The National Pulse

    World News: We outline the objectives of the Africa-China Summit that is currently underway in Senegal - we are told that the summit will largely focus on trade and security issues. China remains the continent's main trading partner and some believe that China-Africa cooperation will have more global significance in the future in post-pandemic recovery. Guest: Dr Emanuel Matambo, Res...

As the country struggles to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier today Stats SA revealed that South Africa’s unemployment rate jumped to a record high of 34.9% in the third quarter of 2021. So what more can be done to arrest the unemployment situation in this country? Guest: Owen Nkomo, Director and Investment Manager at Inkunzi Wealth Group

    Today was a big day for the LGBTIQ community in Botswana. The Botswana Court of Appeal today upheld a 2019 High Court ruling that decriminalises consensual same-sex relationships. This after country's government wanted the ruling overturned because it believes that courts have no jurisdiction in the matter, and it instead should be an issue for parliament to decide. GUEST: Caine Jaso...

    Several lobby groups have welcomed last week’s decision by the parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Police to delay tabling amendments to the Firearms Control Act. Guest: Gideon Joubert, Director of DearSA

    The Deputy Minister of Social Development, Hendrietta Bogopane Zulu today held a dialogue between sex workers, government, civil society, developmental partners and the general public about challenges that continue to plague the sex work trade. The dialogue which took place in Polokwane was part of build-up activities to World AIDS Day, which is commemorated each year on the first of...

Consumers will have to dig deeper in their pockets, this as the petrol price will be hiked by 81c a litre on Wednesday, while diesel will go up by between 72.5c a litre and 74.5c, according to the department of mineral resources and energy. GUEST: Dawie Roodt, who is a chief economist at the Efficient Group

The Orania Movement say Orania remains independent despite outcomes of the recent municipal elections. The EFF won a mayoral position at the Thembelihle Municipality in the Northern Cape, which includes the whites’ only settlement of Orania. However, the Movement says Orania is not financially dependent on Thembelihle. GUEST: Mr Jooste Strydom, CEO of the Orania Movement GUEST: Mr Commissar...

Former Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng claims to have cured a couple of HIV/Aids through prayer. Speaking during a religious address in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, Mogoeng said the couple's weight gain served as proof that the couple was healed. GUEST: Professor Helen Reese, Founder and Executive Director of the Reproductive Health and HIV Institute of the University of Witwatersrand

As the 16 Days of Activism gathers momentum, Lerato Makhetha argues that it needs to be repeated boldly that there can be no justification for abuse of women and the existential reality of women who face abuse daily is unacceptable. He joins us now to tell us more about the #NoExcuse campaign which is aimed at fighting GBV. Guest: Lerato Makhetha, Actor, Musician & Content Creator

Yesterday’s announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa around mandatory vaccination has turned into another emotional debate dividing the country. While others are strictly against it – there are those who support it, believing that it will help us all get back to our normal lives again. Guest: Dr Kgosi Letlape, health activist & current President...

Consumers will have to dig deeper in their pockets, this as the petrol price will be hiked by 81c a litre on Wednesday, while diesel will go up by between 72.5c a litre and 74.5c, according to the department of mineral resources and energy. GUEST: Automobile Association spokesperson Layton Beard

Elijah Mhlanga joins us to outline the objectives of the Department of Basic Education’s policy on the prevention and management of pupil pregnancy in schools. The policy proposes among other things that kids as young as 12 can have reasonable access to condoms. Guest: Hendrick Makaneta, education activist

The National Coronavirus Command Council will meet this Sunday to assess developments around the pandemic and the newly detected variants. There is a strong possibility President Cyril Ramaphosa will make an announcement in this regard. Liquor traders are hoping there won't be possible tough restrictions on alcohol as they have already been affected immensely by previous restrictions... GUEST: Luc...

Zimbabweans say they are disappointed by South Africa's decision to not extend exemption permits. Yesterday cabinet resolved to no longer issue extensions to the Zimbabwean special dispensation. Currently around 180-thousand Zimbabweans are holding Exemption Permits to stay in the country. Holders of expired permits have been given a 12 months grace period to apply for other permits or be deported...

We dissect the findings of the Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance's governance ratings report which found that democracy is under threat on the African continent. The report also noted that in most countries where coups have occurred, the military took advantage of the masses' yearning for political change. But where is the African Union in all of this – and what happened to Af...

Was this year's local government election a taste of what's to come in 2024? This year’s local government election was contested by a record 325 political parties and nearly 95,000 candidates, of whom over 1,500 were independent candidates. While some argue that this is a sign that multiparty politics is flourishing in South Africa and that everyone has an equal chance and opportunity t...

South Africa says it will not extend the Zimbabwe Special Exemption Permits, but will give holders of expired permits a 12 months grace period to apply for other permits or be deported if unsuccessful. GUEST: Advocate Simba Chitando

The EFF has asked the Mayor of Metsimaholo to resign. The party's Selloane Motjeane, who was elected Mayor of the local Municipality in the Freestate, has been asked to step down because the ANC voted for her. GUEST: EFF Head of Presidency Commissar, Sinawo Tambo

The Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) together with the Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF) Response Fund1 (the Fund) today 'Rang the Bell' to mark the start of this year's 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children. The bell is customarily rung to indicate the start of trading on the JSE. The Response Fund1 was launched by President Cyril Ramaphosa, in February this year...

A new Covid-19 variant with an extremely high number of mutations has been identified in South Africa, Botswana and China. So far only 10 cases of the variant have been spotted through genomic sequencing, but scientists warn there could be more not yet identified. Guest: Professor Túlio de Oliveira, Director of the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Research Innovation and Sequencing...

At least 27 people died yesterday after their rubber boat capsized while they attempted the sea crossing from France to Britain. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson both expressed horror at the tragedy, with Macron saying his country would not let the English Channel become a graveyard. The two leaders agreed to step up joint efforts to prevent the migran...

Two teachers linked to the alleged bullying of Lathitha Nako at a Bhisho High School have been placed on special leave. The 16-year-old Grade 10 pupil, who was a sangoma initiate committed suicide after she was allegedly shamed by teachers and peers for choosing her spiritual calling... GUEST: Vuyiseka Mboxela, Spokesperson for Eastern Cape MEC for Education Fundile Gade

Only 2 candidates have been nominated for eThekwini mayor - former ANC mayor Mxolisi Kaunda, and DA caucus leader Nicole Graham. The council is about to vote for mayor. The DA's caucus leader in the metro - Nicole Graham has also echoed the sentiment of the EFF that the city's voters did not want to see the ANC in power. Meanwhile, ANC Provincial Secretary in KZN, Mdumiseni Ntuli says the ANC has...

Nhlanhla Lux Dlamini, a member of the Soweto Parliament who helped guard the Maponya Mall during the July unrest is currently leading a march at the offices of the South African Human Rights Commission in Johannesburg. Dlamini has accused the Commission of protecting the rights of foreign nationals more than that of South Africans. The group also held a separate march at the Union building, under...

We revisit the story of Tshepang Pitse, the young woman whose dismembered body was found in the freezer of her husband and cousin in Protea, Soweto. The suspect Flavio Hlabangwane who is currently in police custody, reportedly killed Tshepang, dismembered her body and kept the parts inside his fridge. A few weeks ago we spoke to Tshepang's sister Tshenolo Pitse, who revealed that her sister was in...