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The Alternative Breakfast

SAfm

Current Lifestyle Events, Food, Entertainment and Popular Culture by ...

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5,025 episodes

  1. Nco Dube joins us to examine two political developments: AfriForum and Solidarity's lobbying efforts in Washington, the narratives shaping America's position towards South Africa and the potential economic consequences of losing AGOA benefits, followed by the ANC's declining electoral support, the changing opposition landscape and what the latest local government election results reveal about voter dissatisfaction and political accountability. 22:21
  2. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga joins us to unpack the ANC's declining support and the changing political landscape following the 2026 Local Government Elections, questions surrounding the IEC's handling of the electoral process, and the implications of the United States' decision to withdraw South Africa's AGOA trade benefits. 22:34
  3. As changing weather patterns, flooding and cross-border travel complicate malaria prevention in southern Africa, Dr Taneshka Kruger joins us to examine the rising number of travel-associated infections, the role of scientific research and environmental intelligence in predicting malaria risks, and what governments, healthcare professionals and communities must do differently to move the region closer to malaria elimination. 18:21
  4. Motoring expert Nico Smit joins us to unpack the latest developments, trends and interesting stories in the motoring world, from new vehicles and automotive technology to the issues shaping the way we drive. 17:28
  5. Dr Brittany Kesselman joins us to examine whether South African political parties are taking food insecurity seriously in their local election manifestos, and how municipal decisions can help realise the constitutional right to food 16:50
  6. HIV activist and youth advocate Saidy Brown joins us to discuss the realities young people face in navigating HIV and TB, the impact of stigma on prevention and treatment, and what young people need from healthcare services as new prevention options and research continue to evolve. 14:07
  7. Nono Sekhoto, Co-Founder of Circle Generation, joins us to explore how collaboration across communities, organisations and sectors can help address complex challenges and turn shared purpose into practical, lasting change. 12:22
  8. Blogger, radio political analyst and social commentator Nco Dube joins us to examine how political violence threatens candidates’ participation in democracy and how the growing contest over election polling, credibility and public trust could shape South Africans’ understanding of the 2026 local government elections. 17:18
  9. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga joins us to examine the implications of renewed coalition politics ahead of the local government elections and growing concerns about stalled anti-corruption reforms and South Africa’s risk of returning to the FATF grey list. 19:23
  10. Passionate runner Mathapelo Thapi joins us to explore how beginners can start running, build fitness safely, stay motivated and progress from their first steps to organised races at their own pace. 15:22
  11. Our motoring conversation with motor mechanic, Happy Tabane, explores why using the correct engine oil, servicing your car at the manufacturer's recommended intervals and paying attention to unusual sounds can prevent costly repairs and keep your vehicle safe and reliable. 18:00
  12. KwaZulu-Natal International Arts Festival founder Sibusiso Sithole joins us to discuss his vision for creating a platform that connects township and rural artists with audiences, professional opportunities and a more sustainable creative economy. 13:28
  13. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga examines the government's proposed reforms to local government and former president Thabo Mbeki's testimony before the TRC Cases Inquiry, exploring questions of political accountability, institutional independence and public trust. 16:45
  14. Craig de Necker of The Friendly Plant shares practical ways to protect gardens from heat and water shortages, reduce watering costs and keep plants healthy through summer and the December holiday season. 15:31
  15. 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. 19:49
  16. Chef Marcus Gericke discusses Journey’s double recognition at the 2026 World Culinary Awards and how South Africa’s culinary heritage, indigenous ingredients and local food producers can strengthen cultural identity, tourism and economic opportunity. 12:02
  17. Musician Ntsika invites audiences into The Mbiya Experience, an intimate gathering combining unreleased music, live performance, food and storytelling to offer a rare first encounter with his work before it reaches the wider world. 16:43
  18. 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 18:21
  19. Animal behaviourist and author Karin Pienaar joins us to explore how choosing the right dog, understanding its emotions and providing responsible care can help families build healthier relationships with their canine companions. 20:19
  20. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga examines the unresolved allegations surrounding former senior police official Shadrack Sibiya and the Constitutional Court’s decision to reinstate 181 ANC candidates, exploring what both developments reveal about accountability, institutional responsibility and public confidence in South Africa’s democracy. 20:34
  21. REFLECTIONS: - MPUMI NCUBE-DAKA- AUTHOR AND EXECUTIVE BUSINESS COACH LOOKS AT : CORPORATE OVER-LOYALTY: WHEN COMMITMENT TO YOUR JOB STARTS COSTING YOU YOURSELF 27:58
  22. Political analyst Dr Ralph Mathekga joins us to unpack two major developments confronting South Africans this week — the sharp fuel-price shock and the growing political and social tensions surrounding the Constitutional Court’s asylum-seeker ruling. 23:46
  23. Dr Samke J. Ngcobo, a medical doctor, mental-health advocate and woman living with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 since the age of 14, joins us for an honest conversation about diagnosis, mania and depression, treatment, stigma, relapse and what it means to build a fulfilling life while living with bipolar disorder. 15:20
  24. 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 14:47
  25. Nomsa Manaka joins us to talk about turning her own experience of surviving cancer into community action through the Dancing Out of Cancer marathon, while confronting the realities of breast cancer, treatment costs, early diagnosis and the importance of standing with people who are still fighting 15:46
  26. 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 18:01
  27. 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 16:35
  28. 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 20:14
  29. 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 15:37
  30. 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. 29:53
  31. 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 20:53
  32. ARTS: South African singer-songwriter Langa Mavuso 22:39
  33. 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. 19:57
  34. 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 19:59
  35. 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. 25:48
  36. Thabang Tlaka, author and clinical psychologist, helps us understand what happens to children and families after the violent loss of a mother, and how caregivers can help children process grief while rebuilding a sense of safety and stability. 42:52
  37. Nco Dube examines whether the ANC’s commitment to renewal and accountability is tested when misconduct or controversy involves its own ministers, and what that means for political leadership and public trust 21:37
  38. Dr Brittany Kesselman and Siwe Ntombela take us back to the foods South Africans ate before maize became dominant, exploring sorghum, millet, indigenous legumes and leafy vegetables, and asking what these older food traditions can teach us about nutrition, culture and a changing climate. 20:56
  39. SAMA-nominated artist Mthuthu joins us to unpack his new self-titled album Ntuthuko, a deeply personal seven-track IsiZulu project shaped by resilience, mental health, faith, Zulu heritage and his decision to keep moving through a difficult season 15:22
  40. 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. 20:25
  41. A conversation with Dr Ralph Mathekga, Political Analyst, examining the latest developments involving senior police leadership, accountability within the criminal justice system, the KwaMakhutha mass shooting, and what these cases reveal about the state’s ability to maintain public order and protect citizens. 24:04
  42. Jessica Wilmot, Flyway and Migrants Project Manager at BirdLife South Africa, joins us to unpack the extraordinary journeys of migratory birds, what satellite tracking is revealing about their dependence on South African wetlands and why protecting these birds requires countries across an entire flyway to work together. 16:01
  43. Nco Dube examines the growing tension between political leadership and the independence of South Africa’s legislatures, asking what happens to parliamentary accountability when the person presiding over the legislature becomes an active political player. 23:05
  44. Dr Brittany Kesselman explores whether the plants we dismiss as “weeds” could actually hold nutritional, ecological and cultural value — and what their disappearance tells us about indigenous food knowledge and the way we have come to define what counts as food. 12:52
  45. As National Wills Week encourages South Africans to put their affairs in order, we reflect on what it really means to leave a legacy — and whether a “free” will gives families freedom, protection and clarity or simply begins a more complicated conversation about what happens after we die. 14:17
  46. With Ocean L, social media commentator, musician and content creator, we unpack the money behind the platforms we call “free” and ask how social media has evolved into a powerful newsroom where algorithms, creators and users increasingly shape what South Africans see, believe and engage with. 15:54
  47. Dr Ralph Mathekga joins The Alternative Breakfast to unpack three developments shaping South Africa’s political landscape: one year of the Madlanga Commission, the government’s response to the escalating GBV crisis, and the unprecedented collapse of COSATU’s national congress. 17:12
  48. Seth Naicker, a Heartlines Fathers Matter Facilitator and Gender Justice Activist, joins us to examine the role fathers and other men can play in challenging harmful ideas about masculinity, power and relationships before they become violence. 12:06
  49. 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 18:24
  50. Judith Sephuma reflects on 25 years of Iya Iyo and the reimagining of her classic song by a younger generation of South African producers, opening a conversation about musical legacy, evolution and whether great African music can transcend generations. 13:59