The National Pulse

The Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) has dismissed the ANC’s bid to challenge a ruling that compels it to hand over its cadre deployment records to the Democratic Alliance. According to the DA, today’s ruling means that the ANC has five working days to hand over all of the records requested by the party. For more reaction on this, we are joined by…..   GUEST: Dr Leon Shreiber, DA MP

Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi has officially appointed a commission of inquiry that will investigate the unfortunate Marshalltown fire incident that left more than 70 people dead. The Commission will be chaired by Justice Sisi Khampepe and it will among other things investigate the prevalence of hijacked buildings in Johannesburg.   GUEST: Panyaza Lesufi, Premier of Gauteng Province

We look at South Africa’s first black female owned employer’s organization called ‘Global Employers Organisation South Africa’ (GeoSA) that was formed with the sole objective of representing the interests of the employer within the workplace. GUEST: Leonora Paulsen, Co-founder and CEO of Global Employers Organisation South Africa (GeoSA)

We hear from the ANC’s International Relations Subcommittee member, Minister Obed Bapela, after the panel tasked with investigating the circumstances surrounding the docking of the Lady R in Simon’s Town last December found no evidence to support the allegations that weapons were loaded on to the vessel that was destined for Russia. GUEST: Obed Bapela, ANC’s  International Relations Subcommittee m...

Afriforum senior counsel Jeremy Gauntlett has submitted in the Supreme Court of Appeal that the Equality court erred in clearing EFF leader Julius Malema and party member Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. Gauntlett says the singing of struggle songs including ''Kill the boer, kill the farmer'' constituted hate speech by all means and had clear intentions to incite violence. Afriforum application was dismissed by...

As the Africa Climate Summit kicks off today in Nairobi, Kenya. The latest UNICEF South Africa U-Report poll suggests that young people can play a pivotal role in influencing climate and environmental policies. The report also revealed that two thirds of those polled either agreed, or were not sure, when asked if their futures were at risk if they don’t learn about climate change and how to respon...

Emmerson Mnangagwa’s inauguration is currently underway in Zimbabwe, following last month’s controversial elections. Mnangagwa's party ZANU-PF emerged as the winner, securing more than 50 percent of the total votes cast, while the leading opposition party, Citizens Coalition for Change, achieved more than 40 percent of the votes. However, what is puzzling about today’s event is that only 3 SADC pr...

Dr Masha Maharaj gives us more details about a new treatment for the management of advanced prostate cancer. So far, Netcare uMhlanga Hospital is the only private health-care facility in Africa to provide the specialised Ac-225-PSMA treatment.   GUEST: Dr Masha Maharaj, Specialist nuclear physician and Head of the Nuclear Medicine Department at uMhlanga Molecular Imaging and Therapy  

Dischem Pharmacies has been served with an enforcement notice by the Information Regulator following findings that the company had failed to secure the private data of its customers. The company revealed that the data of its 3.7 million clients was compromised in a data breach last year. This includes email addresses and cellphone numbers. For more on that, we’re now joined by Jan Vermeulen, Edito...

The Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu has called on law enforcement agencies to act swiftly in arresting criminals responsible for collecting rent from tenants of the burnt building in the Johannesburg CBD. Zulu also revealed earlier on today that her department has deployed a team of social workers to assist the affected families. GUEST: Lindiwe Zulu, Minister of Social Development

Today marks day two of the Built Environment Climate Change Indaba which is currently underway in Durban at the Olive Convention Centre. One of the issues this Indaba will discuss in detail is – how do we ensure that the Built Industry responds to climatic conditions? This as they will also discuss preventative measures against climate change-related disasters. To elaborate further on the signific...

Pro-democracy activist Makomborero Haruzivishe explains why Zimbabwe’s People Power Movement is calling for nationwide protests post last week’s general election. Their call is supported by several opposition parties in Zimbabwe who have also questioned the credibility of the elections, which were marred by arrests of vote monitors.   GUEST: Makomborero Haruzivishe, National Organiser of the Peopl...

Following Zimbabwe’s hotly contested election – we speak to the President of Forever Associates Zimbabwe, Kudakwashe Munsaka. This as you may be aware that during last week’s election most major observer missions accused members of this group of voter intimidation. However, the organisation has rejected these claims, saying some of the observer reports were a reflection of preconceived notions by...

As we conclude Women’s Month, we look at the 2nd Annual Women in Auto-Roundtable gathering that is currently taking place in Pretoria at the Maslow Hotel. Central to the discussions are the significant commitments made by stakeholders last year, which include creating opportunities for women-owned enterprises in the automotive sector.  GUEST: Ms Siphiwo Mzwali, Women Economic Assembly Automotive S...

A group of 88 illegal mineworkers handed themselves to officials in the North West today. Police say the group emerged from underground at Marikana’s Sibanye mine. The group is aged between 15 and 40. They handed themselves to mine officials first before they were taken by police. We’re now joined by North West police spokesperson, Captain Sam Tselanyane.  

What has been established so far about the building that burnt down last night and the people who were occupying it? The death toll now stands at 75. It is still not clear what exactly started the fire. Emergency teams say there’s still a possibility that more bodies will be discovered.  Guest: MMC Kenny Kunene

NGO Gift of the Givers is currently assisting firefighters who have embarked on a search and recovery operation in a Johannesburg CBD building gutted by fire. We are now joined by the organisation’s chairperson to elaborate further on this….. GUEST: Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, Founder and Chair of the Gift of the Givers Foundation  

Action SA leader, Herman Mashaba says this morning’s fire tragedy was a disaster waiting to happen and he goes on to say that he was insulted and called names when he raised red flags about hijacked buildings. So far, the death toll has risen to 73 and we have been warned that this number is likely to increase. GUEST: Herman Mashaba, Leader of Action SA

At least 73 people have since been found dead and more than 50 are injured after the five-storey building caught fire in the early hours of this morning. It is understood this was an abandoned building with an estimated 200 occupancy rate. To give us the latest in terms of what’s happening this afternoon is…..   GUEST: Prabashni Moodley, SABC News reporter

Government has started paperwork for the process of phasing out the public enterprises department. The planned closure of the department was announced earlier this year. It will cease to exist after next year’s elections. State Owned Enterprises will then fall under different departments. Considering the state of SOEs currently, how will this affect the management of these companies going forward?...

Reserve Bank Governor, Lesetja Kganyago has defended the investigation by the bank that cleared President Cyril Ramaphosa of wrongdoing in the Phala Phala saga. Kganyago was speaking in parliament earlier today. He told MPs today that the $580 000 stolen from Ramaphosa’s farm was handed to the manager at the farm as a security deposit. He says there was no obligation to report to authorities. We’r...

Petrina Pakoe, director of the Peninsula School Feeding Association tells us about a school feeding programme in St Helena Bay that has been applauded for providing nutritious meals to learners and also for ensuring that unemployed women who prepare the meals also benefit academically. GUEST: Petrina Pakoe, director of the Peninsula School Feeding Association

It is day 2 of Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s bail hearing. Magudumana is applying for bail after her bid to have her arrest in Tanzania declared unlawful. She argues she is the primary caregiver of her two minor children and that she was forced to leave the country by Thabo Bester. Her lawyer says it is not true that she was found in possession of two other passports. He also says Magudumana cannot be...

A teenager has been stoned and burned to death in KwaMhlanga in Mpumalanga. The 17 year old is alleged to have been a ring leader of a gang that has been terrorising communities in KwaMhlanga and surrounding areas. For more on that, we’re now joined by Mpumalanga police spokesperson, Brigadier Selvy Mohlala

Post the launch of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), we hear from Professor Andre Duvenhage about what he makes of this new political party and whether or not he thinks they will be a political force in this country, as you know that we have so many political parties already. GUEST: Professor Andre Duvenhage, political analyst based at the North-West University