The Daily Discourse

The Competition Commission says it will be investigating the exorbitant prices of Ginger and Garlic in the food retail market. The commission is warning retailers to refrain from increasing these food items. Over the past few weeks prices of Lemon, Ginger and Garlic have skyrocketed to more than 300 percent- this as they are said to help fight Covid-19 related illness. The Commission says they hav...

The Department of Health in partnership with Pfizer have embarked on an immunisation and child health catch up drive. Let’s find out now what this is all about and what parents should know about it. And also under the current Covid-19 restrictions, where does one take their child? To talk more on this, Guest: Ntombi Mazibuko - Child Health Consultant- UNICEF

Those in the property market say that since July 2020 the average percentage in submitted property values has exceeded 12% in comparison to the same period in 2019. To get an understanding on this and also talk about whether this is a good a bad time to buy or sell, Guest: Shaun Rademeyer - CEO of Multinet Home Loans

As if losing a loved one is not painful enough. Funeral insurers are said to be rejecting claims by relatives of those who died of Covid-19. Reports say that over 240 complaints against insurers have been lodged with the long-term insurance Ombuds since the outbreak last year. To find out more on this and also what it is that the families can do, Guest: Jennifer Preiss – Deputy Ombudsman in the of...

The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces that has been hardest hit by the Covid-19 pandemic on top of economic problems they’ve been having over the years. The Department of Social Development in the Eastern Cape says it has witnessed a significant number psycho-social support cases to affected individuals and their families. Guest: wandile ncapayi - chief director: developmental social welfare se...

Tropical cyclone Eloise has reportedly damaged thousands of buildings, ruined crops and displaced almost even-thousand people in Mozambique. The storm made landfall in Mozambique's coastal province, Sofala before it lost steam as it headed into South Africa, Zimbabwe and eSwatini. Some pictures of flooding in Limpopo and KZN have been circulating on social media. guest; PUSELETSO MOFOKENG - SENIOR...

The nation has been hit very hard as many people lost loved ones. Our guest is of the view we need collective mourning as a people since we can’t comfort each other due to restrictions. How should we go about this period as far as she’s concerned? Guest: Mapi Mhlangu – Media Strategist and co-founder of Love Legacy Dignity

Tributes continue to pour in, following the death of Minister in the Presidency, Jackson Mthembu. Mthembu died yesterday, due to Covid-19 related complications. He was admitted to hospital last week, following abdominal pains and tested positive for Coronavirus…Let’s speak now to someone who spent a lot of time with him, both in Parliament and at party level… Guest: Baleka Mbete – Former Speaker o...

South Africa is likely to miss its economic targets as envisioned in its National Development Plan's Vision 2030. This is according to a paper presented by the National Planning Commission (NPC) on the economy yesterday (Thursday). The country is lagging behind in meeting its targets for employment, education, narrowing the inequality gap, economic growth and infrastructure amongst others. The pap...

Let’s tell you now about the Hospice Palliative Care Association. They have been working together since 2005 to come up with palliative care standards for their sector. The good news is that they have been accredited for four years by the global authority on standards development and assessment. To get an understanding of what this means for the sector and also for those who make use of hospices,...

Tzvi Brivik has written an article about what he deems as a mess at the CCMA where part time commissioners face a work overload due to budget cuts. This he says may lead to the collapse of the institution. As far as he’s concerned, how will this impact on the case brought to the CCMA? Guest: Tzvi Brivik – Director: Malcom Lyons and Brivik

There has been calls for celebrity queen Somizi Mhlongo to be charged for intimidating a journalist. Two journalists sent questions to him and instead of answering, he apparently insulted them. Now we know that our country has a free media under a democratic state and the worry is that if this kind of behaviour is not dealt with in its infancy, then it may lead to hostility towards our profession....

On our business feature today we talk to a manufacturer of eye glasses. They are called VUES and describe themselves as an African eyewear retailer with the sole purpose of “protecting the naked eye they say. Let’s find out who they are and what drew them into this industry…. Guest: Jaxx Tshabala – Director at VUES Artified Opticals

Minister of International Relations Dr Naledi Pandor yesterday (Wed) through a virtual programme gave a brief reflection of South Africa’s tenure at the UN’s Security Council. The session was hosted by the London Chatham House with an audience made-up of diplomats, policy makers just to name a few. Next month South Africa will conclude its tenure as chair of the AU and to reflect on some of the hi...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has established an Inter-Ministerial Committee to be chaired by his deputy president David Mabuza to oversee the country's Covid-19 vaccine rollout program. He was speaking during the ANC Progressive Business Forum dialogue on the economy and the pandemic. The meeting was called among others to discuss vaccine selection, procurement and distribution. South Africa is plann...

Western Cape Premier, Alan Winde, says his office has drawn up a new document for the National Command Council, asking for a change in restrictions for the province. Speaking during his weekly digital media briefing, Winde says it’s been 21 days since they engaged with the NCC and put forward proposals for restrictions when the province was in the midst of its peak. GUEST: Alan Winde – Premier of...

Former police security branch officer, Martin Naude, has denied any involvement in the death of anti-apartheid activist, Neil Aggett in 1982 at the then John Vorster Square police station in Johannesburg. Naude says he had interrogated Aggett from mid-December 1981 and last saw him alive on January the 9th the following year. He says he then returned to his hometown of East London. Aggett was foun...

Over the years we’ve been talking about pitbulls killing children and calls for them to be banned. But the owners always feel that their dogs can be controlled. The latest incident is of a 4-year-old child who was mauled to death by a neighbour’s pitbull. Let’s now to an owner of this breed and also get a legal perspective on what it is that people who live in an area where neighbours keep this br...

As a follow-up from last week, Bryan will today look at what individuals should do going forward to try and make sure that they are not in the same situation next January. With interest rates being so low, what alternatives are there to help pensioners living on a fixed income to help make ends meet? GUEST: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

The Economic Freedom Fighters is pushing forward with its agenda for the postponement of this year's local government elections and their merging with the general election of 2024. The party says it is has begun a process of engaging all political parties on its stance and although some are unconvinced, it may just have the heavyweight support it needs to push the matter through. Guest: Lulu White...

The Institute for Healing of Memories has raised their concerns at children who are sitting at home due to Covid-19 delays. They are worried that these kids may be exposed to abuse especially those who’ve experienced violence. Guest: Fatima Swartz – Director for Programs at the Institute for Healing of Memories (‘#thehandsofmen campaign is a continuous campaign against GBV, violence and nation bui...

The State Prosecutor leading the case against former Deputy Police Commissioner in the North West William Mpembe and three others argued that the men should be held responsible for the death of a mine worker who was shot during the Marikana Massacre in 2012. They are standing trial on of charges of defeating the ends of justice after Modisaotsile Segalala died while in police custody. The men alle...

The Southern Africa Resource Watch yesterday (Thursday) released their report into the impact Covid-19 had on the mining industry. One of the things they highlight is the devastating effects the lockdown had on small mining companies and the poverty it brought for livelihoods. They also applaud the mining companies for their role during the first wave in supporting SADC governments. Guest: Dr Clau...

Ugandan opposition leader, Bobi Wine, has over the weekend expressed fear for his life after his home was surrounded by the military. Wine lost the election against President Yoweri Museveni. He denounced the results as fraudulent and urged citizens to reject them. The government ordered that the internet be shut off on Wednesday, the day before the vote, and by yesterday (Sunday) it was still not...

Parents and guardians are preparing themselves for the possibility that they might, once again, have to provide home schooling for their children. The Basic Education Department has postponed the re-opening of schools by a further two weeks as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to escalate putting a strain on health care facilities. Many teachers have also succumbed to the virus. Some independ...