The Daily Discourse

Since the two-pot retirement system took effect in September, the Government Employees Pension Fund has received almost 400 000 applications for savings pot withdrawals. The applications amounted to R10, 6 billion. Thus far (as of November 2024), the pension fund has paid out 361 000 claims. Our next guest will discuss how the continent’s largest retirement fund has navigated the past three...

Long queues formed yesterday (Tuesday) around the country as December the 17th marked the last day of a 21-day deadline for the registration of spaza shops. President Cyril Ramaphosa had given the business owners 21 days in which to register with their local authorities. This after the deaths of a number of children around the country in suspected food poisoning incidents. To talk about what happe...

Today (Monday 16 December) marked as the Day of Recommendation since 1995 in our country also serves as part of getting to know our history. So we are using this hour to talk to Kgosikgolo Kgafela Kgafela of the Bakgatla Bakgafela because on Thursday he addressed his people both in South Africa and Botswana where he announced the establishment of his traditional council and chief representative in...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is today expected to deliver the keynote address as we mark National Day of Reconciliation. The event will take place at Vredendal, Matzikama Local Municipality in the Western Cape. This year's theme is: Healing Historical Wounds and Forging New Futures. But then judging from the kind of comments we hear in the media from ordinary South Africans, have we healed as a natio...

The Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Act is set to change the electricity supply chain by introducing new players in electricity production and distribution markets. The Act would seek to encourage more investment in the power generation, promote sustainability and reduces the risk on the national grid. The new Act will also establish an independent transmission system operator that will be...

As we continue our festive coverage of personal finance, we discuss stokvels as the holiday seasons kicks off. 11 million people form part of 800 000 stokvel groups around the country, according to IPSOS. Many people are in the process of receiving their share group savings (groceries, money, etc) and these stokvels are worth an estimated R50 billion. We wanted to share tips on the safe disburseme...

Government Pensions Administration Agency - All you need to know This morning, we continue our series on retirement and accessing the services of the Government Pension Administrative Agency. Today, we focus on the impact of service awards, resignation and restructuring of positions on your pension funds. We are joined by….   Questions: 1.  What does the term retirement in relatio...

The Special Investigating Unit has been cracking down on different municipalities dealing with corruption. Just this week they raided the Masilonyana Municipality in the Free State investigating allegations of maladministration of two tenders. Last month they pounced on the Makana Local Municipality in the Eastern Cape. They have raided quiet a number of municipalities this year unravelling huge a...

Our next guest has been on our television screens over the last two decades. She has been helping countless families to reunite, resolve their disputes, and rebuild broken relationships. Off the screen, she works tirelessly as a gender-based violence activist through her organization: Open Disclosure, she has written a memoir and steadily building her wellness business, God's Pharmacy. Guest: Andi...

For the past two weeks we've been receiving calls and voice notes from frustrated parents complaining about the challenges they are facing when trying to register their children in the various schools around Gauteng. On Monday Gauteng MEC for Basic Education, Matome Chiloane announced that they as the department are in a better position than they have ever been since they started the placements of...

Part 2 of vocational training and skills balance Last week Monday we spoke to Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Higher Education and a representative from the Department of Higher Education about the state of vocational training in this country. The major problem we seem to be facing as identifying the correct skills for young people who've just completed their matric. Vocational training is som...

Personal Finance with Bryan Hirsch This morning Bryan talks to you who are lucky enough to get a bonus and what your options are. He now joins us in studio to share his thoughts and guidance... Guest: Bryan Hirsch, Chairperson of Bryan Hirsch, Colley & Associates (Pty) Limited

Adv Ntsebeza calls for the appointment of special commission to look into the TRC cases   Last week Friday Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced that Janusz Walus, the convicted killer of struggle hero Chris Hani, is to be deported to Poland. He has since arrived in Poland on Saturday. The news was greeted with shoch from the SACP and the Hani family. At the back of this,...

Eskom answers all your questions Since Eskom's deadline for the upgrade of prepaid metres got closer and closer, so many of you called into the show raising all sorts of concerns from receiving to little units for what you've paid for, to battling with registering your metres. There's also been areas that went for months without electricity. Some of you also missed the deadline and are worried tha...

As companies start the process of closing the year, 108 companies have released their corporate social investment project figures with a total estimated at R12,7 billion. This is a 7,5% increase compared to 12 months ago. A new report has tracked the trends for the year where it unpacks how corporate giving is managed and how these projects are moved from financial giving to their product, service...

Guest: Ntsikelelo Mzibomvu - Visual Artist, Author, Transformation Coach – Social Impact Africa Advocacy Award Winner - 2023 Guest: Mandla Mbata -   Recovering addict and alcoholic,  also drug addition counselor at Tranquility Clinic Rehab Center. He's part of the reality show called Uyaphuza on Moja Love channel 157 Yesterday (Tuesday) we received a voice note from a very worried father seeing he...

The Electoral Reform Consultation Panel (ERCP) is urging South Africans to take part in reforming the country’s electoral system. The Panel has been tasked with investigating, consulting and making recommendations with respect to the broad rules governing the manner in which the citizens select their leaders and how power is subsequently distributed amongst contestants at all levels of government....

As the holiday period is upon us, many of us will be trying to navigate financial temptations of the festive season. This morning, we discuss how you can start stretching your Bonus. We will unpack what most people spend their bonus on, what they should optimally be spending it on and how to stay on track with your financial obligations. To help us and answer some of your burning personal finance...

Last week Wednesday marked the end of the matric exams for the class of 2024. Many of them are feeling a sense of relief even getting authorities worried about the 'pens-down' celebrations that usually take place at the end of the exams. But, we all know the next level gets very difficult as it's time to choose a career that will guarantee employment, especially in the current state of the economy...

Members of the  Treatment Action Campaign and people living with HIV/AIDS were picketing outside the Sisa Dukashe stadium in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape where Deputy President Paul Mashatile delivered the keynote address on World Aids Day. They are calling on Mashatile who is also the Chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council to implement a six-month supply of antiretroviral for people wh...

For those of you who attend jazz festivals, you know more about Bhudaza Lepefane. He’s an internationally acclaimed award-winning saxophonist known for so many sing-alongs such as  Ntjontjobina , Siwelele, E Thatha Nthoena, Bo-Mapefane  and  Mohokare. He now joins us via Zoom to talk about his musical career and where it all started… Guest ( Zoom):  Bhuda Mapefane – Lesotho-born internationally ac...

Professor Srila Roy is a professor of Sociology at Wits University and she joins us this morning to talk about the status of women and children in South Africa. You may be aware that we are now in the period of 16 Days of activism against the abuse of women and children also we are coming to the end of Children’s Month. Not so long ago, the Human Sciences Research Council  released a shocking repo...

Miyelani Holeni our regular expert on issues pertaining to municipalities joins us for the last time for 2024 taking a look at legislation governing local government. In August this year, Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke revealed that only 34 of South Africa’s 257 municipalities have obtained clean bills of health. Not much has changed regarding legislation, but the ministry governing municipaliti...