Next week The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is hosting the 25th International Conference of the African Languages Association of Southern Africa (ALASA) in collaboration with the Pan South African Language Board (PanSALB). The conference will focus on exploring how African languages can unlock new opportunities in various sectors, including education, business, and technology. 

The youthful looking 48 year old award-winning multidisciplinary artist Robin Rhode has been working in South Africa in Florida West of Johannesburg for about two months in an abandoned park. The old tennis court that has been cleaned up and it's cracked floor is now a canvas for Robin's creations. He's known for his wall art but he is now shifting away from walls to work on the ground. 

The Springboks end their losing streak against Ireland which dates back to 2016. 

Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni says government priorities are still based on the Medium Term Strategic Framework even under the Government of National Unity. Ntshavheni has hit back at criticism of the size of the cabinet saying other factors like the demographics of the country, geographic spread, youth- and gender representation were also considered.

An alliance of advocates for equitable cancer care in South Africa is calling on the new Government of National Unity to make cancer a political priority, with a dedicated National Cancer Institute to close legislative and policy gaps that are driving life-threatening treatment disparities.  The group says South Africa faces an impending cancer prevention and control crisis, with at least 3000 patients enduring potentially deadly delays in treatment access due to staff and equipment shortages.  Only 44 of the country's 200 oncologists, for example, are employed in the public health sector, which serves 84% of the total population. 

The International Federation of Christian Churches (IFCC) welcomes the formation of Government of National Unity (GNU),which officially ushers in the 7th Administration. This is after what has been proven to be a historical election on the 29th of May 2024, where no political party was given a majority mandate to govern by the Electorate.The IFCC pleads  with the ministers to rise above party politics, self-interest during their service in the GNU and put the interests of the people of South Africa first. 

The latest  Consumer Default Index report from Experian has put the spotlight on the financial health of young consumers.  The report has revealed that loan defaults have decreased for young South Africans but that access is still a hurdle. Jaco van Jaarsveldt, Experian's Head of Commercial Strategy and Innovation says this positive trend doesn't necessarily mean their finances have drastically improved. According to the CDIx report this highlights  the need for both increased access to responsible credit and enhanced financial literacy. 

The High Court in Pretoria on FRIDAY  found that the National Energy Regulator of South Africa's (NERSA) decision to consider municipalities' applications for electricity tariff increases without the required cost studies is unlawful and invalid. According to Afriforum this means that the regulator may not consider any applications for electricity tariff increases from municipalities unless the required cost studies are also submitted. AfriForum submitted an urgent application to the court earlier this month to prevent NERSA from proceeding with these considerations. 

University of Pretoria (UP) scientists have contributed to discovering how the naked mole rat is able to withstand heart attacks and fend off bowel cancer, two of the most fatal human ailments in the developed world. Their findings were published recently in two Nature Communications papers. Prof Nigel Bennett and Dr Daniel Hart, co-authors on both papers and experts in mole rat evolution at UP's Department of Zoology and Entomology, say the findings add to a long list of mole rat "superpowers" that have already been discovered, including slower ageing, natural contraception and the ability to bypass pain responses.

Online dating and dating apps are powerful connectors in the dating landscape. Since the first dating site launched in the 1990s, online dating has grown in popularity and become normalized around the world.  Millions of people use it to find love and companionship – but as well as the rewards of finding a partner, there are also risks, including online scams and unwanted or threatening behavior. Experts say it's wise to keep a few precautions in mind for safer interactions.

According to non-governmental organization, Nguvu collective, lack of awareness the stigma that is associated with menstruation is increased exponentially in prisons where women face intersecting discriminatory practices because of their gender and  incarceration. 

South African man's senior national team will be playing in the exciting final of the ICC T20 world cup at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados this afternoon for the very first time since rejoining international sporting community in 1992. The Proteas will be playing against India, who are the favorites to lift the trophy. It's going to be a difficult game, however if the Proteas bowling attack display the same level of accuracy and precision they showed against Afghanistan in the semis, we stand a good chance. 

In the latest developments, the ANC and the DA have yet to reconcile their differences over Cabinet positions. Wil this threaten the unity in government of national unity talks?  To unpack this we are now joined on the line by Dr Ongama Mtimka  political analyst at Nelson Mandela University. 

The Democratic Alliance is one of the major partners of the proposed Government of National Unity. The party has been governing the Western Cape since 2009. It retained the province with an outright majority in the May 2024 elections. We visited Houtbay, a traditional fishing town and economic hub, surrounded by impoverished communities. Mercedes Besent spoke to some of the people of Hangberg about their challenges, sentiments and expectations from a Government of National Unity.

South Africa has one foot in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup, and remain unbeaten so far in the tournament. But their game against England yesterday was a close one, as they scrambled to a win by 7 runs. The match went down to essentially the last ball, as a bit of wayward bowling near the end of the match came close to up-ending them. To look at the match, and their chances of reaching the semis, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAfm Sports presenter and researcher Janet Whitton.

South African consumers across the board find themselves increasingly under pressure due to the high cost of living and other factors outside their control, such as the increasing food and petrol prices. What's also concerning, is the shrinking budget allocation on essential items, such as education, healthcare and savings.  Where consumers do have a say though, is in how they spend their money, on purchases such as new vehicles, property or on credit cards. But the newly established National Financial Ombud Scheme urges consumers to think long and hard, taking into consideration the long term consequences should they not be able to service their debts and possibly face a repossession scenario down the line.  For more on repossesions and consumer rights , Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nerosha Maseti, Lead Ombud for the Banking Division at the National Financial Ombud Scheme 

President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to appoint his deputy president, ministers and their deputies soon. Ramaphosa has begun consultations on the appointment of a new cabinet after agreeing to form a broad coalition with opposition parties. The Government of National Unity (GNU),  includes parties such as the DA, IFP, Patriotic Alliance (PA), GOOD Party, the PAC FF Plus and on Friday the UDM became the eighth party to join.   There are also calls for Ramaphosa to cut by a third, the number of Cabinet posts.  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to political analyst, Sanusha Naidu 

As we celebrate Youth Day, it's a sharp reminder that South Africa has one of the highest youth unemployment rates globally, with 61% of those aged 15-24 and 40% of those aged 25-34 being very vulnerable. Young people face unique challenges when it comes to finding their place in the world.  Some of the challenges youth in South Africa face include high levels of unemployment, limited access to quality education, economic inequality, crime rates, and social issues, such as substance abuse and violence. Additionally, they may encounter psychological and emotional stressors related to these challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. This year marks the 48th anniversary of the 16 June 1976 student uprising in Soweto, when young people protested against the Bantu Education Act, which enforced Afrikaans as a medium of instruction in schools and apartheid laws that oppressed black South Africans. TODAYS'  commemoration is held under theme "Actively advancing socio-economic gains of our democracy".  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Tessa Dooms ,  Political analyst  and Director of Programmes at the Rivonia Circle and Anele Satsha, Head of Economic Policy & Research and the SA Youth Economic Council (SAYEC)

The Healthy Living Alliance - HEALA - is warning that the obesity epidemic facing the youth of South Africa, inadvertently places them at risk of major non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, pulmonary diseases, strokes, certain types of cancer and type 2 diabetes. According to Discovery's 2023 ObeCity Index, more than 20 million South African adults (20 years and older) are obese, with 13% of children under the age of five also afflicted by obesity. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Eunice Montso, Policy and Programme Coordinator at the Healthy Living Alliance 

Research conducted by the Human Sciences Research Council in 2022 found that 30% of South Africans between the age  16 and older consumed alcohol. However, 90% of these drinkers engaged in binge drinking, meaning they sometimes consumed four or more drinks in one sitting. Meanwhile, non-profit organisation,  Aware.org says 50% of teenagers in South Africa drink alcohol.  One of the organisation's studies also showed that someone who starts drinking under the age of 18, which is illegal, is four times more likely to develop alcohol dependence than someone who starts consuming booze after the age of 20. The Organisation is now taking this opportunity to address the critical issues affecting the youth with the special focus on underage drinking. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Lebogang Mashigo, Senior programmes manager at Aware.org 

A new report from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has revealed that elephant poaching is on the decline.  The reduction of cases has been linked to the closure of key domestic ivory markets which has significantly reduced demand . On the supply side, the conviction of high-level traffickers across Africa and Asia has limited the flow of illegal ivory.   Wildlife organisation - Wild Africa Fund - has welcomed the news of the decline in elephant poaching but warns that the threat to Africa's elephants persists and says efforts must continue in reporting wildlife crime and saying NO to poaching. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Wild Africa Fund CEO and co- founder Peter Knights 

For some analysis  on the new Cyril Ramaphosa GNU , Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  political analysts Sandile Swana and Dr Fikile Vilakazi...

Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected President of South Africa. He beat EFF leader Julius Malema by 283 votes. Malema received 44 votes and was nominated by the UDM. Ramaphosa was nominated by the IFP. The win paves the way for Ramaphosa to lead an ANC led government of national unity. The leaders of parties that constitute parliament following the 29 May have also congratulated Cyril Ramaphosa on becoming the next President of South Africa. The PAC did not give a message of congratulations to the president. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to J PAC Secretary General Apa Pooe....

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo will TODAY preside over the swearing in of the permanent delegates in the National Council of Provinces - NCOP. This follows YESTERDAY's swearing in ceremony of  the hundreds of Members of Parliament at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during the first sitting of the National Assembly of the seventh Parliament. To walk us through today's process Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  the council's secretary, Advocate Modibedi Phindela 

The Don Consultancy Group Chief Economist, Chifipa Mhango says the South African 2024 Election results have transformed the political landscape, and the challenge remains on transforming the economy.   The new South African government faces enormous domestic challenges, which are stimulating economic growth, job creation and confronting structural inequality. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Chifipa Mhango 

At least six political parties have written to Chief Justice Raymond Zondo asking him to appoint a retired judge to facilitate talks on the formation of a Government of National Unity. The UDM, ACDP, ATM, PAC, UAT and BOSA say the 18 political parties that secured one or more seats in the National Assembly should be allowed to decide the make-up of government after no party garnered enough votes to constitute government on its own. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to UDM leader Bantu Holomisa  

As consultative talks to set up the 7th administartion under a government of national unity continue THIS WEEKEND, some political parties have expressed support for the ANC proposed idea while some have outright rejected the suggestion and announced they will not be part of the project. ANC alliance partner, COSATU, has openly opposed any coalition that involves the DA. To hear what the other federation thinks Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the South African Federation of Trade Unions - SAFTU - General Secretary, Zwelinzima Vavi

Over 20,000 runners from South Africa and other parts of the world have set off in the 85-km Comrades Marathon, regarded as the richest race on the African continent. The cash price for this year's race is over R4 million. .. This year's Up Run started earlier THIS MORNING at Durban's City Hall and will end at the Hollywoodbets Scottsville Racecourse in Pietermaritzburg. It usually takes a year for these runners to prepare themselves for the ultimate human race.  Our colleague at SAfm, Marumo Kekana is with the SABC team at the race and he joins us on the line.....

As a way of laying the ground for a stable and sustainable GNU, the ANC has also called for a national dialogue to help rebuild social cohesion. To help us understand what the national dialogue would hope to achieve Bongiwe Zwane spoke to political analyst, Dr Ongama Mtimka 

As consultative talks to set up the 7th administartion under a government of national unity continue THIS WEEKEND, some political parties have expressed support for the ANC proposed idea while some have outright rejected the suggestion and announced they will not be part of the project. .The Democratic Alliance (DA) and Inkatha Freedom Party (IPF) say they're not opposed to the idea of a government of national unity, but they will need more details. On the other hand the EFF has spurned the idea and the MKP, which initially rejected the idea is now reportedly warming up to the proposal. ANC alliance partner, COSATU, has openly opposed any coalition that involves the DA. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Ahmed Kathrada Foundation Executive Director, Neeshan Bolton...

INTRO: On FRIDAY Bafana Bafana secured an important point with a 1-1 draw against bitter rivals Nigeria in their World Cup Group C match at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. The Super Eagles,  initially favourites in Group C, had draws in their first two qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe. Hugo Broos' side began with a win over Benin but suffered a surprising defeat to Rwanda.Meanwhile the South African men's cricket team is looking to exact revenge on The Netherlands when they meet in a Group D, ICC T20 World Cup clash in New York later  on SATURDAY . The Dutch have become the Proteas' bogey team at World Cups recently. In 2022, they upset the South Africans at the T20 World Cup in Australia, and then again at the Cricket World Cup in India last year. To look at both games Bongiwe Zwane spoke to award winning sports journalist, Kanyiso Tshwaku..

For the first time in history, a cricket World Cup starts on American soil today after America and West Indies won the joint bid to host the event in 2021. Action begins when the United States host Canada in Dallas and will conclude with the final on the 29th of June at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The Proteas' opening match takes place tomorrow at 16:30 (SA time) when they face Sri Lanka at the Nassau County Stadium in New York. To discuss this we are joined  by SAfm Sports anchor, Janet Whitton.

Political parties can raise objections but threats to the IEC are unproductive: Analyst

As talks on establishing coalition governments will soon start between political parties, some are expressing concern that the disfunction experienced in municipalities dogged by unworkable coalition arrangements will soon filter to provincial and national government. For their perspective on this issue we spoke to Zukiswa Kota, Head of Monitoring and Advocacy Programme at the Public Service Accountability Monitor

Writing on the wall for political parties as vote counting nears conclusion

So what process awaits in Parliament after all votes have been counted, declared and seats allocated? To tell us more we are joined  by Advocate Modibedi Phindela, Secreatry to the National Council of Provinces, NCOP.

#HOPE4SA is a small political party launched ...months ago and participated in the 2024 election. The party, which campaigned on the hope and a promise for change in South Africa's political landscape, has so far garnered  just above 26 000 votes or 0.17% of the national vote. To tell us about their experience we spoke to #HOPE4SA National Secretary, Dianne Kruger...

The Elders group of world leaders has said "no country is above the law" and Israel's "unlawful approach" to its war on Gaza cannot continue following the ICJ's order to halt military operations in the Rafah area. This comes as the ICJ on FRIDAY called on Israel to end its operation in Rafah. Over the last two weeks, Israel has reduced entire neighborhoods in Rafah to rubble and forcefully displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Israel has since responded to the ICJ ruling calling it "outrageous, morally repugnant and disgusting", adding that accusations of genocide in Gaza "are false".  As the International Court was handing down its ruling on Rafah, Israeli forces were intensifying their attacks on the city in southern Gaza, with missiles targeting the crowded al-Shabura refugee camp. To find out how Israeli citizens are seeing all this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Israeli journalist, Jonathan Schwartz....

The Department of Justice says it will hold engagements with officials in India following the arrest of Ajay and Anil Gupta on Friday for their alleged involvement in the death of a man in that country. Speaking to journalists at YESTERDAY's ANC rally at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola clarified that Gupta family members had indeed been arrested in India, but they were not the ones South Africa issued a warrant of arrest for. Reports say Ajay Gupta and Anil Gupta were arrested on Friday for their alleged involvement in the death of a prominent builder in Dehradun, India. South Africa however wants Rajesh and Atul Gupta, who left the country for Dubai, and are facing numerous investigations of large-scale corruption. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to our  International Editor Sophie Mokoena  to discuss this development....

The drive to Wednesday's national and provincial elections goes a gear up with over 1.6 million voters who applied for special votes casting their ballots TOMORROW and TUESDAY. According to Electoral Commission of South Africa - IEC -, a little over a million special voters will visit voting stations where they were registered, while the remainder will be visited by the IEC's officers at their homes or places of confinement. Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal have the most approved special votes for both home visits and voting station visits with 335 000 and 320 000 special voters respectively. The time of operations for special votes is from 9am to 5pm. To tell us more  about their readiness for special voters Bongiwe Zwane spoke to w the IEC's Electoral Operations Manager, James Aphane.

Part of the folklore of politics is that being first on a ballot paper is worth at least some extra votes in any general elections. Nkosikhulule Nyembezi , Policy Analyst and Researcher at Election Monitoring Network says for decades, specialists in voting mechanics have studied whether the order in which voters see candidates on the ballot impacts election results and that they have long recognised that the order in which candidates' names appear on a ballot influences voters' decisions. He says the ballot position clearly and robustly affects the number of undecided and switched votes for the top candidate. Meanwhile, the latest research by the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CDSA), shows that voter choice is not based on only one factor but a combination of many complex and intersecting factors. Social attitudes, political beliefs, socio-economic issues and a desire for a better life are but some of the reasons for their party-political preferences. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, Policy Analyst and Researcher at Election Monitoring Network and Prof Leila Patel, lead researcher at the Centre for Social Development in Africa (CSDA) 

THIS WEEK South Africa triumphantly returned to the world's greatest floral exhibition, the Royal Horticultural Society Chelsea Flower Show in London. The country not only secured a Gold medal from the judges but also won the "Best Exhibit in the Pavilion" and the "Best New Design" awards -  a first for South Africa. The last time the country competed at the Chelsea Flower Show, described as the Olympic equivalent of the flower landscape design, was in 2019. This was due to funding problems. Grootbos Private Nature Reserve played a significant role in South Africa's return to the Chelsea Flower Show. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the reserve's owner Michael Lutzeyer

Some political parties are holding their final weekend campaign rallies TODAY in a last push to woo voters ahead of the national and provincial elections on Wednesday. Among them is the ANC which holds it's SIYAQOBA rally at the 95 thousand seater FNB stadium in Johannesburg. The Red Berets will have their TSHELA THUPA campaign rally at the 46 thousand seater Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane. The uMkhonto we Sizwe Party is also holding it's MAYIBUYE rally at Durban's Moses Mabhida Stadium's people's park later today. Can this last push by political parties make any difference? Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Sanet Madonsela Solomon, Lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of South Africa - UNISA

INTRO: It's Africa Month and today is Africa day.This is a time when the continent commemorates the founding of the Organisation of African Unity.While we reflect on what it means to be African as well, let's speak about another part of us that is often under scrutiny. This is monarchs. Is there still a place for them and given modernisation, how do they fit into modern democracy. Lets speak to Imboni Dr Uzwi-lezwe Radebe, Spiritual Leader and Author. 

Sudan has been engulfed in civil war since fighting erupted on last year in April.  Fighting between the Sudanese army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces has seen more than 15,000 killed and many more displaced. According to humanitarian aid groups , the violence has worsened an already precarious humanitarian situation.  Last week the the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs  said  that half of Sudan's population needs aid as famine and disease outbreaks are "closing in. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO)  says disease outbreaks such as cholera, measles, dengue fever and malaria are spreading in Sudan while people are facing a lack of access to basic needs.  Now Doctors without Borders are raising their concern about the absence of UN and humanitarian actors and that this is further exacerbating the health needs of internally displaced people.... Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Juniper Gordon, Health Advisor of emergency pool at the Doctors without Borders 

Sixty-one years ago TODAY, 32 African nations came together in Ethiopia to establish the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which is now known as the African Union. Since 1963, Africa Day has been celebrated annually, on May 25, as a commemoration of this historical unification of African countries. But as we celebrate Africa Day, there is a loud crack of discord and disharmony across the continent from wars, poverty, displacement to ethnic and tribal conflicts. Some analysts say how Africans became strangers and enemies to each other in Africa is a colonial story of untold proportions. To help us explore what it will take to achieve the grand vision by the African Union for a united, peaceful, and thriving continent Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Kim Heller, a political analyst and author of 'No White Lies: Black Politics and White Power in South Africa 

With over 3500 registered voters, Canberra in Australia was the third largest overseas voting station after the UK and Netherlands. Udo Carelse spoke to who was among the thousands who cast their ballots there  YESTERDAY  

The election support organisation, Ground Work Collective, this weekend dispatched their independent election observers to voting stations in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Switzerland. The election observation as part of its X_Change campaign and has seen thousands of South Africans volunteer to observe elections both at home and abroad. Udo Carelse spoke to Ground Work Collective founder Mbali Ntuli 

Over 1200 South Africans cast ballots at three polling stations in the United States, well below the more than 4200 eligible to cast ballots in the national poll in that country. 635 ballots were cast in New York, far less than the 1700 expected in the Big Apple. Only 226 votes were cast ballots in Los Angeles while Washington D.C. issued more than 400 ballots. Voters traveled from all over the region to vote at the IEC polling station in the  South African Consulate in Manhattan. Report by  Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.. Meanwhile Udo Carelse spoke to  IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Shiburi .

Search and rescue efforts are still continuing for 11 fishermen who went missing after their fishing trawler sank off the coast of Cape Town n Friday afternoon. The National Sea Rescue Institute, the NSRI, says it is still hopeful that the missing 11- fishermen will be found as a debris field where the fishing trawler went down has been located . For the latest Udo Carelse spoke to  The National Sea Rescue Institute, (NSRI) spokesperson Craig Lambinon

This week President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the country's biggest health policy overhaul into law. Civil society organisations and political parties are threatening legal action , saying Ramaphosa must return to the drawing board and work with various industry experts to design a workable, universal health care model.Last week he signed the  Electoral Matters Amendment Bill which sees a change in the political party funding formula, the Preventing and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. These have also been met with concern. Another bill that awaits the President's assent is the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill (BELA Bill)..It is now exactly eleven days before the elections, some have raised concerns about the timing of the signing of the bills.  To unpack this Udo Carelse spoke to Professor Sethulego Matebesi , Sociologist from the University of the Free State  

Better the lives of the black majority. This was the message that came from the Umkhonto Wesizwe party during its manifesto launch at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto YESTERDAY. The party aimed to woo voters just 11 days before the country heads to the hotly contested May polls. It has made inroads in provinces like KwaZulu-Natal since its formation last year. However, it has not had the same effect in other parts of the country. In the recent by-elections in Limpopo and the North West, the party was only able to garner one-percent of the vote in both provinces. However, the almost 40-thousand capacity stadium was packed with supporters eagerly awaiting a message from party leader, Jacob Zuma. Zoleka Qodashe reports...

Voting in the 2024 national elections at international voting stations started YESTERDAY and will continue this weekend. Registered voters in mainly Middle Eastern countries cast their ballots yesterday and the rest of the world - some 102 countries - will vote TODAY. London, which has the largest number of eligible voters of any voting station with over 24 thousand registered voters, will also open TOMORROW.  The IEC said voting stations will be open from 7am to 7pm local time at most foreign missions, except for in London, Washington and New York, which will be open from 7am to 9pm.  To tell us how the vote went yesterday and what they are expecting today Udo Carelse spoke to  IEC Deputy Chief Electoral Officer, Masego Shiburi . Meanwhile the Democratic Alliance, through it's DA ABROAD network has been actively galvanising South Africans based in different parts of the world to register and vote in this election. They also have agents monitoring the polling at various international voting stations. Udo Carelse spoke to Ludre Stevens, DA Abroad Global Chairperson   

The Special Investigative Unit conducted a search and seizure operation at the Desmond Tutu Refugee Centre in Marabastad in Pretoria YESTERDAY (FRIDAY). This after a whistleblower tipped off the Department of Home Affairs to unlawful activities occurring at the centre where officials are allegedly being bribed to issue fraudulent documents to unregistered foreign nationals. The department in partnership with the Special Investigative Unit and the Hawks acquired a search warrant to search the premises of five refugee centres including those in Cape Town, Durban, Musina, Port Elizabeth and Durban. electronic devices, like cellphones and laptops  were confiscated by authorities for further investigation. Lawyers  for Human Rights have welcomed this operation and for further reaction udo Carelse spoke to   the National Director, Wayne Ncube 

The South African Department of health forecasts supply challenges of insulin pen devices for diabetes management, and has advised health facilities to ration the distribution of insulin pens across the country. Reacting to this development, the global medical humanitarian organisation, Doctors Without Borders or MSF, is calling on Danish pharmaceutical corporation Novo Nordisk and other manufacturers of insulin pens to acknowledge their responsibility and take immediate action to ensure a continuous supply of insulin pens to South Africa. The country has 4.2 million people with diabetes. MSF held a two-part webinar to discuss ways to make access to insulin and newer diabetes medicines possible for all people with diabetes. For more Udo Carelse spoke to  Candice Sehoma, Campaign Advocacy Advisor at  Médecins Sans Frontières, also known as Doctors Without Borders 

TODAY is International Nurses Day. This year's theme is, "Investing in Nurses and the Economic Power of Care", which emphasizes a global call to reshape perceptions about nursing. This as there are amplified calls for countries to move away from a General Practitioner or doctor-centric healthcare system towards one that is more nurse-led. This however will also require advanced training and education, promoting leadership development, and advocating for policies that support nursing excellence and professional growth. The National Independent Nurses Association South Africa - NINA SA -  is an organisation whose vision is to provide support for nurses through the provision of education and training. It's chairperson, Grant Pepler, now joins us on the line.....

A global TB vaccine trial was launched THIS WEEK in Gqeberha to address South Africa's number one killer disease. The Wits Health Consortium announced the start of the Bill & Melinda Gates Medical Research Institute's Phase 3 clinical trial to assess the efficacy of TB vaccine candidate, The trial is being held at the Isango Lethemba TB Research Unit located at the Jose Pearson Hospital in Gqeberha. The Eastern Cape has the highest TB incidence in the country. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr. Pauline Howell, TB research specialist from the Clinical HIV Research Institute...

There was elation on site where a survivor was retrieved YESTERDAY after 118 hours of being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building at George in the Western Cape. The multi apartment building was under construction when it collapsed on Monday. Eighty one people were on site when the building imploded. Forty-two have so far been recovered, of whom 13 were declared deceased. Another 39 are still unaccounted for. SABC reporter Tanya Krause reports...

There was elation on site where a survivor was retrieved YESTERDAY after 118 hours of being trapped under the rubble of a collapsed building at George in the Western Cape. Meanwhile , in the early hours of the morning (SUNDAY) , a body was removed under the rubble. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Western Cape Chief Director for Disaster Management, Colin Deiner .

President Cyril Ramaphosa has signed into law the Second Adjustments Appropriation Bill and the Electoral Matters Amendment Bill.  According to the Presidency, the two Bills will expand financial resources for South Africa's multiparty democracy, including support for independent candidates and representatives.  The Second Adjustments Appropriation Bill provides for a net movement of R290 million across functions and economic classifications in line with the requirements of the state and provides additional financial support to a number of departments and institutions. The Electoral Matters Amendment  which, among other provisions, amends the Political Party Funding Act of 2018 to provide for the regulation of the private and public funding of independent candidates and independent representatives. Analysts say the latter has also created a temporary gap in the law, removing the limit on how much funding political parties may receive from donors and they won't have to declare it either. Previously political parties warned that if Ramaphosa assented to the Bill, they would be forced to join civil society, which had already given notice of an intent to approach the courts to oppose this legislation on the grounds that it is unconstitutional. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nkosikhulule Nyembezi, Policy Analyst and Researcher at Election Monitoring Network and  PAC Secretary General, Apa Pooe

The Nelspruit Specialised  Commercial Crimes Court in Mbombela, Mpumalanga YESTERDAY acquitted former State Security Minister, Bongani Bongo, and seven other accused, of fraud and corruption. The charges emanate from an alleged corrupt land deal amounting to over 70-million rand of tax payer's money. The money was used to purchase land for the Department of Human Settlement in the Emalahleni and Msukaligwa municipalities a decade ago. It was alleged that the accused inflated the prices of the farms. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to former minister Bongo for his reaction 

Emergency workers continued their search overnight for people who remain unaccounted  for following the collapse of a building in Victoria Street in George THIS WEEK.  Shortly after midnight THIS MORNING, rescue workers managed to retrieve the body of yet another person from underneath the rubble.  The death toll now stands at 14 . For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Western Cape Chief Director for Disaster Management, Colin Deiner 

President Cyril Ramaphosa THIS WEEK signed into law the Preventing and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Bill. The new piece of legislation outlaws offences of hate crimes and the offence of hate speech and allows the prosecution of persons who commit such offences. The offence of hate speech applies to any person who intentionally publishes, propagates, advocates, shares or communicates anything that can be harmful or induce hatred. While many have welcomed the new law as long overdue, some like the advocacy organisation, FOR SA ,see it as unnecessary and overboard. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Liesl Pretorius, Head of Legal at For SA....

The Constitutional Court YESTERDAY dismissed former president Jacob Zuma's recusal application. The court did not give reasons for its dismissal, but they are expected to provide these in their written ruling on this case. Zuma had argued that six judges of the Constitutional Court that sent him to prison in the first place should not be involved in the current matter of his eligibility to participate in elections saying they can't act as both players and referees. After the dismissal the court then heard an application by the Electoral Commission of South Africa - IEC - to appeal against an Electoral Court ruling that paved the way for Zuma to run for public office. The IEC wants the apex court to appeal against the Electoral Court's ruling overturning the commission's decision to bar Zuma from running for public office due to his 15-month prison sentence in 2021.The IEC disqualified Zuma from running on the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party's ticket as a result of the sentence he received for contempt of court. The Concourt has reserved judgement in the matter.Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mbekezeli Benjamin, Research and Advocacy Officer at Judges Matter

Credit Bureau TPN  has just released its third national residential tenant survey which provides the property sector with insights into tenants' needs and wants. The survey has found that financial barriers are the primary reason people rent and more women than men are renting because they can't afford home ownership.  More than 170,000 tenants were surveyed, and 19,000 completed responses were received, making the TPN Tenant Survey Report the largest holistic tenant survey in South Africa. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Waldo Marcus, Industry Principal at TPN Credit Bureau 

AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has issued a dire warning about the current draft of the World Health Organization Pandemic Agreement. With the final negotiations imminent, AHF is concerned about the document's glaring oversite of equity and transparency. AHF says the consequences of passing this agreement are unimaginable and that the African continent is at risk of entering the next global health crisis blindfolded, with hands tied and again at the mercy of wealthy nations.  The pandemic agreement is a potential international agreement currently being negotiated by the 194 member states of the WHO, including the U.S. Many governments and WHO leadership felt it was necessary to develop a new agreement to address some of the weaknesses in capacities and lack of international cooperation that occurred during the global response to COVID-19. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ngaa Murombedzi, Regional Advocacy Policy and Marketing Manager at AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF)

Dozens of university  campuses across the United States were THIS WEEK taken over by students protesting against the war in Gaza. More than a thousand demonstrators have been arrested in the protests, as universities and police struggle to deal with dismantling student camps. Students have launched rallies, sit-ins, hunger strikes and, most recently, encampments against the war demanding that their institutions financially divest from Israel. On Tuesday night, a masked pro-Israeli group assaulted a pro-Palestinian student camp, before police officers were called to the University of California campus. Activists at Columbia and other universities say the protests are similar to those at the end of the 1960s against US involvement in the Vietnam War. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to w Brooks Spector, a fomer US diplomat and Associate Editor at the Daily Marverick....

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) has lambasted the Democratic Alliance for what it calls an attack on workers rights. The DA, in its economic policy, proposes to scrap or phase out the national minimum wage. The party this week also staged a protest outside COSATU's headquarters in Johannesburg, opposing the minimum wage. The party asserts that should they win in the upcoming May 29 elections, they plan to gradually phase out the national minimum wage, citing concerns over its impact on job opportunities and the financial burden it places on businesses, particularly smaller enterprises. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Cosatu acting National Spokesperson Matthew  Parks .

In our Sunday Morning discussion we explore the impact of vandalism and theft on public infrastructure and what needs to be done about it. To discuss this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mthobeli Kolisa, Chief Officer for Infrastructure Delivery, Spatial Transformation & Sustainability at the SA Local Government Association - SALGA - and Chumile Sali from ASIVIKELANE, an initiative that gives a voice to residents in South Africa's major cities who face severe basic service shortages.

After successful performances in 15 countries over the past 17 years, one of the Philippine's longest running theatre shows is finally making its way to the South African stage. Siddhartha the Musical is set to perform at the Joburg Theatre on the 11th and 12th of May. The already fully booked show will be free to the public. There will, however, be several other performances at various schools in Gauteng. Since its premiere in 2007, the musical has been staged more than 180 times in countries including Singapore, USA, Australia, New Zealand, and Brazil. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to The show's director, Junrey Alayacyac*,Who says the cast is excited to be on South African soil. 

Section 27, Equal Education, and the Legal Resources Centre are urging Parliament to reinstate clauses in the Basic Education Laws Amendment Bill to prevent unfair discrimination in language and admissions policies against learners and hinder their access to public schools. The organizations, in a statement, says that the proposed changes by the National Council of Provinces will water down important clauses that entrench proactive oversight powers on the part of provincial education Heads of Departments (HODs). For more on this, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Mila Harding, a legal researcher at Section 27. 

 Israeli officials are increasingly concerned that the International Criminal Court - ICC - is planning to seek arrest warrants for their military and political leaders on suspicion of war crimes. Reports suggest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu could be among them. The ICC has been investigating Israel's actions in the occupied territories for the past three years and recently the war in Gaza where Israel's retaliatory bombardment has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians. The ICC is also investigating the actions of Hamas for the October 7 attacks in which Hamas-led gunmen killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seized 253 hostages. Netanyahu has called the prospect of senior Israel figures joining the wanted list "an outrage of historic proportions", accusing the ICC of attempting to paralyse Israel's ability to defend itself. Many analysts say the fact that Netanyahu has chosen to make such harsh public comments suggests that, behind the scenes, such a scenario is being actively discussed. The ICC has previously issued arrest warrants for leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin, Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Omar Al Bashir of Sudan. For more on this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.

Registered voters had an extended deadline of MIDNIGHT last night to apply for special votes. The application process was open to voters who can't travel to their voting station on election day because they are physically infirm, disabled or pregnant, or are unable vote at their voting station on election day. The Electoral Commission had earlier distanced itself from a widely circulated message claiming that it had granted permission for everyone over the age of 60 to cast a special vote on 27 and 28 at the polling station where they are registered. For the latest, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to IEC Chief Electoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo.

Health and safety is an important component of all workplaces and the South African legislation creates certain obligations on employers to create a safe workplace and to report on any injuries during the course and scope of work. The Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA) has recently had several amendments which will be coming into law shortly. On Wednesday, South Africa celebrated Workers Day highlighting among others unsafe work places and because these amendments IMPACT workers , it is important for employers to understand the details of the amendments, their obligations as employers, and the aim of the legislation. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Biron Madisa, Associate in Employment Law practice at legal firm Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr - CDH 

The ANC's relationship with its former President Jacob Zuma has been ruptured, according to Zuma's predecessor.  Former president Thabo Mbeki says Zuma has betrayed the liberation movement and must no longer be considered a comrade. Mbeki was in Soshanguve,Tshwane to persuade voters to give the ANC another chance. Zara Groenewald file this report.

The World Food Programme is sounding the alarm that time is running out to prevent starvation in Darfur, Sudan where intensifying clashes around El-Fashir are preventing efforts to deliver life-saving humanitarian aid. In a briefing from Nairobi to Correspondents in New York, WFP Spokesperson for Sudan Leni Kinzli said civilians in the region were already facing devastating levels of food insecurity and hunger due to fighting between the Rapid Support Forces backed by their militias and the Sudanese Armed Forces, exacerbated by bureaucratic hurdles. The U.N. warns that the recent surge in fighting in El-Fashir was undermining efforts to reach at least 1.7 million people amid reports that children were already dying from malnutrition. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.

A massive increase in the number of vacant teaching posts should be a significant concern for every parent of a school going learner. This is according to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days who also believes that the high number of vacant teaching posts is a self-inflicted one and South Africans need to hold ministers accountable. Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga recently revealed that in the last three years, vacancies in teacher posts had grown 28%, from around 24,000 to more than 31,000, despite unofficial estimations that there are at least 30 000 qualified teachers who are struggling to find employment. The Department of Basic Education has issued an order allowing schools to hire temporary teachers to address the vacancies.  Meanwhile , National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) says government is not doing enough to stimulate the economy and that part of the issue is that the government tends to not act on its commitments.  To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School-Days and Basil Manuel ,  Executive Director at the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa (Naptosa) 

The 2024 City Nature Challenge is in full swing THIS WEEKEND during which a series of nature walks and events have been organised throughout the challenge which started on Friday and ends TOMORROW. Originating as a friendly competition between San Francisco and Los Angeles in the US in 2016, the challenge has blossomed into a worldwide phenomenon, with cities across the globe joining forces to observe and document the natural world in urban environments. 24 South African cities and regions are participating in City Nature Challenge 2024. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ednah Sekwakwa, Deputy Director for Marketing and Communications at the South African National Biodiversity Institute - SANBI - .

South Africa's journey toward democracy began in the early 1990s with the end of the apartheid era. This era marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape, with the setting aside of racial segregation and acceptance of multiracial democracy. On April 27 1994, the first democratic elections were held after which Nelson Mandela, became the first black president. This election was the first in which citizens of all races were allowed to participate. TODAY marks the 30th anniversary of the democratic elections and in these 30 years, from the euphoria of freedom to the realities of today, the path traversed has been one of triumphs and tribulations, progress and setbacks. Some have described the country's democratic history as two halves: 15 years of progress and development, where life got demonstrably better for the majority of the population and 15 years of democratic and developmental backsliding.  To explore where SA currently stands 30 years after democracy Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to founder member of the UDF and former cabinet minister Valli Moosa and Political Analyst, Sandile Swana.....

Thirty years since the dawn of democracy in South Africa and in a year of national elections, UNICEF South Africa has just released a manifesto calling for children and young people, to be put front and center in the country's development. Under the theme -  'Manifesto for Every Child in South Africa 2024: Time to PROTECT and PRIORITIZE, the manifesto urges government, the private sector, academia and civil society to engage in and strengthen efforts to protect and prioritize children and build a safer, fairer, and better South Africa for every child. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Christine Muhigana, UNICEF South Africa Representative

 Mamelodi Sundowns' search for continental glory came crumbling down LAST night after the they lost 1 -nil against Tunisian giants Esperance in the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final played at Loftus Versfelfd Stadium in Pretoria LAST NIGHT. Esperance went into the game with a slender 1-0 lead from the first leg in Tunis last weekend. Esperance will go head-to-head in two legs of the final against two time champions Al Ahly next month. There is however a silver lining for the Brazilians as they have qualified for the World club championship.. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Janet Whitton, SAfm Sports Anchor 

As South Africa marks 30 years of Democracy TODAY, SABC News is gearing up to launch a programme dedicated to marking this important milestone. In the build-up to the first episode of the SABC News' Democracy 30 Project, The Weekend View looks at what South Africa looked like in the days leading to 27th April 1994. Despite incidents of violence and bomb blasts in certain parts of the country, police still assured citizens that it was safe to go and vote in the first democratic polls. Speaking to the SABC, then Police Commissioner, Johan van der Merwe, said police had put measures in place to ensure that polling stations and citizens were safe….

The Mayor of New York City Eric Adams has hoisted South Africa's flag at a ceremony marking the 30 years of freedom and democracy in the Big Apple. The event, hosted by the Consulate General of South Africa and the Mayor's Office for International Affairs, saw the country's colours emblazoned in lower Manhattan with music and entertainment that was unmistakably Mzansi. Sherwin Bryce-Pease reports.

Mamelodi Sundowns went down 1-nil against Tunisian giants Esperance in the first leg of the CAF Champions League semi-final played in Tunis LAST NIGHT. The two clubs are battling for a place in the final of the Champions League in a two-legged affair. The return leg will be played at Loftus Versfelfd Stadium in Pretoria, next Friday. On top of that -- Sundowns and Esperance are also fighting for a place in next year's revamped FIFA Club World Cup. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC Sports Analyst Mathews Mpete for reflections of the game...........

Tributes continue to pour in for the struggle stalwart Dr Motsoko Pheko who passed away on Friday at the age of 93. The former PAC leader was a renowned lawyer, author theologian, academic and historian.  Dr Pheko served as the party's member of parliament for ten years, and served in different portfolio committees including Foreign Affairs and Safety and Security. President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his deep sadness at the passing of the struggle icon.Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Apa Pooe, Secretary General of the Pan Africanist Congress of Azania 

Ahead of South Africa's national elections on the 29th of May, citizens are imploring political parties to make the energy crisis a top priority in their election agenda.  According to a recent survey conducted by Nguvu Collective, 85.5% of respondents chose load shedding as the topmost issue that needs immediate resolution. The survey also revealed that load shedding is a key deterrent for women's economic empowerment. Other issues respondents highlighted were infrastructure, crime,  unemployment and corruption. The findings will be presented to all major political parties ahead of the elections, to urge them to address these issues in their election agenda.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Molebogeng Tema, Nguvu Collective Change leader

The United States rejected a fairly broad consensus in the Security Council on THURSDAY when it vetoed a draft resolution that would have recommended the State of Palestine's full membership to the United Nations. Twelve countries including Russia, France and China backed the measure which drew two abstentions from the United Kingdom and Switzerland. But it was left to Washington's veto to sink any hopes of sending the measure to the General Assembly for further action where the State of Palestine was likely to win the two-thirds majority that would have rubber stamped its accession as the 194th-member state of the global organisation. Sherwin Bryce Pease filed this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Professor Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadeship at the University of Johannesburg and Ricky Mukonza , Associate Professor of Public Affairs at Tshwane University of Technology

The world's largest election got underway in India on YESTERDAY. The election - which will be held in several phases across two months - will see nearly 1 billion eligible voters cast their ballot. It's widely expected incumbent Prime Minister - Narendra Modi - will win but the opposition claims the polls are already not free and fair. Neha Poonia has more from New Delhi. 

Explosions that echoed over the Iranian city of Isfahan YESTERDAY were described as an Israeli attack, but Tehran has been playing down the incident and indicating it has no plans for retaliation - a response that appeared gauged towards averting region-wide war. Iran media reports say 3 drones were shot down. The limited scale of the attack and Iran's muted response both appeared to signal a successful effort by diplomats who have been working round the clock to avert all-out war since an Iranian drone and missile attack on Israel last Saturday. The Friday incident came a day after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  said it would respond in kind if Israel attacked Iranian nuclear sites, adding that it may also shift its stance on nuclear bombs. Many are asking whether this was really Israel's expected retaliation. Some analysts say this is only the first stage and a trap to test the waters.Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to   David Vestenskov, Director of the Centre for Stabilisation at the Royal Danish Defence College in Copenhagen 

Ahead of World Creativity and Innovation Day TOMORROW, Aware.org,  an organisation dedicated to promoting and supporting the responsible use of alcohol, has unveiled an innovative digital tool called The Drunk Goggles simulator. It is designed to help South Africans understand the dangers of drinking and driving and encourage them to prioritise safety by only driving sober. The simulator uses cutting-edge technology and allows participants to step into reality and see the road through the eyes of a drunk driver. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Mokebe Thulo, Head of Brand at Aware.org 

It seems to have become the order of the day for South African political parties to want to become embroiled in workplace issues. This initially gained prominence with the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), which involved itself in the affairs of two companies, the Calgan Lounge in 2018 and Gordon Road Spar in 2021- and to which the Labour Court took a strong stance. According to law firm, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr , the Gordon Road Spar judgment,  needs to be heeded by employers who are faced with a similar dilemma and who intend to engage the assistance of the court. CDH says when an employer wants to interdict the reach of political parties in the workplace, they will always face the important question of which court to approach. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Asma Cachalia, Director in Employment Law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH)

Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has resorted to drastic action to stop the widespread poaching of rhinos in the region. They have started an immediate programme to dehorn hundreds of rhinos in the province's largest rhino reserve. This follows the killing of 325 rhinos in the province last year, with more than 300 of the animals poached in the Hluhluwe-uMfolozi Park alone. The KZN slaughter accounted for nearly 65% of the 499 rhinos killed nationwide in 2023. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Musa Mntambo, spokesperson for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife..

The Umkhonto WeSizwe Party - MKP- has expressed disappointment after the Electoral Commission of South Africa announced that it had approached the Constitutional Court to appeal the Electoral Court ruling, which found former president Jacob Zuma can run for elections despite a 15-month prison sentence. The party has accused the IEC of going out of its way to exclude Zuma from the ballot saying the electoral body is entering political space and becoming a player and an arbiter. The party has also called for the immediate resignation of the IEC Commissioner, Janet Love, for what it says is her ' bias'.Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Ebrahim Fakir, Consultant and  Election Analyst at the Electoral Institute For Sustainable Democracy In Africa - EISA

Several opposition parties were THIS WEEK left hot under the collar after fellow opposition and DA leader John Steenhuisen labelled some of them as 'popcorn parties' and  ' mercenaries " for campaigning in Western Cape. Parties such as Rise Mzansi, GOOD and ActionSA were not impressed by the comments and had a few unkind words for the DA leader. Steenhuisen's attack on smaller opposition parties comes as some pollsters are suggesting that the DA's majority in the Western Cape is shrinking.  A few days before that Steeinhuisen had also intimated that it may be a possibility that the DA may form a coalition government with the ANC after the May 29 election. The statement left fellow Multi Party Charter members like Freedom Front + fuming accusing the DA of turning it's back on the opposition coalition.In our Sunday Morning Discussion we are looking at these accusations and counter accusations flying within the opposition ranks and to help us understand the dynamics Bongiwe Zwane spoke to politics Professor, Andre Duvenage from North West University and Angelo Fick, Research Director at Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute.

 There is nothing inherently socially beneficial about taxes. Taxes are the legal codification of a long-standing social norm: that citizens should contribute to the common well-being of the society that they live in. This is according to Dr Sansia Blackmore, a Senior Lecturer at the African Tax Institute at the University of Pretoria's Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. She says  taxes in South Africa are generally not user charges; taxpayers receive fewer goods and services than would be commensurate with the taxes they pay. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Dr Sansia Blackmore 

Johannesburg will host the third edition of the Africa Business Connect forum in  August of  this year. The forum will bring together local and international companies, investors,  economic development stakeholders, as well as government and institutional representatives. It also aims to be a platform dedicated to the promotion of business opportunities to participants, access to an international network,  investment opportunities, access to financial resources and knowledge sharing. Start ups will also form part of the  participants. We now put the spotlight on their importance. The ninth edition of the African Tech Startups Funding Report, released in January this year , by Disrupt Africa -  reveals a significant decline in funding deals in Africa, with many South African start-ups securing funding in 2023 plummeting to the lowest level in six years. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Babalwa Mlungwana, Director at QUT Consulting and business development professional

Tensions have escalated in the Middle East. This after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on Israel. Witnesses have described the sound of explosions in the skies above Jerusalem as air defences intercepted multiple drones.Israel says it will retaliate. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC's International Editor Sophie Mokoena  .

Ground-breaking DNA study suggests that South African leopards may be unique. This is according to the study on African leopards  published in the journal PeerJ by a team of international scientists led by Professor Yoshan Moodley of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda and Dr Declan Morris of the University of Adelaide, Australia. The team investigated  mitochondrial DNA, which is only passed on by females, and found that all African leopards belong to one of two maternal DNA lines. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Professor Yoshan Moodley of the Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Agriculture at the University of Venda 

The controversial e-tolls on Gauteng highways were finally terminated at midnight on Thursday putting an end to a system many motorists had refused to buy into and pay for in many years. Transport Minister Sindiswa Chikunga and Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi led the celebrations as the government officially terminated the e-tolls. On Wednesday, Chikunga confirmed that e-tolls would be scrapped but said motorists would still be expected to pay their outstanding debts. The Organization Undoing Tax Abuse - OUTA- - however maintains that motorists will not be liable to pay outstanding eToll debt.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association for their reaction....

The City of Johannesburg took the fight back to the opposition after a row and public outrage erupted THIS WEEK following reports that the city spends over R3 million a month on VIP protection for top officials. The Mayor is reported to have up to 10 bodyguards who work in shifts of 5 each. Among those who are also benefiting from the splurge include the speaker and several MMC's. The DA and ActionSA are opposed to the spending, but the ANC/EFF governing coalition passed it with a slim majority. Joburg councillor, Thapelo Amad from Al Jama-ah, himself a former mayor, this week told the SABC that the current policy on VIP protection was introduced during the reign of Herman Mashaba when he was the DA mayor of Joburg.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Former JHB mayor and ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba

The Umkhonto WeSizwe Party - MKP- has expressed disappointment after the Electoral Commission of South Africa announced that it had approached the Constitutional Court to appeal the Electoral Court ruling, which found former president Jacob Zuma can run for elections despite a 15-month prison sentence. The party has accused the IEC of going out of its way to exclude Zuma from the ballot saying the electoral body is entering political space and becoming a player and an arbiter.The party has also called for the immediate resignation of the IEC Commissioner, Janet Love, for what it says is her ' bias'. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Ebrahim Fakir, Consultant and  Election Analyst at the Electoral Institute For Sustainable Democracy In Africa - EISA

In these challenging economic times, where consumers are struggling to make ends meet, loyalty programmes have emerged as a lifeline for many. The attraction of these loyalty programmes  lies in their ability to offer tangible benefits that ease financial burdens. These can be  cashback rewards, discounts, or points that can be redeemed for essential items. While these incentives empower consumers to make their income go further, you still need to be careful. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kinola Pather, CEO of bespoke customer, incentive and employee rewards company Randgo .

Limpopo Gambling Board and police THIS WEEK confiscated illegal gambling machines from foreign-owned spaza shops. Five suspects were arrested and were expected to appear in courts in Sekhukhune and Mopani districts. The suppliers of the illegal gambling machines are not known. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Limpopo Gambling Board CEO, Gregory Makoko 

 President Cyril Ramaphosa this week (Wednesday) signed the Judicial Matters Amendment Act of 2023 into law. This is in line with recommendations made by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector, including Organs of State in the Zondo Commission.  Corruption is one of the greatest impediments to the country's growth and development. According to Transparency International, corruption erodes trust, weakens democracy, hampers economic development and further exacerbates inequality, and poverty.  In our Sunday Morning discussion we unpack the impact of political corruption and put the spotlight on accountability. This is in light of former National Assembly speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula , who this week resigned as both Parliament presiding officer and MP, amid allegations of corruption and money laundering.   To look at this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu ,  Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University and Dr. Sysman Motloung , political analyst from the University of North West 

TODAY marks the 30th commemoration of the 1994 Rwanda genocide.  Every year in April, the country enters a 100-day period of commemoration during which Rwandans reflect on historical divisions between the country's main ethnic groups - the Tutsi, Hutu and Twa.   Almost a million men, women and children, mainly ethnic Tutsis but also moderate Hutus, were killed in the 100 day murderous onslaught that saw families and friends turn against each other in one of the darkest episodes of the late 20th century. President Cyril Ramaphosa is in Rwanda for the commemoration with some suggesting he may use the opportunity to mend the frosty relations between Kigali and Pretoria. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SABC News Foreign Editor Sophie Mokwena who is in Kigali for the commemoration 

Government THIS WEEK unveiled a roadmap to end the highly controversial but lucrative captive lion breeding industry. With about 7,800 animals in 348 breeding facilities, South Africa has the largest number of captive lions in the world. Environment Minister Barbara Creecy told a press briefing on Wednesday that, recomendations from a panel of experts she appointed to formulate steps for the industry's closure, involve among others supporting breeders towards voluntarily exiting the sector, burning of all stockpiled lion bones, humane euthanasia of compromised lions, and disallowing any new breeding facilities. This process started 6 years ago with a colloquium on captive lion breeding for hunting. For some clarity and reaction Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Ashleigh Dore, Wildlife and Law Project Manager at Endangered Wildlife Trust .

Zimbabwe YESTERDAY introduced a new gold-backed currency called ZiG, which stands for Zimbabwe Gold. Central Bank Governor, John Mushayavanhu said the ZiG would be structured and set at a market-determined exchange rate. This is the latest attempt to try to stabilise an economy that has lurched from crisis to crisis for the past 25 years. The currency replaces a Zimbabwean dollar that has lost three-quarters of its value so far this year. Zimbabweans have 21 days to exchange old, inflation-hit notes for the new currency. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Takunda Mugaga,  Chief Executive Officer at the  Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce ..

COSATU and its affiliate, the Communications Workers Union YESTERDAY marched to the National Treasury offices in Pretoria in support of workers at the South African Post Office - SAPO - and SABC. Workers at SAPO have been forced to face delays in their salary payments with six-thousand workers also facing retrenchments. Employees of the SABC are still in dispute over the payment of salary increases while a third have either been retrenched or forced into becoming freelancers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to COSATU's Acting National spokesperson and parliamentary coordinator, Mathew Parks

Banyana Banyana lost one-nil to Nigeria in the first leg of the Paris Olympic Qualifier played at the MKO Abiola stadium  in Abuja YESTERDAY evening.  The Super Falcons converted a penalty in the 42nd minute. That match  was not broadcast due to issues outside of the SABC's control. The second leg will be played on Tuesday, at Loftus Versfeld in Tshwane. Banyana Banyana will need to overturn the one goal deficit to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic games...... Meanwhile Mamelodi Sundowns advanced to the semi-finals of the CAF Champions League after beating Young Africans of Tanzania 3-2 in penalties at Loftus Versfeld Stadium LAST NIGHT. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC Sports Analyst, Mathews Mpete...

ActionSA says it will be taking action against South Africa's unregulated polling industry and those in the media who have become enablers of political disinformation under the guise of legitimate polling. The party cites an article published on the 10th of March, it says 3 media outlets published a poll without any reference to the origin of the poll.  Action SA believes that polls in South Africa have no regulation and are open to abuse with the aim to influence electoral trends.  ActionSA says it will now begin the long road to fight for regulation of this industry, and will not stand back and allow the shadowy figures in the polling industry to operate with impunity. To discuss this  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Andre Francois Coetzee, Actions SA Chief Strategist and Mari Harris, Ipsos sub-Saharan Africa Knowledge Director 

The National Assembly THIS WEEK approved the Expropriation Bill as amended by the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) with a vote of 205 in favour and 108 against. The bill makes provision for the expropriation of property, without compensation, if deemed in the public interest. It's adoption means it will now go straight to the president for signature and on to South Africa's statute books. The DA, Freedom Front Plus and IFP want the President to refer the Expropriation Bill back to Parliament or to the Constitutional Court for a decision on its constitutionality. Some like the South African Farmers Development Association - SAFDA - have welcomed the bill as a transformation breakthrough. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to SAFDA executive chairperson, Dr. Siyabonga Madlala 

Starting from TOMORROW Eskom will be implementing  a 12.7% electricity price increase, as approved by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa). The power utility in October 2023 applied to Nersa for the approval of its Retail Tariff and Structural Adjustment Application and the schedule of tariffs for the period from  the first of April 2024 to  the 31st of March 2025. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Energy expert from the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI)- Professor Sampson Mamphweli

Limpopo MEC of Health, Dr Phophi Ramathuba YESTERDAY verified that the sole survivor of THURSDAY's* tragic bus accident is in good health. Ramathuba also confirmed that nine of the deceased are identifiable, however the remaining bodies would have to undergo DNA analysis. For the latest Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  MEC Ramathuba 

 The Easter holiday has also seen thousands of cross border travellers throng the country's border crossings as they visit neighbouring countries. With it also comes an increase in illegal border crossings, illicit cross border trade and human trafficking. To look at the situation on the county's borders Bongiwe Zwane spoke the Commissioner of the Border Management Authority - BMA , Dr Michael Masiapato 

The horrific Limpopo accident that killed 45 pilgrims from Botswana on their way to the Easter service in Moria on Thursday evening has highlighted the dangers of holiday driving. Provincial and Metro Police Departments have also been intensifying roadblocks across the country to ensure road safety. Despite their blitz several fatal road accidents have been reported throughout the country.  For the latest on the situation on the country's roads Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Simon Zwane, spokesperson for the Road Traffic Management Corporation- RTMC.

How many times have you been really satisfied with the service you get as a consumer? For many of us it's not that many. In this current harsh economic environment one would have thought businesses will go all out to impress their customers to deserve their hard earned cash. Every interaction between a customer and a business holds the potential to either fortify or fracture the relationship. From a simple inquiry to a complex service request, each touchpoint shapes the customer's perception of the brand. Recent studies have also shown the pivotal role of customer experience  in shaping consumer behaviour and driving business success. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Khosi Ncube, Customer Experience Officer at Rentoza 

The biggest and popular consumer Lifestyle Exhibition Event in South Africa is in full swing. The Rand Easter Show started on Thursday and ends on Monday April 1st.  The theme for this year is – Bringing Families Together.  Held annually over the Easter period, the family-friendly gathering offers a wide-range of shopping experiences at their various exhibitions. For more Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Adele Hartdegen CEO of The Rand Show

South Africa goes to the polls on the 29th of May to make their mark in what is going to be a hotly contested general election.   This year, voters will see three ballot papers rather than the two they are used to. This is a first for democratic South Africa. The change has come as a result of the Electoral Amendment Act that provides for the inclusion of independent candidates to run for office as a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Moagisi Sibanda , General Manager for Civic and Democracy Education, Research and Knowledge Management at the Electoral Commission of South Africa 

 IFP president, Velenkosini Hlabisa on FRIDAY called for urgent peace talks between his party and ANC leadership for both parties to iron out their differences . His call comes amid a controversy involving the ANC's Siboniso Duma and the Zulu monarch's prime minister Thulasizwe Buthelezi during the commemoration of King Dinuzulu last weekend. The incident led to some ANC members claiming that they had been assulted, a charge the IFP denies. The IFP says it hopes it will be able to meet with the ANC to avoid violence before the elections. To discuss this further Bongiwe Zwane spoke to  Prof Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University....

Senegal is finally going to the polls TODAY to vote in a tightly contested presidential race that has fired up political tensions.  The presidential election is taking place after much uncertainty following President Macky Sall's unsuccessful effort to delay the Feb. 25 vote until the end of the year. President Macky Sall's unprecedented decision to delay the election had sparked violent demonstrations in the capital city, Dakar. But within two weeks, his decree was reversed by the country's constitutional court and the election date was rescheduled for March 24. The West African country has long been lauded as a stable, even model democracy, in a region rife with political crises and coups. To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Adv. Sipho Mantula - from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs at UNISA

 Life imprisonment for rapists, the death penalty for murderers, and easily accessible clinics and police stations will be put in place for communities. These are some of the promises outlined by the Alliance of Citizens for Change (A.C.C) in its election manifesto launch in Cape Town YESTERDAY. The party says its manifesto, is underpinned by the concept of ensuring social justice. Andile Mbanjwa reports....

Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni, has appointed his son General Muhoozi Kainerugaba as Chief of Defence Forces. Kainerugaba replaces General Wilson Mbadi as head the country's defence forces- who has been moved to the trade ministry in the major cabinet reshuffle in the East African country. Over the years, Museveni has denied speculation that he is grooming his only son as his successor. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  SABC News Correspondent, Leon Ssenyange...

On Thursday THIS WEEK, the organisation 'Friends of a Free Internet' launched what it calls the 'Stop Thief campaign' demanding the major cell phone networks end profiteering and meet their commitments to expand affordable internet access to everyone in South Africa. The campaigners called on MTN, Vodacom, Cell C and Telkom to stop the digital divide which they say is amplifying and deepening South Africa's inequality as a few enjoy high-speed world-class fibre internet connections while the marginalised majority are either excluded from network access completely or remain condemned to the slow and over-priced prepaid mobile connections. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Friends of a Free Internet spokesperson, Tshiamo Malatji 

Most opposition parties in Parliament have called on National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to resign in the face of corruption allegations against her.  This, as she had opted to go on special leave, while the allegations are being investigated. It is alleged that Mapisa-Nqakula received several bribes worth two-point-three million rand from a from a defence contractor during her tenure as Defence Minister. On Tuesday, her Johannesburg home was raided in connection with the investigation. Zalene Merrington filed this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to legal analyst, Advocate Malose Monene

The Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) has confirmed that the death of former Steinhoff CEO, Markus Jooste does not have an impact on its on-going investigation relating to Steinhoff. This, after Jooste died from a self-inflicted gun wound. On Wednesday, he was fined four-hundred-and-75-million rand by the FSCA, for misrepresenting Steinhoff's financial statements published between the year 2014 and 2017. For some analysis Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Advocate Paul Hoffman, Executive Director for Accountability Now

In commemoration of World Down Syndrome Day on 21 MARCH 2023 , Vice-Chancellor and Principal at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi, together with his family, have launched the Mpedi Family Neurodiversity Studies Scholarship. The initiative signifies a commitment to fostering inclusive research and addressing the unique challenges faced by individuals with neurodiverse conditions and to increase the number of professionals in this field. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to UJ' s Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi ....

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan , this week , announced that the sale of a 51% stake in South African Airways to the Takatso Consortium has been cancelled. Addressing the media after the Parliament's Public Enterprises Portfolio Committee meeting, Gordhan said there was agreement that by mutual consent that the transaction should be terminated as there is no clear path forward.  This comes almost three years after the consortium was announced as the preferred bidder to acquire the airline. Meanwhile , Cabinet says it supports the termination of SAA's partnership with the Takatso Consortium saying it had to prioritise the fair value, and ensure that the public interest is served. To look at why and how the SAA-Takatso deal fell apart Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Independent Analyst, Khaya Sithole  and Chris Hattingh, Executive Director at the Centre For Risk Analysis (CRA).

The decision by the South African National Botanical Institute - Sanbi - to increase entrance fees to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has left many people up in arms saying the new tariffs are unaffordable for most South Africans. The garden, was last year named the best botanical garden in Africa. According to the Botanical Society, who are opposed to the fee increases, South African and SADC citizens will now pay R100 per adult and R40 per child under 18 per visit. They say a family of four who would have paid approximately R1,124 per year for unlimited free garden entry, will now pay around R280 per visit. Sanbi on the other hand has called the  proposed fees reasonable and accessible and meant to expand the diversity of people who visit botanical gardens. Sanbi says from 1st April 2024 adult membership will be R800 per annum. Membership for verified students is pegged at R600 per year while children (aged six to 17) pay R400 per annum. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Sanbi's marketing and communications director, Ntsiki Mpulo...

The GOOD party will THIS MORNING launch it's 2024 Election Manifesto in Johannesburg. The online launch of the manifesto will take place at Liliesleaf farm in Rivonia. Party leader Patricia De Lille is expected to spell out the party's vision for South Africa ahead of the May 29 National and Provincial election. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brett Herron, GOOD party's secretary general

Water users of the Integrated Vaal River System will be affected when the Lesotho Highland Tunnel is closed for six months. The closure is set to commence on the 1st of  October this year to 31 March 2025 to undergo planned maintenance. The maintenance work will be undertaken jointly by the Lesotho Highlands Development Agency and Trans Caledon Tunnel Authority . The shut down will have implications of water supply to South Africa during that period. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Livhuwani Mabuda, Acting Deputy Director- General for Water Resource Infrastructure  Management at the Department of Water and Sanitation

The decision by the South African National Botanical Institute - Sanbi - to increase entrance fees to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has left many people up in arms saying the new tariffs are unaffordable for most South Africans. The garden, was last year named the best botanical garden in Africa. According to the Botanical Society, who are opposed to the fee increases, South African and SADC citizens will now pay R100 per adult and R40 per child under 18 per visit. They say a family of four who would have paid approximately R1,124 per year for unlimited free garden entry, will now pay around R280 per visit. Sanbi on the other hand has called the  proposed fees reasonable and accessible and meant to expand the diversity of people who visit botanical gardens. Sanbi says from 1st April 2024 adult membership will be R800 per annum. Membership for verified students is pegged at R600 per year while children (aged six to 17) pay R400 per annum. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Sanbi's marketing and communications director, Ntsiki Mpulo...

Misinformation and disinformation are not only a threat to democracy but a direct threat to the sustainability of credible news media. This is according to media watchdog group, Media Monitoring Africa.  The group says there has been increasing concern about the ability of disinformation to influence the outcomes of elections and its potential threat to democracy.  Meanwhile, in a crucial step towards safeguarding the integrity of information and preserving the fundamentals of electoral processes , the Electoral Commission (IEC) has partnered with social media giants such as Google, Meta and TikTok, and non-profit organisation Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) to curb disinformation ahead of South Africa's ahead of the 2024 National and Provincial Elections. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to William Bird , Director at Media Monitoring Africa

The joint Business Rescue Practitioners of the South African Post Office , Anoosh Rooplal and Juanito Damons have received reports of an increase in scams to mislead the public from fraudsters claiming to represent the Post Office.   The emails and SMS messages appear to originate from the Post Office when in fact they are fraudulent.  SAPO is now warning the public against the scams .. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa has reappointed South African Reserve Bank (SARB) Governor Lesetja Kganyago for another term of five years. Kganyago's new term will begin in November this year. President Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya says the re-appointment of Kganyago follows consultations with the Minister of Finance, Enoch Godongwana, and the directors of the reserve bank. Meanwhile, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) says it is disappointed that government missed the opportunity to introduce new blood and persons with a diversity of economic views into the SARB. Sebenzile Nkambule poke to Matthew Parks, Cosatu's  Acting National Spokesperson...

A new wave of deadly attacks in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado by an armed group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) is forcing thousands of people to flee. According to UNICEF at least 60,000 children have been displaced within a period of a month. More than 100 schools in Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces have had to close due to insecurity, affecting the learning of over 50,000 children. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Nick Wasunna, UNICEF's Chief of Field Office in Cabo Delgado.....

Political parties have now submitted their election candidates lists, signatures and deposits to the IEC to ensure participation in the May 29 National and Provincial election. The IEC is currently in the process of verifying the information given by the parties before the candidate lists are made public. The process has however been blemished by leaks of some political parties' candidates lists on social media. The governing ANC had on Friday declared that it will make its candidate list available to the public TOMORROW*.(Monday).  Many are anxiously waiting to see who has made it on the lists. It will also indicate who are the movers and shakers particularly in parties that will be on the ballot for the first time. The ANC's top 7 has also reportedly flagged some senior members who should be removed from the party's national lists as a result of having adverse findings against them in Chief Justice Raymond Zondo's State Capture Report. This is the subject of our Sunday Morning discussion and Bongiwe  Zwane spoke to Political analysts, Dr. Levy Ndou from Tshwane University of Technology

Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban will  once again be pulsating with energy when the IFP launches it's 2024 election manifesto later TODAY under the theme "Let's do it for Shenge". South Africa's fourth largest party believes the country needs a chance to recover but requires the right leadership. It says it will present to voters a manifesto that puts South Africans first while offering the electorate an opportunity to vote for servant leaders who prioritise ethical and moral leadership. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to IFP MP and National Spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa 

While the world's attention is focusing on the desperate humanitarian crisis in Gaza, the World Food Programme THIS WEEK warned that the war in Sudan threatens to trigger "the world's largest hunger crisis". The WFP said on Wednesday that more than 25 million people scattered across Sudan, South Sudan and Chad are trapped in a spiral of food insecurity as the brutal civil war shows no sign of easing after 11 months of fighting. The UN agency warned that the humanitarian response is at "breaking point" and will remain so unless the violence comes to a halt. Fighting between the Sudanese Army and a rival group known as the Rapid Support Forces has left thousands dead and eight million people displaced. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Mohamed Gamal , the National Communications Officer for the World Food Programme in Sudan

 A 2023 report by the South Africa's Financial Services Regulation Board outlined a multitude of ways consumers are protected in the insurance industry.  According to industry experts , while this regulation was well received by the industry, many consumers still do not have the access to information on how they are protected by industry regulation. Many people know that there is a Consumer Protection Act, but don't know how it works, or how it can be enforced. As a result, consumers are often left with the short end of the stick, when they don't have to be.  Sebenzile spoke to  Saskia Stemmet, Executive Head of Legal and Compliance for Everything.insure 

The United States was earlier THIS WEEK  upbeat that talks on a ceasefire and release of hostages in Gaza could still reach an agreement between Hamas and Israel in time for the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins TOMORROW. Negotiators from Hamas, Qatar and Egypt - but not Israel - were still trying to secure a 40-day ceasefire in talks in Cairo, Egypt but YESTERDAY Hamas announced that its delegation had left Egypt without agreement accusing Israel of thwarting efforts to conclude a ceasefire. Further talks are expected next week. This all unfolded as Gaza's humanitarian crisis prompted South Africa to once again ask the International Court court of Justice for new emergency measures that will allow aid to flow to Palestinian civilians who are facing starvation. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, Professor of International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs...

The IEC's deadline for political parties and independent candidates who intends to contend in 2024's general election to submit their candidates list has come and gone. Last week,  the IEC warned independent candidates and political parties that if they miss the deadline and fail to comply with what is needed to be eligible to contest 2024's general elections there will be little or no room to negotiate. YESTERDAY the  newly formed Labour Party took the IEC to court in a bid to extend the deadline in the election timetable. The application was dismissed. The commission has also had to deal with threats of violence during the polls. This week, uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party said there would be "anarchy" if the party were to be excluded from the ballot paper. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Masego Sheburi, IEC's Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Operations 

The African Christian Democratic Party - ACDP - will today launch its manifesto for the 2024 National and Provincial election. Party leader, Rev. Kenneth Meshoe, is expected to unveil the manifesto at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. The party, which is a member of the opposition Multi Party Charter, says it's manifesto seeks to offer effective solutions for the many concerns people have asked to be addressed should they take over the reigns of government after the May 29 polls. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Rev. Kenneth Meshoe now joins me on the line  

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) YESTERDAY raided SAFA house in a search and seizure operation. The raid follows reports allegations of fraud and theft amounting to R1.3 million. For more Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale...

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly changing the future of work. It is estimated that 50 % of jobs that exist will disappear as companies adopt new AI-driven technologies. Education expert Dr. Alex Asakitikpi, Senior Researcher at The Independent Institute of Education's Varsity College warns that much more must be done to ensure that the public sector, and especially students in public schools and universities, are also empowered and equipped with the necessary AI skills and literacy. He adds that it is essential and urgent for SA's policymakers, educators and industry leaders to collaborate on integrating AI into all levels of the education system, as nobody should be left behind when preparing the youth for the AI-driven future of work. Sebenzile spoke to Dr Alex Asakitikpi 

The 11 parties in the Multi-Party Charter - MPC - THIS WEEK unveiled a plan they believe will make Eskom's years of underperformance and load-shedding a thing of the past. ActionSA leader Herman Mashaba presented the plan on behalf of the MPC which revolves around reforming Eskom, establishing an open energy market and ensuring a just transition to a renewable energy future. President Cyril Ramaphosa, in his speech at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban during the ANC's launch of its 2024 election manifesto, also spoke on the energy commitments to South Africans. He highlighted among others prioritising investment in expanding the transmission grid, installing solar water geysers in working-class and poor households and developing gas, nuclear and hydro-power projects for increased energy generation. The EFF on the other hand has laid out their path to ending load shedding within six months by among others investing in repairing the existing fleet of power generation, reducing the electricity demand of major electricity users and adopting clean coal technologies to enhance the energy availability factor. Today we ask : Are the election manifesto promises made by various political parties to address the electricity crisis capable of preventing / stopping load shedding? Biongiwe Zwane spoke to by Energy expert Adil Nchabeleng and Energy Advisor at Hohm Energy , Matthew Cruise 

After 10 years in the making, construction of the largest private renewable energy plant in South Africa is soon set to start. The Impofu Wind Farms, to be built in Kouga, Eastern Cape will comprise three 110-megawatt wind farms. The plant is expected to significantly change the country's renewable energy landscape when it opens  next year. Bongiwe Zwane spoke  to  Mark Tanton, CEO at Red Cap Energy 

Gauteng has a new police chief. Maj-Gen Tommy Mthombeni has been appointed as the province's police commissioner and Maj-Gen Maropeng Johanna Mamothethi as divisional commissioner responsible for visible policing and operations. They have both been promoted to the rank of lieutenant-general with effect from YESTERDAY. Announcing their appointment yesterday evening, national police commissioner Gen Fannie Masemola said the two positions were critical in ensuring the deployment of capacity and resources in the execution of the police's mandate. To talk about the new appointments Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr Hendrick Lochner, a crime and policing expert.....

The Pan Africanist Congress - PAC - is launching it's  National Elections Manifesto at the Orlando Communal Arena in Soweto TODAY.. The party says their manifesto will mainly talk to the problems of the African people. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  PAC Secretary General Apa Pooe

Another political party that is launching it's 2024 election manifesto TODAY is the United Democratic Movement - the UDM. The party, will be unveiling its election manifesto at Midrand's Gallagher Conference Centre in Gauteng. The party has been in the opposition benches for over 25 years. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to UDM leader General Bantu Holomisa

The deputy minister of Small Business Development, Dipuo Peters, has been suspended for a period of one-month without pay. President Cyril Ramaphosa YESTERDAY suspended her following a sanction adopted by Parliament's Joint Committee on Ethics and Members Interests that found Peters had breached the Code of Ethical Conduct in her former portfolio as Minister of Transport. Peters served as transport minister in former president Jacob Zuma's cabinet where numerous maladministration allegations were tabled against her. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the Executive Director at Corruption Watch, Karam Singh... 

South Africa's 5th largest party, the Freedom Front Plus, will TODAY launch it's election manifesto in Pretoria. In previous elections the party actively campaigned against Black Economic Empowerment and affirmative action accusing the systems of breeding corruption. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Wouter Wessels, FF PLUS Head of Elections and National spokesperson....

The four financial services ombuds' offices - the Ombudsman for Banking Services , the Credit Ombud ,  the Ombudsman for  Long-Term Insurance  and the Ombudsman for Short-Term  have now come together under the newly formed National Financial Ombud Scheme (NFO). The NFO Scheme which commenced its operations YESTERDAY - (1st march 2024) will be a one-stop, all-in-one dispute resolution service made up of the four previously independently operating services.  To explain more , Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the Ombudsman for Banking Services, Reana Steyn 

Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women globally. In sub-Saharan Africa, it's the leading cause of female cancer with 11,000 South African women getting it every year and according to experts half of whom die due to the historic cost and complexity of treatments. Studies also show women living in poverty, in lower-income countries or living with HIV are disproportionally affected. The Cancer Association of South Africa says  22.2 million women aged 15 and older are at risk of cervical cancer.  To unpack how this can be overcome and to promote medical inclusion for more of Africa's women, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr. Carrie Anne Minnaar from the Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre University

Namibian President, Hage Geingob will be laid to rest TODAY at the Heroes' Acre in the south of the capital, Windhoek. Geingob, succumbed to cancer on the 4th of February at the age of 82. President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to be among the 18 heads of state attending the funeral.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Freelance Journalist based in Namibia, Isack Hamata

The DA has threatened to launch a contempt of court application to force the ANC to hand over MORE documents from its cadre deployment committee meetings. On Friday the party gave the ANC an ultimatum of Saturday to hand over all the documents as directed by the Constitutional Court. DA Leader John Steenhuisen said, at a media briefing in Cape Town on Friday, that hey will also institute a criminal case against ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula whom he accused of seeking to hide President Cyril Ramaphosa's involvement in the cadre deployment saga. Sebenziel Nkambule spoke to Dr. Leon Schreiber, DA MP and Shadow Minister for Public Service and Administration...

Today - 24th February - is exactly two years since Russia launched it's invasion of Ukraine, and the war is no closer to ending than it was in the weeks after Russian troops and equipment began pouring into Ukraine. The last two years have bore witness to fighting at a scale the world has not seen in Europe since the World Wars, as well as thousands of dead soldiers, civilians, and destroyed lives. How the war will end is still unknown.  European Union countries THIS WEEK agreed on a new package of sanctions against Russia to target individuals and businesses suspected of assisting Moscow in its war against Ukraine, including Chinese companies. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Denys Reva, senior researcher at the Institute for Security Studies 

Parents of children that died at Enyobeni Tavern in East London have expressed disappointment at the sentence handed down to the Enyobeni tavern owners by the East London Regional* Court in the Eastern Cape. The couple, Siyakhangela and Vuyokazi Ndevu were YESTERDAY fined five thousand rand or a hundred days in prison after they were found guilty of selling or supplying intoxicating liquor to persons under the age of 18 years. Enyobeni tavern made headlines in 2022 after 21 young people died inside the bar. A toxicology report found that the young people died of suffocation due to overcrowding. Parents say the sentence is not a deterrent to selling alcohol to minors. Meanwhile the Eastern Cape Liquor Board says while the sentence handed down may seem lenient, it's in line with the province's liquor act.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Maurice Smithers,  Alcohol harm reduction activist

R7.4 Billion will be allocated to continue to support the Presidential Youth Employment Initiative. During the State of the Nation Address , President Cyril Ramaphosa revealed that the Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) has created over 1.7 million work opportunities, providing vital employment avenues for young individuals. Meanwhile, Statistics South Africa (Stats SA) this week, reported that the unemployment rate has increased to 32.1% in the fourth quarter of 2023, up from a one-year low of 31.9% in the third quarter of 2023, meaning that 46,000 more people are unemployed. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Tsholo Mogotsi, Chief Partnerships Officer at Youth Employment Services - YES 

The African National Congress is possibly facing the most challenging election to date. Rising unemployment, load-shedding and the emergence of new political parties are expected to give the ruling party a tough time in the 2024 general elections. ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has also not been without any controversy, will unveil the party's 2024 election manifesto at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban TODAY. KwaZulu Natal province has been termed one of the country's electoral battle grounds. Sibahle Motha file this report and Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu, Director of the Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy at Nelson Mandela University.

The media is crucial in ensuring a healthy democracy and citizen participation. It is an important link between the government and its people.   Experts suggest that a democratic election is impossible without media. The media has a role in creating spaces where voters participate in debates and discussions . In addition , create platforms where policies, information about parties , candidates and election processes are outlined. It acts as a watchdog to democratic elections, safeguarding the transparency of the process. TODAY WE ASK: What are your perceptions about how the media - both traditional and social media - cover elections in South Africa? Bongiwe Zwane spoke to William Bird, Director at Media Monitoring Africa and began by asking on the fairness of the media at this time

The U.N. Security Council says its concerned by the escalating violence in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. It strongly condemned the recent offensive by M23 rebels near Goma. Thousands of people are fleeing their homes and many more are displaced as fighting intensifies. This comes as South Africa has deployed at least 2,900 soldiers to assist the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in tackling the internal conflict. On Thursday, the SANDF announced that two of its soldiers had been killed and three wounded by a mortar bomb that landed inside a military base. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to our correspondent in the DRC, Chris Ocamringa 

Health non-governmental organisation, Right to Care, is calling on men to circumcise, use condoms and seek treatment to help reduce sexually transmitted infections (STIs) which are on the rise. This comes at the back of warnings by health officials of increases the transmission of STIs and HIV infection. In Gauteng alone, over 165 000 males presented at public health facilities across the province last year with STI's. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr. Nelson Igaba, Senior Technical Specialist for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision at Right 

The International Court of Justice - ICJ - has agreed with South Africa's position that Israel's planned incursions in Rafah would render what is already a humanitarian disaster even more perilous. On Tuesday, South Africa lodged an urgent request with the ICJ to consider whether Israel's military operations targeting Rafah breach provisional orders the court handed down last month in a case alleging genocide. In its statement YESTERDAY, the ICJ said that Israel remains bound to fully comply with its obligations under the Genocide Convention and must ensure the safety and security of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Adv. Sipho Mantula from the Thabo Mbeki School of International and Public Affairs

Thousands of Democratic Alliance supporters are TODAY expected to gather in Pretoria to launch the official opposition's election manifesto.  The launch is expected to start with a march from Church Square before gathering on the lawns of the Union Buildings. In the manifesto, the party is expected to outline a plan which it says will rescue South Africa.. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to DA Federal chairperson, Dr. Ivan Meyer 

Senegal's president has announced that the delayed election to choose his successor will be held "as soon as possible", after the country's top court ruled that his attempt to delay it was unconstitutional. The Constitutional Council on THURSDAY annulled both President Macky Sall's decree and a contentious bill passed by parliament moving the vote from this month - February 25th - to December. Widespread protests have gripped Senegal since Sall announced he was pushing the election back because of concerns over the eligibility of opposition candidates. Opposition figures described the move as a "constitutional coup". Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr Emmanuel Matambo, Research Director at UJ's Centre for China Africa Studies .

Concerns have emerged regarding data protection , this as many residential or lifestyle estates collect personal information at access or entry points. Security guards  previously would ask visitors for the name, cellphone number or to open the car boot but now with the digital age, they scan your car disc and drivers licenses .   Since the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) came into effect on July 1st 2020, this has raised a number of questions regarding what information may be collected at these complexes. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Marina Constas, Director at BBM Attorneys 

Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved two penalties during a shoot-out in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off against DR Congo LAST NIGHT helping his team collect bronze medals. South Africa walked away with a 6-5 penalty shootout victory.   Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Matthews Mpete, SABC Sports Analyst ..

Political parties are in a race to sell their election promises and policy positions to voters. With the 2024 general election date soon to be announced , several political parties will be launching their election manifestos. The EFF launched it's election manifesto in Durban yesterday (Saturday) and the other 3 of South Africa's top 4 political parties will also launch their manifestos in the coming weeks. An election manifesto is essentially a list of policies that a political party promises to implement if it is voted into office. Much will be made of the popularity of parties' manifesto pledges, but ultimately they are much less important to how people vote than other factors like leadership and core values. Research has shown that many voters, either consciously or subconsciously, will refuse to even give a party a fair hearing on their promises or take their leader seriously if they believe the party does not meet their standards when it comes to core values like strength, decisiveness and how in touch they are with them as voters. Some experts have concluded that policies alone do not win elections as a negative perception of a party or it's leader can reverse their electoral fortunes.  We ask, how seriously do South Africans consider election manifestos before deciding on which political party to vote for?   To unpack this Bongiwe Zwane spoke to   Dr Sithembile Mbete, political analyst  and lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria and Professor Shepherd Mpofu , Associate Professor for Media Studies at UNISA 

Critics say the final State of the Nation Address of the sixth administration presented no new ideas on how the government will deal with pressing economic and societal issues. Opposition parties say instead, President Cyril Ramaphosa used it as a platform to boast about the ANC-led government's successes since the advent of democracy in South Africa. While he did not make any grand announcements during his speech at the Cape Town City Hall, he updated citizens on measures he said the government was taking to move the country in the right direction. To look at this week's SONA and whether the President has his finger on the pulse of the nation Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Sanusha Naidu, Senior Research Fellow at Institute for Global Dialogue...

The EFF will TODAY launch it's 2024 election manifesto at Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium. The Red Berets are the first of major political parties that will launch their election campaigns on a shared battleground in KwaZulu-Natal. The ANC and IFP have also chosen the Moses Mabhida stadium as the venue for their party manifesto launches ahead of the general elections. The EFF's manifesto is expected to be centred around its seven cardinal pillars which include; land expropriation without compensation, free quality education and the nationalisation of mines, banks, and other strategic sectors of the economy. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to EFF National Spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo 

DebtBusters 2023 Debt Index for the fourth quarter has revealed that last year was among the most financially difficult for South African consumers. Among the factors contributing to the challenges is high interest rates, inflation and  poor economic performance which negatively impacted disposable income. The report coincides with National Debt Awareness Month with the focus on financial sustainability,  to acknowledge the pro-active steps South Africans have taken to put themselves on a better financial path. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Benay Sager, Executive head of DebtBusters 

Bafana Bafana are back in action TONIGHT when they face the DRC in their final game in the Africa Cup of Nations. Bafana, who lost 4-2 on penalties to Nigeria on Wednesday, will be hoping to bring bronze medals back home should they come out tops in today's third place playoff  at the Felix Houphouet-Boigny stadium in Abidjan. TOMORROW Nigeria will clash with hosts Côte d'Ivoire in the CAF AFCON Cup final. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Sports writer and journalist, Khanyiso Tswaku 

Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams saved four penalties in a dramatic penalty shootout against Cape Verde, to carry South Africa into the last four of the Africa Cup of Nations after a 0-0 draw in their quarter-final LAST NIGHT. After 120 minutes of goalless action, the game went to the spot and Ronwen Williams produced four sensational saves to inspire Bafana to a 2-1 shootout victory, setting up an AFCON last-four clash with Nigeria. Se4benzile Nkambule spoke to Mathews Mpete, SABC Sports Analyst 

As the voter registration blitz continues  ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa says he's happy that South Africans are warming up to the upcoming elections. He was in Soweto yesterday to campaign for the ANC during the Electoral Commission's second voter registration process. Ramaphosa says citizens are responding positively to the registration process. To discuss how things started off yesterday and their prognosis for today Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Deputy Chief Electoral Officer for Operations, Masego Sheburi   

The United Nations Secretary General has taken note of the Order handed down by the International Court of Justice indicating provisional measures in the case brought by South Africa against Israel. Antonio Guterres further recalled that decisions of the Court were binding and expressed trust that all parties would duly comply with the provisional measures imposed. This as Israel's staunchest ally the United States called the ICJ ruling consistent with their view that Israel had the right to defend itself while continuing to hold the position that the allegations of genocide were unfounded.We spoke to Ottilia Anna Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects at the Institute of Security Studies (ISS) AND Advocate Sipho Mantula; Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki School of Public and International Affairs. Also joining us is Prof. Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at UJ

The knockout stage of AFCON lived up to expectation with two riveting games last night. Nigeria bundled Cameroon out of the tournament after a 2-nil victory. Angola also proceed to the next round after defeating Nambia 3 -nil. Tonight Equatorial Guinea face Guinea while Egypt will go up against the DRC. South Africa's first clash in the knockout stage is on Tuesday when Bafana Bafana play tournament favourites, Morocco. We spoke to our Sports Editor; Janet Whitton.

Thousands of South Africans living abroad are this weekend registering to vote in the forthcoming national elections whose date is expected to be announced soon. The special two-day voter registration event is taking place in over 100 countries. We spoke to IEC's Chief Elotoral Officer, Sy Mamabolo 

The South Africa Zionist Federation says the ICJ ruling is a legal victory. We spoke to Rolene Marks who is the spokesperson for the federation. 

Following last week's announcement of the matric results for the class of 2023, many students are now in the process of enrolling at various institutions of higher learning. Most universities have adopted the 'No Walk ins' policy for the registration process to ensure the safety of students and parents.  To look at the we spoke to  CEO of Universities South Africa, Dr Phetiwe Matutu.

The South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) this week revealed that 70 fuel stations across South Africa are selling diluted diesel to profit from the rising price of fuel. The diesel is allegedly mixed with illuminating paraffin. The 70 petrol stations accused of the alleged mixing were identified between April and December 2023. Samples from these diesel providers failed purity tests. To look at the dangers and how the trucking industry is tackling the problem we spoke to Gavin Kelly, CEO of the Road Freight Association...

  The International Court of Justice yesterday ordered Israel to take measures to prevent and punish direct incitement of genocide in the Gaza Strip. The ICJ ruled that it recognizes the Palestinians' right to be protected from acts of genocide. Delivering judgement at the Hague, Netherlands, I-C-J President, Joan Donoghue, said Israel must take immediate and effective measures to enable the provision of urgently needed basic services and humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip. South Africa dragged Israel to the World Court accusing it of allegedly committing genocide in Gaza.

  We continue to get more reactions regarding yesterday's ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on the case brought by South Africa regarding the Gaza Strip War. The court ruled in favour of SA's request to impose emergency measures against Israel over its military operations in Gaza. The court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, as it wages war against Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. We spoke to Reverend Frank Chikane who in December led a South African Council of Churches delegation to Bethlehem in a show of solidarity with Palestinians...

Price of chicken set to stabilize The Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa - AMIE - has welcomed government's decision to apply rebates on boneless and bone-in chicken cuts, saying that the move will keep the price of chicken in check for consumers, especially for poor households, who are struggling to afford this vital source of protein. The decision, published yesterday by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition provides a 30% rebate on boneless and 25% on bone-in cuts of imported chicken. To discuss this and its impacts on poor households we spoke to Paul Mathews, CEO of the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa.

Hundreds of Israelis who signed a petition calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule in favour of South Africa's lawsuit against the state of Israel are jubilant at the ICJ outcome. We spoke to Adam Keller.

All eyes have been on the 2023 matric results this week. We congratulate those who have managed to achieve their educational goals, but we also have been supporting those learners who didnt do as well as they had hoped. As the learners embark on different journeys of higher education, matric second chances and perhaps some will be looking for employment straight away, we wish them well on their endevours as they enter the big world. Let us reflect on the education system and take a look at whether it has prepared matriculants for the possibilities of the future and the real waorld. We spoke to Professor Ramodungoane Tabane, Chair of the Psychology of Education Department at UNISA, AND Hendrik Makaneta, an Education Activist and Deputy Chairperson of the Foundation for Education and Social Justice Africa...Also joining us is Mlungisi Nkosi, a Maths and Physical Science Education Expert....

Bafana Bafana, who started on the wrong foot after losing to Mali in their opening match at the Africa Cup of Nations, are back in action today when they face Namibia at the Amadou Gon Coulibaly Stadium in Ivory Coast. Coach Hugo Broos' charges lost 2 nil to Mali on Tuesday. The Namibians go into this game on a high after beating Tunisa 1-0  also on Tuesday. Although many say today's match is a must win for Bafana if they are to keep the dream alive, a draw can still give Bafana a chance of making the last 16. They will have to beat Tunisia in their final Group E match. We spoke to Mathews Mpete, SABC Sports Analyst 

It is time to stop talking about the risk that the war in Gaza spreading elsewhere in the Middle East. It has already happened.' This is the view of some Middle East analysts who say the US and British attacks on the Houthis in Yemen are not just about the freedom of navigation and world trade, but are directly linked to events in Gaza and represent an escalation of the crisis that is gripping the region. This week also saw Iran bomb targets in its nuclear armed neighbour Pakistan following similar missile and drone attacks in Iraq and Syria. Just yesterday an air strike on the Syrian capital, Damascus, killed 10 people. Syria and Iran have blamed Israel, with Iran vowing revenge. This has put the region on tenterhooks. Has the Gaza war already spread and what will it take to stop conflict. We spoke to  Terence Corrigan, project manager at the Institute of Race Relations.

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) has filed court papers to appeal a ruling that had allowed an auction of Nelson Mandela's personal belongings to go forward. The late former President's daughter, Makaziwe and the agency have been locked in a two-year legal battle, where the SAHRA tried to block the sale of the items, describing them as heritage items. We spoke to Ben Mwasinga, Senior Manager for Heritage Conservation Management at South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)

While the country is in jubilation over the impressive record matric performance, it is important to consider those learners who have not passed their exams as well as they would have hoped, and those who have completely failed. Many parents and guardians are currently faced with the responsibility of going back to the drawing board and re-assuring their children that there are second chances. Dr Sanele Gamede; Career Coach and Founder of #MatricsUngazibulali is one person who knows all about second chances in life, and he joins us in the studio to share his success story after failing a few grades before matriculating. 

Financial literacy for young children is just as important as it is for adults. It helps them build a better foundation for financially literate and responsible adults. A recent study suggests that by age 7 children are able to develop a basic understanding of financial behaviours they might need in their adult life. Every year, most families are said to run into the same financial pitfalls which can be attributed to the lack of financial literacy instilled from a young age. For more on how we can encourage children to have a better relationship with money, we spoke to Stian De Witt, Executive Head of Financial Planning at NMG.

Global supply chains are facing severe disruption as a result of the world's biggest shipping companies diverting journeys away from the Suez Canal and the Red Sea. Attacks by Houthis in Yemen on commercial vessels have resulted in many firms deciding to avoid one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. US and UK naval forces in the Red Sea have now launched air strikes against Houthi rebel targets in Yemen in response to the attacks on shipping, a move which according to the US's own admission, has so far had no effect. Because of the attacks and the threat of future assaults, several of the world's largest shipping firms are diverting vessels away to a much longer route around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope and then up the west side of the continent. Can South Africa capitalise on this? We spoke to Chris Hattingh, Executive Director at the Risk Analysis Centre.

Former ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule on Friday announced that his party, the African Congress for Transformation, had joined forces with the Jacob Zuma-backed uMkhonto weSizwe and other "like-minded" parties ahead of the 2024 general elections. He was speaking in Pietermaritzburg as the ACT kick-started its three-day awareness campaign in KwaZulu-Natal. Some say the move could further dilute support for the ANC which is facing its toughest electoral challenge in this year's national elections. We spoke to Political Analyst, Sandile Swana ....

Thousands of people have not received their social grant benefits for January. According to the South African Social Security Agency, the delay is caused by an error with the personal information verification process. Reports say up to 150 000 beneficiaries have been affected, a devastating blow for many families at the beginning of the year. In 2023, payment failures also left thousands of beneficiaries in financial distress for two months. For clarity on this issue, we spoke to Social Development minister Lindiwe Zulu

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa says after 30 years of democracy, the governing party still remains a party of choice. Ramaphosa delivered his January 8 Statement in a full packed Mbombela stadium in Mpumalanga yesterday. Dignitaries in attendance includes former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, alliance partners and representatives from fraternal parties such as Mozambique's Frelimo party, Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF and MPLA of Angola. We spoke to Political Commentator, Rebone Tau and Angelo Fick, Director of Research at the Auwal Socio-Economic Research Institute

Days before that start of this week's case by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza, hundreds of Israelis signaled that they would be backing the case at the International Court of Justice. More than 600 Israelis signed a petition calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to rule in favour of South Africa's lawsuit against the state of Israel, calling for a decision that will bring an immediate end to the war. For their reaction to case, we spoke to  Adam Keller, of Israelis supporting South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice, we also spoke to those opposed to South AFrica's case. Rolene Marks is spokesperson of South Africa Zionist Federation. She also speaks to us from Israel

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is warning consumers to borrow wisely this January if they need to. With the festive season is over, the New Year upon us, sadly for so many cash strapped consumers the harsh reality of January expenses has become a rude awakening from their festive spending.  We spoke to Jimmy Golele, who is the National Credit Regulator's (NCR) Senior Education and Communication Officer

Israel has asked judges at the World Court to throw out the genocide case brought by South Africa, which has asked the U.N.'s top court to order an immediate end to Israel's military campaign in the Gaza Strip. In its response to accusations made before the court by South Africa on Thursday, Israel said the demands to stop its offensive against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza lacked any merit. Meanwhile...Speaking to journalists outside the ICJ, Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said Israel had failed to disprove South Africa's compelling case that was presented at the World Court. He added that self-defence is no answer to genocide as nothing could ever justify genocide. To discuss this case and the verdict likely to come out spoke to Patrick Kadima, International Law Analyst from Wits University and Anthoni van Nieukerk, Professor of International Relations at theThabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.

On Thursday, thousands of people attended the funeral in Beirut of Saleh al-Arouri, the deputy Hamas leader assassinated in a suspected Israeli attack in the Lebanese capital. His assassination on Tuesday has raised fears that Israel's war with Hamas could spiral into a wider regional conflict that could involve Hamas' Lebanese ally Hezbollah and their powerful backer, Iran.  Arouri was killed in a drone strike in southern Beirut. He was a key figure in the Izzedine al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas's armed wing, and a close ally of Ismail Haniyeh, the Hamas leader. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and the EuropeanUnion's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, are currently on separate trips to the region to try to quell a spillover from the three-month-old conflict. To look at the threats of a  wider war in the Middle East we are joined on the line by Anthoni Van Nieuwkerk, a professor on International Relations at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs

The ANC turns 112 years old tomorrow and it will host its anniversary party celebrations in Mpumalanga next week Saturday. Party president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the January 8th statement to thousands of ANC supporters at Mbombela Stadium. Ramaphosa is likely to also unveil the ANC's manifesto for the national and provincial elections set for this year. In our Sunday Discussion untry's we will examine some of the challenges facing the ANC as the party faces electoral uncertainty ahead of this year's crucial election. Joining me in this discussion is Professor Ntsikelelo Breakfast, Political Analyst and Director of the Nelson Mandela University Centre for Security, Peace and Conflict Resolution and Dr. Piet Croucamp, Political Analyst and Senior political studies lecturer at North-West University...

There has been mixed reactions to the release of murder convict Oscar Pistorius. Pistorius was released on parole on Friday after serving 10 years in prison for the murder of his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp in 2013. The disgraced Paralympian became eligible for parole in March last year after serving half of his sentence of 13 years and five months for the murder. Our reporter Phumzile Mlangeni filed this report and we then spoke to Acting Executive Director for the People Opposing Women Abuse (POWA) Naledi Kuali

  The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) has confirmed that it has received OUTA's investigation report into alleged corruption and mismanagement at the National Student Financicl Aid Scheme (NSFAS). OUTA says it is in possession of recordings of meetings between  NSFAS chairperson, Ernest Khosa and a representative of the NSFAS service providers who distributed funds to students. The recordings allegedly reveal kickbacks paid to Higher Education minister Blade Nzimande and Khosa by service providers, worth millions and a further one million Rand paid to the South African Communist Party.We spoke to SACP’s National Spokesperson Alex Mashilo

From increasing interest rates and high fuel and food prices, many South African consumers had a tough year in 2023. Recent data from Stats SA indicated that inflation declined in November 2023, but is there relief  for consumers on the horizon in 2024? To answer that question, we spoke to Professor of Economics at the North West University, Prof Waldo Krugell

Ministers of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan and Electricity Kgosientsho Ramokgopa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that clarifies their respective responsibilities with respect to Eskom and the resolution of the electricity crisis. The MoU that has been approved by President Cyril Ramaphosa establishes a firm basis for a collaborative approach between the Ministers in exercising their assigned powers and functions. We spoke to Energy Analyst, Professor Sampson Mamphweli.

This period of the year is traditionally a time for families to spend time together, however it is not always festive for everyone for various reasons. Not everyone is lucky enough to have people they have been longing to have around them all year. 2023 has been a difficult and trying year for many people who for different reasons, be they be financial, social or personal,  are unable to be with their loved ones this time of the year. A recent survey by South African Depression and Anxiety Group - SADAG -  has also shed some light how this season can impact your mental health. For this conversation we spoke to Charity Mkone. a psychologist at SADAG, Tumz the narrator, a popular Social Media commentator, and Ruben Mosefuwa, a businessman and social activist…

  A delegation of Christian leaders from around the globe, including a team from South Africa led by Rev Frank Chikane, are in Palestine where they will spend Christmas in Bethlehem.  This is in demonstration of solidarity with Palestinian Christians and all Palestinians in the occupied territories. This comes amid reports that churches across Palestine have cancelled Christmas. We spoke to  Rev. Susan Wilder in Bethlehem.  She is with the Israel/Palestine Mission Network of the Presbyterian Church (USA)

Cape Town firefighters are still battling flare-ups in the Cape Peninsula. Emergency services are trying to contain a vegetation fire that has engulfed the area since Tuesday. Places such as Simon's Town, Fish Hoek, and Glencairn have been hard-hit by the blaze. We spoke to Cape Town Fire and Rescue Services spokesperson, Jermaine Carelse...

The United Nations Security Council has passed a resolution for a boost in humanitarian aid to Gaza but no ceasefire. The Council voted on Friday for the creation of "conditions for a sustainable cessation of hostilities". The vote comes amid international calls to end the conflict between Israeli and Hamas forces. For more on this, We spoke to Professor Ricky Mukonza, a Political Analyst and Associate Professor of Public Affairs in the Department of Public Management at the Tshwane University of Technology... 

Preliminary results are coming in after polls closed in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Presidential elections. The elections marred by delays forced officials to extend the balloting in the general election. The delays drew criticism from some opposition candidates who are questioning the credibility of the results. This as President Felix Tshisekedi, is seeking his second and final five-year term, after enduring equal criticism over the legitimacy of the 2018 election results. We spoke to our SABC correspondent in the DRC, Chris Ocamringa for the latest...

As the battle for the ownership of the name uMkhonto Wesizwe continues- the  African National Congress (ANC) has served the newly formed, uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party with a letter to cease and desist using the name. The ANC maintains that uMkhonto Wesizwe has historical links to it and it's paramilitary wing which was disbanded in 1994. This follows an announcement by ANC former President, Jacob Zuma that he intend to vote for MK party in the 2024 general elections. We spoek to Convenor for Mkhonto We Sizwe Liberation War Veterans, Dan Hato .. 

It's that time of the year again were many South Africans will be visiting the coastal towns to enjoy some sunshine and fresh breeze at our different beaches. However people need to always be cautious of their surroundings for their own safety. Meanwhile, The City of Cape Town says their Identikidz project that tags children with their parents details is in full swing at various beaches around the city. This in trying to deal with the issue of children that get lost at the coastline. To talk to us about the Do's and Dont's at the beaches for our own safety, we are joined the line by National Sea Rescue spokesperson, Graig Lambinon, National Police Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe and the Commissioner of the Border Managagement Authority Commissioner, Dr Mike Masiapato

Former President Jacob Zuma has urged South Africans to vote for the newly-formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe. Speaking in Orlando East in Soweto, Zuma said this will rescue the ANC, whose current leadership he says, is a proxy of White Monopoly capital. The UMkhonto weSizwe party takes its name from the ANC's former armed wing, that was disbanded in 1994. To explore the meaning and impact of former president Jacob Zuma's endorsement of the uMkhonto weSizwe party, Bongiwe Zwane spoke to academic and political commentator, Prof. Bheki Mngomezulu and  SABC News Politics Editor, Mzwandile Mbeje

Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan has faced criticism from members of parliament's public enterprises committee who have accused him of not fully co-operating with the committee's investigation into the allegations of irregularities in the SAA deal with Takatso Consortium. The committee is probing accusations made by former public enterprises director-general Kgathatso Tlhakudi, which cast a shadow on the the integrity of the sale of national carrier to the consortium. The committee questioned Gordhan's failure to provide the share sale and purchase agreement used in the deal, as well as the shortlist of companies considered as potential strategic equity partners with the government in SAA. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Independent Analyst, Khaya Sithole.

Over a year after the Enyobeni Tavern tragedy, which claimed the lives of 21 underaged children in the Eastern Cape, youth organisations are warning parents and guardians to be  extra vigilant in the fight against substance abuse.  Anti-drug activists warn that the festive season is a time when young people experiment with drugs and alcohol, particularly at events such as pens down parties. Lucas Mahlakgane is with the World Changers Candidate and he spoke to Bongiwe Khumalo.

A press conference by former President Jacob Zuma has been met with mixed feelings after he urged South Africans to vote for the newly-formed party, uMkhonto weSizwe in next year's elections. Speaking in Orlando East, Soweto Zuma said it is by voting for uMkhonto weSizwe, that the ANC will be rescued. Zuma added that the current leadership has become what he calls a proxy of White Monopoly capital. The UMkhonto weSizwe party takes its name from the ANC's former armed wing, which was disbanded in 1994. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to COSATU spokesperson, Matthew Parks for the federation's reaction to the news.

The festive season is often a joyous time for some as they look forward to spending time with their loved ones. It is also a time when inequalities are laid bare. The SABC has been bringing you stories of children going hungry in the Eastern Cape, and the desperate pleas for help. This year the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund presented its report focusing on the plight of children. Dr Linda Ncube-Nkomo is the CEO of the Nelson Mandela Children's Fund and Bongiwe Zwane.

Desperately needed humanitarian aid may start moving into Gaza, through an Israeli crossing- for the first time since the October the seventh attack by Hamas. The Israeli Prime Minister's office yesterday announced that this would be permitted via the Kerem Shalom crossing- near the border with Egypt. Trucks laden with aid from the Africa Muslim Agency South Africa are also hoping to make the crossing. This comes as the U.N. refugee agency on Friday said that a new refugee crisis from Gaza must be prevented, referring to the possibility that hundreds of thousands of people already uprooted by the Israel-Hamas conflict could flee into Egypt.JIHAN KAISI is the Africa Muslim Agency coordinator based in Lebanon and also a UN representative for Middle-Eastern refugees. She spoke to Bongiwe Zwane from Cairo.

The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC) recently released a list of hazardous hotspots on the roads of South Africa as motorists travel to and from their December holiday destinations. These include the Moloto Road in Mpumalanga, the N2 in the Eastern Cape and the R71 in Limpopo  The RTMC has some advice for long distance motorists this festive season. We are joined by Simon Zwane who is the spokesperson for The Road Traffic Management Corporation (RTMC)

A bleak festive season looms for workers of some municipalities in the Free State. Several municipalities in the province  (about 6 municipalities) are allegedly failing to pay workers their December salaries. These municipalities are said to be some of the most dysfunctional and worst-run councils that are nearing total collapse after years of alleged corruption and mismanagement. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Monyatso Mahlatsi, Cosatu's Provincial Secretary in the Free State Province.

TODAY is National Day of Reconciliation. The day seeks to promote national unity, social cohesion, constitutional democracy, human rights, and equality. It also serves as a call to action to individuals to take responsibility to fight racism, discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. President Cyril Ramaphosa will later TODAY officiate at the National Day of Reconciliation celebrations at Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo. Earlier THIS WEEK, the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation released it's Reconciliation Barometer survey which revealed , among other things, that after nearly 30 years of democracy, public confidence in political leaders and public institutions is at an all time low. To help us understand the state of reconciliation in the country, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Melissa Steyn, Research Chair at the Wits Centre for Diversity Studies.

A South African delegation from the Africa Muslims Agency is in Egypt with humanitarian aid for Gaza. The agency will help load the relief aid into trucks that will depart from Cairo to the Rafah-border crossing where the convoy will wait for the Israelis to open the border and allow the movement of humanitarian assistance. Hassan Choonara is with the Africa Muslims Agency and he and he spoke to Sebenzile Nkambule.

Former President, Jacob Zuma is expected to make a big announcement on his political future later today. According to a press release with no political name or logo, Zuma will make the big reveal at the Ipelegeng Community Centre in Jababvu, Soweto. The statement says the revelation will be the beginning of a new chapter in politics as a new South Africa and the beginning of a great future is crafted. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC Politics Editor, Mzwandile Mbeje. 

Calibre of African leaders on the spotlight    The African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM)  will from today until Thursday hold various events to mark it's 20 years of existence. Established in 2003, the APRM - an arm of the African Union - is mandated to promote democracy, good governance, human rights and the rule of law in Africa. The mechanism serves as a platform for African countries and leaders for self-assessment, peer-learning, and experience sharing in democracy and good governance. There are currently 40 member states who voluntarily acceded to the self-monitoring mechanism and South Africa is one of them. The commemoration comes amid accusations that African leaders and governments use the principle of non-interference and territorial integrity to abdicate their responsibility to protect human rights as well as to avoid accountability for bad governance. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we want to explore whether Africa has produced what the APRM promised - a new breed of democratic and accountable leaders. We spoke to Prof. Eddy Maloka, CEO of the African Peer Review Mechanism  and Prof. Chris Landsberg, Director of the Centre for African Diplomacy and Leadership at the University of Johannesburg.

There is confusion over the status of the NFP's elective conference with one group claiming it will take place this coming Thursday and another saying there is no such thing. There is a section of the party that is saying the elective conference will take place in Durban from the 14 of December  to Sunday, the 17th of December. Others within the party are singing a different tune saying there is no elective conference as leadership issues are still before the courts and have accused the others of attempting to convene an unlawful conference. The party's national elective conference was touted to take place this December to replace the late NFP president, Zanele kaMagwaza Msibi. We spoke  to eThekwini Deputy Mayor and NFP presidential candidate, Zandile Myeni, who says that the conference is going ahead this coming week. We also spoke to Shaik Imam, NFP National Treasurer and parliamentary leader, who maintains that no elective conference is taking place

Today is International Human Rights Day, the 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The core ambition of the Declaration has been to infuse societies with equality, fundamental freedoms and justice. In Africa, wars, political instability, repression and climate change continue to deny many the continent's population their basic human rights. To discuss this we spoke to Advocate Sipho Mantula from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs....

The South African Police Services (SAPS)  in Gauteng has allegedly introduced restrictions on the movement of police vehicles per shift. It is alleged that police officers are now not allowed to exceed 300 km per 8 or 12 hour shift in order to manage expenditure. It is reported that if an official police vehicle exceeds the stipulated kilometers per shift without a valid explanation, consequence management will then apply. Questions are now being raised whether this instruction will affect police visibility  and crime fighting during the festive season. We attempted to get more clarity from the SAPS but our interview requests were declined. We spoke Anti Crime Activst; Yussuf Abramjee who brought this matter to our attention....

Concern has been raised over the safety of visitors to one of South Africa's major tourism draw cards - the Table Mountain National Park. The increasing spate of muggings and robberies led to a peaceful protest last week to highlight safety and security issues. The latest reported attacks include foreign tourists and mountain bikers who were robbed at knife point. Concerned groups have accused SANParks of not doing enough to provide security in the national park, especially now as we head into the festive season when more visitors are expected.  We spoke to Table Mountain National Park manager, Megan Taplin.

Corruption Watch yesterday issued an open letter urging South Africa to intensify its anti-corruption efforts. The letter comes days before next week's 10th session of the United Nations Convention against Corruption Conference to be held in the United States. The letter outlines the areas that require urgent intervention and implementation and it comes just after the International Anti-Corruption Day summit held in Pretoria on Thursday....To tell us more on this we spoke to Karam Singh, Executive Director at Corruption Watch ....

There is general support and relief following the appointment of Dan Marokane as Eskom's new CEO. He will take up the position by 31st March 2024.The Minister of Public Enterprises, Pravin Gordhan made the announcement yesterday. Marokane replaces former CEO Andre de Ruyter who resigned from the position a year ago following a loss of support from the government and board. He joins the power utility at a difficult time as the country is going through the worst rolling blackouts on record this year.  We spoke to Independent energy expert Adil Nchabeleng 

It's widely known that nothing ages better than a fine wine, and now a team from Stellenbosch University has combined finance and the science of wine  to develop a fine wine index that proves the positive value of the beverage as an investment asset. Together with honours students; Anton Blignaut and Jean-Pierre Viljoen, Dr Mesias Alfeus, a lecturer of Financial Risk Management in the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science has co-authored a paper that looks at an investment model for fine wine in South Africa. The Index will be used to evaluate wine as a financial asset and it also recognises rich heritage of SA wine. We spoke to Dr Mesias Alfeus to tell us more about this interesting innovation..

Deputy President Paul Mashatile has raised concerned that there are fewer HIV positive children who are on antiretroviral therapy. Mashatile was speaking during the World Aids Day commemoration event in Mandeni on the KwaZulu-Natal north coast. Meanwhile South Africa is leading globally with children who are infected with HIV. Vusi Makhosini reports. We spoke to Dr Seithati Molefi Deputy Chief of Party at Right to Care AND Sibongile Tsahabalala; Chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC)

On the 20th of December, the Democratic Republic of (DRC) will be heading to the polls for presidential elections. More than 43 million registered voters are eligible to take part in the general election. President Felix Tshisekedi has since launched his re-election bid with his Union for Democracy and Social Progress - UDPS. Tshisekedi will face 25 other candidates in the presidential race, including old rival Martin Fayulu, who came second in the 2018 election. Other candidates include Nobel Peace Prize-winning gynecologist Denis Mukwege, Moise Katumbi, a millionaire businessman and former governor of the copper-rich Katanga region, and former prime minister Augustin Matata Ponyo. We spoke to  the President of the governing coalition partners, the UDPS in South Africa, Dr Celestin Muleba….

 Small businesses have felt the brunt of multiple crises plaguing the country. From rolling blackouts, the Covid-19 pandemic, to an economy that's not growing and difficulties in accessing markets, small businesses have struggled. It's often said SMMEs are the backbone of the economy, but do they have adequate support? Wongakazi Majola from Impactful Initiatives is trying to change this through a market that is meant to assist small businesses. 

TODAY is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The day aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and to mobilise support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. Despite legislation on inclusivity, in South Africa, like many other parts around the world, persons with disabilities still face many inequities, including stigma, discrimination, poverty, and exclusion from education and employment. We spoke to  Dylan Mashele, Public Relations and Communications officer at the National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities - NCPD 

Dozens of Palestinians were reportedly killed yesterday after Israel resumed attacks on Gaza after the expiration of a week long truce. International mediators, including Qatar, Egypt and the United States, had been pushing for another extension of the pause, which expired on Friday. In a separate incident Israeli soldiers also killed one of their citizens execution style after mistaking him for a Palestinian gunman, a situation that has caused uproar. We spoke to Israeli journalist Jonathan Schwartz 

Several Palestinian resistance organisations are this weekend attending the 5th Global Convention of Solidarity with Palestine taking place in Johannesburg. The event commemorates the tenth anniversary of the passing of Nelson Mandela and is titled: "Nelson Mandela and Palestine. To tell us more about this convention we spoke to  Muhamed Desai, Executive Director at Africa4Palestine....

The United Nations Peace Keeping mission in the DRC, MONUSCO, is scheduled to start leaving the country THIS MONTH of December, the same time the DRC is set to hold national elections. While efforts have been made to transfer responsibility to Congolese security institutions, MONUSCO has so far been tied to the capability of the DRC's army and police to provide stability, especially in the eastern part of the country. This comes as South Africa is reportedly set to play a key role in the new SADC force to be deployed to replace MONUSCO but military experts are warning that the SANDF is underfunded and overburdened. We spoke to Thomas Mandrup, an Associate Professor with the Royal Danish Defence College and Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University.

Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has extended the special permits for Zimbabweans and Basotho living in South Africa for another two years until November 2025. The exemption will cater to more than 50,000 Basotho and 178,000 Zimbabweans who have migrated to South Africa. The ZSP which is held by just over 178 000 Zimbabweans was due to expire in June 2023 following a number of extensions, but its termination was scrapped in the courts, which ruled that ending the permit would be unconstitutional. The Department is currently appealing the High Court decision in the Supreme Court of Appeals. We spoke to Sharon Ekambaran, Spokesperson for Migrant Rights Advocacy group, Kopanong Africa

There has been a recent spate of kidnappings in South Africa, prompting the question whether these incidents are on the rise. Most cases of kidnapping in the country are a side-effect of carjacking, robberies and rapes but crime experts say an increasing number of victims are now being singled out directly.  Police are also warning parents to be vigilant during the festive season around beaches and shopping malls – potential hotspots for child abduction. We spoke to Herman Bosman, the Kidnapping and Extortion expert from security consultant firm, TSU International...

Last week Gauteng engaged in Public hearings on the proposed tobacco bill which among other things proposes a ban on the sale of single cigarettes (loose draws) and the public display of nicotine products. The Tshwane leg of the public hearing was marred by allegations that some people were not able to enter the venue to  air their views.  Last week we heard the views of  the National Informal Traders Alliance  - NITASA - who say their members will be negatively impacted by the proposed tobacco bill in it's current form. We also spoke to Bongani Mshibe who is the Director of Corporate Affairs and Communications at Japan Tobacco International. 

The violation of Women and Children is one of the biggest challenges in our societies. As South Africa observes the 16 days of Activism Against Gender-based violence- we want to look at men's role in the fight against GBV. Are men left behind in the conversation? *Tomorrow the African Union (AU) Men's Conference on Positive Masculinity begins. The aim is to consolidate bold continental efforts that Heads of State and other sectors have taken towards ending violence against women and girls. Meanwhile, we continue to assess the efforts to end Gender Based Violence (GBV) with the 16 days of activism having begun yesterday. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Greyson Thela, Strategic Information Manager at Chapter 2 AND Deputy Chairperson of the Men's Sector, Dr Matome Kganakga

Social Development Minister, Lindiwe Zulu, says the government remains committed to protecting the right of every person to live free from discrimination and persecution based on who they are and who they relate with. 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence Campaign will run from today to 10 December 2023. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Gender Activist and Fundraising Director of Rise Up Against Gender-Based Violence, Mandisa Khanyile... 

The National Informal Traders Alliance of South Africa - NITASA - is urging the public, spaza shop owners and hawkers to use this weekend's public hearings in Gauteng to voice their opposition to the Tobacco Bill. NITASA says they are opposed to proposals in the bill which include the ban on the sale of single cigarettes, the ban on the display of all tobacco products and the extreme penalties for those that flout the rule. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to NITASA Chairperson, Rosheda Muller... 

With the increase in the cost of living and rising interest rates, more and more homeowners are finding themselves unable to continue paying their bonds. This has resulted in a surge in distressed house sales. The property market has seen a hike in the number of homeowners forced to sell their properties sometimes within as little as two years of purchase. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to CEO of Private Property, Charl Bruyns...

As the holiday season approaches and Black Friday is currently in full swing; employees eagerly anticipate the coveted end-of-year bonus or thirteenth cheque to further contribute to the upcoming holiday month. While these additional financial rewards can be a powerful tool for reminding staff that their hard work and commitment are valued, the question remains, are they an obligatory part of compensation, or merely a generous perk at the discretion of employers? Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH) spokesperson, Nadeem Mahomed...

South Africans skeptical about the validity of recent crime stats

SA youth encouraged to register to vote

 IEC's voter registration weekend underway

Liberia elects a new president

President Cyril Ramaphosa was this week at pains to explain to a skeptical South African public that the country's efforts to fight corruption are gaining traction. Speaking at a dialogue on building a corruption-free SA, an upbeat Ramaphosa said while there is a long road ahead, the fight against corruption is gaining momentum. Among the successes, he listed 9 separate court cases, involving 47 individuals and 21 companies, that have been brought to court. This sentiment was not shared by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo who told the dialogue that the levels of corruption have reached unacceptable proportions and called for drastic measures to be taken urgently. This came in the same week that Justice and Constitutional Development minister, Ronald Lamola, told Parliament that despite several meetings and repeated attempts to get feedback from the United Arab Emirates -UAE - on the Gupta brothers' extradition request, there has been no response. Lamola also told parliamentarians that the whereabouts of the Guptas remain unknown and they have not been charged by any law enforcement agencies in the UAE. To discuss the issues raised at the dialogue and whether South Africans should be optimistic about current efforts to fight corruption we spoke to Melusi Ncala, Senior Researcher at Corruption Watch and Mpumelelo Zikalala, a legal analyst .

International Law professor from the University of Pretoria, Dire Tladi, now sits at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. The first South African to serve at the World Court, Prof Tladi becomes one of 15 judges elected for 9-year terms to settle disputes between nations in accordance with international law and give advisory opinions on questions of international law. The UN Security Council and the General Assembly elected him to be a judge for the court. Among issues he will de dealing with is the current conflict between Israel and Hamas. To look at the significance of Tladi's appointment we are joined by Cathy Powell, professor of International Law at the University of Cape Town ....

President Cyril Ramaphosa has authorised the deployment of 3,300 soldiers in cooperation with the South African Police Service, to tackle illegal mining and the construction Mafia under Operation Prosper. The operation seeks to prevent and combat crime while maintaining and preserving the rule of  law. In August, the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) had indicated that it intends to ensure that mining companies are held liable to undertake proper rehabilitation and safeguard their properties in the face of illegal mining. We spoke to  Acting Chief Director for Communications at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy, Ernest Mulibana... 

 Former ANC Northern Cape chairperson and MEC, John Block has been released on parole. He was sentenced to 15 years for corruption and money laundering on 6 December 2016.  Block took the Correctional Services department to court, claiming that he qualifies for parole, if presidential remissions are taken into account. Meanwhile, the Former ANC Northern Cape chairperson is currently facing another legal challenge after being sued by former Judge France Kgomo-  for R2.5 million for allegedly defaming him during his corruption trial. We spoke to Democratic Alliance (DA)'s shadow minister for Correctional Services, Jahno Engelbrecht...

With the soon to be introduced two-pot retirement system, pension funds are at potential risk of criminals intercepting withdrawals of high-value investments. While fraudsters won't be able to drain an entire pension, the savings in a pot is still a significant amount of money for most people - especially in the current difficult economy. To find out how pension funds can be kept safe we We spoke to Murray Collyer, Chief Operating Officer of a biometrics company  iiDENTIFI.  

 Lifestyle genetic testing and screening is said to be the future of medicine. The process enables people to take personal ownership of their health, and by doing so, reduce their risk of disease. The tests are evidence-based DNA screenings that look at specific genetic markers of health like nutrition, exercise, sleep, environmental exposures and other lifestyle factors, that contribute to the development of lifestyle-related diseases. We spoke to  Dr Yvonne Holt, from Next Biosciences

The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA forum concluded in JHB yesterday. The forum was set to strengthen trade relations between the United States and the rest of the African continent. Some analysts say the African countries stand to enhance their economies by being part of such agreements as AGOA. Given the recent tussle between the US and South Africa- how beneficial is it for us to continue being part or taking part in such trade agreements? Are ordinary people reaping the benefits of the AGOA agreement?  Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Miyelani Mkhabela, Founding Director and CEO at Antswisa Management Group AND  Prof. André Thomashausen. Professor Emeritus of Comparative and International Law, Unisa... 

The Proteas are this morning expected to experience World Cup pressure in its raw form as India's 'Blue Army' will fill Kolkata's Eden Gardens for the 2023 Cricket World Cup fixture. The game starts at 10h30. With the hosts seen as one of the contenders for the title, some analysts say India opener Rohit Sharma and his South African counterpart Quinton de Kock could well decide the outcome of this much-awaited clash. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to cricket commentator, Neil Manthorp .....

The Springboks will this morning conclude their victory tour when they parade the Webb Ellis trophy in the streets of East London in the Eastern Cape. Today's parade wraps up the 4-day victory tour which started in Gauteng on Thursday before heading to Cape Town on Friday and Durban yesterday. Thousands of fervent supporters from all walks of life have gathered on the streets of the cities the Boks have visited to cheer and celebrate the 4-time world rugby champions. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Atule Joka, Spokesperson of the Department of Arts, Culture and Sports in the Eastern Cape, Atule Joka...

Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden has been named the best botanical garden in Africa. The garden, nestled at the eastern foot of Table Mountain in Cape Town, received the accolade from the World Luxury Travel Awards. It is one of 10 National Botanical Gardens administered by the South African National Biodiversity Institute. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Institute's Director of Marketing and Communication, Nontsikelelo Mpulo, 

Following this week's tabling of the Medium Term Budget Policy Statement by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, there has been growing opposition to continued cuts to social service budgets. The Public Service Accountability Monitor  -PSAM - has put the blame for budget cuts squarely on the government's hands through its failure to curb the intentional erosion of public finances through fraud, corruption and dismal financial management, particularly at the provincial and municipal levels...The organisation is now calling on the Cabinet to give responses and justifications for their policy choices and budget adjustments that will have a direct impact on constitutional and human rights obligations. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to PSAM Head of the South Africa Programme, Zukiswa Kota... 

A recent report released by the South African government paints a grim picture of the country's water resources and water infrastructure as well as the overall quality of its drinking water. Among the issues of biggest concern are a collapse of the country's waste-water treatment works and a sharp rise in the number of local authorities that are failing to meet minimum compliance standards. To combat these challenges, students from the University of Cape Town, created innovative solutions for sustainable water and sanitation management.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Msa Mkhize a student from UCT's Team Amanzi Impilo 

Today is the last day of the  African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) forum hosted by the South African government, in partnership with the United States government. Business Unity South Africa (BUSA)  CEO Cas Coovadia says the expansion of the AGOA agreement which expires in 2025, is key in realising the meaningful contribution of the African continent to the global economy. The forum holds significance for the future of trade relations between 35 African countries and the United States. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Tshepo Matseba, an international relations expert and reputation manager from Reputation 1st... 

The Africa Century International African Writers' Conference is set to take place next Tuesday in Potchefstroom in the North West Province.  Ibrahima Aya, Timbuktu-born Malian author,  co-founder and director of the literary festival Rentrée littéraire du Mali, is set to deliver the International African Writers' Day Lecture under the theme: Decolonisation and Decoloniality. The South African Literary Awards  - SALA - will also have an awards handover ceremony for 32 shortlisted titles by local authors. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Morakabe Seakhoa, Director of the South African Literary Awards... .

Emergency measures need to be accelerated to curb chicken shortages and price increases. That's the word from the Association of Meat Importers and Exporters of Southern Africa - AMIE... The organisation says speed is of the essence in rolling out emergency measures to mitigate the inevitable poultry shortages and price increases due to recent outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza HPAI (bird flu) in the country. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to AMIE CEO, Paul Mathew... 

The Springboks' victory tour heads to the streets of Durban this morning as the world rugby champions continue to parade the Webb Ellis Trophy to fans across the country. The Boks were in Cape Town yesterday and kicked off the tour on Thursday when drove around streets filled with supporters in Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to reporter Vusi Makhosini...  

Some parts of South Africa are expected, from tonight into tomorrow, to experience an unseasonal dipping of temperatures and heavy rains with Johannesburg for instance forecast to reecord a maximum of below 10 degrees celcius . To tell us more about this we are joined on the line by  Lehlogonolo Thobela, a forecaster from the South African Weather Service .....  

The Springboks retained the Webb Ellis Cup after a thrilling 12-11 win over the All Blacks in the final at the Stade de France in Paris LAST NIGHT. This  means back-to-back wins for South Africa, who triumphed over England in the 2019 final in Japan. And with four tournament wins to their name, the Springboks are now outright the most successful team in Rugby World Cup history - a title they previously shared with New Zealand.Joining me on the line is SABC Sports anchor Simon Burke in Paris and SAfm Sports anchor Janet Whitton in JHB as well as Sports fans Kabelo and Moumakwe POSSIBLE QUESTIONS: Simon

 South Africa won a record fourth Rugby World Cup title on Saturday, beating three-time winners New Zealand 12-11 in a thrilling and gritty encounter at the Stade de France. To review last night's final I'm joined on the line by Braam Van Straaten, who played for the Springboks from 1999 to 2001....

The Springboks are bracing themselves for an epic Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris tonight. Head coach Jacques Nienaber this week made five changes to his match-day squad from their one-point semi-final victory against England, with two in the starting 15 and three on the bench. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard replaced Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who are out of the matchday squad. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi is also in the starting line-up after World Rugby found insufficient evidence to charge him over the racism allegations made against him by England's Tom Curry. The All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made one change to his starting 15, Brodie Retallick replacing Sam Whitelock in the second row. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke SABC Sports anchor Simon Burke in Paris and SABC rugby commentator, Renier Swart in JHB ....

The Springboks are bracing themselves for an epic Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand at the Stade de France in Paris tonight. Head coach Jacques Nienaber this week made five changes to his match-day squad from their one-point semi-final victory against England, with two in the starting 15 and three on the bench. Scrumhalf Faf de Klerk and flyhalf Handre Pollard replaced Cobus Reinach and Manie Libbok, who are out of the matchday squad. Hooker Bongi Mbonambi is also in the starting line-up after World Rugby found insufficient evidence to charge him over the racism allegations made against him by England's Tom Curry. The All Blacks coach Ian Foster has made one change to his starting 15, Brodie Retallick replacing Sam Whitelock in the second row. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Braam Van Straaten, who played for the Springboks between 1999 and 2001...

Mike Johnson was this week elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives, ending weeks of chaos and Republican infighting on Capitol Hill. Johnson's success in the hard-fought Speaker battle is seen as a victory for the ideologically right-wing, Donald Trump-aligned faction of the Republican Party and a loss for its moderates. The new speaker promised that the first bill he would introduce would be in support of Israel. Like many in the right wing of his party, Johnson is also against further US aid to Ukraine. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brooke Spector, former career US diplomat in Africa and East Asia and  Associate Editor at Daily Maverick...

Many businesses are trying to go green in an effort to minimise their impact on the environment and the property sector is no different. The green agenda in the property sector in Africa is taking centre stage as the continent joins the rest of the world to cut carbon emissions.  The International Finance Corporation has introduced EDGE ( Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies), to help the property sector in Africa to improve their green strategies. A South African company, Novare Holdings is amongst those that were awarded EDGE Championship status. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Novare Holdings Chief Environmental, Social and Governance Officer, Lerato Kumalo...

Aid was finally allowed into Gaza from Egypt YESTERDAY, for the first time since the Israel-Hamas war erupted two weeks ago . Only 20 of the over 200 trucks carrying vital aid queuing outside the closed border were allowed into Gaza. Life inside Gaza has become  more challenging for hundreds of thousands of Gazans as supplies of food, water and fuel run dangerously short.  Meanwhile, a group of UN agencies has said conditions in Gaza are "catastrophic" and has again called for a ceasefire. They say the aid that has been let trhough is too little to make a difference. Hanin Barghouti is the representative of aid organisation, Gift of the Givers in Palestine. She sent us this message early this from Ramallah in the West Bank.  

National Student Financial Aid Scheme - NSFAS - CEO Andile Nongogo has until tomorrow (Monday)  to plead his case with its board on why he should not be dismissed . The funding scheme's board revealed this week that Nongogo had breached multiple procurement processes in the appointment of service providers for the NSFAS direct payment system. Nongogo who is now on a leave of absence, is accused of irregularly awarding contracts to eZaga and other service providers which will now be terminated. NSFAS beneficiaries nationwide have brought institutions of higher learning to a standstill by protesting against eZaga and its exorbitant charges. For their reaction to this saga we spoke to Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa ....  

Corruption Watch (CW)  is tomorrow releasing a report on Land and Corruption in Africa . titled:  "Story of the Marginalised", the research report  addresses the link between land, corruption, and discrimination.  Corruption Watch's work on Land and Corruption in South Africa focuses on the plight of people who live and work in farming communities, specifically in the Western Cape. We spoke to Melusi Ncala, Senior Researcher at Corruption Watch...  

Yesterday was a good day at the office for South African sport. World champions South Africa emerged victorious at the Stade de France to set up a 2023 Rugby World Cup final against New Zealand next weekend. They narrowly beat England 15-16 to set up an epic final clash with the All Blacks. One of them will win a record fourth Rugby World Cup. At the  crickert world cup in India, the Proteas also delivered an outstanding all-round performance to hand England their heaviest defeat ever in one-day international cricket. The Proteas secured a 229-run victory over the defending champions in a World Cup match in Mumbai.Joining me on the line to discuss these result is SABC Sports anchor Simon Burke in Paris and SAfm Sports anchor Janet Whitton in JHB ...    

Today is Africa Human Rights Day.The day marks the coming into force of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights and the founding treaty of the African Human Rights System more than 40 years ago. The African Charter affirms the continental legal architecture, the pan-Africanism conviction that fundamental rights and freedoms should apply to all human beings. For more we spoke Ras Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs ......  

Several world leaders will today attend the Cairo Peace Summit in Egypt to discuss the ongoing escalation of the conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip, the urgent need for humanitarian support and make a call for the resumption of the peace process. Among them will be President Cyril Ramaphosa. The leaders of the US and UK earlier this week visited Israel and were both clear in their support of Israel's war against Gaza. Here at home president Ramaphosa condemned all violence against civilians but also stressed South Africa's support of the aspirations for self-determination of the people of Palestine, not endorsing any particular leader or faction. He also declared South Africa's willingness to play whatever mediating role that might advance lasting peace. John Stremlau, Professor of International Relations, at WITS University believes Ramaphosa's offer to mediate in Israel must not be ignored. Prof Stremlau joins us on the line

 Eskom says Unit One at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station will be synchronised to the grid by end of this month. The power utility has stated that the steam generators on the unit have been successfully replaced and it will soon start supplying electricity to the national grid.We spoke to energy Expert and a Professor of Physics at the University of Johannesburg, Professor Hartmut Winkler...   

South Africa TODAY plays two World Cup matches on two continents as the Springboks and Proteas seek glory against England in Paris and Mumbai. At 10h30 this morning the Proteas will face England in an ICC Men's World Cup encounter. The South Africans will be looking to redeem themselves after Tuesday's loss to the Netherlands. And at 9 pm in Paris the Springboks will clash against old rivals England in the 2nd Rugby World Cup semi final. The match will decide who will face New Zealand in the final next week. The All Blacks won a resounding 44-6 against Aregentina LAST NIGHT.   SAfm Sports anchor Janet Whitton joins me on the line to discuss these crucual games...

Pro Israeli and pro Palestinian groups in South Africa THIS WEEK held separate protests in cities across the country. Holding flags and banners with messages of solidarity with either Israelis or Palestinians, they marched to express their anger with the war. As the death toll from the war mounts, people and organisations in Africa are wading into heated debates surrounding the conflict - with the continent split, as different nations take opposing sides. Some countries are sympathetic to Palestinians while others like Kenya, Zambia, Ghana and the DRC have firmly aligned with Israel's position. While South Africa is the pillar of Israel's trade with the African continent, there is growing pressure from civil society for government to take a clearer position in favour of either Palestine or Israel. Among the groups that  took to the streets this week is the Palestine Solidarity Campaign which protested outside the Israeli consular office in Cape Town on Wednesday. It's coordinator, Prof. Usuf Chikte now joins us on the line.....

The anticipated full ground offensive into Gaza by the Israeli army is dominating global news this morning following yesterday's announcement by the Israeli military that it is planning an attack by land, air and sea.  This as more than a million Palestinians in the northern half of the Gaza Strip faced yesterday's Israeli deadline to relocate to the south. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that his country's heaviest bombardment ever of Gaza in recent days was just the beginning of the "next stage" of what could lead to a ground invasion. Hamas on the other hand has threatened to kill one hostage for each time an Israeli air strike killed civilians without warning. Reports say Israel's military recovered a number of bodies of missing Israelis in a ground raid on Gaza on Friday. More than 1,300 people were killed in Israel last weekend when Hamas fighters crossed the border to attack civilians and soldiers. Over 2,200 people have so far been killed in Israel's aftermath  bombing campaign of the Gaza Strip.   To discuss the Israel- Hamas war and explore whether the current military action can resolve the Israeli Palestinian conflict as well as the feasibility of a political settlement we will speak to the South African Zionist Federation and the South African Jews for a Free Palestine.... First let's go to the central Israeli town of Modi from where I'm joined on the line by Rolene Marks, the National Spokesperson for the South African Zionist Federation. We also spoke to  Allan Kolski Howitz,  Spokesperson, for  the organisation  - South African Jews for a Free Palestine 

 The Springboks will tonight line up against hosts France in their eagerly anticipated Rugby World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France in Paris at 9 pm.  With a place in the semi-final up for grabs, many are expecting the match-up to be contested with all the ferocity and quality of a final. The Springboks have selected an experienced team to meet Les Bleus who have lived up to the expectations so far as they claimed the top spot in Pool A. England are also set to square off against Fiji in another of TODAY's encounters.  And in quarter final matches played yesterday Argentina and New Zealand sailed through to the semi finals...To look at today's's matches we to SABC rugby commentator, Renier Swart...

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation  - Dirco - YESTERDAY confirmed that two South Africans have been killed in the conflict between Israel and Hamas..Hamas fighters kidnapped at least 150 people and took them into Gaza during attacks on Israel which started last weekend and has killed 1,300 people. More than 1,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched retaliatory air strikes, which continue. For more on the this we are joined on the line from Israel by journalist, Jonathan Swartz and Chairperson and Founder of Gift of the Givers, Dr. Imtiaz Sooliman

Former President, Thabo Mbeki has accused the governing ANC of paying lip service to efforts to renew the party despite resolving to do so at its 2017 conference. The diagnostic report delivered by the then Secretary-General, Gwede Mantashe said the ANC faced diminishing public trust as members of the party faced allegations of corruption and the party was confronted by factionalism. The 2022 conference reaffirmed the 2017 conference resolution. Despite this, Mbeki says, nothing has happened to renew the party. He was addressing mourners at the memorial service of the late anti-apartheid activist, Aziz Pahad at the University of Johannesburg in Auckland Park earlier THIS WEEK.  The party is scheduled to hold its NEC meeting this weekend and Mbeki's public utterances may feature strongly in discussions amongst members of the party's highest decision making body. Here is the former president. We spoke to  president of the ANC's Veterans League, Dr Snuki Zikalala...

Education quality assurance council, UMALUSI says they are ready for the upcoming matric exams. More than 720-thousand candidates have been registered to sit down for the grade 12 exams which are set to start on the 30th of this month  until the beginning of December.  UMALUSI has also issued a stern warning against  cheating during the upcoming exams. The council briefed the media yesterday on the state of readiness of the public and private assessment bodies to manage and conduct the 2023 matric exams. Meanwhile this schooling year has not been without it's challenges and to find out whether teachers share UMALUSI's readiness for the national exams we are joined on the line by Basil Manuel, Executive Director of  the National Professional Teachers' Organisation of South Africa - NAPTOSA - ..  

 Poor financial habits can lead to money related trauma. This is according the National Debt Advisors. It says the conversation around money and mental health is becoming increasingly important in dealing with monetary struggles. This Mental Health Awareness Month,  National Debt Advisors is advising consumers to acknowledge the psychological impact that poor financial planning has on other types of mental health. To explain this we spoke to Samantha Moyana, Debt Counsellor at National Debt Advisors...  

The Israeli army is this morning asking residents of several areas of the Gaza Strip to flee their homes in preparation for revenge attacks against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed vengeance on Palestinian militants. Hamas launched a wave of rocket attacks and sent fighters into Israel yesterday morning in the biggest escalation in decades. Some 250 people in Israel have been killed and 230 others have died in Gaza in a wave of Israeli air strikes. Israeli defence chiefs are now facing growing questions over how the attack could have happened. We spoke to Jonathan Schwartz is an Israeli journalist and  Naeem Jeenah is a senior researcher with the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA)

The devastating fire that claimed the lives of six soldiers at the Lohatla combat training centre in the Northern Cape is reported to be under control. Three soldiers were injured in the blaze which started on Friday.  We spoke to SA Army spokesperson Major General Mercuur 

The Interfaith Forum of South Africa will tomorrow meet at a conference to come up with, what it says, will be bold new plans to save South Africa. The conference will be chaired by Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, General Secretary of the South African Council of Churches and brings together 10 other religious groups. The meeting, to be held from Monday to Wednesday, comes at a time when the country is lurching from one crisis to another, including power cuts, water shortages, crumbling infrastructure, high rate of unemployment, a tanking economy, fraud and corruption and the high cost of living. All of these have been described by some analysts as symptomatic to "a failing state". The Interfaith Forum says delegates from around the country will debate on how best to revamp the country and build a capable state. To discuss how and whether these lofty plans can materialise we we spoke to the Chairperson of The Interfaith Forum of South Africa, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana AND Dr Ongama Mtimka, a Political Analyst from the Nelson Mandela  Univeristy .....

While the fight against avian flu continues, the rabbit population in Gauteng is under threat from the Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (HRD) Virus. Both wild and domestic rabbit populations are at risk from theh virus. So far, affected areas include Meyerton, Vereeniging, Valley Settlements, Henley on Klip, De Deur and Apple Orchards. The Gauteng Agriculture and Rural  Development Department is warning pet and zoo keepers to be alert and take caution. At the same time the Gauteng Rabbit Breeder's Association says while the have made contact with state veterinary services to assist, access to medicines to fight the virus remains a challenge. Gauteng Rabbit Breeder's Association chairman, Gavin Grgurin joins us on the line......

Healthcare costs in South Africa have  increased sharply over the past few years posing significant challenges for medical aid schemes and their members as well as a creating a cost-of-living crisis for many consumers. Medical schemes say they are trying to  prioritise their members' wellbeing while striving to keep cost increases as low as possible. Profmed CEO Craig Comrie  joins us on the line to shed light on the complexities and factors driving these escalating expenses and what medical aid schemes are doing to cut costs

In a space of just three months, seventeen political parties have registered with the IEC. That means more than 540 parties could potentially contest next year's elections.  The IEC expects the number to increase. The election body says not all the parties will be represented on the ballot box, as some may not meet the required criteria. Some of these newly established parties are led by former ANC members.  To look at what the expansion of the political landscape means for the electorate, we spoke to Political Analyst, Sandile Swana...

The 2023 Global Organized Crime Index released earlier this week has revealed that South Africa is one of the worst countries in the world regarding organised crime. The report highlights that the country has experienced a decade-long increase in criminality, undermining democratic processes through organised corruption and violence for hire. The criminal economy is fuelled largely by networks with corrupt relationships while heavily armed organised criminal activities include drug trafficking, cash in transit heists, wildlife poaching and cable theft. The Index, released on Tuesday, showed that South Africa scored a 7.18 criminality score out of 10 meaning we are ranked the seventh highest in the world and the third highest in Africa, coming after Nigeria and the DRC      

Transnet CEO Portia Derby has resigned. Her resignation yesterday follows a year of lobbying by business and, more recently, organised labour, as the performance of the state logistics company crumbled under her watch. A statement released by the board also announced that Transnet chief financial officer Nonkululeko Dlamini had also resigned. To look at  what lies ahead for the rail and ports giant we are joined on the line by Azar Jammine, Director and Chief Economist at Econometrix...

The DA wants ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to face imprisonment for contempt of court. This comes after the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) this month dismissed an attempt by the party to appeal an earlier ruling from the Johannesburg High Court that the ANC must hand over its cadre deployment records to the DA. The ANC had earlier indicated that it will turn to the Constitutional Court in a final bid to appeal. The DA now contends that the 15 day deadline imposed by the court to launch the appeal has lapsed.  We spoke to Legal Analyst, Mpumelelo Zikalala.

According to a 2022 report by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation over the last 12 years, South Africa has endured the most extreme weather events out of all African countries, with 33 disaster events between 2010 and 2022. Meanwhile, the Summer season is historically hail season in the northern parts of South Africa, with an average of six to eight hail days recorded each year in parts of Gauteng and Lesotho, the eastern Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga. Insurance companies say hailstroms are an extremely destructive natural weather pattern and can cause a damage worth millions of rands. For more on this we are joined on the line by Thabo Mabaso, Head of Corporate Communications at Santam Insurance... 

 A week after parts of the Western Cape were lashed by heavy rains and winds and the resultant floods, thousands of people are still feeling the devastation and disruption of the disaster. Initial assessments of the flood damage are estimated at 1.4 billon rands. At least 11 people are known to have died in the Heritage Day long weekend storm. Whilst reconstruction of bridges and other damaged infrastructure in the province begins efforts to extend humanitarian assistance to affected people continues. Ali Sablay is with aid agency Gift of the Givers in the Western Cape   

 Vote counting is underway in eSwatini, following yesterday's parliamentary elections in which political parties are banned from contesting.  Over 580,000 registered voters cast their ballots to choose 59 members of the lower house of parliament, which plays only an advisory role to the monarch.  Analysts say with most candidates loyal to the king, the election is unlikely to change the political climate. The results, to be announced within a few days, are seen as a foregone conclusion by the opposition, which called for a boycott of the vote. The People's United Democratic Movement - PUDEMO - is the largest opposition party in Eswatini and it's president is Mlungisi Makhanya 

Food is a cherished avenue for cultural expression. From the popular braai or shisanyama to biltong, bobotie, Durban curry, Cape Malay cuisine or tripe - each bite is a journey through South Africa's culinary history and heritage. This Heritage Day we are joined in the studio by an Alexandra based chef who specializes in traditional African foods. Chef Mpho Ramokone is the founder of "Skop Sundays" and operates from a food container donated to him by the Gauteng government.  His vision is to continue to sell the best tasting food he can prepare and pass on the heritage of his choice meals and specialities. 

Exploring the state of our heritage sites and national monuments, and whether in their current condition, they are the best vehicles to express our national heritage we are joined by Dr Mabuyi Gumede, Senior Lecturer  and Programe Coordinator  in the Cultural Heritage Tourism  Programme at UKZN,  AND Dr Ndivhoniswani Lukhwareni, CEO of the National Heritage Council of South Africa.   

The DRC this week asked United Nations forces in the country to withdraw by the end of the year saying the peace keeping mission had failed to maintain peace.  President Félix Tshisekedi told the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that he had instructed his government to bring forward the start of the UN withdrawal from December 2024 to December 2023. Tshisekedi said the mission - known as MONUSCO - had failed to bring peace in the country despite being there for 25 years. The force has 18,000 personnel in the country, making it the second-largest UN mission globally. To discuss this we are joined on the line by Prof Thomas Mandrup from the Security Institute of Governance and Leadership in Africa at Stellenbosch University. He is currently at the Royal Danish Defence College and joins us on the line from Denmark.....  

Parliament this week passed a bill which will expunge criminal records for those convicted of breaching Covid-19 lock-down laws. South Africa had some of the world's toughest restrictions, which saw more than 340,000 convicted for not wearing masks, consuming alcohol and breaking curfew, among other violations. If the bill sails through those who admitted guilt and paid fines will now have their records cleared. There have  been numerous complaints about people missing out on employment opportunities because of the criminal records from the Covid-19 lock-down law violations.We spoke to Profesor Kholofelo Rakubu, Acting Head of the Safety and Security Management Department at the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT)  

Consumers have a to right check their credit reports and challenge any information which may be incorrect and outdated by disputing this for free. That's the message from the Credit Ombud who says out of  the 27 million active consumers, only 757 thousand credit reports have been issued to consumers. The Credit Ombud is asking consumers who find themselves at a stalemate with their credit provider or the credit bureau to contact their offices so that their query may be investigated fairly, independently, and honestly. We spoke to  Kabelo Teme, credit ombudsman spokesperson..

For 69 years Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, who was laid to rest in KwaZulu-Natal yesterday, was traditional prime minister to three successive Zulu kings, beginning with King Cyprian Bhekuzulu in 1954. He served under King Goodwill Zwelithini, the longest-serving monarch of the Zulu kingdom, from 1968 to March 2021 and more recently, under the current king Misuzulu kaZwelithini, until his death last week. For 44 years Buthelezi was also at the helm of the Inkatha Freedom Party - IFP- from it's founding in 1975 until 2019 when his hand picked successor, Velinkosi Hlabisa was elected unopposed as the new leader at the party's 35th National General Conference. Until his passing last Saturday, Prince Buthelezi was at the centre of developments, successes, tensions and challenges faced by the two institutions. Now that he is no more, will his shadow continue to shape the two organisations into the future? For a look at the road ahead for both the IFP and the AmaZulu Royal House, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to political analyst,  Zakhele Ndlovu and academic and cultural expert, Dr Gugu Mazibuko, both from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Despite having teams ready to deploy immediately to disaster stricken Morocco and Libya, aid agency Gift of the Givers has been unable to send  aid to the two North African countries...While earthquake  devastated Morocco has refused it's offer of assistance, a deployment to floods ravaged Libya has hit a dead end due to logistical problems. The disasters have claimed thousands of lives in the two countries. Sebenzile Kambule spoke to founder and chair of the Gift of the Givers Foundation, Dr Imtiaz Sooliman about some of the challenges the organisation has faced in attempts to assist the two countries.

Defending Rugby World Cup champions, South Africa, will today face off against Romania at Nouveau Stade de Bordeau in France. The match, which kicks off at 3pm, will be the Springboks' second game of the tournament after they silenced their critics in their opening match with an 18-3 win over Scotland last week. In their opening match last Saturday, Romania were walloped 82 - 8 by Ireland, the biggest loss of any team in the competition so far. The Springboks suffered two major injury setbacks this past week - with hooker Malcolm Marx ruled out of the remainder of the tournament after a freak training ground mishap and lock Eben Etzebeth set to be sidelined for another week after injuring his shoulder last Sunday. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC rugby commentator, Renier Swar about what fan can look forward to in today's match.

 Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber has spoken at length about the devastating blow to the team after losing hooker Malcolm Marx to injury, as his side arrived in Bordeaux for their second Pool B match of the Rugby World Cup. Talk has turned to a replacement, with flyhalf Handre Pollard the not so obvious choice, but he is fit and raring to go. The Springboks will play Romania for just the second time in their history on Sunday afternoon. Simon Burke has more

 The Inkatha Freedom Party founding leader and the longest-serving member of Parliament, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has been described as a politician with a good sense of humour. Buthelezi who will be buried at his home in KwaPhindangene, Ulundi in KwaZulu-Natal today, died last weekend at the age of 95. Hundreds of people lined the streets of the town to watch the body being transported from the mortuary to Buthelezi's residence yesterday. Sebenzile Nkambule Buthelezi Family Spokesperson, Dr Bhekuyise Buthelezi.

The remains of AmaZulu Prime Minister and former IFP president, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi are THIS MORNING at his home for the last time at KwaPhindangene, in northern KwaZulu-Natal. He will be laid to rest today following his death at the age of 95. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC Reporter, Minoshni Pillay who is at KwaPhindangene in Mahlabathini ahead of Buthelezi's funeral.

Former IFP Leader, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, was a member of Parliament for almost three decades. His journey in the National Legislature started after South Africa's first democratic elections in April 1994. Our Parliamentary Correspondent Mercedes Besent takes us through some of Buthelezi's  highlights in the National Assembly, and how he was able to reach 90 and still be an active MP

The Springboks start their 2023 Rugby World cup title defence campaign in Marseille, France, today with an expected pulsating tie against Scotland. The Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a record-equalling third time in Japan four years ago after beating England in the final, but will have to be at their best from the start if they are to progress from a very difficult Pool B. Victory in today's match will put either side in a brilliant position to qualify for the quarter-finals, easing the pressure somewhat before both play Ireland. The match is due to start at 17:45 South African time. We spoke to SAfm Sports anchor Janet Whitton    

Dr Bhekuyise Buthelezi and Prof Bheki Mngomezulu weigh in on the legacy that the late Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi leaves behind

Remembering Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi

ANC sends their condolences for IFP leader; Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi   

EFF sends their condolences for IFP leader; Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi 

Two top human rights lawyers were this week arrested by Zimbabwean police while representing their clients who had been abducted and severely assaulted by suspected state security agents and arraigned before the court on charges of obstruction of justice. Lawyers, Doug Coltart and Tapiwa Muchineripi, had told police that their clients were medically unfit to be questioned. The opposition activists were badly beaten during their abduction in the capital, Harare, last Saturday by unidentified attackers. We spoke to one of the arrested lawyers Doug Coltart.  

The City of Johannesburg this week declared war on hijacked buildings. On Thursday the city arrested 23 people for illegally occupying a JMPD building. The issue of Joburg's hijacked buildings comes in the wake of last week's Marshalltown fire tragedy where 77 people lost their lives. The tragedy highlighted Johannesburg's problem with broken-down buildings. But how difficult is it for owners of hijacked buildings to reclaim their properties and do the authorities have the capacity and the resources to re-house the thousands of illegal occupants in these buildings. We spoke to Kelvin Maseko, a property investor in the Jhb CBD who had some of his properties hijacked by criminal syndicates.  

With over 800 million global viewers expected to watch games during the 2023 Rugby World Cup which kicked off in Paris LAST NIGHT, employers are being advised to prepare and take steps to address potentially distracted employees or perhaps create creative and inclusive spaces for productivity to continue while the patriotism of the sport is accommodated. With the rugby hysteria already in full swing in South Africa , local companies better take heed.We spoke to Hugo Pienaar, Director in the Employment Law practice at legal firm; Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH).  

Family Spokesperson Dr Bhekuyise Buthelezi updates the nation on the passing of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi  

UDM expresses their condolences IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi 

DA sends their condolences for  IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi 

ACDP extends their condolences for  IFP leader Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi 

To help us explore for permanent solutions to the scourge of dangerous and unsafe hijacked buildings plaguing our major cities we are joined for our Sunday Morning Discussion by former Johannesburg mayor and ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba and Sharon Ekambaram, Spokesperson for Kopanong Africa, a coalition of civil society organisations rallying against xenophobia and for the promotion and protection of migrant rights...

The Johannesburg Inner-city Federation, a community structure has welcomed all the assistance being provided to help the victims of the Joburg building fire. Different NPOs and members of the public have been providing food, blankets and other essentials. Only one out of the 76 bodies of people who were killed in the fire has been identified. The body was buried yesterday evening in accordance with Muslim rites. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to ActionSA leader, Herman Mashaba and Sharon Ekambaram, Spokesperson for Kopanong Africa, a coalition of civil society organisations rallying against xenophobia and for the promotion and protection of migrant rights...

India yesterday launched its first observation mission to the Sun, just days after the country made history by becoming the first to land near the Moon's south pole. Aditya-L1 blasted off from the launch pad at Sriharikota and it will be located at a distance of 1.5 million km from the Earth, which is 1% of the Earth-Sun distance. India's space agency says it will take four months to travel the distance. If Aditya-L1 is successful, India will join the select group of countries that are already studying the Sun. The sun expedition comes 12 days after India's  Chandrayaan-3 landed on the moon's south pole where it has already confirmed the presence of several elements including sulphur on the moon's surface as it continues searching for signs of frozen water after its historic landing. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Prof. Mike Kosch, Chief Scientist at the South African National Space Agency - SANSA.....

It is not yet clear whether any progress has been achieved by the SADC Panel of Elders sent to Zimbabwe this week to ease tensions in the disputed polls won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa against his rival Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa. The Panel's mission, ended YESTERDAY but there are still no reports on who they met and what was discussed. This comes as Chamisa also called for nationwide protests and a re-run of elections. Mnangagwa on the other hand claimed the vote was valid and has warned of a crackdown on anyone inciting violence. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Piers Pigou, Head of the Southern Africa Programme at the Institute for Security Studies... 

Some of the people who survived Thursday morning's deadly fire in the Johannesburg city centre have been housed at various shelters in and around the city. About 140 of them have been transported by bus to an accommodation facility owned by the municipality in Kensington, east of the city. The City of Johannesburg has identified a number of buildings around the city where the affected families are being accommodated.  Sebenzile Nkabule spoke to the City of Johannesburg Community Safety MMC, Mgcini Tshwaku.

The National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola has confirmed that 18 suspected cash-in-transit have been killed in a shoot-out with police in Louis Trichardt, Limpopo. He says officers have been tracking the suspects for three days. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Police National Spokesperson, Brigadier Brigadier Athlenda Mathe...

City of Johannesburg's member of the mayoral committee (MMC) for Transport, Kenny Kunene says the city is in dire need of property investors as it faces housing shortages. However, this has become a challenge as developers find it difficult to evict squatters. Kunene's comments come in light of the fire that gutted a city of Johannesburg building killing over 70 illegal occupants. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the Black Conveyancers Association's Bangiso Mhlabeni

With more than 60 million people living in South Africa, only 410,000 are registered organ donors. Lack of awareness and understanding of tissue and organ donation is believed to be a cause of the inaction. The Organ Donor Foundation is now urging more South Africans to register as organ donors and to share their decision to donate with their families and friends. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Samantha Nicholls, Executive Director of Operations at the Organ Donor Foundation

The Inkatha Freedom Party - IFP - founder and President Emeritus, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi turns 95-year-old today. Buthelezi has been in hospital for weeks after he was admitted following back pain complications. In a statement released last week, Buthelezi's family said he is making steady progress under the supervision of his medical team and were happy with the state of his health. IFP spokesperson and MP Mkhuleko Hlengwa spoke to us about Buthelezi's birthday, his health and the current politics of the IFP.

Earlier this month the BRICS Young Scientist Forum highlighted artificial intelligence - AI -  machine learning and future skills as essential for advancing the goals of BRICS countries. At this week's BRICS Summit, the leaders of the bloc also pledged to secure fair artificial intelligence and announced plans to organize an "AI study group" to closely monitor AI technology's growth. It is against this background that the Southern Africa Telecommunication Networks and Applications Conference starting today is exploring the pivotal role of artificial intelligence in shaping South Africa, Africa, and the global economy. Dr. Mmaki Janties, Group Executive: Innovation and Transformation at Telkom, is attending the conference and spoke to us to provide further insights.

Zimbabwe's Elections Commission confirmed late last night that Emmerson Mnangagwa had won a second term as president. Mnangagwa received more than 52% of the vote, while Nelson Chamisa, the head of the opposition Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) party, received only 44%. The opposition has accused the elections of rigging and voter suppression due to delays. Election observers have also said this week's voting violated democratic ideals. Although voting was peaceful, SADC said some aspects of the elections fell short of Zimbabwe's constitutional requirement and SADC principles and guidelines for democratic elections of 2021.  To unpack the results of the Zimbabwean elections we spoke to Terry Tselane, Executive Chairperson of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa and Dr Tinashe Sithole, Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Dept. of Politics and International Relations  

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy announced the discovery of gas reserves in Amersfoort, Mpumalanga province this past week. Welcoming the find the Department said Kinetiko Energy, an Australian gas explorer that focuses on commercialising advanced shallow conventional gas and coal bed methane projects, confirmed the discovery of 3.1 billion cubic feet of maiden gas reserves. Natural gas forms part of the energy mix envisaged in the Integrated Resource Plan, South Africa's blueprint policy for electricity generation. The department says gas provides the flexibility necessary to run the country's current electricity generation system in a cost-effective manner. Environmental groups are however not happy with this discovery and have highlighted the negative polluting effects fossil fuels have on efforts to protect the environment and limit climate change. We spoke to Leanne Govindsamy from Centre for Environmental Rights on the matter.

The Springboks last night laid down a marker ahead of the Rugby World Cup with a record win over New Zealand at Twickenham. In their final warm-up fixture before the tournament in France, the Boks capitalised on the All-Blacks' indiscipline thrashing the New Zealanders 35-7. The All Blacks open the World Cup against hosts France in Paris on Friday 8 September, while South Africa begin their campaign against Scotland in Marseille two days later. They will also take on Romania, Ireland, and Tonga in the pool stages of France 2023. Are the Springboks ready to take on the world in France? To help us answer this question, we spoke to Craig Ray, Sports Editor at Daily Maverick.

With just two days left, all eyes are on South Africa, as the country hosts the 15th Summit of BRICS nations - Brazil, Russia, India and China, from 22-24 August 2023. The Summit's theme is "BRICS & AFRICA; Partnerships for mutually accelerated growth, sustainable development, and inclusive multilateralism." The summit's agenda is also expected to cover trade and investment facilitation, sustainable development, innovation, and global governance reform. Another key point in this 15th BRICS summit will be a discussion of the BRICS's much debated proposition of a new, gold-backed currency and BRICS expansion. To get a deeper understanding of BRICS, how it works and why the Summit matters we spoke to Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher on Russia-Africa ties at the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at SAIIA and Dr Emmanuel Matambo, Senior Researcher at the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

In an attempt to oust the African National Congress in the 2024 elections, - seven parties, including the Democratic Alliance (DA), ActionSA, Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) and the Freedom Front Plus have signed a pre-elections agreement to work together should the ANC fail to reach a 50+1 majority at the general polls next year. Following a two-day meeting, earlier this week the charter announced a new name and a set of priorities and principles for power sharing. A number of parties turned down the offer to be part of these deliberations that took place in Kempton Park this past week one of those being the African Christian Democratic Party, we spoke to the ACDP Deputy President, Wayne Thring on their views on this new coalition.

A group calling themselves the Professionals League under the African National Congress says it is time to start having a different conversation about the socio-economic challenges facing SA. They are calling for what they have termed a CODESA-style convention which they say must look at land issues, white privilege among others to address South Africa's poverty issues. We spoke to the Secretary General of the Professionals League Thulani Ngubane on some of these issues. 

The latest crime statistics released yesterday reveal that while the overall murder rate has gone down, more women and children have been killed over the last quarter than over the same period last year. The newest figures from SAPS tabled in Parliament show that gender-based violence is still prevalent throughout the country despite a decline in rape and sexual assault. The statistics show murder cases went up by 4.7%. This means 40 more women were murdered, up from 855 from the previous year. Attempted murders also saw a significant increase, with 238 more cases registered, a 20.2% increase, assault GBH cases also had 9.7% increase. 293 children were also murdered, up by 20.6% from 243 previous year.  We spoke to Advocate Brenda Madumise-Pajibo, Director of Wise4Afrika - a feminist advocacy group, on what these numbers mean for the fight against GBV. 

With just 4 days to go before Zimbabwe's crucial national elections, questions are being raised whether the electoral process will be transparent and officials accountable. On Thursday the country's authorities deported four regional democracy activists on arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport and barred journalists from several international media houses covering the poll. Earlier This week a High Court appeal by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change - CCC - to access the updated voters' roll was ruled as not urgent. Democracy activists say this is contrary to the law and are raising fears that the reason behind keeping the voters' roll a secret could be linked to attempts at rigging the polls. While Nelson Chamisa's CCC is determined to dislodge Zanu PF from power, incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, on his part, is confident of a resounding victory. To look further into Zimbabwe's electoral process, we spoke to Dr Tinashe Sithole, Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg's Department of Politics and International Relations.

Military chiefs from West Africa's main regional bloc - ECOWAS - have agreed an undisclosed "D-Day" for a possible direct armed intervention to restore democracy in Niger if diplomatic efforts fail. This is the conclusion of the two-day military meeting which ended in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, yesterday. No specific date has been given for the intervention and a diplomatic solution has not been excluded as ECOWAS is expected to send another political team to Niger today. Military officers removed Niger's President Mohamed Bazoum three weeks ago and have defied calls from the United Nations, ECOWAS and other groups to reinstate him. For more on these developments we spoke to Advocate Sipho Mantula, from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.  

Various political parties have taken an exception to the release of former president, Jacob Zuma on remission. This comes after, President Cyril Ramaphosa approved the release of about 9 488 inmates as part of the remission programme. However, many feel that this was a ploy to release Zuma from prison- after he handed himself over to finish his 15 months sentence for contempt. In a statement, released on Friday the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development says the release of prisoners was due to overcrowding as some of the Correctional Services facilities. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Advocate Malose Monene from the Limpopo Society of Advocate and Professor of Political Science & International Relations, Bheki Mgomezulu

Solly Msimanga yesterday retained his position as the Democratic Alliance's provincial leader in Gauteng, with Fred Nel winning the race of chairperson of the party. The provincial elections were held in  Boksburg on Gauteng's East Rand. Around one-thousand delegates cast their ballots in the two-horse race where Msimanga was challenged by Khuma Ramulifho. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Democratic Alliance's provincial leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimanga

The Springboks will depart for Europe this afternoon (Saturday) for two warm-up matches, and the defence of their Rugby World Cup title in France. They are eager to become the first team to lift the Webb Ellis Cup for a fourth time. Our reporter, Liezl Olivier, spoke to former Springbok and now Cheetahs stalwart, Ruan Pienaar, about rugby's biggest showpiece, and South Africa's chances at the event.

The Human Sciences Research Council alongside the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation hosted a panel discussion on Zimbabwean ahead of the August 23 elections. The panel of experts looked at the pre-election environment in that country which has been characterised by violence. And they also looked at the prospects of free, fair and credible elections in Zimbabwe. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Everisto Benyera, an Associate Professor of African Politics at the University of South Africa...

The Democratic Alliance (DA) is hosting its Gauteng Provincial Congress where the party will elect new leadership ahead of the 2024 General Election. DA Federal Leader, John Steenhuisen, is expected to address delegates on the Moonshot Pact which he believes will usher in a new provincial government in Gauteng after next year's election. Incumbent Solly Msimanga is seeking a second term and he will be up against Nkhumeni Ramulifho for the position of Gauteng leader while Rachel  Mathebe and Frederik Nel will battle it out for the Provincial Chairmanship. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Werner Horn the Presiding Officer for DA Gauteng Provincial CongreSS... 

Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday insisted that his country will do with or without the support of the World Bank. He was responding to an announcement on Tuesday by the US-based global lender that it was suspending new loans to Uganda over what is considered among the world's harshest laws targeting LGBTQI communities enacted in May. Museveni said Uganda does not need pressure from anybody to know how to solve its societal problems. Opposition leader Bobi Wine also weighed in on the issue condemning the World Bank for prioritizing gay rights while ignoring other human rights violations in Uganda that include torture, detention without charge and election rigging. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Uganda's capital Kampala by LGBTQI activist, Richard Lusimbo .....

There is a collective sigh of relief after taxis started operating again in Cape Town yesterday following a weeklong stay away by SANTACO which turned violent leaving 5 people dead and thousands of commuters stranded. As the situation slowly returns to normal, it will be a lot longer for the tourism industry which suffered reputational damage after some countries issued travel alerts for the Mother City. A British tourist was also among the dead after he apparently took a wrong turn from Cape Town International Airport and ended up in the protest in Nyanga where he was attacked and killed. The South African Tourism Services Association - SATSA - is worried about the long-term impact of the strike on their sector. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SATSA Chairperson Oupa Pilane... 

At yesterday's closing of the two-day National Dialogue on Coalition Governments at the University of the Western Cape, Deputy President Paul Mashatile called on the country to draw lessons from others and its own experiences on coalition governments. Mashatile gave examples of successful government coalitions when the  African National Congress (ANC) worked with the National Party at the national level and the IFP in KwaZulu-Natal at the dawn of democracy. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused the ANC of trying to hijack the dialogue, DA chief whip, Siviwe Gwarube says it became apparent during discussions that the government was already working on its own coalition legislation. An accusation the deputy president has since denied. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, Bantu Holomisa and DA's National Spokesperson, Solly Malatsi... 

Banyana  Banyana has lost two-nil to the 2019 World Cup finalists, the Netherlands, in the crunch round of the 16-group fixture at the Sydney football stadium in Australia. Banyana is the first South African team, male or female, to get to the knockout stages of a world cup. Meanwhile, the curtain closes on the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town today with the final match between England and Australia. The match starts at 6 pm. Before that at 4 pm the bronze medal match will see the sunshine girls, Jamaica battle it out. New Zealand. Later this morning at 11 am South Africa will play their last game of the Netball World Cup as the Proteas face fellow Africans, Uganda, in the 5th/6th place playoff. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to sports analyst Sandisiwe Guzana and SABC Sports analyst, Matthews Mpete...

The Western Cape E-hailing Association (WCEA), which represents different e-hailing services, yesterday announced that they were joining the Cape Town taxi strike. In a statement, the association said all their vehicles will be parked and not engage in any normal business with immediate effect. On Thursday, chaos, sporadic stone-throwing, and violence erupted on major highways in Cape Town as taxi drivers embarked on a week-long stay away amid growing tension with the City of Cape Town authorities over impoundments. Major roads were blocked, and stranded commuters were forced to walk home. Tensions between the City of Cape Town and taxi operators have been simmering over a new by-law that gives power to the municipality to impound vehicles rather than fining drivers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the City of Cape Town mayoral committee member for safety and security JP Smith... 

Political parties taking part in the national dialogues on the coalition government have proposed a number of changes in the law to prevent the collapse of coalition governments. Some of the suggestions include a limit to the number of motions of no confidence to avoid it being abused for political reasons. Meanwhile, there are also reports that the Department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs has already prepared a bill with suggestions on how to regulate and stabilise coalition governments. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to ActionSA National Chairperson, Michael Beaumont is participating in the national dialogue and director of Research at the Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (Mistra) and Visiting Professor at the Wits School of Governance, Susan Booysen

The military officers who seized power in the West African state of Niger 10 days ago have until today to restore Mohamed Bazoum as president or face military action from the Economic Community of West African States -  ECOWAS. In an intensification of the standoff coup leader General Abdourahamane Tchiani has declared that he will not bow down to pressure and urged his countrymen to get ready to defend their nation. Last Sunday ECOWAS threatened the use of force against the junta if it did not release and reinstate the president within a week, an ultimatum immediately rejected by neighbouring Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea, all of which are run by mutinous soldiers who toppled their governments. On Thursday thousands of people took to the streets of Niger's capital, Niamey, in support of the military coup. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Christopher Isike, Professor of African politics and international relations at the University of Pretoria...

There is a new banking scam you need to be aware of! The Ombudsman for Banking Services in South Africa is warning consumers about a new fraud technique that exploits a growingly popular contactless payment method to empty people's bank accounts. Fraudsters are using stolen card information - such as the card number, expiry date and CVV number -  to make purchases via digital payment wallets. These apps employ near-field communications (NFC) technology to make tap payments on smartphones and smartwatches using a linked bank card.These include Apple Pay, Fitbit Pay, Garmin Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Reana Steyn, the Banking Ombud of South Africa...

There are no surprises among the teams who will contest today's semifinals at the Netball World Cup 2023 in Cape Town with the top four on the latest world rankings all advancing in the competition. England will take on defending champions New Zealand and Australia will face Jamaica. Yesterday the Proteas beat Tonga 72-46 booking South Africa's place in the 5th-place playoff on Sunday.Meanwhile, Banyana Banyana will aim to keep on dreaming at the Fifa Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand when they take on the Netherlands in the last 16 in Sydney early tomorrow morning. Kick-off is at 4 am South African time. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to sports analyst Sandisiwe Guzana ...

 African leaders pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday to move ahead with their plan to end the Ukraine conflict and to renew a deal crucial to Africa on the safe export of Ukrainian grain, which Moscow pulled out of last week. While not critical of Russia, the leaders appeared more concerted and forceful than they have voiced until now. That served as a reminder of the depth of African concern at the consequences of the war, especially rising food prices. Speaking at the summit on Thursday, President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to supply six African countries with between 25,000 and 50,000 tons of grain free of charge. Unlike the previous Russia-Africa summit in 2019, attended by 43 African leaders, this time only 17 were in St Petersburg,  including President Cyril Ramaphosa, who last month led an "Africa Peace Mission" of leaders from the continent. Despite many African countries' long-held desire to remain non-aligned in the Russia Ukraine conflict, they've been dragged into the fight by big powers who are exerting pressure on the continent to take sides in the war. To look at the outcomes of this summit we are joined on the line by Professor David Monyae, Director of  the Centre for Africa/China Studies at the University of Johannesburg AND Peter Fabricius, Foreign Affairs Journalist at The Daily Maverick... 

ANC veteran Dr Snuki Zikalala has been elected unopposed as the president of the ANC Veterans League. The ANC elders are holding  their conference in Boksburg, east of Johanesburg. Zikalala was nominated for president alongside three others, including former ANC treasurer-general and home affairs department director-general Mavuso Msimang, all of whom declined their presidential nominations. Msimang, however, accepted his nomination for the league's deputy president, and was elected unopposed. The elective conference is set to end later today with ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa scheduled to give the closing address. We spoke to Veterans League president Dr Snuki Zikalala   

South Africa's national rugby and netball teams had a good day at the office yesterday recording wins in the Rugby Championship and the Netball World Cup. The Springboks managed to grind out victory edging Argentina 22-21 in their final Rugby Championship fixture at Ellis Park Stadium in JHB. The trophy had however already been won by New Zealand earlier following a 38-7 victory over Australia, in Melbourne. And at the Netball World Cup, the Proteas romped to a commanding win over Sri Lanka. The Proteas made it two-in-two with a win in their Pool C encounter at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. Another sold-out crowd cheered the hosts on as South Africa secured a convincing 87-32 triumph to remain unbeaten so far in their World Cup campaign. The Proteas will face Jamaica TODAY. We spoke to Netball analyst, Sandisiwe Guzana ..

 The EFF turned 10 years old this week and today the party will hold it's final celebratory anniversary rally at the 95 thousand seater FNB stadium in Johannesburg. EFF Commander-in-Chief, Julius Malema, is expected to address the gathering at noon. On 27 July 2013, the EFF National Assembly convened at Uncle Tom's Hall in Orlando West, Soweto. In it's decade of existence, the EFF has grown to become the country's third biggest political party after the ANC and DA. The EFF made an impressive debut in the 2014 elections, winning 6 percent of the national vote clinching 25 seats in the National Assembly. The EFF continued to grow in popularity and gain support and in the 2019 elections, it took almost 11 percent of the national vote, which increased its number of seats in the National Assembly to 44. The EFF has been using the month of July to mark it's 10th anniversary with various events around the country. Speaking at the EFF's anniversary gala dinner in Boksburg on Thursday night,  leader Julius Malema cautioned leaders in the party against conspiring behind his back warning that he has never lost an internal contest and can be ruthless. To chat to us about the evolution of the Red Berets and what the future holds for the party  we spoke to, Commissar Hlengiwe Mkhaliphi, Member of the EFF's Central Command Team 

The uncertainty of South Africa's economy and the risks attributed to the unstable performance of the Rand, as well as the current market volatility, has left a lot of consumers, savers, and investors feeling uneasy about what the rest of the year will look like for the financial planning goals they've set to achieve. Some South Africans can also remember the 2008 global financial crisis that resulted in high interest rates and inflation in South Africa and thus their current anxiety. For more on how to survive these current tough times and what the rest of year might look like, my colleague and Producer, Mabu Boloka spoke to Ester Ochse, Product Head at FNB Integrated Advice. She started by asking whether current consumer anxieties could be linked to the unsavory experience of the economic downturn in 2008

115 CEOs from many of South Africa's largest companies have signed a pledge to offer their skills to the government to help alleviate the many crises that the country faces. The CEOs committed to helping solve country's energy, logistics and security issues. The pledge was signed THIS WEEK  by CEOs from Standard Bank, FNB, Shell, Anglo American, Napsers, MTN, and over 100 other major companies. Cas Coovadia, CEO of Business Unity South Africa - BUSA 

Areas near the explosion site in central Johannesburg have been without power since Wednesday afternoon, following a gas leak explosion.The City of Johannesburg Manager, Floyd Brink, says electricity and water will be restored to areas that the recent blast in the city centre has affected. He has also confirmed the structural integrity of the buildings adjacent to where the blast took place on Lilian Ngoyi Street formerly known as Bree on Wednesday. Three of the 48 people who were injured are still in hospital. The blast ripped through a stretch of the street sending pedestrians and vehicles including taxis up in the air. Authorities say they are yet to determined the nature of the gas that caused the blast. For this conversation we are joined by Dr Phathutshedzo Khangale, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Chemical Enginereeing Technology at the University of Johannesburg AND Prof Felix Okonta is the Head of Geo-technical and pavement engineering research at the University of Johanesburg 

Nominations for the ANC Women's league's officials took place last night and results are expected today after over 3000 delegates have voted for their preferred candidates. Former ANC Women's league Secretary General, Sisisi Tolashe received 1564 nominations, whilst ANC MP, Thembeka Mchunu got 796, the leagues former president, Bathabile Dlamini bagged 258 nominations. A moment of silence was also observed for the late ANC MP Tina Joemat-Petterson who was vying for the position of deputy President and received 1061 nominations.  ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to close conference later today...There was drama at the conference earlier when  ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula warned Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan to move faster in dealing with Eskom and Transnet or risk removal.  The party then promptly issued a statement on Saturday evening backtracking on the threats saying the minister cannot resolve issues alone. SABC Political Editor Mzwai Mbeje

It's now just 5 days to go before the Netball World Cup 2023 is held in CapeTown, the first time on African soil.  A total of 16 netball teams will compete in the Mother City to lift this trophy and New Zealand are the defending champions. South Africa is competing in Group C against Wales, Sri Lanka, and Jamaica, with the Proteas' first game on Friday, July 28th, against Wales. We spoke to Netball South Africa CEO, Blanche de la Guerre, 

The ANC Women's League conference is expected to get under way at the NASREC Expo Centre, south of Johannesburg this morning after a slow start due to registration challenges yesterday. Last night the National Task Team Convenor Baleka Mbete delivered the league's political report in a session which was open to the media. Today will see the delivery of the league's organisational and financial report. Over three-thousand delegates will nominate and vote for their preferred candidates to lead the league. Delegates will also discuss socio-economic policy in their various commissions. Our Senior Political Reporter; Busi Chimombe, is covering this story.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa will next week travel to St Petersburg for the 2nd Russia-Africa Summit on 27-28 July. Ramaphosa will join at least 40 other African heads of state and senior leaders for the meeting focusing on deepening cooperation between Moscow and African capitals. The summit will convene just over a week after the Presidency announced that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will no longer attend in person the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg. While African leaders are expected to continue their push for peace between Russia and Ukraine others view it as attempts by Russia to reclaim ground lost to other global powers vying for influence on the African continent. We spoke to Gustavo de Carvalho, Senior Researcher on Russia-Africa ties at the African Governance and Diplomacy Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs..

The National Truck Driver's Foundation says The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) deploying soldiers to four provinces in response to a series of truck torchings is just a temporary solution which does not address the real challenges in the industry and does not guaranteer safety in the future. SANDF head of communication, Siphiwe Dlamini, said that members have been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Free State to provide support to the police in their efforts to address the situation. More than 20 trucks have been set alight in these provinces since last weekend. Police Minister  Bheki Cele this week  also confirmed that 12 persons of interest have been identified in connection with the attacks and 3 have been arrested thus far. For this conversation we are joined by  SAPS  National Spokesperson, Brigadier Athlenda Mathe AND Dr Guy Lamb, Safety and Policing Expert from the Political Science Department at the University of Stellenbosch

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky's was left fuming this week after his country's hopes of quickly joining NATO were dashed during a meeting of the military alliance in Lithuania.   Zelensky went to Lithuania with high expectations of an assurance that his country would join Nato after the war with Russia was over. Instead NATO was non-committal simply telling Ukraine that it would be invited to become a member "when allies agree and conditions are met". After an angry Zelensky called the NATO position absurd, a diplomatic row ensued when UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Ukraine should show more gratitude for the support it has already been given. We spoke to Denys Reva, a Security Researcher with the Institute for Security Studies.  

Rising levels of hunger and poverty are now reportedly feeding the increase in cases of shoplifting in the country. About 6,001 shoplifters were arrested across South Africa between 2021 and June 2023. The National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro) has been tasked to curb the rising numbers of shoplifters in South Africa and rehabilitate them back into society. However, it's proving to be a battle against inflation and poverty. We spoke to Magda Reynolds who is the Area Manager and Clinical Unit Coordinator at  the National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (Nicro)

India's struggling efforts to reintroduce the cheetah species, extinct since 1952, have been dealt another blow, with this week's death of the 7th cheetah in Kuno National Park. 12 cheetahs were trans-located from South Africa in February this year while 8 were brought in from Namibia in 2022. In total, four adult cheetahs and three cubs have died in the past few months, raising questions from numerous experts about the suitability of the Indian habitat and management of the project. We spoke to Prof. Adrian Tordiffe, a veterinary wildlife specialist from the University of Pretoria....

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) has confirmed that it has deployed soldiers to four provinces in response to a series of truck torchings. SANDF head of communication, Siphiwe Dlamini, said that members have been deployed to KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, and the Free State to provide support to the police in their efforts to address the situation. More than 20 trucks have been set ablaze in these provinces since last weekend. Police Minister  Bheki Cele this week confirmed that 12 persons of interest have been identified in connection with the attacks and 3 have since been arrested. For their reaction to this deployment we spoke to Siphesihle Muthwa, secretary of the National Truck Driver's Foundation

Fire experts are warning of the potential fire risks associated with the installation of solar power energy systems. Last week, the head offices of cellular giant Vodacom in Cape Town caught fire. While investigations continue - there is speculation that the solar panels on the building's roof might be the cause. This comes as load shedding continues to plague South African - with many homeowners turning to solar energy as an alternative power source. For more on these risks spoke to Prof Richard Walls, Fire Engineering Expert from the University of Stellenbosch.

Today, July 9th marks exactly 2 years since the devastating July unrest that took place in Kwa Zulu Natal and some parts of Gauteng. This was allegedly as a result of the Constitutional Court's order that former president Jacob Zuma be arrested. KwaMashu in Kwa Zulu Natal became epicentre of the riots that saw shops and factories, including malls, looted over several days. Some parts of Gauteng were also affected.... Small business owner Ntombenhle Khathwane from Gauteng had to start all over again following the events of July 2021 after her enterprise was looted and destroyed during the riots. We also spoke to  Muzi Dladla: Executive Manager: Stakeholder Management at SASRIA  and  Independent Researcher, Stuart Mbanyele.

Workers fed up with corruption, crime, unemployment and the weight of rising inflation on Thursday downed tools in a national stay-away that had  the support among labour federation COSATU affiliates. Union members marched in cities across the country demanding urgent action on rising unemployment rates, wage cuts, inequality and attacks on collective bargaining. But political analysts and economists said although the call for industrial action resonated across the economic divide, from the lowest paid to higher income workers, the action did not have widespread appeal because those with jobs would rather work, given the difficult economic climate. They were also not convinced whether government will be galvanised to immediately respond to COSATU's demands made during the national day of action. The unions gave the government offices and departments in each province 14 days to respond to their demands. Joining us to talk about the effectiveness of Thursday's nationwide march is COSATU President, Zingiswa Losi ....

Parliament is calling for urgent intervention to curb the scourge of Zama Zama's in the country. This follows THIS WEEK's deadly cylinder gas-leak in Boksburg, allegedly linked to unlawful mining activities in which 17 people died and 11 others are in hospital.   Chairperson of parliament's Portfolio Committee on Mineral Resources and Energy, Sahlulele Luzipo says the body demands a comprehensive effective strategy to address the problem.   We spoke to Chairperson of the Gauteng provincial legislature's portfolio committee on community safety, Bandile Masuku.

 The Johannesburg Zoo is calling on city residents to donate food for their animals. The zoo recently sent out a request to anyone who may have spare leafy branches ranging from Sickle bush tree,Tamboti, Knob Tree and  Bush willow to name a few.  Zookeepers are said to be  struggling to provide food for the herbivores, especially during the winter months.We spoke to Jenny Moodley, Spokesperson for the Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo.  

 The entire Banyana Banyana team has arrived in New Zealand ahead of the Women's Soccer World Cup which starts in 12 days. The first group of Banyana players departed on Wednesday evening. The second left on Thursday. The team travelled via Australia after a pay dispute with SAFA highlighting gender pay gaps in the country was resolved. The spat caused a renewed conversation around gender pay gaps in sports in the country. The squabble resulted in Banyana Banyana not playing a send-off match against Botswana in Johannesburg last Sunday. A hastily assembled team of South African lower league players lost 5-0. Australia and New Zealand are co-hosting the World Cup from July 20 and African champions South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria and Zambia are representing the continent.  We spoke to Mathews Mpete, SABC Sports analyst 

The Executive Ethics Code is yet again in the spotlight- this time it involves the Public Protector's finding into the theft of millions of US dollars in cash from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020. The Acting Public Protector advocate Kholeka Gcaleka found that President Cyril Ramaposa did not violate the Executive Ethics Code in the Phala Phala matter. Ramapho was accused of breaching the Executive Ethics Code and being in a conflict of interest between his constitutional obligations and his private interests arising from his alleged paid work at Phala Phala.  In 2022, the Constitutional Court upheld a Gauteng High Court judgment that found legislation in the Executive Ethics Code was unconstitutional and invalid as it did not require members of the executive to disclose "donations made to campaigns for their election to positions within political parties- this was about the donations that were made to Ramaphosa's "CR17" campaign for the ANC presidency...  At the time, the now suspended Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane found that the president was in breach of the Executive Ethics Code for not disclosing an R500 000 donation to his campaign for the ANC presidency in 2017 which was received from former Bosasa chief executive Gavin Watson. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the Director of Accountability Now, Advocate Paul Hoffman and Political Analyst, Sysman Motloung...

ANC MP Collen Malatji has been elected the new ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president under the "economic freedom or death" slate. This ends an eight-year period where the league has been without an elected leadership due to infighting and disbandment of the structure's leadership. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Senior Politics reporter, Ntebo Mokobo...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has been cleared of violating the Executive Ethics Code in the Phala Phala matter. The President was being investigated by the office of the Public Protector for the theft of millions of US dollars in cash from his Phala Phala game farm in Limpopo in February 2020. He is accused of breaching the Executive Ethics Code and being in conflict of interest between his constitutional obligations and his private interests arising from his alleged paid work at Phala Phala. The report comes more than six months after the Independent Panel released a report last year that the president may have a case to answer by failing to report the crime. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Political Analyst, Sandile Swana on the issue.

A four-day week is due to be pilot in South Africa. According to a poll rom Robert Walters, which had 2,000 responses from working professionals- 46% of them said they would sacrifice work socials and relationships with colleagues for a 4-day workweek. For more on this, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Leila Moosa, Senior Associate in Employment Law practice at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr (CDH).

The elective conference of the ANC Youth League is set to take place this weekend. This happens after the youth body has been leaderless in terms of elected leadership. The registration was characterised by chaos, and accusations that the ANC SG is meddling in the affairs of the league to ensure a particular outcome favouring him for the next elections is achieved.  This comes after the Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula removed Xola Nqola as the convener and member of the youth league ahead of the national conference. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Senior Politics reporter, Ntebo Mokobo

Parliament's Presiding Officers, Speaker of the National Assembly and the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces, have formally requested an urgent meeting with the Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa, Raymond Zondo. The meeting is intended to address matters of concern following recent public statements made by the Chief Justice regarding Parliament's role in the implementation of recommendations of the Judicial Commission into State Capture. Zondo this week raised concern over the lack of action by Parliament to prevent another State Capture in the country. For this discussion we are joined on the line by Prof Sethugelo Matebesi, Sociologist at the University of Free State, AND UDM leader; General Bantu Holomisa...

The Amazon River Club development project in the Western Cape continues to be a major concern for a group of  Khoi and San activists and the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Traditional Indigenous Council. The R4.6 billion multi-purpose complex, which is set to house Amazon's new African headquarters, has been riddled with a number of legal disputes which were intended to put the project on hold.  Indigenous leaders in the Western Cape withdrew support for the River Club project allegedly over 'empty promises' but also to preserve what they have termed "sacred land" for the Khoi and San.  The leadership of the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoi Traditional Indigenous Council, which is opposed to the Amazon River Club development project, is also in dispute, making it challenging to deal with the real issues collectively. The continuing legal disputes are now headed to Supreme Court of Appeal... For more clarity we are joined on the line by Geronimo De Klerk, Youth Coordinator of the Goringhaicona Khoi Khoin Indegenous Ttraditional Council...  

The union representing officers of the Tshwane Metro Police Department - TMPD - has expressed dismay at Tshwane council's decision to encourage members of the public to record their encounters with TMPD officers and to ask them for their appointment certificates.  Acting chief of the Tshwane Metro Police Department, Basil Nkwashu, THIS WEEK issued a directive empowering members of the public to ask for officers' appointment certificates, take their photos and vehicle number plates in a bid to curb corruption within the law-enforcement authority. This follows a series of allegations of corruption made against some Tshwane metro police officers implicated in bribery, armed robberies and assaulting motorists. Ngoako Mathabatha is SAMWU's Chairperson for Community Safety in Tshwane 

At least 31 suspected illegal miners, believed to be Basotho nationals, have died at a disused mine in Virginia in the Free State. The Mineral Resources Department announced yesterday that the group died last month in a ventilation shaft that was last operational in the 1990s. The department said the bodies are still underground, pending efforts with relevant stakeholders to retrieve them. Department inspectors have determined that dispatching a search team would be too risky, as current methane levels at the mine ventilation shaft remain high. illegal mining has been describes as a "plague" amid reports of rampant corruption, extortion and violence linked to zama-zama activity across the country. The miners have little in the way of safety equipment, and their tunnels are prone to collapsing. To talk to us about this we are joined on the line by Duncan Luvuno, National Union of Mineworkers - NUM's National Chairperson for Health and Safety

Three teenage initiates burned to death on Tuesday when their initiation school hut caught fire in in Mdantsane, in the Eastern Cape. The Initiation season continues to be an anxious and scary time for many South Africans, especially those who have teenage boys participating in the right of passage cultural practice. For the past decade the country has been plagued with bogus schools and unnecessary deaths of initiates with no solution in near sight. The Department of Corporative Governance and Traditional Affairs - Cogta - YESTERDAY also  hosted an awareness campaign on the Customary Initiation Act under the theme 'Preserving Lives, Promoting Customs. For this conversation we are joined by Fikile Xasa, Chairperson  of parliament's Cogta Portfolio Committee...  

The recent introduction of the retirement fund's Two-Pot System will soon be an option for some workers and will enable them to dip in to the savings part of their retirement pot. However, is this wise and how will work? What are some of the elements of it that workers need to take caution against? These are some of the questions that need special attention before  March next year when the retirement fund Two Pot System is expected to be implemented. To help us understand how the system will work,  we spoke to Hugh Hacking, Head of Structured Investments and Annuities at Momentum Corporate...

Is the NHI a blessing or a curse for South Africa's healthcare system? That is the big question that we aim to unpack in today's discussion. The National Assembly this week  passed the controversial National Health Insurance (NHI) Bill with 205 MPs in support of it. The bill will now be sent to the NCOP for concurrence then signed into law by the President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Bill seeks to give all South Africans access to quality health care and makes provision for one pool of health care funding for private and public health care providers. Deputy Director General for the National Health Insurance (NHI) at the Health Department, Dr Nicholas Crisp says the primary source of funding for the NHI Bill will be the current tax system. A few organisations have vowed to legally challenge the implementation of the National Health Insurance Bill. For this discussion we are joined by Dr Simon  Strachan,  Paeditrician in private practice and the CEO of the South African Private Practitioners Forum  AND Dr Zamasomi Meyiwa Luvuno from the Centre for Rural Health at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal....  

President Cyril Ramaphosa yesterday concluded his African Peace Mission to Ukraine and Russia with a meeting with a meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Russia's cultural capital of St Petersburg. Ramaphosa who was leading the African delegation travelled to Kyiv and St Petersburg, to meet with the leaders the warring countries- in a bid to negotiate an end to hostilities. He said that the Mission put forward ten proposals to resolve the war which include the free passage of humanitarian aid, exchange of prisoners of war, opening of channels for the export of grain through the Black Sea and the need to guarantee the security of all countries amongst others.   

Bad weather continued to lash the Western Cape yesterday as more people sought shelter at community halls across the province. Heavy rains and strong winds have already caused major damage across the province, with thousands affected by the adverse weather. In Rawsonville in the Cape Winelands District, more than one-thousand-five-hundred people who live on the banks of the Smalblaar River, have had to be evacuated. Western Cape Provincial Disaster Management authorities have called in the use of a helicopter from the SANDF and put up two of their own helicopters to deliver aid into Citrusdal and Vredendal. Gift of the Givers is also providing relief aid to the affected areas and the organisation is appealing for more donations. Gift of the Givers spokesperson -- Ali Sablay gives us the update   

The plane carrying journalists and security personnel that was supposed to accompany President Cyril Ramaphosa to Ukraine and Russia but was grounded in Warsaw, Poland, is now expected to fly back home this morning. Polish authorities refused over 120 South African presidential security guards and journalists permission to disembark from an aircraft for 26 hours. Reasons that Polish authorities gave for the decision include permits which were not in order and they were not informed about some of the people on board. Our reporter, Ntebo Mokobo who is with team that is grounded in Warsaw, Poland joined us for the discussion   

Deputy President, Paul Mashatile yesterday voiced concern over the stagnant  economy and its dire effects on the youth in the country. He was delivering a virtual keynote address at the official commemoration of the Youth Day celebrations in Bloemfontein. He emphasized the need for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing the ills that bedevil the youth. Youth Day celebrations were held against a backdrop where young people have lambasted Government for failing to equip them with the tools necessary to escape poverty.  To hear their perspective we have on the line Kristal Duncan-Williams,  the Project Lead at Youth Capital- a campaign that advocates for the solutions to the youth unemployment....  

Denys Reva, a Security  Researcher with the Institute for Security Studies weighs in on the African Peace Mission in Ukraine and Russia.

 President Cyril Ramaphosa is THIS MORNING expected to travel to St Petersburg where he will meet with his Russian Vladimir Putin. This will the 2nd leg of  the visit by African leaders  to Ukraine and Russia on a peace mission, hoping to bring the war there closer to an end. Yesterday's visit to Kyiv was interrupted by air raid sirens and an explosion in the Ukrainian capital. The Africa Peace Mission and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the media in Kyiv after their meeting.  Meanwhile, Poland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement saying the plane carrying around 120 South Africans including journalists, police and military security for President Cyril Ramaphosa had what it calls "dangerous goods" on board. The journalists, police officers and soldiers have finally disembarked from their plane at Warsaw's Chopin Airport in Poland after their 26 hour ordeal. Our reporter Ntebo Mokobo is travelling on that plane.

The board of state-owned defence manufacturer Denel this week skipped a scheduled meeting with parliament's standing committee on public accounts - SCOPA - leading chairperson Mkhuleko Hlengwa threatening to summons the Denel board should it fail to appear at it next meeting. This is the latest in a string of instances that individuals, organisations and the executive have failed to account to parliament with no consequences. Last month ANC MP Mosebenzi Zwane failed to appear in House to apologise for State Capture malfeasance. It remains to be seen what, if any, steps the parliamentary joint ethics committee takes against other parliamentarians named in the Zondo Commission report as far back as March 2022. There are suggestions that the absence of standards of accountability and the fact that portfolio committees are not independent, are the reasons parliament is failing in its constitutional mandate to hold the executive accountable. Others say Parliament relies on the very Government  departments it oversees for information on which to base that oversight, and that public participation in some parliamentary committees is woefully inadequate leading to percepetions of an institution that appears to be sleeping on the job. Joining us for a discussion on this is Dr Ongama Mtimka, a political analyst from the Nelson Mandela  Univeristy and Brand reputation management advisor, Solly Moeng.

President Cyril Ramaphosa this week apologized to the people of Hammanskraal for government's failure to provide safe and clean quality water. He says in order for the crisis to be solved in the North of Tshwane, all three spheres of government need to co-operate and deal with the matter urgently. The President visited the area  on Thursday and spoke to community members at the Temba Stadium, following a visit to the Rooiwal water waste plant. At the same time Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brinks has also promised that they will hire competent people that are not interested in politics and are willing to do the job without fear or favour to resolve the Hammanskraal water situation. Residents are however not convinced that their water problems will be resolved anytime soon. We have on the line Baatseba Joseph, a resident of Hammanskraal. She is also a member of the Smanje Rider's Club who have been delivering clean water to some desperate residents

Condolences continue to pour in for the late former Bafana Bafana coach Clive Barker with many recalling the major contribution he made to South African football. Safa confirmed via a family statement that Barker died after a battle with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) YESTERDAY. He was 78. Barker led South Africa to their only continental triumph at the Africa Cup of Nations finals in 1996, and also steered the side to a maiden World Cup appearance in France in 1998. We spoke to Mathews Mpete, Daily Sun sports editor .

 Some MPs say they are leaning toward the institution of an independent inquiry into the sale of SAA to the Takatso Consortium. This comes as now dismissed Public Enterprises DG, Kgathatso Tlhakudi, appeared before Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Public Enterprises earlier this week. Tlhakudi briefed MPs on his stance regarding the sale, alleging that there are various irregularities in the deal. Tlhakudi, requested an audience with the speaker who in turn referred the matter to the Public Enterprises Committee to deal with it. National Freedom Party MP Shaik Imam is among those vocal about the SAA/Takatso deal and is calling for an inquiry to unearth the facts. 

Sudan's warring sides have agreed to a nationwide ceasefire for 24 hours starting this morning to allow the unimpeded movement and delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout the country. The agreement marks the latest in several failed attempts to stop weeks of fighting between the Sudanese army and the Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group. More than 1.4 million people have been driven from their homes within Sudan and 780 civilian deaths have been reported. The United Nations says aid that could reach about 2.2 million people had been delivered since late May but that some 25 million - more than half the population - are in desperate need of assistance. Leni Kinzli, is the Head of Communications for the World Food Programme in Sudan...

 Parliament's Section 194 committee will now no longer insist on hearing oral evidence from suspended Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. In the face of a stalemate because of problems with Mkhwebane's legal representation, committee chairperson Qubudile Dyantyi has now instructed committee members and evidence leaders to present their questions to her in writing. She will then have the opportunity to also answer in writing or, if she wishes to answer orally, she will be allowed to do so. For more on this we spoke to  Advocate Romeo Nthambeleni, Senior Legal Analyst member of the Legal Practice Council of South Africa...  

The convocation of the University of Fort Hare wants an independent investigation into the allegations of academic fraud at the institution. The call comes as the SIU is still engaged with its investigation into maladministration and fraud at the university including the alleged academic fraud. The convocation met yesterday to discuss issues that include allegations of cheating, procurement corruption, violence, damage to property where twelve students recently arrested for alleged malicious damage to property and burglary. We had a chat with the Spokesperson of the University's Convocation team, Luthando Bara  

While some organisations are welcoming Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi's extension of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit - ZEP - dispensation, others are worried that  it could lead to further unrest in  some communities and in the road freight sector.  The special dispensation was due to end on the 30th of June - but has been extended to the 31st of December.  The ZEP is a special permit issued in terms of the Immigration Act that allows its holders and their children temporary legal status to live, work and study in South Africa. To look at the legal consequences of the minister's decision we we spoke to Bianca Rutherfoord-Jones, Immigration Specialist from law firm, Webber Wentzel 

Thousands of runners are ready and raring to go in tomorrow's Comrades  ultra-marathon. The 96th edition of the Comrades will be an 87.7 kilometres down run from the KwaZulu-Natal capital, Pietermaritzburg to Durban. Four-thousand 430 of them are first time qualifiers and in total 17 thousand-920 runners are participating this year. Among them is Stanely Mwawa who is running with the SABC Atheletics Club. He spoke to us from Pietermaritzburg.

The protection of young children remains one of the high priorities in our country's constitution but also in our various communities. Today, 4th June marks end of  Child Protection Week 2023. For more on what has been achieved in this year's Child Protection Week and the strides made to improve the lives of needy children in the country and some of the challenges that still exist. We spoke to Child Line CEO, Dumisile Nala...  

Uber and Bolt drivers operating in the Soweto area, specifically at Maponya Mall say that they fear for their lives, and will have to consider operating from other places. This after 3 vehicles were torched on Thursday night and 2 drivers allegedly shot at. The motive for the shooting still remains unclear however  one of the drivers whose car was torched says they have recently been intimidated by by taxi drivers who have been telling them not to collect passengers from the Shopping Mall vicinity.The e-hailing services operate at a drop-off zone inside the mall, which is only about 100 metres from the taxi rank. e-hailing driver, We spoke to Kabelo Makhesane, whose vehicle was burnt on Thursday. 

Investigations a currently underway following some new born babies placed in boxes instead of incubators/ cribs at Mahikeng Provincial Hospital in the North West Province. The picture of the new borns in brown boxes has been trending  on social media and sparked outrage regarding the state of hospitals in the North West Province, and the country in general. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we  invited the MEC of health in the North West, Madoda Sambatha to give us more clarity and an update on the investigations. We also spoke Mzwakhe Seleke;  NW Provincial Chairperson for Democratic Nursing Organisation of South Africa (Denosa)...

 Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni remains defiant and has defended signing one of the world's harshest anti-LGBTQ laws, with punishments that include the death penalty, saying it was needed to prevent LGBTQ community members he said were "disoriented" from "recruiting" others. His comments were the first since he signed the bill into law on Monday, triggering widespread criticism including threats by the U.S. and other countries to cut aid to Uganda and impose sanctions.  Human rights activists have filed a legal challenge against new anti-homosexuality laws with LGBT activists now saying they're not safe in their own country. One such Ugandan activist is Richard Lusimbo, he spoke to us while in Nairobi in Kenya.

There is a proliferation of illegal gambling machines in many townships across the country. This is raising concern that children are being exposed to gambling at an early age. The machines are normally located in spaza shops mostly owned by foreign nationals. Over 470 illegal gambling machines have been confiscated in Gauteng while over 200 have been siezed in Limpopo. We spoke to Karabo Mbele, the acting CEO of the Gauteng Gambling Board   

Professor Taole Mokoena has been appointed as the country's new health ombudsman. He succeeds Prof. Malegapuru Makgoba, whose seven-year non-renewable term came to an end on Wednesday. Prof Mokoena takes over the task of investigating complaints in a severely crippled public health sector that is increasingly hogging the headlines for all the wrong reasons including negligence, ineptitude and corruption. We spoke to South African Medical Association, SAMA, chairperson, Dr Mvuyisi Mzukwa

Many South Africans are currentlly struggling to meet their home loan commitments. This allegedly due to the current economic climate and the frequenty rising interest rates. Last week's interest rate hike is the 10th since November 2021. It's also the highest in 13 years and is putting a huge strain on the housing market. The South African Reserve Bank last Thursday announced a 50 basis points hike to interest rates, taking the current prime lending rate from 11.25% to 11.75%. We spoke to Chief Operating Officer at SA Home Loans, Zakeni ( Zach) Dlamini...  

South Africa's dilapidating water infrastructure is in the spotlight again following the latest cholera outbreak. Water and Sanitation Minister,  Senzo Mchunu and City of Tshwane Mayor, Cilliers Brink on FRIDAY said a fresh agreement to work together to fix the Rooiwaal Waste Water Treatment Plant in Tshwane has been reached. 23 people have died due to a Cholera outbreak in Gauteng.The Free State reported that one person had died from cholera this week. Mchunu says a document on how to tackle the issue is in place. The two parties say they will also meet with the treasury in a bid to source funding for the water project. The city has allegedly allocated 450 million rands to the refurbishment of the treatment plant which needs 2,5 billion rands.  Mchunu says this will solve 50% of the Rooiwaal treatment plant issues. For our Sunday morning discussion we spoke to Prof. Anthony Turton, a water expert from the Centre for Environmental Management at the University of the Free State AND Buang Jones, former head of the South African Human Rights Commission in Gauteng

There is a need to rename HIV. This is according to F/A/Q , a sexual health and wellness organization. They are challenging the World Health Organization (WHO) to consider renaming HIV. The health organization says this will end HIV stigma by updating people's perceptions of the virus and those living with it will dramatically enhance the effectiveness of existing HIV-prevention efforts. The organization believes that HIV has become an "epidemic of the mind": a public health crisis driven by social, cultural, and political factors - not a lack of medical progress.  We spoke to Bongiwe Ndlovu, who is a Project Manager and an activist with F/A/Q   

The number of laboratory-confirmed cholera cases seen at Jubilee District hospital in Hammanskraal as of yesterday evening now stand at 44.  That's according to the latest update from the Gauteng Health Department. It says currently there are 74 patients that have been admitted to the hospital due to gastro-intestinal infection. 21 people have died from Cholera in Hammanskraal with one fatality reported in the Free state province. This comes as Limpopo's Health Department has disputed social media reports saying there are cholera cases at Mankweng outside Polokwane. AfriForum has also announced that water samples taken from the river on Tuesday tested positive for cholera.  For a national update of the cholera situation we spoke to the spokesperson of the National Department Health, Foster Mohale

A Councillor from the Northern Alliance party, Gary van Niekerk, has been elected as the new executive mayor of the Nelson Mandela Bay municipality. Van Niekerk replaces the Democratic Alliance (DA)'s Retief Odendaal, who was removed YESTERDAY through a motion of no confidence. He becomes the third mayor of the Eastern Cape metro since the 2021 local government elections. The speaker, deputy mayor and chief whip positions were also replaced by ANC Councillors, Eugene Johnson,  Babalwa Liboshe and Wandilisile Jikeka.  The new mayor has put good governance at the centre of his administration.  We also spoke to Andrew Whitfield, DA leader in the Eastern Cape and  Lindokuhle Vellem,  Research and Advocacy analyst at the Public Service Accountability Monitor  

Tributes continue to pour in globally following the death of the Queen of Rock 'n Roll, TinaTurner this week. The 83 year-old legendary singer died at her home in Switzerland following a long illness. Turner also performed in South Africa; Cape Town in 1996. Turner will be remembered for many of her famous hit songs including, Simply the best, We don't need another hero and many more. Our colleague Ernest Pillay had the pleasure of working with the late singer back in April 1996 when she performed in the country

President Cyril Ramaphosa this week met with the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council to discuss the government's response to the recommendations of the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into Allegations of State Capture, Corruption and Fraud in the Public Sector. The council was appointed in August 2022 to deepen the country's fight against fraud and corruption. It augments the work done by law enforcement agencies and plays an independent role in terms of combating corruption and other criminal activities. The President's meeting came in the same week that Public Enterprises Minister, Pravin Gordhan appeared before Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts as it still tries to get to the bottom of allegations of large scale corruption, fraud, sabotage and crime cartels at Eskom. Also a month ago today, the first state capture trial ended in a discharge for the defendants, with acting Bloemfontein high court judge Nompumelelo Gusha saying both the police and prosecution had been woefully inept in their handling of the Nulane Investments fraud and money-laundering case. To look at the adequacy of the response to South Africa's endemic corruption we spoke to Firoz Cachalia, Chairperson of the National Anti-Corruption Advisory Council. 

Six people have died in Hammanskraal as diarrhoeal disease and cholera cases spread in Gauteng and Free State. The Health Department says over 50 received medical care after presenting with gastro-intestinal symptoms in Hammanskraal, north of Pretoria and it has warned there is a rise in Cholera cases. Members of the public have been warned to avoid known or suspected contaminated food, water and surfaces. We spoke to Motalatale Modiba, spokesperson for the Gauteng Health Department ...

South Africa is facing a potential electricity pre-paid meter crisis.  The meters may stop vending electricity next year if they are not updated. Experts say the meters rely on a timer that started counting from 1 January 1993 but will run out of digits sometime during November 2024. It has been reported that South Africa has 10 million such meters that may be affected. For a better understanding of this problem we were joined by William Brederode, News 24's Technology and Trends Journalist

Less than a week after Palestinians, marked the annual day of commemoration of their displacement that preceded and followed Israel's establishment, thousands of Israeli nationalists on Thursday marched into the Muslim quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, for the flag parade, which is part of Israel's Jerusalem Day, marking Israel's capture of East Jerusalem in the 1967 war. The march has increasingly become a show of force for Jewish ultra nationalists, while for Palestinians it is seen as a blatant provocation undermining their ties to the city. The march was punctuated by heated confrontations, with shouts of "Death to Arabs" and other slogans. The march was allowed to go ahead despite fears the event could spark renewed violence following days of cross-border fire with Palestinian militant fighters in Gaza last week. We were joined on the line by Rolene Marks, Spokesperson of the South African Zionist Federation

 A five year old learner, Masonwabe Mapolisa last weekend survived the coldest weekend of the year locked in a classroom at JA Ncaca Primary School in Lingelihle, Cradock in the Eastern Cape. When the learner didn't return home on Friday afternoon, his family then went to the police station and reported him missing. He was later found on Monday in one of the school classrooms. He is allegedly recovering in hospital at the Dora Nginza Hospital in Nelson Mandela Bay where he was airlifted  for specialist treatment. The circumstances of how he ended up locked in the classroom are not yet clear and under investigation by education authorities. We spoke to Vuyiseka Mboxela, spokesperson for the MEC of Education in the Eastern Cape

The  Durban High Court yesterday found brothers - Dylan and Ned Govender - not guilty for the murder of Mondli Majola during the civil unrest in Phoenix in KwaZulu-Natal in 2021. They were however found guilty on a charge of attempted murder and assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm. Majola was among at least 30 people who were killed in Phoenix, north of Durban during that time. The area emerged as a hotspot for racial tension with animosity and mistrust running deep between Indian and black communities. Handing down judgement, Judge Gregory Kruger said the State had failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the accused killed Majola. We spoke to NPA spokesperson in KwaZulu-Natal, Natasha Ramkisson-Kara about the ruling.

My Vote Counts, which campaigns to reform South Africa's electoral system, has launched a court application in the Western Cape High Court to reform disclosure of political party financing. In papers filed this week, the group said it wants the act changed so that it makes available information on all private donations, not only those above R100 000. It also wants the annual limit of R15m a party may receive from a single donor to be reduced. The governing ANC on the other hand has been discussing amending the law to allow for the minimum amount that can be declared increased from R100,000 to R250,000 or R500,000 and the R15m disclosure to be increased to R50m or R100m. The party has blamed the current act for it's financial woes.  We spoke to Robyn Pasensie, Party Funding Researcher at My Vote Counts   

The ANC's top brass will today continue visiting its structures in KwaZulu-Natal to discuss issues including the school feeding scheme scandal, eThekwini being placed under section 154 and the party's apparent decline in popularity in the province. Yesterday ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa engaged with party members from the eThekwini region in Durban. Other party National Working Committee members, including deputy president, Paul Mashatile and the secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula have also been deployed to various regions in the province. The ANC are hoping to turn their political fortunes around in a province it has lost by-election after by-election to the IFP.  We spoke to Zakhele Ndlovu is a Political Science lecturer at the University of KZN. 

VaTsonga Royal Leaders have joined the outcry from some members of the Xitsonga community who raised concerns about the spelling on the new R100 banknotes. The text on the new note reads Bangikulu, dropping the "n" on the old currency that read Banginkulu.  Reserve Bank Governor Lesetja Kganyago ealier this week defended the new spelling saying the changes are in line with the new guidelines issued by the Pan South African Language Board, last year. We spoke to Kgosi Mwamitwa who is the Chairperson for the Vhatsonga Royal Leaders (RLU) 

Heavy fighting between warring parties has continued in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, and other cities ahead of the ceasefire talks today. Air strikes and artillery continue to pound Khartoum after Sudan's warring army and Rapid Support Forces paramilitary failed to agree to a ceasefire despite committing to protect civilians and allow humanitarian access. A so-called declaration of principles was signed in Saudi Arabia late on Thursday after nearly a week of talks between the two factions, which had shared power before falling out over a transition to civilian rule. The conflict has paralyzed Sudan's economy and strangled its trade, aggravating a ballooning humanitarian crisis with the United Nations saying that 200,000 people have now fled into neighbouring states. Many UN and other agencies have suspended aid to Sudan and in particular Khartoum, awaiting guarantees that their supplies and staff will be safe. The World Health Organization has said at least 600 people have been killed and more than 5,000 injured in the fighting, but that real numbers are likely much higher. To understand why the agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia has not delivered a permanent ceasefire and what it will take to silence the guns in Sudan, We spoke to Sudanese ambassador to South Africa, Osama Mahjoub Hassan Dirar .

The International Relations Department has confirmed that the US ambassador to South Africa Reuben Brigety has apologized for alleging that the country sold weapons to Russia to use in the war against Ukraine. On Thursday Brigety told local media that US intelligence was confident that arms and ammunition had been loaded onto a Russian ship near Cape Town in December last year. Dirco spokesperson, Clayson Monyela has confirmed the US ambassador's apology.  Meanwhile, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has confirmed that he has spoken to his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor telephonically. A short State Department statement has under-scored the importance of the US-South African strategic partnership. The Presidency has said the government has undertaken to set up an "independent enquiry to be led by a retired judge into the Russian ammunition accusations. We spoke to Guy Martin, editor of DefenceWeb, an online African Defence and Security news publication AND Prof. Waldo Krugell from the School of Economics at North West University

The Competition Commission has approved the majority sale of SAA to Takatso Consortium. The announcement follows the Commission's investigation into the acquisition of a 51 percent stake in SAA by Takatso Consortium. The Competition Commission says it approved the deal on condition that Takatso agrees to retain a minimum number of employees. Another condition includes starting a process to allow some shareholders in the consortium to exit the deal in the spirit of fair competition in the domestic airline. This after the Commission found that the merger was likely to result in limited competition as some Takatso shareholders were linked to SAA's rival company Lift airline. We spoke to Tamara Paremoer who is the Head of Mergers and Acquisitions at  the Competition Commission  

The South African chapter of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign will today hold a rally to mark 75 years of Palestine's ongoing struggle for liberation. The gathering is part of global events taking place in Europe, Australia and North and South America demanding justice and supporting Palestinian resistance. The rally in South Africa, to be held this afternoon at the Castle of Good Hope in Cape Town, comes as Palestinian militants in Gaza have fired rockets towards the Jerusalem area, for the first time, in the latest escalation of fighting with Israeli forces. 31 people have been killed in Gaza since Tuesday morning, when Israel began its latest operation against the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in the heaviest fighting in nine months.  We spoke to Palestine Solidarity Campaign Chairperson, Jaamia Gallant,

There is a shortage of qualified South African cellphone repairers or mobile device repair technicians in the country, and soon; scores of young South Africans in Gauteng will soon be trained to become skilled distributors and repairers of devices such as cellphones, laptops, tablets and wearables. The project is led by the SA Mobile Devices Distributors and Repairers Association (Samddra), with funding from the Gauteng provincial government  with the aim to organize the mobile device distribution and repair industry. We spoke to Loyiso Tyira, SAMDDRA's Chairperson..  

Electricity minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says Eskom will spend about R30bn in the current financial year as it tries to mitigate the severity of load-shedding. During a media briefing on Friday, Ramokgopa said the demand is expected to increase by between 32,000MW to 37,000MW in winter. Meanwhile, the North Gauteng High Court made a ruling that all hospitals, clinics, schools, and police stations should be spared from electricity disruptions. Judge Norman Davis ordered the Minister of Public Enterprises Pravin Gordhan to "take all reasonable steps" within 60 days to ensure that public health establishments, state schools, and the South African Police Service are not affected by load shedding. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to the CEO of South African Oil & Gas Alliance (SAOGA), Craig Morkel, AND South African Federation of Trade Unions (SAFTU) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi... 

The three metros in Gauteng, have had a revolving door for mayors. Since the local government elections in November 2021- the city of Johannesburg has had four mayors (Democratic Alliance's Mpho Phalatse, ANC's Dada Morero, Al-Jamah's Thapelo Amad and now Al- Jamah's Kabelo Gwamanda has taken over the position of executive mayor) - Ekurhuleni has two mayors (Tanya Campbell and currently AIC's Sivuyile Ngodwana is serving as mayor) while the city of Tshwane has had three mayors namely- (DA's Randall Williams, COPE's Murunwa Makwarela and now DA's Cilliers Brink is serving as mayor). The Gauteng MEC for Co-operative Governance and Traditional Affairs (cogta) Mzi Khumalo says he plans to set up conflict resolution mechanisms to better handle disputes between political parties within municipalities, in order to ensure motions of no confidence became a last resort. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Political Analyst, Dr. Peit Croucamp... 

Today, King Charles the Third will be formally crowned. The 74-year-old will be crowned in front of 2,200 invited guests from across the political, royal, and celebrity worlds. It is eight months since he ascended to the throne, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September last year. The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, the setting for every coronation since 1066 and it will be officiated by the archbishop of Canterbury, the highest Church of England cleric in the country. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the spokesperson of the Durban chapter of the British Cultural and Heritage Association, Illa Thompson

Today, King Charles the Third will be formally crowned. The 74-year-old will be crowned in front of 2,200 invited guests from across the political, royal, and celebrity worlds. It is eight months since he ascended to the throne, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September last year. The ceremony will be held at Westminster Abbey in London, the setting for every coronation since 1066 and it will be officiated by the archbishop of Canterbury, the highest Church of England cleric in the country. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC News Correspondent in London, Laura Isherwood... 

Al-Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda has been voted in as the new executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. Gwamanda garnered the majority of the votes, he got 139, followed by the DA's Mpho Phalatse with 68 and ActionSA's Funzi Ngobeni with 59.  The city has been without a mayor for over a week following the resignation of former mayor Thapelo Amad, also of Al-Jama-ah. He resigned a day before a motion of no confidence was to be tabled against him. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  DA Gauteng provincial chairperson, Fred Nel...  

Al-Jama-ah councillor Kabelo Gwamanda has been voted in as the new executive Mayor of the City of Johannesburg. Gwamanda garnered the majority of the votes, he got 139, followed by the DA's Mpho Phalatse with 68 and ActionSA's Funzi Ngobeni with 59.  The city has been without a mayor for over a week following the resignation of former mayor Thapelo Amad, also of Al-Jama-ah. He resigned a day before a motion of no confidence was to be tabled against him. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to leader of Al Jama-ah, Ganief Hendricks...

Sign Language is soon set to become an official language in South Africa. This after the National Assembly, THIS WEEK, passed the Constitutional Eighteenth Amendment Bill, which will make the necessary changes to the Constitution to make room for a 12th official language. The bill still needs to be sent to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence and then sent to President Cyril Ramaphosa to be enacted. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Bruno Druchen, National Director at the Deaf Federation of South Africa - DeafSA 

Tomorrow is Workers Day, a day when worker issues are brought into sharp focus. South Africa's 225 registered trade unions represent approximately three million workers, but changing employment contracts, including outsourcing, informatisation of jobs, and remote working, have led to diminishing membership numbers. In addition to declining membership leading to reduced income for trade unions, the labour movement has also lost the support of international donors that supported trade unions during the struggle for democracy. At the same time, recent studies indicate that workers have lost trust in unions and their officials due to perceptions of "business trade unionism", as some leaders become more concerned with enriching themselves than with their members' daily workplace challenges. Many ordinary workers are now increasingly asking why they should belong to a trade union and pay their subscriptions when they are failed by their union.  Labour experts say trade unions need to urgently embark on a path of revitalisation by listening to the needs of a new generation of workers, embracing technology, and considering new forms of organising and collective action. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Joseph Mathunjwa, President of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union - AMCU - and Phillip Vilakazi, Deputy President of the National Union of Mineworkers - NUM... 

It's a story of capture, massive deception, and devastating human consequences that are still felt today. And despite a litany of evidence of dishonesty, little has been done to bring the perpetrators to book. It's the story of Aurora Empowerment Systems - a black-owned, politically connected business - that in October 2009, made a bid to rescue the liquidated Pamodzi Gold mines. Former President Jacob Zuma's nephew, Khulubuse Zuma, his lawyer Michael Hulley and former President Nelson Mandela's grandson Zondwa Mandela, were listed as directors of Aurora. The company promised to turn the mines into a new business that would offer benefits to workers, while also expanding into Africa. Soon after the acquisition, the first cracks appeared. More than 5 000 workers and suppliers, who depended on their employment to keep themselves and their families alive, went unpaid. Over the next few years, Aurora-managed mines were stripped of assets, as illicit payments went to the families of the "connected", while workers starved. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to Legal journalist Dianne Hawker, author of  How to Steal a Gold Mine: The Aurora Story...

The company at the centre of the storm of KZN's National School Nutrition Programme and its failure to provide food to schools says since the 14th of April 2023, it has continued to deliver food to schools at the agreed collection points of all twelve districts of the province. Despite reports that the contract has been invalidated by the ANC in the province, service provider, Pacina Pty Ltd is claiming that they have not received a single payment in any amount from the province's Education Department and have had to self-fund the Programme from inception to date. In a statement, Pacina also described false reports of the delivery of sub-standard and rotten food to collection points. The IFP is among several organisations that have been demanding the termination of the 2.1 billion rand school feeding scheme tender, a full investigation and for people responsible for the debacle to be held to account. Bongiwe Zwane spoke to IFP KZN Chair, Thamsanqa Ntuli...

The government has insisted that the private visit to South Africa by United Arab Emirates (UAE) President, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his 500-member entourage, is above board and that no immigration or other laws were flouted.  Addressing a media briefing in Pretoria, Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said that government can account for all the people that are part of the entourage that arrived with the UAE leader. The group landed in the Eastern Cape for a 2-week visit, causing a public uproar about compliance with South Africa's immigration laws. Ntshaveni said that the visit is consistent with international diplomatic standards and is lawful. The government's explanation comes days after President Cyril Ramaphosa also sowed confusion about South Africa's relationship with the International Criminal Court (ICC) by announcing its withdrawal, only for his office to retract the statement within a few hours. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Political Analyst, Sandile Swana... 

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, announced that he had instructed the province's Law Enforcement Advancement Plan - LEAP - officers to arrest Russia's President, Vladimir Putin if he should set foot in the province in August. Putin is expected to attend the BRICS Annual Heads of State Summit in Gauteng. This is despite the International Criminal Court (ICC) issuing an arrest warrant for Putin for alleged war crimes committed during Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Winde says the national government has sowed confusion over whether or not they intend to arrest Putin. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to a crime, violence, and security expert from Stellenbosch University, Dr. Guy Lamb......

With the stresses of the economic downturn and financial strain often linked with the inability to meet repayment obligations to creditors, the need for trust within the banking sector has never been more important. More than ever before, there is a general feeling that consumers need banks that they can rely on, banks that are approachable and that are amenable to assist them in times of economic crisis. But what happens if your bank fails to act in line with its undertakings under the Code of Banking Practice? The Ombudsman for Banking Services advises that under the code banks must act fairly, reasonably, and ethically towards their customers. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kwanda Vabaza, Communications Manager at the Ombudsman for Banking Services...

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has advised President Cyril Ramaphosa to suspend two judges including the one presiding over the trial of five men accused of murdering soccer star, Senzo Meyiwa. The Commission says it has received reports from the Judicial Conduct Committee relating to complaints against judges Tshifhiwe Maumela and Nomonde Mngqisa-Thusi about their failure to deliver numerous reserved judgments. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Senior Researcher at Judges Matter, Mbekezeli Benjamin...

As we gear up for Freedom Day, we pay special attention to women who actively participated in the liberation struggle. The recently published book, 'Guerrillas and Combative Mothers' gives a first-hand account of women's participation in the armed struggle against apartheid from 1961 to 1994 and their lives in a democratic South Africa. The author, Professor Siphokazi Magadla, skillfully traces life histories of 40 women who fought with Poqo, the military wing of the PAC; uMkhonto we Sizwe, the military wing of the ANC, and the township-based self-defence units. Prof Magadla is our guest for the Sunday Morning Discussion 

Sudan's capital Khartoum  resembled a ghost town yesterday, in stark contrast to the joyful mood usually seen during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr. After a week of fighting between two factions of the country's military leadership at least 400 people have been killed. Witnesses say bombing, shelling and gunfire continue as a three-day truce called by the United Nations and others has failed to hold. We spoke to Pierre Roussow; a South African trapped in the fighting, he is currently in Khartoum. We also spoke to Professor Anthoni van Nieuwkerk from the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs .

The Nelson Mandela Foundation has welcomed the  judgement by The Supreme Court of Appeal in Bloemfontein that the gratuitous public display of the old South African flag constitutes hate speech, unfair discrimination on the basis of race as well as harassment. This after Afriforum brought the matter before the court last year. The civic organization argued before the SCA that displaying the old South African flag during the 2017 Black Monday protests against farm killings was not planned. It told the SCA that the Equality court order was made without meeting the required threshold to declare the act as hate speech. We spoke to AfriForum's Ernst van Zyl

Eyebrows have been raised following the revelation that prior to his visit, the president of the United Arab Emirates (UAE),  Sheik Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, donated R20-million to the Eastern Cape government to enable it to upgrade the airport where he and his entourage landed. The Sheik and 500 of his guests reportedly landed at the Bulembu Airport for a visit meant to convince citizens of the UAE that the Eastern Cape is a tourist and an investment destination. Questions are now being raised as to how donations from foreign governments are handled and who is accountable for the transaction. Eastern Cape government spokesperson, Khuselwa Rantjie, in an interview with my colleague John Gericke, confirmed that the province received the monetary gift. To help us understand how donations from foreign governments are handled and who is accountable for the transaction, we spoke the Themba Godi, former Chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts - SCOPA

Menstrual Leave is a concept that some employers are now starting to consider.  Spain recently approved legislation entitling relevant workers, who have medical approval, to menstrual leave - becoming the first European country to join the list of a few other countries that legally recognize menstrual leave in some form. The other countries that recognize menstrual leave are Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam).  To look at how this issue is being considered here in South Africa we are spoke to  Leila Moosa, Senior Employment Law Associate at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr..  

This week, ministers and top officials from the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JICS), the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) faced questions from MPs in the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Correctional Services on their investigations into Thabo Bester's escape. As officials scrambled to answer, what emerged was a string of events laced with clear characteristics of gross dereliction of duty, incompetence, corruption and passing the buck. On Friday Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi also provided fascinating insights into Bester's background announcing that although Bester is South African, he was never registered on any official system. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we are looking at how the series of oversights, blunders and errors in this case could expose and put at risk the reputation of South Africa's criminal justice system.  For this conversation we spoke to Specialist Investigator Mike Bolhuis  as well as  Brand and Reputation Expert, Solly Moeng.

The ACDP has dismissed as false and disappointing claims by DA leader John Steeinhuisen that it has rejected to be part of the opposition Moonshot Pact. This follows the DA's calls to form a coalition agreement that would see opposition parties united against the governing party and the EFF ahead of the 2024 national elections. Five other parties have agreed to talks with the DA at a national convention set to be held later in 2023, and they include ActionSA and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP). Steenhuisen yesterday singled out Reverend Kenneth Meshoe from the African Christian Democratic Party, General Bantu Holomisa from the United Democratic Movement, and Bongani Baloyi from Xiluva. As the party leaders that have rejected the plea for cooperation. We spoke to Reverend Kenneth Meshoe, leader of the African Christian Democratic Party - ACDP

As South Africans continue to battle with Stage 6 loadshedding throughout this weekend, Eskom workers affiliated to the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) are demanding a 15% salary increase across the board. The trade union confirmed that it has officially submitted its wage demands to the beleaguered power utility with negotiations set to start next week. Amongst a raft of other demands made by NUM include increases in housing, medical aid and cellphone allowances. We spoke to NUM's Eskom Chief Negotiator, Olehile Kgware…

The future of customer risk profiling shouldn't prioritise exclusion. This is according to Mishaan Ratan, Chief Marketing Officer at Rentoza. Ratan says throughout history, credit checks have been used by the lending sector to understand financial behaviour. However, this method  is said to completely exclude many consumers. Because of the credit check method, many people continue to be denied credit, even though they have the potential to repay their debt. Ratan says "behaviour analysis'' is something we need as an alternative to credit vetting.

Convicted killer and rapist Thabo Bester's lawyers yesterday told the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court that since Bester landed in the country on Thursday he has not eaten anything because he fears being poisoned. The fugitive, who was recaptured in Tanzania and brought back to South Africa, was charged in connection with his escape from G4S-run Mangaung Maximum Security Prison on 3 May 2022. Bester entered the courtroom flanked by heavily-armed police and Department of Correctional Services officials. We spoke to Prof. Jaco Barkhuizen, Head of the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Limpopo.

A European Space Agency satellite blasted off from Earth yesterday on an 8 year journey to the planet Jupiter. The mission, known as the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or JUICE for short, aims to establish whether the Jupiter's moons have the conditions needed to sustain life. There is plausible scientific evidence that these icy worlds - Callisto, Europa and Ganymede - hold oceans of underground liquid water. We spoke to Prof. Mike Kosch, Chief Scientist at the South African National Space Agency - SANSA.  

Is there a real appetite by South Africa to extradite the Gupta brothers and other fugitives from justice?? This is a question that many South Africans are asking after this week's announcement of the failure of the Gupta brothers' extradition process in the United Arab Emirates. However yesterday's announcement of the re-arrest of escaped fugitive Thabo Bester in Tanzania  along with Dr Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national who has been named as Zacharia Alberto, has some what re-ignited the hope that justice may be served. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we  want to examine whether the re-arrest of Thabo Bester improves the chances of other fugitives, like the Gupta brothers, to face justice in South Africa.For this conversation we spoke to Advocate Paul Hoffman, Director at Accoutability Now, as well as  Independent Writer and Researcher, Dr Dale McKinley.

The tussle between President Cyril Ramaphosa and Parliament over the shortlisted candidates and reserve pool names submitted to serve on the SABC board continues and may end up at the Constitutional Court.  The President, who was provided with 12 candidates and an additional three names, questioned the legality of such a move in terms of the Broadcasting Act. This week Parliament's legal advisor, Adv Andile Tetyana, found that President Ramaphosa acted unlawfully when he wrote to Parliament, referring the matter back to the National Assembly. The public broadcaster has been operating without a board of directors for six months now. The President is also facing a challenge from media watchdog, Media Monitoring Africa, who have filed papers in the Constitutional Court to compel the President to appoint a board.  We spoke to William Bird, director at Media Monitoring Africa 

A high level government delegation will depart from South Africa today for Tanzania to bring back rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, his girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana and a Mozambican national who was assisting them. The Mozambican has been named as Zacharia Alberto. The three were arrested in Tanzania on Friday night. Bester and Magudumana have been on the run since his escape became public last month. It had been believed he had died in a fire, at the Mangaung prison in Bloemfontein, but he had escaped in May last year. Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola has confirmed that officials from security company G4S are implicated in the escape of Thabo Bester from prison. We spoke to Professor Kholofelo Rakubu, Acting Head in the Department of Safety and Security Management at the Tshwane University of Technology.

here has been widespread shock and disbelief following the announcement of the failure of the Gupta brothers' extradition process in the United Arab Emirates.   Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola said all necessary diplomatic and legal processes were followed in South Africa's bid to extradite the Guptas but the process was unsuccessful. The ruling took place almost two months ago.  The brothers face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering related to state capture. For their reaction to this development we spoke to Mkhuleko Hlengwa, Spokesperson for the opposition IFP. He is also the Chairman of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts - SCOPA ...

The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) this week revoked former SAA director Yakhe Kwinana's membership following the outcome of her disciplinary hearing.  Kwinana is a former SAA board member who came into the spotlight when she used the "fat cake" analogy at the commission into State Capture  to justify cancelling an 85 million Rand contract and handing it to subsidiary, Air Chefs,  without a tender.The tender was initially awarded to LSG Sky Chefs. Kwinana served as a board member at the national carrier between 2009 and 2016. This is what she said during her testimony to the State Capture commission in November 2020. The SAICA Disciplinary Committee found Kwinana guilty of 13 of the 14 charges against her. According to the committee Kwinana is not a fit and proper individual to be a member of the profession and has been fined six-point-one-million rand for all 13 of her charges.  To explain this decision we spoke to CEO of The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA), Freeman Nomvalo...  

Kwa Zulu Natal province says it is geared to welcome holiday-makers to a fun-filled Easter Weekend. The province experienced a disastrous festive season last year due to the high E-coli levels in some beaches coupled with the effects of the devasting floods that rocked the entire economy of the province, especially Ethekwini. To get a sense of how they are faring this Easter holiday we spoke to Pinky Radebe,Senior Manager of Public Relations and Communications at KZN Tourism.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa this week signed into law the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Amendment Bill, which extends coverage for occupational injuries and diseases to previously excluded vulnerable workers, and improves compensation benefits to employees.The Bill effects a range of amendments to the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act which governs compensation for disablement caused by occupational injuries or diseases sustained or contracted by employees, or for death resulting from injuries or diseases.  The act also now covers other occupations, like domestic workers employed in private households, who were previously excluded. We spoke to Mathew Parks, Cosatu's Parliamentary Coordinator...

The South African government is in a conundrum and it's not yet clear whether it will formally invite Russian President Vladimir Putin who has a warrant of arrest from the International Criminal Court. South Africa will host the leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, and China at the 15th BRICS Summit from August 22 to 24 this year, raising questions about whether or not the government should act if Putin attends. The minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Naledi Pandor this week announced that her Department is awaiting a refreshed legal opinion on extending an invitation to Putin. This comes as there has been widespread condemnation of Russia by Western Nations over its war with Ukraine. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to  Ottilia Maunganidze, Head of Special Projects at the Institute for Security Studies... 

The Department of Correctional Services says it has instituted an investigation into the escape of the so-called Facebook rapist Thabo Bester. The department says the controversial offender, Bester, who was sentenced to a 75-year jail term, did not commit suicide, as earlier reported. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Department of Correctional Services spokesperson, Singabakho Nxumalo...

The United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, THIS WEEK, joined the chorus of condemnation as it slammed the Ugandan anti-homosexuality bill passed on Tuesday which imposes severe punishment for same-sex acts, including labeling some acts as crimes punishable by death while imposing stiff sentences for people identifying as LGBTQI+. The UN and other nations have called on President Yoweri Museveni to reject the bill warning that the legislation runs counter to Uganda's own constitutional provisions stipulating equality and non-discrimination for all. The law punishes people with up to 10 years behind bars for simply identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, or anything other than male or female. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Richard Lusimbo, an LGBTQI activist  from Uganda...

The Western Cape government says in the coming months it will be identifying 4 or 5 towns in the province to be taken off the National grid. Also,100 schools will be identified, to be fitted with solar power systems that are linked to battery and inverter systems. This is part of its energy resilience plan amid rolling Eskom blackouts. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde...

SECTION27, in partnership with the Centre for Child Law, launched an online accountability tool, The Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor, to track progress made by the Limpopo Department of Education to eliminate unsafe and undignified sanitation at public schools throughout the Limpopo province. Section 27 is also calling for the safe installation of decent sanitation facilities. The Michael Komape Sanitation Progress Monitor is named after a five-year-old learner, Michael Komape, who drowned in a pit toilet at his school in Limpopo in 2014. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Pearl Nicodemus, Senior Communications Officer at SECTION 27 

The National Consumer Commission is concerned about the increasing trend where smaller retail and spaza shops across the country are re-packaging edible goods into smaller packets to enable their customers to buy at a cheaper price. While this might look enticing and affordable for most in poorer communities, there are various health and accountability concerns around this practice. This was among other discussions that came out of the World Consumer Rights conference which took place recently. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Prudence Moilwa, Head of Enforcement and Investigations at the National Consumer Commission... 

The International Criminal Court in the Hague on Friday issued an arrest warrant against Russian President Vladimir Putin. It accuses him of being responsible for war crimes in Ukraine, including the unlawful deportation of children. Russia's Commissioner for Children's Rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, is also subject to an arrest warrant. This after the United Nations released a report earlier this week that found Moscow's forced removal of Ukrainian children to areas under its control amounted to a war crime. According to Ukraine, tens of thousands of other possible war crimes have been carried out by Russian forces since they invaded Ukraine in February last year. The Russian government has dismissed the ICC decision as "null and void" and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev compared the warrant to toilet paper.We spoke to  Ras Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs.  

The police have reassured South Africans that they will maintain high visibility during tomorrow's planned national shut down led by the EFF. Other formations that will take to the streets in support of the shutdown include  the South African Federation of Trade Unions - SAFTU - and the Pan Africanist Congress - PAC. The protesters are demanding the resignation of President Cyril Ramaphosa citing the deteriorating socio-economic conditions in the country. There have been fears that the protest could lead to intimidation and incitement of violence, a charge the EFF have denied. We spoke to SAPS' National Spokesperson, Athlenda Mathe.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to embark on a national shutdown tomorrow . The EFF is calling for President Ramaphosa's resignation and to highlight South Africa's socio-economic pressures, including load shedding. The march is expected to be supported by many other organisations and other South African citizens who share the same sentiments. Many other South Africans including business owners are anxious and are wondering how the national shut down will affect them. We spoke to Alan Mukoki, CEO of the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is expected to embark on a national shutdown tomorrow .The EFF is calling for President Ramaphosa's resignation and to highlight South Africa's socio-economic pressures, including load shedding. The march is expected to be supported by many other organisations and other South African citizens who share the same sentiments. Many other South Africans including business owners are anxious and are wondering how the national shut down will affect them. We spoke to the  EFF's Treasurer General, Omphile Maotwe.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  and other organisations are on Monday expected to embark on a national shutdown. This has led to fears that companies and their employees will be severely affected in some way or another by the protest action. But how do employers and workers navigate their rights in such a situation. To help us understand we have on the line Tamsanqa Mila, Senior Associate at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr's employment law practice...

Rescue workers in Malawi are still recovering more bodies following the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Freddy in Malawi which has killed 326 people. Soldiers have joined rescue operations and have been rummaging through debris in search of victims swept by mudslides and floods. The Zambian government has provided two aircraft to help in rescue and distribution of relief aid to victims in areas where many people are still trapped. More than 200 people have been declared missing by the authorities. Aid agencies, who are still battling to access some of the worst affected areas due to damaged roads and infrastructure, are warning that the devastation will exacerbate a cholera outbreak. We spoke to Malawi Gift of the Givers country representative Sherifa Mia.

The capital city is still without a mayor. This after the election of a new Tshwane executive mayor will now be held next week after a special council meeting during which the election was to be held collapsed last night. The DA multi-party coalition members stormed out of the chambers citing their disgruntlement with the speaker's refusal to concede to their demands. For more,We spoke to  the DA's Gauteng leader Solly Msimanga.

President Cyril Ramaphosa says he is pleased that at this early stage -- the country is beginning to see the implementation of measures to reduce load-shedding in the country. He says SA will see a great deal of progress in ensuring that load-shedding is reduced. It's currently on Stage One and has been suspended for Sunday between 5am and 4 pm. Ramaphosa was addressing the media in Pretoria, at the Government Dialogue with the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders.  Energy Expert Chris Yelland says it's too early to celebrate the current electricity supply improvements 

The Defence department has plans to set up a permanent SANDF rapid response unit, which will support the SA Police Service when needed, with a brigade of between 2 000 and 5 000 soldiers. The unit is in response to the public unrest in July 2021 which highlighted the need to strengthen law enforcement agencies, including the SANDF to ensure they are equipped to respond quickly to such incidents. While the idea of a military response unit may appear plausible, concerns have been raised over such a deployment given the brutality unleashed on some communities during the 2020 countrywide army deployment to enforce COVID 19 lockdown regulations. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Brigadier Andries Mahapa, Director of Corporate Communications at the Department of Defence... 

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF)  have dismissed acting Public Protector, Advocate Kholeka Gcaleka's findings that cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing, saying that he appropriately declared interests in his farming businesses. Meanwhile, President Cyril Ramaphosa says he cannot comment yet on the preliminary report by the Public Protector which cleared him of any wrongdoing in connection with the Phala Phala robbery. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to EFF Spokesperson, Sinawo Tambo and Advocate Paul Hoffman a Director at Accountability Now

Former Tshwane Mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela resigned on Friday and was disowned by his party COPE after the Gauteng High Court dispelled information that it issued him with an insolvency rehabilitation certificate in 2018.  Makwarela had submitted the fake certificate, a day before, to city manager Johann Mettler to prove he was not an unrehabilitated insolvent and was eligible to occupy a public office. The city has been forced to concede that it does not have measures in place to verify the authenticity of such documents. This saga has brought into sharp focus the lack of capacity and urgent need to validate and authenticate all personal information of people who are vying for public office at local, provincial, and national levels. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Yunus Chamda, project manager at Action for Accountability and Terry Tselane, Executive Director at the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa

The National Assembly has passed a resolution and approved the National Freedom Party's motion calling for the "downgrading of the South African embassy in Israel until such time Israel respects the rights of Palestinians".  The motion sailed through with 208 voting in favour and 94 against. There were no abstentions. NFP Parliamentary leader Ahmed Shaik-Emam thanked the AIC, ANC, Al Jama ah, EFF, UDM, PAC, and NFP who all voted in favour of the motion. The DA, FF-Plus, IFP, and ACDP voted against the motion. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Alie Komape, Campaigns Officer at Africa4Palestine ... 

Seventeen Lonmin Marikana mine workers accused of murder have managed to put their trial on ice for now. This follows a ruling by the North West High Court sitting in the Mogwase Reginal Court to remove their murder trial from the roll -- pending a review application in the Pretoria High Court to have charges against them dropped. They are charged with seven counts of murder, four of malicious damage to property, four of robbery, three for unlawful possession of firearms, and three for unlawful possession of ammunition. The murders were committed at the time AMCU was leading a strike for higher wages at the Lonmin platinum mine. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to AMCU leader Joseph Matunjwa... 

The City of Tshwane says it has received and accepted the resignation letter from embattled mayor Dr. Murunwa Makwarela. The former mayor's sudden departure came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilitation certificate. He also resigned as a COPE councilor and a member of the party. Makwarela's resignation came after he issued the city with a fraudulent insolvency rehabilitation certificate. A criminal case has been opened against him. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Cope spokesperson Dennis Bloem and the DA leader in Gauteng, Solly Msimang... 

There were intense arguments in the National Assembly Programme Committee THIS WEEK over the delay by President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a new SABC Board. This as National Assembly Speaker and Programme Committee Chairperson Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula revealed that, based on legal asdvise, the 12 names recommended by Parliament to serve on the SABC board were enough for consideration for appointment by the president.  Ramaphosa had earlier sought clarity on 3 additional names that were approved by the Assembly in December last year to serve on the board. ANC Chief Whip, Pemmy Majodina explained that it was common for the legislature to nominate additional candidates to allow immediate replacement if someone on the shortlist was no longer available for appointment.   We spoke to William Bird, Director at Media Monitoring Africa. The media watchdog has hauled the President to the Constitutional Court over the failure to appoint a SABC Board  

South Africans are growing more and more anxious in anticipation of the eminent cabinet reshuffle. Some have even accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of unnecessary delays. After having several meetings with different stakeholders including the ANC and its alliance partners Cosatu and the SACP, Ramaphosa is expected to change his executive any time now, with speculation that it could even be later today. He is also expected to announce the appointment of the new deputy president following David Mabuza's resignation as well as naming the much-awaited Minister of Electricity to push the country out of the power crisis. Ramaphosa announced his plan during the State of the Nation Address and 3 weeks later he has not acted on the urgent appointments. But ofcourse for now it all remains a waiting game. For this Sunday discussion we spoke to Political Analyst Sandile Swana and  ANC Veteran, Dr Mavuso Msimang

Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, this week lashed out at western countries for criticizing Uganda's parliament after it approved a bill that is likely to have a negative impact on the rights of the LGBTQI community. Speaking during his State visit to South Africa on Wednesday, Museveni also defended his country's decision to close the United Nations human rights office saying  they had developed their own capacity to monitor rights compliance. He was adamant that the West cannot dictate to Uganda on how it should handle issues related to culture and religion. That was Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni speaking in Pretoria earlier this week.To get the perspective of the affected community we spoke to Richard Lusimbo, Director General at Uganda Key Populations Consortium and LGBTQI and Human Rights activist.

Government says the recently published national state of disaster regulations relating to the electricity crisis are aimed at minimising the impact of loadshedding on livelihoods, the economy, small businesses, policing functions, and health services, among others.  The regulations were published this week, more than two weeks after President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the electricity crisis a national state of disaster during his state of the nation address.  At a media briefing in Pretoria YESTERDAY, various ministers gave some details of how and in which areas the regulations will be applied in their respective departments.We spoke to Independent Political Economist, Dr Dale McKinely

Another case of cholera has been confirmed in Gauteng, bringing to six the number of laboratory confirmed cases in the country. The latest case is that of a 19-year-old woman from Emandleni informal settlement in Benoni east of Johannesburg. The patient was identified by the Outbreak Response Team during contact tracing where over a thousand people were reached. This follows the death of a 24-year-old Benoni man with no travel history last week. The health department says while there is no need for the public to panic, it is concerned about the rising number of cases. For more we are joined on the line by Gauteng Health Spokesperson Motalatale Modiba...

Education is the key to a great future, but, like all good things, it comes at a steep price tag.  For many graduates, this means shouldering part of the national R16.5 billion student debt and starting a working life with this financial burden. John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual says graduates must have knowledge of better managing student loans so that they are not held hostage by student debt. 

Another cabinet member, Gwede Mantashe, this week added his voice in challenging former Group Executive of Eskom, Andre de Ruyter, to name the minister he alleged is involved in corruption at the power utility.  Earlier this week, De Ruyter made startling revelations during a television interview relating to entrenched corruption at Eskom implicating the ANC. Appearing before Parliament's Portfolio Committee to discuss matters around the Independent Power Procurement Programme -- the Mineral Resources and Energy minister called on de Ruyter to name the ministers he was referring to. Meanwhile, South Africa's energy crisis continues with constant and long rolling blackouts, disruption of daily life and this week's sudden and acrimonious resignation of Eskom's Chief Executive Officer, Andre de Ruyter, added another layer of instability. President Ramaphosa recently placed the country under  a "state of disaster"  due to the energy problems with a minister of electricity yet to be appointed. Now questions remain: Has South Africa reached the ultimate energy crisis level? Have we arrived at the worst or can we sink even deeper? Can there be a successful turnaround at Eskom following the appointment of an acting CEO? For this Sunday Morning discussion we are joined by Professor Sampson Mamphweli who is the Head of the Energy Secretariat at the South African National Energy Development Institute,SANEDI, as well as  Khustaz Mtwentwe who is the spokesperson for civil society organization "Stand Up SA"  

 Vote counting is under way in Nigeria's tightest presidential election since military rule ended in 1999. Saturday's voting was marred by long delays at polling stations, as well as scattered reports of ballot box snatching and attacks by armed men. And some parties have raised alarm over allegations of irregularities, which could lead to a disputed outcome. Tens of thousands of polling stations are counting the results, which will be collated and sent to the electoral headquarters in the capital, We spoke to Lenny Taaba from the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa - EISA.

The Judicial Conduct Tribunal into former PRASA interim board chairperson, Judge Tintswalo Nana Makhubele's conduct has been adjourned until May. Makhubele is accused of breaching the separation of powers principle by serving as a judge of the High Court while being chairperson of Prasa. Civil society organisation #UniteBehind lodged a complaint with the Judicial Service Commission three years ago, accusing Makhubele of gross judicial misconduct following her controversial term at Prasa. The Tribunal had earlier set aside three days to hear the complaint. We spoke to Mbekezeli Benjamin, Research and Advocacy Officer at Judges Matter, a civil society project that monitors the judiciary in South Africa.

Voters in Africa's biggest economy and most populous country, Nigeria, head to the polls this morning to elect a new president and lawmakers, in what is set to be a close contest amid rising frustration over cash and fuel shortages, unprecedented insecurity and surging inflation. President Muhammadu Buhari, who will complete his constitutionally allowed two terms in May, is not on the ballot. Voters will also choose new senators and members for the House of Representatives. Governorship races follow on March 11. A total of 18 candidates are vying for the presidency. We spoke to Prof Chris Isike, a Nigeria expert from the University of Pretoria.

Global financial crime watchdog the  Financial Action Task Force - FATF  has added South Africa to its grey list group of countries under special scrutiny to implement standards to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing. Being added to the grey list is a reputational knock for the country, which has been trying to address shortcomings identified by the FATF. Critics say the government left it too late to start addressing the FATF requirements. Analysts say the grey listing  means SA clients at international financial institutions will be subject to enhanced due diligence checks. It also complicates SA's attempts to access funding and support from multilateral development institutions and official lenders. We spoke to Prof. Jannie Roussouw from Wits Business School   

Ceremonies took place across Ukraine yesterday to mark the first anniversary of the Russia's invasion. President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a message of defiance to his people vowing Ukraine will do everything to win the war while NATO leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine. On 24 February 2022, Vladimir Putin sent troops into Ukraine, hoping to take over the country in a matter of days. The conflict has become the worst in Europe since World War Two with military officials estimating casualties on both sides at more than 100,000 killed or wounded. We spoke to Denys Reva, a Security  Researcher  with the Institute for Security Studies.  

President Cyril Ramaphosa is anytime now expected to unveil his new cabinet that will drive and fulfill the agenda he set out in Thursday's State of the Nation Address. The speech centered on finding solutions for key issues facing South Africans, among them the load-shedding crisis, reducing unemployment, poverty, and the rising cost of living as well as combating crime and corruption. He announced that he would expand his Cabinet by appointing a minister of electricity to the Presidency to take full responsibility for overseeing all aspects of the electricity crisis response, including the work of the National Energy Crisis Committee. The President has been under pressure to reconfigure his Executive amid the growing challenges in South Africa.  It remains unclear when and how he will reconfigure and announce a new cabinet as Ramaphosa is playing his cards close to his chest. When he was asked by reporters on Friday he only said the matter is still being processed. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr. Pali Lehohla, Director of the Economic Modelling Academy and former Statistician-General of South Africa, and Chris Hattingh Head of Policy Analysis at the Centre for Risk Analysis ......   

The EFF has threatened to take National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula to the Constitutional Court for allowing armed police into the chamber of parliament at the Cape Town City Hall, where President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his State of the Nation Address. EFF President Julius Malema says Mapisa-Nqakula's actions were unconstitutional. At a media briefing in Parliament, Malema said only Parliament's protection services are allowed to remove members. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Angelo Fick, Director of Research at Auwal Socio-economic Research Institute....   

The Credit Ombud says couples should carefully plan for their expenses on Valentine's Day. The ombud also warns that couples should not use credit to enjoy the lovers' day. Among tips that money-savvy and creative couples could consider are making their own gifts, cooking together at home rather than going out, and offering a bouquet of flowers from their own garden. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Credit Ombud's spokesperson, Kabelo Teme... 

Police have opened two murder cases after a famous South African Rapper, Kiernan 'AKA' Forbes, and another person was shot dead outside a restaurant in Durban, last night.  According to reports,  the rapper and his bodyguard were leaving Wish' restaurant on Florida road when two men on foot fired shots at them.  Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kwazulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda...

Today marks exactly seven years since the 2016 tragedy of the collapse of the Lily Mine container that trapped 3 workers, Yvonne Mnisi, Pretty Nkambule and Solomon Nyirenda. THIS MORNING prayer sessions and a site visit to the mine will be conducted as part of commemorations of the disaster. Labour unions and some political parties have been working over the years trying to assist the families of the workers to find answers and closure to the tragic event. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Harry Mazibuko, who speaks on behalf of the 3 affected families, Joseph Matunjwa, president of the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union - AMCU - and Herman Mashaba, the leader of ActionSA...

Pope Francis is today winding up his visit to Africa and is expected to celebrate Mass in Juba, South Sudan, before flying back to Rome. The pope's visit to South Sudan is aimed in part at shoring up a 2018 peace deal that has reduced violence and stopped a return to full-scale war in the country. Before his arrival in Juba on Friday, Pope Francis was in the Democratic Republic of Congo from Tuesday. He is accompanied by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, and the Church of Scotland Moderator, Iain Greenshields, in what has been dubbed an unprecedented joint "pilgrimage of peace" by the three Christian leaders. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Father Rigobert, a Catholic Jesuit from Kinshasa who was among those who received the Pope in the DRC...

The ANC yesterday announced that it will seek leave to appeal the court ruling ordering it to hand over its cadre deployment records to the opposition DA. Last week lawyers for the DA argued that the ANC's deployment policy was unconstitutional and the court should declare it invalid as it is the root cause of problems in the delivery of basic services including electricity. But the ANC said the committee's recommendations relating to public service and SOE positions were not binding on government ministers, premiers or mayors. The court gave the ANC five days in which to provide the opposition party with the records which include committee meeting minutes, WhatsApp conversations, email threads and CVs. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Political analyst Sandile Swana

The highly contentious South African Tourism deal with English Premier League football club, Tottenham Hotspur deepens as 3 board members have reportedly resigned. Board members, Enver Duminy, Ravi Nadasen and Rosemary Anderson have tendered their resignation from the board of South African Tourism, effective immediately. Resulting of a difference of opinion, Nadasen and Duminy's resignation and Anderson's resignation were tendered to Tourism Minister Lindiwe Sisulu and South African Tourism Board Chair Dr Aubrey Mhlongo.This as South African Tourism on Thursday defended its proposed three-year sponsorship deal with English Premier League football club Tottenham Hotspur worth nearly R1bn rands. SA Tourism acting CEO Themba Khumalo said the proposed deal is aimed at attracting tourists to boost economic recovery and would yield 88 billion rands in international spending on the local economy. The deal has been severely criticised by several political parties and organisations. President Cyril Ramaphosa has described it as unjustified. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Marketing Strategist, Clive Simpkins 

Residents in several parts of Joburg and Tshwane were this week grappling with water outages. This was after Rand Water confirmed that there were problems with water supply to municipalities because of technical issues with the system caused by load shedding. Many residents complained that there was no notice or communication from authorities on what the problem is and when they could expect the problem to be resolved. The water crisis reached a boiling point on Wednesday when residents of Soshanguve, northeast of Pretoria, took to the streets and blockaded roads over the water shortages. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Rand Water spokesperson, Makenosi Marro

With load shedding not going anywhere anytime soon, consumers' continuous 'powerless' struggles are set to persist for the foreseeable future. Although load shedding is seen as an "uninsurable" risk under insurance policies, its effects of it can still be covered. A question that many consumers ask is if insurance policies will cover breakage or theft due to load shedding. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Andrew Kruger,  Head of Business Analytics at  BetterSure Financial Consultants...    

While government health-care facilities across the country are operating on skeleton staff negatively impacting the quality of medical care provided to patients, many qualified medical doctors continue to sit at home without work. It is this untenable situation that led the South African Medical Association Trade Union - SAMATU -  to the streets on Thursday as they marched in four provinces to bring attention to the plight of unemployed doctors.For this conversation we are joined on the line by Dr Nkateko Mnisi, 1st Deputy President of Samatu, Dr Ntokozo Maphanga, an unemployed medical doctor AND Percy Mahlati,  Deputy Director General at the  National Department of Health ......  

With the recent release of the class of 2022 matric results, many matriculants who have achieved their desired results will be looking to enter the higher education stage of their academic careers by registering at various universities and colleges. While those who feel they did not perform to their expectations will be looking at many other options that offer them a successful second chance. However it is widely known that the matric year is very stressful for many learners. While some learners feel that they are ready to tackle higher education immediately after matric, there are students who may need a break from the anxiety of studying through what is known as a gap year. A year that is used for introspection, recuperating and planning ahead in order to make informed decisions about life which are rushed. However the phenomenon of a gap year continues to receive mixed reactions. For this conversation we are joined on the line by Ndumiso Ngcobo, Author, Sunday Times columnist and radio presenter.

The ANC, Patriotic Alliance and Minority Parties coalition in the City of Johannesburg will strengthen, rather than destabilise the local authority. This is according to  ANC Gauteng Chairperson Panyaza Lesufi while briefing the media alongside the coalition partners and the newly elected executive mayor of the City of Johannesburg Thapelo Amad. We spoke to the newly elected Mayor of the City of Johannesburg, Thapelo Amad and Lindokuhle Vellem, Research and Advocacy Analyst at the Public Service Accountability Monitor.

If you have debt, your repayment amount has just gone higher. This comes after the Reserve Bank on Thursday hiked the repo rate by 25 basis points taking the new base interest rate to 7.25%. This means the prime lending rate -- the rate that banks charge when clients borrow money is now at 10-point 7-5%. Experts are warning that homeowners are likely to feel the pinch from the latest increase in the interest rate. Other economists say the effects of the rate increase on car financing would even be steeper. This has led to concerns that there may be a spike in home and car repossessions as consumers fail to meet their monthly payments. Let's now seek some advice from the National Credit Regulator for some of us who are struggling and suffocating to meet their financial obligations. We spoke to Jimmy Golele, Senior Education and Communications Office rat the National Credit Regulator.

Russia launched a wave of missiles on Ukraine on Thursday, a day after Germany and the United States pledged tanks to aid Kyiv's fight against the invasion. Eleven people died after 35 buildings were struck across several regions. The strikes also damaged two energy facilities.The barrage came as Russia said it perceived the new offer of military support as direct Western involvement in the conflict. We spoke to Denys Reva, Security  Researcher with the Institute for Security Studies.

 Diverse cultures in Matatiele near the border between the Eastern Cape in South Africa and Lesotho are still unified by an initiation ritual for young girls. Different ethnic groups that include the amaHlubi, amaXhosa and baSotho take their young girls for Female Circumcision. Fourteen girls from kwaSibi village in Matatiele were welcomed back after undergoing this rite of passage. However, views on this ritual differ. Some believe it to be a form of preserving indigenous cultures, while others view it as an extreme violation of human rights. Nkululeko Nyembezi reports... We also spoke to Nkosikazi Nosandi Mhlauli The Chief of AmaHlubi Traditional Council in Peddie Eastern Eastern Cape, and Organiser of Imbumba Yamakhosikazi Akomkhulu (IYA) and  CEO of the Commision for Gender Equality;Phelisa Nkomo.  

Finally, the much-anticipated 2022 matric results are out. Learners who were anxiously waiting for their results can now focus on the next big step of their lives as many of them enter the various universities around the country. And that presents a new set of problems including confirmation of registration, registration fees and securing funding from NSFAS. We now look at what's in store for learners as they apply for higher education and for this conversation we spoke to Dr Phethiwe Matutu, Chief Executive Officer of Universities South Africa...

The Agricultural Food and Allied Democratic Workers Union - AFADWU - says it is deeply disturbed by the death of 7 farmworkers  who succumbed to heat stroke while working on a farm in Kakamas in the Northern Cape. Temperatures in the Lower Orange region peaked at over 40-degrees celcius over the past few weeks, and it keeps on soaring. It's also harvest time for table grape farmers and farmworkers are working during the extreme weather conditions. AFADWU is now calling on farmers to be sensitive to the extreme heat and protect their workers.  We spoke to the union's NC and FS Provincial Secretary, Thulani Klaas. 

In light of the ongoing continuous bouts of disruptive load-shedding and the recently announced 18.6% tariff hike for electricity, two civil society organisations have launched a legal case to force government to develop an inclusive energy plan to deal with the crisis. The Green Connection and the Southern African Faith Communities' Environment Institute - SAFCEI - have initiated a legal challenge against President Cyril Ramaphosa to force him to bring Section 6 of the National Energy Act into operation. The organisations argue that the lack of a proper updated energy plan lies at the root of the country's current energy problems. We spoke to Executive Director at SAFCEI, Francesca de Gasparis.  

Do you sometimes sign contracts or buy products without fully understanding the language on the terms and conditions or the packaging. The Consumer Protection Act - CPA - makes it illegal for companies and institutions to use ambiguous wording and vague language usually associated with some contracts and professional literature. The Act compels them to use plain language for labels, inserts, packaging and contracts, particularly when it comes to marketing.  Since 2008, the CPA has become an important part of South African law and has protected many South Africans. We spoke to Mishka Singh, Lecturer at The Management College of Southern Africa - MANCOSA - and Admitted Attorney 

Inland schools in South Africa started their 2023 academic year this week with some provinces like Gauteng facing a serious problem of learner placements.  Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga has pleaded with parents of learners who have not yet been allocated places at schools, to give them at least ten days in which to address the problem. Motshekga says parents' preferences for certain schools over others, has led to some learners not being placed. Parents visited district offices hoping to find suitable schools for their children. Meanwhile South Africa continues to face many other educational challenges including a shortage of teachers, poor infrastructure, failure to establish new government schools in recent decades and many more. We spoke to Paul Esterhuizen, CEO of School Days.   

The National Energy Regulator of South Africa-Nersa has given Eskom a go ahead to increase tarrifs by 18-point-65 percent. The increases will be effective from the first of April this year. The National Energy Regulator of South AFrica - NERSA - said the decision to increase tariffs was a tough one given the financial constrains consumers are facing. Businesses across the country are severely affected by the rolling blackouts especially small business owners who are struggling to keep their entities afloat. Some businesses have been forced to permanently shut down as they could not absorb the additional costs, leading to further job losses. As things stand South Africans are being forced to make trade-offs between their food security and energy needs. For our Sunday Morning Discussion we spoke to Hilton Trollip, a Research Fellow from the Global Risk Governance Programme at the University of Cape Town (UCT) AND we are also joined by a frustrated small business owner Tumi Matjie who has had ENOUGH with load-shedding as it is affecting her ability to run a successful enterprise

South African citizens and businesses have raised concern after NERSA granted Eskom an 18.65 % tariff hike. Organised businesses say the latest tariff hike will cripple the economy and lead to more job losses. Economists have further warned that the price hike on the back of stage six load shedding will be the end for many small businesses.  

January is one of the most stressful months of the year from a financial perspective. There are roughly six weeks between an early December salary payment and January month end. Within that period, many people spend more on gifts, travel, entertainment and ride-hailing than at any other time of the year - and frequently pay with credit. January brings not only the regular monthly bills, but, for parents of school- or university-going children, fees, uniforms and textbooks are added to the list. Shafeeka Anthony is Marketing Manager of JustMoney.co.za, a site that helps educate South Africans to better manage their money

Gauteng motorists who have been paying their e-tolls will be refunded. Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi says a decision still has to be taken on what form the refunds will take - for example, in cash or as credit for future use of other toll roads. The e-toll system was due to be scrapped on 31 December 2022 but has been delayed. Now R6.9 billion has to be found to refund Gauteng motorists who had subscribed and paid for Gauteng E tolls. For this discussion, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Wayne Duvenage CEO of The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA), AND Fred Nel-Gauteng Shadow MEC of Transport and road infrastructure...

Having finally concluded its reconvened 55th national conference this week.  The ANC is today hosting its January 8 birthday celebrations. The celebrations are taking place at the Petrus Molemela Stadium in Mangaung, Free State, to mark its 111th anniversary since its formation in 1912. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to our Political Editor Mzwandile Mbeje and Political Analyst, Sanusha Naidu.

High traffic volumes are expected towards Gauteng this weekend. This is as the holiday season draws to a close and holidaymakers make their way back to Gauteng Province to resume work. Inland schools are expected to re-open on Wednesday the 11th. For an update on what is currently happening on Johannesburg roads Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to JMPD spokesperson ; Xolani Fihla

Kaizer Chiefs want to celebrate their 53rd birthday fully by defeating Sekhukhune United. The 2 teams will meet at the DStv Premiership match at the FNB Stadium this evening. Today Kaizer Chiefs will start with an exciting itinerary of birthday celebrations to mark the team's 53rd Birthday. Kaizer Chiefs has also slashed the ticket price for tonight's game in order to allow as many of their fans to celebrate with them, R30 for open stand seats instead of R60, and there are similar discounts for hospitality packages. For more on the birthday celebrations, Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Vina Maphosa,  A representative of  Kaizer Chiefs

While South Africans are known to be battling with saving and investing it doesn't need to be that way for our children. There is an App called FRANC that helps South Africans save, invest and learn about investments, and assists to teach their children to do better. To talk to us about the app, Franc and how we can save and invest Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to the founder and CEO, Dr. Thomas Brennan

It is reported that two-thirds of people have or will still set goals for the new year; 2023. However, the question remains, how many have reached those goals come to the end of the year? How important is it for one to have goals for the year and what is the importance of setting goals? To discuss this further Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Devan Moonsamy, CEO of ICHAF Training Institute, a South African Corporate Training Provider & National Learning Institute...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has again given the assurance that government is working to resolve the electricity crisis in the country. He was delivering his New Year's Address to the Nation, from his official residence at Genadendal in Cape Town. The president also touched on other challenges the country is confronted with. 

As the court battles between President Cyril Ramaphosa and his predecessor, former president, Jacob Zuma play themselves out, The Weekend View looks at the impact of public spat between the two statesman and whether it inspitres confidence in the leadership of the country. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to political Analyst, Professor Bheki Mngomezulu; ANC veteran, Dr. Mavuso Msimang and brand reputation management advisor and MD of strategic corporate communications consultancy DonValley, Solly Moeng.

Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla says it is devastating that the death toll in the Christmas Eve gas truck explosion in Boksburg has now risen 34. He was speaking to SABC NEWS on the side-lines of the memorial service for the victims of the truck explosion held at the Boksburg Civic centre on Gauteng's Eastrand.  According to the Health Department 11 health care workers and 23 members of the public are now confirmed dead from this tragedy.  A truck carrying liquified petroleum gas exploded after it got stuck under a low bridge it was trying to pass under. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to president of Truckers Association of South Africa, Mary Phadi.

 As holiday makers continue to enjoy the last leg of this year's festive season, homeowners have been advised to ensure that the insurance policies are up-to-date and their affairs are in order, in case of an emergency. Thieves often target homes during this time as Stats SA estimates that 5.4% of all households experienced housebreaking over the 2021/22 financial year. Unless the homeowner is adequately insured, housebreakings and other disasters could add to one's troubles. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to founder and CEO of Tuelo financial services, Tefo Vilakazi on what homeowners can expect when making insurance claims.

COSATU weighs in on the ANC Conference's unfolding proceedings

Day 3 of ANC Conference with SABC Political  reporter Samkele Maseko 

Political Analyst Angelo Fick on  the ANC Conference day 3

SACP weighs in on the ANC conference 

Sabotage of Eskom stations is a deliberate money-generating scam by some. This is according to Calvin Rafadi.

City Power explains why Nasrec is exempt from load-shedding this weekend

ANC Elective Conference: Expectations of day 2; nominations

ANC Elective Conference: Economy and Zuma bid for private prosecution

ANC Elective Conference: Gender and Enegry issues on the spotlight

ANC Elective conference: Delays and International relations

The current energy crisis in South Africa has been described as one of the worst and may be here to stay for quite a while. The country was plunged into stage 6 load shedding last Tuesday ahead of the planned outage of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station's Unit 1. The outage at Koeberg - initially planned for last Thursday (8 December) - was pushed back to THIS WEEKEND to give Eskom breathing room to try and stabilise its grid. The outage, which takes almost 1,000MW of energy off the grid,  will be for a duration of approximately six months to allow repair and refurbishment work at Africa's only nuclear power plant.  Some experts have however warned that taking the Koeberg unit offline will result in even higher stages of rolling blackouts as Medupi and Kusile, the country's newer power plants, often have technical faults. In our Sunday Morning Discussion we look at this precarious power supply situation and we spoke to Energy Advisor at The Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) Liz McDaid AND Professor Sampson Mamphweli, Energy expert from Stellenbosch University

Rise Mzansi, is a new political movement that has been established after months of conversations between activists led by the Rivonia Circle, a political think tank. It comes after a year in which the Rivonia Circle says it has taken a critical look at South Africa's democracy and, after careful consideration, identified what needs to be done to rescue it.  Songezo Zibi, the chairperson of the Rivonia Circle and convener of Rise Mzansi says part of that solution is for an independent ethical civil society movement that will contest for political power at the ballot box in 2024. We spoke to Songezo Zibi, the chairperson of the Rivonia Circle and convener of Rise Mzansi

The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA this week put their differences aside and are again preparing to join forces ahead of the 2024 provincial and national elections. The leaders of both parties held bilateral talks in Johannesburg on Thursday to discuss how to topple the ANC in the next elections. DA leader John Steenhuisen and ActionSA president Herman Mashaba agreed to let bygones be bygones and have committed to better collaboration following instability in Gauteng metros. The two parties have previously clashed over priorities and direction of their coalitions leading to squabbles that have compromised service delivery in Johannesburg, Tshwane and Ekurhuleni metros. We spoke to ActionSA president Herman Mashaba

There has been mixed reactions following this month's re-opening of some eThekwini beaches in Kwa Zulu Natal that had been closed due to high e-coli levels. eThekwini Mayor Mxolisi Kaunda and his team excitedly recently opened beaches that had faced environmental challenges. Kaunda and his team even went for a swim at the North and uMhlanga beaches to show the public that the water was safe. However further tests after that swim revealed that e-coli levels had spiked again after heavy rains. Meanwhile, some opposition parties in eThekwini municipality are accusing the city of putting people's lives at risk by declaring that some beaches north of the city are safe. Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters in KZN have also been picketing against what they say has been the premature re-opening of some beaches in Durban. Durban North DA Councillor Nicole Bollman believes the opening of the beaches has been premature

The festive season is upon us. Holiday makers are gearing up and children being sent to various provinces to visit relatives and we will all be sharing the roads. Driving is not only about having a vehicle which is in safe condition, but also about having a positive attitude behind the wheel. Motorists need to ensure that our long distance trips are safe and merry and our loved ones arrive safely at their destinations. Our vehicles need to be roadworthy and the drivers need to be vigilant, sharp and aware and most importantly considerate of other motorists. With our country's annual high rate of crashes and fatalities, it's everyone's responsibility to ensure they play their part in making our roads safe. We spoke to Johannesburg metro Police Department's (JMPD) spokesperson Xolani Fihla Xolani Fihla.  

Each year in South Africa, when universities begin new academic calendars, the issue of student funding dominates the national debate as more challenges arise. Among the affected group of students facing financial 'exclusion' is the 'Missing Middle', whose families or guardians neither fall within the income threshold that qualifies for government funding nor can they afford to pay tuition fees. To assist these students, the University of Johannesburg (UJ) has launched the Double our Future Impact, a campaign to assist as many as 10 000 students with their 2023 registration fees. We spoke to UJ's Vice-Chancellor Designate, Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi 

Do not pay or negotiate with kidnappers. This is a plea from Western Cape safety officials who fear that paying ransoms interferes with their ability to investigate and return victims safely to their loved ones. South Africa is witnessing a spike in kidnappings with mostly foreign nationals and, or business people or their relatives being targeted for a quick buck. Western Cape officials say statistics show that Milnerton, Mitchells Plain and Gugulethu are leading the pack in cracking down on abductions.  We spoke to MEC for community safety in the Western cape, Reagan Allen,

The ANC NEC meeting which got off to a false start on Friday and was then re-scheduled for today has again been cancelled and is now expected to take place tomorrow; Monday. The ANC now says the National Working Committee will instead be meeting Today (Sunday) to discuss the Phala Phala  report. The working committee will then pass on its recommendations to the NEC for deliberation in Nasrec on Monday. The outcome of tomorrow's meeting is expected to guide the ANC caucus in Parliament when the report comes up for debate in the National Assembly. Opposition parties want the vote to be by secret ballot as they fear ANC MPs will want to shield their leader. The debate will be just 10 days before the ANC's elective conference is set to begin. To discuss the ramifications of all these scenarios We spoke to United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader, General Bantu Holomisa, ANC Stalwart,  Dr Mavuso Msimang and Professor Zwelinzima Ndevu, Director of the School of Public Leadership at Stellenbosch University

The business end of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar starts TODAY as the tournament enters its knockout stages. Despite the uncertainty around a winter World Cup and quetions around the host nation and human rights and LGBTQ+ issues, it has been an entertaining one on the pitch thus far. The first teams to play in the round of 16 later TODAY are the Netherlands and USA who play at 5 pm SA time followed by Argentina and Australia, who battle it out at 9 pm SA time. TOMORROW - Sunday-  France will face off with Poland  at 5pm and England clash with Senegal at 9 pm . We spoke to SAFM Sports anchor, Janet Whitton, 

Friday's  ANC NEC meeting at NASREC, south of Johannesburg, that was discussing the future of party President Cyril Ramaphosa was adjourned soon after sitting.  The meeting was expected to discuss the report on Phala Phala saga. The meeting will re-convene tomorrow ( Sunday). Our Senior political reporter Ntebo Mokobo, was at NASREC. We also spoke  Sizophila Mkhize; National Spokesperson for the ANC Youth League Task Team and David Ansara, Executive Director at the Centre for Risk Ananlysis  

The world has been on a significant interest rate hike cycle in the last year and it doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon. South Africa has experienced six interest rate hikes in 2022 alone, with the last one hitting us by 75 basis points on the 24th of November. As a result, consumers view credit as the only option when it comes to purchasing  some big items, and this leaves them trapped in a never-ending debt cycle.  However,  there is apparently another solution to mitigate all this; Subscription. Subscription pricing does not change regardless of interest rate hikes or global conditions. To explain how this works, we spoke to Mishaan Ratan, Co-founder of the on-demand subscription platform, Rentoza.

South African Crime Statistics released by Minister Bheki Cele this week, reveal a concerning spike in violent crimes. Cele says the figures showed that aggression and violence were at worrying levels in the country.  Some opposition parties have renewed the call for the return of the death penalty to deal with violent crimes.  The African Transformation Movement (ATM) is one political party asking for the reintroduction of the death penalty. ATM president Vuyo Zungula has already written to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to invoke his powers in terms of Section 84 of the Constitution to introduce a referendum on the death penalty. We spoke to Dr. Sibusiso Mncwabe, ATM National Spokesperson joins us on the line and Robert Shivambu who is the spokesperson of Amnesty International (South Africa). 

On Thursday Eskom downgraded load shedding to stage 2 during the nights through this weekend courtesy of new diesel reserves making it to the power utility. Eskom received the major lifeline from PetroSA in the form of 50 million litres of diesel to keep its open-cycle gas turbines running. The turbines are meant to be run only during peak energy demand periods when the normal coal stations cannot handle the surplus. Some experts say as Eskom itself is in a financial bind, the latest diesel delivery means PetroSA is essentially now supplying diesel to Eskom on a credit basis.  We spoke to Energy expert, Prof. Mark Swilling from Stellenbosch University   

Yesterday marked the beginning of 16 Days of Activism of Activism for no Violence Against Women and Children. The annual campaign puts the spotlight on issues of femicide and gender-based violence that affect both women and children. It runs from the 25th of November to 10th December 2022. Despite the noble intentions of the campaign, over the years, South Africa has witnessed ever increasing levels of violence against women, girls, children, people with disabilities, elderly women, the LGBTQIA+ community and sex workers. Some of the most horrific violence against women and children has been committed during the course of the 16 days of the campaign. We spoke to SANAC Men's Sector Secretary General Dr. Mbulelo Dyasi 

The Life Esidimeni Family Committee will today host a healing session in Johannesburg for all bereaved family members to support each other and remember their loved ones. Many of the families have not been able to meet during COVID, so this is the first gathering in years. The Life Esidimeni tragedy involved the deaths of 144 people at psychiatric facilities in  Gauteng from causes including starvation and neglect.The Pretoria High Court is currently holding an inquest probing criminal liability for the deaths of the mentally-ill patients following their removal from Life Esidemeni to ill equipped and unlicensed NGOs in 2016.  Christine Nxumalo is a member of the Esidimeni Bereaved Families Committee 

Government this week put out a notice urging all dog owners who no longer wish to keep their animals to take them to their local SPCA, animal welfare shelter, or private veterinarian. This as the debate on whether pitbulls should be banned continues to gain momentum as more children are getting mauled to death by the dogs. In the most recent case, a one-year-old child was on Wednesday mauled to death in a pit bull attack in the Eastern Cape, bringing the total of such attacks across the country to three in less than one week and at least five incidents in November. Keshvi Nair is Public Relations Officer for the National Council of SPCAs 

It is important to keep close track of your finances during the festive season.  With the Black Friday shopping frenzy in full swing, a lot can go wrong in a short space of time during the festive season hype. It may lead to tougher months ahead. South Africans have been complaining about the rising cost of living, interest rates, fuel and food prices. Naledi Totana, Compliance Officer at National Debt Advisors (NDA) joins us  to tip us how to make your rand stretch further this festive season...

The Technolife Wise Foundation recently launched the "Active Digital Wellness" initiative in collaboration with the Roosevelt High School in Johannesburg. The goal of the programme is to encourage parents to say yes to wait till Grade 8 or the age of 14 before giving children access to the internet and social media via a smartphone.  Dr Marlena Kruger, digital wellness coach and founder of the Technolife Wise Foundation,  says Roosevelt High School has had a no cell phone policy during school hours since 2016 and the outcomes have been an eye-opener: They have seen a decrease in, amongst others, cyber bullying, and an increase in academic performance and children's social development. 

As heavy fighting between government forces and the M23 rebels escalated in Eastern DRC this week, attempts to restore peace will resume tomorrow in Kenya's capital, Nairobi. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the facilitator of the East African Community-led talks, visited Goma after talks in the Congolese  capital Kinshasa on Monday. He also spoke to Rwandan leader Paul Kagame on the need for M23 rebels to cease fire and withdraw from captured territories. The United Nations has reported that the latest fighting has so far displaced over 200 000 people. To discuss this we are joined on the line by Ras Advocate Sipho Mantula, Researcher at the Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International Affairs 

The Sports for Social Change Network Africa (SSCNA) has officially launched the inaugural SSCN Africa Awards set to be held this Wednesday, 23rd November, here at the SABC in Johannesburg. The awards are aimed at celebrating the achievements of individuals and organisations who have made strides toward positive social impact throughout Africa. Under the theme 'Leading like Mandela', the awards ceremony will honour the achievements of various social role players across the continent through sports. We spoke to Allan Williams, Network Director at the Sports for Social Change Network Africa.

The opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will take place in Doha today, ahead of the opening Group A match between hosts Qatar and Ecuador at 6pm SA time. The opening ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4pm SA time. Although South Africa failed to qualify for the tournament, local soccer fans will join millions others around the world for the month long football festival. The final will take place a week before Christmas on Sunday 18th December. Controversies that have dogged the tournament and the host nation, like the ban of beer sales at stadiums, the welfare of migrant workers and the rights of the LGBTQi community, have somewhat dampened the cheery spirit.   FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has accused the World Cup critics of hypocrisy during a news conference on the eve of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Infantino's comments came a day before the World Cup begins, in a country which has been criticised over a range of issues since it was named as host of the tournament, 12 years ago, including allegations of human rights violations and treatment of migrant workers. We spoke to Janet Whitton - SAFM Sports Anchor, Mathews Mpete - Daily Sun Sports Editor and Simphiwe Dludlu - Coach of SA's Under 17 Women's National Football Team

The American space agency - NASA - this week launched its most powerful ever rocket when it blasted off on its test flight on Wednesday, bringing closer it's ambition of putting astronauts back on the surface of the moon for the first time in 50 years. The space agency is aiming to send four astronauts around the Moon on the next flight, in 2024, and land humans there as early as 2025. The launch came days after NASA and South Africa's National Space Agency -SANSA - signed a partnership agreement that will establish a new communications facility that will help the Artemis missions return humans to the moon. We spoke to SANSA's Chief engineer, Eugene Avenant.   

The Pretoria High Court has ordered cinema company, Nu Metro, to pay the Southern African Music Rights Organisation (Samro) R5 million plus interest for defaulting on its licence fees. Samro has been in court with Nu Metro since 2018, following a breached settlement with the organisation.The amount that the company will be paying to Samro spans over three license years. Samro says it's quest and priority is to make a valuable and lasting contribution to the lives of its members. The organisation has vowed to use all means at its disposal including legal action.We spoke to Chola Makgamathe, General Manager of Legal Services at SAMRO.

A South African Police Service corruption 'whistle-blower' Patricia Morgan-Mashale says she fears for life and hasn't received any protection from government. This comes after she received death threats for  exposing  police corruption. The former Free State Saps administrative clerk, was reportedly dismissed from her job last year and has been in hiding since February. She says she survived two assassination attempts. Mashale says she is pleading for protection from government, after claiming she blew the whistle on massive corruption within the police service which would implicate a number of high-ranking officials.    This brings to mind  Babita Deokaran, the chief director of financial accounting who was at the forefront of fighting and exposing alleged personal protective equipment (PPE) tender corruption in the Gauteng Health Department,  who was shot dead outside her Johannesburg home last year.  Are whistle blowers safe ? Should they do the honourable thing and report corruption or should they think about their families and lives? And where does that leave us as a nation that is trying to root out corruption? For this conversation we spoke to  Ben Theron, Executive Director of The Whistle Blower House

Make sure you are really saving this Black Friday. This a message and warning to South Africans who will be looking to save and make some rands over this year's black Friday shopping spree scheduled for Friday the 25th November. Like many countries around the world, South Africa has adopted the concept of Black Friday, with the annual sale being one of the highlights of the year from a retail perspective. But are South Africans really benefiting from Black Friday sales? Are there real savings to be had? A number of academics from educational institution, Mancosa,  believe that we should be very skeptical about the whole concept of Black Friday. We spoke to Dr Farai Nyika, an academic at Mancosa's Department of Economics.  

Stellenbosch University’s SRC weighs in on the Khampepe report Stellenbosch University management says the Khampepe report findings are a sobering moment for the university. Rector and vice-chancellor, Wim de Villers earlier THIS WEEK said that it is evident that black staff members and students do not feel welcome at the university despite deliberate transformation efforts to date, but they will need to work to harder at that. This comes after the release of the Khampepe Commission of Inquiry into racism allegations at Stellenbosch University by Judge Sisi Khampepe. However, immediately after its release, the Democratic Alliance denounced the report for 'scapegoating Afrikaans' and instructed its lawyers to take it on legal review. We spoke to  Masilo Silokazi, A member of Student Representative Council at Stellenbosch University

Thousands of matriculants who are currently writing their final exams will need to be on the lookout for bogus and unregistered colleges. These fake colleges will soon be promising desperate and unsuspecting matriculants all kinds of things as they recruit them. The department of higher education and training is warning students to ensure that they do due diligence and research on their institutions of choice after matric. For some students it is already too late. *Lerato Dube enrolled at what she thought was a genuine college earlier this year and she says she has started to see all the red flags that indicate that the institution may be unregistered or bogus. She says she is now scared to go back home this festive season as she is without any qualification. We spoke to **Lerato, who is using this pseudo name to protect her identity. We also spoke to Sam Zungu, Higher Education & Training department Deputy Director-General responsible for TVET colleges.

A Commonwealth team has arrived  in Zimbabwe to assess the country's suitability for re-admission to the group of mainly former British colonies. The country voluntarily withdrew from the body in 2003 after being suspended for human rights abuses under former president Robert Mugabe. The Commonwealth visit comes as Zimbabwe's opposition groups say there is a renewed crackdown on their supporters.  We spoke to Beatrice Mtetwa , a prominent Human Rights lawyer in Zimbabwe. 

Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane has lost yet another high profile case after the North Gauteng High Court declared another report involving the South African Revenue Service (Sars), unlawful and invalid. The Public Protector's report, released in April, had found that Sars had irregularly appointed a company to provide a 100 million rand  IT services contract. But the court on Friday set aside all findings and remedial action. The Public Protector's office has also been ordered to pay Sars' legal costs incurred in the review of this report. This comes as Parliament's impeachment inquiry probes legal expenditure by the Public Protector's office. In another case on Thursday, the Constitutional Court banged the last nail in the coffin of the infamous and discredited report into the SARS "rogue unit", dismissing the suspended Mkhwebane's application for leave to appeal. We spoke to  Advocate Paul Hoffman, Director at Accountability Now...

The forceful eviction of farm workers after they retire or when there is a change of farm ownership has always been an emotional subject. Many have been left destitute and homeless after they have been removed from places they used to call home for decades. It is against this backdrop that academics, Non profit Organisations and other stake holders met THIS WEEK to discuss how labour tenants can be better handled. The Office of the Special Master of Labour Tenants together with the University of Johannesburg, the Association For Rural Advancement and Labour Tenant organisations  have joined hands to highlight historical and current struggles of Labour Tenants and how their rights can be recognized.We spoke to Professor Richard Levin, Special Master of Labour Tenants...

President Cyril Ramaphosa says South Africa needs about one point five trillion rand over the next five years for its plans to cut carbon emissions, harness economic opportunities from the energy transition and support affected communities. Ramaphosa was speaking ahead of his departure for the COP 27 climate talks which start today in Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt. At the last Cop summit, Western nations pledged around one tenth of that amount toward South Africa's just energy transition from coal to cleaner energy like solar and wind.    We spoke to Liz McDaid, Spokesperson of environmental group 'The Green Connection' AND Prof. Patrick Bond from the University of Johannesburg.

Some 73% of children and youth felt they needed mental health support over the past year, with more than half, 38%, actively seeking help. This is according to the latest UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll. The findings also show that 67% of young respondents stepped up to support a friend's mental well being. This reflects a 10% rise on the same question in 2021. Unicef says their  U-Report poll system points to an ongoing need to prioritize holistic mental health. We spoke to UNICEF South Africa Representative, Christine Muhigana...

Africa and the rest of the world were this week breathing a sigh of relief after the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan leaders signed a truce in Pretoria to end the two year brutal war in the north of the country.  The agreement gave fresh hope of opennng up the flow of aid and other humanitarian assistance to those at risk of famine.  More than a million people have been displaced since heavy fighting resumed in August and many are dying of treatable diseases as hospitals have run out of basic drugs. Questions however remain over whether the truce will succeed. We spoke to our Ethiopia correspondent, Coletta Wanjohi

Pharmaceutical retail giant, DISCHEM, recently got heavy criticism, which included a brief consumer boycott, from some quarters after it announced that it would stop employing and promoting white South Africans in a bid to boost it's transformation agenda. The memo signed by DISCHEM CEO, Ivan Saltzman, was seen by others as contravening the Employment Equity Act and labour union SOLIDARITY threatened to take legal action if the directive was not withdrawn.  The Hatch Institute, which promotes culture driven business leadership, has come to the defence of DISCHEM saying the company's decision is right and deserves support and not condemnation. We spoke to the Institute's CEO, Ian Fuhr

As the summer initiation season starts this weekend, the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khoi-San leaders is calling on initiation schools, parents, health workers and NGO partners to ensure that the 2022 initiation season takes place safely without putting the health and lives of young men at risk. The Eastern Cape's  summer initiation season began YESTERDAY with over 40 000 young men expected to participate. The past decade has seen hundreds of young men die in initiation schools for a variety of reasons. We spoke to  Nkosi Mpumalanga Gwadiso, Chairperson of the Eastern Cape House of Traditional and Khiosan Leaders.

As the latest fuel price hike starts to bite, South African motorists are being warned about fuel saving gimmicks that are in circulation. Many of these gimmicks seem out of the ordinary, however desperate motorists may fall victim and end up damaging their vehicles or putting their lives in danger. Some of the false fuel saving advice doing the rounds include pouring Coca Cola, dish-washing tablets and tomato sauce into your fuel tank, to name a few.We spoke to Motoring Journalist, Adam Ford...

Inkamana Abbey, South Africa's third oldest monastery is this morning celebrating its centenary. The abbey, which also runs a prestigious school which is now a heritage site, was founded by the Catholic Church as a mission in 1922. Based in Vryheid - KZN, Inkamana has leaders in both the private and public sectors among its eminent alumni.  We spoke to Prior Boniface 

South Africa top teacher for this year hails from Limpopo Province. Alfred Mokgalaka, from Hoërskool Frans du Toit in Phalaborwa, Limpopo taught himself how to code during lockdown and then taught his class how to programme robots. Mokgalaka, was awarded first place as the country's best teacher at the annual National Teaching Awards for 2022. The awards are an annual event recognising the role that teachers play in society. The best teacher prize for 2022 was jointly awarded to Mokgalaka and Adil Shaik Mungalee.

It has been said that 'the degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons." Former president Nelson Mandela agreed with this notion as he himself said, "No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails. It is against this backdrop that various leaders across Africa now say that it is time to re-think criminal law and incarceration on the continent. There are more than 1 million prisoners incarcerated across Africa with most of them living under inhumane, cruel and degrading conditions. Law and justice experts as well as human rights organizations met in Sandton, north of Johannesburg, this week, to discuss possible solutions faced in the correctional and justice systems on the continent. For this conversation we spoke to Chikondi Chijozi - Criminal Justice Lead at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC)  AND Ogechu Ogu- Deputy Director of Prisoners Rehabilitation and Welfare Action in Nigeria (PRAWA)   

The warring sides in Ethiopia's two-year conflict this week sat at the negotiating table in Pretoria for their first formal peace talks that are scheduled to end today. The dialogue is led by the African Union, which had failed, earlier this month, to bring together teams from the Ethiopian government and the rebel Tigrayan authorities, in the face of ongoing fierce fighting on the ground. The process is being facilitated by AU Horn of Africa envoy and former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, along with Kenya's former leader Uhuru Kenyatta and South Africa's ex-vice president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka. We spoek to  Dr Emmanuel Matambo, research director at UJ's  Centre for Africa - China Studies.

Fraudsters always threaten to turn Festive Season cheer to Festive Season frustration. With the Festive Season fast approaching, South Africa has been slowly aligning itself with the rest of the world in heralding the start of the Festive Season shopping spree with its Black Friday shopping event.  It is however important to remember that fraudsters are also very active at this time of the year and particular attention needs to be given to online payments as these can become low hanging fruits for fraudsters.  W spoke to Mannie van Schalkwyk, CEO of the Southern African Fraud Prevention Service  

Bapedi and Zulu monarchies on the spotlight 

The National Assembly this week voted by 232 votes to 98 to pass the Electoral Amendment Bill that will allow individuals to stand for elected office as independents. However it has been criticized by some, saying it is a missed opportunity for thorough reform to enhance political accountability. Some independent candidates are not happy with the Bill in its current form and some civil organisations have vowed to contest the controversial Bill arguing that it will not pass constitutional muster and must be challenged. We spoke to  Mmusi Maimane, leader of the Build One South Africa party (BOSA) and Terry Tselane,  Executive Chairperson of the Institute of Election Management Services in Africa   

With matric exams set to begin on Tuesday, some matriculants are still without Identity Documents needed to sit for exams. This is causing a lot of frustration and anxiety for both parents and learners. This comes amid reports that some Home Affairs offices are NOT giving matriculants the necessary assistance they need to get their ID's. On Friday some parents and learners spent long hours in a queue at a Home Affairs office in Cape Town and were forced to leave empty handed after officials could not help them. In the coming weeks students are going to be tested of their focus, strength and endurance as they aim for top marks. Yet at the same time, they have to contend with the fatigue that has most likely set in after all their hard work during the past year.  We spoke to Bronwyn Batchelor,  an education expert and Head of Faculty at The Independent Institute of Education

The battle to succeed outgoing British Prime Minister Liz Truss is gathering steam as hopefuls jostle for support. 5 candidates are being touted as possible replacements with former chancellor Rishi Sunak, House of Commons leader Penny Mordaunt and former prime minister Boris Johnson, leading the pack. The candidates have until Monday afternoon to gather the support of 100 MPs to run.  Truss resigned on Thursday, meaning there will now be another leadership election to decide who becomes the next Conservative leader and prime minister. We spoke to  John Stremlau, Professor of International Relations at Wits University

The South African Water Chamber has blamed the current water crisis in Gauteng to ageing water infrastructure and the lack of foresight, planning and investment in water reticulation.  We spoke to Water Chamber CEO, Le Roy Benoit

The fight against gender-based violence and femicide took centre stage this week when the National Shelter Movement of South Africa held an Indaba on the role the provision of shelter to victims plays as a critical intervention. This is in preparation for the national Presidential gender-based violence and femicide Summit next month. The Indaba follows increased murders of women and children across the country in recent weeks. Among several women and children found murdered recently were 2 women whose naked bodies were found dumped at a neglected shopping site in Umlazi, 4 year-old Bokgabo Poo from Wattville in Ekurhuleni and 20-year-old Zahraa Muller from Cape Town, who was six months pregnant. To look at the outcomes of the Indaba, we spoke to Fisani Mahlangu, a member of the National Shelter Movement

Property subletting is allegedly becoming popular in South Africa, largely because of aggressive interest rate increases and the high cost of living. Many people look for subtenants to help them pay their rent, while others seek to sublet if they're moving elsewhere and can't get out of their current lease. Subletting can be helpful if you're in need of extra cash, it is however not a decision to be taken lightly as it can present challenges. We spoke to Shafeeka Anthony, Marketing Manager of JustMoney  

South Africans are NOT AT ALL happy with the recent revelation that  South African Cabinet Ministers and their deputies don't have to fork out a cent for water and electricity. Our ministers are also NOT at all affected by load-shedding because each of their households has received a generator to ensure that they are never in the dark. While South Africans were processing this information, they also found out that Cabinet ministers also now have an extra  one hundred thousand rand (R100 000) to spend on their luxury vehicles. Cabinet ministers and deputies can now spend up to R800,000 when purchasing a new car. This figure is up from R700,000 as specified in 2019 Ministerial Handbook.  This situation has riled many people throughout the week and to discuss it further we spoke to Advocate  Stefanie Fick, Executive Director, Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) AND  Thapelo Mohapi- General Secretary of Shack Dwellers' Movement, Abahlali baseMjondolo

Thousands of delegates are gathered in Beijing as China's governing Communist Party starts it's elective Congress today, set to usher in a historic third term in power for Xi Jinping. Xi has been described as  the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao Zedong in the 1970s. The decision to extend Xi's presidency comes after a two-term limit was abolished in 2018.  If elected Xi will lead the world's second-largest economy and one of its biggest military forces. Some analysts say he is likely to push China towards more economic growth and a more authoritarian political stance in a third five-year term. To discuss this we are joined on the line from Ethiopia by Prof. David Monyai, Director of the Centre for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg..

Businessman and diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg maintains that there is nothing wrong with him, as an ordinary citizen, giving former President Jacob Zuma five hundred thousand rand to foot his mounting legal bills. This follows Zuma's decision to privately prosecutes state Advocate Billy Downer and Journalist Karyn Maughan. Zuma has accused Downer of leaking his confidential medical records to Maughan - which the pair have denied. Our Senior Producer, Ronald Phiri, spoke to Liebenberg and started by asking him the reason for the donation and the nature of his relationship with former president Zuma. 

Eskom has signed land lease agreements with 4 independent power producers. These successful bidders are: HDF Energy South Africa, Red Rocket SA, Sola Group, and Mainstream Renewable Power Developments South Africa. Eskom says the companies will now do comprehensive feasibility studies to determine which technologies will be implemented at each site; wind, solar and battery storage. The exact generation capacity will only be known once the studies have been completed. We spoke to Energy commentator, Adil Nchabeleng 

  Some of our South African Police officers live with the fear of being attacked by criminals at their police stations. One such police station is in Devon, east of Johannesburg, which has allegedly been locking it's gates at 6 o'clock every evening, for fear of being attacked by thugs. That fear, however, became a reality this week when three armed men, who pretended to be hijack victims, attacked the station and stole 10 firearms. Police spokesperson Athlenda Mathe confirmed that the Employee Health and Wellness (EHW) unit had been deployed to the station to provide psycho-social services to affected officers. The Devon police robbery is however not an isolated incident.  A group of heavily armed robbers stormed Malamulele police station in Limpopo in November 2021 and made off with firearms and ammunition. Just last month, Grootvlei police station, near the small Mpumalanga mining town of Balfour, was also robbed of firearms. There have been similar reported incidents in the Western Cape and other provinces. To delve deeper into this disturbing issue, which is the subject of our Sunday Morning Discussion, we spoke to  by Richard Mamabolo, spokesperson for The Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (POPCRU) AND Professor Hendrik Lochner, Crime and Police Expert with Unisa's Department of Police Practices

The South African Transport and Allied Workers Union (SATAWU) and the United National Transport Union (UNTU) say efforts to establish picketing rules with Transnet's management for their planned national strike TOMORROW  have been unsuccessful.  Unions say Transnet had contravened the requirements of the Labour Relations Act by refusing to sign the picketing rules. The unions says Transnet's refusal is unjustified considering the fact that the Labour Court dismissed Transnet's urgent interdict application to have the strike declared unlawful and unprotected. Meanwhile,  Electricity generation in Mpumalanga province risks being severely affected this coming week as labour union Satawu joins the industrial action by workers in the transport sector starting tomorrow. The Satawu strike in Mpumalanga is expected to disrupt the transportation of coal to Eskom power stations. We spoke to by Solomon Mahlangu, Satawu's Provincial Secretary in Mpumalanga.

African Union-led peace talks that were expected to start in South Africa today to try to end a two-year-old conflict in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region have reportedly been delayed for logistical reasons.  Ethiopia's government and Tigray forces had earlier this week accepted the AU's invitation to talks in South Africa, which would be the first formal negotiations between the two sides since war broke out in November 2020. The mediators in the talks are the African Union's chief mediator, former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, supported by former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.  We spoke to Peter Fabricius, an independent journalist and analyst on foreign policy issues, and is  closely monitoring this story 

Vote counting is set to begin this morning  in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho following YESTERDAY's parliamentary elections.  More than 50 political parties are vying for a chance to govern. In reality, though it's a race between four major parties including the newly launched party Revolution for Prosperity (RFP). This is the first election the leaders of the four parties are contesting in, so whoever wins, Lesotho will have an untested prime minister. Some hope a new and untainted leader will help change the country's political fortunes. We spoke to the head of the African Union Election Observer Mission to Lesotho, Dr Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, who is also Former Vice President of Uganda .

Spokesperson of Jacob Zuma Foundation Mzwanele Manyi AND DA's shadow Minister of Correctional Services Jahno Engelbrecht react to former president Jacob Zuma's end of medical parole.

Your employer may be liable if you are injured working from home. This is according to Independent Consulting Occupational therapist at Workforce HealthCare, Phumla Motsa. Motsa has has an interest in ergonomics which focuses on the interaction between a person and their environment. She says using home office spaces that are not set up correctly may lead to musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries. 

The Deputy Minister of Social Development Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu THIS WEEK announced government plans to decriminalise sex work by 2024. This comes as many sex workers in the Northern Cape say the delay in decriminalising sex work endangers their lives and infringes on their rights to earn an income. Sebezile Nkambule spoke to Sex Workers Education & Advocacy Taskforce (SWEAT)'s Spokesperson, Megan Lessing, who has been fighting for sex work to be legalised and acknowledged as work.  We are also joined on the line by Deputy President of the African Christian Democratic Party (ACDP), Wayne Thring whose party says the legalising of sex work will legitimise crime... 

The African Union has condemned the "unconstitutional change of government" in Burkina Faso after the second coup in less than a year, in which a group of junior army officers removed military ruler Paul-Henri Sandaogo Damiba. The AU has demanded the return of constitutional order by July 2023 at the latest. The 34-year-old self-declared leader, Colonel Ibrahim Traoré says Damiba's inability to deal with an Islamist insurgency was to blame for the coup. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Dr. Emmanuel Matambo a Research Director at the Centre of Africa China Studies at the University of Johannesburg... 

Russia's President Vladimir Putin yesterday held a signing ceremony to formally annex four more areas of Ukraine after referendums condemned by Ukraine as a sham. In a speech in Moscow, Putin claimed people living in the regions had made their choice. Russian-backed officials had earlier claimed the five-day exercise secured almost total popular support. The votes were held in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson in the south. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Independent military analyst, Helmoud Heitman...

Dada Morero is the new mayor of the city of Johannesburg- this follows the ousting of the former mayor, Mpho Phalatse. She was voted out by 139 votes in the 270-seat council - through a motion of no-confidence. Phalatse insists that the meeting was unlawful. Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance Leader, John Steenhuisen says Action SA's Herman Mashaba is hellbent on destroying the coalition governments. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Action SA's Gauteng provincial chairperson, Bongani Baloyi, and Political analyst, Sandile Swana... 

Despite opposition from some parties, the Land Expropriation Bill was finally adopted by the National Assembly late on Wednesday evening, taking it one step closer to becoming enacted in law. The DA, EFF, IFP, Freedom Front Plus, and African Christian Democratic Party had objected to the bill for different reasons. The adopted draft allows expropriation only for "public purpose" and in the "public interest with 'just and equitable compensation".  Expropriation without compensation may be possible but in specific circumstances. If enacted, the bill will replace the apartheid-era law that does not allow for zero compensation to be paid or expropriation in the public interest. The bill will now go to the National Council of Provinces for concurrence, after which it will head to the desk of the president to be signed into law. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Nkanyiso Gumede from the Institute for Poverty, Land, and Agrarian Reform.......

Public Enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan announced a new Eskom Board chaired by Mpho Makwana. Included in the new board are some engineers, Mthetho Nyathi, Busisiwe Vilakazi and Tsakani Mthombeni, nuclear scientist Clive le Roux, chartered accountants Fatima Gany and Ayanda Mafuleka as well as trade unionist Bheki Ntshalintshali. The board starts work today. Energy expert, Chris Yelland... 

Today is International Gaucher Day. The day highlights the need for greater awareness of rare diseases to promote early diagnosis. Currently, there are an estimated 6000 - 8000 rare diseases, which affect 350 million people worldwide. Locally, 1 in 15 South Africans is affected by rare diseases. One such rare condition is Gaucher  - an inherited disorder that affects multiple organs. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Kelly du Plessis, CEO and Patient Advocacy of  Rare Diseases SA...

Magistrate Leiland Poonsamy has acquitted EFF leaders Julius Malema and Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi of the common assault charge laid against them by Lieutenant Colonel, Johannes Venter. Venter alleged that he was assaulted in 2018 when he tried to stop their vehicle from entering the Fourways Memorial Park, where the late struggle icon, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela was being laid to rest. Take a listen to part of the judgement as delivered by Magistrate Leiland Poonsamy

Residents of Savannah City in De Deur south of Johannesburg say they fear for their lives due to some of the structural defects of their RDP houses. Some of the cracks on the walls are so big that one can fit all four fingers inside them. The plaster cement on the inside and outside walls are wearing off, roof tiles in some of the houses are falling apart and the water pipes are leaking causing damage to the walls. Within the same vicinity there are more than 24 homes that have been left incomplete. Our reporter Tshepo Phagane who went to investigate the desperate situation at Savannah Mega City  joins us for the discussion  and so does the MMC for housing in the Midvaal Municipality,  Moketse Motsamai. 

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)  is gearing up for its 14th congress which starts tomorrow. Cosatu leaders say this year's congress comes at a critical time in the country's history - with high unemployment rates and an ailing economy among other issues. Cosatu is expected to reveal its future plans and provide comprehensive reports on various functions during the congress. Two-thousand delegates are expected to attend the elective congress and the federation is hoping to emerge  stronger and united. 

Heritage Day today is being marked under the theme, "Celebrating the Legacy of Solomon Linda and South Africa's Indigenous Music". The theme pays tribute to the 60th anniversary of the passing of singer and song writer Solomon Popoli Linda. He is best known as the composer of the song "Mbube" which later became the popular music success "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and gave its name to the world famous Mbube style of isicathamiya, a capella music. The genre has immensely contributed to the South African music landscape. Among other music icons that are also being honoured are Abigail Kubeka, Letta Mbulu, and Caiphus Semenya. We spoke to Dr Kathryn Olsen, Lecturer in Ethnomusicology, Musicology and Popular Music Studies at the University of KwaZulu Natal's School of Arts 

As the African Union - AU - turned 20  this year, the debate about its effectiveness is back on the table once again. Established here in South Africa, in Durban, KwaZulu Natal, in 2002 with 53 African nations as members, the AU became the successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), which had existed since 1963. While the OAU concentrated its efforts primarily on decolonization and the establishment of diplomatic relations between members, the AU was founded to advance the continent's economic development and entrench lasting peace. After 20 years has the African Union achieved these lofty goals? Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Khabele Matlosa, former Director in the Department of Political Affairs at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Professor Adekeye Adebajo,  a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Pretoria's Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship in South Africa

Eskom has implemented Stage 6 load-shedding from around 04:00 this morning. This follows the tripping of generation units at Kusile and Kriel power stations. Yesterday, five generating units at Kusile, Arnot, and Camden, as well as two units at Duvha Power Station, broke down. The embattled power utility has warned that should any further breakdowns occur, higher stages of load-shedding may be implemented at short notice. Eskom is expected to brief the media later THIS MORNING at 10 on the outlook of the load-shedding stages for the week ahead. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to Energy analyst, Chris Yelland... 

The annual Reed Dance is expected to take place at the Enyokeni palace at Nongoma TODAY. However, last night over ten men, some of whom are members of the AmaZulu Royal family, disrupted a SABC News interview with Prince Simakade's spokesperson, Prince Mandlakapheli. There have been disagreements since the start of the week between those supporting Prince Simakade and the official representatives of the royal household, over the use of the Enyokeni Palace at Nongoma for today's Reed Dance. Prince Simakade claims to be the rightful successor to the throne. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to SABC reporter, Nonkululeko Hlophe

Judgment has been reserved in the urgent application brought by Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane to be allowed to go back to work immediately. This follows the Western Cape High Court that set aside her suspension by the president in June. Mkhwebane wants to be allowed back at work despite an appeal application at the Constitutional Court. Public Protector Busisiwe Mkwebane also had the support of minority parties - the United Democratic Movement (UDM), Pan Africanist Congress (PAC), and the African Transformation Movement (ATM), all of whom want to see her back in the office immediately. Sebenzile Nkambule spoke to ATM leader Vuyo Zungula and Professor of Public Law at the University of Cape Town, Cathy Powell