The National Pulse

We look at the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party, which will kick off on Sunday. President Xi Jinping is expected to outline China’s achievements in science and technology, and also to provide political direction in terms of how the country intends to limit the human and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Joining us to discuss the significance of this congress is ……    G...

As ANC elective conference approaches. Contenders for top six positions continue to raise their hands. This as we see more and more individuals availing themselves while on the other hand, branches continue to name their preferred candidates. In a wide-ranging interview, we hear from Mdumiseni Ntuli who is eyeing to take over the Secretary General’s office at Luthuli House. The office has been ver...

We might have relaxed regulations, but Covid-19 is still here. The South African Medical Research Council says it’s picked up a sharp increase in Covid-19 strain at waste treatment plants in the Western Cape. The council has been tracking the pandemic through a surveillance programme in waste water treatment plants in six provinces. The trend corresponds with the increasing number of covid-19 case...

Advocate Pansy Tlakula explains why the office of the Information Regulator should be independent from government departments. According to her, the office is incorrectly listed and this affects its efficiency, and in terms of the law, it should be an independent institution.   GUEST: Advocate Pansy Tlakula, Chairperson of the Information Regulator SA  

The Leadership of the Federation of Unions of South Africa (FEDUSA) has written to President Ramaphosa, requesting an additional paid Public Holiday in December. They are arguing that this year, Christmas falls on a Sunday and in terms of the Public Holidays Act, ‘whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday shall be a public holiday’. For more on this, we are joined by……   ...

In its bid to ensure that tourists coming to South Africa feel safe this coming festive season. The department of tourism has put forward a number of initiatives that will see them setting up tourism safety awareness programmes in collaboration with the police and provincial authorities. The programmes will give tips on how to stay safe. But will this be enough to attract more tourists? We find ou...

What exactly does the Electoral Amendment Bill seek to do and why are civil society organisations and some political parties opposed to it? Different interest groups are calling on members of parliament not to pass the bill. They are concerned that the bill does not change the electoral system sufficiently to hold elected politicians more accountable. Guest: Political analyst, professor Dirk Kotze

Yet another mass shooting in Cape Town. Three people have died and two are in a critical condition following yesterday’s in Harare, Khayelitsha. A 72-hour activation plan has been initiated, while and an urgent appeal has been made to the public for information to assist in the investigation. The Western Cape Government has recently raised issues with failures of the police ministry in province. H...

South African small and medium-sized enterprises confidence levels took a dip in the second quarter of 2022, recent data from BusinessTech shows. The confidence index measures business confidence levels relative to labour laws, access to finance, state-level interventions, and broader socioeconomic realities. How can large companies play a role in creative a conducive environment for SMEs to thriv...

What kind of solutions do we need to solve power crisis in South Africa? Earlier on today, Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe told the annual Windaba that renewable energy remains a major contributor to ensuring the country’s energy security both now and in the long-term. So if we know this already, why then are we not moving with speed to deal with load shedding?    GUEST: Chri...

The Public Servants Association is preparing for industrial action in the public service, after the majority of its members rejected government’s salary increase offer. The organisation is convinced that a strike is unavoidable if government remains arrogant.  GUEST: Reuben Maleka,  PSA Spokesperson

About two years ago, MEC Makalo Mohale revealed that the biggest challenge when it comes to Township Economy was foreign-owned shops which seem to violate every available piece of legislation in their quest to exploit poor people in the townships - two years later, how are things now, has he managed to fix the problem? We ask this question as yesterday, the MEC had a dialogue with township busines...

Let’s move to Australia now, where a New South Wales council is set to replace an apartheid-era South African flag after numerous complaints and pleas from the South African High Commission. The flag has flown in Cooma since 1959, along with nearly 30 others that recognise the nationalities of those who worked on the Snowy Hydro Scheme. To react to this is…..  GUEST: Professor Pitika Ntuli, Histor...

The discovery of six decomposing bodies of people suspected to have been sex workers has brought up yet again, the issue of safety of sex workers. Civil Society organisations say decriminalising sex work will minimise the safety risks, especially for women. Guest: Rev. Bafana Khumalo, Sonke Gender Justice Co-Founder.

How do we ensure that our courts function optimally when there is no power? We look at how the rolling blackouts being experienced in South Africa put breaks on the wheels of justice and all those involved in the legal profession. Just today, Richard Mdluli’s corruption case couldn’t go ahead because of load shedding and there are quite a number of other cases that have been affected as well. For...

Labour Federation, Cosatu says it is insensitive and unacceptable that taxpayers are footing the bill for water and electricity in ministerial homes. Government responded to a media report that cabinet ministers get free water and electricity and said this only applies in their official residences as stated in the ministerial handbook, and not in their private homes. Cosatu says considering how mu...

The case of the 21 year old arrested in connection with the discovery of six decomposing bodies in Johannesburg has been postponed to the 18th of October. So far, he has only been linked to one murder. The NPA says it has evidence linking him to the murder of one of the people, including CCTV footage. For more on that, we are now joined by Phindi Louw-Mjonondwane.

Several civil society organisations are calling on members of parliament not to pass the Electoral Amendment Bill. They are concerned that the bill does not change the electoral system sufficiently to hold elected politicians more accountable. Joining us for this discussion is …..     GUEST: Lawson Naidoo, Executive Secretary of the Council for the Advancement of the South African Constitution (CA...

The 14th edition of the Transparency International Report (TI) has revealed that South Africa’s record of enforcement and prosecution against foreign bribery remains woefully low. The report compels all countries assessed to do much more to enforce against foreign bribery, outlining some key measures to improve enforcement. To tell us more about the outcomes of the report is …..    GUEST: Karam Si...

Twenty suspects have been arrested  during a joint operation against illegal mining led by the Hawks in the North West. The suspected illegal miners were arrested in Stillfontein. At least fifteen firearms and an undisclosed amount of money was recovered and more suspects could still get arrested. For more on that, we are now joined by police spokesperson, Colonel Katlego Mogale.

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), has revealed that South Africa is one of the countries that has witnessed an increase in cyber-related incidents due to COVID-19. According to the council, one of the reasons for the increase in cyberattacks since the pandemic is that many people moved away from more secure offices and networks to working from home where there was less sec...

What are some of the lessons we can take from the ban of tobacco sale during Covid-19 lockdowns? Tobacco Manufacturers say the Tobacco Products and Electronic Delivery Systems Control Bill could strengthen the illicit trade market. Through the bill, government wants to control where people can smoke and how tobacco is packaged. If passed into law, it will make it illegal for people to smoke indoor...

The department of Social Development is calling on caregivers for orphaned children to apply for the Child Support Grant Top-Up at their nearest SASSA offices. Minister Lindiwe Zulu says this is not a new grant, but an addition to the existing grant. The additional amount is R240, and will take the amount up from R480 to R720. Caregivers will have to give proof that the child is orphaned by produc...

Suspended Pretoria chief magistrate Desmond Nair appeared in the commercial crimes court in Pretoria this morning on charges of corruption. According to the NPA’s Investigating Directorate, Nair stands accused of accepting security upgrades worth R200 000 for his home in Silverton. For more on this, we are now joined by…..    GUEST: Sindisiwe Seboka: Spokesperson for the NPA’s Investigating Direct...

The Democratic Alliance has warned motorists in Gauteng to expect the introduction of a new or increased tax to pay for e-Tolls. Apparently, the new Premier of Gauteng Panyaza Lesufi intends to introduce a new revenue model that will take care of the costs incurred by SANRAL. To tell us more about this pending proposal is …….   GUEST: Fred Nel, DA’s Shadow MEC for Roads and Transport in Gauteng