The Daily Discourse

This morning we focus on the business of chicken farming. Our guest this morning is not only into poultry farming, but also in the process of launching Blaque Stores, fruit and vegetables outlets which he say are aimed at providing a market for farmers struggling to sell their products. Where did it all start for him? Guest: Mothupi Kgopa – Poultry farmer, Author and entrepreneur

Yesterday (11 March) marked 10 years since the Fukushima nuclear disaster. This has given environmentalists and interests groups in the country the opportunity to remind government why nuclear is a bad idea. They have been submitting arguments to NERSA about why nuclear should not be included in the country’s energy mix. To educate us on this, and also the main reasons why nuclear should never be...

Protesting students at Wits have again brought to light the issue of funding for higher education. They went on the rampage this week protesting against what they call financial exclusion of poor students. Government on the other hand announced an additional funding for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme to address the funding shortfall for the 2021 academic year. Let’s get a perspective no...

Condolences have been pouring in for the late AmaZulu King Goodwill Zwelithini who passed away in hospital in the early hours of this morning. The news was confirmed by Traditional Prime minister of the Zulu nation, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi this morning. King Goodwill has been in hospital for more than a month for diabetes treatment. He died aged 72. Before we talk about his life and times as k...

As Wits students again take to the streets protesting against financial exclusion at the university, we take a look at whether the promise of a free education is practical indeed. The subject is not new and has been used for political gain over the years. Let’s start off with a comment from Higher Education Minister in 2015 while addressing parliament where he said that free education is possible...

Eastern Cape MEC for Finance Mlungisi Mvoko tabled his R82.7bn 2021/2022 budget in the Bhisho legislature yesterday (Wed). One of the comments he made is that he believes the economy is responding well as the country comes out of the hardships caused by Covid-19. To tell us how the province will be utilising the allocated funds, we are joined on the line by….. Guest: Daluhlanga Majeke - Head of Ea...

We are now joined on the line by a Wits University student who is being financially excluded. Guest: Sicelo Khubeka-student Wits University

As you did see some of the hectic scenes beamed across our news channels of how police handled the Wits students protest yesterday. Sadly one person who had nothing to do with the protest was fatally shot after he visited a clinic. This is what some of the witnesses had to say… CLIP-WITNESSES LINK: It's understood that the man was leaving MyClinic, when he was reportedly shot by police, then he wa...

Having spoken to the manufacturers of furniture who have entered the completion, we speak now to the deputy minister to get a sense of her impressions and also what it is they are doing to encourage more young people to enter the market.. Guest: Barbara Copelovici - Entrepreneurship Director at SA Breweries Guest: Nomalungela Gina - Deputy Minister for the Department of Trade Industry and Competit...

The Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s 2020/2021 national Furniture Design Competition is announcing its winners at a virtual event today. Five finalists each in the Students and Established Manufacturers categories will be vying for top honours and let’s speak to some of them to find out the kind of furniture they produce as we welcome.. Guest: Jason Wells – Brand and Marketing at PG...

British American Tobacco SA has done some research where they sent in mystery shoppers to buy cigarettes that is sold below the tax rate in every retail sector. Their research through the mystery shoppers found that 41% of retail outlets visited sold packs of 20s at below taxable cost. To tell us more on this and why they decided to do things this way, we are joined on the line by…. Guest: Johnny...

The Automobile Association has disputed a message on SANRAL's website that insists that the non-payment of e-tolls will result in motorists being unable to renew vehicle licence discs. Reports have surfaced that SANRAL is threatening that those with outstanding toll fees will need to settle in order for renewed licence disks to be issued. On the third of March last year my colleague Aldrin Sampear...

Last year when the ANC was celebrating its 108th birthday, President Cyril Ramaphosa gave the mayor of the Sol Plaatje Municipality a tongue lashing over poor service delivery. Mayor Patrick Mabilo then responded by saying the persistent poor service is due to a lack of funds. Ramaphosa was left appalled during door-to-door campaigns ahead of the party's birthday celebrations saying the state of t...

In our personal development feature we focus on how social networking can improve personal development…. Guest: Tshepo Tabane – Life Coach

At New Year, individuals are expected to make New Year’s resolutions. We are now into a new tax year so is this not a good time to make new financial resolutions? GUEST: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

A researcher based in New York’s Columbia University has done some research wanting to find out why minibus taxis are so reckless on the road and why no amount of traffic fines can stop them. He then concludes by pointing the finger at the way the economics of the industry is structured where the owner sets a daily target for the driver. Bringing it to South Africa, is there a better way that the...

Staying with the local business theme, we turn our attention on measures taken by government to attract foreign investment. They have identified the Special Economic Zone Programme which have become internationally popular economic instrument intended to catalyze economic growth. Following this trend, our government introduced the SEZ Programme in what they say is a mechanism to attract foreign di...

Proudly South African is today starting its Buy Local Summit & Expo which ends on Wednesday the10th March. The expo which offers exposure to small start-up businesses as well as big corporations is spreading the on-going call to action for the public and private sectors to support locally manufactured products and to tell us more on this, we are joined on the line by… Guest: HOWARD GABRIELS - CHAI...

As we mark International Women’s Day today, we speak to one of the women in our country who has been in the hierarchy of leadership. Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi has been in the political realm for many years as Minister of Public Service and Administration and NEC member of the ruling party. Today she is board chair at Tiger Brands and talks to us about her role there and the advancement of women no...

Yesterday Transnet Board Chairperson Popo Molefe reacted with anger at reports of an attempted assassination of a Transnet employee who was testifying at the Zondo Commission of Inquiry into State Capture. The unnamed witness has reportedly been receiving death threats for the past 18 months since testifying against the executives. Let’s get into the story now as we welcome…. Guest: Thanduxolo Jik...

Let’s get some inspiration now from Tim Hogins who is celebrating 10 years in business. From humble beginnings as a security guard to a successful entrepreneur running multiple businesses. Let’s not spoil it and allow him to tell us where it all started…. Guest(SKYPE): Tim Hogins - Chairman and CEO of Hogins Enterprises

Let’s tell you now about the Companies Tribunal is an which is an agency of the Department of Trade and Industry established in terms of the Companies Act No. 71 of 2008 to provide speedy resolution of company disputes. They will be holding a seminar in partnership with the UP’s Mercantile Law Department to look at legislative shortcomings in implementing their mandate and to tell us more on this,...

As you may have heard in the news a report by Statistics South Africa revealing that among the various population groups in the country, black children aged 0 – 17 were the least likely to stay with their biological father at home compared to their peers of other races. This was mentioned in their Children’s Education and Well-being in South Africa report which was conducted in 2018. To discuss th...

Today would have been Miriam Makeba’s 89th birthday. A special day not just for her foundation, but for the country as a whole as she was one of the artists who travelled the world singing and spreading the word against the atrocities of the then brutal apartheid system. Guest: Lindelani Makeba-Lee - great-grandson of Miriam Makeba

As more workers in the different sectors are losing their jobs, public sector unions on the other hand have unanimously demanded a 4% salary increase across the board. They tabled their demands at the Public Service Coordinating Bargaining Council on Monday. Let’s find out now from the teacher’s union as to what their demands are as we welcome… Guest: Mugwena Maluleke – SADTU General Secretary