The Lead
Episodes
Tabling Budget 3.0 with Carol Paton
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A whole new Budget 3.0 aims to include everyone's proper buy-in and you won't be taxed more on most goods you buy. But the DA and EFF's re...
Exposing X-Boer, the ex-farmer in Elon Musk’s ear
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On 'X', he goes by the name ‘Twatterbaas’, and his messages have attracted the attention of Elon Musk and, thus, the Trump Administratio...
The Mashatile ‘hit’ that wasn’t, with Kyle Cowan
24 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Was South Africa's deputy president, Paul Mashatile, the recent target of an attempted assassination? If sources close to a SAPS ballistics report...
Debunking Malema and Trump with Andrew Thompson
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
EFF leader Julius Malema alleges it's a lie that there are farm killings in South Africa. Among other claims, Malema suggests that white people ar...
The police chief, the Cat and corruption with Jeff Wicks
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
South African Police Service (SAPS) top brass dragged their feet in cancelling a tender awarded to a businessman known as "The Cat". News24 ...
Why did Nada-Jane have to die? With Bernadette Wicks
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In 2023, 4-year-old Nada-Jane Challita was discovered dead in the bathtub of her Johannesburg home, with only one suspect to point the finger at: her ...
An Ace in the hole, with Karyn Maughan
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on The Lead, we cross to Bloemfontein where specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan was in the Free State High Court, where former premier Ace...
Meet SA’s new envoy to America who called Trump a racist
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition, we scrutinise whether sending former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas as South Africa's special envoy to America is the righ...
The journalist uncovering SA's water crisis, one river at a time
14 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For tonight's episode of The Lead, we wade into the sewage-ridden waters of Mogale City with Sikonathi Mantshantsha, News24 specialist investigati...
The case against Dali Mpofu SC, with Karyn Maughan
10 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The Legal Practice Council, a national body meant to hold the legal profession to account, is launching a full-scale disciplinary inquiry into the con...
Navigating the GNU, VAT, ZAR and Trump's tariffs with Carol Paton
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The South African economy faces potentially volatile times with the Trump Administration's tariffs on one side of the scale and a 1 May VAT hike o...
The Mashatile factor in the battle for the GNU with Adriaan Basson
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The ANC believes it's time to hit the reset button on the government of national unity (GNU) following the DA's "double-dealing" reg...
Exposing the close-knit ANC t-shirt tender with Jeff Wicks
07 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An ANC-linked businesswoman who bagged a R2.5 million t-shirt tender with the Gauteng health department has denied having any relationship with its ME...
The DA and GNU - will they stay, or will they go?
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Quo Vadis, GNU? With the ANC searching for support outside of the GNU and the DA approaching the courts to interdict the national Budget's propose...
Will the Budget break the GNU? Carol Paton explains
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, the government of national unity is facing its most formidable challenge. The future of the tumultuous union rests on the outcomes of the joint...
Celebrating SA's heroes on Good News Day
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On 1 April, here at News24, we ditch the pranks to focus on the feel-good factor for what we have dubbed Good News Day. Instead of making you wonder w...
Minister Simelane, Vitrovian and the Kusile cash grab
31 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is in hot water, again. On Monday, News24's investigations team revealed that the minister bagged a coo...
SA steels itself against plant closures
27 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Three thousand five hundred jobs hang in the balance if ArcelorMittal were to close its two long steel plants in Vereeniging and Newcastle. Towns will...
Diplomatic dilemma: Trump nominates new SA ambassador
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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. ...
Will Rassie cull some older Springboks before RWC 2027?
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The quality of depth in our Springbok men's squad is undoubtedly the envy of every rugby nation. Thanks, in large part, to Rassie Erasmus. But for...
Air Force None with Sikonathi Mantshantsha
24 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa's skies are primarily unprotected, which should be of concern. On Monday, News24 revealed that only six of the 330 SA Air Force aircr...
The good news edition
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We all deserve to stop, breathe, meditate and smile about the good things happening in our lives and South Africa today. Sometimes, we just need that ...
Are South African women safe in Ubers?
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Are South African women safe in Ubers? This question comes after the e-hailing service stated that they have finalised their finding around the harro...
City Power fraud exposed: 15 staffers to be disciplined
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"City Power is taking disciplinary action against 15 of our staff members following a full-scale investigation,” confirmed Johannesburg City...
Persona non grata: The ousting of Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool
17 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"They're (South Africa) taking away land, they're confiscating land. And actually, they're doing things that are perhaps far worse than that," US Pres...
'It's not a bad budget, considering the mess we're in,' says News24's Carol Paton
13 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
"I think it's not a bad budget in the context of the absolute terrible mess we're in," says Carol Paton, News24's Writer-at-Large. On Thursday, she ...
Budget breakdown: A compromise, an increase and extension
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
It's been a tale of two budgets. On Wednesday, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana proposed a one-percentage-point value-added tax (VAT) increase over t...
Corruption, incompetence and a dark city: How City Power, Prasa flout tender process
10 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to the second episode of The Lead. In the studio with host Graeme Raubenheimer we have News24's Khaya Koko and Sipho Masondo. They talk us thr...
A conversation with Adriaan Basson about News24's new podcast
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dive deep into the stories shaping our world with The Lead, News24's definitive daily podcast for in-depth reporting. Join our host Graeme Raubenh...