The National Briefing

Guest: Michael Rogan - Associate Professor at Rhodes University.

18 Last year an estimated 15% of pupils did not pitch up at government schools. Education experts are worried that more dropouts will follow this year due to Covid-19 Guest: Dr Nic Spaull, Department of Economics, Stellenbosch University

Guest: Thato Mothopeng Soweto Tourism Chairperson

Guest: Lucky Ntimane – Convener of the Liquor Traders Forum

The department of basic education to keep schools closed until the February 15th because of the rising number of covid-19 cases. Guest: Haroon Saloojee - Professor of Child Health from the University of the Witwatersrand’s Department of Paediatrics and Child Health

Guest: Professor Leslie London - Professor of Public Health Medicine at the University of Cape Town and a member of the Steering Committee of the People’s Health Movement of SA

Over 100 health professionals pen open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa asking him to review the Ivermectin drug to fight Covid-19 Guest: Dr Naseeba Kathrada – General Practitioner

Farming union called TAU-SA say they will not be able to afford an increase for their workers - and that the minimum wage should be scrapped Guest: Jannie Roux – TAU-SA Chairperson

Guest: Sikhonathi Mantshantsha - Eskom spokesperson

Guest: Sanusha Naidu, Foreign Policy Analyst at the Institute for Global Dialogue

Guest: Mark Heywood - Human Rights And Social Justice Activist

Guest: Lyn-Marie Birkholtz, professor in Biochemistry and South African research chair in sustainable malaria control at the University of Pretoria

There are some reports that the restaurant association is looking at taking some kind of action against government to try and overturn the ban on the sale of alcohol Guest: Wendy Alberts- CEO of the Restaurant Association of South Africa

There has been a record number of South Africans who died in first week of 2021 due to covid-19. According to the South African Medical Research Council Guest: Prof Debbie Bradshaw, Chief Specialist Scientist at the South African Medical Research Council

President Cyril Ramaphosa made 4 senior appointments (Deputy National Director of Public Prosecutions and Special Directors of Public Prosecutions) in the NPA Guest: Lawson Naidoo - Who is the Executive Secretary at the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CASAC)

Guest: Amina Accram – SABC reporter

Education Minister Angie Motshekga is due to speak this morning; she is expected to make an announcement on whether the reopening of schools will be delayed. Guest: Ebrahim Ansur, the National Alliance of Independent School Associations (Naisa) secretary-general

In Italy a political crisis looms as a former Prime Minister Matheo Renzi withdrew his support for the governing coalition. Guest: Roland Henwood - political scientist and commentator based at the University of Pretoria

Guest: Siphumelele Zondi, senior producer and anchor of Network and lecturer at the Durban University of Technology. Guest: Tholoana Ncheke – Media Law Expert Guest: Kyle Venktess – Tech Analyst

According to a recent survey conducted by the University of Johannesbuurg, majority of people are against the reopening of schools on January 25 Guest: Prof Carin Runciman UJ's associate professor at the Centre for Social Change

There’s been long queues outside the SASSA offices Cape Town after the disability grant lapsed, meaning around 200 000 people must reapply to receive the money Guest: Lynette Maart - Black Sash National Director

African Alliance NGO has lodged a formal complaint against Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng with the Judicial Service Commission over comments on the covid-19 vaccines Guest: Tian Johnson - The founder and lead strategist of the African Alliance for HIV Prevention

Guest: Yamkela Makupula Member of the ministerial Advisory committee on Social Behavioral Change and CEO of Diaz Reus Global Law Firm

There's been a wave of criticism at government's roll out plans for the covid-19 vaccines, how will this vaccine rollout work? Guest: Dr Anban Pillay – Deputy Director General (Health Regulation and Compliance) Department of Health

Some private schools reopened yesterday, despite the Independent Schools Association of Southern Africa saying they should wait a few days before opening Guest: Lebogang Montjane - Executive Director of Independent schools association of southern Africa