The National Pulse

South Africa’s inflation rate continues to skyrocket. Stats SA says it reached 7.4% last month, reaching a 13 year high. Bread, electricity, fuel and public transport prices among others saw the saw the sharpest increase. These are basic necessities that most people can no-longer afford. Does inflation targeting still serve the interests of South Africans considering the current economic climate?...

Tembisa residents have taken to the streets today in protest against among other things, the proposed electricity tariff hike as well as lack of service delivery. Police fired rubber bullets earlier when they clashed with residents. How is the situation now? Guest: Xolani Mnisi, Tembisa resident and Public Relations Officer of the Tembisa Community Forum.  

The Democratic Alliance in Kwa-Zulu Natal conducted oversight inspections of community halls provided to KZN Flood victims. The DA has raised concerns that the provincial government's efforts to build new homes has been slow. The DA is set to approach the SA Human Rights Commission on the inhumane conditions that victims are exposed to within the sites and get temporary housing allocated to victim...

Ndifuna Ukwazi has filed a notice of motion before the Equality Court to challenge the City of Cape Town's amendments to the Street, Public Places and Prevention of Noise Nuisance by-laws. Guest: Jonty Cogger - Attorney at Ndifuna Ukwazi Law Centre.

Twitter has managed to fast-track its bid to get Elon Musk to complete the $44 billion (R752 billion) buyout for the tech application. The trial is set to determine the social network's future, not only financially but also socially as Musk has said that Twitter should allow any legal speech. This position  has sparked fears the network could be used to incite violence.   Guest: Kyle Zeeman, Digit...

A Soweto school has been shut down by parents as the School Governing Body asks for the intervention of provincial government. The SGB claims the Job Rathebe Junior secondary school does not have a principal and the conditions under which learners are being taught are in humane. Parents say no learning will take place in the school until provincial government intervenes. Guest: Gauteng Education s...

The Public Protector’s Impeachment Inquiry continues in parliament. Former investigator, Tebogo Kekana was subpoenaed by the inquiry and he started his cross examination on Monday. His testimony continues today. He revealed he was once asked not to take notes at a meeting between former State Security Agency boss Arthur Fraser and Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane. What has Kekana revealed today? We are...

President Ramaphosa has missed the deadline to answer questions in relation to the Phala Phala farm incident. The Presidency applied for another extension to the Office of the Public Protector and this application was rejected yesterday. This means that the President has seven days to respond to the questions in line with Section 7.4(a) of the Public Protector’s Act. Guest: legal nanalyst, Benedic...

The death of ANC Deputy Secretary General, Jessie Duarte as well as poet and struggle stalwart, Don Mattera has sparked a conversation around Muslim procedures post someone’s death. The two were both Muslim and were buried within 24 hours as per procedure. For majority of people in the country, funerals take a minimum of a week to organise. What is the ideology behind the quick burial in the Musli...

So, what exactly is methanol? Government officials in the Eastern Cape said that they have detected methanol in the bodies of 21 teenagers who were found dead at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London late last month. Why is this substance bad for consumption? We are now joined by chemical engineer, Atwine Tumureebire. 

Businessman Sandile Zungu has announced that he will run against Premier Sihle Zikalala and Nomusa Dube-Ncube. Zungu will be pushing for electoral reforms and is calling for the party to move away from slates and gatekeeping by private individuals .   Guest: Sandile Zungu joins us now.

Government officials in the Eastern Cape said that they have detected methanol in the bodies of 21 teenagers who were found dead at the Enyobeni Tavern in East London late last month. Methanol is a toxic alcohol that is used industrially as a solvent, pesticide and alternative fuel source. It’s not meant for drinking. How does a toxic substance make it to alcohol being sold to people? Guest: Lucky...

In the past month, Iran and Argentina have applied to join the BRICS group. These applications have received formal support from China. There are countries that have expressed interest in joining the multilateral group are Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. To unpack this shift, we are joined by Political Economist, Mandla Isaacs. 

Six lions have been put killed near Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park in Ulundi, KwaZulu-Natal. The pride had been terrorising residents  living close to the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park. Residents had been living in fear since the lions escaped from the park a week ago. The lions had killed six cows in the area. Why were these animals killed? Is it impossible to rehabilitate wild animals? Guest: Ntsiki Dlulane –...

Gift of the Givers opened its 13th drilled borehole at Walmer High School earlier today. The organization has been working hand-in-hand with the municipalities and corporations to address the water crisis in Nelson Mandela Bay. Since its arrival to the city, the public-private initiative has expanded three drilled previously, resuscitated one at the K9 Unit and three owned by the municipality. Thi...

We’re still focusing on Nelson Mandela International Day. The Nelson Mandela Foundation is responsible for keeping Mandela’s legacy alive and championing the values he stood for. Their theme for this year is “Do what you can, with what you have, wherever you are”. What is the foundation doing today and for the rest of the month? We are now joined by Gushwell Brooks, Head of the Nelson Mandela Foun...

News24 has launched a crime initiative, CrimeCheck, which has named the Mpisi police precinct in the Eastern Cape as the safest place in the country. CrimeCheck provides a gauge of risk on a series of crime indices as well as on several individual crimes like murder and burglary. Cape Town Central had the highest rate of crime out of more than 900 precincts. Crime Check has used official crime sta...

Also speaking during the SACP’s 15th Conference,  President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that the ruling party is considering the establishment of a second state-owned power utility to reduce the risk posed by Eskom's failings. According to the president, the proposal was tabled by Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe. Is this a brilliant move? We find out from…..     Guest: Lungile M...

The Commission for Gender Equality has released a report on police stations’ readiness to deal with gender-based violence (GBV) which reveals an alarming rate of GBVF case withdrawals by victims, especially women, across the country.     Guest; Javu Baloyi – Commission for Gender Equality Spokesperson

Five people shot and killed, seven others wounded in Alexandra Township in the past two days. An Alex FM music compiler and presenter is among five people who were shot and killed in Alexandra last night. The gang apparently moved from street to street and opened fire. To tell us more, I am joined by…  Guest: Takalani Nemangowe  - Alex FM station manager

Minister Nathi Mthethwa has once again urged all South African citizens to continue sending their good wishes to the Banyana Banyana team that is currently participating in the 2022 WAFCON tournament in Morocco.     Guest: Nathi Mthethwa – Minister for the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture 

Following today’s march that was led by some ANC members, including Carl Niehaus calling for his suspension pending the finalisation of the Phala Phala farm matter. President Cyril Ramaphosa said he will not be intimidated or discouraged from doing his work, he also argued that he has pledged his full cooperation to the investigation process underway. But is he doing enough to clear his name? Or i...

How significant is Joe Biden’s visit to the Middle East? Biden has used this trip to reaffirm his country’s support for a two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But some analysts are asking - why is he silent on Israeli settlements? So post his visit are we likely to see any positive developments in relation to Israeli-Palestine conflict? We find out from……    Guest:...

There is a popular South African adage/battle cry for South African women that says “You strike a woman, you strike a rock”. For many women, this battle cry keeps reminding them that it is not yet uhuru and that they are continuously faced with challenging situations that require courage and strength. For so many years in this country, the ANC Women’s League played a distinctive role in the furthe...

When good performance comes with well-deserved praise: We celebrate one of South Africa’s top performing academic hospitals, Steve Biko Hospital for becoming the first hospital in the country to be recognised with an international award for their excellent work in providing patients with the best acute stroke care.     Guest: Dr Mathabo Mathebula, CEO @ Steve Biko hospital