What happened to South Africa’s Nuclear energy program? Also why does the West force countries to de-nuclearise while keeping nuclear weapons?

What happened to South Africa’s Nuclear energy program? Also why does the West force countries to de-nuclearise while keeping nuclear weapons?

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

METRO FM Talk with Faith Mangope

After 8 Is After 8: We unpack South Africa's position on Nuclear Energy.

For generations, the township tuck shop was more than just a place to buy bread, milk or airtime. It was the heartbeat of many communities—a family business passed down through generations, a source of employment, and a symbol of local entrepreneurship. But over the years, many South
African-owned shops struggled to survive. Rising operating costs, crime, limited access to finance, shrinking profit margins and fierce competition forced many owners to close their doors or rent out their businesses. In their place, foreign nationals—particularly Somali traders—built highly organised supply chains and business models that allowed them to thrive where many locals could not. Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted once again. Following recent anti-immigration protests, some of these township shops now stand vacant after foreign operators
left certain communities. Rather than allowing those businesses to remain closed, the KwaZulu-Natal government, under the leadership of Premier Thami Ntuli, is launching an ambitious initiative to help South Africans reclaim their place in the township economy. Working alongside private-sector
partners, including Checkers, Uber Eats and other stakeholders, the programme aims to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the support they need to build sustainable township businesses. But can South Africans succeed where many previously struggled? Or does rebuilding township retail
require much more than simply handing back the keys?

For generations, the township tuck shop was more than just a&nbsp;place to buy bread, milk or airtime. It was the heartbeat of many&nbsp;communities&mdash;a family business passed down through&nbsp;generations, a source of employment, and a symbol of local entrepreneurship. But over the years, many South African-owned shops struggled to survive. Rising operating&nbsp;costs, crime, limited access to finance, shrinking profit margins&nbsp;and fierce competition forced many owners to close their doors&nbsp;or rent out their businesses. In their place, foreign&nbsp;nationals&mdash;particularly Somali traders&mdash;built highly organised&nbsp;supply chains and business models that allowed them to thrive&nbsp;where many locals could not. Fast forward to today, and the conversation has shifted once&nbsp;again. Following recent anti-immigration protests, some of&nbsp;these township shops now stand vacant after foreign operators left certain communities. Rather than allowing those&nbsp;businesses to remain closed, the KwaZulu-Natal government,&nbsp;under the leadership of Premier Thami Ntuli, is launching an&nbsp;ambitious initiative to help South Africans reclaim their place in&nbsp;the township economy. Working alongside private-sector partners, including Checkers, Uber Eats and other&nbsp;stakeholders, the programme aims to provide aspiring&nbsp;entrepreneurs with the support they need to build sustainable&nbsp;township businesses. But can South Africans succeed where&nbsp;many previously struggled? Or does rebuilding township retail require much more than simply handing back the keys?

AFTER 8 IS AFTER 8: Reclaiming the Township Economy: Can South Africans Make Spaza Shops Thrive Again?

As South Africa edges closer to another round of local government elections, the familiar campaign promises are already beginning to dominate the political landscape. Parties will once again pledge to fix roads, restore basic services, create jobs and stimulate local economies. Yet despite these
commitments, many municipalities continue to battle financial distress, failing infrastructure, high unemployment and declining investor confidence. The question many South Africans are asking is whether the country needs a different kind of leadership—one that includes not only politicians, but
also the entrepreneurs and business leaders who create jobs and keep local economies alive.
The newly established South African Entrepreneurs Movement believes that for too long, those who build businesses have been excluded from the decisions that shape the economy. The movement argues that entrepreneurs—from township business owners and informal traders to industrialists and professionals—should have a direct voice in government policy and leadership. It is calling for qualified business leaders to occupy key positions in municipalities, state-owned entities
and government, while advocating for a permanent partnership between entrepreneurs and the state. As South Africa prepares to choose its next generation of local leaders, we ask whether
entrepreneurship could become one of the defining political forces in rebuilding municipalities and driving economic growth. Joining us this evening is Rali Mampeule, founder of the South African Entrepreneurs Movement.

As South Africa edges closer to another round of local&nbsp;government elections, the familiar campaign promises are&nbsp;already beginning to dominate the political landscape. Parties&nbsp;will once again pledge to fix roads, restore basic services,&nbsp;create jobs and stimulate local economies. Yet despite these commitments, many municipalities continue to battle financial&nbsp;distress, failing infrastructure, high unemployment and&nbsp;declining investor confidence. The question many South&nbsp;Africans are asking is whether the country needs a different&nbsp;kind of leadership&mdash;one that includes not only politicians, but also the entrepreneurs and business leaders who create jobs&nbsp;and keep local economies alive. The newly established South African Entrepreneurs Movement&nbsp;believes that for too long, those who build businesses have&nbsp;been excluded from the decisions that shape the economy. The&nbsp;movement argues that entrepreneurs&mdash;from township business&nbsp;owners and informal traders to industrialists and&nbsp;professionals&mdash;should have a direct voice in government policy&nbsp;and leadership. It is calling for qualified business leaders to&nbsp;occupy key positions in municipalities, state-owned entities and government, while advocating for a permanent partnership&nbsp;between entrepreneurs and the state. As South Africa prepares&nbsp;to choose its next generation of local leaders, we ask whether entrepreneurship could become one of the defining political&nbsp;forces in rebuilding municipalities and driving economic&nbsp;growth.&nbsp;Joining us this evening is Rali Mampeule, founder of the South&nbsp;African Entrepreneurs Movement.

Can Entrepreneurs Save Local Government? ( Rali Mampeule, founder of the South African Entrepreneurs Movement )

Artificial intelligence is often portrayed as a threat to jobs or a tool that makes life more convenient. But a new generation of South African innovators is proving that AI can also be a powerful force for good. Tonight, we spotlight two remarkable young professionals whose work is changing lives in very different ways. One is an Eastern Cape computer science student who transformed his love for his blind grandmother into an award-winning invention—AI-powered smart glasses that recognise faces, identify objects, read text aloud and help visually impaired people navigate the world with greater confidence and independence. His innovation has demonstrated how technology can restore dignity and improve accessibility for thousands of South Africans living with visual impairments. Joining him is Sanel'Ekhaya, founder of PROXICOM (Pty) Ltd, whose engineering consultancy is embracing artificial intelligence to modernise South Africa's mining sector. By integrating AI into engineering consultancy, quality assurance and technical inspection services, his company is helping clients make faster, data-driven decisions, improve project quality, strengthen compliance and enhance safety across mining operations. Together, these young professionals represent a new generation of problem-solvers who are proving that AI isn't just about writing essays or generating images—it's can improve lives, strengthen industries and build a more innovative South Africa.

Artificial intelligence is often portrayed as a threat to jobs or a tool that&nbsp;makes life more convenient. But a new generation of South African&nbsp;innovators is proving that AI can also be a powerful force for good.&nbsp;Tonight, we spotlight two remarkable young professionals whose work&nbsp;is changing lives in very different ways. One is an Eastern Cape&nbsp;computer science student who transformed his love for his blind&nbsp;grandmother into an award-winning invention&mdash;AI-powered smart&nbsp;glasses that recognise faces, identify objects, read text aloud and help&nbsp;visually impaired people navigate the world with greater confidence&nbsp;and independence. His innovation has demonstrated how technology&nbsp;can restore dignity and improve accessibility for thousands of South&nbsp;Africans living with visual impairments.&nbsp;Joining him is Sanel'Ekhaya, founder of PROXICOM (Pty) Ltd, whose&nbsp;engineering consultancy is embracing artificial intelligence to&nbsp;modernise South Africa's mining sector. By integrating AI into&nbsp;engineering consultancy, quality assurance and technical inspection&nbsp;services, his company is helping clients make faster, data-driven&nbsp;decisions, improve project quality, strengthen compliance and enhance&nbsp;safety across mining operations. Together, these young professionals&nbsp;represent a new generation of problem-solvers who are proving that AI&nbsp;isn't just about writing essays or generating images&mdash;it's can improve&nbsp;lives, strengthen industries and build a more innovative South Africa.

After 8 Is After 8: We unpack South Africa's position on Nuclear Energy.

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