The National Pulse

Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation attended the High-Level Korea-Africa conference held in Nairobi, Kenya. The conference is a gathering among 25 member states of the African Union and Korea to foster collaboration, promote knowledge exchange, and identity projects that promote the growth of the African economy. The conference is a strategic partnership to build to...

Narges Mohammadi, a jailed Iranian human rights activist, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating for human rights in Iran. Mohammadi was sentenced for the recent nationwide protests over the death of 22-year-old Amini, who died after she was detained by the country’s police.    GUEST: Ebrahim Deen, Independent Commentator &  Researcher

Jeffrey Donson, the controversial mayor of Kannaland Municipality in the Western Cape has been suspended together with his son Vlancio, a councillor in the Oudtshoorn Municipality for bringing ICOSA into disrepute and sowing discord within the party. To elaborate further on this, we are now joined by…..   GUEST: Dawid Kamfer, Provincial Chairperson of the Independent Civic Organisation of South Af...

Cash-in transit heists continue to be a problem in South Africa. Earlier on today - four suspected cash-in-transit robbers were killed by police during a shootout in KZN. The Cash-in-Transit Association of South Africa (CITASA) warns that Cash-in transit robberies increased in the third quarter of the 2023 calendar year. According to them, South Africa has seen an increase of +8% year on year, fro...

Researchers at the Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute in Linköping, led by Dr Astrid Linder, have developed a world's first female crash test dummy that is designed to ensure that women are better protected in cars. But can it make driving safer for women? For more on this we're joined by ..... in Sweden Guest: Astrid Linder, an Engineer at the Swedish National Road and Transpo...

THE INNERVIEW:  Is there a space for legal academics to act as judges in our judicial system or should academics be separated from the judiciary so that they can be free to scrutinize judges and critique their rulings objectively?   Our discussion is informed by Chief Justice Raymond Zondo’s remarks that senior lawyers and legal academics will now be considered for appointment directly to the Cons...

Two more children perish due to suspected food poisoning in Gauteng, this time in Bekkersdal, West Rand. The two children had bought snacks at a taxi rank. The South African Police Services in Gauteng has opened an inquest and the Department of Health in Gauteng has released a new statement on the matter. To help us understand what role it will play in intensifying awareness on food safety, we are...

Today, Teachers around the world are being celebrated for shaping society through education and South Africa is no exception. World Teacher's Day is celebrated under the 2023 theme: "The teachers we need for the education we want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage". According to the Recruitment Database of Qualified South African Educators, over 21,000 registered educators are...

President Cyril Ramaphosa has officially launched the Border Management Authority (BMA) in Musina, Limpopo. The launch of the BMA means that South Africa now has an integrated border management platform, with a single command and control with which to support the attainment of secure borders, safe travel and trade. Guest: Retired General David Shilembe, Deputy Commissioner for BMA

The South African Municipal Workers Union is calling on the national government to take over administration of the Lichtenburg based Ditsobotla Local Municipality. This is after workers at the beleaguered Municipality were not paid their September salaries. Samwu says the non-payment of salaries is an indictment on the provincial governments efforts to intervene in the ailing municipality followin...

We look at the third meeting of the European Political Community that is currently underway in Spain. We understand that EU leaders who are attending this meeting are expected to discuss how to make Europe more resilient, prosperous and geostrategic, and of course security issues will also be discussed, especially Russia's war in Ukraine.   GUEST (FRANCE): Professor John Keiger, former research di...

Anti-Apartheid activist and internationally acclaimed academic, Prof. Jerry Coovadia passes away  Focus: Anti-Apartheid activist and internationally acclaimed academic, Prof. Jerry Coovadia passed away in his family home (Durban) at the age of 83. Prof. Coovadia became world-renowned for his research in HIV/AIDS, with a particular focus on the transmission of the disease from mother to child as we...

The Democratic Alliance recently launched its 2024 voter registration campaign ahead of next year’s elections. During the launch, party leader John Steenhuisen urged 14 million South Africans who are not registered to vote to register so they can rescue South Africa. But what else is their campaign offering and how is it unique from their previous campaigns?   GUEST: John Steenhuisen, DA Leader

Do you remember President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Investment Conference that took place in April this year? Well in case you have forgotten about it, let me remind you that more than R360 billion worth of investment pledges were secured during the conference. Another piece of good news post that conference is that the rollout of investment of R500 million pledged by SA Taxi has already created more than...

Two young children in Naledi, Soweto have tragically passed away this week after allegedly consuming biscuits and juice they purchased from a spaza shop in their community. Two of their friends who also consumed the goods are in hospital fighting for their lives. A funeral parlour and a tombstone maker have offered to assist with the arrangements, free of charge. Our next guests would like to make...

Business Unity SA (Busa) is calling for the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) to be placed under immediate administration, citing concerns that calls for the authorities to intervene have gone unheeded. They say they are worried about the systemic dysfunction at the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) that is putting the livelihoods of workers at risk. GUEST: Sanelisiwe Jantjies, Social Policy Manag...

Kevin McCarthy has been removed from his position as U.S House Speaker – a first in the country’s history. McCarthy was removed in a 216-210 by dissidents within his own party. After being ousted as speaker of the House, McCarthy told reporters that he won’t run for speaker again. But where did he go wrong and why was he removed? GUEST: (UK) Professor David Dunn, Professor of International Politic...

Families living on the Welverdiend farm in Vredendal on the West Coast are facing eviction. This is after a new property owner has turned down the offer provided by the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development to allow the families to keep their homes. The new property owner wants to use the homes for new employees. While the families have been asked to relocate to RDP homes in...

Lobola negotiations between the two families are a necessary part of the process of a valid customary marriage. However, Lobola does not have to be paid up is not a sufficient reason to say the marriage does not exist. This is in light of the customary marriage case where the family of the deceased challenged the validity of the marriage certificate as a result of this eventuality. The court found...

This week, Parliament has released the outcomes surrounding breaches in the Code of Ethical Conduct and Disclosure of Members’ Interests. This is in light of the Ethics Committee's recommendation to the National Assembly that Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Chief Whip, Floyd Shivambu should be fined nine days of his salary for not disclosing the payments made to VBS yesterday. Meanwhile, Minister...

Guest: Veli Sinqana - DENOSA Provincial Secretary in the Eastern Cape  

The Electoral Commission has revealed that the revision of voting district boundaries for 2024 elections has given rise to 23 296 voting districts, compared to 23 148 for the 2021 Municipal Elections. Joining us to explain how this increase in voting districts will affect the country’s electoral efficiency and planning is……   GUEST: Mawethu Mosery, Deputy Chief Electoral Officer in Outreach

Anti-crime activist and independent safety consultant, Zona Morton, has approached AfriForum’s Advocate Gerrie Nel to investigate the murder of Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit detective Charl Kinnear. Morton believes that the involvement of AfriForum’s private prosecution unit could shed light on Kinnear’s murder. Charl Kinnear, a detective from the Anti-Gang Unit in Western Cape, was gunned down outs...

DR Congo’s Nobel Peace Prize winner, Dr Denis Mukwege has announced his candidacy as president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mukwege will challenge current President Felix Tshisekedi in the upcoming December elections.  GUEST: Nixon Katembo, Africa Affairs Analyst who also works for Channel Africa

The National Freedom Party, whose councillors have been under serious attacks, is calling on the national government to consider imposing a curfew in the Nongoma area. Some of you may recall that since July this year, NFP councillors in the area of kwaNongoma have been mercilessly attacked and killed.  GUEST: Canaan Mdletshe, Secretary General of the National Freedom Party (NFP)