Produced by Muzi Mzoyi and Charles Leonard
22 October 2025
This is affecting at least 4.5-million people, almost all of them poor and black. In this episode we tell the stories of people fighting this historical injustice.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Rosemary Hunter; Linda Matunda & Sydney Moshoaliba
09 October 2025
In this week's episode we look at how countries in the southern African region share strategies and take collective action.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Colette Solomon
09 October 2025
In this episode, we look at how these workers form networks to support one another, often using online platforms like WhatsApp.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guess: Zim migrant workers
02 October 2025
But as a Zimbabwean trade unionist tells us, the Trump tariffs' damage will go even deeper than that.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Austin Muswere
25 September 2025
The CCMA promises fairness in workplace disputes.
Yet Rule 25 makes it difficult for advice offices and NGOs to represent workers, because access to presentation is not easily granted.
This leaves millions of workers vulnerable.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Sam Tilley
20 August 2025
In response, South African women from diverse organisations have united to discuss the formation of a working-class women's movement, determined to confront patriarchy and capitalism.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Meme Makhaula & Maggie Mthombeni
20 August 2025
Over 50 years ago a 16-year-old Palestinian girl recorded a powerful folk song about her people's struggle.
It has recently been reissued, and with the genocide in Gaza raging on, it still sounds relevant.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Zeinab Shaath
14 August 2025
The CCMA was established as a place where workers and bosses can settle disputes. But over the years, the institution has faced massive budget cuts, causing a shortage of commissioners, interpreters and creating a backlog of cases.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Patricia Mokoto & Sam Tilley
07 August 2025
Migrant workers have long been the backbone of the South African economy. Yet, despite their important contribution, many endure exploitation and xenophobia. Organisations like the Casual Workers Advice Office are working to change that.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Migrant Workers Organiser & Ighsaan Schroeder
30 July 2025
Through the eyes of a union veteran, it is clear that it is far from a pretty picture.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Jenny Grice
23 July 2025
Experts say the real crisis isn’t just inflation, but a monopolised food system built to keep the poor hungry.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Ighsaan Schroeder
Host: Tebadi Mmotla Guests: Semaka Moshokoa & Mervyn Abrahams
16 July 2025
But, as we hear in this episode, it will be a sanitised, stage-managed talk-shop which will cost R700-million, only to benefit monopoly capital.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Ighsaan Schroeder
10 July 2025
Six labour broker workers from Simunye Workers Forum took the liquor giant Heineken to labour court - and won.
Gladys Thaane, one of the workers, shares how she stayed motivated throughout their seven-year struggle.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Gladys Thaane & Sam Tilley
03 July 2025
Permanent jobs are vanishing, replaced by a precarious workforce. Casual workers hired through labour brokers face job insecurity and exploitation, with weak rights. Buwa Basebetsi sat with some who shared their stories.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Lefa Hadebe; Solomon Moloi & Jacob Potlaki
26 June 2025
Many workers' organisations believe they will make it easier for bosses to fire workers. But, Labour deputy director-general, Thembinkosi Mkalipi, tells us these controversial amendments are necessary, and beneficial for all.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: John Appolis, Thembinkosi Mkalipi
12 June 2025
Nearly 50 years after the Soweto Uprising against inferior education started on June 16, 1976, and the picture still looks grim. But we visit a maths project for children from working-class homes, and it provides lots of hope.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests:
1. Eneth Mogale
2. Rethabile Qwabe
3. George Dor
12 June 2025
Fifty years ago a young guerrilla went underground after helping to rob a bank in California. He stayed on the run for 27 years, including spending a significant time in South Africa, training local workers.
Here's his fascinating story.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: James Kilgore
08 May 2025
The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) was meant to offer temporary skills and income to the unemployed.
But 21 years into the programme, EPWP workers are angry with poor conditions and are pursuing legal action.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Dumisani Dlamini; Gordan Molane; Steven Ditsebe; Bafana Montseng; Monica Matshalilanga & Sibusiso Nkasa
24 April 2025
The 100th anniversary of May Day in 1986 was a most significant political moment in South African history – millions of workers stayed away, challenging apartheid dominance. One of the organisers, union veteran Moss Manganyi, takes us back to that momentous day.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla | Guest: Moss Manganyi
24 April 2025
Traditional trade unions have been experiencing a sharp decline in recent years, with critics arguing they have lost touch with the realities of workers. This is evident in the new Draft Code on Good Practice on Dismissal.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Matsoanelo Motomotomo; Gladman Ntulini; John Appolis; Matthew Parks & Newton Masuku
17 April 2025
Every employee who works at least 24 hours a month is entitled to UIF benefits.
But what about contract workers or those who are not South African citizens? Do they still qualify? Buwa Basebetsi finds out.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Sam Tilley
10 April 2025
The UIF is an institution that is meant to offer temporary financial relief for workers who are unemployed. But the institution is poorly managed, negatively affecting workers who desperately need the money.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Daniel Manyisa & Keifus Kubhayi
03 April 2025
Day after day, night after night Israel's destruction of Gaza continues. But this genocide isn't only killing people - it is also an economic genocide that's killing jobs, plunging the 1.3 million Palestinian workers ever deeper into poverty.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guest: Leila Farsakh
27 March 2025
An employment contract is an important document outlining the terms and conditions of employment. But what happens when a worker doesn’t have one or disagrees with the terms? Buwa Basebetsi finds out
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: Themba Magagula; Buhle Sibiya; ?Maria Masemola
20 March 2025
Buwa Basebetsi goes on a visit to the JSE to try and hang out with the country's richest CEOs. And, what bosses really earn.
Guest: Salome Teuteberg
13 March 2025
We spend a day with a factory worker who explains why this is so. Also, CWAO's John Appolis exposes why the minimum wage is a poverty wage.
Host: Tebadi Mmotla
Guests: John Appolis, Happiness Somhlahlo
06 March 2025
The National Minimum Wage has been increased. We take the streets to find out how informed South Africans are about this hourly rate increase. Plus an exclusive interview with musician Moonchild about her ghetto roots.
Guests: John Appolis, Moonchild
26 February 2025
Donald Trump became US president claiming to be pro-working class. But as our experts in this episode explain: workers, especially migrants, are already finding out that Trump is the president for billionaires, corporations and capital.
20 February 2025
Over the past few years the number of strikes in South Africa has gone down. With the help of the just released annual Strike Barometer we explain why. Also, a worker who was on strike at Mr Sweet, tells us why she would do it again.