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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

27:34

Masemola reveals deputy Sibiya probed for alleged...

The Lead ·

2025/09/22

It’s been day four of the Madlanga Commission with our second witness on the stand: national police commissioner Fannie Masemola, who’s since insisted that the decision to disband the contentious Political Killings Task Team was “unlawful”. That’s not all: Masemola told the commission in Pretoria on Monday that he received a tip-off alleging that his deputy, Shadrack Sibiya, may be linked to Gauteng’s criminal syndicates, in particular now-incarcerated tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala, who had been

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28:56

Mkhwanazi tells Madlanga about Mogotsi’s ‘unfettered’...

The Lead ·

2025/09/19

Friday marks day three of the Madlanga Commission of Inquiry into allegations of criminal capture of the country’s criminal justice system. Evidence of WhatsApp conversations between KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi and an apparent associate and friend of now suspended police minister Senzo Mchunu has offered South Africans a glimpse inside the core of the claims being made thus far. Mkhwanazi believes it’s “strange” that the mysterious Brown Mogotsi has had

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29:43

Mkhwanazi guns for NCC MP Fadiel Adams over...

The Lead ·

2025/09/18

It’s day two of the Madlanga Commission and KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, has begun implicating more public figures for their alleged role in politically interfering in the country’s criminal justice system. Mkhwanazi alleges that National Coloured Congress (NCC) MP Fadiel Adams has been “reckless” in his alleged handling of classified Crime Intelligence information. Specialist legal journalist Karyn Maughan, as well as Madlanga Commission Spokesperson,

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24:26

Foundation laid on Day 1 of the Madlanga Commission

The Lead ·

2025/09/17

For the first time ever, News24’s The Lead has gone live from the source of the story. The News24 team has set up camp at the Brigitte Mabandla Justice College in central Pretoria for all the main talking points from Day 1 of the Madlanga Commission. Host, Graeme Raubenheimer has been in conversation with specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, discussing the foundational evidence brought by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner, Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, who insists that if nothing urgent is done soon,

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44:54

DA envy: Unpacking Ramaphosa’s startling admission...

The Lead ·

2025/09/16

In a stunning admission rarely seen from any politician in South Africa today, ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa conceded that DA municipalities, such as Cape Town, are outperforming those governed by the ANC. Ramaphosa told thousands of the ANC ward councillors attending roll call at FNB Stadium in Soweto this week that it’s high time they prioritise service delivery or watch their party perish. The Lead’s host, broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer, is joined in our Randburg studios by News24’s

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37:24

Unravelling the complex crypto fund that embroiled...

The Lead ·

2025/09/15

Four people continue to elude the Gauteng police’s grasp for the brazen murder of top Johannesburg insolvency attorney Bouwer van Niekerk. He was shot and killed in his law firm’s offices earlier in September. Since then, the questionable, multimillion-rand NTC Global Trade Fund that Van Niekerk helped place in business rescue has been provisionally liquidated. The fund’s partners are now, according to them, living in fear too as investors ask the courts to get their millions back.News24

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32:25

The Cat and the Hat - what did Cele do at Zimbali...

The Lead ·

2025/09/11

For our final edition of The Lead this week: it’s getting more difficult for former police minister Bheki Cele to downplay his past meetings with controversial tender don Vusimusi “Cat” Matlala. Investigative journalist Jeff Wicks is our first guest filling in the blanks here. Later in the show, we cross to long-time Washington correspondent John Matisonn, who distills the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s killing in the US. Finally, we end off with “On This Day in History”. A special thank you from the

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24:15

Why is trans inmate taking state to court? PLUS:...

The Lead ·

2025/09/10

Welcome to this bumper Wednesday edition of The Lead on News24. Our first topic deals with the case of a transgender inmate in Johannesburg Central Prison who is fighting for their right to access the use of women’s clothes and gender-affirming healthcare. Later in the show, a group of Chinese nationals are sentenced for running a human-trafficking sweatshop in the Johannesburg CBD. Both updates come courtesy of our expert courts journalist, Bernadette Wicks. Then, local retail analysts warn US icon

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39:41

The brutal killing of ‘incorruptible’ lawyer Bouwer...

The Lead ·

2025/09/09

The hit on a top Johannesburg insolvency lawyer has reverberated throughout the country’s legal fraternity. Now, while the police attempt to arrest the gunmen who so brazenly snuffed out Bouwer van Niekerk’s life last Friday, details are slowly emerging about the multimillion-rand cryptocurrency trading fund that he was engaged with. Kyle Cowan, our senior investigative journalist, is piecing this puzzle together for us in this 101st edition of The Lead on News24.Finally, we end off with “On This

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28:49

Who is Andre Pienaar, the ‘low-level’ spook...

The Lead ·

2025/09/08

Welcome to the 100th episode of The Lead on News24, hosted by broadcast journalist Graeme Raubenheimer. First, we’ll reflect on the moment with our proud editor-in-chief, Adriaan Basson. Then, in our top story: from Johann Rupert to the DA, we are aware of the most notable South African figures who’ve visited the White House to consult with the Trump Administration amid souring Pretoria-Washington ties. But today we’re going to tell you a bit more about a more obscure businessman named Andre Pienaar

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26:33

Council chaos in the wild, wild North West, with...

The Lead ·

2025/09/04

The North West province appears to be the wild, wild west these days. The audit reports for most municipalities in this often-forgotten province make for painful reading as critical service delivery has ground to a halt in many towns. Including the city of Mahikeng, where, despite this grim reality, managers recently walked away with a fat bonus. This, while armed gunmen have effectively taken over the Ramotshere Moiloa council amid a dispute between the ousted mayor and speaker, in what’s

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31:08

No laughing matter: How Mchunu set the Hawks on a...

The Lead ·

2025/09/03

It’s a story so out of left field and certainly not one we had on our bingo card for 2025!The Hawks, our supposedly elite crime-fighting unit, which is currently severely underpowered, have come out in strong defence of their investigation of fairly well-known local social media content creator Anton Taylor. The story, broken last week by our specialist legal journalist, Karyn Maughan, revealed that Taylor, after posting a satirical video of suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu earlier this year,

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28:05

Looters’ paradise or critical body? Debate over role...

The Lead ·

2025/09/02

It’s been a national talking point these past few weeks thanks to our intrepid investigative journalist, Sikonathi Mantshantsha, who’s refusing to take his foot off the pedal when it comes to the numerous allegations of dodgy payments to the tune of billions at the Government Pensions Administration Agency (GPAA).First came revelations that the agency awarded a company many millions to lease out a Pretoria building for a decade, which said company had zero control over. These are certainly not the

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32:23

Witness the rise of our Springbok Women, with Lloyd...

The Lead ·

2025/09/01

South Africa’s Springbok Women celebrated this weekend like never before with a truly historic win: their first triumph over Italy and their very first time reaching the Women’s Rugby World Cup quarterfinals, currently under way in England. It all came down to the wire with a nail-biting 29-24 victory over the Italians in the city of York on Sunday. The Springbok Women have come a long way since their debut in 2004 and the first World Cup in 2006. Joining The Lead to reflect on their biggest success

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57:55

Will the delayed Madlanga inquiry restore SA’s trust...

The Lead ·

2025/08/28

It was all meant to get under way in Pretoria in the new week, but the Madlanga inquiry has been delayed, seemingly due to factors out of its control. We’ve since heard from Minister Mmamaloko Kubayi that she’s suspended her department’s director-general, advocate Doc Mashabane, and his deputy, Jabu Hlatshwayo, for failing to ensure the commission had adequate information and communication technology infrastructure set up in time. This inquiry, chaired by the now-retired acting Deputy Chief Justice

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27:49

Denel sends US firm 2 old jets allegedly without...

The Lead ·

2025/08/27

State-owned arms manufacturer Denel, known for developing world-renowned defence weaponry, including the Casspir armoured vehicle and the Rooivalk attack helicopter, has been battling to stay financially afloat in recent years, despite government bailouts. And now a jet deal it struck with a US firm has seemingly soured, too. Bringing The Lead this exclusive story today is business journalist Jan Cronje. Cronje details how Denel’s 2017 contract was to sell Draken International 12 jets, but according

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37:48

News24 probe spurs finance minister to intervene in...

The Lead ·

2025/08/26

It’s a fairly obscure government agency, but with a big budget. And now a News24 investigation led by journalist Sikonathi Mantshantsha has spurred the finance minister to appoint a new acting CEO at the state pensions administration agency. This follows evidence uncovered of irregular contracts, including a ghost building lease and ICT deals to the tune of R1.6 billion, and staff targeted for speaking out against the alleged graft. Later in the show, no new date’s been set yet for the Madlanga

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26:11

Clocking in from jail? Overtime abuse with Mangaung...

The Lead ·

2025/08/25

It has been under national administration. And yet the financial books for the metro council in charge of Bloemfontein, Mangaung, remain firmly in the red. In short, the City’s liabilities exceed its assets. News24 investigative journalist Sipho Masondo reports to The Lead that the troubled council has allowed a culture of staff excessively billing for overtime. Even if said staffer is in prison! Meanwhile, there’s been headline after headline about the severe lack of basic services, such as waste

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32:55

Which ANC bigwigs could face US sanctions? Check with...

The Lead ·

2025/08/21

Some US lawmakers remain relentless in drafting new legislation that seeks to punish South Africa on a range of policy fronts, going further than the measures already brought by the second Trump administration. The latest Bilateral Relations Review Bill, sponsored by a Texas Republican congressman, Ronny Jackson, will need plenty of support to make it past both legislative houses in the States, however. One of Jackson’s bill’s biggest advocates is the Hudson Institute’s Joshua Meservey, whom our

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57:53

Babita Deokaran Day? 4 years later, calls to honour...

The Lead ·

2025/08/20

This Saturday, 23 August 2025, marks exactly four years to the day since Babita Deokaran, a single mother, was murdered. Gunned down in a hail of bullets fired from the firearms of hired hitmen, what we didn’t know at the time was that the Gauteng health department’s chief accountant had just recently internally flagged and frozen some R100 million in payments emanating from Tembisa Hospital. Soon, News24’s intrepid investigative journalist, Jeff Wicks, would uncover, with access to Babita’s massive

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129 results

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