The National Pulse

Local Government Elections 101: “How to hold councillors accountable” Guest: Dr Mike Sutcliffe , Director of City Insight & former eThekwini Municipality Manager

As revealed yesterday. Former president Jacob Zuma has laid criminal charges against state advocate Billy Downer. Zuma is accusing Downer of allegedly leaking affidavits containing information about his health. So legally speaking – what does it all mean? Guest: Dr Llewellyn Curlewis, senior lecturer in criminal and procedural law at the University of Pretoria

The Council for the University of Cape Town (UCT) has approved in-principle a proposal on COVID-19 vaccination as condition of campus access.  As from the first of January next year, students and staff will need to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Meanwhile, the CEO of Higher Health, Ramneek Ahluwalia says it's too early to make COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for higher educati...

ActionSA has asked the Electoral Court to convince the IEC to consider delaying the local government elections in the wards in which it will be contesting. This is because only the party's logo appears on the ballot papers but not the name. ActionSA has also proposed the options of the IEC printing stickers with its name or using a rubber stamp on the already printed ward ballot papers. GUEST: Ler...

We are joined by the former Deputy Prime Minister of Lesotho, who is the current leader of Alliance of Democrats, Dr Monyane Moleleki. He is joining us to discuss the current state of political affairs in Lesotho as some of you may be aware that there are those who want him to take over as prime minister as they are not happy with Dr Moeketsi Majoro’s leadership style. Majoro is the cou...

The SABC has joined the nation in commemorating Black Wednesday, when The World and Weekend World newspapers along with numerous black political organizations were banned in 1977. The SABC's Group Executive for Corporate Affairs and Marketing, Gugu Ntuli, says Black Wednesday serves as a constant reminder of the vital role that media plays in society and in a democracy. She says the SABC has been...

Alleged leaders of the Nigerian Black Axe crime syndicate have appeared in the Cape Town Magistrate court today. This follows their arrest in a joint operation between the Hawks and US law enforcement authorities, in early morning raids yesterday. The eight foreign nationals were arrested for alleged internet scams, money laundering and financial fraud world-wide. GUEST: Aron Hyman, an Award-winni...

The Council of the University of Cape Town, UCT has overwhelmingly voted in favour of mandatory vaccination for campus access. The policy will come into effect in January next year. This now means unvaccinated students will be denied access to the campus. Meanwhile, Solidarity Youth have threatened to take legal action against any university that wants to make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory for st...

Open Cities lab has created a platform where people can locate the councillors they will be voting for in their area, during this year’s local government election. The platform lets you put in your address and find out who is running in your ward Guest: Richard Gevers, Director and founder of Open Cities Lab

Starting from today, children between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible for one Pfizer shot. Last week Friday, the department of health announced that they intend to have 3.25-million children between 12 and 17 years vaccinated by mid-January. To outline the department’s vision around teen vaccination in South Africa is….. Guest: Foster Mohale, Spokesperson for the Department of Heal...

University of KwaZulu-Natal UKZN SRC President Moses Nkambako says vaccination for Covid19 should not be mandatory for students to access universities. This after the Council of the University of Cape Town, UCT voted in favour of mandatory vaccination for campus access. The policy will come into effect in January next year. Nkambako made the comments while speaking to SAfm’s Aldrin Sampear a...

World News: Russia is currently hosting the Taliban administration for talks in Moscow. The talks mark one of the Taliban’s most significant international meetings since it assumed control of Afghanistan in mid-August. Guest: Na'eem Jeenah, Executive Director of the Afro-Middle East Centre

FlySafair has appealed to the Tourism Business Council of South Africa to support a proposal that will ultimately change the law that outlines Public Holidays in the country. FlySafair has proposed that public holidays that fall in the middle of the week be moved to either a Friday or Monday to ensure longer weekends for each holiday, this in effort to support the local tourism industry. The propo...

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the passing of President Samora Machel of Mozambique. Machel died in 1986 when his plane crashed on South African soil in the Lebombo Mountains. Guest: Nixon Katembo, who is a specialist on the Great Lakes and East Africa and also works on the KiSwahili Desk at Channel Africa

Just how involved are South African communities in choosing councillor candidates for the local government elections? Guest: Verashni Pillay, South African journalist & founder of Explain.co.za

Eight foreign nationals have been arrested in Cape Town for alleged internet scams, money laundering and financial fraud world-wide. A joint operation between the Hawks and US law enforcement authorities saw the arrest of alleged leaders of a large Nigerian syndicate, the Black Axe. The suspects allegedly preyed on vulnerable victims, such as widows or divorcees, who were led to believe they were...

Australia's government is offering once-off payments to help people leave abusive relationships. Victims can apply for a payment of 5,000 Australian dollars (around R54 000), which includes cash and direct payments for expenses such as school fees. The scheme is open to all genders. Is this the right way to help victims leave abusive relationships? GUEST: Lisa Vetten, Research project Consult...

Former Mpumalanga MEC for agriculture, Mandla Msibi who is accused of being involved in a shooting where two people died says he will step aside as a member of the provincial legislature. Msibi has been granted bail by the Nelspruit Magistrate Court. Msibi has accused his former colleagues in the provincial Cabinet of plotting against him and says his arrest is about the upcoming ANC conference in...

Guest: Waynne Sussman, Elections analyst  

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, SAHPRA says the approval for Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine has not been granted. SAHPRA is reportedly concerned that men vaccinated with Sputnik are at a higher risk of getting infected with HIV.   GUEST: Joan van Dyk, a senior health journalist at Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism

The department of home affairs has announced that Minister Aaron Motsoaledi has approved a temporary extension of operating times by two and a half hours at front offices. They say this will allow the department to deal with the high demand for services at Home Affairs offices across the country.   Guest:Siya Qoza

Yesterday, the province of KwaZulu-Natal witnessed another politically related murder – after EFF’s Msunduzi ward candidate, Thulani Shangase was killed in the KwaCaluza area outside Pietermaritzburg. Shangase’s killing comes after the murder of the ruling party’s ward candidate Siyabonga Mkhize who was gunned down just after concluding a door-to-door campaign in the area l...

World News: As pro-democracy protests continue in the Kingdom of Eswatini. King Mswati III has ordered the immediate and indefinite closure of schools. He has also accused demonstrators of depriving children of their education by taking part in the protests. Guest: Zweli Martin Dlamini, Managing Editor of Swaziland News

Today we look at how Metro and Local Council seats are allocated during municipal elections”.   Guest: Dr Ntsikelelo Breakfast, political analyst based @ Nelson Mandela University  

Eastern Cape public works MEC Babalo Madikizela has filed papers opposing Public Protector, Advocate Busisiwe Mkhwebane’s findings that he and Eastern Cape Premier Oscar Mabuyane benefitted from political stalwart Winnie Madikizela-Mandela's memorial service. Madikizela has denied allegations that he improperly benefitted from the R1.1 million meant for the memorial service of the late Anti-...