The National Pulse

Unions leading majority of public servants have accepted a 7.5% wage increase following a standoff between government and the unions for months. Government was offering 4.7%, while unions demanded 10%. Government increased its offer to 7.5% to avoid more strikes by public Servants. Jannie Oosthuizen  

During this year’s International Day of Mathematics Day, which was celebrated on the 14th of March. UNESCO said, greater global awareness of mathematical sciences are vital to addressing challenges in areas such as artificial intelligence, climate change, energy and sustainable development, and to improving the quality of life in both the developed and the developing worlds. But what is disappoint...

While it is known in South Africa that the police treat the reporting of false cases in a serious light – some people just don’t get it. It is reported that a KZN woman has been charged with perjury after she reported a false case of child kidnapping. Joining us to discuss possible punishment that one faces for doing something like this is…. GUEST: Colonel Robert Netshiunda, KZN police spokesperso...

we examine South Africa’s Vladimir Putin conundrum, asking - what will the South African government do if Russian President Vladimir Putin comes to South Africa to attend the 15th BRICS Summit in August? To discuss this, we are joined by Parliament’s Portfolio Committee Chairperson on International Relations and Cooperation, Mr Supra Mahumapelo, following his comments yesterday that he will soon w...

More than 200 residents from Imizamo Yethu Informal Settlement in Cape Town have been left displaced following a fire that destroyed about 60 homes. Victims of the fire include people who were displaced when a fire broke out in the same area in September last year that left 500 people homeless. The cause of the fire is still unknown and mop-up operations are underway. Guest: Ali Sablay, Operations...

Living Annuity: As we conclude our discussion on living annuity, we would like to remind you that over the past couple of weeks, the discussions have explained the basics on living annuities - if you can amend or move a living annuity once you have one and the fees involved. So today’s interview will be a recap on key points to remember about a living annuity.   GUEST: Michael Rossouw, Senior Inve...

Yet another school is embroiled in alleged sexual violation of its pupils by teachers. The department of education is investigating two staff members at a school in Bizana in the Eastern Cape. Two parents have been seeking help following sexual harassment and assault of their children by teachers after one of the pupils shaved her head in anticipation of more sexual harassment, in a bit to make he...

Residents of Thatchfield Ridge in Centurion have been the latest victims of water woes in the City of Tshwane. The have been without water for three weeks now, because their water pipeline is allegedly not connected to any water reservoir. It is now clear whether the developer did get approval to build over 200 houses without a stable infrastructure for water supply in the area. For more on that,...

Earlier on today, labour unions HAITU and ILAWU marched to the office of the Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi to hand over a memorandum of demands. The unions want Lesufi to intervene in ensuring that thousands of contract nurses and those who are under the Expanded Public Works Programme are permanently employed. HAITU says six-thousand health care personnel including nurses stand to lose their job...

Is Raila Odinga at it again? As we look at the ongoing protests in Kenya. Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has urged the citizens of the East African country to take to the streets every Monday and Thursday to protest against the high cost of living, alleged electoral theft, overreaching government and joblessness. But are these protests genuine or they are simply being driven by some hidde...

In conversation with Noxolo Mnisi about this year’s All4Youth Entrepreneurship Campaign, an initiative that is aimed at assisting young hustlers between the ages of 18-30 looking to create their own business empires.   GUEST: Noxolo Mnisi, Senior Talent Acquisitions and Management Partner & Youth Lead Nestle East and Southern Africa

Chief Justice Raymond Zondo says the ANC’s NEC failure to recall former President Jacob Zuma when he was president of the country between 2009 and early 2018 led to millions of rands being taken out of the country. Zondo said this about two hours ago when he was delivering the OR Tambo public lecture at the University of Fort Hare.   GUEST: Prince Mashele, Political analyst

Residents of Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape are asking for assistance after their town was hit again by a major flood in less than a year. Businesses and houses were flooded yesterday when torrential rains fell over the area. The department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs in the province says about 3 000 people have been evacuated this week as heavy rains are wreaking havoc.  ...

Earlier on today, Tourism minister Patricia De Lille announced that SA Tourism’s proposed R1 billion sponsorship with English Football team Tottenham Hotspur should be stopped completely. Last month, it was revealed that government was on the verge of finalising this controversial sponsorship deal. However, the proposal was met with serious backlash due to the high costs involved.   GUEST: Patrici...

As today marks World TB Day, we hear from SANAC about why this disease remains one of the leading causes of ill health and death in South Africa. Also one of the major challenges faced by this country is that of TB patients not completing their treatment as well as those that go missing once they have started treatment.   GUEST:  Dr Thembisile Xulu, CEO of the South African National AIDS Council (...

Approval rating of President Joe Biden has dipped, nearing the lowest point of his presidency. According to a new poll by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Biden’s approval rating fell to 38% this month. So what does this low approval rating mean for his re-election bid or is it too early to even talk about that?   GUEST: Brooks Spector, Associate Editor at Daily Maveri...

Today we examine government’s response to the EFF’s National Shutdown that took place on Monday this week, just to establish whether the response was appropriate and in the interest of the country. Much has been written and spoken about in relation to government’s heavy-handed approach and how Monday’s shutdown was handled. What informs this discussion really, is the understanding that protests an...

The South African Human Rights Commission held an enganement today with the education department, School Governing Bodies, Principals and religious bodies in KwaZulu-Natal to discuss religious rights. The engagement follows different incidents where children who belong to the Shembe Church being forced to cut their hair to adhere to school rules. Their religion is against the cutting of hair and t...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s first Q&A in parliament was delayed after a fire broke out at the Good Hope building where the National Assembly holds sittings. The fire broke out on the first floor and the assembly sits on the ground floor. Investigations are still on the cause of the fire are still underway. SABC News Parliamentary correspondent Mercedes Besent

Five people have been killed in two separate shooting incidents in Tongaat, north of Durban. According to IPSS Medical Rescue, the first incident occurred on the R102 near the Engen garage. This left two people dead and one person injured. The second shooting occurred a short while later, at the Fairbreeze intersection to the R64, this has left three people dead and a further two people injured.  ...

The home of Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana caught fire this morning. We understand that emergency services and fire fighters in the province have managed to put out the raging fire. According to the premier's spokesperson Sello Dithebe, the cause of the fire is yet to be established. He joins us now to furnish us with more details…..   GUEST: Sello Dithebe, Free State Premier spokesperson   GU...

President Cyril Ramaphosa is today hosting King Philippe and Queen Mathilda of the Kingdom of Belgium. According to the Presidency, the Belgian monarchy’s visit will serve to expand and strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and revitalise economic relations with a focus on trade, foreign direct investment, and tourism. For more on this, we are joined by…..   GUEST: Sophie Mokoen...

The minister of International Relations in South Africa Dr Naledi Pandor says cabinet will have to discuss the announcement by the international criminal court that it has issued a warrant of arrest for Russian president Vladimir Putin. While Russia is not a signatory to the Rome Statuette, South Africa is a full member of the international criminal court. We’re now joined by SABC International Ne...

Epson recently launched its new WorkForce Enterprise AM-C products in line with their commitment and philosophy of efficient, compact and precise innovation that enriches lives while saving the environment. To give us more details on their latest offerings is….. GUEST: Yudheer Harbhajun, Epson South Africa Office Automation Sales Manager

Tech giant, Google has started a process of testing and artificial intelligence chatbot called Bard in the US and the UK. The AI chatbot will rival Microsoft’s ChatGPT and simila apps. Bard allows users type questions and requests in English, and gives detailed answers, it also helps compute code. For more on Bard and what the platform seeks to do, we are now joined by Jan Vermeulen, Editor @MyBro...