The National Pulse

Earlier today - the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Dr Blade Nzimande, briefed the media on the state of readiness for the Post School Education and Training sector for the 2022 academic year. Joining us to discuss the outcomes of today’s press briefing is……. Guest: Buti Manamela, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation

We celebrate Abonga Mdze for his outstanding work and inspirational leadership. Mdze has achieved a remarkable turnaround in his school’s fortunes since he took over as principal. Prior to his appointment, Ngqwala Senior Secondary School was underperforming in the Eastern Cape and is now among the top performers, showing how the hard work of teaching and support staff can make a world of dif...

As we told you in the last hour that a family in the rural Umbumbulu area south of Durban was held hostage by a man who allegedly stole goods at a cell phone shop. What happened is that five suspects were chased by security guards after the incident at the shop in Isipingo. One of the suspects the ran into a house in Umbumbulu, where he held the occupants hostage. He has since handed himself over...

Following the much publicised allegations of misconduct against suspended Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Community Safety in the Western Cape, Albert Fritz. We hear from the Western Cape Premier Alan Winde who has since revealed that the serious allegations against Fritz relate to sexual misconduct. Guest: Alan Winde, Premier of the Western Cape

The National Association of School Governing Bodies welcomes Cabinet decision to return all learners to classrooms full-time, saying the move is long overdue. Yesterday, the Presidency announced that Cabinet has approved a number of adjustments with immediate effect to the country’s Alert Level 1 Covid-19 regulations based on the trajectory of the pandemic and the levels of vaccination. Some...

Judge Johan Kriegler explains why Freedom Under Law wants Julius Malema and Dali Mpofu to step down from the JSC proceedings. Freedom Under Law is arguing that both Malema and Mpofu are subject to serious ethical charges and therefore not fit to pass judgment on the ethical and professional qualities of others. Guest: Judge Johan Kriegler, Chairperson of the Freedom Under Law

World News: Today marks one year since the military seized power in Myanmar and according to the new U.N. special envoy for Myanmar - violence has intensified since the military coup a year ago. But why is the situation not improving – is the international community doing enough to assist the people of Myanmar? Guest : Nay san Iwin, Coordinator of the Free Rohingya Coalition

Fraudulent ID'S, passports, permits, birth certificates, SASSA cards and other Home Affairs documents have reportedly been discovered in a building in Johannesburg CBD. GUEST: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs

Mothers who deprived fathers from seeing their children may face jail time following a landmark ruling for fathers' rights in accessing their children. The North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria recently sentenced a mother and a grandmother to 30 days' suspended imprisonment on condition that the pair grants access to an aggrieved father who reportedly hasn't seen his daughter in 3 years. GUEST: Van...

The Special Tribunal has sets aside R39.1-million Personal protective equipment, PPE contracts in the Free State. The Tribunal says the appointment of 36 service providers contracted to supply PPEs in the province was unlawful and irregular. The PPE tenders will now be reviewed. GUEST: Advocate Selby Makgotho, Spokesperson for the Special Tribunal

DNG Energy says they will appeal a recent court judgment which ruled in favour Turkish-owned energy company Karpowership. The High Court in Johannesburg dismissed DNG's legal challenge of Karpowership's contract. Karpowership will now supply the lion's share of 2000 megawatts of emergency power to the national grid. In a short statement Karpowership says they've been vindicated. GUEST: DNG Energy...

ActionSA has announced that its leader, Herman Mashaba has resigned as the party’s City of Johannesburg councilor. However, the party has indicated that Mashaba’s next focus will be in the multi-party coalition to ensure stable and effective governance.   Guest: Herman Mashaba, President of ActionSA

The death of a loved one by suicide can have a profound, psychological effect on survivours. There are 23 known cases of suicide in South Africa every day, this according to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, SADAG. The organisation says for every person that commits suicide, 10 have attempted it. Recently Miss Universe 2019 Zozibini Tunzi shared a heart-breaking message on social med...

What was set to be a drawn out legal battle between Turkish-owned energy company Karpowership and local company DNG Energy has been resolved. This after the High Court in Johannesburg dismissed DNG's legal challenge of Karpowership's contract. Karpowership will now supply the lion's share of 2000 megawatts of emergency power to the national grid. In a short statement Karpowership says they've been...

We hear from the Liquor Traders' Association of South Africa on why they want government to stop referring to taxes levied on the alcohol industry as sin-tax – they are arguing that the sin tax term is derogatory and has no room to exist in a constitutional state. Guest: Lucky Ntimane, National Convener of the Liquor Traders' Association of South Africa

World News: We look at how France is approaching the Russia-Ukraine standoff. This follows recent talks between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. We are told that the two leaders spoke for more than an hour on Friday morning during a call that was described by the French side as serious and respectful which highlighted fundamental differences but also a j...

Residents of Dlamini in Soweto are now without electricity after preventing Eskom from accessing the area. Eskom is currently in the process of installing prepaid split meters throughout the Gauteng province following the low payment trends that affect its revenue. However, post this unpleasant situation that has just occurred in Dlamini, the power utility has warned that electricity supply will n...

South Africa and Lesotho have signed a landmark, Bilateral Free Movement, which will come into effect in June. The agreement is to elevate the Joint Bilateral Commission of Cooperation to a Bi-National Commission at Heads of State level. The two countries also signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Diplomatic Consultations.   GUEST: Mr Rapelang Radebe, SABC senior correspondent in Maseru, Le...

Celebrity Bonang Matheba has won her lawsuit against Youtuber and podcaster Rea Gopane who made defamatory accusations about the media personality last year. The court has ordered Rea to pay Bonang R300 000 in damages. Rea accused Bonang of introducing rapper AKA to drugs... GUEST: Ben Winks, Independent legal counsel, specializing in media, constitutional and international law

The National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders has elected Nkosikazi Nomandla Dorothy Mhlauli as its Chairperson. Her election makes her the 6th elected chairperson since the establishment of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders (NHTKL) and the first woman elected to lead this important house.   Guest: Nkosikazi Nomandla Dorothy Mhlauli, newly elected Chairperson of...

Recently, municipalities across the country were panicking following reports that South Africa was experiencing a national shortage of chlorine, which is used to treat water to ensure it meets the standards for safe drinking water. We also understand that currently, the manufacture is operating at just over 85% - so does this mean we are not out of the woods yet? Guest: Sputnik Ratau, Spokesperson...

Students and security staff have clashed at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Westville Campus today. In a video captured by Witness Journalist Thabiso Goba, students are seen throwing object at the security personnel. Students are calling on UKZN to scrap its online only registration policy which they deem "discriminatory" to applicants without computers or internet connection at home. For more o...

World News: The head of hospitals in Paris has sparked a heated debate by questioning if unvaccinated people in France should have to pay for their Covid19-related medical care. However, several French health professionals have rejected his proposal, calling for him to be fired. So what’s your take on this? Guest: Dr Kgosi Letlape, Ophthalmologist in private practice & health activist

Remembering mama Winnie Mahlangu: Former SABC radio presenter mama Winnie Mahlangu who made history when she became the first Black woman to be employed permanently by the SABC for Radio Bantu in 1962 has died. Mahlangu worked at the SABC for 30 years and her golden voice became the household name which dominated the airwaves during that time. Guest: Koos Hadebe, retired SABC employee who wor...

The City of Tshwane Municipality reportedly owes Eskom R635 million arrears. The mammoth amount was due by the 18th of January this year. GUEST: Jordan Griffiths, who is the acting chief of staff in the mayor's office in Tshwane GUEST: Daphne Mokwena, Senior manager for Customer Services at Eskom, In Gauteng