The Daily Discourse

Personal safety is one of the most basic needs of all human beings. This could be both physically and emotionally and experts say when people do not feel safe, they are unable to live fulfilled lives. For more on this we are joined on the line by... Guest: Bradley Daniels-Behavioural expert  

People living with disabilities often find it difficult to find employment. This is due to a number of reasons which NGOs working in the sector have been highlighting for years. Now, there's a company Modern Centric Holding Consultancy which helps people living with disabilities to secure jobs and it is challenging corporate SA to do more as part of Nelson Mandela Month and hopefully beyond. For m...

The alcohol industry has once again appealed to the government to lift the ban on alcohol sales. It says it wants a clear and detailed plan that will assist with economic recovery. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a ban late last month which he has since extended twice until Sunday. The sector was also affected by the looting that took place last week when bottle stores and other liquor outlets...

The Western Cape Health Department says the continuing taxi violence in the province is affecting health services. Some clinics had to close in the past few days as two taxi associations CATA and CODETA clashed over routes. Employees and patients could not find alternative transport as buses were also attacked by gunmen.  Guest: Thokozile Tyilekile-Trade union DENOSA’s Western Cape Prov...

The organisation Save the Children South Africa says the burning of schools is a serious cause for concern. The NGO was speaking following the recent outbreak of violence and looting in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng during which schools were torched some to the ground. It says some equipment and food stocks for the nutritional programme were stolen...Meanwhile, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education Kwazi Ms...

Many small businesses have been severely affected by the looting and violence that took place last week in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Goods and other essentials were stolen or vandalised and the buildings subsequently set alight. Experts say scores of these businesses may not be able to recover. So, what will it take for the owners to be back on their feet and start operating again? For more on ho...

Today marks World Brain Day with a focus on multiple sclerosis. This is a chronic condition which experts call an invisible killer. It affects the central nervous system which is the brain and spinal cord. The Neurological Association of South Africa and other stakeholders say it is important to raise awareness about this disease in order to help with early diagnosis and treatment. For a more inde...

The SA Revenue Service says there has been an increase in the number of taxpayers who are claiming deductions for working remotely. Companies had to allow their employees to work from home as they heeded governmen's call to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. The 2020/2021 tax filing season opened this month. So how exactly do taxpayers go about making claims for deductions? Is it something o...

The recent developments which saw an outbreak of violence and massive looting in the two key provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and government's failure to manage this crisis shortly after it started, has raised questions about whether South Africa is becoming a failed state.  Guest: Professor Protas Madlala-Independent Political Analyst Guest: Claude Bissac-CEO of risk consultancy firm Eunomix Guest...

Associate Professor at the University of Cape Town's Graduate School of Business Cameren Peter says it is becoming more and more important to shift our focus to the role of social media. This follows an admission by Defence Minister Siviswe Mapisa-Nqakula that information that had been making the rounds on these platforms ahead of the violence and looting that has devasted the economies of KwaZulu...

Various experts have come together to develop methods that are aimed at assisting municipalities improve service delivery by using technology more effectively. The Municipal Innovation Maturity Index also seeks to measure how capable employees are to learn and adopt ways to turn their municipalities around. Most of the country's more than 200 municipalities are battling to provide basic services t...

Former Constitutional Court Deputy Chief Justice Dikgang Moseneke says holding the local government elections under the current conditions will not result in free and fair polls. Judge Moseneke handed over a report of his recommendations to the IEC yesterday following his inquiry into the matter. President Cyril Ramaphosa had announced that the elections will be held in October but some political...

Police Minister - Bheki Cele - says a team of ten specialized detectives will be investigating the death of at least 20 people in the Phoenix area during unrest the past week. Cele says criminal attacks by looters were followed by racial attacks from Phoenix residents. The minister has been meeting with angry communities from townships surrounding the predominantly Indian area, as well as resident...

The National Consumer Commission has sent a strong warning to suppliers who may have inflated their prices. They were referring to essential items as reports emerged over the weekend that shops were increasing prices due to the high demand. To tell us more on this, we are joined on the linen by… Guest: Joseph Selolo

Two men have been arrested yesterday (Mon) following a shooting incident at the Langa taxi rank on the Cape Flats. Police spokesperson, Joseph Swartbooi, says a group of men fired shot at vehicles in the area. Meanwhile, engagements between government and the minibus taxi industry on ending the violence in the province are ongoing. No agreement was reached during talks that the Western Cape Transp...

We speak now to former Constitutional Court Judge, Edwin Cameron about why he believes its important. This attracted mixed reactions from some politicians and members of the public. Let’s get the judge’s views on this as we welcome… Guest: Judge  Edwin Cameron - F ormer Constitutional Court

In a time like this where many business people lost their business due to last week’s looting and burning of property, the big question is where do you begin? What are the practical recovery solutions? Where does insurance fit in and is it wise to use family savings to restart the business?  GUEST: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

We’ve seen how residents in the various townships are starting to clean-up the mess from last week’s looting. Many of them have vowed to protect what is left. Let’s hear what some of the community members had to say.. Guest: Rev Mpho George Molebatsi – From the All Nations Evangelical Missions of Southern Africa  

The CRL Commission has added its voice in condemning the state of looting that is taking place in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. They have also praised those communities who took charge in defending malls in their areas from being looted. To get their view on this, we are joined on the line by..   Guest: Prof David Mosoma – Chairperson of the CRL Commission  

Residents of Tembisa on Gauteng's East Rand formed a human chain against looting and violence. They are protesting outside small and big businesses including malls. This amid the spate of looting across the province. Hundreds of community members gathered outside the Oakmoor train station to protect shops that have escaped the looting. Over the past few days, crowds have ransacked and destroyed pa...

Yesterday I asked why our mayors at municipal level are quiet and not saying anything. Well, it turns out that the acting mayor for Ekurhuleni which was hard hit by the looters has been very active on the ground. This time around he has been engaging civil society and to give us a sense of what he’s been doing, he now joins us on the line…  Guest: Cllr Lesiba Mpya – Acting...

The Tripartite Alliance says it’s mobilizing their structures and communities against the recent violent looting and destruction in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. They held an urgent meeting of their Alliance Political Council yesterday (Thursday) to discuss the situation and to tell us more on this, we are joined on the line by…. Guest: Dr Alex Mashilo – National spokesperson for t...

There’s no doubt that the recent looting has put a huge dent on the country’s economy and investor confidence. Many questions are being asked about how we are going to recover from this and how the international community is looking at us. To help us look at the economic ramifications of this, we are joined on the line by…   Guest: Tertia Jacobs - Economist at Investec

We turn our focus now on attacks in the media. The very people that are bringing us all the news and information we need to make it on a daily basis are now under attack from those who are engaged in the current looting. Community stations have also come under attack with equipment stolen. What should we read into this thuggery against the media? To help us understand, we are joined on the line by...

Three of the country’s top editors have written an open letter to President Ramaphosa about his handling of the crisis in the country. They would like to see less talk and more action from the president and to talk more on this, we are joined on the line by…. Guest: Adriaan Basson – Editor in-chief at News24