The National Pulse

Last week Friday, finance minister Enoch Godongwana published new legislation for the Preferential Procurement Policy Framework Act (PPPFA). The new regulations outline the criteria that SOEs need to follow when awarding tenders. The law change is expected to come into effect on 16 January 2023.   GUEST: Tshiamo Sedumedi, Managing Director @Mncedisi Ndlovu Sedumedi Attorneys (MNS)  

Residents of Tshwane in the West of the city are unhappy about the installation of new electricity prepaid meters. Aggrieved residents under the Lotus, Atteridgeville, Saulsville Civic Association say what seemed like a wise move to tackle the non-payment of electricity in the municipality, has emerged as an exceedingly expensive exercise. The association has now called on Eskom to intervene.   GU...

Suspected al-Shabaab militants have attacked a Somali military base in the central Galgaduud region. Apparently, this happened in the early morning hours (today). Since 2006, the al Qaeda-linked Islamist group has killed tens of thousands of people in their fight to overthrow Somalia's Western-backed central government.    GUEST: Dr Mustafa Mheta, Senior Africa Researcher at Media Review Network &...

How should South Africa and the rest of the continent approach the upcoming Cop27 Conference and what lessons were learned from the Paris Agreement that our cities can use in spearheading climate change programs, also in ensuring that they limit global warming.    GUEST: Sello Mphaga, Head of City Sustainability in the City of Tshwane  

This afternoon, the Gauteng Premier briefed the media on how the province will settle the 30% E-Toll bill and how it will fund the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project. This follows the announcement by Finance Minister Enoch Godogwana that the National Treasury would settle 70% of the debt. Premier Lesufi did reassure the public that there will be a consultative conference that will serve as a plat...

As part of promoting their child protection services, the Minister of Social Development launched a new report alongside of an international network of civil society organizations that focuses on ending the sexual exploitation and trafficking of children. This report is significant as it comes two days after the GBVF Summit held earlier this week and is aligned to the Minister Lindiwe Zulu's commi...

Is paying for Twitter’s blue tick really worth it? New Twitter boss, Elon Musk announced this week that Twitter will now charge eight dollars per month for their Blue Service which includes the verified blue tick next to one’s handle. Musk says the move will somehow solve the platform’s issues with bots and trolls while creating a new revenue stream for the company. Joining us to talk about the im...

The World Bank has approved South Africa’s loan for a $497 million (around R9 billion) project to decommission and repurpose the Komati coal-fired power plant in Mpumalanga using renewables and batteries. The funding is aimed at supporting government’s efforts to transition the country toward a low-carbon development path.    GUEST: Tshepo Kgadima, Energy analyst  

In conversation with former Deputy President of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka who was part of the High-Level Panel for the AU-led Ethiopian Peace Process. She will tell us more about the successful conclusion of the Peace Talks and what it took to convince the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to sign the peace agreement, and she will also share thoughts on wha...

The conversation around BEE and Affirmative Action has been making headlines since Dischem leaked letter where the CEO was highlighting the company’s failure to meet its BEE requirements. A few days ago, Eskom board member Mteto Nyathi pinned some of Eskom’s issues on BEE in an interview that cased uproar. What was the intention of BEE and Affirmative Action, and should companies still follow it a...

Parts of eMalahleni, in Mpumalanga, have been without electricity for over two weeks now, and Johnny Seloane, a technical ward 7 committee member in Emalahleni municipality has warned that the problem may continue for longer as the transformer is still not fixed. We find out why as he joins us now to furnish us with more details…..   GUEST: Johnny Seloane, a technical portfolio ward 7 committee me...

The National Council of Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is warning the public about an ongoing scam that advises people to capture pit bulls or report people who own them for the R1500 reward. The bogus post that has been circulating on social media was posted following a call by the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation to ban pit bulls as pets after a series of attacks on people and other d...

We learn more about the City of Cape Town’s new patrol unit that was launched today. The unit will conduct visible patrols, enforce traffic laws, and respond to incidents detected through the Freeway Management System cameras.     GUEST: Geordin Hill-Lewis, Mayor of Cape Town    

We hear from the member of the ANC’s Legal Constitutional Committee, Dr Mathole Motshekga who argues that our Constitution is somehow preventing this country from achieving its social and economic transformation objectives. He goes on to say that the ANC’s national conference in December should call for a national referendum to resolve and lay this matter to rest.     GUEST: Dr Mathole Motshekga,...

The Ethiopian government and Tigray have agreed to end a two-year war, which began in November 2020. The United Nations has also welcomed the signing of the peace agreement, saying that it represents a critical first step towards ending the brutal war. But how has this been received in Ethiopia and how soon can we see things get back to normal?   GUEST (Ethiopia): Dr “Mama” Desta Meghoo (Meg-hoo)...

The battle for the presidency of the ANC is in full swing as the party’s national elective conference draws closer. ANC Presidential candidate and former health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize speaks to us about his election campaign and why he believes that under his leadership (if he gets elected), the ANC and South Africa can embark on a new age of reform. This as many of us are unhappy about our wors...

SMEGo: One of the lessons that came out of the Old Mutual SME research was time constraints on small business owners who felt under pressure and who wanted services that could create administrative efficiencies within their operations to save them time. This time-saving efficiency would enable business owners to keep their focus on the core business. Today’s interview will explore the areas of a b...

It is the final day of the Presidential Summit Against Gender Based Violence and Femicide. The Commission for Gender Equality says government is failing victims and should be held accountable. In what ways can government be held accountable for its failures and will those yield any results? Guest: Javu Baloyi, Spokesperson for the Commission for Gender Equality

A female traffic cop has been kidnapped while on duty just outside Vrede on the R103 in the Free State. Her duty vehicle was left behind when a group of suspects carrying rifles arrived at the post where she was working and abducted her. For an update on what, we are now joined by Free State police spokesperson, Sergeant Peter Kareli.  

The Minister of Home Affairs, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, has amended the tariffs for South African passports and travel documents. According to him, the changes to passport and travel document fees were informed by the outcome of a bench-marking exercise with other countries which found that South Africa’s tariffs were up to three times lower. This is the first price adjustment since 2011. For more on t...

Professor the Lord Alton of Liverpool, is calling for sanctions against Eritrea for its role in the conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Alton has released a detailed report evidencing the continued collection of a 2% Diaspora Tax by Eritrean consular staff in the United Kingdom. The report calls for an end to the Tax’s collection, especially where extortion and harassment are involved.   GUEST (...

The traditional prime minister to the Zulu Monarch, Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi has defended the involvement of the Anglican church official ceremony to handover the certificate of recognition to King Misuzulu kaZwelithini. Indonsa Yesizwe Think Tank condemned the religious segment of the ceremony, led by the Anglican church, saying the role of the church in the ceremony amounts to an attempt at r...

It is day one of the Presidential Summit Against Gender Based Violence and Femicide. Activists and survivors of gender-based violence have been engaging President Cyril Ramaphosa, highlighting short comings in the police and justice system when dealing with cases. Many have also expressed frustration with the slow pace in response as well as implementation of some of the things promised in the las...

Next week Monday, Stats SA will commence with data collection operations for the country’s fifth large-scale Income & Expenditure Survey. The poverty and inequality outputs from the survey will be published in a series of reports and releases between 2024 and 2026. To explain why it is so important for South Africa to embark on this process is …….   GUEST:  Werner Ruch, Income Expenditure Surv...

Parliament’s Section 194 inquiry into Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office has rejected her latest bid to postpone its proceedings. This after Mkhwebane requested that the proceedings be deferred to next week Monday. SABC News reporter, Bulelani Phillip is following this particular story and he joins us now to give us an update……   GUEST: Bulelani Phillip, SABC News reporter