The National Pulse

As we edge closer to the State of the Nation Address tonight, we take opportunity to look back on the legacy of the sixth administration as we focus on the successes and failures of two areas: the economy and foreign policy.  We are joined by two experts that would help us unpack not only what to expect tonight but the culmination of a five-year term that is coming to an end ahead of an election....

Guest:  Somadoda Fikeni    

A meeting on water billing between eThekwini Municipality, Department Water and Sanitation and the eThekwini Ratepayers Protest Movement ended with no resolution as inconsistent water meter readings, admission of debts and water allocation were key matters being discussed. Earlier this month, the water infrastructure was under the spotlight as residents in the same Municipality protested due to th...

EFF says all its members of Parliament will not attend the State of the Nation Address (SONA) this evening. This follows an earlier ruling by the Western Cape High Court which dismissed an application by the Party's six MPs including leader Julius Malema to have their suspension interdicted. In a statement that was released earlier today, the party referred to the State of the Nation Address as an...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is this evening set to deliver the State of the Nation Address before a joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament in the Cape Town City Hall. This year's address also comes as the country is preparing to hold National and Provincial elections. Joining us to give us a summary of what’s happening in Cape Town, leading up to the President’s address this evening is……   GU...

Pakistan has suspended mobile calls and data services as millions head to the polls to vote in a new government. The country is also on high alert, with a heavy security presence at polling stations across the country. Voting ends at 1700 local time. Strict rules around election coverage - including what can be said about candidates, campaigning and opinion polls - remain in place until 23:59 loca...

It's all systems go and Parliament says it is ready to host SONA this evening. Yesterday, National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula and NCOP Chairperson Amos Masondo briefed the media on the state of readiness for the State of the Nation Address, and the handover to the seventh administration of a democratic South Africa. Let’s now speak to….. GUEST: Moloto Mothapo, Parliament’s spokespers...

GUEST: Ntebo Mokobo, SABC Senior News reporter….. GUEST: Faizal Daniels, National Spokesperson of the People’s Movement for Change GUEST: Vuyolwethu Zungula, President of the African Transformation Movement (ATM) GUEST: Kim Silberman, Economist and Fixed Income Strategist GUEST: Nobuntu Hlazo-Webster, co-founder and Deputy Leader of Build One South Africa (BOSA)

Earlier today, a delegation of Border Management Agency officials  met with the United Nations Assistant High Commissioner for Protection, Ruvendrini Menikdiwela to discuss how these institutions can use port operations data to manage the movement of persons across borders and how these two institutions can work together to further enhance international as well as humanitarian laws. To tell us mor...

Sixteen civil society organizations have compiled an open letter to President Cyril Ramaphosa, calling on his government to align their policy outlook with their fiscal implementation ahead of the State of the Nation Address. The group has criticized the President for making pronouncements on social public spending policy given the austerity measures that have impact health, education, employment...

One of the accused in the Senzo Meyiwa murder case has been accused of having selective memory. Muzi Sibiya is back under cross-examination in the trial-within-a-trial in the High Court in Pretoria. He is appearing alongside four other accused in the murder of the soccer star in October 2014. SABC News reporter, Pearl Magubane joins us now to give us the latest……

The Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) has asked Senegal to urgently restore its electoral calendar. This as they are concerned that their decision to postpone the presidential election that was due to take place this month may contravene the provisions of the country’s constitution. This past weekend, Senegal’s President Macky Sall decided to postpone the elections due to the ongo...

The Inkatha Freedom Party in Kwa-Zulu Natal has raised concerns on the closure of Ithala Bank after the appointment of investigator Johan Kruger to oversee the winding down of transactions. The bank has struggled to obtain a banking license with the South African Reserve Bank. The bank is one of the institutions established by the late HRH Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi, aimed to economically empower...

Earlier today, the Presidency has released a five-year progress report on the achievements of the sixth administration. Some of the themes that emerge from the review include energy, corruption, gender-based violence, crime, foreign policy, and jobs. The report comes just 48 hours from the final State of the Nation Address. To tell us more about these findings, we are joined by...   Guest: Maropen...

MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental affairs in KwaZulu-Natal, Sboniso Duma sets the record straight on Ithala Bank’s state of affairs. He says Ithala is working hard to keep its doors open and ensure that it is compliant with the Bank’s Act.   GUEST: S’boniso Duma, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental affairs in KwaZulu-Natal

It’s Wafa! Wafa! as South Africa’s Bafana Bafana will take on the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations this evening. This will be the fourth-ever AFCON meeting between the two sides, with Bafana Bafana only having beaten Nigeria twice in 14 previous meetings. Let’s now hear from the man who is popularly known as ‘The Chief’ Lucas ‘Rhoo’ Radebe who was part of the...

Local shoe brand Bathu has teamed up with the ‘King Don Father’ Mandla ‘Spikiri’ Mofokeng to launch a new sneaker range called Ndofaya. The new collection seeks to honour the spirit of the Meadowlands community and South Africa's legends for their invaluable contribution to the fibre and culture of South Africa. To tell us more about this new collection is… GUEST: Kwaito legend Mandla ‘Spikiri’ Mo...

The Department of International Relations and Cooperation has condemned the statement from Nigerian High Commission warning Nigerian football fans, particularly those residing in South Africa to be careful when celebrating should Nigeria beat Bafana Bafana. DIRCO says Nigerian soccer fans have nothing to worry about as Bafana Bafana has played against their Nigerian counterparts, the Super Eagles,...

The Health and Allied Workers Indaba Trade Union has criticized the Department of Health amid the ongoing unemployed doctors crisis in the public sector. According to the health union, the National Department was not forthcoming surrounding the financial difficulties they were facing to renumerate healthcare graduates. The union is calling for a halt in austerity measures in order for these gradua...

This year, the iNVESTING  Africa Mining Indaba celebrates 30 years. This year's Indaba is taking place under the theme: "Embracing the power of positive disruption: A bold new future for African mining". Our next guest will discuss their role in the continental conference, how their data informs the sustainability of the industry and defining the future of African mining. To share their reflection...

Following Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa’s announcement last year that Eskom intends to install smart meters in homes across the country in order to reduce the pressure on the national grid. The City of Cape Town has become the first city in South Africa to run an innovative voluntary demand reduction programme called ‘Power Heroes programme’. According to the Mayor of Cape Town, the programme is...

Earlier today, Parliament held a media conference to share the state of readiness for the final State of the Nation Address of the sixth administration. This State of the Nation Address also takes place on the backdrop of South Africa celebrating 30 years of democracy and the nation preparing for its seventh national elections. To share what the public needs to know, we are joined by... Guest: Syl...

In the Klein Karoo, several towns do not have access to electricity, water and mobile network after thunderstorms damaged seven Eskom towers this past weekend. Western Cape government has deployed disaster management teams to communities of Central Karoo, Garden Route and Overberg communities. Our next guest has received calls to also assist with affected schools, old age homes, and hospitals and...

About few hours ago, the Electoral Commission briefed the media on the outcomes of its voter registration weekend. According to the commission, the two registration weekends have given the country a growth of 1,2  million on the voters’ roll. What is even more interesting is the fact that 77 percent are young persons under the age of 29 who will be entering the voters’ roll for the first time. GUE...

In conversation with the newly appointed AmaZulu Traditional Prime Minister, Reverend Thulasizwe Buthelezi. He joins us to tell us more about his new role and also to give us an update on matters related to the Zulu royal household. While briefing the media yesterday, Buthelezi said he learned a lot from the legacy of Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi and he will ensure that he safeguards the Zulu monar...