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PODCAST

The Lead

Seasoned broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer brings you The Lead, News24’s definitive podcast for in-depth reporting. Join us every Monday to Thursday at 19:00 SAST for candid conversations with our top journalists, and discover what they saw, heard, and uncovered in their relentless pursuit of the big story. Episodes drop on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube like clockwork. WhatsApp: 072 562 3179 or mail: thelead@24.com. This is The Lead, and this is the South African story.

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All Episodes

22:32

Exposing the close-knit ANC t-shirt tender with Jeff...

The Lead ·

2025/04/07

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 MEC, Nomantu Nkomo-Ralehoko. Yet, News24's specialist investigative journalist Jeff Wicks has uncovered evidence to the contrary: that businesswoman Nhlake Priscilla Mothobuka knows the MEC well enough to be pictured partying with her. "This is our continued drive to keep the Gauteng health department accountable," says Wicks about his latest exposé. "We

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26:33

The DA and GNU - will they stay, or will they go?

The Lead ·

2025/04/03

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 proposed 0.5% VAT hike, it seems as if the days of the GNU are numbered. We ask News24 political editor Andisiwe Makinana for her take on the matter. Then we discuss the newly announced Trump tariffs and what those mean for South Africa's economy. How does the 31% export tariff affect our pockets? Last, we take a look at Moonchild Sanelly who has been featured

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16:37

Will the Budget break the GNU? Carol Paton explains

The Lead ·

2025/04/02

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 sitting of Parliament, where a vote will be taken on the delayed budget tabled by finance minister Enoch Godongwana last month. We know the DA has rejected the budget and that the ANC has looked to other parties to fill the void. Is this the end of the road for the GNU? Or will the unlikely alliance partners find each other at the 11th hour? What can

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19:59

Celebrating SA's heroes on Good News Day

The Lead ·

2025/04/01

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 what is fact and what is fiction, we have decided to flood our website with 21 good news offerings. Not even this show is spared. Today on The Lead, Good News Editor Paul Herman joins to chat about a couple from Hartbeespoort saving thousands of wild animals, a cricketing oasis in Khayelitsha and a story of an aunt who scraped together every rand she

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31:36

Minister Simelane, Vitrovian and the Kusile cash grab

The Lead ·

2025/03/31

Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is in hot water, again. On Monday, News24's investigations team revealed that the minister bagged a cool R700 000 from an Eskom contractor for an invoice she signed off on in 2011. Vitrovian, an ANC-linked company, scored more than R300 million from Eskom over seven years using inflated invoices." The entire contract... the entire Vitrovian situation should have never happened in the first place. It shouldn't have existed," says News24’s senior

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17:53

SA steels itself against plant closures

The Lead ·

2025/03/27

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 be decimated and local economies crushed. Will the government's plan of hiking steel import tariffs protect local steelmakers' future? This could be critical to saving the country's manufacturing sector and economy, which is already struggling to realise hopes of 2% annual growth. Specialist journalist Lisa Steyn explains the intricacies. Later, we

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24:05

Diplomatic Dilemma: Trump nominates new SA ambassador

The Lead ·

2025/03/26

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

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24:52

Will Rassie cull some older Springboks before RWC 2027?

The Lead ·

2025/03/25

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 our more seasoned players, possibly lifting the World Cup for a third time is not a foregone conclusion come the 2027 tournament in Australia. “Erasmus has been the most impossible coach to predict over the last six or seven years. It’s just been surprise, after surprise in everything he’s done,” says News24's Sport Editor, Lloyd Burnard. In this episode

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36:11

Air Force None with Sikonathi Mantshantsha

The Lead ·

2025/03/24

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 aircraft were in working order. That's two fighter jets, a helicopter, and three fighter jet trainers; the rest are gathering rust. In his exclusive report, News24's investigative journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha details how the SAAF has all but collapsed and has no fighting capacity left. “You have a situation where the best military on the African continent

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22:47

The good news edition

The Lead ·

2025/03/20

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 nudge to remind us about the beauty hiding in plain sight. To mark International Day of Happiness and Human Rights Day, this edition of The Lead is devoted solely to good news. And who better to speak to show host Graeme Raubenheimer than News24 Good News editor Paul Herman? Herman tells us about a unique project to craft a backpack and sleeping bag

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20:43

Are South African women safe in Ubers?

The Lead ·

2025/03/19

Are South African women safe in Ubers? This question comes after the e-hailing service stated that they have finalised their finding around the harrowing Uber ride of media personality, Anele Mdoda in February where an Uber driver in Cape Town allegedly threatened with rape. In a briefing where they highlighted how they have bolstered their safety features; they were unable to provide News24 legal journalist Karyn Maughan any indication of whether the driver in question is still their employee. They

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15:27

City Power fraud exposed: 15 staffers to be disciplined

The Lead ·

2025/03/18

"City Power is taking disciplinary action against 15 of our staff members following a full-scale investigation,” confirmed Johannesburg City Power Spokesperson, Isaac Mangena on Tuesday, a day after News24’s investigations team revealed the extent of the municipal electricity utility’s persistent fraud problems. From trolley mops to pens, City Power’s been doling out exorbitant figures for inflated invoices. And now, according to Mangena, 15 of his colleagues will be disciplined, while one faces

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20:10

Persona non grata: The ousting of Ambassador Ebrahim...

The Lead ·

2025/03/17

"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 President Donald Trump told reporters in February. Trump's comments kicked off an unprecedented episode of diplomatic drama with the South African government, which now appears to be reaching a fever pitch. Washington, this past weekend, gave Pretoria's ambassador, Ebrahim Rassool, 72 hours to vacate office after he accused the Trump Administration of

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18:34

'It's not a bad budget, considering the mess we're...

The Lead ·

2025/03/13

"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 spoke to The Lead host, Graeme Raubenheimer, about the politics of Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana's proposed VAT increase, his gripe with the DA's rejection of the budget, and SARS’ renewed bid to boost the tax books. Later, we hear about how the Health Department has quietly outlawed the sale of cannabis food products. And Machete-turned-History

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17:32

BUDGET BREAKDOWN: A compromise, an increase and...

The Lead ·

2025/03/12

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 the next two years. The minister promised not to increase personal income tax; however, the tax bracket has not been adjusted for inflation. For News24's business editor, Helena Wasserman, the tax bracket "creep" is a far more concerning trend. "I think that's going to be more painful than VAT," says Wasserman. LISTEN to host Graeme Raubenheimer in

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31:24

Corruption, incompetence and a dark city: How City...

The Lead ·

2025/03/10

In the studio with host Graeme Raubenheimer we have News24's Khaya Koko and Sipho Masondo. They talk us through what News24 understands to be dodgy deals at Johannesburg's City Power utility and the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa). Koko found that City Power had been dishing out millions for contractor work not completed by a set deadline. Meanwhile, Masondo uncovered evidence that Prasa awarded one contractor two multi-billion-rand tenders without meeting critical minimum

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31:30

A conversation with Adriaan Basson about News24's new...

The Lead ·

2025/03/06

Welcome to "The Lead", a brand new, regular podcast from News24 showcasing the best of our in-depth reporting. Through candid and honest conversations with our host Graeme Raubenheimer and News24's leading journalists, you'll gain insight into what they saw, heard and uncovered in the pursuit of the big story. Join us at 19:00 every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday for an informative behind-the-scenes look at the stories that dominated the day's headlines.

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