The Daily Discourse

Are you in favour of free movement, having open borders? Are borders a form of global apartheid; preventing the movement of the world's poorest people and vulnerable, restricting their access to the resources and opportunities available in countries that are better off? There are already fears that people in Zimbabwe and the DRC will flee to South Africa to escape the turmoil in their respective c...

Massive looting and chaos erupted, yesterday in Zimbabwe as angry protesters reacted to the fuel price hike in the capital, Harare, and Bulawayo. In a televised address this past Saturday, Mnangagwa said prices of petrol and diesel would more than double to tackle a shortfall caused by increased demand and "rampant" illegal trading. The main office of Zimbabwe's opposition party, MDC, was been tor...

Last week the City Press reported that Eastern Cape is struggling, and could lose a further R5.9 billion of its equitable share of national government revenue. Oscar Mabuyane, the province’s MEC for finance, economic development, environmental affairs and tourism join sus now, to discuss the Economic state of the province. Guest: Oscar Mabuyane, the province’s MEC for finance, economic development...

British lawmakers will finally get to vote on whether to accept Prime Minister Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement laying out the terms of departure from the European Union in a key vote this evening. The deal has the approval of the EU's other 27 members. But it remains hugely unpopular among many MPs and the British leader is expected to suffer a humiliating defeat on this key piece of legislatio...

With the holiday season a thing of the past, many have come back to find that not only are they in debt, but the year looks bleak in order to make ends meet. What steps does one need to take to create some financial stability? GUEST: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

The African Transformation Movement is the coming together of religious groups, kingdoms, ordinary citizens of this beautiful country. Last week Mzwanele Manyi, a once longstanding member of the ruling party, joined political organisation – the African Transformation Movement (ATM), and this thrust them into the spotlight. Not much is known about the party, and what they stand for. This morning we...

The City of Johannesburg has seen a surge in a large number of residential developments and influx of migrant workers in recent years. Does this rapid urbanization pose a threat on urban development challenges in and around the City of Johannesburg? Is the City capable of ensuring proper urban planning? This morning we will discuss the field of town and regional Planning, which includes land use p...

Are Internet Shutdowns in Africa countries stifling press and freedom of speech? When it comes to internet shutdowns, African nations are among the world's worst violators, from Ethiopia in the east to Algeria in the north, Cameroon in the center and Zimbabwe in the south, countries are regularly cutting off connectivity for extended periods than any other region globally. Gabon and the Democratic...

UNISA has blamed a systematic error for the confusion in the suspension of some qualifications. Some students were left in disarray when it came to their attention that some programmes they applied for last year would no longer be offered at the institution this academic year. The South African Qualifications Authority is yet to approve a number of qualifications which include B.Com Finance, Educa...

Dr Carla Lever is a Research Fellow at the Nelson Mandela School of Public Governance, University of Cape Town says in her article published in The Conversation(The Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public.) “It’s undoubtedly encouraging - more than that, exciting - to see UCT nail their colours to the m...

Will former President Thabo Mbeki join President Cyril Ramaphosa's the Council of Elders? According to reports Thabo Mbeki has stalled Ramaphosa's invitation to join the Council of Elders after he allegedly learned that former President Jacob Zuma would also be part of the advisory panel. Is this proof that the ANC is divided? Or perhaps that there are still tensions between Zuma and Mbeki. GUEST:...

This morning we are in conversation with Gift Igega, who worked for Joseph Kabila, a man who has spent more than a third of his life as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo. As many of you may know by now that Felix Tshisekedi, was named as the surprise, provisional winner of last month's much delayed presidential vote, to succeed Kabila. So what was it like to work for Joseph Kabila and...

The ANC manifesto which was launched this weekend at Durban's Moses Mabhida stadium was dominated by the party's plans to grow the economy, create more jobs, education and land reform. This morning we are now in conversation with Business Leadership South Africa CEO, Bonang Mohale, to discuss if the ANC manifesto met their expectation as business GUEST: Business Leadership South Africa CEO, Bonang...

Time now for our regular Friday feature the Friday Wind Down. Today the spotlight is on Pietermaritzburg’s Noma Khumalo, winner of Idols season 12. She became the first female winner since season five in 2009, breaking the cycle of male-dominated wins. GUEST : Idols season 12 winner, Noma Khumalo

Over the past years South Africa has been a country with a profound and widespread problem of gender based violence and gender disparities. The ANC Women's League has been criticized for not doing enough to address gender discrimination and the levels of violence against women. So has the ANCWL of lost its identity and character due to poor leadership? Does the Women's League instill confidence th...

It’s called France’s boldest attempt at affirmative action. The work contract is part of a subsidised program President Emmanuel Macron’s government is testing to combat job discrimination. The program is part of French President Macron’s broader attempt to bring down unemployment by shaking up the labour market. The gap between the haves and have-nots and the perception that the president doesn’t...

This morning we are in conversation with one of the ANC's top brass, NEC member, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She joins me now in our Durban studio to talk about governance - but not so much about the ANC. We will look at aspects such as Evaluation and Monitoring, Poor Governance, issues of service delivery, how to fix ailing municipalities, the challenges in the North West and overall our role on t...

Democratic Republic of Congo's Catholic Church said that election results tallied by its observers do not match official results announced by the election commission. Opposition candidate Felix Tshisekedi was declared winner in a surprise win as President Joseph Kabila steps down. The Church said its vote count showed a different winner but did not specify which candidate… GUEST: Carine Mulamba, I...

We are now in conversation with ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli, to discuss ANC Unity ahead of next year's elections. GUEST: ANC KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli

Long-standing ANC member and former government spokesperson, Mzwanele Manyi has joined a new political home, African Transformation Movement (ATM). Leaving his former political home the ANC. He made the announcement at a press briefing in Midrand, Johannesburg yesterday. Manyi says the ANC has lost its moral compass and that it is time South Africans allow the party to retire... GUEST: Professor S...

We are now in conversation with KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Sibongiseni Dhlomo, who joins me now in our SABC Durban studio, to speak to us about whether the ANC is ready to govern and if the party has learnt from some of its mistakes. Guest: KwaZulu-Natal Health MEC, Sibongiseni Dhlomo

Last week Minister of Basic Education, Angie officially announced the National Senior Certificate (NSC) matric exam results. In her recent column however, Anne Oberholzer, CEO of the Independent Examinations Board Interrogates what 'educatedness' really means. She says "To prepare for the examinations, many schools adopt a rigorous process of "drill and practice", forcing Grade 12 learners to writ...

Transport Minister, Blade Nzimande, says Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa) must account for the collision between two trains which happened at the Mountain View train station in Pretoria on Tuesday. Three people were killed and an estimated 300 others injured, 80 of them seriously. A preliminary investigation has found that the cause of the collision is cable theft. It caused the signa...

World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim recently made a surprise announcement that he is stepping down after six years in the post. This morning, amongst other things we try to understand some of pressures he may have faced, and also look at the role The World Bank plays in Africa. Last year World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim said, in an interview, that the largest economies in Africa need to star...

According to Metrorail spokesperson Lillian Mofokeng the estimated financial cost of yesterday’s train collision in Pretoria amounts to R21-million. Mofokeng was speaking at the scene of the train accident. Four people have been confirmed dead as a result of the crash. This, while South Africa has been said to have the best rail infrastructure in Africa. This morning we look at the state of SA’s r...