The Alternative Breakfast

Can loyalty become a form of fear? If your job disappeared tomorrow, who would you still be and are you building a life that exists beyond your job? : When does loyalty to your job stop being loyalty and start becoming fear of what life might look like without it?

THOUGHTS: As South Africa heads towards the 4 November 2026 Local Government Elections, Nthabiseng Shongwe, Head of Partnerships, TEACH South Africa joins us to examine the state of education in the country, the inequalities still shaping learners’ experiences and what local government can realistically do to create communities in which children can learn, grow and succeed

DR. Brittany Kesselman looks at food nutrition  and asks: What is government doing about hunger in South Africa? A look at the draft National Food and Nutrition Security Plan

NEWS ROUNDUP: Blogger, radio political analyst and social commentator Nco Dube joins us to examine why South Africans spend so much on celebrations, how cultural expectations and the need to belong influence those decisions, and when the desire to include everyone becomes a financial burden

REFLECTIONS:We reflect on how curriculum, language and the teaching of history and culture shape the identities of young South Africans and their understanding of the diverse society they are expected to build. Are you a teacher, or a former teacher? What are your thoughts

PARENTING: Lerato Radebe helps us examine how much responsibility parents carry for shaping children’s eating habits, while recognising the realities of household budgets, convenience, children’s preferences and the food environment.

NEWS ROUNDUP: Nco Dube, blogger, radio political analyst and social commentator, joins us to examine the renewed debate around the death penalty and whether South Africa should first confront the weaknesses, fallibility and inequalities within its criminal justice system before considering an irreversible punishment

ARTS: South African singer-songwriter Langa Mavuso

GARDEN: Landscape designer and indoor stylist Joy Phala joins us to explore how to choose practical plants and herbs for the garden and kitchen, from what grows well in different spaces to how to use greenery to make everyday living more functional and beautiful. 

MOTORING: Motoring expert Nico Smit joins The Alternative Breakfast with the latest developments from the motoring world, unpacking current news and trends while responding to listeners’ questions about cars, driving and the rapidly changing automotive landscape

NEWS ROUNDUP: Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga joins us to unpack a possible improvement in South Africa’s manufacturing sector and the continuing tensions around long-distance bus operations in Ngcobo, asking what these developments tell us about the economy, public safety and the state’s ability to create a functioning environment for business and citizens.