The Daily Discourse

Focus: Professor Hlengiwe Mkhize talks about opportunities available through the post-school education policy, as well as the importance of pushing for transformation in our institutions. Guest (studio): Prof Hlengiwe Mkhize, Deputy Minister of Telecommunications and Postal Services

One thousand disabled people are set to benefit from an initiative by an organization called Operation Rehab. The project will offer free or heavily subsidised medical treatment among other benefits. Why the specific focus on the disabled community? Guest(Studio): Dharmesh Nagar - Strategy Director at Media Revolution

Focus: The Education Association of South Africa held their annual conference which dealt with various issues pertaining to our education system. One of the experts who attended the conference is Professor Robert Balfour, Dean of Education Sciences at North-West University. Balfour wrote a couple of books on education and his recent one is entitled: Education in a New South Africa: crisis and chan...

Brand South Africa CEO joins us to discuss South Africa’s participation in this year’s World Economic Forum which is due to take place next week in Switzerland. South Africa will be participating in the talks once again and will position itself as “Open for Business”. So this morning we ask, is brand South Africa easy to sell and why should global investors invest in this country? Guest: Dr Kingsl...

When looking for a job, we are often told it’s not so much what you know, but who you know that matters most. The business dictionary describes nepotism as the practice of appointing relatives and friends in one's organization to positions for which outsiders might be better qualified. Despite its negative connotations, nepotism (if applied sensibly) is an important and positive practice in the st...

We examine why South Africa is failing to produce enough school leavers who are competent in maths and science. The 2016 Global Competitiveness Report ranked South Africa last among 140 countries for maths and science. This places it behind poorer African countries like Mozambique and Malawi. Guest: Mzukisi Qobo, Associate Professor at the Institute for Pan African Thought and Conversation, Univer...

We look at the impact of piracy on the music industry, this following the news that pirate DVDs of Sfiso Ncwane's funeral are being sold for R10 on the streets of Durban. It is public knowledge that music piracy is considered to be the main enemy of the global music industry. Guest: Deborah Fraser, South African gospel artist

Focus: We look at the issue of road rage in South Africa and give tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of it. According to experts - aggressive driving behaviors, such as speeding and tailgating, can often lead to road rage. Guest: Ace Ncobo, SA Road Safety Ambassador

Focus: Has populism in southern Africa reached an expiry date among the nationalist leaders? Our guest thinks so and he says the times are gone when leaders of the dominant parties could claim to be the alternative to the established system. Guest on the line (Sweden): Henning Melber, Extraordinary Professor, Department of Political Sciences, University of Pretoria

Focus: Failing or delaying to address a child’s learning difficulties has far-reaching implications for both parents and children alike. The real cost of withholding learning intervention programmes from children with learning difficulties should not be underestimated. This could result in long-term financial burdens when learners have to repeat a grade, while they often pay the price academically...

Focus: As this year will be the 150th anniversary of the discovery of diamonds in South Africa. This morning we establish why mining continues to play an important role in the economy of the country. Mining today accounts for 8% of national GDP and our guest is of the view that this small proportion understates its wider importance. Guest: John Kane-Berman is a policy fellow at the IRR

Focus: We hear from Tshetlhe Litheko on why he believes South Africans have what it takes to turn this nation into a winning nation. He says the foundation to transforming the economy and building a winning nation is rooted in how we build our national pride. Guest: Mr Tshetlhe Litheko, Expert development and Engagement specialist

Focus: This morning we feature the music of Philisoul made up of Themba Mondlane and Mandela Conana. Their music is classified as Afro Soul. They have been wooing audiences with live performance….. Guest(Live performance in Studio): PhiloSoul – Afro Soul group

Focus: Lately we’ve heard of term so many terms that have been translated from negativity to positivity. Terms like “blesser” which was known as a sugar daddy, “mavuso” an event where women agree to a sexual transact. Now we have the new term is “moreki” which refers to people who just want to have fun and buy their own drinks. How do these terms add to the moral decay in our country and how do th...

Focus: Often when we go either on holiday or to a family ceremony in townships or rural areas, our urban kids are the ones that struggle the most to understand traditional practices and cultural gestures. Yet, as the future leaders of every clan, the responsibility of carrying the legacy of our cultures, traditions and languages lie in their hands. In our attempt to conform to a society that often...

Focus: Following the release of Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye and his friend Themba Tshabalala, this morning we ask – what does it take to forgive? Maarohanye and Tshabalala were convicted in 2012 for crashing their cars into a group of school children in 2010. The accident left four boys dead and two others seriously injured.

Focus: Why are spiritual people often depressed and suicidal? This morning we investigate the link between a spiritual journey and mental illness. Chemory Gunko helps us understand what our challenges are as human beings and how to overcome them. Guest (studio): Ms Chemory Gunko, Energy Healing & Life Coach

Focus: The Road Accident Fund launched a unique road safety campaign for the festive season that promotes story telling. The stories from motorists would be a mixed bag from exciting news to the sad stories. What was the thinking behind this campaign and what has it achieved so far? Guest: Dr Eugene Watson, CEO of the Road Accident Fund

Focus: Who is Kenny Motsamai and what was his contribution to the liberation struggle in South Africa? After spending 27 years and 11 months in prison, Kenny Motsamai joins us to tell his side of the story. Guest: Kenny Motsamai, PAC stalwart

Focus: Those who understand chess say it is not merely about Kings, Knights and Pawns, but it's about lines and angles, options that have to be considered and decisions that must be taken. The game also improves higher level thinking skills, advanced math and reading skills. Just how important is chess in improving a child’s education? Guest: Ronald King - an accredited FIDE Arbiter

Focus: We investigate why Christmas isn’t the same as it used to be, asking – how did the entire world succeed in turning the season of goodwill into the modern money spinner of today. Guest: Rev Monwabisi Mcopela, Ordained Minister of the United Congregational Church of Southern Africa: Social Justice Convener

Focus: So much of political ideology is personality driven rather than addressing the identity of the party’s ideologies. Today we ask, does liberalism have a place in contemporary South Africa? Can key questions of justice be answered and served by liberal ideology? Guest: Professor Mcebisi Ndletyana, Senior Research Specialist in the Democracy and Governance Research Programme

Focus: In less than a month from now, US president Barack Obama will be vacating the White House to make way for Donald Trump. When Obama took over there was high expectation and excitement as he made history by being the first black person to take over the country’s highest office. Looking back to his presidency, what will we remember him for? Guest: Dr Dinesh Sharma - Associate Research Professo...

Focus: Elephant back safaris will no longer be operational in Botswana. The ban on the riding of elephants is linked to a new government policy in accordance with the Minister of Environment TK Khama, to improve the welfare of elephants in captivity. Minister Khama’s department studied their subjugation in being forced to carry tourists and found it unacceptable. To discuss this, we are joined by...

What does it takes to protect and serve your community? Most importantly - what does it take to be a great police officer? Focus: We begin the show by celebrating police officers who are committed to promoting public safety and stopping crime. We do this through Andrew Brown’s book titled “Good cop, bad cop: confessions of a reluctant policeman”. Guest: Anine Kriegler, Researcher and Doctoral Cand...