The National Pulse

The Western Cape Government wants to take off the running of police in the province. The department of community safety and police oversight says it has lost its confidence in national government’s ability to deal with crime, especially after recent attacks in taverns in Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal. It says it has mechanisms to make the South African Police Service efficient and reduce deadly attack...

What is going on with Twitter today? Apart from the tech company’s leadership drama, their app was also down. Users across the world struggled to log into the app. Many received a ‘503 service unavailable’ alert whenever they tried to log in. The app was down both on mobile apps and the actual website. But it is back up now, but some people are still reporting difficulties loading and sending twee...

On Tuesday this week, we spoke to Philasande Mkhuzo, a junior attorney at Equal Education Law Center about the findings of their report into underperforming schools in South Africa. In summary, the report suggests that at least 80% of schools are dysfunctional, and most of these schools serve black and coloured communities. However, the Department of Basic Education refutes this, arguing that the...

Let’s move to the US now where a new civil action has been brought against Uber by over 500 women who say they were assaulted, kidnapped, falsely imprisoned and stalked by their drivers. The lawsuit has been filed two weeks after Uber published its second-ever US Safety Report, which clearly shows that Uber has not taken adequate steps to protect riders from sexual assault. Joining us for this con...

The South African Reserve Bank is planning to declare cryptocurrency as a financial product. This means South African the buying and selling of listed cryptocurrencies will be regulated by the government. A regulatory framework will be created. This is a great move  when it comes to protecting the interests of all stakeholders. Currently, there is no set legal framework regulating transactions and...

A boxing championship belt that was gifted to former President Nelson Mandela by former boxing great Sugar Ray Leonard has been stolen. The theft is thought to have occurred on the night of July 1, and was reported to police on July 2. To discuss what this means for boxing history and legacy related issues is….  Guest:  Rodney Berman  

Does South Africa have a gun control issue and how bad is it? 22 people were killed in different shootings in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal taverns this past weekend. Some of the weapons used in the shootings aren’t given to people for private use. Should we tighten our gun laws to avoid more shootings in the country? We are now joined by violent crime specialist and investigator, Mike Bolhuis.  

We continue our conversation on the state of schools in South Africa. A report by Equal Education shows 80% of South African public schools are dysfunctional. A listener sent us photographs of the Ratjeke Primary school in Limpopo, with dilapidated infrastructure. Children were learning next to walls with no roof. A DA councilor Aldrin spoke to said two mobile classes were delivered to the school...

Yesterday, French health authorities announced that they intend to cut the use of nitrites in food after the national health agency confirmed they raise the risk of colon cancer. To react to this and also to talk more about how processed food affects our health is….    Guest: Professor Michael Herbst, Health Specialist at Cancer Association of South Africa  

In a historic move, South Africa’s rooibos industry has paid out R12 million to the Khoi and San communities as part of a benefit sharing agreement that was signed three years ago. You may recall that in 2014 the Khoi and San were recognised by the South African government as the rightful traditional knowledge holders of Rooibos. To react to this in terms of what it means for the Khoi and San comm...

This year marks the 20th anniversary since the formation of the African Union. It is an open secret that from time to time you hear various voices critiquing the work of the organisation and raising concerns about how at times it takes forever to resolve certain critical issues affecting the continent. But how has the organisation fared over the past 20 years – is it representing Africa well when...

It is Day 2 of the Section 194 inquiry into suspended Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s fitness to hold office. Her legal team submitted arguments to the evidence leader on Monday. Mkhwebane has told the inquiry today that her suspension by president Cyril Ramaphosa was unlawful. Her legal representative, Advocate Dali Mpofu says the process is illegal and and biased against Mkhwebane. Expert...

We’re still having that conversation on the report for Equal Education which reveals 80% of South African public schools are dysfunctional. A listener sent us shocking photographs of a dilapidated Ratjeke Primary School from Ga-Ratjeke in Greater Letabala Municipality. The school has no roof, the walls have caved in and the children are learning next to an old wall without any covering. The basic...

As the November deadline nears for the Children’s Amendment Bill to be finalised. We hear from the African Christian Democratic Party on why they are still opposing certain sections of the bill. The party is concerned that the bill fails to deal with the rights of unmarried fathers.     Guest: Marie Sukers, ACDP MP

SARS employees who are members of Nehawu and PSA will down tools following a wage deadlock. SARS made a 1.39% wage increase offer, however, Nehawu has rejected it. The union says this is an insult to its members and they will continue withholding their services to the revenue collector. Their list of demands includes a 12% wage increase. We are now joined by Nehawu spokesperson, Lwazi Nkolonzi.  

A tavern has been shut down and police are investigating following the death of a 23 year old man in Limpopo after participating in a drinking competition. The man died after consuming a full bottle of jagermeister in one go for a R200 prize. He allegedly collapsed immediately after finishing the bottle and was taken to a clinic where he was declared dead on arrival. We are now joined by Limpopo p...

To react to this report is Matakanye Matakanya who is going to talk to us about the important role that is being played by school governing bodies in ensuring that our education system functions optimally – he will also share thoughts on what their limitations are in promoting and restoring qualitative education in this country.         Guest: Matakanye Matakanya – General Secretary of the Nationa...

We unpack the findings of the Equal Education Law Centre’s Report into underperforming schools in South Africa. The report suggests that at least 80% of schools are dysfunctional, and most of these schools serve black and coloured learners. The same report also recommends that parents and school governing bodies be given more powers to hold underperforming schools accountable.      Guest: Philasan...

The Deputy Minister of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, Alvin Botes is currently hosting the United Kingdom’s Minister for Africa, Vicky Ford for bilateral consultations. The purpose of the meeting is to review the progress made on the commitments undertaken during the South Africa – United Kingdom Bilateral Forum held in May last year between Minister Naledi Pandor and f...

The ANC in Gauteng elected 30 additional Provincial Executive Committee members at a conference that concluded yesterday. The conference convened for a second time after it was delayed due to concerns over the quarantined votes from the Ekurhuleni regional conference. Dr Bandile Masuku as well as Khusela Diko form part of the new PEC leadership. The pair was implicated in a PPE tender scandal in 2...

Yet another dark weekend in south Africa. 21 people were shot dead on Sunday in different taverns in the country. 15 were shot dead at a tavern in Soweto, while four were shot at a tavern in Pietermaritzburg, while another two were killed in Katlehong, bringing the number to 21. That’s three mass shootings in one night and details on the motive still remain unknown. Have we got a security crisis i...

At least 21 people were killed over the weekend as gunmen opened fire on three taverns in South Africa. The shootings further highlighted concerns about safety. Reacting to the Soweto shooting incident, Gauteng Liquor Board says they may consider amending certain existing laws to compel tavern owners to have security personnel at their liquor establishments in order to enhance the safety of patron...

Earlier today, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Education, Mr Kwazi Mshengu revealed that a report from an independent panel found that racism at Grosvenor Girls High School in Durban is systematic and structural. An independent panel was appointed in March this year to probe racism allegations, and financial misconduct after protests broke out at the school. Presenting the findings today, Mshengu said the r...

Salman Khan helps us understand Sri Lanka’s current political crisis. Months of demonstrations over dire economic conditions saw protestors breaking into the official residence of the president and the private home of the prime minister this past weekend. Demonstrators say the two leaders are responsible for the corruption and mismanagement that led to the collapse of the country’s economy. But ho...

Public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan was heckled by attendees at a public lecture at Wits University. Gordhan was speaking about the reform of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) at the event hosted by the Wits School of Governance as part of the university’s centenary celebrations. The session was then halted after audience members shouted at the minister saying that he is failing SOE’s. In the...