The National Briefing

Guest: Prof. Catharine Esterhuysen, Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University Scientists identify new benchmark for freezing point for water at -70°C    

Guest: Pappie Mokoena, Mangaung Municipality mayor Pappie Mokoena elected the new Mayor of Mangaung Municipality      

Guest: Justice Edwin Cameron, Head of Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services Last week, the Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services - Judge Edwin Cameron said that the Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola had been told of the Thabo Bester escape in October            

Guest: Dr. Sayan Dey, Postdoctoral Fellow, Wits Centre for Diversity Studies In India, some states are again making it mandatory for people to wear facemasks - as the number of covid-19 cases appears to be increasing again        

Guest: Adv. Jan Heunis, Stellenbosch University Convocation executive committee President The Stellenbosch University’s convocation executive committee have called for Vice Chancellor - Professor Wim de Villiers to leave office due to nepotism      

Guest: Prof Bheki Mngomezulu, political analyst The DA leader John Steenhuisen says five political party leaders have agreed to attend a national convention to discuss working together against the ANC and the EFF.        

Guest: Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi, Home Affairs Minister There have been several questions about the passport that Thabo Bester was using when he was arrested in Tanzania - and it turns out he did not have a South African passport at all          

Guest: Adv. Sipho Mantula from Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International: UNISA      

Peoples Mediated

Guest: Zwelinzima Vavi, Saftu general secretary The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) has called on the government to immediately terminate the G4S contract to run the Mangaung correctional facility after the Thabo Bester escape        

Guest: Ganief Hendricks – Memmber of the Portfolio Committee On Justice and Correctional Services In that Parliamentary Committee yesterday, the Inspecting Judge of Correctional Services - Judge Edwin Cameron said that the Justice and Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola had been told of the Thabo Bester escape in October      

Guest: Adv. Sipho Mantula from Thabo Mbeki African School of Public and International: UNISA   Afrika Update Report: 14 April 2023; 1. Switzerland -DR Congo, Swiss President Alain Berset pledges to advocate for East DR Congo conflict victims at UN security council next month as the chair the May sessions; 2. Kenya -Nairobi, Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has called for support from the East Afri...

Guest: Musa Mdunge, Political analyst based at the University of Dundee In the UK doctors who work in government hospitals are now out on strike, some doctors have said that the country’s healthcare system is like a sinking ship     

Guest: Rumbidzai Matamba, Analyst Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised crime says that it now believes there are more than two assassinations every week in South Africa.    

Guest: Motalatale Modiba Gauteng Health Head: Communications As part of strengthening its governance systems the Gauteng Health Department has subjected almost 1600 senior managers and officials in Supply Chain Management and Human Resource Management to a vetting process.         

Guest: Chrispin Phiri – spokesperson: Department of Justice and Correctional Services  If the Correctional Services Minister Ronald Lamola had been told of the Thabo Bester escape in October, why was the nation not informed that he was on the run?      

Guest: Olehile Kgware, National Chairperson for Education and Chief negotiator for National Union of Mineworkers  The National Union of Mineworkers says that it wants a 15% wage increase at Eskom even as the utility fails to generate adequate electricity.      

Guest: Gabriel Crouse, Head of Campaigns at the Institute of Race Relations. President Ramaphosa has now signed the Employment Equity Bill into law into law, but the Institute of Race Relations says that it opposes the bill        

Guest: Prof. Elmi Muller, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences: Stellenbosch University Biomedical Research Institute, which has already hosted the World Health Organization’s director-general, is in pursuit of becoming a global leader in biomedical sciences.                

Guest: Ayanda Wigzell, Independent Journalist Guest: Wendy Alberts, CEO at Restaurant Association of South Africa Guest: Craig Jacobs, Sunday Times social columnist Guest: Bronwyn Bronwyn Williams, Flux Trend future finance specialist Mediated Conversation: Before the pandemic there was a huge night-time economy – taverns, events and restaurants. has there been a shift on how people socialize?    

  Guest: Selby Bokaba – City of Tshwane Spokesperson Guest: Gundo Maswime - Civil Engineering Lecturer at the University of Cape Town The City of Tshwane has now restored power in some parts of the area after pylons collapsed - causing massive power cables to fall onto the N4 over the weekend              

Guest: Johann Ferreira, Intercape CEO  Bus Company Intercape is suing Police Minister Bheki Cele saying that in the last few weeks, fourteen of its busses have been attacked in the Eastern Cape            

Guest: Prof. Adrian Saville, Professor of Economics Finance and Strategy at GIBS The 5TH Investment Conference starts today, how tough is the environment for government - it wants investment - how tough is it right now to attract that investment?          

Guest: Mark Barnes, former Post Office CEO There are at least two creditors who have sought the provisional liquidation of the Post Office - and that a court has placed it in provisional liquidation      

Eskom says that following a breakdown of a generation unit at Medupi Power Station, Stage 6 loadshedding will continue until further notice. Guest: Clyde Mallison, Independent energy analyst