / US relations took a turn for the worse. If the Trump Administration gets its way, senior conservative media man Brent Bozell III, whose son was recently pardoned for storming Capitol Hill, will become the US Ambassador to SA. While here at home, a few big names are doing the rounds to replace our ousted representative, Ebrahim Rasool, including DA stalwart Tony Leon and ANC deputy minister Andries Nel. In this edition of The Lead, host Graeme Raubenheimer wades through this diplomatic dilemma with News24's presidency and executive reporter Amanda Khoza. Later, the Boks reveal they're banking on a new sponsor. The Health Minister's dropping a dagga decision. And Nana the Rhino overcomes it all. You can now mail us your views, news, and voice notes to thelead@24.com. Editions will drop Monday through Thursday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts at 19:00.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Intro
  • 01:32 Interview with Amanda Khoza
  • 19:45 Trending topic: Springboks' new sponsor
  • 20:43 Trending topic: SA dagga decision dropped
  • 21:51 And finally: Meet Nana the resilient rhino
  • 23:33 Outro
26 Mar 2025 English South Africa News · Society & Culture

Other recent episodes

Should SA get involved in the US-Venezuela crisis?

While the SACP marched on the US Embassy in Pretoria on Thursday to denounce the Trump administration’s abduction of another sitting head of state, the political parties that make up the current government of national unity (GNU) failed to see eye-to-eye on how best to react to the US-Venezuela crisis…
8 Jan 29 min

From SIU head to NPA boss, Andy Mothibi’s surprise leap raises eyebrows

A surprise appointment to be sure… Corruption buster Advocate Andy Mothibi has his work cut out for him as the new head of the National Prosecuting Authority from February 1. But does his bypassing of the interview process sour the start of his new position, and what about concerns over…
7 Jan 21 min

Why are SA shoppers still using savings stamps? With Maya Fisher-French

In our second edition of the new year so far… They’re by no means a new invention. But they appear to be as popular as ever, according to one major retailer. Many South Africans continue to spend millions on savings stamps every month, according to consumer journalist Maya Fisher-French. Later,…
6 Jan 22 min

Analysing Bafana’s Afcon exit

Welcome to 2026 Lead listeners… From municipal elections to the FIFA World Cup, it is going to be a banger of a year… and we’ll be with you telling our countries’ most critical stories, every step of the way. For our first edition of season two of The Lead; Bafana…
5 Jan 29 min

The government of national unity (barely) survives 2025, with Jan Gerber

Touch wood, South Africa’s government of national unity has survived 2025. But the tested national coalition between two of the country’s most devout enemies, the ANC and the DA, has the war wounds to show for it. And senior parliamentary correspondent Jan Gerber has borne witness to most of these…
23 Dec 2025 23 min
All episodes