The National Pulse

The iconic Mmabatho Palms Hotel in Mahikeng, North West, which is one of South Africa's oldest casino burned down during the early hours of Wednesday. There were numerous reports of people being trapped in their rooms during the fire; however no fatalities have been reported so far. Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Land Reform, Zoleka Capa who was a guest at the hotel had to f...

The North West Health Department has confirmed that a fire has broken out at the Christiana Provincial Hospital. Health department spokesperson, Tebogo Lekgethwane, says no casualties have been reported... GUEST: North West Health MEC Madoda Sambatha

The Democratic Alliance has laid criminal charges against the ANC for failing to pay staff members' their unemployment insurance fund, UIF contributions. This follows claims by disgruntled staff members at Luthuli House that since 2018 the ANC has been deducting UIF contributions from workers but not paying them over to the government. GUEST: Michael Bagraim, DA’s lawyer GUEST: Dakota Legoet...

Yesterday, Home Affairs Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament that a probe that was conducted by his department found that due process was flouted when Bushiri’s permanent residency application was approved in 2016. Guest: Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Home Affairs

Ahmed Timol case: What happens now following the death of former apartheid-era police officer, Joao Rodrigues? Rodrigues was charged with the murder of activist Ahmed Timol in 1971. Timol was thrown out of a 10th-story window of the notorious John Vorster police station, now known as Johannesburg Central police station. Guest: Imtiaz Cajee - nephew of anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Timol

Yesterday, during Brazil’s Independence Day celebrations, crowds for and against Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took to the streets across the country with those supporting him calling for the removal of Supreme Court justices – while anti-Bolsonaro protesters called for the end of his presidency. Guest: Professor Siphamandla Zondi, UJ’s International Relations Professor

Correctional Services National Commissioner Arthur Fraser says the parole of former President Jacob Zuma was both procedurally sound and legal. In an interview with SABC's Vuyo Mvoko of the Watchdog, Fraser dismissed allegations that he overrode the recommendations of the medical parole advisory board when he authorised the release of former president Zuma. GUEST: Vuyo Mvuko, SABC Watch Dog Presen...

Earlier today, Stats SA revealed that the country’s economy grew by 1.2% during the second quarter of the year. So what does this growth mean in the grand scheme of things? To unpack this for us, we are joined by……   Guest on the line: Xhanti Payi, Economist and Director of Nascence Advisory and Research

Zimbabwe’s government says state employees, particularly those who are refusing to be vaccinated must resign. This they argue will assist the country in its efforts to curb the spread of Covid19. Guest: David Hamadziripi, Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Africa

Post the Electoral Commission’s media briefing that occurred two hours ago - deputy chief electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery updates us on the election programme leading up to the local government elections. Guest: Independent Electoral Commission deputy chief electoral officer, Mawethu Mosery

Democratic Alliance Federal Council Chairperson Helen Zille says the party will seek an interdict now that the ANC is allowed to register candidates for the fifth local government elections. Zille has also confirmed that the party has already briefed their lawyers to prevent "this blatant abuse of the process" GUEST: Helen Zille, Chairperson of the Federal Council of the Democratic Alliance (DA)

President of the National Freedom Party Zanele KaMagwaza-Msibi has died in an Umhlanga hospital. She was 59-years old. KaMagwaza-Msibi was Deputy Science and Technology minister between 2014 and 2019. She was formerly chairperson of the IFP until she left the party to form the National Freedom Party in 2011. For more on this, we speak to Ms Patricia de Lille, former Mayor of Cape Town, leader of t...

The IEC will reopen candidate list for the 2021 municipal elections. The IEC says amending the timetable to re-open candidate nominations is 'reasonably necessary'. The IEC also says a voter registration weekend is scheduled for the 18th and 19th of this month - in which eligible voters can register or update their details - ahead of the local government elections. GUEST: Dan Mafora, Research Offi...

Yesterday, Guinea’s President Alpha Condé was toppled in a military coup. Numerous reports suggest the coup was led by an elite unit headed by Lt Col Mamady Doumbouya. Some of you may remember that Condé was re-elected for a controversial third term in office amid violent protests last year. Guest: Nixon Katembo, who is a specialist on the Great Lakes and East Africa and also w...

The IEC's application to postpone local government elections has been dismissed. The local government elections will now go ahead between 27 October and 1 November 2021. Guest: Dr Dale McKinley, who is an Independent Political Analyst

The IEC's application to postpone local government elections has been dismissed. The local government elections will now go ahead between 27 October and 1 November 2021. GUEST: Democratic Alliance (DA) National spokesperson Siviwe Gwarube GUEST: IFP spokesperson, Mkhuleko Hlengwa GUEST: Wouter Wessels, FF Plus Head of Campaigns GUEST: Sibusiso Mncwabe, Spokesperson for the African Transformation M...

The Institute of Race Relation, IRR say the ANC has three major reasons to expect an "eye-watering electoral losses this year". The IRR have cited a decline in support for the party, the ANC's financial woes and the party's failure to complete candidate registrations in over 90 municipalities across the country. So how will these 3 major factors affect the party going into the local government ele...

There is further instability in the national Health Department, this after the Department's Director-General, Dr. Sandile Buthelezi, was asked to go on leave reportedly after he was questioned about his role in the R150m Digital Vibes scandal. Meanwhile, Health Minister Joe Phaahla has appointed Nicholas Crisp as the acting director-general of health. GUEST: Dr. Kenneth Leonard Jacobs, Chairperson...

We hear from Mamagase Nchabeleng on why Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence has decided to drop its investigation into allegations of corruption against Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula who currently serves as the Speaker of the National Assembly. Guest: Mamagase Nchabeleng, Chairperson of Parliament’s Joint Standing Committee on Defence

Earlier today, SANCO’s Greater Tshwane Region marched to the Botswana Embassy to express their unhappiness with the government of Botswana in terms of how it handled what was then known as a money laundering case that allegedly implicated South Africa’s Bridgette Motsepe-Radebe. (She has since been cleared of any wrongdoing linked to money laundering) Guest: Abraham Mashishi, Chairpers...

As we continue with the story. Let’s now hear from the leader of the UDM, General Bantu Holomisa – some of you may recall that in April this year, Holomisa accused Mapisa-Ngqakula of receiving cash and gifts totaling R5-million from a South African National Defence Force (SANDF) contractor between 2017 and 2019. Guest: General Bantu Holomisa, leader of the UDM

The Liliesleaf Farm Museum has shut down due to financial struggles and a lack of support from the government. This according to Nicholas Wolpe, founder and CEO of Liliesleaf Trust. Liliesleaf is one of South Africa's most iconic national heritage sites and landmark of the country's anti-apartheid struggle. Meanwhile the national Department of Sport, Arts and Culture say the government cannot cont...

With Professor Alex Mezyaev arguing that the role of the ICC as a guardian of international law is not proven in practice. So what are its shortcomings and successes? To argue for and against, we are joined by….. Guest on the line (Russia): Professor Alex Mezyaev: Head of the Department of International Law at the University of Management TISBI. Also Editor-in-chief of the Kazan Journal of...

Eastern Cape police spokesperson Captain Sandra Janse Van Rensburg says no blood-alcohol tests were performed on the individuals involved in the accident in which Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Nqaba Bhanga was injured. Speaking to my producers earlier on, Captain Van Rensburg said the medics' first priority was to attend to the injured victims of the crash. GUEST: ER24 spokesperson Russel Meiring GUEST...