Xander McNeil- the youngest Comrades Marathon finisher in 2025!

Stacey and J took things a little bit deeper for this kiddies hotline. Instead of the fun, innocent questions, they wanted to know just how inspiring the parents of KZN are. Which of these lessons have you taught your kid?

Stacey, J Sbu and Nick Tatham opened up the hotline for all the husbands in KZN! You know they need it. Listen to the hilarious (and slightly painful) confessions the husbands of KZN had to share

East Coast Radio caught up with Monde Mkalipi, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Infringement Agency (RTIA), who addressed the growing concern surrounding fake news about the AARTO Act. The Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) Act aims to promote road safety by standardising traffic violations and implementing a demerit system for offenders. "We are very concerned about the proliferation of fake news around the implementation date of AARTO," said Mkalipi. "We urge road users and the public to be cautious of this misinformation, as it is not authentic." Mkalipi emphasised that the AARTO Act has not yet been proclaimed for national implementation. Currently, the AARTO website is only available in specific regions. "The date for the national rollout has not been proclaimed. What's operational now is limited to certain areas," Mkalipi clarified. Understanding the Demerit System Mkalipi provided an in-depth explanation of the demerit system under the AARTO Act. Contrary to some beliefs, a single traffic fine will not immediately lead to a licence suspension. "The point demerit system is not yet operational everywhere. When it does come into effect, it will serve as a deterrent," Mkalipi said. Under the demerit system, points will be added to a driver's record for traffic infringements. The severity of the offence will determine the number of points. For example, driving without a license may result in three points, while driving under the influence could add six points. "Once you exceed 15 points, your driving licence will be suspended, initially for three months," explained Mkalipi. Suspensions escalate with repeated offences. "On the third occasion of exceeding the 15-point threshold, the driving licence will be revoked," Mkalipi added. Drivers with accumulated points may reduce them by participating in a voluntary rehabilitation programme. Misinformation surrounding the AARTO Act The spread of misinformation has caused public concern. "There is a state of panic among drivers due to misperceptions about how the AARTO Act works," Mkalipi noted. He shared that the RTIA is working diligently to dispel these myths and provide accurate information. "The AARTO Act is designed to be a road safety intervention, aimed at changing driver behaviour. It's about voluntary compliance without needing to see traffic officers," said Mkalipi. How to verify information about AARTO The RTIA is informing the public through various platforms, including social media. "We post regular updates on our official social media accounts. We urge drivers to visit these platforms for accurate information," Mkalipi advised. He also encouraged the use of government statements and updates from provincial and municipal colleagues. "It's important for road users to stay informed through legitimate information dissemination platforms to avoid being swayed by fake news," Mkalipi concluded.

From hairbrush concerts to superhero movie marathons, Stacey and J Sbu are throwing it back and tapping into the things that keep us feeling young, no matter what our ID says! They share personal stories and hear from you, our listeners. Whether it’s belting ballads in pyjama pants, nailing trending dance moves or vibing to the Spice Girls (a 30th anniversary tour?!), this chat is a hilarious and heartfelt reminder that growing older is a gift, but staying young at heart is a choice.

Stacey and J Sbu are joined by Jan Vermeulen, editor at MyBroadband, to break down the recent internet disruptions caused by a fault in the West Africa Cable System (WACS). Jan explains how a damaged branching unit off the coast of Namibia led to emergency repairs, what this means for South African internet users, and why some service providers were hit harder than others. From underwater diagnostics to redundancy planning and the role of major tech players like Google and Meta, this episode dives into the complex world of undersea internet infrastructure and why most of us barely noticed it was broken.

Fresh off the energy of the Comrades Marathon, Stacey and J Sbu flip the conversation around success on its head by asking: What’s something you’d NEVER win an Olympic medal for? From missed deadlines to burnt toast, this is a hilarious and brutally honest look at our everyday struggles and imperfections. Whether it’s Stacey’s war with admin and paperwork, J Sbu’s weakness for soul food or listeners confessing they’re chronically late, directionally challenged, or incapable of sending short voice notes - this podcast is a goldmine of self-awareness and laughter. It’s all about embracing the things we don’t excel at and finding comfort in knowing we’re not alone.

Xander McNeill has accomplished one of the greatest achievements at the youngest age... he has completed the Comrades Marathon at only 20 years old! He made it with a few minutes to spare and was the youngest finisher in 2025. Was it a walk in the park or the toughest thing he ever did? Why did he do it at this age? Catch up on this epic conversation with Stacey, J Sbu and sports lead Nick Tatham.

In an effort to address the critical issue of food insecurity in South Africa, Union Against Hunger (UAH) has initiated a compelling petition urging the government to implement measures to lower food prices. Dr. Busiso Moyo, a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre of Excellence in Food Security at the University of the Western Cape and a key figure within UAH recently elaborated on the petition and its objectives during an interview with East Coast Radio. "Ours is a question of how do we confront the issue of hunger in South Africa? The first point of reference is, how is it that people are making sense of the food system? We wanted to zone in on food pricing in particular," Dr. Moyo stated. The UAH's petition underscores the disparity between food prices and the economic realities faced by many South African households. With high unemployment rates and widespread poverty, the petition focuses on the need for food equity and calls for government intervention to ensure fair food pricing. Reflecting on conversations with community members, Dr. Moyo touched on the significant challenges faced by various groups. "We were in conversation with domestic workers who talked about their frustrations in this space [and] how they are anchoring the food systems of the affluent but are very much food insecure. It's about purchasing power." This situation extends to farm workers, described by Dr. Moyo as experiencing "seasonal hunger on these farms. The very people that [sic] produce our food are in a very precarious situation when we look at their food security context." UAH's petition seeks backing from the public to address these systemic issues. Dr. Moyo explained, "We need the masses to really rally behind this petition in an attempt to have some kind of interface with these corporate actors who seem to be absent when we're speaking about socioeconomic objectives in the country." The ultimate goal is to bring corporate entities to the table to identify and implement viable solutions. "A large part of this conversation is underpinned by land and agrarian reform concerns," Dr. Moyo emphasised. The petition pushes for a holistic approach to address hunger, which includes land reform, better social safety nets and more transparent corporate practices. The call for corporate transparency is a significant aspect of the petition. "Annual reports indicate that 10 million tonnes of food go to waste in South Africa. This is very unsustainable in a context like ours," noted Dr. Moyo. To achieve fair food pricing, the petition advocates for a basic needs basket that outlines essential, nutritious foods. According to Dr. Moyo, "Once we are clear on that, maybe the state can subsidise those foods or introduce intervention mechanisms like maximum price settings. The possibilities are endless." Government is aware of this initiative, as Dr Moyo explained: “We had an opportunity to be given an audience by the Department of Social Development in particular.” Additionally, UAH highlights the influential role of informal food sectors in sustaining large sections of the population. Dr. Moyo stated, "It’s about the state's power to convene so that there can be a meeting of minds to grapple with the issue of hunger in South Africa." For those interested in supporting the petition, it can be accessed via UAH's website, unionagainsthunger.org. Dr. Moyo noted, "The petition has been flighted with the assistance of our partners at Amandla.mobi. Alternatively, a range of petitions is available on their platform." As UAH continues to push for critical changes, the need for collective action becomes ever more pressing. Dr. Moyo concluded by thanking the public for their support and encouraged continued advocacy: "We need your voices to echo our call for food equity and justice in South Africa." From discussions with domestic and farm workers to engagements with government officials, UAH's petition is a comprehensive call to action. Their efforts exem

An anonymous listener shared the following confession with Stacey and J Sbu: "I accidentally found out that my partner of nine years bought an engagement ring. I really don’t want to tell him that I know, because it will obviously ruin the surprise. I am nervous about our future (not in a bad way), but now that I know it’s happening soon, I feel like I’m losing my mind. Should I be open and tell him that I know or should I just suck it up and carry the secret and let it consume my entire being?" The Drive Team duo then asked you, the people of KZN, to weigh in on the confusing matter. Here's what you had to say.

Ahead of the Comrades marathon this weekend, Stacey and J Sbu caught up with listener Clive Hockly. Hockly has run the comrades marathon but in a rather unique manner. Shortly after qualifying for the world-renowned marathon, Hockly faced a hurdle. One that impacted his training. He shared his unique story with us and let's just say, we were SHOOK! If you missed it live, tune in!