The National Pulse

Does President Cyril Ramaphosa have legal ground to head to the Constitutional Court to take the Phala Phala Report under review? The report says Ramaphosa has a case to answer with regards to the theft that took place at his farm in 2019. After a few days of deliberating, his legal team said he will be taking the report under review. We are now joined by legal analyst, Mpumelelo Zikalala.

This morning's rainfall has hampered the search for the remaining people presumed drowned during flash floods after the Jukskei River burst its banks. Fourteen bodies believed to be of members of a church who drowned during a baptism ceremony in the river were recovered at the weekend. According to the City of Joburg’s Emergency Management Services, two other people were rescued and are in hospita...

Some Lesotho nationals, who live in Rustenburg, in the North west province, have called on the governments of South Africa and Lesotho to scrap the borders separating the two countries. They insist Lesotho should be made South Africa's tenth province. They also say the borders that separate African countries were initiated by the apartheid regime with the aim of separating and oppressing Africans....

A big and important day today as the ANC NEC meets to deliberate on way forward following the damning Phala Phala report on President Cyril Ramaphosa. Reaction to the report has been split with some in the ANC saying a resignation is the right thing to do, while some say he has not been charged with a crime and should not resign. His spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya addressed the media yesterday say...

The ANC NEC meeting was adjourned very shortly after it started. This is to give the National Working Committee time to discuss the Phala Phala report. The NEC will then reconvene after that NWC meeting before Monday. The party is racing against time as parliament will meet on Tuesday to set up an impeachment committee. We’re now joined by SABC Senior Political reporter, Ntebo Mokobo.  

The Good Party has come out in full support President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party says Ramaphosa should not contemplate, nor be bullied into resigning on the basis of the untested findings of the Independent Panel in respect of cash stolen from his farm. It says if Ramaphosa is not guilty of a crime, he has nothing to resign for. We’re are now joined by Brett Herron, Secretary General of Good.  

We now look at how the markets and the Rands volatility is linked to the politics of the day. This also happened in the United Kingdom, we ask why do markets wield so much power? GUEST: Matete Thulare – Head of FX Education : Rand Merchant Bank

How are ANC members feeling about the Phala Phala report findings against President Cyril Ramaphosa. Ramaphosa will address the nation later today following the damning findings against him. The independent panel says he may have a case to answer. Guest: ANC NEC member, Supra Mahumapelo.  

What are the political implications of this report against President Ramaphosa? ANC NEC members have been meeting today to discuss way forward following the revelations of the report. Guest: political analyst, Mapaseka Muroa.     

Ahmed Motara tells us more about the Solana project which plays an important part in supporting local businesses, creating training opportunities and growing South Africa’s economy. The project comprises three distinct elements aimed at capacitating the renewable energy ecosystem.     GUEST: Ahmed Motara, Head of Business Development @Solana Energy  

We continue to get reaction and analysis to the Phala Phala report released by an independent panel to parliament on yesterday. It says President Cyril Ramaphosa may have a case to answer to. Among other things, the panel says Ramaphosa abused his position when he called on the assistance of president Hage Geingob to apprehend Namibian one of the main suspects, Immaunela David following the theft....

The Democratic Alliance has tabled a motion to dissolve parliament for early elections following findings against President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Phala Phala report. The party says South Africans cannot have a president accused of breaching the constitution. For this motion to pass in parliament, the motion would need a majority vote of 50% plus one  in order to pass in the National Assembly. Gue...

As the African National Congress moves closer to its elective conference, we ask – how does the Phala Phala scandal taint the ANC presidency and by extension of the country as well?   GUEST: Tshepo Matseba, Managing Director @Reputation 1st 

As we observe World Aids Day, we speak to Dr Nkhensani Nkwashu about the importance and relevance of this day, also examining successes and challenges of South Africa’s battle against HIV/Aids. In the last 40 years, the HIV virus has infected over 84 million people and left over 38 million dead worldwide.     GUEST: Dr Nkhensani Nkwashu, Executive Manager for the Implementation of the National Str...

We look at the ongoing tensions between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Yesterday, Rwandan President Paul Kagame accused DRC leader Felix Tshisekedi of exploiting the ongoing insecurity in eastern Congo to postpone next year’s presidential election.    GUEST (Kenya): Dr David Matsanga, political analyst & expert on East Africa diplomatic relations 

Results on the 4 Day Week pilot programme are out and it seems like a 4 day week wouldn’t be such a bad idea after all. Companies in different countries that gave their staff an extra day off per week, without reducing their salaries experienced an increase in their revenue as well as reduced absenteeism and resignations. 33 companies employing over 900 people took part in the pilot over a period...

The research, led by Alex Sigal of the Africa Health Research Institute in Durban, suggests that a new Covid-19 variant may cause more severe illness and death than the relatively mild omicron strain. So what does it all mean – are we likely to witness another surge in Covid19 infections?   GUEST: Professor Alex Sigal, from the Africa Health Research Institute

Will think tank, Rivonia Circle be contesting for political power in the 2024 national and provincial elections? The organisation says while it will continue its mandate as a think tank, it will launch ‘the Rise Campaign’ for 2024. The organisation convened hundreds of South Africans in different parts of the country, one of the pledges they committed to, is “working together to build an inclusive...

The SACP general-secretary, Solly Mapaila, says he's not convinced that convicted murderer, Janusz Walus, deserved to be released on parole.   Today, the tripartite alliance is holding what it calls a national day of action to protest against the Constitutional Court decision to grant Walus parole.  GUEST: Solly Mapaila, General Secretary of the SACP  

The former Constitutional Court Chief Justice Sandile Ngcobo has handed over the report of the Section 89 Panel of Independent Experts that he chaired, to the National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. The panel was asked to determine whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has a case to answer on constitutional grounds following the robbery at his Phala Phala farm in Limpopo. Section 89 of the...

Pakistan Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar joins us to outline the objectives of the 3rd Pakistan Africa Trade Development Conference that is currently underway in Sandton. He will also tell us more about the “Look Africa” Policy of the Government of Pakistan, which is aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s relations with Africa. South Africa has become the third country to host this event after its succ...

The South African Local Government Association in KwaZulu-Natal is calling for an end to cadre deployment. It says cadre deployment stifles the process of service delivery in municipalities. Salga chair in Kwazulu-Natal, Thami Ntuli says there cannot be any success in delivering services to communities if there are people who work for municipalities while they also hold political positions. He was...

we are now joined by Mike Maringa, spokesperson for the department of education in Limpopo. Following disturbing reports about a Limpopo teacher who was allegedly caught by members of the Seleteng community in Mphahlele having sex with a pupil.   GUEST: Mike Maringa, Spokesperson of the department of education in Limpopo

Would the removal of evidence leaders in the inquiry looking into the fitness of suspended Public Protector Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane to hold office mean starting the process from scratch? Mkhwebane’s legal team made an application yesterday to have evidence leaders Nazreen Bawa and Ncumisa Mayosi removed. Parliament’s legal services is warning the ramifications would be serious. What would thei...