The National Pulse

A body of teachers in Kenya is calling for corporal punishment, including caning to be brought back into classrooms. Corporal punishment was outlawed in Kenyan schools in 2001, but the Kenya Secondary School Heads Association says it has become difficult for schools to instill discipline in children. For more on that we are now joined by SABC News Correspondent, Sarah Kimani.  

Following KZN floods that have left hundreds of people dead and caused massive destruction of homes and infrastructure. The chairperson of the African Union, Moussa Faki Mahamat has announced a solidarity fund to support South Africa during this difficult period. Joining us to explain what this noble gesture means is…. Guest: Sophie Mokeona, SABC’s Foreign Editor

Humanitarian group Save the Children South Africa says the floods in KwaZulu-Natal have further exacerbated the impact of Covid-19 on education. The organization has raised concern about the wellbeing and safety of children in the region. Over 600 schools have been damaged by the floods, while over 100 remain inaccessible. We are now joined by Gugu Xaba, Save the Children South Africa’s Dire...

Convicted murderer and former police officer Rosemary Ndlovu was back in court today for new charges. Ndlovu allegedly planned three more murders that were not included in the list that got her convicted. She is currently serving six life sentences for the murders of relatives and a boyfriend. We are now joined by SABC Reporter, Hasina Gori. 

The ANC in the Eastern Cape has decided to postpone its provincial elective congress which was scheduled to take place this coming weekend, citing internal disputes as thee major reason that has led to the postponement of this all important provincial conference. Guest: Gift Ngqondi, ANC Eastern Cape Provincial Head of Communications Guest: Professor Dirk Kotze, Professor of Political Science at U...

A UK court has issued a formal order to extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US to face trial over the publication of classified documents relating to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Asange has been held at the high-security Belmarsh Prison in London since 2019. So are we likely to see finality on this matter anytime soon?   Guest: Brooks Spector is the Associate Editor at Dail...

Amnesty International South Africa has just launched the third phase of its gender-based violence campaign called ‘Interrupt Broken Promises’. Through this campaign the organisation is arguing that President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government continues to fail the women in the country who continue to face horrendous crimes against them, with little to no action from the country’s...

City of Cape Town’s MMC for Safety and Security, JP Smith says several fire hoses were cut while firefighters were responding to a fire that broke out in Joe Slovo informal settlement in Langa. At least 750 people were displaced and 260 homes were destroyed on Saturday after three fires broke out. Smith says homes could have been saved if it wasn’t for interference with fire hoses and...

It has been a month since the amended code of Good Practice on the Prevention and Elimination of Harassment in the Workplace came into effect. The amendment has expanded the list of things one shouldn’t say and do to their colleagues. Aggressive behaviour, bullying, ostracising, cyberbullying, career sabotage, and racist, sexist or queer phobic language now form part of harassment and could...

Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu has urged South Africans to take into consideration, the needs of people with disabilities as they channel funds and aid towards those affected by the KZN floods. Bogopane-Zulu says people with disabilities have struggled to find safety due to different challenges they face. We are now joined by Sungeretha Maharaj from Rainbow Haven,...

As KZN picks up the pieces after catastrophic floods. Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo has told the Portfolio Committee on Water and Sanitation that some communities in the province are preventing the provision of water to others. He joins us now to elaborate further on this…..   Guest: David Mahlobo, Deputy Minister of Water & Sanitation

Police in Orkney have rescued and arrested a group of illegal miners who were trapped underground. They have also revealed that “of the 77 arrested illegal miners who were all medically examined, 60 are from Lesotho, 13 from Mozambique and four are Zimbabwean nationals.”   Guest: Brigadier Sabata Mokgwabone, Police spokesperson in the North West

As we continue to monitor the ongoing Ukraine-Russian war - it appears that some Western countries are finding it hard to cope without Russian gas. Employers and unions in Germany have joined forces to oppose a possible EU ban on Russian gas, saying it would grind industry to a halt.   Guest: Dr John Stremlau, Honorary Professor of International Relations

Pietermaritzburg High Court Judge Piet Koen granted former President Jacob Zuma’s application for a postponement of the state’s corruption case against him last week. The judge had in the past ruled that Zuma’s attempt to remove prosecutor Billy Downer had no hope of succeeding. Legal Journalist Karyn Maughan says this ruling could have negative implications for the National Pros...

Many have raised concerns about corruption as different spheres of society have been raising funds to alleviate the burden for KZN residents who were badly affected by torrential rains last week. Many of our callers raised their fear that money would be misused as we saw with Covid-19 funds. The roll-out of funding hasn’t officially started and South Africans already fear funds will be stole...

Over 1200 people have been left displaced in Cape Town after a fire ravaged an informal settlement in Langa. Many of those who lost their homes were on holiday in the Eastern Cape for the Easter weekend. Three different fires broke out in the area, destroying over 300 homes. Some residents have started rebuilding while some have been left destitute. Cape Town Disaster Management’s Charlotte...

The ANC in the Eastern Cape will elect new leaders this week. Leaders of the party in the province said they are ready for the elective conference. Current provincial leader and Eastern Cape Premier, Oscar Mabuyane is fighting to keep his position and will be going against Mlibo Qoboshiyane who is the current legislature’s deputy speaker as well as provincial treasurer Babalo Madikizela. The...

Animal rescue organisations have been working long hours trying rescuing and recovering animals affected by the KZN floods. Many animals were washed away in the floods and died, while some have been displaced. Residents have been calling animal rescue organisations to check if their pets hadn’t been rescued.   Guest: Farah Maharaj - Founder of Feeding the Furballs  

The UK’s Home Secretary Priti Patel has hit back at critics her government's plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. She says many who are criticising the plan have offered no solution. She responded after Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said the plan raises many ethical questions.   Guest: Lenin Ndebele, head of News24 Afrika Desk

Political parties, UDM and ATM are backing Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane against the parliamentary inquiry into her fitness for office. The two parties told the Western Cape High Court that parliament could not investigate a matter that was still pending before the court. They are backing Mkhwebane’s court application to interdict the parliamentary inquiry.   Guest: ATM...

The KwaZulu-Natal floods have left a trail of destruction with hundreds of people having lost their lives, while many have been left destitute. Activist group, Abahlali Basemjondolo says many communities in informal settlements have not yet received any help. The organisation says many still do not have access to essentials like water and food.   Guest: Abahlali Basemjondolo’s General S...

In January, the Administrative Adjudication of Road Traffic Offences (AARTO) and its amendment act was ruled unconstitutional and invalid by the Pretoria High Court. Since this ruling, there have been three applications filed to the Constitutional Court including that of our next guest who seeks to confirm the High Court ruling. The demerit system is still active and can block motorists from renew...

Government has extended the deadline for public consultations regarding new Covid-19 regulations. South African can now continue to make their contributions on the management of the pandemic following the termination of the state of disaster after two years of lockdown. President Ramaphosa had said some provisional regulations will remain in place for 30 days to ensure a smooth transition to new r...

Easter Weekend traffic update - In the first Easter Weekend with religious gatherings in two years, authorities are managing the high traffic volumes on our country's roads. Transport Minister Fikile Mbalula highlighted the following roads as the busiest: N1 from Gauteng to Limpopo; N3 from Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal; N2 from the Western Cape to the Eastern Cape; N14 from Gauteng to the North W...