Service delivery takes centre stage in Johannesburg. For families across the city, water, power and safety remain daily concerns. The debate is less about political wrangling or personal ambition - and more about ethical, mature leadership devoted to the collective good. Johannesburg still carries the promise of a better life, yet many struggle to realise that dream. Infrastructure decay, crime, weak governance capacity and politicisation are seen as stubborn barriers. All this comes as the city prepares to welcome world leaders for the G20 Summit in November. The question: can Johannesburg shine on the global stage while grappling with service delivery failures at home? How central is Johannesburg to South Africa’s economic recovery - and what practical steps can fix the country’s economic powerhouse now? To unpack these questions, we’re joined by Dada Morero, Mayor of Johannesburg, and Dr Godfrey Kgosinyane, Governance Analyst - with insights from our digital audience

South Africa faces a painful truth as crimes against children continue to grip our communities. How do we heal, and what steps can we take to protect our children and restore hope? Join the conversation with Social Development Spokesperson Lumka Oliphant, High Court of SA Attorney Livhuwani Sikhwari, and Missing Children SA Co-ordinator Bianca van Aswegen. Our digital audience will also share their stories and insights.

This August, South Africa’s focus is on women - their ongoing fight for equality amid persistent gaps in pay, leadership, and opportunity. How much progress have we made? What barriers still remain? Joining the conversation, on It's Topical, are Deputy Minister in the Presidency Nonceba Mhlauli; Principal and Vice-Chancellor of UNISA Prof. Puleng LenkaBula; Economist Sithandiwe Msomi; as well as an Activist for women's rights and Wise4Afrika Director Advocate Brenda Madumise-Pajibo. Our digital audience - women who are breaking barriers - also share their perspectives. For more updates, visit sabcnews.com and follow #SABCNews on all social media platforms.

The big 'T' word. Tariffs. Imposed by the United States - not only on South Africa - but also on a significant number of its trade partners. It's set to come into effect this week. Government said it will continue negotiating with the U.S. regarding the 30 percent tariff. That basically means that all channels of communication remain open. But what happens in the interim, if these tariffs go ahead. Will there be support for affected local companies? To unpack this issue, we are joined by Partner at Webber Wentzel, Meluleki Nzimande who specialises in international trade and investment law. Also on the panel are political economist, Bongani Mahlangu and Cobus Kok, the founder and managing director at Macadamia Services Management. The Digital Audience also weigh in.

What's taking up most of the oxygen here in South Africa of late? Crime. Serious allegations of corruption. This country is dealing with what some might describe as a complex and pervasive web of crime. How connected is this web of crime? Also, to what extent is politics killing policing? To discuss this, we have Criminologist Prof Kholofelo Rakubu. We also have Organised Crime Investigator Chad Thomas from the from IRS Forensic Investigations, and the Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC) Lawson Naidoo, as well as Specialist Investigator Mike Bolhuis. The digital audience also weigh in.

The Democratic Alliance remains in the GNU but has pulled out of the National Dialogue and plans to oppose budgets tied to corruption-accused ministers. The ANC calls the move disruptive to the coalition. Tensions followed President Ramaphosa’s dismissal of Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry & Competition Andrew Whitfield over unauthorised international travel. The DA calls it politically motivated and demands action against corrupt ministers. The big question: What are your views on the state of the GNU following the fallout around the axing of Deputy Minister Andrew Whitfield? To unpack this, we are joined by research consultant and Professor Emeritus at Wits University Susan Booysen, and independent analyst Khaya Sithole, as well as the Digital Audience.

U.S. President Donald Trump has called strikes on Iran a "spectacular military success" in defence of its ally, Israel. The U.S. dropped bombs on 3 Iranian nuclear facilities on Saturday. The U.S. has now been squarely thrust into an escalating Middle East conflict. Iran's Foreign Minister has said the administration in Washington "is solely and fully responsible for the dangerous consequences and far-reaching implications of its act of aggression." The big question now is what Iran's response will be? Given the state of play, how much room is left for diplomacy? To unpack this and more, we have Seyed Hoseini, who is the founder of the Islamic Centre for Africa, as well as former Israeli Senior Military Prosecutor Lieutenant Colonel Maurice Hirsch. We are also joined by Political Analyst Prof. Christopher Isike, and foreign policy and political analyst Sanusha Naidu. The digital audience also weighs in.