The National Pulse

We have heard your pleas and calls for alternative voices or diverse scientific expertise on South Africa's response to COVID-19 and vaccines. In the initial stages of the pandemic, Covid-19 sparked debates about whether the virus was a naturally evolved new pathogen, that seemingly slipped out of a high-security laboratory in Wuhan, China or conspiracy theories that the Coronavirus was deliberate...

Guest: General Manager Boniswa Koneti 

The Registrar of Trade Unions Advocate Lehlohonolo Molefe has lashed out at unscrupulous trade union leaders who abuse union funds. The abuse of trade union funds is often the cause of serious infighting in many trade unions in the country. Mbongeni Muthwa reports..   Guest: Terry Bell – Labour analyst

The Office of the Speaker of the North West Legislature, has confirmed receipt of the resignation letter of premier Job Mokgoro. Mokgoro was expected to have resigned as both the premier and a member of the provincial legislature. This is to give way for 67 year-old Bushy Maape to be both the member of the legislature and premier. The ANC Interim Committee- IPC has been calling for Mokgoro's remov...

Following Phophi Ramathuba’s proposal that liquor traders in Limpopo must refuse to sell alcohol to unvaccinated customers. We hear from the Liquor Traders’ Association of SA and their stance is that the rise in Covid-19 infections is a much bigger societal challenge that requires all of us to work together to find lasting solutions.   Guest: Lucky Ntimane, National Convener of th...

A man who was supposed to contest as one of ANC's candidates in the upcoming local government elections after his branch and community elected him says the Home Affairs Department has mysteriously registered him as a dead person. ANC member Siyabonga Mkhize of eThekwini Municipality ward 101 in Durban says he got the shock of his life when he discovered that his name was no longer on the party lis...

We examine the mandate of the International Criminal Court and its work in Africa, asking - Is the court being criticised unfairly by those who always argue that it unfairly targets African states? Guest on the line: Dr Etienne Mutabazi, lawyer and former International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda official

World News: Post the inauguration of Hakainde Hichilema as the 7th President of Zambia. We hear from the leader of One SA Movement, Mmusi Maimane about what to expect from his presidency. You may recall that in 2017, Maimane was denied entry into Zambia over his support for Hichilema who was charged with treason then. Guest: Mmusi Maimane, leader of One SA Movement

Disgruntled ANC members have gathered at the party's headquarters in Durban and Johannesburg to complain about the candidate lists for the upcoming local government elections. Some members from various branches have complained about the candidate list being manipulated and that some of their preferred candidate for councillor positions were removed from the list at the 11th hour yesterday. GUEST:...

Police are searching for gunmen who shot and killed 53-year old, Gauteng Health Financial Officer, Babita Deokaran. She died in hospital after she was shot outside her home in Winchester Hills, in the south of Johannesburg, yesterday morning. Deokaran was one of 300 witnesses in an investigation into PPE purchase irregularities in the province. For the latest on the case we're joined on the line b...

Youth unemployment is currently at 64.4% and some economists have warned that being unemployed at a young age may have long-lasting, negative effects in terms of career paths and future earnings. Other economists have added that this can also negatively impact a community's economic growth and development and that this will be felt by society for decades. Thus in such dire situation, some youth tu...

Post the first stage of the candidate nomination process which concluded last night. We speak to the Independent Electoral Commission about the next phase of their Electoral Timetable. So far, the commission is trying to collate all the nomination information. Guest: Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission

Earlier today, Stats SA revealed that South Africa’s unemployment rate has increased to a record 34.4% in second quarter of this year. The rate is the highest since Statistics South Africa’s quarterly labour force survey began in 2008. Guest: Risenga Maluleke, Statistician-General

As we continue with our unemployment rate discussion. Let’s now hear from the SA Youth Chamber of Commerce. This as Stats SA data indicates that unemployment among young people between the ages of 15 to 24 is now sitting at 64,4%. Guest: Thapelo Maleke, President of the SA Youth Chamber of Commerce

World News: What can Zambians expect from President Hakainde Hichilema? About few hours ago, Hichilema was sworn in as the 7th President of Zambia. Guest: Hilda Akekelwa, Channel Africa correspondent based in Livingstone, Zambia

The supermarket chain Checkers recently launched a cashier-less supermarket. The new automated store does not need cashiers and has no checkout points. Ayabonga Cawe, a development economist, Columnist, MD of Xesibe Holdings and hosts MetroFMTalk on Metro FM says this is a strategy by Checkers not just about reducing labour costs, but primarily gathering more customer data through extensive monito...

There has been a sharp increase in COVID-19 infections in schools in the Northern Cape, as compared to the previous 3 weeks. The provincial Department of Education recorded 526 new Covid-19 infections, which includes 54 educators, 439 learners and 33 support staff at schools. GUEST: Northern Cape Education MEC, Zolile Monakali

Former Fees Must Fall activist Bonginkosi Khanyile will remain in custody after his case was postponed to Thursday 26 August for bail application. 31 year old Khanyile is facing five charges; including incitement to commit violence, two for illegal gathering and two charges for not wearing a mask. Khanyile was arrested by Hawks on Friday in one of the higher learning institutions in Johannesburg a...

The Democratic Alliance, DA has revealed its mayoral candidates ahead of the local government elections. Nqaba Bhanga has been announced as the DA's mayoral candidate for the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro. Other candidates are Geordin Hill-Lewis for the City of Cape Town, Randall Williams for Tshwane, Mpho Phalatse, Johannesburg, and Refiloe Nt'sekhe in Ekurhuleni. GUEST: John Steenhuisen, MP and Leade...

On Saturday, Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced that his administration is going to initiate talks about compensation for victims of Gukurahundi massacre that took place in the 80s when Robert Mugabe was in power. Guest:  Siza Dlodlo, Director of Uloyiko

The HAWKS in the Northern Cape have arrested the acting head of the provincial Department of Health and its Chief Financial Officer. The arrest followed allegations of irregularities of the awarding of Personal Protection Equipment and the contravention of the PFMA - at an estimated amount of 43-million-rand. They are scheduled to appear before the Kimberley Magistrate’s court later today. G...

The dismembered body of a female East London student has been found stuffed in a suitcase in Quigney. A homeless person reportedly flagged down police on patrol yesterday morning to inform them that a body had been found in a suitcase. The suitcase contained some of the woman's body parts, while her head was reportedly found in a cupboard in her home GUEST: Eastern Cape Police spokesperson, Brigad...

The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa, NUMSA Gender Unit as part of Women's Month, today held a discussion on the Gender Wage Gap. Last year Stats SA's Inequality Trends found that women earned on average 30% less than men in the same jobs. Women make up 45% of the work force and yet their salaries are grossly inferior to men. The gender wage gap has now been further exacerbated by th...

Elijah Mhlanga gives us an update on whether the department of basic education will indeed scrap the October school holidays. Guest: Elijah Mhlanga, Spokesperson for the department of basic education

On World News today, we look at the impact of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) on Africa’s agricultural sector. CABI scientists have conducted the first comprehensive study on this and they say the invasive species cost Africa’s agricultural sector an estimated R990bn a year. Guest: Janse Rabie, Head of natural resources at AgriSA