We take stock of this year's national budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, which touched on many points and topics, including the country’s current economic standing, growth estimates, the massive debt servicing costs, heightened sin tax proposals and the extension of the social relief grant, among others. We are joined In-Studio by a panel of experts to unpack this year's winner and loser of the budget.

We take stock of this year's national budget speech delivered by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, which touched on many points and topics, including the country’s current economic standing, growth estimates, the massive debt servicing costs, heightened sin tax proposals and the extension of the social relief grant, among others. We are joined In-Studio by a panel of experts to unpack this year's winner and loser of the budget.

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

2024 Budget Speech Analysis

We take on one of the most dangerous misconceptions in missing persons cases in South
Africa — the so-called “24-hour rule.” Many still believe you have to wait a full day before reporting
someone missing. But the truth is: there is no waiting period. Police are legally required to open a case immediately — and those first hours can mean the difference between life and death.
Yet for many families, that urgency simply doesn’t exist in practice. We’ll be speaking to families who say they were let down in those critical early hours — told to wait, dismissed, or not taken seriously when they tried to report their loved ones missing. One of the cases we’ll reflect on is that of Nonkululeko Gabriella Ndaba, known as Gaby, who went missing in Boksburg in May 2023. Her family says there was no urgency from police when they reported her disappearance — no immediate tracing of her cellphone, no proper securing of a potential crime scene, and critical investigative steps were either delayed or ignored. Six days later, she was found dead. This conversation isn’t just about myth versus fact — it’s about accountability, trust in law enforcement, and the devastating consequences when systems fail at the very moment families need them most. Why does this myth persist? And more importantly, what happens when it shapes the response of those meant to protect us?

We take on one of the most dangerous&nbsp;misconceptions in missing persons cases in South Africa &mdash; the so-called &ldquo;24-hour rule.&rdquo; Many still&nbsp;believe you have to wait a full day before reporting someone missing. But the truth is: there is no waiting&nbsp;period. Police are legally required to open a case&nbsp;immediately &mdash; and those first hours can mean the&nbsp;difference between life and death. Yet for many families, that urgency simply doesn&rsquo;t exist in practice. We&rsquo;ll be speaking to families who say they were let down in those critical early hours &mdash; told to wait, dismissed, or not taken seriously when they tried to report their loved ones missing. One of the cases we&rsquo;ll reflect on is that of Nonkululeko Gabriella Ndaba, known as Gaby, who went missing in Boksburg in May 2023. Her family says there was no&nbsp;urgency from police when they reported her&nbsp;disappearance &mdash; no immediate tracing of her&nbsp;cellphone, no proper securing of a potential crime&nbsp;scene, and critical investigative steps were either&nbsp;delayed or ignored. Six days later, she was found&nbsp;dead.&nbsp;This conversation isn&rsquo;t just about myth versus fact &mdash;&nbsp;it&rsquo;s about accountability, trust in law enforcement, and&nbsp;the devastating consequences when systems fail at&nbsp;the very moment families need them most. Why does&nbsp;this myth persist? And more importantly, what&nbsp;happens when it shapes the response of those meant&nbsp;to protect us?

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: The 24-Hour Myth: When Waiting Costs Lives in Missing Persons Cases

Tonight, we turn our attention to a growing crisis that is unfolding inside classrooms across Gauteng — one that is quietly shaping the future of millions of children. Over the past three decades, learner numbers have surged from just over 1.4 million in 1995 to more than 2.8 million today, but the infrastructure meant to support them simply hasn’t kept up. The result? Severely overcrowded classrooms, with some teachers now facing as many as 70 to 85 learners at a time. Education authorities admit the system is under immense strain. Gauteng’s Education MEC, Lebogang
Maile, says the province urgently needs at least 200 new schools just to begin easing the pressure.
Meanwhile, thousands of learners remain unplaced, and concerns are mounting that the quality of
education is being fundamentally compromised. As Maile prepares to visit Bovet Primary School to
outline a way forward, the question remains — is the system already stretched beyond repair, and what does this mean for the constitutional right to education in South Africa?

Tonight, we turn our attention to a growing crisis that is unfolding inside classrooms across Gauteng &mdash; one that is quietly shaping the future of millions of children. Over the past three decades, learner numbers have surged from just over 1.4 million in 1995 to more than 2.8 million today, but the infrastructure meant to support them simply hasn&rsquo;t kept up. The result?&nbsp;Severely overcrowded classrooms, with some&nbsp;teachers now facing as many as 70 to 85 learners at a&nbsp;time.&nbsp;Education authorities admit the system is under&nbsp;immense strain. Gauteng&rsquo;s Education MEC, Lebogang Maile, says the province urgently needs at least 200&nbsp;new schools just to begin easing the pressure. Meanwhile, thousands of learners remain unplaced,&nbsp;and concerns are mounting that the quality of education is being fundamentally compromised.&nbsp;As Maile prepares to visit Bovet Primary School to outline a way forward, the question remains &mdash; is the&nbsp;system already stretched beyond repair, and what&nbsp;does this mean for the constitutional right to&nbsp;education in South Africa?

Gauteng’s Education MEC, Lebogang Maile

There’s a delicate balance between progress and crisis unfolding in the Eastern Cape tonight. On paper, the numbers are improving — fewer children and teenagers are giving birth compared to just a few years ago. But listen closely to health officials, and you’ll hear a very different tone: concern, urgency, and a refusal to celebrate too soon. In the last quarter of the 2025/26 financial year alone, 54 girls between the ages of 10 and 14 gave birth in the province. Fifty-four children, having children. For the Eastern Cape Department of Health, that statistic is not progress — it’s a stark reminder of how far there is still to go. MEC Ntandokazi Capa has made it clear: the goal is not reduction, it’s elimination — zero child pregnancies. Now while the province has seen a notable drop — from over 500 births among 10 to 14-year-olds just a few years ago, down to under 300 — and teenage births also declining by the thousands, these figures still point to a persistent and complex social
challenge. Tonight, we unpack the numbers behind the headlines, the human realities behind the statistics, and whether this decline signals real change — or simply a slower-moving crisis.

There&rsquo;s a delicate balance between progress and&nbsp;crisis unfolding in the Eastern Cape tonight. On paper,&nbsp;the numbers are improving &mdash; fewer children and&nbsp;teenagers are giving birth compared to just a few&nbsp;years ago.&nbsp;But listen closely to health officials, and you&rsquo;ll hear a&nbsp;very different tone: concern, urgency, and a refusal to&nbsp;celebrate too soon. In the last quarter of the 2025/26&nbsp;financial year alone, 54 girls between the ages of 10&nbsp;and 14 gave birth in the province. Fifty-four children,&nbsp;having children. For the Eastern Cape Department of&nbsp;Health, that statistic is not progress &mdash; it&rsquo;s a stark&nbsp;reminder of how far there is still to go. MEC&nbsp;Ntandokazi Capa has made it clear: the goal is not&nbsp;reduction, it&rsquo;s elimination &mdash; zero child pregnancies.&nbsp;Now while the province has seen a notable drop &mdash;&nbsp;from over 500 births among 10 to 14-year-olds just a&nbsp;few years ago, down to under 300 &mdash; and teenage&nbsp;births also declining by the thousands, these figures&nbsp;still point to a persistent and complex social challenge.&nbsp;Tonight, we unpack the numbers behind the headlines,&nbsp;the human realities behind the statistics, and whether&nbsp;this decline signals real change &mdash; or simply a&nbsp;slower-moving crisis.

2024 Budget Speech Analysis

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