The National Briefing

    Guest: Dr. Alex Mashilo: SACP Central Committee and Political Bureau member  

    Guest: Mervyn Abrahams: programme coordinator, Pietermaritzburg Economic and Justice Dignity Group (PMBEJD)  

    Mozambique- Maputo  Mozambique has been rocked by the murder of two prominent opposition figures, ratcheting up tensions ahead of planned protests against the election results.   New opposition party Podemos’ lawyer , Elvino Dias, who was also advisor to its presidential candidate Venancio Mondlane, died alongside party official Paulo Guambe.     Sudan – Chad  Sudan Finance Minister Calls for...

    Guest: Dr MJ Maboya: Free State Education MEC  

    Guest: Gillian Maree: Gauteng City-Region Observatory - Senior Researcher  

    Guest: Themba Godi: Former SCOPA chair  

  Guest: Prof Lucia Anelich: Food Safety Specialist and Owner of Anelich Consulting.  

The recent announcement by the Zimbabwean government regarding the transferability of land previously allocated under the fast-track land reform program has sparked significant debate. Former Cabinet minister Walter Mzembi raised concerns that this move could allow elite individuals to profit from land they acquired at little to no cost, potentially undermining the original objectives of the land...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky unveiled his long-awaited “Victory Plan” to the parliament in Kyiv, aiming to strengthen Ukraine’s position in the ongoing conflict with Russia. Despite recent discussions with European allies yielding limited support, Zelensky remains hopeful that his comprehensive five-point strategy can pave the way for future peace talks and bolster Ukraine's defense and...

The Parliamentary Budget Office (PBO), in collaboration with the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network (MPPN), is hosting a two-day hybrid roundtable aimed at equipping Members of Parliament (MPs) with the skills to effectively utilize the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for oversight and policy-making. This event seeks to enhance understanding of poverty measurement and foster dialogue on ef...

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is facing significant governance and financial challenges, as highlighted in its recent presentation to Parliament. The scheme, which manages nearly R50 billion annually, is struggling with inadequate IT systems and poor cash management. Officials have proposed a turnaround plan to address these issues and improve its operations.   Guest: Mr Sithem...

  Afrika Update Report   18 October 2024   Kenya – Nairobi  Kenya's senate voted to dismiss Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua from office by impeachment on five out of 11 charges levelled against him on Thursday, in an unprecedented move that risks pushing the country towards a political crisis.    Mali - Bamako The head of the military junta that seized power in Mali in 2020 promoted himself this...

South Africa is in a better place regarding food security when compared with various countries in the world but this does not mean there should be complacency - Wandile Sihlobo addressed the issue of food security in South Africa on social media, asserting that while the country is food secure at a national level, there exists a significant challenge of household food insecurity. Given the complex...

The Chairperson of the Public Service Commission (PSC) Professor Somadoda Fikeni together with Commissioners Magerule Sekonya and Bheki Zulu will meet with His Majesty, King Makhosoke II Mabhena of Amandebele Kingship on Friday, 18 October 2024, in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. The meeting will also be attended by Deputy Chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders, Inkosi Langa...

  Afrika Update Report   17 October 2024   Egypt- Cairo  Egypt's Sisi replaces head of powerful general intelligence agency  Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi named Major General Hassan Mahmoud Rashad as head of the powerful general intelligence agency on Wednesday, appointing the outgoing chief Abbas Kamel as an adviser to the presidency.  Haiti – Kenya  Haitian prime minister urges Kenyan p...

On Monday, China initiated new military drills near Taiwan, described by Beijing as "punishment" for Taiwanese President William Lai's recent speech in which he reaffirmed the island's commitment to resist annexation. This escalation comes amid ongoing tensions regarding Taiwan's sovereignty, which China claims as its territory.   Guest: Prof David Monyae is the Director for the Centre for Africa-...

A conclusion of the public participation process for the renaming of Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive has been reached. With over 70,000 letters submitted, this initiative has achieved the largest public engagement for a name change in Johannesburg’s history, showcasing a remarkable unity across diverse communities.   Guest: Alie Komape: Communications Manager at #Africa4Palestine  

The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is currently facing significant financial and governance challenges, as highlighted by CEO Collin Letsoalo during a recent briefing to Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa). Letsoalo's candid remarks reveal systemic issues that disproportionately affect the poor, raising questions about the fund's accessibility and operational integrity.   Guest: C...

In a recent statement, ActionSA parliamentarian Lerato Ngobeni emphasized that South Africa may be its own worst enemy when it comes to handling foreign nationals. After a series of oversight visits focused on the Department of Home Affairs, Ngobeni shared her insights on the challenges and costs associated with deporting foreign nationals, underscoring the need for a more effective approach.   Gu...

On World Food Day, a stark reality emerges: South Africa generates an estimated 16.7 million tonnes of food waste, enough to feed 40 million people. With 63.5% of households facing food insecurity, urgent intervention is needed to address this pressing issue.   Guest: Kate Stubbs: Director of Business Development and Marketing at Interwaste  

On October 16, 2024, the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) expressed significant concern regarding the adverse audit outcomes of the Road Accident Fund (RAF) for the 2023/2024 financial year. This ongoing issue highlights a contentious disagreement between the RAF and the Auditor-General, raising critical questions about financial practices and sustainability.   Guest: Songezo Zibi: SC...

The recent proposal to rename Sandton Drive to Leila Khaled Drive has sparked significant controversy, particularly due to the vocal support from Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi and Johannesburg Mayor Dada Morero. Their actions are perceived as a mockery of the public participation process, which concluded recently, and have raised critical questions about governance priorities in Johannesburg.   G...

Pule Mabe has announced his decision to step aside from his position as an ANC NEC member following fraud charges related to a 2017 tender awarded to his company, Enviro Mobi. He emphasizes that this action does not indicate any admission of guilt.   Guest: Snuki Zikalala: President of the ANC Veterans League   

Clicktivism – or social-media driven activism has become pervasive in today's digital and social-media , super-connected world. We've all done it – you notice a person or company engaging in behaviour you find deplorable, and you decide you will do something about it. So you start a social media campaign or petition, and sometimes name and shame that person and others associated with them, possibl...

Almost 40% of the world’s anti-HIV pill users live in South Africa: As of August 2024, South Africa has established the world's largest HIV prevention pill program, with 1.65 million HIV-negative individuals using the anti-HIV pill at least once. This initiative is crucial in combating the 150,000 new HIV infections reported in 2023 and aligns with global targets set by UNAIDS to reduce new infect...