The National Briefing

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

There is outrage over the government’s decision to vaccinate prisoners before ordinary citizens, when vaccines become available Guest: Reagen Allen - Community safety standing committee chairperson in the Western Cape Legislature

Guest: Sithembile Mbete - Senior Lecturer in the Department of Political Sciences at the University of Pretoria

Mediated Conversation: Supreme Court of Appeal ruled Eskom could not simply interrupt electricity supply to struggling municipalities due to non-payment. Guest: Nhlanhla Ngidi Head of SALGA Energy Prof. Sampson Mamphweli- Director of Stellenbosch University's Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies Guest: Sikonathi Mantshantsha- Eskom spokesperson

Guest: Dr Ellen Chipango Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of Johannesburg

President Ramaphosa heightened the emotions around the vaccine debate and added to the already high levels of negativity, according to the Happiness Index Guest: Prof Talita Greyling - Wellbeing Economist, University of Johannesburg

SARS is now going to be able to demand that South Africans who are living in other countries pay tax here - even if they have been gone for several years. Guest: Jonty Leon - Tax Consulting South Africa

Guest: Jan Vermeulen - MyBroadband Editor-at-large

Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi announced that they will not issue new IDs to people except for Matrics and will not conduct civil weddings due to the lockdown Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi – Home Affairs Minister

Guest: Amina Accram – SABC Reporter

The Eastern Cape Cogta MEC Xolile Nqatha has lodged court papers asking a judge to overturn the election of the DA's Nqaba Bhanga as mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay. Guest: Nqaba Banga – Mayor of Nelson Mandela Bay

Covid-19 in South Africa is getting worse, hospitals are full and a total of 755 people died yesterday. How do we overcome this crisis? Guest: Professor Alex van den Heever – Health and Social Security Systems Specialist at Wits University

Guest: Mlimandlela Ndamase- COJ Mayoral spokesperson

In China a group of experts from the world health organisation is now in wuhan where they will investigate the source of the covid-19 pandemic. Guest: Arina Muresan, researcher at the Institute for Global Dialogue, associated with UNISA