Breakfast with Martin Bester

Martin Bester has been driving Mzansi to work and keeping us company, or in stitches, or in tears, every Monday to Friday from 06:00-09:00. The Breakfast family, or rather your morning family, takes an authentic approach to storytelling. Martin Bester's in-depth radio knowledge ensures that Breakfast with Martin Bester remains an annual award-winning show, but more importantly, he knows what his audience wants to hear. Martin Bester responds with beautifully crafted storytelling that genuinely builds anticipation and a community around that "What’s next?!" moment.

Following the viral story about how Roosevelt High School in Randburg’s matric dance was cut short due to incidents involving a parent threatening a staff member with a gun, attendees vomiting and the use of marijuana, Breakfast with Martin Bester discussed what feels like a decline in manners, discipline and respect for teachers.

South Africans are facing unprecedented fuel prices as of Wednesday, 7 October. Motorists who use petrol will have to fork out over R3 more for a litre of 93 or 95 octane petrol from Wednesday. The cost of diesel will also increase significantly, by R2.84 and R3.24 a litre.

Have you ever suspected that a colleague who does exactly the same work as you earns more? Well, Anonymous thinks we should all know what our colleagues earn.

What does it take to turn kelp growing in the cold Atlantic off the Cape coast into an agricultural product used by farmers around the world? For Afrikelp, the answer lies in everything it has built around that natural resource. Founded in 1971, Afrikelp produces a plant biostimulant that helps crops use water and nutrients more effectively and cope with environmental stresses such as heat and drought.

Home Affairs Minister Leon Schreiber joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to answer South Africans’ questions after announcing that the department plans to stop producing green barcoded ID books by 31 March 2027. From voting to queues and smart ID eligibility, he explained what the transition means for South Africans and how technology is changing access to Home Affairs services.

It's matric farewell season, and it got Breakfast with Martin Bester wondering how much a matric farewell actually costs.

You can win R50 000 on Breakfast with Martin Bester’s Secret Sound! Can you guess the sound?

Khutso Mphela from Limpopo won an incredible R50 000 on Breakfast with Martin Bester after he correctly guessed the Secret Sound.

A South African woman has gone viral after her small act of kindness warmed the hearts of many social media users. Vinisha Singh took to Facebook to share a picture of a Checkers Sixty60 driver standing in the rain at her home after delivering her Checkers order. The man, dressed in his Checkers raincoat and trousers, was visibly wet from the rain. The picture also shows him holding a cup of hot chocolate and a plate of biscuits, which Singh gave him as a small gesture of kindness.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced a set of immediate government measures aimed at strengthening the fight against gender-based violence and femicide, following the recent killings of 12 women in Ekurhuleni.

According to Stats SA’s latest Quarterly Employment Survey for the second quarter of 2026, the average South African salary has increased by 4.1%. The average monthly earnings paid to employees increased from R29,402 in May 2025 to R30,611 in May 2026. BusinessTech also reports that average monthly earnings paid to employees increased by 2.6% quarter-on-quarter, from R29,825 in February 2026 to R30,611 in May 2026.

Founded by Vice Phiri and Andrew Mokoto, the Johannesburg-born business helps farmers, mines, security companies and other customers put drones to productive use. Customers can buy or hire drones, receive training, arrange finance and insurance, and access servicing, repairs and technical support. With more than 10,000 hours of drone flying behind it, the business has expanded beyond Johannesburg into the Western Cape and Zimbabwe.

In this week’s Asking For A Friend, a concerned mother wrote to Breakfast with Martin Bester. "My sister-in-law saw my son-in-law at a restaurant/pub with a blonde girl who is not my daughter. They were partying, drinking and having a good time," Anonymous wrote. "Then I was approached by a mutual female friend of my daughter, who told me that my son-in-law likes and reacts with heart and fire emojis to pictures of this friend on Instagram." "So, do I approach my son-in-law, or do I tell my daughter?"

Céline Dion kicked off Paris Fashion Week in style on Monday, 29 September, stepping onto the catwalk beneath the Eiffel Tower and singing ‘I’m Alive’ to a delighted crowd in a surprise performance. The Canadian superstar took to the runway at the end of L’Oréal’s annual show, emerging in a sleek black gown to rapturous applause at one of the fashion calendar’s most glamorous openings. Smiling with her hair loose, the singer performed her 2002 hit before being joined by a star-studded cast of L’Oréal ambassadors, including Viola Davis, Simone Ashley, Aja Naomi King and Eva Longoria. The Quebec-born star recently announced a much-publicised return to the stage with a 26-show run in the French capital. Sixteen shows are set for September and October, with a further 10 planned for May 2027. Paris Fashion Week, dedicated to women’s spring/summer collections, runs until 6 October. With Dior, Tom Ford, Schiaparelli and Givenchy still to unveil their latest creations, Dion could yet be spotted in the front row at…

Die aspirerende rugbykommentator, negejarige Keagan Croucamp, het op Breakfast with Martin Bester kom kuier en meer gedeel oor sy rugbydrome.

What happens when ‘Rick and Morty’ fans get to put their questions to the people behind their favourite characters? Martin Bester found out when he sat down with Ian Cardoni, Harry Belden and Spencer Grammer at Comic Con Africa in Johannesburg. Cardoni voices Rick Sanchez, Belden voices Morty Smith and Grammer voices Summer Smith. The three joined Breakfast with Martin Bester for a chat that moved from fan theories and unlikely destinations to what really happens inside a recording booth.

A Springbok player was caught butt naked when a camera inside the team’s changing room showed a little more than it was supposed to. The footage was filmed at Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, where the Springboks lost 42-38 to the Wallabies. During the match, Australian sports channel Stan Sport showed the Springboks talking in their changing room. Unfortunately, during the team’s talks, the camera also captured something it wasn’t supposed to. Reserve players were changing into their kits when one player was caught with his naked butt on display for the whole world to see.

From a factory in Paarl to projects across 36 countries, Fabrinox is proving that South African manufacturing skills can compete on an international stage. Led by Managing Director Wessel van Zyl, Fabrinox has grown its capabilities far beyond manufacturing individual metal components.

Francois Hougaard is used to taking on challenges, but his next one will look a little different from a rugby match. Speaking to Breakfast with Martin Bester, the former Springbok chatted about life after rugby, his years overseas and what he expects from ‘Tropika Island of Treasure’.

Squishy toys have long been popular among children, but recently, these toys have boomed in popularity like never before. But what seems like an innocent children’s toy has now raised safety concerns around the world.

The talented Kelly Khumalo joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to talk all things music, situationships and her new song ‘Merry Go Round’.

One of South Africa’s biggest exports to the global entertainment industry, Arnold Vosloo, has welcomed a baby at the age of 64. ‘The Mummy’ actor and his 32-year-old girlfriend, Anika du Toit, welcomed a baby boy, and the pair’s lives have already changed for the better.

Look around a supermarket and almost everything you see carries a label. Before the brand, barcode and product information are added, many of those labels begin as rolls of self-adhesive material. South African manufacturer Morgancoat makes enough of that material every year to cover Robben Island about 11 times. Its story began in 2007, when Richard Morgan and his father Mike developed machinery to apply recyclable barrier coatings to paper. The idea was ahead of its time, so they adapted the machinery and began manufacturing self-adhesive label material instead.

Speaking to Breakfast with Martin Bester this morning, national police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the police service is concerned that more bodies could potentially be discovered as investigators work to establish whether the deaths of five women in Ekurhuleni are connected. “It's a big concern and we are hoping that we won't get more bodies. The team is on the ground. We've got a multidisciplinary team consisting of experts. We've got tracking teams on the ground, we've got our criminologists who form part of our investigative psychology unit. We also have psychologists on the ground trying to study the behaviour of each, you know, case.” This was moments before it was confirmed that a sixth woman’s body had been discovered in Kwa-Thema, Springs. It is the sixth woman’s body found in Ekurhuleni in the past two months, but there is not yet any confirmation that the latest discovery is connected to any of the other cases.

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus and Springbok captain Siya Kolisi are sporting new bald looks following the final match of the 2026 Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series. Both Erasmus and Kolisi took to social media to show off their new bald looks.

Is there really anything wrong with dating a colleague? That is what Anonymous wants to know in this week’s Asking For A Friend on Breakfast with Martin Bester. Anonymous wrote to Breakfast with Martin Bester, asking: “Why am I not allowed to date my colleague? What’s so wrong with that?” This is what the team and listeners had to say.

South Africa's future isn't only found beneath our soil. Some of it is being designed in Stellenbosch and sent into space. Dragonfly Aerospace, founded by Bryan Dean and his colleagues in 2020, designs and builds sophisticated Earth-observation cameras and the satellites that carry them. It is an extraordinary South African business story, one built on decades of hard-won experience. South Africa developed valuable satellite engineering expertise around Stellenbosch University, but as projects ended and companies closed, that knowledge risked being lost to other industries. Bryan and his team saw an opportunity to keep the capability together and turn it into a sustainable product business.

Justice prevailed for a Johannesburg woman after her two-and-a-half-year battle over a municipal water bill ended in her favour. Following an investigation by the Public Protector, it was revealed that a faulty water meter had been behind the billing dispute. According to eNCA, more than R2.6 million has now been credited to Bot’s municipal account.

Can you guess the latest Secret Sound on Breakfast with Martin Bester? Breakfast with Martin Bester has launched a brand-new R50 000 Secret Sound. Can you guess the sound?

A Durban chef has been hailed as a hero after repeatedly running into a burning building to rescue a 74-year-old woman trapped upstairs.

North West school principal Sam Lupuwana recently informed students and parents about his decision to cancel his school’s matric farewell dance this year. Lupuwana’s decision comes after matric students performed poorly academically at Milner High School in Klerksdorp. Lupuwana described the pupils’ performance as “critically concerning” and called them “arguably the most disappointing group of Grade 12s” after 72 of the 186 matric pupils failed the Term 2 exams.

Breakfast with Martin Bester discovered young Anaya Sounds during the Jacaranda FM Feel Good Tour and has held her hand as she takes South Africa by storm. Recently, it all came full circle when Anaya performed the national anthem during the Lions vs All Blacks match. We can't wait to continue on this journey with her and see what she does next.

For most of us, salt is one of the simplest ingredients on the table. For Samantha Skyring, it became the foundation of Oryx Desert Salt, a South African brand that is increasingly finding its way onto international shelves. Oryx Desert Salt founder Samantha Skyring turned pure Kalahari salt into a growing South African brand by finding the right customers, embracing sustainability and taking action despite self-doubt.

On Friday, 28 August, Breakfast with Martin Bester made another listener richer after they correctly guessed the R50 000 Secret Sound.

Martin Bester dropped a brand-new clue for the latest Secret Sound clue!

US country music legend Dolly Parton, who grew up in Tennessee and became a household name with hits like 'Jolene,' has died at the age of 80, her family said Tuesday.

Founded by Anton van Heerden, DNA EOR enables overseas companies to employ South Africans without first having to establish their own company in the country. DNA EOR acts as the local legal employer, managing employment contracts, payroll, tax and labour compliance, while the international company manages the employee’s day-to-day work. More than 500 South Africans are already employed by DNA on behalf of foreign businesses, giving them the opportunity to gain international experience while continuing to live, spend, pay tax and build their lives in South Africa. For Anton, the business represents the latest chapter in a career that has revolved around people, payroll and technology. Despite spending much of his career in technology, Anton believes strongly that technology should enable human relationships rather than replace them. His lesson for other business owners is to automate what should be automated while protecting the trust, judgement and personal connection that make customers and employees want…

Anonymous wrote to Breakfast with Martin Bester saying they have a friend who they always invite over to their house, whether it’s for cake and tea, a braai or a meal. However, they never get invited over to their friend’s house. “Whenever they come to my house, I welcome them inside, but whenever I visit them, I’m left standing at the gate,” they wrote. “I have actually never been inside their house.” Anonymous wants to know why the effort always seems to come from one side. They’ve heard excuses like, “I don’t invite you over because your house is too neat,” or, “You make much better food than I do.” But they can’t help wondering why they’re always the one doing the inviting. This is what the team and our listeners had to say.

As part of the Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry 2026 tour, the Vodacom Bulls and the All Blacks went head-to-head on Saturday, 15 August. Ahead of this highly anticipated match, rugby content creator Jordan Buhrs was so confident that the Pretoria team would win that he had a proposition for the internet. Buhrs posted a video on social media claiming that he was so confident the Bulls would win that he was willing to do whatever the top comment on his video said. This is where the All Blacks got involved and dared him to get a tattoo of their logo if they won the game. “Get our logo tattooed on your arm before the first Test (minimum 5cm),” the New Zealand national team commented. As expected, this ended up being the top comment, and Buhrs had to stick to his word. Breakfast with Martin Bester caught up with the social media content creator after he got his tattoo, and Martin Bester challenged him to yet another dare.

Breakfast with Martin Bester spoke to the main voice behind Eggchasers Rugby, a popular digital rugby union community, audio podcast and YouTube channel.

Breyton Paulse, the celebrated Springbok legend, joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to share his excitement and thoughts ahead of the much-anticipated Springboks vs All Blacks Test at Ellis Park on Saturday, 22 August. This iconic match-up forms part of what is widely regarded as rugby’s greatest rivalry, and Paulse’s insights offered a captivating glimpse into the anticipation surrounding this colossal sporting event.

Road rage is a growing issue on South African roads, with everyone accusing the next person of being a bad driver. Very often, people in big cars blame people in small cars for being bad drivers, and vice versa. In this week’s Asking For A Friend, Anonymous feels that people who drive big cars are the worst on the road. Their question to Breakfast with Martin Bester this week is simple: Why do people in big cars drive so badly? Listen here to hear what the team and our listeners had to say.

Despite her rise to global stardom, South African singer Tyla has not forgotten her roots. After accepting her second AfriPure International Achievement Award at the South African Music Awards (SAMAs), the global star treated fans to an official takeover of the famous Gold Reef City. The ‘Water’ hitmaker took over the theme park to celebrate the release of her ‘A*Pop’ album. Gold Reef City was turned into an ‘A*Pop’-themed park, with pink merchandise, photo booths and even pink burgers and pizza on the menu. Of course, Tyla also treated her fans to a live performance. “I’m so happy that you guys came through. You guys look beautiful. We’re gonna have fun. I want you guys to enjoy, have a good time. It’s crazy. I did not think it would be this crazy,” she said on stage, in awe of the turnout. Social media was also flooded with videos of the singer enjoying some of the theme park rides at Gold Reef City.

Ahead of his address at the MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast, Springbok legend Bryan Habana joined Martin Bester and the Breakfast team live from VodaWorld to talk leadership lessons from professional sport, the five non-negotiables he believes drive success, and what leading a mostly-female fintech team taught him about unlearning old habits. He also shares his hilarious tale of teeing off in front of 4,500 spectators alongside Scottie Scheffler and Justin Rose, and gives his take on this weekend's Springboks vs All Blacks clash at Ellis Park.

Join us for a delightful dive into Jigo Jordan's Afrikaans adventure! With just five months on the clock, this Zimbabwean Uber driver has everyone smiling as he learns Afrikaans through children's books. Listen in for laughs, cultural insights, and the heartwarming tale of a man on a mission to connect in a new language.

Media mogul and businesswoman Basetsana Khumalo opens up about pursuing her doctorate in her 50s, building a fertilizer plant from coal gasification, and three decades of reinventing herself in business, in a candid chat with Martin Bester ahead of her Legacy Speaks address at the MANCOSA Jacaranda FM Business Breakfast. She talks about the stigma women face moving from beauty pageants to boardrooms - and why she'd rather "fail spectacularly" than never try at all. Khumalo shares the stage with Bryan Habana, Pavlo Phitidis and Kimberly Taylor at this year's event, held at the Vodacom Dome on 17 August.

Join the Breakfast crew as they dive into Cyril Ramaphosa's viral “clock it” moment that got everyone talking. With their trademark humour and down-to-earth vibe, Martin and the gang chat about whether there’s an age limit for trendy phrases. Tune in for a lively discussion that mixes laughs with real talk about how the president might be winning over the youth in unexpected ways. #ClockIt

Their comeback single, 'Ohema', an Afro-infused pop track from their EP, was released on 24 July 2026. 'Ohema' is derived from the Akan word for "queen" (or Ohemaa) in Ghana. The project marks both a return and a reinvention, staying true to the emotional storytelling and soaring vocal performances that made fans fall in love with them, while embracing fresh sonic influences such as Afrobeats and 3-step. The result is a mature, confident and beautifully evolved sound that reflects the women they are today. More than just a comeback, 'Full Circle' is a celebration of legacy, sisterhood and growth. On Friday, 14 August, Jacky, Mariechan and Liesl joined Breakfast with Martin Bester to celebrate the new music.

For many celebrity men, and even the average guy on the street, the idea that handbags are only for women is long gone. There is a growing trend, particularly among male celebrities, of carrying handbags of all sizes and colours as the latest luxury fashion statement. Celebrities, athletes and designers are all proving that men can wear handbags too. Jacob Elordi, Pharrell Williams, Harry Styles, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, A$AP Rocky and Travis Scott have all been spotted rocking handbags, making them somewhat of pioneers in the handbag’s comeback.