The National Pulse

Ratings agency Moody’s has downgraded five South African municipalities warning of rising liquidity pressures as a result of shortfalls in revenue collection. The downgraded metros are the City of Ekurhuleni, the City of Cape Town, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan Municipality and the City of Johannesburg. Guest: Karen Heese, Economist at the Municipal IQ

On Saturday, thousands of French citizens protested against the government’s latest measures to push people to get vaccinated and curb rising infections by the delta variant of the Coronavirus. But how should President Macron respond to these protests – given the fact that France presidential elections are just around the corner? Guest: Koffi Kouakou, Africa Analyst and Senior Research...

The CEO of Ubuntu Wealth Management Qhawe Sithole has been suspended for allegedly looting. Sithole is accused of looting a washing machine, a bar stool, alcohol, braai accessories and other goods during the recent unrest in KwaZulu-Natal. Sithole, who is also a former pupil at Hilton College in the KZN Midlands - One South Africa's most expensive school, has been criticized publicly for being pri...

A Gqeberha taxi association chairperson has been killed in a hail of bullets. Uncedo taxi association chairperson Diki Zamani was gunned down in Njoli, yesterday. The motive for Zamani's murder is still unknown. GUEST: South African National Taxi Council (Santaco) deputy chairperson in the Eastern Cape, Gabs Mtshala

The fact that looting continued unabated in Gauteng and KwaZulu Natal is a clear indication of a leadership vacuum in many communities, according to many critics. Many of you have argued that the looting and protests are indicative of the failure of political leadership and in particular the ANC government. Why were politicians, councillors and mayors not out and about speaking to citizens not to...

Earlier this month, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority authorised the CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccine, manufactured by Sinovac Life Sciences Co. Post the approval, CORONAVAC announced that they are ready to deliver 2.5 million vaccine doses immediately. To explain how this whole delivery process will work out is…. Guest: Anton Arendse, Numolux Group Chief Operations Officer

In a bid to attract revenue and to create employment opportunities in Mpumalanga, the Steve Tshwete Local Municipality has proposed to Clover SA to move its cheese factory to the municipality. Their proposal is informed by Clover SA’s decision to move its cheese production factory from the North West province due to poor service delivery related issues. The Steve Tshwete Local Municipality h...

Today, King Mswati III is expected to hold talks following last month’s deadly pro-democracy protests. All citizens of the kingdom have been invited to the forum known as iSibaya at the Ludzidzini Royal Palace. This is the first time the king will address the unrest in which at least 50 people died.  Guest: Zweli Martin Dlamini, Managing Editor of Swaziland News

The past few days have been extremely challenging for Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal as we all witnessed violent incidents which from the beginning appeared to have arisen as a response to the incarceration of former President Jacob Zuma. We are told that the damage caused by the looting and unrest in Durban is estimated at approximately R16 billion. Joining us to elaborate further on this is… G...

Following recent revelations by the State Security Agency that some of its former senior members within the agency, who were supporters of former president Jacob Zuma, were key in orchestrating the violent unrests in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. This morning, Deputy Minister of State Security Agency, Zizi Kodwa told Stephen Grootes that retired army general; Mojo Motau is one of the people who made...

The Health Department has called on people visiting vaccination sites to remain vigilant. The call comes as vaccine registration for people aged 35 and 49 opens. Vaccinations for the age group will start on the first of next month.  Acting Health Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane joins us on the line to outline the measures underway to deal with the violent protest taking place in some p...

The National Taxi Alliance say the ongoing rampant looting at malls and other areas are a threat to taxi operations. The Taxi Alliance say transport businesses are losing on the routes they have nurtured for so long and the ranking facilities they fought so hard for at the malls. To elaborate more on this, we're joined on the line by Theo Malele, Spokesperson for the National Taxi Alliance (NTA) ....

So yesterday I came across an Interesting article on our WhatsApp pad, which was written by one of our listeners - Independent political analyst Luchulumanco Mawisa. In the 2019 article titled "How do our people express themselves outside of toyi-toyi", Mawisa talks about how delivery protests are birthed by the absence of party political engagement and how people of this land ought to build a for...

Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula says the President will declare a state of emergency if necessary to quell the violent protests and looting that has gripped Gauteng and KZN. Briefing the media yesterday Mapisa-Nqakula says the department of defence does not think the country has reached a point where a state of emergency is needed. Guest: Dr Dale McKinley, who is an Independent Political...

South Africa riots: Why is the Black Consciousness voice missing in our narrative today as townships flare up in fire? You may recall that during the struggle years, the Black Consciousness Movement used to carry a slogan that said ‘Udarkie akaspine ekasi’ loosely translated as ‘A Black person doesn’t commit crime in the townships’. This mantra was a metaphor that sug...

The Electoral Commission has today launched an online voter registration facility allowing new voters to register and existing voters to update or amend their registration from the ease and convenience of their homes or elsewhere. To explain how this virtual system will work is… Guest: Sy Mamabolo, Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Electoral Commission

On World News today – we focus on good news for a change. After our neighbouring country, Zimbabwe became the first nation to exempt all member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) from visa requirements. To explain what this means is… Guest: Professor David Moore, Professor of Development Studies at the University of Johannesburg

Alex FM was looted early this morning. Several property has been damaged and equipment stolen. The station has been closed indefinitely. GUEST: Alex Fm, Station Manager Takalane Nemangowe

The widespread looting around In Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal has spread to Mbombela, In Mpumalanga. Monday saw incidents of looting at Nelspruit Plaza's TOPS, KaBokweni Plaza, KaNyamazane Plaza, Emoyeni Mall and Dayizenza Mall; police reacted quickly to prevent people from looting even further. Currently the situation in the province remains calm GUEST: Mpumalanga MEC for Community Safety, Security...

South Africa's Justice, Crime Prevention and Security (JCPS) Cluster Ministers led by Police Minister General Bheki Cele, briefed the nation about the violence and looting that has erupted in the provinces of Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng provinces. Major General Siphiwe Sangweni, chief of Joint Operations, says he can't say for certain that there won't be any abuse by SANDF members. He was asked abo...

Given the ongoing protests. We examine South Africa’s socio-economic challenges, asking – why haven’t we made considerable gains when it comes to socio-economic challenges? It’s been 27 years now since the new dispensation and yet when it comes to socio economic issues nothing much has changed. Guest: Siseko Khumalo, Lecturer at the University of Fort Hare

The Black Business Forum has condemned the riots and looting of businesses that have been taking place across KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng in recent days. In the midst of the looting of businesses, the organisation has at least counted 30 black-owned businesses looted across the country so far. But is there anything that businesses can do to prevent looting? Guest: S’fiso Shezi, National s...

India has proposed a series of fresh population control measures reminiscent of China's two-child policy. The proposed measures were announced in two states, namely; Uttar Pradesh and the state of Assam in north-eastern India. But why now and what informs this decision? (GUEST) Prof. Amitabh Kundu is Senior Fellow at the World Resources Institute

17:52    What more can the ruling party do to restore peace and order in the country? “ANC reacts to army deployment and latest developments in the country” Guest: Pule Mabe, National spokesperson of the African National Congress

EFF leader Julius Malema says no members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), should be deployed to quell the ongoing unrest in the country. Malema tweeted earlier that "no soldiers on our streets! Otherwise, we are joining. All fighters must be ready... they won't kill us all. We need a political solution to a political problem, not soldiers". To elaborate more on this, we're join...