The National Pulse

Statistics South Africa has announced that the country’s consumer price index has broken through the Reserve Bank’s monetary policy target range. This is a results of increasing fuel and cooking oil prices. South Africa’s CPI inflation reached a five year high of 6.5 percent in May. It was 5.9 percent in April. One of the key drivers of the increase is Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.   Guest: Econom...

As we continue to observe Youth Month. Today we assess South Africa’s competitiveness in artificial intelligence, asking - are South Africa’s schools well equipped to introduce learners to the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) economy? Joining us for this discussion is Dr More Chikane, CEO of the Sci-Bono Discovery Centre – his organisation is currently grooming young people to enter and exc...

Youth Unemployment has been one of the trending topics as we commemorate youth month in June. The University of Cape Town has launched a digital bootcamp, an organisation that trains unemployed South Africans for digital roles in the corporate sector. The bootcamp will equip graduates who have not been able to secure employment in the last three years with digital skills. So how will this bootcamp...

Globally renowned nation and city branding strategic advisory firm, Bloom Consulting, based in Spain, has undertaken a study on South Africa’s global reputation on behalf of Brand South Africa. The results of the study depicts interesting insights on South Africa’s reputation drivers as it has revealed that  South Africa remains one of the most prosperous Nation Brands offering outstanding experie...

Road Traffic Management Corporation says South Africa is experiencing an alarming epidemic of deaths amongst its youth due to road crash. According to them, a total of 8 547 young people between 21 and 34 years of age died on the roads in the past three years. So what kind of interventions do we need to tackle this problem? To react to this is….    Guest: Richard Benson, founder of Road Safety Act...

Let us now tell you more about what is happening in the Kingdom of Eswatini where Inyatsi Construction has suspended its operations for a week amid attacks by the Swaziland International Solidarity Forces. It is widely reported that Inyatsi became a target by the pro-democracy Solidarity Forces after soldiers and police killed dozens of civilians who are demanding democratic reforms. For more on t...

The Justice and Correctional Services Department has denied allegations that Namibian authorities requested requested assistance from the South African government in investigating one of the alleged masterminds  behind the burglary at President Cyril Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. The department says there is no official record of the alleged request from Namibian authorities. Imanuwela David is a...

Is south Africa in a position to abandon masks? Health Minister, Dr Joe Phaahla has recommended the scraping of mask use in South Africa as the country exits its Covid-19 fifth wave. Mask wearing is currently compulsory in indoor spaces including public transport. Dr Phaahla wrote a letter to MEC’s also recommending some the country’s entry requirements for travelers be dropped. Are we ready for t...

We outline the objectives of Man Mental Vitality Conversation conference which is due to take place this evening. The conference will look at critical challenges that men and those around them face in society and create a safe space for them to share their feelings freely about their dark struggles. For more on this, we are joined by…… Guest: Dr Vuyo Yokwe, General Practitioner & Man Vitality...

The mental health state of South African adolescents continues to deteriorate. That’s according to the latest South African Child Gauge Report. The report says 10-20 percent of children and adolescents will be diagnosed with a mental health disorder and only one in one is likely to get access to treatment. The report also says 63 percent of South African children live in poverty, while 39 percent...

The Democratic Alliance has written to the FBI, asking them to investigate possible money laundering by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The party says the robbery at Ramaphosa’s farm raises suspicion and the source of foreign currency that was stolen should be investigated. It has also asked the Financial Intelligence Centre to look into the issue. Guest: the DA’s Cilliers Brink.  

We hear from South Africa's leading pro-euthanasia activist, Professor Sean Davison. As you may probably know by now that his house arrest for helping three people to end their lives with dignified deaths is over. Today marks the second day of his release post his three-year house arrest sentence.    Guest: Professor Sean Davison, euthanasia activist

Today, Soweto residents marched to the mayor’s office to deliver a petition protesting power outages. The march follows yesterday’s violent protest that saw groups of community members blocking most major routes.   Guest: Nhlanhla Lux Mohlaoli

Yesterday, Belgium handed over a tooth, the only known remains of the assassinated Congolese independence leader, Patrice Lumumba, to his family during a ceremony in Brussels. Lumumba became the Democratic Republic of Congo's (DRC) first democratically elected prime minister after independence from Belgium in 1960. His government lasted just three months before he was overthrown and killed by a fi...

NPO, Voice of the Unborn Baby says a recent ruling by the constitutional court is a victory for grieving parents who have had miscarriages. Until last week, a foetus that is less than 26 weeks’ old was considered medical waste according to the Births and Deaths Act, taking away the right to bury a foetus for parents who have miscarried. The Constitutional Court says this is an incorrect interpreta...

We look at the significance of the tripartite launch of the South African – German - Swiss Cooperation on the Transparency, Integrity and Accountability Programme (TIP) which is currently underway, having commenced at 14:30 this afternoon. Joining us to unpack the political relevance of this partnership is……   Guest: Stanley Ntakumba, Chief Director: Public Service Office of the Director-General &...

Last week, the Western Cape Equality Court granted Sekunjalo Group of Companies urgent interdict against Nedbank from closing its companies’ bank accounts. Judge Dolamo found that Sekunjalo has a prima facie case of discrimination, and that it has been treated differently to the likes of the Steinhoff Group, Tongaat Hulett, EOH Limited by Nedbank. To react to last week’s court decision……   Guest:...

As we continue to observe Youth Month, we are now joined by Sandy Bukula from Operation Hunger to discuss the uncomfortable relationship between Malnutrition and Youth Unemployment. This as it is public knowledge that young people in South Africa continue to be disadvantaged in the labour market with an unemployment rate higher than the national average.   Guest: Sandy Bukula, Interim CEO at Opera...

The Western Cape Government is calling for young innovators to take advantage of its youth development plan that includes funding startup companies. The province has allocated R25.7 billion towards youth development for the 2022/2023 financial year. The funds have been allocated for use by different departments including finance and economic opportunities, police oversight and community safety as...

Have you been a victim of online fraud while purchasing through an app or a website? Covid-19 and lockdowns across the world have led to a rise in online transactions and many people opting for digital payments as they bought their essentials through online platforms. A new study on the true cost of fraud by LexisNexis revealed online fraud is on the rise in South Africa and fraudsters are specifi...

Namibian police have given clarity on the 2020 arrest of one of the alleged masterminds of the robbery at President Ramaphosa’s Phala Phala farm. Some media platforms reported that David had been abducted and tortured by the police in Nambia after the robbery. Namibian police say this is not true. They say David was arrested in 2020, but his arrest had nothing to do with the robbery. Police...

Gauteng Premier David Makhura has revealed a new fifteen member Advisory Panel to implement strategy by the provincial government to tackle youth unemployment among many other issues that confront young people. The Youth Development Strategy, which is expected to be implemented from this year to 2030, is set to improve the participation of young people in the economy. The panel is co-chaired by Oa...

Amidst challenges with the distribution of Covid-19 Social Relief Distress Grant, the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has approximately paid 750,000 in claims. This comes at the back of months of appeals and reconsideration processes for the R350 COVID-19 SRD grants. The payments have been progressive in clearing the backlog due to reconsideration appeals between August and November 2...

THE INNERVIEW: As we commemorate Youth Day we ask – What does the culture of Activism look like and in South Africa and can young South Africans be more robust in their engagement of issues that affect them?   South Africa has a history of a robust youth activism culture. Many activists who were murdered by the apartheid regime died in their prime years. Think Steve Biko, Solomon Mahlan...

    Guest: Sebastian Pillay, Head of Share Investing at FNB Wealth and Investments