The National Pulse

Health professionals from South Africa and across the globe are currently meeting in Somerset West for the 2023 Nutrition Congress, to deliberate on nutrition-related challenges that impact heavily on the health and quality of life of so many. For further elucidation on this, we are now joined by Professor Anna Lartey, who is from the University of Ghana and she will tell us more about how the tra...

Civil rights group Not In My Name has reiterated its call for Sipho Nkosi to be sentenced to life in jail. Nkosi has been found guilty of attempted murder after he allegedly slit the throat of an eight-year old girl. GUEST: Themba Masango, Secretary General of Not In My Name  

The case of assault against Donnell Sedibe has been struck off the roll following a number of attempts by the investigating officer to get information from the victim. Sedibe is the son of actress and executive producer, Sonia Mbele. He was charged for physically and sexually abusing his ex-girlfriend, Reokeditswe Makete. We’re now joined by Donell Sedibe’s legal representative, Tiyani Vukeya.   g...

Fighting in Sudan has stopped following a 24 hour ceasefire agreement between rival forces. The country has been in conflict for the past five days in a battle that has claimed over 180 lives. Many injured people are still struggling to get the help they need as hospitals remain out of service. Sudan’s capital Khartoum no longer has drinking water. What does the situation look like now?  Guest: So...

This week, the Ministry of Sport, Arts and Culture will honour and celebrate all South African Grammy Award winners, including the late “Mama Africa” Miriam Makeba who won her first Grammy Award in 1966. The ministry will also use the event to highlight government’s policy proposals that are aimed at honouring the creative sector.   GUEST: Dr Stella Khumalo, Acting DG of Sport, Arts & Culture

What exactly is happening in the City of Tshwane? Residents have been dealing with both power and water cuts. The city says more water is being used that it is being pumped into reservoirs following disruptions over the past few days. Different parts of the Gauteng province have been dealing with critically low levels of water after a power failure at Rand Water’s Mapleton Booster Station. When ca...

The SABC finally has board. After six months of waiting, President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced the appointment of 12 people recommended by parliament. Former NYDA CEO Khathutshelo Ramukumba will serve as the chairperson of the board while Nomvuyiso Batyi will be the deputy chairperson. Other appointments include former SABC Head of News, Phathiswa Magopeni. The board will serve for a period of f...

Today Zimbabwe commemorates 43 years of independence from colonial rule. However, Zimbabwe is always a hotly debated issue due to a number of challenges facing the country and most of those challenges are largely informed by the country’s poor governance practices and economic instability. So – 43 years on - how did things turn so bad for Zimbabwe?   GUEST: Professor David Moore, Research Associat...

Former DA member Mbali Ntuli has just launched a non-profit organisation called Ground Work Collective (GWC). Speaking during the launch of the organisation earlier on today, Ntuli said GWC would show citizens how they can empower themselves in their own lives and they will also empower South Africans to effect change themselves and force political parties to be scared of them and their collective...

The department of education in KwaZulu-Natal has assured learners in the province that most schools will soon have food as they are working hard to fix the problem that interrupted the province’s school nutrition programme. This comes after thousands of KZN pupils went hungry after the collapse of the National Schools Nutrition Programme (NSNP) at the start of the second term. To react to this is…...

What is Prime Energy Drink, why is it so expensive and why do your children want it? The drink has been promoted in the UK, US and Australia, and now it seems like it has hit our shores in South Africa and can go for anything between R200 and R500 per bottle. It is offered both as a hydration and an energy drink. The frenzy around it by teenagers has led to many schools in different countries bann...

Tomorrow, the Mangosuthu University of Technology will honour Icebolethu Group founder, Nomfundo Mcoyi, by dedicating the Faculty of Management Sciences graduation to her in recognition of her contribution to the fields of entrepreneurship and business management. Mcoyi started Icebolethu Funerals about 13 years ago and grew it into Icebolethu Group, which boasts over 130 branches in KwaZulu-Natal...

The National Prosecuting Authority has dropped the murder charge against Dr Nandipha Magudumana’s father, Zolile Sekeleni. However, he still faces charges of defeating the ends of justice, aiding and abetting a prisoner to escape and fraud. Sekeleni was also granted bail earlier today and has to report to the police station in Port Edward once a week, while his daughter remains in custody. Why was...

The KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government has recommended the establishment of a multi-agency task team that will fast-track the construction of a new police station in Mariannhill, near Pinetown. You may recall that recently, Mariannhill made headlines due to acts of extreme violence and wanton shootings of people by brazen criminals.   GUEST: Siboniso Duma, MEC for Economic Development, Tourism an...

CEO of the United Nations Global Compact, Sanda Ojiambo is in South Africa this week for the for the continental launch of the Global Africa Business Initiative. Among other things, the initiative seeks to promote economic growth and investment opportunities in different industries including manufacturing, agriculture and finance. It also seeks to align values of businesses with sustainable develo...

Explosions and gunfire have been reported in Sudan's capital, Khartoum, today. Almost 100 civilians have reportedly died as fighting continues between Sudan's army and the rival Rapid Support Forces (RSF) paramilitary group. The violence, which began on Saturday was sparked by a disagreement over the integration of the RSF into the military, as part of a transition towards civilian rule. To explai...

There are no record of convicted rapist and murderer, Thabo Bester at Home Affairs. This was revealed by Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi. However, Bester is a South African. The only place apart from Correctional services that has his record is the Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital where he was born in 1986. His mother only started registering her children with Home affairs in 2006, howev...

We spoke to artist, Mthandazo Gatya last year after his video where he stitched John Legend’s song called Nervous went viral on Tiktok. He has since collaborated with a variety of artists including AB Crazy, Nhlonipho as well as Canadian duo, Neon Dreams. And now, more great news. Mthandazo has been nominated for two Metro FM Awards, Best Male Artist and Best House Song. Mthandazo Gatya

Earlier on today, Transport Minister Sindisiwe Chikunga released the Easter Road Traffic Statistics. According to her, 225 lives were lost across the country during the holiday period. The majority of the accidents were caused by speeding, reckless driving and drunk driving. To elaborate further on this, we are joined by….. Guest: Lwazi Khoza, Spokesperson for the Department of Transport

Solidary trade union intends to go to court to challenge the new Employment Equity Act that has been signed into law by President Cyril Ramaphosa as they believe that the Act in its current form is unconstitutional and not in accordance with international norms and values. Guest: Anton van der Bijl, Deputy CEO of Solidary trade union  

Who is Ajay Banga? World Bank’s president nominee, Ajay Banga has promised to bring a new sense of urgency to the bank’s core mission of alleviating global poverty, while also taking on some of the biggest crises in the world today. But can he be trusted? Prof Patrick Bond explains why a country like South Africa should be worried about the incoming World Bank chief. Guest (Washington): Professor...

THE INNERVIEW: The energy crisis in South Africa has had a negative impact on the economy and many businesses have either had to spend more money on alternative energy sources or shut down due to skyrocketing production costs. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently announced the Just Energy Transition Plan that will see South Africa move towards green energy sources in a bid to save the environment. W...

Unpacking the SA Investment Conference that is currently underway in Sandton. Since the first investment conference in 2018, South Africa has attracted R1, 14 trillion in commitments. Of the 152 investment announcements made previously, 45 projects have already been completed, while a further 57 projects are currently under construction. Today, President Cyril Ramphosa revealed that South Africa h...

What’s the latest on the kidnapping of 47 year old South African paramedic Gerco van Deventer? A Gift of the Givers hostage negotiator landed in Mali on Sunday in a bid to secure his release. Van Deventer was kidnapped in Libya in 2017 and was later sold to Al-Qaeda terrorists who demanded R55 Million for his release. In a video sent on the 15th of March, Gerco van Deventer said he is the only Sou...