The Daily Discourse

Environmental Affairs Minister Barbara Creecy says further criminal charges may be instituted against the Mumbai-based chemicals giant UPL. The company's warehouse at Cornubia near uMhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal, was razed to the ground during the July unrest. According to authorities the warehouse which stored toxic pesticides and chemical products was operating without permits and flouted all environ...

A partnership between Wits University and the Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital will see the expansion of a burn unit that aims to create a high-tech skin bank and tissue engineering laboratory in Soweto.  More than 250 adults and 500 children with severe burns are said to be admitted to the hospital annually with critical need for such treatment and experts. To tell us more about the...

President Cyril Ramaphosa will this week launch the Women Economic Assembly. It is a body made-up of business women in the private sector, civil society and government. They are pushing for more participation of women businesses in the main parts of the country’s economy. To tell us more on the need for such a body and how exactly its hoping to achieve its goals, we are joined on the line by...

The nomination of Western Cape Judge President, John Hlophe and Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane for the post of Chief Justice have raised eyebrows in many circles. They were reportedly nominated by the SA Natives Forum together with the Black Lawyers Association and Democracy in Action. To get a perspective on how the process is unfolding and what to make of the nomination of the two candidate...

We wrap up the show with one of the country’s great musicians who will ease us into the weekend. Judith Sephuma is no stranger to you whether you are a jazz lover, afro-pop or gospel, she has done all three genres. She joins us now on the line to talk about her music and what she’s been up to lately….   Guest: Judith Sephuma – Jazz and Afro-pop musician  

As we mark International Day of Older Persons, we turn our attention to the impact of ageism on the elderly. Stats reveal that the population of people over 65 is growing rapidly and more of them are being discriminated against as they are forced out of work due to their age. What does this do for their mental wellness and what is it that society can do to keep them active so that they don’t...

Last night President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the decision. Level one now means that the curfew runs from 12 midnight until four am. Non-essential establishments like bars and restaurants must close by 11pm to allow staff to go home. Meetings indoors are now limited to 750 people and outdoors to two thousand people. The number of people who can attend a funeral increases to 100 - but night vigils...

Let’s tell you now about the Companies Amendment Bill of 2021. Cabinet has approved it for public comment and one of the highlights is that companies will be expected to be more transparent on the difference between the lowest- and highest-paid earners. What purpose is this like to serve and is it a step in the right direction? To help us understand, we are joined on the line by… &nbs...

Ronewa Creations is a landscaping business run by two ladies who happen to be an aunt-and-niece team. The sector is very male dominated, but this has not stopped them from dealing with challenges that come their way. To tell us where their love for gardening started and how they turned it into a business, they now join us on the line.. Guest: Dinah Kgeledi - Co-founder of Ronewa Creations Ltd Gues...

As we build-up to the local government elections, questions are being asked about the amount of parties that are contesting. What purpose will they serve and isn’t it better to have a few that can come together and form a strong opposition rather many small little ones? To help us digest this issue, we are joined on the line by.. Guest: Dr Protas Madlala – Independent Political Analyst

With the current socio-economic challenges faced by our country being amplified by Covid-19 and the July unrest, businesses have been struggling to get assistance to get back on their feet. Ithala Development Finance Corporation Limited is a state owned entity under the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs which provides tailor-made financial and non-...

last week we spoke about the link between the uncircumcised male and cervical cancer. Then what happened is that many of you had direct questions about cervical cancer and the symptoms associated with it. This morning we look specifically at cervical and to help us through this subject, we are joined on the line by….  Guest: Dr Trudy Smith – Gynaecological Oncologist at the Wits...

We revisit the issue of attacks on e-hailing drivers as the violence against them continues. Sadly authorities from the Department of Transport have not availed themselves to talk about the issue. So we’ve invited the association that represent e-hailing drivers as they held a meeting yesterday on the attacks in Ekurhuleni and to tell us more on the meeting and give us a national picture, we...

The Anti-Disinformation Project has kicked off its campaign aimed at educating communities on how to spot disinformation campaigns. The project comes at a time where social media is being used to disseminate fake news. So how will it help in dealing with all these issues and who exactly is it aimed at?  Guest: Lazola Kati - Communications Rights Activist

As you’ve heard in those sound clips how residents are complaining about service delivery. Anger and frustration can be felt while politicians are campaigning and trying to convince people to vote for them with all kinds of promises. But let’s turn our attention to the role of communities in taking charge and holding authorities to account. Guest: Zandile Nsibande – Health and So...

This morning on our personal development feature we look at being grateful and what it means. Many people who are employed would complain about their jobs and those with houses would focus more on how small the house is. But then we forget that there is someone worse off than you. How then do we appreciate the little bit we have and stop complaining and be grateful for what we have? Guest: Ngila M...

As this is the last Tuesday of the month, Bryan will is dealing with questions that have come in during the month that are of a similar nature. Please remember that this does not stop you asking other finance related questions. Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister over the weekend to the international community to stay out of their war with Tigray. He was addressing the UN’s General Assembly where he told the world leaders to allow the African Union to work on bringing all parties together. Judging by what he said, is there really hope for an end to the conflict between the two? To help us understand, we are join...

We speak now to Professor Francis Petersen from the University of the Free State. He penned an opinion piece entitled, ‘how do we fix our falling country’. One of the things he says is that it is impossible to build a thriving economy on the back of a divided society. He also talks about the vital role that higher education can play. How now joins us on the line to share some of his th...

Finance Minister Enock Godongwana says that South Africa needs to re-evaluate its policy on reviving the struggling manufacturing industry. This is something some of the economists have been calling for over the years.  Guest: Duma Gqubule - Founding Director at the Centre of Economic Development & Transformation

The  World Health Organization  is urging countries to deal more forcefully with dirty air in order to save millions of lives. The organisation issued its first air quality guidelines since 2005 aimed at reducing deaths from key pollutants that cause cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Let’s hear now from a medical specialist about the health impact of pollution in the country...

  The Pan South African Language Board in partnership with the African Language Association of Southern Africa and the University of For Hare are hosting a conference under the theme: Perspective in African Languages for Decoloniality and the Fourth industrial revolution in the 21st century. Interestingly, this conference comes at the back of a constitutional court has given the University of...

  We wrap up our Heritage Month edition by talking to Sepedi musician and Hip-hop artist, Maleboo about performing his artform in his native language. He’s also passionate about  fathers passing on their heritage values to their children. He now joins us on the line to talk about his music and the role of the father when it comes to passing on their heritage… Gust: Maleboo &...

  Psychiatrists say that as much as remote working was seen as a solution to keep productivity going during the lockdown period, excessive screen-time while watching television or using devices including laptops, mobile phones and tablets has increased ADHD symptoms such as lack of focus. They have also seen an increase in adults experiencing ADHD-type symptoms and parents requesting ADHD ass...

  Today being Heritage Day, we use the opportunity to talk about if South Africa can have a common heritage? When we look at ourselves, what do we put first, do we identify ourselves according to our ethnicity or nationality? Looking at how diverse we are as a nation, is it possible to build a common heritage? Guest: Prof Pitika Ntuli – Cultural activist and commissioner at the CRL Comm...